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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, April 30, 2012

NIZ No longer "Insider Baseball" Issue

When I was discussing this matter with some state Reps a few months ago, several told me nobody really cares about the NIZ. But that has changed. Now they are being cornered by constituents and local officials, upset with the way this has been handled.

Over the weekend, a friend overheard some women visiting an Allentown nursing home unexpectedly begin a spirited discussion about - the NIZ!

Two of the women stated that they lived in Bethlehem. The others were from various communities. The gist of their conversation was that they opposed the "tax grab," and that if Allentown wanted to build an arena, "they should use their own money." They applauded the whole fight by the suburban municipalities.

He didn't catch them saying anything bad about Mayor Pawlowski, or even Allentown. Their feelings were that if Allentown wanted to improve itself, it should be done with Allentown's money, not theirs. They then left the dining room and went off to the hospital floor.

I think it underscores the depth of the anti-NIZ sentiments outside of Allentown - and perhaps inside, too. This is no longer just an "inside baseball" issue.

Then we have this recent Morning Call poll.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

TODAY'S QUESTION: Are the suburbs wrong in jeopardizing the 2013 Phantoms hockey season? (Poll closes at 7 p.m.)
·         YES (483 responses)
7.3%
·         NO (6133 responses)
92.7%
6616 total responses
(Results not scientific)
This poll is closed to voting
If I were Allentown, I would be concerned about the "negatives" here, regardless of the sampling methodology.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please no, don't start basing any information on the stupid mcall poll questions.

Bernie O'Hare said...

6600 responses tell me people are getting interested.

Bill Coker said...

Anyone with one iota of sense would know that if their local municipality's tax receipts are lost to another town, their local taxes are going up. Everyone is interested in this....and pissed off. All these settlement offers are based on figures now and who is working in empty lots? But the taxes are lost for 30 years. How much development and jobs will be lost in that time?

Anonymous said...

It is far from anything close to scientific. Hell O'Hare, you have damned your own poll questions when you didn't like the responses you got.

Most of the people on the Mcall threads and responding are angry teabaggers who vote multiple times.

FutureDowntownArenaAttendee said...

This is a made up story. How can you tell? Well it starts with saying "a friend overheard some women" but then concludes with "I didn't catch them saying". So what is it O'Hare? Your friend heard the story or did you? Next time you make up a story make sure that it is flows. You have once again have been caught. Your creditably has taken a bigger hit.

Anonymous said...

What credibility?? Never had it to lose.

Anonymous said...

Bernie
Those Call surveys--can people can vote over and over.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I presume they can vote over on a daily basis. I would have though construction unions would have made sure they voted FOR this, over and over. I am unaware of any group that would organize a NO effort.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:48, I am unaware of any group that feels so motivated to run this down that they would organize a vote No effort. I am well aware that polls can be manipulated, as you did to me. Here we are talking 6,000 votes. That's a lot of effort.

Bernie O'Hare said...

FDAA, You are as a crazy as batshit. Someone who made up a name, and who may not even be FDAA, accuses me of "making up a story." The sentiment against this tax grab is much stronger than you think.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"What credibility?? Never had it to lose.

2:58 AM"


Yet here you are, at 2:58 AM, hating away. Why bother with someone who has no credibility?

Anonymous said...

I love it when an opponent proves their arguement is wrong with their very own words. Such as calling something a "non-issue". As soon as you say the word, YOU make it an issue. I also like when they say "you are not media". Well then dont get information here and it won't be media.

probablynotattendingbutmight

Mark Baker said...

anon coward 1:48,

your statement is beyond ridiculous.

I pity the bitterness of your life. You must be a very unhappy person.

Anonymous said...

A friend works for one of the Lehigh Valleys largest employers, she told me when they are criticized, the person expressing the unpopular position, is written off as a nut.

I guess they feel they do not have to respond to nuts and that becomes the basis of their discredit to the public as well.

Same strategy with the administration and its cronies.

When ever opinion turns against them, there is always a concerted effort to minimize it's impact through misstatements, name calling, denial and justification.

Arena is a no go and Pawlowski will walk when Allentown goes bankrupt.

Anonymous said...

Big Government should just NOT be in the RISKY business of financing $ 160.0 million dollar PALACES of SPORT.

Period.

Anonymous said...

"Most of the people on the Mcall threads and responding are angry teabaggers who vote multiple times."

Oh so your observations are scientific I bet. If anything the Morning Call poll responders are likely leaning more liberal, it is a left leaning paper. Having walked the SteelStacks and Sands complexes this weekend, It's a shame the arena doesn't go there. What a great site with hotel space, lots of parking, other attractions and convenient access to I-78.

