tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post7837705301443581250..comments2024-03-29T00:30:47.101-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Panto Defends Conflict of InterestBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63514790195453833592014-08-02T11:15:42.323-04:002014-08-02T11:15:42.323-04:00I really love this idea. Good townships often do m...I really love this idea. Good townships often do mention their discussion and sometimes invite the public to participate in staff meetings with developers. I've seen Howard Kutzler do it. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3651699725727494952014-08-02T10:48:03.076-04:002014-08-02T10:48:03.076-04:00Blaming the messenger in these "whistleblower...Blaming the messenger in these "whistleblower" matters is always the first thing that happens. Hopefully a process will be followed and the truth will come out. If there were violations, then penalties need to be assessed and a plan needs to be put into place to minimize the chances of the same thing happening in the future. If the Mayor wanted to be above board and transparent, and at a minimum, he would have this investigated by the State Ethics Commission. Glad that BO is on to things like this. Hoping he gets out into the Townships where growth is rampant and looks at the connections between Supervisors and Developers and the meetings that are held. What would be a nice fix to all of this stuff would be an "ex parte" communications law for all local elected officials and their staffs as part of any development or redevelopment application. What this type of law (would have to come from the State, of course) would require is that prior to any meeting involving a development or redevelopment application, all elected officials and involved staff would need to disclose who they spoke to, when they spoke, where they spoke and the gist of the conversation within the confines of the open records law. Failure to report these conversations would be discoverable and result in criminal penalty. This would keep things above board. Florida has a nice law and maybe its time for this in PA<br /><br />http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statuTes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0200-0299/0286/Sections/0286.0115.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-81772314594462295752014-08-02T07:19:21.370-04:002014-08-02T07:19:21.370-04:00The West Ward is infested with drugs and crime and...The West Ward is infested with drugs and crime and this administration is busy dumping money to these developers. Hire more cops. Government is supposed to provide security for its citizens, not dump tax $$ into development projects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-34447194943801657292014-08-01T20:28:03.454-04:002014-08-01T20:28:03.454-04:00From P.J.Cochran My post was 7;46 -somehow as is I...From P.J.Cochran My post was 7;46 -somehow as is I sent this-Old PeterPeter J.Cochrannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-712622654472715322014-08-01T20:09:05.167-04:002014-08-01T20:09:05.167-04:00In response to 7:54, it is undisputed fact that RD...In response to 7:54, it is undisputed fact that RDA employee Michael Brett is involved in a side deal with developer Mark Mulligan, whose work is overseen by RDA and who is the paid construction manager at the silk mill. It is also beyond dispute that they tried to hide it from the public. Brett is using his official position to enrich himself and has violated the Ethics Act. Instead of accepting responsibility for and addressing this situation, the Mayor has blamed the messenger. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-7657982515800488052014-08-01T19:58:15.227-04:002014-08-01T19:58:15.227-04:00City director in charge of rda and who let this ha...City director in charge of rda and who let this happen reports to the city administrator then the mayor. I would say if anyone is covering this up, should they be, it would be Steckman. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64398785923460161732014-08-01T19:54:06.339-04:002014-08-01T19:54:06.339-04:00Any reader who forms an opinion based on the accus...Any reader who forms an opinion based on the accusations of the author of this blog is a fool. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-72213983240768961492014-08-01T19:46:15.681-04:002014-08-01T19:46:15.681-04:00Walking my dog today early,need ethics commission ...Walking my dog today early,need ethics commission installed ASAP from some sources, at even 05;45 whom are up at at them. I still maintain Mr. Steckman integrity on the top.He has never made any statements or mislead any public employees to my knowledge.I think you need to look elsewhere . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76916540819028458412014-08-01T18:18:36.509-04:002014-08-01T18:18:36.509-04:00Everyone knew mulligan would destroy Panto's r...Everyone knew mulligan would destroy Panto's reputation. He is as stuck up as they come . Real shame. