Editorial “Lame Excuses” notes: “In his two terms, Gov. Rendell has been awfully free with OPM – other people’s money.”
WATCHDOG: There is no questioning Ed Rendell’s charisma or intelligence. But we have felt disdain for the man ever since he gave a deaf ear to the county commissioner and fellow Democrat Molly Henderson’s plea that the state hold off providing $20 million towards the convention center due to its lack of feasibility. Aparently, his political debt to then powerful senator Gibson Armstrong plus the lobbying efforts of Stevens and Lee on behalf of the High companies were all that mattered to Rendell.
Well, the huge state deficit and cut back on essential services mean a lot to the citizenry. For one example, but for $3 million of promised funds being diverted to cover convention center cost over runs, Lancaster would have a fully renovated and expanded downtown library.
Has anyone noticed any benefit to businesses or increase in tax collections? Do we see officees moving downtown and stores opening , as promised? Where are all of the minorities jobs that were supposed to be created? Hasn’t the CC situated across from the Lancaster Newspapers created a dead block of Queen Street, thus deterering gentrification to the south? Meanwhile hoteliers throughout the county are taxed to subsidize the albatros without deriving any benefits. Lastly, there is a matter of losing a million dollars a year above revenue and subsidies from the hotel room tax, which ultimately will come from the tourist bureau and the tax payers.
A wag of the tail for the Sunday News.
I disagree with the ‘wag of a tail’. Where is the newspaper while OPM is being requested and spent by their ‘friends’. They are busy writing PR ‘news’ articles to support them.