Beck Center - An open letter to elected officials

[Bill Call]

The Board of Directors of Beck Center will be seeking public funds (tax dollars) to finance its relocation to Crocker Park. While the board may say that any public funds given to Beck will be used for programs or general operating expenses the reality is that any public dollar given to the Beck will free up a dollar to fiance the relocation.

The Board of Beck Center has a fiduciary obligation to the Center. I wish them well in their new home. However, the Board should understand that the elected officials of Lakewood have a fiduciary obligation to the City. I see no reason for the City of Lakewood to continue to provide financial and logistical support for the Center. Such support subsidizes the relocation to Westlake.

Any public funds given to the Beck will directly compete with the creation of a new Lakewood Center for the Arts. For that reason I hope that the Mayor, members of council, Congressman Kucinich and Cuyahoga County Commisioners will oppose any public funding for the Beck Center.