Hanover Township Business Rated 5th Most Promising Young Company in USA

During last night's Northampton County Council meeting, Rev. Mike Dowd told fellow council members that Weather Trends, a Hanover Township business established in 2006, has been recognized by Forbes as the fifth most promising young company in America. "This is out of 12,000 companies that were reviewed. They were number five. It's remarkable, a remarkable story." If this company can really predict which way the wind is blowing, it should forget meteorology and get into political consulting.

Angle Predicts Northampton County Tax Hike

Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, waited until the end of last night's county council meeting before quietly predicting a tax hike next year. "My annual prediction is sliding between 11 1/2% and 13 1/2%. I'll let you know better in another week or two."

LV Congressman Charlie Dent gets a little nutty when it comes to ACORN. It describes itself as "the nation’s largest grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people with over 400,000 member families organized into more than 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities across the country." It's Project Vote added 1.3 million voters to the rolls in 2008, including 153,000 here in Pennsylvania. These were mostly Democrats. So it's no surprise that Dent, as blogger Pam Varkony notes, wants to turn off the federal faucet that has poured $53 million into this organization since 1994.

This is nothing new. Last October, Dent was one of the Pennsylvania Republican Congressman who asked the state AG to investigate allegations of what really amounts to voter registration fraud, in which canvassers register dead people or supply false registrations. Now, he's cosponsored legislation to deny federal funding to ACORN, and the language of that bill was incorporated into another piece of legislation that passed the House.

Congressman Dent has also co-signed a Congressional letter to the President, asking for the disclosure and termination of all federal funding to ACORN. The Census Bureau has already cut off its association.

Dent believes ACORN has become too tainted by all these allegations of impropriety. In a statement released yesterday he acknowledges "[t]here may be some well-intended, honest volunteers who are not involved in illegal activity at ACORN. I suggest they contribute their time to one of the many legitimate housing and anti-poverty organizations that provide help for vulnerable citizens without becoming embroiled in the fraud and corruption that has continually surrounded ACORN.”

Wanna' Plant a Few Trees?

If you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty, Lehigh County could use your help.

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, the Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a tree planting event at Trexler Nature Preserve in Schnecksville. Thanks to a $10,000 donation from Air Products, the county purchased 500 trees to restore a healthy ecosystem on the north range of the preserve.

The event will take place rain or shine. No tree planting experience is necessary but volunteers are asked to bring their own shovels, gloves and water to drink. I personally don't drink water. Fish piss in it. I'd suggest a flask or two of something else like gatorade. And a few buffalo burgers.

If you’d like to volunteer, call Robin Stemetzki in the Parks and Recreation at 610-871-0281 or email her at robinstemetzki@lehighcounty.org before Oct. 2.

Bethlehem Township's Kangaroo Court

It's pretty hard to feel sorry for Abe Atiyeh, who is referred to by Bill White as Allentown's Rajah of Rezoning. Sure, he may carry bags of candy that he hands out to people everywhere. Yes, he did drop $5,000 on a homeless shelter about a year ago. But let's face it, most of us don't like rich guys unless they're professional athletes or bloggers. It's just the way it is. But I couldn't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for the guy at last night's meeting of the Bethlehem Township Zoning Hearing Board. Let me tell you what happened.

Northampton County would like to set up a new, 300-bed, treatment and work release center. It's already been shot down in Glendon and West Easton. Then Abe Atiyeh came up with a site in Bethlehem Township, located smack dab inside an industrial park, nearly a mile from the nearest home. Even better, this site is in an area zoned for treatment centers. But Bethlehem Township wants nothing to do with anything that houses prisoners. That's no surprise from a municipality that refused to contribute a dime towards homeless shelters.

Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale, when she was running for county executive, sided with the NIMBYs, piously declaring that "[a] facility in an industrial park is not the answer." Incumbent Executive John Stoffa stuck to his guns. "We have four people in a cell, four bunk beds, a commode and a hopper, and it is disgraceful the way we treat our people in our jail." McHale ended up winning Bethlehem Township ... by one vote. She was trounced everywhere else.

Bethlehem Township zoners can impose reasonable restriction on this treatment and work release center, but they pretty much have no legal basis for denying an application. Of course, they did anyway. Judge Franciosa recently told them to think again.

