We may be out of the loop on this, but we've always thought that taxpayer dollars are to be used for the citizens of the community producing the funds, not to pad the pockets of hoteliers, restaurants, and ultimately the city itself. In other words, public facilities are for the citizens to use and have access to. That includes pools (lidos), tennis courts, parks, and ball fields. If they are in place to make money for private firms and cities, why the #&^* are taxpayers funding these resources?
In case you missed it, the Florence tourism president and CEO (let's not fail to get in both titles) Rob Carnegie is a mite upset that parks and recreation superintendent Tina Kitchens wouldn't give the shaft to local ball teams, many of them composed of kids, and take away their playing time to accommodate a tournament. According to Robbie Baby, the City of Florence has now really irritated the tournament's organizer Kevin Darby, causing him to refrain from booking both a spring and autumn gathering of possible coronavirus ridden tourists.
We're sure of two things: 1. Kevin Darby, whatever or whoever he may be, will find another location for his tournaments; 2. Rob Carnegie owes Tina Kitchens an apology for spouting off about her decision to the tourism board. We'll even throw in a bonus: 3. Robbie needs to learn the difference between a facilitator and an agitator.
Cousin Rob Did What?!!!