RTP-area local music and culture

[<info AT durhamloop.org>]

Phillip,

Thanks for your comments, and your points are well taken. This theater issue
has always been about much more than just Clear Channel, as big of a problem
as they are. However Clear Channel's involvement has served as a lightning
rod that drew the greater community into a public discussion on this very
important and expensive public policy issue.

I think that you will see in the news coverage in the coming days that this
matter does indeed transcend Clear Channel.

Other central issues include:
- Deferred maintenance needs on existing city-owned buildings
(Carolina Theater, Arts Council, Armory, plus many more)
- Financial viability (as questioned in the powerpoint presentation
presented to council that James Hepler referenced)

... and MOST IMPORTANTLY
- Public process: lack of transparency and open public input

Mayor Bell and City Council's (highly unusual) refusal to hear public
comment before the vote makes this point better than anything we could have
said. Apparently this proposal cannot withstand public scrutiny. Council's
behavior creates the appearance that the city has something to hide. I'll
let each of you draw your own conclusions on this as the story unfolds.

***

Phillip wrote:
>Focus on the money and risk issues. The kind of issues that a good old
>fashion Republican could embrace -- limit spending.

I agree, and this is already happening. The financial analysis powerpoint
was presented to council last night (as one of only four speakers eventually
allowed, under protest). Council members themselves have raised serious
fiscal concerns.


Phillip wrote:
> All of you that showed up last night don't matter anyway to
>them; they don't think you will be patrons of the Center, so you don't
>matter in their thinking.

Trust me on this one. We DID matter very much, despite the denial of an
opportunity for the public to speak. Today I guarantee that there has been a
flurry of phone calls flying around between council members, city staff, and
the development team. I have actually witnessed some of this firsthand. They
are worried, and should be.

This theater is not a well put together proposal, hence the need for a
four-month extension on their part. The numbers don't work, the public will
is not there, and this proposal has been created in the dark away from
public scrutiny. If it were indeed viable, they would not be afraid to hear
public concerns (above and beyond Clear Channel), and have the light of day
shone upon the proposal.

That said, while factual and logical arguments are important (and Council is
getting this information from us), politics is really about numbers. They
will ultimately respond to full email inboxes and significant attendance at
public meetings and votes. I've done this sort of thing before, and those
are my observations about what is effective in changing public policy.

The fact that over 60 people were willing to wait respectfully and patiently
for four hours (before being denied the opportunity to speak) spoke volumes
to Mayor Bell and Durham City Council.


" Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead