The party for the rich continues at the Bowers, at public expense of course
Unbelievable. The Santa Ana City Council will vote on Monday on a plan to “offer the Bowers Museum a $1.3 million gift, even as they cut millions of dollars from their own weakening budge,” according to the O.C. Register.
“The money would pay for a parking lot just south of the museum on Main Street. A development company had planned to build luxury condominiums on the site, but agreed to sell the land to the city as the housing market slowed.”
The city is using the excuse that the money is coming from its redevelopment fund to explain this deal. The city used to own this lot before, but it traded the land for a parcel on the other side of the Bowers, which the museum used for a $14 million dollar expansion and parking lot.
The city owns all of the Bowers land and gives the museum over $2 million a year to fund its operation. Here’s an idea for the cash-strapped city – sell the Bowers and make them pay a lease for the land they sit on!
The Bowers charges $12 admission for adults and $9 for kids and students. Few people in Santa Ana can afford those rates. Santa Ana residents can visit the museum for free on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of each month. That is all we get for $2 million a year. That money is equal to over 26,000 annual Bowers memberships, at $75 a pop, or over 44,000 student memberships.
“A development company had planned to build luxury condominiums on the site, but agreed to sell the land to the city as the housing market slowed.”
Wasn’t that nice of the development company? I dont imagine that unnamed company or its principals ever gave any money to the city council’s reelection funds.
This is probably another example of Pullido and Co in bed with developers.
Not to worry though Pullido is ever faithful, he might sleep around but he only screws Santa Ana’s residents.
This may seem like a minor point, but you’ve done this a couple times lately…
Namely, the title of your post implies that this action is a foregone conclusion. “Santa Ana Council to spend…”. You did it the other day as well when a post was titled “Santa Ana Council to Raise Fees…”
Yet neither of those actions have been voted on, have they? Is this just some sly trick on your part, or a simple oversight?
#2,
Don’t be silly. You know full well how Pulido and his team roll. NOTHING gets on an agenda without being agreed to in advance, in violation of the Brown Act of course.
All of this has been pre-ordained. They have to agendize it only to comply with the Brown Act, but rest assured, all of this is a done deal. You know that full well – so please don’t be coy.
Art, I don’t know that at all. I’ve seen agenda items be voted down or tabled for further research. You know that full well – so please don’t be coy.
Anybody know what happened at the vote last night?
Yeah Art, where’s the story about how the Council voted for this last night?
#6,
I have only anecdotal info right now. The commission closure matter was put off for a month. Michele Martinez had some good ideas as to how to preserve some of these bodies.
The Bowers vote passed 7-0. David Benavides jumped all over Thomas Gordon’s case when the latter spoke out against it.
The Viet vote was unanimous too.
Please log on to the bowers website and check out the workshops they offer. Most are $40-$60. What percentage of Santa Ana can afford those outrages prices. While you are there check out the pictures they use and ask yourself if they represent the population of Santa Ana accurately? Bowers takes too much of our money and not give enough services back.