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....

[Tired of Taxes]

Fishing around the internet, it looks like there’s a Scout museum in Valley Forge, and there are troops in the area. If they don’t hold jamborees there, they should.

P.S. (I’m female, so even though I grew up there, I don’t know much about the BSA there.)

[Ancient Drive]

indeed. BSA should call their bluff. money is the life giving substance politicians bathe in every day.

[ohioman]

From your posts, I bet you got your arse kicked while in the Scouts. Was it your lisp that gave you away?

[nuke rocketeer]

Why are you not a fan of BSA?

[Myrddin]

Further, the article says "the city could lose $62 million in federal funds with the eviction because of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act."

Apparently the gay cheer leaders at city hall haven't done their homework.

[Albion Wilde]

Further, the article says "the city could lose $62 million in federal funds with the eviction because of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act." Apparently the gay cheer leaders at city hall haven't done their homework.

They can't help but know; obviously they are willing to pay even this price. God help them. I rebuke the demons that inhabit their souls, in Jesus' name.

[trumandogz]

From your posts, I bet you got your arse kicked while in the Scouts. Was it your lisp that gave you away?

No, unlike you, I am a small government conservative. Thus, I believe that neither corporations, Welfare Queens or the Boy Scouts should be on the government dole.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

Further, the article says "the city could lose $62 million in federal funds with the eviction because of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act."

Interesting twist to the case, but I can think of no Constitutional provision that allows Congress to bestow special status on the Boy Scouts.

[bill1952]

The Scouts aren’t “on the dole,” and never have been.

The city was, and wants out.

The Boy Scouts are a positive asset to America itself, and every consideration should be extended to the few groups that truly promote and personify the pride and dignity of Western Civilization, rather than the Gay Pride Parade down Broad Street.

Your comments are borderline insulting to the BSA, but I do understand your somewhat mistaken point.

[bill1952]

They don’t need one.

They have bestowed such status on many groups in the past, the most notable is the US Olympic committee.

Did you know that that special act of Congress even bestowed a copyright to them on the name “Olympic,” and all of it’s derivatives?

I was a party to such a case involving them, and am intimately familiar in the ways that Congress can indeed create an act bestowing special status.

[The Pack Knight]

Further, the article says "the city could lose $62 million in federal funds with the eviction because of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act."

Get ready for some whining if that happens, perhaps even some of the "oral argument" variety of whining in the Supreme Court.

I'm supposedly meeting Justice Scalia next week. Maybe I'll try to get his take if the opportunity presents itself.

[Albion Wilde]

... I can think of no Constitutional provision that allows Congress to bestow special status on the Boy Scouts.

Again, today's generations have become so brainwashed by the ACLU that they think everything that gets done in the United States should be done by fiat of the Supreme Court. That's a recipe for oligarchy, not freedom nor a federal republic; and it's directly opposite to the original intent of the Founders who hammered out the Constitution in Philadelphia.

The states and localities are free to pass such laws as will benefit their local communities, and must only set them aside in the event that a successful constitutional challenge is made on the state or federal level. The U.S. Constitution is NOT meant to be a document to micromanage local areas.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

The fact that Congress HAS repeatedly overstepped its mandate, and possibly even followed some of its own contrived internal procedure in doing so, does not make it right. The USOC should have secured a copyright like everyone else.

Out of curiosity, was that in response to the "Gay Olympics," which had to be renamed the "Gay Games"?

[Albion Wilde]

...I'm supposedly meeting Justice Scalia next week...

Awesome! Details?

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

I cannot tell from your reply if we agree or not. Acts of Congress telling states and localities that they have to provide special protection, and even equal access, to the Boy Scouts is precisely the type of micromanagement the U.S. Constitution does not provide for. I agree with what you said about ACLU brainwashing and Supreme Court fiat, but that's not at issue here. At issue is Congress potentially overriding a local matter.

Unfortunately, under our constitutional republic (at least as intended), localities are free to make bad decisions. Of course, I despise when people tell me -- very frequently on FR -- "It's the law whether you like it or not," and feel bad I'm forced to strike a similar note here. That's why I stand by what I said earlier about fully privatizing the BSA, freeing them from state benefits and restrictions alike. That would solve a lot of problems, including freeing the BSA from needless litigation.

[trumandogz]

I have not insulted the BSA. I believe they are an upstanding organization.

However, there are other organizations in the U.S. that some people may feel are upstanding or promote and personify the pride and dignity of Western Civilization...

For example, many people believe that Planned Parenthood is an upstanding organization that promotes the pride and dignity of western civilization. Other people may believe that the Knights of Columbus do the same while other people may believe that the ACLU promotes and personifies the pride and dignity of Western Civilization.

Now, should we give all of the above organizations rent of $1.00 per year simply because some people may believe they are upstanding?

[samm1148]

“I will not spend a dime in Philly or San Fran. Law abiding citizens need to get the hell out of hellholes and leave it to the pervert infested filth that call these places home. Once they start turning on each other they will be begging for moral and honest families to come back, too late.”

Cities also need to be put on a pay as you go basis with the denizens of these places paying the freight for busing, street cleaners etc.

[The Pack Knight]

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Jesse Helms Center, and Justice Scalia is receiving an award. I’ll probably be there along with some other Federalist Society members. Scalia’s been involved with the Federalist Society since the beginning, so we got an invite.

[Smokin' Joe]

Further, the article says "the city could lose $62 million in federal funds with the eviction because of the Support Our Scouts Act of 2005 and the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act."

Hmmmm. A mere loss of $61,800,000.00 (directly in Federal funds) for the city?

Shows how much these perverts value their buggery. So much they wish to share it with the entire taxpaying population.

Maybe the name should be changed to the "City of Buggerly Love".

[Albion Wilde]

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Jesse Helms Center, and Justice Scalia is receiving an award. I’ll probably be there along with some other Federalist Society members.

How wonderful! Envy is a sin, so I'll just say, "Have a great time!"