Joyce Marin to Lead RenewLV

Over the years, I've been critical of RenewLV, primarily because it is a Lehigh Valley Partnership spinoff that has masqueraded as a "grass roots" organization. But I admired former Exec Director Steve Bliss. From passenger rail to bi-county health, he was a tireless advocate who made his group "grass roots" in spite of itself. I particularly enjoyed the brown bag lunches, which could cover topics extending from bicycling to our struggling cities. Bliss was happy for the discussion, even with those who held different views. Unfortunately, once Steve left, RenewLV fell upon hard times. That's about to change.

Macungie resident Joyce Marin has been named RenewLV's Executive Director. There is no doubt in my mind that, with her at the helm, regionalism will get the hearing it deserves.

Unfortunately, I never got to know Marin until after I had beaten her up in several blog entries. I got to know her during her stint with the Allentown School District, where she worked on a number of after-school programs for the kids. She became consumed with them and their well-being, and remain involved in all kinds of programs for disadvantaged children after the money ran out. She still cared, just as much as the volunteers who run Allentown's Wall2Wall program, or Craig Golden, a Bethlehem basketball coach who came out of retirement because he the young men on his team wrote him and asked him to stay.

None of this has anything to do with her being Executive Director at RenewLV. But it has everything to do with why I must recognize that I had her wrong.

Marin is actually a co-founder of RenewLV, which is described as "smart-growth organization dedicated to revitalizing our urban cores and regional, cooperative approaches to government in the Lehigh Valley."

Her experience as a Main Street Manager, Emmaus Council member and as Allentown DCED Director has given her plenty of exposure to both revitalization and regionalism opportunities.

"Having an experienced, strategic and knowledgeable professional like Joyce will enable RenewLV to continue its important efforts to be the voice for regionalism in the Lehigh Valley," says Deana Zosky, co-chair of the RenewLV board of directors. "Joyce also brings a tremendous amount of passion for smart growth, which will help us engage our stakeholders and the general public and raise the level of discussion Valley-wide."

Marin's academic credentials include an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and inclusion in the Knight Fellowship in Community Building at the University of Miami's School of Architecture, the recognized center for New Urban thought and practice.

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to direct my experience and education toward engaging the region's leadership and the public more deeply in the discussion of a sustainable Lehigh Valley, regional cooperation and the efficient use of our resources through utilization of smart growth principals and policies," said Marin.

In her new role, she's already begun revitalization within RenewLV itself. She's helping organize the Lehigh Valley's first smart growth conference, the Lehigh Valley Summit for Smart Growth, to be held on October 24th at the Holiday Inn at Center City in Allentown. "The summit is a great opportunity for both the region's leaders as well as regular citizens to get informed and engaged on what we can each do to have a better Lehigh Valley as we grow," said Marin.

I wish her luck.

Why Geeting Trashed RenewLV's New Exec Director

Blogger and George Soros employee Jonathan Geeting recently posted a little ditty about RenewLV, a faux grass roots groups that's really just another creature of the Lehigh Valley Partnership, a group of unelected aristocrats who think they call the shots. He was particularly critical of its new Executive Director, Pam Colton.

In a comment, he explains why. I applied for that job, and I’m still interested in it."

Amazingly cheeky.

RenewLV Brown-Bag This Friday

On Friday, RenewLV’s ongoing Brown-Bag Series will look at the impact of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education on the regional economy and innovation.

Who: Steve Melnick, LVEDC; Kelly Rosario, Allentown School District; Troy Thrash, DaVinci Science Center; and Todd Watkins, Lehigh University

What: Free and open to the public, the impact of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education on innovation, entrepreneurship and a vibrant regional economy. You may not even need a brown bag because the Pa. DCED is bringing a "light" lunch.

When: This Friday, November 19th, 2010, 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 1:30 p.m.

Where: Bridgeworks Enterprise Center (AEDC), 905 Harrison St., Allentown, PA (across the street from Fairview Cemetery).

RenewLV Brownbaggers to Discuss Municipal Finance

Although RenewLV hosts periodic brown-bag forums on topics of local concern, I've yet to make it to even one of them. Unless I have babysitting duties, and I never know that until the last minute, I'll be there this Friday for a discussion of municipal finance, especially as it impacts on older communities. You're supposed to bring your own lunch, plus a few cookies for me. Here are the details:

Who: Gerald Cross, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, Central Division

What: Informal brown-bag forum, free and open to the public, to discuss Pennsylvania’s current system of municipal finance and the major structural challenges that this system poses for older core communities, especially cities and boroughs. Session will include brief presentation followed by plenty of time for questions and discussion.

