George Hawthorne is upset with me for questioning Mr. “Cadillac” Banks’ concert proposal. We have this battle much too often–fighting over small dollars while bigger issues are ignored.
He writes:
You need to stop “playing the race card†this is not a “black event vs. white event†issue … it is an issue of Pensacola not attracting a larger market share of cultural tourism because the “public dollars†spent on tourism marketing/events does not support culturally diverse events, attractions or activities … and that is a “lost $$$ issue.â€
And when you reply don’t talk about me, Cadillac or any other “messenger†of this “cultural disenfranchisement†debate … speak to the FACTS of TDC/County “inclusion record†and/or the FACTS of “missed opportunities†and/or the FACTS of the aforementioned “cultural†tourism markets.
Here is my response:
George,
Is a two-day concert the best way to attract African-American tourists? Is Cadillac Banks capable of putting such an event for $380K that will attract 29,000+ people? As I reported earlier, Hangout Fest spent nearly $3 million to attract 35,000. Don’t see how Banks can do 29,000 visitors for a tenth of the money and not charge anything at the gate.
What is the goal? I’m all for attracting as diverse a tourist crowd as possible. I don’t see how Mr. Banks with his limited experience and financial backing can achieve what he promises.
The AMEX program run by the VisitPensacola and the Perdido Key Chamber was hugely successful—verifiable numbers. Those cards where available to all races and ethnic groups. It saved the 2010 tourism season.
So if the goal is to attract more minority tourists, let’s do it smartly. We know youth tournaments, particularly basketball, attract minority families to Pensacola for much less cost and higher results. The Reggie Evans Tournament can be duplicated and it fills hotels away from the beach.
I play no race card. We need to look at these BP tourism dollars as a way to grow our tourism, not put on events for ourselves.
What is ridiculous is we let ourselves get distracted by these pretend issues. You and I both know the most critical issues for the African-American community are growing minority-owned businesses, creating jobs and education. If Commissioner Young spent as much time on funding a diversity study or helping with converting the closed Brownsville Middle School as she has on this one-time grant for a concert, then the African-American community would be much further ahead.
If the BOC gives Banks $380+, what do we get? A concert. Few black businesses will benefit from it—because we have very few black-owned restaurants, hotels and retail shops. We have to grow the minority business community and it won’t be done with concerts.
Fund the diversity study and help build a minority middle class –that’s my mantra….that’s the race card I’m playing.