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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, April 05, 2013

Waldron & Melnick: Honesty v. Politics

Steve Melnick
Bethlehem City Council candidate Adam Waldron was at the Willie Reynolds new conference earlier this week. He cheered and clapped as the Mayoral candidate made his points in freezing cold weather. But he played dodgeball with me when I asked him point blank whether he supports Reynolds.

"I support what he's saying," he evaded repeatedly.

Fast forward to the Bob Donchez news conference yesterday. City Council candidate Steve Melnick was there, and readily acknowledged that he supports Bob.

Instead of giving me a political answer, Melnick gave me the truth.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

Seriously people. All you folks who attack the Rev. Martinez' moustache, are hypocrites if you don't say anyhting about this guys 1980 porn star stache!

Anonymous said...

245 makes an excellent point.

moustache wars

Mark Baker said...

no faith in melnick. was dumped by the city years ago and more recently by lvdc.

if his idea of progress is booby d then i understand why he keeps getting canned

Anonymous said...

Why is melnick always smiling? Is he the joker? I never know if he is laughing at me or if he genuinely likes what I am saying to him?

Melnick is on donchez's committee of course he is supporting Donchez. Waldron is not on Reynolds committee and I doubt he is playing politics, he probably told you an honest response. I heard through grapevines Waldron is close to some Leeson family members, and jay lee son is supporting Donchez.

John Blankstein said...

Melnick has been a government and quasi-government functionary for over 3 decades. Waldron has been in politics for about 3 months. He deserves a chance to roll out his own agenda and find his own voice for a while. Unlike Melnick he got in this race on his own without help and endorsement from a mayoral candidate. I'd love to see Waldron endorse Reynolds and there's a long way til primary day but I dont think its the most important thing for him and I find him to be an honest and upfront guy.

Anonymous said...

Who cares? And why do you Bernie? Just because one council candidate supports a mayor candidate does mean that everyone needs to pick sides. This is not a story. I am interested in the Donchez negative mailer. It seems like a couple of moths ago he was the front runner for mayor. Now he plays a desperate move so far from the primary. He better hope voters forget get this piece or he is in trouble come Election Day.

Mark Baker said...

7:34,

Donchez just showing his true colors

Anonymous said...

Anyone who knows Melnik knows what a joke he is. Don Cunningham dumped him twice because he was incompetent.

Anonymous said...

Newman!

Mark Baker said...

7:59,

BINGO!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Cunningham pushed him out of BEDCO and Melnick then went to LVEDC. When Cunningham became County Exec in Lehigh County he then dumped him again.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, I'm not sure how to check into the records of this but ask Melnick about being fired in Phillipsburg for stealing gasoline from his employer.

Bernie O'Hare said...

It was pretty obvious to me that Waldron supports Willie. who else would show up at a 4 PM news conference, freeze their ass off and clap every time Willie paused? So why be cagey? Why not just be honest and admit he supports Willie? I was not impressed that Waldron, darling of the young urbanistas, is unable to answer a simple question. What's gonna' happen when the questions get a bt harder?

For someone who has been in politics only 3 months, he should have been a bit more up front. I was disappointed.

Melnick, object of anonymous venom, just told the truth. He is being hammered for being honest.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Melnick has been a government and quasi-government functionary for over 3 decades. Waldron has been in politics for about 3 months"

This is precisely why I would have expect Waldron to be up front and Melnick to be cagey.

It is a small point.

Anonymous said...

"Young Urbanistas" is this a dig at Jon Geeting and his ilk? You really are jealous his success and following, get over it.

Bernie O'Hare said...

In response to the anonymous claims that Melnick was dumped by Cunningham, let's be honest. Steve took advantage of an early retirement option under Cunningham so he could take the job at LVEDC. He retired near the end of December and began employment with LVEDC a few days later. He left to take that LVEDC job. You're certainly entitled to dislike the guy, but tell the truth.

Anonymous said...

No Bernie, Melnick is being hammered for his history. It has nothing to do with his support of Donchez.

