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Thursday, January 07, 2016

$753k in Hotel Tax Grants Sought in NorCo

Since the hotel tax first started 15 years ago, Northampton County has sought grant applications from agencies that promote tourism, and traditionally award them as part of the budget. That didn't happen this year because DCED Director Diane Donaher's attempted to seize control over nearly $500,000 in hotel tax grants, and hand them out as she sees fit. When she went so far as to suggest that she might even hand the entire sum over to Andy Daub's Northampton County Historical Society, and let him decide where that money could be best spent, the top of Lamont McClure's head flew off and has yet to land. Daub is a major GOP contributor, and McClure is a Democrat.

Though Executive John Brown fell on the sword for her and took the blame for this incredibly undemocratic idea, I personally think he had no idea himself what the hell she was planning. He quickly reversed course and told Council they would have full authority over these applications, but there were none. Donaher had told these agencies not to bother applying. She had to start the grant process in November, and it is only now tat they have been received and rated by her department.

As you can see below, there are $753,000 in applications, but Donaher is proposing that only $481,000 be awarded. The requests are below. What do you think? This is participatory journalism in which you may have knowledge about these applications that is very beneficial to those who make the final call. I would say that Celtic Classic, the Miracle League and Easton Ambassadors is money well spent. Mobile Stage lighting for the Totts Gap Arts Institute? Not so much.

These grants will be awarded in February.

2016 Hotel Tax Final Recommendations
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11 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 12:43 AM

    Who reviewed these applications? I assume it was a panel of DCED flunkies. Hopefully with a council member or other outside participants. Guess these questions will be answered by two left feet Donaher later today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 8:05 AM

    Why does bethlum need all this money? they already have the casino monies, 9.1% increase in taxes in 2 years, the hidden Hirko tax as well as monies from the gambling committee. Guess you have to pay for those $6,000 to $12,000pay raises on someone else's back.
    All these monies should go to much smaller communities.
    The greed in bethlum is beginning to smell just like allenswamp.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 8:25 AM

    2 websites for downtown Bethlehem, $40k??? Follow the money to more evil doers...

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 9:05 AM

    Seriously, the website thing is the worst. I bet those rubes are hiring the same people that redid Discover Lehigh Valley's website for the paltry sum of $83,000 back in 2010 (I believe it was Spark, now Lehigh Mining & Navigation). Contract some of the talented Lehigh students that will do work just as good for 1/10th of the price.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 9:28 AM

    Bethlehem creates over 75% of this so called tax by drawing people to spend out of state money at their hotels etc. why should they Not get 75% of this money to keep it going? 8:05 is so anti anything it would be a great day if you identified yourself so we knew if you even lived in NORCO

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 10:43 AM

    9:28,
    Please site your credible source for your claim of 75%.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 10:55 AM

    9:28,

    So u support the keeping of the Hirko tax. Guess u believe in the flood tax also. I could try to explain it to u but I can't understand it for u.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 11:26 AM

    Sad to see industrial museum getting money.
    From Donches piggy bank to begging for scraps from the table.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 3:05 PM

    @11:26 they actually seem like they're doing work and going to open this year with the new director, so even though I usually have qualms about them I'm actually optimistic for once.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 5:19 PM

    The resident turd in Upper Mount Bethel "Hidy Ho" had requested some small droppings from the county for tourism. You see a tour of the eco project called sludge on Ron Angle's farm. A tour and a once a year event called "turd fest". Angle himself smoking a copa Cuban cigar would drive the tractor for Hidy as they promote to turn UMBT into the shit hole it is with different kinds of sludges from across the globe. You will be in awe the difference in turds just alone on what humans eat. Hidy's grant request wasn't even looked at.
    Something smells afoul up in UMBT.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016 at 8:06 PM

    I knew 9:28 would not be able to back up the 75% claim. 9:28 is obviously just another toy of the bedlam puppet masters

    ReplyDelete

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