15/09/2026
I want the Riverfront Amphitheater to succeed. I want Mason Lane to succeed. And I want this venue to become a long-term asset for Lynchburg. I love live music.
But supporting the amphitheater does not mean ignoring legitimate questions about whether the operator is meeting its contractual and financial obligations to the City.
Councilmember Marty Misjuns has raised specific questions about more than $106,000 in unpaid invoices, required event fees, and financial reporting. City staff has said it has been working to enforce the agreement, has notified Mason Lane of outstanding obligations, and is now working through the City Attorney to resolve those issues.
That still leaves questions that deserve clear answers.
Council needs a complete accounting of what Mason Lane was required to pay, what the City actually invoiced, what has been collected, what remains outstanding, and whether all required financial and operational reports were submitted.
We also need to know whether any shortfall affects assumptions in the City budget.
I do not think it is productive to prejudge motives or turn this into a public feud. But transparency and accountability are basic responsibilities when public money and a City contract are involved.
Supporting the amphitheater and demanding accountability are not mutually exclusive.
The taxpayers of Lynchburg deserve a clear accounting, and City Council has an obligation to make sure the contract is being followed.
