tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post7772617592558150517..comments2024-03-29T11:00:07.881-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Willie Reynolds Doth Protest Too MuchBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-32334370212820672062015-10-10T04:51:04.171-04:002015-10-10T04:51:04.171-04:00No question the Mediterranean manslab is missed. T...No question the Mediterranean manslab is missed. The bronzed god of Bethlehem politics had his hand on the pulse of the city. He and his Unity-Pac picked the winners and losers.<br /><br />God only knows what the human tripod could have accomplished if he was still here. Soon he will finish his state gig and be back. He has been honing his physique into bronzed steel and his mind is sharper than ever. Hopefully it is not to late for him to work his smoky charm and Mensa shrewdness into a winning formula for Bethlehem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83312458230353771832015-10-09T15:36:50.981-04:002015-10-09T15:36:50.981-04:00None of this would have happened if Jim Gregory wo...None of this would have happened if Jim Gregory would have been around. Jim was known as the Godfather of Bethlehem politics. He ran the city government for years. he was instrumental in who got elected and who did not. His Unity-Pac would have made all the difference not only in the city but the county.<br /><br />Hopefully upon his return he can clean up the current mess and restore order to the Christmas City.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86216191014654891342015-10-09T14:13:11.240-04:002015-10-09T14:13:11.240-04:00Willie is a great man and a pioneer.����❤️Willie is a great man and a pioneer.����❤️Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23359303370481055132015-10-09T10:41:27.857-04:002015-10-09T10:41:27.857-04:00Let all just watch Ms. Negron's performance an...Let all just watch Ms. Negron's performance and see what she brings to the table. <br />That should be interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-2357020735896922462015-10-09T08:09:19.333-04:002015-10-09T08:09:19.333-04:00What a mean-spirited remark bu someone who is obvi...What a mean-spirited remark bu someone who is obviously bigoted!<br /><br />I did not care for Olga before the election, said so and sign my name to my posts. I do not care for the way she handled herself on the planning commission. But she decided against taking money from developers (although she let pawlowski give to her). She ended up winning very big. <br /><br />In addition to being a bigot, you also sound jealous. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-84934825428540725272015-10-09T07:37:39.101-04:002015-10-09T07:37:39.101-04:00Olga Negron......Bethlehem's Cynthia Mota.
Lea...Olga Negron......Bethlehem's Cynthia Mota.<br />Leadership for the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57938316919857147982015-10-08T22:36:18.120-04:002015-10-08T22:36:18.120-04:00Develop the property and tear down the tower. Main...Develop the property and tear down the tower. Main St. is Main St. $9-12 drinks and expensive shops. The Westgate Mall is a mess and no amount of money to upgrade it will help. It's lay out is from the 1960's. Build something nice with alot of options at the Tower site that offers middle class family's on the West Side a better option than a trip over the mountain to the Promenade, a death defying trip into Allentown or settling for the Westgate Strip Mall. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-69700876694527279132015-10-08T22:17:30.763-04:002015-10-08T22:17:30.763-04:00@9:43PM Try posting something on topic. Nobody ca...@9:43PM Try posting something on topic. Nobody cares about your rants or all nighters.<br /><br />This article is about the Martin Tower. If you're bored, go elsewhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-340845257472680572015-10-08T21:43:04.898-04:002015-10-08T21:43:04.898-04:00All this attention on Martin Tower is diverting th...All this attention on Martin Tower is diverting the real news out of Bethlehem where a 67 year old woman was arrested on Daly Ave for shaking a city parks tree and collecting the fallen fruit.<br /><br />Or, a female was arrested for DUI after arriving for work at the Sands Casino while intoxicated. <br />Time was 1:48am. God I miss those all nighters!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-89373836293480634862015-10-08T19:59:17.723-04:002015-10-08T19:59:17.723-04:00Incidently, Bruce Haines isn't asking the City...Incidently, Bruce Haines isn't asking the City for a zoning change that would more than double or triple the value of his property----nor is Michael Colon voting on the issue!! Hard to believe people can't see the difference of a huge donation ($4000 vs $100) to the 2 top leaders of City Council from a developer that wants his property rezoned vs a modest donation to a longshot future city councilman from a citizen asking for nothing?? Wonderful how he beat Rechuitti with significantly less campaign funding. 88% of Rechuitti campaign funds came from people donating more than the new $250 limit of Allentown and most were developers or union--many of the same names on the Reynolds list who had 64% from over $250 donors!! <br /><br />I doubt if Michael Colon had anyone contribute over $250 except maybe his family--good governance perhaps lies ahead with Colon beating Rechuitti and Negron also untainted. <br /><br />Incidently, do Mr.Reynolds and Mr. Donchez think the public just dropped off the back of a turnip truck in going out of their way to try to convince us that the developer wasn't pushing for this zoning change?? So the Developer who is going to double or triple the value of his property by virtue of this zoning change had nothing to do with trying to influence Donchez to make it happen--really!!! Do you really think Darlene Heller came up with this great idea when she doesn't even know how much retail is allowed with current zoning--claiming 425,000SF when it is only 50,000SF??