Dear Joe,
Thank you for your attention to the matter of ASAP's possible sponsorship of this year's Salisbury Festival.
As the chairman of the Chamber's Crime Reduction Task Force, I took it upon myself to further inquire into this matter. As of today, the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce did not receive or accept any payment for sponsorship from Mr. Lewis or ASAP. The Chamber takes it's commitment to enhancing the quality of life within Wicomico County and our region very seriously. Therefore we would never knowingly associate or reward in anyway the sort of criminal activities that allegedly took place at the county landfill.
I would like to take this opportunity to commend our law enforcement agencies, County Executive & County Council for their outstanding handling of this matter. Also I would particularly like to thank the individuals who have helped by coming forward and assisting in the investigation.
I hope you and your readers will join us along with everyone in our community at the 25th Annual Salisbury Festival April 27-29. For more information call the chamber at 410-749-0144.
Thanks again for you bringing this to our attention and thanks for the service that you provide to our community.
Regards,
Mark McIver
Chairman, Crime Reduction Task Force
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
glad to see that the chamber has made the desision to distance it's self from Ray Lewis and ASAP:) Joe, you are the man!!
ReplyDeleteWhy is Mark McIver responding to the threat of a boycott? Why isn't Brad Bellacicco or Phil Tilghman responding? Mark is chair of Crime Reduction Task Force not Festivals or membership, I would think his committee would be busy concerning themselves with the much needed security at the festival and the reduction of crime that occurs annually at this event.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a response. This is a pacifier. They don't care who sponsors they just don't want to take a loss on this event.
Joe, good job, but am I missing something, they say they have not taken anything THUS far, have they made up thier mind not to?
ReplyDeleteJOE,yOU ARE [THEE MAN].I just went past the WYCC and lo/behold they are advertising the J.M. BENNETT high school GRAND MARCH. You think the blogs had anything to do with Wicomico students using the center?
ReplyDeleteRay Lewis was never in the picture
ReplyDeleteto sponsor this years event, however he was a sponsor in last years festival.
ANON 9:53 Good point. A response and explanation would have been more appropriate from either the paid Director or the current President.
ReplyDeleteANON 10:30
ReplyDeleteActually that's incorrect. The program for this years' festival lists asap as sponsor for one of the stages. This program was prepared and sent to the printer weeks ago, so maybe it was before the news broke about this guy. To save some face, the chamber needs to say when that was sent to the printer, I'd think.
The Block Party is going to have some great bands friday night on the Riverwalk. Dont miss it!
ReplyDeleteI recieved a reply from the chamber stating he was not a sponsor. It was from the chamer not the crime reduction task force. They heard the message. I am not sure if he was even going to be a sponsor this year.
ReplyDeleteIf Mark McIver says the Chamber isn't taking money this year from a defrauder of the taxpayers, that's good enough for me. I'd take his word over Brad Bellacicco's. I don't agree with Mr. McIver on some of his politics, but he is known in the community as a man of stellar character and taking action against crime, with which he is painfully familiar.
ReplyDeleteI thought the Festival was April 25th - 29th? Can anyone verify?
ReplyDeleteI believe there are events starting on 4/23 but the main thing downtown will be 4/25 and 4/26
ReplyDeleteBrad is a pussy nd a poor excuse for a director. Thank you for having Mark Mclver, a man of integrity and able to step forward and straighten this matter out. OK Brad, you can come out of the closet. No one is going to pick on you anymore.
ReplyDelete