When Lamont McClure was NorCo Exec, he often delivered lengthy addresses, although his focus was usually two or perhaps three matters. I heard no complaints from Council member Ken Kraft.
Executive Tara Zrinski has provided lengthy reports as well. But unlike McClure, she goes into detail about what is going on in numerous county departments. They are very informative. But last night, as he has done several times before, Kraft pushed Zrinski to be as quick as possible. In an effort to comply, she began speaking fast. When she was done, Kraft revealed he actually timed her.
I have to wonder why Kraft never complained to McClure during his sometimes-lengthy reports. Could it be because McClure, unlike Zrinski, is a member of the penis club?
Zrinski is the county executive and should be free to take the time she needs to update Council and the public about what is going on in the county. If this is too much for Kraft, he should resign.
After Zrinski was finished, Council member Theresa Fadem thanked her for these informative reports. I like that. It was one woman sticking up for another in what certainly seemed to me like a perfect example of discrimination against Zrinski because she is just a woman.
28 comments:
Maybe they could have her deliver her lengthy, more general comments at the END of meetings. Or ask her to provide her remarks in writing (to Council and the public) ahead of time.
If they ask for the latter, her reports might generate some useful discussion instead of coming off like a drone strike.
Right now, her reports feel like a filibuster of Council business.
O'Hare, who was a long time member of the penis club; in January resigned and now is a member of the soon-to-be defunct Me Too crowd...
Kraft always has been a waste of fresh air bully who like to hear himself talk above all others. TZ should just put him on ignore.
Kraft is a smug arrogant tool who thinks way too highly of himself
I’m not a Zrinski fan. I think she’s a nice lady but in over her head. Having said that she’s the exec and I think Ken Krafts attitude towards her is misogynistic and arrogant. If he doesn’t like how long she takes then run for exec or resign from council. Stop being an asshole.
Maybe Kraft hates being told what to do by women.
You are such an opportunist. What a great opportunity to make Ken look bad while glowing up (grooming)Terri. Is your life so joyless that you can't find any humor in it at all? Any opportunity to have a laugh is a good opportunity, but you somehow turned it into something ugly, as usual.
There is nothing funny about the way Kraft attempts to rush the Ezec, something HE would NEVER try with McClure. There was nothing funny about the way Zrinski had to rush through her statement. He demeans her, and in my view, bc she’s a woman. Why did he never complain to McClure about his homilies?
Ken never told Tara to rush yesterday. She took it upon herself to keep the joke going, and it is a running joke between them and others who think it's funny. You're making this ugly and what I find ugly is your attempt at grooming Terri. If she doesn't feel the ick from this post, I don't know what to say. You're creepy
Bernie you've said many times that Committees are where the work gets done. I agree with you. So shouldn't these reports that Zrinski is delivering be done at the Committee level?
I am not excusing or applauding the actions of Mr. Kraft but it is apparent that he can rattle Tara. I wonder if she enjoys being on the receiving end of the type of behavior she often exhibits with others. She is so impressed with herself and can’t understand why not everyone is as well.
My issue with Tara’s reports: who is the intended audience?
Sometimes she tells Council things that are already public, things they know.
Some of the report is useful. Sometimes it appears to be for politics and publicity.
He rushes her, something he would never even try with Lamont. You can pretend he’s just being funny and that Tara actually likes being demeaned, but it’s apparent from last night’s meeting that she felt she had to rush. I saw no laughter at this “joke” from other council member and what Fadem had to say tells me that Kraft may just be bullying her, something he tries with other council members
Why didn’t you make this suggestion when McClure was exec? Of course , you don’t want people to know what is going on. You want 15-minute meetings with no one knowing any more than absolutely necessary. If you want to be an oligarch, resign. We have enough problems
The intended audience is council, the public and the employees. She provides information about department that we would not otherwise know. Yes some of it is propaganda, but most of it is factual. It is actually she who has highlighted vacancies at the jail. It is she who has highlighted pay disparities. It was clearly at her direction that the county received a detailed financial report. She does try to be transparent. Her report also tells us about her mindset. She is quite clearly an environmentalist first, as her report last night reveals.i find them highly informative.
Women typically make up 60% of the Democratic vote. Mr. Kraft's seat will be on the ballot next year. District 1 is deep blue so the only way to take him on is the Democratic primary in May. A competent woman or DSA type from Bethlehem would have a real shot at winning.
I think the only thing that makes her report seem long is the jokes while delivering it. People want the information and your are speaking to an audience that is looking for information not comedy.
Now on the issue of that POS Kraft. He is just hurt that Lamont picked Tara not him to succeed him. And it hurt his little ego. So he will take shots at her as much as he wants. Because in the back of his head he is still thinks has a shot at that office
We all know Lamont is still putting in his 2 cents how things are run. Because he screwed things up so bad.
Tara needs to fire Lamont immediately. so the county tax payer and the county employees see she is a independent thinker.
I do not think Kraft ever entertained the idea of running for Exec. He is a district council member in a heavily Dem area, would have a hard time in a purple county and is involved in some sort of scuba diving business. I do not think he is seeking re-election.
Yeah, that’s what Bethlehem needs. Another Democratic socialist communist running for a seat to completely destroy this country. They already have one DSA member and he is a train wreck
Woman yes. NO DSA!!!
Penis or no penis, it doesn’t make any difference. There is nothing more boring or an absolute waste of than having a presenter read reports verbatim to an audience. Make copies available on paper and/or online.
I don’t know Kraft, McClure or Zrinski, but is it possible that Kraft got along better with McClure than he does with Zrinski, and their gender has nothing to do with it?
Most people are willing to give a break to some they like vs. someone that grates on their nerves, so I wouldn’t be so quick to make this into a sexist issue.
In politics, and in real life, some people are going to be like oil and water, for a myriad of reasons. Zrinski (or her advocates) can’t always play the sex card every time it happens to her.
She wanted the job, and it’s time for her to put her big-girl pants on and be able to accept that some might not always like or agree with her. That’s life.
I don’t see the issue. It’s a council meeting, not an executive press conference. Unlike the Executive, council members are part-timers with a limited amount of time to get their work done.
The administration’s role in council meetings should be determined by council, and should probably be limited to agenda items and matters that council asks about.
Maybe the practical solution is to put a time limit on the Executive’s comments, much the way every other resident (who is actually paying everyone’s salaries) is limited to discussing agenda and non-agenda items.
Good idea. Also they should cut public comment to three minutes per person, not five minutes.
Kraft likes a quick meeting. He also likes Tara. Votes with her 99% of the time - unlike say Lori Vargo Heffner.
Vargo-Heffner votes with her 98% of the time.
Putting a timer on her? That tells me he wanted attention. Why not just pull her aside in private and just ask her to speed things up a little? Kraft doesn’t seem like a very nice guy.
Anyone who has dealt with Kraft knows he's arrogant and certainly doesn't show respect to women in authority
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