I am sitting at the Commission meeting, getting angrier by the minute at the Republican Committee of Mt. Lebanon. If they had vetted their candidates a bit better, John Bendel would have not run unopposed, and Ward 3 could have supported the Republican candidate who DIDN'T have a For Sale sign next to her campaign yard sign.
Tonight is the Reorganization. Matt Kluck will be our next President and Kristen Linfante will be our next Vice President. Done deal. Kristen will be President for 2014. We won't have any Republicans on the Commission in 2014. Not one. Dave Brumfield will be reelected for Ward 4 since he will be running unopposed and the Democrat who will be running in Ward 2, will also run unopposed. Wake up, RCML!!
Dan Miller will be running for the House seat in the 42nd District. Who will the RCML endorse? Why, it is the man who is in charge of the project that had almost 4,000 signatures to scale back the renovation!! His platform was to bring in the project under $95 million. He voted to raise taxes 10.5%. Wake up, RCML!!
The bullies have taken over Mt. Lebanon. The people that pushed the high school renovation have won, on all fronts. They are on our school board and on our commission.
I tried my best, Folks. We tried to scale back the project, but the bullies won. I started lebocitizens.com to make our government more transparent, but the bullies won. I spoke at the school board meeting on May 24, 2010 against the tax increase Mt. Lebanon school taxes increase 2.52 mills but the bullies won. I started this blog to give residents a say, but the bullies won. I tried to run for Commission, but the bullies won. I tried to to inform the community about how we are being bullied, but the bullies won.
It is official. Matt Kluck is the 2013 President of the Commission and Kristen Linfante is Vice President. The vote was unanimous.
ReplyDeleteElaine
You failed to mention how parents are getting bullied over the math program.
ReplyDeleteUnanimous Hun?!
ReplyDeleteWhat does that tell us.? After all the discussion here, linfante's "What the Kluck" town hall protest and the vote is -- UNANIMOUS, hmmmmmmm!
Like Elaine said, the bullies won.
ReplyDeleteA 3 to 2 vote wouldn't have changed the outcome, right?
ReplyDeleteSo Matt Kluck and James Fraasch get worked over a while back for the town hall by the Linfante community and the vote is still unanimous, really, do people have short memories around here or what.
Guess we've been told the score.
It had to be unanimous. Think about it. Every vote would be three to two.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Why would that be so if the commissioners were voting objectively rather than by personal agenda?
ReplyDeleteAll that sort of stuff is agreed upon behind closed doors. That's the fact about our government. The Republican Party is done for. I moved to independent years ago. Socialism is just about to take over. When almost half of Americans are getting something without paying for it from the government and others pay their taxes so the other half can have food stamps, free cell phones with unlimited texting, free day care, and education bills paid for, teachers get tuition forgiveness, bloated pensions and more free stuff as the list is very long. Did anyone see the latest new tax it's call medical excise tax (Google it for more information). Also, when you get your W2 at the end of the month you will see that your employer has been mandated to list how much they contribute to your health care. In the near future you will be taxed on what your employer contributes as the government considers this part of your salary.
ReplyDeleteWrong Elaine, the MAJORITY won! We voted for who we chose and your candidate did not win. That is the American way.
ReplyDeleteA real friend would have told you what to expect.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't agree with the progressive left-wing political landscape here in LEBO - move. This community has been hijacked and it will deteriorate over time as the personal agendas take front seat to logical ongoing preservation of our assets.
ReplyDeleteKristen acts like a kook and has no tolerance for fiscal conservatism. The school board has no interest in appropriate academic preparation to higher education. Remember, according to the school board "the right-brained will rule the world" and they will have the bricks and mortar facility that will tax those who built the community out of it to prove it.
Get out, sell your house to another liberal progressive and find a community where like-mided conservatives elect rational representatives. This place is doomed, folks.
10:13 Mt point exactly - the community has been hijacked by liberal democrat progressives and, yes, they are now the majority. So, those who do not share their social agendas need to sell their houses to other progressive liberals and find a better place to go.Mt. Lebanon has become a majority liberal progressive democrat community - it's time to call it what it is and let them all pay for all the things they demand.
