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.