Jersey Mike

I don’t do this often- in fact, I don’t think, in the four years I’ve been blogging, I’ve ever asked the readers of this site to do anything.

But this, I’m going to urge you to support.

The wind of change is clearly blowing in Harrisburg. For the first time in nearly three decades, we’ll see a Mayoral race in November that does not include Stephen Reed on the ballot. Without a doubt, we’re going to witness an unprecedented change in the way that this city handles it’s business.

With that change, I want to turn up the heat on the Amusement Tax issue. What, to me, seems like a simple piece of legislation to be removed is, in reality, falling on deaf ears with City Council.

Last month, we witnessed GreenWorks Properties and Vartan finagle a piece of legislation that aleve them of a quarter-million-dollars per year in tax requirements.

Which lead me to conclude that- because little old Jersey Mike doesn’t own hundreds of properties in the city and doesn’t make thousand-plus dollar “contributions” to the campaigns of council members and Mayoral candidates that his voice doesn’t matter.

Sure, they’ve listened to me- but their inaction has left me frustrated, disappointed and, generally, bummed out about how our local government works.

So now, I’m going to ask you- the readers and supporters of this site to do a simple thing: copy and paste the following paragraphs, sign your name, and email them to all of city council and the Mayors office. Send more than one. Send one every day. But please- for the good of the entertainment of this city, send a simple email.

(If you choose to participate, please leave a comment below saying that you did it. Just so I can get an idea of whether or not this message is going through)

I’ve been harping on this for nearly five years now- and just as you’re probably sick of hearing about it, I’m tired of complaining about it. (A list of council members email addresses follows the body of the email)

Power to the people, right on-

Dear Council and Mayor of Harrisburg,

I’m writing today to urge you to please reform or remove city ordinance 32-1982 (Amusement Tax) from the rolls of the city charter.

We have concluded that this tax-which burdens independent concert promoters- is the single-biggest factor preventing the regular use of venues like the Forum, The Zembo Temple and City Island for larger, A-List concerts.

Driving to Philly, Lancaster, Baltimore, Reading and State College to see a great concert does zero-good for the City of Harrisburg- but benefits those communities in more ways than just a great concert. We patronize their restaurants. Stay in their hotels. Pay to park in their garages. And take all of that revenue away from the great City of Harrisburg.

Please support Mike Van Jura’s plight to reform this tax and create a level playing field for all local concert promoters.

Sincerely,

lthompson@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
wwilliams@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
sbrownwilson@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
bkoplinski@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
dmiller@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
gmartinroberts@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
kimpatty@hotmail.com
bgabler@harrisburgcitycouncil.com
mayor@cityofhbg.com