Taiba Sultana to Primary Lisa Boscola?

Sultana door-to-door

In a recent story on his Apocalypse Now blog, Rich Wilkins suggests that former Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana is planning to primary popular State Senator Lisa Boscola this year. Last year, she was pummeled when she primaried popular Bob Freeman for the State House. Since the definition of cRaZy is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result, and since we all know that Taiba is a wackadoodle, I am expecting an announcement from her soon.

As Wilkins reports Sultana savaged Boscola recently because she supports enforcement of our immigration laws, just like former President Barack Obama. Contrary to what some of you believe, there are many Democrats who believe that illegals or undocumenteds (take your pick) should be deported if they have committed serious crimes. I happen to be one of them. But like most Democrats and many Republicans, I don't think ICE should be shooting American citizens in the face in the course of performing their duties. I don't think they should use chokeholds or carotid restraints. And they should be focusing on grabbing real criminals, not some poor dishwasher in the back of a restaurant. 

I've noticed a few posts from Sultana is recent days in which she lobs a grenade or two at Boscola. I've also noticed that, on Facebook, she's now "Taiba Sultana for Working Families," even though she herself does not work.

On Instagram, she's @taiba_sultana26. This is another hint that she's running. She also has set up an ActBlue account for donations. Yet another hint. 

She'll lose, of course. I have been highly critical of Boscola, who has held office forever. But she's highly popular precisely because her office provides excellent constituent service and she has become one of the State Senate's most powerful members. Sultana, on the other hand, failed to get re-elected in her own South Side Easton district. Running against Boscola in a Democratic primary is a fool's errand. But by now, we all know that's what Sultana is. 

Maybe Sultana can get her husband to circulate another nomination petition signed by Boscola, something he actually did when Sultana was running for the state house. 

Could a Republican run against her? Sure. Before last year's election, a local Republican told me he would be announcing right after election night. Well, when five Democrats were sept into county council office, he probably changed his mind. 

Grace Crampsie Smith Says Goodbye to Bethlehem City Council

When Grace Crampsie Smith decided to run in the Bethlehem Mayoral primary against Willie Reynolds, she chose against simultaneously running for her City Council seat. That alone sets her apart from the usual politico. It is very common to see State Reps. run for re-election to that seat while trying to get elected to the state senate or a state row office. It is also common to see local politicians run for two-year and four-year terms simultaneously. Cramsie Smith had a little more respect for the people who put her in office. On her way out the door in her final meeting as a Bethlehem City Council member, she delivered a statement on the importance of separate but equal branches of government.  

As my term comes to an end, I just want to give my thoughts, as well as my wishes, for my city's council and administration moving forward.And again, you know, I want to give some quotes just on what I think is really important about government at every level, the local and state and federal level.

And, you know, again, not everything is relevant to everyone on council and administration, but some things that I say are, first of all, healthy disdain of one man rule was the basis of our Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of our great country. And the essence of good government is to be an independent thinker and voice, and the work to ensure all levels of government are recognized, powerful and strive for high quality of life for all of our residents.

If one level of government suffocates another level, the cause of the people and our Constitution suffers.

It's unfortunate that while there has been certainly good times and recent months and years, I felt the need to defend myself against attacks on my professional experience and my personal character by certain council members as well as certain administrative individuals, just because I really was trying to do what I thought was best for the community. And that's unfortunate, and I really feel that's not the way government should work.

My hope is that moving forward, all of city council will be objective in thought and action, tolerant of the beliefs opposite of their own and recognize and exercise their power as an equal, separate, and significant level of government within our city.

My hope is that destructive mannerisms, both non verbal and otherwise, toward others; desist, desist, and decorum is maintained, maintained, fitting of elected officials.

Many people have commented to me about their perceived lack of decorum and negative mannerisms among certain council members and administrations while attending meetings.

And this has been truly disheartening to me and a disservice to our community and those we serve. I think it's important that we all remember, it is an honor and a privilege to serve our community at both the administrative and legislative level. It is neither a crown nor a sword.

Being on the right side of history matters more than being uncomfortable. That's what it's all about.

Thank you very much.

Zrinski To Announce Her Cabinet on Friday

Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski plans to announce her cabinet on Friday at 10 am from the Northampton County Courthouse rotunda.

ICE Out of Control

ProPublica, a Pulitzer-prize winning online investigative journalism news site, has published a report documenting 40 separate instances during which ICE agents using chokeholds, carotid restraints, kneeling on necks, outright choking and strangleholds. It's the type of excessive force that would get any local police officer fired. There have been no repercussions to ICE officers even though chokeholds and carotid restraints are banned by the Department of Homeland Security.

This report comes in the wake of the homicide of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Right after putting three bullets into her face, either Ross or another ICE agent called her a "Fucking bitch." Rather than investigating Ross for the possible excessive use of force, the DOJ is instead focusing on his victim's ties to groups opposing ICE 's aggressive enforcement tactics. This in turn has led to the resignation of four federal prosecutors.  

As tragic as this homicide is, ProPublica starts its report by stating, "Immigration agents have put civilians’ lives at risk using more than their guns." It reviewed video footage with 8n former law enforcement officers who conclude "this is what bad policing looks like."

One person put in a chokehold was a 16 yo American citizen whose undocumented father was driving him to school. 

A husband with an undocumented wife and a 1 yo child was told by ICE agents to give her up or he would be arrested and his child sent to foster care. He chose his family and was subjected to a carotid hold. This blocks 70% of blood flow to the brain and can be fatal. He went into convulsions and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. ICE later claimed he was faking it. He was denied medical assistance. 

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 24 shootings by immigration agents. Six people have died. ICE agents have shot at moving civilian vehicles 13 times, a practice banned by most police departments because it is simply too easy to hit an innocent civilian. 

