Jeff Warren to Challenge Joe Emrick For Pa. State House

Jeff Warren and Tara Zrinski

Jeff Warren, a NorCo Council member elected in 2023, announced at a Tuesday night fundraiser, that he plans to challenge GOP State Rep. Joe Emrick in the 137th legislative district. This seat encompasses the three Nazareths (Upper, Lower and Boro), Bethlehem Tp and a portion of both Palmer and Hanover Tp. 

He explains that he's running because "Harrisburg is filled with politicians who are extremely out of touch with what working folks, families, seniors, and children actually need and want." But what is he if not a politician? His undergrad degree from Penn State? Political science. He's worked as a staff assistant for the US Congress, was an aide to State Senator Lisa Boscola and has been a campaign manager for Tara Zrinski. He's also held office with Easton City Council and Hanover Tp's board of supervisors. 

The one thing he has going for him is that Joe Emrick is thoroughly unlikable, even among members of his own party. But he's hard to beat. He handily defeated Anna Thomas in 2024 even though she spent $1.4 million to topple him. In contrast, Emrick spent $311,000.

Warren told WFMZ-TV69 that "Northampton County deserves a better advocate for working folks, families, children, and our local communities." But do county corrections officers, 911 workers and the nursing staff at Gracedale consider him an advocate for them?

On NorCo Council, Warren has been known as one of Executive Lamont McClure's leading advocates. He has also introduced several nonbinding resolutions concerning matters like mass transit funding and a cap on rental fees charged in what we refer to as trailer parks. He has also pushed for more mental health funding and cosponsored a county ordinance that requires feminine hygiene products in all county-owned ladies' and family restrooms. 

A Little More About EBikes and LV Trails

Last week, I asked you whether e-bikes bother you. Although most of you seem to have no objection, some of you get upset when an ebike flies by pedestrians on a trail with no warning. This rude behavior gives regular cyclists a bad reputation as well. Whether you're riding a regular bike or one with a motor, you should always have a bell to warn pedestrians in front of you. Another problem, and one I never knew existed, is that their batteries can be a fire hazard when they are being charged, so that needs to be watched. 

Above is a chart being posted by local police departments that explain the laws governing bicycles, ebikes, scooters, segways, motorized pedal cycles and electric scooters. I've never seen a segway on a trail but have seen the rest. There are also motorized skateboards, which can fly. 

I also thought I'd give you my summary or trail etiquette. 

Who has the right of way? - Equestrians, followed by pedestrians, then cyclists. Pedestrians going up a hill have the right of way over those going down. 

Courtesy - Stay on the right side of the trail if possible, so that a cyclist passing you will do so on your left. He will usually either ring a bell or let you know unless the trail is very wide. Another thing that makes me laugh is the number of walkers who spend their entire time on a trail glued to their phone. They don't hear cyclists behind them and I often wonder why they are even out there because they are missing a lot of the natural beauty of this area. 

Crosswalk. - Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks across roads along a trail so long as they are in it. Cyclists do not. We are considered moving vehicles and must yield to traffic. 

UPDATED: Gracedale Agency Aide Nurse Performing Exorcism, Charged With Abusing Resident, Simple Assault and Harassment

Octavia Lasha Robinson, age 43, is reportedly one of the many outside agency nursing staffers working at Gracedale to fill a manpower shortage. I should probably say she was, not is, working there. On June 23, she was charged by Upper Nazareth Tp police officer Zach Dugan with the abuse of a care-dependent person (i.e. resident) by striking, shoving, kicking and threatening this person.  She was also charged with simple assault and harassment. 

The case is currently marked "inactive" because she was apparently served by summons to her address in Morristown, NJ, as opposed to an actual arrest. 

In its most recent rating, Medicare gives Gracedale a 4-star rating (above average), placing it at the same level as Moravian Hall Square. There were no complaints of resident abuse, neglect or exploitation for a full year prior to this incident. This is highly irregular but still begs the question of what type of screening is employed by outside agencies before dispatching someone like Robinson to a facility like Gracedale, where many of the residents have either some form of dementia or mental illness. 

From what I understand, Gracedale is currently investigating other residents who were under Robinson's care. 

It's certainly true that public nursing homes get more scrutiny than those that are privately owned. But they should. Executive Lamont McClure likes to say that we have a moral obligation to care for the elderly, but is that happening when four are packed into one room? Is that happening when a staffer is criminally charged with resident abuse?  When an incident like this occurs, Administrators should inform County Council as soon as possible and keep the lines of communication open. 

UPDATED NOON. - Below you will see a copy of the criminal complaint filed as well as the accompanying affidavit of probable cause filed by Officer Zach Dugan. According to his affidavit, he was dispatched at approximately 3:22 am. It is unclear whether the "caller" is a resident or a Gracedale staffer. He was told that the defendant had been in the victim's room for two hours and refused to leave. When he entered, he personally witnessed the defendant shoving her fingers in the victim's mouth, saying the demons needed to come out. He also saw blood on the victim's chest and bedding. He placed Robinson in custody and took her to Lehigh Valley Hospital for an involuntary emergency health evaluation. She obviously has been committed, which is why the case is currently inactive.

