Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

Referendums Are for the Weak

For the most part, elected officials that support Referendums are abdicating their responsibility to govern. While there are the rare instances of a question coming up that nobody could have anticipated in the last general election (thus, votes cast for candidates weren't influenced by their potential support or opposition of the question), most of the time, a Referendum is an elected body's way to dodge taking a public stand on a difficult issue.

Which is why what went down earlier today in Myrtle Beach SC is so damn refreshing. Despite public (and even editorial) calls for a Referendum to decide whether to continue a penny sales tax that has been an unequivocal win for the region's residents and taxpayers, the Mayor and City Council passed the resolution into law this afternoon.

Recently elected Mayor Brenda Bethune said that she made no attempt to hide her support of continuing the tax during her campaign last autumn. And, when she won in a landslide vote, "that basically was a referendum," she said. Thus, there was no reason to hold another.

True dat.

The Rock Concert Video

A staple when MTV (Music Television) actually played music, the Rock Concert Video was as close and as real as the genre ever got. And, for those without the means to score seats in the first 10 rows or get backstage, it was as close as some fans ever got.

To be sure, there were some sensational moments from performers such as Bon Jovi, Winger, Heart and Van Halen.

The genre of Rock Concert Video has produced precious little in the past few years...but Nicki Sixx has never strayed far from the magic. From the Crue's "Motherfucker of the Year" to Sixx A.M.'s "Stars," his videos continue to grab the viewer and not let go.

And, he's done it again. The last Sixx A.M. release before the band went on hiatus last year is "Prayers for the Blessed" and, on this Music Friday, we share one of the coolest concert videos in a long time.

It's "We Will Not Go Quietly."

And, we won't.

The Alternate Reality

For Star Trek fans, The Mirror Universe is a universal favorite. In it, the Starship Enterprise comes face to face with an alternative universe in which their Kirk and Spock are evil, hell-bent on universal domination. White is black, up is down...the mirror universe is the polar opposite of the Federation we all know and love.

That episode came to mind when I read what could have been an April Fool's article, but isn't, from Humboldt County CA. In many destinations in which pot has been legalized, local officials and business leaders have encouraged their DMO to refrain from actively promoting the cannabis industry. Not Humboldt County.

After completing his annual marketing presentation to the County Board, DMO CEO Tony Smithers recently faced a series of questions and criticisms for not including the promotion of cannabis in this year's campaign. And for not having someone from the cannabis industry on his Board!

What a short strange trip it's been...

The Distracted, Forgetful, Not Very Smart Consumer

It's not uncommon in our work with destinations across the Americas for local Stakeholders and Boards to be consumed by the bad news that seems to emanate from their communities. They are convinced that potential visitors will hear of the terrible, horrible (fill in the blank) and cross the destination off their list.

With the possible exception of Bermuda, which saw some 3,000 cancellations after Hurricane Irma decimated Barbuda (honestly, can people really be so geographically challenged?), bad news doesn't seem to register with many consumers. And, if it does, it doesn't stick.

A recent study by Destination Analysts reveals that "travelers’ memories are short, and people intuitively understand that time heals wounds caused to a place."

As the marketers of our destinations, we need to realize that we are simply too close to our own reality to truly understand how few people are actually paying attention. Thus, we need to stay the course in our upbeat marketing of our communities...because most consumers are willing to listen.

 

The Overreaching Authority of State Government

I understand the need for a uniform set of State rules that govern how Counties and Municipalities operate...to a point. But, can someone explain to me why local government's taxation decisions are any of the State's business?

Take my home State of Wisconsin, for instance. Cities are prohibited from enacting a Local Sales Tax, even if local residents wanted one. We are prohibited from doing what cities like Oklahoma City have done; enacting a one penny sales tax to drive infrastructure enhancements. And, one look at that city's meteoric growth and prosperity should cause any sophisticated resident to weigh the "pain" of a penny versus the development that has resulted in a sensational enhancement of the region's Quality of Life. And, yes, Oklahoma City residents continue to approve that penny tax every few years.

Why should State government have the authority to restrict a community's decisions on how best to prosper, indeed? Why should Florida's House of Representatives attempt to throttle local county's economic development efforts? And why should petty partisan politics deny a Mississippi community the ability to continue to fund its DMO when that destination's City and County governments both asked for the authority to do so?

That's what happened last week as the Mississippi Legislature adjourned without approving a requested extension of a Restaurant Tax for Columbus and Lowndes County...revenues from which provide almost all the funding for the DMO, support funding for the region's Economic Development effort and funds for community recreation facilities and festivals. And, the State's rejection of the tax wasn't because they were getting heat from their constituents.

It's because Senate and House leaders refused to negotiate a philosophical difference, preferring to attempt to prove their individual level of command and control. Which is kinda like what gangs and children do, with no thought to the consequence. And then, walk away with little more than a shrug of indifference.

And, that's simply wrong.