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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, August 11, 2014

Nazareth's War on the Townies

The StickerGang's Trevor Gehret is a townie 
Last week, when Nazareth Police Chief Thomas Trachta finally got to fire crossing guard Karen Herbst, in what one of my readers calls the "political equivalent of hitting little girls", I'm sure he was very pleased with himself. After all, this is the wife of the guy whose picture he had hanging in the police station with a knife in the back. Mayor Carl Strye was undoubtedly delighted, too. Jack Herbst, Karen's husband  and former council member, was Hizzoner's opponent in last year's Mayoral race. But it was more than revenge. It's just the latest volley in Nazareth's war against the poor, whom are disparagingly called Townies.

Jack's a Townie. It is Herbst who stood up to ESSROC, as a citizen, and demanded they do something about the cement dust that settles everywhere, helping make the Lehigh Valley one of the air pollution capitals of the United States. The result was an underground tunnel to transport material from one plant to another. Herbst also successfully fought efforts to ruin the Memorial Square Park on Green Street, where kids play baseball day and night. A secretive Council wanted to turn it into a new borough government center and police station. As a Council member, he persuaded colleagues to finally start following the Sunshine Act. He even raised the money for a skate park and dog park, defeating all kinds of opposition.

And ac Chair of the Police Committee, he held them accountable.

He actually represented the people and tried to make their lives better. So naturally, the rest of council hated him. Not one would vote to support his appointment to a vacancy on Council, after he lost his Mayoral election.

In a way, they may have done him a favor. His health has never been good. He's had several close calls in recent years with his heart. It's always been too big for the town in which he lives.

Herbst had no fear of Trachta, despite the files the Chief kept on everyone or the intimidation of Jack's wife by always parking near her while she was on duty. Jack ignored the Chief's petty behavior, and tried to make the community better for everyone. Though he himself was a masterful baseball coach, he embraced the skaters, recognizing before many others that these are athletes every bit as much as someone who can dunk.

In stark contrast to Herbst, we have current Borough Council member Carl Fischl. He told me the one and only time I ever talked to him that he would have voted to destroy the park on Green Street. Now this guy is waging war on the townies.

In addition to practically salivating over the prospect of doubling the fines for parking tickets as a way of taking aim at those unable to afford homes with their own driveways and garages, Fischl persuaded the rest of Council to adopt a rental inspection ordinance so that they can keep track of those dirty renters.

Fischl has also publicly complained that, unlike him, nobody in the downtown has kept their properties as well maintained as he. I see. That may be because, unlike him, most downtown residents have not spent a lifetime sucking on the public teat as a teacher and football coach. They may not have the benefits and pension he was lucky enough to grab.

The difference between a guy like Fischl and a guy like Herbst is night and day. Herbst tried to make government more inclusive, while Fischl believes you must be a member of the landed gentry, like him, to have a say.

Fischl now heads up the Police Committee and apparently had the final call in firing Herbst.

He told her that her job is seasonal and she could be let go at will.

He's full of shit.

The fact is that Karen Herbst has been employed for eight years, having started under Chief Ruch. She only filled out an application once. Were she seasonal, she'd have to do it every year. She actually had a legitimate property interest in that job. And she was fired because, like her husband, she exercises her First Amendment rights. She's a Townie.

So is the Sticker Gang, who have stood up to Trachta.

So am I.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't get wearing a shirt that brags about breaking the law and getting caught. It seems bizarre at best. Don't really get the "townie" implication. I mean he got busted for breaking the law.

Anonymous said...

As an young individual who has worked with Jack at his regular place of employment for 10+ years, I agree with you Bernie, his heart is his town.

Bernie O'Hare said...

1:46, He got arrested, shackled and chained for exercising his rights under the First Amendment. It was the content of his speech that got him arrested bc people who have placed other stickers and signs in town have never been hassled. You know this.

Anonymous said...

Bernie they must putting something in the water or air or in the dirt.That makes the townies, allow this to happen❗And for the normal townies,that didn't vote for them.We know you are the smarter ones,for wearing respirators,drinking spring water,and not playing in the dirt. My suggestion at least pass out spring water first to see if it's coming from that. Wants' you find the cause.Start voting out .Dinkle Pussy Strye next Yosemite Sam Trachta,then Deputy Dogg Troxell.The rest will fall ❗ Think back when.People use to say.I wished I lived in Nazareth.What a wonderful time that was.It truly is a shame.When you have such corrupted,stooges running ,the town we love and remember.Nazareth wake up ⁉why do you have a police chief.That's suppose to represent the laws.Instead place picture's of people on wall's with a knife in his back.This ass hole needs to see a psychiatrist NOW and then Troxell needs help.But will say this.Please hire him full time he will be a easy money maker to lawsuit's.Our prayers are with you.Change is all it takes.Vote Vote Vote them out✔❗

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

To the barricades!

