 |
| Councilwoman, Amy Johnson fails to address complaints (i.e. public urination) about Media's Farmers Market |
When the farmers market liaison, councilwoman Amy Johnson was asked to comment on the issues, and who also received a letter about it in advance, she stated the the farmer's market president emailed a response to the restaurant owner. I suppose the obvious question is, if Amy read the email and understood the situation, why couldn't she summarize the response during the discussion? Secondly, council president Brian Hall - or anyone on council for that matter - should have spoken up and requested the farmer's market be postponed until a comprehensive health inspection can be done of this event. (C'mon, Paul Robinson!) Public urination? I can't even believe that goes on there. The question was even raised, "how do they wash their hands?"
Where's the oversight, the management and leadership on this matter? There hasn't been any since day one! Here's the political cronyism that led to the mess.
(Note: The president of the Media's Farmer's Market, Adeline Cianella is also the wife of councilman, Peter Williamson. Councilwoman Amy Johnson is the farmers market liason and neighbor of council president, Brian Hall)
We're all neighbors, silly. But the lack of restrooms and washing stations is a valid concern, as is the fact that an entire parking lot is unavailable one afternoon/evening per week. Why not put it on Edgemont next to Barrall Field or even in the parking lot of the school, and get a few port a potties and a washing station?
ReplyDeleteBC runs a the farmers market about as well as they run the borough! Do these people have any real-world experience?
ReplyDeleteThey run a market about as well as they fix a bridge (3rd St. Bridge) BTW, who the hell pees on lawns in broad daylight.
DeleteThey should at least pay the lost revenue of the meters on that particular day. Pinnochio's is right
ReplyDeleteHow about borough council relocate out of our lives. Embarrassed by this.
ReplyDeleteTedman I agree with everything Ted (the owner of Pinocchio's) said. Unfortunately NOTHING will change. This borough Council and all the past Borough Councils have "pet projects" that they force on the residents.
ReplyDeleteAnd projects they will delay or neglect (WAWA - 3RD ST BRIDGE) It seems in Council's minds Media is a utopia of hipster wannabees. But hey just remember we are the 1st Fair Trade Town blah blah blah.........
Luckily despite the negative stereotypes, Media's a thriving town.
Delete(and even some conservatives like small biz & fresh, local food sources)
Hmmmmm.... so one business complains about another and the other business should shut down until the complaint is thoroughly investigated? Does anyone see a problem with this suggestion?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm not sure what the exchange between Pinocchio's and the Market looks like, but this commentary seems to suggest that it would be wrong for two businesses to resolve their differences without (local) government intervention. And the commentary then also complains that said local government is lacking in "oversight, management and leadership." What gives? Do we need government intervention or not? Is this government incompetent if they intervene or incompetent if they don't intervene? It's a lose-lose.
I really don't understand what feels like a general resentment toward the Farmers' Market. Is this not something to support? Money in the pockets of loads of small businesses that offer their goods at the market is a less positive impact to our community than the 50 cents per hour per parking spot that the borough loses in parking meter revenue?
Yes, these sanitation questions must be answered. And there may be a better location for the market. But really, closing down the market to address these concerns feels wrong. Especially when the Market about to end a five-month hiatus when these issues could have been resolved without an impact to the operation of a great community asset.
Something smells foul here and it's not coming from the Market ... or the nearby bushes!
Hmmm so one tax paying business that has been a staple of the community for 55 years formulated valid concerns and complaints regarding payment of taxes, unsanitary conditions and safety issues related to traffic in a school zone and you see a problem with this?
DeleteThe local government is the issuer of the permit for the farmers market to operate in a commandeered tax payer support lot that negatively impacts tax paying business. Other festivals and mass gathering events are required to have bathroom facilities and other required items. Why should a farmers market not be? The government can’t sit on the sidelines for this as they are the ones that rammed this down the throats of the media people.
It is something to support and the comments from the gentleman in the video were supportive, he suggests a great alternative to move the market to a still walkable area with better facilities to handle such an event. Just because you like the market doesn’t meen you have to be blind to the actual issues presented in a logical statement to council
When a restaurant is found in violation of sanitary inspections are they not shut down until addressed? Same situation here. Council created this mess by not stipulating requirements for the use of this area and for underestimating the impact to the town.
