It’s been on the agenda since April of this year-- an ordinance authorizing the lease of portions of Stageworks/Expo Hall to G-Unit Film & Television Louisiana, LLC for operation of a sports and entertainment event venue.

The ordinance was placed on the agenda BEFORE the Humor & Harmony Festival was announced. It has been postponed at each meeting after the second reading. It’s again on the agenda for the council's regular meeting tomorrow (Tues.) and it could be voted upon.

This ordinance should be tabled--or in the alternative pulled from the agenda by the Arceneaux administration--for several reasons including the following:

1. Apparently G-Unit is not in compliance with the lease of Millennium Studio. The public has not been privity to all the efforts of G-Unit within the studios to remodel , etc. that MAY put G-Unti in compliance with the deadlines in the lease with the City. Mayor Tom has stated at a recent council meeting that discussions are being had to lease additional property adjacent to the studios, which is NOT an excuse for a breach of contract.

2. There was no RFP issued for lease of Stageworks/Expo Hall  to allow any persons/companies to provide lease opportunities which could be more beneficial to the City. Providing an exclusive option to G-Unit for this facility is much different from the Millennium lease. The facility was repurposed with substantial public dollars to be a sports venue to fill a much needed void for sports games, tournaments and the like that  would also provide an additional attraction for out of town teams etc.

3. Although not an excuse, the public  has in effect been lulled about the validity of the proposed project. The agenda does not include the proposed lease, which must be requested from the Council clerk. Good government would provide  a date certain for the passage of an ordinance dealing with public property which would, in effect, alert the public to put the public spotlight on this proposal.

Let’s hope the Council decides to table this proposal--or request the Administration to pull the item from the agenda. In the alternative, the council could set a date certain in the future for action on the lease proposal.