Foes fear eating Grand Prix costs

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/10/foes_fear_eating_grand_prix_costs



SPINNING THEIR WHEELS: Organizers of next year’s Grand Prix of Boston announced ties with several restaurants in the Seaport District where the race will be held, but critics of the race are worried about taxpayers footing the bill.

Foes fear eating Grand Prix costs
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Chris Cassidy

Grand Prix of Boston organizers are touting steaks, clam chowder and lobster rolls from Seaport restaurants at next year’s Labor Day weekend Indy­Car race, but a critic of the event dismissed the cuisine as “window dressing” for public money that may be needed to hold the sporting spectacle.

“The taxpayers are being used as a piggy bank for this scheme,” said Evan Falchuk, a critic of the race and the chairman of the United Independent Party. “This is all nice window dressing for the fact that the tax­payers will have to pay a lot of money — an unclear amount at this point — to fix up the roads and build things for this car race.”

Organizers hoping to build momentum for the race after criticism over possible public costs yesterday unveiled a variety of local restaurants who will be sponsoring the event.

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Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has promised not to use tax­payer money on the event. Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn told the Herald last week the quasi-state agency would have to spend at least $500,000 to prepare the roads for the race.