Letter: S. Tahoe event subsidies not equitable
Publisher’s note: The following letter was sent last week to South Lake Tahoe City Manager Nancy Kerry.
Dear Mrs. Kerry,
I am Joby Cefalu, director of South Tahoe Basketball Academy. We rent the Recreation Center gym for two tournaments May 24-26 and June 20-22. Each of these tournaments brings over 200 youth basketball teams to our community during the shoulder season.
The Rec Center is one of 11 gyms and 15 courts we use to put on these tournaments. All of the proceeds are put back into the local youth sports, both male and female from elementary school through high school.
This year I have already reserved and paid for the use of the Recreation Center under the direction of Lauren Thomaselli and Cheryl Candiff, both of which are extremely competent and very helpful I might add.
Our tournaments have been sponsored by the LTVA with the help of [Executive Director] Carol Chaplin. Based on the numbers they provide we bring to town over $1,500,000 to the local economy.
Last year’s estimates were closer to $2,000,000 as we did one more tournament that was a bit smaller.
After reading that the SnowGlobe event was going to be subsidized by the city I felt compelled to reach out. Based upon the logic used by the city and the free use of facilities and subsidy, I believe it very unfair that we are charged over $2,500 for the use of one gym. The city of South Lake Tahoe is the primary beneficiary of our event through TOT and sales tax. The other venues which include Lake Tahoe Unified, Kahle Community Center, and Douglas County School District charge a very nominal fee with really no benefit other than indirectly through the youth we serve. Lake Tahoe Community College allows us use of their facility free of charge.
With that said, I would really appreciate your consideration in waiving use fees. Last year there was a Gatorade spilled and we were told it was our responsibility to pay to have the carpets cleaned, which we did. I will be happy to provide a security deposit in case of damage. I very much appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Joby Cefalu, South Tahoe Basketball Academy
If it was sent to the City Manager only last week, why not wait for a proper time for a response before publishing it here? This can not be considered adequate time given the weight of her responsibilities and just as the writer complains of inequities, many issues have to be considered to make sure this does not increase inequities. What is its ripple effect on other fees? What agencies or persons have to weigh in on this?
Excellent. It is time for the money train to stop at all stations or stop running. The timing of the publishing of this letter is correct. In order for the City Manager to make decisions regarding “inequities”, the information must be circulated so that others can provide their input and perspective.
As regards the carpet cleaning fee, in light of the Snow Globe damage to the field, which was never intended to be used for a concert venue, this is particularly noteworthy. Why wouldn’t Snow Globe be responsible for any damage to the field?
This Fee should be waved for anything that keeps the kids off of the street. Any sports event that helps kids should be looked at as good for the youth, the one thing that this town needs is more for the kids to do, I know that it is the Great Outdoors but I grew up in this town and went through all of my school years here in Tahoe and the one thing that we have always lacked is things for the kids to do during their youth.
I know the Cefalu’s and know that Joby went through school here and what he is trying to do for the kids is great and the whole town should be behind him for his efforts. He will be responsible for any damage and that should be good enough for the City.
Community support of young athletes and their parents is beneficial to our whole area.
If the LTVA is already sponsering this event with cash I beleive that is generally more than enough and may very well be thought of as double dipping in to the well, as the money that comes from the LTVA is from a form of tax. I would agree that if they do not get anything from LTVA that the rental fees should be waived. I know these type of events do raise quite a bit of money for the people who put it on. My brother used to do that and hw would raise about 15k for his high school booster club and that was with just 30 teams put on once a year.
The City is so hung up on “user fees’ that it can’t see the forest for the fees. Home grown recreation based events that serve our youth and bring business to our community should be welcomed and facilitated. By paying an outside promoter to bring Snow Globe to SLT the City looks like it is playing favorites and at the same time developing a brand that is not consistent with our stated vision of recreation. Thank you to Joby for his community/business efforts.
Those profit numbers seem inflated. Snowglobe attendance was about 50,000 over the 3 days. I doubt basketball tournaments can generate those kind of numbers.
200 teams-players, parents, coaches, friends, family. They all need places to stay, food to eat, etc. I can see how this could easily bring $1.5M to town.
Joby is right! This is a much better activity than Snow Globe and it promotes healthy competition among the youth. We need to promote ourselves!
I look forward to Ms. Kerry and the City’s response.
Seems like whenever the City government wants to charge for anything that can generate some revenue other than property tax and sales tax a lot of local citizens vehemently object and say the City government should provide the use of taxpayer owned assets for free. The problem is when you keep giving away what little you have to sell your financial hole just keeps getting deeper and pretty soon you don’t have the money for adequate police, fire, and snow removal services or to pave neighborhood streets.
I say don’t give anything away for free: not SnowGlobe, the use of Lakeview Commons for the free Thursday night concerts, or the use of the recreation center gym. Fair is fair—either charge everybody or don’t charge anyone and just go broke.