Opinions Online, 9/26/15

Blogger's Note: Opinions Online is a regular Saturday feature. If you'd like to express your opinion on any topic, click on the Opinions Online button on my left sidebar. You can also call 385-325-2564. In addition to these submissions, I am taking some comments from throughout the week and re-publishing them here.

**********

Whoever decided on the timing for the light at the intersection of 412 and Commerce Center Blvd. is either a moron, never visited the site, or both. It is green for WAY too long for the traffic turning onto 412, leading to even more gridlock on 412.

While I'm on a Penndot rant, 78 could use a third lane between 309 and the state line in each direction, but it will never happen. The least they could do would be a third lane going east approaching Rt. 33 starting at 412. If I had a dollar for every time I was stuck in the left lane behind a truck doing 35mph passing one doing 33mph going up that hill, I'd have enough money to move out of this area.

**********

Watching MS Franz talk to the Northampton County Council during the Personnel Committee meeting address Council about upgrading clerks from a one title to a two title really upsets me. When I worked for the county I had to take a test to be promoted. Why are some workers given upgrades without never having to test for positions w here others in the county struggle hard to pass a test in order to better themselves? Why isn't council questioning this tactic? Just another John Brown way of getting things done. Ms. Franz is taking people that passed a test for Clerk One and letting them skip the test for Clerk Two because she knows the clerks could never pass the test to being with. I hate the politics of it all

**********

I'm not a Charlie Dent fan by any means, but at least he is not completely against women and women's health. On Friday he was one of just three Republicans in the house to vote against the funding freeze for Planned Parenthood. Now if we could just get him the stay completely out of women's health and agree a woman has a right to make her own choices about her body. Sadly this is what a "moderate" Republican looks like today.

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/254181-house-votes-to-freeze-funding-for-planned-parenthood

**********

So now that it's been decided that Brown's minions will keep their raises through the end of the year (at least), can someone tell me how many other county employees/ unions are still fighting for their fair share? I know the Court-Appointed Professionals are still fighting for a fair contract, and the county keeps pushing back arbitration. How many unions are there in Northampton County? And wouldn't the unions be stronger if they were united?!

**********

Well done by the LV death row newspapers by telling everyone that horrific construction would be starting on Route 22 between Fullerton and 145 on this past Monday. They haven't done crap all week and my commute has been greatly improved because people seem to be avoiding it.

**********

Allentown Student Walkout: Have been following this story from afar, but have done some digging on the players "coaching" these students. The research isn't pretty.

Frassetto - Was let go by RCCS at the end of last year and is an embarrassment to his current employer (MACS). Believe I read he was let go by ASD, but I can't confirm this. If so, it could explain his beef against the district. Posted videos on his facebook of leading the kids in a rehearsal of protest chants. When one of the student protesters was asked by reporter if they were protesting against the ASD administration they replied "I guess". Sounds like that question wasn't on the prepared script. Impressionable kids are just lemmings in this situation.

Nate Whips - Nit Whit is more like it. Poses as a reputable young entrepreneur in the Allentown area when in fact his real name is Nathan Markham who has an extensive arrest record dating back more than 10 years and includes car jacking, drugs and violence. Posted several unintelligible facebook videos supporting the students "You know what I'm saying". No Mr. Whip's we don't.

EM3 - Frassetto also thanks EM3 for their support. This is Lo-ammi del Villar who was arrested last week for threatening to slit his co-workers throat.

Nice leadership team!