Fed Ed Finally Apologizes

After having spent the past six years in an assortment of federal prisons, disgraced Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski is finally expressing remorse for the crimes he committed as Mayor. 

According to WFMZ-TV69, he is asking President Joe Biden to commute his 15-year sentence, and apparently realizes his only shot at getting any kind of relief is to accept responsibility for his misbehavior. 

I was highly critical of Fed Ed while he was in office and did my best to cast a spotlight on his misconduct. But even I agree he has been behind bars long enough. In late 2022, I sent a letter to the Pardon Att'y to request that his 15-year sentence be reduced. 

Whether it is genuine or not, he has now finally apologized. 

The People Who Knew Trump Best Do Not Support Him

Monday was Columbus Day, aka Indigenous People's Day, so several banks, government offices and the post office were closed. In NorCo, which was open, many people used the holiday to exercise their franchise and cast their "ballot by demand" at the county elections office. As we all know, many of them support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris. I support Harris and consider Trump totally unfit for any office, to say nothing of the Presidency.

I'm a bottom-feeding blogger, the lowest of the low. So what I think should mean little to most of you. But the image above should. The New York Times editorial board has a list of comments from his former staffers, the people who know him best.  

Bill Barr, his former Attorney General, said Trump "will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else … .” Gen. John Kelly, Director of Homeland Security and his Chiefm of Staff, calls him "a person who admires autocrats and murderous dictators.” From former VP Mike Pence to former Defense Sec'y James Mattis, the list is long and distinguished.

If you are a member of the Trump cult, this post is worthless. But if you are capable of looking at things a little more objectively. I'd hope you'd realize he is simply a terrible choice to lead this nation.

NorCo General Purpose Authority Approves Wilson Borough Transfer For Dixie Cup Development

In May, Skyline Investment Group representatives were at the NorCo's General Purpose Authority (GPA) meeting. Wilson Borough actually owns a small triangular piece shown on the tax map you see above as 1C-1. It is 0.35 acres located along the eastern side of 25th Street and is actually the beginning of a bike path that extends from the Palmer Bike path and hooks up with the Tatamy Trail. According to Claudia Robinson, who is actually a tax credit maven employed by an outfit called AreaProbe, Skyline plans to move the giant Dixie Cup currently on top of the vacant factory and plant it next to the bike path, where people could ooh and ahh at its wonder. 

But there's a problem. Wilson Borough is unable to convey directly to Skyline unless it first conducts an auction at which anyone could bid to buy the tract. This could complicate Robinson in her quest to attract private equity with promises of an historic tax credit. 

To foreclose the possibility that someone other than Skyline gets this tract, the Borough could convey to the county GPA, which in turn would munificently turn it over to Skyline. That way the law against this kind of insider dealing would be followed even though the spirit of the law would clearly be ignored. 

At their October 8 meeting, NorCo's GPA approved the land transfer by a 5-2 vote and without discussion. Voting Yes were Charles Dertinger, Paul Anthony, Ken Kraft, Ronald Donchez and Pamela Pearson. Voting No were Lori Vargo Heffner and Lance Colondo. 

Vargo Heffner is President of NorCo Council and Colondo is Nazareth's Mayor.

For Second Time, I Think Someone Stole My Cannondale Trail 5 - Part 2

A few years ago, almost immediately after completing the 330-mile ride from Pittsburgh to D.C., someone stole my Cannondale Trail 5 locked bicycle while I rewarded myself with lunch. Video showed the culprit, who was armed with a few bike tools and made an idiot out of me by simply disassembling part of the bike, slipping the lock off, reassembling and then riding off. A few weeks later, I had a new Cannondale Trail 5, which my grandson uses when we cycle the trails. I told you on Friday that I believed that bike was stolen from a bank parking lot in Bethlehem while my grandson and I ate at the Pho Bowl after our ride. I was wrong. 

Bethlehem police investigated and reviewed camera footage from the bank. That footage showed I had two bikes on my car when I left. 

From Bethlehem, I stopped at the Giant Food Store in Nazareth before returning home. I was there about 15 minutes, but I park at the far end of the lot so I can walk more. So it's possible the bike was stolen from that location. I have contacted Colonial Regional Police because Giant tells me that there are cameras all over the parking lot. 

