Wednesday, October 17, 11am
Studio 35, 3055 Indianola Ave.

This is a press conference to kick off a coalition, Advocates for Responsible Taxation (ART). ART is a coalition of community leaders and organizers.  ART is a grass roots consortium that includes the Green Party, Libertarians, Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party, inner-city organizers, and corporations that oppose the proposed ticket tax for another arena bailout.

The ticket tax is being proposed to apply to all tickets and memberships in the city of Columbus with a large percentage to be paid for another bail out of nationwide arena.  ART. is opposed to imposing another tax on the citizens of central Ohio for the bailout of Nationwide Arena.  Making citizens pay more taxes for Nationwide Arena should be a decision left in the hands of the voters. 

The tax is being proposed by the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) in coordination with the elected officials who purchased Nationwide Arena after we, the taxpayers, voted five times to not build it.  The tax will be place on many who are both unable to afford it and are avid consumers of the arts.   As the leader of GCAC stated, "when you tax something, consumption of it goes down."  ART questions why the arts and entertainment venues are being asked to bear the burden for another arena bailout.

We will be kicking off the campaign at Studio 35 LOCATED AT 3055 Indianola Ave. at 11:00 am on Wednesday October 17.  You'll hear the reasons why this is bad public policy, the history of the failed campaigns to build an arena, how other cities are being strapped with up to 20% of their operating budgets to support professional sports teams, why they are placing a priority of new air conditioning for hockey players that don't pay their rent while the Columbus public schools can't air condition the schools, and, most importantly, why they don't want you to vote on such an important issue.

Contact Dan McCormick at 614-804-4486 for more details.