Amy Cozze Attempts to Justify Blackmailing the County She Wants to Lead

Last week, I told you that Amy Cozze blackmailed the county she now wants to lead. As NorCo Elections Registrar, she submitted her resignation and made it effective just 12 days before the November 2, 2021 municipal election. I included her own resignation letter, obtained through a Right-to-Know request, in which she also complains about stress and her mental and physical health. She put her own interests ahead of the county's core obligation in assuring the citizenry that its votes would be counted. Her blackmail worked. After she got the money she wanted, she rescinded her resignation.

I believe that once you've dug yourself into a hole, it's time to stop. But Cozze has taken her shovel and is digging a bit deeper. On her campaign Facebook page, she attempts to justify her blackmail. I'll post her 7-paragraph explanation, followed by my response. 

Over the course of this primary, my opponent and her supporters have lied about my departure from county government. I’ve chosen not to respond because I believe this campaign should be focused on our visions for Northampton County not divisive distractions. However, information from my private personnel file was shared to build a misleading narrative and I feel I need to address it.

In late 2019, following a disastrous election, I was offered the position of Chief Registrar at a salary far below what Election Administrators in similar counties were making, with the understanding—handshake agreement included—that my starting salary would be adjusted the following year based on performance.

In 2020, while battling my second round of breast cancer, I led a team that transformed Northampton County’s elections from national embarrassment to a state model during historic and unprecedented times. We implemented mail-in voting from scratch, rebuilt voter trust, trained 800+ poll workers, and delivered results faster than any other county in the Commonwealth. We did this all while receiving regular threats of violence and constant harassment by extremists. As a result, I was recognized by the Governor and appointed by the PA Senate to the Election Law Advisory Board, and the County Executive’s reputation had been restored. I did not receive an increase in pay.

In the fall of 2021, after nearly two years of flawless elections, I was finally told I would be receiving the raise I was promised in 2019. However, less than an hour later, I was told there had been an “accounting error,” so I would not receive the raise. My many attempts to have the issue corrected before the budget was finalized were met with silence. So, with the full support of my deputy and staff, I made the extremely difficult decision to resign.

Once Council heard what happened, they took it upon themselves to work to keep me at the county and approve a step increase for myself and my Deputy Registrar. That raise was then vetoed by the County Executive, the veto was overturned by Council, with only my opponent dissenting.

Let me be clear: I resigned because, like too many county employees, I felt I was being taken advantage of, and saw no end in sight. I stood up for myself and my staff—just as I’ve always stood with workers throughout my career. It’s one of the reasons I’m running for County Executive - not only have I seen the struggles county employees face, I’ve faced them myself.

Northampton County needs leadership that values workers, honors commitments, and puts competence over politics. As County Executive, I’ll fight for fair wages, safe workplaces, and accountable government. If, like me, you're tired of toxic politics and broken promises—then I hope I can earn your support.

My response:

1) I am unaware whether Tara Zrinski has made Cozze's blackmail an issue. I also should point out that I am far from a Tara Zrinski supporter. Though I think she has done a good job as Controller, I was highly critical of her as a Council member. 

2) Cozze's resignation letter is public information. I researched the Pa. Office of Open Records before making this request and found numerous cases supporting the public's right to know. Anyone who runs for public office should expect scrutiny. I never requested her "private personnel file".

3) She claims to have chosen against explaining her blackmail but now devotes seven paragraphs to doing just that. 

4) I am unaware whether McClure promised her more $ when he hired her as Registrar. But he did give her a raise, just not the raise she wanted. What I also know is that after losing an election to Joe Emrick, she was crying about having no healthcare. McClure offered her a job in his administration. No good deed goes unpunished. County Council buckled under the blackmail, but McClure vetoed the raise and Zrinski supported that veto. They oppose blackmail.  

5) I have already conceded that she made numerous changes in the elections office that improved our elections. That's why she was appointed. Unfortunately, her people skills are terrible. 

6) She admits that she offered her resignation to take effect just 12 days before an election and solely because she thought she deserved more money. That's unconscionable. 

7) She made no effort to secure better compensation packages for the rank-and-file elections workers that she ignored as Registrar.  

8) Speaking of toxic politics, she claimed falsely that NorCo left all kinds of federal grant money on the table, while the truth is that the US Senator who employed her gave NorCo a big fat 0 despite numerous requests. I'm just pointing out that she exalted her own financial well-being over the county's core obligation to conduct an election. If that is who you want, vote for her. 

