tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post7321200238925899628..comments2024-03-28T14:04:22.218-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: The Bulldog Barks About GracedaleBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-25412087403076531122010-09-02T13:01:03.592-04:002010-09-02T13:01:03.592-04:00I cant get a loan to buy a house on my county wage...I cant get a loan to buy a house on my county wages. I need a second job just like everyone else out there. I cant get food stamps, housing, cash assistance because I work. <br /><br />I make enough to disqualify me to EVERYTHING! Basically ide be better off doing nothing. But its our fault. Yeah right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-66175793575303013992010-09-02T12:56:39.303-04:002010-09-02T12:56:39.303-04:00I think its great that the 5% im paying in out of ...I think its great that the 5% im paying in out of every pay check is going right to the counties pocket and not actually funding my retirement. The warm fuzzy feeling comes from people blaming the hard working people like me for costing tax payer money. I do my job and I have numbers to meet just like any private sector job. I get to deal with irate public telling me to do my job and that they pay my wages. <br /><br />So why does the county get to dip into the money I contribute and then blame me? How is that fair? What percentage are they legally required to kept in the pension fund? 60%? If they would leave it at 100% and skim off the top then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess.<br /><br />And ive seen reports regarding pensions. They just are buried so the general public doesnt see them. Because who really cares about pensions until the money is squandered away?Hard county worker!noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-48594513356506551952010-08-31T01:41:16.693-04:002010-08-31T01:41:16.693-04:00Winston, O'Hare like his hero Angle is a cowar...Winston, O'Hare like his hero Angle is a coward one on one. Remember how Angle ran like a girl from Severson after Anlge agitated him at a funeral.<br /><br />O'Hare is a viral bully whereas, Angle is a public bully. they enjoy hurting people and the feeling of power by hurting those who don't kiss their ample asses and praise people who do.<br /><br />You missed nothing Winston.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-20864171699004453982010-08-30T21:59:16.127-04:002010-08-30T21:59:16.127-04:00Well if you were there where were you standing. Li...Well if you were there where were you standing. Like I said I have video and I'll check . And the reason I went was to support the charity. Not as a fan of the music. I also would NEVER reveal my identitiy in a third rate blog. Like I said if I would have seen you I would have come to you. I INVITED YOU, remember. I didn't INVITE YOU so I could be in the presence of greatness. BTW I first did a perimeter check from 1:15 to about 1:45 to see if your pal was hiding in the upper and lower lots taking photos as well.Winston Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-45082026176283656782010-08-30T21:04:13.475-04:002010-08-30T21:04:13.475-04:00I was there from 2 to 2:30 PM. When you failed to ...I was there from 2 to 2:30 PM. When you failed to come up to me, I left. I'm not into garage bands. I never expected you to show or you would have identified yourself here. You won't do that bc you are a coward. But I waited long enough for you to see me and do something.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-68338234128362240262010-08-30T20:47:51.037-04:002010-08-30T20:47:51.037-04:00Well I in addition to my wife and kids were at Naz...Well I in addition to my wife and kids were at Nazareth Park at 1:50 PM on Sunday. I stayed until 5:20 PM. I took 3 walks around the park during my visit. Guess what? No O'hare. I also took the liberty of having my wife video tape during my walks, this in case we met so there would be evidence in the event you became violent. So, if you were there please let me know if you had a Bozo mask on or some other disguise. Actually if you wore a Bozo mask I would have come right up to you. Maybe Zachariah was up in a Sycamore tree trying to get a better look at Winston his Messiah. You are now owned . And you called me a coward!Winston Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15526827521408372072010-08-30T08:39:39.300-04:002010-08-30T08:39:39.300-04:00"correct. Stoffa is afraid of the report.&quo...<em>"correct. Stoffa is afraid of the report."</em><br /><br />That "report" or "audit" only exists in your head.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-55807399190642937842010-08-30T08:10:22.703-04:002010-08-30T08:10:22.703-04:00"You can have your own opinion, but not your ..."You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts. The fact is that pensions costs to the County at Gracedale hadve risen 1770%. The County has no control over that and neither do you. That's why I'd sell Gracedale. It's a defined benefit pension, cannot be negotiated away, and is killing the County."<br /><br />My facts come from the one person in the county who does know what he is talking about (not anyone voted in or appointed). The pension plan is the same for all county employees no matter where they work in the county. As I am saying, this cannot be pinned on Gracedale, unions or any county employees - it is not negotiated into any contract. Please stop making it seem like it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49876331537967400052010-08-30T02:37:36.908-04:002010-08-30T02:37:36.908-04:00Bullshit, Barron schooled both Angle and Gilbert. ...Bullshit, Barron schooled both Angle and Gilbert. He let them know he was on to their game. Stop lying about his audit. He has followed the numbers and will be presenting his report soon.<br /><br />As the Controller it is his call to decide if the Administration numbers are correct. Stoffa is afraid of the report. Steve has oversight on everything the County does. A true check and balance in County government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-60727189813368727542010-08-29T22:22:54.117-04:002010-08-29T22:22:54.117-04:00"Do away with welfare.
