Obama Inadvertently Promotes Gun Frenzy

Obama's televised speech on gun control from the White House was wrought with emotion. I don't believe that there is anybody not profoundly saddened by children being shot.  However, the relationship between such revulsion and his proposals is very vague. Virtually all guns bought and sold through various venues, ultimately involve a FFL dealer, and a background check of the buyer. I don't know what tiny loophole Obama really closed yesterday by executive order, but I'm sure that it will result in a buying frenzy, that will profoundly outweigh the few sales it curtails. Worse yet, I'm sure that the White House knew that while his action would affect only a few dozen transactions, it would foster the sale of a few hundred thousand more guns. This is a pattern that has repeated itself, over and over again. I'm not advocating a gun policy, but know that grandstanding on the issue serves no good end.

Julio Guridy Cries His Way To The Bank

                                                                       photo by molovinsky        

Julio Guridy, Allentown's current longest standing council member, lost the vice presidency of council last night. Last year he lost the presidency, which is the current backdoor to being mayor. With Pawlowski's pending baggage, this could well be the year that a council president moves up, via resignation. However, don't cry for Julio, once Allentown's rising star. About a decade ago, the Hispanic power brokers in Philadelphia got Julio appointed to the Joint Toll Bridge Commission, with which he has earned close to $100 grand a year ever since, for a no-show, nonsense job.

Julio's job and hundreds like it, really motivate me to get to Harrisburg and address that bed of corruption. There are dozens of commissions, with political plum no-show jobs, sucking $millions from the taxpayer.

I'm currently wrestling with an obstacle on my plan to run under the Republican banner. The window to gather Republican signatures is short, and being an outsider gives me no access to the party's organizational advantage.  Hopefully, some party members who recognize the voters mood will want someone unique on the ticket,  and step forward to help me with this hurdle.  One things for sure, nobody will be offering me a no-show commission job to be a good boy.

Politics, Morning Call Style

Early last week, The Morning Call ran an article about Julie Harhart retiring, and mentioned four contenders for the seat, including myself. Later in the week, they published, online, Steve Esack's blog,  in which he mentioned only one of the Republican contenders, and a different Democrat. So, two articles from the same paper, with different information. I was going to email Esack, their Harrisburg correspondent, about the discrepancy, but assumed the paper would work it out.  I must also assume that the reporters read each other's articles. On Sunday, the paper reprinted Esack's choices, in two spots in the front section, again omitting three contenders, including myself.

I must confess that Sunday's edition gives me some pause about pursuing this election under the Republican banner.  The Republican candidate mentioned is the party's anointed one.  The first article was on the inside of the front page, in the POLITICS AS USUAL section. The second mention was in the TOP STORIES section, where they usually condense articles printed earlier in the week.  In this case, they omitted three previously mentioned candidates, but added another.  While it's difficult enough to compete with an anointed candidate,  equal space in the press is essential,  especially in the Lehigh Valley.  Sunday is the paper's largest circulation, in essentially, a one paper market.

Also on Sunday, Bill White's column dealt with what voters must do to end politics as usual in Harrisburg. I have no issue with White's column per se, but he might also want to involve himself with what the paper itself should do. They should guard against articles that promote one candidate over others.  They should strive to assure that each candidate for elected office receive a fair amount of coverage. They too, like the voters, have a responsibility.

As Good As It Gets

In the movie, As Good As It Gets, Jack Nicholson brings his own eating utensils to the coffee shop, I can relate to that. Those visiting today expecting a Year End Review should go elsewhere. There is no best of, and nobody wants to read the worst of. There's a couple State Representative paragraphs, which will become a steady diet here. Although I will continue to report noteworthy Lehigh Valley items of interest, the Molovinsky campaign has rented much of the column space.

