Greek Theatre: a Simple Choice

The contract to operate the Greek Theatre for the next 10 years comes before the Recreation and Parks Commission Tuesday for a second time. Even though a bid offered by the House of Blues organization offers more benefits to taxpayers on nearly all objective criteria, the panel might well reward the politically connected Nederlander family once more. The Nederlanders, who have run the theater for the past 25 years, have a cozy relationship with Councilmen John Ferraro and Hal Bernson--the family’s lawyer/lobbyist is a personal friend of both.

These deep ties at City Hall have allowed the Nederlanders a long, undisturbed run at the Greek. The I’ll-scratch-your-back, you-scratch-mine relationship prompted the commission and the council in 1999 to extend their contract without competitive bidding. Only after a public hue and cry did a chagrined council rescind the deal and order competitive bidding.

Meanwhile, the facilities of the Greek--whose revenues have declined somewhat lately--are badly in need of an upgrade. That’s why the Recreation and Parks Department decreed that the next operator must make extensive repairs to the 1929 theater.

Both companies promise to make the minimum improvements the city wants. But the House of Blues proposal goes much further: almost $6 million more in improvements than Nederlander and $1.5 million more in rent that would go to city coffers. That the House of Blues offers taxpayers the better deal couldn’t be clearer. Indeed, that’s what the department’s staff said in a thorough analysis.

Yet last month, when the commissioners first took up the two proposals, several seemed to grab on to any argument, no matter how foolish, to justify tapping Nederlander. They challenged the department’s scoring system, for example, arguing that if the Nederlander proposal meets the city’s minimum requirements it should get the same point score as the House of Blues even though the House of Blues offered the city more revenue and improvements. And while residents from neighborhoods near the Greek turned out in overwhelming support of the House of Blues, some commissioners claim they’re still not sure which bidder the community prefers.

The House of Blues offers taxpayers--and theatergoers--the superior proposal. Let’s see Tuesday whether commissioners act for the city’s best interests.