Fox News comes to Allentown (and guess what happened)
I shouldn’t have expected anything else from Fox News and Sean Hannity. Last evening, Allentown was grossly misrepresented and used to further the fringe conservative narrative promoted by the network and Mr. Hannity.
Allentown was number 75 of Mr. Hannity’s list of the “102 worst ways the President's stimulus bill is wasting your money.” They led into the piece with a “BIKE BONANZA” label sprawled across the screen. The reporter stood downtown, and warned the viewers of the program that “"105,000 of your money on bicycles and bike racks and striped bike lanes on streets". She then stated that the “project was not yet underway.”
So, what was Fox News reporting on then?
Ah, apparently they have Weitzel on record saying the stimulus money will be used this year. They do not however say how Mr. Weitzel intended to spend the money, where the money was being spent, etc.. They implied with no proof or documentation, that the stimulus money received by Allentown was being used only to create a bicycle Mecca.
Next, to tug at the heart strings and remind everyone watching that President Obama is someone to be feared due to devious plans, Robert Romancheck showed up walking in Cedar Beach Parkway. Fox News actually aired Mr. Romancheck’s comment, which was “that bikes will be racing down bike paths and hitting kids.” What? Are you kidding me? This is not a news story, this has to be a complete opinion piece designed to be inflammatory and politically driven. That is, unless they air a counter to this to show the good this plan might do. They are “Fair and Balanced” right?
Nope.
Molovinsky followed with his frequently posted and undocumented figures of 1 to 2% of Allentonians using the bike trails and no one else. He assured the reporter that the plan would do nothing to benefit the local economy. I’m glad Mr. Molovinsky is privy to the visions of psychics and is capable of divination because there is no way he has any idea whatsoever what is going to happen if this plan is ever implemented and neither do I. I support this plan, because I am hopeful of positive affects but I am not 100% sure of them because I can’t see the future.
Fox News apparently strolled around Allentown and saw “plenty of trails”. No they did not. They videotaped from a van on Seventh Street, met Molovinsky near the parking lot at Robin Hood and took ten feet of footsteps into Cedar Beach to obtain the images they needed to further the agenda they were presenting. They then showed a bike rack in front of Bike Line on Tilghman Street and commented on the frequency of “empty bike racks” across the city.
IT IS THE MIDDLE OF WINTER FOX NEWS. THERE IS SNOW ON THE GROUND. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
It didn’t end there. Sean Hannity himself ended the clip stating that global warming was fiction as fact.
See Also:
My address to City Council Regarding Trails
posted by Andrew Kleiner at
12:33 AM
23 Comments:
andrew, you should know that they called weitzel several times requesting an interview, which he declined. they spent over an hour all over cedar park, and a like amount of time in lehigh parkway looking over the entire section from the entrance to the police academy.
the only thing concrete about the trail network plan is the horrendous bulldozing and paving being done in cedar park and to follow elsewhere, which you have said little about.
Molovinsky:
I have been reading your comments and responses on this blog since its beginnings. And the whole time I have tried holding my tongue but i have to come out and say it.
You are the biggest idiot I have ever even heard of.
You are the crazy conspiracy spouting idiot who has not a clue what he is talking about.
You are the person who stands at the park meetings saying your pre-planned speeches and makes everyone there embarrassed by your lack of intelligence.
You are the person who everyone rolls their eyes at as soon as you open your mouth.
You are simply a waste of good breathing air and biology.
Do you actually think that anyone believes or cares about the b.s. that you simply let pour from your mind without actually thinking about before you let it out?
Please rethink your entire life.
anon 2:10, actually i'm what is between our iconic park system, and packing every possible item from the recreation catalog into it.
yes, you must hold your tongue, because most public meetings require the courtesy of stating your name before you speak
Let's keep in mind that Molovinsky didn't write the piece - he was simply interviewed, and it sounds like he said stuff consistent with previously aired beliefs.
I also don't blame Weitzel for declining an appearance on Faux News.
There is a genuine debate about the legitamcy of federal stimulus dollar projects. I actually didn't realize that this park plan used fed. stimulus money. Should the entire U.S. be funding this project? Esp. during the worst recession ever?? And, it's OK with me if the so-called news wants to report on planned projects - just because a project has not started yet does not mean it isn't in the works.
I would say the dream of these paved paths creating more business in Allentown is just that - a dream. I can also appreciate the effort of Fox to expose the details of the various stimulus projects around the country. Of course, faux news puts their ridiculous spin on everything, which destroys any possible credibility they could ever have, but it is not a bad idea to take a good look at how federal stimulus dollars are being spent.
And anon 2:10 AM, maybe in the light of a sober day you will regret your mean spirited post. It would be OK if you apologized. MM didn't post anything new or even remotely offensive here - what's the deal with the hostility towards him? He represents a reasonable portion of the city who questions the need to fix what isn't broken. And I am having a hard time understanding why environmentalists are not out in force protesting the bulldozers in the park. There is a genuine and legit argument here - why not listen to both sides with an open mind?
Mr. Andrew Kleiner I don't want to pull rank, but I do have a PhD in environmental engineering.
I think that Michael and I were disappointed that after being interviewed for about 15 minutes only two excerpts were shown. Unfortunately what was chosen was somewhat elementary.
But at least we showed up to be interviewed not like the shadow, Greg Weitzel. Oh well, he just acts like the rest of the administration.
Bob Romancheck
Good luck in school
"Should the entire U.S. be funding this project? Esp. during the worst recession ever?? "
During the worst depression ever, the CCC, WPA and other federal job creation programs rebuilt the infrastructure of the National Parks system as well as local infrastructure across the country.
