Your EDC Dollars At Work?
That wasn’t a rumor you heard, Sen. Nellie O’Reilly.
You just didn’t ask quite the right question.
Listen to this Q&A between O’Reilly and Commissioner of Finance Angel Dawson Friday, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing,  about the Estate Thomas theater project that was “rumored” to be angling for public funds or benefits.Â
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So close.
The 4D Theater, among whose noted business partners include Governor John deJongh’s Chief of Staff Pamela Berkowsky and her husband, Adam Shapiro, MD, might not be in front of the PFA yet – but they applied for Economic Development Commission benefits last January, before their zoning request was recently approved by the Legislature.
Here we go again.
The project is a 300 seat IMAX type theater, combining 3D films with the addition of theater seats that move and vibrate to enhance the effects of the 3D imagery. It is to be located on land just above Havensight on St. Thomas, land that was recently rezoned by the Legislature.
We remember that zoning hearing. We remember a resident coming to testify to express her concerns about the noise, the congestion, the disruption to residents who live in the area if this complex was built.
We also remember testimony from the developers, assuring everyone that this was really a promotional facility for the Virgin Islands, aimed primarily at cruise passengers visiting the island during the day, and as such would cause no ongoing issues for the nearby residents. The films would be primarily films that showcased the Virgin Islands, and other uses would be the showing of educational films.
At that hearing, O’Reilly asked whether this theater would be showing the types of films showed at the existing movie theaters in the Territory.
Oh no, was the reply.
Things certainly have changed.
Shapiro (remember, husband of deJongh’s Chief of Staff Berkowsky) is the sole General Partner of “JaminDoodle, LLC,” the limited liability corporation that is the sole partner of VI 4D – of which Shapiro is a co-manager with Wesley A, Wenhart, Project Manager.  49% of JaminDoodle is owned by the PBB Trust – for which, conveniently, Berkowsky serves as “settlor” – basically the trust manager.
JaminDoodle was incorporated in October, 2009; VI 4D was incorporated in November, 2010.
And, according to its own paperwork, the complex that was promoted as an educational and tourist focused facility now states that it will, “not only function as a tourist attraction but also as a movie theater and gaming area” including “first run Hollywood releases.”
The complex is applying for EDC benefits as a “Category III Recreational Business” on St. Thomas.
And just to close the circle, the person who signed off on recommending the application for benefits was none other than then EDC Legal Counsel and now candidate for Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, in April of 2012.
Attached below are the relevant documents including the Application for EDC Benefits and the Articles of Incorporation. They’re worth the time to review. We’ve separated the page of Job Titles and Salaries – and you’ll see just how many local Virgin Islanders stand to make any real money from their jobs at the new theater.
There was a great deal of conversation at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Friday about the payback (or lack of same) the Territory receives from the millions of dollars it provides the EDC annually to generate new business revenues for the Territory.
And in light of the critical need the Territory faces for substantial revenue producing businesses in this time of dire financial need, we struggle to understand how this project fits the bill. The proposal projects $7 million in revenue in the first five years and $1 million annually in wages to “local workers.”
Really?
A 300 seat theater supposedly aimed at cruise ship passengers. Do we really think that travelers who come to our balmy shores really want to spend time in a movie theater that shows them what the islands look like?
And yes, the proposal contains language about offering educational programming and financial contributions to the community – but what will its principal source of income really be?
It’s probably not those films of the “flora and fauna” discussed in the proposal or the National Geographic films they’re working on the rights to show.
And what about those residents who were assured that this was to be primarily a daytime business – who are now faced with the prospect of a full-scope theater complex, showing first run Hollywood movies and complete with “gaming” – which means that it will be a video game haven as well as a movie destination.
But hey, when you’re the Governor’s Chief of Staff and your husband is a doctor, leases and zoning and tax benefits are just more advantages of the chosen few.
Way to go EDC.
Your tax dollars at work!
(Documents originally posted on DemManSay.com)
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Provoking? By asking a direct question that he refuses to answer?
Maybe YOU will tell us where he stands on those issues since he refuses to.
Nooooooo man,I can’t speak for anyone else.Besides,I wouldn’t know the man if I saw him.Why don’t YOU take him to ‘coat’ and force him to answer your questions? Eh-eh.
Sure. The questions have been out there (here) for him to answer.
We’re waiting….
