It's pretty clear they don't speak for him.
Who is this trio?
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| He has a beard so he thinks he's smart |
The second member is Cathy Reuscher. She is an appointed, not an elected, Council member. From what I've seen, she cares more about sidewalks and trees than the people who actually live here. Her voice sounds like Minnie Mouse, yet she smugly told Morganelli she would not be "comfortable" on the Parking Authority. Well, I don't think Reuscher is very comfortable on City Council. I don't really care what she sounds like, but if she wants to talk about being "comfortable" with someone, it's hard for me to be comfortable with someone who sounds like a cartoon character. Sorry, but she brought it up.
The ringleader, of course, is failed non-profit boss Karen Dolan. She just happens to be under investigation by a Grand Jury headed by Diana's husband. He happens to be the District Attorney. The investigation is focused on Dolan's use of her office to get breaks for her own business from the City. Conflict of interest.
Dolan is a master of damning people with faint praise. The more she gushes over someone, the more likely it is that person will find a knife in his or her back.
Ask Chris Spadoni.
Dolan last night was pouring all kinds of praise on people who were up for other appointments. The unspoken message she was really sending is that if she can say such nice things about them, Diana Morganelli must be really bad.
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| Represents the trees and sidewalks |
The other two kept their mouths shut, though Reuscher may have said something about a tree she likes.
Members of the public did speak, and let this trio know just how absurd they are.
The first person was Anne Evans (no relation to Eric), who tells me - horrors - that she was once a stay-at-home mom. "This is 2014, not 1914," she told Council. She told this trio their behavior was "demeaning and sexist, not just to [Diana], but to all the women of Bethlehem."
She also took them to task over their disparaging remarks about Parking Authority members, noting "they should be insulted, too."
"We expect our elected officials to represent us, not engage in partisan politics," she concluded.
Steve Antalics blasted Council, noting that people no longer come to meetings because they have "lost confidence." He compared the interrogation of Morganelli to a "CIA secret committee grilling a candidate for an undercover role." Pointing out that Parking Authority member Dino Cantelmi is a frickin' undertaker, he added, "All she should need to know is how to park a car."
At the beginning of every City Council meeting, some local cleric leads everyone in prayer. Noting that the preacher faces Council and usually ends with a "God Bless You," Antalics said ministers should instead face the audience and end with "God Help Us!"
Members of the public did speak, and let this trio know just how absurd they are.
The first person was Anne Evans (no relation to Eric), who tells me - horrors - that she was once a stay-at-home mom. "This is 2014, not 1914," she told Council. She told this trio their behavior was "demeaning and sexist, not just to [Diana], but to all the women of Bethlehem."
She also took them to task over their disparaging remarks about Parking Authority members, noting "they should be insulted, too."
"We expect our elected officials to represent us, not engage in partisan politics," she concluded.
Steve Antalics blasted Council, noting that people no longer come to meetings because they have "lost confidence." He compared the interrogation of Morganelli to a "CIA secret committee grilling a candidate for an undercover role." Pointing out that Parking Authority member Dino Cantelmi is a frickin' undertaker, he added, "All she should need to know is how to park a car."
At the beginning of every City Council meeting, some local cleric leads everyone in prayer. Noting that the preacher faces Council and usually ends with a "God Bless You," Antalics said ministers should instead face the audience and end with "God Help Us!"
Eliminate the parking meters and authority, problem solved!
ReplyDeleteAnd, thanks for not putting up a pic of that there Dolan, bad enough she has to look at herself in the mirror every morning.
waldens only saving grace is that he isn't a teacher. the whole bunch with the possible exception of evans are anti donchez.
ReplyDeletebut I hope they keep up their antics so hopefully the apathetic voters can see what they have sown
FYI Mr. Waldron has a business degree and started a successful business on his own to pay his way thru college. His owns a very reputable and successful business. Because he has used his council right to advise and consent to a Mayors selection, you want to criticize him for running a business?
ReplyDeleteno....it sounds like he was being criticized for talking out his ass
ReplyDeleteThat's one scary beard but I'm still the boss of creepy facial hair around here. (in a general, several states removed sense)
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
John Karoly's Beard
I guess Donches only wants transparency and openness in his four years as Mayor as long as it doesn't pertain to him and his selections!
