Marketplace Fairness Act Passes Senate
After many years of campaigning by ICSC and other trade organizations, the U.S. Senate voted 69 to 27 yesterday to approve S. 743, “The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013,” moving the legislation one step closer to enactment. As I mentioned in my recent President’s Message, the passage of this bill is critical to the Commercial Real Estate industry, brick-and-mortar retailers and perhaps more importantly, to our State.
There is more work to be done before the Marketplace Fairness Act can become law. Now it must be approved by the House of Representatives, so there will be more challenges ahead and much education that needs to take place. I encourage you to contact your Representative today!
Marty Mayer selected for Young Leadership Council’s 2013 Role Model Class
Marty Mayer, President & CEO of Stirling Properties, is among 25 New Orleanians recently selected by Young Leadership Council (YLC) for their 2013 Role Model class. YLC, a non-profit civic organization that develops leadership skills through community projects, will honor each Role Model at their 27th Annual YLC Role Model Gala.
Every year, a committee composed of members of the YLC Board of Directors and Role Models from previous years selects 25 members of the New Orleans community who serve as outstanding examples for the young talent that YLC represents. Honorees distinguish themselves by promoting a positive attitude and an unyielding desire to enhance the quality of life in the New Orleans region, striving to unite the community in collaborative efforts for its future prosperity, serving as exemplary role models to young talent, and making significant contributions in their specific fields of endeavor.
“For over 26 years, we have identified leaders in our community who represent the qualities that YLC works hard to promote in our members. This year’s honorees are no exception,” said Richard Pavlick, 2013 YLC Board President. “We are excited to honor this group of outstanding individuals at this year’s Role Model Awards Gala.”
Other members of the 2013 Role Model class include:
- Charlotte A. Bollinger, Bollinger Shipyards, Inc.
- Marsha A. Boudy, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation
- Nannette Jolivet Brown, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- John M. Duck, Adams and Reese LLP
- Ben Hales, New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans
- Juli Miller Hart, Projects With Purpose
- Paul Hoolahan, Sugar Bowl
- Janet R. Howard, Bureau of Governmental Research
- Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans
- John Landrum, Intralox LLC
- Patricia LeBlanc, LeBlanc Butler LLC
- Peggy Mendoza, City Year New Orleans
- Virginia Miller, Beuerman Miller Fitzgerald
- Kenneth Polite, Liskow & Lewis
- Ann Rabin, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans
- Dorothy “Dottie” Reese, DMM & Associates, LLC
- Stephen Romig, LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors
- Stephen Rosenthal, Strategic Comp
- G. Albert Ruesga, PhD, Greater New Orleans Foundation
- Yaye Sarr, D.D.S., Smiles To Geaux
- Chris Schultz, Launch Pad & Flatstack
- Pamela Senatore, Generation Louisiana LLC
- Ann Tuennerman, Tales of the Cocktail
- Warner Williams, Chevron
About Young Leadership Council
The Young Leadership Council is a non-profit, non-partisan civic organization created to develop leadership through community projects. Through volunteer-created community projects, the YLC recruits and retains young professionals to New Orleans, creating a positive impact on the quality of life in the region. The oldest, independent YPO (young professionals’ organization) in the country, the YLC has raised more than $25 million to support community projects in and around the New Orleans area since 1986.President’s Message: Wouldn’t it be nice if all taxes were “voluntary”?
Typically, I steer clear of any politically-charged issue in my President’s Messages, but there is a bill currently pending in the Senate that falls into the “just plain common sense” category. The Marketplace Fairness Act deals with the problem of uncollected sales taxes from the sales of internet retailers that do not have a physical presence in the state in which the consumer makes the purchase. In my opinion, the loophole is the unintended consequence of a law which was passed over two decades ago…long before the impact of technology and internet sales.
The result today – $23 BILLION in uncollected sales tax revenue.
After a very lengthy campaign of a coalition of trade organizations led by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Senate is now taking up the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013. The passage of this bill is critical to the Commercial Real Estate industry, brick-and-mortar retailers and perhaps most importantly, to our State. As an ICSC Trustee, I want to highlight some important information about this bill:
It levels the playing field for ALL retailers.
Local brick-and-mortar retailers have long been put at a tremendous disadvantage by an antiquated sales tax framework that clearly benefits online retailers. The current sales tax system is threatening our community retailers, which serve as the backbone of our local economies.
Courtesy of ICSC. Click to learn more.
It protects small online businesses.
The law exempts firms with less than $1 million in sales from collecting sales taxes, which would exempt 99% of all sellers and over 40% of all online retailers. It also requires states to streamline the collection process so it is not an undue burden.
It is NOT a new tax.
Sales tax on online purchases is not new; it’s already due and currently should be self-reported by the consumer. 98.6% of us don’t report…should we all go to jail? The Marketplace Fairness Act removes the burden on consumers by requiring online and catalog sellers to collect sales tax at time of purchase.
