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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Opinions Online, 12/26/15

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.

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Bernie, I want to bring to your attention and others, that back in 2009 the governing bodies received $2.15million for Martin Tower redevelopment and asbestos abatement, as reported by the Mcal. I think this and any other past financial funding should get a full accounting of where it went. There is probably no cost advantage in removing the asbestos in a tear-down vs just removal, if removal is necessary at all. After all, Martin Tower was used 35 years up until 2007 with asbestos laws in place.

I had an opinion printed in the Mcall 12/10/15, which was edited a bit, but basically called for the protection of Martin Tower for historic, architectural and financial reasons. The tower makes high pay jobs possible; the loss of it and the rezoning plans bring minimum wage jobs. With the property value so low I called for the possible use of eminent domain to protect and benefit the public's interests in the property. Please keep up your effort and reporting.

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Why is the city of Bethlehem increasing taxes in the city by 2.2% and giving the dept heads and their subordinates a 6% wage increase. This will raise their wages to over $104,000 a year . With this increase the Business Administrator will be paid $107.000. Nice when you are not a resident of the city and pay no wage tax. Once again the property owner suffers. Hey how about our recycling going up $10.00 and the recycling coordinator get a $12,000 raise. Wake up property owners.

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Few people realize or ever talk about the two sides to economic development. Yes, jobs are necessary but how many more do we need ? Do we want unlimited growth and all the problems associated with it ? Increased traffic , more unhealthy days of bad air, loss of farmland and green space increased crime and basically more and more people , are just some results of more and more development. Remember when people move here they bring their problems with them; they don`t leave them in New Jersey.

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Why is it that people from this country who leave to join ISIS and other such groups don`t have their citizenship revoked along with passport and denied future reentry into this country ? If present laws do not allow this the laws should be changed and soon. We don`t need folks like this.

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Has anyone ever looked at the various boards, commissions, authorities and who sits on them, especially in light of all that is going on in Allentown?

While they are listed online with descriptions on the city website, their members aren't. But, looking a bit more closely, say, for example, the Allentown Housing Authority, where you've got Guridy (City Council), Jennings (ANIZDA), Hailstone (ANIZDA, Community and Economic Development)...small wonder Pennrose got involved in the NIZ.

But what about AEDC, ACIDA, ZHB, etc.?

Would be interesting if someone laid out a graphical "web" of players and their connections.

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What's going on with the hit-and-run death of Kyle Smith in Bushkill Township? There hasn't been any new information in the local press since the car was located. Given this is Nazareth, I can't help but think there's some shady business going on.

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Bethlehem just raised taxes and recently paid off Hirko suit for 7 Mil. They continue to tax us for Hirko, even though it has been satisfied and bonus tax us for more property taxes. What about the casino money? Where the hell is that going. Why increase recycling tax, when initially it was intended to be an income producer for the City of Bethlehem.

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Ben Long is licking his chops to run for a certain ghost voter seat.

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the saddest municipal Christmas Tree is South Whitehall Township. They totally broke a 50 year tradition of lighting the two huge evergreen trees at the township building with a high visibile road out front to go to a covered bridge that no one drives near at night near Molovinskys favorite Wehr's Dam..... its awful.

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

Things have really gone off the rails in Bethlehem. It is a shame that Jim Gregory is not here. Had he not have to go away he could have co9ntinued to be the people's watchman over Bethlehem politics. Without his vigilance things have really come undone. Many have talked about that. Makes people wonder exactly why he was sent away for so long.

Bernie O'Hare said...

He was sent away bc he beats up women and repeatedly violated a court order mandating that he avoid all contact. He manipulated jail inmates, even to the point of having one contact his ex after being released. He thumbed his nose at the courts, with the help of Tricia Mezzacappa, and used the radio to engage in wholesale defamation. When he does get out, I understand he intends to file private criminal charges against her.

C.P.M. said...

I worked in Martin Tower for virtually all of my 30+ years with the company. It was widely known that the tower contained asbestos and that it was perfectly safe as long as it remained undisturbed. I'll bet there are scores of other buildings in the Lehigh Valley that also contain asbestos including other high rise buildings in Allentown. The main obstacle in selling the tower was the fact it did not have a fire suppression sprinkler system which was not required when the tower was built in the 1970's. Many years after the tower was constructed, the City of Bethlehem enacted an ordinance that all high rise buildings must contain a fire suppression system after, I believe, there was a fire at the Hotel Bethlehem.
The price to install the sprinkler system was in the range of $5M.
One thing for sure, Martin Tower was built using the very best materials and technology. Anyone who ever worked at Bethlehem Steel knows shortcuts were never taken.
It would be a real tragedy to see such a historic landmark demolished.



