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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, February 17, 2017

The NorCo Bulldog: "I Have Returned!"

When NorCo Council last met two weeks ago, Ken Kraft asked when Charlie Chrin was going to start kicking in money for farmland preservation.That was a promise made to Ron Angle when Council agreed to go along with a TIF that was supposed to produce at least 5,000 jobs at the Route 33-Tatamy Interchange. Whenever he sold a big box, he was supposed to kick in part of the profit until the county had $2 million to preserve working farms. Nobody seemed to know whether Chrin had kicked in anything. "Where's Ron Angle when we need him?" complained Kraft. He got his wish last night. After an absence of several years, the Northampton County Bulldog has returned, as full of fire and fury as ever.

"People of Northampton County, I have returned," said Angle, with a cigar in one hand and an old copy of Lehigh Valley Business in the other. An amateur historian, Angle was quoting the words that Douglas MacArthur uttered on his return to the Phillipines. The only difference is that, instead of the trademark corncob pipe fancied by the Gaijin Shogun, the Bulldog prefers a stogie and suspenders.

Angle came bearing gifts. He brought a few small bags of Class A sludge pellets, which he handed out before the meeting as Valentine's Day presents. Unfortunately, a Deputy Sheriff thought they were candy, and began eating them.

Her memorial service is on Tuesday.

As deadly as Angle could be in his three terms on Council, he is much more dangerous in the audience. Ask Upper Mount Bethel Township.Or Lower Mount Bethel Township. Or Bangor School Board. When they saw him, NorCo council members hoping for the usual twenty-minute meeting suddenly became quite uneasy. Administrator Cathy Allen scowled. Executive John Brown looked as though he had indigestion, and turned green when Angle plopped his yellow farm hat right next to this wannabe blue blood and former Notre Dame cheerleader, nattily attired like Mr Corporate America.

What made Ron leave his cows?

It was the story he read in Lehigh Valley Business about how John Brown and Council are addressing their crumbling infrastructure with a so-called public-private partnership.Under this program, called P3, 33 of the County's 119 bridges have been conveyed to the General Purpose Authority (GPA) for repairs at 20-30% less than would be paid if the County were to do the work itself. In addition to being cheaper, Executive John Brown has said that the work will be done more quickly. This sailed through Council 7 to 1, with Ken Kraft being the sole No vote, and I thought he was nuts st the time. What's not to like?

The Bulldog doesn't like it, either.

"The story started out saying this was 'innovative,' and ends up by saying they've been doing this for 17 years in California,"  Ron started. "I don't know how 'innovative' it could be if they've been doing it in California for 17 years" He added that he'd hate to see California's finances copied in NorCo. .

He then ticked off the following, more, specific criticisms.
  • If there are utility easements on a bridge, as is often the case, the County is going to have to pay extra. 
  • The project is already $1.5 million over budget and a year behind schedule, without a spade hitting the ground.
  • Kriger Construction, the low bidder on this deal, was well below the others. "The first thing you ought to ask yourself is why?"
  • Though Kriger has some PennDOT bridge qualifications, it's for minor repairs and to mow grass around bridges.
  • Kriger has zero P3 experience. "They've never done a P3, which is an RFP requirement. So again, you ignored that, and they had no experience. They actually have never, ever performed a fixed price contract. And I think all of you would agree this is a major project." 
  • Kriger had to get three lines of credit from three different banks (one of them owned by Louis DeNaples)to come up with the money. It is at best a $4-5 million company. 
  • Most of the work will be done by people from the coal regions. "Why did you not have in your requirement that a percentage - at least 50% - would come from Northampton County?"
  • Love him or hate him, Donald Trump has pledged to provide stimulus money for infrastructure projects, so it would make sense to wait and see what he plans to do.
"You people have gave this contract to someone with literally no money, with three banks on the hook, with no experience doing this kind of stuff, they never met the requirements of your RFP, the only thing they did do is give you the low bid. Well, I think you would learned in history that the low bid is not necessarily the best bid."

