All's well that end's well at the BID (Business Improve District). Heads did not roll as previously thought.At today's board meeting, the end up was that Mia Stierheim of CocoWalk took over as chairman of the BID's Special Events and Marketing Committee.
The volunteer position was Marshall Steingold's. Marshall was in hot water lately, for his association with IGT, a marketing/discount card company that is doing business with the BID. There was conflict of interest in doing business with both IGT and the BID. (Full story here).
Mia is shown here, at left, with board members Monty Trainer (center) of the Arts Festival and Lalo Durazo of Jaguar restaurant.
Marshall resigned from his BID position at the opening of the meeting, but Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, chairman of the board, generously asked for a hearing first. But through a long winded hearing, with lots of finger pointing, where everyone had their say back and forth, it seemed only fair that IGT and Marshall be removed from the picture; IGT because they can't be trusted, Marshall, because of the conflict of interest, but also because he is not a board member and the board feels that committees should be chaired by board members.
IGT and Marshall are being banned from doing business with the BID for a period of one year, except for the billboard on US1 and 27th Avenue, where the BID subleases space from IGT. Apparently the billboard is too valuable to lose. It's nice how we pick and choose our battles. IGT is the big evil giant, but we need something from them, so they aren't really that big and evil after all.
The billboard actually costs IGT a minimum of $11,500 per month for the non-negotiated rate, it could be had for about $8000 on a long term lease (IGT has it on a yearly negotiated rate). IGT then in turn, subleases it to the BID, who gets it for $17,900. The BID then sells co-op space to it's members for $1000 a pop. I sure wish I owned that billboard. Lots of cash flying around there. But that's another issue, the price of the billboard was not the question, IGT's control of the billboard is.
It seemed like the whole town was out for this meeting and that's good. There have been too many secrets at the BID office and everyone, I mean everyone, is sick and tired of it.
Comm. Sarnoff made an opening remark saying that avoiding the appearance of impropriety is of utmost importance. When people keep secrets, rumors start. Full disclosure needs to be the rule with everything.
Comm. Sarnoff ended the meeting with another great thought, basically that we need to know our neighbors and that people are basically good at heart. I totally agree with that and maybe if we start seeing the good in everyone rather than the bad, that may solve a lot of problems.
Marshall resigned from his BID position at the opening of the meeting, but Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, chairman of the board, generously asked for a hearing first. But through a long winded hearing, with lots of finger pointing, where everyone had their say back and forth, it seemed only fair that IGT and Marshall be removed from the picture; IGT because they can't be trusted, Marshall, because of the conflict of interest, but also because he is not a board member and the board feels that committees should be chaired by board members.
IGT and Marshall are being banned from doing business with the BID for a period of one year, except for the billboard on US1 and 27th Avenue, where the BID subleases space from IGT. Apparently the billboard is too valuable to lose. It's nice how we pick and choose our battles. IGT is the big evil giant, but we need something from them, so they aren't really that big and evil after all.
The billboard actually costs IGT a minimum of $11,500 per month for the non-negotiated rate, it could be had for about $8000 on a long term lease (IGT has it on a yearly negotiated rate). IGT then in turn, subleases it to the BID, who gets it for $17,900. The BID then sells co-op space to it's members for $1000 a pop. I sure wish I owned that billboard. Lots of cash flying around there. But that's another issue, the price of the billboard was not the question, IGT's control of the billboard is.
It seemed like the whole town was out for this meeting and that's good. There have been too many secrets at the BID office and everyone, I mean everyone, is sick and tired of it.
Comm. Sarnoff made an opening remark saying that avoiding the appearance of impropriety is of utmost importance. When people keep secrets, rumors start. Full disclosure needs to be the rule with everything.
Comm. Sarnoff ended the meeting with another great thought, basically that we need to know our neighbors and that people are basically good at heart. I totally agree with that and maybe if we start seeing the good in everyone rather than the bad, that may solve a lot of problems.
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