PA CITIZENS PAC Seeks Dismissal of Sultana Defamation Action on Basis of 2024 Law

When she was running for Pa. State Rep. against Bob Freeman, Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana was confronted by a campaign from PA CITIZENS PAC designed to ensure her loss. The PAC bought and posted campaign signs calling her "Crazy. Chaotic. Criminal." Most were torn down or defaced within hours. In fact, her kids were nabbed by Pennsylvania State Police in the act of vandalizing them.  She has yet to understand that "politics is a whore's game, and pimps plat it," as my friend, the late Bob Rudas, liked to say. I would prefer to call it core political speech. But whatever you call it, she decided to intimidate the PAC, which was run by immigration lawyer Ray Lahoud, with a defamation lawsuit. This could end up costing her money. 

The PAC, represented by Goudsouzian & Associates, has filed a motion to dismiss based on a 2024 law called the Protected Public Expression Act. This is a response to a trend in which the "civil litigation system was increasingly being used in an illegitimate way: not to seek redress or relief for harm or to vindicate one’s legal rights, but rather to silence or intimidate citizens by subjecting them to costly and lengthy litigation. These kinds of abusive lawsuits are particularly troublesome when defendants find themselves targeted for exercising their constitutional rights to publish and speak freely, petition the government, and associate with others. Commentators dubbed these kinds of civil actions “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation,” or SLAPPs."

Protected Public Expression is defined to include the "exercise, on a matter of public concern, of the rights of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble or petition or the right of association, [guaranteed by the federal and state constitution." It can be filed within 60 days after the complaint is served. Moreover, if the moving party is successful, he can seek attorney fees. Thise are ordinarily unavailable in most civil litigation. 

Below is the motion to dismiss what certainly appear like a frivolous complaint. Argument is scheduled in May.  

Brief to Dismiss Sultana Defamation Lawsuit by BernieOHare on Scribd

Margle Has Yet To Face the Music on Drug Charges

Stan Margle, age 67, a prominent Easton area attorney, has been charged with possession of both controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.  These are misdemeanor charges and were lodged on February 18.  While suggesting that he had been framed, Margle also said he wanted to put the matter behind him as quickly as possible. " He vowed to “move diligently to have this, in whatever way, quietly and peacefully behind me, and therefore behind us.” He has a strange way of showing it. 

Margle's preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for March 25, has been continued twice. It is currently scheduled for April 24.

No attorney has entered an appearance for Margle. If he really wanted to put this matter behind, he'd have a lawyer and would already have applied for ARD (a special program for first offenders).  

After Ballot Ouster, Patti Bruno to Wage Write-in For NorCo Council

Though she has managed several political contests and should know better, Patti Bruno was removed from the ballot in this year's at-large race for the Democratic nomination to Northampton County Council. She recently told Lehigh Valley For All that she will be waging a write-in campaign for one of the five available seats. Here's how she explained it.

"So it is true, I was challenged, I did get dinged off the ballot on a technicality. ... The reason why I'm continuing to run is because this fight is so much bigger than politics. There are several Democrats who are on that slate that are Democrats in name only and they are not in this room tonight. I think that should speak volumes to you."

In order to succeed in a write-in contest, Bruno needs to get at least 100 votes and finish in the top five of the five Democrats who already are on the ballot.  

Despite what she says, it appears to me that Bruno is running against Lori Vargo Heffner for political reasons to give the Democratic Executive (assuming that Zrinski or Cozze wins) a fourth rubber stamp in addition to the three (Ken Kraft, Kelly Keegan and Jeff Warren) who already exist. 

Council President Lori Vargo Heffner, who appears to be the object of Bruno's bluster, is a left-center Democrat who has supported about 90% of what the Executive has sought. But not 100%. And that, in the eyes of the rubber stamps, is a mortal sin. Vargo Heffner takes a bipartisan approach to governing. And she questions the Executive. That's a good thing. 

We've seen what happens when legislatures abdicate their roles in favor of the Executive in nearly all branches of government. On a state level, Governor Wolf had broad emergency powers to declare a lockdown because the state legislature gave it to him. On a national level, President Trump has broad emergency powers to impose tariffs that will no doubt cause a recession becase Congress gave that power to the President.

We need more Council members like Vargo Heffner and less like Patti Bruno. 

How NorCo Exec Candidate Amy Cozze Blackmailed the County She Wants to Lead

Amy Cozze is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for Northampton County Exec in this year's municipal primary. Her opponent is Controller Tara Zrinski. Let me start by conceding right away that Cozze has many positive attributes. I believe she excelled as a member of Lamont McClure's administration. In fact, she did so well that he appointed her as Elections Registrar. Thanks to the Executive and County Council, she prevailed against an Elections Comm'n that wanted to scrap the controversial Express Vote XL voting machine and that rejected her request for electronic pollbooks favored by most pollworkers. But as time marched on, she exhibited flaws. She had terrible people skills, refusing to even acknowledge her staff when she came to work, although they could hear her cursing like a sailor behind her closed door. Her biggest flaw, and this is what I believe disqualifies her from elected office, is that she blackmailed the very county she now wants to lead. Upset at her salary. she threatened to resign just 12 days before the November 2, 2021 general election. Her blackmail worked. She would later rescind that resignation, but only because Council President Lori Vargo Heffner promised to get her more money. Cozze put her own personal interests ahead of what is best for the county. In my mind, that damns her. I have every reason to believe that is exactly what she'd do as Executive. 

Below is Cozze's resignation letter, obtained in response to a Right-to-Know request. She states quite clearly that she is leaving the county as its Chief Elections Registrar on October 22, knowing full well that a general election would take place just 12 days later. In her missive, she makes clear that the reason she was quitting was because her request for a raise had been denied. (She was getting a raise, but she wanted more). She also complains about "the toll this job has taken on my physical & mental health ... ." She dislikes "the scrutiny and stress." 

Now she wants to be Executive, where the scrutiny and stress would be far greater. 

How did Cozze manage to rescind her resignation?  In an October 12 email, she advised the county that "[i]n light of the good faith agreement reached between the County Executive and Council President, I will be withdrawing my notice of resignation."

There was no good faith agreement. Vargo Heffner persuaded County Council to give her the raise she wanted in a budget amendment by reducing the overtime allotted for corrections officers at the jail. McClure vetoed. Council overrode him. 

It was not long after this that Cozze resigned for real. Her two weeks' notice is dated February 21, 2022. She presumed to name her successor, even saying that "failure to fill the vacancy immediately would be grossly unfair to the current staff." She didn't think about how "grossly unfair" it was for her to resign just 12 days before an election.  

If Cozze has demonstrated anything during her brief stint as a public employee, it's that she puts herself and her own interests in front of what is best for the county. 

Resignation Letter Cozze by BernieOHare on Scribd

My Exercise Regimen Just Paid Off

Those of you who know me know that I like to ride bicycles and love walking as well. If I could still run, I'd do that, too. But it's only over the past two years or so that I've begun to take strength training seriously. I've made lifting mistakes, which can sideline me for a time, but I enjoy it. I especially like the farmer's carry, which involves holding weights in each hand and walking a distance with them. I've noticed that I have more power when I cycle, but to be honest, I'm still fairly slow and wonder whether it's all worth it. The answer is Yes. I got my answer last night.

As I was spewing the usual venom from this blog, I could distinctly hear my neighbor in the hallway outside my apartment, grunting and groaning. I didn't know at first whether he was inside or out of his apartment and decided to check on him. He was writhing in stomach pain in the hallway. It was so intense that he was sitting on the floor. On top of that, I noticed both of his feet were swollen. He's also wearing a heart monitor. He asked me to call an ambulance, and I did. 

When the ambulance arrived from Klecknersville, the attendants asked him to hop on the stretcher, but he couldn't get up. The attendants were female and unable to lift him, so I volunteered. 

At first, I had him grab my hands and tried to get him up that way, but his hands slipped out and he went crashing down. So I got behind him, stuck my arms under his shoulders and was able to lift him from the floor to his feet. 

The attendants were pretty impressed. "Look at you!" said one of them. 

Then I dropped him again. 

So if he didn't need to go to the hospital before, he does now. 

That's what he gets for rudely interrupting me while I am trying to write. 

(Actually, I didn't drop him and hope he's ok). 

Did Trump Just Play the Stock Market?

Although he called it "Liberation Day," I doubt many Americans stockholders felt any freedom after President Trump announced a barrage of reciprocal tariffs against ... well ... everyone, including uninhabited islands. The stock market predictably went into free fall, and instead of elation, most of those who saw their 401ks and mutual funds vanish were experiencing more than a bit of dudgeon. Now that Trump has blinked and paused all reciprocal tariffs except those aimed at China (pronounced by Trump as Chiiiiii-na), I have a question. Did he play with the stock market so that some of his buddies could do some day trading and clean up? 

Yesterday, he dropped a hint to his MAGAs on social media. “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT,” he announced at 9:37 am. Four hours later, he announced his pause and the stock market soared. And guess what? When he give this tip, he was already seriously considering the pause. His own company's stock shot up 22.67%.

This sure smells like insider trading. 

