Limerick, not a funny rhyme

Feds are back in Limerick looking for something. What have you heard? They, that would be the feds, were there early last year but nothing ever came of it. They were looking into allegations against former supervisor David Kane. Now I'm being told they were there to gather information on equipment at Limerick nuclear plant for security purposes, saying it's routine. Really? How come we've never heard of these visits before?

Healthcare reform still on life support

While I can understand the euphoria surrounding the House passing health care reform, please remember it still must make its way through the Senate where Democrat turned Independent Joe Lieberman said "I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote." Why? Because the public option portion could bankrupt this country. Why not try to push the bill through without it and send it back to the House?

Republicans on the comeback trail

Montgomery County and half the nation, okay, at least a couple of states, have decided we've about seen enough of what the Democrats can do when they take charge. Republicans swept into the judicial seats, taking six of the seven seats on Common Pleas Court. Most of the local races were won by Democrats, though, except in Conshohocken and Lower Providence. Thankfully one Republican made it in West Norriton. A Republican took the governor's seat in New Jersey, and Republicans took over in Virginia as well.
What a night. How does your morning look?

Election Day Drama

I know it's going to happen somewhere, so drop me a line and let me know if it's taking place at a poll near you. As is tradition on Election Day I don't get to the newsroom until later in the afternoon so let's get the party started, no matter which side of the aisle you sit on. Any predictions?

Phillies and fanatics

Please notice that fanatics is not spelled with a 'ph.' That's because the fanatics I'm going to talk about today are of the political bent. But before I go down that road let's make a quick prediction for the World Series. I've got the Phillies in five. They'll split the games in New York and finish them off Monday night. What's your prediction?
Now on to the fanatics. This political season has gotten nasty, as usual, but there are some people who just go too far. The personal attacks are absolutely the worst. I guess if you don't have something intelligent to say you simply attack your opponent. How about this, a candidate that sends out a personal attack is automatically taken off the ballot?

Ethics and politics, an oxymoron? Part Deux

Way back in March I made a prediction, "Montgomery County employees are going to be barred from running for office if the recently tabled ethics reform policy is given new life, which I'm certain it will," that has indeed come true. Look folks, this is nothing more than county Commissioner Joe Hoeffel attempting to rid the courthouse of all things Republican. Unfortunately, quasi-Republican Commissioner Chairman Jim Matthews is going along for the ride. The ordinance should be overturned and I'm sure Judge Nicholas will do just that. But what I'd really like to know is, what do you think?

Obama's Nobel Prize win

I have no idea what the nominating committee could have been thinking when they came up with President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize. It's like giving a 20 year old a lifetime achievement award. Wait a minute, though, I wrote one book, I must be ready for the Pulitzer. Don't get me wrong, I think Obama has certainly made strides in getting the rest of the world not to hate us, but how does that equal a Nobel Prize?

Something I didn't know

Here's a surprise, http://bit.ly/snsVH, I just found out Borders is also carrying my new book. They also want me to do a book signing Nov. 28. What do you think?

Calling ACORN

So, with all the bad press ACORN has been receiving on the national level I thought I would give our local branch an opportunity to speak out. I went on their Web site and used the e-mail address provided to request an interview. It was returned undeliverable. I then used the telephone number provided to request an interview. No one answered so I left a message. A gentleman returned my call to tell me he was not a member of ACORN, that he has been inundated with calls to his personal phone and also that he had asked them to remove his number from their Web site, obviously to no avail. So, I'll try reaching out here. Does anyone know anyone who works for our local ACORN branch?

Straight talk

Plain and simple, do you think schools should have shown President Obama's speech to students?

History in the making

Time for a little shameless self-promotion. My new book, "Remembering Norristown: Stories from the banks of the Schuylkill River" is here, http://bit.ly/y39kr, or you can come by our offices and I'll sign a copy for you.

Back to basics

That's exactly what the Republican Party must do, get back to basics. We've been running scared since the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006. And just what have they accomplished? Nancy Pelosi was going to fix all our ills in her first 100 hours after being sworn in. Well, times been up for a long while and we're still waiting. We haven't done much to help ourselves since then either, but things are about to change. Republicans have been ashamed of being Republicans for the past four years and we have to stop wallowing in our own self pity. Personally, I'm proud of the fact that I don't like big government. When did that ever become unpopular? It's time for a grass roots, back to basics campaign that will sweep Republicans back into power before we all end up working for the government. Care to join me?

Dirty Dem Politics

I had to extend last week's post because of what happened in state government today.
Listen to this. Dems are touting the bridge budget as a victory, which will allow state workers to get paid early next week. What they're not touting is the fact that they were all issued paychecks Tuesday. That's right, Democratic lawmakers made sure they were paid first. Let me be very clear that I'm talking about Democratic lawmakers here. They've put themselves at the head of the line, once again. Republican lawmakers will get paid next week, just like everybody else.
The audacity is simply astounding. Watch this http://www.wgal.com/video/20290590/index.html and then tell me what you think.

Dirty politics

How is it that Gov. Ed Rendell is able to hold up the budget process every year? And I mean every year. He hasn't passed a single budget on time since he's been in office. This is dirty politics at its best. He's using state workers to get want he wants, which we all know is a tax increase. A tax increase. Really? I guess people who live the kind of life he leads simply don't understand what it is like to even face the prospect of going without a paycheck. The dems want to raise taxes, the Republicans want to hold the line on taxes. How is it again that dems are gaining in numbers?

Black and white

Seriously?
I'm not naive, I know racism still exists, but the incident out at the Huntingdon Valley swim club is so blatant it's absurd. And the fact that it was addressed toward children is twice as appalling. Racism will never cease to exist as long as it is perpetuated by adults, in front of children. For those of you who missed the story, seems an inner city summer camp was looking for their kids to swim. They paid nearly $2,000 for the privilege to swim at the Huntingdon Valley club, but when they showed up the white folks (parents) didn't like what they saw.
I have to say it again. Seriously?
The best golfer in the world is black. OK, mixed race, like our president. I'm pretty sure either of them would have been welcome at the swim club. I understand the club is private, but here's what should happen. Everyone of those black and Hispanic kids should be invited back to the club to swim, everyday, not just on Mondays. Perhaps then the racist white folks at the club would begin to understand that they're just that, kids.

Arc war is lost

Personally, I wanted the ARC a little closer to home. I know that's a little selfish, but the idea of driving into Philadelphia is just not appealing to me. It was a valiant battle waged on those who didn't want it in Lower Providence and my respect goes out to them for sticking to their guns.
I believe, unfortunately, that it will be a loss for our little part of the world.
Now that it is going to be in the city, what do you think will happen to the land?

The man with the plan

All right already with Lower Providence. I think I'm going to have to give you guys your own blog. Try not to hijack this one, please, because I really want to get some good feedback on my plan. So, without further ado, here it is.
The Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown has a gift shop. In the gift shop there could be brochures for a new performing arts center and the old Montgomery County prison, which could be converted into a haunted house ala Eastern State Penitentiary, because, if it’s a good plan there’s something going on at the prison/haunted house nearly year round and they'll need a brochure. The performing arts center will have a ticket booth and a lobby, both of which could have brochures for the zoo and for the prison/haunted house, and, I think you’re following the plan by now, but just for posterity’s sake I’ll keep going, and the prison/haunted house has a ticket booth that could have brochures for the zoo and the performing arts center. With all three cross promoting each other we’ll have people running all over Norristown in no time.
Now I know this doesn't have anything to do with Lower Providence, but humor me, please.
I wrote a lot more about the plan in my column, which you can find in the Monday, June 29 edition.

Election post mortem

What a night. I have to say I was surprised with some of the results and not so much with others. I wasn't surprised at all with the turnout, which was dismal at best. Big shakeups in East Norriton and Lower Providence, and a newcomer to Norristown politics was the highest vote getter. Did your candidate win? I know what I'm thinking, but what are you thinking?

100 days, 100 chances

I hope the next 100 days brings at least some of the change President Obama was talking about when he was running for office. I know, I know, I'm supposed to give him a chance. Well, when you're the most powerful man in the world 100 days is a chance. I remember Pelosi saying she was going to change everything in Washington in her first 100 hours. We're still waiting. Obama has had 100 days to make an impact on the economy, on health care, and in the Middle East. Let's see, what do we have so far, the economy isn't getting any better, the proposed health care plan will put the economy in worse shape than it has ever been in, and Obama's finding out that getting out of Iraq isn't as easy as he thought it was going to be. Hope and change sounds a little hollow right about now.

