Month: June 2009

School Board: “We have a budget”; Approves school re-staffing

At a special Board Meeting on Tuesday evening, June 30, the School District of Lancaster (SDoL) Board settled on a final budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. With a 7-2 vote, the Board adopted the budget as proposed several months ago by district chief financial officer Matt Przywara. Under the budget plan, local property taxes will increase by 3.52%—a modest hike in light of previous budgets and considering the possible 5.8% increase permitted by the State.

A Cloudy Forecast

Courtesy of LookingAtLancaster.com June 18, 2009 was a cloudy and dismal day in downtown Lancaster, PA. Perhaps this was appropriate for the long-delayed ribbon-cutting ceremony held the day before the official opening of the taxpayer-financed hotel and convention center project. Even more appropriate was the location of the ceremony, held indoors where it was shielded […]

Some surprised to learn of Marriott tax exemption

Lately, NewsLanc has been hearing from local citizens who had only learned of the Marriott Hotel’s tax-exempt status in the wake of the recent grand opening. One reader commented, “Did I miss something? I thought the tax revenues were the big selling point.” Indeed, those who met the tax exemption announcement with surprise did miss something: This legal arrangement has been essentially in the bag since 2005.

Efficiency study may assess budget-strapped Human Services

At the Tuesday evening, June 30, County Commissioners Meeting, the Board will vote on a request from the Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Early Intervention (MH/MR/EI) Program to conduct a comprehensive Efficiency Study of all County Human Services departments. If approved, the $82,000 study will be paid for by existing funds in the MH/MR/EI budget.

NEW ERA

The Editorial “New Era: Voice for Republicanism” goes on to say “New Era editorials will speak out forcefully issues, large and small, and offer solutions that reflect the spirit of Republicanism.” WATCHDOG:  Whose “Republicanism?” Dwight D. Eisenhower’s or George W. Bush’s? Indeed, are local issues subject to such interpretations, in which case are we to […]

NewsLanc adopts new “Mission Statement”

“Unlike commercial media which must strive for circulation and viewers and do not want to offend advertisers, NewsLanc.com does not hesitate to praise and to criticize. No individual or institution is exempt. Our purpose is to protect the public from the foolish, the provincial, the greedy, and the predatory. Our mission is to help create a better Lancaster.

Local hoteliers are the big losers!

Two articles that appear on the June 28 Sunday News when juxtaposed provide revelations concerning the economic impact of the Convention Center Project on the hotel industry. “Kneeded: Hundreds of guest rooms for pretzel maker” relates that Josh Nowak of Interstate Hotels & Resorts claims that the Auntie Anne’s event will require hundreds of additional guest rooms beyond those available at the Marriott…

SUNDAY NEWS

In his weekly column, Gil Smart speaks out “In defense of security cameras.” Smart opines that in contrast to private areas, in public areas “…there is no expectation of privacy and where a camera sees exactly what a cop on the beat might see.  And if we don’t have a problem with the latter, why […]

SUNDAY NEWS

In Marv Adams’ column “It’s a new era, come Monday”, he states:  “A big benefit from the merger is that daily and Sunday editors and reporters will work together to develop more investigative reports…” WATCHDOG: It will indeed be a “new era” the day the Intell of Sunday News runs an investigative report on any advertiser […]

NEW ERA

A June 27 editorial “Stopping earmark abuse in its tracks” concludes “The problem is not necessarily the individual earmark, but the process of earmarking as it is now being practiced on Capital Hill. It’s a politically charged process that sidesteps standard practices for evaluation and evaluation.” WATCHDOG: And what is the alternative, allowing legislators in […]

F&M also has installed surveillance cameras

It is not true that all surveillance cameras in Lancaster City are being supplied and monitored by the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition, even though Lori van Ingen’s article, “Protest to target city surveillance cameras” (Intell, June 26), gives that impression. There are cameras in northwest Lancaster that were installed and are being monitored by F&M […]