That was supposed to happen last night, and the place was packed. ZHB Solicitor Larry Fox, who has an uncanny ability to spend hours saying absolutely nothing, wasted nearly a half hour just introducing all the lawyers and parties involved. When the hearing finally got underway, it quickly became apparent that the ZHB, stung by Franciosa's remand, will soon be reversed again.

Gary Brienza, himself an attorney, was the worst of these zoners. He repeatedly slammed the table and tossed papers. Jennifer Sletvold, another attorney, repeatedly interrupted witnesses and Attorney Jim Preston, who was presenting Atiyeh's case. Preston had a slew of witnesses on hand, prepared to address anything that still bothered the ZHB. But they insisted that Preston should just flail away and try to read their minds. "It's not appropriate for us to be asking you questions," huffed Sletvold, with fancy pink designer glasses perched atop her nose.

Brienza: "So we have a stalemate."

Preston: "I have another word."

Brienza: "We are not here to try your case."

Preston: "We are not here because this applicant failed."

When Preston called Warden Todd Buskirk to address security and public safety, board members suddenly thought it was appropriate to ask questions after all. Buskirk was peppered by Brienza, not about security, but about Buskirk's recent decision to step down as Director of Corrections. Brienza attempted to embarrass Todd, a class act, with needless and irrelevant questions about the real reason for that decision.

Todd did finally get to testify about the number of guards needed for security, but zoners argued with him. Todd invited them to tour the current work release center, where there is much less security, but they all turned up their noses. When Stoffa suggested bringing a few work release people in to testify, Sletvold's designer glasses cracked and she very nearly hurled.

If you'd like to see this kangaroo court in action, they'll be meeting again on September 30th to hear testimony about all the traffic nightmares that 300 inmates will cause. After that, they'll deny the application and get reversed again.

Why Pa. Needs Health Insurance Reform

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Sebelius today released a new analysis of last week’s U.S. Census numbers regarding those who have no health insurance. The need for health insurance reform in Pennsylvania, something about which both parties agree, is demonstrated by these sobering statistics:

* The number of uninsured in Pennsylvania has increased from 1.0 million in 2001 to 1.2 million in 2008.

* The percentage of non-elderly adults without insurance increased from 10.8% to 13.2% in 2008.

* The percentage of people with employer-based coverage decreased from 80% of the population in 2001 to 74% in 2008.

* The percentage of workers from Pennsylvania without insurance has increased, from 9.8% in 2001 to 12.5% in 2008.

Tony Phillips: In Memoriam

Today's very detailed Morning Call account - Phillips' Facebook chat mate revealed - tells us that a Tony Phillips' ex-girlfriend is the culprit who set out to undermine his candidacy. A woman scorned, and not the Pawlowski camp, managed to divert everyone's attention from a an unsafe city in fiscal crisis. Had her identity been known from the onset, I doubt this would ever have been a story. Private lives should remain private.

President Judge Alfred Williams, who presided over many a custody dispute in his day, once told me there are three sides to every domestic dispute - her side, his side and the truth. We've heard her side. We may hear his side. I doubt we'll ever hear the truth.

Being human, we love all those titillating details about Tony's relationship, even if we don't know for sure exactly what happened. We're shocked, just shocked, to learn that he had a stormy relationship that ended badly. Nobody questions the temptress who created a false identity and who outright lied to put Tony in a position where she could pounce on him.

I might be Tony's sole defender here in Blogistan. I'll agree he used bad judgment, whatever that means. But he'd by no means be the first person who exercised bad judgment in a relationship. Nobody is willing to acknowledge that obvious truth. Instead, he is now being shunned by the very party that nominated him, denied an opportunity to speak at the first ever LV Republican convention this past Sunday. "With friends like these ..."

Michael Molovinsky is a former mayoral candidate who was treated pretty badly in his own run. He might be expected to have a shred of compassion. Wrong. He instead questions Phillips' intelligence in a post entitled Stupid is as Stupid Does. What is that if not mean-spirited?

Blogger LVCI incredibly condemns Tony for getting caught. "By allowing himself to be exposed he demonstrated his inability to be discrete." I see. If LVCI prefers a mayor who can hide his transgressions, King Edwin is the man for him. Would you like a mayor who claims that the city is really, really safe as bullets whizz over your head? Do you really want someone who brags about restoring fiscal stability while laying off city workers? Actually, King Edwin has been caught himself, and on matters a little more relevant to our lives.

