Fire Fighters Banned from Local "Hotel"

Easton fire fighters Michael Krill and Terrance Hand have really done it now. It seems that the opinionated duo have been dubbed persona non grata at the landmark Hotel Lafayette on 4th and Northampton Streets (not to be confused with the beautiful historic Lafayette Inn on Cattell and Monroe Streets).

Apparently, our (Mike's and my) repeated criticism of the "hotel's" conditions have drawn the ire of the establishment's proprietors. In my criticism of the quality of the City's South Side supermarket I opined that "Better isn't always acceptable. The Hotel Lafayette is better than Northampton County Prison, but living in either is no good."(tagboard March 30,2008 8:17 pm). Well it seems that my analogy was the back breaking straw.

Since then the proprietors have made calls to City officials with the goal of censuring Mike and me while also excluding us from our department's safety and familiarization tours of their building.

Now normally I would be laughing my ass off. I mean it's kind of ironic; getting banned from a place you'd never choose to go anyway. I can honestly say I can not recall being thrown out of a worse place.

I have no apologies to offer. To me, it is socially unjust to profit while offering people very low standard shelter. The place is a perpetual eyesore inside and out. It is a shame and a wonder to me that the place has become the hip hangout Easton's middle class music crowd. I wonder how some of the same people who fight for the conditions of the poor on other continents can be so patronizing to the barons of such poor accommodations here in their home. Free Tibet, F#$* Easton!

Yes, I know that this isn't the only place like this in Easton, but worry not-- I garner the same amount of disdain for them all. And yes, we have both been inside. I was there in December.

Your Neighbor

City Council Meeting Audio 02/27/08, 03/12/08, & 03/26/08

Well, once again I have been off of the ball. Here's the audio for the last three Council Meetings. This is going to be a no-frills presentation of the recordings.

And sorry... Only one agenda.

February 27, 2008 (42 minutes 49 seconds 4.9Mb)
March 12, 2008 (48 minutes 26 seconds 5.5Mb)
March 26, 2008 (58 minutes 22 seconds 5.9Mb)

Agenda March 12, 2008