CONTACT: Adam Cirucci
1-610-692-2112

April 20, 2007 WEST CHESTER – State Senator Andy Dinniman will hold a hearing on Wednesday, May 2, to discuss how excessive drinking affects communities such as State College, Bloomsburg and West Chester. The Senate Democratic Policy Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Courtroom No. 1 of the Chester County Courthouse.

The hearing will address the law-enforcement and nuisance-crime issues that are particularly common in college communities. Senator Dinniman said it would also look at what a recent study by the Pennsylvania Economy League had to say about taxes in college towns.

According to the study, homeowners in college towns have a higher local-tax burden than other homeowners because students generally don’t add to local income-tax revenue and because university land isn’t taxed. The study focused on local-government costs in the state-university communities of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Edinborough, Millersville and West Chester.

Dinniman, deputy chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and fellow committee members will also hear from representatives of business and higher education, residents, students and law enforcement. Senator Dinniman has also asked a representative from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to appear.

“I’m looking forward to hearing not only about problems but also about possible solutions,” Dinniman said. “It’s time to get something done. For far too long, public drunkenness has gone unbridled in the downtown district, and residential properties have been vandalized by late night bar-hoppers.

“These problems have been going on for decades,” Dinniman added. “It’s time to come up with a viable, long-term solution for the residents of West Chester and similar communities.”

For more information about the hearing, Senator Dinniman’s office at 610-692-2112 or e-mail andydinniman@pasenate.com.