Something does smell afoul and it’s the unwashed hands of the market vendors handling your food.
Farmer's Market should either provide portable toilets, or create agreement with designated location.
DeleteBusinesses are stating concerns over competition.
Food vendors pay taxes, licenses, and fees, and are inspected.
Restaurants with violations are not immediately shut down.
Parking and traffic is a constant concern in Media.
The Community Center is not a feasible location. It borders a residential area, and would interfere with Police.
No way the parking lot on the Jackson Street side of the Community Center would interfere with the police. And people also live on state street by the existing Farmers Market.
DeleteAnon 2:20 Community Center is across the street from a church, funeral home, and office building along with several apartment buildings. Everything in Media borders a residential area.
DeleteAdeline Cianella is an embarrassment to Media, PA Does her husband councilman Willamson have the same contempt against the american flag?
ReplyDeleteIt is a very poor location at the very least and they should consider a better spot. Losing the extra parking when the market is in town makes it even harder to find a place to park to use the post office or Pinocchios
ReplyDeleteIf Hall and Robinson can't oversee or question a glorified apple cart called the Media's Farmers market, than who exactly is dealing with the multi-million dollar developers ascending on Media?
ReplyDeleteHall accepts "An email was sent" as an acceptable response from Amy Johnson. Does he accept that from developers on traffic, congestion and zoning concerns?
Removing these two hacks is a good start.
Aaaaaaaaaand down goes the MFM yards sign I put up. Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteThe faces may change (not often enough Mayor and Robinson and Hall) but the insanity and lack of public concern and responsibility/accountability to the residents continues..and the lemmings keep leaping from the cliff when they vote. Time for a BIG CHANGE but I doubt the voters have the sense to do that.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were in Media Elementary aftercare, pick up was at the State street door and I hated Thursday pick up because there was no parking for me to get my kid, that was my only beef about the Market it needs a new location.
ReplyDeleteBREAKING NEWS................MEDIA BOROUGH COUNCIL IMPOTENT
ReplyDeleteWatched the meeting last night. 5 (FIVE) established businesses and the Media Business Authority have leveled complaints against the Media Farmers Market. From traffic, to unsanitary conditions ---- what is Council President Brian Hall's response......."uh Amy could you please work things out......." Must Borough Council wait for some type of injury or accident before it acts. Lets hope not since these issues have been brought before them if an accident or injury occur Media's liability and culpability could be huge.
The Media Farmers Market is a direct reflection of the people that run it - Awful! Throw in the unsanitary conditions and this now becomes an embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteI, as well as, other Media businesses can't stand this council.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would like to see the market moved to a Saturday. Since, I'm at work on weekdays, by the time I get to the market at 6pm, most of the fresh vegetables, eggs and meat are sold out. So, I stopped going.
ReplyDeleteI agree it's a weird time and location. Agree, Media parking is always a challenge. If it poses a problem there, it'll pose problems elsewhere. This is the first time I've heard it's unsanitary. Odd. Also the first time I've ever heard of a farmer's market anywhere having such a negative perception. Considered a privilege most places. Sounds like these larger businesses want the small farmers/businesses out.
ReplyDeleteIf the first fair trade town in the US didn't have a functioning farmer's market, in a highly visible location, that would be a complete disgrace. Farmer's Markets stimulate the economy and create jobs. Never saw anything lacking in quality there.
ReplyDeleteWhat connection are you trying to make between the farmers market and fair trade? They are not related at all.
DeletePlenty of parking and restrooms at Borough Hall. Just saying.....
ReplyDeleteMedia Farmer's Market = nice idea, but not necessary. Stopped going due to parking issues, small # of vendors (small space), poor availability of items after first 1.5-2 hours. Suggest cooperative effort with County and move it to Rose Tree Park (plenty of parking, more space, more vendors, etc.
ReplyDeleteValid points all around. The time and location is horrible. It's a great idea for the town and certainly needs to remain. but why not on a sautrday or sunday? And as for Pinnochios complaining about the food trucks selling pizza?? Come on, man... Your pizza aint that good... so what if a truck sells a few slices or pies once a week. is your business really struggling?
ReplyDelete