Why is $1.5 million of taxpayer money being used for renovations to The Colisee? Now, there will be an additional $130,000 added to this amount.

The city administrator and City Council should have recruited sponsors for the renovations, like Boston’s Fleet Center. Manchester, N.H., about the size of Portland, has the Verizon Center, which was obtained this way. These companies get advertised whenever anyone sees or refers to them.

We have Country Kitchen, VIP, Peoples Bank, Elmet Technologies and even Sun Journal which might have been interested in sponsorship had they been approached. There are other companies and institutions in the area that also might like to have their names advertised on the arena or sections thereof. I’m sure no one would care if the name of the arena was “Country Kitchen Arena,” for example, if it would save taxpayer money.

Avon or Mary Kay Cosmetics, for instance, should be approached to design and sponsor a nice ladies room. Pep Boys or Craftmaster Tools might be interested in sponsoring the renovations of the men’s room.

I don’t recall voting for $1.5 million of taxpayer money to pay for these renovations. Jim Bennett and the City Council took it upon themselves to spend our money as they chose. They are doing the same with $4.5 million for a parking garage for the Southern Gateway.

It is time for taxpayers to insist that other alternatives be found for these expensive projects.

Paul Custeau, Lewiston