Mackenzie Breaks Ranks On Proxy Voting

Ryan Mackenzie joined eight other  Republicans supporting twelve week proxy voting for new parents. While this accommodation seems reasonable, it apparently contrasted with Trump's back to the office preference. His robot, house speaker Johnson, will now try another way to keep the bill from going to the full house. 

The bill was co-sponsored by Anna Luna R-Fla and Brittany Pettersen D-Colo.  Pettersen voted with both baby and burp cloth on her shoulder. Mackenzie was involved with new parent legislation while serving as a Pa. state rep..

While the proposal itself only pertains to those members who are new parents, it's revealing how important being in lockstep is to this administration. However, being in the company of eight other Republicans should shield Mackenzie from White House retribution.

Pettersen D-Colo voting

The Wagon Trail

Most of Lehigh Parkway lies in a deep ravine. The slope up to Lehigh Parkway South, across the creek from Robin Hood, is very steep, about 60 degrees. Unknown to many people, there is a diagonal trail on part of the slope, which comes out halfway up the hill behind the Stone and Log House.

We kids who grew up in the Parkway called it the Wagon Trail. I believe it was part of the Kemmerer Farm (Stone and Log House), which dates back to the late 1770's. In the 1950's, the foundation of a small kiln was still visible on the trail. The subsequent years had not been kind to the old trail,  and it is no longer maintained by the Park Department. About halfway between its entrance and exit on the hill, the trail has been blocked by a large fallen tree. People had dumped debris on the trail, and it remained there for years.

In April of 2010, I organized a cleanup.  The park director at the time cooperated on the project. I agreed that no power tools would be used, and he arranged for the city to pick up the rubbish.

It is my hope that the new administration will realize that our parks are more than just space to cram more recreational gimmicks.  They are steeped in history, and places where children can explore.

reprinted from April of 2010

Allentown Saturday Night Fever

Once a week I go on the same loop and occasionally report on the state of the city's civility. Sorry to say that there is no improvement, but one sign of hope. 

The loop starts at Ott and Tilghman. A little west of Ott, the city is once again preparing to dig up Tilghman street. As residents all over the city can attest, there has been no coordination between UGI and the water department. The streets are in a constant state of being dug up. Once upon a time, such activity was managed by the city.

I assumed the car in front of me at 9th and Tilghman had a very loud sound system. But when he turned off on 7th Street, the sound continued, even getter louder? Finally, the gentleman passed me going west at 6th and Tilghman. I started hearing him back at 10th, and I'm getting hard of hearing! 

2nd Street was surprising void of the usual double parkers, but I did pass a patrol car in the 200 block. 7th and Linden was devoid of life, but then again, it was only a Saturday night at dinner time :) Apparently, there isn't enough of our tax money to restore vitality to center city, but only to expand one man's real estate portfolio. 

Back to that sign of hope. Ed Zucal has a campaign banner at 7th and Tilghman. Unless loud car stereos and litter are your values, you better support him in the upcoming primary election.

molovinsky:7th & Turner

Ryan Mackenzie

Lehigh Valley's freshman congressman, Ryan Mackenzie, was appointed to the Education committee. Considering that Trump has already signed an executive order abolishing that department, Mackenzie's appointment is akin to being assigned to the social committee on the Titanic. 

In a recent Morning Call interview, he handled the reporter's (Lindsay Weber) questions fairly well. He asserted that only congress can ultimately end the department, but he avoided saying how he would vote on it when that time came.  He did express concern that Special Education and student loans be protected.

Mackenzie is being assaulted by protests at his office. While the MC interview was a good opportunity for him,  his midterm future could rest with Trump's popularity at that time. I suspect that Trump isn't a hill he wants his career to die on.

photocredit:Tom Shortell

Trump Doesn't Want To Take A Chance

Trump withdrew Elise Stefanik from her United Nations consideration, deciding he better keep her vote in  Congress, although that part of New York state has been reliably red. While commenters on this blog maintain that Republicans are on board with the Trump show so far, the boss isn't as sure. He doesn't want to take a chance on a special election, even in a red district. 

Although I occasionally can't resist replying to an absurd comment, generally, I let my readers rant on unanswered. However, I have no doubt that they're in for a rude awakening. Trump and his appointees can say that security leaks are a hoax, or that disagreeing judges should be impeached, but only those with red hats glued to their heads are buying it. 

In Florida's upcoming special election, the Republican is polling and fund raising considerably less than he should be in his bright red district. While my readers may still be gulping the kool-aid, even Trump senses the shift.

Republican Wake Up Call

Pennsylvania has a new state senator*, and he's a Democrat. But the reason that this special election is news worthy, is that this is the first Democrat elected in that district since 1979. While the Republicans are blaming being behind the eight ball in early write-in voting, I think  that they will need more excuses come November, and especially the mid-terms in 2026.

However, I believe that by mid-terms, Republican candidates will be putting some distance between themselves and Trump's Washington. Even now, just three months in, only partisans can defend Musk's disruption of the federal workforce.

While Republicans are now reduced to town halls by telephone, it will only get worse. They were elected on the coattails of a cult. MAGA will go back to political indifference, unless their benefits are cut...In that case, they'll be joining the Democrats at protests.

*James Malone, 36th Senate District