Bennett Blames Congressional Loss on LV Sexism

I'm upset. Just last month, blogger Howie Klein (DownWithTyranny, FiredogLake, Huffington Post) talked with failed LV Congressional candidate Sam (Siobhan) Bennett. She blamed her loss on regressive reporters and local bloggers like me.

Now, Howie and Sammy are claiming the real reason she lost to incumbent Charlie Dent is because she's a woman. Her defeat is the result of Lehigh Valley Misogyny. Hey, what about us regressive bloggers, damn it! Do you think it's easy to go weeks without shaving or deodorant?

Howie laments, "During the campaign, I couldn't help but notice a shocking amount of sexist invective aimed at her." He fails to note a single example, but I've noticed he never lets silly little things like facts get in his way.

Even more silly is the essay that Sammy writes herself.

Post announcing my bid for U.S. Congress this same newspaper [Morning Call] day after day ran with this verbatim quote from a local blog [hey, that's me!] on its front page: "Sammy Bennett is a phony political w**** who gives good h*** and makes cheap, blatant political opportunists look like Mother Fucking Teresa. Even her c*** is made of plastic." Though over the next year the paper never cited the differences between my opponent and I on issues, they ensured the launch of my bid for U.S. Congress linked me to "c***," "w****" and "h***." Next this paper promptly dove into a multiple week query about my salary as the newly minted statewide director of a non-profit. Professional women still look me in the eye "Sam, if you were a man, no one would have said a word about your salary."

When Boscola hatchetman Bernie Kieklak crashed and burned, his Bennett snark was just one of many misogynistic remarks noted by local papers, which were mostly directed at other women. His Bennett slam was given no special prominence over his many other absurd comments. It certainly appeared in no headline. No story ran day after day.

It must have slipped Bennett's mind that the Lehigh Valley has already sent three women to the General Assembly and another woman to the Pa. Senate. The President Judge and President of county council in Northampton County both happen to be women. Sam must have forgotten that she fired two female campaign managers and replaced them with a man whom I'm told was paid more than his two female predecessors. Finally, her little essay fails to mention that the objections to Bennett's POM salary had nothing to do with her sex.

Instead of blaming a sexist Lehigh Valley, Bennett might try looking in a mirror if she wants to know who is responsible for her loss.

But what do I know? I'm one of them there "regressives."

"Happy Faces" Save Lehigh Valley Zoo

It was a packed house at the Lehigh County meeting room last night. Aside from the hundred or so zoo supporters, reporters were everywhere. The Morning Call's Darryl Isherwood, The Express Times' Tony Nauroth, Channel 69's Bo Koltnow and the East Penn Press were all on hand. The only commissioner missing was conservative Glenn Eckhart, who was probably out somewhere eating bison burgers. The fate of the nearly bankrupt Lehigh Valley Zoo was on the line, but by the time the smoke had cleared, Lehigh County Commissioners had breathed new life into the facility.

Commissioners agreed, 7 to 1, to pump $525,000 this year to keep the zoo open, with another $325,000 over each of the next four years. This is the solution that Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham had proposed. He had previously argued it would cost just as much to close the place down. Only Dean Browning was opposed. He preferred giving the zoo $200,000 to meet its obligations now while commissioners and zoo officials work out a business plan, which is already partially developed.

Before things got started, Chairman Percy Dougherty asked the audience, "How many are here to support the zoo?" Nearly every hand went up. He then asked how many oppose the zoo. Not one hand one up. That includes Dougherty's potential Republican rival for commissioner this year, Marc Prinzinger.

Here in Blogistan, we were already firing up the barbeques and preparing for a feast of prairie dogs and penguins. But zoo supporters had a secret weapon last night that quickly destroyed all zoo opposition.

Kids.

Cute little girls got up to save the animals. A ten-year old girl, Ashley, presented Commissioners with a petition signed by her her classmates at McKinley Elementary. She was followed by eleven-year old Amanda Jones, a Shoemaker Elementary student and future veterinarian, who told Commissioners, "I have no animals at home, only a hamster and a fish. At the zoo, I got to watch a lot of happy faces. If someone closes the zoo, it will make me very sad."

Game over. How the hell do you argue with that?

After the kids had made the sale, I thought a bison had entered the room. It was Carol Loomis, whose name pops up everytime the zoo is mentioned. She wasn't really there to oppose public funding, but wanted Commissioners to know about the "suppression of information about what is done to the animals." She's quite the eloquent speaker. According to Loomis, 35 prairie dogs became road kill on Rte. 309 after making an escape, seven kangaroos suddenly became just three and Zorro the Skunk has disappeared. I was waiting for her to reveal the location of a secret lab where animal experiments are conducted.

Sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?

But as I learned from zoo officials after the meeting, Loomis is looney. The prairie dogs caper did occur, but under previous tenants. Zorro did decide to move to a new zoo and who the hell is going to stop a skunk? The kangaroos were split up to different zoos because they are siblings and if they mate, we'll have three headed kangaroos who shit bison burgers. One 'roo did die of cancer.

I was impressed, as always, by the way commissioners treated each other as well as the public. In fact, so were several of the spectators, who complimented this classy set of leaders. So what did they say?

Dougherty: "I am a big supporter of the zoo. ... This is an important part of the quality of life. To close the zoo would be a great travesty."

Browning: "We're putting the cart before the horse. ... I'm not willing to commit to $325,000 in the out years when we are not sure what we are undertaking."

Andy Roman: "I'd like to send out zoo fliers with the tax bills."

Bill Leiner: "The administration has done an extremely good job. We did not give enough oversight to the zoo."

Dan McCarthy: "We're talking about a second last chance here tonight, but I'm not so sure there will be a third last chance."

Gloria Hamm: "I've heard a lot of words. Let's get on with it." [Audience applauds]

David Jones: "If saving the zoo is the end game, then we should put forth the right numbers. Eventually the third strike will come. We're trying to avoid that."

My hero, Sterling Raber, nodded and smiled, but said nothing. He's a wise man.

As the meeting winded down, there was none of the acrimony I see in Northampton County. Conservative Browning joked about providing a copy of The Daily Worker to Democrat Bill Leiner, and he responded "Thank you, comrade."

This is the finest group of municipal legislators in the Lehigh Valley. I feel sorry for Darryl Isherwood, who regularly covers this group. I'll ask Ron Angle to attend their next meeting.

Afternoon Update: This blog is experiencing a Trollvilla attack. Inflammatory, irrelevant and off-topic messages are being posted to evoke outrage and disrupt the usually informative, on-topic discussion. I refuse to enable comment moderation, which I suspect is the goal here. I will delete the comments that appear, and ask that you ignore the childish and petty behavior. I realize that is hard to do, but it seems to work better than anything else.

Happy Birthday to the Poet President

He was a "war president." In fact, the war over which he presided may have claimed more American lives than all other wars combined. But he's not remembered that way.

