Nazareth Loses Police Chief

Just a few days ago, I credited Nazareth Police Chief Michael Sinclair with making a big difference in Nazareth. Looks like it is now former chief Michael Sinclair.

According to Drexel University's Blogs at The Triangle, Sinclair has been hired as the university's first director of police operations. He will help build its first police department.

Update: Chief Sinclair Staying After All! Thanks to The Express Times, we now know that Chief Sinclair is staying put. According to reporter Michael Buck, Sinclair claims the information about his departure was posted prematurely.

Chief Sinclair Making a Difference in Nazareth PD

Below you will find Nazareth crime data between 2000 and 2007. It's a joke. In 2002, Nazareth reported no crime at all. In 2003, it never bothered to forward any data. Clearance rates flutter between 15% and 72%.

Year	Crimes Reported	Crimes Cleared	Clearance Rate
2000	429	64	15%
2001	29	10	34%
2002	0	0	?
2003	no data	no data	no data
2004	51	13	25%
2005	564	167	30%
2006	590	179	30%
2007	430	310	72%

Source: Pennsylvania State Police

Fortunately, the silliness has stopped. Nazareth reached outside for its new police chief, Michael Sinclair, a 29-year veteran from Philly. He wants "accurate statistics" and "good intelligence." In contrast to the previous practice of keeping things hushed up, Sinclair has started "crime bulletins" to alert the community if there is a rash of crime. "When you have 1,000 robberies, it is not 1,000 different people. It's usually the same handful." Sinclair brings much needed professionalism to Nazareth. When you have 1,000 parking tickets, that's usually a small handful of miscreants, too. I know. I'm one of them.

Nazareth PD Continues to Improve

At the end of August, Nazareth police arrested six people following a raid at 153 S. Whitfield Street. Drugs and weapons were confiscated.

Chief Michael Sinclair credits concerned Nazareth citizens. At last week's borough council meeting, he explained police have been meeting regularly with citizens at the borough council building on the last Tuesday of every month, 7 PM. He also issues "crime bulletins" that alert the community when there is a rash of crime.

Sinclair, whose one year contract with Nazareth was extended at the last borough council meeting, has transformed the police department into a responsive and professional unit.

Nazareth Park "Abduction" Shows Community Policing Weakness

On Sunday night, at least six local police departments, along with the Pennsylvania State Police and FBI, participated in the frantic search for a missing 7 year-old girl. Nazareth was in virtual lockdown as helicopters circled overhead and cruisers raced through town, looking for a mysterious Subaru that seemed to be everywhere and nowhere. The search was eventually called off because, as time ticked away, it appears there never was a missing girl. The supposed abductors may have engaged in an elaborate and cruel hoax. More likely, someone just misunderstood what he or she saw. Police really had no choice but to do what they did. But this tremendous expenditure of manpower shows a serious weakness in the Nazareth Police Department. Under Chief Thomas Trachta, all attempts at community policing have ceased. Had they been in place, this may never have happened.

Yesterday, I told you that there's supposed to be a special police detail at the Borough Park on weekends, from 4 pm until sunset. This detail lasts until the bathrooms are closed for the winter. But Chief Trachta, in a September 1 memo, ended the detail early, though it was part of the approved budget. Had an officer been at the park, it is certainly possible that what was perceived to be an abduction would still have occurred. But it would have been far more unlikely.

Before Trachta became Chief, Nazareth had established a fairly effective community policing program. Trachta ended it. Jack Herbst, a former member of Borough Council Police Committee Chair, explains. "The first decision he made when appointed Chief was to eliminate the community policing policies that Chief Sinclair put in place - crime watch meetings, park officers and bank and business checks."

This is simply insane. According to The National Institute of Justice, in police departments that have tried community policing for just one year, "99 percent reported improved cooperation between citizens and police, 80 percent reported reduced citizens’ fear of crime, and 62 percent reported fewer crimes against persons."

Those business checks were appreciated, as owners sometimes forgot to lock up when they leave for the day. The banks loved it.

Officer Fred Lahovski, who with former Chief Michael Sinclair was a community policing advocate, was ordered to send a notice to local businesses, announcing this termination. "Some time ago, 2008-2009, the police attempted a specific community policing service. It included walking patrol in the business district as well as a month community police meeting. However, due to a variety of circumstances, the program has ceased as a viable entity."