Bernie O'Hare said...

9:33, Is that supposed to be an insult? It is no dig. He prefers more density and identifies with urban issues. He is part of a group I like to call the young urbanistas. They have rallied behind candidates like Willie and Waldron. Geeting actually places Waldron at the top of his list of City Council candidates.

I was unaware that being identified with urban issues is an attack. Had I wanted to attack Geeting, it would be much more clear. You would not have to ask.

Waldron is a favorite among the young urbanistas, n'est pas? So I expected him to be a bit more up front than he was on Tuesday.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, Take five minutes out of your day and call Don Cunningham and ask him off the record what happened with Melnick. Melnick was known as someone who constantly screwed up and wasn't working. To say Melnick took a "early retirement" is laughable. He was pushed out not once but twice by Cunningham. Check it out.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I spoke with someone who worked with Melnick in Bethlehem and knows the circumstances of his departure. I am quite comfortable with what I have written and am not anonymous

Anonymous said...

Ask Cunningham! Do your job and follow up with Melnick's boss and hear it first hand. Then ask Melnick the question, "What happened and why did you leave LVEDC as soon as Cunningham came on board?
Anyone who knows the situation knows the truth, it's your job to print the facts, not to reiterate what Melnick tells you.

Anonymous said...

melnick is a tool. he is pathetic, lazy and clueless.

Anonymous said...

Stealing gasoline...LOL perfect, another politician for ya!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Don't be so quick to trust what you read in an anonymous comment.

Anonymous said...

Ask Melnick if it's true!

Anonymous said...

Melnick's mustache is good but it is not on RMM's level

Bernie O'Hare said...

How about if I were to anonymously replace Melnick's name with Waldron's name, make wild accusations, and then anonymously add, "ask Waldron if it is true"? Would that be fair? You know this, which is why you won't sign your name.

In my own experience, and that is all I can go by, I saw evidence of honesty in Melnick. Waldron played games when he could have been honest. It's a small point, but there it is.

Anonymous said...

LVEDC should be fired. What a worthless organization.

Anonymous said...

Since when is asking someone running for political office if they stole gasoline from a employer and got fired for it not fair or allowed?
Let him answer the question to you personally Bernie!!!!

Anonymous said...

Honesty and Melnick in the same sentence.....that is funny! I can't believe Donchez is even affiliated with him.

Mark Baker said...

booby d is desperate to be affiliated with anyone

Anonymous said...

11:56 I agree. Ask the question and let him answer and then let the facts come out.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, you have a big time scoop and could break it before the papers do, if you just did a little homework and looked into it.

Anonymous said...

Someone has to ask Donchez (Mr. Law enforcement) and get him on the record, if he supports Melnick, before the truth comes out on the gasoline issue!

Anonymous said...

I have friends in Pburg who just told me it's legit. Wow!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Why is it that not one of you is willing to identify yourself and accept responsibility for what is likely a baseless accusation?

Anonymous said...

I don't know Waldron at all but I do know for a fact that the story about Cunningham pushing Melnick out of two different jobs for incompetence is dead on.

Anonymous said...

Bernie, isn't that your job as a reporter/blogger to find the truth and report it before it's to late and after the election? Ask Melnick the question? How hard is that? Then when he answers we can find out the facts and prove the answer!

Bernie O'Hare said...

How hard is it to take responsibility for your words? You don't need to tell me what my obligations are as a bottom-feeding blogger, but someone needs to tell you what yours are as a human being.

Anonymous said...

Gasoline, gasoline, gasoline! Did you take the gasoline?

Anonymous said...

Bernie, I kind of agree with 2:25. What's the harm in asking him if it's true or not.

Anonymous said...

anon 2:25 Take a few moments away from your computer, get off of your ass and show up at one of the debates being held for Bethlehem City Council and ask Melnick yourself. That can be your job as a citizen.

Anonymous said...

I hear Cunningham is the moderator for the May 2nd debate at Moravian College. That could be akward for Melnick if true.

