Saturday, October 22, 2011

Look Forward Radnor, Not Backwards...

Time To Retire, Bill Spingler.

Radnor residents and taxpayers if you do one thing this election season, you should retire Bill Spingler.  And that means you, his captive audience of apartment dwellers and condo seniors in the 3rd Ward of Radnor Township need to wake up.

Hometown Homie needs to retire. He's a reason for term limits and a lock on Radnor Township's checkbook. He loves to talk about all the money he has had Radnor spend and purportedly save. Wonder how that shakes out proportionately over all these decades? He is running on the Ardrossan platform, so what does he get if Radnor buys Ardrossan swamp land? 30 years is too long. Has he been writing those Bashore recommendations?

Did you people pay attention to the scripted candidate's forum?  Even if old school behind closed door stalwarts like Cheryl Tumola and her pal did not read a lot of the questions the sparse audience gave them to ask the candidates, you all should be a little more street smart by now.

Spingler is an affable dinosaur who would love to keep the back door traditions of don't ask, don't tell politics alive in Radnor Township and Delaware County.

If my research is correct, Bill Spingler was elected to the 6th in 1969 and was then did a stint as a Delaware County Commissioner two years later.  Now I think he went to the 3rd ward in like 1991.  I remember that blowhard Jerry Scott once saying he also ran for Congress?

Bill Spingler is the one who said he would write recommendations for Dave Bashore on Bashore's way out the door, was he not?

Bill Spingler has yes encouraged Radnor to purchase lots of odd land parcels, but what has he gotten out of all of it?  Besides commissions that is? And are those commissions something someone who is representing Radnor as an elected official should be getting on land that Radnor purchased as a municipality? In the recent past who got paid what on that Poplar House, huh?  Come on now, have you all not read the Woodland Ave Case Study in Radnor Patch yet?  And what of the Bill Spingler Park on Lancaster Ave?  How many people use that park or really know it's there unless the township does a ceremony or something?

And now Radnor must deal with Ardrossan again, yes?  And who is leading that charge? Bill Spingler?  And what are those plans he totes from pillar to post?  What does he get out of a taxpayer funded Ardrossan purchase?  Why can't the Scott family with all their family money donate some land?  Or get some kind of a whopper of a tax write off by putting some land into some kind of conservation status in perpetuity?  (After all if Hope was still alive, don't you think that might have happened? ) And how can Bill Spingler stop a property owner from squishing tons of development on property they own?  The answer is he can't - PA is a property rights state so if a developer decided NOT to build too densely it's luck, not divine intervention.


And now Wayne, thanks in part to Bill Spingler, still has to worry about a  drive thru Rite Aid along with a park that no one goes to, and other odd bits and pieces, so maybe for once Radnor voters should not act like hear no evil, see no evil monkeys and look to the future?

For examples and speaking of the Drive Thru Rite Aid - Bill Spingler was all for this plan so does it make anyone else wonder if he knew the land might have some, ummm, issues?? As in the ground on which they want to build, which Spingler pushed for is contaminated?  How come no one has said anything much about this? Doesn't anyone else get the willies from the idea of building a monster drugstore on a site where the land could make people sick? Even the media did not bother to pick up on this.

Radnor Township is coming out of one of the most destructive and embarrassing periods of its entire history.  What Radnor doesn't need are old hangers on --- old school politicians with no eye on the future except for where it affects themselves personally.  Bill Spingler will probably even tell you himself he is old school.  In Delaware County, PA and in Radnor, being old school is nothing to brag about and for a resident, it's reason to worry. 

No more Let's Make a Deal With Monty Spingler, Radnor.  Look to the future and open government.  If Spingler stays and becomes President of the Board of Commissioners it won't be the right thing, it will be counter-productive. 

Look to the future, Radnor.  That means allowing new faces.  Let him take up golf or knitting or something.  He has served, he has had decades of opportunity.  It's time for something different.  In this case, change will be good.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Playing Politics in Radnor - YAWN


So....they have done the League of Women Voters tap dance again in Radnor.  Yawn.  Very scripted, playing politicians on TV, trying out the big kid chairs in township building. Cheryl Tumola, timekeeper?  Guess that's what you do with the old war horses to keep those smug expressions on their faces?

