How Desperate things have gotten Democratic Mayor turns to Deforestation to balance budget

[AllentownJake]

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5timber.6951708jul12,0,5817747.story

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski may turn to an unusual -- and controversial -- source of revenue to help the city's ailing budget.

Since May, the city has been collecting information on how much money it could generate by chopping down the oaks, birch and poplar trees on its property on South Mountain and selling the timber to loggers, records show.

South Mountain, which lies mostly in Salisbury Township, borders Allentown and is a popular spot for biking and hiking. It also serves as a watershed for Trout Creek and the Little Lehigh Creek, a major source of the city's drinking water.

Overall, Allentown owns several hundred acres on the mountain, including portions that lie in Salisbury.

Ed is a good guy, I've met him several times, however the growing Budget Crisis in America's cities has them turning to nontraditional methods to balance the budget. Ed was one of the first Mayors in recent times to balance the city's budget. The fact our leaders have to make these choices is scary and depressing

[XemaSab]

1. How much are they proposing to log?

The city of Arcata (hippie capitol of California) clearcuts three acres of redwoods a year, but they use the money to build a nice community center, an AA ballpark, and other things they would not otherwise afford. :shrug:

[AllentownJake]

2. The price of the consultants and enviromental impact

Will probably destroy any potential revenue unless they take a significant amount of lumber from the mountain.

My bigger fear is that the city lies in a valley and taking trees off the mountain could cause problems with both flooding and the reservoir.

[XemaSab]

3. They can't just get a THP?

:shrug:

[AllentownJake]

4. It has to pass city council

3 of the 9 have already said no way in hell on the record.

[NJCher]

5. and maybe the populace will protest

Around here people band together to protect trees.

This is a very sad state of affairs: on another thread, word that a zoo in MA is saying it will have to kill animals because of no money. Now in PA, killing trees?

Why are people killing off what gives us the greatest joy? It is heartbreaking to see this kind of thinking.

There have to be other solutions.


Cher

[AllentownJake]

6. Budget Crisis

The unthinkable a year ago is now being considered.

Ed is a good guy. He has a 9 million dollar budget deficit and is trying to find a solution.

Last year at this time he had a surplus.

[depakid]

7. With timber prices at their lowest levels in a long time- this is a pretty stupid move