"The Wisconsin news publication Isthmus reported that Overture Center in Madison had its management taken from the city and given to a private nonprofit Overture Center Foundation. The news article goes on to say that Overture Center, with its troubled history, is not unique among performing arts centers. It notes that many other cities are struggling to support cultural assets, and noted that Los Angeles had voted to downsize some of its performing arts centers while moving toward privatization. A number of arts facilities are resorting to “creative” ways to generate revenue in the face of recurring losses. Overture hosted more than 50 weddings last year to help support its revenue base.
Clearly a national move to privatization is taking place, but with GPAC it is a foregone conclusion that ownership and operation will be handled by the City of Greensboro, with some production management conducted by a privately run company. From a dollars and cents standpoint this is a mistake. GPAC represents a direct challenge to the growth of private enterprise and jobs, which are a City Council priority. Instead of private sector growth, a government run GPAC will result in additional government jobs, more bureaucracy, an additional taxpayer burden and heightened risk of losses."
Frankly I'm surprised Roy Carroll allowed the letter to be printed.
Previously, in a post titled, Is Matt Brown Putting Your Business Out Of Business? I wrote of how the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, under the leadership of Matt Brown, is also taking business away from private enterprise each and every day of the month:
"I never gave it much thought until yesterday when I heard that private catering companies, restaurants and locally owned venues are losing money because of the activities of Matt Brown and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. For example: Take a look at the October schedule for the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and look at how many private conferences, seminars, luncheons and private meetings are being held there in just 1 month. By my count, 28 in October alone.
You see, each and every one of these events are an event that won't bring customers to locally owned venues, catering companies or restaurants because everything those locally owned businesses can provide is being provided by Matt Brown and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
At a loss to taxpayers of $2.2 Million Dollars a year, that is.
So I have to ask, did the Clemson study take into account all the businesses Matt Brown and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex has run out of business?"
Remember: Matt Brown has been picked to run the performing arts center as well. Hell, he's credited as being the one who came up with the idea to build it.
Folks, I rest my case and will now entertain any rational arguments to the contrary. Key word, rational.
A tip of the hat to Fec.