Jim Higgins Ward 1 - file under everything old is new again, or just like a cow regurgitating her cud. Guys who used to be commissioners are like ex-boyfriends  ex-girlfriends and ex-spouses- ex for a reason. And he thinks Spingler is a watchdog? Wow whatever he's drinking we should all have a taste of that delusion, right?

Tim Pitts Ward 1 - So that is what he looks and sounds like.  He doesn't sound bad and is thoughtful.  That would be a nice change.  A new face would be a good thing. Not a regurgitation of politicians past.

Emily Hobson Ward 3 - spoke too quickly, needs to tone down that hair color but obviously has heart and you don't feel like she is trying to sell you something on the sly.  It's time for a change in Ward 3 and she's much cuter than Bill Spingler.

Bill Spingler Ward 3 - Hometown Homie needs to retire.  He's a reason for term limits and a lock on Radnor Township's checkbook.  He loves to talk about all the money he has had Radnor spend and purportedly save. Wonder how that shakes out proportionately over all these decades?  He is running on the Ardrossan platform, so what does he get if  Radnor buys Ardrossan swamp land?  30 years is too long. Has he been writing those Bashore recommendations?

John Nagle Ward 5 - Basic recitation of what he's done.  Steady Eddie is not such a bad thing for the 5th Ward all things considered.  The 5th Ward residents actually have a commissioner now.  The man needs a fashion emergency  intervention, however.  He was wearing a "What Not To Wear" outfit.

Ernie Shapiro Ward 5 - And on the 7th day, Ernie Shapiro invented Radnor Township? "Coach" is quite boastful, but what has he actually done? Seems to be nothing much which was the fine tradition of 5th Ward appointed commissioners and why go there again?  He did a couple month dance as an appointee and was the invisble man, so why do that again?  Dude needs a new playbook. Trust like hope is a much overused word with politicians.

Tom Dougherty Ward 7 - A lawyer, seems like a nice guy. He spoke strongly and is like Mr. Back to Basics. That's all I got, since typical for a lawyer he didn't give away much. Well, except for his comments about the college students - he seemed to show disrespect for the residents he wants to represent with those comments, so that seems really dubious as to why he would be a good thing doesn't it?  He references Villanova University too often - that should make the residents of the 7th Ward a little uncomfortable and make them wonder if elected whose best interests would he be representing?  An institution or the people?

John Fisher Ward 7 - John has gotten a little full of himself as board president and was pissy the year he wasn't board president, but this guy is a worker bee.  He has accomplished a LOT and he works hard for everyone.  There is no reason to do anything other than re-elect him.

What a weird un-election season.....

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Carol Springer Died and Is Philadelphia Orchestra Doomed,Cursed or Just Stupid?

End of an era.....  I won't speak ill of the dead, so I will simply tell you that Carol Springer has gone to that great society column in the sky where she will undoubtedly tell the angel Gabriel and St. Peter to (a) put down their wine glasses when being photographed (b) ask them if they are from the Main Line.  All snarky aside, read the Main Line Times' touching tribute to her HERE.

Now of all the ironies, the day this end of an era news breaks, I also hear from a pal stuck going how much of a massive cluster fart Opening Night of the Philadelphia Orchestra is tonight .  Apparently, it's become a bit of a road rally/scavenger hunt with all the changes including performers AND location.


But of course the Orchestra Association always knows better than anyone else.  What's a little strike of theatre workers or whatever at the Kimmel, a bankruptcy, and bungled talks with the musicians when you want to throw a party for a bunch of social climbers to celebrate Opening Night?  I will tell you what, they are like Marie Antoinette and "let them eat cake."

I wouldn't give them a plug nickel.  They never learn. 