Anonymous said...


" Bernie, I want to bring to your attention and others, that back in 2009 the governing bodies received $2.15million for Martin Tower redevelopment and asbestos abatement, as reported by the Mcal. I think this and any other past financial funding should get a full accounting of where it went. There is probably no cost advantage in removing the asbestos in a tear-down vs just removal, if removal is necessary at all. After all, Martin Tower was used 35 years up until 2007 with asbestos laws in place"


The above comment also highlights money given to sellers by Allentown council for new park acquisitions. One site is at the river's edge adjacent to a disposal plant. Did a single council member travel to this site prior to approving this sale? Taxpayers must attend council meetings everywhere and insist these elected officials conduct business in the open and with integrity.

michael molovinsky said...

@6:47, as an advocate for historical sites in the valley, martin tower may be a landmark, but it's not historical by any criterion, especially in bethlehem. furthermore, as a fan of architecture, it has none of that either.

Bernie O'Hare said...

MM, Given your track record as an advocate for historical sites in the LV, please don't become one for Martin Tower.

All kidding aside, I have no real opinion on the subject. I'd agree it has little historical value per se, despite its designation, and I believe the person who spent $12.6 million to buy this property ought to have some say on what he wants to do. Having said that, the Bethlehem Steel spared no expense building this monument and it contains marvelous views from nearly all sides of the building, unfettered by any other tall buildings in the vicinity. I did her a Mr. Klein state twice that this building could and should be rented, and he is a property manager in several states. I do not think the demolition numbers are anywhere close to accurate, and the $9 million RACP was for removal of the asbestos and installation of sprinklers, nit the demolition of the building.I'd want to see an independent study of the marketability of the tower, the true cost of demolition and would want to see a determination from the DCED that the $9 million can be used for demolition.

Anonymous said...

If someone actually wanted to include so much office space at that site, it's difficult for me to believe tearing it down completely, then erecting something the same size from scratch would make any financial sense. There is nothing wrong with the excavation or the steel framework already there.

I'd prefer to see it gutted and re-fitted with all the necessary upgrades to meet code. SOME daily-use office space maintained there will certainly help whatever retail/restaurants go in. Then, the top 5-6 floors could easily be moved as residential.

I just think there is more determined already for the site that we aren't being told. The plan probably DOES include a massive Sheetz gas station on the 8th and Eaton corner, and something mega Walmart-like behind. Whatever happens, the current space used for just parking will be retained, and the eastern side of the acreage will remain unbuildable.

Fred Windish

Anonymous said...

your taxes were raised, the Hirko tax was kept, fees increased and 6% pay raises were given because the sheep of bedlam either don't vote, push the dem button or actually believe that their supposed leaders care about their welfare.You have to blame yourselves first because you do not participate on a regular basis. No wonder the self serving so called leadership such as the inept mayor and paid for council members take advantage to further themselves or their contributors. This also opens the door for corruption and mismanagement by department and bureau heads as quite literally no one is watching.
The mayor and certain council people should not be re-elected, out of touch egotistical department heads need to be replaced. But if you don't participate, vote or even run for the positions then you really have no one to blame except yourself. Wake up citizens.

Anonymous said...

I believe the one Martin Tower grant was an EPA pass thru via Lehigh County.

Bernie O'Hare said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

The $10.00 recycling fee was likely due to the unionization of and additional benefits given to the part time employees of that bureau. $12,000 pay raise - WOW!!!!!

The business administrator has gotten over $10,000 in raises over the past 2 years.

Why do at least 9 city employees start off each year making more than the mayor?

Anonymous said...

9:52,
Because they are more competent than he?

Anonymous said...

Long-time community development director Lori Sywensky is leaving Northampton County to become director of Turning Point. A real loss for the county. She was likely looking for a new opportunity that could better utilize her talents, but having to work for a underachieving voice-over artist hired by clueless Brown certainly could have been a factor in this decision. Regardless, best wishes Lori!

Anonymous said...

It isn't Nazareth it's Bushkill Township who have their own police department and it is an ongoing investigation. However there was an article 5 days ago, I posted the link. Just because the media isn't reporting doesn't mean the police aren't doing their jobs.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nazareth/index.ssf/2015/12/man_had_drugs_alcohol_in_vehic.html

michael molovinsky said...

bernie@7:34, just for the record, i'm 2 and 1. i did save the reading road stone arch bridge and wehr's dam, but lost the lehigh parkway robin hood dam, thanks to allentown city council. however, i should note that city council has never voted the right way on anything.

as for the tower, i have no opinion, other than the building has always seemed out of place to me, standing there by itself.

