Easton Fire Department Being Monitored for Sick Time Abuse

Posted by: Noel Jones


Ed Sieger of the Express-Times reports that the City of Easton has officially put the Easton Fire Department on notice that they are being monitored closely for potential "overtime misuse." As mentioned in my earlier post on this topic, overtime pay for the fire department will cost Easton taxpayers over $500K this year. After an investigation by the Express-Times, it has been revealed that there are numerous cases of firemen calling in sick on the day before, or day after, their scheduled vacations. In these scenarios, other firemen are called in to cover, and if they have already put in full-time hours that week, taxpayers are being charged the overtime rate for that coverage.


On one hand, I think firemen are real live heroes who should get paid as much or more than any other city official. After all, they do risk burning alive to save people they don't even know, and who may or may not even deserve it. I also appreciate the contributions to establishing humane work schedules, benefits and safety regulations that unions have made in our country's history. Without unions, there would be no such thing as a 40 hour work week, sick time, personal time, or vacation time. But I get upset when it starts to look like employees of a union may have grown accustomed to unintended perks paid by our tax dollars by taking advantage of the system. At a time when taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet, and when our mayor, with that in mind, is doing his utmost to not raise our taxes, it is not time to be taking advantage of taxpayers.


I am glad that our mayor, our city administrator, and our local media are on top of this.

Pumpkin Carving Contest at Mercantile Home TODAY, Saturday, 5-8pm

Drop off your carved pumpkin at Mercantile Home in the Eastonian building downtown on Northampton Street TODAY by 5pm to be entered in the competition. Pumpkins will be lit at 6pm and prizes will be awarded at 7pm! Categories are Prettiest, Scariest, Most Creative and the Golden Pumpkin Award for the Most Personality. Donuts, cider and magic potions will be served.

EASD: Pool Renovation Vote Fails in Tie at School Board Meeting

After firing 72 teachers, is this the right 

time to renovate the high school pool?

Posted by: Noel Jones


Since my last post regarding the Easton Area School District, entitled "EASD Finds Mysterious $3.2 Million to Balance the Budget," it looks like administrators have already found a way to spend the found money. 


Renovations to the high school swimming pool, the bids for which ranged from $700K - $1.7 million, were a bone of contention between administrators and taxpayers last budget season, inspiring some taxpayers to suggests--to the gasps of certain administrators and board members--that the district consider closing the pool until the economy recovers and no longer requiring a swimming credit for graduation. 


Well, Colin McEvoy of the Express-Times reports that at Thursday's school board meeting, pool renovations--which had come off the table during contentious budget meetings where EASD Business Manager, Marie Guidry, had projected an 11.85% tax increase, and a $6.1 million dip into the reserve fund--resurfaced for a vote. Now, after a 2.35% tax increase, the firings of 72 teachers, and the recent revelation that the school district will only have to go $3.2 million into the reserve fund after all, the district tried to pass the pool renovations again. But with board member Kerri Leonard-Ellison out for medical reasons, the vote came to a tie, and where a vote ties, funding dies, as reported by Christopher Baxter of The Morning Call. So it looks like the taxpayers have narrowly been spared the expense of the pool for now.

Jake Towne Endorsed by the Express-Times

Jake Towne, candidate for U.S. House 

of Representatives, 15th Congressional District

Posted by: Noel Jones


Following the debate at the State Theatre last week, hosted by the Express-Times, our local paper has done some independent thinking and endorsed the Independent candidate for the 15th Congressional District: Jake Towne. The ET's endorsement comes despite Towne's single digit percentage in recent polls, and is offered as an antidote to the other candidates' mudslinging campaigns. Since newspapers typically like to endorse someone they think will win, this is a particularly bold move on the part of the ET. The paper also recommends Towne for his transparency, and bold ideas for change, including bringing an end to America's foreign occupations and wars, which he claims have wasted billions of taxpayer dollars and are driving our country into an economic depression.


If you're interested in meeting Jake Towne face to face and asking him questions about his positions, come to the Rally to Restore Sanity event at Porter's Pub in Easton tomorrow afternoon 12pm - 3pm. Jake Towne will be doing a one-hour Q-n-A with interested voters.

