RenewLV, describes itself as "a diverse coalition of business, agriculture, environmentalists, urban, suburban and rural government officials, education and other civic leaders." Its members include PPL's now retired Bert Daday and Brown Daub's L. Anderson Daub. Many members are also part of the advisory committee behind the plan to widen Route 22.I'm suspicious of its ties to the aristocratic and normally secretive Lehigh Valley Partnership, but they sure know how to put on a spread. During a rail summit at the Hotel Bethlehem in 2007, RenewLV supplied expensive cheeses and wines. All the foo-foos networked as a piano played ever so softly. RenewLV did it again during the inaugural meeting of the Lehigh Valley Health Commission early this year. This time, there were assorted pastries, left over cheese and coffee. No booze. Ron Angle filled his pockets and briefcase and later sold his stash in downtown Allentown.
As you may have guessed, RenewLV is a bit upset about the trouble Northampton County has in assembling a quorum for a second meeting of the LV Health Commission, which consists of the legislatures of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. Lamont McClure purposely blew it off and said he would do everything he could to kill this Health Commission. He must have eaten bad cheese.
Steve Bliss, RenewLV's Executive Director, is urging supporters of regional public health to attend and show their support. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, at 6:30pm at the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 South Seventh Street, Allentown [map]. It will be held in conference rooms 43A and 43B on the basement level. But even if 1,000,000 people are there, it means nothing unless there are five members from both Northampton County Council and the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners.
So regional public health advocates would do better to contact their Commissioners and Council members, asking them to attend this meeting. Bliss makes the following points:
"1. Allowing the Board of Health to move forward does not commit the counties to actually establishing a regional health department. It simply allows the Board of Health to finish the work the counties appointed them to do.
"2. The start-up work of the Board of Health is being funded almost entirely by a generous $1 million grant from the Dorothy Rider Pool Health Care Trust and the Two Rivers Health & Wellness Foundation. The counties do not have to use county funds for the planning efforts of the Board of Health.
"3. Your participation can make a difference, and county officials need to hear from you. Please consider attending on Tuesday and offering some brief remarks (during Citizens Input) as to the importance of allowing the Board of Health continue its work."
22 comments:
He sounds afraid that without the advocates( those who stand to benefit $$$) the truth about this venture may come out.
With an over $3 billion dollar state shortfall and more projected next budget cycle, where will the state cuts be made? This is one area mentioned.
This is a costly and dangerous luxury that will cost the Counties millions within a few short years.
This is an important initiative that will improve the health and quality of life for thousands and will cost less than a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee per person.
according to an article by the morning call on the regional water initiative by Renew Lv, the organization was founded by alan jennings. perhaps it would have been more beneficial for the dorothy pool fund to use the 3mil to pay the health insurance premium for 600 low income people, rather than provide salary for professional do-gooder bureaucrats
Anon 3:37 and 6:52 present the coutering arguments in a nutshell.
It's great you can't afford not to. That is if you are a property owner. Can you imagine going to buy a car and the salesman poinys to one you can't afford and says it the safest you can't afford not to buy it.
Most people who manage their finances understand money management better than some of these advocates who only care about their personal initiative paid for by others.
It is a nice idea but be honest about the cost and stop being so arrogant. If it is that great it will sell itself without your grease gun of guilt.
Anon 12:51:
Please don't confuse "the grease gun of guilt" with providing (what I consider) a fair counterpoint to some of the rhetoric of "this is going to cost millions".
This is one of the only places to have open discussion. Let's use it for good purposes.
McClure and Angle have asked. How much is it going to cost ? And who is going to pay for it ? What are the answers ?
Angle is gonna pay for it !
How did McClure ask if he didn't even go to the meeting?
Angle has asked those questions. McClure once questioned whether this was a ruse so that hospitals could cut down on the large number of people who appear in ERs.
Rather than shoot down the idea, I'd wait until we have answers to the questions posed by Angle. I'd be inclined to support the concept so long as county real estate tax dollars are not involved. But I need to know more. We won't have answers if they don't meet.
Angle should not attend.
Angle should and probably will attend, to ask the questions he's been asking all along. Besides, he wants to pick up a few more Rolexx watches.
This County health department is a very bad idea. All we keep hearing about are shortages in human service funding from the state. We need the casino monies to go to Human Services not this idiotic health department. Ron Angle and mcClure are right on this. The idea needs to die a slow death.. It is not the time for this nor is there a great need.
The only argument I hear those opposed to a health department make is the cost. If the cost to the community is minimal, and there is some real benefit (better disease prevention, healthier children,more restaurant inspections,etc.)to our region as a whole, people will support this. Please let the Board of Health perform their assigned duties without all of this political interference.
If it has an expensive price tag, it will not (and may not deserve to) pass a vote in Lehigh or Northampton Counties.
Let the Board do their work!!!
Extremely effective, top vote-getting County Councilman Charles Dertinger is a Health Bureau supporter. Dertinger has been the Norco's most successful leader on preserving open space and farmland. He has been a fighter for working men and women. He insists that they be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. He also cares deeply about our senior citizens and their rising property taxes. Dertinger is honest, faithful and effective. Health advocates are lucky to have him on their side !
That explains why he was a no show. He really cares.
Dertinger is just one of 18/9. He alone could not have prevented that meeting from taking place. He informed the county council office that he would not be attending and has explained that he had a long-standing family engagement. I applaud him for putting family first ! As I've said before, the Health Bureau advocates are lucky to have him on their side ! No wonder Charles is top vote getter !
Health Bureau advocates are lucky to have a guy who screwed them by missing only the second ever meeting of the LV Health Comm'n, causing that body to fail to have a quorum. Dertinger told no one anything, Supposedly, he sent an email. But there is no record that county council has of receiving that email. And why would he notify the clerk and not the president of county council? Why didn't he email her directly?
He has won one election. He has been defeated three times. That does not sound like a top vote getter to me. it sounds like a political hack.
Bill White, who is extremely biased against Charles was forced to print a retraction because Charles did inform Council that he would not be attending.
Now Charles if the heir to Wayne Grube's speical kind of Norco politics and he may some day be heir to his vote getting ability. This year Charles will be top vote getter and you will still be you.
I checked with Council on Thursday. There is NO RECORD OF ANY EMAIL SENT BY DERTINGER. And you have not answered my question. Why didn't Dertinger simply email McHale? She is the president. He does that for all his other back room maneuvers.
As far as comparing himself to Wayne Grube is concerned, Grube was a LV native who maintained ties to this community through youth sports. Dertinger is a New Yorker with absolutely no ties to this area. Grube was constantly at the courthouse, seeing first hand what is going on. Dertinger is never there. Grube was an independent thinker, willing to buck his party. Dertinger is a partisan hack. Grube condemned union alliances that calls upon cabinet level officials to resigner. Dertinger instigates them.
Regardless of election results, Dertinger is a disgrace to real Northampton County residents. And he is going to lose this November if I can help it.
And incidentally, I'm quite happy with my role as citizen. It is the highest office in a true democracy.
You're not a citizen. You are nothing but a gadfly infused by hatred. Dertinger is a real citizen who will be top vote getter in the Fall. And, you will still live atop the Army Navy store in Nazareth.
That's where you go wrong, Charles. You see, in this country, even those of us who live atop a store or live in other modest circumstances, have rights. In fact, our rights are the same as those with country club memberships. And more often than not, we tend to be right. Must drive you nutz.
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