Allentown Ponders "Welcoming" Ordinance For Immigrants

At the rate that Allentown is investigating itself, it might soon need a tax increase just to cover the host of investigations and lawsuits concerning those investigations. But that's only the start. On Wednesday, the City Council also considered a "welcoming" ordinance that would protect immigrants without regard to status. According to a summary from LehighValleyNews, city employees would be blocked from sharing the immigration status of residents unless required by federal law. The matter has been referred to Council's Public Safety Committee. 

Though from Ecuador, Lehigh County Comm'r Jon Irons spoke in favor of this legislation. He was festooned in a keffiyeh, otherwise known as a Yasser Arafat scarf. It's unknown whether he's advocating for this on a county level. " Sharon Finnigan argued that people have the right to feel safe, adding that similar legislation has already passed in Lancaster. "There ain't no power like the power of the people," added Jessie Lopez.

And therein lies the rub. The people decided in the most recent Presidential race to support a candidate who wants to deport millions of illegals. Like it or not, a majority of American voters feel unsafe with the status quo. A "welcoming" ordinance may be very unwelcome to them. 

In response to this city initiative, Lancaster County Commissioners passed a resolution declaring Lancaster a "non-sanctuary county" and called on the City to rescind its ordinance. Three Indiana cities have rescinded their "welcoming" city legislation after being threatened by the state attorney general with litigation.  

Numerous cities throughout the country, including Philadelphia, are certified welcoming cities. Though similar to a sanctuary city, a welcoming city must still comply with federal law. 

Palmer Tp Police Seek 15 YO Runaway Missing Since January 10

FROM PALMER TP POLICE: On Friday January 10, 2025, Palmer Twp PD took a report for missing Juvenile identified as Enci Wu nickname “Aubrey” (DOB 7/24/2010, 145 lbs., Asian female) Wu snuck out of her parents’ house in Palmer Township while her parents were sleeping. Wu was seen on video surveillance camera wearing navy blue sweater w/ red on the sleeves and light color pants and a small overnight bag. Wu left the home sometime after 1828 hours. Police received information on 01/11/25 that Wu was last seen in the In the Allentown area, near Parkland High school. She has since disposed of a secret cellular phone she had and left the area prior to Police arriving at a residence where she was temporarily staying. Anybody in contact or has any further information with Enci Wu, that will assist locating this missing juvenile, Please call The Palmer Township Police Department Non Emergency 610-759-2200 or dial 9-1-1. Wu was last seen wearing a Nirvana band grey hoodie, black yoga pants, and white Nike Billie Eilish sneakers. Thank you. 

UPDATE / REWARD: As of Wednesday January 15, 2025, anonymous donor from the Easton Area is providing a reward of $2000.00 for information leading to the location and safe return, of the missing Palmer Township girl, Enci "Aubrey" Wu. Anybody currently in contact with Enci Wu, or has any information about her whereabouts, please call The Palmer Township Police Department non-emergency number 610-759-2200 or dial 9-1-1. Thank you.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://northampton.crimewatchpa.com/palmertwppd/44270/broadcasts/missing-juvenile-update-reward?fbclid=IwY2xjawH1dwRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdrGVH8-M0JcWULFD2HCk5VTbN9TBvKn09LQm3QJwS3qXCBGBx8kTiURjg_aem_JUYJVtX79CKkDghGKilxyw

Allentown City Council Reports That FBI Working "In Tandem" With Allentown Police Over Alleged Noose Incident

At the beginning of last night's Allentown City Council, but not before praying to Jesus, Council President Cynthia Mota announced that earlier that day, Council conducted a questionable and possibly illegal executive session with Allentown police concerning the noose that was supposedly discovered early last Friday. She then reported that the FBI is working "in tandem" with Allentown police to uncover the truth.

She failed to disclose that it was in fact a city council member who supposedly discovered this noose at City Hall on Friday, on a floor where this member has no business. No explanation was given for the presence of this member of City Council member, or whether this is a possible attempt to throw a monkey wrench into Tuerk's re-election.  

