ridthebid.org

The NoBidMass.com won their State Law suit today putting an end to their 5 year battle with the Northampton BID (NBID). The judge declared the NBID was illegally created and void from the beginning.  NoBidMass still has their Federal Law suit which challenges the constitutionally of the amendment to force all businesses into the BID without the right to Vote.  We Congratulate NoBidMass for their diligence and determination in seeking truth and justice. 

Congratulations to the Westfield Bid Petitioners, Bob Wilcox, Ted Castle and Brad Moir for their hard work in collecting 57% of the signatures to dissolve their Bid.

Tonight the City Council voted to Dissolve the Westfield Bid.  There are now only six Bid's left in Massachusetts: Amherst, Springfield, Hyannis, Northampton,  Downtown Boston, and Taunton. 

One June 5, 2014 the Westfield BID (Business Improvement District) property owners presented a petition to the Westfield City Council to dissolve their BID.  As  many already know, to present a petition 51% of the property owners in the BID district need to sign the petition.  Westfield had 57% of the owners wanting to dissolve their Bid.  Over 20 owners voiced their reasons in support of the petition to dissolve.  Their collective reasons were many:  the Bid is ineffective, expensive, a violation of property owner rights, extra layer of bureaucracy, and why should they pay for services tha

The Attorney Generals office has intervened in the Northampton Business Improvement District (NBID) suit due to the U.S. and Massachusetts Constitutional issues.  From the Plaintiffs motion,  " Essentially, this Court is being asked to declare unconstitutional the effect of one sentence in the statute: "A non-participating owner in the district shall become a participating member on the date of a renewal vote".  G.L. c.40O, s.4.

The Northampton NoBidMass.com has filed two lawsuits against the Northampton BID and The City of Northampton.  Their first state suit filed in 2009 challenges the establishment of the BID.   The second federal suit challenges the constitutionality of of the new amendments approved in 2012 to the legislation forcing everyone in the BID district to become a member.  Changing the status from voluntary to mandatory membership with NO rights given to the opt outs businesses to VOTE to renew the BID.  The Northampton No Bid members have spent over $135,000.00 in attorney fees so far and they are

An update on your current and upcoming tax bills.  As many already know taxes only do one thing, they just keep going up.  Currently for a commercial property located in Hyannis the Town Tax rate is $7.89 per thousand, plus the Fire Rate of $3.18 per thousand and then the BID rate of $3.00 per thousand.

To view the Federal law suit, please click Documents and then click Complaint.  We should hear from the BID by July 21, 2013.  We will keep you updated.

Christine Carey has filed a Federal Law Suit against the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District that challenges the BID amendment that imposes mandatory membership in the Hyannis BID.   Christine Carey is a business owner in the BID district.  The Hyannis BID was est. in 1999 by approval of the Town Council.  New amendments in 2012 changed the voluntary membership into a mandatory membership.

I attended the Opt Out Meeting held by Alan Scheinman and W. Michael Ryan in Northhampton, Mass.

As of Friday 30% of Main Street business owners have signed the Petition to dissolve the BID.  Your signed Petition will be kept completely CONFIDENTIAL until at least 51% of the property owners have signed on, and at that time it will be presented to the Town Counsel for the dissolution of the BID.  Each and every signature is important to reaching our goal to dissolve the BID.  You can download and print a Petition under documents and mail it to:  Joe Eaton, c/o Hyannis Inn Motel, 473 Main St. Hyannis, MA 02601.  Thanks for your continued support.  RidtheBid.org