Come GOP 'big tent' time, a big tent will cost $10,000 in Minneapolis
"Apparently when doing business with Superintendent Jon Gurban of the MPRB you can rent a tent and still get soaked. See the following article by Chris Steller that appeared in the Minnesota Independent on July 3."
Park Board gets (last?) laugh: Come GOP 'big tent' time, a big tent will cost $10,000 in Minneapolis By Chris Steller Jul 03 2008
In this MnIndy-edited video excerpt from a recent park board meeting ( see here ), Minneapolis Park Superintendent Jon Gurban and park commissioners share a laugh over what sounds like price-gouging of Republicans who will be in town for their national convention. The old tent fee of $60 is now $10,000—for a big tent. Is that a typo? Nope. In MInneapolis you can rent a big tent and still get soaked.
SCENE: Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board meeting, June 18, 2008.
PARK SUPERINTENDENT JON GURBAN: I would then turn over the numbers point to Juli, subbing for Don, who presented these to the mayor and will also report on where we found that new gold mine. No?
PARK COMMISSIONER SCOTT VREELAND: Thank you. Juli Wiseman will be making the staff presentation.
PARK COMMISSIONER CAROL KUMMER: Mr. Chair, just before she gets … Under Strategy 1, I’m assuming the tent rental increase went from $60 to $100, not $10,000. Or is that your goldmine? [general laughter]
GURBAN: No, you’re … Allow me to explain. The small tent rental went to that. But we now have a larger tent rental that somehow coincided with a convention that is coming to town that had a number of requests for LARGE events and gatherings on our property.
KUMMER: It’s not a typo.
GURBAN: No.
KUMMER: Thank you for that good news. [general laughter]
COMMISSIONER ANNIE YOUNG: [unintelligible] they’ll pay?
PARK COMMISSIONER WALT DZIEDZIC: Carol, explain that to the public …