| Author | Message | |||
     mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 2088 Registered: 4-2002 |
Irvington Pirate: On their website is a way to contact them: http://www.sopacnow.org/p-contact.php Ask her any questions you want including if you can post her responses. They never said they would only show artsy movies. They have stated they would like to always have at least one artsy film in addition to new first run movies. They do not plan to have certain blockbuster type movies. All the SOPAC board members are listed on their website. | |||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 2018 Registered: 6-2001  |
It's amazing how the structure seems to incorporate Bunny's. What's up with that?? http://www.sopacnow.org/ Sure would be nice if there were site plans or architect's renderings available! | |||
| The Man Citizen Username: Bumboklaat Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2005  |
Yeah betsy, that's a good link, but where are the pictures of the oil tank? | |||
| Irvington Pirate Citizen Username: Irvingtonpirate Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2005 |
Howard and mrosner, thanks for the links. These plans look pretty good to me! | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2073 Registered: 11-2001  |
The outer two walls are up. Is Stage 2 the installation of steel girders? PS: Jamie we'll need to find a new view for the SOPAC cam. I think Eric's building might be a good vantage point.  | |||
| mary brenner Citizen Username: Marybrenner Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2005 |
What an ugly wall. Keep the webcam down who wants to look at it. | |||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1066 Registered: 12-2003  |
Mary, can you direct me to a beautiful wall? I guess I haven't done a lot of walling. Is there a peak season? | |||
| mary brenner Citizen Username: Marybrenner Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2005 |
Very funny. But really who decided on that wall? It is not in keeping with the types of buildings and homes you find here. CMONTY try the wall in China | |||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1294 Registered: 8-2002 |
..umm, we can only HOPE that the next stage is installation of steel girders! (after the construction snafus so far...) ;-) Pete | |||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6866 Registered: 4-1997  |
I think the wall looks great as far as walls go, but I don't think we'll be able to see it from space. | |||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1067 Registered: 12-2003 |
I really don't think you can see the wall from anywhere except the NJ Transit platform, where the only thing it's partially obstructing is the stunning NJ Transit Parking Lot. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2082 Registered: 11-2001 |
Mark: Can you update us on the next phase of construction? When will it begin, and will construction continue at night? Could SOPAC keep a web page concerning the construction in progress etc...? | |||
| Two Sense Citizen Username: Twosense Post Number: 344 Registered: 7-2004 |
Pizzaz, it looks like the Wall is right up against Bunny's rear exit. Does this mean you cut a deal with the town for the space behind your property? The Steglitz/Theroux pre-election smear campaign implied the matter never was resolved. Also, how will all of your customers exit from the rear, or the SOFD access the back side of your buildings, in the event of an emergency? The SOPAC wall looks like its over 50'. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2083 Registered: 11-2001 |
I'd be happy to answer your question, but before I do, will you kindly identify your true name? PS: You speak at times knowingly of many things around town, I'd appreciate definitively knowing who you are. (I think I know, I just want to make sure).  BTW: I don't play the PL game and never will. | |||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 760 Registered: 4-2004  |
My biggest concern with the SOPAC is that movie theaters have seen a record drop in ticket sales this year (lowest in 18 years), and local live theaters perennially struggle. Paper Mill Playhouse finished deep in the red this year, they anticipate doing the same next year, and they have asked the Governor for emergency funding of 1 million $. Plus, they are already State and Federally funded. This is a huge expenditure for a project involving an industry that is reeling... | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1197 Registered: 3-2003 |
I think the game plan was that the revenues the Village received from the movie operator would subsidize the losses from the theater. At least this is what was stated a few years ago. Brett's observation does raise the question of whether this is still the gameplan. If it's changed, then the theater part will have to be subsidized more than was originally discussed. Are the revenues paid to the Village by the movie operator a fixed amount or do they depend on the operator's take? | |||
| Brett Weir Citizen Username: Brett_weir Post Number: 762 Registered: 4-2004 |
I can't imagine that a movie management group would contract to pay revenues based on projected sales rather than actual sales. So their loss would be the Village's loss as well. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2086 Registered: 11-2001 |
Any thoughts, Mark? | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1198 Registered: 3-2003 |