Without question, a majority of the American public thought that immigration was out of control under former President Joe Biden. That's why Trump was elected. But now it is ICE that is out of control. 

Pa. Senator Amanda Cappelletti has proposed legislation that would ban ICE arrests within 1000' of any state-owned or leased property without a judicial warrant. In my view, this does not go far eneough. ICE agents should also be banned from carrying out any activities within 1000' of any school. Moreover, it is time to reinstate the common law principle that prevents authorities from arresting a party or witnesses attending court. If a person knows he might be detained, he'll be less likely to appear. This is in derogation of the Pa Constitutional provision that "[a]ll courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay."

Right-Wing British News Site Slams Pa Governor Shapiro

If you want proof that Pa Governor Josh Shapiro is eyeing a run at the Presidency, look at who's attacking him. A right-leaning British news site called UnHerd, which masquerades as a challenge to think again, is pretty much parroting whatever Trump trashes or extols at any given moment. Along with telling us that fossil fuels are still king and that Trump will get his hands on Greenland, it has now run a story bashing Shapiro. The problem with this story is that it is fairly unpersuasive, with the exception of taxpayer-funded expenses at his private home. 

The story makes light of the dramatic action he took in 2023, when a heavily traveled portion of Interstate 95 collapsed. In 12 days, Shapiro had the highway back in action, much to the relief of Philly commuters. But what about Harrisburg?, complains author Ryan Zickgraf, who actually hails from the Chicago area. You see, his ebike and car were stolen last year.  And a cRaZy lady stole his cat. And porch pirates steal Amazon packages, too. 

Well Ryan, let me clue you in. Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania, not Harrisburg's Mayor or its City Council. Unlike Donald Trump. he recognizes that his powers are limited. 

Zickgraf does make one valid observation. Renovations to his private residence outside of Philly included security upgrades, which even Zickgraf concedes are understandable at a time when nutjobs are intent on killing public officials. But they also include $290,000 for landscaping and groundskeeping. I'd agree that this should be explained, and I'll bet they were made necessary by the security upgrades. But it could be a lot worse. He could be accepting the unconditional donation of a $400l million luxury jet from Qatar. 

I think this attempt to muddy Shapiro only makes him look pretty good. Having said that, he's certainly not my top choice as our next President. 

Gracedale Cited Seven Times Since March 2025

I have previously told you of six separate substantiated complaints brought against NorCo nursing home Gracedale during the time that Michelle Morton was its Administrator. I'm unsure whether she has quit her job as she had indicated. but I can tell you that the home was hit with another citation on November 18, 2025, for failure to have "a minimum of 1 nurse aide per 10 residents during the day, 1 nurse aide per 11 residents during the evening, and 1 nurse aide per 15 residents overnight."

According to the state Department of Health, Gracedale failed to meet these minimum staffing requirements in 7 of 21 days reviewed. 

For its part, Gracedale promised to be in compliance by the beginning of this year and added this legal gobbledygook: "The corrections set forth in this document do not constitute admission or agreement by the provider of the truth or facts alleged or the conclusions set forth in the statement of deficiencies. The Plan of Correction is prepared and executed solely because it is required by provisions of the Federal and State Law."

The current CMS rating for Gracedale is just one star (much below average) because of both health inspections and quality control. Moreover, the home has been red flagged for potential issues related to abuse. 

This could explain why the census is below what the budget has projected.  

We All Make Mistakes - Amy Zannelli Endorsements For MDJ in 2021

Zanelli was charges last week with judicial misconduct in her role as a Magisterial District Judge. You can read the details here.

Lewis Shupe is Seventh Democrat to Announce Candidacy For Pa. 07 Congress

I've known Lewis (Lou) Shupe a long time. He and Robert Trotner are the founders of The Lehigh Valley Coffee Party, which I believe was formed in response to the Lehigh Valley Tea Party. I've always like Lou, who is affable and down-to-earth. I even voted for him (write-in) when he ran for Congress in 2024. But he was never a "qualified" candidate. He failed to obtain the 1,000 signatures needed to run. He also failed to raise or spend $5,000, which is how the FEC determines if someone is qualified. He failed as a Congressional candidate in 2018, too, but never made it on the ballot. Most recently, the Democratic party refused to select him as their candidate in the special election for the Pa. House-22 race. I expect his candidacy this time around, like the last two times, to have absolutely zero impact on this year's primary. 

Lou did send me his announcement on Friday, and I'll post it below.

ALLENTOWN, PA — 1-9-26— Lewis Shupe, a renegade Democrat and longtime local activist, today announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

“I am running for Congress because our democracy has been steadily weakened by moneyed interests, constitutional erosion, and a political class that no longer answers to voters,” said Shupe. “The people of PA-07 deserve representation that puts democratic power back where it belongs—with the registered voter.”

Shupe is campaigning on a platform centered on systemic reform and civil liberties, including:

• Publicly funded elections to end the dominance of special interests

• Reversing the trends of constitutional infringements and restoring civil liberties

• Single-payer, universal healthcare as a human right

• Restoration of the Fairness Doctrine to promote accountability in broadcast media

• Harnessing the power of registered voters to strengthen democratic participation and oversight

A retired and disabled professional with more than 35 years of experience in information technology, Shupe brings a systems-level perspective to public policy. Over his career, he wore many hats—problem-solver, analyst, and advocate—developing a deep understanding of how large, complex systems succeed or fail.

“Congress is broken not only because Americans are divided by all manner of foreign interference, but because the system has been engineered to ignore them,” Shupe added. “This campaign is about structural reform, restoring trust, and building a government that works for everyone—not just those who can afford to buy access.”

Additional policy positions and campaign information can be found at http://www.shupeforcongress.com.