Anonymous said...

Martin Tower is merely a monument to corporate greed. It serves no current use or purpose. It's historic value is insignificant. No loss if it comes down.

Bernie O'Hare said...

MM, You could be 0-100 and I'd want you on my side. But I'm just not a nice guy and have to take shots all the time. I will enroll in your Miss Congeniality class this year.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:14, It is a monument to corporate greed to some, but to others, it is a symbol of a bygone era that at one time employed 31,500 people. Some of them worked in that building. Bethlehem has resurrected itself by taking rusty steel buildings and re-using them. It makes sense to continue that with Martin Tower. Like i said, I would like an objective study, not some anonymous assertion that is frankly worthless.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I've deleted one of my own comments bc it is so poorly written. I need to wear my glasses 100% of the time when writing. I trued to tell a reader that the grant for the tower's demolition is not EPA and that he should look at the right-to-know. It is clearly and RCAP grant, whoch means it was political money from the Governor and a caucus.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Long-time community development director Lori Sywensky is leaving Northampton County to become director of Turning Point. A real loss for the county"

She will be a big loss. But she is not the person you may have known when Stoffa was Executive. She was swallowed up by Diane Donaher, and I think she was worried about saying anything whenever I spoke to her. I just stopped talking to her, aside from pleasantries. I think she was far less effective tahn she had been under Stoffa, though Brown paid her more.

Anonymous said...

So long as Jim Gregory's new Unity PAC office occupies the top 3 floors I see no problem with keeping the tower,he has taught himself to fly helicopters using resources in the library and via lucid dreaming so it's important his new headquarters have a heli-pad so he can reach the Sands poker room quickly in case some big fish shows up.

Anonymous said...

Nobody gives a flying frig about a woman abuser - except you. Jim Gregory is rotting away where he belongs. All he needs is a map to the nearest shelter and soup kitchen when his senior citizen ass is released from prison. Total loser, spent another Christmas with rodents in his bunk.

Anonymous said...

michael molovinsky @ 11:15, the Reading Road stone arch bridge is far from saved, it is on the Long Range Transportation Plan and PennDOT TIP for a full replacement within 4-6 years, St Lukes is pushing hard for its replacement and it encouraging hard to make the new bridge safer for pedestrians, the nearby schools and the park system

the bridge is causing water flow problems that relate to flooding on Hamilton Street

I predict the Reading Road bridge will be gone by 2020

Anonymous said...

In Bethlehem, the union, department heads and the recycling guy had a very merry xmas and will enjoy the new year.

Citizens will enjoy tax and fee increases, a lump of coal and being continually ignored when they speak to council.

And the dem beat goes on....................

Anonymous said...

Boh134. An August 07, 2009 Mcall article suggested the cleanup of the vacant Martin Tower in Bethlehem woukd recieve a $900,000 federal grant for asbestos cleanup.

The grant to Lehigh County from the EPA was part of the federal government's economic stimulus package and was one of two slated for the region. The other was $300k to Northampton County for the ArtsQuest project. Yes, you are correct that subsequent, multiple RACP grants were earmarked for the Martin Tower.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The only grant money currently out there is the RACP grant.

Anonymous said...

is RACP available without a budget?

not that it matters, time to move on and rebuild

michael molovinsky said...

anonymous@2:39, its been my observation that replies such as yours are from a well known antagonist, who spent his christmas sending me insults, who takes glee in any setback to one of the many people on his famous enemy list, regardless of the merits of the subject. that said, i would hope not to involve myself in a second round on any of these structures. if this community is too ignorant to respect its history. btw, the reading road bridge has a separate pedestrian bridge, that's about as safe as it gets.

Anonymous said...

8:18,

Eighth Avenue, Schonersville Road and Eaton Avenue can not handle the traffic that a Sheetz and Walmart will generate. But then the City will probably allow the developer to provide his own traffic survey.

Unfortunately there is no simple solution to this problem. Fortunately there will be many more eyes watching then there were before the administration and council tried to pull a fast one.

Anonymous said...

"Bethlehem just raised taxes and recently paid off Hirko suit for 7 Mil. They continue to tax us for Hirko, even though it has been satisfied and bonus tax us for more property taxes. What about the casino money? Where the hell is that going. Why increase recycling tax, when initially it was intended to be an income producer for the City of Bethlehem".

