The Show Will Go On.

It's BIG Check Day at The State!

 

YET, ANOTHER NEW FEATURE!!!

Dear Neighbors,

In our continued drive to get you to spread our monotonous pseudo-press drivel. E U has just acquired the services of our very own political cartoonist.

Now you can tell your spouse that you just look at it for the pictures :)

Your Neighbors


PLEASE CONTRIBUTE YOUR THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS!!!!!

Rover Pride!

Kudos to the players and students of Easton High School on their Gutsy 28-21 victory over the talented and tough Liberty High School Hurricanes!

"The kids are so tough that they always manage to win... In spite of the coaches"- D. R.

If a Resident Speaks in a Crowded Room... Does Anyone Hear Him?

Her Kung Fu is Strong.

In the most gracious display of dissatisfaction in the history of man kind, Ms Brown of the State Theatre only stood up to thank City Council for taking the time to see how hard it is to book the acts that keep our little burg alive. Her mojo was so in-line with the stars that for the first time in five council sessions she did not need to approach the podium to plead the theatre's case.

There was NO equal dissatisfaction between parties at the meeting last night as Councilman Fleck claimed. There WAS the important and the NOT-SO-IMPORTANT patrons of the city. I will give Councilman Fleck credit for trying to create the illusion of balance as he demonstrated what he's coined as "representative democracy". He showed us all who truly sits at the adult table for dinner.

Yeah... What He Said... What Did He Say!?

I will also give the mayor credit for staying consistent by making yet another statement that could not be anchored to a specific reference item. "Some of you made presumptions... Without doing your research... And I guess that's a presumption on my part." ?!?!?!?!? That is what he said regarding what some of us presume to be the facts pertaining to the State Theatre and the Amusement Tax. Or maybe it was the firing of Chief Mazzeo. Or maybe it was the Housing Authority. Maybe he was talking about the Early Intervention Program reports. You tell me. Your presumption's as good as mine.

Poker faces Everyone

We were beat before the meeting even started. There was an obvious and concerted effort NOT to debate the State Theatre and the Amusement Tax anymore. Ms Brown didn't testify for the Theatre. No councilperson commented on the tax or the loan cancellation. And NO ONE corrected our presumption (that we got from Mr Steve Humphrey at council meetings and as it was reported in the papers) of the loan balance being around $150,000, when it is in fact going to be $252,700.00. In fact the real balance wasn't presented UNTIL JUST BEFORE council voted unanimously to forfeit the lien. The REAL BALANCE was NEVER reported in the news.

Let Them Eat Cake.

So, as we all mulled over how the city was going to pay to put more police officers on the streets, we demorcratically represented one quarter of a million dollars of GUARANTEED revenue away to a theater. A theater. Money that could have purchased a whole lot more safety, bought a whole lot more Late Nite Catechism. Or is it two more years of Ms Brown at the 2003 bargain rate of $121,904.00. Tax money-- We hardly even knew ya'.

Don't You Point Your Finger At Me.

In other news. Tensions were in fact very high at the meeting last night. Council wrestled a bit with decorum, but sadly we bore witness to one of the less flattering exchanges of public service when a "football mom" was given less courtesy than she deserved when she politely tried to express her dissatisfaction with bureaucracy. 'You can't come into our house asking for help and take that tone with me young lady'. Maybe the minutes should be reviewed and an apology or seven offered.

No Soup For You.

I gots no props for Tracy & Ed today. Today's council beat smelled of harmony and lack of interest. Police scrutiny once again overshadowed all of the other agenda items; giving our lawmakers the luxury dodging extended bouts of public opinion. You both failed to mention that NO ONE was allegedly happy with the Amusement Tax compromise, and that the codes department was raked over a coal or two. Bring back the feeling. It was like...ACK... reading the paper.

With that being said... Dan Corpora is giving us an email interview. If you have a good question email bigeredrover@yahoo.com. We're gonna try to get the questions to him tomorrow. We'd like to get a pool of about 10 or so questions that we could use for all of the candidates willing to participate.

Your Neighbors

The Squeaky Wheel

Make a little noise and BAM! The results start rolling in. I go on and on about how the city needs to find new and creative sources of revenue. And what happens!?