Valley Forge Free For All

Where to start, folks. It's been a busy day at The Times Herald.
Slots were approved for the Valley Forge Convention Center, http://bit.ly/eq95H, and now we've just heard the judge has dismissed the case against the American Revolution Center.
Stay tuned.

White flag waved in ARC battle

While it certainly isn't a surrender by any stretch of the imagination, the developers of the American Revolution Center have agreed to put off building a convention center at the site for at least 15 years. Now, my first question would be that if you don't need it now, are you going to need it 15 years from now? And of course I'd have to follow that up with, if you agree to not build the convention center at all would that appease the ARC's opponents?
You tell me.

Ethics and politics, an oxymoron?

How can anyone have a problem with ethics reform?
I'll tell you how, when the reform isn't really reform at all.
Montgomery County employees are going to be barred from running for office if the recently tabled ethics reform policy is given new life, which I'm certain it will.
What's the point? I think the point is so county employees will not be involved in politics on county time.
Well, I'm fairly certain that's the law now, isn't it?
What do you think?

What a 'Vision'

Vision Quest is an organization that does a job most of us would rather not talk about, hear about, or quite frankly even see. They want to come into Norristown and set up shop at Norristown State Hospital, and they just might be able to do so, but I'm opposed to the idea. Not because of who they are, but because of where they want to set up shop. An urban setting is just not the place for this type of facility. There would be entirely too many temptations for the juveniles housed there, and entirely too many residents within a stone's throw of where they would be biding their time. While there are dozens of residents coming out in opposition to the move, and rightfully so, I'd like to suggest that some concerted effort be put forth to find an alternative site for Vision Quest so the conversation does not center completely around 'not in my back yard.'

Where's the gander?

County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, who seems to be an all-around good guy, apparently has never heard the saying, "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." I'm talking about his recent assertion that County Commissioner Bruce Castor should be investigated for using his then-district attorney's office for political activities. It wasn't so long ago that Hoeffel's once time opponent, and now strange bedfellow, County Commissioner Jim Matthews, used his office for actually taping a political commercial, using staff members as extras, in his bid for reelection.
Come on, Joe, say it ain't so. Seriously, if you're going to take Castor to task for his (admittedly) discussing his run for state attorney general while in office you absolutely have to hold Matthews to at least the same standard. Those with not so short memories will recall Hoeffel actually sending out a letter that was nothing more than a solicitation for new business for his law practice using his then county commissioner seat as the reason new clients should seek him out.
Does that make Joe the new Goose?

The road will be traveled often

OK, my attempt to get you to look through rose colored glasses for a moment or two lasted about, what, a moment or two?
Well, it's back to reality.
Who was caught in the traffic nightmare last Saturday?
I know some of you were because you brought it up on other posts so I thought I would start a new post to consolidate the thread.
Obviously, something has to be done, and I for one appreciate the fact that Mr. Neilson came out to the Upper Providence meeting to let people know he was going to do just that.
The question is, though, just how much can he do? I mean, running a one-way street through a park just isn't the answer. Sure, it will alleviate some of the congestion for the time being, but what about when spring arrives and that park is full?
The only fix is going to be a full interchange off Route 422 at the Pawlings Road overpass. I can vaguely remember former Lower Providence Township Supervisor Tom Borai standing on the overpass in a photograph on the front page of The Times Herald. It must have been at least 10 years ago.
Why was he standing there, you ask? He was calling for a full interchange off Route 422.
Seems he knew then that the road would be traveled often.

New Year, new possibilities

OK, let's start the new year off on the right foot.
We spent the past year complaining about everything under the proverbial sun, and don't get me wrong, we'll get back to that real soon. I just wanted to start off the year with a blog about new possibilities in the new year. I've been working with some really great folks behind the scenes to find a new home for the Montgomery County Cultural Center. We're even going to give it a new name, the Norristown Performing Arts Center. It's going to be a place where you can go see off-Broadway quality theater and musical acts that you can remember from days gone by. Did you know Greg Allman was booked for New Year's Eve at the Keswick?
We're going to start a new feature in paper and online about people in the are who do good deeds, just because. 'Faces' will debut the first week in February. We're going to launch a social networking site to accompany the profile pieces so everyone will have a place to share their stories.
Those are just a couple off the top of my head. How about you? What do you see possible in the new year?

Stackless in West Norriton

Take a look up the next time you're driving down Main Street.
Make sure you're keeping one eye on the road, though, I don't want you to get into an accident.
When you do look up you'll notice that one of the Barbadoes Island smoke stacks is gone.
The other is going to come down soon, I hear.
There are a lot of eyes sores around the area, and while the smoke stacks were not as visible as most, they certainly didn't lend anything positive to the aesthetics of the area.
What other buildings or structures do you know about that need to be no more?

Postal mystery solved, ARC still coveted

Thank you, Mr. Rick Brown.
I thought I was going crazy last week when I saw the Eagleville post office had shut down, especially since my mailing address had recently been changed to Eagleville. Thanks, Rick, for letting everyone know it had simply moved. Unlike you, I don't live in Lower Providence. I live in West Norriton, but that's where I go to pick up my certified mail.

So, every one's tired of talking about the ARC, eh? I could talk about the hospital move, but there's nothing new going on right now.

How about a performing arts center in Norristown?
I'd love to talk about that. How many of you would be interested in helping out with bringing a little culture into the county seat? We already have the state on board to the tune of $500,000, the county on board for some significant funds, and the borough, I mean municipality, is ready to help out any way they can, but we're also going to need some every day folks willing to throw a shilling or two into the pot.
Shoot me an e-mail at shuskey@timesherald.com if you think you want to get involved.

New heights in Lower Providence

Maybe this was in the paper and I missed it, but being a resident of West Norriton, which has the same zip code as Providence and East Norriton, I became one the new residents of Eagleville a few months back when the U.S. Post Office decided that's where we live now. To be honest, it really didn't bother me all that much. But, there's always a but, isn't there? Anyway, I went to Kmart the other day to buy a gift for a youngster in Norristown's preschool program and guess what I spied as I pulled into the parking lot. The Eagleville post office was closed down. I don't mean just for the day, the letters have been pulled off the front of the building.
So, stew on that one for a while and let me know what you think.
And if that's not enough to get your juices flowing what do you think about the latest with the ARC?
I thought that might work.
The National Parks Conservation Association has filed a federal suit to get the zoning overturned.
I'm beginning to think we might have another revolution before this thing gets built, no matter where it winds up getting built.

Here's the frightening part

I told you I would come back with some frightening numbers on where your tax dollars are spent.
Are you sitting down? You really should be.
Pennsylvania spent a whopping $108.3 billion in the 2005-06 fiscal year, according to the Commonwealth Foundation, and is expected to increase spending to $130 billion by the 2010-11 fiscal year. That's right. That's a billion with a 'b.'
Any time anyone starts talking in the billions I lose track. I can’t even imagine what a billion of anything looks like. So, thanks to the good folks at the Commonwealth Foundation, I’m going to break it down for you.
The state spent, in the 2005-06 fiscal year, $4,312 for every man, woman and child in the state. Really?
But it gets better. For the same year local governments spent an average of $4,378 for every man, woman and child in their respective municipalities. Seriously?
Unfortunately, I am serious. By the way, this amounts to an increase in government spending, on just the local and state level, by a little more than 98 percent since the 1991-92 fiscal year.
Governments have no reason to rein in their own spending. All they have to do if they need more money is increase taxes, and we all know how good they are at doing that.
I think it’s time to start a movement that requires a referendum on any local or state spending that goes beyond the rate of inflation.
Our federal government is a monstrosity. Did you know there are more than 14 million people working for our federal government?
Pennsylvania alone employs more than 80,000 people, according to our state’s own recruiting Web site.
That's right, the state government is so big it has its own recruiting Web site.
So, let's kick it up a notch, folks.
Government is simply getting out of hand, no matter what level you look at.

Where do our tax dollars go?

I'll tell you where I think it all goes. I think it all goes to our local, state and federal governments so they can tell us how we're supposed to be living. We spend as much money on people working in government than we do on programs that are supposed to be helping people.
When are we going to let them know we've had enough?
We work now until, what, April before we're actually finished paying our tax load?
Our state and federal governments are huge.
And locally, our school districts tell us how much money they're taking from us each year to give our children a quality education. How about we start telling them how much we're going to let them spend to give our children a quality education?
When did we let our governments get so big?
It wasn't just yesterday so you can't blame Bush, which a lot of people try to do for just about everything.
I think it's about time for some accountability.
Just where do our tax dollars go?
You tell me where you think they're going and then I'll come back with another blog with some absolutely frightening numbers.