ReplyDeleteSo what exactly was all the discussion about Fraasch or Linfante for VP?
ReplyDeleteIt didn't even make any difference to Matt.
I'm sorry, I must truly be a moron for thinking there was an rational reason for expressing an opinion or getting involved.
At the end of the day the vote for both president and vice president... In this case two people at opposite ends of the political spectrum and the vote is unanimous.
It's not say 5 to 0 for prez and 3-2 or 4-1 for vp. Or vice versa. No its 5-0 for both offices.
Why go thru the vote exercise, why let the community know there was a vote at all?
I spent significant time planning the infamous town hall meeting. I hoped to awaken the community to our situation of increasing debt, taxes and our future inability to provide amenities that stable communities require. I made the effort to include people who I do not necessarily agree with, but respect nonetheless. Some folks snubbed the invitation and later were angry that their seats were then given to interested individuals.
ReplyDeleteThe protestors were so wrought with protecting their expensive high school project and concerned with the threat that the truth about our economic future would be made known that they organized a protest.
I initiated a petition and formed a committee that ultimately collected 4,000 signatures asking for reasonable spending on the high school. I also drove to Harrisburg and met with Auditor General staff to ask for intervention on the tax burden being placed on our community.
In the end, it all didn't matter in terms of the elected decision-makers. I agree that the community has moved to a different social and political landscape that will change the Mt. Lebanon we have known to something quite different with respect to the education we offer, amenities we have and ability to attract business and residents who have vested interest in maintaining a quality community.
Every property owner here should be thinking about the future here and whether it will fit their needs and budget given the new LEBO political landscape.
-Charlotte Stephenson
Because this place has been taken over by bullies. That's why.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Sorry to disagree Elaine. Are you insinuating that Matt and Kelly were bullied?
ReplyDeleteStephenson is right, It doesn't matter who the elected decision makers are, petitions don't matter ( we have one running now on TERC) or how many town halls are convened.
The vote was unanimous.
The bullies won. Nice guys finish last. Good night.
ReplyDeleteElaine
I uploaded the podcasts, so RCML, knock your socks off.
ReplyDeleteElaine
An easy comparison:
ReplyDeleteThanks largely to Republican leadership, Mt. Lebanon has been one of the places to BE in this area for 100 years.
But now, thanks to the liberal Democrats (many of whom are newcomers from out-of-town) who are running the show, it has become the place to LEAVE.
That's downright scary...and sad.
For the people who don't know the back story on this and what promises were broken by the commissioners, you really ought to seek out the truth. It might just turn your stomach and open your eyes to how dishonest the Dave Brumfield and Kristen Linfante's are.
ReplyDeleteIf not for a former commissioner's phone call or two, this vote was destined to go a different direction. The idea of a "rotation" somehow infected the commissioners and that was that. Certainly this vote was not done based on merit.
I'd urge the gloaters here to call your future state representative and ask why this all happened. Like I said, the truth just might make you sick about how corrupt with power some of these people are.
12:31
ReplyDeleteThat would make more sense if the $95m HS project wasn't drawn up by Remely and Kubit. I'm sorry- the $113m and counting HS project. Thank you local Republicans for not only going so high in the first place but for capping it off with being so ridiculously off with your estimations. But its like the national debt- whats another $18m...
I can explain that. Remely and Kubit are part of the good old boys network that ruined the RCML. The ones who never vetted their candidates. The ones responsible for the glass ceiling. The RINOs.
ReplyDeleteElaine
The 42nd House District includes all or parts of Bethel Park, Green Tree, Mt. Lebanon, Scott, Rosslyn Farms and Thornburg, so it's not reserved exclusively for a Mt. Lebonite.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope they've been watching and offer up a viable candidate that hasn't gone over to the dark side.
8:11
ReplyDeleteThe future state rep will be either Dan Remely or Dan Miller. They've already been picked.
