When I was a small boy, Howdy Doody, although a puppet, was a television star. The live audience in the TV studio was composed of children and was called the Peanut Gallery. That term has become a metaphor for a group with no real power. According to an article in the Morning Call the citizens of Allentown can have a say in picking the next mayor. They can attend the upcoming city council meetings and ask and comment about the applicants for interim mayor. Although the article implies that council will value their opinion, in reality they are just another Peanut Gallery.
I'm not sure who will be chosen next mayor. Although the article mentions that the charter may prohibit Roger MacLean from being eligible, the same charter rule would apply to Ray O'Connell. My hunch is that acting solicitor Dan McCatrhy's opinion on the charter will be disregarded, and that O'Connell will get the four votes. If MacLean decides that he likes the view from the fifth floor of city hall, he may fight for the position and get the nod. If indeed council decides to go outside of their current or immediate former self, Charlie Thiel will prevail.
Although the Peanut Gallery may hoot, holler and ask questions, their opinion will not count.
Ray and Charlie are flawed candidates for different reasons. Once again, Allentown's choice is bad and worse.
ReplyDeleteI read the article and I thought it was an early April fools joke. Seriously, council already has a candidate who will prevail, despite the notion forwarded my the Morning-Call.
ReplyDeleteNo matter who, the Allentown government will be the same as when the "rotund one" ruled. Council persons, except for Ed Zucal, all have some connection to his late highness, either through campaign donations, appointments or blind support. Therefore, at least for the next two years, we'll have to suffer under a Pawlowski protege'. Some of these clowns state they represent change, but in real terms they are no different and offer nothing new. They'll be like the current acting mayor who does nothing and let's the ship guide itself. Until the political climate changes, [and I don't see this for years], Allentown will be administrated from some federal jail and the same old, same old, will be prevail!
I agree 100%
Delete"Fire 7:34", I love the "Pawlowski protege'" tag. If the political parties were reversed here you can bet that tag would be assigned to any Republican....and used by the local news media. If anyone doubts that, just look at how the Morning Call ends virtually every NIZ story with the PR boilerplate about it being 'a unique, one-of-a-kind' Utopia.......
ReplyDeleteI just saw that the Allentown School District is $28 million in the hole.Mr. Thiel is the currant president of the board.No wonder He wants to move to The Mayor's office
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