Lahovski attempted to establish an email database for local businesses and residents. For something as simple as a found dog, Officer Lahovski could send a blanket email with pictures and a note like this: "This little guy was found in the unit block of Belvidere St. We got along well after he straightened me and let me know who was boss. We held him for awhile unfortunately had to turn him over to the SPCA. If you know this dog or his owner, please help. FREDDY"

If this could work for a lost dog, it would certainly be something to use when a potential child abduction occurs.

Chief Trachta refused to use the email database. So on Sunday night, when there could have been a real missing child, the public was kept in the dark.

"We can't just blindly give out a description when things are still unfolding," Mayor Carl Strye, a carwash salesman, told The Morning Call. Why the hell not? I'd think that would be the first thing police would do, and would be one way in which the public could assist. Instead, people who were just walking the street at night were accosted and asked what they were doing.

Instead of reaching out to the public, Trachta treats them with disdain.

According to Herbst, "He is the first Chief not to go out on patrol, show his presence at Borough events and refuses to give an extra second of his time to the community. After meeting nights, he'll show up to the office later the next day based on how long the meeting went the night before. Wonder why Bushkill Twp. got to the park before him! I'm surprised that he even showed up at all, but I guess when the big boys got involved, he had no choice."

Numerous police departments responded on Sunday night for a search that really had to occur. But did Trachta call in his officers? No. Instead of calling on all the manpower he had, he let other departments do the work.

They know it, too. One fellow I know was stopped by a fed last night, and asked if he saw anything unusual. This federal officer told a citizen that if he saw anything odd or suspicious, to please call 911. Then as he left, he said, "I got to go see what Cupcake is doing."

Nazareth needs to re-institute community policing. There should be a block watch, business checks, foot patrols. Most importantly, there really needs to be an officer on beat at the park, especially on weekends.

Nazareth Police Officer Fred Lahovski: Our Very Own Robocop!

A few weeks ago, I emerged from my bunker after sunset to get a new keyboard for my computer. As I barrelled down a Nazareth street, I noticed flashing red and blue lights in my rear view mirror. They were coming for me!

"Bad boy, bad boy, what you gonna' do? What you gonna' do when they come for you?"

As luck would have it, I had a burnt out headlight. The officer gave me ten days to get it fixed instead of citing me. My brother popped in a new one later that week and I stopped by the Nazareth Police Department so they could check his handiwork.

The police officer who inspected my Jeep is Fred Lahovski. He's part of Nazareth's professional new police force, operating under the able supervision of Chief Michael Sinclair. I've seen Fred at both Nazareth block parties, where he makes it a point to say hello to everyone. But beneath this friendly and seemingly casual exterior is a very dedicated professional. He and other Nazareth cops have actually been working cases on their own time, something very unusual these days.

Lahovski is the cop who once stepped in front of a speeding vehicle to save a child from getting run over by a drunk driver during a block party. He's the officer who once tackled a 32-year-old man who sat with a gun pointed to his head for five hours, threatening to shoot himself. This ill man still shot himself, but it was nonfatal.

I've previously tried to get Lahovski to talk to me about the improvements I've seen in Nazareth, but he told me he is just part of a team. His opinion is that the entire Nazareth police department should be commended.

I'm always so busy snarking the bad guys that I never pay attention to the many dedicated public servants out there.

When I showed Lahovski my Jeep, he noticed a number of Stoffa campaign signs in my jeep. I was planting them all over the place at the time.

"Are those Stoffa signs?" he asked.

Uh oh.

I started sweating, worried he might be investigating the culprit who had been taping Stoffa signs to the hoods of their cruisers. But he let me slide. Instead, he frankly admitted he had some troubles of his own as a youth. Two people helped him to turn his life around - Barbara and John Stoffa. In fact, he even worked for them briefly.

On Sunday night, Lahovski was one of two officers who whisked a 9 year-old Nazareth boy to safety as that boy's distraught father fired on state troopers. We know one of these troopers is now dead. But Lahovski and another trooper saved a life that night. The life of a boy the same age as my grandson. The Express Times correctly called him a local hero.

Lahovski is our very own robocop, one of the good guys. They don't get enough credit.

Tales of Trachta: Officer Fred Lahovski Re-instated in Nazareth

Just when you think things in the Nazareth police department couldn't possibly get more interesting, they just did.

Officer Fred Lahovski was first hired to work in Nazareth in 2008. He was one of the people brought on board by Chief Michael Sinclair. If you think I write only negative things about Nazareth police officers, this is what I wrote about Lahovski in 2009.

