A “Letter” of about 675 words (What happened to the 150 word target set by Editor Marv Adams?”) appeared on page one of the Perspective Section of the Sept. 28 Sunday News. Let’s examine some of its assertions: “We want to meet the needs of a broad public. This public ranges from downtown employees who […]
Tag: News and Commentary
LETTER: Hotel room tax likely to be increased
“The currently anticipated ‘hotel tax’ revenue which is dedicated to the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority would barely be enough to cover the current cost of the construction bonds, plus the ANTICIPATED operational losses of the convention center. Everyone who has taken a close look at the projected figures agrees that thecurrent ‘hotel tax’ will […]
Former McCaskey assistant football coaches lead winning teams
A viewer e-mailed us “Turnaround time” from the Harrisburg The Patriot News of Sept 25. The accompanying message said: “Mentioned in the article are three current head coaches who used to assist the McCaskey football team under Scott Feldman -Todd Mealy, Penn Manor; Matt Ortega, York High; and Rob Diebler, Steel High. All three are […]
Viewer asks would Wachovia’s demise halt CC funding?
NewsLanc received a letter expressing concerns that the potential failure of Wachovia Bank might halt funding for the Convention Center / Hotel project. We don’t think this will occur. The bonds are sold and the money set aside for the project. The people at potential risk are those who own the bonds. If there suddenly […]
Convention Center guarantor seeks to be acquired
Bloomberg News: “Wachovia dropped to $8.90 at 6:12 p.m. today from its $10 close during regular New York Stock Exchange trading after the New York Times reported that New York-based Citigroup was in early talks to buy the Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank. The Wall Street Journal said bids may come from San Francisco-based Wells Fargo […]
CC Project bond guarantor among "top 10 facing the most pressure."
From Bloomberg News, Sept. 26: “Washington Mutual showed that one of the big ones can go down, and if you are looking at who else in the top 10 is facing the most pressure, Wachovia is right there,” said Stan Smith, a banking professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Wachovia Bank is […]
Meter parking free in City on Saturdays
In response to an inquiry, Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray informed NewsLanc that, although the ordinance (and the signs/meters) only say that Sunday is exempt at parking meters, it’s the City’s practice not to ticket on Saturdays. According to Gray, this informal policy of not ticketing on Saturdays was started under Mayor Charlie Smithgall and is […]
Exchange between Berwood Yost and NewsLanc Publisher
BERWOOD YOST: I don’t agree that the ridership survey is misleading. The survey was designed to identify the potential ridership of such a system and general sentiments about the system and that is what it accomplished. Your focus on the executive summary fails to acknowledge the many different analyses presented in the report. You also […]
F&M Center’s 2007 “Streetcar Ridership Survey” disingenuous
On Sept. 19, NewsLanc interviewed Berwood A. Yost, Director of the Center For Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, about the “Streetcar Ridership Survey” reported in the July 1, 2007, Lancaster Sunday News. Backers of a streetcar system for downtown Lancaster have cited this survey as indicating community support for such a project. Further, […]
Local group seeks understanding, support for people with mental illnesses
There sits in the national office of Mental Health America (MHA) a 300-pound bell. A bell likewise adorns its logo. “It symbolizes ringing out hope,” says Mary Steffy, Executive Director of the nonprofit’s Lancaster County chapter. Their small, inconspicuous office is part of the “Lancaster Community Center” complex at 630 Janet Ave. between New Holland […]
NewsLanc exclusive from SD of L Superintendent Pedro Rivera
In response to a request from NewsLanc, School District of Lancaster Superintendant Pedro Rivera sent the following response: “The School District of Lancaster serves a larger and more diverse student body, so we must be more thoughtful and strategic in the way we support our children and the community.” “Sports play an integral role in […]
Gray tired of gun violence
Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray said he is tired of gun violence. Just Tuesday, a 30-year old Philadelphia police officer, Patrick McDonald was shot and killed in North Philadelphia. Another officer was critically wounded. Gray told City Council on Tuesday night that he intends to introduce an ordinance with the Public Safety Committee that would require […]
Other inner city football teams kick butt!
An implication of the Sept. 21st Sunday News article “McCaskey’s Challenge” was that McCaskey High School’s teams are performing so poorly because the players are subject to all of the disadvantages and problems of inner city youths. Football coach Scott Feldman is quoted: “It’s hard to be good at [football], and we just don’t have […]
Judge castigates Intell for "total breach of ethical responsibility."
According to an account in the Sept. 22 New Era: Judge Dennis Reinaker “scolded former County Coroner Dr. G. Gary Kirchner, this morning, placing him on one year of probation for giving newspaper reporters his password to a secured law-enforcement Web site.” But perhaps of greater significance to our community, the New Era further reports […]