Wichita Protest Petition Effort to Launch Friday

October 04, 2011

WICHITA, KAN. – The Wichita chapter of the grassroots group Americans for Prosperity this week will officially launch its protest petition effort to overturn part of the incentive package approved for a boutique hotel to be developed in downtown Wichita.

Last month, the Wichita City Council approved a large incentive package for the hotel, including a proposal to refund 75 percent of the hotel’s guest tax to the hotel for its own use.

“This project essentially allows a private developer to use a special tax for its own purposes, which is not how tax dollars should ever be used,” said AFP-Kansas field director and Wichita resident Susan Estes. “We’ve heard from a number of our activists who oppose this portion of the incentive package, and we believe there are many others in Wichita who feel the same way.”

AFP’s Wichita chapter will collect signatures on a protest petition, and will have 60 days to gather the needed signatures to overturn the guest tax incentive.

The efforts to stop the guest tax incentive kick off this Friday at the Wichita AFP office (151 S. Whittier). Registered voters who are interested in signing the petition may stop by the office between noon and 6:30 p.m. to sign the petition, or learn how they can carry a petition to gather additional signatures of Wichita residents. Hot dogs, chips and soda will also be provided over the lunch hour.

Upon successful completion of the petition, the city council could either vote to rescind the charter ordinance on the guest tax usage or hold an election so Wichita voters can decide on the matter.

Residents will be able to learn more about what AFP is doing to keep taxpayer dollars out of private developer’s coffers and to join our efforts by visiting http://dtwichita.com. To RSVP for the launch, or to learn more about carrying a petition, email infoks@afphq.org.

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