Onondaga County Legislator Mary Kuhn is questioning the push for an $85 million aquarium in Syracuse.
An Open Letter to the County Executive
Dear Mr. McMahon:
I have run two campaigns for County Legislator highlighting the need
for more transparency in County government. The issue I wish to address
here is that of the proposed aquarium, details of which have not been
made available to the public.
I know that it is your belief that using $85 million of surplus taxpayers'
funds on an aquarium will be a great economic benefit to the City as well
as to the County. I have listened to your team’s presentation and read
through the $125,000 study you commissioned. When I attend community
meetings, I have taken the opportunity to ask constituents their thoughts
on this expenditure. I know that many of my colleagues, on both sides of
the aisle, have done so as well. In my experience, an overwhelming
majority have expressed their opposition. The only positive
encouragement I have received has been from a handful of hotel,
restaurant, and construction representatives and two school
superintendents.
Certainly, there must be a variety of viewpoints and I recognize that I
regularly engage with a relatively small percentage of County residents. If
such an enormously expensive project is to succeed, it should have the
support of more than those who will directly profit from it. I believe it is our
responsibility to inform the taxpayers about the aquarium and why you
believe it will benefit the County and provide them an opportunity to have
their questions answered.
To this end, I am asking you to have your team, along with their
PowerPoint, hold town hall type meetings in the four quadrants of the
County. These meetings should be after working hours to maximize the
number of people able to attend. I will commit to attending every one of these
forums so that I, and you, can be fully informed about constituent feelings
and ideas about this project
Mr. McMahon, I recognize this is a large ask of you, however, I hope
you’ll agree that such an effort on our part is simply one of the basic
responsibilities that we, as elected representatives, should fulfill.
Sincerely,
Mary Kuhn
Onondaga County Legislator, District 7