City Councilman Jeff Warren May Be Forced to Resign from Council for Second Drunk Driving Arrest

Posted by: Noel Jones


Last night, I and another resident were running late to the City Council meeting, and as we were pulling into the church parking lot at 7pm, we saw city officials leaving the basement of St. John's Lutheran, where the meetings have been moved until City Hall renovations are complete.


After talking to one of the stragglers, we learned that only four council people were in attendance--most noticeably absent being Jeff Warren, who has recently been in the spotlight for charges on his second drunk driving offense. The meeting had been uncharacteristically short, and we were told that the mayor had called for Warren to make a public

apology.


Here is Christopher Baxter's article from today's Morning Call with full details. It turns out that because this is Warren's second offense, and therefore, a misdemeanor, if convicted, he will

MEET UP: Rally to Restore Sanity and Keep Fear Alive--Watch Jon Stuart and Stephen Colbert from Porter's Pub--and Meet Jake Towne!

Posted by: Noel Jones


Funnest political event EVER! Come to Porter's Pub this Saturday, noon to 4pm, and watch Comedy Central's Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report in their dueling rallies in D.C.--Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity and Stephen Colbert's March to Keep Fear Alive. The actually rallies will be from noon to 3pm and Independent candidate for Congress, Jake Towne, has agreed to come for a Q & A from 3-4 afterwards. Come enjoy beer, comedy and politics with friends and neighbors, and meet one of your candidates face to face!


Porter's Pub is located at 700 Northampton Street, Easton, PA. There is a TV at the bar and will be a projector and screen in the dining room (no need to bring laptops for the wi-fi as originally posted). This by the way, is the only "meet-up" scheduled in the Lehigh Valley, so Porter's is where the party is! We're going to have to start calling Porter's the "Publick House!"

Watch the Video: Debate between Sestak and Toomey for U.S. Senate!

Pat Toomey (R) on left and Joe Sestak (D) on right are running to be your next U.S. Senator

Posted by: Noel Jones


Only six days away, on Nov. 2nd, we will vote on who we will send to the U.S. Senate to represent us! This is a critical race, whether you feel it's important to send President Obama a team to help him, or whether you feel it's important to try to send more Republicans to the Senate as a wake up call to the President, this is one of the critical elections to get informed on.


Please watch the PCNTV video of the October 20th Debate between Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey, post your impressions here, and remember you can also read about the candidates' positions on the issues in The West Word Voter's Guide by clicking on Downloadable Documents on the right side bar of this home page!

EASD Finds a Mysterious $3.2 Million to Balance the Budget

This is not the EASD's business manager, Marie Guidry, but it might as well be.

Posted by: Noel Jones


In his article in The Morning Call last week, Christopher Baxter reports that the Easton Area School District, after projecting an anticipated $6.1 million dip into the district's reserve funds to balance the budget, is now saying they will only have to dip into the reserve fund for $2.9 million.  After having used that $6.1 million anticipated dip to justify a 2.35% tax increase on struggling tax payers and major budget cuts, including programming cuts that costs 72 teachers their jobs (while giving themselves a raise), EASD Business Manager, Marie Guidry, now says that  we weren't doing that bad after all. Considering that it was a major part of the rationale to convince our school board to vote on whether or not to approve a tax increase and/or cut teaching positions, I'd like to know where the other $3.2 came from, wouldn't you? I know that the state increased funding to the school districts after the teachers were fired, but it wasn't $3.2 million. 


This strategy reminds me of a teenage girl after a prom dress:


EASD: "Mom, Daddy won't give me the $6.1 million I need to get my prom dress! Could you give me the money? I really need it--this is an emergency!"


Mom (taxpayers): "Well, honey, times are really tough since I lost my job last year, so I don't have that kind of money lying around, but here's a $5 million to help out--go talk to Daddy again."


EASD: "Daddy, Mommy won't give me any money for my prom dress--she says she's broke, and this is an emergency! Can you loan me $6.1 million?"


