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| Paul Weiss |
Phil Barnard, despite a relationship to Atiyeh that extends back to their school days, is his own man. But Zawarski, a realtor, is a bit scary. He has accepted real estate contracts from Atiyeh even though Atiyeh is suing the Township. This is a conflict of interest.
Though Atiyeh denies he has any desire to take over the Township, he fielded three candidates this election cycle, with mixed results.
One candidate was his own COO, Mickey Thompson, whose late report revealed that he was fully funded by Abe. Thompson was defeated by incumbent Michael Hudak, 385-314.
The two candidates in another ward were Republican Pat Breslin and Democrat Ray Russin. Both were funded by Atiyeh. Russin, in fact, joined Atiyeh in one of his zoning challenges. These two managed to knock incumbent Paul Weiss off the ballot in the Spring primary. But Weiss fought back, waging a write-in campaign that finally told voters that Bethlehem Township is not for sale.
Things got testy at the polls yesterday, including a shouting match between Atiyeh and Weiss supporters.
Although Weiss won at the Farmersville School by 33 votes, he lost the Township building, and the race, by about 20 votes. The unofficial tally shows Breslin with Bresslin with 360 votes and 339 write-ins.
I wouldn't trust Pat Bresslin to plan my bake sale. He has no business experience. Paul should have never taken Aityah for granted in the primary. 339 write-ins, that's impressive.
ReplyDeletePhil Barnard is not his own man he IS connected to Abe and all the others, Thompson and Breslin. God help Bethlehem Township!!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't Breslin the guy whose residency is in question? The address he provided is 4501 Easton Avenue, Bethlehem. That is either the yellow house that is right across the street from Skateaway, or the vacant lot just west of it. I thought that house was condemned. Northampton County property records do not show any such address, either.
ReplyDeleteits the yellow house. it is listed on northampton county recorde it is owned by Steidinger the guy who owns the nursery behind it. There are no certificate of occupancy's for the house and it has never been inspected by the township. Several people have stopped there looking for Breslin, no one was there, place is uninhabitable and conventional wisdom is no one lives there, go figure!!
ReplyDeleteBT police have been there as well for a variety of reasons(vandalism) over the years and stated no one lives there.
ReplyDeleteLosing Weiss is a huge deal for the township, god only knows what will happen now. Surprised how well Thompson did against Hudak, too close for comfort. Now the Board is stacked in favor of King Abe, guess he may get his jail after all and anything else he wants.
ReplyDeletepeople went to jail in BT in the 80's for stuff like what is going on now. Not at all good!!
ReplyDeleteThat township has a Patty Hewes. She will get to the bottom of this mess and restore the township in due time.
ReplyDeleteHudak got lucky. He has been alienating quite a few people with his behavior lately, so the close call should serve as a wakeup call, though doubt he gets it.
ReplyDeleteWhy wasn't his residency confirmed before he was allowed to appear on a ballot?
ReplyDeleteWhen I say "his address", I mean Breslin's.
ReplyDeleteBreslin has voted several times over the last year and a half and the yellow house is his listed address so according to county voting records that is his "address". Residency is very difficult to disprove from what I have heard. Shame because even if he did "live" there the guy does not legally live there.
ReplyDeleteFUCKED!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo, it would be safe to assume that Breslin is committing voter fraud?
ReplyDelete11:15,
ReplyDeleteThe Steidinger property is listed as 4505. The map shows that the section of the parcel where the house is, as not being part of 4505. There is an outbuilding (RS) of 2400 square feet, built in 1910 listed at 4505, though.
Imagine when Hudak is the better choice ?????
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh when I read in the paper that Atiyeh had bought a townhouse from Zawarski in Palmer for “an undisclosed amount” trying to establish “standing“ in a legal challenge. That is exactly what he tried to do with two homes here in our Township to challenge a Sheetz and Madison Farms. The very homes he then was able to use (more bang for the buck, I suppose) to import Breslin and Thompson to “live” in to run for Commissioner. At least Thompson’s looks like he actually lives there. Breslin’s “home”, well….. Will be interesting to see if Thompson stays around, and if Breslin fixes the place up now that he has to stick around.