Color blind

My candidate lost last night.
There will be time to reflect on that loss, but now it's time to reflect on the win.
The color barrier in this country has been shattered.
When I think about all of the times in my life when I've walked a little taller, they just don't seem to compare to what African Americans must be feeling this morning.
I'm working on a column for Monday's print edition and I'll be speaking with friends during the next few days to at least attempt to understand the magnitude of Barack Obama's march to the White House, forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington.
Please, take a few moments to share your thoughts.
I know there must be an awful lot of pride out there right now. What other emotions are being felt as the reality of the first man of color being elected to the highest office in the land settles in?

The writing on the wall

There is a very real possibility this could be a landslide, at least electorally speaking.
This is awfully reminiscent of two years ago when dems were swept into office on the congressional level with Nancy Pelosi leading the charge, telling us how she was going to fix everything within her first 100 hours.
Obama has told us how he's going to fix everything, and I mean everything, if he's elected.
Well, he won't take office until January, but after that, let's make sure we're holding his feet to the proverbial fire.

Down to the wire

I'm not really sure if that's going to be the case, but I'm hoping we'll get to call it tonight before we put the paper to bed.
Turnout is heavy everywhere, though, so it's going to be tough.
I voted a little while ago and I was number 938 in a precinct that normally gets two or three hundred.
There's plenty of time left before the polls close, though so tell me what you're hearing out there.
I'll be here all night, so let's get the conversation started.

Time for the 2-minute offense

Is it just me or are you seeing a little change in the polling numbers, too?
McCain is making that last quarter drive that could just put him into the end zone first.
I'm not certain why it's happening, but a few thoughts would include that people are trying to figure out just how the Wizard of Obama can promise every American everything and then give them a tax cut to boot.
Some things just don't add up and a trillion dollars in new spending combined with a tax cut is one of them.
Here's the playbook that we need to be following.
Instead of giving health care to everyone we need to open up health care to competition by allowing people to buy across state lines. That's John McCain's playbook by the way, not mine.
Instead of rolling back the Bush tax cuts and then pretending to give tax cuts to everyone, how about we leave the tax cuts in place and cut government spending?
It's time for the 2-minute offense.
The game's on the line.
I'll be here throughout Election Day. Drop me a line and we'll chat about the numbers as they come in.

Where do you stand?

Election Day is almost here and I think there are historical numbers of people who have not made up their minds about who to vote for in this historical election.
So, for those of you still on the fence I would suggest it comes down to values. You can throw in some morals there too if you want, but I personally have a hard time throwing that stone.
So here's where I stand.
I don't want government getting any bigger than it is.
I don't think our government should pay for everyone's health insurance. I think people should work hard for what they get in life. And no, I'm not against health care for the poor...we already have it.
I don't think we should run from Iraq because I do believe that if we don't take the fight to them, they'll bring the fight right back here to us. Check out the movie Obsession.
I don't want a redistribution of wealth. That's called socialism. We have done just fine with our capitalist society. I don't think I should help out 'those behind me.' I think those behind me should work their tails off to catch up with me. Trust me, it really wouldn't take that long.
When I put it down on paper my choice for president becomes crystal clear. John McCain.
Where do you stand?

Bs in the bailout plan

Have you noticed a recurring theme in all of the speeches being made by Congress concerning the bailout?
Every time someone gets behind a microphone they talk about how much we need this plan. Every congressman and congresswoman is concerned about our welfare. We're in a crisis, they say and we're going to pass this bailout plan because if we don't all working class Americans will feel the pain in their pensions, their 401Ks, their IRAs and their savings accounts. They keep saying 'they' because members of congress aren't worried about their retirement. They're not worried about their retirement because their retirement is government funded. They're not worried about Social Security because they don't pay into the system that every hard working American pays in to because they set up their own pension plan. We can worry all we want about race for the White House, but we better start paying closer attention to Congress. We need a grassroots effort to change the way our elected officials in Washington earn their keep.
Did you know earmarks have also been added to the bailout plan?
That's right, more bs in the bailout plan.
Exactly who are we bailing out again?

I've got your bailout

Are you kidding me with this $700 billion bailout plan?
This is the best they can come up with?
Are we seriously thinking about giving the former head of Goldman Sachs complete control over the money?
That's just insane. One of the sticking points is about compensation for the heads of all of the failing companies. Again, are you kidding me? How about none. That's a good amount for the heads of companies that are causing a nationwide financial crisis. I've got an idea. The rebuilding money we're sending to Iraq stops today. I'm not talking about troop support, I'm talking about the rebuilding money. Didn't we just hear that Iraq has a phenomenal budget surplus? Why are we still sending them money? I've got another idea. Instead of bailing out all of the companies why don't we bail out the hard working people who are losing their homes. I'm not talking about the people who should never have bought the McMansions in the first place, I'm talking about the people who were suckered into a mortgage with a 4 percent arm that ballooned when they weren't looking.
I've got another idea. Every pork barrel projects gets thrown into the slop bucket today. That has to be a few billion right there. This is ridiculous, folks. If this goes through our grandchildren are going to be paying for this one.

Money for nothing

Or should I say nothing for your money. Times are tough folks, you don't need me to tell you that. So why is it that local governments feel it is OK to spend your money on things you might not want. I'll just give you a couple of quick examples and you can chime in with your own. Let's see how many municipalities we can include here in the wasteful spending department. We'll move on to state and federal government later.

Lower Providence; they're having more meetings on the proposed American Revolution Center than the Senate holds to confirm a Supreme Court justice. How much money has been spent by the township on attorney fees? And, how much more do the residents want to spend on attorney fees?

Norristown; they've hired a pr firm to come up with "Where you belong" to the tune of $60,000. I don't know about you, but I don 't really need anyone telling me where I belong, especially for that kind of money.

Let me hear from Lower Providence and Norristown residents on the above two, and anyone else who thinks their township is wasting money. I'll be at my desk here in the wasteful spending department.

Palin's grand slam home run

How far out of the park did she hit the ball? I'm thinking Barry Bonds couldn't have hit one that far.
Let's get past the fact that she's a woman, folks. If she was a man no one would be saying anything about whether she should be running for office. Let's get past the fact that she's still a little on the young side, at least compared to me. She's older than Kennedy was when he was elected, and she's running for vice president, not president.
In my last blog I told you I didn't know enough about her to pass judgement, so I asked you what you thought of her. Now I'm going to tell you what I think of her. She's sharp. She has a lot on her plate and she's handling it all. She's honest. She put it all on the table in her acceptance speech. She told America her family has problems just like every other family. But perhaps the most important point she made and other speakers at the convention made for her is that she has more executive experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden combined. Running a state, no matter the size, has given Palin the experience she needs to sit at the right hand of the president, certainly more so than Biden, and more to actually sit in the Oval office than Obama. Style over substance, that's what you get from the Democrats. Personally, I prefer substance.

Woman of the hour

I'm still thinking, give me a minute.
While you're waiting let me know what you think of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, current governor of Alaska, for a running mate.

Combustible Conshohocken

The flames have been fanned, so to speak.
We need a lot of answers to what we're now calling simply, the Conshohocken fire.
Why were steel posts being removed from the building?
I'm also hearing there were not any firewalls in the attics. How could that be? I live in a 20-year-old townhouse and I have firewalls in my attic. There was a lot of federal money allocated for the project. Hopefully, if there weren't any firewalls in the attics, that's okay with the feds.
As we say in the business, this story has legs. What are you hearing?

ARC around the clock

To keep everyone informed and to keep the conversation constructive we have posted all ARC related stories on www.timesherald.com. Scroll down the right hand side and click on the American Revolution Center button.

The return of the ARC

The ARC issue isn't going away any time soon, so I thought I would do a little unscientific polling. Are you for the ARC being built in Lower Providence Township just off Pawlings Road or would you rather see it built next to the Valley Forge National Historical Park visitors center? Also, tell me why.

Stale or just simmering

It has been a while folks, but I really wanted to get a good idea of what you think about the immigration issue.
I thought it was a hotter topic. I've been wrong before.
How about offshore drilling? That's going to be one of the biggest issues leading into the election, unless of course Congress gets off its collective backside and does something about it.
McCain's for it, Obama's against it.
Where do you stand and why?