Daddy (state government [also, ultimately tax payers]): "Well, times are tight for me too honey, but I'll talk to your Grandma and see

REVISED: Who Is JakeTowne? The Guy That Won the Express Times Debate at the State Theatre Last Night

Jake Towne is running to represent YOU in congress--get to know all three of the candidates before you decide who to vote for!

Posted by: Noel Jones


REVISED AND EXPANDED TO FULL LENGTH:


Well, it's becoming a little more clear why Jake Towne has been excluded from some of the congressional candidate debates that Charlie Dent and John Callahan have had the opportunity to participate in, and why Dent and Callahan have cancelled at least two of the debates where Towne was invited. Some of it is the snobbery of hosts who don't want to give anyone a forum who isn't a "contender" in the ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of our country. But there's clearly another factor at play: Towne is confident, at ease, informed, and in general, handles debates well. He also makes the other two look bad from time to time, when they would prefer to keep hammering out the same tired old political rhetoric. Audiences like him.


Of course Towne is helped by the fact that audiences dislike politicians who mudsling and hedge on questions, and between Dent and Callahan, the mudslinging and hedging was ON. Towne actually answered each and every question and pointed out each and every time the other two did not.


I will be adding my complete notes on this debate later tonight or tomorrow, but for now I will just say that the applause-o-meter at the beginning of the debate last night was polite for Callahan, loud for Dent, and almost equally loud for Towne. By the end of the debate, Towne won on the applause.


Below are my complete notes on the questions asked by the Express Times panel, which

The Firemen's Union: Overtime Abuse or Necessary Expense?

According to our contract, Easton's Fire Department must have 14 fire-fighters scheduled for each of three shifts, in case several want to take sick leave or vacation at the same time--in which case we pay for the others to work overtime.

Posted by: Noel Jones


Christopher Baxter's article in The Morning Call outlines the questions surrounding the $500K+ that Easton's taxpayers will shell out for overtime for our fire department this year. We pay more per resident for fire protection than both Allentown and Bethlehem.


What do you think? Is it a necessary expense, or is the union abusing overtime?

Two Great Politically Neutral Web Sites for the Mid-Term Elections!

Posted by Noel Jones:


Two interesting politically neutral sites I have come across recently with regard to the upcoming mid-term elections on November 2nd (and informed voting in general) are Project Vote Smart (pictured above) and Go To Quiz Political Spectrum.  Project Vote Smart tracks the not only the voting records of all candidates who have held a political office before, but also provides biographies, issue positions, interest group ratings, campaign finance information and endorsements, as well as speeches and public statements made by each of the candidates.


For those of you not sure where you fall on the political spectrum, the Go To Quiz Political Spectrum is an interesting exercise in finding out how liberal or conservative you are. What is also really fascinating, is seeing the various grids and the overlap of people who fall in different political quadrants.


I hope this is helpful--let me know what you think, after you try them out!

THE WEST WORD Voter's Guide is Out!

Posted by: Noel Jones

The West Word Voter's Guide is out and will be available in print in the next couple of days at a local business, cafe or pub near you! I am very excited about this guide to our midterm elections, which will be held this year on November 2nd. This volunteer effort provides information on the platforms of eleven candidates in five races on eight important issues to our community. In addition, it also provides a precinct map with a complete listing of precinct captains for both parties, so that residents who have any questions about candidates, issues, or the election in general, know who to contact. The guide also includes articles on who can vote and how, including a step-by-step guide to how to use the voting machine, and how to correctly cast a write-in vote.

The guide is available under the Downloadable Documents link on the right side bar of this blog, or by simply clicking here.

Many thanks to all who put their hard work into producing this quality guide in time for these very important midterms elections!

Big Gas Takes a Licking! Residents Assert Rights Over Corporations and Ban Disposal of Frack Water in Licking Township and Nockamixon

 Do you think corporations are individuals?

Posted by: Noel Jones


Check out this resident victory in Licking Township, PA posted to a blog called Public Comment! It explains how residents, with the help of the Community Environment Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), passed an ordinance asserting citizens rights over the rights of corporations, and declaring that corporations are not recognized as individuals in their township. Most Americans don't realize that the beginning of corporate domination over the American citizen began back in 1886 with the case of Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad, which granted corporations protection as individuals under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and corporations have been screwing the American people with their big money lawyers and lobbyists every since. Big Oil is doing it in the Gulf, and Big Gas is doing it here.


