tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post1342721276430280678..comments2024-03-18T21:53:54.073-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bethlehem City Council Prove They Can Be Idiots, Too! Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-38036873494963504092015-10-10T23:50:28.362-04:002015-10-10T23:50:28.362-04:00Schweder has done more for the city of Bethlehem t...Schweder has done more for the city of Bethlehem than you could imagine. Quit hiding behind your computer screen and posting garbage. Do some research!Kylenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-80033608974295490162015-10-08T19:41:23.081-04:002015-10-08T19:41:23.081-04:00anon 3:48you need to calm down. Lay off the caffei...anon 3:48you need to calm down. Lay off the caffeine and sugar. The problem with all your self-proclaimed "unbiased" reporting on the evils of government is that your own words betray your immense partisan vibe.<br /><br />Check out who contributed to Republicans like Sate Sen. Brownie or Norco executive Brownie. Also who get the bulk of money from Shel Adelson and the Koch brothers, on the order of near $100 billion. Give you one guess.<br /><br />Check out Republican strongholds in the suburbs and some southern urban areas. The money flows baby, the money flows. Hell former Mayor Johnny Callahan was a Republican but switched to Democrat to get elected in Bethlehem. Many former Democrats switched to Republican to "better represent their views" or in plain english, to get elected in their particular areas. It is a game. You are just to biased or dense to get it.<br /><br />So I ask you a simple question my friend, Why so serious???<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34766661636988401612015-10-08T15:48:03.564-04:002015-10-08T15:48:03.564-04:007:59 PM- You are the one who cant accept the facts...7:59 PM- You are the one who cant accept the facts. You create more division than necessary . Wake up and think for yourself. <br /><br />Like I stated in my initial post. I could care less which party is involved with this scam and the scam in Allentown. I care about who is running the show now.<br />I am more concerned , scams like this, make our votes inconsequential. <br /><br />I have no good feelings towards either party. Over the years , both lied and scammed the people beyond belief. For a guy like We Willie to lecture the People on questioning his ethics, after this came out today, is a complete joke and this guy should resign. Now we see , with out hearing from the public, why Willie and the boys had their minds made up. No political theater We Willie and he wanted to be the mayor. Good God.<br /><br />7:59 - Read this story then come back and tell us how the democrats and the unions aren't involved with this scam and every other pay to play scam . <br /><br />http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2015/10/pawlowski-in-hot-water-with-fec-over.html<br /><br />Despite the facts , you continue to attack and defend these criminals . Money laundering at its finest. Is it legal? We will see. Is it unethical. No doubt. If it looks bad, it is bad. Ask the hacks in Allentown how things are working out with this NIZ , CRIZ garbage. Do you think this is how govt is supposed to work for the People? <br /><br />Following the money ALWAYS leads to the truth and explains why politicians vote the way they do.<br /><br />BOH--An amazing job in exposing political and union corruption. AKA pay to play.<br />How many Tea party , GOP or Socialist Party members? I see none. Nor do I see many listed here as people who donate to the Tea party or any other group. A majority of their cash goes to democrats like Willie .<br /><br />Again, thanks for making my point. This is why pay to play needs to be exposed like never before.<br /><br />Willie Reynolds <br />Pre-Primary <br /> $1,000 from Lewis Ronca on 2/26/15<br /> $2,000 from Norton Herrick on 2/13<br /> $500 Laborers Local 1174 on 2/4<br /> $1,000 Internat'l Union Operating Engineers on 2/4<br /> $1,000 from IUPAT District 21 on 2/9<br /> $1,000 from IBEW Local 375 on 2/12<br /> $1,000 from Carpenters PAC on 4/26<br /> Total Raised - $33,650<br />Post-Primary<br /> $1,000 from Lewis Ronca on 5/18/15<br /> Total Raised - $2,270<br /> Total Raised Pre and Post Primary - 35,920<br />Percentage of donations from Martin Tower Beneficiaries = 24%<br /><br />Michael Recchiuti<br />Pre-Primary<br /> $1,000 from Lewis Ronca on 2/26/15<br /> $2,000 from Norton Herrick on 2/26<br /> $500 from IUPAT District 21 on 2/11<br /> $500 from Internat'l Union Operating Engineers on 4/27<br /> $500 from Carpenters PAC on 4/30<br /> Total Raised - $16,995<br />Post-Primary<br /> $1,000 from Lewis Ronca on 5/18/15<br /> Total Raised - $2,275<br /> Total Raised Pre and Post Primary - $19,270<br />Percentage of donations from Martin Tower Beneficiaries - 29% <br /><br />Shawn Martell<br />Pre-Primary <br /> $500 from Lewis Ronca on 4/20<br /> $1,500 from Norton Herrick on 4/24<br /> Total Raised - $14,883.35<br />Post-Primary<br /> Total Raised - $700<br /> Total Raised Pre and Post Primary - $15,583.35<br />Percentage of donations from Martin Tower Beneficiaries - 13%<br /><br />Michael Colon<br />Pre-Primary<br /> Total Raised - $5,390<br />Post-Primary <br /> Total Raised - $0<br />Percentage of donations from Martin Tower beneficiaries - 0%<br /><br />Olga Negron<br />Pre-Primary<br /> Total Raised - $6,770<br />Post-Primary<br /> Total Raised - $825<br />Percentage of donations from Martin Tower beneficiaries - 0% Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39050081101252204372015-10-08T15:24:28.334-04:002015-10-08T15:24:28.334-04:00One of the biggest problems 55+ communities have i...One of the biggest problems 55+ communities have is cost. Check out the various communities. They are priced at ridiculous amounts. Most are in the high $200-300's. Then you have to add in the monthly fee. None of which includes taxes.