I have to say that the way Mayor Sal Panto has handled the commuter tax debate is very disappointing. It's as though he borrowed Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski's playbook. Easton Eccentric quotes him as saying things like this:
“[T]he county takes up a lot of land, but doesn't contribute or pay taxes.”
“The county can continue to threaten to leave (the City of Easton), and I'd say, 'go ahead,'”
“There needs to be some sort of revenue sharing in those lily-white suburbs.”
Why did Panto feel the need to inject race into this debate?
45 comments:
Where is Rep. Simmons? or is he the INVISIBLE MAN!
King Sal of Easton, with his usual high horse rhetoric. Then he wonders why the neighbors of the city never want to work with him.
Now he can go back to having his hand picked Police chief pick fights for him.
Race is, and has always been, a huge part of the cities-suburbs regional tax fairness debate. Panto's right to talk about it. Everyone else is wrong to ignore it.
Sal is and always was a punk. He was teachers union hack before he went corporate and was nearly lynched in Forks, where he's despised. He failed his first time in Easton and is failing again. He recently blamed NY and NJ outsiders for his inability to control more than the four square blocks of his city around the circle. That's code for blaming Blacks and Hispanics. As miserable as he is, he's not a racist. He's worse. He's a political race hustler who points fingers and divides where it suits him. Blacks are at fault for his violent city. Whites are at fault for his poor fiscal management. He plays from the Obama playbook of blame, blame, blame. Just put him on the bridge commission and get him out of people's lives.
Ah, race...when you're losing on the facts (as Geeting often does) you lob racism in there.
When he worked selling homes, this is the way he treated the customers. I was wondering why it took so long for his reputation and character to finally shine forth its ugly head.
And Mr. Geeting, if you ever had to have any dealings with the likes of men and women like these, you would change your tune. Real world situations are nothing like pontificating and supposed situations. Instances like these leave a horrible taste in mouths that one does not forget easily.
Bernie -
Please explain the whole anger at the suburbs thing. First Pawlowski, now Panto.
The suburbs certainly haven't gotten more federal and state money than the cities. They may have spent it better however.
Are they angry out of envy, or is it just that the suburbs are a clear contrast to the poor decisions that have been made in the cities?
Either way, I can't imagine their attitude makes anyone in the suburbs want to work with the cities.
What you white boys don't seem to get is that you owe us just because we're black. just like you owe them jews just because of some over hyped event 70 years ago. I wants to get mime before all those la-tin folk and those pesky asians try to cut in.
Them white boys over in the county just don't understand - they gots to pay for me....
Anohter reason to question Mr. O'Hare's judgement on his political picks. Remeber when Sal Panto was his "number one" pick for county execuitve? Many people know this Sal, the angry, petulent bully that loses his cool at the drop of a hat and blames everyone but himself.
Your batting average on judging people remains unblemished Bernie.
@ 11:34 AM -- Are you that anonymous coward of a challenger to Simmons?
If so, you're a pussy! By hiding!
Yea me calling the kettle black, oops there I go with the racist comment, my bad!
Sal is wrong to brig race into his debate. If he assumes the King Ed approach he's doomed for failure.
Remember the legislation that could not and didn't need to be rewritten or changed?
Commentors, please note: If you don't want to live in the inner city, support the inner city, send your money to the inner city, you are a racist. Geeting said so; it must be true.
callahan will straighten this out when he becomes exec. Panto's silly tax won't matter. Let the layoffs begin............ Predict at least 125 union thugs and 75 management hangers on - right out the door.
So are you and Geeting saying that only one race of people live only in the inner cities and a totally different race live in the suburbs?
3:35, My assessment of Sal is the same ow as it was a month ago. He is a great Mayor and would be a great County Exec. I can disagree with him one one issue without reaching the conclusion that he must therefore be a scum bag. Also, I sign my name to my criticisms, unlike you.
Sal is trying to do the right thing, and I do not question his motives.
Uncle Remus, you only insulted blacks and Jews. You forgot Latinos and people from Jersey.
