Dear Readers,
Thanks for stopping by this Sunday morning. Grab a cup of coffee and sit back, I'll take it from here....
Very interesting news about GRM this week and also Franklin Mint. A lot of people are concerned about how this will affect Media and I am too, because it will. As a candidate for mayor, I'm on top of these issues and cautiously encouraged by news about the Septa Media/Elwyn Line. I'll cover that in detail also. No word from Mayor McMahon. He had a chance to address this and many other things happening in Media at Thursday's council meeting, but elected not too, or just doesn't know what's going on - like always.
Where local news gets its news - ATM
Last week, 5,967 people can to this site to see what I had to say and share. Even the local news sites can't keep up with ATM. It's not by luck, it's dedication and commitment to my home town that has A LOT of potential - the formula is simple. If elected Mayor of Media, I'll apply that same drive to this community, our businesses and the vision I have for making Media one of the best places to live in America.
Thanks!
Tedman O'Hara
Candidate for Mayor
MEDIA IN TWO MINUTES
Media Film Festival Returns to Media Theatre
This had been a point of contention of mine for years: How can you have a film festival and it not be in the Media Theatre? Well, looks like those days are over with next year's festival going back to the theatre in April 2014. Nice job by both the Media Theatre and Media's Arts Council.Penncrest Football goes 7-1
That's a pretty impressive record no matter how you look at it. Congratulations to the players, coaches, cheerleaders, band and all the others who contribute. You've all done a great job and I've never seen a community prouder of their football team. PENNCREST PROUD! My hat's off to everyone!
Media Youth Center - Thunderbird Dinner
 |
| My earliest recollections of a T-Bird (aka Super Chicken) |
Anyway, it's that time of year a again which can only mean the WORLD FAMOUS MYC Thunderbird Dinner! It's called this, because at one time someone won a Ford Thunderbird. The first dinner was held in 1958 and has been hosted by Mr. & Mrs. Bill & Lorraine Gross ever since. That's pretty cool!
Septa's Media/Elwyn Line - UPDATE
 |
| WTH, Let's get this fixed! |
Was anything said about this situation by Media Borough Council at Thursday's meeting? Doubtful. Perhaps they are still discussing when the next letter should be mailed out.
For You Speed Freaks!
That was meant in the non-controlled substance context, unless that also includes nitro methane. Anyway Hannum's Harley Davidson had a two-wheeled rocketship on display yesterday. It goes about 200mph and gets 8 gallons to the mile. (Yes, you read that right). Essentially, it's a controlled explosion that rides on one wheel for 900 feet and does the 1/4mile in 7 seconds. What intrigued me was what looked like a kevlar strap wrapped around the engine. The driver told me, as though it wasn't any big deal, that it's there as a precaution to prevent the pistons from blowing off the heads and hitting him in the chest. Oh, really? So aside from being possibly blown apart, set on fire and having a fist-full of metal stuck in your chest, I couldn't really see any reason to not give it a try.Noise Complaints on State Street
This has been a problem by the the corner of State and Olive Streets, but looks to have gotten worse. I've received numerous complaints of loud music and loud crowds. I even got an email about this this morning. A couple things I would recommend: 1) Call the police, 2) Notify your landlord. 3) Email Borough Manager, Jeff Smith at jasmith@mediaborough.com
There will be news about this in the next week or two. Surprisingly, not a word was mentioned by Council President, Brian Hall and Media Borough Council about the appeal hearing that took place two weeks ago. I'll sit this one out. They can share with the community the latest debacle, since they created it.
