Evil genius
Clear Channel Communications, the nation's largest owner of radio stations and also the owner of many outdoor concert amphitheaters, argued in court this week that a lease with a Florida state agency of its $23 million Ford Amphitheater means that amphitheater legally should be immune from noise ordinances and exempt from paying property taxes.
Still, it was a creative argument -- given the tightness of a lot of Clear Channel stations' playlists, creativity isn't the first trait you might associate with the company -- and as the first article shows, the facts weren't quite as clear-cut as you might think.
The judge urged both sides to settle quickly, so I've got a suggestion for a settlement: Clear Channel can have government status if it agrees to government oversight, sets itself a government pay/benefits scale, and returns 100% of its profits to taxpayers.
Just a thought.