Anonymous said...

You just can't make me buy tickets to the Brooks Brothers Corporate Welfare Project (better known at the Chairman Pawlowski's Palace of Sport).

You just can't make me purchase ridiculously-overpriced Palace of Sport food that Mooch-elle would never approve of, anyway.

And, Future Downtown Arena Attendee's propaganda still sucks!

FOCUS GROUP AND POLL TEST THAT

Anonymous said...

"angry teabaggers"

That sure is a funny way of hawking tickets that cost real money to the $ 160.0 million dollar Palace of Sport ...

Anonymous said...

http://www.waeb.com/pages/guntherspage.html?article=10077995

"ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE ARENA BEING BUILT IN DOWNTOWN ALLENTOWN?"

YES (combined reasons) = 8.43%

NO (combined reasons) = 91.57%

------------------------------

Perhaps the NIZ Cheerleaders can explain THIS ...

... more "angry teabaggers"?

THE BENCHES EMPITED ALONG TIME AGO

Anonymous said...

Most tea-baggers are retired... living on Social Security that the present workers are paying.

They complain that government spends to much...go figure...

Anonymous said...

Bake Marker said..

anon 1:48

You make a valid point and I am intrigued by how people are easily swayed with slanted information.

zoid said...

Bottom line is that this whole thing is and has been a sham from the beginning. King Ed, Pat Browne and JB doing their dirty work behind closed doors, no transparency whatsoever. Now they got caught and are busted and screwed. They are getting what they deserve.

FutureDowntownArenaAttendee said...

Bobby Gunther Walsh listeners are members of the Tea Party. Hence why the other poll wants Allen West to be Romney's running mate. Allen West is a member of the Tea Party caucus and is described as a "Tea Party star"

Crazy Tea Baggers

Anonymous said...

FDAA, your homophobic slurs are revolting. You represent the City, please try to act like it.

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

I haven't seen any formal Tea Party opposition here. Maybe FDAA can provide specific examples.

What I DO see is an overwhelming majority of commenting taxpayers questioning a proposed use of their monies.

What's wrong with that?

zoid said...

FDAA is acting like everyone else involved with the city, they think they can shit all over the lehigh valley and get away with it. That obviously is not happening. They are going down because of their own actions!!

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

I don't see any formal participation or objection from the Tea Party folks here. Maybe FDAA can provide some specific examples for our response.

What I DO see, is an overwhelming majority of posters questioning a proposed use of their monies.

What's wrong with that?

Anonymous said...

Retired, you must submit to the Elites and their greater wisdom. If we just put ourselves in their hands, then all would be right with the world.

Hah!

Anonymous said...

Retired, you must submit to the Elites and their greater wisdom. If we just put ourselves in their hands, then all would be right with the world.

Hah!

Anonymous said...

Did the State rep's and Rep. Candidates answer your question's.

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

Anonymous 4:09 PM-

Sorry, at my age, the only wisdom I rely upon is my own.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Did the State rep's and Rep. Candidates answer your question's."

Nope. A real leadership vacuum.

Anonymous said...

The problem is the teabaggers have only a focused hate of government. They tend to forget the Republican big business corp types like Butz et. al., who are always the winners in these things. Yet somehow they end up blaming a hole in the ground in Allentown on Obama. No wonder no one takes them seriously.

Keep the government away from your medicare there gramps.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,

Your next Story should be
the answer's or non-answer's to your questions from the State rep's
and candidates.

Your right- a leadership vacuum.

Anonymous said...

Retired, Anon 409 here. I was being very sarcastic, we agree on this matter 100%

Anonymous said...

Retired ASD teacher here.

Hey, 4:09!

The sarcasm just came to me after re-reading today. Thanks.

Now that I've "slept it off," I'm no longer confused.

Anonymous said...

Boy there are a lot of hateful people out there if this blog is any indication. First I am not for the NIZ for the obvious reasons. Now about the tea baggers and retirees. Retirees were paying into your mother's, father's and maybe even grandparents retirement. It is their turn. I am a proud tea bagger and your hatefulness towards these people who are certainly people you are related to is just stupid.....I see intolerance, greed, and laziness in your distain for those who worked harder then you ever will and were proud to have a chance to be a decent member of a society that you probably are not.

Anonymous said...

Wow someone who had a job when jobs were everywhere. let me guess you shoveled at the Steel for $20 an hour.

So now old teabagger you let the Business boys take all the jobs to other countries and you still want to cut there taxes.

At least we can watch hockey as we starve to death.

Buy a clue!

Anonymous said...

hopefully this will mark the end of the great Pulpudski's illustrious career as a politician.
back to Chicago with you.