Northhampton News

Easton Recreation Office issued the following announcement on April 3

My dear residents and friends:

Just a few weeks ago, on March 11th I delivered the State of the City address to City Council and the public. It was a SOTC filled with positive accomplishments. There is no doubt that prior to this coronavirus setback, Easton’s economy was robust, and we were on our way back to pre-urban renewal days. Our population was growing, our central business district was alive with people on the streets shopping, eating and going to our attractions. Yes, we set a course of recovery and everyone was working hard to make our community the place we know it can be and want Easton to be.

People who know me know that I am an eternal optimist. But today Easton, and our state and our country are much different. COVID-19 has brought our lifestyle, and our economy to a halt.  Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. In the short term our focus must be on flattening the spread of this virus and keeping as many people healthy that we can. Some people just don’t get it, so we have had to close playgrounds, etc. to keep other safe. We must reduce the number of deaths. 

But in the long term, it is our economy that will take a huge hit. Hardest hit are our small businesses – those locally owned businesses that are the economic engines of our city and our nation. People who work hard every day with little in return. People you know and see face to face in a social environment.

In the next few days, your City Administration will be making some difficult decisions. You see, we built this city on our economy and when it goes up our revenues go up but when it bottoms out so do our city revenues that are derived from our economy. Without the Crayola Experience, the State Theatre and the Sigal Museum we lose our Amusement Tax which is paid mostly by or visitors. Those visitors also use our parking facilities. Visitors to our city pay to park and that generates more than $1.5 million a year. Yes, I get many complaints about charging for parking but the money the city earns from parking has helped to keep property taxes and utility fees level in the city for 12 years. Wind Creek Casino is closed. Our $1.3 million annually is based on the amount of money that is gambled. Another revenue item is the Earned Income Tax and we all know that too many people are now out of work. We are balancing our budget annually on the economy; a true tourism economy. That said, Easton’s revenues could be down as much as $5.5 million this year.

But as I sit here in my office, I know that our city and its residents are resilient. I know that when this is over, we will all work hard to make our city the best it can be. We will bring our city make to its pre-coronavirus days. And I know that with everyone’s help we will again be a city on the move, rising up from the ashes of the invisible virus that stuns our country, our world.  But until then we will make the tough decisions that will keep Easton on balance, and we will lobby hard to get the help that our residents and small businesses need from our state and federal governments. We want them all to re-open.

I look forward to that day. Stay healthy and God bless you all.

Original source can be found here.