Senator Adam Schiff (D-Ca) would like to investigate, but I doubt Congress would tolerate anyone who challenges Trump's integrity. 

Five Candidates To Avoid in May

 

Not because they're "Democratic Socialists," whatever that is, but because they are the worst possible quintuplet to hold elective office.

Santos and Sultana have been disasters in Allentown and Easton, respectively. Both are routinely absent. Santos just votes whatever way Ce-Ce Gerlach to vote, and Sultana accuses everyone in Easton of being racist, sexist and whatever "ist" she can think of at the moment. Neither cares about the people they should be representing. 

Qayyum is Sultana's husband and has already run unsuccessfully for magisterial disrict judge and controller. He's the idiot who circulated a petition on behalf of his wife that contained the forged signature of State Senator Lisa Boscola. He thinks that a county council can enact a minimum wage. 

Palmer, an active participant is just about every Allentown protest, has lost several attempts to get elected in Allentown to something, anything. 

Stemrich's website includes this statement: "Fuck facism [sic] in all forms." He should at least learn how to spell the word before he fucks it, don't you think? He claims to have been a journalist but is apparently more like a blogger because he is unable to spell. 

Allentown Takes Aim at Predatory Towing

From Santo Napoli:  The Allentown City Council voted last Wednesday night to adopt a new ordinance aimed at protecting residents and visitors from predatory towing practices on private property. The measure adds critical procedures to the city’s administrative code and establishes a uniform framework to ensure fair, transparent, and legal towing operations. The ordinance comes in response to a growing number of complaints from residents who had their vehicles towed from private property and were charged excessive, cash-only fees ranging from $400 to $700—often with little to no information on how to retrieve their cars.

Councilmember Santo Napoli, who sponsored the ordinance, said he was prompted to act after conversations with police and multiple residents impacted by these practices.

“The manner in which these vehicles were towed caught my attention,” Napoli said. “People were forced to pay hundreds of dollars in cash with no clear information or recourse. That’s simply unacceptable.”

Napoli added that such predatory fees can have serious ripple effects on individuals and families already facing financial strain. “A surprise $600 expense can push someone into late rent, missed mortgage payments, or even the risk of eviction. For those living paycheck to paycheck, it’s more than just an inconvenience—it can be a devastating setback.”

The ordinance focuses on four key areas:

1. Signage - Private properties must display clearly visible towing signs (minimum 12” x 18”) that include the name and phone number of the towing company.

2. Tow Company Standards - Tow operators must be registered with the city, maintain liability insurance of at least $1 million, and be in good standing with all city ordinances. Tow trucks must also display the company name and phone number, and report all tows to the Allentown Police Department within 30 minutes.

3. Reasonable Fees - Towing companies must charge reasonable rates consistent with Pennsylvania law.

4. Decoupling - If a vehicle owner arrives before their car is removed, the tow truck operator must release the vehicle immediately and may charge a decoupling fee no greater than half the towing cost.

Violators—tow operators or private property owners—face penalties of $500 per violation or the total amount charged to the vehicle owner, whichever is greater.

"I commend City Council for passing this much-needed legislation, and I especially thank Councilperson Santo Napoli, Detective Luiz Garcia of the Allentown Police Department, and members of the community for their collaboration in addressing the issue of predatory towing,” said Chief Charles Roca. “This ordinance sends a clear message: these exploitative practices will not be tolerated in the City of Allentown, and those engaging in them will be held accountable. The new regulations provide clear expectations and transparency for both towers and residents, helping ensure a fair and consistent process for all."

Napoli also acknowledged the numerous partners involved in shaping the ordinance, including Council Vice President Cynthia Mota and City Clerk Michael Hanlon.

“I’m thankful for the collaboration and support across departments,” Napoli said. “This is a win for transparency, fairness, and the people of Allentown.”

Residents and visitors who believe their vehicles were towed in violation of the updated ordinance should report concerns to the Allentown Police Department immediately at 610-437-7732.

For more information on the ordinance, contact the Allentown City Clerk’s Office or visit www.allentownpa.gov.

Lehigh County GOP Exec Candidates to Debate Thursday Night

Brad Osborne is a radio host who formerly served as a Lehigh County Comm'r and was once the GOP standard bearer in the Executive race. So it's safe to say he understands county government. He'll be hosting a debate Thursday night for GOP Exec candidates Roger MacLean and Mike Welsh. The debate is open to the public and will run about an hour, starting at 7 pm. 

It will take place at Lehigh Valley Active Life, 1633 Elm Street, Allentown, Pa. 

The winner of this race will face Josh Siegel, who is running unopposed on the Democratic side.