Should the citizens of Rocky Mount vote on the Planned Event Center?

From Rocky Mount Telegram,

One Citizen had this to say,

There should be a referendum for every taxpayer to have a vote before any decision is made on spending $40 million of our hard earned money.

If the citizens vote in majority for the event center, then build it. If we vote against the event center, then this should be the decision made by the council.

We are supposed to live in a democratic society with leaders voting on the will of the people, not dictating to us their wishes.

Does this person have point, Yes he does, the propose Event Center should be voted on by the citizens of Rocky Mount, since it would mean that the City would have to buy the property that would be need or use eminent domain to require that land that would be need.

Yet the city has not said where the event center will be built if they decide to go ahead with their plans.

It’s also been said if you disagree with the city council over the Event Center you are a racist due to the council majority being black.

As a side note many claim at least one member of the council shouldn’t have his seat, since he doesn’t actually live in the district that he represents, that he only owns property there.

Another citizen claims the reason Rocky Mount isn’t growing or progressing is because of people like Andre Knight who finds that when some disagree with him it’s because a of white/black reasons.

The citizens of Rocky Mount need and are concern about the debt and revenue that it would take to run the place. It was stated that the amount need to run the Center would be near $600,000 dollars a year.

Other are worry that if the city builds the Center it faith would be the same as the Fayetteville or the Theater (Dunn Center for the Performing Arts) in Roanoke Rapids which isn’t doing so well. Other fear it would be like the Convention Center in Raleigh, which was almost outdated by the time it was finish.

I agree this could bring some jobs to the area, but these jobs would be short term while the center is being built, also the temp jobs for these events themselves. Not that many long term jobs will be available. Also given that fact that a larger percentage of citizens in Rocky Mount have Criminal backgrounds these few long term jobs and temp job would not benefit them. So these long term job would go to people outside the city limits.

So should the Citizens vote on whether or not this center should be built? I think it should since the citizens of Rocky Mount will have to pay for it. The Citizens should have their say, since after all it’s their money that will be used.