Gateway Casinos has just today announced its intention to “delay” today’s scheduled start of site preparation construction at the KED dumpside location.
 
Gateway indicates that they are waiting for answers to project risk assessment issues that the city has not provided – probably many of the same concerns expressed by councilors earlier this year that were never honoured with a respectful reply… or any reply. 
 
It’s quite possible, even likely that the groundswell of popular opposition to the looney KED scheme as evidenced by our Petition as well as many letters and printed opinions and media interviews in which citizens have articulated clearly the many reasons why the misguided project should be killed has played a role in this victory for the forces advocating for a strong, sustainable community and good urban planning.
 
Many of us will all be inclined to celebrate as if this were a win – and perhaps it is but this won’t be the last we’ve heard of the KED scam.  There are a few people who have too much to gain from hoodwinking the taxpayers of this city into paying the shot for this new arena located on land donated to the city by the developer.
 
Above is the text of today’s email from currently high-ranking city employee Ian Wood, to the City Council where he reminds them that, in spite of today's surprising upheaval, all the partners remain committed to the success of the KED.   Wood cannot be censured for a lack of blind enthusiasm in the face of contradictory facts which includes the awakening of the key private partner in the KED triumvirate to widespread public opposition focussed on big issues of concern from the decay of the downtown to dire environmental impacts complimented by the lukewarm participation of other partners – one of which won’t even reveal their identity to the public. 
 
Now this is really and truly an early Christmas present for Sudbury, not a present for the developer that we all end up paying for!  Either way, we should not relax vigilance.  The war has not yet been won though this could be a turning point.