When reading the above article, I have to admit that the writing almost had me shouting at my computer screen. We won't get into the root causes of poverty, I've already done a post like that this week. What I will get into is the sneering attitude of the author of the article.
The dream of a grocery store for Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods has moved one step closer to reality, despite the lack of provincial support.
Organizers said a fundraising concert featuring local artists last weekend raised $53,000 for Station 20 West, which, according to its website, is a proposed 29,000-square-foot service centre that will include Good Food Junction, a locally owned food co-operative.
It would be located on 20th Street West between Avenues K and L, a location accessible to residents of five core neighbourhoods: Riversdale, King George, Pleasant Hill, Caswell Hill and Westmount.
Though the money raised is but a fraction of the $6 million needed to complete the project, the money the event raised was more than expected.
"We probably netted around $15,000 after our expenses for ticket sales," said Brenda Baker, the event organizer. "And then the rest of that is all donations that came in that evening thanks to the generosity of people in the audience."
Do you see what I noticed? One dig at the provincial government for pulling funding for the project. The amount of money raised is made to seem like it's a drop compared to the ocean of money required. Every effort is given to make you believe that the only way that this project gets done is if the provincial government steps in and does it.
But wait. There is a little nugget that brings a little perspective to the overall picture. One little line, three paragraphs from the end:
So far organizers have raised $2 million. They hope to raise another $2 million and then take out a mortgage for the remainder.
So essentially what I read in this is that the provincial government doesn't HAVE to get involved in the project. I read that in 2 years since the 100% project funding was pulled, that the organizers have raised approximately $1 million per year on their own. I also read that in 2 more years, the project will be built and these people can have their nice little medical building and grocery store, and not a penny of taxpayer dollars was spent to take that sense of satisfaction of a job done yourself away from the supporters of the project.
Of course, after it's built, I also predict that they will quickly learn why none of the big chains want to build anything in that area of Saskatoon, but I digress.
Kudos to the supporters of the project that are getting it done without my help. Maybe I'll throw a couple bucks your way next year... after I throw some at the Sask Party for making you work for it.
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