Lancaster Newspapers: It's all just talk

Lancaster Newspapers again distorts the truth to achieve their goals:

In the Sunday News of May 1, 2005, an editorial makes the claim "It's been 10 years since the Bon-Ton closed its department store. There was not exactly a mad rush to redevelop the Watt & Shand building at that time, and no one is lining up now for the opportunity."

Perhaps the editor of the Lancaster Sunday News should do some research in his own newspaper before he makes such a statement.

Because there was an agreement for Harrisburg Area Community College to move into the Watt and Shand building; this agreement was killed by Mayor Charlie Smithgall when he took office. Because there was another private offer to take over the building, however Mayor Charlie Smithgall made certain that Penn Square Partners got it instead.

Because Charlie Smithgall has made certain that no other offers were entertained for the Watt & Shand building. We know of at least four other parties currently interested in developing this property. What the newspaper must know, and failed to point out, is that NO firm financing plan can be put into place while Penn Square Partners and the City still control the property.

This is consistent with Lancaster Newspapers' track record on this project. On Sunday, April 17, 2005, the headline read "County won't stand in city project's way". EXCEPT, on page 11, the words "For now" were added. The County Commissioner's statement on page A10 clearly states that "we shall continue to evaluate whether County action should be taken on any issue". This headline prompted the County Commissioners to tale the extraordinary step of releasing a public statement contradicting this headline.

On Saturday evening, April 30, 2005, the Lancaster New Era published the headline, "Hotel critic gets 10 days to make her case". What really happened at this hearing was, the LCCCA was originally given 20 days to respond to April Koppenhaver's lawsuit. They literally waited until almost the last day, then the LCCCA requested an emergency hearing seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. The LCCCA's FOUR attorneys brought up a previous court ruling, but otherwise were completely unprepared. However, April's attorney WAS prepared to make his case. The LCCCA had brought up the previous court ruling as a diversionary tactic, while April's attorney was prepared to deal with the issues cited in April's lawsuit. Judge Madenspacher then gave LCCCA's FOUR attorneys twelve days to bring a valid argument to the court, which happens to give April's attorney 12 days to consider a court ruling that is several years old, and may actually have no bearing on this case. Judge Madenspacher also expressed frustration at the tactics being used by LCCCA's attorneys. The article did quote him, but out of context.

The Sunday News editorial DID state, "Our publisher, Lancaster Newspapers Inc., is part of Penn Square Partners, the developer of the Marriot hotel that would complement the convention center. We obviously have a conflict of interest. Take that into consideration." At least THAT statement is true.