For those who think aesthetics is just silliness – keep in mind the case of Rockport. Let’s face it, there is nothing to do in Rockport and off tourist season it’s even bleaker. But they do have a knock-your-socks-off rocky coastline and magnificent ocean views. That explains the presence of 51 places of lodging – located in a town with just a tiny handful of activities and restaurants. All those visitors doing what? How long can you stare at an ocean horizon or gawk at Motif #1?
Now compare that with Newburyport – lots to do, a bushel full of great restaurants AND great aesthetics but a tiny handful of lodgings and no major hotel. We should have lodging provisions coming out of our ears! Overnight facilities means multi-day visitors and a more engaged money-spending customer base.
Thus, we should encourage more bed & breakfast facilities whenever we can. With no lodging tax, we should become a mecca for overnight accommodations.
Alan and Lucinda Cathcart at 2 Vernon Court are attempting to be the first of many pilgrims on what should be a continuously growing number of applicants.
They will be appearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals on December 13th, 7:15 to receive a permit for operating a bed & breakfast.
The Chamber should be lending their support, the City aught to champion them.
We all have a vested interest – Our City needs more visitors and especially multi-day visitors!
-P. Preservationist
www.ppreservationist.com
P. Preservationist 
“With no lodging tax, we should become a mecca for overnight accommodations.”
Untrue. There is a 5.7% state occupancy tax and a 4% local occupancy tax.
So Councilor – what was all that talk a while back in city council about adding a lodging tax – of which they turned down – redundancy? So where is this 4% local tax going to?
Your memory is hazy. You refer to a proposal filed by Councilor Cameron to increase the local occupancy tax. The majority voted to keep it the same — at 4 percent.
So, this reinforces even better my argument! Let’s get more lodging in the city. It also complies with the principle, “tax levies that actually benefit the city.”
Let’s pack ’em in.