The concert has come and gone, and the details are finally revealed: The city is not on the hook for any of the $500,000 in costs. And according to an Econsult report commissioned by the mayor, the economic benefit to the city was a boon in spending - for hotels, restaurants, souvenirs and the like. It packed hotels, which are normally quiet on Labor Day weekend.
Clearly, the concert was a success - no violence, no disasters, and national glory for the city. But we never questioned the potential for success and glory. What we did question was why the mayor was so mum on the details of what costs might be shared, and so cagey about exactly what arrangement the city had with the promoters. This is important particularly given the type of event it was - a private, commercial, ticketed event held on (and restricting access to) public space for three days.
The mayor has expressed enthusiasm for having similar events in the future. The rest of the city might share more of this enthusiasm if he was more open about the details, the costs and the debate about how we use big public spaces like the Parkway. For example, does the success of Made in America justify turning over public space for private events more often?
The mayor should be headlining these kinds of discussions, rather than treating these events as exclusive parties to which only a few are invited.
Mrs. Jesus?
Archeologists are poring over a 1,600-year-old piece of papyrus in which Jesus of Nazareth makes a reference to His "wife," prompting renewed debate among historians and theologians and Dan Brown fans regarding Jesus' marital status.
It's just a scrap. We'd like to see something more comprehensive, perhaps an excerpt from a typical evening at home:
"Did you stop and pick up the bread and fish liked I asked?"
"I'm on top of it, dear."
"And the wine? I suppose you think you can just turn water into wine."
Was Jesus married? Certainly it would explain why He was out of the house so much, and spent so much time with His buddies.