When: Friday, August 27, 12:00 p.m. (noon) to 1:15 p.m.

Where: Sigal Museum [New home of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society], 342 Northampton St, Easton, PA.

Note: The session will be held in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at the museum. Upon checking in at the admissions desk, you will be directed upstairs. Metered street parking is available throughout Easton. A public parking garage is located on 27 South Third St.

RenewLV To Host Brown Bag About Bicycling

RenewLV will host a brown-bag session this Friday, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room of Allentown Center Square, 15 North 7th Street, Allentown (entrance faces corner of 7th St and Hamilton St). It's all about bicycling.

Steve Schmitt, who heads up the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation (CAT), will be one of the panelists. He'll be joined by John Schubert, Pennsylvania Pedalcycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and John Sharpe, Bike Allentown.

I remember the last time Schmitt conducted a panel about "appropriate transportation" in Allentown. Local activist Joe DeRaymond decided to go, got into a shouting match with Schmitt, and Schmitt stole Joe's car keys. He ended up walking 7 miles home. At night. In the rain.

If you would like additional information, or have any questions about the event, feel free to contact Steve Bliss at sbliss@renewlv.org or 484-893-1060. Bring money for a cab or a bus. And check the weather forecast.

Reminder: RenewLV's Transportation Forum Tonight

Tonight, at 6:30 PM, I'll be watching balls and strikes as Fountain Hill Little Leaguers take on Northwest Bethlehem's Braves. But after the game, I'll drop in on what's left of RenewLV's Regional Transportation Forum.

It's at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem (437 Main Street, Bethlehem), and following a 5:30 PM informal reception, the show starts at 6:30 PM.

Results of a regional passenger rail study, funded with $150,000 from Lehigh and Northampton County taxpayers and another $100,000 from the taxpayer-supported LVEDC, will be officially released. Many of you have condemned spending a dime on this study. There are comments like this: "Will someone just pull the plug on this billion dollar Lehigh Valley potential boondoggle? Please?" Or this. "I think several more expensive studies are necessary. Yes. That's it."

Some of you make the case for widening Route 22 first. But in the next 50 years, when we're driving on Empty, rail might seem like a good idea. And as explained by a friend, the effect of this study is to move the Lehigh Valley ahead of many other regions in the competition for precious federal funding. I would not have invested a dime in it during a recisssion, but understand the rationale of those who thought this was worthwhile.

Armand Greco, executive director at LANTA bus, is one of the featured speakers and the dark horse tonight. He's already made presentations to both Northampton ad Lehigh County, suggesting he'd like to expand in a very big way over the next few years. Of course, this will require much larger local subsidies, starting in about three years.

More details are located here.

Monday night Update (9:14PM): Ehen I told you that real estate tax dollars funded this rail study, I was only partially correct. No Lehigh County real estate tax dollars were used. I will expalin my error more fully in a separate post.

RenewLV to Host Regional Transportation Forum Next Monday

Renew Lehigh Valley will host a Regional Transportation Forum on Monday, April 19 at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem (437 Main Street, Bethlehem). The program begins at 6:30 p.m., following an informal reception at 5:30 p.m.

Results of a regional passenger rail study, funded with $100,000 from Lehigh and Northamption County taxpayers and another $50,000 from the taxpayer-supported LVEDC, will be officially released.

Would we have been better off just flushing that money down the toilet? We'll find out Monday.

The event is free and open to the public. An RSVP is suggested, but not required. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Beata Bujalska at bbujalska@renewlv.org or 484.893.1062.

The suits who will be showcased at this event include the following:

David Taylor - Senior Vice-President, National Director for Sustainable Transportation Solutions, HDR;
Bob McNamara - Senior Policy Representative for Smart Growth, National Association of REALTORS;
Armand Greco - Executive Director, LANTA;
Scott Armstrong - Allentown conservative;
Joe Gurinko - Chief Transportation Planner, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission; and
Adam Krom - Philadelphia-based Transportation Planner

Armstrong won't really be there. I just threw that in to see if you were paying attention. This event is presented by the National Association of REALTORS and the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS (LVAR). Event sponsors also include the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and the Lehigh Valley Partnership, out very own unelected shadow government.

I'll be there for the food.

Wanna' Have Lunch With State Rep. Bob Freeman?

When: Friday, January 22 - Renew Lehigh Valley Brown-bag Lunch Session

Special Guest: State Representative, Bob Freeman

Time: Noon - 1:30PM

Location: Victory Fire House, 205 Webster St., Bethlehem (South Side).