Here's is the Wikigpedia entry of court reporter's note introducing the case:


"The court reporter, J.C. Bancroft Davis, wrote the following as part of the headnote for the case:

"The court does not wish to hear argument on the question whether the provision in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids a State to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws, applies to these corporations. We are all of the opinion that it does."^[5]

In other words, corporations enjoyed the same rights under the Fourteenth Amendment as did natural persons.^[6] However, this issue is absent from the court's opinion itself."


CELDF, which you have probably read about before in Dennis Lieb's West Word (Winter Issue 2010) article "Who Decides?" is a nonprofit organization that teaches citizens how they can fight corporations

Lafayette to Host "Conversation on Thursdays" Next Door to the Bachmann Publick House

Join the conversation!

Posted by: Noel Jones


Now here's a unique idea in community building--rockin' and talkin'--I've seen the space--you can see it through the big storefront window from the street on Second Street--it is full of rocking chairs, all faced in a circle...should be interesting!


A message from Lafayette student, Mike Handzo:

Eleven North Second, located at 11 North Second Street, is Lafayette's new center for public dialogue and conversation.  It will be home to a weekly series of "Conversations on Thursday,” Thursday evenings at 7pm, throughout the fall.  These conversations seek to create, deepen, and build human relationships and understanding among community members.  They will be open to anyone interested in achieving this goal free and charge. 

There will be a “Conversation” this Thursday, October 21, at 7pm.  For now, there is no topic scheduled.  As we are getting started with the series, we’re holding several open sessions with no topic.  The areas of interest raised at these sessions will guide the scheduling of future conversations on specific topics.  Two Conversations have already happened, and a multitude of good ideas and topics have arisen.

We invite you to join us this Thursday night and for future Thursday nights.  Share your perspectives on

Girl Fights Off Male Attacker--You GO Girl!

All women should own Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 

Posted by: Noel Jones

I just can't get enough of stories of girls and women who fight for themselves. I'm not a fan of violent movies usually, unless there are good fights scenes for girls in them. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is one of my favorites, because two of the main characters are women who kick butt.

A couple of months ago, the Express Times reported that a Lafayette College student was accosted by a man with a knife who tried to force her into the trunk of his car. Today the Express Times staff reports that a 38 year old man tried to lure an underage girl in our neighborhood with money, and when she wasn't interested, he grabbed her arm and tried to force her into his car. In both cases, these young women didn't wait for anyone to save them, they fought their attackers off on their own, and both got away unharmed (physically, any way). My hats off to these two. YOU GO GIRLS!

What I don't understand though, is that when they caught the guy, they didn't charge him with assault, only trying to lure a child. When a strange man grabs a woman, child, or any human being he doesn't know without invitation, and tries to use physical force to overcome them, it's assault in my book.

What do you think?

Watch the Video: Debate between Corbett and Onorato for Governor

Dan Onorato (D) and Tom Corbett (R) are running to be your Governor.

Posted by: Noel Jones


I found this video on line of a debate last month between Tom Corbett (R) and Dan Onorato (D) who want us to elect one of them to be our next governor. The debate is hosted by Ted Koppel, who opened with a saying I hadn't heard before:


"A Liberal is a Conservative that just got arrested, and
a Conservative is a Liberal that just got mugged."


I think it's brilliant. 


Please watch the video, get to know the candidates who want our vote for governor, and post your comments on Corbett, Onorato (and Ted Koppel) here!

See Jake Towne Interviewed By Two Zombies!

Jake Towne, Candidate for Representative of the 15th Congressional District

Posted by: Noel Jones


Since Jake Towne didn't get to participate in the recent Morning Call congressional debate between Charlie Dent and John Callahan, and as a means of getting into the Halloween spirit, I'm giving him equal time today-- click here to watch this interview I found on youtube where Towne is interviewed by real zombies!

WATCH THE VIDEOS: 15th District Congressional Debates

John Callahan (D-pictured left), Charlie Dent (R-pictured center) and Jake Towne (I-pictured right) are running to represent us in Washington for the 15th congressional district.