Over at LVPoliblog, VDSM - a woman - chides men who think "with parts of their anatomy other than their brain." Gee, that's certainly true, but doesn't "Delores" play a teensy little role in this soap opera, too? Didn't Eve tempt Adam?

I can think of several local elected officials who've been involved in relationships that have ended badly. Some have been accused of cheating and other dastardly private deeds. There may even be a few pick their noses and eat it. I have some pretty hard evidence on a current candidate for public office, married with children, begging a college student to hook up with him. Should I publis that? Is it open season on private lives? You tell me.

We're very willing to examine all the lurid details of Tony's private life, putting him in a no win situation and effectively ending his candidacy. We're equally unwilling to delve into private lives of other officials. Why is that? Could it be that Tony's race enters into our thinking? Are we so willing to pronounce Tony a "horn dog" because he is, after all, black? You tell me.

I realize this defense of Tony is both unpopular and futile, but there's little point to blogging if I'm unable to express minority views.

Update: In the comments to The Morning Call story, "Delores4u2" is now claiming she is HIV positive and, like Florence Nightingale, she is simply warning other women about the danger of unprotected sex with Tony. Alrighty.

Will Dems Make Clean Sweep on Allentown City Council?

Four Democrats and two Republicans will face off this November for four openings on Allentown City Council this November. Will City Council remain an exclusive, Democrats' only, club?

Mike D'Amore and Julio Guridy, Democrats both, are incumbents seeking re-election. They are joined by recently retired school administrator Ray O'Connell and young but energetic Mike Schlossberg, a certified urban revitalization specialist working for the Chamber of Commerce.

Republicans are fielding Lou Hershman, a former Democrat and grizzled veteran of city government. He has spent over thirty years as both Controller and Council member. Lou is joined by Joe Brudnak, about whom I know absolutely nothing. I hope that changes in the next few weeks when I meet him.

In the primary, this is how the candidates finished: D'Amore - 2,464; Schlossberg - 2,447, O'Connell - 2,221; Guridy - 2,056; Hershman - 1,609 (175 Republican write-in votes); and Brudnak - 1,283. As an incumbent city council President with close ties to the unions, D'Amore should come out on top. But Schlossberg's strong, second place, showing is a surprise, especially for a newcomer. He even edged out incumbent Julio Guridy. Is this an indication that Allentown Dems are more progressive now than they were a few years ago? If that were so, Guridy would have done much better. Schlossberg's relentless door-to-door campaign is probably what helped him more than anything.

Of the Democrats, Guridy is the most vulnerable. He actually lambasted members of the public during a recent city council meeting. He had hinted that opposition to a playground at Cedar Creek Parkway might be racially motivated. That resulted in some groans, and an upset Guridy lectured everyone, comparing city council chambers to a courtroom.

Lou Hershman has managed to surprise a few people, too. On primary eve, anonymous robo calls falsely blamed him for a pension deal that was actually brokered by Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Lou's campaign as a Democrat went down in flames, and he was counted out. Hershman believes city council needs to be more an administration watchdog, not a lapdog. Pawlowski knows this, and for that reason privately encouraged the robocalls, even going so far as to pick up the checks that funded them. Amazingly, candidates are too afraid to say this publicly. But Lou is still in the race. An experienced politician, he had an ace hiding up his sleeve and managed to capture the Republican nod as a write-in.

On my left sidebar, I have links to for each candidates. I have also spotlighted the five candidates I know in separate posts below. Throughout the campaign, I plan to add more and more information so that you can make an informed choice. You can also help with links to stories or by adding your own insights. I like Hershman. He brings fiscal experience that may prevent Pawlowski from falsely presenting budget figures. I also like Schlossberg's youthful exuberance and intelligence.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Lou Hershman

D.O.B.: 1936
EDUCATION: Lehigh Community College, Accounting
OCCUPATION: Business Owner, Hershmans & Associates, Prepare Income Taxes
QUALIFICATIONS: Businessman, Councilman, City Controller, Special Investigator, PA. Dept of Revenue, S-2 US Army.
Web Page: None
Party: Republican.

LV Ramblings Posts:

Was Hershman Political Ad Censored in Allentown?

Allentown City Council Muzzles Citizen Participation

Allentown's Incumbent Protection Rule

Tony Phillips & Marc Grammes: Let Lou Speak!

