Optimism tanking

The crime in the valley and the lackadaisical attitude of the local mayors toward the illegals, which is raising most of the problems pis-s-e-s me off the most. They keep saying it isn't our job, it is a federal crime. Well when you have a FEDERAL bank held up why do they send police, it is a federal bank. Also, the politicians at the commonwealth level seem to be so crooked and underhanded it is ridiculous and nobody in law enforcement wants to do anything about it. And can anybody tell me why we have National Public Radio? There is a boondoggle.

Yo Kamran, I've been telling you this since before 2003!
How many $8 an hour jobs are keeping us the "vibrant" engine of employment you were constantly crowing about.
What's wrong, all the jokers who are during that time commuting to NY & NJ now getting hit with gas prices and all the additional increases in the cost of living now starting to notice? OK, now I get it, for the 36 hours they spend here between late Friday night and early Monday morning has them scrimping to landscape their McMansions.........
NOW it is a problem. The middle class has been abandoned here years ago! It is about time you and the others have pulled your heads out of your spreadsheets and walked the streets like the rest of us. "Figures Lie, and Liars Figure! Welcome to what it really is, a DEPRESSION, quit calling it a recession!

"Less than half of residents say the economy is in excellent or good shape in the Valley compared with nearly seven in 10 residents who felt that way just a year ago. Half, meanwhile, say the economy is faring either poorly or not so well, the highest level of discontent since 2003.

''No location is an island when the whole economy is going through this much adjustment,'' said Bethlehem economist Kamran Afshar.''All these predictions of recession and doom and gloom are here -- the Valley is impacted because of it. It is very hard to totally stay away from it.''

Yea Snowman, I can tell ya,
It is to make sure that those of us who haven't drank the cool aid don't get all of our info from Faux "News" and from Bill Orally (no I spelled it that way on purpose) and the rest of the ditto heads.
I agree with you though on the failure of our Feds. the last SEVERAL administrations have let the border be overrun, banks run wild, Enron's take over, and most recently, I don't care what you call it, bailed out a bank to stop a run.
The spread between the richest and poorest of us is at the greatest point since the Great Depression. But Noooooooooooo.........as long a Haliburton, Exxon, Blackwater et al are making money we are just in a "slow patch".
People better open their eyes, or we will all be living on the banks of the Lehigh in Bushvilles in refrigerator boxes if we are lucky.
We would be better off if we snuck into the country and got the social programs we don't qualify for now because we are trying to hold on to the jobs we have. It is coming to a contest to where you have to decide if you want to pay your mortgage, buy gas to get to work, pay for meds for our parents, and decide between hot dogs or cat food, or just to have heat in the winter, move into our cars! I wish this was all something that the "real" people who are working in the service industries in the Valley did not actually have to face in the coming year. Think I'll go spend my day on my yacht now.

Optimism in Allentown TANKED a long time ago--- started with dadonna-- moved on to aflerBEAK, and now it is in the firm hands of the Quitter...
Allentown city government needs to take a week off from the office and take a trip over to Bethlehem City Govt offices--- have them look around and see how real local government operates... Bethlehem has done remarkable things revitalizing a once depressed region into a viable, positive community. They actually attract business--- Allentown forces business away. Planning is what is missing in Allentown--- but in order to plan, you need the right players at the table. Pawlowski is not a smart person with a plan....

It is not only the Valley that is getting hit, it is a nationwide problem and the three knuckleheads running for president or the current one aren't going to fix this problem in their lifetime. People are going broke by the gas prices, tempers are starting to rise, criminal activity is getting worse as people try to survive and the people trying to keep law and order are fighting a losing battle. We will all be eating tuna fish, hot dogs and cans of soup for a while as these gas prices skyrocket. You can't even afford to take a day trip for a much needed vacation this year.

Afshar and his dopey polls and comments just solidify his cushy job. Let him waltz down 7th Street sometime and come to a reality awakining and report objectively sometime.

There is an attempt by the upper elite to further control the population through fear and illusions - terrorism, global warming, etc. But we are by no means in a "depression." It's laughable to even begin to suggest that.
Overall it is the responsibility of each individual to improve his/her inner state. Society right now is just a reflection of the disjointed inner states and consciousness of each individual that forms our society.

