Arts Center Mistake
Joe Renna
The County of Union is buying the Union County Arts Center. Make no mistake about it. Though they have been presenting the initiative as just an idea, negotiations have been on going and contracts are being signed. The statements being made by the County Manager and Board of Freeholders are contradictory to the facts. It seems that the taxpayer is being lied to once again.
County officials have refused to discuss the details of the project and frankly state that they do not know how they are going to pay for the purchase or the work to be done. The cost for renovations is estimated to be $6 million. And this is only for "Phase I". This does not include the cost to purchase the building and the surrounding property, which is unknown. There is also no description or cost for "Phase II" or "Phase III". There is no estimation on operating costs once they do purchase the Arts Center or what the return would be. If the return is not monetary then what is it? County Manager George Devanney said "We are not looking to make money off the Arts Center" and that their reason for purchasing it is "For an economic development benefit for the City of Rahway." If the benefit is so great let the City own it.
The statements that have been made by the county officials cannot be substantiated. The official response from County Counsel in regard to documents pertaining to the Union County Arts Center has been that "They do not exist". There was no documentation of the Cost/Benefit Analysis done or cost estimates for other studies needed. For instance the County said the following consultants were called in to do the work over a year ago: MEP, Fire Protection Study of the Union County Arts Center from Cosentini Associates; Site and Civil Study of the Union County Arts Center from PMK Engineering; Cost Estimation Study of the Union County Arts Center from VJ Associates; and Acoustics Study from Cerami Associates, but I was told after my OPRA request that no records exist. The proposal that the Freeholders said was accepted by the Union County Arts Center Board of Directors also did not materialize.
The Freeholders say that the Center's board of directors and professional management team will "Continue to run the programs and day-today operations". Does that mean no new positions will be created? Will the Arts Center continue to rely on their numerous volunteers or will they become paid government positions?
This initiative can very easily approach $20 million and continue to be an annual drain. The taxpayers should know what the costs are up front. If the Freeholders or County Manager don't know what they are then they are grossly inept. The information that I am looking for is rudimentary to any capital investment or project analysis. Denial of its existence points to either incompetence or corruption.
The use of the Open Space Trust Fund for this purchase and renovation is a misuse of those funds. The administrator of the fund, Angie Devanney, said the plan would "Spur hundreds of jobs for Union County residents." She also says that "The plan will raise rateables in Rahway in an attempt to equalize the tax burden". I would like to believe this but there is no documentation to back it up. Statements like these are being made without any analysis being done.
Data must be collected and studied before a decision to purchase the Arts Center could be made. The numbers that are being presented do not add up. For instance the Arts Center's total expenses for 2002 were $1.96 million. That year it ran a deficit of $160,000. The $900,000 in revenue included a $75,000 grant from the County, $30,000 from the State and $50,000 from the City of Rahway. The Arts Center also boasts having a growing list of corporate sponsors, including Merck, and over 4,000 individual patrons and supporters. The portion of the revenue not donated came from 50,000 paid admissions. It is difficult to understand how the programming loses money. The Arts Center is only open 8 months, from October to May, but they do stage 80 events in that time. Ticket prices range from $20 to $65 depending on seat location. The Center holds over 1,300 people.
There are too many questions going unanswered. It is very difficult to support an idea that is not being presented in all honesty. The deception being used by the County points to political wheeling and dealing. It seems the only economies that will be developed are those companies getting the no bid contracts to do the work. For instance, the County just signed a contract with Joseph Jingoli & Sons for construction management services, a noted big campaign contributor.
The tens of millions of dollars that this will cost the taxpayers can be better spent. Part of the Art Center's mission is to enhance cultural and educational opportunities for children in an urbanized area of New Jersey, where affordable arts and culture are not readily available. This is wonderful, and even worth paying for, except there is no evidence that this is happening.
There were only seven shows "For the Kids" in the 2002 season schedule. The rest of the season is filled by acts travelling a national circuit, from Neil Sedaka to Carrot Top. If the County of Union really wants to enhance cultural and education opportunities they would make the venue available for local artists and performers. There are dozens of theatre groups, musicians, singers, dancers, comedians and performers of every kind in Union County. The opportunity for a local band or production company to perform on that stage would be invaluable to the artist. The experience could enhance not only the performers career but it would also have a profound effect on the community that that performer touches.
According to Devanney "The motive behind acquiring the Arts Center is to showcase it as a centerpiece in a revitalized downtown Rahway". The County doesn't have to spend a dime to do this, let alone $6 million. The Arts Center is already a "Gem". It is already restored to its original magnificence as a 1920's Vaudevillian Theater. If an investment is needed it is in the development of the art facilitated by the building and not the building.
A building equals art is a bad case to make. The Arts Center had a chance to prove that ten years ago when they bought Axia Savings Bank, a building on the property adjacent to them. The purchase showed promise of expansion. The building could have been used for a number of things. A rehearsal studio, small theater, a coffee shop or cabaret. I pictured young artists rehearsing every night, workshops and activity spilling over to local businesses. And this could have went on all year round since the facility was air conditioned. The building was never used by the Arts Center. Instead it was leased to the Rahway Board of Education to house a special class for the high school. I don't know if this was done for economic purposes but if it was it makes the budget numbers above even more mysterious.
Government should support and advance the arts. It is as vital to culture as science. The County should contribute to the arts but not own it. The County and Rahway officials are defending the plan by pointing to communities like Red Bank and New Brunswick. These communities are examples of public investment in the arts but what Union County is proposing is not an investment in the arts. They are advancing this as an economic development plan and even in that context the cost overwhelmingly outweighs the benefits. They should look at the John Harms Theater in Bergen County and the county bailouts that were arranged for that theater.
For ten years, the Arts Center was toted as being the premier home for the arts in New Jersey. Can it be any more premier? Was that a fib to generate donations? If the Freeholders want to be honest they would admit that this initiative, like all others is rooted in politics. The acquisition is to showcases themselves. These types of capital investments is how they retain power, repay campaign contributors with contracts and reward political operatives with jobs. The ownership of the Arts Center also gives the Freeholders first hand access to the thousands of patrons and theater goers who represent potential voters.
They started using the Arts Center for their campaigning already. Last year money was found to mail a letter to their list of supporters telling them to vote the Democratic line. This was while there were no "official talks" occurring between the Freeholders and the Arts Center Board of Directors. This year the Freeholders used taxpayers funds to campaign to that same mailing list.
Executive Director of the Arts Center, Donna Sandorse, ties the County take over with "Pouring in much needed money". I'm afraid that the drain plug will be pulled and the pouring will never stop. If this investment was such a boon then a private investor would have jumped on the opportunity. This plan is not new it was laying dormant for over ten years. There was no developer who saw it as a viable investment. Even the largest corporate contributors did not see the benefit in putting the air conditioning system in.
The County purchase of the Arts Center will not benefit anyone but the all Democratic Freeholder Board. If there is a benefit to the community locally or to the County generally then let's see it. There is no doubt that the purchase is going to happen. There is nothing that the public can do to stop it. I can only voice my opinion.
What people should realize is that the millions being spent on these projects are coming from their property taxes. They would be of better use in the coffers of their local governments and school systems. Better yet the money would be better in the pockets of the taxpayers so they can afford to go to the shows at the Union County Arts Center.