Bethlehem Mayoral Primary Debate Between Willie Reynolds and Grace Crampsie Smith
I watched this debate, hosted by PBS last night, but want to watch it again. I thought both Willie and Grace were very well informed. She describes herself as fiscally conservative but socially progressive." That certainly is true of most of us. "The party's got to be the people that help [sic] people, "said Willie. He added, "I am an honest Democrat. ... People get way too invested in left, right, in the middle and so on and so forth. People want to know what your plan is to be able to help people out."
I liked that answer, which reminded me of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's blend of pragmatism and ideology. He talked about "getting out there and finding ways to make people believe." But that should also include listening.
I really have to watch this again because I liked both candidates. What's your opinion?
29 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I also watched the debate and found Willie to be polished and rehearsed, while Smith was sincere. There were a couple of times Willie was on the defensive and began to lose his cool, but overall, I thought it was a decent debate. Willie asked if Grace would support him in November and was taken aback by her, “no.” Honesty right there sealed my vote. Oh, and the fact that Willie will bolt if something better comes along.
I agree that it was a good hour. However, I just don’t see Grace as a person that could lead the city. I have voted for her when she ran for council, I think she’s a good council member, but I don’t believe she’d be a good mayor
I am going to decline to publish comments that fail to address the debate and performance by the candidates. Yes, Willie did have what appears to be a smirk, which I never saw before. I don't think that is intentional, but it will hurt him if he fails to change that facial expression.
He came across, as he always does, as arrogant woke Willie. He's doesn't give 2 shits about the average voter- only his wealthy & entitled campaign donors. He's a terrible Mayor!
Willie is comfortable and he has reason to have a smirk. He will easily win the primary, but Bethlehem will lose in the long run. I'd like this election to be a wake-up call for him in that he had a contender in his own party, but his arrogance will fail to recognize *why* he had competition. It will be more of the same with Willie, who will then pass the baton to Evans, who will pass the baton to the next person in the posse.
Bethlehem is a welcoming city and both candidates said they'll uphold this. Good for them. My wife's parents from San Francisco were 2nd generation Japanese and were put in an internment camp by the Roosevelt administration. We should never forget so that we never repeat this. We're in a dangerous time and should not gloss over FDR's dastardly deed.
i thought willie had better answers and a better overall message. yes, he was slick, but being a polished speaker isn’t a negative. i thought grace was vague about what she would do. she talked a lot about what she had voted against, but didn’t follow through on why — except she didn’t want to spend the money. i’m against waste, too, but want money spent when it is to our benefit. i wanted her to tell me what her vision was, but didn’t get that. as the incumbent, he gets to point to all the positives, whether he was personally involved or not. i was also dismayed when she said she wouldn’t endorse him; he said he would endorse her because he believes democrats are working for people — i agree with that sentiment. i’m tired of people who are too “pure” to vote for a particular candidate and throw their vote away in protest.that’s what got us trump in 2016.
Thank you Bernie for providing the video. I did feel Miss Smith was and is much more sincere about how she feels about Bethlehem and it's citizens. Although Willie will always wear that sneering grin he will most likely be reelected. Unfortunately his affordable housing program he often speaks of will never come true. Let's not forget that the city of Bethlehem had a community center on tbe south side and that was the Boys Club. We all know the building on that lot will not be affordable housing as well.
Willy smirk is his normal arrogant attitude coming out. His question about voting for him was a useless question since they have no Republican opponent.
Grace missed opportunity to ask him why he has held up MartinTower 1700 appartment unit development for 3 years when he is all about affordable housing.
Willy smirk is his normal arrogant attitude coming out. His question about voting for him was a useless question since they have no Republican opponent.
Grace missed opportunity to ask him why he has held up MartinTower 1700 appartment unit development for 3 years when he is all about affordable housing.
I watched it later in the evening on you tube. The first thing I noticed when the camera panned the audience was Reynold's city hall acolytes sitting front and center. The public should have been in those seats and the city employees in the rear.
I also thought it curious that one of the facilitators was Tom Shortell, whose wife works in the Reynolds administration. I thought Shortell and Will did a good job, but that impression of husband-wife connection wasn't a good one.