He was the poet president. The man with the kind yet sad smile. He hated the killing business. Though born and raised in the frontier, he never hunted or fished, not even as a boy. Religious revivals were all the rage, but he never joined a church. In a wilderness full of tobacco and whiskey, he neither smoked nor drank. As a Captain during the Black Hawk War, the only time he risked his life was to save an old Indian who had stumbled into his men's camp. But he told great stories, so he was forgiven his imperfections.

To his generals' dismay, he had an annoying habit of pardoning young men who fell asleep on sentry duty or who deserted. "If Almighty God gives a man a cowardly pair of legs how can he help their running away with him?" He often asked whether a "soldier can better serve the country dead than living."

Happy birthday, Abe. The country misses you.

Lincoln was a Republican, but his was no party of oppression or imperialism. Iraq (and Iran) would have no appeal to him. Here's what Kurt Vonnegut thinks.

[I]t is almost always a mistake to mention Abraham Lincoln in a speech about something or somebody else. He always steals the show. I am about to quote him.

Lincoln was only a Congressman when he said in 1848 what I am about to echo. He was heartbroken and humiliated by our war on Mexico, which had never attacked us.

We were making California our own, and a lot of other people and properties, and doing it as though butchering Mexican soldiers who were only defending their homeland against invaders wasn’t murder.

What other stuff besides California? Well, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

The person congressman Lincoln had in mind when he said what he said was James Polk, our president at the time. Abraham Lincoln said of Polk, his president, our armed forces’ commander-in-chief: "Trusting to escape scrutiny by fixing the public gaze upon the exceeding brightness of military glory, that attractive rainbow that rises in showers of blood — that serpent’s eye, that charms to destroy, he plunged into war."

Holy smokes! I almost said, "Holy shit!" And I thought I was a writer!

"Now he belongs to the ages."

A Day in the Life of a Constable

Nearly a month ago, I posted a blog about the little known world of the constable, Pennsylvania's very own bounty hunters. What surprised me most was how well some are paid. In 2007, Constable Frederick Schoenenberg raked in a cool $131,175.26, just from Northampton County.

I've just heard from Constable Schoenenberger. Fortunately, he had no parking ticket warrant. But he explains his job below, and it's not as easy as it looks.

Hello everyone, my name is Frederick Schoenenberger, one of the constables listed in Mr. O'hare's article and point of interest due to the amount of money the county has paid me.

I felt compelled to write and explain some details and specifics in respect to constables and our jobs. Good and bad points.

Yes, it is true we can make a great deal of money, set our own hours and work with little to no supervision. We are trusted to look and act professionally, respect people, obey and follow the law and uphold people's rights and liberties.

I can say with pretty precise certainty that the constables around here follow these standards. Constables in general do their jobs without notice most of the time.

The only time a constable is brought up usually is when something that the papers feel is bad. I say "feel" because this always isn't the truth and the paper will report what it wants and what it thinks will sell newspapers.

As you can see most of us around here and myself included make what most consider a ton of money.

The average person fails to realize just the amount of people/dockets we arrest or clear to make that kind of money.

For that $131,000 the county paid me I can tell you I made them close or over a million dollars for that. We are making the municipalities, state and county a fortune.

Since our fees are paid for by defendants or plaintiffs in civil cases, we are no cost to the taxpayers. We are really the only self sustained law enforcement that does not derive any money from the taxpayers! What county or state office can say that?

Now you say...."What happens if the defendant goes to jail or has no money, who pays you then?? The Taxpayers??"

Well, sorta but not really because the counties have this already planned.....for every docket that is issued or we collect on a $15.50 fee is added to it for the county to go into a fund....this money is then used to pay us if the defendant has no money.

So how big is this "Fund".....Just ask, it's a ton! Just think about all the dockets that clear in the entire county in a year and x that by $15.50!!

Any idea how many dockets I had to clear to make $131,000???? I cleared almost 6k worth!! now multiply that by $15.50??

That's just me, one constable!

Ok, so now we cleared that we are not funded by taxes so you say we are still making a ton of money.

Not so fast there buddy!

The office of constable is elected and since we receive no money for our office guess who pays for EVERYTHING?? Ding, Ding, Ding.....We do!! We get no benefits of any kind, no disability, major medical, dental...nothing!! Zilch, nada...nothing!

Again, we have to pay for everything! This means...

My car.....I have gone through 3 in my 6 year term.....can't buy new, it gets killed into the ground in a year or two. The cost just to maintain and service a car is several thousand a year and that does not include gas or insurance. We can't get a new car warranty because we are using the car for commercial purposes and the warranty doesn't cover it. So I have to set aside money to pay for a car "cash" every few years.

Any idea how many miles we put on a car in a year??? Just a hint we could go easily through a new car 36,000 mile warranty in a year's time.

I spent almost 20k last year on gas and another 3k on maintaining it.

Regular car insurance?? Nope, I wish....we are transporting prisoners and using the car in a business manner, my insurance is 3 times what a normal person would pay in a year.

How bout liability insurances, professional and umbrella?? Yep, tack on a grand or so there a year.

I spend a few thousand on postage a year....I as well as any other constable I know always sends a letter first.

And yes, that's thousands a year on postage!

Now let's talk cell phones, hmmm...just paid my bill 2 days ago....$523.00 a month! This includes 2 phones and a wireless air card. Ok, why 2 phones??

Well, I shut 1 (my primary) off at 10pm otherwise defendants will call at all hours of the night...Yes I field calls well into the evening when most people get home from work...we never really stop working.

The other phone or phone number 2 is on at all times and when it rings it is a police department or communications center.

The wireless card is used in the vehicle for Internet and to run people for other warrants.

Ok, now lets talk offices....mine takes my entire basement, I need fax machines, desks for warrants, laser printers. I spend a good thousand every month on supplies.

My Internet has to be a business line and is $89.00 a month (I wish $17.99 a month!!). I need a stactic IP address to access Law Enforcement only database skiptracing services which then run me another $425.00 a month just to find people (you don't think they are always at the address on the warrant do you?)

My business overhead just to run my office is a few thousand a month. Heck when gas was creeping close to $5 a gallon I was spending 1600-2000 a month just on gas to drive around!!!

As you can see if you take what I earn and deduct business expenses and ahhh..don't forget uncle sam (taxes), you can now see I earn a modest living.

That is why most constables who earn 6 figures a year would jump to be DJ....the money is more then making those 6 figures because we have to buy everything!

If I was DJ earning 78k a year that would in reality be more then my 131k now.

As for the hours I work 9 hours each day. Sometimes I am up before the crack of dawn to catch the really hard ones who just won't reply no matter what. There are times I am into the night or work night hours as well. I also average 15 - 20 hours of office a week and at the end of the week, if there really is one, I am working about 70 hours a week with this job. Oh, did I forget to mention all the phone calls all the time??

