City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. issued the following statement today at the City's Franchise and Concession Review Committee meeting in which members voted to authorize the New York City Marketing Development Corporation to negotiate an amendment to the citywide agreement with the Snapple Beverage Corporation:

"The Comptroller's office is not at all surprised that New York City Marketing is now seeking authorization to renegotiate the Snapple vending and marketing agreement. It was a deeply flawed, backroom deal from the start.  It was supposed to bring in $90 million in marketing initiatives and $36 million in sales commissions, but it's still an open question as to whether the deal has produced any real revenue for the City. The Comptroller's office has not changed its view from the outset that this contract was improperly awarded. Now is not the time to renegotiate the contract, but to rebid it in an open, competitive manner. Therefore, I vote no."

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