Editorial “Missed opportunity, Study makes valid points about center’s debt, but fails to offer a credible option” goes on to state:
(1) “Citing a task force report that was four months in the making, Duncan suggested that the convention center authority renegotiate variable interest rate bonds and seek other revenue sources.”
(2) “There is another part to this saga. All agree that the convention center has attracted business to Lancaster County. That has resulted in increased hotel room rentals.”
(3) “Before looking into other sources of revenue, county officials must be able to determine with certainty that the number of rented rooms and the excise taxes match.”
(4) “Transparency is the key to accountability in any public/private venture.”
WATCHDOG: (1) How do you “renegotiate variable interest rate bonds” when only Wachovia, which was on the brink of bankruptcy, would guarantee the bonds in the first place and its successor Wells-Fargo need not be concerned about any other financial institution being willing to take its place as a guarantor? Wells-Fargo represents the interests of its stockholders, not the Convention Center Authority or Penn Square Partners.
(2) Much of the business, such as the quilt show, was simply displaced from east of town to center city. Hoteliers have made the valid point that the sales tax to develop the Convention Center Project has lost more room business to the county than the Project has generated.
(3) Presumably the county has the power to audit the hotel records. If the newspapers have evidence that the taxes are not being collected, they should provide it to the county treasurer and, if action isn’t taken, then to the county district attorney, and ultimately to the attorney general for the state. What they are saying amounts to accusations of incompetence or worse on the part of the county treasurer.
As we have previously pointed out, the newspapers do not request information about hotels in arrears in paying the taxes. That sort of information probably could be made available. It is public, not proprietary information.
(4) In that case, our income tax returns should be posted for public inspection! Furthermore, perhaps the editors will use their influence to convince its owner, a partner in Penn Square Partners, to release information concerning the profits or losses of their heavily public subsidized Marriott Hotel.
One final point: How is it that this and similar self-serving editorials are not retained on the LancasterOnLine.com’s web site beyond the first day, if published at all? Are they concerned about linkage from NewsLanc?
Your observsation about LNP editorials being self-serving really hits thenail on the head!!!
LNP could care less about Lancaster County and City taxpayers. LNP’s only agenda is to make PSP look good.
What a Joke.
What a Disgrace.
Where is true leadership when it is needed most?????
During my happy employ at “Strasburg Railroad Dining Services”, I spoke with numerous quilters visiting in Lancaster County, here for various conventions, and on bus trips, and when I asked their opinions of the downtown “Quilt Museum”,they were dumbfounded and knew nothing of it!