Lahovski is the cop who once stepped in front of a speeding vehicle to save a child from getting run over by a drunk driver during a block party. He's the officer who once tackled a 32-year-old man who sat with a gun pointed to his head for five hours, threatening to shoot himself. This ill man still shot himself, but it was nonfatal.

On Sunday night, Lahovski was one of two officers who whisked a 9 year-old Nazareth boy to safety as that boy's distraught father fired on state troopers. We know one of these troopers is now dead. But Lahovski and another trooper saved a life that night. The life of a boy the same age as my grandson. The Express Times correctly called him a local hero.

Lahovski and two Nazareth officers who subsequently left the force, were honored with letters of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner.

So naturally, when Thomas Trachta became Chief, he persuaded Borough Council to fire the hero. Currently, I believe Officer Lahovski is with the Wilson Borough Police Department. He did serve briefly as a Chief in Forty-Fort.

There was no discussion before the vote terminating Lahovski.

An anonymous comment on my blog, posted late yesterday, states Lahovski has been reinstated in an arbitration ruling. Several police officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the comment, and add that Lahovski is entitled to 22-months of back pay. The arbitration ruling did include a one-month suspension.

It was too late in the day to speak with borough officials or Lahovski, but I will attempt to get the ruling..

Chief Thomas Trachta sold Council on this termination. It appears he failed to make the sale with an arbitrator.

This is yet another display of failed leadership.

Tomorrow, I finally will explain why Borough Council is afraid of Trachta.

Lack of Hospital Support Kills LV Health Board

Despite over four hours of emergency medical treatment from the Lehigh Valley's best and brightest physicians and nurses, the Lehigh Valley Health Department died a slow and agonizing death last night in Northampton County's star chamber. Quoting FDR, JFK, Thomas Jefferson and even Ben Franklin proved to be of no use. Time of death? 10:38 PM. Cause? Lack of hospital support.

Before last night's vote by the combined legislatures of Lehigh and Northampton County, enough hot air was generated by public health and personal responsibility advocates to heat the County for the next five years. Twenty-nine people spoke to a standing-room only crowd, and twenty-two of them supported the measure.

Public Health Advocates v. Personal Responsibility Advocates

"It's time for a change," said dietitian Jane Ziegler, wearing her white lab coat for effect. Retired surgeon Michael Sinclair called the proposal "creative" and "brilliant." "Good bargains are hard to find," he said. Auto dealer Andy Daub tried to close the sale, calling a bi-county health department an "investment" that will somehow decrease the cost of health care. "We've got to compete with Bucks County or we're not going to get the jobs. ... They're gonna' walk right by us."

But the high local cost of Bucks County's health department, estimated at somewhere between $4 and $6 million, was used by personal responsibility advocates to argue against a bi-county health department. Former LV Congressional candidate Mat Benol told Lehigh and Northampton County legislators that "no amount of money is going to make people stop going to McDonalds."

Scrappleface, aka former LC Exec candidate Scott Ott, scoffed at the notion that a bi-County health department would be cost efficient. "You have to ask yourself, if two counties are good, why isn't four counties better? If four counties would be better, why not a twelve-county coalition? If a twelve-county coalition makes sense, how about a sixty-seven county coalition? Because certainly, the higher we roll this up and the more regional coordination we have, the better the care would get, or so you've been led to believe. So why not have Governor Rendell coordinate everything from Harrisburg, or President Obama coordinate it from Washington, D.C." He later said, "You don't have to rescue us. ... You cannot solve every problem."

We're Too Fat and Our Babies are Too Skinny

After hearing from the unwashed masses, the next people up were LV Health Board members.

Dr. Eric Gertner explained why we need public health. For one thing, we're too fat. In Northampton County, 30% of us are obese, and Lehigh County is only slightly skinnier, at 26%. If Northampton County were a state, the only ones that would be fatter than us would be Mississippi, Alabamy, West Virginy and Tennessee. It's like we're in Deliverance country. The truth is that Northampton County's obesity rate would go down ten points if I just moved.

While we're too fat, our babies are too skinny. 8.3% of Northampton's babies have a low birth rate, while Lehigh County is even worse, at 8.7%. Even Mongolia does better than us. But don't Mongols have anger issues?