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-46076831276374657912014-08-01T17:17:16.772-04:002014-08-01T17:17:16.772-04:00I don't care whether he is a nice guy. I do ca...I don't care whether he is a nice guy. I do care whether he is accountable and transparent. He has been, but not with Mulligan and this nonsense. It's a real shortcoming. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-40822089481204849932014-08-01T17:07:58.594-04:002014-08-01T17:07:58.594-04:00Bernie, you've hit a nerve! You're finally...Bernie, you've hit a nerve! You're finally realizing Panto isn't a nice guy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-52979939477468847482014-08-01T16:47:00.743-04:002014-08-01T16:47:00.743-04:00This sounds like just another Lehigh Valley projec...This sounds like just another Lehigh Valley project the AG should investigate. The Silk Mill is no cheap project - it is millions of taxpayer dollars.<br /><br />After the museum and the mill you wonder what isn't dirty around here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-18418943497593860232014-08-01T16:26:39.690-04:002014-08-01T16:26:39.690-04:00What interest does a large developer have with a s...What interest does a large developer have with a small property like this? Sounds like a exchange of favors. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3664448976000650002014-08-01T14:46:01.480-04:002014-08-01T14:46:01.480-04:00Yeah. That Mulligan is a straight shooter.Yeah. That Mulligan is a straight shooter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-81468396391297378392014-08-01T12:56:15.261-04:002014-08-01T12:56:15.261-04:00Starting to explain the outrageous taxes in Easton...Starting to explain the outrageous taxes in Easton.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85619742746341036792014-08-01T12:28:11.572-04:002014-08-01T12:28:11.572-04:00Sal's worried about inside deals with develope...Sal's worried about inside deals with developers when the West Ward is like the OK Corral. The emperor has no clothes and his incestuous team thinks he's sexy. And people seriously considered this dirty pol for higher office? Wow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-19753523953382046512014-08-01T11:44:58.444-04:002014-08-01T11:44:58.444-04:00The above three comments come from Tricia MezzacRa...The above three comments come from Tricia MezzacRaZy. Her support for the Mayor should be enough to convince him he's wrong. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-10978772324647014492014-08-01T10:39:24.271-04:002014-08-01T10:39:24.271-04:00There is a thought. The State Ethics Commission is...There is a thought. The State Ethics Commission is useless. We know that because bio solid Bernie says so. Set up a new local ethics board. Waive the requirement that you cannot be disbarred and name him as it's chair. Then he will appoint his friend angle to advise him on ethical matters and he can then dispense ethical pronouncements. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-16627019306728126222014-08-01T10:17:05.119-04:002014-08-01T10:17:05.119-04:00Your writing is almost as poor as your employment ...Your writing is almost as poor as your employment of facts. Almost. <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-27350592740757051022014-08-01T10:09:18.574-04:002014-08-01T10:09:18.574-04:00Who sold the properties to the buyer? Was it the c...Who sold the properties to the buyer? Was it the city? Was it the redevelopment authority? <br /><br />It may not support your yellow journalism conspiracy theory but you are ethically above reproach we all know that. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64392663787902601752014-08-01T09:54:30.027-04:002014-08-01T09:54:30.027-04:00Do the give each other Mulligans?Do the give each other Mulligans?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-15580499861848226022014-08-01T09:03:13.454-04:002014-08-01T09:03:13.454-04:00Mulligans loves to golf with a city director - jus...Mulligans loves to golf with a city director - just ask the club at morgan hill :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-62240371620868421122014-08-01T08:46:47.297-04:002014-08-01T08:46:47.297-04:00Panto's hubris comes from running a one party ...Panto's hubris comes from running a one party town and from reading your fawning coverage of him over the years. You've been critical of the urban growth regime in Allentown, but have previously given Sal a pass for his bush league version of it in Easton. Welcome to Sal's Easton, Bernie; better late than never. I'd watch you back on this one. He's not a nice guy and you've really embarrassed him here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-22218763006836122372014-08-01T07:37:28.007-04:002014-08-01T07:37:28.007-04:00Stop picking on our Northampton County elected off...Stop picking on our Northampton County elected officials. Northampton County has the best politicians money can buy. Bar none.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-12337230249906753122014-08-01T07:36:38.208-04:002014-08-01T07:36:38.208-04:00ANOTHER Democrat slob ...ANOTHER Democrat slob ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com