Latest news with #EvaluationCommittee
Sharjah 24
2 days ago
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
Al Hamriyah Club launches 'Our Holiday is Different'
This came in the presence of the programme's Higher Committee, led by Programme Director Ahmed Al Salman, along with members of the Oversight and Follow-up Committee, including Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Jawaher Mohammed, Tareq Al Harmoudi, Hassan Al Toumi, and Mohammed Salah, in addition to Khalifa Al Zarouni, a member of the Evaluation Committee, and Mohammed Al Kaabi, from the Media Committee. Strong Opening The opening day witnessed a notable turnout from Al Hamriyah Club, represented by members of the Board of Directors: Sultan Al Shamsi, General Secretary; Eng. Ali Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Institutional Communication Committee; Issa bin Rakan, Chairman of the Cultural and Community Committee; Dr Sultan Al Shamsi, Quality and Excellence Advisor; and the Director of the 'Our Holiday is Different' programme, Eng. Manea Al Naqbi, along with participants and their parents. Welcome and Programme Vision Engineer Manea Al Naqbi welcomed the attendees and expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Sharjah Sports Council for its continued support and supervision of the programme. He affirmed that participants are set to enjoy an exceptional summer experience through a diverse array of purposeful activities and events. Awareness and Inspiration to Kick Off the Summer Journey The first day featured an awareness workshop presented by the Sharjah Social Services Department, followed by inspirational stories from participants in previous editions of the programme. The day concluded with a group photo to mark the official start of what promises to be an exciting and enriching summer journey at Al Hamriyah Club.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Riverwalk restaurant owner questions city's decision to cut his lease
The Brief Robert Gomez, owner of Beat Kitchen and other Chicago restaurants, says the city shut him out of a profitable Riverwalk location with no clear explanation. He claims the site sat unused for a year while city officials delayed a decision. Gomez is now speaking out about a lack of transparency and oversight in the selection process. CHICAGO - Robert Gomez, a longtime Chicago restaurant owner, says he's still in the dark about why the city didn't renew his lease for a Riverwalk spot that had previously generated about $3 million in annual sales. The backstory Gomez ran Beat Kitchen on the Riverwalk for three years under a five-year lease. The first two years were wiped out due to delays, he said, but in the last three years, the business was strong. When the lease came up for renewal last year, he applied again, competing against just one other applicant. But the process dragged on for months, and the space remained closed for the entire 2023 season. Eventually, the city awarded the spot to someone else. What we don't know Gomez says the city hasn't told him why he was passed over, who made the decision, or even who the other applicant was. He also hasn't been able to get answers through a Freedom of Information request. He's concerned that the selection committee operates without public oversight or transparency. He said there's no appeals process, and business owners have no way to contest the outcome or even learn how it was reached. Despite offering to meet with the city for a debriefing, Gomez said officials told him they wouldn't meet until after the new lease was finalized — at which point, he says, it was too late to do anything about it. The other side City officials confirmed Gomez's application was not selected, citing a competitive bidding process. A statement from the Department of Fleet and Facility Management said the review was conducted by an evaluation committee and followed normal protocols. The full statement can be found below: "The purpose of the RFP process is to ensure that Chicagoans benefit from a competitive bidding process that takes into account a number of factors. Unfortunately, this applicant was not selected for a renewed concessions agreement based on the assessment by the Evaluation Committee." What's next Gomez said he's speaking out in hopes of prompting changes in how the city handles Riverwalk concessions. He wants more transparency in the evaluation process and a way for business owners to appeal decisions or at least receive a meaningful explanation. He also warned the city lost out on significant revenue by leaving the space closed in 2023 and not renewing a lease with a proven operator. By his estimate, the city missed out on about $800,000 in taxes and fees from his business alone. For now, Gomez says he's focusing on his other venues — including Subterranean and Beat Kitchen on Belmont. The Source Interview with Robert Gomez on Fox 32's "Parrish on Politics"; statement from Chicago's Department of Fleet and Facility Management.