John Reinhart, another Board of Health member, explained the nightmare he went through when he had to distribute H1N1 vaccines at the Bangor School District. "There seems to be a comfortable belief that we in the LV will be taken care of by some agency or some group, and that agency or group will not permit us to be vulnerable during a public health crisis. I personally believe that's clearly a misconception. ... We reached out last Fall during H1N1, and with the exception of Allentown and Bethlehem, there really wasn't another person on the end of the line for the rest of us."

Health Board member Ilene Prokup told legislators of plans for 5 clinics in Allentown, Slatington, Bethlehem, Easton and Bangor. She also said the staff would grow from 66 to 106 in the first year.

Lehigh and Northampton County legislators had several objections.

Bruce Gilbert (North.) was doubtful about the 3% projected annual growth, believing the figure will be much higher as a regional health board competes for grants with Philly and Pittsburgh. "I don't see that as a realistic figure as to what our cost increase will be. I'm not sure we're getting an accurate picture ... ."

Glenn Eckhart (Leh.) noted that 66 public health workers currently serve 175,000 people in Allentown and Bethlehem, and was very doubtful that an additional 50 workers could serve 600,000 residents in the LV. "Will this health department give equal coverage to the other 400,000? Until that happens, I can't support it."

The Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, was in a foul mood. Chairman Percy Dougherty had started the meeting by saying any attempts to table the LV Health Department would be out of order, and he reached that conclusion on the basis of discussions with attorneys from both Counties. Angle asked County Council Solicitor Phil Lauer whether that was true, and Phil responded, "This is the first I've heard of it." Dougherty got his signals crossed somewhere.

Angle's chief objection (he had a few) is that Allentown and Bethlehem are guaranteed they will receive the same services from a Bi-County Health department that residents there currently enjoy. "This is a two-tiered service. If we vote against increases, Allentown and Bethlehem will still get the same service and everyone else will suffer." He also ridiculed the numbers in the proposal, calling them "pitiful."

Lamont McClure (North.) delivered the most damaging assessment. He had previously boycotted all meetings concerning the establishment of a Bi-County Health Department, and noted that "we've been lectured about our responsibilities", "our failure to provide for public health." Then he delivered a lecture of his own, telling health board members that the County's source of revenue is real estate taxes. "There is a crisis in Pennsylvania, but it is of people trying to stay in their homes." He noted many good people are just "one pink slip away from foreclosure," and read minutes from previous presentations establishing that local hospitals want public health so they can get people out of their emergency rooms.

McClure wanted to know if hospitals were willing to fund the County share for the next five years. Board member David Beckwith conceded that, although hospitals were more than willing to provide in-kind services, they will make no cash contributions.

This seemed to set off the normally affable Dean Browning (Leh.), who agreed with McClure that "we have been somewhat lectured to tonight." Of the hospitals' refusal to commit any cash, he stated, "They damn well should support us because they are not paying any property taxes." Browning noted that, in Lehigh County, hospitals are exempt from $8.1 million in real estate taxes. "If they want a Bi-County Health Department, they should put their money where their mouth is and fund it."

Mike Dowd (North.) noted that satellite offices would be established "when deemed appropriate," and questioned why that was not already determined. He shared Angle's concern about funding for Allentown and Bethlehem leading to shortfalls elsewhere. Finally, he'd like to see proof of the "salubrious benefit" of public health to students in Allentown and Bethlehem. (Mike talks like that. He reads books).

In addition to all these objections, there were other legislators who argued in support of funding a Bi-County Health Board.

Andy Roman (Leh.) trotted out the "Be afraid, be very afraid" argument, pointing to 9/11, bio-terrorism and our drinking supply. He also noted "we are already paying for services that we're not receiving from a system that is fragmented and has no local control. Conservatives should support this."

Gloria Hamm (Leh.), who had oxygen going up her nose the entire meeting, must have had her supply cut off by Angle at points. She was hopelessly confused before every vote cast, but dismissed the personal responsibility argument as some kind of red herring. She also noted that if one grant is denied, the health board can simply apply for another one somewhere else. I see.

David Jones (Leh.), who actually showed up for once, claimed he was no politician, but was a preacher. He condemned the "rhetoric" and "grandstanding" that had gone on "from both sides" and then delivered a sermon of his own. Arguments against the health board were "strawmans" [sic]. Those opposed are guilty of "unreasoned fear." Then he quoted from FDR, Martin Luther King and Adam Sandler.

