ATPAM ENDORSES ED RENDELL IN THE
PENNSYLVANIA
DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
On May 21, 2002, in the
Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, voters who care about the
performing arts and broader public access to the arts have the opportunity to
support a candidate who has consistently promoted the expansion of performing
arts opportunities and venues. That candidate is Ed Rendell, former mayor of
Philadelphia, who was a vital force behind the development of the much
heralded Regional Performing Arts Center or "RPAC."
As Philadelphia’s Mayor, Ed
Rendell was unwavering in his efforts to secure funds necessary to develop and
build RPAC and promote several public arts projects, including the
transformation of South Broad Street to the "Avenue of the Arts."
The Center City section of Philadelphia and its environs have experienced
dramatic levels of growth in cultural and entertainment activities and events,
retail and real estate development and in the hospitality industry as a result
of Ed Rendell’s strong support of the concept of "art as urban
renewal."
The entertainment industry in
which our members work stands to substantially benefit from the economic
opportunities connected with the operations of RPAC and the Avenue of the
Arts. More performing arts organizations will be able to present their work
and attract new audiences to Philadelphia and top traveling productions will
no longer bypass that city due to a lack of available venues and surrounding
accommodations.
Ed Rendell has always
recognized that the promotion of the performing arts revitalizes urban areas.
The transformation of South Broad Street in Philadelphia into the Avenue of
the Arts has created jobs not only for theatre and performing arts center
professionals, but also employees of cultural institutions, retail stores,
real estate development and construction firms and hotels and restaurants.
In his speech at the last IATSE
convention, Ed Rendell spoke of his commitment to the expansion of the
hospitality and entertainment industries not only in urban areas, but
throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania. Because he recognizes the
cultural and economic benefits to be gained by supporting the growth of these
industries, Ed Rendell is a friend of labor. Ed has expressed his willingness
to work with our Union and other IATSE locals with jurisdiction in
Pennsylvania to accomplish this goal. We believe that as the Democratic
Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed will prove to be a powerful and committed partner
to our mutually held belief that a thriving, vital entertainment industry
fuels economic growth in numerous other industries and directly reflects the
state of the economic health of the resident communities. We look forward with
great anticipation to Ed’s victory in the Democratic Primary and
inauguration as the Governor of Pennsylvania and ask that all of our members
eligible to vote in that state make an all-out effort to support Ed Rendell in
the upcoming primary election on May 21, 2002 and the gubernatorial election
next November.