Elaine- I don't catch every blog so this may be annoying to you. But I never really considered Dan Remely to be anything special as a leader- just more like a gruff guy you'd find smoking in the corner somewhere. So was he responsible for vetting republican candidates and if so which one(s) are you most disappointed in? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy old commissioner, Clueless Joe, was supposed to vet Republican candidates. Things like criminal records, a history of unpaid taxes, intentions to move out of Allegheny County are just a few things that should have been considered, but what do I know?
ReplyDeleteElaine
I would like to respectfully suggest to all of you disappointed and disaffected Republicans that there is a political philosophy and party that encompasses the fiscal discipline you desire with a social policy that emphasizes "live and let live" - and that is the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. And if you are one of those Republicans who feels that Libertarians tend to spoil the Republican party, my response is: "Spoil what?!"
ReplyDeleteAlso, keep in mind that, hand-wringing aside, the majority of people in this town who apparently support "liberal" causes represent roughly about 27% of the people who actually vote, if election returns are any indication - particularly off-year election returns. There is really no reliable way, at this time, to determine what the majority of ML residents really want because they don't vote or participate in local issues. I think the reason for that is human nature; as long as one is making enough money to pay the tribute demanded by the Municipality and District, has enough money left over for pizza, and believes the propaganda about our schools, there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency with these people.
What is wanting, in my opinion, are some independent, young candidates for office with innovative ideas for public financing and a dedication to the natural law rights of the individual. That would be a "game changer" for Club Lebo.
Finally, keep in mind that many a socialist/progressive has become a fiscal conservative after they achieved everything they wanted. For example, New Zealand and Canada, countries know for their socialist tendencies, have cut spending and now have strong economies - the Canadian dollar is worth more that ours at the moment. Even in Greece some socialist members of the Greek parliament have stated that they now recognize that their past policies were "flawed." So things do change.
So Richard, is there a Libertarian Party Committee in Mt. Lebanon? Where do they meet and how do the select candidates?
ReplyDeleteMoving is not the solution. Registering as Libertarian is not the answer. Sitting around complaining is not the answer. The answer is very simple--take back the reins from the weak, short-sighted, "moderates" and "progressives" running the party. And I mean that at the local lvel, county level state level and federal level.
ReplyDeleteWah, liberals are running everything. Well, how the hell did that happen?? I'll tell you how--the local committee is a joke and so-called Republicans in this town, the real ones, have no guts to stand up against the RINOs like Kubit and Remely. It's pathetic. So good luck to the MLRC. You'll be nothing but a memory in two years.
I gave it everything I had. I wish I had more support.
ReplyDeleteThey won. The bullies won. The final nail in the coffin.
Elaine
Correction in mine of January 8, 2013 8:56 AM, 4th paragraph:
ReplyDelete...countries known for their...
Elaine, Is it possible that the majority won? Is it necessarily bullying just because your side did not prevail? If the petition or town hall meeting had the results you wanted, could the other side say you bullied them?
ReplyDelete9:45 AM, sorry, but I don't believe that. Mt. Lebanon has been hijacked by West Coast liberals. This is not the Mt. Lebanon it once was.
ReplyDeleteElaine
Apologies to Elaine, who deserves whether your agree with her or not our respect and admiration for fighting the good fight. I'm not sure we can claim the bullies won.
ReplyDeleteThe waged a better campaign, mustered and kept the troops active and so prevailed.
Unfortunately, her 'bully opponents' fail to recognize that we here in Mt. Lebanon have fallen on hard times. Don't believe it... Then explain to me when in the 100 year history of Mt. Lebanon the school district has chosen to pick up the tin cup and go begging for money? When in it's 100 year history has it declared prime real estate blighted (TIF) to try to get a building project off the ground?
So if I may borrow someone else's words, here's my opinion for what it is worth:
"Somebody wake me. I've been sleeping too long.
Oh, I don't have to take this lying down.
You can keep your promises. Shove `em where they belong.
Don't ask me to the party --- won't be around. "
They didn't post Kristan Linfante's name on the agenda for vice president of the Mount Lebanon Commission. That is proof enough for me that the commissioners knew she doesn't deserve the job. Linfante will have to live with that. Elaine will have to live with her personal grudge. I feel sorry for both of them.