I am editing this post to included video footage of debates thusfar between our three congressional candidates for the 15th District of PA. Please watch the videos and pass this link onto others so that we can all make informed choices on election day. Please note: not all of these debates include the Independent candidate, Jake Towne, as he was not invited to all the debates (which I, personally, think is an atrocious miscarriage of our democratic process):


15th District Debate 10.13.2010 Courtesy WFMZ

15th District Debate 10.10.2010 Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley

15th District Debate 09.13.2010 Callahan / Dent / Towne (Lafayette)

Who do you like best and why? Post your comments here!

Haunted Walking Tours a Record Success!

Larry Porter as the ill-fated Carl Getter (far left) after whom Getters Island is named, and Sydney as a Lizzie Borden type (far right) appear to be actual ghosts in this photo...

Posted by: Noel Jones


Easton's Haunted Walking Tour was a record success this weekend, with 80 people attending Friday night and 182 attending Saturday night, for a total of 262 attendees, raising almost $2,000 for the Main Street Initiative.


A great time was had by all, and in a way it reminded of me of the Dia Del Muertes parades they have in parts of Europe and South America, only this was Easton's own repertoire of notorious ghost stories from historic murders, an oral recounting of lore to keep them alive in our local culture...

The annual event, in addition to being a great fundraiser and a good time, is also a great way to be mindful of our history and how far we've come as a society--from hanging men on shreds of evidence to drowning women that are beautiful and don't go to church and dare to go on long walks with married men...


Below are some pictures from the event--thanks to everyone who made it possible--and to Connexions for throwing a great after-party!

City Councilman Jeff Warren's DUI in Hellertown Not His First

Easton City Council Member and Head of the Panel on Public Safety, Jeff Warren

Posted by: Noel Jones


The Morning Call's Chris Baxter reports that according to records in our nation's capitol, Jeff Warren's first DUI was actually nine years ago in Washington D.C., not nine months ago in

Worst Attendance Record: EASD School Board Member, Pat Vulcano, Jr. 43%

EASD School Board Member, Pat Vulcano, Jr.

Posted by: Noel Jones


Colin McEvoy of The Express Times reports that Easton Area School Board member, and former Board President, Pat Vulcano, Jr., has the worst attendance record of any member of any board in all of

Individuals in Easton Community Come Forward to Support Wrestling Program

Can a community of sports-loving individuals support our sports programs?

A message from West Ward resident, Carinne Buzzuto, who attended the EASD's Athletics Committee meeting last week, on new developments in the Easton Area School District's budget with regard to our athletics programs:

"Only months ago what seemed like the entire community was in an uproar over our school budget. Residents unable to continue to foot the bill/ go broke, middle school athletes who would lose their sports, a union who weighed in too late losing

Small Public Victory in Fracking Battle! KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.

Let's cause a ripple! Call the Delaware River Basic Commission today:

(609) 883-9500 or http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/ and tell them you want safety studies to protect our drinking water completed before more gas drilling occurs.

Posted by: Noel Jones


We the Public have won a small victory in the battle to protect our drinking water and property values from unregulated fracking for natural gas along the Delaware watershed, which provides 15 million people with our drinking water! Yesterday's note from Tracy Carluccio of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network is below:


Breaking News!

The public is influencing the [Delaware River Basin Commission] DRBC’s rulemaking process! The DRBC is NOT issuing its draft regulations today, as they expected to.

This was posted this afternoon, October 15, 2010 on the DRBC website:

http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/naturalgas.htm

“The draft natural gas regulations are not yet ready for public distribution. The commissioners are working with staff to continue refining the draft regulations to ensure protection of basin waters while minimizing regulatory duplication. The draft regulations will likely be published in November or December 2010, and will be accompanied by a public rulemaking process. This process will entail two public hearings and a written comment period”

It is critical that we all keep up the pressure to prevent the draft natural gas regulations from being issued BEFORE the cumulative impact assessment has been completed. This federal funded comprehensive study must be done FIRST and then the information learned used to inform the regulations that the DRBC will adopt regarding gas development in the Delaware River Watershed.  This is essential to reach the required goal of prevention of pollution and degradation to the Delaware River and the water supply for more than 15 million people.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WORKING ON THIS!!

