Politicians

Off Campus Student Housing

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:54:20 -0700

In Lower Merion Township, student housing ordinance was amended earlier this year (2008), to in essence accomodate Bryn Mawr College near their campus. I think they were the only municipality to do any updates in 2008.

Election Season Blues

carla — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:35:18 -0700

I've got the election season blues. I am pretty much tired of everything. Read all about it in my column for Main Line Life: Posted on Tue, Sep 30, 2008 Will we all survive until November 5? By Carla J. Zambelli

A Senior casts her vote for the Barnes

eyaari — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:36:28 -0700

Here is the opening of an op-ed piece that appears in today's Main Line Life regarding the election of a new Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This election day is the first opportunity to let Tom Corbett know what we think about his support for the dismantling of the Barnes Foundation. Here is one woman's opinion on the matter: A seasoned senior casts her vote for the Barnes By Ethel Kauffman

Last Word on Central Avenue in Bryn Mawr

carla — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:26:43 -0700

This is what Central Avenue used to look like:

Unlucky Sevens

carla — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:43:50 -0700

Yesterday the U.S. Congress rejected the first go round of the bailout bill. And the markets, writhing with emotion, rumors and innuendo plummeted 777 points. Oh, and Wachovia bit the dust, adding to a large pile of bodies on Wall Street. Yep,what did the dow go down? 777. Of course if you are a Vegas Gambler, you might see 777 as lucky. (And if you want to read about 777 check out this web page) So, my e-mail inbox like many others has been loaded with e-mails railing back and forth on which political party is to blame. News flash: this did not happen overnight, both parties are responsible. So I look at it this way:

Gerlach Hosting Transit Summit On October 2nd - You Should Attend!

carla — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:02:29 -0700

Jim Gerlach is giving all of us the rare opportunity to interact with Amtrak, Septa, and even PENNDot. Bring your questions and take advantage of this to air your probelms with all three. Even if the folks making presentations don't have all the answers, they have ears. So tell them how you feel. Here is Cheryl Allison's Main Line Life coverage: Posted on Tue, Sep 23, 2008 Community can air views at planned Transit Summit By Cheryl Allison

Wading Through The All-American Hype in Search of Truth

carla — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:21:39 -0700

9/29/08 UPDATE: CNN:Bailout plan rejected House leaders scramble for support for controversial Wall Street plan. NY Times: House Rejects Bailout Package, 228-205; Stocks Plunge By CARL HULSE and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN Published: September 29, 2008

Thoughts From Radnor Worth Reading

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:43:40 -0700

A blog that is well worth reading is called "Round Radnor". At least someone who lives in Radnor has the guts to say things are a little funky. (In Radnor is it like against some township ordinance to blog or something? They all act like it's something really racy.) Here are a couple of posts worth clicking over to: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 I really don't understand Radnor ZHB Garrett Hill Hits a Bump in the Road

Radnor Rules Against Residents....Is This Becoming a Habit?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 05:35:43 -0700

Radnor Township Zoning Hearing Board is the board that can't say no...and they ruled against neighbors in favor of developers for things that North Wayne residents in particular have good reason to worry about. Appeal 2782 in Ward 1 got passed.

It Always Comes Back To Ardmore....

carla — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:58:59 -0700

It always comes full circle to Ardmore, and development worries have landed Ardmore and Cricket Avenue on the Lower Merion Conservancy's 10 Ten Most Endangered List.....again. Wow. It must be some kind of record if you go through Mike Weilbacher's lists over the years to see how many things Ardmore have landed on the list, and how many things Ardmore have then been lost because by gosh, by golly, every square inch of Ardmore is a development opportunity, isn't it? Oh yes, the nasty by product of a well intentioned redevelopment plan: all the others who want to ride on the coattails. And yes there is such a thing as the "The Coattail Effect", although it is generally applied to politics, I believe it applicable here as well. Do we need all this development? In a word "no". Do we need a Master Plan for Ardmore? In a word "yes". Does anyone really listen to what anyone concerned about Ardmore has to say? Hard to say, actually. Depends on who you talk to, and when it comes to dealing with government, listening and hearing and acting are all dependent upon who you are talking to because the problem with Ardmore is the problem with dealing with local government: too many visions and not enough common sense at times, right? Ardmore's largest problem has been competing visions combined with simply not hearing what the residents ask for. And you have to consider that different residents have different wants, needs, and desires.

