That's what funny about the opposition. It's more about the "us against them" rebel mentality and not so much about what is best for the city long term. I don't particularly like a lot of these people or like how they conduct business, but the benefits of MAPS will be around a lot longer than they are, as will the eroding position of the city in the region if MAPS does not pass. I'm not going to deny my city a chance to remain competitive in the future or have my kids grow up in the same half-assed city I grew up in just to spite a few arrogant politicians.

The funny thing is that the first MAPS had many of the problems the opposition suggests will happen with this one: funding shortage (we had to vote on it twice to pay for it), compromised projects (many were not built exactly the way it was first proposed), and questionable oversight. However, the difference it made on the city is invaluable, even if you just consider the elevated confidence it gave the community as a whole. So, really I think this MAPS could stand to be compromised and still have an tremendous positive impact. If they screw it up and they lose the politicians lose their jobs over it, I will feel no sympathy for them. In fact, I would do what I can as a citizen to bring light to that failure.

You never know for sure what will really happen. But the one thing you can say for certain is that a no vote on December 8 GUARANTEES at least a compromise on all these projects if any of them get built at all in the next ten years, even if that compromise is simply a delay, which, imo, would be a catastrophe for the city. Even if some projects are built later through a different funding source (i.e debt), the delay will assure a loss in competitive advantage.

In the end, a YES vote is the only thing that gives the city a CHANCE to compete in the future, even with its own suburbs. I am pretty sure it won't meet all the promises or maybe not be a pretty as the current renderings, but at least it will be moving forward to ensure the city's viability within the region.