Schmitt Unfit for LANTA

They threw him under the bus!

By a 6 to 3 vote, Northampton County Council last night derailed alternative transportation advocate Steve Schmitt's appointment to LANTA's board. They did so despite pleas from LANTA board member Paul Marin, community activist Dennis Lieb and Schmitt himself.

Board member Fred Williams, in a very rare appearance, had several objections. He noted that Schmitt's Coalition for Alternative Transportation actually competes against LANTA for limited grant funds. "We are in direct competition with the Coalition for Alternative Transportation.(CAT)" He also claimed that Schmitt tried to enlist new members for CAT during transit meetings. Schmitt denies both accusations.

Schmitt was nominated to replace Tim Brady, a former Bethlehem Township Commissioner who "was in charge of the facilities and construction at Northampton County Community College for many years." Williams believes Brady would be more useful to LANTA during an upcoming maintenance expansion.

Ironically, passenger rail foe Ron Angle was passenger rail advocate Schmitt's biggest supporter. "The board should have a wide range of people who don't always think the same. Nobody has said he is anti-LANTA."

Reluctantly given a second opportunity to speak, Schmitt said "[t]he idea that I'm doing anything but trying to promote LANTA and trying to make LANTA better for the people that ride the bus, that's all I'm trying to do."

Lamont McClure noted Williams' extensive background as a 25 year LANTA board member and retired chief financial officer for the Diocese of Allentown, where he managed finances for the Diocese, 153 parishes, 58 elementary schools and 9 high schools.

McClure: "I didn't hear you say his service on the board compromised LANTA."

Williams: "I believe he did and I believe he compromised LANTA. I served as Director of the Personnel Committee and during sensitive negotiations, and he was privy to that executive session, and I was informed by a driver of what Mr. Schmitt had told him, and told the driver exactly what had happened during our executive session in a very sensitive negotiation and I went to Ann McHale immediately ... ."

McClure: "What was the negotiation about?"

Williams: "Our labor contracts."

Peg Ferraro: "Have you ever spoken out in your 25 years, have you ever spoken out against an appointment?"

Williams: "Never. I have never spoken out and I weighed this very heavily. I take it to heart. Believe me, I worked for the Church, the Catholic Church, and I take this very seriously."

Ferraro: "We have two people, the one who is serving and the one who is the nominee. I think there's two entirely different skill sets being brought here to the table. I think it's important that we look closely at the skill sets in light of what's coming down the road for LANTA."

Angle: "Under that scenario, there's no room for someone who thinks a little differently. there's no room for someone who doesn't have a certain level of skills. I don't think that's what America is about. Nobody has yet showed me where this man has done anything to undermine or destroy LANTA. He is a cheerleader for LANTA, the best I can see here. The Mayor of Bethlehem sent a letter over. That's a pretty high ranking official."

J. Michael Dowd: "I have never seen so many phone calls and so many comments about anyone appointed to an authority, a commission or anything else. I've received phone calls on a virtual daily basis and it's kind of interesting because there's people on both sides for whom I have an enormous amount of respect. I would ask the County Executive what he saw in Mr. Schmitt that led him to not reappoint someone who has expertise in construction and so on and to appoint Mr. Schmitt. "

Stoffa: "This was a tough call for me. But I spent some time with Mr. Schmitt because last time I did not reappoint him under certain circumstances. But the more time I spend with him, he's a different thinker. To me, LANTA is not just a bus company, it's a transit company, and it needs to think differently about what it does. I think he brings that to the forefront. When I saw buses go by with bike racks on, I understand he was the one responsible for that. I think any organization needs new, different thinking, and that's why I nominated him."

McClure: "You did not reappoint him because of certain circumstances. What were those circumstances?"

Stoffa: "Well, they were what I had heard about some bus routes in Allentown. When I sat down with Steve a number of times for a couple of hours, the man is a wealth of knowledge about different things. And that to me pales under what he offers. Nobody's perfect in what they do and I don't even know if what they said about him was accurate."

