No authorities establishment is simply too massive or too small for the Trump administration to attempt to destroy, use as a perk for loyalists, or each.
Witness the Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts. Lengthy a shining instance of public-private assist for the humanities, the yearly Kennedy Middle Honors showcases artists who’ve devoted themselves to creating our lives a bit of higher.
However then got here President Donald Trump’s second time period, when he put in Ric Grenell as the top of the Kennedy Middle. Although Grenell clearly hates the job, he appears resigned to creating the very best of a nasty lot, and what higher approach to try this than by turning the Kennedy Middle right into a cut-rate occasion venue for conservatives and cronies, a option to dispense favors to the favored?
Take the American Conservative Union Basis, a string of random nouns masquerading as a reputation for the group that places on the notorious Conservative Political Motion Convention. The group wanted someplace to stage a whiny occasion about “ending Christian persecution” as a result of apparently having the complete U.S. authorities dedicate itself to persecuting non-Christians wasn’t sufficient.
Grenell to the rescue!
Renting a stage on the Kennedy Middle is meant to run about $42,000, however Grenell comped them, dropping the value to $20,007. Grenell made certain the group didn’t should pay the charges normies should pay once they lease a stage, similar to lighting, audio, and broadcast prices.
Ric Grenell, head of the Kennedy Middle.
That’s nothing in contrast with Grenell’s giveaway to FIFA. After Trump stated the Kennedy Middle would host the 2026 World Cup attract early December, it opened up an entire new world of alternatives to make use of public sources as a giveaway to personal pursuits. Upfront of the draw, FIFA will probably be allowed to make use of a lot of the Kennedy Middle without spending a dime. Twenty-four hours a day. For almost three weeks.
Within the vacation season.
Vacation performances have been both moved to new places, canceled, or rescheduled. Nicely, it isn’t as if the vacations are a giant season for performances, proper?
Taking up the middle for the vacations shouldn’t have occurred within the first place, but when it needed to, it ought to have run FIFA about $5 million, however they acquired it for the low, low value of free. As a part of that giveaway, the middle—effectively, most definitely us, the taxpayers—ate an estimated $2.7 million in rescheduling prices and misplaced income.
And below Grenell’s cautious stewardship, the Kennedy Middle doesn’t look like it’ll cowl any of that loss with ticket income since ticket gross sales have tanked below Trump. Performers are fleeing as effectively, which MAGA sorts appear to be livid about, however why? Had been they actually going to flock to see “Hamilton”?
And this yr’s honors recipients will probably be fireplace. You’ve in all probability been ready your complete life for Michael Crawford and KISS to get their flowers.
You realize what? Go forward and rename it after Trump, as he so clearly needs. This place is beginning to suck.