Don't construe this to me griping, I love this job, the freedom and just the profession but I wanted to clarify a few things for most that don't know how it really is.

You see these big paychecks but don't really know what we have to go through to make that kind of money.

Truthfully, most constable do not make what myself or Josh Wagner make because we are workaholics.

I love my job so I don't consider it work, if that makes any sense?

As far as new constables go ... go ahead, run, get elected and spend 20 grand on a vehicle and equipment, get all those insurances, shine those shoes and that fresh duty belt and guess what??

You aren't going to get work as a new constable!! That's right, it's not a guarantee that you get work. Nope, around here good luck.

Every judge has a constable and if that constable leaves there is another constable like myself to take over and you can bet the judge isn't going to hire a new guy with no experience or reputation.

So now you wasted all this time (academy...yes 80hrs but now add 40 for firearms and another 30 for intermediate weapons and you've got some time invested) Money and you got no work.

Welcome to being a constable!!

I think I'll stick to title searching. For excitment, I'll blog. My thanks to Constable Schoenenberger.

Ron Angle & Elmer Gates

Embassy Bank Chairman Elmer Gates was scheduled recently to appear on Business Matters with two Communists. But he passed when he learned that the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, would also be a guest.

"I can take two Communists, but not Ron Angle," is what I'm told he said.

Favoritism in Allentown Golf Course Restaurant Deal?

On Tuesday, I told you about Allentown's recent decision to dump Robert Stanley, the ten-year proprietor of the Sand Tap Grille at the municipal golf course. He is being replaced by the Allentown Brew Works (ABW), operated by the Fegleys. They happen to be Pawlowski cronies.

King Pay to Play Pawlowski claims "there have been no 'special favors' granted to the Brew Works or any other individual or business in the City of Allentown. I will work and do work with all individuals and businesses that bring such positive attitudes and attributes to our efforts."

Well, he sure as hell has refused to work with Robert Stanley. In fact, it is becoming increasingly obvious that King Edwin worked against Robert Stanley and for ABW. Last night, someone who calls himself "Disgusted" made these observations.

"This story goes a lot deeper than even the videos showed. The Director of Golf told the former owner [Robert Stanley] that he had been awarded the bid on December 6th. He also told other course workers that the Sand Trap was returning. Prior to the bid, he contacted both PPL and Lehigh Valley Propane in an effort to get the Sand Traps expenses for the year. Obviously, [this was] an attempt to answer questions from the ABW that might affect their bid. These facts are eminently verifiable.

"The real shame is that this guy was on the selection committee!!!

"I am trying to get the score sheets that these people used to quantify their results. According to Stanley, not one person wrote anything down. They already knew the result.

"This Councilman (Schweyer?) said that at least four tournaments refused to come to Allentown because of the facilities. The largest tournament possible is 144 golfers, which can and have been handled by the former vendor. I can name at least four tournaments that WON'T be returning because of exorbitant prices being charged by ABW, as verified by the bid submitted.

"Weddings? This is the biggest farce of all. Not a chance there will ever be a wedding at Allentown Muni. Wait, maybe Mayor Ed has some kids that may be getting married.

"Bottom line, a guy did a great job for over ten years, never had a problem, NEVER had a complaint from either tournament sponsors or restaurant patrons. By the way, the Mayor was effusive in his compliments for their handling of the Annual Mayors Tournament.

"Thanks for the efforts Mr Stanley, by the way, you have eight days to sell all your equipment and vacate the premises."

If this can be established, and Disgusted claims it is "eminently verifiable," people within the Pawlowski administration were clearly funnelling confidential information to give Pawlowski pal ABW an unfair advantage. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a special favor. King P2P also claims there are "committees and objective review criteria for major contracts as to not have even a hint of impropriety." But it appears that a member of the committee may have been supplying information to one of just two bidders. How about that? Doesn't it seem just a tad peculiar that there were only two businesses interested in this project, and that one of them just happened to be ABW? What kind of "objective review" occurs when selection committee members don't even note answers to questions? Council member Peter Schweyer's comments are another screaming siren. Why would he, who was not even a member of the five-person selection committee, claim to have spoken to four different tournaments? It is very clear that the King and His Men wanted to rid Allentown of Stanley. There is much more than a hint of impropriety.

Perhaps the ABW should serve up bullshit burgers at their new golf course restaurant. They can call them King Edwins.

Barack's First News Conference

If Barack Obama's Monday night news conference was intended to inspire us, he did not make the sale with me. Two-thirds of Daily Kos readers gave Obama an A or A+, but I felt he stumbled on too many questions, very much like his predecessor. His grammar was a little better.

Now I voted for Obama. I even support the stimulus package as it came through the Senate. Imagine how those who oppose it must feel. Here's what everyone's favorite conservative, Scott Armstrong, has to say.

"The only thing we have to fear is the fear of what is confronting us."

Are a leader's words inspiring if you find yourself quivering in the fetal position after he/she speaks? Listening to Obama's dire description of the current fiscal situation one wonders if stocking up on guns, cigarettes, and liquor might be not more useful than shifting funds from stocks to gold. When one understands that a key ingredient of any economic recovery is a return of consumer confidence why is the president casting dark shadows on the country's fiscal prospects? Is he merely cynically covering his bases in case his own recovery plans fail or does he, more sinisterly, welcome a crisis? Either way the recent words of the new president offer only cold comfort to a nation that perhaps foolishly thought it was headed in a new and positive direction.

Is Hilliard Still at The Morning Call Helm?

I received the following anonymous comment from an obvious Morning Call insider this morning.
"Another bloodbath at TMC yesterday. Ardith Hilliard is history. They eliminated the marketing designers and the PR manager, after moving the 'marketing' director and a couple of do-nothing T & A to other departments. More to get their walking papers shortly.

"The worst thing is that the VP of operations was laughing about all of this while some of the folks getting canned were still within earshot."

Ardith Hillard is (was?) The Morning Call's editor, and her name is still listed with the paper's staff listings. But the paper is reporting a new round of job cuts. Amazingly, the paper is reporting it has no idea how many jobs have been eliminated. It is rumored that no newsroom jobs are involved in this round.

I have asked Vicki Mayk, the newspaper's mouthpiece, for the party line. When I get it, I'll update this post. No matter what she may say, this is sad news for all of us.

5:00 P.M. Update: Hilliard Still Aboard - Although the newspaper has not yet "officially" responded to my email, I am reliably informed that Editor Ardith Hilliard is still with the paper.

Why Orie Melvin Got GOP Nod for State Supremes

Over the weekend, state supreme court candidate Joan Orie Melvin received an endorsement from the millionaires' club sometimes called the Republican State Committee. Republicans claim their party is like a big umbrella with room for everybody, but party boss Rob Gleason warned committee members against rebelling.