"When I hear the term 'public private partnership,' I cringe. In my lifetime of being around the world of public office, I've always understood what that meant. The public will be on the hook for the bill. The private sector will make the money.  It's like the NIZ in Allentown. What has the NIZ done for the citizens of Allentown? Nothing, but there's a couple of individuals who have made hundreds of millions and pretty well will make billions 'till it's over."

When Angle was done, he got 12 yard stares in a two-yard room.

Ron Angle is a husband, father, farmer, entrepreneur, antiques aficionado, cigar lover and is the greatest storyteller I have ever heard. Though he claims his heritage is Dutch and German, he is in reality Irish, a Slate Belt seanchaĆ­, a valued keeper of the oral tradition. As a Druid, I know these things

He's also my best friend.

His appearance at Council tonight tells me he might run for one of the five at-large seats on Council, especially now that incumbent Mat Benol has decided to take a break. But Ron also enjoys private life and communing with the cows at his farm. He is a cow whisperer, and even understands the language. Don't reach any conclusions.

He's also the Republican that Democrats love to hate. They will come out in droves just to vote against him. Come to think of it, a lot of Republicans hate him, too. Especially the bluebloods. But Ron has enough supporters to win a county-wide race for one of five seats.

He makes government better. People have told me they took extra time to prepare if they knew they would be facing the Bulldog. If Lamont McClure wins the Exec race, which looks more likely as he raises money and chips away at Brown, Angle will hold him accountable. Lamont knows this. If John Brown prevails, Angle will be just as critical. He proved that last night.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stop bullshiting O'Hare, everyone knows he is running. The Northampton County yapping Chihuahua will throw his usual shat pellets. However, times have changed and young folks have been brought up to speed on the Slate Belt Narcissist. He will run and he will lose. Even with your propaganda, people know him by his dead's and his BS.

His part in the dump Gracedale scam is well known, as well the "alternative Facts" he threw around. I think Dem's will welcome his arrival, it means at least one seat for them.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, in the "old days", he would tick off his facts. Nowadays with the internet every word of his will be fact checked and this guy, based ion his track record, will do worse than his hero Trump, when it comes to accuracy.lol

Anonymous said...

Make NO MISTAKE........ The polls are IN just as the Fake News said "Hillary"... STAY TUNED AND GET READY.......

The EMPERER is about to enter the castle.... this is the worst thing that could ever have happened to the Brown/Allen trash team.

He will win by a landslide and will be back....... those that think Brown is going to be re-elected? keep drinking the koolaid with the Hilary supporters....

Anonymous said...

love,love ron angle ! he is knowledgeable on all things county i'm glad he's back he keeps people Honest!

Anonymous said...

Yes, finally someone who could knock off one of these under-achieving incumbents. If any of them get reelected, he will keep them on their toes.

Bernie O'Hare said...

2:04,I don't lie to my readers and I say who I am. If I knew for sure he was running, I would say so. But I don't. Ron is doing all the things he needs to do if he wants to run, but may not. He knows hat it is like to be in public office and to have to deal with assholes like you. That will be his call.

Anonymous said...

We need dialogue and common sense ideas at county. If Ron can bring something to the table that makes sense and could work for the benefit of all of our residents..I say welcome back! A side show is not needed so it's up to him.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Democracy, when it is working, is supposed to be sloppy and fractious. What we have now is a mutual admiration society that slaps each other on the back. Angle's appearance yesterday probably emboldened Peg Ferraro to ask questions about a "gift" to the county from one of its vendors.

Anonymous said...

"What made Ron leave his cows?"

well, the cows, clearly.

X said...

Bernie,
over there in that county do they now also allocate monies to one needed human service and than reallocate it to another pet of ones in charge, to most of us that would be a misappropreation? This is one of the many local countiesx3 carnival circus sideshow shell trix with the fictisiously faked monies put to print on spreedsheets that are uncomprehencible?
Than there is the question of, the dressmaker much like omar the tent maker!
REpublican redd
humanist by design

Anonymous said...

Regardless of who is talking about it, the County has to be worried about this bridge contract because it's bad news followed by worse news and not a single bridge is under construction.

