By Ron Harper, Jr.
I saw Newslanc’s letter regarding the convention center STEALING the Host’s business. If the downtown Marriott and the Host were competing on the same footing, I would say: that’s capitalism! However, High’s Marriott doesn’t pay taxes, didn’t build any building (taxpayers did) and has lots of sweet-heart deals which gave them millions and millions of dollars.
If that wasn’t bad enough, and to add insult to injury, the Host is FORCED to collect a tax from ALL their customers that goes to subsidize and pay Dale High and Lancaster Newspapers who use the money to STEAL their business!
Here is the line from Newslanc commentary that prompted this:
“Adding to the irony, the show had in the past been held at the Host on Rt. 30 East. Not only did those Lincoln Highway East hotels have to pay for the convention center, but they lost vital business to the project!”
My response: Despite assurances to the contrary.
Remember when Gib Armstrong ‘gave’ the taxpayer’s 15 million (that’s when the convention center was ONLY going to cost 30 million instead of the +160 million it did!) He passed out shoo-fly pie to symbolize that the hotel/motel pie was going to GROW!
Reference article circa 1999. (Too bad for Armstrong I have such a good memory.)
Ridge bringing $15 million for convention center
Bernard Harris. Lancaster New Era. Lancaster, Pa.: Nov 4, 1999. pg. A.1
“Standing in a vacant lot, Gov. Tom Ridge today is expected to turn over seed money that will make a downtown convention center grow.
“Ridge was due to deliver $15 million — half the estimated construction cost of a proposed convention center that the governor and backers of the proposal hope will make the Red Rose city bloom….
“The site, where the former Heinitsh furniture store and Reifsnyder’s Pianos and Organs building once stood, is framed by the former Watt & Shand department store, King Street Parking Garage and Oblender’s Inc. furniture store, all of which figure into the $75 million concept unveiled in August.
“The $30 million publicly owned convention center would be separate, but related to the $45 million privately funded hotel in the former store. Part of the store would be demolished for a 13- story tower, to be built behind the renovated front of the landmark building…”
