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YouTubePress Release wrote COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON STREETCAR PROPOSALWHO:
Columbus City Council
Members of Mayor Coleman’s Administration
Representatives of the Columbus Streetcar Working Group
WHEN:
Monday, April 28, 2008, 5:00 pm
WHERE:
City Hall
2nd Floor Council Chambers
WHAT:
Columbus City Council members invite the public to take part in hearing to review a proposal to construct a streetcar line in Columbus. The meeting will include a presentation from members of the Columbus Streetcar Working Group, questions from City Councilmembers, and a public comment period. Anyone wishing to address the Council members must fill out a speaker slip. Parking is free on surface lots after 5 pm. The meeting will be televised live on GTC-3.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » Events » Civic Meetings
City Council Public Hearing on Streetcar Proposal
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Posted 4 years ago # -
Columbuzz
Grandview
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I unfortunately will not be able to make it, but if anyone is and would be so kind as to ask my question, I'd be most grateful: :)
With the proposed "entertainment tax", does that include the Palace, Ohio, Southern and Riffe theaters? If so, without hearing a sales pitch from the streetcar working group about how everyone will benefit, is it being suggested that the city will be forcing our already struggling arts organizations to raise ticket prices to cover that cost, or will they be exempt because they are non-profit organizations? If they are exempt, seeing as how most events held in those theaters are put on by non-profit arts organizations, I fail to see how that would generate the necessary income they see coming from those theaters.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Columbuzz wrote With the proposed "entertainment tax", does that include the Palace, Ohio, Southern and Riffe theaters? If so, without hearing a sales pitch from the streetcar working group about how everyone will benefit, is it being suggested that the city will be forcing our already struggling arts organizations to raise ticket prices to cover that cost, or will they be exempt because they are non-profit organizations? If they are exempt, seeing as how most events held in those theaters are put on by non-profit arts organizations, I fail to see how that would generate the necessary income they see coming from those theaters.
I'll give it a shot based on information in the Financing Plan (see page 33).
The 4% charge on paid admissions, or "entertainment tax" as you referred to it, accounts for about $3.8 million of the $12.7 million annual funding proposal. I'd be extremely surprised to see local arts organizations even at the scale of the Symphony or Opera amount to much of that. The vast majority of it has got to come from events at Nationwide and Huntington Park.
At the public meeting where the financing plan was unveiled, the gentleman who described the plan specifically addressed your question about these arts organizations. He noted that only $11.4 million is required for funding the streetcar (using some fairly conservative estimates). In other words, the funding plan gives City Council and the Mayor $1.3 million worth of leeway in creating special exemptions. He stopped just short of saying, "hint hint...you shouldn't put the surcharge on these organizations".
As a side note, I don't think it's referred to as a "entertainment tax" because you get a direct, tangible benefit from paying the 4% surcharge. That is, you get to ride the streetcar for free with your ticket stub. So that $15 seat at Huntington Park becomes $15.60, and you get to eat at the Rossi before the game instead of Rise and Dine.
Posted 4 years ago # -
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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People going to sporting events might use the streetcar, but it's harder to imagine a lot of people dressed up for the symphony, opera, ballet, etc... using it. I could be wrong though. I ride the "El" in a suit pretty frequently, but not on dates.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Columbuzz
Grandview
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Brewmaster wrote
Columbuzz wrote With the proposed "entertainment tax", does that include the Palace, Ohio, Southern and Riffe theaters? If so, without hearing a sales pitch from the streetcar working group about how everyone will benefit, is it being suggested that the city will be forcing our already struggling arts organizations to raise ticket prices to cover that cost, or will they be exempt because they are non-profit organizations? If they are exempt, seeing as how most events held in those theaters are put on by non-profit arts organizations, I fail to see how that would generate the necessary income they see coming from those theaters.
I'll give it a shot based on information in the Financing Plan (see page 33).
The 4% charge on paid admissions, or "entertainment tax" as you referred to it, accounts for about $3.8 million of the $12.7 million annual funding proposal. I'd be extremely surprised to see local arts organizations even at the scale of the Symphony or Opera amount to much of that. The vast majority of it has got to come from events at Nationwide and Huntington Park.
At the public meeting where the financing plan was unveiled, the gentleman who described the plan specifically addressed your question about these arts organizations. He noted that only $11.4 million is required for funding the streetcar (using some fairly conservative estimates). In other words, the funding plan gives City Council and the Mayor $1.3 million worth of leeway in creating special exemptions. He stopped just short of saying, "hint hint...you shouldn't put the surcharge on these organizations".
As a side note, I don't think it's referred to as a "entertainment tax" because you get a direct, tangible benefit from paying the 4% surcharge. That is, you get to ride the streetcar for free with your ticket stub. So that $15 seat at Huntington Park becomes $15.60, and you get to eat at the Rossi before the game instead of Rise and Dine.
Cool, thanks. I wasn't at that meeting and I hadn't heard anything about it, so that's good if the city gets to exempt them.
Posted 4 years ago # -
DawonHawkins
Sixty Spring (Downtown Columbus)
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I'll be there!
It's not enough to just talk about support, but sometimes we're called into action. This is a great forum to get some good information and to have our collective voices heard. Numbers are important, so please spread the word and pass this on to those you feel would be interested in attending!!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Tonight's the night!!! Be there!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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I will try to be there. It all depends on externalities. I may be late.
Is there a sign up sheet to speak? I'd like to represent for our office.
A.
Posted 4 years ago # -
dru
IV
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JohnWirtz wrote People going to sporting events might use the streetcar, but it's harder to imagine a lot of people dressed up for the symphony, opera, ballet, etc... using it. I could be wrong though. I ride the "El" in a suit pretty frequently, but not on dates.
in Jan 04 i arrived in DC for a work trip on the night of W's second inauguration. several balls were happening downtown, including one in my hotel (room service please). i landed at Dulles and took the DC Flyer to the Falls Church station, and rode the subway in with dozens of republicans in tuxes, ballgowns and furs. Sure, it was probably a lot of staffers, but nonetheless, republicans, in formal dress, using public transportation.
think of people who want to come into town and have a pre-theater, ballet, opera, etc... dinner at Rosendales, M, Rigsby's, etc... parking once and then using the streetcar. i can truly see it happening.
Walker, i am finally in town for one of these meetings, and i will be there.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Andrew Hall wrote I will try to be there. It all depends on externalities. I may be late.
Is there a sign up sheet to speak? I'd like to represent for our office.
A.
Yes there is a speaker sign-in sheet for these meetings. I recomend arriving early to get on the list if possible with your externalities.
Thanks for going. I cannot make it.
-M
Posted 4 years ago # -
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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Why are some dots solid and others not?
A.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Andrew Hall wrote Why are some dots solid and others not?
A.
Express vs Local?
looks cool.
-M
Posted 4 years ago #
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