How are Jehovah's Witnesses a Benefit to the Economy?

None of the local contractors and their employee's benefit from the construction of Kingdom Halls or Assembly Halls. In fact many of these people are approached by jw to contribute materials and supplies "to benefit the community"....

None of the commercial janitorial companies (including jw owned) benefit from Watchtower contracts to clean those buildings.

Most of these Assembly Halls are located within a same day commute there and back. Very few circuits so far away that it requires the attendees to stay in a motel or hotel.

That leaves only one source of economic growth contributed by Jw.. consumption of food. Lets just assume that 2000 jw attend a day's event. Giving them the highest number of those that may visit a true restaurant (not fast food) let's say 25% choose to eat out and actually leave some tips at the table (true economic boon to the waiters) that would amount to approx 500 people eating out at restaurants.

500 x 10.00 average per plate equals $5,000. A restaurants average food cost is somewhere around 45% subtracted from 5,000 totals a true economic boon of around $2700 gross profit. Not included are taxes, rent, and other overhead paid by the restaurants. Total economic growth per year based on two day assemblies toward community is $280,800 all of which only benefit a very minor portion of business community. Food service.

Put this into perspective the average community population where these Assembly Halls are built have around 300,000 to 500,000 or more in population. The numbers show that not even one (1) dollar of benefit per year per local resident.

Now take into consideration the drain on community resources like wear and tear on roads, and other public utilities, you have eaten up all the food service gains even half of the attendees went out to a restaurant.

Ps Mc Donalds and other food chain stores majority profits go to some corporate structure out of the local area, so only true independent 'food service' establishments gain from having a Assembly Hall in their community.

If I were a running a city government I would be hard pressed to find a good return on investment in allowing the Watchtower any access to property.

No tax revenues are generated because of the Watchtower's tax exempt policies.

Having read the article in the link, I think the key issue is that the Industrial Park is a Commercial Centre and is designed to attract local jobs and bring in tax revenues. Jehovah's Witnesses will not be employing anybody, since all their workers are volunteers. So they won't be bringing any jobs to the area. And, as has already been pointed out, they don't pay tax.

It's hard to imagine how the local community will derive any economic benefit from the Witnesses building an assembly hall. When I was a Witness, we had our own "in-house" catering arrangements and we stayed with other Witnesses. We certainly couldn't have afforded to stay in any hotels. But perhaps Witnesses are more affluent these days and the hotels and restaurants in the town will be full on those days when an assembly takes place. Does anyone know how many days per year the building would be used for assemblies?

The very reason a city/town builds these Industrial Parks is to attract Business. They generally put in the roadway, drainage, traffic control, sewage infrastructure to attract a revenue paying business that will provide jobs providing an economic boost to the city/town's bottom line. This does not work out with a non-taxable entities such as the Watchtower. History has been the teacher for these city/towns with any religious entity, church, school or college that carries the religious tax status. IT does not increase the revenue needed for regular infrastructure. It may put some money in someones pockets but very little makes it into tax roles. The burden of the lack of local taxes coming in from a non-taxable entity falls squarely on it's citizens backs. In short they are not going to be a benefit of the local economy but an actual drain on the local economy. If this organization would be so deceptive in the first place they could possibly build somewhere in this little town.

This is interesting:

#1 - if they approve a religious facility then it opens the door or sets a precedent for all religious organizations to be able to build even if it means itself will not generate jobs or tax revenue. In Texas, there are tons of mega churches that take up prime land that is on major highways. How would you feel if your church could not be built where you know it would be the best location for your members?

#2 - the lot has been vacant for decades when a warehouse deal fell through.

"About a decade ago, the site was supposed to become home to a warehouse for the gap ... but that fell through. Now, however, there's another gap ... a gap between those who want the Jehovah's Witnesses hall there ... and those who do not." http://www.local12.com/news/local/story/Debate-Ove...

So there is no other candidate lined up.

#3 - there will be spending on construction, food and hotel for the workers. When the assembly hall is completed, there are year round conventions so there will be a constant flow of people needing hotels, food, and gas. To meet the demand, those businesses will need to hire people. Also, we have areas traveling to other states that need to go to these conventions for lack of an assembly hall in their area.