What I am having a big problem with is that in the past, when a resident has asked the BOT what the Village's financial committment to SOPAC will be, most of the time they have been told that it's a SOPAC matter and the question should be asked of SOPAC. Now it appears that the CBAC has asked SOPAC, and have been rebuffed. They now have to ask the BOT to request that SOPAC make the information available. I'll make a deal. In the future, when I receive my tax bill, tell me how much is going to subsidize SOPAC. I'll decide whether I want to pay the amount to SOPAC or not. | |||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1286 Registered: 5-2004  |
I never understood this anyway. it is NOT SOPAC issue. if we want to know what the expenditures on public safety will be this year, we don't call the police, fire, EMS and public works depts. We ask the village. We might have to ad the line items ourselves, but there is transparency to SOME extent. The village should have some idea what SOPAC is going to cost it each year. If they don't, how can the possibly make the commitment to cover expenses? Let's say SOPAC significant shortfall. Does this mean the town will over it no matter how great that shortfall is? And if the answer is yes, does the town have any real oversight of expenditures? If we're (as a town) being asked to pay for it, we sure as heck should have some level of control over how the funds are being spent. | |||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1297 Registered: 8-2002 |
At last Monday's meeting, one trustee (don't remember which one) -- said that releasing the SOPAC info -- could compromise their ability to negotiate for acts/talent (!). Please -- no one needs to know (at this point) weather "Heather and her harpsichord" cost SOPAC $5 or $500. Geez -- just tell us, annually, what the expense categories are, what the income is expected to be, so we have SOME idea of ongoing tax support. Why is SOPAC such an isolated organization? Being stand alone seems to make it much harder for anyone to get a clear picture of what's happening. /p | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1199 Registered: 3-2003 |
The Village President said a few months ago that the Village would susidize SOPAC for the first three years, and would continue to do so if necessary. He said it's the same as any other part of the recreation program. There you have it. | |||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1289 Registered: 5-2004 |
Spitz. I assume that he had no idea what it would cost to subsidize this "part of the recreation program." the difference between this part and the other parts is that the village has control over the other parts, and can say "we can't afford it" (though I don't think those words have ever come out of the VP's mouth). | |||
| Lucy Supporter Username: Lucy Post Number: 85 Registered: 5-2005 |
Rastro, you're wrong. When the DRMC came up for discussion the VP said we did't have money for it. | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1200 Registered: 3-2003 |
Rastro - When he equated SOPAC to other areas of the recreation program, I can't say I was surprised that this is the way he sees it. Your point is correct - we don't know the costs, so far haven't been able to get them, can't control them and certainly won't be able say we can't afford it. The taxpayers of this Village are the ones who are guaranteeing the project. We have no choice. But we can't even find out how much our potential liability is. This is garbage when we are constantly told to ask SOPAC. As I said above, let SOPAC send me the bill each year for my share. | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1201 Registered: 3-2003 |
Better still - send the bill for my share of the SOPAC subsidy to the trustee who said that disclosing SOPAC's finances would hurt us in negotiating for talent/acts. What a silly statement. | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2094 Registered: 11-2001 |
NO more silly statements? An anagram of his name would be nice. be clear as ... the truth. | |||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 84 Registered: 6-2005 |
Who exactly will be doing the negotiating for the talent? Is this the SOPAC Director's job? If no one knows how much to estimate for the talent, then how does anyone know the bottom line on operating expenses. It gets back to the basic question of where is the business plan. If we, the taxpayers, are being asked to subsidize it, then we have the right to know what the plan looks like. If the Village President says we will subsidize it for the first three years, how much is he estimating that subsidy to be and what is the estimate based on? And what happens after 3 years, if it still is not self supporting? | |||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1075 Registered: 12-2003 |
JayJay: What did the executive director say when you called her and asked her your questions? | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2098 Registered: 11-2001 |
They're planning to issue a communications policy, one that will be the benchmark for all others? Nah, you're kidding, right....  | |||
| bets Supporter Username: Bets Post Number: 2032 Registered: 6-2001 |
I took Mark's advice and filled out the online webform. No response as of yet (24 hours). | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 321 Registered: 1-2004  |
I have attached a spreadsheet of SOPAC Project Financing as of 12/31/04 previously provided by the Township Administration in response to a request by the CBAC. We have requested and expect an update shortly. Note: A resolution Passed 6/27/05 authorized an expenditure of $150,000 to SOPAC.
