Fire department, council, or whomever, yeah, rather clumsy to let that slip. Kudos to whomever called in reporters, as that's likely to work better than lawyers.
I suppose it could be possible that the fire inspection was prompted by the concern that the exhibit would draw a lot more visitors to the gallery, which would make it more important that the building was up to code. But that seems highly unlikely, given the timing.
Having worked in Marblehead for a year, I can attest to the fact that this is more or less the modus operandi: rules & regulations are the set of excuses that allows the town to enforce its values. Many communities seem to feel, on the subject of enforcing what they feel are common values, that the end justifies the means. For example, I've seen the same method employed extensively by some cohousing groups.
I unfortunately have to miss the opening as I will be up in NH visiting relatives, but congratulations! I do plan to get up to see the exhibit at some point.
And since the show was almost as opposed to totally banned, I actually think the publicity will be positive for business, which is often what happens. (Even if the opening had to be postponed/cancelled, the gallery would still likely sell more art from the news exposure)
no subject
Date: 2006-02-25 05:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-25 05:32 am (UTC)Fire department, council, or whomever, yeah, rather clumsy to let that slip. Kudos to whomever called in reporters, as that's likely to work better than lawyers.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-25 07:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-25 02:31 pm (UTC)Having worked in Marblehead for a year, I can attest to the fact that this is more or less the modus operandi: rules & regulations are the set of excuses that allows the town to enforce its values. Many communities seem to feel, on the subject of enforcing what they feel are common values, that the end justifies the means. For example, I've seen the same method employed extensively by some cohousing groups.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-25 02:52 pm (UTC)And since the show was almost as opposed to totally banned, I actually think the publicity will be positive for business, which is often what happens. (Even if the opening had to be postponed/cancelled, the gallery would still likely sell more art from the news exposure)