Groups to rally at mayor's speech

In his annual State of the City Address, Mayor John Fernandez today will discuss popular, non-partisan issues such as innovation and fiscal responsibility. But no politician can please everyone all of the time.\nThe address, held at 5:30 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., has raised the ire of both sides of the political spectrum. \nLiberal activists plan to stage a rally outside the theater, protesting Fernandez's alleged subservience to business interests. Lisa Spector, one of the organizers, said they will perform street theater depicting Fernandez "in bed with Ms. Corporate Greed."\nAlso featuring a mock Fernandez singing, Spector touts the skit as entertaining.\n"You will get to hear the mayor's speech that only his closest associates are supposed to hear," she said. "Mayor Fernandez will publicly show his true alliance. It promises to be the play of the year."\nA conservative group, the Monroe County Taxpayers' Association, is also protesting the speech.\nThey said they have no problem with the mayor being pro-business. It's the location they're worried about, said Fred Prall, the group's president.\nThe city rented out the Buskirk-Chumley for the address, which is usually held in the city council chambers. The $920 paid for rent comes out of the "business promotion" fund in the mayor's budget.\n"We asked that the mayor reconsider the wasteful and unnecessary expenditure of public dollars," Prall said. \nIt's not the first time Fernandez has lent a helping hand to the financially struggling theater. Deputy Mayor James McNamara said Fernandez has worked to keep it afloat as part of his general commitment to quality of life.\n"The mayor wanted to express his support for the local arts community," he said. "I think the price is worth paying."\nThe mayor's office has supported the Buskirk-Chumley since it became clear its owner, the Bloomington Area Arts Council, would have trouble paying off its debt. It secured loans from the state government and established a study commission to shape up its businesses practices.\nPrall said enough is enough.\n"We take issue with yet another example of wasteful spending," he said. "We understand the mayor's intent of supporting the BAAC in their time of need; but the $100,000 unsubstantiated loan was enough."\nThe mayor should just let the free market take its course, he said.\n"How much more of our taxpayers' money will be diverted into particular projects that clearly don't hold enough public support to be self-sufficient?" he asked.\nIt's not altogether uncommon for mayors to initiate a change of venue for the annual address. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson held his this year in a public school this year to outline his agenda. \nJan Skinner, BAAC president, is grateful for the gesture, although it won't make much of dent in the theater's mortgage.\n"We appreciate the fact that he selected the Buskirk," she said. "It draws attention to our problems. And we appreciate the ongoing efforts put forth by the mayor."\nWhile there might be commotion outside, McNamara said Fernandez will revisit his bread-and-butter issues -- among them, education, health care and public safety.