<br /><br />Don't know who the oldsters are that are buying these things but it is not the average LV resident.<br /><br />Moderately priced homes geared fro average residents that are affordable would be well-received. Know of many folks who would love to give up their larger homes and upkeep for one of those. The problems they face today is cost.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-62409516541417443122015-10-08T11:17:39.104-04:002015-10-08T11:17:39.104-04:00The tower has to be cleaned of the asbestos whethe...The tower has to be cleaned of the asbestos whether it stays or goes, so why not keep it once it's cleaned? It's a starter building. It doesn't have to be worked on right away, either. It can add to something once a neighborhood is established. Take out a couple floors so the tower starts to have a few really special floors for civic and social events. <br /><br />However, making it one tall tower of restaurants would be a death knell to both towns. Why lock up all that potential for making streets lively and active in a single tower? Let those restaurants be catalysts for 20 streets in town.<br /><br />If "senior" or "over 55" housing (exclusively) is put there, this would never grow into a regular neighborhood. People think senior housing is trouble-free because there would be no need to pay for kids to go to school. Well, in many over 55 places, there soon is the request to town hall to lower the age limit, because the units have difficulty selling. Even some of the most beautiful places in the world suffer from the lack of no children living there. You need to mix ages and status in life for a genuine place to evolve.<br /><br />The lure of sales tax to pay the interest is very interesting: could another incentive be devised that is not based on retail use? This region is already supersaturated with big-box retail (6 Walmarts, 4 Targets, Kmarts) and it's not making life any more enjoyable. There is this assumption that development can only take place when it involves big developers. Well if you do that, you'll get more of what you already have. Many people mention how stores have failed: you have too much of THAT stuff. Time to scrap a few and consolidate. Lots of malls have been redeveloped into neighborhoods around the US.<br /><br />Another course of action could be small scale, incremental development. Regular people with regular means purchase a lot and build a building. Not make a "third downtown," but make a genuine Pennsylvania small town neighborhood, that has all the qualities mentioned earlier of traditional, sustainable places. You could start with small one or two story buildings, then it can grow over time, once it has established its identity.<br /><br />These two towns survived the tragic lesson of having a single industry. We thought it would go on forever. Learn from that important lesson: time to offer more variety. A mixed product can help during economic downturns: when retail isn't that hot, the residential will carry the day. The recession isn't over - in fact, it may be the beginning of life as we know it for some time. Build small, flexible, and simple, so more people have the opportunity to make a gain from this new development instead of only a few.Catherine Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-21433569763036051052015-10-08T10:11:23.528-04:002015-10-08T10:11:23.528-04:00I'll check it out.I'll check it out. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86974555638919063222015-10-08T06:45:52.691-04:002015-10-08T06:45:52.691-04:00Social scientists have proven beyond a shadow of a...Social scientists have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that anyone who receives gifts and or donations (no matter how small - not to mention 10-20% of their campaign war chest) is immediately biased by those donations. But don't take my word for it. Research a book called Influence by Robert Cialdini, the foremost expert on the subject, who teaches at Arizona State University.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04037536474339198736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-56071862602341833852015-10-07T23:43:09.709-04:002015-10-07T23:43:09.709-04:00Great point Bernie. Great point Bernie. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084295217587950171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-53276490809415313482015-10-07T23:36:29.475-04:002015-10-07T23:36:29.475-04:00Because your anonymous attack is OT. She is not th...Because your anonymous attack is OT. She is not the subject of this discussion. Moreover, my decisions on comments are final and unappealable. Comments complaining about m comment policy are subject to deletion. You don't like my rules? Don't play. But you don't run this blog. I do. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-54680516719622885732015-10-07T23:32:13.484-04:002015-10-07T23:32:13.484-04:00Joyce Marin is a public figure who use her high pr...Joyce Marin is a public figure who use her high profile position in a manner fitting for her position, as such, when she offers a statement under discussion in an open forum, a response is appropriate.......why the need to protect an outspoken public person and political player?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68993709564840815912015-10-07T23:24:48.645-04:002015-10-07T23:24:48.645-04:00Ken Smith was a Republican?
