San Gabriel City Hall, Dec. 5, 2023 (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net). SG Chamber letter (SG Chamber Facebook)
A few months ago, in an effort to bolster their flagging funds, the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce offered the City a “Presidential Circle Membership” for a fee of $23,000. This special membership was only offered to the City of San Gabriel. Unfortunately, the $23,000 membership didn’t come with any additional benefits.
By Cheryl Cabot
When this offer was presented to the City Council, it was taken under consideration with the proviso that the Chamber sign a contract and have a complete audit done by a third party.
No contract. No audit. No money.
Their ploy to disguise an outright money grab from the City as a ‘membership’ backfired. Unwilling to sign a contract, or open their books, they couldn’t receive the money.
Now the Chamber has published an open letter stating that, “We have made the decision to rescind our offer to the City of San Gabriel of a Presidential Circle Membership in the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce.”
How disappointing.
Once again the Chamber is tossing together a word salad to make it sound like they are making a serious attempt to improve their lot.
“Our Chamber will be reevaluating and restructuring some of our Memberships, including Municipality Memberships.”
Is a Municipality Membership the new “Presidential Circle Membership” the Chamber so generously offered to the City? How much will this newly minted membership cost?
The Chamber’s letter continues: “Once we have completed the restructuring of our Municipality Memberships, we can possibly have a new dialogue with the San Gabriel City Council.”
Possibly. But, the same rules will still apply. No contract. No audit. No money.
I knew the executive director back in the day, she would have welcomed an audit. This group doesn’t sound very ethical