tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post4760908924497556570..comments2024-03-28T14:55:29.118-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Why I Support Allentown City Council's Budget DealBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-74927600402297133522016-12-29T22:31:50.154-05:002016-12-29T22:31:50.154-05:00"Democrats are Democrats. Raising taxes and b..."Democrats are Democrats. Raising taxes and borrowing money is a family trait they can all agree upon." ... Spot on. People like Rich Fegley who used to support Democrats until it got too expensive for them just should shut up and pay their taxes on time. Because we are all just slaves to the wealthy, to quote Rich, himself, writing at Molovinsky's blog a few years back. That was classic Democrat speak from Fegley on full parade. Oh, the irony of it all!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-78097365548684684642016-12-29T21:28:26.433-05:002016-12-29T21:28:26.433-05:00I hear the pitter patter of little feet, little FB...I hear the pitter patter of little feet, little FBI feat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65536133937383857912016-12-29T19:41:13.506-05:002016-12-29T19:41:13.506-05:00There is so much to applaud this mayor for where d...There is so much to applaud this mayor for where does one begin?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1866290475392172202016-12-29T18:56:38.677-05:002016-12-29T18:56:38.677-05:00Don't know.Don't know. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-61627716279288671662016-12-29T17:57:33.907-05:002016-12-29T17:57:33.907-05:00Bernie, do you agree that the at least one, and po...Bernie, do you agree that the at least one, and possibly both hiring committees will be controlled by Pawlowski by a margin of 3-2?<br /><br />Canary_In_Coalminenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34207656646291433502016-12-29T17:20:53.534-05:002016-12-29T17:20:53.534-05:00Bernie,
I just have one question for this transgre...Bernie,<br />I just have one question for this transgression, how is it that some of the very actors can have free federal legal advice in the panderance of crimes against a protected class of citizenry that will allow the can to be kicked down the road a little more once again? Than there is the publishing of the artifacts of the lawlessness that comes to town with every carnival twiZt and turn almost like wiggling when you should have been jiggling! <br />REpublican redd<br />humanist by designXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13616677843880436551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-65148788992759827972016-12-29T15:36:21.387-05:002016-12-29T15:36:21.387-05:003:19 "minor league hockey and Chickie's ...3:19 "minor league hockey and Chickie's and Pete's"<br /><br />Bread and Circuses....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-17380086798277970702016-12-29T15:34:51.762-05:002016-12-29T15:34:51.762-05:00We should applaud the Mayor for being willing to w...We should applaud the Mayor for being willing to work with city council on this compromise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-38491094855667565922016-12-29T15:19:48.320-05:002016-12-29T15:19:48.320-05:00Anyone who's surprised that a one-party, tax a...Anyone who's surprised that a one-party, tax and spend town has gone from an $89 million budget to $110 million is disingenuous or naive. Let the good times roll. We'll be long gone when the bill arrives at the grandkids' doorstep. And they'll be forever grateful for minor league hockey and Chickie's and Pete's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13599822980261894012016-12-29T15:02:48.771-05:002016-12-29T15:02:48.771-05:00Mark my words-someday our fine mayor will be the ...Mark my words-someday our fine mayor will be the governor .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-54508388012256722272016-12-29T14:29:29.912-05:002016-12-29T14:29:29.912-05:00Does anyone know where Fed Ed's BFF Mike is sp...Does anyone know where Fed Ed's BFF Mike is spending the holidays?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-7535869015584719432016-12-29T13:48:15.843-05:002016-12-29T13:48:15.843-05:00When will this horror show end?When will this horror show end?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1707073471743073502016-12-29T12:41:17.066-05:002016-12-29T12:41:17.066-05:00When Republicans are elected in Allentown, then th...When Republicans are elected in Allentown, then things will change<br /><br />Until then, it's just the same old shit with different faces at the trough Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64386509445561016902016-12-29T12:37:54.865-05:002016-12-29T12:37:54.865-05:00Change the city , sounded like a mouse was in the...Change the city , sounded like a mouse was in the wall <br />Or the city need a real change , to move forward <br />Make you wonder in the people do show up at meeting <br />That the changes will happen , this time ? <br />The new slogan . All lives matter <br />Even in Allentown , not just everywhere else ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-78918350085613284082016-12-29T12:29:27.213-05:002016-12-29T12:29:27.213-05:00As the Managing Director position has been de-fund...As the Managing Director position has been de-funded by City Council, is the position now going to be funded now at a lower rate of compensation ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-58829056786551894712016-12-29T12:28:35.630-05:002016-12-29T12:28:35.630-05:00The best is yet to come , council plan is not fin...The best is yet to come , council plan is not finish . The new rules are in the works .<br />Come to meetings and help pass the new rules . The committee for charter change is looking for members .<br />The ethics committee is too work on new rules ,to prevent a no action from that committee .<br />The five year plan is to be a open book with updates in details . <br />The department heads will give updates to council 4 times a year .in detailed report .<br />With details of action plan to cut cost and Inprove the department . <br />The product will be a city run on saving revenue . Not cost increases every year ? <br /><br />Health care question same as full time employee ? <br />New rules for controller . Cost for part time work Same for solicitor office ?<br /><br /> Car perks to be reviewed , along with moving into the city for job position .<br />The lost of revenue from wage tax on theses employees at a the highest rate payed by city .<br /><br />This is just the start of what you can expect coming to council meetings this year .bring your supportors and support council Im the making the changes needed to save the city . Some where left out because the administration is against most of the changes ?<br />Resolution and ordinances need public input . Come out and be part of the change to the way the city has been run <br /><br />Up dates on new recycled program as a profit center . Not a costAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-78487464128070611152016-12-29T12:26:24.271-05:002016-12-29T12:26:24.271-05:0012:02. Despite the fact that there is a family f...12:02. Despite the fact that there is a family feud going on between City Council and Ed with regards to rumors of criminality, Democrats are Democrats. Raising taxes and borrowing money is a family trait they all can agree on. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-67911260144484069242016-12-29T12:02:32.771-05:002016-12-29T12:02:32.771-05:00Here is the bottom line...