Who knew???Ken Smith was a Republican?<br />Who knew???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20315657379954720572015-10-07T23:16:44.091-04:002015-10-07T23:16:44.091-04:00Bernie do you think when Jim Gregory is released a...Bernie do you think when Jim Gregory is released and subsequently elected to council he can restore order and sanity to this body of governance?<br /><br />Eugenianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10696134176341348322015-10-07T22:39:28.888-04:002015-10-07T22:39:28.888-04:00They will have to pay prevailing wage. You know th...They will have to pay prevailing wage. You know that, and it will mean union wage. I think that's a good thing, but it is very clear that the unions will be doing any work at that site. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68159539453134820472015-10-07T22:32:19.772-04:002015-10-07T22:32:19.772-04:00The Unions are not promised work at this site. Who...The Unions are not promised work at this site. Who said that Ronca a notorious Rat Contractor and his partner from the big city promised to hire Local Union Tradespeople? Where did that come from? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-84542181419112669012015-10-07T21:45:55.329-04:002015-10-07T21:45:55.329-04:00One-party rule is never a good thing, but Rs have ...One-party rule is never a good thing, but Rs have had several Mayors in Bethlehem. Former Controller Meg Holland was an R. But I agree with your point. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68983548173756552622015-10-07T21:36:40.901-04:002015-10-07T21:36:40.901-04:00This is what you get when you have one political p...This is what you get when you have one political party in power in Bethlehem for the last, I don't know, 100 years!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-90543681847142830342015-10-07T20:56:17.161-04:002015-10-07T20:56:17.161-04:00"What briefing takes two hours plus????
This ...<em>"What briefing takes two hours plus????<br />This hard-working, competent professional was put up to this. How very sad she had to comply .."</em><br /><br />I believe you are right. I have seen her review an entire year's worth of planning,along with all the city's goals, in less thsn 20 minutes. I attended two of her presentations on the draft of Bethlehem's new zoning ordinance.The presentations never lasted more than 30 minutes. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-32833155880288908542015-10-07T20:52:44.507-04:002015-10-07T20:52:44.507-04:00I have deleted an anonymous personal attack levele...I have deleted an anonymous personal attack leveled at Joyce Marin. She is not the topic here. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-30795639586456234152015-10-07T20:48:35.197-04:002015-10-07T20:48:35.197-04:00" if Darlene had done it in 15 minutes, they ...<em>" if Darlene had done it in 15 minutes, they would have criticized her for rushing it past them, right?"</em><br /><br />Last time I checked, three members of Council are teachers and presumably are educated enough to know that after about an hour, the ability of a person to process information drops dramatically. So I completely disagree with you, and the teachers on Council should have known better. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67954409843586809472015-10-07T20:45:08.173-04:002015-10-07T20:45:08.173-04:00What briefing takes two hours plus????
This hard-w...What briefing takes two hours plus????<br />This hard-working, competent professional was put up to this. How very sad she had to comply ..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26032366919064147952015-10-07T20:44:46.745-04:002015-10-07T20:44:46.745-04:00John Blankstein, Council are idiots because it is ...John Blankstein, Council are idiots because it is THEIR meeting, was billed as a "public" hearing, and the public was the one entity that was being shut out. This was the meeting at which public input was supposed to be registered. Instead, two hours and 15 minutes went into rear and side year setbacks and provisions that were actually deleted. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Willie Reynolds was an idiot. He is President of Council, and did nothing to stop Heller from droning on. He also handled himself very poorly when his own actions were rightly called into question. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86884474145436214762015-10-07T20:09:03.341-04:002015-10-07T20:09:03.341-04:00Regardless of the personalities involved, if somet...Regardless of the personalities involved, if something takes two hours to explain, it's clearly problematic. I like the miniskirt rule. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-55231259993947369702015-10-07T20:08:29.493-04:002015-10-07T20:08:29.493-04:00Paying higher taxes so that cronies of government ...Paying higher taxes so that cronies of government officials can get rich and then make large campaign contributions to those very same government officials is my civil right as an American. Please do not violate it. That would be unpatriotic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-53110124362038072162015-10-07T19:59:07.306-04:002015-10-07T19:59:07.306-04:004:33, when in doubt, rip unions and Democrats whil...4:33, when in doubt, rip unions and Democrats while quoting Bobby,"choke my daughter" Gunther Walsh. Stick it. You are so great, get off your ass and run for office.<br />East SiderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85264168714937375262015-10-07T19:32:10.363-04:002015-10-07T19:32:10.363-04:00"Darlene knows her job...if the proposal was ..."Darlene knows her job...if the proposal was simple enough to explain in 15 minutes that's what she would have done."<br /><br />You understand if Darlene had done it in 15 minutes, they would have criticized her for rushing it past them, right?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com