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteDoes council have the right approve all hiring in the city? If so how can some incumbents justify some of the bad picks made in the previous administrations?
7:52 Successful business? prove it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete"It seems a bit mean and sexist to criticize the pitch of someone's voice. Especially while you are criticizing her for being sexist."
ReplyDeleteSorry, I accidentally deleted this. Look, as I indicated in my thread, I don't really care what she sounds like. But when she looks down her nose and tells a magna cum laude college graduate that she would not be "comfortable" with others, then she makes her own squeaky voice an issue. In fact, i don't think she belongs there.
"waldens only saving grace is that he isn't a teacher."
ReplyDeleteYeah, but he's married to one, a union VP to boot. I actually like her. Him, not so much.
"you want to criticize him for running a business?"
ReplyDeleteNo I am criticizing him for being a smug asshole who thinks he's interviewing people for NASA when he is a frickin' housepainter. He looks like Osama bin Laden's younger brother, for Christ's sake.
"I guess Donches only wants transparency and openness in his four years as Mayor as long as it doesn't pertain to him and his selections!"
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing that was nontransparent or secretive about what Donchez did. He has probably been the mst transparent mayor I've seen in this area.
The fact of the matter is that Dolan, Waldron and Reuscher killed her nomination, not because she's unqualified, but because she's a Morganelli.
This is the kind of moronic decision that happens when Dolan is placed around weak-willed people like Waldron and Reuscher.
Is this a political Council or one that wants to do the right thing? Three of them have made pretty clear they are petty, smug and vindictive. What about the other four?
Dolan should not be boting on this matter bc she is under investigation by Morganelli's husband. She is not legally conflicted, but it has a bad smell.
9:02, Council historically does not have the right to get involved in day-to-day hires. They decided to do that last night, too, with a hiring freeze. But it is unenforceable. As a matter of law, they have no such right, regardless what they might think. And the fact that they went the resolution route, as opposed to an ordinance, is an indication they know they can't force the Mayor to adopt a hiring freeze.
ReplyDeleteThey can if they change the ordinance.
ReplyDeleteDuh. It is not an ordinance. It is a resolution. If they adopt an ordinance, they are signalling their intent that this is enforceable as opposed to window dressing.I'd invite them to test it in Court, and see how far they get by arguing to a judge that they have the right to micromanage.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not them. This DA will go after them all if his wife gets voted down. This is going to get fun.
ReplyDeleteThe DA would never go after someone over their stands. That is nonsense, and if it were true, he would have gone after me a long time ago. The DA is investigating what we now know were blatant conflicts of interest by Dolan, and she should be investigated.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to see if Councilperson's Reuscher and Waldron can stand up to the same type of interrogation they fling at others. Ms. Reuscher, Was Joyce Kilmer a man or a woman? Where is the tree in the poem located?
ReplyDeleteHere's a math question for Mr Waldron. How many signatures does it take to validate a nominating petition? Answer: 2 Let's not forget the notary next time.
Isn't there anyone else in the entire City of Bethlehem who is qualified other than Donches campaign manager/best friend?
ReplyDeletethats bedlum, put rubber stamps in positions to cost the tax payers big bucks.
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight. The Mayor should pass over his qualified friends in favor of people he does not know at all for unpaid volunteer positions? And when he submits the name of a friend, it is Council's job to demean this person? I don't think do, nor do most people. You look like petty, vindictive pricks. Let all of Bethlehem see this Council. Let all women see what this Council is.
ReplyDeletewow...is that adam's tougue or his lower lip?
ReplyDeleteseriously, as a group, am not overly impressed by this latest council. maybe time will tell.
vor
It's not Donches campaign manager or best friend!
ReplyDeleteThats the thing about Lehigh Valley Ramblings. Some days you get cogent discussion of important issues, other days you get: I dont like your beard/voice/weight/jacket/last name/brother/etc. I guess this is one of the latter.
ReplyDelete"Duh. It is not an ordinance. It is a resolution. If they adopt an ordinance, they are signalling their intent that this is enforceable as opposed to window dressing.I'd invite them to test it in Court, and see how far they get by arguing to a judge that they have the right to micromanage."
