Month: April 2009

INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL

In an article headed “Pot panned as medicine; Local lawmakers, doctors oppose measure”, State Representative Katie True states “Marijuana is not medicine. Marijuana is a bunch of burning leaves” and goes on to say that Marinol, which contains one of marijuana’s ingredient THC, has a “Much better delivery system.” Pharmacist Charlie Smithgall opines that under […]

More tax exempt city real estate

By moving the rail yard out of Lancaster and having Lancaster General Hospital and F&M college take over the former Armstrong plant properties, exactly how much additional tax revenue will be lost to Lancaster? The mayor complains about the high number of non-profit organizations in Lancaster but continues to give away more of the tax […]

City, not F & M, should conduct hearing

John Fry, president of F&M, was quoted in the Apr. 28 issue of the Intelligencer Journal as saying that lights and cameras would be added to Race Avenue this summer.  Since the 600 – 900 blocks already have lights and cameras on the F&M side of the street, he had to be referring to the […]

In Response to “Need for boosterism”

Yes, we do need to take a positive approach toward making Lancaster a success. However, to say “Let’s stop talking down about our city and county” as an excuse to not discuss the terrible costs of the hotel and convention center project will not make its one-sided agreements or numerous questionable deals and actions go […]

Surveillance camera talk draws mixed reaction

On Tuesday evening, several dozen Lancaster City residents met for the first of four community meetings regarding a $3 million plan to introduce 105 new surveillance cameras in the city. The gathering was hosted by Joe Morales, City Council Member and Executive Director of the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition (LCSC). The LCSC is a private organization of citizens interested in pursuing the implementation of digital video technology to reduce crime in Lancaster City.

LETTER: Mayor Gray biased; Commissioner Martin disappoints

I was disappointed in the coverage of the Lancaster County Transportation Coordinating Committee meeting published in the April 28 New Era. A couple of dozen members of TRRAAC took time from work and other activities to come downtown for a 12:30 pm meeting. We wanted the committee to delay voting to give $4 Million in our federal tax money to F&M until a real public hearing and opportunity for public comment would occur. The newspaper originally erroneously reported that the committee had approved the $4 Million request two weeks ago.

Election night procedures lightly altered

At today’s County Commissioners’ Work Session, Mary Stehman, Chief Clerk/Registrar of the Lancaster County Election Office met with Commissioners Stuckey and Martin to discuss the “Adoption of Election Night Policy and Procedures.” The procedures are largely the same as those currently in place, but are being mildly adjusted for the upcoming elections in 2010.

Lancaster’s monstrous prisons

“Up the Ridge” is an award-winning documentary about the United States prison INDUSTRY which moves HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of inner-city minority offenders to distant rural outposts – such as moving people from North Philly to Lancaster. More than one in 100 adults in the United States is in jail or prison, an all-time high that […]

Need for boosterism

There are now two good handouts that can help draw more business (trade & tourism) into Lancaster if they are widely circulated (including on the city, county and tourist websites). One is the 168 page “One Lancaster, the essential guide to Downtown Lancaster” with a comprehensive pictoral and verbal description of many of Lancaster’s highpoints […]