Bernie O'Hare said...

You undermine the validity of every point I make with a revolting comment like the one you just posted. Anonymity is no license to engage in vicious personal attacks suggesting that someone be disposed of, nor is it protected under the Communications Decency Act. Make a comment like that again, and I will turn over all tracking data to police.

Jack Herbst said...

You could not pay me enough to be a crossing guard. It is considered a part time position but with 3 shifts per day, there's not much else one can do in their "off" time due to another upcoming sift. Commuters have no respect for these guards and continually ignore them and their stop signs. I personally witnessed Colleen Lavdar, in her white Volvo, almost hit Karen while crossing a group of school children. Prior to Mr. trachta becoming chief he would come and sit and talk with her in her car, sometimes up to 3 hours at a time. She has worked under 4 chiefs and 3 mayors and has never had a legitimate complaint. She never missed a child that needed to be crossed. Under Chiefs Ruch and Sinclair she would work 3 separate posts due to a shortage of guards. On her way home, on her own time, she would stop and cross stragglers when a guard was not present at a designated post. Over the last 2 years while I advocated getting rid of Trachta, he would have his henchmen circle her post daily, sometimes multiple times a day or per shift. Never a wave but menacing stares intended to intimidate her. She felt she was being harassed and working in a hostile environment so she approached the Borough's human resources manger, Paul Kokolus to state what was going on. As usual nothing was done and her concerns were dismissed. Once another guard had an emergency and left her post early. Someone mistakenly thought it was Karen and reported her. She was at her post and the guard that left explained to Trachta that is was her and not Karen yet Trachta wanted her to sign the complaint for her personnel file. Obviously, innocent of this false accusation she refused to sign it. At the time Mayor Daugherty assured her not to worry about it and supposedly removed this document from her file. After seeing 7 letters from citizens that witnessed her at her post at that time. The only shifts she ever missed in 8 years were due to foot surgery and jury duty. She would got to work with the flu and other illnesses that would keep most home, worried about letting the Borough down. She truly was a dedicated employee. She aided the former and current police secretaries with scheduling, personally calling the school district inquiring about scheduling of In Service Days, Holidays and other not regularly scheduled days due to school events and snow makeup days, then relay this information to the secretaries to adjust the schedule and notify the others guards of the changes. Now due to Strye and Trachta's issue with me they take it out on her. They even tried to blame the black balling of Adam Shimer on me in a Civil Service hearing. If Strye would check his old emails he surely will find the one in which I recommended Adam as a part time officer. I still have it. This is not the first time there was retribution against my family because of my views on Trachta's underhanded ways. My son has also been harassed many times over the years, most recently by part time officer Ben Rizzotto while woking in Upper Nazareth. He surely got a attaboy and a feather in his cap for that one. Anything to stay in the good graces of Trachta. Funny thing, when I got involve in politics Ben's father gave me a bit of advice that I lived by. "Do the best for the most and let the personal attacks roll off your back". I took a lot of heat for my decision which was expected but when my family is attacked, by my so called "colleagues", as Strye says 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH". Watch the news and see what is going on in the world, only cowards and terrorist go after the woman and children. These are the decision makers of Nazareth. You pick which one they are.

Janice McGrogan said...

Mr. Herbst my heart goes out to you and your family, along with all of the others that Bernie has brought to our attention that have been treated with injustice. Maybe it is time for the people who signed Bernie's petition and the anonymous writers of this blog to find our voices to take the next step. We can form a group and meet somewhere neutral and discuss all of the injustice and see if we can come up with something and start fighting back. There is strength in numbers and I am willing to help in any way I can to rid Nazareth of the underhanded corruption that has moved into this town. I have seen with my own eyes how it has become "every man for himself" and the people who have lived here all of their lives deserve better. If anyone want to organize our own "Town Watch" let me know, I am in.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Janice, I bbelieve tha answer is a concerted effort to get all the townies registerted to vote and let their voice be heard in the next election. They should have a say in how things go, not just the landed gentry.

Anonymous said...