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37532204049557221032015-10-08T19:39:43.781-04:002015-10-08T19:39:43.781-04:00Just for the record, Bruce Haines did not contribu...Just for the record, Bruce Haines did not contribute anything to Olga Negron nor did she celebrate her victory at the hotel. Michael and his family celebrated their victory in the Tap Room watching TV just like every other customer that night. Mr Haines made a modest $100 donation to his campaign way back in February. They met each other as regular attendees at City Council Meetings watching the fiasco that takes place twice a month. <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-42887231338835829162015-10-08T17:06:39.486-04:002015-10-08T17:06:39.486-04:00http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/inde...http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2011/12/state_grant_money_approved_for.html<br /><br />There is a $8 million state grant for the Martin Tower redevelopment that was approved in 2011. I don't know when it expires. I believe the Governor has discretion, and can cancel one of these grants if the project hasn't moved forward or if the developer proposes to use it for a purpose for which it was not intended.<br /><br />Hopefully, this money will only be available if Martin Tower is reused, and not to subsidize the construction of retailers that would compete with the Downtown. I believe the only practical use of the vast bulk of the Martin Tower would be residential.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76678811564563510032015-10-08T17:00:43.392-04:002015-10-08T17:00:43.392-04:00There was a time when people had a stronger emotio...There was a time when people had a stronger emotional connection to the Martin Tower. However, the public mourning period for The Steel is now past, and demolition should be an option. However, I am very concerned that the current owners will just develop the open land and the land with buildings that are cheap to demolish, subdivide off the tower into a different corporate owner, and let the tower rot for years, and then walk away. <br /><br />In return for a zoning change, the developers should have to do something with the tower soon - either start to rehab it or put some money into at least the interior demolition process. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5876746744767415372015-10-08T16:18:38.576-04:002015-10-08T16:18:38.576-04:0011:26 AM - love your comment about why he lives in...11:26 AM - love your comment about why he lives in Florida . <br /><br />one reason is bc of no income tax? what's wrong with that. if a person has the means to move ,and can pick a state any where in the county, why move to a state with high income tax. DUH a state with no income tax , great weather and beaches. may I be so bold to ask , what is wrong with that?<br /><br />Next time you pay your taxes, throw a couple grand more on the bill for the state.<br /><br />my guess is you and 99.9 % of the people in this state never ever gave more than they had to .<br /><br />that's the best you have in terms of attacking this guy? That is it and 100 dollar donation to Negron .according to BOH, she used the cash to buy balloons and everyone paid their way into the party. <br /><br />lol- nice reach my friend. Remember the can of worms ...<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-33393271311706822352015-10-08T15:01:29.578-04:002015-10-08T15:01:29.578-04:00"Olga Negron. There's Cracker-Jack states...<em>"Olga Negron. There's Cracker-Jack statesman on the rise."</em><br /><br />That's what happens in a democratic form of government. The people decide, and not the boys in the back room. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47173182884117623852015-10-08T14:58:40.126-04:002015-10-08T14:58:40.126-04:002:55, Do you support allowing the Citry to pick wi...2:55, Do you support allowing the Citry to pick winners and losers bc that is what will happen if large scale retail goes in there. The businesses on Main Street and on the south side all said they welcome competition, but not publicly subsidized competition. People in Bethlehem talk to each other better than in most communities, so I suspect you willo work it out. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-29696344657475648182015-10-08T14:55:01.869-04:002015-10-08T14:55:01.869-04:00Bernie,
