Friday, December 9, 2011

Are We Missing The Point?

...Gracedale was never responsible for a tax increase!

Perhaps we are all missing the point! From the beginning of the Gracedale saga, we were told over and over that unless Gracedale was sold - taxes would have to go up. At one point just before the referendum question vote, a 30% increase was suggested by Angle. COAF did the math and said no way Jose.

County Council's vote on December 8, 2011 (8-1) in favor of passing the 2012 budget is clear evidence that taxes didn't have to go up at all...at least not in 2012.

Blaming Gracedale was a ploy by Angle/Stoffa to get the necessary funds diverted from the sale of Gracedale to pay for the swaption. Hey, perhaps the swaption requires a tax increase when it comes due because they failed to pay it off when it was 12 million - as we understand it, presently it is above 24 Million.

Gracedale did not create this problem...Council did. While Angle says he did not vote in favor of the swaption, he surely voted in favor of passing this budget with no tax increase, which is evidence that he is only interested in not raising taxes so that as a land owner with better than 75 properties in NorCo, he does not lose money.

If taxes have to go up over the next year or two, double digits as some are predicting, it won't be because of Gracedale...Swaption? Hmmm, asbestos fines? Hmmm. Wasted tax dollar's suing the taxpayer's? Hmmm...There may be many reasons a tax increase will be necessary in the future, but the future will prove that it won't be because of Gracedale.


46 comments:

  1. Gracedale is not the sole reason for any tax increase, it never was. The Angle/Stoffa lies are indeed lies. The problem we now face is it would have been better for county council to increase revenues for the entire county.

    Whether a need for new revenue is blamed on Gracedale is irrelevant. Stoffa, if faced with many expenditures will shortchange Gracedale. If the new funds were there that would be harder to do.

    If this was about sticking it to Angle and Stoffa, congratulations you won a battle. But the war is long and hard and I fear this political move will cause more long term harm to Gracedale than good.

    This should not be about proving Angle and Stoffa wrong. We all knew that. It is about securing the future of Gracedale. I fear a few opportunistic politicians have made Gracedale less secure than more secure. All in the name of political ambition. Please do not be blinded by politicians promising unicorns and rainbows without costing any money.

    Time will tell.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those of us who committed to protect Gracedale will continue to do so. We are satisfied however, that taxes were not raised because it exposes the lies we were told. Taxes are a part of any community, and ours is no different. What I believe we as a community want most of all is TRUTH. If a tax increase is necessary because of the swaption, simply tell us that. There is no need for fabrication, just tell us the truth. If we as a community don't approved of how our community business is being handled, we will do something about it by way of our vote. Most politicians know this so in an effort to continue to serve themselves they create illusions and distractions which are designed to take the focus off of their intention. I trust that Steve Barron is providing us truth in his numbers because he understands better than most what We The People are determined to do should he join the fabrications of past government members. He has witnessed our will and our resolve.

    RMM

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gracedale has maintained it self for many years and than some - like using Gracedale money in every other dept. of the county instead of keeping it for hard times and Mr. Stoffa knows that for a fact.
    So Gracedale can in fact make ago of it again if they do not sabotage it's work's like telling the people we have no beds avaiable when in fact there are beds avaiable.And another thing you should never get a recorded message when calling the social service office .... get with the times have you heard of a cell phone?
    People calling that office with important busniess regarding their loved one, have a little compassion and respecpt to you it is just a job but to the people calling looking to find their loved ones last home is a stressful job to do.
    If everyone works together Gracedaale will be successful once again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would like to direct you to a editorial penned by Jim Gregory in todays Easton Express. You should not "buy" the paper to read it, it is available online at Lehigh Valley Live.
    He rationalizes the situation. I think he is correct. I must disagree with your assessment.
    Yes Gracedale is not the sole cause of the need to increase taxes. However Gracedale might suffer by not increasing taxes due to this dicission.
    I would suggest in the event the worse case scenario manifests itself, we should be prepared to show the same vigor in removing from office and or precluding anyone from attaining higher office, ANYONE who tried to bamboozle us for political gain.
    For their own good, the people who voted against this better be correct.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You ask, "Are We Missing the Point?" If you have to ask, you are. You've just been played by Barron. Council passed a budget with millions in new spending without raising the revenue needed to pay for it, thanks to Barron. This is going to hurt Gracedale.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Gregory letter is exactly on the mark. Why someone would fight to hold back needed dollars is a penny wise and a pound follish game. You may look like a hero today but by the end of the year, the tax proposed will be huge and Gracedale will again be at risk.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Winston,

