Auction Countdown: Canceled… But Senator Theatre not out of the woods yet!

Update 3:46pm: Balto. Sun reports 1st Mariner Bank has canceled the theatre’s auction. However, my sources say keeping it off the auction block is contingent that the city’s plan to buy the theatre goes through… So, the rest of this entry is still pertinent.

While others seem to be celebrating (and others berating “another bailout”, even when it isn’t) Mayor Sheila Dixon’s announcement that Baltimore City would move ahead with their Strategy Group’s recommendation to buy The Senator Theatre, I’ve been… Cautiously optimistic.

Why?
Well, I am heartened that the deal includes:

• Release of Tom Kiefaber’s home in Sparks (the very least they could do for the man who’s fought for 20 years for The Senator’s survival and the good of its community)
• The possibility the community may have a say regarding to whom the city will sell/lease the theatre.

These are not present in the 1st Mariner auction scenario.

But:

• For starters, let’s face it, an announcement is just & only that.
  Until the ink dries on documentation, nothing is definite.
• The announcement states that approval will be required by the Board of Estimates.
  “The city’s loan purchase is subject to approval by the Board of
  Estimates.” – MD Daily Record
• The city and 1st Mariner debt are addressed, but there’s still a matter of debt owed to the state.
  “The theater also owes more than $600,000 in loans and fees to the state, which theater officials said they are still working to resolve.” – MD Daily Record

I know Annapolis wrapped up the session yesterday, but let’s get on those phones & email people! Get the state representatives to work with the theatre and the city on how to work out the state debt/loan issue!

More media links (thanks to Nicholas Evans’ help):

• WJZ TV: City Announces Plan to Save Senator Theatre
• Baltimore Messenger: Forestalling foreclosure?
• WBAL TV: Senator Theatre has new lease on life
• Baltimore Sun: Senator still a link to cinemas past

O’Malley Passes the buck, as does DBED, etc.

While we’re on the subject of politicians and what appears to be their, “I don’t want to get involved” stance on The Senator’s situation, let me share another response. This one from Maryland’s top executive… Or rather, should have been.

Maryland Governor (& former Baltimore Mayor) Martin O'Malley

I wrote a letter to Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley regarding The Senator and asked for his aid in helping the “community-owned non-profit, multi-purpose entertainment & educational” vision move forward.

One would think that the former mayor of Baltimore City, home of The Senator Theatre, would be more than willing to step up and at least vocalize support for the theatre and all the good it has done for community and business in the area.

Especially when the area includes Belvedere Square, a an area across the street from the theatre that stood dormant for more than a decade and O’Malley himself called, “a stark symbol of decline”.

An area that was revitalized with city and state funding that Mayor O’Malley backed (with urging from the community, including Senator staff) and even got in a bit of hot water trying to convince citizens to patronize.

Christian Johansson, Secretary, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

Instead, what I received was a letter from Christian Johansson, the Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Business & Economic Development (DBED), in which I am thanked for contacting the governor and am told what an iconic treasure The Senator is.

Hannah Bryon, Assistant Secretary; Tourism, Film & the Arts

I am then referred to a Ms. Hannah Byron of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts, who is representing DBED on Mayor Sheila Dixon’s steering committee that is charged with determining the viability of the theatre as a non-profit.

Okay, so I send a series of questions to Ms. Byron via email and shortly receive a response!

I am forwarding your questions to Bill Henry.

That’s it.

Bill Henry, Balto. City District 4 Councilman

I’m not kidding here. District 4 Councilman Bill Henry. The man who told supporters present at the March 16 Town Meeting (called by the SCT) to contact their state officials and ask why they haven’t gotten involved.

Well, Bill, I went “straight to the top” of Maryland state government and after one letter and one email I’ve been sent down the political sliding board, right back to you. Any other suggestions?

To other supporters: Have you received responses from state or local officials? If you have and you would like to share them with others, send them to me and I’ll post them on the Politician’s Responses to Senator Plight page. Or, if you’ve put them online already, just send me the link!