Why is this a shock. THIS IS HAPPENEING EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK. The people of Pennsylvania are still paying the Johnston flood tax from 1936 after the horrible Johnston floods. The Johnstown Flood Tax is an 18% tax/MARK UP on all wine and liquor sales in the sate of Pennsylvania. It is a "hidden" tax that IS NOT printed on any receipt of purchase.


Now we understand more and more why the state /democrats/GOP establishment are fighting like hell to save their cash cow called the liquor stores and the union hacks who run them.While the 6% sales tax is shown, the Johnstown Flood Tax is hidden in the markup of the wine, so the vast majority of patrons aren’t even aware they’re paying this tax.

Where does the tax revenue go?

The $250 plus million collected annually no longer goes to flood victims. Instead, it goes into the GENERAL FUND, I REPEAT A GENERAL FUND, for discretionary use by lawmakers. HOW STUPID CAN PEOPLE BE TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE.

Govt on all levels, very rarely , if ever , repeal a tax and this 80 year old scam is no different.

I CANT MAKE THIS CRAP UP

Anonymous said...

@5:03 PM-forgot to included some sources-correction on the state govts take/revenue

more research on the flood revenue now has the govt take over 300 million per year and 5 billion for the state govt since day one of its implementation.

Now , can someone please provide a list of state politicians who pushed to repeal this tax? I do know several have tried to address this issue but were shot down by the democrats and the gop establishment.

http://articles.philly.com/2013-06-30/news/40273057_1_flood-tax-liquor-tax-alcohol-tax

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
Thank you for this addition to your blog. Mostly it is honest and thought provoking. Save the comments about Gregory. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you. Looking forward to LVR in 2016.

Anonymous said...

anon 2:30, you continue to Personally attack Jim Gregory. You must be a loser. Mr. Gregory has accomplished more in his life than you could ever hope to. This young man has changed the political landscape in the Lehigh Valley. He took a nobody like John Brown and made him County Executive. Had he not been sent away who knows how much better Bethlehem could be now.
he will soon return. he will no doubt be filing numerous civil lawsuits for defamation and wrongful prosecution. After he wins and collects millions of dollars he will re-launch his political machine and only God knows what he will achieve.

Word on the street is he will return in February and once back the Lehigh Valley will finally feel the winds of change and a breath of fresh air. The Mediterranean manslab with the sable locks will once again be celebrity number one of the Valley.

Bernie O'Hare said...

5:37, it is not what I was hoping to see. It is mostly reactions to stories that have been posted here. I am looking for opinions much more akin to those in the newspaper from which I stole this idea. A cop parked on handicapped zone. A business leader who is running smock. A stop sign that does not work. A local official who goes out of his or her way to help someone. Teachers who don't give a shit. Those who do. This needs work.

michael molovinsky said...

bernie@6:14, actually, i thought you stole the idea from me. i had OPEN MIKE back as far as 2009. since i started moderating (approving) comments, initially in response to the cyberstalking by the antagonist, OPEN MIKE lost it's appeal to me. although, i think that comment wise you're doing well, i wouldn't want to host comments about manslabs. what kind of a-hole is an @5:58, to send such anonymous crap, again and again?

Anonymous said...

MM you need not be jealous of Mr. Gregory, although it would take quite some time and effort you too could have a Jack LaLanne like physique if you hire Jim as your personal trainer and nutritionist.

Based on the tone of your recent comments I feel Jim could also serve as your spiritual adviser considering the amount of time he has spent studying all the major religious tomes.

Bernie O'Hare said...

No, MM. I stole the idea from a Saturday feature called Opinion Line in the Huntingdon Daily News, which has run since 1977. It is very controversial there. I would like to see it used to discuss things besides the issues i discuss. I would like it to be more hyper local. Someone had some really good stuff about Moore Tp, but i had to delete it bc it was arguably defamatory.

http://www.huntingdondailynews.com/opinion-line

For your open mike, People would just leave comments. This is different. I collect comments for a week and then post as part of a separate blog. The person who makes the comment will not see it buried in the comments page, as is the case in your not-so-open Mike.

Another difference is you are tougher on readers than I. It is hard to get published on your blog. Although i'm a slut and am easier than you, I make up for it by being real nasty to anyone i perceive to be an asshole.

Basically, we're both jerks.