Who knows,maybe MS is letting some of the frontrunners talk themselves out of the contest(ya know,promise dis,dat and the other and,in the process,turn the electorate off) and he gets elected by default.Remember,this is his second time up ‘to bat’ and he wants to ‘score’.At some point,though,he’s gonna have to ‘explain you’ as to where he stands on the issues.
Hold strain,fella.
So you are saying that he is not a leader.
A leader steps up based on his strenghts, not on others weakness.
Which is what his site is all about, the weakness of others.
No,I’m not saying that at all.I’m saying when he is good and ready you will hear from him.All horses don’t run at the same pace.If they did there’d be no racetrack.
Thank you for speaking for him SC. Some horses don’t get out of the gate at all when they wait too long.
Maybe you can at least tell us when he will answer our direct questions. He seems to have a problem with others being open, but he himself won’t reveal his position to questions that we ask here.
MS, to follow up on SC statement, when will you begin to answer dirct questions?
Anon @6.48 am:
Again,I speak for no one.
How many times have you seen a horse come from behind and work its way ahead
of the pack to not only finish first,but also set a new record? Happens all the time.
Remember,it’s not how many times a horse gets whipped that ensures victory…
it’s the strategy employed by a jockey that counts.
Giddy-up horsey!!
I wanted to look over this paper work for muself, this is right in your face these people don’t care what they do or how they do it, this is a case for the federal Gov to look into, the company named in the package Triangle Corporation Services, is that the same company that is doing all the work in the VI? would like to know if that is the same company. under additional ownership and management team is the chif of staff to the Governor and her husband, that is right in the summary for VI4D Stacey Plaskett as the Legal Counsel on 8/2/12 it recommends the project for EDC, so should she not have know better? on top of that Louis Hill in Bill # 29-0344 Grant a zoning variance for the property that the business is going on, but know what the the bill went on to say that the property can be used for anything under C(Commercial) that is a long list of things that could be put in that space, and they dont have to go back to the Legislature. Now everyone is trying to tell us that they did not know or maybe they tryed to tell them not to do it? come on Stacey Plaskett name is right there the investigation summary said “Recommends” to me that is every thing is fine with this you all just go to the next step to get your EDC package pay no tax. THIS PERSON IS WHO WE ARE TO VOTE FOR? I THINK NOT!
Nice imagination SC. Is MS the horse of the jockey
)
You forgot to talk about the ones that never leave the gate, though.
@ 9.52 am:
What I said about horses coming from behind to win isn’t ‘imagination’,it is
a known fact.
Not being an avid fan of horse-racing I can’t speak as to why some horses fail to leave the gate…..and I’d hate to hazzard a guess.But you seem to know more than you’re letting on,so,other than what you have already said, what’s your take on this here horse? All saddle and no spur?
Whoa,horsey……not yet.Not yet!!!
Nice try!
@ CIF:
What happened to my response to 9.52am’s post? It was made long before the 11.50am post.
Weird!!
@ CIF
A little over 5 hrs late for the release,but I’ve seen worse.Things are
improving.
Thanks.
SC, all I can say is that this is a political race, not a horse race. If a candidate chooses not to take a stand on an issue until the last minute, then I suspect the motives. There is no good reason not to tell us their position now. Otherwise I would suspect they are telling us what we want to hear based on what others are saying, which we know is not an honest position.
Like I said, this isn’t a horse race.
This is the life of the VI we are talking about.
Anon @ 3.46 pm:
Perfectly understood and please do not underestimate my knowledge of the seriousness of the times,because of my equating your concerns (i.e.the reluctance of MS to answer your questions) to that of a horse race.For all I know there may well be others who share your concerns and,as I have said before,at some point MS will have to address them if he expects to be elected
to office.We’re all waiting with bated breath.
Over and out.
Things getting hot, Plaskett and her people said today on 1620 not one better dont talk about her or else, just dont know or else what, these people are crazy, now they think that she can tell people what to talk about? what is next? this is just like the Gov, telling people who to talk to and all, well well lard we have john now stacey plaskett, they really trying to run us out of town so that they can have this place for they friends!
SC, you have always had my respect. thank you for having a fair debate and keeping emotions out of the discussion….
@ 8.23 pm:
Always a pleasure dialoguing with folks such as yourself.Not going to be a flame-thrower in the attempt at scoring cheap points.
Take care and don’t despair my friend.
Keep hope alive.
All I know is I am a direct victim of the ravages of the EDC program. Our senators really need to hold a hearing soon on what’s going on there & make changes to close loopholes identified by you & me. How loud must we scream for that? Must everything good crumble in the VI?