There is concern over the proposed FICPA 1040K Run that is to take place in Coconut Grove on April 15. The run has taken place for 22 consecutive years in Coconut Grove but this year there is a problem with coordination with the Coconut Grove BID (Business Improvement District).
The organization, the FICPA Educational Foundation, approached the BID last week to ask for permission to hold the run, but the BID turned them down due to timing. Applications must be submitted to the BID a full 60 days before an event, the event planners only gave them about 30 days' notice.
Having been burned the previous week by the organizers of the Colombian Parade, which marched down South Bayshore Drive, without the blessings of the majority of the BID members, the BID was very adamant about event organizers adhering to the rules at the last BID marketing committee meeting.
The rub is that the 1040K group doesn't care what the BID has to say, they are going full speed ahead, they have distributed 20,000 applications, including ads and flyers, which may be seen all around the Grove. I have witnessed quite a few business owners pick up the flyers and dump them out of frustration because of the conflict between the BID and the 1040K group.
One problem is that the FICPA Educational Foundation has ignored the BID and proceeded to deal with the City, making the BID appear as a useless joke again, since it seems that what the BID says doesn't mean a thing. You go to the BID one day, request something, are turned down and all you have to do is go behind their back the next day and get what you want from the City or at some secret meeting held by a handful of connected BID members.
Another problem is that on the city application filed, the organizers of the event say that they are not a charity. But in reality they are a 301(c)(3).
Jason Zaborske, Development Manager of the FICPA Educational Foundation, tells me that since 1989, this particular race has generated approximately $200,000 in scholarship funds to African-American accounting students in South Florida.
"This year we will provide three students with $3000 scholarships each at the race on April 15," says Jason. Jason also showed me a copy of their 501(c)(3) certificate.
Frankie J. Ruiz, Chief Running Officer of USRS, US Road Sports & Entertainment Group, which produces the event has reached out to the City to override the BID. In an email sent to District Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, he blames the BID for standing in his way for basically enforcing the law. In the email he says, "The Special Events office didn't inform us that the BID was now strictly enforcing the 60-day rule, keep in mind that the BID is relatively new so the process has been cloudy for the last several years."
The 22 year old race will probably go on. The City will override the BID as is usually the case, which is a major issue here in Coconut Grove and the BID seems to not want to put the City on the spot by standing up for itself. So it will be business as usual until someone says something.
The arrogance of the race organizers is not helping in the standoff. To circulate the flyers all over the Grove and to proceed as if they have every right is not going to help them in future Grove endeavors. I am told this by certain BID and business members in the Grove community. I sort of have this feeling about the organization myself, even though Jason and the charity itself mean well.
At the BID meeting last week, one of the ladies presenting for the FICPA said that if they are not wanted in the Grove, they will take their event to Coral Gables. Who is stopping them?
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