By Bill

August 9, 2010 10:54 AM | Link to this

A better idea is to NOT spend public money for any sort of artsy nonsense. The author poses the question as if the money has to be blown on something so why not an arts building. This will surely NOT result in any growth in the area (just like the Beau Verre giveaway.)

By Tom

August 9, 2010 11:59 AM | Link to this

I think Middletown should spend ever dime they have fixing the roads. It is unfare to tax paying citizens to have to drive over roads that are nearing gravel.

By Same old mentality

August 9, 2010 1:11 PM | Link to this

Bill & Tom, I love these folks. They are part of what has keep’s Middletown down.Don’t really know what their talking about. Just expects lower taxes and better roads. Want’s to throw the bum’s out and “Take back America.” Private sector re-investment can take place anywhere in town. As to the “Beau Verre “give away” the Mormons have invested more than a half-million of their $’s in the building which is a major anchor to the redevelopment of the area. The “Broad Street Bash” brings 3000+ downtown on a regular basis.Guys like you 2 need to get out more.Probably haven’t had an original thought in your lives.

By Bill

August 9, 2010 2:03 PM | Link to this

The Broad St. Bash has nothing to do with Beau Verre or city admininstration. How many years have we been waiting for downtown to show a pulse? Why does this giveaway of dollars to benefit Verdin PAC, with no realistic monetary benefit for the city, make sense over road repair?

By Nicci

August 9, 2010 4:12 PM | Link to this

Artsy nonsense? That’s the problem with most of the residents of this town. They don’t have any culture in their bodies and they think of art as a disease that might gasp…wheeze enter their bloodstreams and make them appreciate something that doesn’t involve drinking beer and sitting on their couch on a weekend. Heaven forbid if you might have to appreciate something other than NASCAR (which I love to watch) or some other sport. I am an artist that loves NASCAR and Pro football but I also love to paint and draw and I appreciate Monet (famous French painter for those of you who don’t know). Yes those two worlds clash in my system and they get along just fine. What do you people want them to spend money on? A NASCAR track or something like that? Don’t be afraid to try some culture once in a while. You might just like it.

By Mike_Presta

August 9, 2010 7:56 PM | Link to this

Nicci: You are exactly correct! Just as we should not expect the taxpayers to subsidize a sports bar downtown catering to NASCAR and pro football fans, we should not expect the taxpayers to subsidize an art center. YOUR hobbies deserve no more public funding than anyone else’s. Besides, How can you possibly expect this to fuel growth downtown? How can any other entrepreneur open a new coffee shop, art gallery, or artists’ studio using his own funds and compete against one that has been subsidized to the tune of one half million dollars? Short answer: he cannot! Council would do well to look at BV and see exactly how much the city gained for the hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds that were provided for that venture. Where are all of the ancillary businesses that were supposed to be spawned by that seed money? The Moormans may be nice folks, but we didn’t get the “bang for the buck” that was expected. THIS Council should learn from the mistakes of past councils. What should be done instead??? We should purge city hall of ALL staff that think that THEY should pick and choose each individual business that comes to Middletown. They must GO, and be replaced by actual business friendly staff, open to ALL entrepreneurs with vision and the CONFIDENCE in that vision to back it up with their OWN financing. THOSE are the businesses that will help Middletown to thrive and grow! BUSINESS must be the business of city hall. Provide for your own hobbies and recreation by supporting the businesses that cater to those hobbies and recreation!!!

By itisme

August 10, 2010 3:44 PM | Link to this

Nicci, what works by Monet and to which school did he belong?

By Bill

August 10, 2010 9:05 PM | Link to this

Nicci, you make no sense. By your logic, maybe West Chester should giveaway $$ to payday lenders and Section 8 housing just because it is different and there’s not much of it there.

By rainman

August 11, 2010 1:50 AM | Link to this

If the Pendleton Arts Center wants to locate here…fine. I have no problem with it, and I think it would be nice to see SOMETHING happening in town. BUT under no circumstances should this be funded by my money. I think it is deplorable that our city leaders would even consider funding ANY BUSINESS. This money was never meant to be spent this way, and if they go ahead and spend it in such a reckless manner, I hope the taxpayers in this city call for the resignation of every single board member who votes to do so.

By sj

August 11, 2010 10:20 AM | Link to this

Art is fine with me. Verdin/Pendletown is exciting! However—-this should not be a taxpayer expense, further taxpayer funding should not be given in addition to the structure improvements, and the building should be leased and not GIVEN to Verdin. There are no current performance contingencies to the project, funding or building giveaway. Why? Give the taxpayer something for their property/investment also. “Art” has failed repeatedly in the area. ACF is constantly begging to survive, and has produced little. No stay-power or related development whatsoever. These projects for the area are fine, IF people invest their OWN money. We can’t fix roads, operate a swimming pool, or control Section 8 economic destruction. We can’t draw jobs to the citizens and community. Concentrate on city govt.fundamentals, and the frills should follow.

By daffy duck

August 11, 2010 11:47 AM | Link to this

actually, nicci, your logic is backwards. a really nice sports bar would be a better bet than this art scam. at least then there would be a chance of success and a hope for the citizens to get some of their money back. i’d rather see them fund a sports bar with tax money than the art scam, if they had to do one or the other. the demographics give it a better chance of success. nicci obviously doesn’t get economics.

By Crime busters

August 11, 2010 3:20 PM | Link to this

Ok,, so I think it would be great if both of those venues were to pop up in the City. But not with taxpayers money. I’ve lived in Midd. all my life, currently in the Mayfield area. I want my tax dollors on more street patroll. I’ve had my car broken into 3 times, my Christmas lights were stolen right from my front yard, there were tires slashed in a two block radius recently. Come on… I don’t want to leave this town, it’s bad enought that there are no jobs. But things that I work very hard for are being taken or destroyed. You can find a officer on any given day hiding out trying to find a speeder to get their “funds”. I wish they’d start parking on my street.

By BobT.

August 11, 2010 4:46 PM | Link to this

I have a very basic question, and I’m sorry if I missed seeing the information somwhere. But can someone tell me WHO had this idea to start with? Did someone approach these PAC people and promise them the world if they would open a place in Middletown? Sorry, but I can’t belive that the PAC people “chose” to expand their business by moving here. This had to be initiated by someone from this end. Does anyone know?

By Jack Soflots

August 11, 2010 5:14 PM | Link to this

If they want to get interest from Middletown citizens, why not open another trailer park? Or another flea market? Or maybe a barber shop that specializes in mullets and mohawks? I know, how about a dirt race track with go-carts painted like Nascar cars? This would be a huge hit for the toothless inbreds in the area.

By Harry Ballzonia

August 11, 2010 5:18 PM | Link to this

I think if we opened a new bridge, we could have tobaccy spitting contests off it. That would occupy the youth of the area as well and keep ‘em outta trouble. My sister was the Carlisle city champ back when they had it at bucks pond, later shepherds field.