Not so fast with the dirges, the Mayor says.
Hold the obituaries.
Do not cue the orchestra — yet, at least — to strike up the Funeral March and wave bye, bye to Gary Mandell’s 10-year reign as producer of the Summer Music Festival series at City Hall.
Santa Monica radio station KCRW (89.9) may or may not have the momentum to inherit, and enhance, Mr. Mandell’s lengthy, much-praised, and also criticized, role.
KCRW looks at least a mile south of being a cinch.
Mayor Chris Armenta said this afternoon that when Special Events Coordinator Susan Obrow opens talks with the station, the meeting will be strictly “exploratory,” preliminary.
He was not willing to go any farther.
Vice Mayor Mehaul O’Leary this afternoon restated his position, that he is comfortable with the status quo.
Developing a two-tiered relationship with KCRW as producer/promoter of the Thursday night series is the brainchild of City Councilman Scott Malsin. At last week’s meeting, he so vigorously championed the idea that City Hall staff was directed to investigate the possibility of what Mr. Malsin called “a partnership.”
Mr. O’Leary sounded just as cautious as the Mayor. “This is a last-minute idea that Scott brought, and I don’t know what his plan is to achieve with this,” Mr. O’Leary said. “If it is a good idea, we will soon find out.
“I am curious. That is about it.
“I have said before, this is not my fight.
“The concert series is something that is loved by many.
“In my opinion, it works fine. I see the City Hall Courtyard is filled for every concert. After I speak, I never can find a place to sit down without blocking somebody’s view.
“I mean, how many more people do we want?”
Mayor Armenta says the city’s approach to KCRW should be simple and direct:
“We are interested in exploring a relationship. We would like to hear what ideas they have.”
As for talk of Mr. Mandell being ousted and KCRW being anointed as successor, Mr. Armenta said, “I think it is a bit early for that. I (only) supported the idea of talking to KCRW to see what they could do.
“In a way, I am giving Councilmember Malsin the benefit of the doubt in terms of supporting exploring the idea.”
To tie a ribbon on the package that is the tentative off-season condition of the Summer Music Festival, Mr. Armenta said the concept of reaching out to KCRW demonstrated that the City Council is “willing to think outside of the box,” but not more than that.