According to Bill Hansell (Leh.), funding is imperative. "Listening to the opposition, I'm wondering what country we're in." Then he started quoting Jefferson, who incidentally helped Hansell draft the Declaration of Independence. By the way, I hate to break this to you, but according to Hansell, the health board report claims "we have cancer." Better see your doctor. He also insisted public health should be our #1 priority, more important than open space, bridges or even jails.

Percy Dougherty (Leh.) promises, "we're not going to saddle the taxpayers" with the cost of a health board, and claims he could transfer funds from "other programs." But he never identifies those programs.

Ann McHale (North.) had the usual trite comments. "Now is the time to make the tough choice. ... It's the right thing to do. ... It takes courage to do the right thing ... blah, blah, blah." I'm sure her Overlords at the Lehigh Valley Partnership were very happy.

Despite Dougherty's admonition earlier that evening, Angle moved to table the resolution for two weeks, pending receipt of a report on the County's nursing home. He was seconded by Dowd, who expressed concern about Northampton County's $16 million hole. But that motion failed. An attempt to offer amendments to the Resolution also fell short. That left the Resolution itself, which authorized funding, approved a budget and authorized establishment of a Board of Health. In order to pass, this resolution needed the support of five members of both Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners as well as Northampton County Council.

When the dust had settled, it passed in Lehigh County, 6-3. Only Browning, Tom Creighton and Eckhart were opposed. But it failed in Northampton County, 2-6. Only McHale and Peg Ferraro voted yes, with Tom Dietrich being the only member MIA from both legislative bodies.

What killed this proposal, in addition to poor advocacy and a condescending attitude from public health advocates, was the unwillingness of local hospitals to provide any kind of financial support for a program that benefits them at least as much as the public.

Funeral arrangements will be handled by David Jones' Life Church.

The PC Police in Nazareth

A Nazareth Borough Police Department Facebook post, since deleted, has caused quite a stir in Northampton County officialdom. Commissioner Randy Miller, who must be dumping Nazareth for the PC police, told The Express Times that the page is not really the "official" Facebook page, though it is, as evidenced by his ability to have the message removed.  He made clear that he in no way endorses its dangerous message, and told The Morning Call it was the handiwork of a "rogue"cop. DA John Morganelli worries that the advisory encourages vigilantes to take the law into their own hands, though it in fact does the opposite.

Before I go further, let me share the portion of the now-deleted message found to be so offensive.

"We ask and encourage those of you who are responsible and educated enough to exercise your 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Providing you can and are legally able to possess a firearm and that you follow the Pennsylvania laws and local ordinances when doing so ... If when ever possible CALL 911 FIRST, if you believe you see someone or something suspicious. Do not engage and use Extreme Caution!"

This post is a reaction to a homicide and carjacking in nearby Palmer Township. A week ago, Palmer Township resident Michael Davis was ambushed and shot in the face by two unknown assailants upon his return home from work at Verizon. The following night, Michael DeRose, who works at the very same Verizon as Davis, was ambushed as well and forced into the back of his car. He was able to escape.

These incidents appear to be related.

My only concern with this Facebook post is whether it was cleared with Palmer Tp investigators. They are tasked with the heavy responsibility of solving this murder and carjacking. I can see no reason why they'd object to a story that informs and educates the public  That was the whole point of last week's news conference. They are seeking the public's help. Still, I'd ask them first since things can change fast and this is their case.

Other than that, there is nothing improper about the post. It at no time calls on anyone to be a cowboy. It specifically urges readers to "CALL 911 FIRST" and "[d]o not engage." It also states that its message only applies to persons who will follow the law.

If you are going to complain about people arming themselves, why does the concealed carry law exist at all? Why do we even have a Second Amendment?

Let me be clear. Most of my readers know that I support tighter gun laws. I believe that people who have exhibited violent tendencies, or who have fantasized about shooting people, should be denied gun permits. I also think a person who has a gun permit should be required to take periodic gun safety courses so he does not accidentally shoot himself. I also think they should be strongly encouraged to practice ...on a range. Because I'm a klutz, I'd never carry. But the right exists and should exist.  This is far from vigilantism. It is the Constitution.

The Constitution trumps officials who worry about being politically correct. This may have served Randy Miller well over the years, at least until he came to Nazareth. Now, in addition to throwing a Nazareth police officer under the bus, he has misled the press about the Facebook page, claiming it is not a sanctioned page.

This statement is completely untrue.

