Action Alert for Berks County, PA

[Joy Anne]

This is a very important local issue and we need your help with it.
Background: Yesterday a few of us from DIA went to the Berks County Commissioners meeting (and the Election Board meeting). I don't listen to local radio stations but we found out that the chairman of the local Berks County republican party, Larry Medaglia, had put over $700 worth of ads on our local talk radio stations during this past week (see Reading Eagle the last couple of days for more details - today there are two articles one on B1 and one on B6) to try to discredit Judy Schwank and Tom Gaweski, the two democrat county commissioners (there are a total of 3, the third is republican Mark Scott) on the increase in the 2005 budget. I don't know all the details of the budget but I do know the tactics that are being used come right down from Karl Rove - misstatements and innuendo. The ad is below. At the meeting, not because of the ads, but because of the article about the increase the day before, we asked if part of the increase was due to the federal govt cuts and the state cuts in funding for programs - the answer is that it is certainly part of it. You also need to know that while Judy has been on the board for several years it was not until January of this year when Tom won election that they became the majority party on the board. Before that it was a republican dominated board with Mark Scott and Tim Riever making all the decisions (including budget decisions). So a lot of what they are trying to work with was from before they began as the majority in January. During the discussions at the meeting Mark Scott made a few comments but saved his attack comments for the Eagle reporter after the meeting - that way no one could respond to him.
Something very very important that you need to also know is that Larry Medaglia is not only the chairman of the Berks republican party, he is also a row officer making $72,000 a year. He goes on the air and criticizes the democrat commissioners for their spending practices at the same time lobbying for a pay increase for the row officers. The hypocrisy is astounding!!!!

I am asking that you take the following actions asap:

-Call Mark Scott and ask what his plan is for taxes and that you are offended by his dirty tricks. 610-478-6130.

- Also call Larry Medaglia and ask him why he is conducting party business on taxpayers time. And that you are offended by his dirty tactics. 610-478-6600 or 610-507-1916

- People need to call Feedback (WEEU) and protest this sort of stuff. 610-374-8800

- Also we need people at the County Services Center, 633 Court St., 13th floor, on Monday night December 6th @ 7P.M. as the Republicans try to raise the salaries of their row officers. Let them know we will not stand for it.
(I think we should also try to attend the County Commissioners Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 7th at 10:30am as well.)
Thanks,
Dorothy - DIA
Larry Medaglia's Ad on WEEU

Do you remember the race for county commissioner in 2003?

It was just last year that Judy Schwank and Tom Gajewski said they had a plan for taxes and job creation.

So how've they done?

Well, they just proposed raising your county property taxes 34 percent.

You heard right.

A 34 percent increase in your county taxes.

And on job creation?

A new, fifty-one thousand dollar a year job for their unsuccessful candidate for recorder of deeds.

But that's not all.

A job for Judy's campaign worker that cost you fifty thousand dollars.

And there is more.

Over one hundred fifty new hires on the county payroll this year alone.

That's some plan taxes and job creation.

Fight back.

Call Judy Schwank at 610-478-6133

And Tom Gajewski at 610-478-6127

Tell them you don't like their 34% tax hiking job creation plan.

Tell them their reckless spending has to stop.