Reilly's Cigarette Tax and The Planning Puppies

When it comes to the paper's beloved NIZ, even my current favorite reporter at The Morning Call, Emily Opilo, can't really relay the zone's obscenity. In today's article about Reilly's cigarette bonanza, after reporting that Reilly's new warehouse was approved by city planners, she writes, "In the one-of-a-kind NIZ, many state and local taxes can be tapped by developers to help pay for construction that creates jobs. Of those taxes paid, the cigarette tax is among the largest." It's unclear if she is referring to construction or permanent jobs, but at any rate, the NIZ was designed to create untold wealth for J.B. Reilly, not to create jobs. Furthermore, there's no news about Allentown Planners approving a Reilly project, it would only be news if they didn't approve. As usual, one of the planning puppies asked a token question, what due diligence, give him a treat. While you're at it, with Opilo still an exception, give the reporters their treats also.

Also in the bizarro world of Allentown, NIZ designer, State Senator Pat Brown told the Morning Call that this experience (being accepted into the first time offender program for his third drunk driving offense) will make me stronger, and make me a better legislator. Not sure what that means, but J.B. Reilly thinks he's pretty good as is, drunk or sober.