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Typesetter: GUSS50 BQueue: 68 Date: 03/20 Time: 23:36 PAGE: B10 Zone: 1S C M Y K Plate: CMYK B10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2007 M THE HARTFORD COURANT CONNECTICUT Organizations Push To Keep Cost Of Living Adjustment UConn Foundation Nonprofit Groups Plead Pursues Divestment Withdrawal Of Investments In Companies With For Funding Increase Sudan Ties Sought At Urging Of Student Group By COLIN POITRAS Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s proposed $35.7 proposed $3.5 billion investment in COURANT STAFF WRITER billion budget for the next two fiscal education over the next five years dom- By MAX BAKKE The UConn chapter of STAND (Stu- years does not include any money for a inating her spending plan, such money COURANT STAFF WRITER dents Taking Action Now: Darfur) held Nonprofit providers of services for cost of living adjustment for these pro- simply wasn’t available, according to a protest at the foundation building on the poor, sick, elderly and disabled are viders. Instead, Rell has earmarked $17 Robert Genuario, secretary of the Of- STORRS — The UConn Foundation, Feb. 28. About one half of one percent or pleading with the legislature to restore million for a “low-wage pool” to help fice of Policy and Management and urged by a student coalition, will formal- $1.5 million of the foundation’s $300 mil- a requested 12 percent cost of living ad- bring lower-paid employees of non- Rell’s budget czar. ly request that its investment managers lion endowment is invested in com- justment in their state funding for the profits up to a more competitive pay “It’s clear the governor has made withdraw funds invested in the geno- panies doing business with Sudan. next two years in order to keep their level. education a priority in this biennium, cide-plagued country of Sudan. Students gave a presentation about programs running. By comparison, the private social as she made a COLA for the nonprofit The foundation has sent letters to its Sudan at the foundation’s investment Programs such as meals on wheels, service agencies are seeking $180 mil- providers a priority in the last bienni- managers, asking them to divest the committee in New York City on March adult or child day-care centers, half- lion over the next two years through a um,” Genuario said. “The governor foundation’s funds from companies in- 8, said Robert Luyster, philosophy pro- way houses and numerous substance COLA adjustment of 7 percent in the has to choose her priorities, and this volved in Sudan, said Arthur Sorrenti- fessor and the group’s adviser. abuse and domestic violence services fiscal year that begins July 1, and 5 per- year, the governor has made no bones no, director of communications for the Foundation members called the pre- say they need more money to pay in- cent in the following fiscal year. about it with her dramatic education foundation. One letter, Sorrentino said, sentation “top-notch” and unanimously creasing overhead costs for heat, elec- The proposed COLA adjustment is proposal.” will go to the manager of the founda- voted to take action at the meeting, Sor- tricity and insurance. the largest sought by the private pro- State Rep. Denise W. Merrill, D- tion’s only non-commingled fund “de- rentino said. Organizations such as the Connect- viders in years, but those in the field Mansfield, and co-chairwoman of the manding” divestment. Adam Brothers, a UConn student icut Association of Nonprofits and say it is necessary given recent in- powerful appropriations committee, “[In this fund] we have the leverage to who gave the presentation, said he and the Connecticut Community Pro- flationary costs. They also argue that said her group will definitely consider dictate how money is invested,” Sorren- members of UConn STAND were "ec- viders Association say the additional state workers are getting a similar 12 restoring some funding to the nonprof- tino said Monday. static" about the steps the foundation funding would also help them retain percent increase in wages and other its when it presents a revised spending In the other commingled funds, in is taking. staff, who remain dedicated to their benefits over the next two years and plan in the coming weeks. which the foundation is a relatively "We understood that the foundation jobs despite often being paid con- the nonprofits deserve the same as an “It’s probably the most significant small investor, it can only ask man- were small investors," he said. "They siderably less than their state extension of state human services. gap in the budget,” Merrill said. “It was agers to “consider” divestment, he met all of our requests." counterparts in similar jobs. “We’re doing the state’s business, a surprise to me. I think everyone rec- said. Foundation President John Martin “Without the COLA, it is inevitable helping the state accomplish its mis- ognizes the nonprofits are operating on The foundation