Bernie O'Hare said...

All of these anonymous attacks are quite sad. It is impossible to prove a negative.

I have spoken to Melnick. First, he was never fired by Cunningham from City Hall. As explained, he took an early retirement to work at LVEDC. Second, he was never fired by LVEDC. In fact, after he left, he was brought back as a consultant for three months. Third, the supposed gasoline theft relates to a job for P-burg in the late 70s or early 80s. The town was under investigation by the FBI, and Melnick was asked to deliver records to the FBI in Pasaic or some such town. No municipal vehicle was available so he used his own, and filled it with gas under the auspices of the Director of Public Works and was provided a signed receipt. A year later, that was the basis for eliminating him when someone lost an election and room had to be made for that person's people. There was ever any theft. There were never any charges, although he was fired for political reasons.

I would like to know who is responsible for these anonymous accusations. Which candidate? Those are the people we don't need in office. It is one thing to send out a mailer pointing out something that Willie said and taking a bit of a cheap shot. But defamation is another thing. The fact that not one of you can identify yourself speaks volumes.

The real story here is who is responsible for this slime. I can guarantee you I will do my best to find out. Whoever it is has made an enemy, not of Melnick, but of me.

Anonymous said...

Bernie this is the ganme of the young "new Dem's" and it is disgusting. They are desperate to smear anyone they think can beat them on the issues and experience. The idea that you should "ask Cunningham" is meaningless. What if Cunningham doesn't like the guy, what if he didn't want him to work for him, so what. Maybe he told Cunningham his breath was bad and Cunignaham is pissed. Stop the drama. Is
Cunningham the arbitor of all things good and bad. There are more thna a few people who have no trust or confidene in Cunningham. I am not one of them but even Don would admit that much.

This is real bullshit Bernie, and you are right to make people come out of their "hate closet", if they wnat to semar soemone.

I undertsand some of the younger "new" Dem's are being coached at the county level to try and do similar things.

Bad way to run your affairs, it will catch up with you since there are few secrets in governemnt.

Build yourself up or get out of the race.

Uncle Remus said...

BO just ask your buddies "i'll fight for you" grub and "slight of the hand" hanna.

steve was canned twice

Anonymous said...

I love that moustache
"Hi little girl, like my moustache?"

Bernie O'Hare said...

Uncle Remus, You are dead wring and I have confirmed that with two different people. You should be ashamed of yourself, especially since you make these accusations like a coward and do not identify yourself.

Anonymous said...

Could Uncie Remus be Nichael Adums from Allentown I sure think so.

Uncle Remus said...

but you don't have the balls to ask hanna who was in the thick of it.

anyway - he'll be stopped by the 2 Cs

Bernie O'Hare said...

Uncle Remus, You are full of shit. I have a call through to Tony right as of several hours ago, and he will return my call. This is a bullshit hatchet job, and you should be ashamed of yourself for participating. You are also a coward who participated in a vicious personal attack without having the courage to identify yourself. Count me as an enemy from this day forward.

Turbanista said...

Praise be Allah and all my fellow Muslims in public service, Waldron leads us closer to Mecca and the edicts of our leaders. To make the United States of America in the mould of the wise Barrack Hussein Obama we must abandon our Judeo Christian media bias and embrace the teachings of our core Caliphate.

Uncle Remus said...

I'm shaking in my boots

i do apologize for giving you hanna as a reference - he is such a darky he's probably forgotten what the truth is

never the less the 2 C's team will crumple him just like the 2 light in the short Rs got it last election

Anonymous said...

Uncle Remus, how is your coconspirator the blog mentor? Do you and him still pound jaeger bombs at the local watering hole in between heavy petting sessions?

Anonymous said...

Remus remember when you told me his colon fit like a glove at the green door? or the time you woke up on 5th and hamilton wearing assless chaps and a manziere?

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine the "stache burn" this guy inflicts when he is giving moustache rides.

Oh WOW!