Well, it appears that the city's water, sewer, and garbage billers are trying to pick up the slack that we will be losing to the Theatre. Last quarter's bill was a fundraising work of art. I hear that quite a few residents were issued delinquency notices for not paying the bill on time. Curiously, the bill was made due on SUNDAY, October 16,2005. Sunday. Hmmmmm

The penalty for late payment is 10% plus interest which, by the way, knocked my bill up to $270. At this point I'm all like, "Aww man." And I call my spouse who's all like, "Aww man." You see spousey is extremely proud of a lifelong history of prompt payments. Personally, knowing the other half like I do, I'm absolutely sure there has been a mistake. But I am deviously compelled to interrupt the workday with my disappointment. And after milking the situation, I made assurances that I would fix the problem.

So I read the bill, and it states the procedure for disputing the bill. And I'm all like, "Aww Man!" You have to put your dispute in writing and be darned-well able to back your crap up. Oh, and there's also a phone number to call. So, being the weak writer that I am, I called.

Well... blah, blah, blah... The lady told me it was a mistake and to disregard it. I also found out that the "mistake" was not isolated.

Family name saved, I claim my prize of high praise.

And then I'm all like, "Man, if everyone who "mistakenly" gets overbilled isn't brave enough to call-- the city stands to make a few bucks."

What I meant by new and creative revenue was to institute an Amusement Tax.

ANOTHER NEW FEATURE!!!

In the interest of making this blog more of a forum; we have added a tagboard to the left sidebar. We hope it turns out to be a good idea, and that it generates some chatter.

Keep in mind that basic common sense and decency still apply.

Your Hosts.

The Calm Before

With just 2 days to go before we reach a milestone for the Blog's first topic; I AM SO VERY WORRIED.

Easton's politics and economic situation are old news to too many people. Up here on the Hill it isn't even "Topic One" when it comes to living in the city. Traffic trumps taxes. The Express and the Call have steered their front page and above-the-fold emphasis away from us. This is a good thing and a BAD thing.

It's great that the negative police press is gone for now. Those men and women have a tough job to do everyday, and the stress of Valley wide scrutiny can't be helping. I just hope we get on the right track and get the necessary improvements made. That's really all the time I want to take for that... Right now.

It is unfortunate that the city's financial standing is no longer news. This week's council meetings (Tuesday's 3pm Economic & Finance Committee Meeting and Wednesday's 6pm regular City Council Meeting). Are set to shape a large part of the 2006 budget which is supposed to be year one of our five year plan to avert economic disaster. The lack of buzz could be very detrimental to a fair execution of the amusement tax.

One of the blog's contributors had a conversation with a Councilperson this afternoon. He expressed his concerns with the possibility of the tax passing with such unfair concessions to the State Theatre. The Councilperson said that the tax was poised to pass with the Theatre's agenda intact, because not compromising to the Theatre would draw a negative lobby from the Crayola Factory and the College.

This really doesn't make sense to me. I can see a few reasons why the other organizations would not want to see the tax pass. But I do not understand why they would want to see the State get a tax break while they are still paying full price. Maybe they hope to receive similar consideration from the city in the future.

Back to the lack of interest...
So here we are, starting a week that will significantly affect the finances of every city resident, and it's looking like business as usual. If this week's committee and council meetings are filled with executives and not RESIDENTS then a lot of people are poised to be outraged when they read about where they stand when it comes to being taxed.

New Feature!!!

Please take a second to participate in our new polling feature located above the top post.

Thank You,
Your Hosts

I'll Take It.

Today's Morning Call has an editorial under the Another View section that supports the Amusement Tax.

There are a couple of things worth noting about the opinion.

The writer is the first person with any significant connection to the Theatre (besides Sal Panto) to go on record in support of the tax. He was the director of development at the State until early this year.

He has filed suit against the Theatre; alleging that he was fired after reporting one of the Executive Director's friends for theft (Express-Times 24 Feb 05) (Morning Call 24 Feb 05).

With all of that being as it is, his points were objective and well presented. He focused on the accountability of non-profit organizations to their donors. He also alluded to the problems that compromising the tax could cause for us common citizen taxpayers.

