I'll have to disagree with Gil French's statement that members of the arts community ignorantly agreed to build a 2800-seat theater for RBTL ("The Theatre We Should Have," November 15).

I, along with members of the arts and business community, served on Tom Mooney's planning committee. And yes, we swore to secrecy, knowing that the process would be controversial and that the goal of creating an arts center was best served by debating amongst ourselves before making our findings public.

The end result of countless meetings was far from what I and many members of the committee anticipated. Instead of arriving at a consensus on how an arts center would best serve the arts community, the community at large, and taxpayers who would build and pay for the center's operating costs, we arrived at one thing: location.

A vote was taken to determine if an arts center should be built at High Falls or in close proximity to the Eastman Theatre. All but one member voted for a location near the Eastman, the committee was disbanded, and it never met again.

At that point, constructive public input effectively ended when four men began meeting behind closed doors to determine the location for the center. The arts community did not remain silent while the arts center became the arts center-bus terminal. There were letters to the editor, input at far too few public hearings, and lively discussion within the arts community.

But let's face it: Ren Square was never intended to be an arts center. It is an inventive way of obtaining federal and state funding while claiming to be an arts center. Instead of criticizing the arts community, direct your criticism at the politicians and business leaders who support it, many of whom opposed even modest expenditures for art at the recently renovated Rochester Monroe County Airport.

It is ironic that Louise Slaughter, who has a national reputation in the arts community for her support of the arts, facing criticism from members of both political parties, labor unions, and the business community, voiced her opposition to the project.

I agree with Gil French. We can do a lot more with a lot less, but let's face it: Ren Square is a done deal not a good deal.