Is townie a reference to the chief's and officers' non-Nazareth home addresses? Everyone in town is a townie, really. It's typically a pejorative term used by college students to describe off campus locals. And yes, picking on women crossing guards is what guys who used to get their asses kicked by their kid sisters do when they fail to grow up.

Anonymous said...

I am confuse by this entire entry. Agree with 1:33. Every elected official is a townie by definition. It sounds like you are the divisive one, unless I am missing something.

Janice McGrogan said...

You are 100% right Bernie, people need to vote. I just think of poor Mrs. Herbst and what she had to endure daily. If I knew something like that was happening to her, I would have got up every morning and stood along side of her while the police rode by.In fact, I would have asked for others to join me to help her send a message. She is a wife, a mother and a protector of children,and should be praised for all that she has done for Nazareth instead of being treated in this way. The police officers using intimidation tactics would think twice if they knew they couldn't get away with it. There are too many days left before the next election, and it pains me to see more victims of these underhanded and vicious men.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"It sounds like you are the divisive one, unless I am missing something."

You aren't missing a thing. The intent of this post is to cast a spotlight on a borough police department who, with the aid of a complicit mayor and borough council, has been waging a war agaiunst any and all dissent. It is a common tactic for those in authority to refer to tothers as "naysayers" and "divisive", while they trample on our freedoms. So feel free to consider me divisive bc I will oppose this nonsense, expose it, and try my best to see unresponsive elected officials shown the door. Up until now, you have relied on the same collection of relics to get your way. We can infuse Nazareth with much needed new blood by registering people and taking back this town.

She Thinks My Trachta's Sexy said...

Anyone suspected of organizing political opposition to Strye and Trachta will be shackled, frog walked and investigated. Crossing guards caught organizing will be fired and their excrement will be examined by the state police (although the chief may keep a turd or two for his personal collection).

Anonymous said...

Remember that Bernie !

Anonymous said...

Excellent reply, Bernie. I love how a "select" few like to cast you as "divisive", while ignoring facts. All they want to do is suggest you are making trouble. The ruling power hates it when someone stands up with enlightening information for the larger crowd to consume.

2:28 is indeed missing a lot - but it is purposeful.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
Where can we get some of those shirts? They look cool. Do you know who made them and how much they are? I am sure a lot of people would love to get some.

Bernie O'Hare said...

They are cool. Literally. I have two. When Trevor is ready, I will link to his site.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,

I'm not from Nazareth but I've enjoyed following the antics of the borough council, the Mayors and the ongoing saga of the police department. I don't know any of these people, so I don't have any inside scoop. You make that point that Herbst lost the Mayor election and the council would not appoint him due to a vendetta. I seem to recall that he ran for Mayor and also for the council and he lost the Mayor election to Strye and he came in lost the council seat also. I believe he came in third in a two vacacy race. Could it be that the council didn't appoint him because the voters in Nazareth didn't want him? If he was so popular, I would have thought he would have won one of those positions.

Bernie O'Hare said...

You are correct. Strye and Herbst both ran for Mayor AND Council. Strye beat out Herbst in both races.

Anonymous said...

6:14 Yes you are correct but council decided to appoint a 2 year resident who didn't know what ward he was in and wasn't even on the ballot. I'm sure he knows what Nazareth needs as opposed to a lifelong resident and 12 year council member like Herbst.

Anonymous said...

This blog was very informative at one time. In the past year it has become more and more vicious. It seems to have begun with this war with Tricia Mezzacappa, then a war on Jim Gregory, John Brown, Karen Dolan and now the entire Nazareth government.
You have stared lying with dogs Bernie. Please turn your blog around to what it was.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I will write what i want, and you don't have to read it.

Anonymous said...

I forgot about Jim Gregory. He said you got him thrown in jail. That has to have some effect on you.

Bernie O'Hare said...

None at all.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Anonymous. Herbst had his chance when he ran for both Mayor and Councilman. He lost both by the vote of the Nazareth people, people who have watched his work on council and apparently weren't comfortable enough to reelect him. I believe council followed the voters decision. I also believe that "sour grapes" is the reason you are being given some misinformation or maybe 1 sided information.

Anonymous said...

Remember people this is a guy who has attacked an officer who killed a man who was armed and had threatened to kill others. He has tried to destroy another officers marriage by remarks about infidelity. All this form his "anonymous" sources.

His day in court will be in the future.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Oh I can guarantee you there will be a day in court soon enough. Officer Troxell, to whom you refer, is responsible for the death of Timothy Nixon, and will be held accountable.