How did Orie Melvin get the party nod? As you've probably guessed, Melvin is politically connected. Her sister, Jane Orie, just happens to be a state senator and a member of the judiciary committee. According to Ron Angle, himself a Republican state committeeman, state senator Joe Scarnetti guaranteed the big boys he would personally raise $1.7 million for Melvin. As the Northampton County Bulldog puts it, "If anything rings a bell with those Republicans, it's money."

Melvin first ran for Superior Court in 1997, and pretty much ignored her responsibilities as a common pleas judge. An investigative report by a team of eleven reporters at the Post-Gazette, cast a very public spotlight on a very unresponsive Melvin, a person who obviously considered her personal ambition more important than her work as a judge. Melvin thumbed her nose at a six-week trial term because a pesky little jury trial might interfere with her quest to become an appellate judge. Her courtroom was "virtually shut down . . . for several weeks" while she "spent numerous weekdays out of town campaigning."

She has already run and lost a bid for the supremes, back in 2003. Melvin and Democrat Max Baer engaged in a money war, spending an obscene $3.34 million. This exceeds the total amount spent in all judicial races during the previous two years. Forty-three per cent of this money came from lawyers, a drastic increase from the ten percent total in the 2001 race.

Outside the courtroom, Melvin spent five years of quixotic litigation in two separate states over anonymous comments posted on a Pittsburgh-based political gossip site. A group of John Does had criticized her "misconduct" in asking then Governor Ridge to appoint someone she knew to a judgeship. I'm not sure how that even constitutes defamation, but I guess it must be per se defamation to criticize a superior court judge. She eventually abandoned her litigation.

Amazingly, this is the Republican pick for the state high court.

Angle likes Superior Court Judge Cheryl Allen (no relation to William Allen) and even seconded her nomination. Allen was ignored by her party when she first ran for the Superior Court, but won anyway. "She's real, unlike the fakes, frauds and phonies" is how Angle explains his support.

I know one person who must be cheered by the news of Melvin's GOP endorsement. His name is Jack Panella.

Pay to Play Pawlowski Goes Golfing

For reasons that elude me, the Allentown Brew Works (ABW) web page contains a brief history of Allentown, telling us the city "was founded in 1762 by William Allen; a wealthy shipping merchant who purchased land from the sons of William Penn." But that's only half the story. What ABW's history fails to reveal is that Allen, a supposed New World aristocrat, became a "wealthy shipping merchant" by financing a form of piracy known as privateering. He used political office here to make himself even more wealthy and even supplied the "muscle" for settlers dealing with both Indians and Connecticut invaders. A Tory, he fled to England with his tail between his legs when the Revolutionary War broke out.

Speaking of incomplete stories about wealthy merchants, there are plenty of unanswered questions concerning Allentown's recent decision to replace the Sand Trap Grille with ABW at its muni golf course. They both had submitted identical bids. Now, believe it or not, the ABW gets top billing on the city-funded Allentown golf web page, above the Superintendent. It is becoming increasingly questionable whether Pay to Play Pawlowski is simply rewarding one of his supporters.

The Fegley family, which owns ABW, received somewhere around $3.4 million in federal loans when they purchased their popular restaurant from the Allentown Redevelopment Authority for $1.00. Another $500,000 came in the form of an outright grant from Rendell. Located in a KOZ, they are exempt from what would otherwise be an $82 thousand annual real estate tax. They are also exempt from sales tax and pay no state income tax. Allentown kicked in even more money, perhaps $90,000, for facade improvements. According to the Tony Phillips campaign, the Fegley's ABW has received more than $7 million dollars of taxpayer money.

The Fegleys are major Pawlowski supporters, having contributed $750 to his campaign in 2006 & 2007. Last year, Pawlowski gave Mike Fegley, a Democratic state committee member, $100 to help pay for transportation to the Democratic convention. He has also paid Fegley's wife $2,730 for campaign work. Another $1,150 went directly into ABW coffers.

Blogger Michael Molovinsky is the person who first questioned the preference of ABW over Sand Trap Grille owner Robert Stanley, claiming that Stanley had been out-maneuvered by King Edwin Pawlowski. But what really disturbs me is Jarrett Renshaw's riveting blog at QCD, which actually contains video excerpts of Stanley's presentation of a petition to city council, signed by 150 golfers, protesting the decision to dump him after ten years. I have transcribed a portion for those of you who prefer the written word.

Business owner Robert Stanley: "The bid was due November 24, 4 o'clock. I submit my bid ... I was told three or four days later that I had the bid. In the meantime, people were coming in and saying I was leaving and they wanted to buy my equipment and I said NO, I'm back in. ... Why was I told three weeks before that I had the bid? ... Then I get to go and meet down at city hall. I go in there and I think it's about signing the contract. Well, here they're giving me an interview, asking me questions. Greg Wetzell is the only guy that asked me any questions and one other person asked a question. Everybody else just sat there, didn't say a word, I answered my questions and off I went.

"December 23rd I get a phone call, 'Can I come over to the sand Trap?' Because it was closed because of the weather, I go over there and meet with Greg. He tells me The Brewworks got the bid. I said, 'You gotta' be kidding?' That's when I told him, 'I was told three weeks before I had this bid.' Then I was told I had to be out by the end of the year. ... I lost approximately - I'm not even sure - $20,000 in the sales of equipment because I had to get that stuff out of there.

* * *

"As far as going over to Starters, if you went over there and talked to the Bethlehem golfers, during the league and during the golfing season, they're not coming in there. You're getting the outside people. What do you want? Do you want to run a restaurant, do you want to take care of the citizens of the town?

* * *

"This was all said and done a long time ago. I was told ... as a matter of fact I was told four years ago that Mayor Pawlowski, when he was with Mayor Afflerbach, wanted me out of that place. He wanted to make something flamboyant there. Well, this is what he got. Everybody knows that him and Mr. Fegley - they're buddy, buddy."

Administration: "The Mayor was not involved in this process in any way, shape or form. ... The mayor had no influence and I would not have listened to him anyway."

Council member Peter Schweyer, a Pawlowski cheerleader, provided this justification: "This is an opportunity for the City of Allentown to not be just satisfied with what we have, but to expand our product and actually grow. I've had conversations with no less than four potential tournaments who refuse to move their golf tournaments to Allentown because we don't have the facilities for the quality of the product."

But council member Jeanette Eichenwald, whose once told me her father ran a small business, was more honest. "I think there was an injustice done here."

Jeanette is right.

Arlen Specter: Why I Support the Stimulus

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter explains his support of an economic stimulus package in a Wahington Post op-ed, reproduced below.

I am supporting the economic stimulus package for one simple reason: The country cannot afford not to take action.