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| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1077 Registered: 12-2003 |
Here's more contact info, if it helps: Jessica Alexis Finkelberg Executive Director South Orange Performing Arts Center 20 Valley Street, Suite 220 South Orange, NJ 07079 973 275 1114 | |||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 2102 Registered: 11-2001 |
Can we assume, if SOPAC operationally breaks even between the cinema and theatre productions, that the village will need to pay the debt service of $817K per year. How does this amount compare to the anticipated receipts from Shop-Rite, Beifus and the Quarry. It appears to me that the award of Pilots has an underlying reason from this perspective. It's a trade-off to get the theatre. The risk is placed onto the schools! | |||
| Starletta8 Supporter Username: Starletta8 Post Number: 61 Registered: 10-2004 |
To lighten up the mood a little bit, a comment I overheard on last night's train: "Hey, look! A racketball court?" | |||
| Spitz Supporter Username: Doublea Post Number: 1202 Registered: 3-2003 |
Howard - Thank you for the information. I had been aware of the $150,000 approved by the BOT (thanks to your prior posting). My recollection is that you also said that $300,000 will be required the following year. What surprised me was the post that said that the CBAC had to ask the BOT to direct SOPAC to furnish financial info so that the CBAC could determine the financial impact on the Village budget. From this, I was reading that SOPAC had not been as forthcoming as the CBAC would have liked. I have the utmost respect for the CBAC, and know that your group does a tremendous amount of work. Your goal is not to be an adversary to the BOT, but to take an advisory role, as your name suggests. It was because of this that I was surprised that the CBAC had to make such a request to the BOT. In short, has SOPAC been as forthcoming with the CBAC as it needs in order to determine the impact on the Village finances? | |||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 85 Registered: 6-2005 |
Howard- I find the spreadsheet confusing. Can you enlighten me? -What is the expenditure column? Is it what has been spent already? -What is CDBG? -Are SOPAC annual expenses the $1.95 million? -Do they expect to bring in $1.8 million annually? -I gather that the town plans to subsidize it to the tune of $150,000 annually? I'm wondering why they think that number is the reasonable shortfall. I hope SOPAC offers a more detailed budget than this. There's no meat here. | |||
| Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 322 Registered: 1-2004 |
-What is the expenditure column? Is it what has been spent already? yes -What is CDBG? Community Development Block Grant -Are SOPAC annual expenses the $1.95 million? No, this the cumulative amount given to SOPAC -Do they expect to bring in $1.8 million annually? No, the Township expect $1.8M of the $1.95M to be repaid -I gather that the town plans to subsidize it to the tune of $150,000 annually? I'm wondering why they think that number is the reasonable shortfall. Not necessarily, $150,000 has been requested so far for this year. What we know is that there is debt service of over $800,000 per year plus some IOU’s -$1.8M plus other operating expenses that is to be covered by Donations/Contributions, Movie Operator fees/rent, Space Rentals, CDBG. I hope SOPAC offers a more detailed budget than this. There's no meat here. This is NOT SOPAC's budget but what SO has paid out for this project. | |||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 87 Registered: 6-2005 |
I suggest that Sunday's (july 17) New York Times, NJ section, be must reading for the SOPAC board and the board of trustees, as well as us the taxpayers. The front page article on the Paper Mill Theater makes me wonder what the focus of SOPAC will be, how it will successfully compete with the other theater options in the area, and most of all, how it will make money (i.e. operate in the black). | |||
| Dave Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 6894 Registered: 4-1997 |
Movie aspect may be a bt of a challenge.
Read more >> |
SOPAC Project Financing 12/31/05