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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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The seats cannot be legally installed without the safety rails, which need to be professionally fabricated and installed. The city decided to renege on the funds to do that after making multiple commitments to do so. Just like they did for the air conditioning system replacement.
The theater was not usable for any functions at all that far back. So, any other FACTS from the spin machine you want to share with us, shill? It's kind of silly that you think anyone will take anything that a sock puppet account posts seriously BTW. From what pre-school does the mayor draw support?
Posted on: 2014/6/29 0:01
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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You don't need funds to install seats. Volunteers installed all of the newer seats on the orchestra level about 15 years ago.
FOL used donated monies to have the balcony seats reupholstered and they've been sitting in sealed boxes all over the building for the past dozen years. Tony Bennett was in the building for a photo shoot about ten years ago and offered to do a benefit to raise money to open the balcony (by installing new fire escapes) and FOL never took him up on his offer. Have another drink of the FOL kool-aid!
Posted on: 2014/6/28 23:47
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Balcony seats are not isntalled because the city (and mayor) deadbeated on promised funds to do so.
So, another shill..
Posted on: 2014/6/28 22:45
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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The restoration of the organ was not done by Egan or anyone with FOL. It was the Garden State Organ Society and they deserve all the kudos and credit.
If it had been done by FOL, it would still be sitting in a storage area waiting to be installed, just like the balcony seats and the ornate railing from the grand staircase. What about the bronze Louis B. Mayer plaque which was removed from the outer lobby in the 1970's and returned to FOL in the 1990's? They still have not put it back in place where it belongs. Somebody told me that it's sitting in Egan's living room in his house! Their spin mode is going top speed now. They're deleting all comments from their Facebook page that question their ability to restore and program the theater.
Posted on: 2014/6/28 14:21
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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The organ is actually owned by the Garden State Theater Organ group and is rented for use to the Loew's. They had to chase the organ all across the US just to find it and put about $1M into the restoration so I doubt they are going to, like, sell it to AEG or whatever.
Posted on: 2014/6/28 13:25
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Jersey City Taps AEG Live to Manage Loew's, Announces Theater Overhaul
Landmark Venue Hopes to Compete with Manhattan Music Halls, Rejuvenate Journal Square The Wall Street Journal By Josh Dawsey Updated June 26, 2014 11:02 p.m. ET One of the country's biggest entertainment companies is set to manage the Loew's Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, an important step in the effort to turn the aging venue into a gem of the state's second-biggest city. On Thursday, city officials said that AEG Live, a company that books talent and manages venues nationwide, will manage the Loew's Jersey Theatre and that the city will spend about $30 million to $40 million to overhaul the theater. The renovation plan calls for closing the theater sometime this year and reopening it by late 2015 or early 2016. The theater, once among the state's most opulent, opened in 1929 when the city had several movie houses. The palatial space was long a venue for watching films; in recent years, the theater has become a home for film and photography shoots. View Slideshow Updating the venue would give Jersey City a chance to compete for big performers with halls such the Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan and the Wellmont Theater in Montclair. "This will be our first signature trophy entity for the cultural arts," said Mayor Steven Fulop. "It's something Jersey City has never had, a cultural arts hub that anchors the community." The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency is expected to approve the arrangement on Tuesday night. Jersey City taxpayers will fund much of the renovations, but private donations, tax credits and some improvements by AEG will be part of the mix, officials said. Mr. Fulop said Jersey City doesn't see the project as a moneymaker but a chance to attract more residents and visitors. AEG will pay $350,000 a year for the 30-year lease, which requires AEG to book at least 20 national acts a year, stage dance and comedy shows and at least 30 community events. The contract doesn't define which performers count as "national acts." Performers from across the country would now come to Jersey City, said Mark Shulman, a senior vice president for AEG. "Right now, a lot of those kinds of shows may be going further south into New Jersey or into Manhattan," he said. "It's a tremendous opportunity." Mr. Shulman said AEG is betting on the theater spurring development around the Journal Square PATH stop. "We believe that's where it's heading," he said. Loew's "is a stunning, really beautiful piece of architecture with great bones," said David Anderson, the chief executive of Ace Theatrical, the company under contract to renovate the theater. But the stage is in terrible shape, and the building needs new bathrooms, new seats, new carpet and a renovated roof, he said. The city also received bids from LiveNation and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center to manage the facility. A spokesman for LiveNation declined to comment. "We were certainly looking forward to the opportunity to extend our work and arts education further into Jersey City," said John Schreiber, the president and CEO of NJPAC. Mr. Fulop's move disappointed the Friends of the Loew's, the nonprofit group that made hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs and once had a lease for $1 per year to run the theater. Mr. Fulop has often been at odds with the group. "It will inevitably become a commercial concert hall," said Colin Egan, the group's director. "The purpose of the restoration is for the theater to be a true arts center, not for commercial pop programming with other programming as the afterthought." Mr. Egan said he wants more discussions with the city before an overhaul happens. The city says the contract will allow for up to 20 events sponsored privately by the Friends of the Loew's. Corrections & Amplifications AEG Live is set to get a 30-year lease to run the Loew's Jersey Theatre. An earlier version of the article reported that it was a 15-year lease http://online.wsj.com/articles/aeg-li ... in-jersey-city-1403813127
