Feedback by Robert E. Bell

Date: 2007-12-03
Email: bobcarolbell@cox.net
Subject: Alternative Financing of CMP

To Hon. Sam Hall, Member Pensacola City council,

Dear Mr. Hall, I am writing to express my support for the CMP and any alternative method to support it. I am a resident of Fort Walton Beach, but grew up in Pensacola, graduated from Pensacola High School, and still have family residing in Pensacola. I love Pensacola and support anything that would enhance its economic and cultural growth. I believe the CMP to be such a project. Many who oppose the CMP continue to misrepresent it as "another ball park." I believe it is much more than that, but IF IT WERE only "just another ballpark," it would have significant economic, cultural, and educational value to downtown Pensacola and the greater metropolitan area. Consider the number of jobs required to operate "just a ballpark"--grounds maintenance, sound and lighting technicians, concession workers, and facilities workers, and many more. But in addition to the "just another ballpark" employees, consider those employed by the Maritime Museum, UWF, and various businesses in and around the CMP. While I do not have a suggestion on alternative financing for the CMP, I can tell you that I have visited cities and the facilities they have developed similar to the CMP, and have seen the economic and cultural impact it has had on those cities--specifically, Montgomery, Alabama, Charleston, S.C., and Augusta, Georgia. I love Pensacola far too much to see it squander yet another opportunity to develop a facility with such potential to affect the growth and well-being of the city and metropolitan area.

Thank you for taking the time to read this request for support of the CMP by an "outsider" who sees the value in such a project.

Robert E. Bell
Fort Walton Beach, Florida