    I see no reason for a tax hike. Premier is at Gracedale to make the place run on its own 2 feet. There are penalties in place if they fail to do that. The current budget is more than enough to guarantee that Gracedale has the funding to stand on its own. If you look at the appropriations sheet in the budget where gracedale is funded, you will see that the county is still funding it at 2011 levels. It is probably over funded, considering the union contracts have not been finalized.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's correct Winston. The unions will end up giving back and then there will be money available for Gracedales future that should be placed in a separate account specifically for Gracedale. Will they do that? Well, let's hope that the new cc will make sure that happens.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Actually Angle floated that idea of a seperate Gracedale account. I don't remember hearing if it was enacted. I know he was providing lip service at that time to stave off the decline in his voter support due to the victory of the Gracedale initiative. That is a good idea. Too bad for former "councilchild" Angle he didn't have the forsight to share those ideas until after he was defeated.
    The problem I have is the "new" spending without new revenue, in the form of a tax increase and or new revenue from other sources. They could put the blame on Gracedale if there is a shortfall. Instead of where it belongs, like the expenditures for corporate welfare in the form of the treatment facility.
    I don't want to appear to kick the can down the road, however the money problem probably won't manifest itself until the fourth quarter next year. Ironically that happened this past year as well. Vigilance in the form of keeping pressure on council throughout the next year is paramount. I am now going out to "play" in the sunshine for the afternoon. You all have a nice day and I'll check back in tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Mr. Barron did nothing, but prove the obvious. The county is sitting on a large surplus. Question. The county has been sitting on a large surpluse for five years, what makes you think Mr. Stoffa would use the tax increase on Gracedale. He wouldn't. He has other spending priorities.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is correct. The irony here is that they continue to blame Gracedale! If taxes need to go up because of Gracedale show us why. And after the unions give back, they will continue to blame Gracedale. Even if Gracedale is in the black.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Stoffa already plans to spend on many other things. It doesn't matter if it is Gracedale or not. The problem will be the overall budget will take a beating. When people start screaming at Stoffa, he will say county council listened to the controller and voted to spend but not bring in revenue.

    Either way, Gracedale will get sucked into the pit with help from the press. That will happen whether it is true or not.

    The vote by council with Mr. Barrons help was foolish and just put a loaded gun in John
    stoffa's hand. All Stoffa has to do is decide when to pull the trigger.

    That vote was no favor to anyone who supports Gracedale.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Think of the ultimate greatness in the situation. The new council will have to vote on the Atiyeh drug lounge lease. My guess is it fails, 5-4

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those who support Gracedale are now waiting Stoffa out. He can't sell Gracedale for two years, and there won't be five votes to do it before his term expires. Mr. Barron said there will be a $70 mil. surplus at the end of 2012 had the tax increase been implemented. That would be truly wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I care about Gracedale and other county services. I don't care about an ambitious politician trying to get votes.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What blows my mind is the supporters O'hare brain has on his side. Guys like the newspaper, the retired teacher, gladys kravitz blogger from a-town, angry student priest, monkey momma, aj, and all the rest. What is really disturbing are that these people are "professional" wagon circlers. That student priest is the worst. I remember him before he became a priest. He was an asshole. I remember a lot of things. Anyone what to know the real dirt? let me know. I hope guys like oh'are and the pedophile priest get theres.

    ReplyDelete
  17. O'Hare is harping on the Deitrich deal again. He is posting all his "accusations" but is deleting without comment t ones that are proving what an idiot he is. He still pretends to be a lawyer. Sad thing is, he has the logic of a child. Guess all those dead brain cells has reduced him to a dumb old pig kicker.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I see the Express Times has deleted all the County Council story quotes. O'Hare is bragging on his blog that Owens took them down because they were mean.