Already over budget is a problem. Giving the contract to an authority that has ill-suited staff and legal counsel for such a contract on top of a contractor that has no P3 experience - is downright negligent and a looming disaster.

In my opinion, County Council has been bullied in executive sessions into their present course of action by Brown and Lushis. They are in way over their heads on these bridges and they are going to regret going along with this plan.

Anonymous said...

And Peg will be waiting with her backstabbing dagger. The dishonorable don't like Ron.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
In the bag of shit pellets was there some of his attack shitflies!

Anonymous said...

"i'm glad he's back he keeps people Honest!"

Who keeps him honest?

Anonymous said...

Ron the bull dog loves it doggy style that is true,

Bernie O'Hare said...

12:59, I ate a few of those shit pellets myself. They were quite tasty.

Anonymous said...

You can seed Berne's alt-right followers are salivating at the chance of the local Trump wannabe running for office.

Peter J.Cochran said...

Ron Angle can save us from our ourselves in effect. He has the time ,the smarts and the additude. He. Is not running for the money or prestige.

Peter j.cochran said...

Give me your sincer ,your intelligent people and guide us forward . To hell with political burdened individuals. They suck off the hind ass. And I will say we need bridges and commerace . We need somebody to set the standard for work ethic. My example Is your Easton Erea School District. They are apparently unaware that the Anchor Babies will go back to there parents venue shortly. So these Einsteinium folks are spending millions on the schools. We need leadership .

Anonymous said...

Nobody knows finances like Angle

Anonymous said...

Bernie, given your complete inability to be close to objective covering Ron Angle, you should refrain. If he is a political candidate you should not cover him in any way. You know you would be too biased to be anything close to fair.

Anonymous said...

Disagree. Bernie's opinions are quite useful. His political prognosticating is consistently and hilariously wrong. Want to know the losers? Read Bernie's election picks.

Chris Casey said...

I think the argument can be made that TRUMP is America's RON ANGLE, not the other way around, but Ron Angle is sane, thoughtful, and intelligent, even if you disagree with him. Trump, on the other hand, is none of those things

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Bernie, given your complete inability to be close to objective covering Ron Angle, you should refrain. If he is a political candidate you should not cover him in any way."

Since when do I have an obligation to be objective about anything.I have never been objective,nor is the media. That is one of the myths that the gatekeepers try to spread. It is inherently dishonest. I owe my readers the truth. Ron is my best friend. They know that. They also know I won't lie to them. You, on the other hand, can't say who you are but give advice on ethics. You are a phony.

Anonymous said...

Oh great this old crapper is running. I heard a rumor the Dem's have another old retread running as well. What is it with old men. Time for new, exciting and smart young blood.

Matteo (Deeznuts) said...

I'll vote for Ronnie if he runs, but only as a Green Party candidate.

Anonymous said...

Angle is straight up- NO BS.. says it like it is.. like him or not that is what you get.. I'd rather a Ron Angle being himself then the lying sneakin rats we elect....

Also Bernie? How about the fact overlooked that that Labar running for DJ in Bangor is Sherwood Grigg's nephew and the political consultant hired has forbid the family and anyone associated with the campaign to even mention it cause everyone would know they are related and what a goof Griggee is and its his boy? Why not report on that secret conspiracy going on behind the scene's... why would someone who wants to be a District Judge run a sneakin like this? What a dishonorable thing......LABAR IS GRIGG's Nephew.......Why are they hiding it.... JUST NOT RIGHT TO BE SO SNEAKY with the voters.....

Bernie O'Hare said...

I will check into this. If true, it won't be hidden much longer.

Anonymous said...

So someone is branded because they are a relative to someone else. You really want to go down that road? You support Ron Angle and you want to go down that road? Be careful of the hate you want to spew.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Yeah, I'll go down that road, if true. LaBar started his candidacy by omitting the fact that he is a public defender,. Now it turns out that he has failed to disclose his connection to Sherwood Grigg.

Anonymous said...

"Angle is straight up- NO BS.. says it like it is.. like him or not that is what you get"

In a Donald Trump sort of way. He tells it like he believes it is, regardless of the facts.