Good luck with that!
Interestingly, Panto made his announcement the day after his election. .
This, like his much ballyhooed high school hall of fame, was always a stupid idea. Yet not only did Panto agree to spend $30 million for what originally was a $130 pipedream, he actually did spend $5.9 million in taxpayer dollars to buy and demolish the blighted Days Inn upon which an aquarium and later, a 100' tall Vitruvan man, would stand.
This termination might actually work to Easton's advantage. Several developers have expressed interest in the location, and the city could actually make a profit.
Or not.
Northampton County is not so lucky. In 2017, a lame duck Council on its way out the door awarded a $10 million grant of hotel taxes to help fund the project.
The grant passed by a 5-4 vote. Voting for it were Peg Ferraro, Glenn Geissinger, Mat Benol, Seth Vaughn and Bob Werner. Voting No were Ken Kraft, John Cusick, Matt Dietz and Hayden Phillips. The money was to paid over a period of 40 years.
Peg Ferraro, who has been named Pocketbook Peg by my readers, was the spearhead for this grant. She had no qualms about placing a ball and chain around the county's neck for the next 40 years, really hamstringing its ability to fund tourism anywhere else.
"It's insane," said Ken Kraft, who would become Council President in 2018. One of the first things he did was propose a repeal of the grant.
By this time, plans changed for what was supposed to be a shark-infested 500,000 gallon salt-water fish tank. You see, another aquarium was being considered in the Poconos. State Senator Mario Scavello wanted no competition from a non-profit. He and State Senator Lisa Boscola agreed to throw $20 million at Erickson if could come up with something else.
Her Plan B was ridiculous. A fish tank in a flood plain was now going to be a "Nature Dome" that permits you to see the exact same things you'd see if you walked along the river. There's also a bug garden and a 100' tall XXL Vitruvian Man modeled after Easton Mayor Sal Panto, complete with a 3 inch peeper, three hairs and a 200' diameter mouth.
Vitruvian Sal would still originally require the same $130 million that was proposed for the fish tank. When people complained, Erickson knocked off $10 million.
Vitruvian Sal would later become Vitruvian Gumby when Council member Tara Zrinski objected to the notion that a man could be the model.
No peeper at all.
Previously, DaVinci was awarded $50,000 in hotel taxes.
So though Northampton County ended its commitment, DaVinci also still received $250,000 from the repealed $10 million grant. So the County has spent $300,000 for a project that never got past the drawing board.
Four of the five Council members who voted for this nightmare on Washington Street are no longer on the board. Just Peg.
Sal made sure this was a secret until after the election. Classic Sal move. Your Easton Folks.
ReplyDeleteGive the current county council credit. They killed pocketbook Pegs $10 million gift to the "Sal Dome. Some of them tried to kill the $250 spent in 2018 but for some reason the Admisntration was determined to get the money to DaVinci.
This debacle as well as the bridge project that is about as close to criminal as you can get were legacies of the Brown Admisntration and the republican council. They cost the taxpayers a great deal. Will our frugal county republican voters realize this or continue to blindly pull their levers?
The best man won for DA. Get over it asshole. The Trump candidate got her self Trumped.
ReplyDeleteImpeach Trump & Panto while you're at it...
ReplyDeleteThey already have contacted Allentown AGAIN???????
ReplyDeleteWhy is Upper Nazareth Two mowing ESSROC at 248 & Daniels Rd. Hope the bill for the two men, mower, other weed eater, travel to and from and fuel.
ReplyDeleteI think Sal is forgetting that he won a primary, not general, election. His deceit may not play well in November when facing a veteran and fire fighter.
ReplyDeletepoliticians are bad people our system breeds them they are taking this country down step by step they will never change we must make TRUMP dictator for life he is our only hope...
ReplyDeleteTrump is a fool and those drinking his Kool aid are even more foolish...
ReplyDeleteUncle Sal's Fish Tank was an absurd idea from day one. Tear down a sleazy hotel in a congested, hard to get to location in a flood plain and stick something there to lure tourists. A joke. Then change the plans to a Bio Dome with creatures many people can find in their back yards, bugs and a giant androgynous Gumby figure. Another dead end for Sal's quest for immortality. Why can't the county get some of its money back with this fiasco? Especially if a site in Lehigh Co. is selected.
ReplyDelete@11:03
ReplyDeleteUpper Nazareth owns a parcel adjacent to the ESSROC property.
PARID: J7 14 1B 0432E
”Why can't the county get some of its money back with this fiasco? Especially if a site in Lehigh Co. is selected.”
ReplyDeleteThat would be so funny.
11:35
ReplyDeleteWho votes them into office?
The fact that the Da Vinci failure was kept secret until a day after the election shows that Sal Panto is a dishonest liar and his word cannot be trusted. At the same time the deal was falling apart Sal was on the TV news saying it was a go. The best outcome now is for Sal Panto to resign.
ReplyDeleteVote republican in the Fall for Fat Sal's opponent.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame that the county was being conned by Sal and that crazy DaVinci woman. She should resign as well as Sal. I was told be someone at the ec county that county council wanted no part of this plan but that McClure was really pushing it for some reason.
ReplyDeleteFar more disturbing than the fact that this financially unsustainable project did not move forward in Easton, I have read news reports that DaVinci is trying to sell something similar to Allentown and Bethlehem. Unless private money is available to back this idea in a market economy, the project is a loser. I can only hope that Allentown and Bethlehem have some people on board smart enough to recognize this reality.
ReplyDeleteNow it would be shame on you of any elected official puts one cent into this scam!
ReplyDeleteShots fired accross the street from the eighth street entrance to the downtown billion dollar arena, located in the area were the revolving open air stage was set to be built. Keep America Great and stop all the wasteful spending that only speeds up Americas demise with the criminals running the jail?
ReplyDeletecheck with the County, the corner is not J7 14 1B 0432E. See
ReplyDeletePARID: K7 14 2 0432
ESSROC MATERIALS INC,
For those playing at home (and who actually watched the Council mtg), Da Vinci told Easton that they were officially leaving the City the afternoon of the 22nd - day after the primary
ReplyDeleteAnnon 5:12, Sal or a minion. Please stop playing people for fools. I know for a fact you Sal and some other officials knew they were out before election day. You won, so knock off the BS. You can't help your self.
ReplyDeleteFor those of you NOT Playing the game and wanting facts.
Of course in Bethlehem we have krooked Karner saying the city may buy this farce. When will Donchez grow and spine and tell Boscola enough is enough with this person.
ReplyDeleteI have no respect left for Karner bc she drove one of Bethlehem's top employees away. But her comments to the pres reveal she is less than enthusiastic about DaVinci.
ReplyDeleteShe has always been the supreme bullsit artist, City hall people have learned that. Sorry, but if the right person with the right money, she will jump on it. Sadly, Bobby is just a figurehead. Hopefully Eric Evans can reign her in.
ReplyDeleteWaste, fraud, and abuse
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to believe Karner still has a job after all the blunders in her department but Bobby would not want to upset Boscola as mentioned above. Boscola runs Bethlehem.
ReplyDelete