I was not in attendance at a recent meeting of the County Convention and Sports Authority and the City Council, but I did have a report given to me. The person relayed to me a comment made by Councilman Mike Weller of Ward 5. Weller spoke about the Partners for Progress Dinner to be held at the center and how these events would keep the center in business and how these events were great.
I would like to tell Weller he is dead wrong. He needs to look at how the debt is paid. Weller would have us all believe these type of events are the cash flow to pay the debt. Weller doesn’t get it.
The Convention and Sports Authority and the City’s portion of the debt service is dependent upon taxes generated from the sale of hotel rooms. While Weller’s lack of understanding is not unusual for him, those in attendance should have reminded him of that fact. Corporate dinners are good for the center and I hope they continue, but the goal has to be to limit the amount of shortfall and operations and debt service.
On a side note. Why is Steve Powell allowed to continue with the City and the Convention Center? He has taken another job in another city. Can you say conflict of interest? To top it off, Powell has been reported to have said he agreed with the holistic approach to marketing the City. Steve if you would have been this open and understanding when you worked for the City you might still be the director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Another interesting tidbit. Julie Guftaston is the PR company hired by John Q. Hammonds Convention Hotel. You might remember Julie was contracted as the CVB’s PR director as well. Wonder how she landed that job with so many other companies in the area? Could it be that Steve urged them to hire her? Makes one wonder.