ReplyDeleteBernie, read section 303 of the 3rd class charter law. Council has broad powers.
Hey John, these are the council members who demeaned Diana Morganelli, attacking her intelligence and comfort level and ability to handle the oh-so-difficult role on the Psrking Authority. I think it entirely fair and perhaps even necessary to observe the Emperor has no clothes. Waldron does have a goofy beard, did screw up his nomination petition and is a house painter telling a magna cum laude she's unqualified. Reuscher was never even elected, does have a squeaky cartoon voice, and tells another a position on the authority is too much for her. Dolan is a conflicted member of Council who needs to resign. Diana Morganelli is actually more qualified than any of those three, and I will point it out.
ReplyDelete11:04, it does not give you Executive power. Any attempt to invade the province of the Executive would be ruled illegal, in my opinion. That is why you did not go the Ordinance route.
ReplyDeleteI personally think Mrs. Morganelli is easily qualified for this position and lets not forget the committee did not kill the endorsement they just voted it out with a recommendation against. A m common parliamentary tactic and all three were and are free to vote either way in the full council. Waldron clearly made a political rookie's mistake of trying to be civil and polite and his legitimate question got lost along the way: shouldnt there be someone on council who lives in the part of town where they have to park on the street every night? The Morganelli's have a driveway.
ReplyDeleteThat should have said: "shouldnt there be someone on the parking authority board that parks on the street every night."
ReplyDeleteIs it a political rookie mistake or common parliamentry mistake? Are you now saying that people with driveways are unqualified as members of the parking authority? That is supposed to be a legitimate question? That's as idiotic as everything else I've heard. Is Dolan a political rookie? Come on, john. This was a mean-spirited slap across the face by an arrogant group of people.
ReplyDeleteI agree Waldron and Reuscher need to change their vote and apologize to the women of Bethlehem. I don't care what Dolan does bc she is a phony.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing civil or polite about his smug attitude. Sorry, John.
ReplyDeleteYes, maybe kicking up a little dust now will influence the Mayor to pick a nominee from someplace else in the city next time there's an opening on this board.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm pretty sure Cathy is one of the women of Bethlehem, while youre clearly not. I dont think roughly 40k women want or need you to speak for them.
By the way can you get easier anti-robot questions? I have good vision but i cant figure these things out. Maybe I am a robot.
As a life long democrat in Bethlehem. I am ashamed to be in the same political party as our city council.
ReplyDeleteAnne Evans, who is a Bethlehem woman, made very clear that Waldron's behavior was sexist and offensive to women.
ReplyDeleteAs far the anti-robot questions, I do not want to deal with 100 or more spam comments on every post. That is a small price to pay for freedom from unwanted spam.
Interesting to call a rejection demeaning.
ReplyDeleteI saw no reference to a stay at home mom being demeaned whatsoever in the actual notes.
Do you just make this up to condemn people, for their voice or beard. Are you kidding me? These are human beings! Condemn their actions if needs be, but their looks? Are we in elementary school? It sounds as if your projecting your own shortcomings.
Maybe reread your LeGallienne quote on your page about doing no harm?
As for the lack of appointment for Mrs. Morganelli, again what experience does she have? PTO mom doesn't cut it. What benefits has she organized? What community functions has she worked for or on?
As a stay at home mom, I wouldn't consider that enough experience to take on the parking authority appointment. When asked how why she wants to be appointed, her response was because the mayor asked me?! I wouldn't appoint her either. I give props to the city council for not appointing her just because she's bff with the mayor. What a joke that this would even cause so much attention.
How about they appoint someone with experience who needs a job? Does that make to much sense for you?
Calling people sexist for not appointing her is just ignorant. Especially considering Mrs. Reuscher is a woman's rights advocate, but that'd take research to know, by the looks of your blog you're not so into research.
It will not surprise me in the least if you delete my comment as it actually contains intelligence, my goal is for you to read it and really take some time to think about what journalism really is. It's about truth and justice… not throwing mean and unproductive lies around. Always strive for better.
