I was delighted to read the letters from Clovis Steele about the history of the Memorial Hall, (Globe, Jan. 22) and Ronald Gentzler (Globe, Jan. 23). Mr. Gentzler was kind to call it goofy. I called it crazy.
Unfortunately, citizens opposing the idea were not present during the Joplin City Council meeting Jan. 19 about the proposal of taxes to fund the moving of the Joplin Museum Complex to Memorial Hall. Those who support the location to Memorial Hall brushed the City Council nicely. They were either driven by emotion to preserve the structure, emotional attachment to downtown or business people in downtown who think that if we have a museum there, we will have lines of buses filled with tourists.
Unfortunately, the City Council took the bait. It indicated that the building is not utilized enough and has a high maintenance cost. The city government is not in the entertainment business, and they need to lease the hall to an entity that is in the entertainment business and the city to get percentage from profit plus preserve the veterans’ access to the hall.
We all agree that we need a new location and space since the old museum ran out of space, and also we will need to raise money through the proposed tax for the project. In the meeting I proposed a new location and new building. My rationale will save Memorial Hall and if you are going to spend $7 million, you should not spend a chunk of it to remodel the inside of a building.
You need to spend it on a new modern structure that looks like a 21st-century museum, with a strong new structure and material that lasts forever. It should have easy accessibility and in a nice location, hopefully in the middle of a large parcel with a nice surrounding, landscaping and space for outdoor sculpture display and activity close to Interstate-44, where 53,000 cars pass by it daily.
The City Council needs to think outside or downtown, and spend the money wisely. Citizens of Joplin need to voice their opinion either way. City management needs to hear from the people.
Saad Al-shathir, M.D.
Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Memorial Hall crazy idea
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
