I am an Eagle scout and this ticks me off (UPDATE)

[slagmaker]

I just cant understand how someone would think like this. I mean you can see what the unions are all about.

Pennsylvania Union Leader Criticized for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism

A Pennsylvania union leader has come under fire after threatening legal action against the city of Allentown for allowing a Boy Scout to voluntarily clear a walking path in a local park.

Nick Balzano, president of the Service Employees International Union's Allentown chapter, said last week that the union might file a grievance against the city for allowing 17-year-old Kevin Anderson to clear the hiking trail, instead of paying some of the 39 recently laid-off SEIU members to do the work.

Balzano's office did not return messages left by FoxNews.com, but the Morning Call quoted him as telling the city council that the union would be "looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails … There's to be no volunteers."

SEIU spokesman Matt Nerzig called Balzano's comments "completely unauthorized and insensitive" and said the union was "not at all" considering a grievance in this case.

"Not sure if it was out of context or just a bad moment, but we've got no intention of doing anything like that," Nerzig told FoxNews.com. "Not sure where he got the idea but he certainly doesn't have the authority to do so."

Anderson, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley, spent more than 200 hours creating the 1000-foot path in Kimmets Lock Park along with fellow scouts, friends and parents.

The junior at Southern Lehigh High School said he took on the project in an effort to earn an Eagle Scout badge and allow others to walk along the river while avoiding the busy road nearby.

In the process, he said, he and his team also transformed what was once a run-down section of the park into something residents and visitors can enjoy.

"The volunteers and I removed trash, many old tires and recyclables from this former illegal dump-site," Anderson told FoxNews.com.

"My trail will become a part of the 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) Heritage corridor," he added.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski said Anderson's work was a "great service to the community."

"We would hope that the well-intentioned efforts of an Eagle Scout candidate would not be challenged by the union," he told the Morning Call.

In a letter written Tuesday to Balzano, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said the union official owes the teen an apology.

"I am astounded, that you would threaten to file a grievance against the City of Allentown because the administration wisely chooses to make volunteer opportunities available," Dent said. "Especially when this type of frivolous grievance could add to the tax burden of the citizens."

"An apology both to the scout involved and to the public would be appropriate," he added.

The SEIU has been the only Allentown union to suffer layoffs amid the ongoing economic crisis.

Anderson's troop leader Tony Martocci declined to comment for this story.

[bigben]

I am and eagle scout also and this is a bit disturbing.  same thing with the whole deal a bit ago about an eagle scout getting expled for bringing a small pocketknife to school in a survival kit which was locked in his vehicle.  what the hell is this world coming too.  I am not even old and I can see a difference in the world.

[HaMeR]

Nick Balzano should be forced to give the dedication speech when they name that trail the "Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) Heritage Corridor Kevin Anderson/301 Trail".  


If anybody on here knows any of Kevin's Family tell them I applaud him for his dedication to bettering his community!!  

[slagmaker]

I wonder how many Eagle Scouts we have here on the site

[bigben]

not sure slag.  would be something neat to know.  unfortunately today it seems that people do not understand what a eagle scout is or what is required to become one.  it is just a term people use to acknowledge someone that might not be a hell raiser or someone that knows a lot about the outdoors.  again truly a shame what this world has come too. 

[Hawks Feather]

I started a post that would easily be read as "union bashing" so I deleted it.   

Jerry

[Silvertip]

SEIU Enough Said! 

[slagmaker]

Pennsylvania Union Leader Resigns Amid Criticism for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism

A union leader in Pennsylvania has resigned after being criticized for threatening legal action over an aspiring Eagle Scout's volunteer project.

Nick Balzano, president of the Service Employees International Union's Allentown chapter, submitted an unexpected resignation letter Thursday, along with a few other employees, SEIU spokesman Matt Nerzig told Foxnews.com.

The resignations came one day after FoxNews.com reported that Balzano had come under fire for saying earlier in the month that the SEIU might file a grievance against the city of Allentown for allowing 17-year-old Kevin Anderson to voluntarily clear a walking trail in a local park, instead of paying union members to do the work.

Nerzig called Balzano's comments "completely unauthorized and insensitive" and said the union was "not at all" considering a grievance in the case.

Balzano's comments were also criticized by Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Rep. Charlie Dent.

Asked if the resignations came as result of the controversy, Nerzig said, "their resignation letter gave no reason."

According to Nerzig, the letter came from Balzano and "four or five" employees who were receiving a stipend for their service on a part-time committee, representing a few hundred Allentown workers.

Related StoriesPennsylvania Union Leader Criticized for Threatening Legal Action Over Boy Scout's Volunteerism
Anderson, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley, spent more than 200 hours creating the 1000-foot path in Kimmets Lock Park along with fellow scouts, friends and parents.

The junior at Southern Lehigh High School told FoxNews.com the project transformed the "former illegal dump site" into a place where people can walk along the river while avoiding the busy road nearby.

"My trail will become a part of the 165-mile Delaware and Lehigh (D&L) Heritage corridor," he said.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That didnt take long.

I am not hapy that anyone looses there job but there are some lines you just dont cross.


There are times you can put your foot so far into your mouth that you taste $hit when you get it back out......<Bear>