Legoland Tax Structure

 

Dear Nieces and Nephews

“Orange County residents, you must pay your taxes and pay for Legoland’s advertisements” is a far cry from “Tax the rich , feed the poor”

When your Auntie and the Team  first read this yesterday in the Mid Hudson News, we thought it was either a joke or a misprint. http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2019/February/26/Legoland_$1M_mktg_req-26Feb19.html 

Legoland seeks up to $1 million annually from Orange County for international marketing

GOSHEN – Officials of Legoland New York, which is under construction in the Town of Goshen, have asked the Orange County Legislature for between $750,000 and $1 million a year to be used to promote the children’s theme park. 

Wait! Legoland wants the taxpayers of Orange County to pay for THEIR advertising? Now, keep in mind that this “request” comes from Legoland, Merlin Entertainments, which has already received millions of dollars in tax breaks from County and State!

The plan would be in collaboration with the county’s tourism bureau, said Tourism Director Amanda Dana.

Aha! Now we understand. Amanda Dana, the former Director of Business Expansion and Retention for the Orange County Partnership, under the tutelage of Maureen “Awesome” Halahan, is at the heart of this matter. And why wouldn’t she be? Didn’t the County Executive STEVE NEUHAUS, empower her?

STEVE SAID: “As for Dana, she’ll have expanded duties and power compared with former Orange County tourism director Susan Hawvermale, who retired in November after 25 years. Dana, for example, will be expected to propose polices and possible legislation.

https://www.recordonline.com/news/20180524/two-partnership-directors-take-orange-county-jobs 

Amanda should be excused for her confusion regarding her employer and her role as demonstrated at the recent legislative meeting!!!. Steve appointed her as an Un-elected county legislator!!!   

County Tourism Director Amanda Dana and a Legoland representative broached the idea at a legislative committee meeting on Friday, pitching a marketing collaboration that would cost the county $750,000 to $1 million a year.

https://www.recordonline.com/news/20190227/orange-considers-1m-marketing-handout-for-legoland  

Amanda does not understand that she works for the TAXPAYERS of Orange County now, not the BUSINESSES of Orange County as she demonstrated at legislative meeting; she does not understand how her job and responsibilities have changed.

Perhaps, we should put it in Real Estate terms. You, Amanda are not a “Dual Agent”. working for both parties. (or are you a “double agent”?) You work for the taxpayers and the taxpayers only.

(Back to midhudsnews)

“This is an elaborate marketing strategy that would include a strong international broadcast and it would be print media, it would be digital media, it would be point-of-displays,” Dana said. It’s a whole branding campaign that would be internationally focused as well.”*

Translated: It is way too complicated for the stupid taxpayers to understand, we should just shut up and pay out. And Legoland’s Director of Public Relations informs us that this is a “Standard cooperative marketing arrangement” that was instituted for Legoland Florida. (At least in Florida, the officials there have an excuse, heatstroke!)

Auntie and the Team believe that if we give them a million dollars, we should at least receive a million dollars in Merlin stock!

 

  

PS

STEVE SAID: “Another reason for the new job is that the county would have spent the money on economic development anyway by giving it to the Partnership”

Late last year, Partnership President and CEO Maureen Halahan said the organization will no longer accept county money. Halahan was trying to bolster the Partnership’s seven-year battle, which is currently in court, to prove it is a private business-promotion agency, not a quasi-county department subject to state laws for transparency and audits, as the state Authorities Budget Office argues.

https://www.recordonline.com/news/20180524/two-partnership-directors-take-orange-county-jobs 

We love it when Maureen contradicts herself

 

Maureen, if you were accepting county money as part of your budget, then you were a quasi county department, subject to review and audit by the state.

You can’t have it both ways, or can you?

PPS

Legoland wants to buy Town of Goshen owned property adjacent to the site, Goshen; referendum by the voters is required.

No problem! Goshen Leases the land to Legoland, who clear cuts it immediately.

 

Initially, Legoland clear cuts over 100 acres of the project contrary to agreement and law, then wonders why there was so much runoff polluting the nearby waterways such as the Otterkill.

No problem! The Town of Goshen officials ignore it until Doug Bloomfield tries to place blame on the local building inspector. Apparently, the DEC also ignores it.