The Fish Kill Coverup

The fish kill last week at the Hatchery has now developed into a full blown coverup, with blame being assigned to the rain runoff from the medical office park, across from Lehigh Valley Hospital. The director of the Fish and Boat Commission says that all dams should be removed, of course his agency signed off when the Wildlands Conservancy demolished the Trout Nursery Dam, which was the real cause of the fish kill. Pennsylvania has removed more dams than any other state.  Justin Simmon's office says that they would pass along the deleted paragraph

Reggie Rickard an Allentown resident who has been volunteering at the hatchery for 45 years said the fish kill is probably the worst in the hatchery's recent history. Initially, he estimated as many as 2,000 may have been killed, but the final tally was about 1,400.

Fish have been lost in other heavy rains storms, but Rickard said this was a major fish kill. He and other volunteers who joined city workers in collecting and counting the corpses Tuesday believe the death rate may have been exacerbated by recent upstream dam removals on small streams.

from last week's Morning Call fish kill story, but as a state office, they cannot take a position on the issue.  That's news to me, that a State Representative cannot take a position on an issue, which might involve a poor decision or coverup by a state agency. I suppose that's the sort of diplomacy necessary for a young man to make a career out of Harrisburg. Although I'm also running to be a State Representative, I'm not interested in learning such a skill; I'd rather tell it like it is, think independently.

photo:April Bartholomew/The Morning Call/July15,2014

A State Of Apathy

Nobody thinks that Pennsylvania is doing very well. Because of that discontent, Tom Corbett may become the first one term governor in many years. Despite the reality of the state's paralysis under both parties, as of today, including myself, there are only three unaffiliated state house candidates throughout entire Pennsylvania. Although people know that they must think outside the box if progress is ever to occur, old patterns are hard to change. Please take a small step today, and help me challenge the status quo.

A Partisan Nation

Knocking on doors to gather signatures to run for office is certainly an educational experience. The vast majority of people quickly proclaim that they're either a Republican or Democrat, and vote that way. Never mind that Harrisburg has been broken a long time,  under both parties. Never mind that my area is in a new state house district, and most people don't even know who the candidates are. Although getting people to think independently, much less vote that way will be a challenge,  running as an R or D would be too bland for me. Help me send a message to Harrisburg.

Contributing To The Truth

Sunday's Morning Call features the PAC started by J.B. Reilly and his partner Joe Topper, to support those candidates who have supported their investment in Allentown's renewal. I was simply astonished as I read the article. Although the report repeatedly refers to Reilly and Topper investing in Allentown, in truth the taxpayers have made the investment, to the partner's benefit. Even the seed money to purchase property was fronted to them by the Arena Authority. The debt service on their privately owned new buildings is being paid for with state taxes. The candidates who they are supporting with the PAC are the enablers of this one of a kind private/public partnership. It's one of a kind, because in no way could the state budget afford any more of this. Reilly and Topper in essence have won the $billion dollar state lottery, they're even allowed to use the state cigarette tax toward their mortgages. At least one of the candidates they're supporting has never had an opponent, in the primary or general election. What are they really supporting?

To readers of this blog, who find it a source of truth, I ask you to contribute to my campaign for State Representative. If you live in the 183rd District, you should consider contributing because Julie Harhart has brought nothing back to the district for decades. If you live elsewhere in the Lehigh Valley, I humbly ask you to also contribute. I will be taking an unprecedented level of truth, bluntness and integrity back and forth to Harrisburg. I also ask that you share this post on your facebook page, and ask your friends to do likewise. Your  consideration is greatly appreciated.  I have installed a paypal button.

Those not registered with paypal can contribute by check or money order to Michael Molovinsky, Designated Account.
 mail to: Michael Molovinsky
              1636 N. Cedar Crest Blvd.
              PMB 145
              Allentown, Pa. 18104

Fight The Machine, Defend The Beauty

The view and experience of the water going over the dam and under the covered bridge is unique to Covered Bridge Park in South Whitehall. Last fall, Wildlands Conservancy diminished Robin Hood, in Lehigh Parkway, by removing the small WPA dam. They also removed the trout nursery dam, resulting in the massive fish kill last Monday. That dam regulated the amount of water entering the fish hatchery raceway during storms. The rain last Monday wasn't so unusual, what was different was that there was no dam to protect the hatchery. Please join me tomorrow at the Covered Bridge Park, Pavilion #2, between noon and 2:00pm, to let the South Whitehall Commissioners know that they must keep Wehr's Dam. The history and beauty of the park belongs to the current and future residents.

photograph by K Mary Hess

No Firewall Pretense

The Morning Call has become an official sponsor of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The article in today's paper unblushingly declares them supporters of the NIZ and Allentown's redevelopment. A local business professor explains how this corporate affiliation benefits the community. I wonder what an old school journalism professor might think? On the sidebar of their webpage there's a video lauding Pat Browne as the architect of Allentown's renewal. I wonder what treatment a future political opponent of Browne's might receive? With the taxpayer's price tag approaching $1billion dollars for Allentown's Renewal, who will watching for, and reporting on any wrongdoing?