Allentown: We're Broke, So Let's Borrow Money!

Allentown City Council Votes To Let Lou Speak, 6 to 1

Allentown City Council Contender Lou Hershman: Ban Convicted Drug Dealers From City

Lou Hershman Being Victimized By Anonymous Robocalls

Rob Hopkins, James Spang Behind Anonymous Hershman Slur

Lou Hershman Still in Allentown City Council Race as Republican Write-In

Allentown's Three Blind Mice

Lou Hershman Now Batting Righty

Hershman Demands Debate With Hopkins & Pawlowski

Lou Hershman Will Refuse Allentown City Council Salary

Other Sources

Queen City Daily: Meet Lou Hershman

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mike Schlossberg

D.O.B.: 1983
EDUCATION: B.A. (Political Science & Psychology), Muhlenberg College, M.A. (Political Science), Lehigh University
OCCUPATION: Urban Revitalization Specialist
QUALIFICATIONS: Former aide to Representative Jennifer Mann and County Executive Don Cunningham, State-certified Urban Revitalization Specialist, Allentown Government Reform Committee, West Park Civic Association Officer, Hamilton Street Revitalization Committee, Congregation Keneseth Israel
Web Page: www.mikeschlossberg.com
Party: Democrat.

LV Ramblings Posts

A Reason for Urban Living

Schlossberg, Hoover Weighing Allentown City Council Races

Muhlenberg College Dems Like D'Amore & Schlossberg, But Not Howells

Allentown's Three Blind Mice

Schlossberg Recognized for Façades

Other Sources

Queen City Daily: Meet Mike Schlossberg

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mike D'Amore

D.O.B.: 1969
EDUCATION: Graduate of Dieruff H.S.; BA Moravian College (1992); MA University of Vermont (1998); Ph.D. University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2009)
OCCUPATION: Community College Faculty
QUALIFICATIONS: Born & raised in Allentown; Current President of Allentown City Council; Current member of Allentown City Council
Web Page: None.
Party: Democrat.

LV Ramblings Posts:

Eckhart & D'Amore to Duel at Coplay Coke Wagon

Mike D'Amore Rules Out Challenge to King Ed's Allentown Throne

Lehigh County & Allentown Conduct Peace Talks

Muhlenberg College Dems Like D'Amore & Schlossberg, But Not Howells

Allentown City Council Muzzles Citizen Participation

Allentown City Council Votes To Let Lou Speak, 6 to 1

Allentown's Three Blind Mice

Allentown City Council: Public Needs More Time For Cedar Park Plans

Other Sources:

Queen City Daily: Meet Michael D'Amore

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ray O'Connell

D.O.B.: 1949
EDUCATION: BS – Kutztown State University, 1971; M Ed – Lehigh University, 1977
OCCUPATION: Retired
QUALIFICATIONS: Public School Employee/Administrator – 1972 to 2007 (35 years); Allentown resident for 33 years; Member of Allentown Recreation & Allentown Human Relations Commission

LV Rambings Posts

Allentown's Three Blind Mice

Other Sources

Queen City Daily: Meet Ray O'Connell

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Julio Guridy

D.O.B.: 1960
EDUCATION: BA in Sociology, Minor in CJA; MA in Sociology
OCCUPATION: Director of Compact Authorized Investment - DRJTBC, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor
QUALIFICATIONS: Incumbent who chairs the Public Works Committee and an ad- hoc Finance Committee. Member of Public Safety Committee, Human Resources Committee, Community and Economic Development and Legal and Legislation.
WEB PAGE: http://www.guridyforcitycouncil.org/
Party: Democrat.

LV Ramblings Posts

Allentown's Motto: Stupid is as Stupid Does?

Allentown City Council Votes To Let Lou Speak, 6 to 1

Allentown "Development Specialist" Engages in Illegal Political Activity

Eichenwald: A Teachable Moment

Other Sources

Queen City Daily: Meet Julio Guridy

Obama Stumps For Arlen in Philly

The report below comes from the Pa. press pool covering President Obama's visit to Philadelphia today. Tom Fitzgerald, a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, prepared the report below. I presume it's something I can load on my blog.

President Obama told Democrats at a fundraising reception that it was vital to his agenda for them to re-elect Sen. Arlen Specter.