BIG CHANGES for Granite Run Mall and Media
If you saw the sketches of last week's Granite Run Mall Site Plan, you know they mean business. BIG BUSINESS. I'll have a lot more about this in the coming weeks, but this creates an interesting ripple effect for Media. First off, Media retail and even the restaurants will now be challenged with competitive location that'll have more selection, ample parking, marketing budgets and a built to order town that Media hasn't had to compete with in a long time. This from a group who is well financed and has the track record of making developments like this work. And work very well. If you've talked to the business owners in Media, you'll hear for the most part retail is struggling and operating close to margin; restaurants and bars complain there are too many already. Speaking of which, another business on State Street will be closing.Secondly, I can't help but think Trader Joe's now needs to make a decision on whether to make plans to stay in Media or look elsewhere. Currently, the Media store is only ~5,000sqf, which is a 1/3 of the size of their newer stores. With a very bad parking situation, TJ's could be a big draw for the developers at GRM or possibly the Franklin Mint Site that is now beginning to look for tenants. It's no secret TJ's has been shopping around for another property. Whether it's for another store or to move out of Media entirely, it remains to be seen, but now they have some decisions to think about. And so does Media.
Borough Council Candidate, Lisa Johnson not telling the whole story
I have a problem with candidates for borough council walking around purposely leaving issues off their literature thinking that the voters will fall for generalizations like "thoughtful ideas and solutions" and "roll up my sleeves" as if that means anything. I ran into candidate Lisa Johnson yesterday who is against the Wawa project due to traffic and wants to keep Third Street Bridge closed. That's fine, but at least have the courage to standup for what you believe in. That's leadership. That's transparency. Both of which have been missing from borough council and apparently from a few candidates.
Brian Hall did mention this during the recent Council meeting. The Commonwealth Court decision will determine whether the stipulation will remain revoked as ruled by Judge Proud. If revoked, the litigation will return to the original issue of dam ownership. It was the issue of ownership which created the 18 year delay. This time, however, the community knows the high hazard dam has no public benefit and will harm a public park.
ReplyDeleteNo public benefit? How about restoration of a useful roadway? How about an agreement that places all maintenance except for the roadway surface on BLCC and Delaware County? How about having a dam replaced under modern construction standards? How about settlement of a lawsuit that could expose the Borough to significant liability? I would still like to hear Borough Council to come up a feasible alternative. To me using taxpayer funds to build a pedestrian walkway is essentially hijacking taxpayer funds allocated to rebuilding a road. Councilman Davidson in his blog was very clear that he did not want Media Borough to be responsible for a bridge so what other optiosn are there? Unless stalling the project is the real motivation, in my opinion, waiting for the results of a lawsuit is the equivalent of "betting it all on red".
DeleteDave Daniel
How about placating a private country club? The dam/lake and two way traffic clearly provides the most benefit to a private institution which plans development and continued litigation against the borough. Maybe public projects should be discussed in public.
DeleteThe road does not have to go on top of another dam. A dam/lake and two way traffic benefits the private country club (who reportedly intend further litigation and selling property to developers). A public project should be discussed publicly.
DeleteAgreed that the road doesn't have to go over a dam but I disagree with the statement that a two way road benefits the swim club only. It benefits the entire community. In fact, the majority of those who replied to the CAC survey favored restoration of two-way vehicular traffic either by way of a bridge or another dam. The CAC discounted presenting a one-way road as a viable option. It was only after a divided Council voted to proceed with the Stipulation to rebuild the dam that the FROGS (who comprised half of the CAC by the way)presented the one-way alternative which was adopted by Council and then led to additional litigation. It is simply uninformed or inaccurate to suggest the BLCC is responsible for the delay as well as to suggest that somehow the Stipulation was a taxpayer givewaway to the BLCC when in fact the Stipulation probably saved Media Borough taxpayers money. I'm not a BLCC member by the way.
DeleteAs to the idea of a bridge, thats fine but how much will it cost? Who will pay for it and maintain it? Will it be two way? I'd support a bridge if the cost is significantly less than the cost of a new dam for construction and continued maintenance. I'm not convinced that a bridge is so vastly superior to the plan for the dam that it justifies scraping the dam. The impact to the park is minimal. A required study showed no adverse impact on the historical features of the park( the gatehouse and pavilion which are examples of depression era work projects). So people have to look at a grassy slope. Thats my opinion for what its worth. I have no problem with others expressing their opinions and refuse to call others names but lets keep the debate accurate.