Posted on: 2014/6/27 17:19
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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I thought the whole point of this RFP was to find a company willing to foot the majority bill for the renovations, because the city couldn't afford to sink $ into it. Then the trade off for the investor is to let them professionally run it for 30 years to turn a profit. WTF is the city doing now offering to pony up the mulit-millions to renovate this thing? Disgusting.
That money can be spent to build a functioning non-profit org structure out of QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS. Not some conglomerate coming in with their own people. The model they are going with is all wrong and is contrary to making this a performing arts center vs. another commercial venue. This is a THIRTY YEAR contract with AEG. THIRTY YEARS. What Fulop & the team behind this are missing is that by following the model I've continually recommended is that you can still partner with commercial promoters like AEG & Live Nation to bring in big acts. Its not a one or the other option at all. But just giving it over to a commercial promoter/mgt. company is a totally sell-out. This will never be a true performing arts center that is community inclusive under the model they are commiting to. Shameful. And everyone concerned needs to turn out in force and speak when this comes before the Council.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 17:10
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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My mistake.. sorry for the error.
But that still highlights the issue that this project is under-budgeted. If the theaters are comparable, where will the additional funds come from, and will the City be required to supply them as part of the contract?
Posted on: 2014/6/27 17:04
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Quote:
??? Quote: The approximately $70 million project will create over 500 construction jobs and 50 permanent jobs, not including individual production personnel.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:55
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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The NJ.com article makes it sound like the Friends are out entirely, not even in charge of the community events now. In which case, what happens to the organ? It's an incredible instrument, but hard to imagine any of the parties the theatre is being given away to caring at all about keeping it in working order, much less using it. It's a shame, the silent screenings with live accompaniment are such a great experience. I'm really going to miss them.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:51
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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It's another sellout, though not as bad as the CarePoint/McCabe fiasco. I bet you he tries to still do that one under cover of a specially crafted RFP that only they can satisfy.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:43
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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For better or worse Fulop obviously is a big believer in public/private partnerships and leasing out what can be leased out to let others run it.
In this case I kind of agree with him, the city doesn't really have the expertise to run a theater, the FOL were getting just about nowhere and having a professional group will likely bring about better entertainment. As for the city spending all the money to restore the facility... Well the city was going to do that either way so why not collect the $350k a year and the $3.5m up front to help restore it? I suspect they also have to help maintain it. It's perhaps not the best possible solution (maybe I would have preferred an arrangement like the State Theater in New Brunswick), but it's the sort of thing that is worth getting off the plate and just moving forward instead of fighting over it for years on end.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:39
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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So we get a shill posting on the mayor's behalf now. They really need better social networking in City Hall.
The City is planning on sinking $30MM into this project, and turning it fully over to a private company that has no tie to the community after stonewalling the volunteer group. The safety and other changes that could have been done with the modest amount of money they asked for would have allowed year round operation, and instilled enough confidence to allow real fund raising to occur. Basically, the mayor put a shiv into the civic restoration and running of the theater, and then criticized them for bleeding. Look at the linked project.. a $750MM projected cost. Where will money come from to do this here?
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:18
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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What will the ROI be on this? In the plus or minus?
Posted on: 2014/6/27 16:11
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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The PR spin that FOL has done on this situation is just that: a spin.
