Public money is not intended for venture capitalism. Roads and highways are one thing. This goes far beyond the domain of necessary general infrastructure and services for society at large. If individual taxpayers want to invest in this, let them do so *with their own money* instead of conscripting the rest of us into their financial army with the use of taxation.

The City Council should, by all means, suspend taxes, licenses, fees, and other burdonsome forms of financial parasitism where this project is concerned, to encourage its completion. I'd love to see this convention center built. The Santa Cruz economy is weak and needs this boost.

But TAX MONEY does not belong here!