You are right, this post is about the Mart...Bernie,<br />You are right, this post is about the Martin Tower site. Let the residents of Bethlehem decide what they want. Not the people who live outside of it. It's our City. Sitting back and letting Allentown steal business from Bethlehem and Easton isn't good business. We have to adapt to today and so do the businesses on Main St. To bad we can't put it up for a referendum. I think the large majority of Bethlehem residents and taxpayers would overwhelming vote to rip it down and put in a nice life style center. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-12897782431480189962015-10-08T14:36:28.793-04:002015-10-08T14:36:28.793-04:002:18, I believe people deserve an honest day's...2:18, I believe people deserve an honest day's pay and a living wage, not slave labor. This post is about the Martin Tower proposal, not your disdain for unions or me. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51283193706821462702015-10-08T14:34:48.363-04:002015-10-08T14:34:48.363-04:00"Unfortunately with the Supreme Courts Decisi...<em>"Unfortunately with the Supreme Courts Decision on Citizens United it is all legal."></em><br /><br />It would also be legal and completely consistent with Citizens United to impose fundraising limits. It would also be consistent with good government. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39701975826091621172015-10-08T14:32:35.206-04:002015-10-08T14:32:35.206-04:00"HOWEVER, INVESTIGATE WHAT BRUCE HAINES DID F...<em>"HOWEVER, INVESTIGATE WHAT BRUCE HAINES DID FOR OLGA NEGRON AND MICHAEL COLON. HOSTED AND PAID FOR A CELEBRATION EVENT THE NIGHT OF THE ELECTION"</em><br /><br />Your statement appears to be untruer. I have carefully reviewd the finance reports of both candidates and see no expenditures to or contriibutions from Hotel Bethlehem for an election night party. Indeed, the reports seem to indicate that Olgas Negron had an election night party at the PR club. Looks like she bought ballooons and everyone paid their own way. <br /><br />It is true that Bruce Haines gave Colon $100. That amounts to 1.8% of his total and thus is statistically much different than 24% or 29%. <br /><br />I have no problem with modest contributions in spoort of a candidate. Shit, I contribute myself. But I do have a problem with crony capitalism. When a candidate lets someone who wants something give him 24% or 29% of his fundraising total, it's hard for me to conclude that it's all about good government. <br /><br />Bethlehem could use fundraisng limits. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6124713451570752572015-10-08T14:24:45.682-04:002015-10-08T14:24:45.682-04:00I think it's safe to say Donchez and members o... I think it's safe to say Donchez and members of Council (Past, Current and Future Newly Elected) all have financial ties to many of the developers and the people who are fighting the development. Unfortunately with the Supreme Courts Decision on Citizens United it is all legal. Developers, big and small business owners are allowed to give financial contributions to people running for office. It's the system we have. And it's perfectly legal. All of the business owners who are fighting this new zoning have all participated in the same financial contribution system in many of the past City Elections and have never questioned "the process or legality of it" because they have ALL BENEFITTED from it in the past. The past mayors and city councils have all been pushed and "financially persuaded thru political donations to spend millions on Main St....literally literally millions (including a million dollar Moravian Star in the middle of the road) to make it more attractive for the business owners down there. I was just down there for lunch today and to my amazement the Main St. was just newly paved. Our roads on the West side are cracked, pot holes all over the place and haven't been paved in thirty years (NOT KIDDING)<br />Now something is finally happening for the West Side and the pompous Main St. owners are crying again. It's not always about Historic Bethlehem. Great place to visit and have dinner but there are other areas and other taxpayers in the City of Bethlehem. <br />Develop Martin Tower and let our side of town improve also. Our tax dollars are just as valuable to us as to the Historic area. <br />We DO NOT want more homes and residential development. For once, the Mayor and City Council should help our home values increase. Rip the eye sore down and put in some nice shops. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26090559873307145672015-10-08T14:18:58.617-04:002015-10-08T14:18:58.617-04:00"In the LV, prevailing wage means union. And ..."In the LV, prevailing wage means union. And I have no problem with that. i think these workers are entitled to a fair wage and work hard."<br /><br />What a load of shit. They're receiving a competitive advantage that an overwhelming majority of workers who do not belong to unions, don't. Non-union workers work hard as well for a wage that's fairly determined by the market; not by paid off politicians like slimy little Willie and cellmate Pawlowski and their dirty money contributors. It leads to exactly the kind of pay-to-play that you've been railing against. Your feigned pay-to-play ire has its limits, apparently.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-82161852378730927822015-10-08T11:44:43.819-04:002015-10-08T11:44:43.819-04:00I wouldn't say hating on Bruce Haines and Colo...I wouldn't say hating on Bruce Haines and Colon, just trying to point out that no one is unbiased here, as 8:07 was trying to point out. There have been exchanges of value between council members and future council members and the parties involved in this debate, so to say Colon and Negron can vote on this zoning change without influence is false.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-7052859717664316552015-10-08T11:44:43.044-04:002015-10-08T11:44:43.044-04:00Olga Negron. There's Cracker-Jack statesman on...Olga Negron. There's Cracker-Jack statesman on the rise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41422654273880982822015-10-08T11:31:25.675-04:002015-10-08T11:31:25.675-04:00Yesterday, tge Willie haters were slamming Schwede...Yesterday, tge Willie haters were slamming Schweder. Today, it is Bruce Haines and Colon.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.com