Chester library closing?

On the 1st Day of Christmas, I wrote a post entitled ‘The Literacy Mayor who nixes the Library?’ It took until today, the 11th Day of Christmas, to get a response from City Hall. However, they left the gift of response in Primos with the Daily Times instead of in Chester with the C-City Blog.

I apologize to my readers, followers, Likers, and subscribers, but the tradition of not responding to blog posts continues from one administration to the next. They take all of you for granted by leaving you in the dark when they’re questioned, challenged, or wrongly accused. Even your comments are ignored when you seek clarity. You’d think the Literacy Champion Mayor would be all over a blog that hypes his city. NOT!

Reputation management and social media and are not among city government’s social graces. Their communication strategy is to consume and converse but not to comment.  I think it could have been avoided, but this morning they’re all over the front page looking crazy. 

In my opinion (and many of yours) it makes them look bad and it turns me into the bad guy when all we’re trying to do is encourage real time response to real time issues. That was the reason the Daily Times sought to identify bloggers in the communities they serve. Folks in Media thrive on AllThingsMedia.com because of the regular interaction among comments. At least it works somewhere because it’s failing miserably here in Chester. 

Today’s article mentions that the library is estimated to receive $500,000 in Keystone Opportunity Zone revenue in addition to $300,000 in library tax revenue in 2014. Why we had to wait til the 11th day of Christmas to get that good news from the city baffles me to no end. They must either not be proud of the new KOZ taxes or they aren’t sure that number is accurate. Or, they just don’t want folks to learn these things on the blog. 

Here’s what I know about KOZ tax revenue. Number one, the big hitters - Harrah’s and PPL Park, will first have to have their properties assessed to determine how much they are required to pay in taxes. LIke most big businesses, they’ll probably appeal the first assessment forcing a delay in recovering whatever taxes are due. But, the folks in city hall seem to have the crystal ball and already know how much and when the KOZ tax dollars will be received. They’ll probably share that information with us in an upcoming Daily Times article. 

I just hope that Harrah's and PPL Park don't follow the city's lead and begin to cut back on the contributions they're making in the community once they're hit with a tax bill. I can hear them now..."Sorry for the cuts, but you're now getting it in taxes".

I think I’m going to try to get to City Council today. It should be another humdinger.