The secretive sale of Conestoga View was a big deal, but most definitely not worth repeated World War III sized headlines. On the other hand, the PROVEN secretive deals behind the downtown Lancaster hotel and convention center project were far more numerous AND far more costly to taxpayers; after all, the project involved TEN TIMES as many taxpayer dollars as the Conestoga View sale. This does not include the many more rumored or suspected secretive meetings and deals, which an unbiased newspaper could have used to generate headlines over a period of years.
The taxpayers of Lancaster County have benefited from the sale of Conestoga View (since it no longer needs County subsidies), while the hotel and convention center are an ever increasing burden on taxpayers. Consider this: Conestoga View pays far more in real estate taxes than the “private” hotel pays in Payments In Lieu Of Taxes. What is wrong with this picture?
“What’s wrong with this picture?” you ask?
Well let’s see…Lancaster Newspapers, High Associates, Penn Square Partners, Gib Armstrong, Charley Smithgall, Rick Gray….The list goes on and on and on.
Lancaster City and County taxpayers have been ‘snookered’.
Why this was never put to a referendum vote (of course it would have lost) is what troubles me as much as anything. Taxation without representation brought about the declaration of independence and the revolutionary war…..maybe it’s time for Lancaster County voters to revolt again.