The unemployment figures announced Friday, the latest earnings reports and the continuing crisis in banking make it clear that failure to act will leave the United States facing a far deeper crisis in three or six months. By then the cost of action will be much greater -- or it may be too late.

Wave after wave of bad economic news has created its own psychology of fear and lowered expectations. As in the old Movietone News, the eyes and ears of the world are upon the United States. Failure to act would be devastating not just for Wall Street and Main Street but for much of the rest of the world, which is looking to our country for leadership in this crisis.

The legislation known as the "moderates" bill, hammered out over two days by Sens. Susan Collins, Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman and myself, preserves the job-creating and tax relief goals of President Obama's stimulus plan while cutting less-essential provisions -- many of them worthy in themselves -- that are better left to the regular appropriations process.

Our $780 billion bill would save or create up to 4 million jobs, helping to offset the loss of 3.6 million jobs since December 2007. The bill cuts some $110 billion from the $890 billion Senate version, which would actually be $940 billion if floor amendments for tax credits on home and car purchases and money for the National Institutes of Health are retained.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the proposed cuts "do violence to what we are trying to do for the future," especially on education. Her objections are a warning to conservatives that more cuts would be unlikely to win House approval. They are also an admission of the high price that moderates have been able to extract for their support of stimulus legislation.

If a stimulus bill doesn't pass, there won't be any money for Title I education programs. The moderates' bill provides marginally less money for Title I than the House and Senate bills. But while it's less than supporters want, this proverbial half a loaf beats no loaf by a mile.

In health funding, both the House and Senate bills contain billions of dollars for wellness and prevention programs, including for smoking cessation, prenatal screening and counseling, education, and immunization. The moderates' bill, regrettably but necessarily, cancels this funding on the grounds that such programs are better left to the regular appropriations process.

"In politics," John Kennedy used to say, "nobody gets everything, nobody gets nothing and everybody gets something." My colleagues and I have tried to balance the concerns of both left and right with the need to act quickly for the sake of our country. The moderates' compromise, which faces a cloture vote today, is the only bill with a reasonable chance of passage in the Senate.

Don Cunningham's Pennsylvania Story

Yesterday, my grandson Dat and I were sitting at Yocco's after seeing deliciously dark Coraline in 3D at The Carmike. I wolfed down two dogs, no onions, while Dat put away 6 pierogies.

Lehigh Valley health food.

While we sat and discussed whether Coraline is better than Pink Panther 2, I spied Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham putting his tray away, on his way out.

"Hey Don! It's me, Bernie!"

"Bernie? Do I know you?"

"Oh, you big kidder. Of course you know me."

"Are you that fellow everybody in Northampton County hates?"

"No, that's Spike Rogan. Everybody loves me."

Don's son, Brendan, was with him, dressed in a Little Hurricanes basketball uniform. On their way to play Parkland, they must have stopped for health food, too. Now Dat's Lil' Canaries had gone down in flames to Parkland earlier this season, so I asked Brendan for revenge. Brendan smiled and promised to try. Mighty Parkland fell last night.

This is a county executive running for reelection. It's no secret he soon intends to run for governor. He could be doing a million things last weekend to advance either campaign. Instead, he spent it with his son. He claims his "story is just a Pennsylvania story." I wish all Pennsylvania stories were like that.

The Morning Call: Slip Slidin' Away

This post is really about The Morning Call, but it starts with Bill Platt. He's one scary dude.

When I was fresh out of law school, Bill was Lehigh County's very capable DA. He was reasonable and always willing to help out young lawyers, but something about the way he looked at me always scared the hell out of me. A few minutes with him, and I'd be ready to confess to all of Lehigh County's unsolved crimes.

Now, he's President Judge William H. Platt. I've successfully avoided him for many years. But not his son, the other Bill Platt. He's Lehigh County's GOP chair, and I met him last year. He looks a lot like his dad.

I started sweating right away.

Judge Platt was featured Sunday morning in a Morning Call story about new laws designed to reduce the time nonviolent offenders spend behind bars. This jurist thinks it may lead to increased crime. It was nearly impossible for me to digest Judge Platt's doubts, however, because the picture accompanying this story is of Platt's son.

Now The Morning Call is headquartered in Allentown. So is Lehigh County's President Judge. So is his son. Yet no one at the local newspaper knows the frickin' difference between the President Judge and the local Republican Party Chairman even though all of them are located in Allentown. I'm told that story and photo had to go through several editors before going to press.

Thanks to Sam Zell's brilliant leadership, there is no one left at the paper on weekends who has deep roots in the community ... or gives a damn, for that matter. Can you blame them? Would you like working for nothing? Freelance reporters with outstanding bills at the time The Tribune filed for bankruptcy are considered "creditors." Many of their payments were delayed.

It's a sad thing to watch, kinda' like watching a close relative die of a lingering illness.

Norco Judicial Candidate Sam Murray Building Support

Last week, I told you that Easton attorney Sam Murray is running for one of three open positions on Northampton County's bench. Others who have either announced or are rumored to be running include Judge Leonard Zito, District Attorney John Morganelli, State Representative Craig Dally, Magistrate Jim Narlesky, Barb Hollenbach and Candi Barr Heimbach. It's a strong field of excellent candidates, but we can only pick three.

Murray has launched a web page (you can view it here). It contains a partial list of supporters that extend from active trial attorneys like Gary Asteak to Easton Mayor Sal Panto.

If you have questions for him, you can contact him directly at sammurray@sammurrayforjudge.com.

Republicans to Rally Against Stimulus Bill This Afternoon

LV Republicans will spend today protesting enactment of Brack Obama's "catastrophic" stimulus package. They will assemble outside Allentown's federal courthouse at 1:30 P.M. Much of their ire is directed at one of their own, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, who has reluctantly agreed to support a slimmed down, $780 billion, bill.

Right after the rally, rumor has it that Northampton County Council candidate J.C. Kelleher will conduct a few speed dating sessions.

Northampton County Puzzles Over Slicing Gambling Pie

At last night's Northampton County Council meeting, a new Authority was established, with a fifty year lifespan, to decide how to divvy up gambling revenue once Bethlehem's Sands casino becomes operational. It's called the Northampton County Gaming Revenue and Economic Development Authority. Who will sit on that Authority? How many members? How will Authority staff get paid? Will municipalities be forced to fill out grant applications?

Council members will try to figure that out later. I honestly don't know how they'll avoid litigation, especially because they're dealing with potential windfalls for some communities.

Elected representatives from four of the five municipalities that surround host city Bethlehem were on hand to ask for equal shares. Freemansburg, Hellertown, Lower Saucon and Hanover have already drawn up an agreement to that effect, and expect Bethlehem Township to sign on very soon.

These officials sat in the peanut gallery with me. Hanover Township Manager Jay Finnegan, when he saw me, said "Hey skinny!" For that, I refused to give him a piece of the candy bars Angle was selling before the meeting. Hellertown Mayor Richard Fluck sat right next to me, and I offered to dive on any grenade that might be lobbed our way. "Don't worry," he told me. "I'm shorter than you, so I can get it."