My friend spent a decade volunteering on this project and witnessed many things firsthand which proved beyond any doubt that Colin Egan and Patti Giordan should not be running this project. For example: Most of the restoration they are taking credit for now was done by a large team of volunteers in the first few years of the project. Many of those people wound up leaving in disgust when they saw the direction the theater was heading. The theater has not been "restored." It's been made barely functional. Surfaces have been cleaned where they can be easily reached. Scaffolding has not been put in place to truly bring back the beauty of the lobby or auditorium. If you go more than ten feet off the ground in the theater, there is a ton of dirt/nicotine on the ornate surfaces. You can barely see the mural in the proscenium cove because of all the dirt. There's a huge net on the ceiling on the north side of the auditorium to catch loose plaster. (This water damage happened in the 1980's when the building was closed and the netting has been in place for 20 years.) I can't believe this damage has not been fully stabilized after all this time. Thank goodness no plaster has gotten loose with the low notes from the organ. That would be a disaster. What has been accomplished in restoring the theater over the past decade? Very little. In fact, things that were fixed (such as the clock and St. George slaying the dragon) are now broken again. Look at the marquee. Half of the bulbs are burnt out and the chaser lights are no longer working. It looks like one of the grindhouse 42nd street marquees in its final days. The tiles have been off the walls in the men's room for roughly 14 years now. They finally took down the "Excuse this temporary condition as restoration is ongoing" sign put up in 2001 around five years ago. The primary reason that some things have gotten painted or fixed, such as the underside of the marquee and the cove lighting in the auditorium, is because film shoots have come in and had their technical crews do the work. In fact, that's how the moldy lobby carpet was replaced: for a film shoot. It had nothing to do with FOL. The 35mm projection booth and organ were restored by professional volunteers putting in time and donating equipment because they believed in the theatre, not in the management. There's a great deal more I can say but I'll leave it at this: the current management in charge of the theatre has no experience whatsoever in restoring a theater or running an arts center. It's time to close their little clubhouse and get some professionals in there who really know how to do it. Just look at the Loew's Kings restoration in Brooklyn for a glimpse of what the future could hold for the Jersey... http://www.nycedc.com/project/loews-kings-theatre
Posted on: 2014/6/27 15:33
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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What will happen to the 500 seat powerhouse theater that Toll Brothers is building on Provost St that will be deeded to the city. Who is going to manage that once its built. Will it be the same group or a new RFP. It looks like that too will be given to a professional group.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 13:01
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Governor Fulop has spoken!!! There is no place for grass roots organizations in his world. The can't raise money for his campaign. So, so long FOLs.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 12:57
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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What a crock. Fulop can suck it.
Posted on: 2014/6/27 2:59
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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AEG Live set to take over Loew's in Jersey City
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal on June 26, 2014 at 4:35 PM, updated June 26, 2014 at 5:55 PM AEG Live, one of the globe's largest concert promoters, is set to win a contract to take over management of the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, and the firm pledges to bring "top talent" to the Journal Square theater. A city official said AEG offered "far and away" the largest bid to run the venue, saying it would pay $350,000 annually to rent the city-owned theater for 30 years and contribute $3.5 million toward renovation of the 85-year-old former movie palace. The deal is set to be finalized at a special meeting of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday, the anniversary of Mayor Steve Fulop's first year in office. Mark Schulman, an AEG executive vice president, said the firm hopes to make the Loew's "a hub for the entire area." Programming should begin in late 2015, after renovations are complete, according to Schulman. The city expects it will cost more than $30 million to renovate the Loew's, a sum the city plans to pay for with a mixture of private donations, grants, bonding and tax credits. A city official told The Jersey Journal AEG's proposed lease payments would cover the cost of any amount taxpayers will have to borrow. Fulop called AEG's proposal "a significant financial commitment. "The city will stop losing money on the Loew's and the city will 100 percent retain ownership of the Loew's," Fulop told The Jersey Journal. "This is just an important step in bringing back Journal Square as the heart of the city" AEG, which will partner with New Jersey City University and Mana Contemporary to offer 40 community events annually, was competing with Live Nation, Ace Theatrical Group and local firm Catch a Rising Star. Ace is set to win the bid to renovate the Loew's. By picking an outside management firm, the city is booting out Friends of the Loew's (FOL), a local nonprofit that has managed the theater since at least 2004. The group helped save the Loew's from a wrecking ball in 1995. Colin Egan, who runs FOL, said the city is making a poor decision bringing in AEG. "At best, it'll be a commercial concert venue, not an arts center," Egan said. FOL sued Jersey City after Fulop announced he wanted a new management firm to take over, with FOL claiming it has a lease making it the theater's managers. Earlier this month, a judge sided with Jersey City, which said there is no current lease. Egan said FOL will appeal. Mana Contemporary is part of the Moishe Mana empire. Companies controlled by Mana donated at least $2,125 in 2010 and 2011 to Fulop's mayoral bid. LINK - JJ
Posted on: 2014/6/27 2:54
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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30 years lease and the city is funding the restoration? the city is getting locked in the deal for an awfully long time and not getting a restored theater in return, but paying for it hopefully with the lease payments. its not adding up.