    So you can see now who is runing the newspaper you spend money on. If anything is written that is offensive to Stoffa or O'Hare, it is deleted. I wonder were Owens got the idea of deleting comments from? Hmmm!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Does Angle own expensive antiques ? If so, why ? If he does, did he give O'Hare any valuable antigues ? If he did, why ?

    ReplyDelete
  20. -----Original Message-----
    From: Tricia Mezzacappa
    To: Bernie O'Hare
    Sent: Thu, Jul 14, 2011 10:26 am
    Subject: Re: Larry Otter

    You are overreacting. I fished to see if I could get a thought on the injunction matter. I would have called Blake, but I am certain his answer would be no. I asked him to challenge Atiyeh's ordinance in West Easton and his answer was no. Otter found out nothing about you or anyone else. I spoke to him about the RTK officer position as a conflict to an elected council member who happens to be blocking my requests. ANd BTW, you have defended Kelly Gross, my biggest problem of 2 years who has cost me thousands of dollars, but I never took it personally
    On Jul 14, 2011, at 1:47 PM, Bernie O'Hare wrote:


    Trish,

    I am frankly blown away that you would consult with an attorney who is very much out to hurt me, especially since it is on a matter in which I offered my own help as recently as this morning. True, I cannot practice law, but I could have put you in touch with other attorneys that at least won't draw snickers when they walk in a courtroom.

    Also, I have told you things that I would not want Otter to know, or that Gracedale crowd. I would think that you would have had enough respect for me to stay away from the very people who are actively out to nail me.

    Bernie

    ReplyDelete
  21. The secrets of the Angle/Stoffa/O'Hare love triangle. One can only wonder at how much taxpayer money was funneled to O'Hare over Gracedale. He and his buddy Joe Owens want to play the look the other way game with all this nonsense about Dietrich. of course they don't want to ask about the secret talks between Atiyeh and Stoffa that have been conformed by an identified source. No wonder O'Hare is deleting any comments that upset the applecart.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This Saturday everyone don't forget to come to the meeting place at 1PM. Bring all your Ron Angle campaign signs you have collected since he lost the election. The arts and crafts project we have planned for them will be "a good thing"

    ReplyDelete
  23. I only could find seven that were still up around my house. I know you said 2 each would be enough I got the extras in case everyone couldn't find them. Laura said she has the fiskars so don't buy a pair, and Tim has packs of multi-colored construction paper. I am still looking for a post hole digger and tape.
    I called Glimcher and he said the door to his workshop will be unlocked in the event he isn't home. Anything else we need let me know in here. See you Saturday

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey I thought we would do this on the phone?
    I must say your idea is scathingly brilliant.
    Leave it to you to think of that.
    I only got one sign, there is that other one at that place I told you about. I don't want to get it because it might be considered private property. Also I think it should remain up so everyone will know what kind of people supported him.
    It will be good advertising when that news breaks. Hope its' before the holiday because there is alot of traffic in and out around now. LOL
    I'll bet it makes the TV news as well as the papers. I wonder how Owens will handle it?
    Call me.
    Devery

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anon 6:25
    You are missing the point. We don't need a tax increase for Gracedale. I've been to many council meetings and townhall meetings where the public has been threatened with tax increases if Gracedale was not sold. Gracedale was not sold and there is no tax increase why because we have been lied to. Tell the truth about why a tax increase would be needed. Maybe a swaption that is due soon. Maybe a drug rehab lounge in West Easton. We don't know if thats why, but we do know that it's not Gracedale fault. So maybe raising taxes would help the county but tapping into the slush fund might also help. With all those millions in the fund maybe we have been over taxed. Many county buildings are falling apart and are unsafe why haven't they been fixed because nobody wants to touch the rainy day fund even if everyone in the county is getting wet.

    ReplyDelete
  26. No 6:25 you are missing the point. This is not about proving who is right. This is about the future and security of Grace dale.

    Of course any tax increase is not just about Gracedale but Gracedale is part of the overall budget and Stoffa will be spending a lot of money next year. So when he proposes an even bigger tax increase in 2013, then what will you say?