They used to do Opening Night in September, didn't they? But it's tonight - unlucky 13 of it all.  They moved the concert and gala to West Philadelphia and U Penn (Irvine Auditorium and Museum of Archeology and Anthropology) - here's their spinny von spin press release .  Of course I just love how a bankrupt institution that seems to use new math or a broken abacus to count money can afford to have both a Vice President of PR and Communications (Katherine Blodgett) and an Assistant Director of PR (Kate Johnston) on payroll, don't you?  One to hold the ass and one to wipe I suppose....

And then oh yes, a change of artist to go with the change of venue - Dawn Upshaw is out and soprano on loan Deborah Voight is pinch hitting.  The Orchestra is now as brilliant as Philadelphia sports teams apparently.

And let's see if any of you can pick up the amateur hour mistakes on what they put out for the committee list on their website.   Sure is embarrassing all those names run together and Peter Beloliel's pal  referred to by "Willo" like she is Cher or Madonna (what's a material girl to do anyway?) - her last name runs to the next line, but all most will notice is she's listed like Cher or Madonna. Another example?  Check Despina Page - she's listed as Moore Despina F. Page and that just sounds wrong. And the fact that there is a total Emily Post inconsistency as to whether committee women are just nothing or Mrs. or Ms. - they should be listed as Ms. So and So,  or Mrs. Husband's First Name Last Name or Mrs. Their Own First Name and Last Name.  But in this sloppiness they are a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.

The frayed edges of the Philadelphia Orchestra are showing and I bet no matter what anyone says tonight will kind of suck.  But you will never hear of money lost......

I love this blog post by Peter Dobrin:

Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The orchestra and all the things that can go wrong on the way to opening night

More:

Posted on Wed, Oct. 12, 2011
Voigt replaces Upshaw for Philadelphia Orchestra's opening night
By David Patrick Stearns
Inquirer Classical Music Critic

Posted on Sat, Oct. 8, 2011

Philadelphia Orchestra moves its season-opening concert
By David Patrick Stearns

I knew I LOVED Urban Outfitters!


Photo credit: U. Ville /Unionville in The News
 File under "Billionaire Tales": How beautiful!  The delightful sight of a swindler's McMansion being demolished on a fall morning!  Excellent!  Props to the delightful blogger U. Ville in Unionville!  I just adore Chester County...especially when a McMansion comes tumbling down!!!

Although I have to admit my nose wrinkled at the idea of a billionaire who could afford to turn something back to open space building himself a rich man's YMCA. But it was still nice t hear of an untimely demise to a McMansion.

See here:Monday, October 10, 2011/Fall of the House of Young

It's the end of an infamous chapter in Unionville's history: most of Tony Young's mansion in Springdell has been torn down.




The home of the convicted swindler was bought by Richard Hayne, the billionaire founder of the Urban Outfitters empire, who added it to the former Thouron property that he owns just across Thouron Road. Mr. Hayne has been building quite a compound at the site and has told the township that he wants to replace the former Young mansion with a personal fitness center for himself and his wife...spotted the news of the demolition on Facebook....Without even putting away my milk and lettuce, I got back in the car and raced over there (once a journalist, always a journalist...). One of Mr. Hayne's workers very kindly showed me where I could park safely.



What a spectacle! The amazingly skilled demolition guy used his giant excavator with surgical precision, knocking down one cinder block at a time....Tony now has far more humble digs: he is serving his 210-month sentence 756 miles away, in the Federal Correctional Institution at Jesup in southeast Georgia.

Mummers Recruiting New Membership?



Mummers and hookers?  Who woulda thought?  But should we be surprised if many of these troops are cash strapped? (Not that cash strapped is an excuse for this crap.)

So yep, the "Downtowners" got uptown busted...with hookers and supposedly illegal booze?

WOW!   Talk about FAMILY FRIENDLY!


I will admit I am disgusted and I don't believe those in the club who claimed they knew nothing was going on.  People go to the clubhouses and not just in peak mummer time, right? And also, the media says this all got blown wide open on an annymous tip- so I don't believe that no one knew in general, even outside the Downtowners.

Looking the other way is just as bad. 