“He was a great senator when he was a Republican and he is going to be an even greater senator now that he is a Democrat,” Obama said, drawing laughter from a crowd of about 500 at a pre-dinner general fundraising reception.

In a more serious vein, the president said that Specter was a pragmatist after his own heart. “Arlen is not someone who came to Washington to fight for a particular ideology. He came to fight for the working men and women of Pennsylvania, and he has a long record of success.”

Obama praised Specter’s crucial vote for the stimulus, saying people who criticize it have “selective memories” about how bad things really were. “Arlen thought it was more important to answer to the people who sent him to Washington rather than his party,” Obama said. “That’s why you should send him back for another six years – because you know he’s going to fight for you.”

Specter said he was honored to have Obama in Philadelphia, calling him a “transformational president” who has “tackled the problems of the nation and the world with vigor.” He mentioned health-care reform, climate change legislation and immigration reform, while resuscitating the economy.

“Most of all, and perhaps toughest of all, I predict the president is going to bring civility to Washington,” Specter said.

Apparently that was news to Rep. Joe Wilson (R.,S.C.) last Wednesday night.

A ticket to the reception cost a donation of $2,400, though the audience included some rank-and-file members of the Democratic State Committee who were invited to attend gratis by the Specter campaign.

“It was a smart move for him to show his commitment” to party workers, said Mike Quigley, a state committeeman from Allentown, Pa. “I’ve always had great respect for Sen. Specter.” Quigley opined that the Obama endorsement would influence Democrats who might remain lukewarm to Specter. “The fact that he would endorse Specter makes everyone take a hard second look,” Quigley said.

Guests drank beer and wine, and nibbled chunks of cheese and other snacks. The lone hors d’oeuvres table in the center of the room at the cavernous Pennsylvania Convention Center featured a centerpiece of sunflowers, the iconic state flower of Specter’s native Kansas.

Gov. Ed Rendell ( D) and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (D) also spoke in praise of the senator of the hour.

“We need to send a message to this country that we are serious about Arlen Specter,” Nutter said.

4 of Every 10 Single Moms at or Below Poverty Level

The latest poverty rate, 13.2%, is at its highest level since 1997. But according to the Institute for Public Accuracy, single moms are hit hardest. 38.9% of them are living below the poverty level. No bailouts for them. If they get hungry enough, they can just eat their kids.

LV Blogs: Echo Chamber for the Mainstream Media?

Yesterday, I was chastised anonymously in a comment for my shortcomings as a blogger.

"I'm finding the perspective of this blog more and more disingenuous every day. Double standards galore for favored pols, trying to deflect legitimate criticism of those favored pols and community leaders and an unwillingness to even consider that other people just might have it right or offer a more informed perspective.

"Blogs are relevant to politics, but the LV blogs are only relevant to those who care to read them any more. It has become the classic echo chamber form of media.

"And that's a crying shame."

The first paragraph is a shot at my own blogging style while the second slams LV blogs in general. Pardon me for being introspective today, but I'd like to take some time to talk about my blogging "perspective" and whether LV blogs are just empty echo chambers for the mainstream.

I make no apology for my point of view. I do try to inform you, providing details that are either completely independent or that complement what you see in the newspapers and on TV. Let's look at some independent stories that published last week alone. Ken Matthews resigned as campaign manger to Allentown mayoral candidate Tony Phillips. The Trexler Trust diminished $26 million in just one year. Republican House members, including Charlie Dent, shared their views on health care reform. A growing number of properties - possibly a record - is being sold at tax sale in Northampton County. LV legislators, led by Criag Dally, initiated an effort to break the state budget logjam. I sought no approval from any editor or publisher, but simply chose to write about what interests me.

In addition to these independent stories, this blog complemented a few stories from the newspapers and on television. For example, the entire, hour long, conversation between Tony Phillips and "Delores," was posted here. A blog about State Senator Boscola's insistence on ghost voting, supplemented what had already appeared at Capitol Ideas.

I have an arsenal of flipcams, digital recorders, a broken down PC that I put together myself, a fancy laptop that friends gave me as a gift on my birthday, a clipboard donated by Bob Romancheck and lots of pens and paper. But I work alone and often put in long hours, getting by on four or five hours of sleep.