I hope this is not the last support the tax will get before Wednesday, because the compromise needs to be fixed.

Thank You. Thank You Very Much.

Hurray!!! Today we got our 1st official comments on one of our post (2 comments actually). Plus, I got some feedback from a friend who knows me via email.

The feedback is really why we started this, and we don't wanna see it disappear (the feedback or the blog). We may have the time and patience to sit through a 2 hour city council meeting just to address a non-agenda item, but not everyone can. Our time and patience is a true luxury, and it's time to spread the wealth. Editorials to the local papers are only allowed once a month, and some of what we care about is not really editorial-worthy. We talk to one another every day about the city's happenings, but few of us talk to the mayor or the council members daily.

We all have our own interest and agendas, but for the most part all residents of the City of Easton that love their homes have common interest and agendas. Our voices are not heard as frequently as the voices of the city's businesses and business owners. Simply because, as individuals we sometimes lack the power or the interest to speak loudly enough. Over the past couple of years I have developed the interest, but I honestly don't believe that I can be objective enough alone.

So last week, while brain-storming with some of my colleagues about the best ways to get more rank and file taxpayers like us to discuss the amusement tax, I came up with this. All because a few months ago one of the TV news magazines like 60 Minutes or Primetime ran a piece on the growing social/political effectiveness of blogs.

So here we are.

While I will admit that an overwhelming majority of what I have (and will) type is my personal opinion, any comments or consensus will truly be ours.

Part Beauty Part Beast

 

Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Maybe They Ain't All Bad.

Leave Your Blight On

The Blight Lights of Easton

Ten Ways The City's Politicians Can Best Manage Our Money

1) Hire consultants to steal employee ideas and sell them back to the city.
2) Buy $75 ashtrays to promote worker health.
3) Give the successful businesses $100,000 loan rebates and a lower tax rate.
4) Give facade grants to businesses that make their building an eyesore.
5) Hire back employees that were fired or sued. Just to show there's no hard feelings.
6) Save money by NOT fighting in court, or forward lawsuits to Easton, MD.
7) Pay the mayor's girlfriend to paint a mural on your business.
8) Save money by filling "the sinkhole" 3/4 of the way, & move the "Dip" sign in front of city hall.
9) Make room in the overcrowded police station by firing the police chief.
10) Hire the mayor's painters to stucco your house with mud.

I Really Hate When That Happens!

I really feel like kicking myself when I have to rely on the paper to find out what's happening in my own backyard. Case in point; I found out today from Ed Sieger & Tracy Jordan that there was a College Hill Neighborhood Association meeting last night. And what was I doing that caused me to miss it???

absolutely nothing.

I let myself get out of the loop.

Now I don't knock TJ or Ed. In the short time I've observed the two, they have done what I would consider to be an excellent job. Although they are only ever capable of providing what I would consider to be Cliff's Notes versions of public meetings, they both have been spot-on excellent at conveying the moods of the meetings.

What kills me is that I missed the chance to watch the mayor address my neighbors at this very pivotal time in our city. I sit here wondering if TJ and Ed didn't write about the city's economic condition because no one mentioned it. I wonder if they didn't mention any of the city council candidates up for election in three weeks because they were not there. I wonder if the mayor delivered the same canned grant money spiel he's been pushing since he took office. I wonder why no one even mentioned the police. I wonder if anyone asked about the budget that is just weeks away from its presentation date. I wonder if the mayor addressed the Early Intervention Program-- or when the long overdue Early Intervention financial reports are going to presented to the public.

I wish I was there so I would know.

Has the mayor even commented on the Amusement Tax???

My STATEments

Just wanting to let a few things be known...

I really don't dislike the State Theater for the Arts. Even with all of my lobbying for the city's proposed Amusement Tax, I am an Eastonian who sees and believes in the theater's value as a venue for arts and entertainment. But with that I also am an Eastonian that believes that no man-made structure, device, or organization has an importance that supersedes a human being.

Our city is old and beautiful with many old and beautiful traditions and institutions. Traditions and institutions that have shaped and defined our community, and have stood the tests that time can place on them. But, as awe-inspiring and as sentimental as these things may be, the fact still remains that they are just things.