What: A preview of what's coming up this year in Harrisburg. Urban revitalization, smart growth, open-space preservation, are the listed topics. I'd like to know why there really has been no property tax reform, why efforts for a constitutional convention have fizzled, why Pennsylvania is #50 out of 50 states in public health and when the legislature is finally going to do something about our archaic campaign finance laws.

Bring your own damn lunch. That's why it's called a brown bag. I'll bring the keg.

If you'd like to know more, or have any questions about the event, contact Steve Bliss at sbliss@renewlv.org or 484-893-1060.

Lehigh Valley Rail Summit: Grassroots or Astroturf?

"This is an unusual meeting. ... This is not business as usual."

That's how State Senator Rob Wonderling described last night's high profile passenger rail summit at Hotel Bethlehem. And it sure was a diverse combination of business interests, pols and transportation advocates.

This odd assortment of at least 170 foo-foos nibbled in anticipation at expensive cheeses and sipped different wines, "networking" away and passing out business cards while a piano played ever so quietly. All the hotshots were there. No wonder. This event was loudly trumpeted by both The Morning Call and Express Times. Reporters and cameras were in abundance. Senator Wonderling and facilitator Joyce Marin concluded the high turnout was indicative of some kind of "grass roots movement," but that's horseshit. This was manufactured news, bippy. There's obviously big money behind last night's astroturf event.

The event sponsor, RenewLV, describes itself as "a diverse coalition of business, agriculture, environmentalists, urban, suburban and rural government officials, education and other civic leaders." Its members include PPL's Bert Daday, Brown Daub's L. Anderson Daub and LVEDC's Raymond F. Suhocki. Many members are also part of the advisory committee behind the plan to widen Route 22.

The evening's featured speaker, The Brookings Institution's Robert Puentes, presented an excellent overview of potential benefits and pitfalls of some form of rail. It's worthy of a separate post. But he strangely had no recommendations for the Lehigh Valley. He cautioned "rail is not a silver bullet." And he warned that no rail program will stop congestion.

In a rambling presentation, Senator Wonderling told us a Quakertown rail line could be a reality by 2010 ... or 2011 ... or 2012.

I support light rail. I support alternative transportation. But I don't support contrived "grass roots" movements. I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I knew who picked up the tab for last night's slick extravaganza. Instead, I left feeling very suspicious about a hidden agenda.

Some of Those Attending Last Night's Ball:

Chris "Blue Collar" Casey, who left when the piano music stopped for some reason;
Greta "Queen of the Greens" Browne, looking very regal with a laptop;
Blogger Damien "I love Allentown" Brown;
Blogger Vanessa Williams, not to be confused with Vanessa Williams;
Route 22 cheerleader Bruce Davis, complete with pom poms;
Ron "Does anyone want to interview me?" Angle;
Julian "Mr. Republican" Stolz;
Rev. Mike "God loves business" Dowd;
Joe "I'm chaining myself to the piano and am not leaving until I read this list of the 20,000 war wounded" DeRaymond;
Roger "I love south side Bethlehem, casinos and butterflies" Hudak;
John "thank God this isn't county council" Stoffa;
Jason "anybody see my bike?" Slipp;
Mary "I'm there for you" Ensslin;
Peter "I send 1,000,000 emails per day containing articles from the local papers" Crownfield;
Pratima "couldn't anyone leave me one slice of cheese?" Agrawal;
Alan "prince of poverty" Jennings; and, last but least,
Bernie "can't we all just get along?" O'Hare.

Update: RenewLV Denies It Is Astroturf Group - Joyce Marin kindly posted a comment on this blog. She's "setting the record straight" concerning my RenewLV allegations. Her explanation is complete and I accept it. I was very concerned about who funds her group, and she has identified her sources.

Are Local Lehigh Valley Leaders Tilting Towards Passenger Rail?

RenewLV is not your typical grassroots organization. Its members include PPL's Bert Daday, Brown Daub's L. Anderson Daub and LVEDC's Raymond F. Suhocki. Many members are also part of the advisory committee behind the plan to widen Route 22. Advocates of that plan have dismissed any notion of rail service, especially light rail. I haven't seen Daday at too many oil independence rallies.

Is this mindset against rail service changing? RenewLV is actually sponsoring a transportation forum to promote passenger rail! On Tuesday, January 16, between 6:30 and 9 PM, state senator Rob Wonderling and Brookings scholar Robert Puentes will be on hand at the Hotel Bethlehem's Terrace Room. And we're all invited for free food and drinks.

Bethlehem City Council President J. Michael Schweder has already announced he prefers rail service to wider highways. This latest announcement from a group of business leaders indicates they may be changing their thinking as global warming and peak oil become reality.