The cost of illegal immigration

For those of you who only read me here I thought I would let you know that I sometimes use the blog to stoke the creative fires for my column, which as I'm hoping most of you know, appears every Monday in The Times Herald.
I'm not sure how to approach a future column I've been kicking around so let me know what you think. Maybe your comments will give me a little direction. We read a lot about the outlandish amount of money this country is spending on the war in Iraq. In fact, we had state Rep. Daylin Leach on Behind The Headlines a few months back and he was talking about all of the good we could do right here at home with the money we spend in Iraq. I didn't tell him then, but Daylin, that's exactly what scares me about Democrats, if you think there's some extra money out there you'll find a way to spend it. But that's not where I'm going today. We spend roughly $10 billion a month in Iraq. That's a huge chunk of change. But, just to provide a little perspective, do you have any idea how much we spend dealing with illegal immigration each month? No? I didn't either, but apparently it's more than three times that much. About a year ago I made another analogy to the war with the number of people who are killed on our city streets. I'm still waiting for the outrage. Look, I don't think anyone will argue that war is a good thing. It is, however, a necessary evil and we need to support our troops in every possible way. But we need to start paying a little more attention to what is going on right here at home. Where is the outrage against illegal immigration?
I'm telling you right now it is destroying our country. But that's just my opinion, what's yours?

New site not the same as the old site

It might look like it, but trust me, it's a heck of a lot better than it was.
Thank you very much for your patience. I know I've had to say that several times during the past year when it comes to our ever-evolving Web site, but we're getting closer to a site that is going to be fun for all.
The search option that everyone has been asking about is back, well, almost. We're in the process of bringing all of the stories posted from the past year over to the new site. We've also brought back one of my personal favorites, the online poll. You can also comment on a story, which I think provides critical feedback and encourages public discourse. Do me a favor. Take a quick look around the site and come back here and let me know what you think. Go ahead, I can wait. Thanks, I do appreciate the feedback. It's the best way to make the site better.

Calling out Bobby Flay

Well, actually it's almost 'Showdown' time. The Times Herald's Great Pork Sandwich Showdown is right around the corner. This may sound like a bit of shameless self promotion but I have an ulterior motive in mind. We have 10 restaurants bringing their best to the Holy Saviour Club Wednesday, June 25. The competition will be fierce, and we're expecting a big turnout based on the number of people who have called asking for tickets. There have been plenty of ads in the paper and a brief running every so often, but here comes the ulterior motive for the blog part. I would love to take credit for this idea, but that goes to Joe Tarantino. We were talking about the contest over lunch Friday when he suggested that I try to get Bobby Flay to come to town for a throw down against the winner of the contest. What a great idea. The day after the contest I'm going to do my best to get in touch with his people to see if we can get him down here. I'm guessing Bobby Flay can't throw down on an Italian pork sandwich as well as any of the restaurants competing. What do you think?

And then there were two

We could wait until the dust settles and Barack Obama officially says no thanks to Hillary Clinton, but let's go ahead and get this party started. Do any of you really think Obama has a chance against John McCain? If so, please, without being nasty, self righteous or condescending, tell me why. I guess there are really two questions here. Do you think Obama will choose Clinton as a running mate, and do you think Obama, who is much more popular, should be president instead of the seasoned veteran, McCain? Did you notice I didn't bring race into the issue? Good, because I don't want you to either. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is alive and well. Let's judge these two men on the content of their character, not the color of their skin. This is now a race to determine who will run our country for the next four years. Let's start peeling away the layers and looking at what each candidate stands for, not what each candidate looks like.

Code Enforcement Collapse

Norristown's code enforcement department is about to have a bomb dropped on it, and of course, I mean figuratively.
Charlie Sweeney has his job back.
Sweeney, who, when I was a cop reporter, was the borough's fire marshal, was fired after a debacle unfolded at the 4 Bakers building on Airy Street.
He took the borough to court, who by the way hired the very pricey firm of Cozen-O'Connor out of Philadelphia, and won.
He's been re-instated with full back pay.
I'll have more as the story unfolds.

Let the sun shine in

The state's Sunshine Law is not the greatest effort at transparency in government that I've ever seen, but it's better than nothing.
Local governments and local school boards are supposed to abide by the law, but I'm not so sure everyone out there is playing by the rules.
Officials in the Methacton School District have apparently been telling a resident of the district that he may come into the administration building only during a two hour window to see documents.
That's just wrong.
I checked with the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's resident expert on the Sunshine Law and she told me the district has to make public documents available during their regular operating hours.
I really don't think violating the state's Sunshine Law is in the best interest of the residents of the district, even if there are one or two residents who are a little more demanding than others.
While we're on the subject. What the heck are Norristown officials thinking with this new proposal to destroy public documents? Space is always at a premium, but some of these documents are not all that old.

Open...or shut

Have you ever tried to go to your local municipal building and pick up what you thought should be a public document? How about your school district? If you have and you've been shut down, let me know. Or, if the door was wide open I'd like to know about your experience, too.
Gov. Rendell (I was a big fan until he simply dropped the ball on property tax reform, created a monster with the gambling board and has all but ignored the shenanigans at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, but I digress), has come up big this time with the appointment of a director of the Office of Open Records.
All too often I hear unbelievable tales from people about how they were denied a public document. We did our own audit here a few years ago and a local district justice actually told the person we sent in to the courtroom that they couldn't have a criminal complaint because the detective on the case said so!
That's my most outrageous story, what's yours?

Vote with your mind, not your heart

It's your turn now. I've said all I have to say. You know where I stand and now it's time for you to let everyone know where you stand. Did you vote for Obama or Clinton? Are you ready for 'change'? People need to vote with their minds, not their hearts. All of the change Obama is talking about and all of the rhetoric Clinton is spewing is aimed at your emotions, not your mind. McCain is talking common sense approaches to our nation's problems. So, no matter what you did today, think about what you're going to do come November. The Democratic primary has been entertaining to say the least, but when the general election rolls around it will be time to get serious. We're talking about the leader of the free world. Personally, I don't want a rock star in the White House, and I don't want a woman who learned from her husband.

Primary numbers

No matter how you add it up, John McCain wins the Republican primary Tuesday.
I know what you're thinking, way to state the obvious, but the reason I'm bringing it up is this renewed vigor from Ron Paul. What is this guy thinking?
While I really won't have much to watch on the Republican side Tuesday night I will be paying close attention to the Democratic side. It's getting down right entertaining.
Hillary is lying about being under sniper fire for some unknown reason and Obama is now being endorsed by nearly every entertainer interested in politics.
No matter how you add it up, it just doesn't matter.
McCain beats Obama or Hillary come November.

Just a little reminder folks. You can only vote for the party you're registered under, and there are a lot of people running for committee seats so keep your eyes wide open, these are the people who sit in the backrooms brokering the deals.

"County turns blue" and so am I

Don't get excited, I'm blue as in depressed, not Democratic.
What else can I say? How about, I told you, I told you, I told you.
The Republican Party in Montgomery County has been so splintered for the past few years that the surge in Democrats registering to vote should be of little surprise to anyone, especially Republicans.
I did notice something in Saturday's story about the registration coup. Did you catch it?
Republican stalwart and county Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. was doing the talking for the party.
I don't know about you, but I would certainly hitch my Republican wagon to Castor.
Now, if we can only get Bob Kerns sitting in the county GOP Chairman's seat we might just stand a chance of taking back the majority.

Nepotism in Norristown?

I'm not sure if nepotism is the right word to use here because the home rule charter Norristown is now under doesn't really say an elected official is not allowed to get a borough job for two of his children. It does have several entries about employees of the borough not being allowed to hiring family members, especially if that person would be supervising said family member. And it has another entry about nepotism after the fact, describing an instance where someone already employed might be in violation if a relative is elected or appointed to a position.
Why I find this so astonishing and why I'm going into such detail is that I can't believe there isn't a clause in the new home rule charter that states something along the lines of 'relatives of elected officials are not to be hired by any department head within the municipality.'
Here's the deal. Two of Councilman David Hodo's children have been hired by the borough. Now I know David. I've spoken with him on a number of occasions and he seems like a fine gentleman to me, but certainly we can all see where there is at the very least an appearance of a conflict of interest.
What is an employee to do if an elected official, one who could very well hold said employee's livelihood in the palm of his hand, comes to the employee and asks them to hire their son or daughter?
Now what happens if said children find themselves in a bit of a pickle with the local police department?
There are just too many 'what ifs.'
Nepotism or favoritism. No matter how you slice it, it just doesn't seem right.