It promotes a more stable & efficient revenue stream for state & local governments to pay for projects and services.
Without the bill, states may have to raise other taxes for their in-state residents and businesses. Estimates of lost sales taxes in Louisiana alone due to internet sales range from $400 million to $800 million…and this figure will only grow exponentially with current demographic trends. This is a significant hole for a state with a $1.3 billion deficit to fill.
Courtesy of ICSC. Click to learn more.
This bipartisan legislation provides the federal solution necessary to close the online sales tax loophole and level the playing field for all retailers. The Marketplace Fairness Act is a simpler, more evenhanded and efficient sales tax system that will bring numerous benefits to our economy. This is a critical issue that must be dealt with sometime. If not, we are simply kicking the can down the road. To me, it is just common sense.
Read More:
Yes, It’s Time for an Internet Sales Tax
5 Things You Should Know About the Long Overdue Online Sales Tax Bill
Internet sales tax long overdue: Our view
VIDEO: 2012 Stirling Highlights
2012 was a great year at Stirling Properties! Check out our favorite highlights of the year, from fun company outings to the 3 million square feet of brokerage deals completed. We’re looking forward to what 2013 will bring!
Stirling Properties Celebrates Team Members at Annual Stirling Honors Event
On Friday, March 15, Stirling Properties recognized employees and commercial agents at the company’s annual Stirling Honors meeting and recognition luncheon at Tchefuncta Country Club in Covington. Along with the introduction of Stirling’s newly-formed Stewardship Committee, the 610 Stompers performed and Brett Patron, Executive Director of the 610 Stompers, discussed their journey as an entertainment group to a 501 (c) (3) charity. Stirling Properties’ Commercial Brokerage Division presented the award for Top Commercial Agent and Most Transactions to Rhonda Sharkawy, Senior Retail Leasing and Development Executive in the New Orleans office. Scott Macdonald, Sales and Leasing Executive in the Baton Rouge office, received the award for Most Improved, for having the highest production level improvement over the previous year. Other award recipients received recognition for production levels based on individual 2012 production achievements. Also recognized were:
- Ruby Award 2012:
Rhonda Sharkawy – New Orleans Office
- Emerald Award 2012:
Gaines Seaman – Metairie Office
Scott Macdonald – Baton Rouge Office
- Diamond Award 2012:
Ryan Lang – New Orleans Office
Joe Kramer – Covington Office
- Platinum Award 2012:
Ryan Pecot – Lafayette Office
Will Barrois – Covington Office
- Gold Award 2012:
Charles Cornay – Lafayette Office
Beezie Landry – Covington Office
Lee de la Houssaye – Covington Office
- Silver Award 2012:
Anne Dixon – Shreveport Office
Rick Skelding – New Orleans Office
- Bronze Award 2012:
Dottie Tarleton – Baton Rouge Office
Joe Gardner – New Orleans Office
John Arthurs – New Orleans Office
Mike Immel – Lafayette Office
Roger Bajon – Covington Office
Beth Cristina – New Orleans Office
Stirling Properties also recognized employees and agents who achieved special anniversaries with the company. Awards were given to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year milestones.
- 30 Years: Grady Brame, Executive Vice President – Covington Office
- 25 Years: Ben Hocke, Senior Project Manager – New Orleans Office
- 20 Years: Henry Holmes, Joseph Lee and Harold Staub, Engineers – New Orleans Office
For more information on how to donate to or request an appearance from the 610 Stompers, visit www.610Stompers.com.
President’s Message: Lucky 13!
As we embark upon a new year – 2013 (lucky 13!), I look back in amazement at how much our Stirling team has accomplished over the last twelve months.
We started the year with the acquisition of Avant Properties in Shreveport, Louisiana and capped it off with our recently announced joint venture development deal with CBL Properties of the Fremaux Town Center in Slidell, Louisiana.
In between those two milestone bookends, consider the following list of other accomplishments:
- The kickoff of Mid-City Market in New Orleans.
- The historic redevelopment of the American Legion Building into a state of the art Walgreens Drug Store on Magazine Street in New Orleans.
- The opening of The Fresh Market on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.
- The $24 million acquisition of Tiger Manor Apartments in Baton Rouge.
- The securing of two new Walgreens development deals in Terrytown & Gulfport.
- The opening of Sam’s Club at River Chase in Covington.
- The successful closing of over $100 million in financing.
- The increase of over 16% of our commercial brokerage volume.
And while all of this was happening, we were also able to implement a new, state-of-the-art accounting software, introduce a brand new corporate website and complete a major restructuring of the company.
These accomplishments are all tributes to the outstanding team of professionals at Stirling Properties. We are now setting our sights on an outstanding new year and plan on making some additional major announcements soon. 2013 will certainly be a banner year – and lucky too.
