Bailouts

I'm just learning about this "bailout" of Toscanini's. Sadly, it seems I've heard this story before. A couple of years ago, a similar effort was mounted by well-meaning employees, customers, and supporters of another Rancatore venture, Someday Cafe in Davis Square, Somerville. Then, Gus admitted that he failed to renew his lease with the landlord despite getting notice. By the time Gus realized his error, the landlord had already considered his relationship with Gus terminated and lined up a new tenant. An admirable effort began, spearheaded by employees understandably concerned about the financial and social impact of a closing. A website was established and lots of folks, including this one, joined in urging the landlord to reconsider while sharing stories about that one-of-a-kind institution. Unfortunately, we later learned that the Someday had itself to blame for its closing. Not only did Gus neglect the leasehold renewal, but it was noted that the place was often unclean and in need of repair. Worse, stories circulated about disturbing behavior in the bathrooms. True or not, it pointed to a self-inflicted pattern of neglect. I withdrew my support for the Someday, despite my love for the place. I could not bring myself to reward bad management, regardless of my sentimental feelings. So I'm disappointed to hear that, yet again, a private for-profit organization has dropped the ball and has asked the community, which ostensibly did its part for years through sales, to pay its taxes to the tune of $30,000. We have to stop rescuing businesses from themselves when it's too late and reward the ones who exercise good practices and sound choices.

Tosci's does way more for the people of America (well, at least Cambridge) than Wall Street! Mmmmm..........Belgian Chocolate.

Toscanini's bailout was farcical in that they duped the donors into thinking they were a 'victim' when the fact is they tried CHEATING on their taxes. They ran poor business practices that were DIRECTLY ILLEGAL. Everyone knows tax evasion is a serious crime.

Wall Street's CDO's were at least legal at the time, and it was the government's fault for scrutinizing them and allowing the SEC for more resources and power in controlling the credit bubble that was created.

Interesting article nonetheless, but I don't think each American is willing to pony up $2,000 a piece. Seeing how the majority of Wall Street is jobless at the moment (they have to sell their Hamptons houses! OMG!), I don't think much money would be raised at all... but it's not like we have a choice in the matter.

DREAM ON....................

Since this lame "bailout" of Toscanini's I've pledged never to return. "Oh yeah we just forgot to pay our sale taxes back to the state." Give me a break, you guys deserve to go out of business.

Christina's has them beat anyways.

I have always found Toscanini's environment too dry. It's a coffeehouse that serves uninteresting ice cream with elitism thrown in, Starbucks style.

I greatly prefer a hip and smart environment like Christina's, or a funky and fun environment like Herrell's or Ben & Jerry's.

It's disturbing to me how lenient people are of illegal practices. It's like forgiving your favorite athlete for a little drunk driving or violence. We want so badly to believe that we weren't wrong to idolize and support our heroes. But what if we're wrong?

Uhhh, people who donated to Tosci's were rubes. They had been cheating on their taxes, which means that they were ripping every customer off - as they were most certainly *charging* tax, and then not paying it! To make matters worse, they were ripping off *everyone,* as their cheating on their taxes indirectly affects everyone else who falls under the umbrella of those tax dollars.

Didn't they (Toscanini's) think they would be caught??? How and why anyone would want to go back to such an establishment is a wonder...Why not just enter the store and hand over your money without purchasing anything and then tell all your friends that you had a "Toscanini experience"? I truly hope that they do go out of business!