Neither retail nor tourism are growth industries in the future of the U.S. economy. The U.S. consumer is under assault from all sides: the value of the U.S. dollar is dropping dramatically, in part due to the unsustainable international trade deficit, the out-of-control U.S. budget deficit, and worst of all because of the over $9 […]
Month: February 2008
Convention Center End Game
The casino is going to be a VERY hard sell. Yes, Dale High and LNP will play hardball, and we’ll hear all kinds of noise about how high our taxes will go if the casino isn’t brought in. And it will be messy: Wachovia will have to foreclose on the convention center and turn it […]
Money for 441 Re-routed to Crossings Interchange
When THE CROSSINGS was proposed, I attended quite a few of the meetings in Manheim Twp. When the package was passed with Mr. Tom Smithgall at the helm, Manheim Twp. passed the project with a TEXT amendment meaning that the Center AND the highways to and from, in and out all have to be funded […]
LETTER: Newspaper’s Coverage of Authority Meetings Lacking
Dave Pidgeon from the Intelligencer Journal was at the LCCCA board meeting last night (Feb. 28th). This was the first board meeting he had attended in quite a few months. I’ve noticed that Lancaster Newspapers’ coverage of LCCCA meetings has been lacking for quite a while. I wonder if NewsLanc’s prompt and thorough reporting about […]
EDITORIAL: Mental-Health Court Yes; Remote Court TV Maybe Not
President Judge Louis Farina and others deserve credit for exploring two innovations for the treatment of those accused of crimes. According to the Feb. 29 Intelligencer Journal, Farina has “a court driven task force [which] plans to set up a mental-health court in Lancaster County.” Clearly a large portion of prisoners, some estimate 20% to […]
Quiz on double speak
Question: Which large developer, power broker, and corporate welfare recipient publicly states the following about his latest project? “Market research shows that Lancaster is under-stored and that significant revenues are being lost by consumers traveling out of town to shop at venues unavailable here. The retailers that would participate in this kind of center will […]
7 Convention Center Bookings to Date; LCCA Retains Law Firms
At their full board meeting, Thursday night, the members of the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority voted unanimously to approve contract extensions with two law firms for ongoing legal consultation. The first is a renewed engagement letter with Fenningham, Stevens, & Dempster dated February 21, 2008. Authority Solicitor Chris Hausner explained that Fenningham, Stevens & […]
Campbell and Morris to Confront PSP on Naming Rights
LCCCA Board member Kevin Fry, who is also Chair of the Authority’s Public Relations, Marketing, and Hospitality Committee, announced at the board meeting, Thursday night, that board member R.B. Campbell has been selected to accompany Authority Chair and Acting Executive Director Art Morris in negotiations with Penn Square Partners over the status of certain controversial […]
Commissioners punt on "rails-to-trails" project
In response to a question from NewsLanc regarding whether they have considered taking steps to move forward the stalled “rails-to-trails” project on the old Norfolk Southern rail line in the southern end of the County, the Commissioners acknowledged that they have not. While Commissioner Craig Lehman agreed that the rail trail would be a wonderful […]
Can we really be of help?
In an article posted on NewsLanc.com/ on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, former County Commissioner (and current LCCCA board member) Sharron Nelson is quoted as saying: “Our much-maligned Convention Center can capitalize on that if we work together to make it a success.” Would someone PLEASE explain exactly what “WE” can do to make the hotel […]
Former Commissioner Nelson Decries Party Politics, Stresses Managerial Competence
The guest at Wednesday’s weekly meeting of the Rotary Club of Lancaster was Former County Commissioner and recent Convention Center Authority appointee Sharron Nelson. Dr. Nelson offered some opinions on what it takes to be a good leader. She decried the prominent role political ideology plays within government, calling instead for competent managers. “I think […]
LANCASTER NEWSPAPERS
Effective March 1, the Saturday editions of the Intelligencer Journal and New Era will be combined. WATCHDOG: Let’s hope this isn’t the first step towards terminating the evening paper. In recent weeks, the New Era has run some good stories instead of relying on smut and vitriol. Perhaps editor Ernie Schreiber has been on vacation.
County Commissioners Address Infrastructure Projects
At their weekly meeting Wednesday morning, the County Commissioners voted to approve the Planning Commission’s application for state funding for the “Rooftop Greening Project.” As reported yesterday, the State Department of Environmental Protection and Office of Energy and Technology Deployment will make as much as $479,000 available to the project. “Roof greening,” the practice of […]
Lancaster Square Not a "Concrete Eyesore," Just Not Feasible
According to the Feb. 27 Intelligencer Journal, “plans to demolish portions of Lancaster Square are being finalized and pieces of the concrete eyesore could start coming down this summer.” Elsewhere similar-appearing projects built in the 1960s continue to be successes and are a source of community pride. So the problem with Lancaster Square was not […]