Union Lake Development Update August 8 2009

One Issue that has come up again is another proposal to develop the 400 to 500 acres behind the Union Lake Crossing shopping Center and Union Lake. Those 85 acres could potentially become the new home of an access road required to continue the construction of a pair of hotels. The Millville Planning Board meets this coming Monday will consider rezoning 85 acres of a 400-acre plot owned by Wawa Inc. near Union Lake.
There has been charges and counter charges by the city and Matt Blake. The city representatives seem extremely angry as if they were blindsided by Mr. Blake's comments.
I am afraid were going the way of the Motorsports Park and the Trackracket where both sides are going to talk past each other. You my dear reader need to read both Dr. Kim Warker's letter printed today in the News of Cumberland County and Matt Blake's letter that was printed in the News on August 5th. Mr. Blake's letter did alarm me when I first read it and a friend got a different take from a city offical that Mr. Blake was "a liar". Well, I hope to make it to the planning board meeting and get a clearer picture of what the plan is.

What Can I Say??

What can I say. You ask folks to work without pay. Yup we get paid Tuesday of next week.
From the DPW intranet

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Policy Clarifications - SNAPPFS14904567
Submitted:08/06/09
Agency:CAOs

Citations:
Subject: Income from State Employees for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
How do we treat state employee income now that a “bridge” budget has been passed?
Response By: Division of Federal Programs and Program Management
Date:08/06/09
With the signing of the bridge budget, wages for July and August will be released in August for most state employees. SNAP households having a state employee must have eligibility re-evaluated using anticipated August wages.
For households with a state employee whose SNAP benefits were open in July or August, the household’s eligibility must be redetermined using anticipated income from August and September wages. Action must be taken timely to reduce SNAP benefits effective September 1, 2009 or stop SNAP benefits effective August 31, 2009 using appropriate advance notice.
For households with a state employee that applied for SNAP benefits in August that have not been processed, income from August wages must be anticipated for August benefits.
Employees of agencies whose funding requires special appropriation will not have their wages released with the signing of the bridge budget. These agencies include, but are not limited to:
· Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System
· Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System
· Public Utility Commission
· Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
When reviewing cases for households with a state employee, ask whether the employee’s wages will be released due to the signing of the bridge budget. If the employee’s wages will not be released because they require special appropriation, do not consider the employee to be receiving or have anticipated wages.

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City Commission Meeting

I was not expecting a long meeting with controversy. This by and large was the case at yesterday's City Commission meeting held at City Hall. I was late (as usual). Jane Christy spoke out to defend the " WAWA Tree. This is a white oak that is about 250 years old and is the 3rd largest tree in Cumberland County. This tree may be a victim of the roadwork that is planned for the intersection of Wade Blvd and RT 49. This was reported in April 2009.

This is the Infamous road project brought to us bumpkins by Gov Corzine, and Lou Magazzu.
Next, Michelle Post called out the City Commission for allowing a person to make a personal threat at the last Commission meeting. She has a point but she came off heavy-handed. I sense the the frustration she has with the NJ Motorsports Park. She states there is no "solution" but voting and changing the noise ordnance. The motorsports park is too wide/large to barricade the sound as well. Like I said, I sense a lawsuit and the city does not need THAT for sure. Charles Flickinger spoke about the Wall of education.
After the meeting, I heard something that could have a very negative affect upon Millville and the County. Hope cooler heads prevail or this will eventually make headlines here.

Well, good bye for now

Fighting the Foolishness of Pa Politics

Yesterday August 4th our union SEIU Local 668 had a lunch breakout to make it clear that its not OK to hold our pay while Harrisburg burns. Today the Senate Bill 850 was signed after Gov Rendell vetoed most of the bill except to fund basic services. This means a paycheck next Tuesday.As a co-worker repeated over and over. "I JUST WANT MY DAMN MONEY!!!

Pa Legislative Circus!!

Hi got this from the Pa Cable Network:

A review of the Commonwealth Directory shows 529 names for the Senate alone. The majority leader has 85 staff, the minority leader has 55. Do we need all of these people. And the worst part is that in many Senate races more than half of the candidates are unapposed


Names and phones numbers of those 11 Legislators that Voted NO to Pay State Workers!(the temp budget) flood their phone lines!!!

Kerry Benninghoff -717-783-1918
Thomas Creighton - 717-772-5290
Paul Drucker - 717-705-2003
Garth Everett - 717-787-5270
Kate Harper - 717-787-2801
Scott Hutchinson - 717-783-8188
John Maher - 717-783-1522
Bob Mensch - 717-787-6937
Mark Mustio - 717-787-6651
Dennis O'Brien - 717-787-5689
Steven Santarsiero - 717-787-5475
Go here http://www.pcntv.com/streaming/streaming.html

This is just plain bogus and stupid. They finally passed the "Bridge Budget" and it could have been done WEEKS ago. Now they say it will take another WEEK!!!!!!!!

Lets Clean Up Graffiti!!

Graffiti can be a menace if it is ALLOWED to just sit. It has to be removed IMMEDIATELY or the element will see that its ok to just deface any building. Near my home at Pine and High Streets some clown put the letters YG on the window of the old Foglios building. It has been there for over 2 weeks. I have sent email to the City Commission (2 of them) and its STILL there. I know the city does not own the property but it MUST be proactive or MORE of this will deface the Arts District. Graffiti and crime seem perfect together.
Other cities like Philadelphia where I used to live learn from the broken windows theroy that you act proactive on small crimes to keep more serious crime from infesting like roaches. Come on lets get this off soon!!!

Monsoon!!

After last nite dream of a killing massacre at Glassboro State Col loge (oops Rowen) where too much testosterone was causing aggressiveness I wanted to share s some photos.
First off I saw monsoon-like rain when I was leaving Philly on Friday. Here is a photo and a video. Route 42 was closed for a spell and I did not get home till 8 PM to meet the woman who bought my car.