“data and advice to citizens should come from people who are impartial” (48)

Martin Tower, Serious Issues 1 Minute

(48th in a series on Martin Tower)

Martin Tower demolition May 19
www.martintowerbethlehem.com

x-posted from the “You know you’re from Bethlehem” Facebook page

The demolition contractor, hired by the developer, should not be fielding health risk questions. That should have been done by the State Department of Health, who was not there. The Department of Environmental Protection representatives did not answer the questions about protecting Monocacy Creek, the developer did. When there is a profit motive, data and advice to citizens should come from people who are impartial. The bottom line from the developer last night was clear: we only do what we are obligated by law to do. He referenced other development projects many times but did not seem to understand the scale of this project and it’s significance to the citizens of Bethlehem may require a better approach than “we did nothing illegal here.”

Paige Van Wirt

Paige Van Wirt is a Bethlehem City Councilwoman, physician, and small business owner.

Published by The Bethlehem Gadfly

Edward J. Gallagher, Bethlehem immigrant, retired, nearly 50 years as Professor of American Literature at Lehigh University, known as "Dr. G" and "Conan the Grammarian" to students, whose virtual world avatar "EdwardScholarhands" stares at you here, has reinvented himself as the Bethlehem Gadfly.

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One thought on ““data and advice to citizens should come from people who are impartial” (48)”

  1. You’re absolutely right about who should be providing answers, although the people from Health & DEP probably only know what the contractor told them.

    Legal simply means they complied with the minimal & inadequate regulations from the state.

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