2:44, This anti-suburb hatred is really troubling to me. I am at a loss to understand, let alone explain, it. Much of it is based on misconceptions. Some of it appears to be jealousy or a resentment. I still don't understand why Sal injected race into a discussion of a commuter tax. If he's playing on white guilt, he should call it a reparation tax.
1:12, When you don't sign your name, your criticisms are pretty much worthless. If you want to attack someone personally, be a man (or lady) and identify yourself.
The suburb bashing thing is appearing now because for the first time in 70-years there is a demographic shift back toward cities and cities are starting to reep some benefits of state policy and flexing some political muscle. This doesn't sit well with the suburban folk who are used to being patted ont he head and told how much better they are for having rich people living in their borders.
And, consequently, the cities might be more willing to speak truth to power . . . like trying to mention the 800-pound gurillia in the room (race) which no one ever seems to want to mention except Geeting who has balls.
When Sal was smayor in his first term everybody in his cabinet had a last name that ened in a-e-i-o-u except possibly for one black guy who was the son-in-law for a panto friend.
8:12 -
Are you saying that certain racial groups can't achieve as well as others?
I find that bigoted and offensive.
Sorry BO. I'll try to do better in the future
It is ironic that a low income or middle class family in a 3rd class city lives in a traditional neighborhood of a core community, however if they live one block outside the City, they are selfish suburbanites.
No, it always ends up with the Progressive Liberal Democrats shamelessly playing the race card.
America IS getting sick and tired of the same old divisive and tiring bullshit.
But, don't listen to me ... just keep on dealin' the PLD's favorite card, Pimp Daddy!!!
What is with you teabaggers. A lot of rage and anger. If your lfe sucks, look to yourself and stop blaming it on others.
What is it with the constant "teabagger" bullshit?
What is it with the constant attempt to piss people off and get under their skin?
My life only sucks when I have to put up with shameless buffoons constantly attempting to play the Race Card.
Doesn't the LGBT Community get sick and tired of the Progressive Liberal Wonderfuls constantly making fun of THEIR Lifestyle practice?
Yeah, keep up with the teabagger bullshit ...
Keep on agitating. Keep on organizing that Community.
Bernie
My comment about lily white in the suburbs had nothing to do with race and individuals who know me know better. My comment had to do with the little regard the suburbs have for socio-economic conditions. How many low-oncome housing developments are in the suburbs? What is the average per household income compared to the city? How many townships roads are maintained by the state? How many homeless shelters are in the suburbs? And the list could go on.
I am, and will continue to eb a strong supporter of townships and boroughs. I am not allowing this issue crearted by county council to tarnish the good relationship I have had with my surrounding neighbors. I was there help try and attractt he arena project to Palmer Township. I was there to support the interchange on Rt. 33 in the effort to create more jobs.
But public pensions are a huge anchor around the necks of local governments -- not just cities. And it needs to be addressed. The state legislature doesn't have the courage to make tough decisions so cities need to use the tools we are provided.
Is the County Council aware that the most recent amendments to Act 44 in 2009 which included the commuter tax was endorsed by their professional organization - the Counties Association of Pennsylvania? Are they aware that they elect their house and senators top the state legislature?
This is a complex and complicated issue as I have stated before. But please don't mistake lilly white as racial. It may have been a poor choice of words but my meaning is that suburbs are
homogeneous:
1.of same kind: having the same kind of constituent elements, or being similar in nature
2.having uniform composition: having a uniform composition or structure
If I offended anyone I apologize.
One more thing to the individual who chooes to bring in my teaching career. Yes I was a member of the teachers association and yes I voted twice against going out on strike which we did while I was a teacher. And the people who post here about teacher tenure are ignorant of what tenure is and isn't.
Teacher tenure law protects teachers from being fired because of their religion, their hair style, their policits, etc. IT DOES NOT PROTECT THEM FROM POOR PERFORMANCE. Unfortunately administrative staff is too busy doing paper work that they have little time to do what they were intended to do -- supervise and evaluate teacher performance. You can't do that twice a year.
I am all for paying GOOD teachers GOOD wages.
