You Want Something From Me, I Expect Some Things From You

Some very important issues have been, and are being, hashed out at various city public meetings this summer.

The City’s work is NEVER done, nor is the people’s.

Question #1: If an Eastonian is running for City Councilperson is it reasonable to expect them to (at a minimum) show up at City Council meetings?

I believe “yes”.

Question #2: Is it necessary for a candidate to engage in dialogue on City issues and to advocate for potential constituents?

I think “certainly”.

Question #3: Should we expect the Mayor and Council members to be at very important public meetings?

I say “absolutely”.

Actually, I am of the mind that candidates should be at EVERY important public meeting, and they should be participants. I am not saying that I think a single candidate should be at every public forum. I am saying that there should be candidates at all of the meetings, and each individual candidate should strive to be at as many important public meetings as possible. And the one’s that do attend should participate.

Let’s analyze this in parts. As a candidate for the City Council of the City of Easton you would like me to cast a ballot for you in the November general election. When I cast a ballot for you I expect that you will represent me, and meet the minimum requirement of attending City Council meetings. How can I, in good faith, trust you to fulfill your basic duties if you do not make a satisfactory effort to do so during your campaign?

If you are not around to gain firsthand accounts of the issues and their disposition why should I wait for you to catch up in January?

If you are not dedicated enough or capable of (for whatever reasons) being at important City meetings then, to me, you are unelectable. And if you are banking on voters not knowing that you are not engaged; you are a fraud, and we all need to question your motives for seeking public office.

OK, I am done with the no shows—on to the silent representation.

I intend to vote for advocates. Meaning I expect my candidates to be actively engaged on my behalf. I will cast my votes based on the way you deal with the City’s issues. It angers me to see smart, articulate citizens withhold their offerings in the name of campaigning. I say start building your record now. Aren’t your neighbors worth it?

In the case of those to whom our trust has been placed, we have a reasonable right to expect you to be where the action is. It is your burden to work for us. And I understand it is not an easy one; but it is, in fact, the one you asked us to bestow upon you.

I was very disappointed to see only one City Council member, and not one member of the administration, present at the two most important Home Rule Charter Commission meetings on July 12th and 14th. These were the meetings where citizens could impact the final disposition of the charter proposal. It was equally disheartening that the four City Council candidates not on the commission failed to participate even by written correspondence in a City issue of such a great magnitude. (Mayoral candidate Gary Bertsch did attend and participate)

The Mayor and City Council members need to be at Charter Commission meetings. After all, the Mayor and Council unanimously endorsed, presented, and voted to place the commission on the ballot in May of 2006.

The final 3 Home Rule Charter Commission meetings are on July 23rd, 24th, and 26th. Written comments are also currently being accepted.

Your Neighbor

Home Rule Charter Commission Public Comment Meetings 07/12/07 & 07/14/07

The City of Easton Home Rule Charter Commission held two public meetings solely for the purpose of receiving citizen input on the draft charter proposal. The meetings were sparsely attended, but those who did attend and comment gave productive feedback to the commission.

Councilwoman Vulcano was the only elected official in attendance, and the Gary Bertsch was the only city candidate in attendance that was not on the commission (El Warner, Roger Ruggles, and Sal Panto Jr. are Commissioners). Commission Chair, State Representative Robert (Bob) Freeman was in session in Harrisburg (I watched the Saturday session on PCN-- all talk; no action).

Please, read through the draft Charter(http://eastonundressed.org/hr_charter/HRCdraftcharter.pdf) and send the commission your input before July 23, 2007. The draft will be final on July 26, 2007. Email the commission at charterstudy@easton-pa.gov

Audio:
Tuesday, July 12, 2007 (2 hours 13 minutes 15.2Mb)

Saturday, July 14, 2007 (1 hour 08 minutes 7.01Mb)

Your Neighbors

City Council Meeting Audio 7/10/07

The $30,000.00 proposed closing of North Bank Street dominated the meeting. Council voted down Councilman Corpora's motion to remove the funding from the CDBG reallocation. The vote was 3-2 against the motion (Corpora and Heffley for). The reallocation vote was identical. The "yes" votes offered no comments on their votes; both Councilwoman Heffley and Councilman Corpora explained their decisions.

The proposal to extend the police early retirement incentive for the command staff was unanimously passed. FOP Washington Lodge #17 President Dominick Marraccini requested that council table the vote. No councilperson commented.

Audio (1 hour 26 minutes 9.85Mb)

Documents:
Agenda
Minutes (when available)

Real vs Special: Needs Go Toe to Toe (Again) in Easton

On Tuesday, 6 p.m., July 10th, Easton’s City Council will convene. On the agenda is the question of how to reallocate CDBG funds from previous years that were not expended.

This money is YOUR tax money.

It should be used to benefit the most Easton residents possible. Several of the reallocations do that as with the request to purchase a sorely needed new command vehicle for the Easton Fire Department. Other requests are not that clear as to benefiting the greatest number of Easton taxpayers.

As a Council Member, I will be voting no to the $30,000+ request to turn the first block of North Bank Street into a pedestrian mall.

While the plan has merit and conforms to my objective of a clean, safe, and green Easton, it does not benefit a great number of Eastonians. The same result could be had by simply closing the block, not refurbishing it.

Easton has greater needs.

It is essential that we do everything we can to take children off the street before they are enticed by gangs and that we do everything we can to curtail drug activity in our neighborhoods.

Requests such as kitchen upgrades for Easton Neighborhood Center (Formerly St. Anthony’s Youth Center) for a new kitchen and air conditioning so that it can more effectively serve meals to children and adults who otherwise go hungry in our city is a priority that cannot be ignored in my opinion. And there are other agency requests that attack the root causes of kids becoming gang members and curtail drug activity. These must be addressed before I can vote for a plan that is attractive but not a priority over our people and neighborhoods.

How do YOU want YOUR tax dollars spent?

Plan to attend this Council meeting.

Carole J. Heffley

Stealing from the Low-Mods and giving to the capable

It would simply be wrong for the City to reallocate $30,000.00 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG years 2001 - 2007) funds for the North Bank Street pedestrian walkway project.

The project does not clearly fit any of the three national objectives necessary to be eligible for CDBG funding (as noted by Ed Gepner to Council on September 13, 2007 5min 53 second 691kb Mp3). The project is NOT in response to a public safety need that has developed within 90 days of the request. The project does not meet the requirements of area or “spot” blight redevelopment. And the project will not meet the requirement “that at least 51% of the people benefiting from the project are low and moderate income people.” (Gepner 09/13/07).

“The CDBG entitlement program allocates annual grants to larger cities and urban counties to develop viable communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and opportunities to expand economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.” (Taken from the HUD CDBG website http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/communitydevelopment/programs/)

As good as this project may seem to anyone. It does not meet the national objectives to be funded though the highly competitive CDBG process.

Our city is far from being short on need. The fact that the entire city qualifies as “low-mod” is a sobering reminder of just how much need we have. This project immediately benefits people with the resources and finances to either own buildings in downtown Easton or to own businesses in downtown Easton. The street is a mere alley that is less than one tenth of a square mile in a city of 4.2 square miles (0.1 mile is 2.38% of 4.2 miles). To spend $30,000.00 of the $315,000.00 reallocation (~10%) on this project like stealing fro 98% of the city.

We can not allow our special interest and self serving selfishness rule. If the street's safety is truly the issue, close it-- by all means. Just find the money elsewhere. We're pretty sure that 4 to 6 poles will cost us a lot less than $30,000.00.

Your neighbors