Vote switching in America

If you're a Republican what are you going to be doing April 22?
I know what I won't be doing. I won't be switching my party registration so I can vote for Hillary to hurt Barack.
What ever happened to may the best man (or woman) win?
I think McCain has it sewn up anyway, and here's why.
Hillary's supporters hate Barack so much that if he gets the nomination all of her followers will migrate over to McCain. And the same goes for Barack's supporters.
So I'll be sitting in the newsroom watching the returns.
What will you be doing?

Let's keep the conversation moving

We made a couple of mistakes with the Jim Van Horn story in last Friday's edition. I haven't seen the reporter since then, but trust me when I tell you I'll let him know exactly where he was when he went to District Justice Augustine's office. There also was a problem with the charge, which, apparently was harassment, not disorderly conduct, which leads me to the topic of discussion.
Should Van Horn resign from the school board?
If you think he should let me know why, and if you think he shouldn't let me know why as well.

Will the real anonymous please stand up?

What's with all the anonymous comments? Do you really believe someone is going to hunt you down if you put your real name on a comment? How about this, if you don't want to put your full name, how about just your first name? I put my name up here, why don't you? There's one anonymous who keeps on and on about how I'm connected to Mark Marino and I'm afraid to post his comments because....I'm not afraid, I'm just tired of reading the same blather over and over again. I posted it the first time you said it, but I'm not going to keep posting the same comment. Come up with something original for Pete's sake. Or, better yet, try to further the conversation just a bit. And when you do, please, put your first name, at least, on the post. There are a couple of people who have been using their real names on posts and I think it just lends credibility. The idea of this blog is to further public discourse, not provide a bully pulpit for someone who wants to post derogatory comments about other people. So, will the real anonymous please stand up?

Montco GOP's future

Where do we go from here? And when do we go from here? Look, I'm not in the backroom, as I've told you before, but it's no secret the Montgomery County Republican Party is splintering faster than an old Christmas tree in a shredder. What I want to know, and what everyone I've talked to wants to know, is, will Ken Davis try to retain control of the GOP? I say no. What do you say? I say Bob Kerns should finally get his shot at running the party. What do you say?

Covenant of the ARC

I'm sure you're all aware that an appeal has been filed to stop the American Revolution Center from being built at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The piece of land they want to build on, while it is within the boundaries of the park, is not actually owned by the park. So, in reality, anything could be built there, zoning permitted.

And of course zoning is at issue in the appeal. But the appeal is not the covenant I want to talk about.

Just what is the covenant that provides for an American Revolution Center?

Tom Daley apparently has a collection of artifacts from the Revolution. Sounds like a covenant to me, but does that give him the right to the ARC?

Now the Schuylkill Alliance Chamber of Commerce wants to build the ARC.

Sounds like they have a plan that would bypass all of the zoning issues currently facing the ARC. Al Paschall, the head of the chamber is working on a deal that would put the ARC at the vistor's center. Sounds like a perfect place for the ARC to me, but without the covenant can he get it done?

The holder of the covenant of the ARC might just hold the upper hand here, but the greater good would be served if the ARC was brought back to the park, where it all began.

Perfect seasons

No, I'm not talking about the New England Patriots. Doesn't it seem like they're in the Super Bowl every other year? I know they're not, but it sure seems like it some times.
Anyway, I'm talking about the Norristown Area High School boys basketball team and the Methacton High School girls basketball teams.
These two schools are on a roll to say the least.
The streaks started me thinking about all of the great athletes to come out of our area.
I can name a few, but I was hoping for a little help.
Let's get off politics for a couple of minutes and talk sports.
Who do you think is the greatest athlete to come out of Montgomery County?

Caught in a different Trappe

Two wrongs don't make a right. I thought it was wrong for former councilman Mark Carrig to stay on after he had moved out of town and he eventually did the right thing and resigned.
Now council has appointed solicitor Bob Brant to the zoning hearing board, if my source is correct, and not the planning commission. Either one doesn't really matter for the point I'm trying to make. First, I don't know Mr. Brant. I'm sure he's a fine person, but he also happens to represent a real estate investment company that proposed an 88-townhouse project to council.
I could be wrong, but it certainly sounds like a conflict of interest to me. And you know what they say about the appearance of a conflict.
If there's some kind of 90-day probationary period for commissioner members I would suggest council reconsider the appointment.

The truth certainly didn't set us free

The truth of the matter is we don't know what possessed Jim Matthews to sidle up to Joe Hoeffel. Jim knows exactly why he did it and maybe some day he'll let the rest of us in on it. We know he wanted to appoint his own solicitor. He got his wish. But other than that, is being chairman really that much more prestigious than vice chair, which is what he would have been had he stayed true to Bruce Castor? And, if he would have allowed Bruce to pick his own solicitor he would have been chairman.
I asked you guys to send me a note or two on what's going on with appointments in your townships. I basically heard from Whitemarsh and Lower Providence.
Some people, read Republicans, in Whitemarsh is a little upset that Sean Kilkenney was appointed solicitor out there. Personally, I don't know Kilkenney, but I have seen his name pop up as solicitor in a few other municipalities and I'm wondering how many he can take on before he's spreading himself too thin. You'd think he'd have his hands full with Norristown alone.
Speaking of solicitors, Lower Providence is on the verge of changing theirs as well. Folks out there are upset with a new appointment to the zoning hearing board, and now they're getting a new solicitor.
The year's starting off with quite a bang. Stay tuned folks.

The moment of truth

The moment of truth is almost upon us. Montgomery County commissioners will reorganize next week and as we've reported in The Times Herald, Republican Jim Matthews has formed an alliance with Democrat Joe Hoeffel to wrest control of the county from incoming commissioner, and Matthews running mate, Bruce Castor.
Unless there's a last minute deal the Matthews/Hoefell duo will be running the county and Castor will most likely be spending more time at his law firm.
To those of you who donated to the Matthews/Castor campaign, if it were me, I'd be asking for my money back.
Look, this isn't really about some unholy alliance. There's a chance that Matthews/Hoeffel will do just fine running the county, but that's not the point. This is about all of the people who thought they were voting for a team only to find out one member of the team jumped ship right after pulling into the harbor.
There will be reorganization meetings all over the county next week. Drop me a line and let me know how you think things shook out in your town. Not that I'm implying that there's any kind of shakedown going on here, but, boy, won't it be interesting to see who the next county solicitor is?

Try, try, again

Man, take a couple days off and the barbs start flying (see entries in previous post). The talk around the water cooler is that Castor's not giving up on Matthews just yet. He still thinks he can talk Jim into forming an alliance with him, thus giving Republicans the majority they won at the polls. Hey, I'll take it. After losing five county row office seats to the Dems it would be nice to retain control of an office we actually won. And now that we're down to the end of 2007 will someone please tell me what the Dems in Congress did all year?

Doing my job, the sequel

About a month or so ago I blogged (or was it in my column?) about the possibility of Republican Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Matthews teaming up with Democratic commissioner-elect Joe Hoeffel, leaving Republican commissioner-elect Bruce Castor the odd man out. Well, it sounds like it is going to come to fruition. Not quite the way I predicted, which would have had Hoeffel being elected chairman and Matthews vice chairman, but if the reverse is true does it really matter?
You know what really matters?
That this is just another sign the Montgomery County Republican Party has more splinters than a termite could handle in a month.
I don't know folks, perhaps it's time for someone to step up and take the reins away from the Asher/Davis duo.

Just doing my job

We would all like to think we make a difference when we go out of our way to do something for someone else. It's good for the soul.
My job is to try to make a difference every day.
Sometimes I think I do, and sometimes I'm not so sure.
When I started blogging about Trappe I did so because I thought what I had heard was going on was just plain wrong.
I don't know if Mark Carrig resigned because we started putting pressure on him to do so or if he was just waiting to sell his house in Trappe.
I don't know if Stewart Strauss wasn't appointed to the seat left vacant by Carrig because I uncovered what was going to happen before he was able to pull off his coup d'etat, or he just decided he didn't want to play the political game any more.
I might never know.
I am certain of one thing, though. I was just doing my job bringing these things to light, but I would like to think I made a difference.

Trappe Time

This is the moment of truth folks.
Trappe Council is poised to appoint a new member this evening.
Mark Carrig resigned so there is a seat available.
Obviously the appropriate thing to do would be to appoint the top vote getter in November's election, but I just don't think that's going to happen.
If you go back in time with me to just a couple of months ago I told you what I thought was going to happen.
Stewart Strauss is the president of Trappe Council. He will resign tonight and he will then be appointed to the seat vacated by Carrig.
I said it two months ago and I'm saying it again today.
I would like to think that it's not going to happen. I'd like to think that the remaining members of Trappe Council will do the right thing and put the top vote getter from the most recent election into the seat.
I'd like to think that, but....