The page was first established in 2009, by Michael Sinclair, when he was police chief. After he left, entries were made by Officer Peter Dewey. He left for Bushkill Township, and full-time officers with Nazareth police continued to update the page from time to time. In fact, it includes several stories featuring Miller himself.

If Miller is unfamiliar with Facebook, as he claims, he really needs to learn. It's actually a great investigative tool and is relied on by most police departments.

If Miller really wants to be politically correct, perhaps he should confront the racism that exists on Nazareth Borough Council. But they might not renew his contract.

Nazareth's Mayoral Campaign

Fred Daugherty, a Republican, is the only candidate officially running for Nazareth mayor. So Karen Herbst, a Democrat married to Borough Councilman Jack Herbst, is waging a stealth write-in campaign on the Democratic side.

Daugherty somehow got wind of this effort and is retaliating with his own write-in campaign on the Democratic side. He even has Mayor Earl Keller, a Democrat, speaking to voters as they walk up to vote. For some reason, Hizzoner just glared at me.

Other than leading the annual kazoo parade, Keller has been a do-nothing mayor in Nazareth. He is part of the cabal who unsuccessfully attempted to ruin a kid's park for a new municipal center. He has also unsuccessfully resisted efforts to improve Nazareth's police department. It has surged into the modern era with Chief Sinclair.

Knowing that Democrat Keller is backing Republican Daugherty, I gave Democrat Karen Herbst a write-in vote.

Is all this beginning to sound like incest?

Photo Credit: Express Times

Pawlowski Values Votes More Than Public Safety

Back in 2008, Tatamy resident Nancy DiFrancesca was part of an eleven-person drug ring arrested for selling drugs that included methamphetamine, cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and Ecstasy. She was even charged with endangering her own children. In December of that year, she was sentenced on reduced charges to a maximum of twelve months in the slammer.

You'll be pleased to know that DiFrancesca is one of the 76 people that Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski reports having paid $100 on election day to visit Allentown neighborhoods, replacing her drug paraphanelia for campaign literature.

DiFrancesca is just one of several people with shady backgrounds that Pawlowski claims, in his amended post election report, to have paid between $100 and $200 to visit Allentown homes on election day. In addition to people who obviously have drug and alcohol problems, Pawlowski reports having sent people who've been charged with theft, criminal mischief and defiant trespass. One of them was charged with robbery, although those charges were later withdrawn. Another was wanted for escape at the very time that he may have been knocking on your door.

Kinda' makes you wonder whether these folks were really distributing campaign literature or casing your joint.

These 76 trombones come from all over the place, from Tamaqua to Brockton to Bath to Bethlehem. But what really hit me were the five names from Easton. One of these Eastonians lived at Lafayette Hotel, a known dive and the other four reportedly lived at Easton's homeless shelter, Safe Harbor.

I spoke with Safe Harbor caseworker Tyler Rogers, who initially told me he had no recollection of anyone working on election day. But when I mentioned the names, he did recall that residents Anthony Finelli, Damien Robinson, Timothy Cumer and William Owens were part of a four-man crew that did go out to distibute some kind of literature somewhere.

Of this crew, only William Owens still resides at Safe Harbor. Robinson has moved to Las Vegas, Cumer has had a drug relapse and Finelli is only seen sporadically. Rogers put me in touch with Owens.

Claiming to be a freind of Pawlowski campaign manager Michael Fleck, Owens tells me he did go to Allentown on election day for the Pawlowski campaign. He knocked on doors, helped people get to the polls. He claims Fleck paid him $100, in cash, at the end of the day, and that he has worked for Fleck before.

"I was cut right out for this," he told me.

Asked whether he was a registered voter, he told me he's registered in Allentown, where he voted for Pawlowski.

"But don't you live in Easton?"

"Yeah, but I'll vote anywhere."

It's nice to know that Easton's homeless helped elect Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

I've spoken to a political consultant who tells me Pawlowski uses SEIU "volunteers" on election day to get out the vote, although they are actually paid by the union. Allentown's Bob Romancheck spotted their tent at Walnut Street. Given this heavy union effort, I'm told there should be no need to risk what could happen by hiring the people Fleck used, many of whom have disturbing recent pasts.

Interestingly, Pawlowski's post election finance report fails to show this union support or the payments made to SEIU "volunteers" as an in-kind from the union.