SHOCKING FACTS wrote:

Yo Kamran, I've been telling you this since before 2003!
How many $8 an hour jobs are keeping us the "vibrant" engine of employment you were constantly crowing about.
What's wrong, all the jokers who are during that time commuting to NY & NJ now getting hit with gas prices and all the additional increases in the cost of living now starting to notice? OK, now I get it, for the 36 hours they spend here between late Friday night and early Monday morning has them scrimping to landscape their McMansions.........
NOW it is a problem. The middle class has been abandoned here years ago! It is about time you and the others have pulled your heads out of your spreadsheets and walked the streets like the rest of us. "Figures Lie, and Liars Figure! Welcome to what it really is, a DEPRESSION, quit calling it a recession!
"Less than half of residents say the economy is in excellent or good shape in the Valley compared with nearly seven in 10 residents who felt that way just a year ago. Half, meanwhile, say the economy is faring either poorly or not so well, the highest level of discontent since 2003.
''No location is an island when the whole economy is going through this much adjustment,'' said Bethlehem economist Kamran Afshar.''All these predictions of recession and doom and gloom are here -- the Valley is impacted because of it. It is very hard to totally stay away from it.''

The Lehigh Valley is a bedroom community for NY and NJ residents. The PA residents were priced out years ago.

The aggressiveness of the area comes from the NY/NJ mindset.

You don't need a poll for this topic. TOO many transplants from NY and NJ have now made our area what it is becoming. I blame it all on that. If this is progress, count me out!

''The Valley is in a state of transformation. People like it, but they see signs that they are concerned about,'' said Christopher Borick, director of Muhlenberg College's Institute of Public Opinion in Allentown.

Umm, not much if anything is transforming. Look at the growth data for the past 18 months. Also, look at what development is on the books and ready to be built, not much if anything. As such, I would argue that the Valley HAS transformed from something and is not in a state of transformation.

Everything is just fine. The latest inflation numbers from our trusted goverment show inflation is nearly non-existant and gasoline actually dropped in price when seasonally adjusted. So what if milk prices double. Drink water. Can't fill the tank? Walk. Heating oil prices got you down? Snuggle with the family under a dozen blankets. We are so lucky to have an intelligent man of such great integrity leading our nation. W is the best! Life is good.

The real problem wrote:

The Lehigh Valley is a bedroom community for NY and NJ residents. The PA residents were priced out years ago.
The aggressiveness of the area comes from the NY/NJ mindset.

I couldn't agree more!

Crime is up... Housing costs are up... Idiotic drivers are up...

Go back 15-20 years ago, and BEFORE I-78, and see the difference. Anyone who doesn't think this has anything to do with the NY/NJ transplants is just plain blind.

People came from the big cities, and they brought the crime and problems from the big cities. Thanks, NY and NJ!!!

Inflation up 7%.

Raises average around 3%, if you get one at all.

Do the math.

Say what wrote:

It is not only the Valley that is getting hit, it is a nationwide problem and the three knuckleheads running for president or the current one aren't going to fix this problem in their lifetime. People are going broke by the gas prices, tempers are starting to rise, criminal activity is getting worse as people try to survive and the people trying to keep law and order are fighting a losing battle. We will all be eating tuna fish, hot dogs and cans of soup for a while as these gas prices skyrocket. You can't even afford to take a day trip for a much needed vacation this year.

How bout that? Just what we need in a flailing economy.....the Three Stooges running for President. LOL! Or better yet......Gee, should I choose "Twiddley Dee (Hillary), Twiddley Dum (OBama) or Twiddley DipShit (McCain)?

Bethlehem revitalized? Where at they revitalized one street on the Sotuh Bethlehem which is 3rd St however they seem to forget about other areas throughout south Bethlehem. As for Allentown that is just dump city.

nopunintended wrote:

You don't need a poll for this topic. TOO many transplants from NY and NJ have now made our area what it is becoming. I blame it all on that. If this is progress, count me out!

So then you would be listed as "optimistic" in the poll? Home prices down, gas prices up makes the LV less attractive to transplants, so the horizon looks good for the haters.

Amused wrote:

People came from the big cities, and they brought the crime and problems from the big cities. Thanks, NY and NJ!!!

I came from NJ, not from a big city and did not bring any crime with me. What I do bring is a higher local income tax contribution and a deep respect for the community I joined when I moved here.

Blame our Democratic governor and mayors, and the liberal judges who let criminals get away with murder (figuratively, and sometimes literally, speaking). What's that, you can only blame Republicans for crime and the economy?

nopunintended wrote:

You don't need a poll for this topic. TOO many transplants from NY and NJ have now made our area what it is becoming. I blame it all on that. If this is progress, count me out!

Last time I checked NY and NJ were part of the United States. Stop being such a tribalistic nitwit. It's not like the native Pa Dutchies are such great cultural elites you know.