Are Media Boro Residents Better Off Now Than a Year ago? YES!

Facts are facts, Media's year old bipartisan cooperation delivers on commitments to borough residents, businesses and visitors.  A year ago there were baseless and FALSE allegations from the Media Democratic Party that the change in Media Borough's leadership was through some back room politics orchestrated by the county.

I still have yet to see proof of that.  However, what proof I do have shows that the back room politics were alive and well here in Media.  The former democratic majority apparently didn't see any problem giving $250k "no bid" awards to former Borough Engineer, Sande Walton.  In return, Sande, who was also the Chair of the Brookhaven Democrats, returned the favor with $1,250 political contributions to the Media Democrats on a yearly basis.

Now that the engineer and the democratic majority has been replaced, we're now on the verge of getting the 3rd St. Bridge fixed and the completion of the CMAQ project.   Both had been  unexplainably stalled for the last 10 years, so residents have to wonder, were the generous engineering bids and political contributions, at the expense of Media Taxpayers,  really behind this lengthy delay?

Character, Integrity and honest Judgement Matters, 

regardless of party politics!

 tedmanformedia.com

Seven Major Achievements in the Last Year:

1. Bipartisanship: After 28 years of one party majority rule, borough council voted to make changes to better position council to deal with issues that have been neglected for years. Despite early criticism by opponents questioning the new leadership and change, the results have been impressive.
2. 3rd St. Bridge Lawsuit:  Over a decade had passed before a council president could resolve the lawsuits that prevented Media Borough from addressing the repair of the bridge.   The bipartisan cooperation, led by Council President, Pete Alyanakian (R) and Vice President Monika Rehoric (D) resolved this issue within 9 months!!!!!!!!
   
3. 3rd St. Bridge Finance:  
   Closed by the PA DEP in 1996 this project has cost over $330,000 tax dollars through legal and engineering fees.  The bipartisan council has applied for and received a grant for $75,000 from the county to help offset the design cost. In addition, President, Pete Alyanakian authorized council to apply for a state grant for the remaining balance of $650,000 for the dam repair.  

   He is the only council president who has applied for any additional funds since 1996. 
   
4. Defeating Political Cronyism: Bipartisanship put an end to the political cronyism that was going on between the former Borough Engineer (aka Chair of the Brookhaven Democrats) and the Media Democratic Party who was receiving a yearly campaign contribution of $1,250 for the last three years.    This could not have been addressed without a bipartisanship change.
5. Sale of 1 West State St.:  $670,000 for 1 West State Street (Brodeur's) is far from the bid of $1,000,000 that was rejected back in 2005, but the bid was approved this month for the sale of the building.  
6. Funding for Media Events: Brandywine CVB, a primary sponsor for MBA events added $20,000 in new funds this year to help make our street fairs bigger and better in 2011.
7. CMAQ: (Congestion Mitigation Air Quality) Project awarded in 1999, is now on schedule to be completed in 2011.   This project allowed for installation of a computerized closed loop traffic signal system on Baltimore Pike and Providence Road.  The fiber optic system will enhance travel and reduce congestion for the thousands of motorists who travel on both roads each day. 

(Note:  PennDot provides a list of approved contractors for this type of CMAQ design work,  but the former council gave it to the largest donor to the Media Democratic Party.......a NO Bid contract to the former borough engineer for the design work. The firm had no experience in this type of design and took over 11 years and spent close to $300,000 of your tax dollars to complete the design!)