Bravo, Merion Community Coalition, Bravo

carla — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:46:39 -0700

Last night as we settled on the sofa for the Channel 7 version of "must see t.v." (AKA The Board of Commissioners Meeting), I wondered if there was anyone in the audience. The meeting skipped along rather smoothly with Maryam Phillips' hand on the gavel, and I thought several commissioners were rather fabulous on various issues, and along came "Public Privilege To The Floor". And might I say "wow!"?

Your Tax Dollars at Work in Lower Merion: Double Dipping With The School District

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:19:51 -0700

Well, well, well. How do you feel about these apples, beleagured Lower Merion Township Taxpayers? How do you like paying again, and again, and again for retired school personnel to guest star after retirement? The definition of retired is:

Withdrawn from one's occupation, business, or office; having finished one's active working life.

The definition of retired when it comes to Lower Merion School District:

More, more, more

Tomorrow is D-Day For Puppy Mill Bill PA HB 2525

carla — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:47:42 -0700

Bravo to Stu Bykofsky today. Everything he says about Art Hershey is true. AND if you contact Art Hershey, you will be lucky if you get an acknowledgement of contact. I did on my second attempt at writing him, but only probably because I e-mailed him my editorial column from Main Line Life.

If Philly Can, Why Can't Lower Merion?

lmwatcher — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:18:23 -0700

The first thing I find interesting In This Article is that Philadelphia has had a recent budget surplus and had planned tax cuts, which are now off the table due to the economy. The state also had a budget surplus recently, while Lower Merion has raised taxes three out of the last four years with massive increases still to come. Heck, Lower Merion was raising taxes when the economy was booming.

Surf, Bob Roggio, Surf! (It's the only action you'll see in Ardmore)

carla — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:45:11 -0700

Since no one knows what he looks like----Here's a photo of Bob Roggio himself who surfed the event at the VFW in Ardmore on Friday and politicked inappropriately as previously reported. He didn't get the memo that people don't think it's very nice when people campaign at events not of their own creation. Please note that he wore an Eagles jersey to an event where the Phillie Phanatic was attending. He probably thought his shirt was being down home folksy, but it simply looked cheap. I think in the picture he was instructing his little helpers to go forth and annoy. (Which they did, so they succeeded) I think that in general Bob Roggio needs some manscaping. His eybrows look like renegade Wooly Mammoth Caterpillars.

Politically Inappropriate: It's Wannabe Season

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:06:16 -0700

Our event Friday September 5th was SO popular that a candidate for U.S. Congress assumed it was a political rally. This candidate was SO confused that he came with a legion of minions, some covered with stickers, all mostly scowling. Yep, the wannabe politician named Bob Roggio who criticized a congressman for missing a couple of days of work when his mother died, came to Ardmore. Some still aren't really sure what dude looks like since this seems to be the first time he visited Lower Merion...of course he does it NOW because the election is so close, right? What this candidate and his minions don't get is that if he had just come quietly as a private citizen to this event and casually checked it out, no one would have said a word. But this candidate and his minions tried to coopt and politick. The minions irritated our guests by trying to foist their candidate on people at a community celebration, as well as pestering people over and over to see if they were registered to vote. Yep, they tried to make an event about veterans and active duty soldiers, OUR community event, about THEM. Gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling doesn't it? Camp Roggio Comes A Callin'

Does Radnor Township Care More about Developers or Residents?

MainLineThoughts — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:00:32 -0700

It is beginning to seem like Radnor Township cares more about developers than people, doesn't it? It's all about the ratables baby, only they are a little late to the party, and the market is crashing, not booming. Follow this LINK for the Monday September 8th, 2008 Radnor Board of Commissioners meeting at 7 pm at Radnor Township.

