Lee open to reducing Pride’s debt
Interim Mayor Ed Lee is willing to discuss ideas on how to reduce the amount of money Pride organizers still owe the city for services rendered during the 2010 celebration. As of June 1, the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee had yet to repay nearly $51,000 to the Department of Public Works for last year's event.
Pride recently paid the remainder of $1,200 it had owed the Recreation and Park Department when it submitted its deposit payment to use Civic Center Plaza for this year's event, which takes place Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26. Its total debt load for accounts payable to various vendors and community partners is $141,000.
The Pride Committee has arranged a repayment plan with DPW that permits it to pay back $25,000 of the amount owed prior to this year's event, which it is on schedule to fulfill, according to Pride interim Executive Director Brendan Behan.
"The remainder we have committed to pay between July of 2011 and June of 2012," he told the B.A.R.
In an interview last month with the Bay Area Reporter , Lee said the idea of forgiving the debt entirely was not on the table. But he added he is open to suggestions.
"The word 'forgive' hasn't resonated yet," said Lee in his first interview with the gay press since being appointed in January to fill out the remainder of former Mayor Gavin Newsom's term.
Lee said he plans to have "good discussions" with the city's two gay supervisors, Scott Wiener and David Campos, about Pride's outstanding city bills to "see where we can help."
"I am very committed to help resolve this the best we can," said Lee, who plans to walk in this year's parade. "I would say if we put our heads together, and certainly with the intelligence Supervisors Campos and Wiener have, ... we can probably come to some resolution on this. Right now forgiving, that may be too strong."
Before any proposal could be adopted, said Lee, he would need to carefully examine the strength of the Pride organization. The producers of the largest LGBT outdoor event on the West Coast were beset with a string of leadership shakeups, including the resignation of former executive director Amy Andre, following the fiscal problems that emanated from the 2010 event. [See story, page 2.]
Since then a number of new board members have been brought on board to help with fundraising and Behan agreed to return to the organization. He previously had worked as Pride's deputy director but left several months after Andre was hired in 2009.
"I want to see where the management of Pride is, what their commitment is, what their vision is, what their plans are to both recover from their debts and where they want to go," said Lee. "I think it is always healthy to make sure we are all doing our part."
So far Lee has not met directly with Pride officials to discuss the matter. Told of the mayor's comments, Behan said he was heartened to hear the mayor was willing to work with the Pride committee to resolve its monetary issues.
"With the debt we do have, every amount we can eliminate just gives us more opportunity to focus the event proceeds to our community partners. I would welcome any opportunities to have those discussions," said Behan.
Pride has not asked to be forgiven of its debts and is "absolutely" committed to repaying the city back, said Behan.
"We haven't asked for any forgiveness of debt because it looks like we are going to be able to pay off the deficit and bills owed to the city," he said.
Any help the city can provide in reducing those payments, however, would be welcome, said Behan. Pride officials have been in talks with Wiener and Campos on various ways the city can support it, he said.
"We continue to have conversations around possible decreases in certain bills. That to us is what our thinking is; it is an ongoing conversation," said Behan. "For right now those are options that the city could introduce. Both the board and myself would be thrilled to talk about that."
Pride is looking at ways to decrease the amount of money DPW will charge it during this year's festivities. Behan said the bill is based largely on how much cleanup there is for city workers to do once the party ends Sunday night.
"The cleanup of Civic Center Plaza depends on how much work there is. We do a pretty good job of fielding a sizeable recycling team that picks up trash during the event," said Behan. "This year we are looking at what we might be able to do to step that up."
Due to Pride's impact on the city - it not only draws international media attention each year but is also a major tourist draw - Lee said it was appropriate for City Hall to ensure the event remains viable.
Pride's contribution to the city's own budget, he said, "is huge and the parade brings in so many people."
It also symbolizes the city's leadership in the fight for LGBT rights, added Lee.
"We are a leader not only in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights, it is a pride the city has in being a leader and leading voice in everything from AIDS funding to fighting discrimination to celebrating diversity," he said. "It is why we are going to pay attention to what happens with Pride and make sure they are focused not on long term survival but long term success."