The Trappe is set

None of us really know the future, or do we?
It appears as if everything I wrote about is coming to fruition.
Not because I'm some kind of psychic, but because when someone lays out a plan and executes it properly the future isn't such a mystery.
The good people of Trappe have had a resignation on council, and just last night council started looking for a replacement.
How many days, or hours, do you think it will be before the president of council resigns so he can be reappointed to the seat?
Remember folks, this is your town, not the town of the few people you chose to run it for a short period of time.
If you don't want this to happen, make sure it doesn't.

Methacton Madness

What in the world went on Tuesday after the Methacton School Board meeting?
I've seen the video tape. A visibly upset Jim Van Horn, that's school board president Van Horn, is seen coming full steam at the camera, which I'm told was operated by perennial pain in the side of Van Horn, Jim Mollick.
Van Horn can clearly be heard saying that video taping after a meeting is over is a no-no. The next thing you see is the camera going haywire so we're not real sure what happened next.
Van Horn has simply said he was not charged with assault by state police and he won't comment further.
I had a couple of voice mails waiting for me Wednesday morning when I got in. One person was absolutely appalled at what she called an 'unprovoked attack'
Lower Providence Supervisor Craig Dininny said Van Horn should resign.
From what I saw on the video tape, whether an assault occurred or not, Van Horn should be able to have a little more self control. He's a public figure, and has been one for some years. I agree with Dininny to a certain extent. Van Horn should step down, at least from the president's seat. I don't know if he needs to resign, but the president's gavel should be passed along to someone else.

Trying to decipher Norristown code report

The consultant's report on the Norristown code enforcement department is finally out.
I was under the impression is was going to be out a while ago, but, as they say, better late than never. Or is that really the case here?
The report tells us the department is in disarray. We knew that didn't we? The report tells us the department is understaffed. We knew that, too, didn't we? And the report also says the department needs a true leader.
Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Just what happened to the leader of the department?
Where is Charlie Sweeney?
Last I heard he was waiting for another hearing on whether he's going to get his job back.
Where was that little tidbit in the report?
We know something happened to cause Charlie to be fired, but what was it?
I can certainly understand the idea behind the report was to determine all of the departments faults and attempt to move forward in a positive fashion to create a department that will run smoothly and efficiently in the future.
But what about the past?
I'm still under the impression that Charlie was fired for doing something he was told to do.
I'm also under the impression that Charlie was told to do something for a Montgomery County mover and shaker and when the favor didn't go as planned the hammer came down on Charlie.
Now I don't know how productive all of this is in moving the department forward, but I do know that exposing past practices will go a long way in assuring the people of Norristown that those practices no longer exist.
We all remember the FBI raid, don't we?

I want to be elected

OK, not really, I just couldn't think of a catchier headline for today's entry.
We're off and running toward the finish line, though, and I wanted to let everyone know I'll be here all night dropping you a line from time to time as I find a race that catches my eye.
I'll start the ball rolling with telling you that I was duly impressed when I went to vote at First Baptist on Burnside Avenue in West Norriton and nearly 150 people had already passed through. That's a big turnout for our little precinct. I hope it's a sign of a great turnout.
What's going on where you are?

Weekend update after the weekend

Sorry about that folks. I know I said I was going to start doing a weekend update on Fridays, but I just got way behind the 8-ball and couldn't get out.
Anyway, this is (and I know I've said this before but I'm serious this time) the last time I'll address the alleged charge to Trappe Borough for putting borough contact information in the Collegeville/Trappe Heritage special section. I didn't a little investigative reporter. I was a cop reporter in a former life, you know. The money that shows up on the Trappe books is for an ad they took out in the section; not for the listing.
There are bigger fish to fry.
For now though, I want to get back to Norristown and find out where in the world that code enforcement report is. It's like trying to find Carmen Sandiego for Pete's sake. Or for you older folks, Waldo.
Anyway, There was a report, but they didn't like it, or couldn't understand it so they sent it back and now there isn't a report.
What I'm hearing is they didn't like what was in the report. Apparently some higher ups were getting raked over the coals. That's why it was sent back, not that they couldn't understand it. Now they want a 20-page report instead of the 70-page original. How do you do that? A consultants work isn't up for editing. It is what it is.

No, No, No

No, we didn't charge Collegeville and Trappe to put their listings into our recent Collegeville/Trappe Heritage piece.

No, I don't know Mark Marino. I think I shook his hand for the first time last Monday and said hello to him, but in my book, that doesn't mean I know him.

No, I don't allow every post to go through.

Now I feel trapped

The role of your local newspaper is to be a watchdog. That's what we do. For some reason the discussion on whether a Trappe councilman still lives in the borough has turned to what business is it of the newspaper or of mine.
This is what we do folks. We also try to clear up misconception.
First, I do not know Mark Marino. I think I met him for the first time the other day, but I certainly don't know him. I do know Mike Marino.
Second, I live in West Norriton, if it really matters at all. I'm not an elected official.
Third, and while I know we haven't done such a great job of it lately, we do cover Trappe. In fact, there was a terrific Collegeville/Trappe Heritage tab in last Saturday's (Oct. 6) paper.
And finally, this isn't so much clearing up a misconception as it is an attempt to put this issue to bed, so to speak. We've done our job. Now it is up to the residents of Trappe.
This is the role of your local newspaper.

Trapped again

Well, I sent a reporter out to the meeting. Check out tomorrow's (Sat. Oct 6, 2007) Times Herald.
While no one on council admitted to living in another municipality apparently a gentleman did get up and ask that if there were to be a vacancy on council he had just the man to fill the seat.
Come on, now, this isn't rocket science. Does the councilman, Mark Carrig, live in Trappe or not?
If you'll just sign on to the blog and say you live in Trappe we'll let the issue drop. That is, if that's not your townshouse sitting vacant like everyone seems to think it is.

Weekend Update

Wow, did I touch a nerve in Trappe, or what?
Some of you came to the blog for the first time so I want to clear up a couple of things.
First, I don't respond to every post. I post things up to get the conversation going. I can't
respond directly to posts even though I would like to talk to a couple of people from Trappe
who are really upset about the whole ordeal, so call me or drop me an e-mail at shuskey@timesherald.com
Second, yes, I am the editor of The Times Herald.
And, third, I'm willing to discuss any post at any time with anyone. My number is on the Web site
under contacts.
By the way, we're publishing a really nice piece Saturday on the Collegeville/Trappe area. Pick up The Times Herald and check us out. For those of you who are unfamiliar with us I think you'll like what you see.

I hear there's going to be some drilling out in East Norriton next week. Apparently, Wood's is going to be closed for the day so some testing can be done.

We're still working on that code enforcement report. Don't worry, we don't give up.

That's about it for now. Have a great weekend. I hear it's supposed to be really nice out.

Who am I?

I didn't think I would have to do this but after a recent post about Trappe Borough someone wrote in to ask who I was and why was I hiding my identity behind a blog.
For those of you who don't know, I am Stan Huskey, and yes, Stan is my real name. Actually, it's Stanley, but only my mother calls me Stanley.
What I thought was really hilarious was the person calling me out signing his or her name as anonymous.
I just thought that since the blog was on the Times Herald Web site and I'm the editor of The Times Herald it was obvious who I am. You know who I am now, so, who are you?
Never mind, I really want to clear up the impression that I, or the public might be concerned about Trappe Borough councilmember Mark Carrig's marital status. I don't care, and if the quote is accurate from the last blog, he's right, it isn't any one's business.
However, it is our business if Carrig doesn't live in Trappe. That's the only point I was trying to make, well that and what sounds to me like good old backroom politics about to take place in the Trappe.
Some else suggested a debate. There's no reason for a debate. It is what it is. If Carrig doesn't live in Trappe he should resign from council. Period.

Trapped in Trappe?

Or should I say shafted in Trappe. Listen to this. What I'm hearing is Trappe council member Mark Carrig doesn't live in Trappe anymore. He's still on council, but that doesn't seem to bother too many people, because, like I said, he's still on council.
Now comes the shaft. Here's why he's still on council and here's how it's going to go down. At least this is my take on it. Remember, you heard it here first.
Council President Stewart Strauss lost the primary. He's out come January. He doesn't want to be out so he's going to resign. Then Carrig is going to resign, and then Strauss is going to get himself appointed to Carrig's vacant seat, giving himself two more years on council.
So, if you live in Trappe, do you feel a little trapped right now by the people running the show?