Lenny's and Joe's Market are two such beautiful and sentimental Easton institutions that immediately come to mind when I think of places we know and love. Both places have come to the end-their-eras as city cornerstones, but they have in no way permanently set the city back to the dark ages with their respective transitions. I will always have sweet sentiment for Lenny's and Mr & Mrs Albanesse. Lenny himself helped me buy my first and best suit. He helped me choose and tailored a black double-breasted business suit that I used to interview for jobs. It worked like a charm. I wore that suit to get the greatest job of my life. And, even though I can't stick an arm in the sleeves, I still own it. Like MANY Eastonians I will miss Mr Albanesse. And even though I have long been an enthusiast of Josie's New York Deli, my spouse was true to Joe's.

I never wanted to see these places cease to exist in my lifetime or any other, but time never fails to march on and things are forced to sometimes change. If and when these changes occur it is us the people left to make what we can. And we always have options. Joe's will continue to serve us as a deli/market and Lenny's has been purchased by Koehler-Kheel (a fine developer who has yet to lay an egg in our city-- This can't be said for a few others).

Now I in NO way wish to see the State Theater go under. Too many people have worked extremely hard to keep the lights on and the curtains open. But let us put things in perspective...

The theater has been able to successfully charge its patrons a surcharge for several years now. The surcharge is a few points lower than the originally proposed tax (and to my knowledge it is not capped). The theater was willing to take on the burden of a surcharge in exchange for one million dollars. The money came from the city when the city was financial stable enough to offer such generous support. The theater thrived under the oppression of this surcharge. Tax records (that I have) show that that theater is financially in the black (approximately $5 million).

Now Ms Brown (the theater's Executive Director) has testified that the theater didn't have such a great year in 2004, and that 2005 may not be the greatest ever. She cited the tax as being offensive to ticket buyers. She claims that acts will shy away if ticket prices are too high. She alleges that competition from neighboring venues will steal the acts with their more modern and spacious accommodations.

The seats have been full with the patrons being surcharged. The act dictates the price-- Great acts draw great pay because people want to see them (note Tom Jones & the Super Bowl). That's why the theater can (and does) comfortably charge $80 or more for big box office draws. Bigger and better is a fact of life in the USA, but the State Theater's niche is its old age and cozy size-- That's why it still stands. Oh yeah, she cited neighboring as Reading, Philadelphia, and the Poconos (everything's relative).

If and when the theater falls on hard times, I truly hope that its wards have the presence of mind and ability to devise a more successful business plan. Because if they think that it will always be business as usual at the same cost of doing business then it was nice knowing you.

The point.

The symbiotic community of a city relies on all of its bodies to contribute when stressed to. The people, the government, and the establishments all support one another.

It's time for the establishments to contribute.

Sandy at the Beach?

It's exactly three weeks form election day, and I noticed something strange. I was driving around College Hill today, and I was checking out the campaign posters. On the hill, you can't swing a dead cat and not hit a Ruggles for council lawn ornament. Dan Capora got his out a couple of days late, but they have good saturation on the hill. And Tony Bassil signs are as visible as Roger Ruggles on the hill.

Until today at about 5pm I had never laid my eyes upon a Vulcano for Council sign. This really struck me as weird for a couple of reasons. The first being the fact that she does have the most noticeable of all the campaign signs out there-- The white background makes them stand out nicely-- I personally like it (shallow, huh?!). The next is that for some reason or another (and I could definitely be wrong here) I was under the impression that she was in some sort of campaign advertising business. I will follow this up after some research.

Oh, by the way, I saw her signs at 13th and Bushkill drive/Lafayette Street.

She is the council president and the only incumbent in the four way race for two available seats. If anyone involved with her campaign ever hears of or reads this junk I write, maybe they should look into this signage thing. I may not be the only shallow voter in Easton.

And for the record; I am trying hard to make my voting more responsible and a lot less superficial.

Three weeks to elections.

One week to the Amusement Tax vote.

Peace

 

Hindsight May Be 5' 2"

I can be really shallow when I really need to be the most adept.

Take my voting... Two local candidates both equally approachable. One's had the job before the other is in the appropriate pipeline.

The ex-incumbent (if there isn't such a word there is now) has the endorsement of someone I trust. The other candidate has endorsements from some people I trust.