Given that the Sunshine Act's exceptions for executive sessions have no application to this situation, I question City Council's ability to determine what is or is not legal. That meeting should have been open to the public spotlight. 

Mayor Matt Tuerk, described by one of my readers as a 4th degree black belt in virtue signaling, was conspicuously absent. "Where's our Mayor?" asked saloon owner Don Ringer. "This is an important meeting." It certainly is to those trying to set him up as the mastermind of a racist city hall. 

A parade of outraged citizens addressed Council, not one of whom suggested that this could have been put there for political purposes or to lend credibility to claims of racism. 

I referred to Mota as City Council President, but Daryl Hendricks was elected President later that evening. 

After agreeing to spend $50,000 for a related civil investigation and incredibly, is considering hiring yet another law firm to conduct even more investigations. 

A Tale of Two Developers

According to The Morning Call, Allentown developer Nat Hyman was before Palmer Tp's Zoning Hearing Board last week seeking a use variance that will enable him to convert a Crayola Crayon office building near the Tatamy Trail and Bushkill Creek into 94 one-bedroom apartments for working people. This is similar to what he has already done 40 times. and mostly in the Lehigh Valley, from Allentown to Northampton and Nazareth. He is probably doing more to provide affordable housing than any local government, often without their help and usually with some roadblocks. 

Hyman's project is similar to and one mile away from the Dixie Project in Wilson Borough, where an old factory is being converted into luxury apartments at rents that most working people are unable to afford. It will attract transplants from NJ and NY who can commute and afford higher rents. It will do nothing to provide workforce housing for those who need it and will likely just aggravate what everyone claims is a national crisis. 

But local government is falling all over itself to help a developer who has never done a single project in the Lehigh Valley or anywhere else, for that matter. He's on track for a $29 million TIF break and a $10 million Rcap. 

Does this make sense? 

Is Allentown's Supposed Noose Story a Set-Up?

According to both The Morning Call and LehighValleyNews, Allentown employee LaTarsha Brown found what appeared to be a small noose on her computer when she reported to work on Friday morning. She just happens to be the very employee who has made multiple accusations of racism and harassment at City Hall. City Council member Ce-Ce (from DC) Gerlach was quick to call the incident a "hate crime." An investigation by Allentown police isn't good enough for outraged activists, who want to involve the FBI in tracking down the bigot who supposedly placed this symbol of racial hatred.  In addition to investigating a possible hate crime, I'd suggest that police or FBI or INTERPOL look into another possibility as well. - false reports. 

While possible, I find it hard to believe that someone would place a noose on the computer of a city employee who has repeatedly claimed that she and others are victims of racism. It's equally possible that it was placed there in an attempt to make the allegations of bigotry seem more credible. Another reason for the hangman's noose is to strangle Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk's quest for re-election. Several members of City Council would be pleased by that outcome. 

Here's what neither news account has revealed. This was reported to authorities by a City Council member who just happened to be at City Hall on a Friday morning at 6:30 am. Though Council's meeting room is on the first floor, and city council offices are on the fifth floor, this City Council member was on the third floor, where this employee's office is located and where there are no cameras. What the hell was this person doing there? If there in response to a tip, who did that come from? 

Elected officials and city employees are issued ID cards and can enter City Hall at any time, but there is a record of it. And there are cameras on the first floor and entrances. 

I'm unwilling to identify this City Council member at this time, but this person is no friend of Tuerk or his re-election efforts. It will come out with the wash. For now, I'll leave you hanging. 

Blogger;s Note: Michael Molovinsky has a related story about the politics of racism.

Will NorCo Exec Lamont McClure Seek Third Term?

Early in his second term, NorCo Exec Lamont McClure dropped numerous hints on social media that he would be seeking a third term. This is something no NorCo Exec has done. By this time, I would have expected an announcement, as he tends to kick off his campaigns early. In fact, I expected an announcement of a team of county council candidates as well who have his stamp of approval. But I'm hearing the opposite. Numerous rumors are wafting through the courthouse hallways from people who say he's going to step down when his term expires. McClure himself has thus far declined to state his intentions. 

