CITY OF LOCKPORT: Concert contract OK'd, despite discord

By Joyce Miles<br><a href="mailto:joyce.miles@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joyce</a>

The Common Council voted Wednesday to extend the city’s contract with promoters of the Molson Canal Concert Series through 2013, but the decision was not unanimous.

Fourth Ward Alderman Andy Chapman cast one of two “no” votes to protest the city doing business with someone whom he claims “exploits women.”

He referred to series promoter Kathy Paradowski, who through her husband Joseph’s not-for-profit Canal Concert Series Inc. recruits the bands and manages food and drink vending at the weekly free shows. Kathy Paradowski personally also is listed, in state business records, as the CEO of Colonie Lounge Inc., a Buffalo-based gentleman’s club.

Chapman produced printouts from two Web sites making the connection and said that informed his vote against concert contract extension.

“I wouldn’t spend (tax) money with someone who exploits women,” Chapman said. “My vote is based on a moral stance.”

Chapman is misjudging her, Paradowski responded in a late Wednesday telephone interview.

Paradowski said she has a less than 20 percent ownership interest in the Colonie Lounge, dating back to 1996, and is not involved with the club management.

“My ownership is barely minute ... . I consider myself a silent landowner,” she said.

Paradowski also owns Syros restaurant in Lewiston and in the past, owned a storage facility in Wheatfield and several other restaurants in the area. All were successful businesses and employers, she said.

“Our appropriateness (as a city business partner) should be measured by current ventures, not something that goes back 15 years,” Paradowski said.

To Chapman personally, Paradowski suggested a question about who measures up morally based on old associations. On Tuesday, she noted, conservative-backed Republican Massachusetts state Sen. Scott Brown was elected to Congress.

“Brown dropped his drawers for Cosmopolitan (magazine) in 1982. Now he’s a United States senator,” she said. “Personally, I’m very happy about (Brown’s) victory. ... What’s Mr. Chapman’s comment about it?”

In the Council’s pre-business meeting work session, Chapman tried getting other aldermen to agree to hold off voting on contract extension for a month. He asked for an executive session — a meeting of aldermen and the city attorney only, no press or members of the public allowed — to raise his concerns about Paradowski. Raised voices pierced the closed doors of the meeting room repeatedly as Chapman laid out his objections and other leaders advised him not to confuse his personal convictions with the good of the city.

When the session ended, Mayor Michael Tucker stormed out of the meeting room, obviously furious with Chapman.

“The position he’s taking is ludicrous,” Tucker said later. “He’s got a right to object to anything, but I think this (concert series) is one of the best things to happen in this city in 50 years. What is he thinking?”

Most aldermen were not moved by Chapman’s plea to consider the moral fitness of a city partner, nor were they interested in giving him a requested 30 days to further investigate Paradowski and/or try finding another summer concert promoter.

“(Paradowski) has done a great job promoting the concerts; that’s exactly what we have a contract with her for,” said Council President Richelle Pasceri, 1st Ward alderman, said. “I think Canal Concert Series is good for the City of Lockport.”

After the business meeting, Chapman, who actively identified himself as a Christian in his 4th Ward campaign literature last year, reportedly singled out 3rd Ward Alderman Flora McKenzie to tsk-tsk her vote in favor of contract extension. McKenzie is openly spiritual and is a leader of the faith-based Young Men and Young Women of Character programs in the city.

Individual religious convictions shouldn’t sway aldermen as they’re conducting city business, an annoyed 4th Ward resident David Ulrich said of Chapman’s argument against contract extension. The concert series plays out every summer in his Ulrich City Centre courtyard.

“I don’t believe anybody should have a moral agenda when it comes to the betterment of Lockport. For (Chapman) to bring religious principles into this is not appropriate,” he said. “I respect Andy Chapman, I respect his opinions, but I also think that true Christian principles teach tolerance.”

Like Tucker and the aldermen who voted for contract extension, Ulrich dismissed Paradowski’s link with Colonie Lounge as irrelevant. The issue isn’t Paradowski’s background, he said, it’s what a partnership with Canal Concert Series Inc. does for the city.

“Kathy Paradowski has delivered an awful lot to Lockport; she’s always been very straightforward, very honest, with me. Her character is very good,” Ulrich said. “We have the most successful concert series in Western New York, and with the biggest names. What is objectionable about that?”

Second Ward Alderman Jack Smith cast the second vote against contract extension. Smith said he has no problem with the concert series, but he thought the Council should have given Chapman the month he wanted to look further into Canal Concert Series Inc. and alternatives. He saw no rush to approve a contract that doesn’t kick in until 2011, he added.

Tucker disagreed.

“There is a rush, in a sense, because Kathy needs to know she’s got a venue in place; she needs to know she’s got a home — and we need to head off (potential rival venues) at the pass,” he said. “I know other municipalities would take this off our hands in a minute.”

Contact reporter Joyce Miles at 439-922, ext. 6245.

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