The annual Route 66 Rendezvous in downtown San Bernardino, Calif., is halfway to its goal for donations, or it’s in jeopardy of being canceled, depending on which regional newspaper report you read.
The lead paragraph from today’s San Bernardino County Sun:
Without $36,000 in donations from the community, there will be no Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous this year, the event’s producer said Thursday, citing the city’s bankruptcy as the reason for the shortfall threatening the city’s signature event.
The lead paragraph from today’s The Press-Enterprise:
About half of the money needed to fund cleanup and security for the Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous has been raised, and the rest is expected before the event starts next month.
About $70,000 in donations are needed for the Rendezvous classic-car show, which is scheduled for Sept. 13-16 and draws more than a half-million visitors each year. Wayne Austin, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, told the P-E that fundraising would continue up until the event begins.
“We’ll get what we need,” Austin told the newspaper.
The Sun also reported that Austin was optimistic the money would be raised. But the report added that the Rendezvous would be canceled if enough cash didn’t arrive.
The City of San Bernardino’s finances have cast a cloud over the entire Rendezvous. The Sun explained:
Total costs for the four-day car show extravaganza range between $520,000 and $550,000, according to Austin.
Of that, in year’s past, the city’s share has been $140,000 in in-kind services such as security, trash collection and traffic control.
But because of the city’s filing for bankruptcy, the city was restricted by what it could provide.
“We simply had no capacity to help any more, given our budget and the bankruptcy,” Mayor Pat Morris said.
That left the producer with the bill for the free event, including the costs of tents, insurance, electrical, private security and special events staff expenses.
“This year, they can only provide $70,000 in in-kind services and then send me a bill,” Austin said.
The Rendezvous website is taking donations. The CVB also is offering promotional banners to businesses that contribute $1,500 or $2,5o0.
Jack Brown, CEO of Stater Bros. Markets, said the company has invested more than $600,000 as a Rendezvous title sponsor, and about 300 employees have acted as volunteers for the festival.
Brown said making the event happen is pivotal at a time when the city is suffering.
“I think this terrific community will step in to help in this time of financial crisis for the city,” Brown said. “Our benefit comes from having a really nice weekend for people – that’s why I always insist it be free admission.”