ReplyDelete11:11 Elaine's if you want to call it that, "personal grudge" causes barely a ripple in your life. In fact, by tuning out her blog it might not even stir the water any more than a rift breeze.
ReplyDeleteBut your proven underserving Linfante will be casting votes that will affect the value of your property, and your pocketbook for years to come.
Live with that!
That should be soft breeze not rift breeze.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry or maybe admire 11:11, not sure which. Is it easier going through life half-asleep?
8:11 said "The 42nd House District includes all or parts of Bethel Park, Green Tree, Mt. Lebanon, Scott, Rosslyn Farms and Thornburg, so it's not reserved exclusively for a Mt. Lebonite.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope they've been watching and offer up a viable candidate that hasn't gone over to the dark side."
Well, there is a viable candidate out of Bethel, John Schnatterly. Here is some of what he says: "I am a candidate for state representative for many reasons, but foremost I have a passion to defend Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. I feel that we have devalued Life, that our Liberties are being trampled on, and that Big Government makes it difficult to truly Pursue Happiness. That it is necessary to defend founding principles is sobering to us all.
We would all agree that passing on the American Dream to the next generation has always meant that they would have it better than us. Yet the prospects are not looking good. The next generation is being told to accept a new norm where America and Pennsylvania will grow slowly, if at all, and that there are many limitations.
I will not stand for a lesser future for my children and grandchildren. I am asking you to join me in rejecting this gloomy future as inevitable. We can make positive, pro-growth choices and we can restore a vision of limitless opportunity. We can choose to adhere to founding principles and the Pennsylvania Constitution. We can return government to its proper role."
I heard that due to his property ownership the redistricting in two years will not be a problem for him. Looks like a strong candidate!
Wow! I last looked here yesterday afternoon. I guess I am half-asleep! @6:06 am, that could cost a certain former commissioner votes. It lost my vote.
ReplyDeleteThank you 12:10 for that information, something you might all note, we won't find distributed by our beloved MTL magazine by the way even though it is something we should know!
ReplyDeleteSchnatterly will be getting my vote because neither of our MTL candidates have shown me anything to justify voting for them.
There is a world outside of Mt. Lebanon.
Mine too, 1:02 pm.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to Lebocitizens, otherwise we would have never known!!!!!
Does Schnatterly have a website?
ReplyDeleteAnd Mr. Gideon suggested joining the Liberterians.
I'm not sure if I'm ready to go that far yet, but maybe we can form some sort of bipartisan effort LOCALLY to support a candidate not being rammed down our throats by the local 'unanimous' R/Ds.
11:11 all you can say regarding the election of the commission President and Vice President is that you feel sorry for Elaine and Linfante.
ReplyDeleteWhat you double up you Paxil meds or something. This isn't about a grudge between Elaine and Linfante, its about your commmunity.
You're convinced Linfante is sitting in the VP although you believe she soesn't deserve it and your only comment is I feel sorry for these two ladies.
You really needed to chime in and let us all know that? Go back to your MTL magazine, I'm sure there is some important article like some resident is afraid to ski or directions on how to use residential streets as a cut thru.
Anyone have access to a hall in Lebo, where this guy can make a campaign speech?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear more about his agenda.
We don't always have to eat cake!
A musical message for a former commissioner, one that should be easy to remember.
ReplyDelete"I'm looking through you, where did you go?
I thought I knew you, what did I know?
You don't look different, but you have changed
I'm looking through you, you're not the same
Your lips are moving, I cannot hear
Your voice is soothing, but the words aren't clear
You don't sound different, I've learned the game
I'm looking through you, you're not the same
Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?
Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight
You're thinking of me, the same old way
You were above me, but not today
The only difference is you're down there
I'm looking through you, and you're nowhere
Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?
Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight
I'm looking through you, where did you go
I thought I knew you, what did I know
You don't look different, but you have changed
I'm looking through you, you're not the same"