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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Brown Makes Good Call For LANTA Board

One of Northampton County Executive John Brown's first appointments was that of Richard McAteer to LANTA, the Lehigh Valley's mass transit provider. McAteer is the same guy who helped run Easton into the ground as Shadow Mayor under Phil Mitman. He has continued to exert influence under Mayor Sal Panto as the Chair of Easton's Redevelopment Authority. Glued at the hip to Jersey developer Mark Mulligan, he helped orchestrate a reduction in the property assessment of the Wolf Building, which Mulligan was buying from the County, and then voted by proxy for the reduction because he just happens to be a member of the Revenue Appeals Board.  Mulligan was also a board member at RenewLV, and took then Mayor John Brown by the hand to introduce him to Lehigh Valley Partnership types like J.B. Reilly. At the end of last year, he was sitting on nine different boards.  

McAteer is a part of the urban growth regime in which developers like Mark Mulligan or J.B. Reilly, and politicians like Sal Panto or Ed Pawlowski, scratch each others' backs.

The last place someone like McAteer belongs is on a board that tries to provide effective bus service for people unable to afford a car or who choose, as a matter of principle, not to drive.

I opposed this nomination, not on my blog, but in person. I figured I might as well make an ass out of myself there, too. and spoke against it at the February 19 Personnel Committee. I am very leery of people who manage to sit on several "nonprofit" boards and end up somehow enriching themselves, as we saw at the Steel Museum and, to a lesser extent, at Illick's Mill.

"It has to stop being a musical chair arrangement," I brayed. "I don't think you'll see Mr. McAteer hopping on a LANTA bus anytime soon. ... Here's an idea. Put somebody on who actually uses mass transit."

Brown defended the appointment and McAteer's "strategic outlook," whatever that means.

McAteer was confirmed unanimously the next night, which shows how influential I am.

But guess what? McAteer is ill, which is unfortunate for him and his family. I oppose his involvement in government, but do wish him a speedy recovery. He has apparently stepped down from LANTA to concentrate on his health. Brown has proposed replacing him with Kim Schaffer, a former County employee who actually did take the bus every day and is now Executive Director of Community Bike Works.

Brown has put someone on a mass transit board who actually uses it.

Maybe I should become a consultant.
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8 comments:

  1. Peter J.CochranAugust 21, 2014 at 5:46 AM

    Bernie this M-113 'school bus' equipped with a SAW and .50 Cal Browning is what we need here MORE than big long empty busses burning fuel at the rate of 1/2 gal.a mile . How is taxpayer funded , loser LANTA allowed to idle engines downtown Easton with the A/C blowen,after rules about diesel idling by the federal government?UPS does not do it because it's costly. UPS pay their own freight ? LANTA is in need of smaller class busses and keep them moving. They tie up traffic that hold back commerce that pays for them.They should also be co-ordinated as SCHOOL BUSES ,taxpayers get whacked by the redundancy of the school transportation dept.and other exorbitant cost.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 21, 2014 at 10:33 AM

    Ms Shaffer might one to look at the recent audit from the state which will require LANTA to return over 1M to the state.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 21, 2014 at 11:23 AM

    @ 5:46
    Can't swear about every LANTA bus currently, but the fleet is converting to gas/electric hybrids. More fuel efficient than the 7-10 mpg straight diesels get.

    Not sure what you mean by school buses being redundant to LANTA. Two different services.

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  4. Peter J.CochranAugust 21, 2014 at 1:55 PM

    Anon 11;23 I doubt that urban buses get even 5 mpg. Point is no reason why Lanta can't pick up high school students in Easton at a point Easterly and run to to West to the high school during a regular rout. They go the same direction so it is redundant upon the taxpayers dollars /buses are mostly open for seat capacity . They need smaller buses and less seating.They waist more than they can pay for on fee's charged here.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 21, 2014 at 5:22 PM

    Peter,
    Too many liability issues for LANTA and the school districts. A LANTA driver enforcing school discipline rules? Students co-mingled with the public, including possible sex offenders that may come aboard, keeping track of those loading and unloading at designated school bus stops? So much more to school busing than simply picking up and delivering children.
    Not feasible and as a parent, unacceptable.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Peter J.CochranAugust 22, 2014 at 3:43 AM

    Anon 5;22 OK you have a good point sir or Ms. I don't think perverse ideas about buses,I figure high school kids from Easton can handle stuff ,being tough kids generally.Your thinking and that solves problems.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Peter J.CochranAugust 22, 2014 at 3:43 AM

    Anon 5;22 OK you have a good point sir or Ms. I don't think perverse ideas about buses,I figure high school kids from Easton can handle stuff ,being tough kids generally.Your thinking and that solves problems.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hybrid Swim ShortsSeptember 12, 2014 at 1:15 AM

    Mulligan was also a board member at RenewLV, and took then Mayor ... hybridswimshorts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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