Freemansburg's solicitor, Larry Fox, was their mouthpiece. He broke the ice by telling council, "It's so cold tonight that I saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets." He argued that the simplest solution is just to give everyone an equal share of the pie. "We can't do anything unless we have a sum certain. ... Freemansburg has three full-time officers and no lock-up. We can't formulate how we're going to do this until we know what we get."

He also spoke against the grants process. "The only people who will get wealthy from that are lawyers and experts." But as Bethlehem resident and former gambling impact committee chair Bob Pfenning warns, we may have no choice. An Erie County dispute over the proper way to divide gambling revenue is currently bogged down in Commonwealth Court. And once contiguous communities are awarded sums of money, even noncontiguous municipalities like Easton and Williams Township may be entitled to seek excess funds.

If Fox' proposal is followed, it may very well be that Freemansburg will be dipping its hands into the pockets of some municipalities who need a portion of the gambling revenue.

Because the law is so unclear, it is very likely that whatever council decides, this matter will end up in court. In fact, on his way out, Freemansburg Mayor Gerald Yob told Pfenning, "See you in court."

Norco Human Resources Director Mulling Suit Against Northampton County

Have you ever met a popular Human Resources Director?

Northampton County has gone through three of them since Home Rule. All have been demonized, rightly or wrongly. Connie Sutton-Falk, the current $74,754 Director, is no exception. It's a thankless job. To make matters worse, many female courthouse workers seem to resent seeing another woman in charge. Perhaps in defense, Connie has developed a caustic style. That hurts her. Behind her back or on this blog, some pretty nasty names are used to describe a cabinet official who works much harder than most of them.

Five members of Northampton County Council, aka The Hangmen, have hurt Sutton-Falk even more. Playing to a lynch mob of bright green AFSCME T-shirts that had massed into the star chamber last September, they asked her to resign in an effort to embarrass Executive John Stoffa.

Hangman Lamont McClure led the lynch mob. "We must take a strong stand ... . Tonight I make a motion that county council demonstrates its sense that Connie Sutton Falk should resign." McHale, counting on the union to support her election this year as county exec, somberly noted that she gets phone calls complaining about Connie. How about that? Employees complain about the Human Resources Director. There's a shocker.

Mike Dowd and Peg Ferraro refused to participate in this attempted assassination. As Peg noted at the time, "This is not in our purview and I feel this is inappropriate. I've been around here since 1989 and I think there have been more problems with Directors of Human Resources than any other job here. It's not an easy job and it's not easy to please everyone. I just feel this is inappropriate."

But the Hangmen - McClure, Dertinger, McHale, Neiper & Grube - strung her up anyway. They never even gave her an opportunity to defend herself, as she sat there quietly.

The union lynch mob was thrilled. There's no doubt that Sutton-Falk may actually bne more unpopular than me. But a dangerous precedent was set. What County Council did to Sutton-Falk is something they can do to each and every county worker who displeases them.

Last night, council went into executive session over a letter they recently received from Sutton-Falks' lawyer. Their September stunt, a clear violation of Sutton-Falk's civil rights, may end up costing money down the road.

Of course, that's only your money.

Bethlehem Brew Works Goes to the Dogs

Looking for an excuse to get loaded? Who isn't? Tonight, Bethlehem Brew Works patrons will try to kick that firkin (11 U.S. gallons) in record time. All sales proceeds from the "Hair of the Dog" will go directly to The Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Furkin for Furkids starts at 5 PM.

How Will Obama's Stimulus Package Impact Pennsylvania?

Two summers ago, Northampton County Exec John Stoffa got into hot water with Bossman Joe Long after he neglected to chuck me from a news conference. In a blistering epistle, with copies for all the newspapers, Dear Leader Joe Long-Il instructed Stoffa "to cease and desist from treating O'Hare as legitimate press."

Righty oh, Joe. Righty oh.

I hate to say this, but Chairman Joe is now going to have send a "cease and desist" order to Barack Obama. For reasons that elude me, the White House Media Affairs Office has begun to send news releases to me, a "regressive" blogger.

Our most pressing problem is our economy. House Republicans have unanimously rejected Obama's stimulus package, but we all pretty much agree we need to do something. President Obama believes his stimulus package will create or save 3-4 million jobs over two years. But how will it impact Pennsylvania specifically? The following are White House projections.

· Creating or saving 151,700 jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, “The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.” January 9, 2009.]

· Providing a making work pay tax cut of up to $1,000 for 4,910,000 workers and their families. The plan will make a down payment on the President’s Making Work Pay tax cut for 95% of workers and their families, designed to pay out immediately into workers’ paychecks. [Source: White House Estimate based on IRS Statistics of Income]

· Making 138,000 families eligible for a new American Opportunity Tax Credit to make college affordable. By creating a new $2,500 partially refundable tax credit for four years of college, this plan will give 3.8 million families nationwide – and 138,000 families in Pennsylvania – new assistance to put college within their reach. [Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of U.S. Census data]

· Offering an additional $100 per month in unemployment insurance benefits to 1,056,000 workers in Pennsylvania who have lost their jobs in this recession, and providing extended unemployment benefits to an additional 156,000 laid-off workers. [Source: National Employment Law Project]

· Providing funding sufficient to modernize at least 409 schools in Pennsylvania so our children have the labs, classrooms and libraries they need to compete in the 21st century economy. [Source: White House Estimate]

It is a work in progress and I understand and agree with some of the many objections raised. Republicans favor deeper tax cuts and fewer layers of bureaucracy. Obama's concerns about our unemployed are also well-considered. It's time to stop thinking in ideological terms and to start thinking about what will work.

Allentown Blogger: Is Hava Java Dangerous to Your Vena Cava?

"Bethlehem is Nice. Allentown is a Cesspool."

Bryan [REDACTED], who actually lives in West End Allentown and publishes [REDACTED], is the author of the above sentences. A tad harsh? All I can say is that if I had written something like that, I'd be floating down the Lehigh River right about now.

Bryan also spent a year working at the Hava Java coffee shop, located across the street from Allentown's Civic Theatre. Denying any hard feelings, he feels compelled to warn us to stay away.

"The last time I was in a coconut custard pie was sitting out. That had been out of the fridge since 8 a.m. and I walked into the shop around 5:30 p.m. Who knows how many days it's been doing that. Also, I remember very distinctly during the summer we would keep the cheesecake sitting on the counter until it literally melted into a blob. People would order it and I would refuse to serve it. When you lifted the cover the cake smelled rancid."

Hurl on deck! Hurl on deck!

About a year ago, I met Molovinsky at that chic coffee club to look at art and shit like that. I even wore a beret. I know now why that sadistic bastard laughed as I scarfed down a scone.