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Posted on: 2014/6/27 2:53
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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today's response from FOL to Fulop's decision to have AEG run the Loew's:
http://friendsofloews.com/a-first-res ... -fulops-aeg-announcement/
Posted on: 2014/6/27 2:24
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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I thought that the developer building the huge $400 million dollar development in Journal Square was kicking a large contribution to the Loew's - I remember the figure $7 million - anyone know what the status is on this? This is the developer: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... quare_in_jersey_city.html
Posted on: 2014/6/16 21:18
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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If this project will mean so much to Jersey City (and it's such a slam dunk that it will be profitable), then private investors should be beating down the door to invest in it - it shouldn't require the city to step in. It's inappropriate for Fulop to spend the city's money in this way. Investors should bear the risk for this project, not the city.
Posted on: 2014/6/15 23:43
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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As he said, the allocation is up to whoever runs the theater. No one can answer that question at this time, beyond what is listed in the RFP. Quote: I've already outlined the concerns many of us residents have about the allocation process and potential added costs for community groups.... The Loew's will go from an underutilized run-down half-fixed theater run on a shoestring, to a professionally-run facility. While I appreciate community groups being concerned that costs may go up, I'd say expecting costs to be flat are highly unrealistic. It's also screamingly obvious that the Lowe's is (to put it mildly) underutilized. They don't have any events listed more than 3 weeks out! And which community groups are using it this month? Ponycon (for people who like "My Little Pony") and people who want to watch "Yellow Submarine." Maybe it's time for amateur hour to end, and to find some professionals to run the Lowe's.
Posted on: 2014/6/14 23:58
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Kara, your point about United Palace model is moot as only the four who replied to the RFP are in contention. ALL had same opportunity.
LiveNation is one of contenders and as to your statement "...Live Nation has been courting Fulop", post the links that have relevance to RFP selection process. Quote:
Posted on: 2014/6/14 23:13
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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#1 is an opinion on how a public figure is handling and issue, and is based on facts and the way the Mayor has been handling this, not just publicly but in the matter of the issue I illustrated and via personal communications I've had with him. I love how you casually ignore the very constructive idea I posed via the United Palace Model.
![]() #2. We all know Live Nation has been courting Fulop (yes, I have proof and its been in the press too). The poster posed a thought. You don't agree. So your keen intellectual retort is to regress to name calling? Classy. Really helps your argument. Quote:
Posted on: 2014/6/14 23:06
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Kara, you wrote" Quote:
Fulop doesn't get this at all and seems to want to just sell out to a Live Nation or an AEG completely. WhoElseCouldIBe wrote: Quote: ...Fulop is getting kickbacks from LiveNation or a company like that. It's plausible considering how much energy he's focusing on this project. Quote:
Posted on: 2014/6/14 23:00
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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We didn't insult you. Dale, you started insults - you called him a fool and an idiot. And you basically told me I had no idea what I was talking about in a fairly inflammatory way, rather than answer questions that you could or provide information. Its very rude and non-constructive.
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Posted on: 2014/6/14 22:45
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Re: Fulop to solicit proposals from for-profit companies to replace FOL in running the Loew’s theater
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Kara and WhoElseCouldIBe, I'm not involved in the selection process. My only interest as a volunteer is having brought AEC to the process as I think they are the best to undergo the RFP and do all required for the Loew's. I do not know if they will be selected.
If youre going to initiate insults then don't be suprised when they bite you in the butt. ![]() Quote:
Posted on: 2014/6/14 22:42
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