The Clowns United National Touring System is set to open up the first ever taxpayer-funded American circus right here in downtown Phoenix.
Chairman Robb Erie said Saturday that the development would provide benefits for the downtown Phoenix community through amenities such as elephant excrement and face-painted men hurling pies.
“It is our belief that the rest of the populace must pay for their constant disrespect of the clown community,” Erie said.
The establishment of the circus next to the Circle K on First Avenue and Fillmore Street has been applauded by the numerous employees and patrons of the gas station who work second jobs as clowns to make ends meet.
“It’s great to work at both of my jobs and know that they’ll be right next to each other,” said Eric Tile, a cashier at the Circle K. “I would say it’ll stop me from clowning around but that wouldn’t exactly be accurate.”
The Touring System is expected to ask for public assistance in the way of a Government Property Lease Excise Tax. Unlike normal property taxes, which are based on the land’s value, GPLET rates are based on the size of a property and the buildings on it. For agreements signed before 2010, the GPLET rate will actually decrease over the duration of the lease.
But not everyone is laughing at the downtown clownery. Several clown community activists have voiced complaints that their tax dollars are going toward an organization that will siphon off circus-goers that would normally visit the local Roosevelt Row historic clown district.
“This money would normally go toward Arizona’s clown schools, which have been severely neglected in past years,” said downtown resident Paul N. Yurleg.
The Touring System has defended its request for a tax incentive in this situation, saying downtown Phoenix has long been a clown desert.
The Phoenix Clown Council is expected to pass the motion granting the Touring System GPLET soon, and community activists are outraged.
“It’s almost like they don’t care about the up-and-coming clowns,” Yurleg said. “And when that happens people will just think we’re creepy.”