As we follow the actions of our Northampton County government over the last year, there has been a striking thread running through their administrative and legislative action. The September 20 Council meeting typifies what has happened in the County. The entire 5 hour meeting was consumed with discussion of yet two more bond issues. The first was the proposal to build a $2.35 million parking garage for the Hotel Easton, a luxury hotel project which is rehabbing a proud Easton landmark. This is a noble effort, yet the developers are already the recipients of a ten year tax free period, as they are located in a free enterprise zone. They will not be subject to State taxes or local real estate taxes during this period. The County grant expands a grant already delivered in the 2000 omnibus bond issue, which has been tied up in litigation, and which the Reibman administration still insists it is pursuing.

The second bond issue considered was the proposal to grant $3 million to the BallYard project, which would help complete the rotting shell of a failed effort which is half-complete. Williams Township wants the project completed, of course. Northwestern Human Services, which is the owner of the project, wants to recover its $6 million already invested. Unfortunately, it needs some $11 million of public money to finish this baseball stadium which would bring us minor league baseball, an indispensable entertainment option for the Lehigh Valley family, we are told by proponents of the project.

Alan Jennings, representing the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, testified in favor of the Hotel Easton garage project, with one proviso: the money should be granted contingent on the City of Easton addressing seriously a housing crisis in the neighborhoods of Easton. Home ownership and quality of housing is falling off rapidly in the City and the City Council and Mayor Goldsmith have turned their backs on City programs to address this problem. According to Jennings, an inner-city cannot survive without healthy neighborhoods around it, and so it will go with the Hotel Easton. Bernie O’Hare pointed out that the City of Easton has not formally undertaken the project, and noted four other objections to passage of the bond. Mayor Goldsmith admitted that he abandoned $1 million in federal money to avoid building an intermodal transit facility for busses in the proposed garage. With the passage of this bond issue, Council will have two funding measures to build this garage, since it was part of the 2000 omnibus bond issue which is tied up in litigation. Despite all these problems and objections, Council passed the grant to build the garage 8-0, without contingencies as suggested by Alan Jennings, with Ron Angle abstaining.

The BallYard hearing dragged past 11 PM, and Council adjourned deliberations till the next meeting.

I contend these grants are simply designed to benefit the well-heeled developers who are involved beyond their comfortable profit margins on these projects. Despite the possibility, pointed out by both Bernie O’Hare and Ron Angle, that these projects could be true Revenue Bonds, which would be repaid out of the revenues generated by the ventures, the Council and Administration have insisted on giving the money to these millionaire developers. (I was personally dazzled by the diamonds on the hand of Mr. Kelly, general counsel of Northwestern - perhaps zirconium?)

So it has been with the $125 million 2000 and 2001 bond issues. The developers like Bethlehem Steel, Charles Chrin, LVIP 6 walk away with the money, and the people get the promise of jobs and “economic development”. At the borders of the County Courthouse, there exist the ravaged neighborhoods of the center of Easton. As Ken Nagy pointed out, a karate school moved away from this neighborhood due to the crime danger. Will the County be as aggressive in providing a few million in rehab LOANS for central and Southside Easton neighborhoods as they have been in serving the needs of Northwestern and the Hotel Easton? Will Zebrowski, Leiberman and Dowd carry through on their promised meeting with Alan Jennings to discuss this problem? More importantly, will they fund a program? This is the essence of our government today in the United States - the moneyed interests have the access, have the ability to produce the Chamber of Commerce heavies such as Bruce Davis to sit silently in the back of Council Chambers and see that their will is done. The corporations set the policy and groups like the CACLV, which have the durable belief that somehow a few dollars will trickle down, accept meetings with Council committees, out of which will come nothing.

I commend Ron Angle for maintaining a consistent skeptical approach throughout these proceedings. I have seen him question effectively Judges, lawyers, politicians and developers without regard to race, color, creed or political affiliation . He has, however, been a lone voice and it is one of the contradictions of the moment that the Republican candidate for County Executive has been the sole voice on a Democratic Council to actually mention the people living on fixed income and to speak for those of us who live at the margins of the middle class, who really can’t afford health insurance, let alone ballyards and luxury hotels.

Is change afoot this election year in the County? It is badly needed. I am a Green Party candidate for County Council and believe there is a County role in providing regional leadership for planning and zoning. I believe we can control and monitor the use of our landfills. I believe the County can protect the citizens from unlawful polluters. I believe the County can support farmers and protect open space. I know the current County government is wasting our wealth on those who don’t need taxpayer subsidy and not serving the people of this County. I only hope the population will awaken in this off year election and throw out all incumbents, get a fresh start, and regain a government of the people.