The Chamber's Bull**** Continues !

Wilkes University is buying the 10 East South St Highrise. This is a free country and they have every right to make the purchase, but don't tell the taxpayers that it is good for the economy of the City.

Why didn't the T.L. reporter speak to a financial person from the City, County or school district. A total of $158,000.00 a year will be lost to those entities, according to the reporter. What will that cost in teachers/school supplies and city and county services.

The T.L. reporter decided to talk to the W-B Chamber lackey, Larry Newman. It is obvious that the Chamber is running the City but at least talk to a government official. Newman said that the loss of $138,000 tax dollars every year, forever, pales in comparsion to the potential impact of having 405 students living in downtown W-B's growing business district.

There are already 100 students living in the building so at best there will 300 new students in the building. Students who will be moving three blocks from where they now live.

The lost to W-B school district is $84,000.00. The new students will not be paying property taxes. Maybe they will be working paying a wage tax. I believe W-B school distict receives .5% of the wage tax. The 405 students would have to earn $41,000.00 each in taxable salary to make up that loss.

The City will lose $47,000.00. That could be a police officer or a fire fighter. That amount over 10 years could pay for a new firehouse in the Heights.

It is time that the Chamber does what it is supposed to do, help the largest city in the county grow it's tax base, not help give away free tax break properties to its friends and cronies. Also stop sending the real businesses to the strip malls and industrial parks outside the City, some of which are owned by the Chamber.