Another big difference is that, since I post these comments as a blog, I am unable to accept comments that are arguably defamatory. You and I are immune for liability from what is posted as a comment. But i very well may lose that immunity when I publish that comment as part of mu Opinions Online blog. So unlike the comments, i am careful not to allow defamation.

It is a good feature, but I need to explain it better. This week is pretty good. But there have been several weeks where the dialogue focused on trolls.

Ideally, I'd like it to be the best-read feature of this blog, and a place where new stories are broken. Citizen journalism.

Anonymous said...

"Citizen journalism."
My Ass!

At least MM is honest with his blog. He moderates and makes people sign in, good for him. You claim to allow comments but you know that is really not totally accurate. You want anonymous comments because that means volume and volume means you get many. many hits.

However, while you love the attention and notoriety for your blog you really rule comments with an iron fist. You continually delete numerous comments you don't like or deflect from the agenda you are pushing. You do that on a constant basis.
So in the long run between you and MM, he is by far the most honest. You are just a better bullshit artist.

Anonymous said...

"Why is the city of Bethlehem increasing taxes in the city by 2.2% and giving the dept heads and their subordinates a 6% wage increase. This will raise their wages to over $104,000 a year . With this increase the Business Administrator will be paid $107.000. Nice when you are not a resident of the city and pay no wage tax. Once again the property owner suffers. Hey how about our recycling going up $10.00 and the recycling coordinator get a $12,000 raise. Wake up property owners".

THESE ARE YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS? WHAT A CROCK. IT IS MORE LIKE THE TAX PAYERS ARE THE PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE CITY GOVT AND TO THOSE WHO PAY LITTLE TO NO TAXES AKA , THE ZERO LIABILITY VOTER.

AFTER ALL, THE TERM , ZERO LIABILITY VOTER FITS SO WELL HERE. THE ZERO LIABILITY/SPECIAL INTEREST VOTER COULD CARELESS ABOUT PAY HIKES , TAX HIKES OR PROPERTY TAX HIKES...AS LONG AS THEY GET THEIRS.
People don't mind paying their fair share, but not for garbage like this, over and over.

Once again, when a city, state or country has more zero liability voters or more takers than makers, this is what you get, because in their eyes, "hey , someone has to pay it." "they are rich, they can afford the tax hike."

An out of control govt, could give a flying f, about doing what is right by the tax payers.

The actions of these political criminals will have no repercussions and they know it and that is when the trouble really starts. Look at Allentown for reference.

So for all of those who come on here and talk about restoring democracy.
Really now?
In reality, this is what a "one party/corp/union, cronyism democracy" looks like. This is an example of the ruling class not fearing any consequences for their continual fleecing of the tax payers.
For it to be called anything else close to real democracy , would be a misstatement, aka , a lie.
People will be pissed about this for a week or maybe a month or longer.
But you can bet your last dollar , these same people will vote for the same people and the same party.
These will be the same people sending in donations and sponsoring and or attending fund raisers, for the same govt officials/admin/party.

A very wise man once said,"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Albert Einstein

Bernie O'Hare said...

10:58, What would an anonymous coward like you know about honesty? Yes, I do allow anonymous comments, but it is no license for assholes like you to attack other people. i obviously delete you frequently and anyone reading your hate can see why.

Peter J.Cochran said...

Bernie -Happy New Year- I wish all your followers regardless of party affiliation a good safe new year. Now, when I say this I mean just that. Security ,personal and collective has to be buttoned up a bit . The Sheriff will sprout a new routine at court house and cities around this nation will get with it. Regular people need to become vigilant and pay attention . IT IS THE WORLD events now not just a national issue. Happy New Year

michael molovinsky said...

bernie, talking of citizen journalism, here's a scoop for your blog. i announce my candidacy for the 183rd state house district, under the republican banner. i could use help in northampton county gathering necessary signatures. i can be reached at 610 395-1815 between 7am and 7pm. michael molovinsky

Anonymous said...

Bernie allows the public to comment without retribution. He is the only blog that highlights what's wrong in our towns. Day Five from Harrisburg's Ghost Voting story and has the Call addressed this story? Saturday's front page included treasure found by city horses. Boy couldn't live without that headline.

"Citizen journalism."
My Ass!

"At least MM is honest with his blog. He moderates and makes people sign in, good for him. You claim to allow comments but you know that is really not totally accurate. You want anonymous comments because that means volume and volume means you get many. many hits."

Anonymous said...