As for the burbs versus the cities in federal and state money. May I remind you that the suburbs were developed in the after WWII with the hundreds of millions of dollars of interstate money. Many roads are still maintained by the state becasue 100 years ago suburbs didn't have road departments and these roads were state roads as they continue to be. In the townships the state maintains the right of way of their roads but any roads they own in cities they only maintain curb to curb.
Again, I support the suburbs abnd there way of life. I choose to live in a city. That is my choice. My only point is that our urban cores are shouldering mor eof the burden without the ability to grow. Eventually the suburbs will be there as well and the only new money they will have will be from raising taxes. Un fortunately cities and most Boroughs are ahead on the timeline. It must be addressed on the state level.
Speaking of public housing, too ofter these projects get trashed and have to be torn down and rebuilt with tax dollars.How did these housing projects get in this condition?Answer:the people who live in them. And who lives in them?
Sal -
How many low income housing developments and average income is irrelevant. We all know what the answer is in the cities.
The question is why do the cities keep taking the grants that only attract more of the same? How much poverty can Easton (or any Valley city) absorb?
I'm constantly amazed by the call for more affordable housing in Valley cities when most of what is there is affordable housing. Yet the same programs and groups get funded year after year.
Imagine the bewilderment of the suburbs as to why the city's are upset that the same failed policies aren't being pursued in the burbs.
Uncle Remus, You're getting better, but you still missed a few. Women, Asians, and the biggie - Muslims. But you're getting so good at insulting everyone that nobody will be able to call you a bigot.
Did Uncle Remus mention pedophiles?
He wouldn't have to. That's a given, isn't it?
Bernie,
I'll work on it.
But not women. I love all women.
Well, except for fat or ugly ones that wear spandex. Gross me out!!!
And supposed nurses from west easton that wear spiked heels.
And porkchop women. They have really bad tempers and go fat on you after 40.
Anon 11:26,
Are you feeling left out?
Sal; I don't think anyone believes you not stuck between a rock and hard place because of the pension problem. I think they have a problem as to where your trying to get the revenue to solve that problem. I think Stofa was right when he said increasing that tax would be easier to accept if the funds were to be used for public purposes such as road repairs, etc. Perhaps you need to cut staff or people that these pensions are for before you resort to that tax. I really think your going to lose more in the end then you'll gain when the county moves some of their offices as well as other business that will be hurt. These are just my thought but i really7 think you need to exhaust all other means before considering this tax.
Hey O'Hare why aren't ou attacking Stoffa for cutting valuable Human Services positions. You attacked Reibman for it. Double stamndard at work again?
Anon coward 6:38,
Because we have finally learned that we need to quit feeding and supplementing chinks, blacks, pork chops/other dirty and contaminated latinos,rag heads,slope heads, pregnant teens, druggies and alcoholics.
After all we need to allocate more monies for the the supposedly suppressed jews (still bitching after 70 years).
Also seeing that the queer population is growing we need more lobotomies to turn the tide of these degenerates.
Join the cause and vote for spading and neutering all non-whites. Then and only then can we be pure in our hearts and our lives. Remember the one and only truth -
IF YOU AIN'T WHITE YOU AIN'T RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
I belatedly became aware of this post, and having been both at the meeting where the statement was made as well as the source of it being used here: At the time, I never took the quote as Mayor Panto invoking race in this matter. While the choice of words "lily-white" might be justifiably confusing in hindsight, at the time, I took him to mean "those smug, self-entitled folk over there", the kind that wants benefits without paying for them because somehow they're just better.
Tonight at the public hearing for the commuter tax, Panto clarified again that he didn't feel this is a race issue, and said a better term to have used would have been "homogeneous."
The rest of what happened tonight during the hearing, I'll have up on eastoneccentric.blogspot.com by about 5 a.m.
Yes, Mayor Panto did qualify his comment here, and offered an apology to anyone offended. I accept that, and appreciate your own perspective as the source. I look forward to your account of tonight's meeting. I know that Stoffa was considering making a statement.
Uncle Remus, You are really getting good at being a bigot.
6:38, Stoffa is dealing with a state budget cut, which is not his doing. Reibman cut positions to balance his own budget. It had nothing to do with the state.
Thank you!!!!!!
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