Reynolds speaking style is very fast which can give the impression that he's knowledgeable, but he often speaks fast and doesn't say much. I thought Grace was measured and thoughtful with her answers.
Another commenter mentioned the Martin Tower housing issue, and I think a good question for Reynolds would have been why he pulled the rug out from underneath an opportunity for the city to receive millions of dollars for the creation of affordable housing, or land to build it on at the Martin Tower site. The letter to Council from the Martin Tower developers/owners was pretty damning of Reynolds on the affordability issue and opportunity.
Grace's point about a large 70 unit block apartment building proposed for New and Garrison Streets eliminating affordable rental units, and her point about Bethlehem only getting upscale/luxury rental housing units were both spot on.
Grace was honest about not supporting Reynolds in the general election (there is no republican candidate to speak of) and he immediately tried to paint him as not being a democrat. What's with that?
I thought Grace was also forthcoming on the Marvine=Pembroke housing issue concerning where those residents would be housed as existing public housing was reconfigured or replaced. She hasn't been involved on that project as a part-time Council person and said so.
Finally, Grace will have open office hours once a month so the public can come to meet with her, which is very unlike Reynolds insulating himself from the public by not providing his city hall phone number and email address, let alone having designated visitation hours.
I hope in my lifetime, that Bethlehem finally wakes up and elects a competent Mayor, rather than 1 who's hand picked by the party leaders. Panto seems to be the only sane Dem Mayor in the valley!
It has been brought to my attention that the moderator Tom Shortell is NOT married to the person I thought he is married to and I sincerely apologize for my mistaken identity and error.
I too thought it was very distasteful to have the mayor's entourage of women in the front row before affording the opportunity to the taxpayers. Did not know of Tom Shortells wife being part of this administration but am not surprised by this. The arrogance is just absolutely nuts
Willie has no intention of doing anything about affordable housing. That was a promise he made 4 years ago and what has he done nothing but bring in more expensive housing for his yuppy friends. This is right out of the Lisa Boscola playbook. Every election cycle she promises she is going to get rid of school tax for senior citizens and does nothing once elected. Willie is doing the same thing to get elected say what the people want to hear with no intention of following up on the promise. Wake up Bethlehem give Smith a chance. You missed your chance with Dana. We need someone who cares about our city and Willie boy isn't it.
Reynolds is smug, arrogant , spiteful and revengeful. He threatened developers to back off the Southside church purchases or else he would use his planning and zoning departments against any of their future projects. Needless to say they back off. Lehigh University didn't and stayed in the bidding and eventually bought the three churches. Then Reynolds threatened Lehigh to put a homeless shelter on the boarder of the Lehigh campus to try and intimidate them. Not the qualities you would expect in a leader. Crampsie is a breath of fresh air. Send Reynolds back to teaching at Allen High School.
Referring to Reynold’s debate performance - “…smirk, which I never saw before.” Come on BOH, he displays that condescending, arrogant facial expression all the time. Please don’t fall into that “never saw it” BS. It’s reminiscent of the media “missing” Joe Biden’s decline.
Reynolds brags about often meeting with BASD. Could it be that the school district is getting worried due to the increasingly overpopulation at the expense of the recent apartment developments, with many more to come?
Willy kicked of his campaign at “The Boyd”downtown which is the most expensive apartment building in the city. That was advertised initially to be “workforce housing” but it is far from that. Way overpriced at over $2000/1bedroom when you build the fees not to mention parking garage fees.
Willy talks out of both sides of his mouth saying platitudes continuously if he isn’t demeaning his “subjects”. Nasty man who does not deserve the honor of mayor.
Grace is good listener & an open book type person. She deserves the honor this time.
In all fairness to Lisa Boscola, EVERY year she proposes it and avocates for it, and every year it is shot down by the Senate. She is a single vote, but every year she does what she says and tries to make it happen.
I thought it was shameful for Willie Reynolds to seek to deflect blame placed upon him by his challenger over the use of $1 million in consultancy fees, rather than spending a nickel to put a shovel in the ground and build a shelter for our homeless people. He said if you’re blaming me you’re blaming community action, New Bethany Ministries, etc. all the way down to the people working in City Hall. No Mayor Reynolds, they didn’t decide that to spend that consultancy money you did.