Another possibility is that the bike fell off during my ride home. I highly doubt this because I have the bike strapped in pretty well and I definitely can hear it when the bikes move in any way.

In any event, I want you to know that no crime was committed in Bethlehem. I also want to tell you that I purchased a new bike for our Philly Bike Ride. 

The moral of this story is that I should really try to stay out of the car and on my bike. I probably would do so more often but am unable to ride two bikes together. 

"God's Acre" or "Indian Graveyard" at Nazareth's Indian Tower

It's called the "Indian Tower," and is the highest elevation (731.63 ft above sea level) in what was originally Nazareth's 5,000 acres. It never was a lookout tower but is the site of what Moravians call God's Acre or the Indian Graveyard. It was in use between 1744 and 1762, and is the final resting place of 67 Moravians, including four Native Americans. Only a few are marked in any way, but there is a slab of stone that must be a marker for at least one of these early inhabitants. As the weather gets cooler, I like to walk through here with my buddy, a huge Black Lab. That's during the day. Once it gets dark, it's good spot for teens and amateur astronomers to stargaze. 

Sometime on Friday or Saturday night, someone left an offering at the tumulus of one of the deceased Moravians. Two unopened cans of beer (Miller Lite and Yeungling Light), a flavored cigar and a bouquet of flowers. I think the American flag was already there. 

I don't know why, but I thought that was very nice. 

For the Second Time, I Think Someone Stole My Cannondale Trail 5

At the end of the day yesterday, I met my grandson at Sand Island and we rode the trails while there was daylight. After that, we met up at Bethlehem's Pho Bowl, my favorite restaurant and talked Phillies and Eagles. From there, I hopped into my car and drove home. But when I arrived in Nazareth, I noticed that my Cannondale Trail 5 was no longer on the bike rack. Not only was it secure to the back rack, but I use several straps to make sure nothing moves. So I believe my bike was probably stolen last night while we were eating.  

To avoid the Bethlehem Parking Authority Nazis, I park at the M&T Bank lot if it is after hours. A camera is trained on the cars, so police should be able to confirm today whether the bike was stolen. Whether they will be able to retrieve it is another story, although I was able to give them the serial number.

Police arrived within minutes of my call and were very professional and sympathetic. There is a slight possibility that the bike fell off during my ride home, but it was strapped in very well and I think I would have noticed. I retraced my ride home and saw nothing. When the video footage from the bank is observed, we'll know for sure. 

This will be the second time someone stole one of my bikes. The last time it was a Cannondale Trail 5 as well. I had just finished riding the 330-mile trip from Pittsburgh to DC and stopped for lunch. Though I locked my bike, the thief was able to disassemble the cockpit of the bike and slip it off the lock. There was video of that, too. 

This time my bike was unsecured. I spend a good five or ten minutes adding all kinds of straps to the wheels and noodles to keep the bikes from hitting each other or the car, so I never expected someone to be able to get everything off so quickly. 

My grandson and I are headed to Philly next Friday for the annual Philly Bike Ride. If you know of any decent bikes for sale, let me know. I am looking at a Trek Domane Al 2 or a Cannondale Synapse Sora, which are great low-end endurance bikes you can ride on a road or trail. But they are hard to find. 

My brother, who lives only a half block away from Pho Bowl, is an evil Republican. I told police he probably stole it. He says he was with Trump, eating dogs and cats.   

Judge Sletvold Taken To Woodshed By Superior Court Over Termination of Mother's Parental Rights

I've told you before about the federal civil rights suit filed by Lisa Tresslar, Northampton County's former Custody Master. She claims she was constructively terminated after blowing the whistle on the conduct of several Northampton County judges (specifically Judges Jennifer Sletvold and Paula Roscioli) in custody disputes.  Instead of seeking out evidence of danger to children, Tresslar claims these judges try to prevent its admission so that they are insulated from the public outcry that would ensue in the event that a parent with visitation or custody would harm a child. She even pointed to one instance in which she states that happened. Judges want her case tossed, and a hearing has been scheduled for November 21. This story is about a separate matter involving Judge Sletvold, who recently terminated a mother's parental rights without bothering to explain why. Pennsylvania's Superior Court blasted her. 