Dave Daniel
Add the ongoing costs of high hazard dam maintenance and inspections to the cost of repeated lake dredging to re-create a lake to hold back. It is a matter of opinion whether the impact to the park is "minimal", but the treeless, chain link and concrete slope will be there for the lifetime of any new dam. It's already an outdated solution.
DeleteThank you for stating a well thought out and accurate picture of the situation Dave. I would like to add that it was stated that a bridge would cost almost 8 times the amount of the dam. Orange Street is overused because 3rd Street is shut down. I wonder why some of the heads of the FROG group don't care about the effect this has on our neighbors who live on that passage into town. If you do not think it is overused just have a look at the condition of the road. My opinion is that of course the FROGS do not care about neighbors unless they agree with them and they don't care about the environment unless it is their backyard. Buses wasting fuel, raods deteriorating before they should all so that a few people can keep their side of the bridge closed to traffic.
DeleteIs that Lisa Johnson also a member of the Urban Terrorist FROGS group, or is it the other Johnson?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, one in the same. Why would anyone NOT think that this candidate would be in lock step agreement with the CURRENT council on the bridge and the Wawa? She waves the FROG flag and I have not seen any literature other than what Tedman quotes here. Where is the experience? Where is the knowledge? Are we to understand this person wants my vote by trying to hide true colors and/or affiliations? Dave Daniel is absolutely right on the money with his post above - why oh why are we citizens of Media not holding officials and candidates accountable for this debacle?
DeleteCitizens of Media are not holding officials accountable because the debacle was created, frustrated and perpetuated by the swim club.
DeleteThe debacle was created, frustrated and perpetuated by the Urban Terrorist FROGS who got their own on council and decided to ignored a clear settlement, but don't let facts get in the way of your point.
DeleteFrogs only appeared on the scene recently, Steve, and had nothing to do with all the legal BS that the club has pulled, ignoring the DEP, etc etc. Sorry, no dam for swim club. Let's just put a culvert in now and get on with it.
DeleteSorry, Steve. The delay has always been about ownership. Judge Proud doesn't think the stipulation was clear. The community doesn't like the terms. The design wasn't good for the park. Three strikes .....
Deleteoh yes, ownership, of course, I forgot, let's remember that despite that the borough, county and club decided it was better to forgo the decade and a half of red tape being held up by that mystery in an attempt to put together a plan going foreward (Which they did and agreed to) that detailed out who would replace and who would maintain going forward. Let's also not forget that financing was also put in place for the Borough's committment for their portion of work. The community, split as it is, was duped by an urban terrorist group using the park as a front to keep their "private" residences private, pushing an unaffordable and unsustainable "greenway" as a solution. And in addition, the FROGS got some of their own on council, and stacked the deck of the CAC, originally intended to be utilized for the "finishes" of the bridge, to initiate a brand new logjam aimed at appeasing said terrorists.
DeleteHow many strikes am I up to?
Why not mention the pending gas tax increase in the bill that would come with the funding for SEPTA when you keep bringing up the R3 line? Possible 28 cent gas tax increase seems like a great reason to vote no.
ReplyDeleteI'm in favor of the increased transportation funding.... just wish there was more transparency re the true potential cost pointed out by 1113
ReplyDeleteTM, when was the last time you attended a Borough Council meeting?
ReplyDeleteAnon 1230 ... how is that relevant? TM can't conduct business until he's elected. Are you saying only those who attend meetings should be eligible to run? Or only those who attend meetings have the right to free speech?
ReplyDeleteWhich business in Media is closing? Why don't you tell us the name?
ReplyDeleteThe eye glass store across from Appolo's
DeleteThese candidates and their literature could be used in any town. It discusses nothing related to Media.
ReplyDeleteThis group is nothing more than order takers for their party bosses.
I agree with Tedman on this one.