"Is that a dead fly?"

"No, Bernie. It's just a raisin."

Actually, I had a cookie, and it was pretty good. There are those who claim it is "the only real coffee shop in Allentown." In September, the business owner escorted two Morning Call reporters through the shop, including its basement, concerned about the building's structural integrity.

Maybe he can shore it up with a few biscottis.

Update: I have been asked to delete the above post, not because any of it is untrue, but it is controversial and may hamper a whistleblower's attempt to secure a job. As a general rule, I refuse to delete or alter blogs once they publish, except for typos or grammatical errors. The reason for this, as stated in rebecca's pocket, is that changing or deleting an entry destroys the integrity of the network. I stand behind what I write. Bryan is a relatively new blogger who understandably got spooked by all the attention his entry received. So I've redacted the reference to his surname as well as the link to his blog, which he himself has deleted. But the information he posted, and that I subsquently reported, is accurate and will remain.

Congressman Charlie Dent Invited to Witness Obama Sign S-CHIP Bill

I'm beginning to smell a buddy movie.

Late last month, Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent was one of just a dozen moderate Republicans invited to the White House to meet Rahm Emanuel, Obama's hatchet man. Then on Sunday, Charlie was one of five Pennsylvania legislators who watched the Super Bowl with the President. Last night, our Congressman made his third trip to Pennsylvania Avenue in the last eight days to witness the President sign the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIP) into law, which renews and expands the plan from 7 million children affected to 11 million.

I suspect in the next week, they'll be shooting hoops.

Bennett Fails to Itemize $6,975 in Campaign Expenditures During 2008

Did I say Micek has the best poliblog in the state? Must have been a typo. In his daily tour de blog yesterday, he accused me of beating Sam Bennett's dead horse. This, in turn, led a reader to say, "Bernie is not beating a dead horse. Bernie is practicing placekicking with the footballs they made out of the dead horse!"

Listen, PCN boy. All I want from you is silence, and damn little of that. When Bennett is elected Governor, you'll be asking, "What the hell just happened?" Not me, baby. I'm all over this like ham on rye. You can have your damn iPod.

So how about that Sam Bennett? Yesterday, I told you she was funneling money to her local PAC through the Northampton County Dems, giving them $1,000 for their troubles. I also decided to make a road trip from the boonies of Northampton County to review her year-end report.

I know this will come as a big shock to most of you, but her five-page campaign finance report totally fails to itemize $6,975 in campaign expenditures last year. This, of course, is a clear violation of Pennsylvania campaign finance laws, depriving the public of any meaningful ability to follow the money. Voting registrar Stacy J. Sterner was unavailable yesterday, but I'm sure Bennett will be asked to supplement her report.

Bennett's report does show $7,000 in contributions. This includes the $2,000 funnelled into her local PAC from her federal PAC as well as a $5,000 contribution from Philadelphia's Carpenters' PAC.

Her report also reveals $86,803.92 in unpaid debt. Most of this debt is owed to her own family, but also includes $12,500 owed to Bishop Blair Couch as well as another $10,000 to Allentown Rajah of Rezoning and big game hunter Abe Atiyeh.

Update: Voting registrar Stacy J. Sterner has contacted Bennett and asked her to amend her report to itemize her expenditures. Bennett apparently used the money to repay some of the money she owes to herself.

Easton Attorney Sam Murray Announces Candidacy for Norco Judge

I've known Sam Murray most of the 25 years he's practiced law. From his early days as a public defender to his current successful private practice, one thing has always stood out - hard work. The lights in his Easton office burned most weeknights, long after other lawyers were gone for the day.

Appointed by the court as a Child Custody and Juvenile Dependency Master in 2003, Sam applied the same dedication to those matters that he had developed as a lawyer. One day, I saw him looking at a scrap of paper he pulled out from his shirt pocket. It had one word inscribed on it - "Compassion." Even as a Master, playing the role of King Solomon, Sam always worked at making himself better.

That extends to baseball, too. Local sports buffs probably remember Sam as the Lehigh Little League manager who took his boys to the state championship and national regionals in 2002. Every time I visited their complex last season, the first thing I would see is a gigantic cardboard picture of that team, with a proud Sam standing in the middle. I wonder if they've been able to wash out the moustache I drew on Sam's face after the Lehigh Majors beat Northwest last year.

Sam is now running for one of the three open positions on the Northampton County bench. He already has the support of most local attorneys. There's a reason for that, too. He certainly is the best of a very distinguished and capable field.

I'll have more to say about Sam as his campaign progresses, but am happy he has announced, not for him, but for us.

Sam Bennett Does the Laundry ... With Campaign Funds

Failed LV Congressional candidate Sam (Siobhan) Bennett is doing the laundry ... with campaign funds. She apparently took in more dough than she spent, although those figures are still unavailable. Under FEC rules, she can refund the money, save it for her next congressional quest, donate it to a political party or charity, or give it to state or local candidates.

That presumably includes herself. But rather than donating unused federal campaign funds directly to her local PAC, Bennett has laundered the money through the Northampton County Dems. Their year-end report shows a $3,000 contribution from Bennett's congressional campaign to Northampton County Dems on December 14, 2008. Two days later, Northampton County Dems gave $2,000 to Bennett's local PAC, Friends of Siobhan "Sam" Bennett. This expenditure is explained as an "Allentown Mayor Campaign Contribution." Northampton Dems appear to have kept $1,000 as a handling fee.

She's using excess federal campaign funds to replenish her local PAC, but wants to hide this from all her ACTBlue contributors in Oregon and California.

Oopsie.

Cupboards Bare for Three Rumored Norco Executive Hopefuls

The three names mentioned most often for Northampton County Executive are incumbent John Stoffa, County Council Prez Ann McHale and former Director of Human Services Ron Heckman. Their year-end campaign finance reports, however, reveal their cupboards are bare. None has raised any money. All report a campaign debt.

Ron Heckman started and ended 2008 with $2,011.47 and reports a campaign debt of $1,000. Ann McHale started the year with $1,262.13, raised no money, and spent $729 on contributions to different groups. She contributed to no candidates. She ended the year with $533.13 in the bank and a campaign debt of $1,000.

Incumbent John Stoffa, as I've already told you, has a whopping $65.63. His campaign debt to himself is $14,500.

Pay to Play Stoffa

In his 2007 year-end campaign finance report, Northampton County Exec John Stoffa reported that he had around $181 in cash and an unpaid campaign debt of $14,500. With that kind of obligation, he had every incentive to do some fundraising, but he neither raised nor spent a dime.

His 2008 year-end report was filed yesterday morning. You can see the whole damn thing on the picture above (Click on it for a bigger image - I redacted his home phone number). Again, he's raised no money. He still owes $14,500 to himself. He now has about $65.

