Bar owners bash tax, raise money

Some organizations raise money for charity. Others raise money for scholarships. Friends… Some organizations raise money for charity. Others raise money for scholarships. Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation raises money to combat taxes.

In their biggest event to date, bar owners continued their brawl with Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato’s 10-percent drink tax yesterday at the Church Brew Works in Lawrenceville.

Driven by a loss of money and customers, FACT organized the fundraiser to aid their fight to repeal the controversial tax.

The president of FACT, Sean Casey, was not alone in his efforts.

“This was a group effort. Two-thirds of this event was organized by non-FACT members,” said Casey, who also owns the Church Brew Works. “Tonight is a gathering of people affected by the tax. Here, we can network and go forward as a group.”

Everyone attending paid a $40 entry fee.

One hundred percent of these fees, as well as all additional donations, were put into a large, ice, piggy-bank sculpture with the word “tax” crossed out on its front. Guests participated in an auction and all-you-can-eat food and drinks while listening to local artist Terry Griffith sing his newest song, “The Drink Tax Song.”

“We’re not just going to sit around like Philadelphia did,” said Sarah Fairbanks, who helped organize the event.

This event was not among FACT’s first attempts to protest the tax.

“One hundred thousand signatures have already been collected on the petitions we distributed to bars around the city,” Tom Pastorius, president of Penn Brewery and treasurer of FACT, said.

“We have also collected over $100,000, which we will use to educate bar owners and County Council members about the counterproductiveness of this tax,” he said.

“There are about 2,000 bars in Allegheny County. Our goal tonight is to raise at least $100 from each.”

The money raised yesterday evening will be added to the funds that have already been collected. It will also be used to fund a legal team to contend the tax.

Chris Hall, a lawyer for FACT, said the roll back of the tax is not their only goal.

“The hospitality industry is traditionally ignored and not often in the spotlight,” Hall said.

“Here, we bring the industry together to try to demonstrate how important it is and how much they have been hurt. You know this will be great because it’s the hospitality industry, there’s good food and great beer.”

Bar owners, bartenders and council members attended the event. The public was also urged to join in the festivities. Ralph Marting, who attended with his wife, was among them.

“The whole problem revolves around bailing out the Port Authority,” Marting said.

“But it is mismanaged to begin with. They have cut down so much on routes and times, and they really just need better management.”

In a call to solidarity from all fronts, the event brought together Democrats, Republicans and people of all backgrounds to protest what FACT believed was unfair to the county.

“We think the tax is ill-conceived, unfair, and we think it’s illegal,” Pastorius said.

FACT members do not intend to give up until the tax is repealed. Casey in particular wants to make sure their message is heard.

“Our group is here, and we will persevere,” Casey said, “and we will ride it out and repeal it.”