after the party

carla — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:38:35 -0700

Last night was so fabulous! We raised a fair amount of money for Joe Natale and American Troop Support Team, and hopefully for our beloved VFW Post in Ardmore as well. I would personally like to thank all of the public officials from BOTH sides of the aisle who came out to celebrate the Save Ardmore Coalition, American Troop Support Team, the Ardmore VFW and an event that I am proud to volunteer for: First Friday Main Line! Yes, I would like to thank Commissioner Cheryl Gelber, Commissioner Jenny Brown, Commissioner Lance Rogers, State Senator Connie Williams, State Representative Daylin Leach, and Congressman Jim Gerlach. They all showed up to celebrate the people they represent, and they did not politicize the event. They were WONDERFUL. I also want to thank all the residents of Ardmore who attended, the veterans, Joe Natale and his crew, my fellow SACCers---- Like Ken Haskin in particular who thought up this fabulously fun event.....and all of our friends and loved ones who turned out to support us and to support Ardmore - I know that most of them stayed to enjoy the rest of First Friday Main Line after our event wound down.

"Use of taxpayer money on a public-private project is a key issue"

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:40:13 -0700

I am about to post a story from Lancaster that will resonate locally. It's all about new development and whose money goes where. It seems that no matter where you go in Pennsylvania, these projects are a problem, doesn't it? When it comes to public - private partnerships and politicians, are we ever sure where the line in the sand is? So, I am looking for feedback here. Any takers? Posted on Tue, Sep. 2, 2008 Tower sparks controversy in Lancaster

Kimco in The News.....

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:07:51 -0700

So, Kimco owns Suburban Square. They purchased the mall and didn't pay transfer taxes to Lower Merion Township because of the same itty bitty loophole that deprived Radnor Township taxpayers of transfer taxes on a couple big land sales...it was in the paper...anyway, so Kimco wants to supersize the Ruby's lot and put in like 175 units wrapped in yet MORE retail. Some commissioners in Lower Merion did sabre rattling FOR the project not so many months ago which would require re-zoning, and some did sabre rattling AGAINST the project. I think that in the end, it will be like everything else in Lower Merion, where these commissioners will once again say they have never met a developer they didn't capitualate to and North Ardmore will get saddled with this bit of piggy development. Of course, this bit of piggy development could be the death knell to Lancaster Avenue merchants, especially if Kimco gets approval to build before the redevelopment plans even begin. Why? Simple - saturation point. But of course, here in Never Never Land we can't have too much development, we need more, more, more. It's quite ridiculous, actually. And this Kimco thing is just a bad idea waiting to turn into another bad plan. Kimco purchased a successful shopping center/mall to increase their lot in business life. There is no hardship. They don't have to or need to develop. They just want to. That's piggy. And Suburban Square has not been a great neighbor consistently, and they have issues especially surrounding parking and traffic that will get worse not better if they are allowed to develop further. And they hired former LMT commissioner Jim Ettleson to represent them on this, haven't they? Wasn't Mr. Ettleson was also represnting the wannabe developers of 130 Cricket in Ardmore until that went to court? So the whole point is this: I am going to provide snippets of articles where Kimco is in other parts of the country. Check it out and decide if you think we need more development on Suburban Square, ok? See where your trust level is on this one, ok?

Can you vote for Sarah Palin?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:32:45 -0700

The reason I ask is I am not sure I can...McCain's arranged political marriage I think will be his undoing. I look at it this way: if Jamie Lynn Spears wants to make it to the cover of every tabloid because she decided to have a baby at 17, mazel tov, but it doesn't mean that I would want to vote for her mother. Pretty much the same thing with Sarah Palin.

Radnor Was Right, PA DEP and Delco Judge Were WRONG

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:31:02 -0700

How many of you out there were pissed off that the PA DEP didn't think enough about us as residents to give us more notice as to aerial mosquito spraying from low flying planes? Is it or is it not true that most of us have no problem with anyone zapping this summer's voracious 'skeeters, only we should have been given more notice? We have seen e-mails from commissioners in multiple municipalities other than Lower Merion send out e-mails saying how sorry they were they could not give their constituents more notice. It's not their fault, they tried. In Lower Merion, the first one out with news was Commissioner Lance Rogers. We're not sure other that he and Brenda Viola who sent notification out. All we know is this website had this spraying event posted before most media knew it was happening, and that was kinda cool: the positive power of grassroots and all. Radnor Township challenged the DEP in Delaware County Court over their lack of notice as being punitive towards unsuspecting residents. Radnor is absolutely absurd when it comes to lots of things like "sunshine" and development, but on this topic, they were spot on and should be congratulated for their efforts. Radnor's efforts were tossed by a judge, but in this case, they get an "A" for effort because they got this one RIGHT. The PA DEP is supposed to work in the best interest of the citizens of this Commonwealth, right? Posted on Thu, Aug. 28, 2008 Radnor loses bid to halt mosquito spraying By Sandy Bauers Inquirer Staff Writer

Philly Cresting as Wave of Blight Rises With Every Tide

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:08:23 -0700

You know, alot of these decrepit neighborhoods full of blight border Montgomery and Delaware County communities locally. Read this editorial, and wonder like I do why municipalities are SO wasteful?