Interestingly, this is NOT a termination report. Is this a clue he's running?

I hope so. His $65 warchest is about $65 more than he'll need to win.

(Blogger's Note: My thanks to AJ Cordi for helping me redact the phone numbers.)

Molovinsky Bashed for Complimenting Deceased Friend

We're miles apart politically. For example, I think Don Cunningham would be a great governor. But this little bastard has the nerve to call him "easy smile boy." Jealous, I suppose. Despite these differences, Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky is my friend. He cares about people, whether they are minority merchants on Hamilton Street or low-income homeowners forced to undergo systematic home inspections.

Like me, Molovinsky is a product of the 60's and was clearly a big part of Allentown's counter-culture movement. I search titles with a woman who was friendly with Michael in those days. She tells me he was the funniest person she knew. A Lehigh Valley Woody Allen, it's no surprise Molovinsky became friendly with a person he calls a "one man art machine," Gregg Weaver. As Michael tells it, Weaver inspired a generation of young artists. Molovinsky also knew Gregg's wife Fran, and took their wedding picture. He knew her for thirty-eight years.

When Fran died suddenly and unexpectedly, Michael mentioned it to me. It certainly bothers him that both Gregg, a victim of diabetes, and Fran are now gone. At the Chen Arts blog, he reminisces a little at her passing.

"around 1980 fran worked at bethlehem steel. she was a very statuesque woman, and we joked that her presence there was a safety hazard for the men. during this time she produced an amazing series of very large paintings (6X10 ft.) on the open hearth and other aspects of bethlehem steel. these paintings projected enormous energy and were exhibited at kutztown university."

Michael was paying his compliments to a friend. She was the wife of another friend. He paints her as an attractive woman with enough artistic talent to have her work showcased at a local university.

To add to his grief, Michael's story has now been slammed by the Villas , branded as "sexist remarks about a Chen member who died tragically recently. You have no class whatsoever Mike or brains." They add it is "absolutely shameful that Allentown Mayoral Hopeful Mike "3%" Molovinsky is leeringly fixated on a tragically deceased person's 'statuesque' figure. Juyst [sic] incredible. Does he realize it's not 1960 anymore? He's disgusting." "MM is a sexist pig. To attempt to pay tribute to a woman's legacy by invoking memories of her 'shapely figure' (another definition of statuesque) is worse than insensitive, it's telling a lot about the source. But that's the way it is when you live in Memory Lane. Stuck in the '60s."

Obviously, there's nothing even remotely sexist about Michael's compliment. Of all people, I would think the Villas would respect Michael's loss. They instead exploit Fran's death to attempt to alienate Molovinsky from whatever is left of Allentown's art community. In doing so, they just continue to diminish themselves.

They also hurt Michael. In their sick world, that's a bonus.

Yesterday morning, when Fran Weaver was laid to rest in a Lehigh County potter's field, Molovinsky was there to pay his final respects. The Villas were nowhere to be found. But they have a good excuse. They were busy trashing someone on their blog.

Photo Credit: Michael Molovinsky

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

Muhlenberg College Democrats today endorsed Mike D'Amore and Mike Schlossberg for Allentown City Council. "D'Amore is the current President of the City Council and has been a consistent voice for young voters throughout the City. Schlossberg, a Muhlenberg alumnus from the Class of 2005, would be the youngest member of the City's legislative body." Mike D'Amore, along with Democrats Julio Guridy and David Howells, is up for reelection. Recent Republican Tony Phillips is vacating his council seat to run for Mayor.

College Democrats Co-President Adrian Shanker states "Muhlenberg Students need a City Council committed to community development, specifically in the 19th street area; continuing to reduce crime city wide; and continuing to develop cultural opportunities throughout the city. [Is that a sentence? I hate semicolons.] We are confident that the leadership we need will come from D'Amore and Schlossberg's voices on City Council."

The College Democrats are also hoping to unseat long-serving David Howells, whom they label a "conservative Democrat." Shanker states, "Nobody thought Emma Tropiano would be defeated, but she was – and now it is time to defeat David Howells and make sure that we only elect Progressive Democrats in the City of Allentown."

Hmmm. Did they just credit themselves for Emma Tropiano's defeat? They've taken no position concerning Julio Guridy.

Lehigh County & Allentown Conduct Peace Talks

It all started when Lehigh County Commissioners dragged their feet last year on a community policing proposal that would help fund one or two more Allentown police officers. Mayor Edwin Pawlowski appeared before county officials with his hand out, but incredibly began bragging about the city's supposed cash surplus, among other things. That left county legislators scratching their heads, wondering why they need to fund cops in a town supposedly so rich.

Commissioner Glenn Eckhart, when he dared question Pawlowski's figures, was promptly shut down by Hizzoner, who diplomatically told him, "You have no idea what you're talking about." Naturally, commissioners rejected the community policing proposal. King Edwin marched up to the dais and arrogantly told them, "It's a sad day for county government ... ."

City Council Prez Mike D'Amore, upset at being jilted, drafted some resolution that went something like this, "Whereas, Lehigh County Commissioners could not pour water out of a boot if the instructions were on the heel." Really ticked off, Eckhart pledged to boycott Allentown, and may have challenged D'Amore to a duel.

You'll be pleased to know that city and county leaders are actually conducting peace talks. Lehigh's two top commissioners - Chair Percy Dougherty and Vice Chair Dean Browning - sat down for breakfast on Friday with Allentown's city council leadership, Prez Mike D'Amore and V.P. Michael Donovan.

They had scrapple.

In fact, Chairman Percy Dougherty told me that he has been meeting for some time with D'Amore to discuss the mutual problems facing both Allentown and Lehigh County. Here's how he explains it.

"As you know, I am a firm believer in intergrovernmental cooperation and I believe that most problems facing government are of a regional nature. Allentown is the largest city in the region and what happens in the City of Allentown has a great impact on the health of the whole Lehigh Valley. A healthy Allentown means a healthy Lehigh Valley, but a bankrupt Allentown means that all of us will have to pay the bills. To that end, it is important to have the leaders of City Council and the County Commissioners communicate with each other on a regular basis.

"We need to identify areas in which we are duplicating services or where we can team uo to improve efficiency. We need to have a common vision on planning, economic development, the importance of the arts in Downtown Allentown, workforce housing development, and a solution to the crime problem that is placing an unfair burden on the county prison and the court system. This is just scratching the surface."

When I caught up with Mike D'Amore, he echoed Percy Dougherty, adding the importance to those "in elective office try to keep lines of communication open to as many people as possible."

Dougherty and Browning are Republicans, while D'Amore and Donovan are Democrats. Yet they manage to put these partisan differences aside to try and identify areas where they might be able to work together. The people benefit as a result. Their willingness to work together speaks very well of all four of them as well as the bodies they represent.

It's called good government.