29 comments:
I also watched the debate and found Willie to be polished and rehearsed, while Smith was sincere. There were a couple of times Willie was on the defensive and began to lose his cool, but overall, I thought it was a decent debate. Willie asked if Grace would support him in November and was taken aback by her, “no.” Honesty right there sealed my vote. Oh, and the fact that Willie will bolt if something better comes along.
I agree that it was a good hour. However, I just don’t see Grace as a person that could lead the city. I have voted for her when she ran for council, I think she’s a good council member, but I don’t believe she’d be a good mayor
Too left, too goofy!
Bedlum needs Smith. Unfortunately, the dynasty will continue as wee willie fools the button pushers once again. Evans is next in line.
Just say No to woke willie and his sneering grin
I am going to decline to publish comments that fail to address the debate and performance by the candidates. Yes, Willie did have what appears to be a smirk, which I never saw before. I don't think that is intentional, but it will hurt him if he fails to change that facial expression.
He came across, as he always does, as arrogant woke Willie. He's doesn't give 2 shits about the average voter- only his wealthy & entitled campaign donors. He's a terrible Mayor!
Willie is comfortable and he has reason to have a smirk. He will easily win the primary, but Bethlehem will lose in the long run. I'd like this election to be a wake-up call for him in that he had a contender in his own party, but his arrogance will fail to recognize *why* he had competition. It will be more of the same with Willie, who will then pass the baton to Evans, who will pass the baton to the next person in the posse.
Bethlehem is a welcoming city and both candidates said they'll uphold this. Good for them. My wife's parents from San Francisco were 2nd generation Japanese and were put in an internment camp by the Roosevelt administration. We should never forget so that we never repeat this. We're in a dangerous time and should not gloss over FDR's dastardly deed.
I went to this and thought Grace Crampsie Smith performed much better than he did, and that seemed to be the general sentiment of the audience.
Got to attend this in person, and the sentiment in the audience seemed to be Crampsie Smith had a stronger performance.
i thought willie had better answers and a better overall message. yes, he was slick, but being a polished speaker isn’t a negative. i thought grace was vague about what she would do. she talked a lot about what she had voted against, but didn’t follow through on why — except she didn’t want to spend the money. i’m against waste, too, but want money spent when it is to our benefit. i wanted her to tell me what her vision was, but didn’t get that. as the incumbent, he gets to point to all the positives, whether he was personally involved or not. i was also dismayed when she said she wouldn’t endorse him; he said he would endorse her because he believes democrats are working for people — i agree with that sentiment. i’m tired of people who are too “pure” to vote for a particular candidate and throw their vote away in protest.that’s what got us trump in 2016.
Thank you Bernie for providing the video. I did feel Miss Smith was and is much more sincere about how she feels about Bethlehem and it's citizens. Although Willie will always wear that sneering grin he will most likely be reelected. Unfortunately his affordable housing program he often speaks of will never come true. Let's not forget that the city of Bethlehem had a community center on tbe south side and that was the Boys Club. We all know the building on that lot will not be affordable housing as well.
Willy smirk is his normal arrogant attitude coming out. His question about voting for him was a useless question since they have no Republican opponent.
Grace missed opportunity to ask him why he has held up MartinTower 1700 appartment unit development for 3 years when he is all about affordable housing.
Willy smirk is his normal arrogant attitude coming out. His question about voting for him was a useless question since they have no Republican opponent.
Grace missed opportunity to ask him why he has held up MartinTower 1700 appartment unit development for 3 years when he is all about affordable housing.
I watched it later in the evening on you tube. The first thing I noticed when the camera panned the audience was Reynold's city hall acolytes sitting front and center. The public should have been in those seats and the city employees in the rear.
I also thought it curious that one of the facilitators was Tom Shortell, whose wife works in the Reynolds administration. I thought Shortell and Will did a good job, but that impression of husband-wife connection wasn't a good one.
Reynolds speaking style is very fast which can give the impression that he's knowledgeable, but he often speaks fast and doesn't say much. I thought Grace was measured and thoughtful with her answers.
Another commenter mentioned the Martin Tower housing issue, and I think a good question for Reynolds would have been why he pulled the rug out from underneath an opportunity for the city to receive millions of dollars for the creation of affordable housing, or land to build it on at the Martin Tower site. The letter to Council from the Martin Tower developers/owners was pretty damning of Reynolds on the affordability issue and opportunity.
