W-b Twp. Mulls Options After Judge Returns Tax Case 
Municipality Sought To Have The Arena Board's Suit Over The Amusement Tax
Moved To Federal Court.

Anne Molitoris 
December 23, 1999

Tuesday, December 28, 1999 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 8A 





Wilkes-Barre Township is not the center of the universe, even though
Wilkes-Barre Township Council believes it is. I attended the council meeting
on Dec. 16, and I did not like what I observed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Township officials and the majority of people who attended the meeting
cried about how Rep. Kevin Blaum received an injunction against the amusement
tax. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This whole spiel was like a giant game of pong. The council couldn't sit
idle, so its response was simple: Take a list of things that weren't completed
and use them to revoke the occupancy permit - not that there is much they can
do to stop any arena events. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The taxes didn't stop though; a councilwoman proposed a parking tax on all
parking areas with parking fees in the township namely, the arena. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To top off the evening, township officials passed a measure to remove
police directing traffic from the access roads. Doesn't this action
potentially endanger the lives of thousands of patrons to the arena? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I think that such an action could be construed as an action counter to
local government's job to protect its citizens. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The heart of the issue is that the township's elder citizens - who are in
the majority - are afraid of higher taxes, although they have some of the
lowest taxes around. These fears are occuring due to incompetence of the
township government. With booming business in the township, I fail to see how
such a hike in taxes is needed, even with arena costs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The council of Wilkes-Barre Township needs to grow up and deal with the
arena. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Lawrence Hager &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Township &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Twp. Council's Animosity Toward Arena Childish, Counter-productive