In an October 1 opinion penned by President Judge Anne E Lazarus, the Superior Court minced no words in its criticism of Judge Sletvold for terminating a mother's parental rights with no meaningful inquiry or rationale. She did so even though "[a] parent’s right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of his or her children is among the oldest of fundamental rights.”

Instead of explaining why she ruled the way she did, she just adopted wholesale the findings of fact and conclusions of law submitted by one of the parties. "[W]e strongly disapprove of a trial court’s wholesale adoption of a party’s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, without independent analysis, in a termination of parental rights matter," said the Court. "[W]e are faced with a trial judge who has completely abdicated her responsibility to provide an 'independent judicial analysis.'", adds President Judge Lazarus, who also accuses Judge Sletvold of "dereliction of duty." The Superior Court has ordered Judge Slevtold to explain herself within the next 30 days and has retained jurisdiction.

Last year, Northampton County voters decided to retain Judge Sletvold with 34,909 Yes Votes to 23,862 No votes. 

Thode: Road Work, Government At Its Most Brilliant

Blogger's Note: Though I've learned that I do need a car at times, I try to stay out of it as much as possible and find I can do most errands on foot or by bicycle. One of my most enjoyable trips has always been the ride from Nazareth to Bethlehem and back on 191 and Linden Street. The berms are quite wide so it's pretty safe. But that changed a few weeks ago when construction crews began resurfacing the roads. It's more like mountain biking these days. Though occasional contributor Steve Thode is no cyclist, he lives in that area and has had to put up with the mess. Here's his reaction.  (By the way, he should visit Nazareth, where every road surface seems to be under perpetual construction)

Three weeks ago construction crews began skimming the asphalt on Linden Street/PA 191 from Butztown Road north to US22. As you know, this is one of only three "escape routes" north out of the City of Bethlehem. It is also heavily traveled and only one lane each direction until north of Oakland Road in Bethlehem Township.

Traffic was reduced to one lane that had to be alternately shared by northbound and southbound traffic. At times, southbound traffic was backed up all the way to 22 and northbound traffic backed up to Azar Market at Johnston Drive.

Now the brilliant parts.

Last week - less than a week after the section of southbound Linden Street near East Boulevard had been resurfaced - construction crews began digging up the new asphalt. Brilliant!

And then, suddenly, resurfacing crews disappeared, leaving behind many sections that had been "skimmed" but not repaved. Why? For reasons only a government bureaucrat could invent, construction crews began digging a trench in the middle of Oakland Road extending several hundred feet east from the intersection with Linden Street. As of Tuesday, that trench digging was continuing - turning the intersection of Linden Street and Oakland Road into a massive choke point. With northbound sections of Linden Street north and south of Oakland Road still not repaved.

There's a reason why conservatives dislike monopolies. But, at least private-sector monopolies are regulated. Who regulates the government? The biggest and baddest of all monopolies.

Staffing Mandates at NorCo Jail - Part Two

At Northampton County Council's September 5 meeting, corrections officers appeared to complain about "money, mandates, morale and management." They read into the record a statement from an officer, a 22-year veteran, whose wife unfortunately passed away. He has a special needs daughter, but mandates (mandatory overtime shifts of eight hours) make it necessary for him to choose between his family and his job. In fact, on Monday, he was one of the 14 officers who were forced to pull a double shift

Council member Ken Kraft, though supposedly a Democrat and retired union official, said nothing to corrections officers when they were there. He instead waited two weeks to dismiss this concern as a "sob story." He incidentally is a former jail administrator. With compassion like his, it's little wonder that morale has suffered. 

Of course, there would be no need for mandates if the jail had a full complement of 212 corrections officers. But as I explained on Wednesday, there is a nationwide staffing shortage at jails and prisons. Though Executive Lamont McClure has hired 396 corrections officers, many of them quit for less stressful and higher-paying jobs. So on Monday's afternoon shift, when 14 officers were mandates, the complement of COs was only about 150. 

How do mandates work? As it was explained to me, the jail administration first asks for volunteers. They are approved on the basis of seniority. But if the administration is still short, that's when officers get ordered to pull a second shift.