Is he afraid he'd lose? I doubt it. His most recent campaign finance report, filed Friday, reveals he's sitting on a $166,454 warchest. Council President Lori Vargo Heffner has been rumored as a potential primary opponent, which might explain some of the fractious relations between County Council and the Exec. But it is highly unlikely that could raise the kind of money she'd need to wage a successful primary contest. How about the general? In the last cycle, Republicans chose a divisive and poorly informed candidate who was unable to get out if his own way. There are good Republicans who could make for an interesting race, but few are willing to spend the time and effort to run a half billion-dollar operation for a meager $85,000 a year salary. While NorCo swung to the right in the 2024 Presidential race, the voters who vote in those races generally skip municipal elections. Aside from his inability to get along with County Council, McClure probably has the best record of accomplishments of any Exec since the Home Rule Charter was adopted. I particularly like the proactive approach to emergencies, from the pandemic to the Blue Mountain wildfire to a train derailment in Lower Saucon Tp. His response to the fentanyl crisis has actually resulted in a reduction of overdose deaths. On top of all this, he's never raised taxes and even cut them in one of his years in office. 

So why drop out? In 2023, Northampton County voters, and by a 82.8% margin, approved a change to the Home Rule Charter limiting the Executive to two consecutive terms. Legally, that has no application to McClure because it applies prospectively. But I know that this plebiscite has had an impact on his thinking. He worries that seeking a third term might defy the express will of the voters. Plus, quite frankly, it's a grueling and thankless job. The longer you are in, the fewer friends you have. 

Another rumor floating around is that State Senator Lisa Boscola might seek the county's top spot. That might explain why her Chief of Staff, Joe Kelly, has decided against seeking a judgeship. I have heard this rumor for the past 10 years, so it's unclear to me whether Boscola is serious. 

Controller Zrinski Finds No Irregularities in Audit NorCo's Child Support System

If you live in NorCo and are separated or divorced with children, you likely have come into contact with Domestic Relations, an arm of the Courts. It establishes support orders and paternity, locates absent parents and enforces. This is required by federal regulations and state law in order to ensure that non-custodial parents contribute toward the support of their dependents, allowing them to stay off the welfare rolls and therefore save taxpayer dollars. Some of my readers have complained and even sued over the way Domestic Relations handles support. But it collects and pays out a lot of money, $41.5 million support in 2018. It also received $85,000 in fees. That's just 0.0002 in administrative costs. This important part of the courts, which helps our children was recently audited by Stacy Duke and Controller Tara Zrinski for compliance with internal controls, policies and procedures. Here's what they found:

"Our audit of the Domestic Relations Section (Domestic Relations) revealed that internal controls over cash, receipts and disbursements are functioning as intended. The three financial analysts and their support staff are able to properly segregate duties and retain complete and proper documentation for the financial transactions. Receipts for support payments and other fees are collected and accounted for by DRS financial staff and then properly recorded in the statewide PA Child Support Enforcement System (PACSES). Support payments are deposited the following business day in the PACSES support bank account which is swept daily by the State Collection and Disbursement Unit (SCDU) for distribution to plaintiffs. Payments collected by DRS for certain other fees are deposited in the County’s common bank account via the Revenue Division."

The following items were tested:

 Determine if receipts (support) are deposited intact daily and into the proper bank account. 

 Determine if SCDU funds sweeps from the support account were for the correct amount and if the detailed support payments entered into PACSES by DRS were accurate. 

 Determine if there were any withdrawals from the bail account during the period being audited. 

 Determine if there were any withdrawals from the support account that were not initiated by SCDU during the period being audited. 

 Determine if bank accounts are being reconciled monthly by an accountant and then reviewed by the director of DRS. 

 Determine if there is $100 in “change” in the cash drawers before any transactions are taken into account. 

 Determine if the activity posted to the DRS Agency fund is accurate.