Right call on room tax

First Massachusetts managed to raise taxes on the manufacturing concerns high enough to send these concerns to other states. Now it's going to do the same to the tourist industry. Why don't they raise taxes on the drug dealers or on the robbers and muggers? Massachusetts is a text book example of how to kill private enterprise.

Ask yourself this. Have you ever in your life seen the Eagle oppose a new tax or a tax increase?

Run off other businesses with double the tax rate on business than residences. Spend a bunch of money on fluff like the Colonial and Downtown to make yourself more dependent on visitors and tourists. Then make yourself less competitive in the tourism market. What am I missing here?

There isn't a tax that the idiots at the eagle don't approve of. Why don't these idiots set and example and pay the extra 90k the city will generate. New England news shoud be real proud of their berkshire branch. Bottom of the barrel.

Not sure a 6% increase will scare off the tourists. Seems like high hotel taxes have not affected other tourist destinations

garygenius wrote:

Not sure a 6% increase will scare off the tourists. Seems like high hotel taxes have not affected other tourist destinations

My understanding is the rate was 4% and is going to 6%. Last time I checked, that's a 50% increase. On top of that,$90,000 for half a year suggests the tax is expected to generate $180,000 per year. That is $180,000 that won't be spent on meals out, visiting other attractions or extending a business trip a day or two. How can you possibly think increasing a tax results in money just magically appearing and not affecting other behaviors?

Beagle massholes are mentally sick cockroaches. I can not wait when the go bankrupt. But they will not see a single penny from me meantime.

Boy, talk about dumb!
Really DUMB!
Once again, Pittsfield's city managers manage to shoot the city they say they love in the foot.
And the two Liberal Democrat jokers running for Mayor both support this silly tax increase.
(And it is these same two characters who think they have any credibility to attract business or, get this, JOBS to Pittsfield.)
In the middle of a recession no less, all Pittsfield City Councillors and Mayor Ruberto manage to come up with is to raise the local hotel room tax.
You'd think these brainiacs would be able to figure out by now that raising ANY tax in the middle of an economic downtown sends a distinct message to movers and shakers in the business world, the ones who decide where to set up shop.
The message: These politicos could not care less about how much they raise taxes.
And the first thing the prospective employer then realizes: How soon would Hizzoner and his city councillors raise taxes on my business?
Way to go, guys!
Another victory for Pittsfield!
What did you say the unemployment rate is in Berkshire County?

Oh, and did I mention that the entire Pittsfield City Council and Hizzoner the Mayor are all tax-and-spend Liberal Democrats?
By the way, did someone ask for the unemployment rate in Berkshire County?
SEE:
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_13605982

HellerClimateRefugeele wrote:

Oh, and did I mention that the entire Pittsfield City Council and Hizzoner the Mayor are all tax-and-spend Liberal Democrats?
By the way, did someone ask for the unemployment rate in Berkshire County?
SEE:
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_13605982

Kerwood may be a tas and spend liberal, but he is also a Republican.

Adam Smith wrote:

<quoted text>Kerwood may be a tas and spend liberal, but he is also a Republican.

Isn't that what is referred to as a "RINO"?

HellerClimateRefugeele wrote:

<quoted text>
Isn't that what is referred to as a "RINO"?

The late great Peter Arlos called him Eddie Munster. I like that better.

Adam Smith wrote:

<quoted text>The late great Peter Arlos called him Eddie Munster. I like that better.

He was indeed great -- and dearly missed.

Arlos was certifiably insane. Case closed, see ya.

No doubt wrote:

Arlos was certifiably insane. Case closed, see ya.

Certifiably by your standards maybe, but exactly what are the standards of an anonymous troll?

I've served on various town committees thru the years and ol Pete used to send mail to me containing really off the wall stuff somehow connected in his mind to an issue of the day. I made it a point to always avoid him.

No doubt wrote:

I've served on various town committees thru the years and ol Pete used to send mail to me containing really off the wall stuff somehow connected in his mind to an issue of the day. I made it a point to always avoid him.

"No doubt", maybe he was sending you that stuff instead of just handing it to you in person, because he was making it a point to avoid you too?
Pete was no fool!

No doubt wrote:

Arlos was certifiably insane. Case closed, see ya.

Pete Arlos was anything but insane. He played the game better than anyone I ever saw in Pittsfield, and anyone I ever heard about. I didn't agree with him on a lot of things, but on the most important issue, taxes, he was spot-on 100% right. I never knew him to support an increase in taxes for anything, and in Taxachussetts that is always the right postition. Always.

No doubt wrote:

I've served on various town committees thru the years and ol Pete used to send mail to me containing really off the wall stuff somehow connected in his mind to an issue of the day. I made it a point to always avoid him.

Your loss. I used to love to watch Council meetings when Peter was obviously beginning to lose it. He only had three cylinders left, but could still run rings around guys like Kerwood and Bianchi.

Adam Smith wrote:

<quoted text>Your loss. I used to love to watch Council meetings when Peter was obviously beginning to lose it. He only had three cylinders left, but could still run rings around guys like Kerwood and Bianchi.

Peter used to love to say that when he was a young guy, he dated certain actresses.
If you saw photos of him in his youth, he looked quite the suave dude.