Jazz Festival announces line-up today, but what about their political line-up?
Who doesn’t love the Rochester International Jazz Festival? Great music, friendly crowds, good business. This morning, they announced their 2009 line-up of performers. As Mayor Duffy said at the press conference, “This is our stimulus package!”
As it turns out, the festival also provides “stimulus” to the Mayor, donating to his campaign fund. He isn’t alone. If you look at the festival’s sponsors, you’ll notice, among the corporations and institutions, three (only3) elected officials: Mayor Bob Duffy, County Manager Maggie Brooks, and State Senator Jim Alesi.
Are these fine people donating their own money to the Jazz Festival? No, they’re using public tax money, of course. And the festival, in turn, is a significant contributor to all three. Since 2004, Bob Duffy got $5,000, Maggie Brooks got $3,500, and Jim Alesi got $15,300. You scratch my back…
You’d think, at least, “friends of labor” Maggie and Bob would encourage the festival to pick a host hotel other than the anti-union Rochester Plaza.
Related posts:
Why am I not surprised???
It always makes me mad when I see huge signs saying “Brought to you by Maggie Brooks” NO IT’s NOT!!! I really get angry when my tax dollars are spend to promote what amounts to political advertising. The signs should read “Brought to you by Monroe County” that is it!
[...] article about the Jazz Festival reminded me that I’d made much the same observation last year. [...]