I've read both proposals--Ordway and HTG/Clear Channel. I'm deeply troubled by handing over these public assets, to be managed by a a private entity dominated by Clear Channel. Reading between the lines, it is clear Clear Channel will ultimately take an ownership intereste in HTG. And talk of the Ordway 'monopolizing' the theater community by its proposed Alliance pales in comparison to the vertical monopolistic integration of Clear Channel, from radio to billboards to theaters to entertainment venues.
I'm also concerned about whether ultimate ownership of the theaters will actually go to the Hennepin Theater Trust, an "HTG-affiliated nonprofit." The HTG/Clear Channel proposal only 'envisions' such ownership. For me, that begs the question: what other ownership potentials are also 'envisioned.' Given the scrutiny of these proposals, the choice of the vague term 'envision' is, I'm sure, deliberate and intended to provide an 'out' if that vision does not later work out. Finally, what convinces me that the Ordway/Twin Cities Theater Alliance is a better fit is its longstanding involvement in the Twin Cities theater community, its broad public financial backing from donors and foundations, and its commitment to educational programming. These theaters are public assets for which we are deciding issues on a generational level, something that will directly affect my current four year old son. I fear that the council will follow the trend of privatizing the public assets, removing incentives to provide educational or community programming, and ultimately resulting in a 'product' that is concerned not with the public good, but with shareholders and wealthy financial partners. I'm discouraged by this trend and ask council members to believe in and accept the Ordway proposal. Gregory Luce St. Paul -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 4:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [Mpls] Stop City Council from giving away control of our theatresto Clear Channel Sorry, there's no misunderstanding. Accuracy counts, and thanks for the technical correction, but there's one thing that's clear - Clear Channel would be running our theaters. Running vs. owning is not a distinction that matters here. Clear Channel is among the worst neo-con corporate media, and it should not welcome to exist in this town much less manage the artistic treasures of our city. It doesn't matter who they're parterning with. Those organizations should be deeply ashamed of having made the proposal. 1) Clear Channel is practically a media monopoly in certain areas - a problem in itself. 2) Clear Channel are kings of censorship. Its radio program directors issue lists of "objectionable songs" to avoid playing, which not only are biased toward the neo- con agenda but which include such classics as John Lennon's "Imagine" and Peter, Paul, & Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Clear Channel also issued a directive to pull the Dixie Chicks' music off the air when the band dared to <gasp> criticize the grinning chimp in the white house. 3) Clear Channel organized PRO-WAR rallies under the name "Rally for America," to support the administration at the beginning of the Iraq war. Do we really need spin doctors for the current administration controlling who and what is played at our theaters? 4) Clear Channel has a long record of violating the law, including deceptive advertising and on broadcasting conversations without obtaining permission of the second party to the conversation. 5) Clear Channel's chair and vice chair have a long history of shady dealings with George Bush, the republican party machine, and friends. Tom Mays (chair) used his position at UMITCO to heavily invest in companies with Bush family and republican party ties. Tom Hicks (vice chair) Hicks steered a scheme to use the University of Texas' $13 billion endowment for private investment. Beneficiaries included the Carlyle Group (arms investment firm tied to Daddy Bush & the bin Ladins) and Baby Bush's failed Harkin Oil project. Could Enron do a "pretty good job" of running some of Minneapolis' projects? Probably, but you wouldn't want them sleazing their way across the city limits. Could Faux News do a "pretty good job" of running the Star Trib? Probably, but nothing in the paper would ever actually pass for news again. Same for Clear Channel. Hasn't our local corporate media sold-out sufficiently, or do we really need to import more neo-con toadies to censor our arts? Just say no to Clear Channel. Roxana Orrell Central >Message: 12 >Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 15:29:11 -0600 >From: "Jon Lewis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: [Mpls] Stop City Council from giving away control of our > theatres to Clear Channel > >Greetings, gang. > >This rather histrionic e-mail that Heather forwarded to the list has >been making the rounds. It is my understanding that the Clear Channel >proposal is a joint proposal being submitted by Hennepin Theatre Trust >(a nonprofit), Historic Theatre Group and Clear Channel. This proposal >clearly states that at no time will either HTG or Clear Channel own the >theatres. It is, like the others, a proposal to run the theatres. In >Clear Channel's case, it is a proposal to continue to run the theatres >that they've been running for quite some time. > >All three proposals - Theatre Alliance (Ordway), Theatre Dreams, and >HTT/HTG/Clear Channel are available on the city's website at: > >http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/theatres_rfp_home.asp > >I suggest that people take a look at the website and view the proposals >themselves. There's a lot of misinformation flying around out there. >A good starting place is the facts. > >One can take issue with Clear Channel for some things, but they've been >operating these theatres for some time now and they appear to be doing >a pretty good job. > >Jon Lewis >Lyndale > >Jon Lewis >3109 Hennepin Ave. So. >Minneapolis, MN 55408 >Phone: (612) 825-8837 >Fax: (612) 827-3564 >E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