Here in Allentown, those projects came to define a significant amount of our park system and without them, we would not have such a wonderful system today.
Again, since I am not capable of knowing what will happen in the future, I cannot guarantee a 100% positive outcome from any of this.
I will however, continue to state, that adopting a forward thinking vision such as this trails draft, is exactly what Allentown needs to be doing.
I also need to find out exactly what stimulus money is being spent where by our parks department.
Bob,
Did Weitzel decline an interview?
Bob,
Did Weitzel decline an interview
It is our understanding that he did decline to be interviewed. I am sure Fox would have aired such an interview if he consented to an interview.
Bob
Andrew maybe we can sit down somewhere and discuss enviromental issues. What say you?
Bob
Thanks Bob, although I don't share your faith in the journalistic integrity of that channel.
Thanks as well for wishing me luck with school sir.
Send me an email Bob, andrewkleiner@gmail.com, and we can work something out.
Here is where my desire to improve park lands meets the limits of my politics. I think the trails project is a great idea- but not with federal money behind it. Projects that benefit specific groups should be funded locally, meaning private fund raising, city, county, or even state funds at the highest level. We could debate all day as to whether the funding during the depression helped the economy or hurt it, just as we could about the stimulus. It's the same old Keynesian vs. Hayek argument.
My thinking as somewhat of an outsider is this: if Allentown wants to see this thing happen, people need to get off of the butts and raise some money. My little town has 50's playground equipment and rusted fences. We're raising money the old fashioned way. County grants, donations from local businesses, and good old get-your-hands-dirty fund raising (bingo, craft shows, flea markets, selling things....run by community volunteers). It may seem impossible, but the right thing to do is usually the most difficult.
Fair enough Jos, and it is my opinion that acquiring funding in a such a manner is actually a good idea because it will re-instill community identity into the people invovled in the work and in turn help promote a volunteerism that should exist in Allentown (once the SEIU issues are worked out)
I also have no problem with stimulus money going to improve and green infrastructure, in sensible, job creating, sustainable ways.
No major city maintains a park system, even half the size of ours with municipal workers only.
Also, we might not agree 100% politically, but thank you for the reasoned and informed comment. I always appreciate hearing what you have to say.
Likewise Andrew! I've always said I would rather hear an informed opposition than an idiotic compatriot.
I truly hope that the union issues can be settled to allow people to help in the community- I'll never understand a system that favors spending tax dollars over fostering community spirit and volunteerism. Our residents would have our heads (and our positions), if that happened here. But that's another subject for another day...
This is very misleading.
Nothing going on in the parks right now even involves any stimulus money.
Andrew, thanks for hanging in there and not leaving town. It is really embarrassing to be associated with all these has been complainers around here, let along go up against them on every little thing, time and time again.
What to think? All I know is that the redesigning of the Rose Garden, the "recreational touch" of Mr. Weitzel upon the Rose Garden was a waste of Somebody's Money. They improved nothing. No natural, vegetative charm left in the place.
Mentally, aesthetically, my eye recoils. This policy pattern will probably continue as improvements are made elsewhere, unless this was a unique blunder.
trolololololo eih yayaya trololo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z4m4lnjxkY
great park video
One of the things I thought was among Allentown's strengths, was its public park system which, I understood, was due to the forethought and legacy of Colonel Trexler, who left a large foundation to help support aforementioned park system. To me, the question is whether or not the proposed changes conform to the original intent and if not, why not?
$100k on bike racks and and $10M on bike paths where there are no pedestrians is a novel idea, however is it really a priority project. Maybe that money would have been better served making Hanover Avenue safer.
If there is a very limited money pool for pedestrian access, lets focus on areas where there are real pedestrian concerns, like Hanover Ave, 6th St from Allentown to Whitehall and for Gods sake what about MacArthur Road?
The cold temperatures and the snow does not stop those from walking MacArthur Road. Why does the Commonwealth's safe streets program stop at the City border?
"During the worst depression ever, the CCC, WPA and other federal job creation programs rebuilt the infrastructure of the National Parks system as well as local infrastructure across the country.
Here in Allentown, those projects came to define a significant amount of our park system and without them, we would not have such a wonderful system today."
Exactly - and how well are we maintaining these WPA structures???? Why would we build MORE things that we cannot maintain for future generations???
If anything, money should be spent on repairing what we already have.
You got huslted on the Park deal, dude.
And you response is to attack Conservatism.
Happy Cap and Tax, Liberal Elitist.
Are the "tuition and fees" for Muhlenberg College still $ 36,990 per annum or has that figure gone up since 2009-10?
Anon 11:50
I do not know what the tuition rate for students at Muhlenberg College is, I am a student of their Wescoe School.
In addition, my father was a cop for 25 years and is currently a zoning code enforcement officer for Upper Milford Township. My mother is legally disabled and suffers a handicap.
I have had to work tirelessly for everything I have ever achieved and I am damn proud of it. I have a health condition that requires serious treatment and after getting laid off last year as a casualty of the recession, I cannot afford health insurance.
I make my ends meet and I am no elitist.
I will continue to attack the prevalent neo-conservatism in this country because it is a political movement based on fundamentalist religious theology and a corporate fiscal philosophy that favors only the richest in this country and aggressively campaigns for laws that would see the environment become the victim of the special interests of foreign oil companies.
The neo-con party has ideals that do not correlate logically with a working person such as myself, my family and my ancestors who immigrated to this country for a better life.
Do me a favor anon, and keep your political stereotyping to yourself.
> Happy Cap and Tax, Liberal Elitist.
"The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist."
Who exactly do you think is running and funding your party, hm?
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