All things are fairly equal. The ex-incumbent has a tiny edge because of prior job experience.

I see them debate two days before I vote. The non ex-incumbent has a solid grasp of all of the issues and his answers are airtight. He's got numbers, times, and dates. Now that's not quite the case with Mr Ex-incumbent. His answers are canned. Everything's soundbite quality. The answers are about visions, concepts, and visionary concepts.

At this point I'm thinking, "I can't vote for a guy who can't answer a question."

I think about this for two days.

And then I Go to the polls and cast my vote for the tall distinguished-looking conceptual visionist ex-incumbent.

Man, did I ever let myself down.

This Was Worth My Time...

A friend showed me this. It's Bill White's Morning Call Column from October 15, 2005.

BTW my 1st time reading his stuff..

FUNNY!

Makes My Head Spin

Well it looks as if the Express can once again tolerate us Tax hungry Eastonians. They've have officially anointed the State Theater's self serving compromise (twice in one week). I guess we should all be happy. I mean, what would we be if we didn't have that particular theater run by that particular staff. If the Olde State were to go under because the seats were not full or the acts were not popular we would only have our selves to blame.

I for one don't ever want to be accused of not caring enough about the State Theater. Heck, I heard the tales of how it single handedly pulled downtown Easton from the throes of destitution. My favorite one is the one where the theater magically bridges "the sink hole" saving South Side from economic and physical isolation. Oh yeah, another favorite is the one where its patrons all join hands and march through the West Ward to Centennial Park to fix it up for the kids. Ah the good ole State...

Not one of the cities other attractions can hold a candle to Ole Statey. That is why they will be taxed 5% while the theater enjoys a rebate in excess of $100,000 and a tax rate of (my guesstimate) 2.5%.

That, my friends, is a negotiation coup!

"Mr Fleck, If you give us a slightly better rate than we currently have on the loan payments, and erase the balance of our one million dollar loan; we will graciously allow you to tax the other venues of disposable income throughout the city."

"Thank you so much Ms Brown. These meetings are always so wonderful."

"Now if you'd excuse me, It's getting late, I need to get home, and traffic out of town is horrible."

Less than Eight Simple Rules

The primary purpose of this web log is editorial exchange.

Commnets are welcome.

Support for any political action would be nice.

Please feel free to pass on ANY corrections to grammer, syntax, spelling, facts, etc

If it stinks let me know.

If you like it let me know.

If you know me say hi.

If you have a topic offer it.


LOOK MA, I is a blogger!

Well, this is what reading the paper has done to me...

...A smidge of insight...

I was until recently NOT a paper reader. The newspaper was never a thing for me. At several different points in my life I've subscribed to the local paper(s). And the result was always the same. I'd end up with a table and/or a recycle bin full of rubber banded newspapers. The paper just never was a must do part of my day. My spouse, in-laws, as well as almost everyone I work with make time everyday to read the news.

What happened???

Somehow things in the world around me gradually sucked me into the everyday media. Even though Good Day Philadelphia, Good Day "WhateverCityI'mIn", Fox & Friends, & CBS Sunday Morning were always favorites of mine none of them were part of my regularly scheduled life.
That is until I became a city council groupie--I one day hope to evolve (at the least) into a city council pundit.

Oh Yeah... What happened...

For some reason or another I sat through a meeting in the fall of 2003. And at that meeting council discussed an idea that I thought was honestly very good. They discussed and discarded the proposal of an AMUSEMENT TAX.

The idea was so good that I couldn't shake it. Any time I talked to anyone and the topic turned to city money (taxes, fees, salaries, maintenance, etc). I'd mention the AMUSEMENT TAX. Two years have since passed and this very good idea is now feasible.

And now.

On the eve of what looks to be the successful passage of the City of Easton's Amusement Tax & Mechanical Devices ordinances there is still work to be done. The Amusement Tax (which I will also refer to from time to time as "a very good idea") along with the Mechanical Devices Tax will be up for council's vote on Wednesday, October 26, 2005.

And even though it seems that this very good idea has been accepted by council, there is a very good chance that a very good idea could be whittled into just a pretty good gesture.

The nickel - dime tour.

