To the Editor:

Voters in Craig might wonder why a person my age (65) would support building a recreation center when the odds favor my long-term needs being more for the services of a nursing home. Aside from the fact that a nursing home isn’t a choice on the November ballot, there are good reasons that motivate my support for a recreation center even if I should be unable or unwilling to use it personally.

One reason is that I expect the proposed Boys & Girls Club to be operating by summer. Having the old armory for the club’s primary facility is a big help, but the armory doesn’t provide the types of facilities necessary for all the activities that are needed by our youth. Consequently, the Boys & Girls Club will need to use gymnasiums, swimming pools, and similar facilities that are already inadequate for the current demands from existing adult and youth programs in our community. A recreation center will greatly increase these types of resources.

Another reason I support a recreation center is our community’s lack of a multi-generational facility that encourages interaction among seniors, adults, youth, and children. The proposed recreation center will bring all ages together.

The projected sales tax increase for a family spending $18,000 per year on items subject to a sales tax is $7.50 per month. At $24,000 of spending, the tax increase is $10 per month.

If a wealthy philanthropist offered to provide over $500,000 per year to fund a recreation center, few would be opposed. Since no philanthropist is offering to provide the funding, I will gladly join a philanthropic citizenry to provide the funding in the form of a one-half of 1 cent increase in my sales taxes to make a recreation center possible.

I hope many of you feel the same, but if not, please support a nursing home if it ever becomes a ballot measure. My daughter and her family may need a place to put me someday.

Pres Askew,

Craig