Let's say you're a CO, and your daughter has a birthday party on the very night you are ordered to stay. Or that you have an anniversary dinner planned with your wife. Tough shit. 

"Saint Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

"I owe my soul to the company store."

While corrections officers get no sympathy from the county jail administrators, they historically have looked out for each other. Someone can give his mandated double with another officer, with the understanding that he will fill in for that officer when he or she gets mandated. 

The county has historically permitted these switches. It is getting the coverage it needs and without unduly stressing a county employee. But that recently changed. There are two possible reasons.

The first possible reason is that some COs began demanding money to work another officer's mandated overtime shift. Ther is nothing collegial about this kind of piggish behavior. The county learned of this practice during exit interviews with departing officers, and its remedy was to refuse to allow any switching at all. 

The second possible reason is retaliation. Officers were ordered in the most recent arbitration to sit down and discuss scheduling changes with the county. The HR insisted on a town hall event with all COs because it believed the union negotiators were not being truthful with rank-and-file officers. In that town hall, the county discovered to its chagrin that union negotiators were mild in comparison to the regular officers. It realized it was going nowhere in discussing scheduling changes without agreeing to give the union something in exchange. So instead, it decided to take something away. Now, corrections officers who are mandated are unable to switch their shifts with other officers at all. Notwithstanding prior practice, the county states this switching is banned under the collective bargaining agreement. 

I'd agree that no CO should be able to demand or accept money from another officer for working his shift. It's predatory. 

On the other hand, it's ridiculous to prohibit an officer from agreeing to work someone else's shift, either out of the goodness of his heart or with the understanding that this favor will be returned down the road. If the collective bargaining agreement bans this practice, it needs to change. This will only increase the number of vacancies. Regardless whether it is retaliatory, it is certainly perceived that way. 

Under the current schedule, officers have off every other weekend. No other county jail has this perk. If the county wants that to change, it really has to give something.  On the other hand, corrections officers need to realize that the drop in staffing is a nationwide problem and should work with the county to adjust the schedule. 

Staffing Mandates at NorCo Jail - Part One

We're all aware that there's a serious staffing shortage at juvenile detention facilities. This includes Northampton County's Juvenile Justice Center. Over the past two years, NorCo Court Administrator Jermaine Greene has tried everything to fill the void, from creating assistant supervisor positions to increasing salaries to even hiring a private security firm. This staffing shortage extends to our jails and prisons as well. According to The Marshall Project, staffing at our nation's prisons has dropped 10% since the pandemic while jail populations have increased 2%. This increases the risk of assaults against officers and makes sleep-deprived officers more likely to use excessive force. What's the deal at Northampton County's jail?

Since he became Executive, Lamont McClure has hired or re-hired 376 corrections officers (COs). Five are in training right now. He's only been able to retain 27% of them. 

This is a problem. The county jail should have 212 officers. It instead has about 150. Because it is a 24/7 operation, the county has no choice but to "mandate" officers to work 8 hours of overtime when other officers call off or have vacation days, which they must schedule a year in advance. As a result of this shortage, 14 COs were mandated to work a 16-hour shift on Monday.

Unfortunately, the way that the county imposes these mandates appears to be accelerating the staffing shortage, to say nothing of depressing morale. This must bother them even more when they walk by the jail administrators' parking lot on Friday afternoons and see it is empty. 

I'll have more about mandates and how they are imposed tomorrow. 

Have You Received Your Mail-in Ballot (MIB)? Part 2

In my story yesterday about MIBs, I told you they just started going out late last week. I received my MIB on Monday and have voted. Some of you jumped on to complain that, though you received emails telling you that your ballot was in the mail, you still have not received it. One of you actually blamed the county because you are still waiting for your mail. 

Last time I checked, Northampton County delivers no mail. That's the postal service. 

At the end of the day yesterday, I was informed that the county has received 46,201 MIB applications. All but 2,400 have gone out. If you received an email informing you that your MIB is on its way, and you don't receive it, call the elections office at 610-829-6260.

If you never get your ballot, you can cast a provisional ballot at your voting precinct on election day. Elections officials will check during the official canvass to make sure you have not already voted by mail. If you have not, your provisional vote will be counted.