City Hikes Boy Scouts' Rent by $199,999 over Gay Ban (Philadelphia)

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | 10/18/2007 | Joseph A. Slobodzian

[Pyro7480]

The Boy Scouts of America's refusal to bend its rules to permit gay scouts will cost the organization's local chapter $200,000 a year if it wishes to keep its headquarters in a city-owned building on Logan Square.

Representatives of the Boy Scouts of America's Cradle of Liberty Council were notified that to remain in their 79-year-old landmark headquarters, they needed to pay the city a "fair market" rent, Fairmount Park Commission president Robert N.C. Nix said yesterday. Currently, the rent is $1 a year....

[Petronski]

Is it bigotry when someone refers to historical events?

Broad-brush generalities are typically false. It's a drive-by smear.

[been_lurking]

One dollar a year is Free Rent.

Your math skills are as poor as your legal skills.

$0.00/year is "free rent".

$1.00/year is a legally recognized amount.

Please keep playing, you have been the sole entertainment value in this thread thus far.

[edcoil]

Holding the catholic church accountable for its action is not being a bigotry however if you read my comments it was anti-government not anti catholic as I was noting the government was trying to destroy one of the few great organizations left they have not already destroyed.

This comes from my 1st amendment belief in freedom of assembly in that we have a right to pick our friends and those we associate with.

[CharacterCounts]

Is it bigotry when someone refers to historical events?

Did you merely refer to a historical event? The events I think you are referring too involved a few priests. Your post attacks ALL Catholics.

[Antoninus]

Philadelphia used to be friendly to all that is good and honorable. Hence the $1 rent for a positive and universally (at least in the past) acclaimed service group like the Boy Scounts.

Now, Philadelphia is run by corrupt, perverse scoundrels. Is it any surprise that they're willing to yank their previous patronage of the Scouts to try to force them to admit pillow-biters?

By their fruits and all that...

[Ancient Drive]

the city engaging on thug tactics. asking the boy scouts to lower moral standards or pay the price?

[Tenacious 1]

He/She ironically claims to be a landlord/developer that knows something about these deals as well. I’m in the business myself and while the author’s writing and/or investigative skill are lacking, it seems easy enough to get the gist of the BS power move by the city.

I think he/she must be allergic to reading beyond headlines and message boards.

[Burkean]

I’ve never heard anything about the Boy Scouts refusing to admit gay scouts—I’ve just heard they didn’t want gay scout leaders. But then it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around a scout being sexually active, much less homosexually active. I would think any kind of sexual activity outside marriage would violate the oath of a Scout.

[Petronski]

Where did you get your legal degree? How long did you spend reviewing the relevant documents between the parties in this case? How long did you spend in the law library researching all the issues involved?

Welfare? Get over yourself.

[2001convSVT]

Very good freekitty. It is hard to remember there was a time when this country was “decent and moral” from coast to coast. My G-D save us all from this sin.

[Hazwaste]

Whoops, you have me mixed up with someone else. I’m not the guy who posted the comment that the guy called bigoted.

[SZonian]

If folks want the BSA “off of welfare” then they need to put up or shut up. The BSA is not on welfare, it was started as a volunteer organization and has basically been one ever since. With growth comes organization and the need for paid professionals to ensure continuity. There is also the cost in buildings, land, maintenance and salaries to name a few.

Years ago, it was noticed that the BSA is the best “one stop shopping” for values based programs that develop the future crop of our country’s leaders. If that isn’t worth 1 stinkin’ dollar per year, I don’t know what the hell is.

SZ

[Petronski]

I didn’t say you’re bipolar, I’m not qualified to diagnose you at all.

[trumandogz]

I have never discounted the merit of the Boy Scouts to a community.

However, should all organizations that some people feel are a benefit to the community receive rent of $1.00 per year?

[Steve_Seattle]

"The BSA was/is providing a service to the city. I call it bartering, yet others are calling it “free land”. I guess that’s the distinction."

Sometimes the government will invoke the principle of "mutual offsetting benefits" ("MOB") to justify "giving" land to a private entity for some purpose which is deemed to have a public benefit of greater or equal value. So a city might give land to a developer who wants to build an art museum or low-income housing or a free health clinic for the poor..

[Petronski]

The bigot here is edcoil, not that guy. Your point is well made.

[Tired of Taxes]

Did you read my post with the other source? The BSA built the building, and they pay $60,000/year to maintain it. They’ve invested millions to refurbish it.

So, the situation is different from what the article suggests. If they can, they should demolish the building as they’re leaving. Or the city should at least pay top dollar for it.

[trumandogz]

Please explain to me why a private organization should only pay $1.00 a year rent for a piece of land?

[Billthedrill]

I’ve never heard anything about the Boy Scouts refusing to admit gay scouts...

To the best of my knowledge they do not. Your memory is correct concerning gay Scout leaders. There was a controversy awhile back about admitting Scouts who were avowed atheists due to the "Brave, Clean, Reverent" credo - possibly people are conflating the two issues.

[SZonian]

Thanks, not a lawyer, yet I figured I was on some kind of “right” track.

Cheers,
SZ