WHO IS RODNEY GLASSMAN? Glassman Sought A Government “Bailout” Of His Family’s Business

WHO IS RODNEY GLASSMAN?



Glassman Sought A Government “Bailout” Of His Family’s Business


PHOENIX, AZ – U.S. Senator John McCain’s re-election campaign today continues its series of “Who Is Rodney Glassman?” fact checks introducing the Democratic Senate candidate to voters in Arizona. Today’s issue: Glassman’s plea to the City of Tucson for a taxpayer-funded “bailout” of his family’s struggling ice rink.


In 1995, Roger Glassman, Rodney’s father, successfully fought a proposal that the city of Tucson buy out a different ice rink, arguing that government should not interfere with the private sector.


Two years later, the Glassman family sent Rodney to Tucson to manage the Gateway Ice Center, a facility constructed on top of a property previously declared by the Tucson City Council as a slum, “qualifying developers for low-interest government bonds.”


Ironically, in 2000, a 21 year old Rodney lobbied the Tucson City Council to buy his family’s struggling ice skating rink for $6 million to $8 million taxpayer dollars. Rodney, admitting his father was wrong, campaigned aggressively on behalf of this “terminal” situation and “blamed the city for its financial problems.” He was even thrown out of a councilwoman’s office in the process. Not surprisingly, the Council unanimously rejected Rodney’s proposal, explaining that it would be “a bailout of a private business.” In 2004, the Gateway Ice Center was sold, and now Rodney claims he made “the family business profitable” during his six year term as General Manager.


Today, Rodney claims he opposed the TARP, telling the Arizona Capitol Times that “our government has no business doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate welfare.”


McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers issued the following statement concerning Rodney’s “bailout”:

“For Rodney to plead with the Tucson City Council to pick up the tab for his family’s failing ice rink -- a facility built using low-interest government bonds -- with millions of taxpayer dollars, is ridiculous. In fact, a former Tucson councilwoman said it best: ‘To think the city should pick up a business that is marginal is an insult to the taxpayers of this community.’" -- McCain 2010 Communications Director Brian Rogers

FACT CHECK: GLASSMAN SOUGHT A TAXPAYER-FUNDED “BAILOUT” OF HIS FAMILY’S ICE RINK


Glassman Managed His Family’s Ice Rink In Tucson For Six Years:


Glassman Worked Managing His Family’s Ice Rink In Tucson, Where He Eventually Earned Six Figures A Year. “He earned that money, he told me, during his time consulting with KB Home and when he managed his family's ice skating rink in Tucson. He started earning $24,000 a year at the ice rink and eventually earned six figures a year. (This fact should spur job applications to ice skating rinks around the country and particularly in the Southwest.)” (Stuart Rothenberg, “Same Party But Two Very Different Candidates,” Roll Call, 6/22/10)


Glassman Managed The Rink -- Called The Gateway Ice Center -- From July 1997 To August 2004. (Glassman Foundation Website, www.glassmanfoundation.org, Accessed 8/23/10)


The Rink Was Built On Property Declared A Slum By The Tucson City Council, Which Qualified The Developers For Low-Interest Government Bonds. “Glassman, the 24-year-old son of wealthy Fresno growers, insists he has not prohibited any kids from Gateway Ice Center, built atop the former Gateway landfill east of the Wal-Mart at East Speedway and North Kolb Road. That property was declared a slum by the Tucson City Council 18 years ago, qualifying developers for low-interest government bonds.” (Chris Limberis, “Rinky Dink,” Tucson Weekly, 10/31/02)


Glassman Asked The City Of Tucson To Buy The Ice Rink for $6 Million To $8 Million:


In 2000, While Serving As Manager Of The Gateway Ice Center, His Family’s Struggling Ice Skating Rink, Glassman Pushed For The City Of Tucson To Purchase The Facility. “Owners of Gateway Ice Center want the city to buy the facility, but the proposal is receiving a chilly reception from the City Council. … Rodney Glassman, Gateway's manager, said the 4-year-old rink, at 7333 E. Rosewood, is on thin ice. The business is only breaking even at 50 percent capacity, and Glassman said he's been unable to find private buyers. ‘The situation is terminal,’ he said. Glassman said if the city buys the rink, it could easily turn a profit and dramatically expand its use by youth groups, many of whom could skate for free. The city could either manage the rink itself or have a private company do the job, he said.” (Mitch Tobin, “Skating Rink Buyout Idea On Thin Ice,” Tucson Citizen, 3/18/00)


Ironically, In 1995, Glassman’s Father Had Successfully Fought A Proposal That The City Buy Out Another Ice Rink, Arguing That It Would Be Government Interference In The Private Sector. “[Councilman Fred] Ronstadt's father, former Parks & Recreation Director Jim Ronstadt, proposed the city build an ice rink at the East Side Udall Center in 1995. But Glassman's father, Roger, successfully argued against it. ‘Back then they were saying, “Don't you dare, it's a private sector thing,”’ Fred Ronstadt said. ‘Now that they're in financial trouble they come to the city and say we should own it. What's up with that?’ Rodney Glassman admits his father was wrong and the elder Ronstadt was right.” (Mitch Tobin, “Skating Rink Buyout Idea On Thin Ice,” Tucson Citizen, 3/18/00)