The Mayor and City Cou...Here is the bottom line...<br /><br />The Mayor and City Council have allowed the City of Allentown budget of $89 million to increase to $110 million in a matter of a few years.<br /><br />For several years prior to the Water/Sewer Lease our City budget was $89 million.<br /><br />In 2017 the budget is set to be $110 million.<br /><br />Each year for the past two years, the budget has increased by approximately $10 million. That is more than a 10% increase each year.<br /><br />The Mayor's solution has been to raise EIT twice and borrow money from funds twice.<br /><br />WTF is going on? Just stop for a moment and think about this and I'm sure you will ask the same question. The Mayor and City Council have destroyed Allentown's balanced budget. They Mayor's solution was to raise taxes and borrow money...twice, and Council approved it all.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689614615334224597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-45461452270490822892016-12-29T10:46:54.787-05:002016-12-29T10:46:54.787-05:00Read between the lines. Council's no-concessio...Read between the lines. Council's no-concession point was on Walker. That was the one area where there was no give. They are unable to discuss a personnel matter publicly. Had Walker remained, there would be no deal. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-59062415800092819722016-12-29T10:42:35.860-05:002016-12-29T10:42:35.860-05:00I'm not so sure Walker is ousted. Although Aff...I'm not so sure Walker is ousted. Although Affa seems to think a separate agreement was struck between council and the City to eventually remove Walker, O'Connell refused to address the subject and stated it was a City personnel matter. The deal here does not mention Walker at all. So....I think the door is open, and Walker is probably going to stay. I don't have anything against Affa, but I'm not sure she's the best person to rely upon for clear, unbiased information on this matter.<br /><br />Either way, I'm in favor of avoiding a lawsuit between the City and Council. While I support Council's previous efforts to corral the power of the mayor, I do think Pawlowski had legitimate complaints in his proposed lawsuit. Setting a salary at $1 would be construed as de-funding a position by any reasonable measure. The City residents would pay for this blunder, in the form of tax dollars being diverted towards paying lawyers. Monkey Mommanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-6494534810990688672016-12-29T10:03:06.391-05:002016-12-29T10:03:06.391-05:008:07, They have negotiated away no power. That is ...8:07, They have negotiated away no power. That is utter nonsense. Even if what you were saying were correct, which it is not, one Council cannot bind another. Council won on its major point. Also, the Mayor has agreed to have a committee help him choose the next managing director. That is a major concession. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5218050757291410392016-12-29T08:10:38.478-05:002016-12-29T08:10:38.478-05:00If memory serves me the current mayor was a vocal ...If memory serves me the current mayor was a vocal supporter of the police pension deal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-9770401899203451152016-12-29T08:07:04.897-05:002016-12-29T08:07:04.897-05:00This is the worst thing Council could do.
If ther...This is the worst thing Council could do.<br /><br />If there’s one thing that should be clear in Allentown’s Charter, it’s that Council has great power regarding the budget. That is common to almost any legislative body.<br /><br />By entering into this agreement, they have negotiated away that power, not only for this year but for future years and for future council’s as well. The precedent has now been set.<br /><br />If Council is in effect nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Mayor’s budget, the people of Allentown deserve to know that so they could work on amending the charter. Instead, this Council has institutionalized rubber-stamping as the role of all councils – the current one and all future bodies.<br /><br />Yes, a court battle would have cost taxpayers a few bucks, but not close to what it will cost to implement this deal (and that’s looking only at the hole in this year’s budget and not including the effect the precedent will have on future budgets). <br /><br />For those who say that at least council will now have control over who becomes Managing Director or CED Director, Council already had that. Furthermore, if Council could step back and look at the big picture from the last decade, they’d realize that the unnecessary Managing Director position freed up Pawlowski’s time to run for other offices and commit his illegal acts. That position should never be filled again, and one of the reforms that any candidate running for Mayor in the coming election should support is abolishing that post.<br /><br />This is another historic blunder by Council, perhaps exceeding the police pension deal. Council barked, but when push came to shove, they rolled over for a rub on the belly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-70193815921123721612016-12-29T08:06:23.443-05:002016-12-29T08:06:23.443-05:00Is there an opening for the ministry of informatio...Is there an opening for the ministry of information position?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87375032621659758292016-12-29T08:06:13.346-05:002016-12-29T08:06:13.346-05:00It is sad to see City Council once again sit idly ...It is sad to see City Council once again sit idly by and let the polish prince have his way. For a month or so I saw this group finally grow some gonads and take on his highness, through his money belt. But this was just a game of mini-wits. Both parties, talking tough and one, threatening a law suit. This was only for grandstanding; and nothing else.<br /><br />Nobody in the present government can clean this up! I guess we will have to rely on the feds to do this. But in the mean time, all of those council people who signed off on this dastardly agreement, should be held accountable and dumped when they're up for election. Only then will Allentown be free of their corrupt government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com