It was accurate. In the Fall of 2007, Schmitt did sneer at mostly minority merchants, like the House of Chen, along Allentown's Hamilton Street when bus routing changes caused a big decrease in foot traffic. "They wanted something to complain about, basically. ... I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books." He also ignored several emails from me about what was happening. Several of these businesses are now gone. His smug dismissal of the plight of hard-working people is cause for concern in any public official. Even those who like to wear tights.

In response to a question from Council member Joe Capozzolo, Schmitt denied ever interfering with bus drivers. "I don't think that's fair. That's sorta' like beating up your janitor."

When they voted, only Angle, Capozzolo and Dowd supported Schmitt's appointment.

Did Council make the right call? I honestly don't know. I do not think their rejection was intended as a snub to Stoffa, and I don't think some council members made up their mind until they heard from everyone. Schmitt is nearly as obnoxious as me, but is also the region's most dedicated and passionate alternative transportation advocate. I suspect their concern goes way beyond Schmitt's people skills. I'm unable to avoid the impression that there's more to this story, but no one is willing to say so publicly.

Will Controversial Cyclist Get LANTA Appointment?

As a LANTA board member, Steve Schmitt smugly dismissed the plight of the mostly minority-owned businesses along Allentown's Hamilton Street. Bus routing changes resulted in a decrease in foot traffic, hurting their bottom line. "They wanted something to complain about, basically. ... I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books." Several of these businesses are now gone. When Schmitt's term as board member expired, so was he. Northampton County Executive John Stoffa replaced Schmitt over a year ago with Cordelia Miller, who adds some much needed diversity at LANTA.

But Stoffa has had a change of heart. Thanks to Steve Schmitt and his Coalition for Alternative Transportation, our buses come equipped with bike racks. He is also an anti-car advocate who actually takes a bus or bicycle everywhere. He has refused to drive a car for many years. For whatever reason, Stoffa has nominated Schmitt to a LANTA board vacancy.

But this is one controversial cyclist. LANTA Chairman Fred A. Williams actually visited a County Council Personell Comittee meeting to claim this bike rack lover is "divisive." Ann McHale, also a board member, read portions of my previous blogs about Schmitt. But LANTA Treasurer Paul Marin came to another Council meeting, with Schmitt, to sing his praises.

According to Easton blogger Noel Jones, there's now an "ACTION ALERT" for Thursday night's council meeting to make sure that nomination is finally approved. Steve apparently supports "rails and trollies."

"WE MUST COME OUT IN NUMBERS TO ENSURE HE IS APPOINTED!!!

"If you want to see the future of LANTA include rail or trolleys-- Please come out and support one of the most progressive transportation advocates in the State!

"Steve Schmitt needs our voices to be heard by Northampton County Council, that his appointment should not be blocked because certain Board members are fearful of change."

Northampton County To Diversify LANTA Board

Cordelia Miller , a twenty year veteran of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, was today unanimously recommended by Northampton County's personnel commmittee as a new member of LANTA's board of directors. Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, who has appointed Miller, explains her presence adds a "little more diversity."

When I appeared before that transportation authority last November, the only color I saw was in the peanut gallery. Its large, twelve-member board, appears to be entirely white, and only three are women. Of these three, only Northampton County Council member Ann McHale may actually cast a vote. The other women must make the coffee. This board has no resemblance to Lehigh Valley demographics, where woman actually outnumber men and we have just a tad more diversity.

If confirmed, Miller will replace Steve Schmitt, Director of the Coalition for Alternative Transportation. When Allentown's mostly minority-owned Hamilton Street merchants complained that bus routing changes were damaging business - two are now kaput - Schmitt displayed little sympathy and actually taunted them.

"They wanted something to complain about, basically," was his insensitive reaction to a petition signed by thirty-eight merchants and 1,800 bus passengers complaining about the routing changes. He failed to contact a single merchant. My own emails to him were ignored. When Hamilton Street business owners finally appeared at a LANTA board meeting en masse in November, Schmitt waited until they had all left before letting loose with another little snark behind their backs. "I find it hard to believe. ... I'd like to see the books."

Now, Steve can open an accounting business on Hamilton Street and finally get a look at those books. But with Hamilton Perk gone and Mish Mash on its way out, he might soon ask LANTA to change its bus routes, too.