I am compelled to answer an apostate for the sake of the public. Just having Jehovah's clean Witnesses in the city is quite enough on it's own. As for taxes. WE are getting back millions in taxes that we did not even have to pay but did. Every religious freedom that the churches have has come from JW's going to court and winning for them. Even the Scouts can go door to door with their little cookies because of US! People benefit from them all and yet persecute the hand that fed them. JW clean up the town and streets when they come. Every City has ask them to come back and said it was joy to see such a people come to their City. So I know you know because you used to have a great standing before Jehovah! But now he has handed you back over to SAtan to have and to do with whatever he wants. HEHAHEHAHAG You old apostate! Get away from here. You worker of lawlessness.

The main effect of such building is for the economy of what thousands of visitors spend while they are there. Each of those Assembly Halls are busy most weeks of the year. We no longer have those multi-thousand attendance Assemblies anymore due to the strain it would put on any city. 55,000 to 120,000 attendance is simply not possible on a regular basis for any city anymore.

But every year, the cities we have conventions in look forward to our visits for the boost to the local economy.

In addition, on a daily basis, we all work secular jobs. The highest form of loss a business faces is employee theft. Far bigger than shoplifting or anything else. Jehovah's Witnesses are widely known for adherence to Bible principles. They are honest, friendly and do their jobs to the best of their ability. Not only does this reduce theft, but likely adds years to an employer's life. They can sleep peacefully at night, not worrying that the employees are stealing them blind.

Those are only two benefits we give to the economy that I have time for.

Here is a quote from someone who commented on the article from that website you posted:

"In 30 years of no property taxes they typically will sell the property to commercial interest reaping enormous profit."

What did Jesus say about worldly possessions? Matthew 6:24 proclaims, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."Matthew 6:19-20, Matthew 19:21,Luke 12:21, Luke 18:22

Need I say more?

Well JWs help the local economy in the same way other conventions do. Hotels, restaurants, shops, etc etc.

The issue, as the person above me says, is the type of zoning that was established for that area, which is not compatible with what the JWs bring to the table.

No, there must be something wrong here as JW's want to be no part of this world as they claim Christ was meaning and therefore they would not be interested in either going to court or supporting the economic growth of an area.

Hang on, could they be lying?

What is your objection is Witnesses building an Assembly Hall in that area? Do you honestly feel that the people who will be coming to that place will NOT BE EATING, in the area, that they will simply drive in and drive out?

What the heck is wrong with Ohio? ...Remember this?

*

UNITED STATES: On June 17, 2002, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered a historic decision in Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of Stratton. This case arose from the village’s insistence that Jehovah’s Witnesses obtain a permit from the mayor before engaging in their door-to-door ministry. The Court stated: “[Jehovah’s Witnesses] explained at trial that they did not apply for a permit because they derive their authority to preach from Scripture. [The Witnesses said:] ‘For us to seek a permit from a rear to preach we feel would almost be an insult to God.’” In striking down the ordinance, the Court held that the permit ordinance “is offensive—not only to the values protected by the First Amendment, but to the very notion of a free society—that in the context of everyday public discourse a citizen must first inform the government of her desire to speak to her neighbors and then obtain a permit to do so.” The Court further stated: “Even if the issuance of permits by the mayor’s office is a ministerial task that is performed promptly and at no cost to the applicant, a law requiring a permit to engage in such speech constitutes a dramatic departure from our national heritage and constitutional tradition.”

The Court also commented favorably on the tremendous effect that Jehovah’s Witnesses have had in establishing U.S. constitutional law. The Court said: “For over 50 years, the Court has invalidated restrictions on door-to-door canvassing and pamphleteering. It is more than historical accident that most of these cases involved First Amendment challenges brought by Jehovah’s Witnesses, because door-to-door canvassing is mandated by their religion.” As the Court noted, these “cases demonstrate that efforts of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to resist speech regulation have not been a struggle for their rights alone.”

Land of the Free remember?

*Did you read your " question " which said "is this another situation like their "charity"... that line right there told me a lot about you..My answer stands.