Robinson Criminal Complaint by BernieOHare on Scribd

Trump's Budget Bill Heads Back to the House

I have thus far refrained from writing too much about Trump's budget bill, which he wants on his desk by July 4. I will wait until it is adopted by both houses and then can write about what its actual provisions. 

Pa Lawmakers Blow By June 30 Budget Deadline

Will Governor Josh Shapiro convince the state senate to spend $292 million for mass transit funding throughout the state? Why is the state senate so reluctant to impose a 52% tax on supposed skill games? Could it be because manufacturer Pace-O-Matic has spent $618,000 in campaign contributions and another $440,000 in lobbying expenses in 2024 alone? What about the state's constitutional obligation to provide all children, even poor children, with a "thorough and efficient" education system?  Finally, what impact will cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, if passed by US Congress, have on Pennsylvania? These questions are currently unanswered. Until they are, Pa lawmakers are unable to pass a budget. 

While state legislators continue to collect salaries and per diems, school districts and counties will see the cash faucets go dry in about two weeks. They will be forced to rely on their own reserves or borrow money. 

Coleman-Sponsored Bill Aimed at Unauthorized Homeless Encampments Passes State Senate

By a 34-16 vote, a Jarret Coleman sponsored bill taking aim at unauthorized homeless encampments passed the state senate on June 25. The Lehigh Valley's other two state senators, Lisa Boscola and Nick Miller, also voted for this measure. The bill now advances to the state house. 

I have a cousin who lives in LA. When he left the Lehigh Valley, he was a Democrat. Now he's a conservative Republican. One of the things that has really bothered him is the number of homeless encampments on city sidewalks. Things there have become so bad that Governor Gavin Newsom is urging and even threatening cities and counties to ban these tent cities.  And in his NYC Mayoral campaign, former Governor Andrew Cuomo pledged to get homeless people out of subways. 

The prime sponsor of this bill, Senator Joe Picozzi, framed the issue as one of "public safety, health and welfare for neighborhoods."  He observed that these encampments bring " trash accumulation, drug paraphernalia, crime, risks from open flames, and blighted conditions."

Under the bill, an "unauthorized encampment" is an "encampment on public or private property, without the property owner's express consent or authorization, where an ndication of nuisance exists."

It imposes a duty on property owners, including municipalities, to "prevent, mitigate and abate any condition of nuisance on the property." It also creates a private cause of action in "interested persons" (any owner located within 1600' of the tent city) to sue for injunctive relief, including "reasonable expenses."

Amazingly, this legislation is opposed by the Pa. Municipal League. The primary purpose of government is to keep its citizens clean and safe. As Thomas Hobbes argues in Leviathon, a society without government would be lead to “continual fear and danger of violence; and the life of man, solitary poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” It appears that the Pa. League would rather let its taxpaying citizens suffer than actually do something to protect them.

Do E-Bikes Bother You?

For the past few years, there's been a growing trend in cycling - ebikes. For about the same price I'd spend on a regular bike, you can get one with a pedal-assisted throttle. You can even convert your bike with a nice motor. I've seen them everywhere, both on roads and trails. The people who seem to dislike them most are, believe it or not, cyclists. Frankly, I think these purists are snobs. 

I like them myself. I can understand why you can get rattled when someone flies by on an ebike without so much as a "How do you do?", but I get passed by a lot of road bikes as well. There's always someone faster.

I particularly like talking to older people on ebikes. Many of them would be doing nothing without them. Yesterday, I cycled a few miles with a retired tractor trailer driver who loved to cycle but then was sidelined with cardiopulmonary issues. He converted his bike and is able to ride regularly and even can pedal. 

I asked him what area of the country he likes best. Upstate NY, he answered. I asked him if cops tend to go easy on truckers. He told me most of them are great, except in Ohio. 

I'm no cycle purist. I wear a helmet but have no problem with people who prefer not to because most cycling injuries are to the shoulders, arms and clavicle, not the head. But on ebikes, which can hit speeds of 51 mph, I think they're a good idea. 

Following the Money: Zrinski Spent $86k in Dem NorCo Exec Primary; GOP Giovanni

Northampton County Controller Tara Zrinski was able to beat Amy Cozze for the Democratic nomination as NorCo Exec in the May primary. She garnered 56.78% of the vote, beating Cozze by over 3,000 votes. But she spent a lot of money doing so.  According to her pre- and post-primary reports, she spent $86,273.72, relied on $35,000 in in-kind contributions. She's also over $13,000 in debt.

She enters the general election against Republican Tom Giovanni with just $4,327.15 and a donor base that might very well be tapped out. 

In addition to waging a negative campaign that gave Giovanni lots of ammunition, Amy Cozze forced Zrinski and many of her supporters to spend money they may be unable to provide in the general election. 

Unlike Zrinski, Giovanni had no primary opponent. He was able to coast and has $4,929.21 in his treasury.