tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post116537327669232019..comments2024-03-29T09:51:12.266-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Why Are Northampton County Employees so Damn Mad?Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165547084805022822006-12-07T22:04:00.000-05:002006-12-07T22:04:00.000-05:00Radcenter, Listen., don't get me wrong. Of course ...Radcenter, Listen., don't get me wrong. Of course I think open space is very important. And I have no desire to get involved in a jobs v. environment debate. My sole point is timing. Take care of your people then take care of these other things.<BR/><BR/>For example, the very distinguished Dave Maguire from the Sierra Club was in front of council tonight demanding funding programs for open space. Now there were also about 100 angry workers there, too, and they have sen no raises and some would be paid better at Taco Bell. Needless to sat, Maguire's was not warmly received by the audience. <BR/><BR/>But the ironic truth is some of his projects have already been funded while employees suffer. <BR/>I don't buy into destroyin environmentally sensitive areas because of jubs produced. That's bull. But this situation is a little different. <BR/><BR/>Take care.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165543988974483282006-12-07T21:13:00.000-05:002006-12-07T21:13:00.000-05:00Bernie, I know you know this, but "environment vs....Bernie, I know you know this, but "environment vs. people" is the same false choice that "pro-growth" lobbyists are always bringing up. In fact, without trees and wetlands, there would be no people. They are the lungs and kidneys of the planet. <BR/><BR/>And it is invariably more expensive fix the damage caused by neglect of the environment than it is to care for it in the first place. Witness the recent catastrophic flooding along the Delaware. Witness New Orleans. Witness western wildfires and midwestern droughts. All partially the result of human destruction of ecosystems.<BR/><BR/>Open space preservation was overwhelming supported by countywide referendum; therefore the county has an obligation to those citizens who voted for it to follow through on its promises. The fact that the county is disgracefully underpaying its employees is a separate issue entirely.<BR/><BR/>But fear not! The Sands BethWorks Casino will solve all of the Valley's fiscal problems [sarcasm]!RadCenterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982735191802825457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165523387198684322006-12-07T15:29:00.000-05:002006-12-07T15:29:00.000-05:00Someone please explain this concept to Lower Sauco...Someone please explain this concept to Lower Saucon Township. Trees are not more important that people.LSTresidentPIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09363453610874838651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165521457308746292006-12-07T14:57:00.000-05:002006-12-07T14:57:00.000-05:00Now we are singing the same tune Bernie!!!People c...Now we are singing the same tune Bernie!!!<BR/>People come first.<BR/>Special interests and hobbies are convienience items that should be rationed and budgeted.<BR/>The people are important.House of Crayonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01904691897127195568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165517227109698242006-12-07T13:47:00.000-05:002006-12-07T13:47:00.000-05:00Anon 11:38, We're on the same page. I don't mean t...Anon 11:38, We're on the same page. I don't mean to minimize the importance of purchasing environmentally sensitive lands. But as you point out, people should be first. The county has immersed itself in these projects, but its first priority must be the welfare of its workforce. I, for one, do not feel any sense of satisfaction when the county buys open space when I know its employees are forced to seek public assistance for food and heating.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165509488969405232006-12-07T11:38:00.000-05:002006-12-07T11:38:00.000-05:00People first...absolutely. But I thought you were ...People first...absolutely. But I thought you were all for preserving "enviornmentally sensitive areas," Bernie. By the way, "swampland" is not a bad four-letter word...its an old-fashioned synonym for wetland. I know you know that...guess you're just using the "s" word here for negative effect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165508643423033222006-12-07T11:24:00.000-05:002006-12-07T11:24:00.000-05:00Yes, Lamont McClure is union friendly. I think the...Yes, Lamont McClure is union friendly. I think the entire council should be friendly to the worker as well as John Stoffa. That's why I can't understand that this has become an issue.<BR/><BR/>And it should be the county's top priority - more important than new buildings, roads for Walmart, buying environmentally sensitive land for Upper Mt Bethel swamplands, a parking lot for luxury apartments at Riverport, or a road in Bethlehem for an industrial developer.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1165472269650708392006-12-07T01:17:00.000-05:002006-12-07T01:17:00.000-05:00Let us get something straight about Mr. McClure an...Let us get something straight about Mr. McClure and how he makes his living. He is a lawyer who makes his living winning damages for those who got lung cancer mesothelioma (sp) from absetos exposure, Other than county employees, most of his clients have to be blue-collar workers from say an old industrial area like the valley where there might be a lot of clients who were once unionized workers like steelworkers.LSTresidentPIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09363453610874838651noreply@blogger.com