Read this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcall.com/news/local/white/mc-bw-bethlehem-council-committee-20140502,0,4464520.column
Waldron, Reuscher and Dolan demeaned Morganelli. If they want to take shots at her for not being "comfortable" with "strong personalities" or being out of the workforce too long, I feel more than justified in laughing at Waldron's goofy beard and Reuscher's squeaky cartoon voice. I don't feel very comfortable around that. And I would not be crazy about seeing Bethlehem represented by someone who sounds like Minnie Mouse.
The fact is they demeaned her, so let me demean them and ask is this the game we want to play. If they want to open the door, I can open it all the way.
Of course what I am doing is wrong. That is the point i am making.
Then you should invite Anne Evans to post or comment.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Anne Evans did comment, She was at the City Council meeting, told them what she thought and I reported it. She was joined by one or two other women who shared her view, but did not speak. Now you would have me do it in the commentary, too. I suspect Ms. Evans will be joined by other women when this comes up for a vote. Adam Waldron can explain to the stay-at-home moms that their place is in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteBernie, those women were there as part of Mayor Morganelli's usual strategy. Every time council has a opinion that he disagrees with, they try to get people to city hall to speak. I'm sure Mrs. Morganelli is a very nice lady and qualified for a position in the city. But to put her on a board that deals with millions of dollars in bonds when she has only accounting experience but no Financial experience is a joke.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't you admit that the one and only reason she was nominated is because her husband is Donches campaign manager and best friend. THAT IS NOT A REASON TO PUT HER ON THE PARKING AUTHORITY!!!!!
I know Dolan is in hot water with you but don't you think it's a little funny that two days after Dolan voted against Morganelli's wife, Moraganelli then opened a Grand Jury investigation against Dolan. This is nothing more than an abuse of the DA's power and authority. Donches and Morganelli should both be ashamed. This is nothing more than bullying City Council. Plan and simple!!
No, Dolan broke the law, and the investigation had started before this happened.
ReplyDeleteAlso Diana has plenty of financial experience. You are misrepresenting this person. She graduated magna cum laude with an accounting degree and spent years with Air Products as an internal auditor. What planet are you on?
This is what the Dolan faction does. They lie. They will misrepresent facts. They will spin out 20 different versions. But the truth is the truth. In reality, Morganelli is a hell of a lot more qualified than someone who failed to file tax returns for three years straight and who had her nonprofit status revoked, and then tried to cover it up.
Dolan needs to resign.
Doesn't city council have the right/role to advise and consent? While Morganelli has a record as a accountant, that does not mean she has any financial background in bonds and issues dealing with the parking authority. Why would Donches even think that this would sneak by council with out all this headache. Her name was put forward as a Rubber Stamp, thats it plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteI see. So she does have financial experience but it's the wrong kind of financial experience. In addition to having a degree in accounting and her work as an internal auditor, a PA member must have extensive bond knowledge.
ReplyDeleteAnd no driveway.
So say a triumvirate that consists of a tax dodger, a person who couldn't prepare his nomination papers and a person who was never elected and has two months of experience.
Dolan has already dug her own political grave, and now is intent on dragging down Waldron and Reuscher with her.
Democrats purchase sexist offsets by virtue of their party affiliation. It's like the racist NBA owner who purchased enough racist offsets to be named NAACP man of the year. Bethlehem is a one party town and gets exactly what it elects. Morganelli won't prosecute a Democrat because he's running for (fill in the blank) and needs their support. He once prosecuted a Democrat about 12 years ago before he started aspiring to (fill in the blank) office. No story here.
ReplyDeletefunny. I've sat on boards, and i've had a hand in appointing people to boards. it's hard to find people who will sit on them.
ReplyDeleteby the rationale of some folks here, only red book certified bond council could sit on the parking authority.
the fact is, people are stretching for a reason to disqualify this woman.
if these clowns had simply said, as some of the commenters have pointed out, "i'm uncomfortable with this appointment because the nominee is too close to the DA, who played a pivotal roll in the Mayor's campaign"-that would have been legitimate.
instead, they acted like rookies, and made themselves look foolish.
Mezzacappa, Dolan, Reuscher, Morganelli, all fine strong women that O'Hare has targeted on his hate blog for no reason other than an undercurrent rage so strong that it could power a Mack truck.