What his report does show is a reckless disregard for the public safety of Allentown citizens. People like the ones I describe below were sent into your neighborhoods and among your children. I've omitted common names like Maria Rodriguez and Rose Martinez, and decided to ignore the traffic offenses on file against most of the people listed. I never looked up the people from Brockton or Tamaqua, or the two people who have no address at all. But what I found reflects an arrogant disregard for your personal security. If Pawlowski's report is to be believed, these people were actually paid to visit your homes.

Melissa Bieber (zip code is 18102)
- Charged in 2007 with robbery, assault and related offenses. She somehow ended up on ARD.

Timothy Cumer:
- Has not responded to 2008 charge of public drunkenness.
- 2008 guilty plea to driving under suspension.

Nancy DiFrancesca: - 2008 charges for conspiracy to manufacture and deliver drugs, and for endangering the welfare of a child. Fresh out of jail, showwas pounding on your doors.

Anthony Fanelli:
- Guilty Plea on 11/9/09 to public drunkenness.
- Found guilty on 4/17/08 of public drunkenness.
- Found guilty on 6/20/06 of driving without insurance, inspection and with a suspended registration.

John Gaal:
- charged with joyriding in 2007.

Timothy Houchin:
- Charged in October with drug dealing.
- 2008 Guilty Plea to criminal mischief, causing pecuniary loss to another.

Lazarus Jones (zip code is 18109)
- charged with escape on 4/17/09. Apparently, was at large when knocking on Allentown doors.
- 2008 guilty plea to failure to disperse, disorderly conduct involving physical contact.
- 2007 guilty plea to defiant trespass.
- 2007 guilty plea to false identification to police officer.
- 2007 guilty plea to disorderly conduct, obscene languaue and gestures
- 2006 guilty pleas to false identification, theft of services.

- 2006 guilty plea to loitering.

Yadira Morales:
- Charged in 2003 with criminal harassment. Summons never could be delivered.

Christopher Peters:
- Charged in January with driving an unregistered vehicle with no inspection.
- Charged on October 20, 2009, with theft and public drunkenness.

Unique Santiago:
- 2007 guilty plea to criminal mischief, resulting in property damage.

Peter Sinclair:
- Charged by Bethlehem police in 2005 with simple assault and harassment, but never served.

Harold Tillman
- 2004 guilty plea to defiant trespass.

When small businesses like the Dalton family's Allentown Vision Center experience two break-ins and two attempted burglaries over the course of this month alone, you'd think King Ed would be a little more sensitive to his crime-weary citizens.

LU Prof: Decline in Critical Thinking Spurs Decline in Civility

Over the years, I've noticed an increasing decline in civility on this blog. I am often told that I am at fault because I allow people to post anonymously. But I've seen that on Facebook, where people do identify themselves, the comments are equally ugly. Why is this happening?

The easy answer is Donald Trump. He has disgraced himself, his office and this nation with near daily epithets, some of them vulgar, in an attempt to marginalize perceived and real enemies. But this dumbing down of America has sponsors on both the right and left sides of the political spectrum. At the same time, newswriters are encouraged to be as brief as possible. No one has time for nuance. If it takes more than two sentences to describe something, it will never be read. 

In reality, several factors are in play. Dr. Stephen Thode, director of the Murray H. Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies at Lehigh University, focuses in the essay below on a decline in critical thinking. He has given me permission to share his essay.

The decline of civil discourse is the result of many forces moving in tandem: personal devices; social media; the web; the explosion of cable channels. The list goes on and on.

Recall when we were young(er). There were three network television stations and, perhaps, both a daily morning and daily evening paper (or, just one or the other). That's how we got our news and information - Uncle Wally Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, and whoever was on ABC (Frank Reynolds, perhaps?). If you missed the evening news, you got no news until the next day.

With the myriad sources of "news" today, and a 24/7 "news" cycle, everyone in the business is, quite literally, screaming for attention. Everyone wants your eyes, and, to be successful, they must scream! Headlines are written in an intentionally provocative manner; websites appeal to the most base of instincts; and, much of the content is superficial at best.

In tandem, there has been a steady decline in the capacity to think critically. To the point where, now, it is most likely impossible to carry on a thoughtful discussion with someone who shares a different view - simply because, in many cases, neither party to the conversation has bothered to even attempt to thoughtfully consider an opinion different from their own.

Over my 36 years at Lehigh, I have been deeply frustrated by two deficiencies in most students: 1) the inability to write a cogent paper of more than a paragraph or two; and, 2) the inability to critically examine their own assumptions or possible alternatives. The former is not a new problem, though it has worsened over the years. The latter is now so pervasive, I find it scary.

