Emily Opilo of The Morning Call posted a list of the top 75 who will be hit the hardest.
Number 5 is the Lehigh County Agricultural Society (Allentown Fairgrounds) for $56,440. I think you'll agree the fairgrounds along with it's farmers market and Ritz are likely to become a relic of the past. That's a damn shame for the small independent stand owners we strongly support. I'll tell you one thing. We aren't going to drive 10 additional blocks, pay to park and walk to some seasonal market downtown--THAT FOR SURE !
This rainwater "fee" is a perfect example of trickle down economics. Hospitals will have to increase their billings. Allentown, county and school taxes all will have to be raised. Apartment rents will go up and retail prices. This on top of property owners paying their own individual fees.
All of this is supposed to be used for cleaning up our storm water, My question is--how the hell are they supposed to do that? So far I haven't heard anyone speaking about the specifics.
Then what would become of the fairground's land?
We don't need one more mini mall that's for damn sure. Don't need another city park. I'm 100% positive none of the hospitals are interested in it either. Hey I got an idea. After we put the fairgrounds out of business why don't we channel our rainwater into one great big water retention pond? Maybe that'll satisfy the EPA's demands.
I agree totally with you. This is another tax, disguised as a fee, proposed by his dishonor Edwin Pawlowski. Taxes in Allentown don't increase, however, fees and other revenue antics do. This is all about the indicted one: Transparency! When will the voters ever get this in Allentown; the City with no Limits!
ReplyDeleteWell actual this one can't be pinned on Pawlowski. These water requirements were unfunded mandates passed down by the federal; government through the states. Philly raised holy hell a few years ago when they got hammered. Several Northeast states already taken their hits a few years ago.
DeleteI understand fee is still a tax but there's an important difference. Non profits like churches and public bu8ilding cannot not be legally taxed. By calling it a fee everyone can be forced to pay. Thus we'd each be "taxed" at a much higher rate without their loot going into the pot.
The real SOB's are those who create these unfunded mandates. When they do local officials are painted with a target on their back instead of the real SOB at the top/
This has been going on by the EPA since the late 90's. They're now getting around to us.
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EPA Stormwater