“Downtown, the lights are much brighter there.” This is a quote from Petula Clark’s hit song of the same name, released in 1964. She paints a picture of the way a downtown should — no must — be.

Perhaps this statement holds true for some cities and towns, but when it comes to Sudbury, it’s so far from the truth that it hurts.

Our downtown is dying. It has been for many years, and replacing the farmer’s market with a school of architecture isn’t about to give the necessary CPR.
We need a city council with not only vision, but a desire to act to keep total decay from setting in.

Now the powers that be are talking about bringing a casino downtown. Wow, just what we need.

I’m sure the patrons will fill the restaurants and spend much of, if not all of their winnings in the magnificent array of interesting and intriguing shops that line the streets.

If you believe that, then I’ll be sending the tooth fairy to leave a bag of gold under your pillow tonight.

However, not all is lost, because it is possible to turn downtown into an exciting, dynamic meeting place. The next quote is from the movie “Field of Dreams,” I believe — “build it and they will come.”

You may ask, come from where? The answer is China, India and Brazil. The middle and upper class is growing in these countries, and so is their disposable income.

I believe there are more millionaires in China than there are people in Canada, and they like to travel.

I can’t see any reason why we shouldn’t try and persuade the new rich to come spend some of their wealth in Sudbury.

Of course, before our city fathers and mothers spend tax dollars on advertising campaigns, we need to have a good reason for them to come here.
We must build it, and a good place to start is with a central transit hub, where city buses can meet with those from out of town.

Combine the terminal with an excellent hotel and convention centre, and we will have laid the cornerstone at least. There are many more things than this to be done, but that is for wiser heads.

When they come from the global village, let them not look down, instead let them look with awe and wonder, at our beautiful Sudbury Town.

John Rice
Greater Sudbury

Posted by Vivian Scinto