ReplyDeleteMezzacRaZY, I doubt any of those women like being included in the same sentence with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat old codgers like Bernie don't get is that the progressive movement led by people like Waldron, Geeting, and Dolan is taking a stand against the deeply embedded cronyism that has long stained city Government. Laugh and call us "urbanistas" but we are the future, and the time is now!
ReplyDeleteThe grand jury is a non-binding kabuki dance. Morganelli won't be prosecuting a Democrat. Why is this so difficult to understand? He's running for (fill in the blank). Dolan has nothing to worry about.
ReplyDeletehttp://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=179139
ReplyDeleteYes, Phillip Tushman is an example of deceptive trolling. If Waldron or Dolan wanted to say they opposed the wife of a close Donchez friend serving in an unpaid volunteer role, they could have said so. This is hardly cronyism bc there's nothing in it for Morganelli except grief. Cronyism would be the removal of a long-time compensated Solicitor and replacing him with one of your allies.
ReplyDeleteOr like making Lisa Boscola's husband Director of Water and Sewer.
DeleteIf you consider that a crony appointment, you were certainly free to tell Council. They were free to vote him down. But you'd rather make an anonymous attack.
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you about Ed Boscola. I know him quite well bc he was the Director of Public Works in Northampton County. He did his job very well, and is probably the finest Public Works Director I have seen.
In the bond hearings, he was the only witness who really knew what he was talking about, and almost sunk my case.
Unlike his wife, he is not a politician and is a bit distant when you approach him. But he listens, and if what you say makes sense, he follows your advice. Boscola completely re-designed the Recorder's office when a group of us told him it does not work.
I am sick and tired of seeing people like Boscola condemned because of his wife. Judge him on his own merits. He deserves that job bc of who he is, not bc of who his wife is. And Bob Donchez was lucky to get him.
Phillip: Actually the time is now! There are plenty of young conservatives out there. Everyday the obama administration is converting more and more. Funny how dems seem to think the have the young vote all locked up. Right here at home there is a new generation of young elected republicans...
ReplyDeleteI am a Republican in a City where everything we say doesn't matter but anyone who can't see the conflict of interest, cronyism, and RUBBER STAMP of Donches appointing his campaign manager and best friends wife is just totally blind in my eyes. What happened to the thought of hiring the best qualified person for the job? Did he even interview anyone?
ReplyDeleteIt is Donchez, not Donches. It is an unpaid advisory role, not the College of Cardinals. He is the Mayor, and unless there is some evidence that one of his appointees is unqualified, he is entitled to deference. This was unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteSo he should be allowed to place all his close friends on "unpaid volunteer" authorities and boards that make decisions on millions of dollars of tax payers money? This is crazy thinking!
ReplyDeleteNobody has said that, but the mayor and any executive is entitled to great deference. It's called "advise and consent", not advise and deny.
ReplyDeleteThe real story you should be writing is why a "magna cum laude" as you humorously entitle her and the wife of the DA wants to be a parking bureaucrat.
ReplyDeleteThat's easy. The only reason Diana wants to be on the Parking Authority is because her friend, the Mayor, asked her. It's not complicated, except to conspiracy theorists and idiots.
ReplyDeleteis it paid?
ReplyDeleteFor about the 700th time, no. Geez.
ReplyDelete"Nobody has said that, but the mayor and any executive is entitled to great deference. It's called "advise and consent", not advise and deny."
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many times Donchez voted against an appointment of one of the 3 mayors he served on council under.
Probably never.
ReplyDeletehttp://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2011/04/mountain-wont-come-to-mohammed.html
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. Let me add that, though impeccably qualified, Fazil works for D'Huy Engineering, and would be conflicted in many matters that go before the Planning Comm'n. In fact, he was just before them, advocating his plans for Nitschman, and quite ably.
ReplyDeleteFunny, in the almost 3.5 years since Fazil was rejected, the Nitschsmann project is the first BASD project to go before the planning commission. Donchez should not have voted against Fazil.
ReplyDeleteJust like this Council should not vote against Dianna Morganelli.
I cover the planning commission and D'Huy Engineering, for whom Fasil works, has had several matters.He would be conflicted too often.
ReplyDelete