"THESE ARE YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS? WHAT A CROCK. IT IS MORE LIKE THE TAX PAYERS ARE THE PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE CITY GOVT AND TO THOSE WHO PAY LITTLE TO NO TAXES AKA , THE ZERO LIABILITY VOTER."

New Year's is the perfect time for all of us to demand a change. Starting this week, each neighborhood could assign one person per meeting to attend and report back. With a round robin schedule, each person wouldn't need to attend but a meeting every few months. Bethlehem increases salaries 6%. Who in the world is getting 6% raises. How many residents attended the planning of this decision?
If office holders thought their reelections were vulnerable, perhaps the 6% would have been reduced.

Anonymous said...

"ESE ARE YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS? WHAT A CROCK. IT IS MORE LIKE THE TAX PAYERS ARE THE PUBLIC SERVANTS OF THE CITY GOVT AND TO THOSE WHO PAY LITTLE TO NO TAXES AKA , THE ZERO LIABILITY VOTER."

The "zero liability voter" needs to attend government meetings. The voter needs to reverse a recently adopted municipal pattern of the public's comments being curtailed during Courtesy of the Floor. Why did all of us allow this to happen?

Anonymous said...

What is wrong with replacing Martin Tower with a mixed-use housing/townhouse/apartment development with something like the Promenade Shops?

No one is going to re-use it. It's a white elephant.

Anonymous said...

I've made a choice. That is, to help change out our elected representatives, both local and national.

The current crop no longer sees elected office as a TEMPORARY PRIVILEGE to serve fellow citizens. The job must become less about THEIR career and more about serving their neighbors back home.

Political office needs to become a TENTATIVE place of employment. Demonstrate this by moving out a great number of incumbents when you vote. No matter Democrat or Republican, there's too much deadwood in office. Prune it away!

Fred Windish

Anonymous said...

Why don't we renovate Martin's Tower for agriculture and use most of the grounds around it for a public park ... Inside Martin Tower we should create a vertical farm ... Renovating the various floors --- lighting/water/soil for different crops including tropical plants .

Anonymous said...

Fred

People have wanted term limits for years so people do not make a career of being an elected official.

Elected officials have always voted against implementing them, as they don't want to actually have a job in the public sector where they have to produce something of use that the public wants.

Anonymous said...

Maybe this is Schlossberg's greatest contribution to the state before he resigns:

Regarding Ghost Voting:
Quote from Patriot News comment:
"Back in November I was at the Capitol and had time to sit in on a House session at 1 PM, Nov. 16. I and the person I was with observed mucho, many, multiple, people on the floor logging in and voting for people that were not there!!!!!!!! I was horrified. nothing on the budget was going on that day but resolutions were being passed and voted on and I was stunned. I thought maybe there was a rule of some sort I wasn't aware of. The person with me was just as horrified. Even when the members were asked to indicate they were present, people were pushing buttons for so many Representatives who were not there! How can this be??? NEVER EVER should that be allowed. If you are not there you don't have someone indicate you are there and you don't have someone vote for you."

Anonymous said...

Not a bad concept 8:56. Grow weed on every floor. All varieties. Then partner with B.Braun to sell it as medical marijuana. Partner with Just Born to manufacture weed-infused Peeps! Finally, ship the rest to Denver in a fleet of Mack Trucks. Economic development at its finest. Karner and Donchez could puff on a fat doobie at the ribbon-cutting.

Anonymous said...

hey Fred Windish, you should run, you seem to have all the answers.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like litterally letting Martin Tower to "go to seed"...

Anonymous said...

Schlossberg gives even Brown Nosers a bad name

Anonymous said...

Schlopsberg is one of PA. legislature's big spenders according to expense account figures just released. More reasons to cut the size of the bloated state House of Representatives in half.

Anonymous said...

Why don't House votes include thumb print technology?

Anonymous said...

9;29,

They'd have to call ronca first to see if it was okay to speak

Anonymous said...

As Democrats believe that voter-id is a way to limit the number of voters at the polls, then we should use thumb print technology in our civic elections to eliminate voter fraud.

Anonymous said...

If Hillary Clinton attacks him as sexist, Donald Trump said it is “fair game” to bring up her husband former President Bill Clinton’s indiscretions.

Gotta love Trump...

Peter J.Cochran said...

Bernie I GREETED THE 'fleckster' yesterday ,he appears well and in good spirits.

Anonymous said...

http://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/campaign-reports-from-reading-mayors-pac-under-scrutiny

Here's the latest on the Reading side of the FBI investigation. Fleck worked in both cities, and many of the sources of money are the same.