Wasteful Workout

What a great example of tax dollars at work -- and the insolence of public officials in managing your money for the best.

Kudos to Phil Trexler for pointing out how well Akron's publicly-funded private club has been faring. The CitiCenter Athletic Club used to be exclusive but must now feel excluded, with membership down from an elite high of 700 to just a couple hundred now. Trexler's report chronicles how the high-and-mighty used to work up a sweat and then enjoy the perks of membership but now they sweat elsewhere, leaving Akron's taxpayers to pick up the tab.

According to the Beacon Journal article Akron shells out hundreds of thousands of dollars -- over a million in the past ten years -- for the exclusive workout center, complete with swimming pool and one-time restaurant. This generous subsidy came at the same time the Mayor was pushing to tax Summit County residents and City voters with levies to support the arts, schools, business development and more police. What's more important here, the chance for a handful who can afford the $47 bucks a month (it would be more like $100 bucks a month to balance the budget if it weren't for your wage tax dollars) to ride a stationary bike to keep on riding or getting more cops on the job?

All of this, as the ABJ points out, with the Canal Square Y up the street. Not to mention attractive fitness centers at the University of Akron (perhaps the finest in the City), Shaw JCC Recreation facilities on White Pond, AGMC's Wellness Centers in Montrose and Stow as well as community rec centers in Cuyahoga Falls, Green and Macedonia. That doesn't even include the private clubs in the Valley or all those Curves storefront workout joints at every strip mall in the area.

Dave Lieberth, Deputy Mayor, is quoted by Trexler saying the City isn't in the business of making of profit, it's in the business of providing service. Well, he's right about one thing: Akron's getting serviced, all right.