Weekend Update

I received a voice mail earlier this week from a woman who said that Norristown State Hospital was closing, and that Building 51, where they house criminals with some sort of social disorder, was going to be privatized.
What I've found out so far is that about half of that is true, or at least could be. The state is looking for a private company to take over Building 51, but the part about the rest of the hospital closing down doesn't seem to be true. I spoke with a local state Senator who said he was assured by the head of the Department of Welfare, which oversees all state hospitals, that simply was not going to happen. Apparently privitization has been happening at other locations around the state.

We're still pushing for the code enforcement department report. We've been told it is still in draft form and that we will get a copy when it is complete. Once again, that simply doesn't make sense.

And completely from left field, or at least the end zone. What was Donovan McNabb thinking when he said black quarterbacks in the NFL are held to a higher standard? Dude, you flubbed a pass that my mother could have completed. No, not the one to end the drive at the end of the game, the one right before it where the guy was unbelievably wide open and the ball was thrown about 10 feet away from him. Your timing was about as good with that pass as was your statement. I know it was made well before the game, but why did you have to make it at all? You blew it, McNabb, just say so and move on to the next game.

You want a racial issue to sink your teeth into Donovan, do a little reading on the Jena 6.

Weekend Update

I'm going to start giving everyone a little update for the week on Friday's. I know, Saturday Night Live already has the Weekend Update, maybe you can help me out with a new name for the piece.
Anyway, here goes.
I'm glad the ARC ordinance was approved in Lower Providence. I understand there are some concerns with the wording of the overlay district, but hopefully the people behind ARC will stand by their plans to build what they have proposed to build and not take advantage of the newly passed legislation.
I told you Wood's in East Norriton was going to be sold. There's a pending agreement of sale for the property. The whole traffic argument is pretty bogus, though. I can't imagine any more traffic at a hospital than what I see going in and out of Wood's on a regular basis. I have talked to a couple of East Norriton officials and have impressed upon them the importance of making Germantown Pike two lanes in each direction.
Nothing controversial, but there it is.

Show me the money

Sorry, but I can't. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but Norristown does not have an extra $11 million floating around. I got a copy of the audited 2005 budget to a trusted friend, who just so happens to be one of the sharpest financial minds around, and he told me there wasn't anything fishy going on.

Just so you know, the audited 2006 budget is not ready yet.

And, talk of the money actually being found in some FOP account is also bogus.

Now come on, folks, give me something I can really sink my teeth into.

Norristown code enforcement, and a new hospital rumor

Just to let inquiring minds know, the report due back on the code enforcement department in Norristown, the one that cost, I believe, about $19,000, is not back yet. Actually, we believe it came back but the administration wasn't happy with it so they sent it back to the consultants.

Here's a new one for you. We're still trying to track it down but rumor has it a deal was struck with Wood's Golf Center in East Norriton to put a new hospital on the grounds. Apparently the gas pipe that runs somewhere under the golf course isn't enough to scare away Einstein. What I hear is they can build around it and leave it as open space. My only suggestion for East Norriton is for them, as part of the approval process, to get the hospital to pay to make Germantown Pike four lanes all the way through the township.

Get it in gear

So, I just got home from a mini vacation and I'm getting a bite to eat watching the Phillies play and catching up on some reading in The Times Herald and I can't believe what I'm reading.

Norristown wants to give a consultant a year to tell us what needs to be done at Poley Park?

First, I said a month ago Norristown doesn't need a consultant to tell them they need to clean the place up, stripe it, landscape it and start charging people to park there.

Now they want to give someone a year to tell them the same thing?

Look, do what the family wants. Leave a bench, or two, at the entrance of the parking lot on a patch of green space, just like what's there now. Respect the family's wishes.

I've been trying to figure out what's going on with Norristown council since the 'new' government was put into place. I think maybe I have it now. They want to act like they're running a major metropolis. They're not. They're running a small town with folks who simply want them to run the small town like a small town. Residents of Norristown want a nice clean, safe place to live and work.

All I could think about when I'm reading the story is that I hope they don't do the same thing with the proposed movie studio. I hope they don't tell the people who want to bring a movie studio to Norristown that they'll have to study it a year before they can do anything.

Get it in gear, council, please. Move the municipal train forward before anyone who wants to do anything in Norristown decides it's just not worth the effort.

Digging deeper

I appreciate the post from anonymous reminding me of my duties as editor of a newspaper.
I am indeed digging deeper to find out if the alleged $11 million floating around in Norristown is rumor or fact. I've contacted a respected numbers man who has agreed to take a look at the audited budget for me. I believe another anonymous wrote that the money might be in the FOP budget, but that doesn't make much sense to me since the FOP was the recipient of the shaft when the borough was crying poor mouth and laid off seven officers, but you know what? We'll look there too.
We're also digging deeper into the county's firing, or not, of former, or not, public property director Andy Gulotta. It's one thing to let the guy go because you don't like the way he treats his employees and then hire him back at basically twice the salary, but it's quite another to let him go because he was allegedly doing work for people on county time, or having work done for him on county time.
Rumors are one thing folks and we can talk about them all day long here, but when it comes to getting the story into the paper it's a whole new ball game. We have to have everything nailed down before it gets into the paper.
But rest assured, we're bringing the hammer.

Quick update

Sorry, I've been a little behind the eight ball and haven't had much of a chance to post lately. I just want to give you an update on the alleged $11 mill found in Norristown since someone reminded me of it in a previous post.
I have an audited copy of the budget. I've also asked a very knowledgeable person to look it over and tell me what he thinks. As soon as I know, you'll know. Unless of course you know something I don't know.

Something new

Here's something everyone can chime in on.
There will be a story in Friday's (Aug.3) paper talking about the agreement between the county and the former property director Andy Gulotta.
Seems Andy is going to be making about $3,500 a week in his new position as consultant.
Now I know Andy and I don't begrudge him anything. More power to him for negotiating such a sweet deal. But what in the world were our county commissioners thinking when they agreed to that sum.
You do the math. It works out to about double what we (I mean all of us hard working taxpayers) were paying him when he was on the county's payroll.
I've borrowed a favorite phrase from our sports editor, Dave Kurtz before and it seems appropriate here: "C'mon."
I've borrowed from our illustrious courthouse reporter, Peg Gibbons: "Give me a break."
But now it's time to cement my own phrase into the local lexicon, given the circumstances of the atrocity.
Are you kidding me?

Balancing Bud's Bar

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.
Sorry folks. As so many of you have pointed out we didn't get in the Bud's Bar story over the weekend.
In the interest of being fair and balanced though we wanted some reaction from at least one township supervisor as to the comments coming forth from Bud's owner.
Stay tuned. It's on its way.

The story behind Bud's Bar's paint job

We're going to put the real story out, in print, about the paint job.
The owner of Bud's Bar is going on the record with his reason for giving everyone in Lower Providence something to talk about these past couple of weeks.
Make sure you pick up a copy of The Times Herald this weekend (We should have the interview completed by then) to hear the real story. Speculation has been flying, but that's just what it has been speculation.

Found money in Norristown

OK folks, we're trying to track down the alleged $10 million that was found in an account somewhere that no one, not even the feds who took nearly every piece of paper out of borough hall in the raid, was able to find.
So far, we're not coming up with a single dollar, much less 10 million of them. I'm not sure how this rumor got started but if anyone has anything that will help us track it down respond as soon as possible.

Bud's Bar's gone psychedelic

Have you seen Bud's Bar in Lower Providence lately?
I know the owner and he doesn't really seem like the kind of guy who would sit outside with a basket of magic mushrooms, so I'm wondering what caused the change in color schemes.
I'm not really sure how to describe it to people since I haven't been by there myself, but mostly because every e-mail and telephone call I've received about the paint job has included a different description.
So I'll try to get a consensus here on the blog. How would you describe it?
I'll have to give you my description next week because I normally don't get over that way until I'm heading over to Tornambe's for a haircut.
Help me out with something else to please. Below is a link to a poll check it out. I'm trying to see if it will work off my blog. We haven't had Web Talk up since our new site was launched so I'm trying a new service for polls.
And yes, I know, we have to get the 'search' option up and running, too. We're working on it.
http://www.yourfreepoll.com/bxfbhjqwsp.html

Lost without Wood's

Let's get this conversation started faster than a ProV1 off the head of a Nike Sumo driver.