It's ironic that Representative Schlossberg, who writes a blog on how to avoid political embarrassment, failed to control his own damage with the ghost vote incident. At least he hasn't posted on that blog since the scandal broke, which is better than Pawlowski, and his inane facebook items. Only in Allentown could Schlossberg survive this breach of trust.

In my own campaign, I need a little help from my friends. Because of the Presidential election, the election calender is moved up, and the short window for gathering petition signatures begins January 26th. Any help from registered Republicans (an election code requirement) would be greatly appreciated. I can be reached by email at mmolovinsky@aol.com

The Harrisburg State House Experience

Julie Harhart issued a press release confirming that this is indeed her last term. "It has been an honor and privilege to represent the residents of the 183rd District in the state House," Harhart said in a press release. "In doing so, I have made many friends, both in the General Assembly and the surrounding community, that I will miss tremendously. They have helped to make public service, while challenging, one of the most satisfying experiences of my life." I take particular notice of her word "experience". To my way of thinking, 11 terms, or 22 years, is not an experience, but a career. Although I'm a candidate for this office, the 183rd District, I have no interest in learning the language of political speak, I prefer straight forward English.

I also note that both my opponents for the Republican nomination indicated that they just learned of Harhart's pending retirement, from a recent Morning Call article about State Rep expenses, which had only a few words suggesting that Harhart wasn't seeking re-election.  One candidate is the aide of Harhart's colleague, and most assuredly knew of  Harharts pending announcement.  The language of politics apparently comes very easy to some people.  I hope that I don't confuse them with speaking only the straight forward truth.

Harrisburg, A House of Worms

Anybody who fishes in the Susquehanna can find all the worms they need a few blocks east, in the state house. Many of them even wear suits and ties. Although Governor Wolf deemed the partial budget he signed garbage, both parties, and both branches of our government, are to blame. On a positive note, funds will be released immediately for public schools, some of which had to already borrow over $900 million to stay open. Once again, pension reform fails to pass, not even passing the Republican controlled House of Representatives. For anyone who hasn't subscribed to this blog for the last couple of days, I'm running for state representative, as an outsider in the Republican primary, against two establishment candidates. When I see the chaos in Harrisburg, I'm proud not to be a partisan. Tell your friends north of Route 22, in the 183rd District, that I look forward to working for them.

A Supremo Christmas

While I've never shown much enthusiasm for J.B. Reilly's attempt to revitalize downtown through his high end shops, neither has the marketplace. Christmas day, I visited the new Supremo Market on 7th Street, occupying the former Levine's Fabric store. The market was attractive, large, well stocked and mobbed.

There is an old saying that there are more nickels than quarters. I suppose that it should be no surprise that in a city populated by a large percentage of low income people, a well run store geared for that demographic can prosper. What's interesting is that while the taxpayer ponied up a $Billion dollars, so far, for the NIZ, the thriving Supremo costs us nothing. While the Morning Call writes one promotion after another for Reilly's portfolio, there is nothing said about the real success story in Allentown.

Let me provide some history.  Once upon a time,  that was the busiest block on 7th Street. The building was built as a Sears and Roebucks in the early 1950's, using a plan duplicated in other cities. The store did well competing with the three local department stores, and was first to go suburban.

Talking of history, some may notice a new item on this blog's sidebar. It's a picture of a Mack Truck Magazine cover, which was printed each month. I have titled the new insertion, LOCAL HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.  Hopefully, the local political shenanigans will slow down, so I can devote more posts to our rich history.

stock photo from Supremo website

Announcing My Candidacy

After some deliberation, I announce my candidacy under the Republican banner for the 183rd State House seat. Although, I will compete for the Republican nomination, needless to say, I will retain an independent spirit. As an outsider to party politics, I will need help in gathering petition signatures, and other necessities for success. Harrisburg is clearly broken, let us together see what we can do to improve the ethics of this state. Those who share my interest in a better Pennsylvania can leave their contact information by comment to this post. Such comments and information will not be printed or shared.   Thank you, Michael Molovinsky