Description

The artistic director for the Geva Theatre is apologizing for using the word "naive" when talking about Mayor Lovely Warren and the Parcel 5 project.Earlier this week, Artistic Director Mark Cuddy, during a news conference criticizing RBTL's proposed performing arts center, said the following: "[Mayor Warren] is quoted as saying: 'Syracuse is a college sports town, Buffalo has pro teams; we are the city of the arts and we have to have a venue that gives us that title.' We find that thinking to be naive at best."Speaking days later, Mayor Warren said she was offended by the remarks."I think that the artistic director actually owes me an apology," the mayor said. "When I say that, I'm talking about the fact that he called -- men calling women 'naive' in this day and age, I think is wrong."Mayor Warren continued: "I think we need to hold them accountable for that. We can agree to disagree on an approach, but to use language that is demeaning I think is wrong."In a letter addressed to Mayor Warren released on Thursday, Cuddy said he was sorry for the words he used. Cuddy writes, "I sincerely apologize to you, and anyone else, for any offense taken at my use of the word 'naive' in any context pertaining to you."He adds, "It certainly was not my objective to demean you in any way that would be -- and has been -- a distraction from the content of my remarks."A public meeting was held Thursday on the proposed project at Parcel 5.

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Parcel 5 Rochester NY Mayor Lovely Warren Artistic Director Mark Cuddy Geva Theatre Parcel 5 Project