Grace's point about a large 70 unit block apartment building proposed for New and Garrison Streets eliminating affordable rental units, and her point about Bethlehem only getting upscale/luxury rental housing units were both spot on.
Grace was honest about not supporting Reynolds in the general election (there is no republican candidate to speak of) and he immediately tried to paint him as not being a democrat. What's with that?
I thought Grace was also forthcoming on the Marvine=Pembroke housing issue concerning where those residents would be housed as existing public housing was reconfigured or replaced. She hasn't been involved on that project as a part-time Council person and said so.
Finally, Grace will have open office hours once a month so the public can come to meet with her, which is very unlike Reynolds insulating himself from the public by not providing his city hall phone number and email address, let alone having designated visitation hours.
I hope in my lifetime, that Bethlehem finally wakes up and elects a competent Mayor, rather than 1 who's hand picked by the party leaders. Panto seems to be the only sane Dem Mayor in the valley!
It's a shame you weren't elected rather than this arrogant loser we have now.
It has been brought to my attention that the moderator Tom Shortell is NOT married to the person I thought he is married to and I sincerely apologize for my mistaken identity and error.
I too thought it was very distasteful to have the mayor's entourage of women in the front row before affording the opportunity to the taxpayers. Did not know of Tom Shortells wife being part of this administration but am not surprised by this. The arrogance is just absolutely nuts
Both Callahan and Cunningham bucked the party when they ran, at first. They were extraordinarily competent, even if you disagreed with their agenda.
Source: Me. Old guy. I was there.
Willie has no intention of doing anything about affordable housing. That was a promise he made 4 years ago and what has he done nothing but bring in more expensive housing for his yuppy friends. This is right out of the Lisa Boscola playbook. Every election cycle she promises she is going to get rid of school tax for senior citizens and does nothing once elected. Willie is doing the same thing to get elected say what the people want to hear with no intention of following up on the promise. Wake up Bethlehem give Smith a chance. You missed your chance with Dana. We need someone who cares about our city and Willie boy isn't it.
Reynolds is smug, arrogant , spiteful and revengeful. He threatened developers to back off the Southside church purchases or else he would use his planning and zoning departments against any of their future projects. Needless to say they back off. Lehigh University didn't and stayed in the bidding and eventually bought the three churches. Then Reynolds threatened Lehigh to put a homeless shelter on the boarder of the Lehigh campus to try and intimidate them. Not the qualities you would expect in a leader. Crampsie is a breath of fresh air. Send Reynolds back to teaching at Allen High School.
I agree, and Smith was good too- havent had a decent Mayor since. Wee Willie is terrible, and Donchez wasn't much better.
Referring to Reynold’s debate performance - “…smirk, which I never saw before.” Come on BOH, he displays that condescending, arrogant facial expression all the time. Please don’t fall into that “never saw it” BS. It’s reminiscent of the media “missing” Joe Biden’s decline.
Reynolds brags about often meeting with BASD. Could it be that the school district is getting worried due to the increasingly overpopulation at the expense of the recent apartment developments, with many more to come?
Willy kicked of his campaign at “The Boyd”downtown which is the most expensive apartment building in the city. That was advertised initially to be “workforce housing” but it is far from that. Way overpriced at over $2000/1bedroom when you build the fees not to mention parking garage fees.
Willy talks out of both sides of his mouth saying platitudes continuously if he isn’t demeaning his “subjects”. Nasty man who does not deserve the honor of mayor.
Grace is good listener & an open book type person. She deserves the honor this time.
In all fairness to Lisa Boscola, EVERY year she proposes it and avocates for it, and every year it is shot down by the Senate. She is a single vote, but every year she does what she says and tries to make it happen.
I thought it was shameful for Willie Reynolds to seek to deflect blame placed upon him by his challenger over the use of $1 million in consultancy fees, rather than spending a nickel to put a shovel in the ground and build a shelter for our homeless people. He said if you’re blaming me you’re blaming community action, New Bethany Ministries, etc. all the way down to the people working in City Hall. No Mayor Reynolds, they didn’t decide that to spend that consultancy money you did.
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