NewsLanc.Com
Providing Greater Lancaster with an
Alternative Source for Local News and Commentary _________________________________________________________
November 17,
2006 Publisher:
NewsLanc.com LLC
Volume 1, Number
15
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A:
Seven!
The total
cost of the stadium was $24 million.
The proposed convention center
/ hotel project is about $180 million.
NewsLanc.com will contribute $500 to a charity of Lancaster
Newspapers' choice if they will run a 'People Poll,' asking: "Do you
support taxpayer guarantees for the convention center project?"
Photos reveal Convention Center sponsors misled public
about
Watt & Shand structure:
It's steel, not wood
NewsLanc.com has obtained
photographs of the Watt & Shand building during the demolition process
that clearly show that the building behind the fa�ade was supported by
steel beams and steel columns, not wood as represented. [Photo available
at: www.NewsLanc.com/steelphoto.asp].
However,
in a letter to the editor of the Intelligencer Journal published on
December 20, 2005, Nevin Cooley, President, Penn Square General Corp, and
David Hixson, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Convention Center
Authority, wrote&
"May we repeat? Behind the [Watt & Shand]
facade stands a collection of wood-framed buildings that are completely
unacceptable for use in any modern commercial project. They cannot be
'renovated'. Not for this project, not for any other project." [Complete
letter available at: www.NewsLanc.com/pspwood.pdf].
When
shown a photo, April Koppenhaver, Co-founder, Lancaster First, commented:
"For some time I have publicly asserted that the Watt & Shand
structure was sound and suitable for renovation and reuse. It is a
Lancaster tragedy that the truth only becomes apparent as a result of the
landmark building's demolition.
"I urge District Attorney Donald
Totaro to open an investigation into this and other incidents of false
information being provided by the sponsors of the convention center
project."
| Last week, the County Commissioners notified M & T Bank of
Judge Joseph Madenspacher's Opinion that the Convention Center Authority
must certify it has secured adequate funding to complete construction
before M & T approves disbursement of construction bond
funds. According to the Nov. 9 Intelligencer Journal, Convention Center Authority counsel John Fenningham commented, |
"Shame on the commissioners for continuing to try to have an
adverse impact on the project, especially when they lost in the courtroom
on these issues." "Shame on" attorney Fenningham for trying to obscure the importance of the judge's decision. Judge Madenspacher's requirement that complete funding be certified may ultimately present an obstacle that project sponsors cannot overcome. |
| The Lancaster New Era ran the following headline November
10, 2006: "Conestoga View making money when sold. Financial records
reported in monthly meeting minutes show nursing home turning profit at
time of sale in September 2005." Yet, towards the end of the article it contradicts the headline by stating: "It's hard to determine the precise |
financial situation from the minutes of 2003 and 2004 because
complete accounting is not provided.. All figures represent operating cash
flow in and out of the facility. Depreciation was never mentioned in any
of the available reports. But the commissioners did consider capital
expenditures in their decision to sell." The monopoly Lancaster Newspapers |
continues its practice of misleading headings and biased reporting of
the County Commissioners and the Convention Center / Hotel
Project. The Newspapers are a 44% sponsor of the project. The County Commissioners have sought to avoid expansion of taxpayers' guarantees of the convention center. |
| In November 2005, Fox 43-TV engaged national pollster Opinion Dynamics Corporation to conduct a survey of 500 Lancaster County | residents on their opinion of the proposed downtown hotel /
convention center development. The results showed that approximately |
four out of five (78%) with an opinion opposed taxpayer guarantee
of bonds for the project. The complete survey is available at www.NewsLanc.com/fox43survey.pdf. |