    This was about a very ambitious politician thinking about votes and not using common sense.

    The tax increase would have made Gracedale more secure well into the future. All this move did was make more problems for Gracedale now and create a scarier future.

    My concern is Gracedale. Not making Stoffa eat his words or helping some goofy kid get elected county executive.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I got 3 more today.
    I stopped and asked a business owner if he would mind me removing the sign and he got a weird look on his face. In talking to him I found out someone placed the sign there and he didn't take it down because it was on public land. He was no fan of the "A" man. He thanled me repeatedly for removing it. Location just outside Nazareth in Cherry Hill. The business and owner shall remain annonymous.
    Anyway that makes a total of 13 for me , I think we will have enough. I will bring my truck so we can load up the finished products.

    ReplyDelete
  28. wORD ON THE STREET IS, THE ANGLE YARD SIGNS WERE PRINTED BY A UNION PRINTER, LOOK FOR THE BUG ON BOTH SIDES. Typical Angle bash the unions, but use them to do work for him.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What's happening? Is there going to be an Angle sign Christmas tree? I think God would probably hit that thing with lightening.

    ReplyDelete
  30. A idiom for a idiot

    Necessity, who is the mother of invention.
    Plato, The Republic
    Greek author & philosopher in Athens (427 BC - 347 BC)

    Thanks for the signs Ron.

    Forever

    "eu a-mousoi"

    ReplyDelete
  31. This budget vote was about politics. The Democrats did a stupid thing. Had they done nothing, the Stoffa tax would have gone through. With this vote Democrats have played into Stoffa and the Republicans hands.

    This will force some very hard choices over the next two years. The Republicans on council will never just let a tax increase happen in an election year. So if not in 2012, definitely in 2013 Stoffa will be able to justify layoffs and cutbacks on service.

    This was a cheap political stunt that proves nothing but how foolish some people are who have been hoodwinked by political opportunists.

    ReplyDelete
  32. This as a goodbye gift to the employees.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Will Stoffa be there in 2013?

    ReplyDelete
  34. Sal Panto is balancing his budget with gambling money. He criticizes Steve Barron, but his own budget at 28 mil. is smaller than the County's fund balance.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Should County Council tell Panto to get lost the next time he comes there with his hat in hand begging for something ?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Tell Panto instead of attacking Mr. Barron's budget as "criminal" he should worry about the real criminals that run loose in his city. Just last night there was a shooting in Easton and a drug dealer was caught with 250 bags of heroin. This could be Panto's campaign slogan: I can do for the county what I did for Easton. Shootings and heroin for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Don't attack Sal Panto, he was just telling it like it is. Whether you love Steve Barron or not, what he did was either dumb or totally political, maybe a combination of both.

    In your anger and hatred of Angle and Stoffa, which I think is justified, you have allowed yourselves to be played a small group of politically ambitious group of people. Just because Stoffa/Angle and O'Hare have proved to be liars, don't beleive the first politician who tells you what you want to hear.

    Ultimately, his political stunt will be more hazardous to the counties financial security than helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am sorry to say, however, in my observation of your take on this matter your view can be described as simplistic at best. Before you rail me, please note I am on your side as far as Gracedale. The matter I fear is misunderstood by a good majority of posters in here. I apologize for my bluntness.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Steve Barron is absolutely correct and spot on with no need to raise taxes when the county is sitting on a $60,000,000.00 surplus. Gracedale will be just fine without a tax hike.

    Bernie O'Hare is kissing Sal Panto's big shitstained ass. The only thing criminal is raising taxes to embezzle more money into the already outrageous fund balance.

    Easton's tax rate at 28 mills is absurd and embarassing. Sal has enough to worry about in his filthy crime ridden city, and doesnt deserve to knock the county for keeping taxes level this year.

    ReplyDelete
  40. No thank you.

    Salvatore J. Panto, Jr.
    Mayor, City of Easton PA
    1 South Third Street
    Easton, PA 18042
    610.250.6610
    610250.6736 Fax


    From: Tricia Mezzacappa [mailto:tricia817@ptd.net]
    Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 12:06 PM
    To: Mayor - Sal Panto
    Subject: Re: Bernie O'Hare

    Would you like to set up an appointment to discuss it?

