Respondents to this week's Rochester Business Journal Daily Report Snap Poll say a performing arts center at Midtown Plaza would be a catalyst for development but the city and county should not help pay for it.

The Rochester Broadway Theatre League said last week that it intends to build a $70 million performing arts center at a site once occupied by a McCurdy's store at Midtown, but only if certain commitments are made by
Sept. 1.

The requirements include a city-led effort to raise $35 million in state and federal funding and $19.5 million in tax credits. RBTL also wants the city, Monroe County and trade unions to agree to pay an annual $600,000 operating subsidy. For its part, RBTL plans to raise $15.5 million from private sources.

Forty-four percent of readers are opposed to local officials seeking the $35 million in state and federal money to help build the new performing arts center; 26 percent say the public funding effort should occur only if RBTL first
raises its proposed share of the project.

Though 65 percent of respondents agree that a performing arts center at the Midtown site would be a major catalyst for downtown economic development, only 26 percent say the city, county and unions should agree to the annual operating subsidy.

Some 800 readers participated in this week's poll, which was conducted June 21 and 22.

Should local officials seek $35 million in state and federal money to help build a new RBTL performing arts center?
Yes: 30% No: 44%

Only if RBTL first raises its proposed share of the project-$15.5 million in private funds: 26%

Should the city and county, along with trade unions, agree to pay an annual $600,000 operating subsidy?
Yes: 26% No: 74%

Do you agree or disagree that a performing arts center at the Midtown site would be a major catalyst for downtown
economic development?
Agree strongly: 28% Agree somewhat: 37%
Disagree somewhat: 16% Disagree strongly: 19%

COMMENTS:

There is not a significant enough Broadway theater following in this community to justify using taxpayer funds for the project. Additionally, if the RBTL needs a $600,000 annual subsidy, then it becomes a bottomless pit. I
vehemently oppose this albatross.

-Heather Keys, principal of KeySolutions of NY LLC

In any economy, asking citizens of a community to subsidize a project targeted and de facto accessible only to the affluent and influential segment of society is a pretentious, inexcusable exploitation of the middle and lower
classes to satisfy the whims and social excesses of and by a select and fortunate few.

-Bruno A. Sniders, Webster

Was it a good idea for the Romans to put all that money into the Coliseum? What about the Eiffel Tower? Was that a good idea? Great cities build large projects that project their confidence and abilities. Let's start acting a little
greater than we have in the past.

-John Perry Smith, Total Information Inc.

We have been excusing major and minor local businesses from paying their fair share of taxes under the guise of economic development for a long time. Paying for this will at least get me something. Has anyone ever even
added up the cost of those tax exemptions so we could compare the cost of this public amenity to, say, business development in Henrietta or Penfield?

-Richard Spencer

If you feel so strongly about spending taxpayer money, why not give it to Kodak, B&L, Xerox and Gleason so they can grow and hire more people. That would really stimulate growth and jobs in Rochester. We don't need another money-losing public works project. We have the RPO and various theater groups now. Another one will only make a small pie smaller for everyone.

-Jim Benz

Is this really a serious question? How could anyone in city or county government actually consider backing a plan that would divert monies so badly needed for strengthening our schools and the basic safety issues facing the city and spend it on this? I just don't get how we can expect other venues for public entertainment downtown to pay their own way and yet we should cough up for this.

-Rick Bradley

If there was $35 million available to Rochester and we could decide how it was spent, would RBTL rank above education, crime prevention, repairs of deteriorating bridges, etc? With the federal deficit so high and New York
State so dysfunctional, I think it is incumbent upon us as citizens to become proper stewards of the community's (state's and nation's) money and prioritize spending so that we spend what we can afford. If certain things need to wait a year or two, then so be it.

-Tom Walpole

by RDDC.org