Norfolk’s council is going to make me to do a series on the fleecing of its taxpayers. The latest is the production of three “Broadway at the Chrysler” shows. This little venture will only cost us $600,000.
I wonder what Richmond is going to do? After all, Ward Smythe alerted us that the they were experiencing the same problem with Baci Management there. And what about Baltimore? From the RTD:
The Baltimore Sun has reported that the Maryland attorney general’s office is investigating at least nine complaints against Performing Arts Productions, a subsidiary of Baci.
The complaints allege failure to refund money for tickets to shows canceled at Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House, whose entire season was called off.
So far, I’ve seen no reports that Richmond or Baltimore are bellying up to the bar and bailing out Baci. How come Norfolk is doing it?
Was this the only answer? Perhaps the Virginia AG could have stepped in and helped the subscribers get their money back. After all, it was Baci who collected the money, not the city.
And if they did have an extra $600,000 laying around, how come we didn’t get it back in the form of real estate tax relief last year? Or, better yet, how about giving it back for the non-existent city stickers were are still paying for?
Talk about moral obligations. (h/t Kerry Doughtery)
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VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever see any of my money back.
They cancelled 3 out of 5 shows and substituted “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” for “Casablanca.
We’ll never buy this series again.
This might be the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard all day.
(clarification: what the City of Norfolk is doing, not your post)
Oh, come on, support the Arts… I mean, it’s more important than funding our schools or feeding the hungry or training the unemployed… Just where are your priorities…
😉
Peter Stinson has a point. Lord knows, the Tidewater area is a cultural backwater, so even second- or third-tier road shows are better than nothing.
Meanwhile, yeah, somebody should be trying to get some money out of Baci.
Does my sarcasm sometimes not really come through?
Or maybe I just don’t see others’ sarcasm when it slaps me in the face…
Peter, I got it 🙂