Wood's Golf Center, excuse me, Woody's, has been a destination point for our family for years.
We heard the rumors about Einstein looking at it as a possible site for a new home for Montgomery Hospital, but I was hoping it was all just that, rumors. Turns out the rumors were true.

The Wood family has a right to do with their property whatever they wish. Let's get that on the record right now.

But...life without Woody's?

I find it hard to believe Einstein would want to build a hospital a couple of miles down the road from Mercy Suburban, but I don't know the hospital business. That's the first bogey.
I do know a little bit about traffic, though, and I don't believe that stretch of Germantown Pike can handle a hospital without some major reconstruction. That's a double bogey for sure.

Let's hear from East Norriton residents and supervisors. Is this what you want?
Maybe the township could step up and buy Woody's. West Norriton owns Jeffersonville, East Norriton should have its own slice of paradise, right?

OK, all of this is coming from an admitted golf addict, but seriously, there has to be some other place to put a new hospital besides a nice place to take a walk, even if it is sometimes spoiled (my apologies to Mr. Clemens).

New kid in town

I had lunch last week with Norristown's new municipal administrator. (And there wasn't a pork sandwich to be found. We were at a real Norristown treasure, though, August Moon.) I hope I didn't offend him with the 'kid' reference, but comparatively speaking.... Actually, everyone seems like a 'kid' to me anymore; am I really getting that old? If I am why haven't I had a mid-life crisis? I sure would like to be driving a Porsche. Anyway, as old folks are want to do, I digress.
David Forrest seems like a genuinely nice guy. He has his hands full and I sure hope he can handle it. Norristown needs a straight shooter sitting in that seat and they haven't had one in a while. There's a lot of good happening in Norristown right now and the best thing he could do would be to keep up the momentum. I know I certainly would like to see a shovel go in the ground at Main and Cherry street for that new parking garage with the retail space on the ground level. We're what, about two years behind on that project? In case you haven't noticed there are some fancy new sidewalks along DeKalb Street and the project is continuing along Main Street. Now what we really need are some fancy new street lights to shine down on those fancy new sidewalks so people can feel safe when they're out for a stroll. While he's at it he can see about getting the street lights over on Marshall back in working order.
I brought up my displeasure with council's insistence on moving forward with new plans for parking at the lot adjacent to Poley Park. The plans are already there. David said something about the study being paid for with grant money and I said something about not caring because we still pay for grant money with our tax dollars and in the end it's a parking lot for Pete's sake. Pave it, stripe it, and start charging people a dollar a day to park there and move on.
Anyway, we had a lively discussion about several things Norristown. Perhaps the most lively being about code enforcement. I'll just leave it at that for now.
Here's what I think. I think we need to give this guy a chance to get his feet wet and then give him a helping hand where ever we can.
Crazy, I know, but it just might work.
What do you think?

Pork sandwich battle royale

Sorry I haven't been on in a while. I've been coming out of the pork sandwich fog I've been in for the past week. I have a feeling it's going to get worse so I wanted to put a new post up to make sure everyone had a chance to get in on the action.
This is getting serious.
Here's where we are so far.
I put something in my column last week about the pork sandwiches at Sessano's being the best I've had since the MSS feast.
Bob Wright calls me one day and say he has a challenge for me.
I tell him to bring it on.
We set up a pork sandwich tasting contest. It wasn't hard to find judges, either.
So the day before the contest I called Bob and I said listen, in the interest of fair play I'm calling to tell you I told my guy to keep the pork separate from the rolls so the sandwiches don't get soggy as we're driving back to the Times Herald building. He doesn't make the call.
I'm not saying that's why Sessano's kicked Venezia's butt - six out of seven judges chose the Sessano pork sandwich - but it could have had something to do with it.
Off me being the nice guy I am I told Bob Venezia's could work their way back into the competition, but only after Sessano's takes on all comers.
The e-mails have been flying. A lot of people are partial to the pork sandwiches at Screwballs, and I've heard about a couple of places over in Conshy, but the largest number probably had to come from fans of the pork sandwich at the Bridgeport Rib House.
Bring it.
That's all I can say.
Bring it.
The fog is lifting.

The wicked Act 1 witch is dead

I'd dance a jig right now but it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
All the e-mails have been terrific, but really, it wasn't me. You deserve all the credit for Act 1 going the way of the eight-track tape.
After a few days of basking in the glow we're going to have to start thinking seriously about a real plan for property tax reform.
I've suggested a sales tax on food but I've been bashed for bringing up a 'regressive' tax. I don't think it's regressive. I think it's fair.
But hey, I don't think I have all the answers.
How would you bring about real property tax reform?

The curtain is falling on Act 1

OK, so everyone was too busy watching the results come in to talk to me tonight.
Well, that's just fine because what I've been hoping for the past few weeks/months appears to be coming to fruition. Act 1 is on its way out the door. Norristown voted it down with 75 percent of the vote. Methacton voted it down with 70 percent of the vote. Perk Valley shot it down with a whopping 90 percent, with Upper Merion trying to catch them with 85 percent. Spring-Ford came in with a healthy 70 percent of voters saying no thanks to the tax scam, and Colonial school sporting a very healthy 76 percent voting against Act 1.

Granted this is with only about 50 percent of the precincts reporting but I'm very optimistic at this point.

So, what do you think about that?

Just say no...to Act 1

The day of reckoning is here.
If you haven't already done so please go to the polls and vote 'No' on Act 1. It's on everyone's ballot.
I won't go into what's right and what's wrong about the alleged property tax reform debacle that is being referred to as Act 1. It's all been said.

So, what's going on out there?
I was the only person at my poll this morning when I went to vote.
Did you see a lot of people where you vote? I mean, other than the usually suspects trying to hand out literature?
Any problems?
I'll be here most of the night so let's get the conversation going.

Political hanky panky in Lower Providence?

Say it ain't so.
I don't know who's behind it yet, but it appears as if the Republican Party has sent out a mailer claiming the candidates for school board are supported by the Democratic Party. Update: the mailer actually says they're 'democratic supported,' not supported by the Democratic Party. The Republican Party didn't send out the mailer.
I've been complaining about the lack of creativity, or activity, on the part of the Republicans but this is going a little too far.
I received a call from Larry Greenley, the Area 4 Democratic leader, who said the Democratic Party had absolutely nothing to do with the mailer. I also posted a comment from Stacie Dale on the last blog topic about the same subject.
Republicans really need to get their act together.
On the county level the Primary is a wash. Every candidate will move through to the general election in November, but on the local level there will be a lot of candidates left holding the bag after tomorrow. If the majority turn out to be Republican they have no one to blame but them selves.

By the way, I'll be online most of tomorrow night as the numbers start rolling in, which is usually after 9 p.m.
Drop me a line if you know of anything going on that shouldn't be going on.

Reading the Republican Party the riot act

Not posting does not equate to not reading. I get it now.
I didn't realize that until reading the responses sent in during the past couple of days. Thanks for reading my column in Monday's edition of The Times Herald and then taking a few minutes to come online to let me know you're still out there.
I hope I didn't sound too desperate for responses.
The majority of you agree with me about the Montgomery County Republican Party being fragmented.
And how about those numbers in today's Times Herald?
Not only are the Dems signing up more registered voters, but now they're also raising more money.
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this one out folks. The two are pretty much the barometer for winning elections.
'Greybeard' thinks county Republicans are fragmented because they don't present "clear, cogent arguments for people to vote for them."
'Jim' believes Republicans didn't show up to the candidates forum at the Carver Center because the Democratic base in Norristown is simply too large for them to waste their time.
I couldn't disagree more, Jim. I think there are plenty of Republicans in Norristown and I think it would have been wise for both Bruce Castor and Jim Matthews to come to the forum.
'Anonymous' thinks the Dems have been very noisy of late and that's why they're getting all of the attention. "Cacophonous is a good word."
Guess what 'Anonymous'? I happen to subscribe to the squeeky wheel theory.
Anyway, those are just a few tidbits from recent posts.
I happen to believe that things just don't look good for the county Republican Party right now and it's a shame.
I will agree with a portion of the post left by 'Anonymous', and by the way, just leave a fake name if you don't want to leave your real name. 'Greybeard' is at least creative. Anonymous said Republicans must have honesty and integrity. I couldn't agree more with that sentiment.
So let me hear from the honest Republicans in Montgomery County. Be proud that you're an honest Republican. Because if you don't start making some noise pretty soon the only people left to listen to you will be your family and friends.