It’s disturbing that Lewiston city administration would present a request to financially assist the Androscoggin Bank Colisee due to budget shortfalls incurred by poor planning.

Furthermore, it is highly inappropriate that three city councilors did not recuse themselves from voting on Dec. 19. Norm Rousseau is chairman of a private corporation, the Lewiston Urban Civic Center Enterprise, that does not disclose all of its books to the citizens of Lewiston. Councilor Mark Paradis also sits on the LUCCE board. Most disturbing is that council President Renee Bernier has a financial interest: her business has a security contract with the Colisee. The Colisee’s ability or inability to meet its financial obligations impacts her bottom line.

The rhetoric spewing from City Hall changes regularly. Initially, it was one large dollar figure to secure the enterprise. Then, more money was needed, because initial figures were deliberately misrepresented or planners didn’t know any better. Now that Maineiacs attendance is inadequate (even though they are the best team in the entire league), more money needs to be hosed onto the ice.

Maybe an infusion of the $550,000 into fixing drainage systems around the city could prevent the flooding of Lewiston resident’s basements.

I suggest that it’s time for the city of Lewiston and its quasi-governmental entity – LUCCE – to divest itself of the responsibility of the Colisee, especially since several city councilors and the city administrator, who’s also on the board, cannot operate at arm’s length of their baby white elephant.

Daniel Wiederkehr, Brunswick