This headline came up on google alerts at work today. I was unaware that some Cities PAY Watchtower to hold conventions. Combined with the standard travel agency 10% hotel room commission, cash, and credit card revenues....= a tidy profit!!!!
"North Carolina Capital city gives $150,000 to Jehovah's Witnesses in secret vote
BY AL STEFANELLI
ON OCTOBER 29, 2012 AT 10:18 AM
CATEGORY : AL STEFANELLI,NEWS
TAGS : CATHOLIC,CHRISTIANITY, FIRST AMENDMENT, GOD, LAW,NEWS, RELIGION,SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, STATE, STORY
RESPONSES : 2 COMMENTS
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The Raleigh City council continues it's tradition of subsidizing the Jehovah's Witnesses' anual convention at the PNC Arena, bringing the total to $875,000 with this years allotment.
According to an IndyWeek report, the City Council subsidizes the event because of it's economic impact on the area. The report states the convention brings in millions of dollars of revenue to local restaurants and hotels, which translates to hundreds of thousands in tax revenue to Raleigh.
Many reason that this practice is in violation of the separation clause to the First Amendment, as well as being wary of government conducting business in secret. The report quotes Mayor Nancy McFarlane defending the practice,
“It’s no different than any other group that asks. We have groups all the time that bring large multi-day conventions that are going to spend millions of dollars in the community. Would I discriminate against them by saying I’m not even going to consider it because you’re a religious group?”
Alex Luchenister, who represents the civil rights group, Americans United for Separation of Church and State says this is a major constitutional violation, stating,
“This seems like a plain violation of the separation of church and state and the Constitution. Government can’t fund religious meetings.”
The First Amendment has long been interpreted to include the prevention of the use of government funds to support events of a religious nature, or activities that promote religion. Many activists reason that even when there is a postive economic impact, the support of religion should not fall on the shoulders of taxpayers. Particularly taxpayers who are not believers of the religion being supported, or who hold no religious beliefs at all.
According to an official at the Convention Bureau, other groups who have received similar support include Baptists, the United Methodist Church, Lutherans, the AME Zion church and a Catholic church.
The city defends keeping the meeting to vote on the use of public funds secret by referring to a section of the law the governs public meetings The section states that closed sessions are permissible when discussion involves economic incentives that are designed to bring in new business, or when the expansion and/or location of existing businesses are on the table.
The report quotes North Carolina Press Association general counsel, Amanda Martin, stating that the statute used should not be pertinent. Martin says,
"I know of no basis under the open meetings law to have a discussion like this in closed session. The exemption that permits discussion of business location or expansion was not intended to be used in a generic way to discuss things that might bring more commerce to the City."
According to IndyWeek, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina also said it plans to monitor the situation."
Perhaps Apostafest organizers should re-think financial models !!!!!!!
And they are worried about the Candace Conti bond????????????