Tuesday, October 15, 2019

City Manager wants to change our Charter - Part II

TONIGHT

With five issues up for discussion to possibly place on the ballot, this one really galls me--Benny's.

Charter Revision regarding Lease Term - Benny's, Beach Park, City at Large.

It is disappointing that there is no backup on the five issues they will discuss tonight. You would think there would be considering the importance of all five.  Agenda

Omari Hardy has suggested, more than once, that we have a referendum to give the owner of Benny's a 99 year lease on our Pier property. This is what this city does when it can't/won't maintain anything...you find a public/private partnership or another clever way to give up an asset. And this city is smart enough to know putting it on the ballot has a good chance of passing because that is the typical voter in this city.

Essentially a 99 year lease means turning over our valuable pier property to Benny's on the Beach, Inc. The last lease I have shows they are paying $20,000 a month to the city for ten years plus applicable taxes. Their Lease is up on February 13, 2023. Benny's has control of our Pier and can open or close it to the public based on a threat to public safety. They collect and keep all entrance fees to our Pier.

We all should be very interested to learn what the City has in mind as far as our assets especially our Pier and our Beach Park worth untold millions.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

if I remember last month there were people on this blog that thought Omari was best thing since sliced bread now he wants to give away part of the beach than run.sounds like old days start voting for people that own in city maybe they will have more interest

Lynn Anderson said...

Don't recall anyone saying that "he was the best thing since sliced bread." Omari has made a few decisions that are awful for the city like supporting ADU's. And I would say every commissioner we have has made some lousy decisions. Andy stays quiet and it keeps him out of trouble but he votes, usually, with the rest of the trio.
Let's see what they have to say tonight! Who knows...Omari might change his mind on this give-away of an extremely valuable asset.

Anonymous said...

Look at the Commissioners T reports to see what if anything is a recorded contribution from the owner of Benny's. Probably all of the bribes were done under the table anyway. If that owner is not mafia ,then Andy ain't gay.