The amusement tax is a proposal to add a 5-10% charge to admissions and cover charges at Easton's attractions. The Mechanical Devices ordnance will set a licensing and fee schedule for coin operated devices within the city limits.

5-10%. I wrote 5-10 because the original good idea was to re-initiate the city's former amusement tax of 10%. The old tax was abolished during the Panto administration, because the city lacked tourism at the time. Two years ago, in an effort to offer a balanced budget that would not stress the city's already stressed tax base, Councilman Michael Fleck offered up the tax at 10 %. This summer Mr Fleck reincarnated the tax measure at 5% with a $5 cap and a $50 annual permit fee. The attractions that stand to contribute the most to the city are the State Theatre, Two Rivers Landing, Fisher Field, Kirby Sports Center and Cottingham Stadium.

Brass tax.

By Fleck's estimates the amusement tax alone will increase the city's income by $500,000.00 a year (based on low estimate notes he prepared this summer). The estimated gains could be as high as one million dollars a year. I have the notes.

I don't have any estimates for the mechanical devices.

OK how about a half nickel tour?

Very good is starting to look kinda good. UPON FURTHER REVIEW AND COMPROMISE THE TAX DOES NOT STAND AS PROPOSED. It looks like council may be voting on the tax as follows:

5% with a $2.50 cap for everyone, and the State Theater for City Policy... STRIKE THAT... State Theater for Suburban Patronage... STRIKE THAT TOO... The State Theater for the Arts will be allowed to forgo paying the balance left on the one million dollar loan it took from the city. The balance is in excess of $100,000.00.

Representation gets preferred taxation.

What happened. I'll tell you what happened. When the tax first resurfaced the 3 major player venues (Crayola, Lafayette College, & the State) all sent reps to the Economic & Finance Committee meeting where the tax was introduced. Crayola pleaded poverty. The State screamed repression. And "The College" pronounced it's eminence.

That was round one (of the rematch).

At the last meeting (Oct 12); There was only one... The State. The college used up it's allotment of city time for the year. And Crayola... Well the B&S Exec was so concerned with the taxes potential economic destruction of her company that she decided to totally ignore city council business for over a month. This led to her being an hour late for the public meeting on the topic, thus failing to participate in the meeting.

Sadly, the last meeting was just another show for the state. Even after having their flourishing finances laid bare masterfully (embarrassingly for them) on the council floor; The theater prevailed... Well, predominately prevailed. Somewhere out of sight of the city's beleaguered tax payers (my guess is The Pomfret Club) Fleck was lobbied. Or was I out lobbied? The best I could do was get him eggs and bacon on the Hill.

Some pigs are more equal than others.

Everyone saving more than $100,000 on their next tax say "AYE". Crayola "nay", Lafayette "nay", Mr. Citizen Taxpayer "nay", State Theater "AYE!"

Who stands to benefit the most from a $2.50 cap on the tax. THE STATE. Crayola has an average ticket price of $7. Tax = 35 cents. College average $6. Tax = 30 cents. High School football $5 for 25 cents. Weller Center $10 for 50 cents. Bar covers are estimated to be $5 or less. The State's average price of $35 will draw $1.75 in tax. Well at $50 they've reached the cap. The fact is the State offers MANY shows in excess of $50. I will have those numbers in the future.

Preemptive procrastination.

The original proposal of the tax was disappeared with NO fanfare. It never stood a chance. It was a great idea promoted by an upstart councilman, and it attacked the city's cultural pet project--The welfare child of the rich and famous. This time around a good number of people have taken notice. The usual suspects are no longer the only ones offering public comment on the positive value of the tax. Councilwoman Carole Heffley very eloquently explained the economics of older Eastonians, and the unequal burden that rising taxes and fees become to citizens on fixed incomes.

But our voices are still few. And as pragmatic as we may be, the opposition is influential. And influence can be intoxicating to the aspiring and comforting to the struggling.

Yeah so...

Yeah so, Here I sit. Trying to be clever while at the same time informative. Trying to be media. TRYING TO GAIN THE SUPPORT AND INTEREST OF FELLOW TAXPAYERS.

Let's see what happens.

Only 10 more days until they vote. I hope the State Theater has to pay its FAIR SHARE.