looks like the festival of the arts is really 
put on by the city of tempe and MAMA is just 
a front for the operations so the city can
say its a PRIVATE EVENT held on PRIVATE PROPERTY
and flush peoples constitional rights down
the toilet. 

MAMA owes Tempe $127,000 for the last three 
festivals. MAMA is paying off Tempe $6,000 
a month with out any interest. At that rate 
it will take MAMA almost two years (21 months)
to pay off the current bill.

and at that rate in the next 21 months 5 more
festivals will be held (they are held twice a
year) and if the city of tempe continues to
let MAMA not pay its bill at that time
MAMA will owe close over $200,000 
to the city of tempe. almost twice what MAMA
owes the city of tempe now. (note MAMA is
the Mill Avenue Merchants Association. the article
didnt mention the DTC who ia also probably involved.
DTC is Downtown Tempe Community)


from: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/arizona/articles/1202evmama02.html

Downtown Tempe festivals bring visitors, city expenses 


By Bob Petrie
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 2, 2002


TEMPE - As yet another festival rolls into downtown 
Tempe this weekend, along come the costs of providing 
police, fire and other city services to maintain control 
and keep the streets clean.

For some events, the city eats those costs, ranging into 
hundreds of thousands of dollars, at a time when money 
is exceptionally tight at City Hall, which just finished 
cutting 125 positions to balance its books.

For others, such as the Mill Avenue Merchants Association 
Fall Festival, running Friday through Sunday, the promoters 
are contracted to pay. But the city says the merchants 
association owes it $127,000 in back fees for its past 
three festivals, and the organization has been on a monthly, 
no-interest repayment plan, at $6,000 a month.

While the business group is making regular payments, the 
services for this weekend's event will add $85,000 to its 
bill to the city.

"Every time you get caught up, you get new billings," said 
Patrick Flynn, assistant city manager. 

Police Chief Ralph Tranter considered asking the merchants 
association to hire its own security for the fall festival, 
before deciding to move ahead and bill them for overtime to 
hire Tempe officers.

Executive Director Gary Sanders disputes the total amount 
owed the city, but says that negotiations are ongoing to work 
out a new contract with Tempe.

"We're trying to get to something that works for everybody," 
Sanders said, declining further comment.

Flynn says the group probably wouldn't mind getting its city 
services gratis, similar to the Fiesta Bowl for its New Year's 
Eve Block Party, the Kiwanis Club for the Fourth of July 
fireworks show, and Tempe Sister Cities for Oktoberfest.

"I'm sure if I were in their shoes, there would be concerns 
about that, why them and not us?" he said.

Last year's Block Party cost the city $269,365 in services, 
and the July 4 show $112,204. The Oktoberfest checked in at 
$28,000, according to the city.

Art Jacobs, a Tempe resident who regularly questions the city 
on event costs, thinks all promoters should pay the freight.

"If they want to put on an event, get the money. Put it up," 
Jacobs said.

The message may be getting through. 

A City Council subcommittee last week agreed to a review of the 
city's special event policy and costs. "It's always healthy to 
step back and revisit things," Flynn said.

But Mayor Neil Giuliano prefers a case-by-case review of events.

"The events are not the same and the impact is not the same," 
Giuliano said. 

He said the Fiesta Bowl returned $72,000 last year to the Tempe 
Community Council after last year's block party turned a profit.

Flynn said to cut off all events from free city services is 
"a two-edged sword," since the city has long sought to bring 
festivals and other street parties downtown.

While charging promoters for services may save the city money, 
Flynn says it could also drive festivals elsewhere.
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