Bishop Resigns from JSAC Board in wake of QSpot eviction
Town Hall meeting planned for 4 p.m. Saturday at Main Street location
In the wake of the news that Jersey Shore Arts Center [JSAC] plans to opt out of renewing a lease agreement with LGBT support nonprofit QSpot, former Neptune Township Mayor Randy Bishop resigned for the art center’s Board of Directors, effective September 12, 2016, QSpot organizers announced late Thursday via a news release.
The announcement comes as QSpot organizes a 4 p.m. Saturday town hall event at their 66 Main Street location [shown at right below] to discuss the agency’s efforts to fight the pending eviction.
“Randy’s resignation is a courageous testament to his leadership, commitment and support of what is fair and just,” said QSpot Executive Director John Mikytuck. “Randy has been a strong and consistent supporter of the QSpot LGBT Community Center and recipient of a QSpot Community Award. Randy led the way as the first openly gay elected official in Neptune and third openly gay Mayor in New Jersey. He is also a successful Ocean Grove businessman and good friend to many in the community.”
Located at 66 main Street in Ocean Grove, JSAC transformed the former Neptune High School into an all inclusive space for artists, educators and community groups.
Bishop notified Herb Herbst, President of the Jersey Shore Arts Center, that he was resigning due to the handling of the QSpot LGBT Community Center’s lease renewal, according to the written statement.
QSpot was recently notified that JSAC would not renew the organization’s lease when it expires on Dec. 31.
According to the news statement, JSAC failed to follow through on items requested after a meeting Bishop moderated and that he [Bishop], a year and half long Board member, was not notified or invited to any JSAC board meetings involving a vote on QSpot’s lease renewal.
“Randy Bishop’s resignation is another indication that there are unanswered questions surrounding JSAC’s decision not to renew QSpot’s lease,” Executive Director John Mikytuck said. “The fact that the only openly gay member of the JSAC Board of Directors had not been involved in the decision making process, speaks volumes to our concerns about the JSAC’s leaderships attitudes towards the LGBT community and their decision not to renew QSpot’s lease.”
[Feature photo courtesy of QSpot]
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