ReplyDeleteThat said: Township residents have spoken. They don’t care about what A and Z are trying to do. Its not like they could not have known after this campaign. I give Mr. Weiss credit for a valiant effort with the write in campaign. And, the Second ward showed that it is no longer old reliable Dems anymore, that a Republican, regardless of the fact that he was also Abe’s Chief Operation Officer, did as well as he did. Mr. Hudak had to work at this one, and he did.
I remember somebody on here last week commented about the voters being complacent if their taxes are not going up, and the roads are still plowed. That happened in the 80s. That’s why I waited to comment. I suspected this post wouldn’t create much buzz…. kind of like Township meetings, same old people talking. I say, let Abe and Zawarski run the show. The election is over, and thats what the voters apparently want. They heard both sides, and they have spoken. Abe and Z were shrewd to go after the Board. They are the policy makers, not the Planning Commission (though advise), and certainly not the Zoning Board. Whether out of vindictiveness, and/ or financial reasons, they have systematically eliminated opposition the past two years. Mr. Nolan’s been around a long time. Would he run again in two years, or enjoy some retirement? I never would have thought in a thousand years that Mr. Hudak, who means well but sometimes shoots from the lip, would be the last one standing to fight the good fight. Maybe he’s more a chip off the old block than I thought. Good luck.
The voters have spoken. Let them reap what they have willingly sown. If I were Commissioners Hudak and Nolan (or Weiss in his last month), I would stubbornly refuse to go along with any cut in services or hikes in taxes if they come up in the future. Let it be on the new regime. Under Kutzler, a lot was accomplished with a little. One can only cut so much before you are down to the bone. The time will come.
By way of suggestion, I think the old Chrin property on Wm. Penn and Hope Road would make a lovely place for a Treatment Center, work release center, or pay-per-inmate private prison. Lots of land and easy access to main arteries. Should be able to easily rezone that now. Zoning Ordinance is a policy matter, and up to the Board of Commissioners. If you haven’t thought of it yet, what do you think Mr. A? Stop wasting your money fighting legal battles in Bethlehem and Allentown. The majority of voters (and they are the only ones who are counted) here like your ideas. Go with it.
Well Bernie, at least you will have "your work" cut out your 2014 agenda. This will be good. 20 votes ,had I known that I would have taken off from work and "DRAGGED " 30 people in personally.
ReplyDeleteOvem lupo commitere:
ReplyDelete"And before the Bible, it was a Latin saying: “Ovem lupo commitere.” The Latin translates into “mettere un lupo a sorvegliare le pecore” which, in turn, translates into “to set a wolf to guard sheep.” Whether the expression has to do with foxes and hens, or wolves and sheep, the meaning is the same and to this end, this confirms that the saying originated in Ancient Rome."
Reply to Lighthouse;I agree with you . My concern is that my parents live in the venue.This stacked board will fail. They will crash and burn ,wait ! Part of any vote is the ability to articulate a vote on the machine provided. Voters over about 55 years old will have a problem. They did not play Nintendo or use electronic devices in their youth. . I know I am one of them creatures.Issue is now ,don't let any development happen with out all COSTS in the long run being in the equation!! .This means, Schools , traffic , police, EMS put it in the math and not on the present tax payers already in the township. Can the sewer even system handle more over the long run for example?
ReplyDeleteyES aNON 611- Caveat Emptor
ReplyDeleteGood God when Hudak is the last best hope!
ReplyDeleteIts a shame it had to come to this.
ReplyDeleteHere is what happens, A do good-er developer whats to put in a housing project for middle income people and calls it "affordable". What it is really will be is New York junkies move in- West. Now after it up and this county ends up having to lock up 28% of everybody that ever moved into the "development"How much did this cost us or YOU on the back end? Go over to Pembroke Village and hang out on Friday night ,take your family along and watch the circus.This is what you will get. Then he, the developer , moves out.They will leave you, the tax payer holding the bag.
