To The Telegram:
Regarding the Palace Theater (or as Mike Savage would say, thee-A-ter), I really believe that the community should be given the chance to preserve a part of its own city. According to three opinion polls, people here do want the Palace saved and reused, and of those polled on whether they'd support it through financial means or sweat equity, the results were about half and half. Good; both are needed.
After the Palace Theatre Task Force was told that theatre developer Tom Misco's proposal fell short, I did what I asked the community to do when I wrote my July 1st opinion -- I started talking to people about it. People asked me, "Why didn't you take his offer? If he's done this before and wants to do it again here, why not let him?" Others said "What would happen if a grass-roots group and non-profit organization worked with Mr. Misco, both financially and with sweat-equity?"
So fellow-preservationist, Kris Fisher and I went to look at Mr. Misco's theatre in La Crosse. After seeing it and talking to him, I believe he knows his business and could get the Palace up and running. I think that if some of the members of the Task Force had the opportunity to visit him during the task force process, they would've had to agree.
Tom Misco runs successful theatre businesses and is a licensed engineer as well. He said he'd be happy to work with the community. Why would we want to turn down someone like that who wants to bring a business to Superior -- and without the expense of demolition?
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-- Kathy Laakso / Superior
