To my fellow Board Members and Friends of Urban Salisbury
As you are all aware, we have been evaluating our financial situation since last fall, attempting to find a way to stay afloat through the end of this fiscal year. Despite many attempts. I am sorry to say that Urban Salisbury will not be financially viable after April 30, 2009.
The City was unwilling or unable to provide us with $20,000 to allow us to operate until the end of June 2009.
Increasing donations is simply not possible in this recession. Furthermore, this is not really how a Main Street organization should be funded.
Another suggestion was that Urban Salisbury take over and operate the Salisbury Marina. Not only were we not created to do this; we do not have the staff nor the financial resources to make the Marina a success.
Our 2009-2010 funding application and our Power Point success story were not allowed to be put on the Council agenda.
The Candidates at the Mayoral Forum we hosted clearly demonstrated a lack of understanding of the role of Urban Salisbury and a lack of support for viable downtown revitalization.
This lack of understanding and support is truly a shame. There have been many positive outcomes over the years including Park 'n Flea, the Sculpture Collection, the Arts & Entertainment District designation and Facade Grant program, to name just a few. More are on the way. We had intended to present a viable, affordable master plan for Main Street. We were not going to ask the City to fund construction. We wanted Council's endorsement and support of our efforts to generate financial assistance.
As I stated earlier, Urban Salisbury's future, as a Main Street organization, is pretty much doomed. That being the case, I have advised Allan Hope, our Executive Director, to seek employment elsewhere, since we will no longer be able to pay a salary past the end of April. Allan has done a great job for us and we hate to see him leave our community.
I am also announcing that I am resigning as President, as of April 30, 2009. I regret this, since I am a strong supporter of the downtown, but I see no effective pathway to lead this organization forward.
Thank you, Bruce Patterson, President, Urban Salisbury, Inc.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Mayor Tilghman Threw a FIT when she saw this letter. I'd love to hear what YOU think.
21 comments:
Why weren't they allowed to present their proposal at council?
Because Mayor Tilghman wants the Downtown to FAIL! They want the property values to hit rock bottom. Many would like to come in and scoop it up because they know Box Stores are a thing of the past and Downtowns are coming back BIG TIME all across America. Sounds a lot like the North Prong, EH?
Louise Smith is in on it too.
sad it seems Mr. Patterson had good intentions and wanted to make a downtown we can be proud of again.
I worked as an intern for Urban Salisbury years ago. The ideas are there to make downtown great. The city doesnt want it to succeed.
Joe, Looks like the Dunn system is going in place.You know the Dunn that is this [-] close and the same that throws paper in elderly LADIES FACES.
Again were they denied presentation by the Mayor or members of city council?
The City of Salisbury (council) should be completely ashamed. What a disgrace. Totally worthless.
I understand the mayor would not send it forward to the City Council.
Louise Smith would not put them on the agenda. Everyone knows Louise Smith does exactly as Barrie tells her to do.
what a joke of elected officals we have in this town with two exceptions.... I guess the mare has her panties in a knot with all this exposure.... and Bubba too!!!
I am very sad and concerned as a business/ property owner that the city council president rejected Urban Salisbury's request to show their plan. The group wasn't asking for any more money, just the council's blessing to proceed forward. It truly is a slap in the face of those who have dedicated soo much time and energy, only to have the rug pulled out from under them. I certainly hope that the new mayor and the council can really dig deep and start WORKING WITH EACH OTHER! Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the reason for becoming an elected official to try and make change-positive change? Everyone needs to put their personal agendas aside, and work together as hard as it may be sometimes.
They will still be in operation when Jim gets elected. Maybe then, help will be on the way!
Tighlman is on her way out and has no business making decisions like that, she's nothing but an old worn out hose bag.
After the election it's recall Louise Smith time. Should Jim win by an overwhelming landslide then we ought to seize the moment and add Bubba to the recall.
7:54, Recall those two no matter what!
Bubba should be recalled for being such a liar. He sounds more and more like Richard Nixon everytime he opens his mouth. I have no knowledge and his most recent on WBOC tonight of "I don't know anything".
We know something Gary...GUILTY AS CHARGED.
When he denied knowledge of voter bribery, I thought Gary sounded more like "I didn't have sex with that woman!" Define voter bribery? LoL
Like I have said before, "It's a dang shame you can't tar and feather people anymore!"
Urban downtowns are a myth. Stop wasting dollars trying to lure businesses where there is no business. Let capitalism run its course and businesses will return if it's viable.
Just one thing there Rod, business owners were led to believe that revitalizing downtown was a priority. Now they have everything they own, blood sweat and tears in a business that's going to close up. Those people have been failed big time.
Rod Whisner: You are a moron. If I ever see you in the streets, you better cross to the other side. I mean it. You've got no business talking about things that you have absolutely no knowledge of. I have studied urban economic patterning for 23 years. "Urban downtowns are a myth" ??? What are you smoking? Just because Salisbury has failed doesn't mean that blanket statement is applicable elsewhere. Please, do us all a favor and just get out of Salisbury.
Dear "anonymous,"
It should be no problem to find me, since I, unlike you, have the guts to actually post my name.
As to whether urban downtown revitalization plans work, I'm sure the readers of this blog - and perhaps the Salisbury city council, would appreciate your insight, as well as examples of successes, culled from your stated 23 years of research.
Wasting our time with schoolyard tactics only makes you look ridiculous.
Until you can prove me otherwise, and deliver a plan based your vast experience, I stand by my comment. I'll add Salisbury to the trash heap for now...
"I mean it." LOL!
Non-anonymously yours,
Rod
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Rod Whisner: You are a moron. If I ever see you in the streets, you better cross to the other side. I mean it. You've got no business talking about things that you have absolutely no knowledge of. I have studied urban economic patterning for 23 years. "Urban downtowns are a myth" ??? What are you smoking? Just because Salisbury has failed doesn't mean that blanket statement is applicable elsewhere. Please, do us all a favor and just get out of Salisbury.
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