ReplyDeleteContest Residency with a private detective , Get the information now and show non- residency if applicable, got to Judge for next candidate, in election.
ReplyDeleteMy key board is got missing teeth. I mean to say , get a contested residency if applicable in front of a Judge early. Use a PI to get evidence and show what is facts.
ReplyDeletewhat a bunch of cry babies!!!
ReplyDeleteI've said it before and I'll say it again, Hudak is smart, very smart. I've realized long ago that he has the uncanny ability to get people to show their true colors without them even realizing they've just been found out. The voters in the 2nd ward didn't turn away from their Dem roots. The long time residents didn't by into Micky's bullshit and knew all his claims were just that, Bullshit propaganda. The other 300 or so fools that believed his hype were the ignorant transplants, you know the type. Hudak lived in township his whole life. He knows the people and the dynamics. And the voters know him. Lighthouse says he "shoots from the lip". His constituents will tell you he say's what "they" think without worrying about all the posturing and political mumbo-jumbo that you hear spew from Nolans mouth or the please everybody drivel that comes out of weiss. If you call that shooting from the lip then so be it. He told me not long after first coming on the board, "I'm here to serve the people, not make friends". Like it or not that is exactly what he does. He has been true to his word, unheard of for a politician and his people support him for it. You either love him or hate him but he is about to make it 12 years on the Board so all you losers who love to hate him have to admit you seriously underestimated him. I wouldn't worry too much about Bethlehem township. I believe Hudak is keeping a very close eye and records on Zawarski, Barnard, Atiyeh and soon Breslin. I expect he will give them all just enough rope to hang themselves before the attorney general pays a surprise visit. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Jerry Batcha and Art Murphy riding in right after the cell doors slam either.
I wrote with a mixture of analysis, disappointment, and sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteTo be clear, I supported and support Hudak and Weiss' efforts. My comment re "shoot from the lip" meant the same thing you just said: "he say's what "they" think without worrying about all the posturing and political mumbo-jumbo." He's blunt. Its both his strength and his weakness, much like Lenny's. I am GLAD he won, and I expect him to keep the other's honest and to point out when they are not. Problem will be fighting to not be subtly kept out of the loop now that he's alone. I am sure that he has been, and will be, kept out of some conversations. Sometimes you need allies who agree with you, but can say it in a way that doesn't alient. He now is the lone watchman to shine the light on the cockroaches. Three are his enemies. The other ... I won't go there now. Keep hold of the light, Commissioner, if you read this.
My point, however, was disappointment with the voters. As this election wore on, they knew that it was about. Weiss came close, but combine Breslin and Russin, he sadly really didn't. And that COO Thompson--I've heard the expression "carpetbagger" from several people--got as many votes as he did was a shocking disappointment. But that may partially come back to the brutal bluntness that is both Hudak's strength and a weakness. And for Commissioner Weiss, Mr. Cochran basically told you why he lost--Madison Farms. I doubt those who voted for Breslin did so out of great admiration for him (another "carpetbagger"), but the expression, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" comes to mind. Fairly or unfairly, perception is the voters' reality, and what did Cochran say "New York junkies move in" and "Then he, the developer , moves out.They will leave you, the tax payer holding the bag." Honestly, its the exact same thing heard when Southmont went in. Correct or not, it is perception, and people vote accordingly. Average Joe doesn't appreciate things like balancing the tax base, etc, etc... criticize it or not, but once you realize and accept it, you figure out how to explain it to the voters/public otherwise. Otherwise, the majority of taxpayers are complacent because their taxes are not going up, and that creates the opportunity for what just happened the past two election cycles.
Again, my earlier sarcasm aside about treatment centers, good luck Commissioner Hudak.
I have two president's pictures hanging in my "library", TJ and TR.
ReplyDelete“…the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic--the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done.” TR 1891
Keep up the work Mike. Zawarski and Barnard, and Nolan's seat are up next. Shine the light, Mike.
