Orleans County in the Dark of Night
I have been a fan of Batman for as long as I can remember. I started collecting Batman comics in 1973 and I have seen every Batman movie ever made, including the black and white serials from the 1940s. When the Dark Knight premiered last weekend, I was not about to wait any longer than I had to see it, and so I went to the midnight showing at Tinseltown.
Whether you are a Batman fan or not, you will undoubtedly love the Dark Knight. The movie has shattered box office records, pulling in around $160 million dollars in its premiere weekend. Sadly, none of that money will make its way through Orleans County because we do not have a single first run movie theater in the county.
As the price of fuel continues to climb higher than Spiderman on a skyscraper, people are looking for economical entertainment close to home. In Orleans County, this becomes a challenge for lovers of first run movies or even those looking for live music, theater, or comedy acts.
I realize that there are some quality events in the county, like the 4-H Fair that is going on this week, but it would be nice to have a movie theater close by on weeks when there are no fairs or festivals to attend. This area has a serious lack of entertainment venues, and because of it, our sales tax dollars flow out of the area.
Some people may say that I am exaggerating the problem, especially when you consider the fact that Orleans County Sales tax receipts have increased in leaps and bounds over the past few years. The increase in sales tax revenue actually proves my point because the revenue has come in large part from sales at Wal-Mart. Before Wal-Mart came to the area, people drove to Brockport or Batavia to shop at their Wal-Marts.
It just makes sense that if we had a movie theater in the area, then people like me, who drive to Middleport to the drive-in or Monroe County for a first run or bargain movie, will spend their money in the county. That may even generate enough sales tax revenue to keep property taxes down or even lower the sales tax rate back down to 7%. A lower sales tax rate would help businesses in the area.
There is another reason why it is important to have some entertainment options in the county, if we don’t then it will likely be more challenging to attract large employers to the area. Hundreds of communities compete for major employers, with all other things being equal; quality of life issues may tip the scale. Does anybody think that in its current state Orleans County wins that battle?
I know that there are many people who are content with the current model, that Orleans County is a nice place to live and not so fun to visit, but if current population trends continue and taxes keep going up, Orleans County is not going to be a nice place for anything.
Whether you are a Batman fan or not, you will undoubtedly love the Dark Knight. The movie has shattered box office records, pulling in around $160 million dollars in its premiere weekend. Sadly, none of that money will make its way through Orleans County because we do not have a single first run movie theater in the county.
As the price of fuel continues to climb higher than Spiderman on a skyscraper, people are looking for economical entertainment close to home. In Orleans County, this becomes a challenge for lovers of first run movies or even those looking for live music, theater, or comedy acts.
I realize that there are some quality events in the county, like the 4-H Fair that is going on this week, but it would be nice to have a movie theater close by on weeks when there are no fairs or festivals to attend. This area has a serious lack of entertainment venues, and because of it, our sales tax dollars flow out of the area.
Some people may say that I am exaggerating the problem, especially when you consider the fact that Orleans County Sales tax receipts have increased in leaps and bounds over the past few years. The increase in sales tax revenue actually proves my point because the revenue has come in large part from sales at Wal-Mart. Before Wal-Mart came to the area, people drove to Brockport or Batavia to shop at their Wal-Marts.
It just makes sense that if we had a movie theater in the area, then people like me, who drive to Middleport to the drive-in or Monroe County for a first run or bargain movie, will spend their money in the county. That may even generate enough sales tax revenue to keep property taxes down or even lower the sales tax rate back down to 7%. A lower sales tax rate would help businesses in the area.
There is another reason why it is important to have some entertainment options in the county, if we don’t then it will likely be more challenging to attract large employers to the area. Hundreds of communities compete for major employers, with all other things being equal; quality of life issues may tip the scale. Does anybody think that in its current state Orleans County wins that battle?
I know that there are many people who are content with the current model, that Orleans County is a nice place to live and not so fun to visit, but if current population trends continue and taxes keep going up, Orleans County is not going to be a nice place for anything.
Thom,
Just look at the Middleport Drive-In. On a Friday night you can go there and the place is packed. And that is less than a mile away from the county line. No kidding.
I don't know if a movie theater would be the answer, but what if we had something like Skateland in Lockport? Worth a try. Could be a big flop. But it also could be a great investment for our community.
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