After 60 years of tariff-free trade on a ritual that marks the transition into the Christmas season for generations of Amherst residents, the Grinch has finally gotten his due: $1 per tree.Yes, Town Manager Larry Shaffer got mugged by Umass in the ‘Strategic Agreement’ and walked away from $30,000 in annual rent for a municipal golf course that will cost taxpayers that amount this year, but--by God--put him at the table with Boy Scouts of America and he takes no prisoners.
Operated entirely by volunteers, the Amherst Boy Scouts Christmas Tree Sale on Kendrick Park raises money for hometown Troops 500 and 504 to help offset scout related expenses, including scholarships for those who can’t afford the required summer camping.
So it’s not like this is a BIG business generating profits surreptitiously slipped in a back pocket, or applied towards a new Lexus.
The 40-50 Amherst and Pelham Boy Scouts do plenty of volunteer work for their merit badges including food collection for The Survival Center, clearing our extensive Conservation Trails, or helping distribute 3,000 candles on the first anniversary of 9/11.
And while a dollar may sound trivial on trees priced at $35 or $40, last year former Scout Master Bill Hart estimated the entire month-long endeavor generated between $4,000 and $6,000 in net profit. So Amherst’s cut of $775 in rent, amounts to a tax on “profits” of 13%!
Doing ones duty to God and country shouldn’t be so taxing.
Bah Humbug!
ReplyDeleteWhat next, a cut of their tips?
That’s the same SIGN as back in the day when I sold trees for troop 501.
ReplyDeleteI think it's absolutely preposterous the town wants money from the boy scouts.
1. That land was donated to the town for use as a public space.
2. The boy scouts have been raising funds for operations for over 40 years without having to give a piece of the action to the town.
3. Boy Scouts is a non-profit that is a net contributor to Amherst Life AT NO COST TO THE TOWN - Boys and young men are engaged in character building activity. That means they’re not out causing trouble and feeling like nobody cares about them.
4. $700 is a fart in the wind to Amherst whose annual budget is in excess of $X.
5. Amherst should be giving the Boy Scouts $1 a tree
6.and simultaneously encouraging them to accept gay members as deserving equal access and treatment.
7.Why doesn't the town consider levying a $1 fee on attendees to the bong-hit-convention to pay for the police details so tax-paying residents (who may have a valid objection to having their tax dollars spent creating a safe forum for people to advocate for the legalization of illegal class D narcotics) don't have to spend their money to underwrite it.
Seriously!
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding. Protest, Larry, with a nice big ol' Grinch sign with the TM's face in it.
ReplyDeleteWrite "Shaffer Stiffs Scouts" somewhere on the sign. In fact, have that cute little girl in your household hold it.
Hey Izzy,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I only wish it were an April Fools joke (although our illustrious Select board did schedule the Annual Election for this coming April 1’st). Just when you thought those previous 'Only in Amherst' moments couldn’t be topped. Yikes!
Actually I’m considering a modern day Boston Tea Party, whereby I would raise money to buy 75 trees and then dump them all on Town Hall stairway or in Larry Shaffer’s driveway.
Hey Larry
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard everyone chatting about your blog in Rao's early this morning, I just had to come and visit.
Defending the Bill of Rights is vital at all times, and everywhere, but especially in Amherst these days. The First Amendment implications of the proposed charges are clear. Could you imagine the setback to equal rights in this country if Washington, D.C. had tried to force Martin Luther King to come up with the money for the enormous police detail at his 1963 march? (Not that failure to get official permission ever deterred MLK from marching.)
I am not sure the Boy Scout matter is as clear a case as the legalization rally -- I just haven't studied the case law -- but I would encourage you to work with some civil rights lawyers. You don't get anywhere if you don't stand up and fight.
While it is true the 1943 Supreme Court case (the Jehovah's Witness case) seems to say that a "nominal" administrative fee is not necessarily unconstitutional, I think it might be worthwhile to sue -- regardless of whatever they charge -- "It's not 'nominal' enough!"
The whole situation is bound to lead to lots of litigation -- not to mention a possible media circus.
I'm begining to wonder why they are pulling this "fee for service" gambit. Probably a campaign strategy for the override election. Just shows you how their minds work -- when faced with a deficit, they don't even think of all the overpaid bureaucrats. They go after the Boy Scout's dollars.
In addition to your "His Lordship" appellation for Gerry, I propose "Br'er Rabbit" for Larry S.
Hey Terry,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. Damn, I’m creating a buzz at Rao’s coffee emporium…I’m definitely somebody now.
Yeah, I guess it all hinges on how you define “nominal”. Just as Clinton split hairs with the definition of “is”.
If it costs taxpayers $1,200 in overtime for police that would not normally be in town center at that particular time, then I think a charge to the group of $1,250 is fine. The $1,200 cost of the actual officers and a $50 “nominal” administrative fee.
If, however, the town gives this Umass RSO group a freebie then this coming July 4’th I’m going to demand the town waive the $1,200 fee we paid this past year for police (as we have done since 2001). After all, the Select board has insisted over the past six years that the July 4’th Parade is political (as in a pro-military, pro-Iraq propaganda).
Of course those boneheads also think flying American flags in town center on the anniversary of 9/11 to commemorate the worst attack on American soil in our history is also a pro-military, pro-Iraq war statement.
I had to come by and see this blog of yours.I dont live in Amherst.Seeing I live in the middle of 2 liberal towns I keep tabs on what is said or done.I am frankly outraged at schaffer.I am soooo glad you people are speaking out on this form of anti christian act.
ReplyDeleteI have a son in scouts in this town and I too was once a boy scout(though cars and girls swayed my attention from the scouts early) so I know what a fine,fine job they do to teach young boys and giude them to be fine young men.To simply atain the rank of eagle scout is a feat as tall as climbing everest. I hope you Larry get this farse to end in the right way for the scouts.
I read this story in the paper and was going to include a little commentary on it in my "As the City Council Turns" post, but forgot :-\
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. The Scouts are selling trees as a fundraiser, and Shaffer's essentially taxing them a buck a tree for their efforts.
Nice.
springfieldintruder.com
Hey Bill,
ReplyDeleteYou could always post it under "As the stomach turns".
Yeah, if you were TRYING to generate BAD PR you would be hard-pressed to come up with this scenario.
But now you know why I call this "Only in Amherst".