I received a press release from the City of Toledo touting their latest recreational program for kids:
Free soccer clinic to be offered at Smith Park
The City of Toledo Division of Parks, Recreation and Forestry and the Toledo Celtics Soccer Club will sponsor a free soccer clinic from 1-3 p.m. this Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Smith Park, 910 Dorr St..
The clinic will be open to boys and girls ages seven to 14 years to learn the game of soccer and build basic soccer skills with instruction from local and international coaches. Participants will have opportunities to win soccer balls and tee shirts. Coaches will also offer a ball juggling demonstration featuring advanced footwork and agility skills.
For additional information about this free event, please contact the Division of Parks Recreation and Forestry at 419-936-3887.
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Here's the thing: the city doesn't have any money.
Don't you remember last year when Council members Lindsay Webb and Steve Steel were pushing a 1-mill recreation levy because there just wasn't enough money to cover the costs of maintaining parks?
So where does the city get the money to host a "free" soccer clinic and give away "free" soccer balls and "free" t-shirts? Red light cameras?
And it's definitely NOT free. Our tax dollars have gone to provide this at no cost to participants, instead of paying for essential services like roads. Our street had two places where the road was falling in. One was finally repaired - very nicely - but the other, not one house away, is still a disaster. When will that become a 'necessity' like the soccer clinic?
And how many kids do you think will actually participate?
Like city pools, the politicians are catering to the extreme minority while telling all of us that our quality of life is enhanced when they do so.
But what I really want to know is this: If Toledo can do a 'free' soccer clinic, hwen do I get my "free" shooting range?
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