Do I have a point of view? Absolutely. Do I disclose it? Yes. I defend it, too, and sometimes in an ornery way. I'm a miserable bastard. I have no training in journalism and feel my writing is more honest if I just state my opinions. If I were to try to be objective, I would fail. I do spend a lot of time trying to get my facts right, but I'll concede that I tend to minimize the flaws in someone I admire and maximize the shortcomings in someone I despise. So what? Readers here are sophisticated enough to reach their own conclusions.

I'll plead guilty to bias, but that disingenuous label vexes me. By revealing my bias, I think I'm more honest than I would be if I were to try to be objective.

As far as the condemnation of other LV blogs is concerned, all I can say is that readership continues to grow, especially at election time. People are hungry for local political news, and the new media has been pretty good providing stories that are no echo of what you'll see in the MSM. Neighbors of Easton, A-town Fiscal Watchdog (Ken Petrini) , Molovinsky on Allentown, Pamela Varkony's Perspectives, LVCI, News Over Coffee: Nazareth News, Northern Lehigh Valley Logic and, most recently, LV Poliblog, ALL do independent reporting. Many of these blogs have rather intense discussions, which contradicts that echo chamber assertion.

I'll say this to my critic. If you feel that we set such poor examples, why not start a blog and set us straight?

Bless Me Rebecca, For I Have Sinned

Her name probably means very little to most of you, but I'm a big fan of blogging pioneer Rebecca Blood. She may avoid politics like the plague on her own blog, but long ago suggested a very brief set of six ethical standards that apply particularly well to poliblogs. I've posted them here before. One of her six commandments is to "Write each entry as if it could not be changed; add to, but do not rewrite or delete, any entry."

Well, bless me Rebecca, for I have sinned. I've already taken down a few posts critical of LVPoliblog and blogger Chris Casey.

As most of you know, I really am a miserable bastard. When I get into one of my moods, I can clear an entire aisle in the Recorder's office in three seconds flat. It's a good thing I'm incredibly handsome.

In addition to being temperamental, I sometimes attempt unilaterally to impose my blogging standards on everyone else, whether they like it or not, for their own good. That's not my call to make. For that, I am sorry. To prove it, I have violated my own frickin' rule and deleted some of my own posts for the first and, hopefully, the only time. Yes, I have broken Rebecca's Fourth Commandment and taken down a few posts that really just vent about other bloggers instead of informing you about local issues.

I'll try to do better in the future.

To his credit, Casey has acknowledged his own mistakes. As far as I am concerned, the matter is over and it's time to move on.

If we screw up again, Rebecca will nail us with a thunderbolt or something.

LVR is Now a Poof Blog, Too!

I've just broken a rule I've faithfully followed since I started blogging. I've taken down a few posts. I've even decided to privatize the Troll Parade, where I spotlighted a few local trolls and gave them an opportunity to spew their venom away from the rest of us. I'll explain my reasoning tonight.

Update: I've reversed myself on the Troll Parade. Trollvilla first heralded it as a victory for him (that's OK), but then simultaneously claimed that my sole reason to privatize the blog was so he'd be unable to defend himself. My mistake.

Delores Strikes Again!

Last week, Allentown mayoral hopeful Tony Phillips may or may not have been damaged by the revelation that he - a single man - had a titillating online conversation with a "woman" named Delores. One thing is certain; he sure got a lot of free publicity. When details of this private, mostly banal, conversation were posted on the Internet by Delores, we all went a little nutz. The Morning Call published two front-page stories (here and here). It was also a top story on Channel 69.

Some people inside Tony's inner circle, like campaign manager Ken Matthews, ran like a rabbit being chased by my grandson's dog. After all, Ken goes to Life Church. LC Republican Chair Bill Platt also threw Tony under the bus, telling blogger Pam Varkony, "We can't force Tony Phillips out of the race".

Outside this inner sanctum, the views are less charitable. Morning Call columnist Bill White concludes Tony "behaved like an idiot." And Michael Molovinsky, who has humbly anointed himself the Queen City's "shadow mayor," questions Tony's intelligence.

Now that we've all had time to settle down and let the facts sink in, it appears that an as yet unidentified person deliberately set out to sabotage Tony's campaign. Shortly after this story erupted, "Delores" appeared on Craigslist as the "clean up woman," gloating over the damage she caused. And on Saturday night, while trolling Facebook for single politicians, "Delores" found time to post this "victory get together (allentown)" announcement.

