In a recent report, the Boston Herald quoted an email from Mayor Marty Walsh’s Chief of Operations, Patrick Brophy, regarding the future of an IndyCar race set for Boston in 2016. In it, Brophy essentially gave IndyCar a deadline to reach agreement with multiple “federal, state and quasi-public agencies” within 14 days.

As the Herald framed it, this was an “ultimatum” from Mayor Walsh’s administration to IndyCar in regards to the planned Boston event. In fact, the full context of the email suggest less of a direct demand and more of a strong suggestion. BostInno has obtained a copy of the email, sent from Brophy to multiple IndyCar employees. Here’s the full text of the email, with the so-called “ultimatum” coming in paragraph seven:

Jim,

Thanks for your time on Wednesday, it was a pleasure meeting you and the new members of your team.  We greatly appreciate your willingness to appropriately increase your staff and pay for municipal services.

As evidenced in our meeting, we are interested in helping to coordinate technical city expertise in an effort to further detail the actions and assurances necessary to acquire the City permits for use of Boston’s city services, roads and infrastructure for your proposed event.  As described in our meeting on Wednesday, we expect logistical coordination to occur via Boston’s Special Events meeting(s).  My staff will be in touch to schedule a time for you and your team to attend and further detail your critical path and present required deliverables.

Thank you for the invite to your proposed meeting next Thursday @ 2PM, however, I have a conflict and will be unable to attend.  Please feel free to schedule your meetings with any/all stakeholders as you deem necessary.

On another note, there are a couple of items that warrant clarification:

During our discussion on Wednesday, one of your team members referenced a schedule of advance event ticket sales within the next 15-30 days.  Please refrain from that course of action until you have written agreements from all governing bodies representing proposed course property.

As you are aware, a predicate to agreements and permit acquisition is the outcome of your discussions with local neighborhood, civic and business associations.  Mayor Walsh feels strongly that overall community “buy-in” and timely resolution of all financial terms for this proposed event are paramount to his final approval.

Outside of the City’s purview, yet equally important to the success of your proposed event, is the progress of negotiations with our partners in the federal, state and quasi-public agencies.  It is expected that your team will finalize agreements with all interested parties within the next two (2) weeks.  Please be advised that the Mayor grows increasingly concerned with the progress (or lack thereof) of those discussions.

Please let me know how your negotiations with USPS, MassPort, MCCA & MassDOT progress.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and I look forward to your timely updates.

PB

Patrick Brophy

Chief of Operations

Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Image via IndyCar Boston