South Whitehall's Contested Election

Recently, when I was asked why I don't write more about South Whitehall, I replied because politically it is hopeless. Although that is still my overall assessment, because for the first time in 900 years they're having a contested election, a post or two is not inappropriate.

What's stirring the pot over in the affluent township is two looming large developments. The gentleman farm on the northeast corner of CedarCrest and Walbert Aves. is proposing houses, while the motel at Rt.22 and Rt.309 is proposing apartments. In between these two proposals sit the comfortable Westfield and Deerfield neighborhoods. Although they themselves were developed from the original Jaindl turkey farms about 45 years ago, the folks there now decided that they're preservationists.

Three of the five commissioner seats are up for grab. It would be better if it was five of five, because the two remaining commissioners are also flawed. Although I attended almost every township meeting for two years between 2014 and 2016,  I don't recall any of the six candidates next Tuesday ever present.

South Whitehall has much more money than interest in local politics. They didn't notice that their taxes doubled in the last five years, but they are noticing these new building proposals. While turnout for Allentown's council race will be sparse next week, South Whitehall polls will be busy.

photocredit: Wehr's Dam by Y Tree