Freda Motto: Turn over mansion to non-profit? First we’ve heard of it
Re “Turn McHenry Museum, Mansion over to nonprofits?” (Front page, June 27): As secretary of the McHenry Mansion Foundation, no requests were received by me for comments on turning over the operation of the McHenry Mansion to a nonprofit, nor were any requests submitted to anyone else on the executive board or on the foundation board. It would have been nice to have had the chance to make comments on such a far-reaching idea.
Has anyone in city government calculated the significance of the historical and financial impact of the mansion to the city? Many of the 40,000 visitors each year stay in our motels and hotels, eat at our restaurants, spend money in the many area stores and attend performances at the Gallo Center. This suggestion also ignores the many hundred of hours and dollars invested in the mansion by the people volunteering to keep it open for the city. This idea needs much more study and input by those who care deeply about the future of the mansion.
Freda Motto, Modesto
This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Freda Motto: Turn over mansion to non-profit? First we’ve heard of it."