Check out this little nugget on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the Jackson City Council.
Apparently Human and Cultural Services Director Pam Junior wants to off-load Thalia Mara Hall onto the Convention Center and Visit Jackson.
Let's be frank. The Convention Center and Visit Jackson have not exactly shown management prowess over the last few years. The Convention Center is a mess and a big money-loser. It is understandable why the city might want to turn over the management to someone else but this is probably not the way to do it.
If anything, there will be less accountability if the transfer takes place. The two organizations are governed by boards. Boards are not answerable to the public and can blow off those who appointed the members. The Council should seriously question this move.
Update: The city will pay the Convention Center $350,000 the first year to manage the facility.
23 comments:
The Symphony is plannings its post-September concerts for Thalia Mara. I wonder how likely that will happen?
How often does the city council question anything?
One of the suburbs should step up and build a preforming arts center.
Vote NO Ashby!!!!
side note, I have a family member who works for the state and the mayor wants them to take over liquidation as previous monies have been pocketed (no surprise) and he isn't sure who he can trust from the previous admin. Sounds like the mayor is trying his best to bring law and order, and monies, back to the city coffers.
“Do not let your view become too narrow, lest you lose sight of reality.”
Is there anyone with a heart beat that would commit money for a show or concert at Thalia Mara?
12:23---I've heard they are not going to be in Thalia Mara this year due to Asbestos abatement...
Thalia Mara is dead. Give it a funeral with one final rap bash and then tear it down. Build a new facility through a private / public partnership miles away from Jackson and Hinds County. First rule: NO GRADUATIONS.
KF says " The Convention Center and Visit Jackson have not exactly shown management prowess over the last few years." Is there any thing affiliated with city of Jackson government that has shown management prowess?
The council want question anything.
They will just raise their hand and vote
for it.
They could hire an actual venue management group for that amount of money. This is not good.
2:11 Do tell. What are the problems with graduations?
The USA International Ballet Competition, or USA IBC, is one of the world's top competitions for ballet.[1] Located in Jackson, Mississippi, this competition is attended by dancers from all over the world
Founded in 1978 by Thalia Mara,
In 1982, the United States Congress passed a Joint resolution designating Jackson, Mississippi, as the official home of the USA International Ballet Competition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_International_Ballet_Competition
Well folks, back during the the Dale Danks era, Jackson was on the world stage.
Not so much within the last thirty years.
Why is that I ask ... ?
Follow the $$
Nyet! THE Performing Arts Center belongs in the Capital. Too, there's the IBC, which HAS TO be held in Jackson. Ownership of Thalia Mara Hall should be passed to The State of Mississippi, which hopefully will have the moxy and resources to guard such a treasure. Getting the International Ballet Competition was a huge coup, and a miracle, and a smart state government would make the most of both the IBC and Thalia Mara Hall (an architectural gem meriting the best-possible maintenance and enhancements).
6:23 - you have to ask?
Homecoming parades are about all we have to look forward to now…
6:23 If Republican would rather sacrifice their capital city rather than support it and are deluded enough to imagine that their town can finance anything comparable, they are clueless. Hattiesburg and Biloxi /Gulfport have big centers. They don't have airports. They aren't at the crossroads of major highways. They don't have the hotels and restaurants to support a large influx of visitors. They don't have the parking. They don't have the museums or historical interests and the infrastructure. And as an old woman, let me assure you I'm not afraid to go to downtown Jackson. I have enough sense to know that EVERY city has places you go and don't go at night especially. I swear, do none of you travel anywhere ever? Should you get out of your chairs, every single town and city in the country has pockets of poverty and the crime that goes with it and you shouldn't go there.
The consequences of poor decisions are about to be blamed on racism again…
7:33 is right. Why should we demand that Jackson use the tax monies appropriately like all the other cities in MS? Why should we expect the elected officials to make the city business friendly? How dare we expect judges to lock up criminals? We are the problem for not staying there, paying sky high taxes and blindly supporting the defunct and broken city.
Jackson is just like EVERY city and we are just simple scared bumpkins.
We are the problem in Jackson.
I bet we are racist too.
1:33 - Fuck yes. When that building is in its best condition, it will book more and more shows. It will generate huge revenue for the city. Kevin Hart had to cancel his show here due to this mess. There are many more coming, I assure you.
5:12. Did adding "fuck" to your post have any relevance?. Why did you go there? Serious question. I am an old man truly curious as to why that nasty word is used so easily without regard everywhere today.
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