Do away with foodstamp..."Do away with welfare.<br />Do away with foodstamps"<br /><br />One last thought....LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br />AMEN Brother!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-24374413668265416682010-08-29T16:53:48.202-04:002010-08-29T16:53:48.202-04:00I heard about that show, too, and understand Steve...I heard about that show, too, and understand Steve was sweating like Richard Nixon, as he was torn apart by Angle and Bruce Gilbert. He performed no audit and used what is supposed to be an independent office to pander votes.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5505249424982298452010-08-29T16:42:14.000-04:002010-08-29T16:42:14.000-04:00Bernie has attacked Steve because he slapped down ...Bernie has attacked Steve because he slapped down Angle at the Council meeting and again at a taping of a TV show.<br /><br />I heard Barron really let Angle have it with facts and figures. Angle can't argue with the results of the audit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-44302879584614654902010-08-29T15:58:46.824-04:002010-08-29T15:58:46.824-04:00Just a thought.
Do away with welfare.
Do away w...Just a thought. <br /><br />Do away with welfare.<br />Do away with foodstamps<br />GO GET A FREAKIN JOB...WORK 2 OR 3 IF YOU HAVE TO. This will give you less time to keep making more babies you can't afford that the working citizens are paying for. <br /><br />Sell Gracedale...the residents will still have a home. <br /><br />BE ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE...the economy isn't going to get any better any time soon.<br /><br />Oh and if your an illegal alien and are plopping your ass in this country....either take the steps that our great grandparents did to come here legally or GET THE HELL OUT!!! <br /><br />One last thought....LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13819668414167702812010-08-29T09:09:26.869-04:002010-08-29T09:09:26.869-04:00do not
So pissed, I can't correctly express m...do not<br /><br />So pissed, I can't correctly express my thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-9825322058736291682010-08-29T09:08:03.816-04:002010-08-29T09:08:03.816-04:00Look how bad it is. I said "give taxpayers t...Look how bad it is. I said "give taxpayers the right".<br /><br />Obviously, our rights to do eminate from the government, regardless of what they want us to believe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-8280640421482703082010-08-29T08:59:52.225-04:002010-08-29T08:59:52.225-04:00Again, we see a sniffle and wipe our nose.
