Mayor Keith James Court Ordered To Give Depositio
Posted by Sandy on September 18, 2022 · Leave a Comment
Two TV stations WPBF 25 and WPTV 5 News have recently reported stories on the problem the City is having finding a company to run the newly refurbished Sunset Lounge, and both stories are included. Below you will find excerpts from both 25 & 5 news stations. My comments in italic.
WPBF 25 News Terri Parker Investigative Reporter
Judge orders West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James to give deposition in Sunset Lounge lawsuit.
The city filed a protective order motion saying James had no direct knowledge of firm’s disqualification to run the venue.
A judge has ordered Mayor Keith James to give a deposition in the lawsuit filed by Vita Lounge, LLC over its disqualification to run the Sunset Lounge, saying the company is entitled to discover what role James played in pushing them out.
As Vita Lounge LLC goes forward with its lawsuit against West Palm Beach for disqualifying the company from running the historic Sunset Lounge, lawyers tried to shield James from testifying by filing a motion for a protective order.
James voted in June for the Miami company Mad Room Hospitality to run the newly renovated, $16 million Sunset Lounge, saying he thought Mad Room was better equipped to take on the big job than local contender, Vita Lounge LLC.
But Vita won the vote. Two days after Vita secured the bid to begin negotiations, James sent an email to the city attorney questioning whether Vita had violated the “cone of silence” by giving an interview about the Lounge to WPBF 25 News.
And now that Vita is suing, the city didn’t want James to explain what made him question Vita’s actions — questions that led to their disqualification.
When Vita filed to take James’ deposition last month, city lawyers filed a protective order, including a signed affidavit from James, saying in part: Please read the entire story below.
But Judge John Kastranakes questioned that – saying, according to a court transcript:
“One could legitimately question the veracity of that statement given the emails. Why shouldn’t the Plaintiff be able to depose the mayor as to what caused him to send that? How did he get wind of that?”
Vita’s lawyers are implying James was searching for a pretext to disqualify Vita so his choice, Mad Room, could take over, which is what happened.
Mad Room said it is no longer interested in the job, and the trial with Vita will be tentatively scheduled for late October.
The Sunset Lounge remains empty, costing taxpayers an estimated $30,000 a month according to city staff.
https://www.wpbf.com/article/judge-orders-west-palm-beach-mayor-keith-james-to-give-deposition-in-sunset-lounge-lawsuit/41253470
WPTV 5 News Michael Buczyner The Channel 5 stories mention three people interviewed for their story, Robbie Littles, a former City Commissioner, Rodney Mayo, Local business owner and Lia Gaines, a staunch advocate for African Americans.
Ballooning costs, inability to find operator hamper West Palm Beach’s efforts to revive historic Sunset Lounge.
The city of West Palm Beach and its community redevelopment agency are creating a new African American cultural tourism destination.
The publicly-funded redevelopment of the Sunset Lounge in the city’s historic Northwest neighborhood hopes to “pay homage to the rich jazz and Black history of the area.
“This was the entertainment hub,” Robbie Littles said. “It was the only place the good top-shelf Black entertainers could perform.”
Littles recalls musical memories he made at the Sunset Lounge as a young man.
“We sat out on a hood of cars at night when the big entertainers were here and listened to it,” he said. “At that point in time, for Black folks, this was the only place for us to go.”
Mayor Keith James and CRA Director Christopher Roog declined multiple requests for an interview to answer WPTV’s questions about the project, including the cost.
Local business owner Rodney Mayo told Contact 5 that he recently toured the Sunset Lounge.
“I was concerned where all the money went but once you walk in, you’re like, ‘This is where it all went,'” Mayo said. “They really didn’t skimp on anything. It’s really all first-class finishing.”
The city wouldn’t allow our cameras inside the renovated venue to see how the dollars were spent, despite multiple requests. Why was Mr. Mayo allowed to tour the Sunset Lounge and Channel 5 was not?
When pressed why and a spokesperson told Contact 5 that the city is planning an “open house for the community” once they receive a certificate of completion from the building department.” I would find it hard to believe Channel 5 bought the reason. Hopefully they verified a certificate of completion has not been issued.
Mayo said he considered applying to operate the Sunset Lounge but doesn’t think it’s viable.
“Dinner theaters are kind of done. They don’t exist anymore for a reason because it’s a bygone era,” Mayo said. “You cannot bring back the past or recreate the glory, sometimes you have to adapt to what the current market is and the current market is not what they are building.” I respectfully disagree with Mr Mayo’s statement. At the end of the story please read about 30 Dinner Theaters in Florida.
Mayo believes for the Sunset Lounge to shine, the CRA should go back to the drawing board and develop a new plan.” OMG seriously?
That has people like Lia Gaines concerned about what it could mean for the future of the historic Northwest neighborhood as cranes pierce the horizon and development creeps closer.
“They have no place else to expand to, so they have to come north,” Gaines said.
“It’s still the area closest to downtown,” Littles added. “It’s still the area closest to the water.”
And as Littles looks on to the future, he’s hopeful for new musical memories at the Sunset Lounge and the historic Northwest neighborhood he knows so well.
Entertainers like Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong graced the Sunset Lounge dating back to the 1940s and 1950s, making it a “premier African American entertainment” venue at a time of racial segregation.”
At the time it’s all the African Americans could claim as “theirs” and should be returned to them, and Vita Lounge, LLC, a black owned, local business should be allowed to operate the lounge. Just common sense.
The CRA recently estimated operating costs for the Sunset Lounge at around $26,000 a month to maintain the building. Staff gave a figure of $30,000.00 to WPBF 25 news, and $26,000 to WPTV 5. Staff should have a meeting and agree on a figure. I’m going to use $26K and if correct James has cost the taxpayers since June a total of $104,000.00.
A spokesperson told Contact 5 that the city is expected to issue a new solicitation for the operation of the Sunset Lounge in the near future.
30 Dinner Theaters in Florida
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28930-Activities-c58-t117-Florida.html
The end