And what an embarrassment to Philadelphia - yet another in a long line of embarrassments the past few years.  This was even picked up in England by The Daily Mail and on Forbes Online.  I am sure Mayor Nutter will hold a press conference, right?

And think of all the people who rallied to save the Mummers in Philadelphia?  Ugh so tacky. So Philadelphia in a sense.



 

13 Charged During Prostitution Raid At Downtowners Mummers Club


Posted on Thu, Oct. 13, 2011

Mummery 'shocked'
BY WENDY RUDERMANPhiladelphia Daily News
rudermw@phillynews.com 215-854-2860


Oh dem sticky slippers indeed (hat tip to Wendy Ruderman at Philadelphia Daily News for that quip)

My, my, my.







Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Great Occupation and Election Season? Where?

The occupiers are still in Philadelphia in day 6 of Occupy Philadelphia.   What does everyone think?  I think it's a clear condemnation of the Obama Administration which is of course one big clusterf*ck. This is also a clear condemnation big business (i.e. greedy corporate America/Wall Street)  which is so touching on 1960s passé with  a dash technology ....but true.

Occupy Philadelphia  is the kissing cousin of Occupy Wall Street.

So while they are protesting, how does that make the poor people feel  who have to work in the places they protest? Will the rain that is supposed to start tomorrow drown the protesters out?


In Boston, the Occupy Boston protests are taking a different turn and they claim police brutality:


Contacts: OccupyBostonMedia@gmail.com

Twitter: @occupyBOS_media
Boston Police Brutally Assault Occupy Boston

At 1:30 this morning hundreds of police in full riot gear brutally attacked Occupy Boston, which had peacefully gathered on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Boston Police Department made no distinction between protesters, medics, or legal observers, arresting legal observer Urszula Masny-Latos, who serves as the Executive Director for the Massachusetts branch of the National Lawyers Guild, as well as four medics attempting to care for the injured.

I do not like the sounds of that.  I am afraid that the more desperate people become in this country the more violent this will become.

And another thing?  How much is this costing cities on the verge of disaster like Philadelphia?   And of course in Philadelphia, the Occupy movement is now got a racial bent?  So if the race card gets played, what will that do other than cause a great divide in the protest? And what up with the mini occupation of  Bucks County and some other out of the way places I wouldn't call suburbs but more like ummm countrified? Cows and goats will rise up in solidarity?  Lordy if you are going to occupy suburbia will they have an Occupy Main Line?  Can you see the mommies protesting with their lattes, stylists, and assorted "staff"?

I don't mean to be completely mocking because this country is firmly in the toilet right now and I think we are in a depression.  It's just that is anyone other than the media and residents paying attention to these occupy movements?  It just doesn't seem like the target audience is paying attention - and politicians seem to be doing business as usual.  Maybe they need to solidify their message?

And speaking of politicians, is it election season in Radnor?  I can't tell.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Crazy on The Main Line

Did you know that there are abused husbands on the Main Line?  I heard they literally have these Lily Pulitzer  and Tory Burch styled wives who beat on their men with perfectly manicured hands? In these households the wedding crystal and cookware is apparently there for tossing? As in at the spouse?

So I heard a story of a husband recently who had enough and moved out and maybe you have too?  Apparently the poor man had enough of her cheating, abusive ass? Just wanted a life again?

So what's up with the babe storming the Bastille?  A late ditch try out for Real Housewives of the Main Line? Or just a desperate housewife whose gig is finally up? Lady did it ever occur to you the last thing he wants is someone else, all he wants is quiet? Did you think he would be immune to to it all forever? Can we all agree if he put you on the show "Cheaters" you would be a high rating episode?

So distasteful when they behave one step removed from a hooker and then act like they are the injured party isn't it?  Not very Main Line of he is it?  But then again, she wasn't to the Main Line born, only aspired there, didn't she?

Men don't deserve this anymore than women do - too bad they have developed away so much of Pennsylvania.  It would be nice to have a crazy preserve where all these soon to be exes from hell could be dropped off....and the gates locked behind them.