Northampton and Lehigh County Threaten T-Mobile

Steve Barron and Michael D'Amore, identifying themselves as public officials from Northampton and Lehigh County, threaten a T-Mobile executive. Mr. Stoffa and Cunningham, is Barron authorized to use his position in this way? I know that Michael D'Amore exceeded his authority.


As a taxpayer, I appreciate T-Mobile choosing to locate here, providing employment and paying taxes. The unionization of their employee's should be an internal matter between management and workers. It is totally inappropriate for D'Amore to use his city title in such a manner. Barron, in my opinion, should be replaced as controller.

Did Barron speak up for the union workers at Gracedale?

UPDATE: It took less than two hours for the first utube to be removed (this is another edition) It ends with Steve Barron, after being refused entry, giving the T-Mobile security guard a message for T-Mobiles's Vice President visiting the Allentown center

"Please remind him that if he needs anything from Lehigh County, we're going to remember this day."

This post is based on the current post by LVCI, which still has a working version of the utube as of 1:30 pm

The King has Abdicated

In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you can not sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the hot dog king. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.

reprinted from Aug. 28, 2007 and Sept. 1, 2009

Flight To NoWhere

If you want a good laugh, go to the Lehigh Valley International Airport and watch the expression on the first time Continental passengers as they are loaded on a bus to Newark; this is after they check in at the flight counter! Today the constantly expanding and remodeling airport has less destinations than ever, about nine, including Philadelphia and Newark. Years ago, the Authority members hired what they mistook as a hot shot, George Doughty, to make the new terminal and airport something to match its new name. The old ABE Airport terminal was built as a WPA project, and like the rest of the valley back then, teemed at its seams. About ten years ago the hotshot talked the Authority members into expanding the departure terminal. Looking for a large under used space for arena football, I think I know a place. Recently, a judge awarded an adjacent landowner many more millions than he ever wanted, for land the airport took for its never needed, never built new runway. Rendell has designated $3.5 million in modernization grants to help the airport keep up with its declining use? Although there are not many places one can fly directly to from the airport, parking fee's are big city. There is a recorded tape loop which keeps reminding the few passengers that unattended cars will be towed for security reasons, i'd prefer water-boarding at Guantanamo.

The postcard depicts the first hanger and terminal, before the former one built by the WPA. The hanger still exists, as does the lettering on it's roof.



Postcard of former terminal built by WPA, added Jan. 16, 2010 for this reprinted version

Reprinted from Feb. 12, 2009. In less than a year, this has become a hot topic for County Executive Cunningham, and Mayor Pawlowski has just been appointed to their Board. I rejected a comment the other day claiming this was a negative blog, and I should look at things in a more positive light. This is a reality based blog, which often points things out before our officials are ready to concede that there is a problem.

Doughty loses job as director

reprinted from Feb. 12, 2009 and Jan. 16,
2010

The airport is once again being remodeled (Aug. 2010)

related post on O'Hare's Ramblings

Boat Landing Threatened

Last fall, about a dozen people toiled on two different occasions to uncover the Boat Landing, which had been buried for about 40 years. Although we didn't excavate the entire construction, a significant portion of that WPA structure was returned to the citizens of Allentown. I'm sad to report that the Park Department is allowing nature to once again overgrow this one of a kind icon. There are several dynamics in play. The Park Department is being pressured by the environmentalists to create a Riparian Buffer, a no mow zone along the creek. That program dovetails with the departments reduced manpower situation very well. As well meaning as that effort may be, it is essential that the Boat Landing and other WPA Constructions be exceptions to that program.

One of the reasons that the Allentown Park System became nationally recognized, was because of the magnificent stone structures built by the WPA during the Depression. These constructions, in addition to being architecturally beautiful, are a historic legacy of this city. We must do what ever is necessary to insure their preservation.

Growth Industry in Allentown

Yesterday I went to the Social Security Office, across from the prison, to discuss my retirement options. I was given number 199. In addition to retirement, Social Security also dispenses money for disability. I would say from the gray hair, there were
about three of us contemplating retirement, all the others were for disability. A few middle age men were carrying their fake canes. The canes aren't fake, it's the disabilities. I saw one such gentleman walk in from the parking lot, clearly the cane bore no weight, and was merely a prop. Most of the people waiting were quite young, in their twenties. Disability has been expanded to include mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, additive personality and anger management. I will say many of them did look angry to me. It was hard finding a parking space. Business also looked good at the prison. If Johnny Manana's had gotten these crowds....

reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008 and March 2, 2010

A Disingenuous Angle

One component of Ron Angle's excuse to sell Gracedale Nursing Home was it's declining population. Actually population is the exact reason that it should be retained. According to Rand Corporation;

In recent years, the rate of institutionalization among the elderly has been falling. It is predicted that this trend will reverse itself within the next decade, and that we will see substantial increases in the incidence of institutionalization among the elderly.

All studies and common sense indicate that nursing home populations are about to explode. Although the obvious factor is the aging Baby Boom generation, an increase in childless couples and the increase in life expectancy will also contribute to the demand for care.

One must question why Angle would cite such an erroneous reason. Both he and Stoffa claim repeated offers from the private sector to purchase the facility. Wouldn't they wonder why there is such demand for a declining business?

Now with a comment from Angle's Minister of Propaganda