    Tricia Mezzacappa
    On Dec 8, 2011, at 11:01 AM, Mayor - Sal Panto wrote:


    Tricia
    I do not wish to engage in the start of an email chain concerning your allegations against our fine police department and its officers.
    Thanks you.

    Salvatore J. Panto, Jr.
    Mayor, City of Easton PA
    1 South Third Street
    Easton, PA 18042
    610.250.6610
    610250.6736 Fax


    From: Tricia Mezzacappa [mailto:tricia817@ptd.net]
    Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2011 10:50 AM
    To: Mayor - Sal Panto
    Subject: Fwd: Bernie O'Hare



    Begin forwarded message:



    From: Tricia Mezzacappa
    Date: December 8, 2011 10:47:32 AM EST
    To: "Freeman, Robert"
    Subject: Re: Bernie O'Hare

    Difficulties? You betchya....kind of strange that government, designed to help the people, encourages hurting the people. When these activities were reported to the EPD after my home was burglarized, Officer McMonagle had this to say, "Good luck at the magistrate. Walking trails are public. He can write whatever he wants to. Its called the first amendment." Now please explain to me Bob how to solve these difficulties when the cops themselves are enabling this behavior? The burglary was blown off. The harassment and stalking was blown off. What would you do, Bob? Where does one turn when those employed to "serve and protect" are rooting for the bad guys? I encourage you to visit the commentary on Lehigh Valley Ramblings Blog where you can take in each and every hate attack that was authored by Bernie O'Hare. I stopped counting after 10 stories were published.

    Tricia Mezzacappa
    610-330-6943
    On Dec 6, 2011, at 5:48 PM, Freeman, Robert wrote:



    Tricia,

    Thank you for your e-mail.

    Sorry to hear about your difficulties.

    Bob

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Tricia Mezzacappa [mailto:tricia817@ptd.net]
    Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 5:11 PM
    To: Freeman, Robert
    Subject: Bernie O'Hare

    Bob,

    Bernie O'Hare is starting rumors that I am running against you for a term in the legislature. This is false. He lives in a fantasy world of his own and has been stalking me in the most perverse ways imaginable. He cant handle that he was tossed from my home for what constitutes sexual assault. I gave him a free pass because I was not violently attacked. The assault was never reported. He had specific instructions not to ever contact me again. I had to block him from my phone, email and facebook. He continues to stalk me all over the LV area, including today in the Prothonatory's Office of Northampton County, many times on hiking trails, and at County Council meetings, taking photos of me with his flip-cam. I recently had my house burglarized and the only item taken was my file of libelous attacks by Bernie O'Hare. The guy is a deranged loser, and has invented this myth that I am running against you, so he can write hate attacks every day and get away with it.

    Tricia Mezzacappa

    ReplyDelete
  41. Please refer to LVR where Mr. Panto makes an offer to meet with a concerned citizen. Look at the above emails sent to and from Panto. Look at his reply, when I suggested we meet to discuss it. "No Thank you."

    Enough said

    ReplyDelete
  42. Always a Bridesmaid, never a BrideDecember 16, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    That thing on the Bernsters' hysteria and inuendo blog appeared to be a invitation to the
    OK Corral.

    Thats how they handle the haters in PantyLand

    I should know
    I was next in line to be Queen of the;

    "Easton Super Terrific FunFest Disease Infected Heroin Needle Day Parade"
    and block party

    However I was told I would need to put my dreams on hold because Pantos extended family members have been declared the winners until 2031.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Tricia, if O'Hare continues to stalk you, consider getting a Protection from Abuse order or some sort of restraining order from a judge to force him to keep his distance.

    He is not right in the head and I would not want him stalking me. Be careful.

    It is sad that some of these local officials align themselves with the likes of a Bernie O'Hare.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Is it too much to ask people to focus on Gracedale? Tricia Mezzacappa is crackers, and is dragging us down.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Why is Sal Panto a regular contributor to the O'Hare hate blog? I hate when politicians are involved with that guy.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I had respect for Panto but this constant kissing up to O'Hare is disgusting.

    ReplyDelete