[Detector]

I'm not opposed to remodeling the Civic Center IF we can hope to accomplish the same results as a new SEC. What I am opposed to is not honoring the peoples vote in the first place. It was voted in and our money was collected so build the dam thing already. Why bother to even vote on such things knowing it means nothing.

I know many have changed their minds now because taxes have become a factor but does that give your choice more weight? NO! The original plan was stopped because of squabbles about location and now the votes have been overturned by people concerned about their own financial impact. It was this mindset that stop the project in the first place. No one has the right to sidestep the voters except in Dodge City.

In my opinion any attempt, at this point, to boost tourism in dodge is a waste of money, but that is only my opinion and should have no bearing on what HAS ALREADY been voted in. The fact that the SEC is still up for grabs years after being voted in only makes apparent the real problems of dodge. People only care about their own little stake in the city and not it's future.

Again this is simply my opinion but what we need are leaders with the kahunas to enforce the will of the people. Sure they all go into the job with that in mind, but it seems it all stops within the first year. They either conform and maintain status quo or they're gone. We need leaders willing to go above the local heads if necessary to accomplish our needs. We need leaders not afraid of the politically correct or local big money bullies.

We're all crying about our taxes but instead of addressing the real problem we choose to look for quick band-aid fixes that will only make matters worse in the long run.

I say its a privilege to live and operate in our city and that fact needs to be PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. We want tourism back, lets take it back. My god with the history we have at our disposal we should be beating back tourists but we've allowed the big businesses to wrap us around their little finger. Anyone ever take the time to figure how our personal taxes would be affected if certain businesses had no abatements? Taking money from our tourist fund for tax relief only strengthens the hold packinghouses have over us.

We need leaders with the guts to say you wanna do business here we're happy to have you but YOU WILL pay your dues like everyone else. You don't like it then GET THE HELL OUT'a DODGE. We have enough freeloaders.

Speaking of freeloaders. We need leaders, and local business, with enough kahunas to say sorry but this is America you're welcome here but we do have a few simple requirements. LEARN TO SPEAK FREAKIN ENGLISH ALREADY!!! I believe one of our worst problems for tourism is communication problems everywhere you go. You can't expect tourists to return to Dodge City Kansas, the cowboy capital of the world and home of world famous Boot Hill, when they can't even get a burger correct on Wyatt Earp without speaking Spanish.

Take down them stupid Spanish sign everywhere you go, put some English speaking employees at the counter to greet the tourists and either shit or get off the pot. You either want tourism or you want a boarder town you can't have both. Just like the big money businesses calling the shots now tell our newcomers we are dam proud of who we are and we don't need to change it. Either get with the program or GET THE HELL OUT'a DODGE.

I can't believe the gambling in dodge issue is even being debated. Gambling so fits our tourism need and our history. People complain about it causing gambling addicts that will need treatment when we promote a town full of newcomers sucking us dry in resources. We need a new jail just to keep up with crime thanks mostly to our newcomers running unchecked. I say build the new jail at Boot Hill and put these criminals on display. It would help tourism I'd bet.

The problem is we're all for boosting tourism until it affects us personally then its Oh thats not going to work for me. Dodge City is a tourist gold mine if only the commitment was there.

We need to either shit or get off the pot when it comes to tourism. Personally I think its too late but I never underestimate the power of the right leaders. It would take a hell of a lot of commitment from both leaders and citizens to turn this town around. Mr Lee has shown he's not afraid to stand up to the big money so for that I say kudos its a start. Mike B has also stood up against the odds to voice his opinion so I say kudos. The problems going to be getting past big business that always manages to keep enough controlling interests in city/county government to get what they want, and public gullibility that keeps them looking after their own interests and not the city as a whole.