Glassman’s Proposal Was Reviewed and Rejected By The Tucson City Council, Despite Aggressive Campaigning By Glassman:


After Reviewing Glassman’s Proposal, City Council Members Raised Concerns That The Idea Amounted To “A Bailout Of A Failing Private Business.” “Some City Council members say the purchase would amount to a bailout of a failing private business.” (Mitch Tobin, “Skating Rink Buyout Idea On Thin Ice,” Tucson Citizen, 3/18/00)


- Councilwoman Carol West: “To think the city should pick up a business that is marginal is an insult to the taxpayers of this community… Don't even get me started.’” (Mitch Tobin, “Skating Rink Buyout Idea On Thin Ice,” Tucson Citizen, 3/18/00)


- Councilman Fred Ronstadt: “We're not going to buy it… I don't think there's anyone on the council who supports that.” (Mitch Tobin, “Skating Rink Buyout Idea On Thin Ice,” Tucson Citizen, 3/18/00)


Glassman “Intensively Pressed The Council For Months To Buy The Money-Losing Ice Rink For Between $6 Million And $8 Million.” “Three years later, Glassman - who has made the fiscal responsibility lessons learned from running the ice rink a part of his campaign - intensively pressed the council for months to buy the money-losing ice rink for between $6 million and $8 million.” (Rob O'Dell, “Glassman Pestered Council As Newcomer,” Arizona Daily Star, 10/30/07)


Glassman’s “Aggressive Style” During The Ice Rink Bailout Debate “Alienated Some Council Members And Community Leaders.” “Glassman, whose aggressive style alienated some council members and community leaders when he ran his family's ice-skating rink, said he would take a different approach as a council member.” (Erica Meltzer, “Glassman, Romero Make It 6-Dem Council,” Arizona Daily Star, 11/7/07)


Glassman Pushed So Hard For The Bailout During One Meeting With Tucson City Councilwoman Carol West That West Actually Threw Him Out Of Her Office.

“East Side Councilwoman Carol West told Notebook this week she won't endorse either candidate running for the seat she's held for eight years. In what's proving to be the only non-lifeless race this November - other than the Proposition 200 food fight, mind you - Republican Lori Oien and Democrat Rodney Glassman are squaring off. West said she'd rather let voters decide. … The decision is a setback for Oien, who wanted West's endorsement, especially since West said she ‘clashed’ with Glassman when he sought a public buyout of his struggling Gateway Ice Center in 2000 and blamed the city for its financial problems. West said she got so fed up with Glassman she threw him out of her office. ‘He's the only person I ever have,’ she said with a laugh.” (Daniel Scarpinato and Rob O'Dell, “Don't Expect West's Nod On East Side Council Race,” Arizona Daily Star, 9/29/07)


The City Council Rejected Glassman’s Buyout Proposal In A Unanimous Vote, “Arguing It Would Be A Bailout Of A Private Business.” “In a unanimous vote yesterday, the City Council said it had no interest in buying the business at 7333 E. Rosewood St. City ownership could reverse the rink's faltering finances and increase its use by underprivileged children, rink manager Rodney Glassman said. ‘This venture makes sense,’ said Glassman, 21. ‘Please just complete an analysis to prove us wrong.’ But the council quickly dismissed the plan, arguing it would be a bailout of a private business.” (Mitch Tobin, “City Won't Buy Out Ice Rink,” Tucson Citizen, 3/21/00)


- Councilman Jose Ibarra: “I think there are other priorities we need to address in the city, and it would be foolish to continue down this path…”(Mitch Tobin, “City Won't Buy Out Ice Rink,” Tucson Citizen, 3/21/00)


Glassman Neglects To Mention His Request For A “Bailout” In Current References To The Rink And Claims He Made It Profitable Before Selling It:


Glassman Claims On His Website That When He Went To Work For The Rink, It “Was Not Operating Profitably,” But He Was Able To Make It Profitable. “While attending college, Rodney was asked by his family to move to Tucson to run his family’s ice skating rink that was not operating profitably. After six years as the General Manager, while completing his education and attending graduate school, Rodney was able to make the family business profitable and eventually sold it to local owners.” (Rodney Glassman for Senate, www.rodneyglassman.com, Accessed 8/24/10)


Glassman Sold The Rink In 2004. “When customers walk into Tucson's only ice rink, they won't find the same frosty reception of years past. And it's not just because the temperature inside has been raised. The rink was recently bought from Tucsonan Rodney Glassman by Polar Ice Entertainment, a Phoenix-based company that also runs ice rinks in New York, Illinois and Texas.” (Ty Young, “East Side Today/Food, Culture & Recreation,” Tucson Citizen, 5/20/04)


Glassman Declares That Sen. McCain “Paved The Way For This Financial Crisis” By Voting For “Corporate Welfare”:


Ironically, Arguing Against The TARP Bailout In 2010, Glassman Said “Our Government Has No Business Doling Out Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Corporate Welfare.” “Wall Street bailout: Our government has no business doling out hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate welfare. John McCain and JD Hayworth paved the way for this financial crisis by eliminating common-sense regulation on Wall Street, and McCain led the Republican effort to pass the TARP bailouts. McCain even suspended his presidential campaign to vote for TARP.” (“2010 Primary Election Guide,” Arizona Capitol Times)
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