Is Connie a PUMA?

MainLineThoughts — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:14:45 -0700

So, there I am minding my own business, reading an article by John Baer where he talks about $12 bowls of cereal at the DNC in Denver (you know that "Donkeys Over Denver" thing I keep seeing keeps giving me the visual of "it's raining poo", but I digress), and BAM! one little sentance in the article hits me:

[size=18]But there is this sense that Obama needs to get off the defensive and start the fall with new and directed energy. State Sen. Connie Williams of Montgomery County, a Hillary Clinton delegate, says she's "unhappy," is planning to wear her Hillary T-shirt and, while supportive of Obama, is a little worried he can't win.[/size]

Obama " Biden' " His Time Until November

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:17:46 -0700

After what seems the worst kept secret in political history, it's going to be another young guy/old guy ticket for the White House. People snooped out ahead of the momentous, historical text message that the "Average Joe" from Wilmington (or let's be honest, the pricey Main Line-esque suburb of Greenville) is his running mate.

PA Dogs Can't Afford These Hersheys Kisses

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:02:55 -0700

Art Hershey of Chester County is the ringleader of the movement to quash the puppy mill legislation that is pending. In good old Harrisburg tradition, he is trying to bury the legislation with inane amendments - some say over 100 at this point. The bottom line is this: any breeder or veterinarian or farmer worth their salt should have NO problem with the puppy mill bills. And they are hardly discriminating against the Amish and Mennonites. All it is is seeing that domestic animals are treated humanely. Check out www.stoppapuppymills.org and www.mlar.org and www.aspca.org - Contact Art Hershey and tell him he is an old punk: ahershey@pahousegop.com Home Page: http://www.arthershey.com Hon. Art Hershey 3157 Limestone Road PO Box 69 Cochranville, PA 19330 (610) 593-6565 Fax: (610) 593-7041

File Under Rewarding Bad Behavior?

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:31:41 -0700

Hmmm, nothing takes the joy out of my morning coffee and perusal of my local paper than having to look smack dab in the face of the King of Eminent Domain, does it? Image courtesy of the creative folks at http://writemarsh.blogspot.com/

John Morganelli running for Pennsylvania Attorney General speaks at the Barnes door

eyaari — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:14:52 -0700

Last Wednesday, John Morganelli, Democratic candidate running against Tom Corbett stood outside the Barnes Foundation to express his unqualified support for the mission to SAVE THE BARNES in its historic home in Merion and remind the public about the failure of his opponent, current Attorney General Tom Corbett, to protect the Barnes trust. “It is unfortunate that Tom Corbett took the side of the elites over the citizens of Montgomery County and the general public. It is unfortunate that Tom Corbett failed to represent the wishes of Dr. Barnes and this community.

Sure Sounds Like Montgomery County is Behaving Badly

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:29:08 -0700

Hmmm...snaps to PA Watercooler for reminding us that Lower Merion is not the only home of petty politics...it started in Norristown...and here's wondering what the "Public Corrpution Unit" will ever accomplish? In all of our lifetimes? But the REAL reason I am so delighted with their post is the swell jab that Margaret Gibbons took at Lowe Merion and their dumb a** zoning. Way to go! Love how she refers to Lower Merion as "The Kingdom". PA Watercooler: Public Corruption

Conshohocken Burning

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:48:37 -0700

Ok, this is the image we should keep in mind as residents of communities planning new development, whenever possible going forward. Whatever ends up being wrong in Conshohocken (even if it was just a horrible accident when all is said and done), shouldn't ever be repeated in a million years! If it means raising the bar with regard to any new construction and construction site safety, we'll all be better off for it.....including developers.