New Bedford Mayor Mitchell Slams Vote to Defund Zeiterion

One of the more bizarre actions taken by the New Bedford City Council on "Cut Night" last week was the total elimination of funding for the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Cut Night is when councilors propose, debate and vote on cuts to the mayor's budget blueprint for the coming fiscal year.

The council slashed $10.2 million, or about two percent, from Mayor Jon Mitchell's budget for Fiscal Year 2025, including the city's total $500,000 allocation for the operation of the city-owned Zeiterion Performing Arts Center.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is currently undergoing extensive and expensive restoration and is expected to reopen in January.

Zeiterion Funding: What Was Cut

Zeiterion CEO Rosemary Gill told WBSM's Townsquare Sunday, "Those payments are not a handout. We earned that money because we manage a city-owned building. It's shocking that they brought that line item down to zero."

READ MORE: Restoration at Risk as New Bedford City Council Defunds Zeiterion

Gill said the payments were contractually negotiated 10 years ago and that the cut will impact the day-to-day operation of the "Z" as well as the restoration.

"A lot of the capital projects we are paying for with loans, and those loans are based on a certain level of income," she said. "With our income diminished, the lenders could pull those loans, and that would mean the restoration would come to a screeching halt."

Councilor Positions: For and Against

The six councilors who voted to defund the "Z" include Derek Baptiste, Naomi Carney, Maria Giesta, Brian Gomes, Linda Morad and Shawn Oliver. Councilors Ian Abreu, Ryan Pereira, Joe Lopes, Leo Choquette and Council President Shane Burgo voted against defunding.

Of the six who voted to eliminate the "Z's" funding, only two councilors responded to my text seeking an explanation.

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Councilor Oliver told me, "While I do not believe the City of New Bedford should be subsidizing the Zeiterion Theatre, I do recognize that we are contractually obligated to do so."

"I still believe there is flexibility within the Council's amended budget for the administration to reallocate funds in a way that allows us to meet our legal obligations under the agreement," Oliver said.

READ MORE: Burgo Won't Seek Another Term as Council President

Councilor Burgo told WBSM the vote to defund may have been, in part, a "protest" and an effort to "punish" the administration.

Councilor Giesta responded to my text but refused to go on the record.

Mayor Mitchell: Cut Is "Shortsighted"

Mayor Jon Mitchell told WBSM, "For the second consecutive year, City Councilors have refused to pay the Zeiterion's support contract that they themselves overwhelmingly approved. It is difficult to reconcile the Council's decision, and no matter what, the failure to provide the Z with the support it needs is shortsighted."

"Besides the Z's significant economic and cultural benefits, its programming promotes considerable hotel and meals tax revenue, which helps to offset the City's relatively modest support payments," Mitchell said.

"Although it will be difficult to replace the funds cut by the City Council, we are committed to enabling the Z to complete its renovations and throw open its doors again," he said.