Lighthouse. Just Because a light is turned on in a room , doesn't mean you can see what is going on. I am off to a football game but I will write later about this issue and give you some insight you have never seen but should have.
ReplyDeleteThe perfect crime is one that no one ever sees. Zawarski and Abe were just the smoke and mirrors of this crime.
I want to read this.
ReplyDeleteBernie--- beware of wolves in sheeps clothing. This makes the light issue and "days of old" seem like a comedy. Just Be open minded.
ReplyDeleteOkay Lighthouse, we get it. Hudak is a god. He will save us all. Get real. If he is so above board, why does he conduct his little business under the table, never getting the proper permits, etc.
ReplyDeleteIf this is true, turn him in instead of making an anonymous attack on a blog.
ReplyDeleteGoes to his character BOH. Personally don't care if he is shady or not, people shouldn't distort the truth.
ReplyDeleteLike I said. If your accusations are true, my guess is you would turn Hudak in. I would. But you haven't and don't sign your name, so my guess you'll be that you're a liar.
ReplyDeleteTo close out:
ReplyDelete1. not certain where 8:07/4:26 is going. I do not claim to see all. Paul Harvey used to say, "and now for the rest of the story...". Misconduct of the public office itself should not be tolerated of anyone. Like Bernie, however,I would think anything legit would have come out in the proper forum, and would have during the campaign.
2. I hope I have not unintentionally implied dismissing Comm. Nolan. As far as I have ever seen, he is quite ethical, and I believe was actually part of the post-Timko era clean-up of the Twp. And he successully thwarted Atiyeh's plans in 2011 election. Not perfect, (who is) but he is one of TR's "doers" in our community, and one would expect he'd stand up for what is right. I just don't know, after decades of service to the twp if he'd be up for another run in 2015. In the mean time, he and Hudak have long butted heads over Housenick. Policy differences are policy difference, but it seems like it was a little more personal between them.
A lot of good folks don't get involved in gov't. Its a lot on a person and his/her family. And when a developer is willing to spend thousands on an election that would have been in the 100s in years past, you have to ask what's in it for him. Let alone another couple hundred thousand probably spent (as "an investment") on the homes the candidates "live" in. I am sure there is some average civic-minded "soccer mom" or "dad" out there who'd consider it an honor to serve... but wouldn't touch this scene with a 10 foot pole... and people wonder why folks get cynical about government. I know I have become so.
over and out.
It is actually good that Bethlehem Township will be going on a new course. Zawarski and Barnard now have two years under their collective belts. They should be up to speed and know which way they want the Township to go and begin to move in that direction. Add Breslin to the mix and a different road can be taken. Nolan and Hudak will be in the minority. The voters have made it known that they want new leadership and want a different approach to things in that Township. It can now happen. Business will not be the usual. The majority can select its own Manager to help them with their new direction. The majority can too select a new Planning Director to put them on the course that the voters so want. Would think that would be a no to very little growth mission. Change is good and the voters have spoken.
ReplyDeleteThere is good growth and there is bad growth. I believe we have had some situations of bad growth. Just because the growth conforms to a zoning code does not make it good. The recent growth that occurred happened because of changes to the zoning code. This would have never happened under the older code. So what one has to do is to look at the author of the code to determine what happened and why. But dig deeper into the reasons why and they players that won with the new zoning and maybe you will start asking yourself some real hard questions. Funny thing is you might not like the answers. And those that wrote it are disappearing one by one, by vote and on their own accord.
ReplyDeletenot exactly a mandate from the voters in the 4th ward for Breslin. Weiss had 339 write in votes and only lost by 20 beating Russin in the process. What does that say about voters being informed voting for Russin who along with Abe sued Bethlehem Township and they magically dropped the frivolous lawsuit when KRE threw some money at them, gee they went away go figure. The new majority is scary at best!! We all will be watching though and make people accountable in the next 2 election cycles. That is if we have something left to work for. Reorganization in January will be quite a circus!!
ReplyDelete