The Morning Call published a release from the NIZ board telling us how wonderful the scheme has been for Allentown. They inform us that there are audits, even if nobody sees them. While some information is confidential, we can be assured that everything is in our best interest.
Since the press release was in response to Jarrett Coleman's effort toward NIZ tax information, I questioned the reporter why Coleman's response didn't appear? He told me that comment from Coleman was requested, and a later edition did contain Coleman's response.
In the early years of the NIZ the Morning Call printed one press release after another for Reilly's City Center RE, and presented it as news. Although this current article also has too much pasted up promotional fluff for my liking, it may be unfair of me to prejudge the current reporter.
What is the big secret about the NIZ? Does Reilly have an atomic bomb storage depot under one of the buildings ?
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one who finds it odd that the NIZ board allows this almost 2 year drama to play out in the state senate where a former senator turned Revenue Secretary is subpoenaed for financial information on the NIZ, and NOW the board comes forward and essentially says ‘wait, we have the info needed we just weren’t going to give it up to anyone?’
ReplyDeletePardon me, but I smell a rat!
Also, are NIZ Board meeting open to the public? Does the MC reporter attend those meeting or review their minutes? If so, wouldn’t the completion, presentation and acceptance of the audits have come up at the board meetings EACH YEAR?
This entire matter really boils down to ONE simple question:
ReplyDeleteAs compared to the annual state tax revenue total BEFORE the NIZ was in place, what is the most recent state tax revenue total (2024?) AFTER the NIZ, and having been in operation for years?
This information will indicate the extent to which taxpayers all across Pennsylvania gained NEW revenue used to serve everyone who contributed, and not just those inside the special zone. We must consider the majority of state tax revenue now produced within the NIZ was already coming into the State Treasury from different addresses within this state.
I’d like to point out one example. That is, the typical restaurant/ hospitality industry worker. It seems highly unlikely a restaurant server/bartender, etc. would have moved here from someplace outside Pennsylvania primarily to take a server/bartender job here. More likely those individuals now working inside Allentown had previously been working in Bethlehem, Easton, etc.
I've had a few professional encounters with the reporter. While his LV 'roots' may be 'deep' (as his MC bio states) (Not sure Schuylkill County counts as Lehigh Valley), his relative newness here has freed him from some of the stain of early coverage in the paper. We can judge his reportage better as this audit issue unfolds.
ReplyDeleteIt pains me to write this !! Allentown is still a physically
ReplyDeletebeautiful city.....It is just all of the "want to be, societal rejects" who moved here, that ruin it. Along with the corrupt city hall politicians " to boot ! " God Bless all of you good folks who reside here !! As the wife and I move 4 hours south west to be with immediate family.....PJF