Define...Again, we see a sniffle and wipe our nose.<br /><br />Defined benefit pensions are the problem in all of government. They are protected by bad law. Time for the lawmakers to undo that bad law and give taxpayers the right to say we do not choose to provide that level of benefit anymore.<br /><br />Paging Marcia Hahn, paging Charlie Dent, paging...<br /><br />Ah, forget it. You think they will give up their gravy train? Why the hell do you think they run in the first place?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-89395537268867649592010-08-29T01:50:27.726-04:002010-08-29T01:50:27.726-04:00Mr. O'Hare that would mean the pension costs a...Mr. O'Hare that would mean the pension costs at the Prison went up 1700%. In fact since the pension funded itself before Stoffa and now money has to be put in, the pension has gone up for every County employee, correct? Stoffa has pretty much screwed up everything he has touched.<br /><br />Also the 1700% number is deceptive and you know it. Hopefully, when Controller Barron releases his audit we will have the truth. He smashed Angle at the Council meeting and soon he will provide the true numbers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47570661587357457702010-08-28T23:17:33.539-04:002010-08-28T23:17:33.539-04:00"Please be more accurate with this 1770% incr...<em>"Please be more accurate with this 1770% increase in pension costs at Gracedale."</em><br /><br />You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts. The fact is that pensions costs to the County at Gracedale hadve risen 1770%. The County has no control over that and neither do you. That's why I'd sell Gracedale. It's a defined benefit pension, cannot be negotiated away, and is killing the County.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76675791236787973882010-08-28T23:10:39.394-04:002010-08-28T23:10:39.394-04:00Bernie:
Please be more accurate with this 1770% in...Bernie:<br />Please be more accurate with this 1770% increase in pension costs at Gracedale. That number is just really being used as an excuse at Gracedale. ALL county employees are required to contribute 5% of their pay into their retirement. The county gives the option to the employee contributing up to 10%. Gracedale is no different than any other department in the county. The problems come from what the county does with that money - they invest it into the stock market. For years, when the market was good, the county took anywhere form 5 to 25 million dollars per year out of the county retirement fund. They used this to pay for whatever they wanted to do in the county. All the county did was keep the minimum amount in the retirement fund - the amount that had already been contributed by the employees. Over the past several years, the stock market has tanked and subsequently all the county invested money in the retirement funds has been wiped out. Now the county is forced to put all the money back in out of their own pocket each year.<br />So really, for years the employee's retirement contributions funded the county instead of the money staying in there. Now the county is being forced to put money back because it takes its' employees money and gambles in the stock market.<br />I don't see how this is Gracedale's fault or any county employees' fault - employees don't have a choice in this. The county executives and their cabinet members are at fault for continuing to do this over so many years, so please stop blaming greedy unions or county employees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-18466829082329075802010-08-28T21:24:24.649-04:002010-08-28T21:24:24.649-04:00I'm not responsible for your poor reading abil...I'm not responsible for your poor reading ability. What Angle said is that the County cost of the pensions at Gracedale has risen 1770%. Take a few trips to the library and learn how to read.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-5131191958254127112010-08-28T20:04:07.162-04:002010-08-28T20:04:07.162-04:00As a taxpayer I cannot believe that someone would ...As a taxpayer I cannot believe that someone would think that I am stupid enough to accept a statement like " personnel cost have increased more than 1,700 percent over the past four years for employees at Gracedale. Bernie, do you really think taxpayers are that gullible. Gracedale employees are making seventeen times more than they made (with benefits)just four years ago?????? Yeah right. I also believe in the tooth fairy. Maybe you have a few county bridges to sell me? Now who's cooking the books?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57148902049023481472010-08-28T18:54:03.666-04:002010-08-28T18:54:03.666-04:00This talk about the jail, which appears in the las...This talk about the jail, which appears in the last three comments, is an attempt to deflect attention away from Gracedale. Bruce Gilbert properly condemned this kind of nonsense for what it is at the last Council meeting. The County has an obligation to provide for the Courts, and that includes the jails. And as Angle pointed out, it has no obligation to provide a nursing home.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-43114531527529678132010-08-28T18:14:27.629-04:002010-08-28T18:14:27.629-04:00The Prison contract is one of the most generous in...The Prison contract is one of the most generous in County history. Angle and Stoffa love that one. Of course they are not trying to sell the Prison.<br /><br />All bullshit by the bullshiters Angle/Stoffa.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-29295363917929192502010-08-28T07:19:06.662-04:002010-08-28T07:19:06.662-04:00"When do we privatize the Prison. there contr..."When do we privatize the Prison. there contract is greater than anyone's at Gracedale. Also their benefit package is just as great."<br /><br />If I am not mistaken Ron Angle called the Prison contract one of the best he has ever seen. In fact it has even be mentioned as one they would like to get the rest of the employees on. Doesn't seem like an issue to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-49469810892920307262010-08-28T02:51:34.467-04:002010-08-28T02:51:34.467-04:00When do we privatize the Prison. there contract i...When do we privatize the Prison. there contract is greater than anyone's at Gracedale. Also their benefit package is just as great.<br /><br />Why no mention of a private company running the prison. Priorities a bit screwed up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com