Throughout my 36 years, I have insisted that students in every class I have taught must do a lot of writing. And substantial writing - term papers, case studies, technical papers, and analytical papers. Nowadays, next to none of my colleagues requires writing of any depth (papers take time to grade which steals time from their scholarly research - the only thing valued by Lehigh today).

Last fall, I taught a course I hadn't taught in 10 years (it has been offered every semester by other instructors). I decided to require the students to write a major research paper (at least 20 pages) on an infamous real estate deal (for which there are tons of sources, books, articles. you name it). To prevent the inevitable "tomorrow the paper is due, so I have to pull an all-nighter" attitude, I broke up the paper into four pieces with each subsequent piece building on the previous work.

The first assignment was to construct a five-page narrative timeline of the events leading up to the announcement of the deal - documenting who did what, when, where and how. I even posted several articles to get them started.

The results were ugly. 60% of the students submitted a paper without a single reference - even though I had repeatedly advised them that they had to cite a reference for every event they noted. Only 10% of the students had as many references as I had posted (four).

I also advised them on the proper way to cite a reference, and, I emphasized this, to make sure the reference had a date and had been published only after an editorial review. Unsurprisingly, many studies simply provided a web link rather than an actual citation. And many references, either properly or improperly cited, were not published and were not dated (they were, for the most part, blogs!).

The next class, I asked the students (all seniors) to raise their hand if they had ever had to write a 20-page paper since coming to Lehigh. Not a single hand went up.

I do not wish to conflate my small sample of students to an entire generation, but it makes me wonder if most millennials can differentiate between fact and opinion. Or, care.

Here's what I see as one of the single greatest issues we face as a civilization...

When I look at the Greatest Generation, I have the deepest respect for their sacrifice, their patriotism, and their willingness to set aside their personal goals for the common good.

But, there is another characteristic of that generation that is equally commendable - they were problem solvers. Out of necessity. The everyday issues we face shrink compared to our parents' generation. Economic depression, families torn apart, world war to name just three.

How did they get to be such good problem solvers? First, by recognizing there was a problem that needed solving. That may sound trite, but ask yourself how many people you know who have genuine problems, but fail to confront those problems?

Second, by having the capacity to work through various possible solutions to the problem, weighing the pluses and minuses of each possible solution.

Third, by recognizing that (most of the time) no solution is perfect. Or, without risks. But, neither is an excuse to avoid trying to solve the problem.

This where critical thinking comes into play. If a person is accustomed to living in an echo chamber and only associates with like-minded people, the ability to think critically withers and dies. Then, when a problem arises, they have no innate capacity to solve the problem.

Where does critical thinking begin? It begins by developing a lasting curiosity about the world and how things work.

The best teachers I ever had were those who sparked my intellectual curiosity. One was my 11th grade social studies teacher Juan Carlos Ramon Rivera y Martinez el Segundo - known to us simply as “Mr. Rivera.” He was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Spanish Harlem. Mr. Rivera loved American history. But not just textbook American history. American history seen through the eyes of those who had lived it. In that single class, we learned about Manifest Destiny by reading The Year of Decision:1846 by Bernard DeVoto, The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. We studied the Robber Barons through archival newspapers. We studied the labor movement through first person stories about people like John L. Lewis and Walter Reuther.

Mr. Rivera himself never revealed his opinion on any of these subjects. Instead he urged us to develop our own conclusions by looking at both the good and the bad.

Once a week, it was current events day. Oh, no, not ripping a story out of the newspaper and writing a paragraph about it. Instead, he charged us with engaging in a critical examination of the issues. He demanded we not take anything at face value. My good friend, Bill Diven, and I usually teamed up. Bill had an 8mm movie camera and I had a portable tape recorder. We would make movies and recordings playing the parts of high-profile politicians. As this was during the height of the Vietnam War, we had a rich vein to mine! Bill created a fictional senator named J. William Fullo’bull and I created my own fictional senator, Barry Golddigger. Both were continuing characters in many of our movies and recordings. In one of our movies, we pretended Fullo’bull and Golddigger had been drafted and were in combat duty in Vietnam. We added sound effects like gunfire and bombs exploding. We loved it. Mr. Rivera loved it. The class loved it.

Teachers like Mr. Rivera are priceless. We need more like him.