Did the Blue Angels Fly the Coop in a Huff?

By Guy Span, S.D.

Fleet Week is a San Francisco tradition dating back to the arrival of the Great White Fleet in 1908, when the city feted the sailors and officers for a week, while here for re-supply. It was re-inaugurated in 1981, as an appreciation for the Navy, which at that time had innumerable bases in the area, including Naval Supply in Oakland, Alameda Naval Air Station (whose air rights had kept SFO planes from flying over Alameda) and Mare Island.

By 1996, these bases were closing and the support for Fleet Week events was no longer available from the Navy. Stepping into the breech, local organizations such as the Fisherman’s Wharf Association, notable businesses, individuals, and the maritime industry shouldered the burden, as suddenly San Francisco became an “away” port (with limited Naval services). One of those who helped was Mr. Edward Leonard, an attorney who worked with the help of the former naval officer who handled Fleet Week for the Navy.

Without their active help and many other volunteers, it’s likely that Fleet Week would have limped off into history. But Fleet Week was a success, with these motivated individuals (and groups) working in cooperation to pull it off. And it was not all for the public. A big part of Fleet Week was welcoming the sailors, enlisted men, and officers to San Francisco. This is where the Fisherman’s Wharf Association, Navy Leagues, various restaurants, Pier 39, maritime companies, and individuals all contributed so that the sailors would receive a home-style San Francisco welcome.

It was a welcome they received. For the last fifteen years or so, Fior D’ Italia sponsored a 650-seat enlisted man’s dinner. And it was not a cheap one, as coupons for dinner could be used for the four-course fillet mignon. The maritime industry sponsored a golf event, dinners, and cook-outs. The Bay Area law enforcement agencies, under the helpful eye of retired Deputy Sheriff Lou Lozano (and friends), always offered (and did again in 2003) a BBQ. There was a sponsored “Liberty Guide” where various entities offered discounts to sailors at many restaurants, pubs, and theatres. There was no question that the sailors were welcome.

Then, there was trouble in Paradise. It seems when any large group of volunteers work for the same goal, it often happens that the volunteers see the goal differently. One of those was Paul Gavin, who over the years had become involved with various Fleet Week exercises up and down the coast. He called San Francisco’s Fleet Week “a beautiful event, an opportunity to welcome the sailors, with so many resources in the community to help run it.” In 1999, his company was contracted for three years to assist making it work, although he noted, “It’s motivated individuals that make it go.” Then the Chairman of Fleet Week (a volunteer position), Edward Leonard, allowed the contract with Paul Gavin to expire and hired Air Show Network to handle the logistics. Air Show Network has a long and successful history of generating corporate support (and contributions) from big name companies to sponsor events.

As an example of their success, signed up for 2003, was AT&T, whose corporate name (along with many others) would fund the various services that are necessary for Fleet Week to work. It should have been simpler and easier. But according to Steve Teatro, a producer for Air Show Network, his job was not to handle the sailor’s activities – that was the responsibility of the Fleet Week Committee.

That appears to be the main rub between the volunteers who try to have activities for the sailors and the Fleet Week Committee. In essence, there appear to be two factions, one represented by Mr. Edward Leonard, who works diligently to see that Fleet Week happens with minimal fuss, and some community leaders, who are concerned that not enough communication is happening between the Fleet Week Committee and various events organized to benefit the arriving sailors.

In 2003, because of a communication error between the Navy, the Fleet Week Committee, and the Oakland Navy League, only one bus was filled to take a four-star tour of Sonoma wineries. The wineries include (but are not limited to) Geyser Peak, Kendall Jackson, Armida, Delormier, Murphy Goode, Korvel, Canyon Road, and others. Their goal in hosting Navy members (usually four bus loads) is their way of saying thank you to the Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard service members for doing what they do that enables the rest of us to do what we do. Belated recognition is better than none.

Robert L. Castle, CPA, is the resident of the Oakland Navy League and also the Treasurer of the Pacific Central Region of the U.S. Navy League. He notes, “I would challenge Mayor Gavin Newsom to think about the sales tax revenue brought into the city by the participants and visitors to Fleet Week. This is an important event.”

But the problem remains one of bitterness. Some feel shut out and no longer want to help. There are allegations that the nonprofit corporation, San Francisco Fleet Week Committee, is paying certain volunteers to handle previously unpaid efforts. Mr. Edward Leonard is very clear on this issue. He noted that the nonprofit corporation had no paid positions whatsoever and that no one on the board was getting an income from Fleet Week. In fact, there had been times when he and others contributed to the corporation to make up for a shortfall in income.

The Committee itself, at the request of the Mayor’s Office, formed a nonprofit, 501(c) 4 corporation, as San Francisco Fleet Week Committee sometime around 2000. According to the registrar of nonprofits (California Attorney General’s Office), this corporation is registered and did get recognition from the Franchise Tax Board of California. When asked who appointed the directors, Mr. Leonard said they were “self-appointed” by the folks stepping into the vacuum.

This nonprofit, in turn, generates sponsorship gifts (from its current association with Air Show Network), Fisherman’s Wharf Association, the Port of San Francisco ($10,000), the City of San Francisco ($23,000), and others. These funds are used to pay for hotels and amenities for the visiting airmen, pay for the FAA flight permits, the air show “boss,” the Blue Angels fee of $12,000, insurance of $15,000, security for the corporate tents and pavilions, permits, cleanup and porta-potties, among other items.

Detractors complain that they don’t report their finances. And they are right. Along with some 4,300 other California nonprofits who don’t have assets in excess of $25,000, they are relieved of the expensive burden of audits and formal financial reporting. Indeed, such organizations are also relieved of the burden of reporting to the IRS.

There are others in the community, however, who feel that more should be done by the Committee for the visiting sailors. In fact, there are many suspicions as to why the Blue Angels decided to pass on doing an air show, including: 1) they were irritated by what they thought of as the commercialization of the event; 2) there was not enough done for the visiting enlisted men; 3) the Angels were irritated by the national press articles about the obnoxious noise; and 4) their free public events were cancelled in favor of paid private events.

We simply don’t know why the Blue Angels decided not to performa in San Francisco this year. The Blue Angels have done every Fleet Week since 1981 and when they offer as an excuse that they try not to do more than ten per cent repeat shows, it just doesn’t wash. So it is clear that San Francisco has a problem and the solution is that everyone ought to work together. It is also clear that this is a story that has no villains, no smoking guns, no illicit payments, just people who have the same goals and different means for achieving them.

As to the allegations that not enough was done for the visiting crew members, we offer Lou Lozano’s BBQ, a mis-cued wine trip, Fior D’Italia’s completely unheralded dinners, the Fisherman’s Wharf Association’s many discounts, free entertainment and guide for crew members, and other events. But what will happen in 2004?

All is not lost. The same participants will continue to participate. Perhaps more community involvement can be achieved through better communication and cooperation. The Navy will bring in F-18s, Patriot Jet will have three planes this year and it looks like Oracle will participate with its propeller plane. It is hoped that the Air Force will provide Stealth aircraft, a rare opportunity to see this-state-of-the-art technology. Other groups are being courted, so there will be an air show, it’s just that the specifics are not yet defined.