"this is delores and i am inviting everyone who has read article on mcall about tp to join me in victory get together. this will be held after election in nov. press welcome and anyone who wants to know who delores is and why. looking for suggestion to where it should take place in allentown pa. any business who would like to spon. can email delores4u2@aol.com and those who will be attending. need to know how many are attending. thank you."

So who is Delores and what is her motive? That's the real story. Obviously, it could be someone inside the Pawloski camp, although that has been strongly denied. It could be a woman scorned. It could be someone inside the Allentown Police Department who is still angry at Tony's civil rights litigation from his time as a cop. You see, Tony was bothered by cops goose-stepping around headquarters with swastikas. He never saw the humor in cutting off a black baby doll's head and attaching it to the steering wheel on Tony's cruiser. Those rascals may be playing another joke. It could be some femme fatale who feels Tony failed to give her the attention she deserved. It could even be TrollVilla, who threatened as recently as last night to destroy local pols who talk to me. "[H]opefully they'll see our message about us calling out (and ruining politically, as best we can) any/all politicos who continue to yuk it up w/ O'Hare in the local blogosphere as if O'Hare is a credible source (or destination) for anything."

The LVPoliblog has tried to establish lines of communication with Delores. Me, too. In an email from "Delores" today, she hints she may meet me. We'll see. If we do meet, I have to scrounge up a wizar'd robe and hat somewhere. I told her I'm a Druid. I had a long chat with her today. It went something like this.

Delores: Hi
Councilman Ron: hello
Councilman Bernie: who is this?
Delores: just a someone?
Councilman Ron: A someone I know?
Delores: nope
Councilman Ron: Then why the hell are you bothering me?
Delores: well sorrrrrry
Delores: I just wanted to chat with you
Councilman Ron: why?
Delores: nevermind your an jerk
Councilman Ron: Hey wait a minute
Delores: yes?
Councilman Ron: look I'm sorry. I'm just a little paranoid
Delores: paranoid?
Councilman Ron: yes
Delores: of what?
Delores: me?
Councilman Ron: No. I'm in hiding.
Delores: LOL
Councilman Ron: Don't fucking laugh at me!
Councilman Ron: This shit is serious!
Delores: What are you hiding from?
Councilman Ron: The cops.
Delores: gimme a fucking break
Councilman Ron: I'm serious.
Delores: I don't get it
Councilman Ron: The cops are after me.
Delores: For what?
Councilman Ron: I'm wanted in three states
Delores: For???
Councilman Ron: It's kind of embarrasing.
Councilman Ron: I had sex with a turkey.
Councilman Ron: Hello?

Did Deegan and Dally Solve State Budget Crisis?

Last month, Express Times editor Jim Deegan slammed local legislators for their failure to do do anything about the annual state budget impasse.

"The legislators will hunch their shoulders, point fingers at the power-brokers and yammer about how they told the governor this or warned their caucus about that. Then they'll lament about how they're just as frustrated as you with the logjam in government."

When Deegan speaks, LV legislators listen. Last week, I told you about recent efforts to break the state budget logjam, being spearheaded by State Rep. Craig Dally. He is proposing that all 253 members of the state house meet and remain in continuous session, as a committee of the whole, giving the rank-and-file an opportunity where leaders have failed. In just one day, there were already 65 co-sponsors from both parties, including LV legislators Joe Brennan, Rich Grucela, Karen Beyer, Gary Day, Julie Harhart and Dough Reichley.

Craig tells The Tribune-Democrat that constituents are disgusted by this impasse, which hurts people who need help the most. "[T]hey expect us to have a say in the process." Joe Brennan has experienced much the same reaction from his District in Fountain Hill and South Bethlehem. "When I cut my grass on Sunday night, people ask me 'Why aren't you at work?'"

If Dally is able to get 102 co-sponsors, the House will be forced to take action. But amazingly, just one day after Dally's proposal, three of the legislature's four caucuses have agreed on a compromise $28 billion budget. Of course, the drama still unfolds. Governor Rendell is threatening a veto because it spends too little. House Republicans may refuse to override that veto because the deal spends too much.

Did Dally's threat spur this compromise? I suspect leaders are very aware that the rank-and-file is ready to revolt. But what really got them off their asses was Deegan's blog.