LU defends decision to close Plaza

By Alicia Petska

Published: August 21, 2008

Liberty University is standing by its decision to deny parking for Wednesday night’s Obama event, a move that’s drawing criticism from local Democrats.

City officials, meanwhile, are looking to Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign to pay for a last-minute shuttle service established to get attendants from City Stadium to the rally at E.C. Glass High School.

The city stepped in after learning Wednesday morning LU would not allow event parking at The Plaza shopping center.

On Thursday, Liberty officials said they did make an offer to supply the Obama campaign with paid — not free — parking at the shopping center, which is owned by the university.

No reply was received, according to administrators.

LU Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said that after initially declining to allow parking, the school was asked by the Secret Service to reconsider. Liberty then agreed to rent parking to the campaign at fair-market value, which it determined was between $5 and $10 per space.

“We said we would try to clear it with (the businesses in The Plaza) and see what was available,” Falwell said. “… We tried to accommodate them.”

LU, a registered 501(c)(3), said its tax-exempt status prohibits it from providing free parking to a political rally. Federal law bars exempt groups from contributing to political campaigns either directly or indirectly, according to the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site.

A spokesman for the IRS declined to discuss what would or would not constitute a violation of those rules, saying such decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis.

Falwell said supplying free parking would have amounted to donating the cost of the space to the Obama campaign, in violation of federal tax code.

LU has been criticized by some, particularly among Obama supporters, for closing off access to The Plaza.

The chairman of the local Democratic Party, John Lawrence, said Thursday the school was “making up excuses” to avoid helping a Democratic candidate.

“They did it to spite the Obama campaign,” he said.

Falwell said the university would have taken the same action with any public event, political or otherwise, that sought to use its property without permission.

“It doesn’t surprise me people are upset, but they should be upset with the Obama campaign for not working it out beforehand,” he said.

Organizers of Obama’s appearance at E.C. Glass initially directed ticket holders to park at The Plaza without the school’s knowledge.

Falwell said he only learned of the situation through television reports the night before.

A campaign spokesman operating out of Richmond confirmed Thursday that no one sought the school’s permission before announcing the arrangements.

“My understanding is some of our staff thought it was public parking,” said Kevin Griffis. “Once we were told it was not public, we told people not to park there.”

Griffis also said he didn’t believe the campaign was given the option of paid parking, but added such events usually rely on free, public spaces.

It was not immediately clear if LU’s offer was relayed to Obama officials. LU provided the name of the Secret Service agent it spoke with. He in turn said only that the agency does not pay for parking.

Further questions were referred to the agency’s Richmond office, which had already closed for the day as it was after business hours.

The Obama camp may still end up paying for at least a portion of last night’s parking costs.

The city intends to send them a bill for a shuttle service it quickly established after learning there would be no Plaza parking.

The city encouraged rally attendants to park at City Stadium, where six school buses awaited to ferry them to E.C. Glass and back. Officials said they were concerned a dearth of parking would create confusion and lead to a possible public safety hazard.

The cost of the shuttle service was not immediately known, but City Manager Kimball Payne said on Thursday that the city did expect the campaign to pay for it.

“The Obama campaign was told yesterday it would be sent a bill,” Payne said. “They created this situation. They coordinated it. … We don’t feel it was our responsibility to manage the parking.”

The city does not plan to seek reimbursement for other support services provided, including the presence of more than 40 local police officers.

Payne described these other forms of assistance as “customary” support that would be provided to any visiting dignitary.

“If John McCain comes, we’ll do the same for him,” he said.

The total cost to the city for the Obama event is not yet known, but will be compiled. Payne predicted it wouldn’t exceed five figures.

Griffis, of the Obama campaign, was not aware of any pending bill, but said he imagined if the city did provide parking it was in an effort to support a positive event in the community.

“Obviously, it did bring a lot of positive attention to Lynchburg,” he said of the rally, which was attended by more than 2,000 people.

Payne said while the campaign has not expressly agreed to pay, he expected it would.

“I’m assuming they’re honorable people,” he said.