Another LTE in today's News & Record. Notice they didn't mention the writer just happens to be a member of the GPAC Task Force:
"Counterpoint: Arts center would bring us together
By Gail M. LeBauer
Following the Greensboro Massacre on Nov. 3, 1979, our community became fear-based and xenophobic, with parts of the city divided and removed from one another. During that same year, the United Arts Council, with the corporate support from Miller Brewing Co., was granted $75,000 for a city arts festival, otherwise known for the following 20 years as City Stage.
Our streets had been empty and our communities were filled with a pervasive mistrust. City Stage launched the following fall with citywide participation of 75,000 the first day, a Saturday, and 50,000 on Sunday. I remember it well because I was fortunate enough to be president of the United Arts Council when City Stage was launched due primarily to the extraordinary efforts of Betty Cone and Helen Snow, then executive director of the UAC.
Why do I write this? The role of the arts has always been to be a convener of people; arts has always bridged economic, racial, and religious divides to unite us. Our city came alive again and people did what they always do when spaces and places are filled with sounds, aromas and arts in action.
Somehow we have gone off track; the proposed Greensboro performing arts center and surrounding park place is not elitist, nor for only a “chosen” segment of this wonderful community. It will serve the tradition of arts throughout time as a convener of all ages, races and disparate economic factors, whether inside the arts center space, or in the wonderful outdoor spaces connecting our other vibrant resources: the library, the United Arts Council, the Historical Museum and the nearby Children’s Museum."
Well Ms LeBauer, why don't we begin with why City Stage went out of business. You and your kind don't know how to operate in a competitive environment. City Stage did fine until a little town called Asheboro dared to open an event on the same weekend charging vendors-- the backbone of your event-- 1/3 the price of a space at City Stage. In no time at all City Stage was gone. How do I know this? I was a City Stage vendor. You, Betty Cone and the rest have spent your lives living on other people's money with no idea how hard it is to make it on your own, now Betty Cone is caught for tax evasion and forced into the private sector and your money is running out so you're looking to the taxpayers to bail you out. I'll give Betty Cone 2 years before she closes her doors, PAC or not, your existence depends on GPAC and we all know it. Get a job!
We all love the arts Ms LeBauer, but like you, we like eating and roofs over our heads first and foremost. I'm sure you have family that will take you in just like my family took me in. And if not good luck at the shelters. Don't wear any rings, the addicts will cut your fingers off to steal them.
I wonder if any of the LeBauers were among those big cars coming from the direction of Greensboro?
Like I wrote yesterday, "Mark my word people, in two weeks there will be a huge effort at the next Greensboro City Council Meeting to take away your right to vote on GPAC next November and if Greensboro citizens do not outnumber the bought and paid for task force consultants and speakers who are all paid to be there the Greensboro City Council will vote to build the downtown Greensboro Performing Arts Center at taxpayers expense.
And mark my word, Greensboro, this time I'm not speaking for you. You are on your own."
