The StarPhoenix January 17, 2012
 
The article, Gallery design earns national award (SP, Dec. 17) states that "a group continues to oppose" the controversial new gallery.
It isn't a "group," but the majority of the public that has always seemed opposed. In 2009, 60 per cent of those responding to a StarPhoenix question online were against building a new gallery. Respondents to surveys by NewsTalk Radio (78 per cent) and C95 (88 per cent) also were opposed. There continue to be critical letters to The SP regarding the proposed gallery.

After the Remai gallery concept was unveiled in 2011, 26 comments were posted on the Mendel Gallery's Facebook page, of which 20 were critical of the new gallery. A Save the Mendel website has logged 2,200 statements that express similar sentiments. These continue to be added from Saskatonians and people across Canada concerned with the perceived cultural hijacking of the Mendel legacy.

By comparison, those pushing for the gallery's relocation and renaming are small in number. They consist of a few politicians and their friends who have engineered the move to suit a certain agenda, which seems to be to fill the River Landing area with large buildings. It's a classic example of "edifice complex" - defined at jargondatabase.com as "the tendency of politicians to have large buildings and stadiums built as a concrete reminder of their 'legacy.' "

Unfortunately, it's taxpayers who will pay 80 per cent of the cost of the proposed gallery. It's no wonder there's so much opposition.

David Geary, Saskatoon

(Ed: Although sent to the editor, this letter never appeared in the Star-Phoenix after Mr. Mitchell declined an interview.)

The Remai gift of  $30 million which breaks down as $15 million for construction of the "Remai Gallery" plus $500,000 a year for 30 years although generous comes with a big price tag in terms of donors thinking their gift has any "Perpetuity".

The truth is if you take all the money and support from my family and our business to the creation, founding and maintenance of the gallery over the past 50 odd years along with the value of the art work and convert them into today's 2011 dollars then project the value of the artwork ahead 30 years given past performance, I am guessing the Mendel gift would still far exceed the projected Remai $30,000,000 dollars in the year 2041 which is when the Remai gift would be completed. Does this mean that as of 2041 the Remai name on the gallery will be up for grabs as well? What are the conditions of this deal? It will be interesting to see what will happen to that choice piece of waterfront property stretching over a half kilometer along the waterfront which is currently occupied by The Mendel Art Gallery, not to mention the building which is esteemed by many to be the best example of mid-Century architecture in the province?

The StarPhoenix January 10, 2012

J.C. Rayner's letter, Show the reports (SP, Nov. 30), noted the lack of a report detailing the economics of the wind turbine project. The city's approach on the new art gallery is no different, with Don Atchison stating in October: "The federal government was not willing to fund expansion of the existing gallery." The paper to back up that statement has never been produced either. The mayor went on to say, "That meant an earlier renovation project (with the Mendel) could not proceed. The dollars weren't in place."

Curiously, when the decision was made to proceed with the Art Gallery of Saskatchewan, not only is money found but a hotshot fundraiser, too. In the Oct. 26 article Atchison mentions "a $71 million gallery for Saskatoon," yet city manager Murray Totland says on Nov. 24 that the gallery's price is $84 million - the figure first quoted in May 26, when the design was unveiled.

Has Mayor Atchison forgotten?

Should we also forget a potential conflict of interest of a previous Mendel board member, who was appointed to the gallery's board in 2006, made its chair in 2007 and then appointed to sit on the Destination Centre Steering Committee in 2008 - a year before the board decided to make the move to River Landing?

Flo Saworski (End council follies, SP, Jan. 6) isn't the only one who wonders if our mayor has a convenient memory problem.

C.J. Cote Saskatoon

The StarPhoenix January 6, 2012

I wonder if our mayor has a memory problem. Did he perhaps forget that there was a grant to fix the Mendel Art Gallery, which would have left the city with a smaller debt? Instead the city gets a larger grant and a bigger debt. Smart?

The future will reveal that this would have been the time Saskatoon could have had a secure financial future; but instead this will be looked at as the time the city's economy and essential services were destroyed in the name of progress. No one suggests that we should not expand. But it must be done in an orderly, cautious manner that does not destroy our quality of life. This council has done more to put a wedge between different economic groups than any other before it.

We need a solution: The mayor and councillors should cut their civic salaries by 50 per cent, thereby making up for some of their foolish blunders; senior staff at City Hall should have their salaries cut by 10 per cent because they, too, bear some of the responsibility. Further, let’s slow down and play catch up. Finish what is started and give the beleaguered taxpayers a break.

Perhaps when we go back to the ballot box in October we can rescue ourselves.

Flo Saworski, Saskatoon

From the StarPhoenix, January 4, 2012

Our mayor and city councillors are missing something important in how they devise and implement policy that affects citizens.

They consider themselves privileged by virtue of getting elected. They are chasing big bucks and big projects, which aren't necessarily a priority for most citizens. In doing so, council has lost touch with the citizenry at a time when Saskatoon is Canada's fastest growing city.

Savethemendel.org joins friends and family in mourning the loss of a brilliant man, our friend and champion, Joe Kuchta, and his wife, inspiration and soul-mate, Georgie Davis

We all  owe a huge debt to Joe, a well-known activist and humanitarian, who wrote the Owls and Roosters political blog, founded in 2006. Bold and honest, his writings could always be counted on on for their conscientious integrity, detail and humanity, relying on the hard-won fruits of his exhaustive research. And savethemendel.org would not exist without his prodigious efforts to protect the Mendel Art Gallery on Spadina.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much, Joe and Georgie.

"Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
- from Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

From the StarPhoenix June 23, 2011 - Letter to the Editor

It comes as no great shock that our bumbling city councillors are now wringing their hands in despair about how to find an escape route from their reckless half-billion-dollar spending spree.

In rather arbitrary fashion, with no concern as to who will pay, council has rubber-stamped approval to building an art gallery and police station, moving the bus barns, south bridge, a Traffic Bridge replacement, etc.

And now it has the audacity to insult taxpayers' intelligence by announcing a "gut-wrenching" review of services in the guise of being fiscally prudent? Heaven help these councillors if they think the electorate will tolerate cutbacks to basic services such as garbage pickup, snow removal and maintaining streets.

Read the full letter at the StarPhoenix website.

From the StarPhoenix June 23, 2011 - Letter to the Editor

Despite the fact that there are currently several would-be galvanizing issues affecting the general public of Saskatoon, the lack of awareness or interest is alarming.

First, bravo to all of you who do take an interest in our city's environment and health. Second, I must apologize on behalf of my apathetic contemporaries.

My generation Y is left to deal with a legacy of debt and environmental degradation, and en masse, we are certainly not prepared to do so. The time has come to put down our drinks, pull up our pants and get involved.

Read the full letter at the StarPhoenix website.

From the StarPhoenix June 23, 2011 - Letter to the Editor

Your editorial, Major projects bringing to life long-held visions (SP, June 15), tries to spin the massive $84 million pricetag of the new Art Gallery of Saskatchewan as insignificant because the direct cost to taxpayers is just $21 million.

To some folks, that's still a lot of money to be spending on something that's unnecessary.

The new gallery is twice, or maybe even three times, more expensive than expanding and renovating the established and respected Mendel Art Gallery. I agree with other letter writers that it makes more sense to upgrade the Mendel and put the millions left over towards fixing the main library downtown.

Read the full letter at the StarPhoenix website.