Mark Poloncarz: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing?

Recently, I received a posting from Facebook about an event that sponsors financial support for Erie County Comptroller, Mark Poloncarz, bid for County Executive against, and loathed by Arts Groups, incumbent Chris Collins. 

Entitled Friends of the Arts for Mark Poloncarz Fundraiser, this event is schedule at the Cabaret Restaurant featuring "Food Live Music", a cash bar at a cash bar and, most importantly, "meet the candidate" for $25.

For those in the Arts Community who would like to see a photon torpedo sent into Darth Collins' Death Star backside, the event sounds like a positive step in bringing down the Evil Empire. 

With that said, I am going to sound like a Debbie-Downer, Poloncarz party-farter. 

Who is Mark Poloncarz and what can he do for Western New York's Arts Community?

From his website, County Comptroller Poloncarz has been effective in being a "taxpayer's watchdog" and has "called out wasteful spending and irresponsible actions" in attempts to hold government accountable. Additionally, under his watch Erie County credit rating has "increased 4 steps...to  the current rating of A2" indicating his background in private-section business has been effective in the overseeing of County budgets. 

As he launches his campaign to oust Collins, Poloncarz paints a lovely picture of imagining a better Erie County in his video ads (as seen above) by electing an County Executive who "actually cares" about the taxpayers and will place the people first by "always remembering who his bosses are." 

I can see why anti-Collins folks are giddy about this candidate. 

His rhetoric is strong as he understands that Libraries and the Arts are important in creating a better community, "The Arts are one of the basic underlying principles of a strong economy", he states in his website section Preserving Our Artistic and Educational Assets.

With the local economic impact of the Arts briefly stated, Poloncarz shifts emphasis on the importance of libraries during "difficult economic times" by informing us that "Libraries improve our quality of life and act as an essential educational resource." He enforces his belief that a reduction in "economic and educational resources" will lead to less access to these "essential services."

"A library acts as a lifeline. When people cannot afford books, CD's and DVD's, they turn to libraries." He concludes. 

Somewhere in Erie County one can hear a hearty cheer from SLAWNY being raised. 

So what about Mark Poloncarz's thoughts on how to better Erie County Arts groups?

We already know about the economic viability of the Arts but he states nothing about HOW he intends to fund (or WHO gets the funding for that matter) the Arts. 

Collins also understands the economic viability of the Arts but choses to fund what he believes to be relevant to the County's economic engine. What is going to separate Poloncarz from Collins' platform? A lesser of two Evils? 

How he plans to fund the Arts is an important response and transcends political affiliations, the mentality of "anyone but Collins" and the desperate belief that rhetoric, and not detailed plans, fix problems.

Recently I sent a list of questions designed to have Poloncarz detail his plans to fund the Arts and keep them viable. Two weeks later and I have not received any answer or indication that these questions reached the candidate. 

If one is feeling lucky, contact Poloncarz through his website by clicking Voice Your Opinion and ask for clarity into how (who and why) he intends to fund Erie County Arts. 

Ultimately, these question should be answered clearly and directly (without donated $25 for an opportunity to "meet" Poloncarz) before the Arts Community throws its powerful endorsement behind him and any other candidate that asks us to "imagine" a better community. 

I am not saying Poloncarz is just another politician with a feel-good message as much as stating, simply,  that public funding is dwindling away and those in Arts Community have a tremendous stake in who creates policy. We cannot afford to throw away our endorsement on a politician who has a positive soundbite designed to electrify a disenfranchised voter block. 


Buyer beware!





Matthew LaChiusa is the Executive/Artistic Director for the American Rep Theater of WNY, Inc and is a huge Ramones fan. He also believes that Mark Poloncarz is more "user friendly" than his opponent and has the potential to be a good County Executive. 

Four Seasons and Still Kicking

American Repertory Theater of Western New York is proud to be entering into the fourth season and, as the Executive/Artistic Director for the company, I find this to be an amazing accomplishment.

In December 2007, just before ART became an official 501 C3, this country entered into one of the worst economic collapses since the Great Depression. To compound the lack of fiscal resources were accelerated cuts in Federal and State funding of the Arts as well as limited investments by foundations and individuals.

Additionally, it was becoming increasingly apparent that established Cultural 501 C3's were the main focus of the public and private sector investments. Whatever crumbs left over were to be greedily fought over by the less prominent Cultural entities. Newcomers who lacked the history and reputation were left to find progressive ways of generating income without this support.

In this economic climate, Cultural organizations were placed in a Darwinian contest of strength and weakness with the winners being those with the loudest voice and the biggest reputation. Sadly, being the "most fittest" did not amount to being the best in what was presented on stage.

In this vacuum of quality, ART has been able to survive.

ART does not depend on celebrity endorsements to justify their works nor lives off the reputation set forth by one's grandparents to support the works. ART survives because of the dedication of presenting a good story with a careful eye on presentation without trendy gimmicks or pretension.

And this approach seems to be working because despite the lack of government funding, deep-pockets for marketing or generations of subscribers, and with several local nominations and an award for theater excellence, ART is still kicking.

Onto our fourth season!

I am excited about our fourth season because we have chosen to salute the Golden Age of American Television.

Before American TV gave itself over to programming for ratings and not quality, this creative engine produced numerous and endearing American cultural icons as well as some of the most creative American writers and filmmakers in our pop-culture history which has directly influenced characters, TV show themes and films of the late 20th and early 21st century.

ART has chosen to do three works that all differ in style but best capture the essences of the Golden Age of American Television.

The first in the season is an stage adaption of the classic, Sci-Fi meets Morality Play, Twilight Zone entitled Twilight Zone Redux. Adapted by Drew McCabe and co-directed by Kristin Bentley, three classic TWZ stories are rendered for theater presentation with careful attention to the pathos of each characters as well as dedication to the writing style that made these TV shows classic.

Second show of the season is a homage piece to Alfred Hitchcock written by Gary Earl Ross entitled Murder Squared. Mr. Ross does a wonderful job capturing the nuance of the famed suspense writer but also the film-noir of early American TV. Honest and compelling, this piece is right out of the script-rooms of NBC.

The last production of the season features the semi-biographic story of Neil Simon's experiences as a junior writer for the TV variety show, Your Show of Shows, featuring the legendary Sid Caesar. Laughter on the 23rd Floor mixes both the sharp wit of Simon with the all-but-accurate characterisations of famed American writers, Mel Brooks, Woody Allen and Carl Reiner. Laughter on the 23rd Floor is a comedic, historical insight into American TV during a time when networks began to put ratings over quality.

Overall, this season should be entertaining to say the least. Whether you were able to watch these programs or just a gleam in your grand-father's eyes, this fourth season has something for you.

We'll see you around.

Matthew LaChiusa is the Executive/Artistic Director for American Rep Theater of WNY and is excited to be co-directing with Robert Ball of Ujima Theater with "Murder Squared"