also agreed to add a said the foundation shared the students’ that program cuts will be necessary, sion of serving its people,” said Ron a shoestring.” “Sudan-free” policy of investing to the feelings toward Darfur. waiting lists will grow, staff will be laid Cretaro, executive director of the asso- Merrill said the committee may re- list of criteria used in hiring future in- “These decisions reflect the founda- off and the burden will continue to shift ciation of nonprofits. “We feel we store some funding in the budget but vestment managers. tion’s concern about the unique human- from the community-based nonprofit should get comparable increases to did not guarantee it would be the full 12 Sorrentino said the committee dis- itarian crisis in the Sudan,” he said in a sector to hospitals and state-run in- what the state agencies are getting.” percent requested. cussed divestment last year but did not written statement. stitutions such as the Department of Rell gave the providers COLA ad- pursue the issue. Because of the stu- Correction,” said Nora Duncan, a lob- justments totaling 6 percent over the Contact Colin Poitras at dents’ activism, divestment has become Contact Max Bakke at byist for the nonprofit group. past two years. This year, with Rell’s [email protected]. a priority. [email protected]. Managing The Civic Center: Comparing Three Groups That Want The Job Center The three groups vying to manage the Hartford Civic Center, including what the Connecticut Development Authority has said are the pros and cons of each proposal. CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1 WORST-CASE ANNUAL PROPOSED BEST-CASE MSG LOSS TO STATE ANNUAL LOSS TO STATE PROS CONS Northland also submitted a plan to as- $2.65 million $2.55 million Stability, local knowledge, Could prioritize New York sume the operations, expenses and pos- Has run the Civic Center since 1997. Owns the Hartford sible upside entirely. Wolf Pack (AHL), New York Rangers (NHL), New York Knicks only group that could over Connecticut; hard to When it came to hockey, the three (NBA) and New York Liberty (WNBA). Runs UConn football guarantee a minor league remake an arena it has run groups had three different thoughts: stadium Rentschler Field in East Hartford, New York’s Madi- hockey team next year. for 10 years; is the per- MSG stressed the American Hockey son Square Garden arena complex and Radio City Music Hall. ceived status quo. League’s long-term viability in Hart- Parent company is Cablevision ford with the Wolf Pack; Baldwin em- phasized the AHL as a building block to the National Hockey League; and BALDWIN SPORTS GROUP/GLOBAL SPECTRUM Northland’s Lawrence R. Gottesdiener Howard Baldwin is a former owner of the Hartford Whalers; $2.73 million $831,000 Bring their own ticketing, No guarantee of AHL team said the way to go is to have an AHL marketing, concession for next season; state team while trying to buy an NHL fran- Global Spectrum operates big-name arenas such as Phila- chise. delphia’s Wachovia Spectrum and regional facilities such services; have potential for wouldn’t control pricing When it came to managing the arena, as Springfi eld’s MassMutual Center. Its parent company is regional sports television for concessions, ticket- each team brought an array of pro- Comcast, and its representative in the Hartford proposal is network; have Baldwin’s ing, marketing; not a true posals, from capital and concession im- Frank E. Russo Jr. — who once ran the Civic Center for the hockey experience; plan joint-venture between provements to strategies to boost at- city. to give the arena a new Baldwin and Global Spec- tendance. image, possibly selling trum — Baldwin would run The authority hopes to have a deal in naming rights. hockey, Comcast would place by the end of the month. Its mem- run arena. bers have had plenty to think about. “Do we like [Northland’s alternative NORTHLAND/AEG plan] because it’s different than the rest of them? If it is, then it’s an easy deci- Northland Investment Corp. is run by Lawrence R. Gottesdie- $2.93 million $1.43 million AEG is in the entertain- No guarantee of AHL team sion,” said board Vice Chairman Rich- ner and is downtown’s largest property owner with a $500 ment business; partner- next season; AEG’s facil- ard T. Mulready at a meeting last week. million portfolio. AEG Worldwide of Los Angeles owns the ship is a true joint venture; ity-management arm is a That plan limits the state’s possible loss- Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Manchester Monarchs (AHL), four plans to give arena new new, relatively untested es on the arena. “But if we want to look major league soccer teams and has an ownership interest image and has good track subsidiary of the parent more at potential upside, then the other in the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) and the Los Angeles Sparks record with selling naming company.

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