Dear Editor:
 
In the past few weeks The Messenger has published two articles by Adam Bednar about our emerging plans to enhance the endangered Senator Theatre's capabilities and take it to a new level as the region's premiere entertainment venue. We appreciate The Messenger's coverage of what is taking place.      
 
As last week's article outlined, a recent town meeting was held to follow up on a year of round table meetings and on-line interactions with our supporters, and to present and discuss plans to refurbish and enhance The Senator in an initial public forum. A primary concern of ours is how little public awareness exists about past and present municipal impediments to progress that continue to undermine our efforts. 
 
It's clear that many readers of The Messenger want to better understand our present circumstances and how we propose to meet the challenges ahead. 
 
In that light, we would like to correct and clarify a few aspects of the most recent town meeting article.
 
While there are plans in the works by United Community Access Media to form a stand-alone, not-for-profit Senator Foundation, it is not being formed by UCAM to "run a gift shop and cafe' at the theatre." The mission of the new not-for-profit initiative is to develop model programs to improve The Senator's profitability, and by doing so, preserve and protect the theatre as an irreplaceable community-based asset.
 
A not-for-profit UCAM model program discussed at the meeting will apply for grants and host benefit events at The Senator to fund student trips to our National Register Landmark to experience dynamic film and digital presentations offered in synch with their scholastic curriculums. The program would not involve "shutting down the theatre", but instead open it up to be utilized during weekday mornings. It's envisioned as an innovative collaboration to serve UCAM's educational mission and generate additional revenue for The Senator by providing students of the region enhanced learning opportunities. 
 
We would also like to correct another inaccuracy in last week's article.  We are not hoping to "build a grass-roots movement to finance redevelopment...". Instead we are seeking the public's creative input in a collaborative effort to build wide-ranging community support and excitement for a refurbished and enhanced Senator Theatre.
 
In this way we are seeking to marshal public support to help us garner the elusive political and economic development agency cooperation and comprehensive public planning for The Senator and our district that has been non-existent for too many years. The developers garner that municipal cooperation and support by other means. We have come to understand that we will only achieve our shared goals through the vocal, pro-active support of the citizens of Baltimore, which The Senator has been privileged to entertain and serve for almost 70 years. 
 
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify those key issues and for The Messenger's coverage of what's taking place at "The People's Theatre".
 
See you at the movies!
 
Sincerely, Tom Kiefaber