Siegel's Canned Speech

After Iannelli recorded the Business Matters debate between Josh Siegel and Roger MacLean, there was some buzz about how acrimonious the show was. I also saw some recent comment about how Siegel washed the studio up with MacLean. As a local political blogger I felt compelled to watch it, although it was more painful than I feared. It wasn't MacLean beat up, but rather Siegel beating himself up, with canned platitudes.

Siegel thinks that he can beat MacLean by attaching him to Trump and MAGA. Although he did mention federal budget cuts that could challenge the county, his persistence with that line became quickly tiring. Siegel is a smooth talker, but too smooth, sounding like a door to door encyclopedia salesman.

In reality, the reports you hear about this debate are more relevant than the debate itself. No offense to Tony, but only about a dozen people ever watch the show.

Democrats Rally at Cedar Park

The new pavilion at Cedar Park had a full house for the Lehigh County Democratic Committee picnic. I understand their enthusiasm, with the Trump administration being so divisive. While Trump certainly did seal the border, the deportation portion is over the top to all but the diehard partisans.

Although the midterm is over a year away, the Mackenzie postcards have already started arriving. The Democrats don't yet even have a name to push, but their mailers are also already flowing.

If money doesn't sway too much, the County Executive seat is in play come this November. While Siegel's war-chest is huge, the Board of Commissioners is so far left, suburban voters may push back toward the center with MacLean.

photocredit:Mike Schlossberg

The Weekly Loop

When I was in high school we would drive the circuit. The circuit was from the Ritz at the fairgrounds down Hamilton Street to 6th Street, and back up Linden Street back to the fairgrounds. 

Now that I'm a senior citizen, operating an adult day care blog, I drive the loop. On the high school circuit we looked for girls, on the senior loop I look for signs of civility. The loop is down Tilghman Street from Ott to 2nd, and across and back up Linden, back to Ott St. Going down Tilghman I encountered a young man doing a wheelie on his motorcycle in the 900 block. Farther down in the 500 block a pickup truck double parked, tying up traffic in both directions. Going east on 2nd, I was passed by a scholar on the left. The scholar stayed in the left, against the oncoming lane for several blocks. He was very pleased with himself.

Back in high school on the circuit, I was never very good at meeting girls. Now as a senior citizen, I'm not very good at finding quality of life in center city Allentown.

On the quality of life topic, last week the city celebrated the renovation of the amphitheater at Joseph Daddona Park. While I usually insist on using the traditional names of our historic venues (Union Terrace), I'm using the Daddona name because his house has just been approved as a two-unit by the zoning board. That house has a lot of history, starting out as a trolley office, to a favorite mayor's pride and joy. I hope the zoning application received the proper scrutiny.

Lehigh County Blues

A Lehigh County Commissioner is blaming his arrest on the man. The commissioner, Cole-Borghi, claims that the charges and disclosure of such are political, emphasizing that he is a black man. Worse for us county taxpayers, another commissioner, Jon Irons, seconds Borghi's contentions. 

Last time I checked, two law enforcement entities were under the commissioner's purview, the Sheriff Department and the District Attorney's Office. While Borghi may be innocent of the drug charge, he is guilty of using politics and race as an excuse. Even the Lehigh County Democrats have distanced themselves from the contention that Borghi's race was a factor in his indictment.

If not for Borghi and Irons, I would probably not be making a County Executive recommendation. But, in light of how far off center the Commission has become, my vote will be going to Roger MacLean.

Morning Call Gatekeeper

Before I started this blog in 2007, I was a letter writer to the Morning Call. My letters were not well received, more often I heard back nothing. When pressed, the opinion page editor, Robert Orenstein, would usually respond that my submission was either too long or too short. While Orenstein allowed an open door for the establishment, independent voices like myself had to fight tooth and nail for some column space. 

In 2014, the then South Whitehall Commissioners tried to green light demolishing Wehr's Dam for the Wildlands Conservancy. I managed to get it postponed for public comment. Their next tactic was a disingenuous referendum, where they tried tying preserving the dam to a tax increase. When I fought against that conspiracy, Orenstein claimed that my letter was just my opinion. Imagine, sending an opinion to the opinion page?

Orenstein and some others at the Call ended up taking an early buyout offer from the Tribune. They now produce a newsletter that you can subscribe to. While they promote themselves now as journalists, they don't tell you how their gatekeeping helped keep a corrupt mayor in power, and promoted a still ongoing real estate scheme.

The Boat Landing Revisited

In 2009 and 2010, myself and half a dozen volunteers dug out the Boat Landing, buried in the 1980's by a then long standing park director. The buried stonework was in excellent condition. We dug out the steps and part of the landing at the base.

 Last week I returned to see how the structure was holding up. While the steps remain clear, several inches of silt has built up on the landing. Silt has also built up on the island, bringing it closer and closer to the landing. 

Those interested in visiting the structure can park in the small lot at the end of the parkway. That lot is just beyond the concrete bridge, above the stone arch Schreiber's Bridge. Those wanting some excerise can park at Robin Hood, and take the path to the end. You will see the top of the steps to your right.