Tracy

Tracy Carluccio

Deputy Director

Delaware Riverkeeper Network

300 Pond Street, 2nd Floor

Bristol, PA 19007

Phone:  215 369 1188 ext 104

Cell: 215-692-2329

Fax:  215 369 1181

www.delawareriverkeeper.org

Remember the River

www.delawareriverkeeper.org/remember

Take Action: Anti-Fracking Rally Today in Allentown

The natural gas industry DOES NOT CARE about our health or property rights. Stand up and fight for your clean drinking water--unless you like the idea of living off of purchased 500 gallon water tanks in the near future, as our neighbors 2 hours north are doing now. Ready for that bill? Ready to get ill? Ready to fight?

Posted by: Noel Jones


Those of you who saw GASLAND last night (or those of you who wanted to, but missed it) and are not working a day job have an opportunity to take action today in Allentown--below is a message from Cathy Frankenburg of Clean Water Action:


"Just a quick reminder that the Rally for a Moratorium will be held this Thursday, rain or shine, in front of the Lehigh County Government Center [at 7th Street and Hamilton in Allentown], from 4:30 to 5:30.  This is our chance to stand together for clean air and clean water.Strength in numbers!"
Cathy

Catherine Frankenberg
Program Organizer
Clean Water Action

901 North New Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 691-7395
(610) 691-7396 Fax

America's School Spirit Challenge: Vote and Possibly Win $20K for Your Favorite School!

Posted by: Noel Jones


Here's a novel way to help with our local school budgets--click here to vote for the school of your choice to win $20,000!

Haunted Walking Tours of Easton This Weekend!

They don't call it Gallows Hill for nothin'...

HAUNTED WALKING TOURS OF EASTON: 
7th Anniversary Tour

This Friday and Saturday

October 15th-16th

8:00 - 9:00 pm

--Rain or shine--

History, humor and the macabre combine to make this one of the most unique haunted tours in the Valley. Come see and hear the re-enacted stories of some of Easton's most famous murders and hangings--better yet--has it been a frustrating year? Recession got you mad as hell? Come be part of the angry mob at the hanging!

Get your tickets at Pearly Baker’s Ale House, Porters Pub, Cosmic Cup Coffee Co., Partyology, Connexions Art, Gallery, Easton Yoga, Easton Main Street Initiative Office, 3rd and Ferry St., Easton Farmer’s Market Every Saturday 9am-1pm Center Sq., Easton; Northampton: $7 in advance, $10 night of tour. Meet at Center Square for the start of the tour at 8pm.

Watch the Video: Fight or Go Frack Yourself!

Posted by: Noel Jones


For a good laugh and more on what the frack is going on with natural gas and its potential to contaminate our drinking water, watch this.

Don't forget, GASLAND is playing at Lafayette in Kirby Hall this Wednesday at 7pm.

Personal Legal Tab for EASD Solicitor Alan McFall's Suit Against the Express Times Being Paid by Taxpayers

EASD Solicitor, Alan McFall

Posted by: Noel Jones


Ed Sieger's article in The Express Times today reports that the state has order the Easton Area School District to reveal the amount of legal fees the district is spending to support the district solicitor, Alan McFall, in a personal lawsuit against The Express Times. Back in June of 2008, Alan McFall claimed he was misquoted by an Express-Times reporter in an article about a legal settlement between the EASD and a former employee. In last month's school board meeting, Easton resident Curt Ehly spoke up to voice his concern that taxpayers are footing the legal fees for a solicitor's personal lawsuit, without it ever having come before a vote of the school board. Board President Pat Fisher responded to the suggestion of impropriety by gesturing to the other administrators and board members in the room and saying, "we'd do it for anybody--" as if that made it all right, or would make the taxpayers feel any better.

The lawyer representing McFall in the suit, said state law requires that the EASD support its employees. Only thing is, not only is the solicitor not an employee, but the school district has a confidentiality agreement with our solicitor, and the suit is over his alleged breach of confidentiality. Sounds like a broken contract to me--why should we be footing his bill?