Susan Wild v. Fetterman?

According to Semafor, former Lehigh Valley Congress member Susan Wild is being urged to take on US Senator John Fetterman in 2028, assuming that he seeks re-election. Fetterman angered some Democrats when he refused to support a government shutdown. During that shutdown, as Fetterman himself observed, many Pennsylvanians saw their SNAP benefits delayed. He gets blasted when he refuses to wear a suit, the uniform currently in fashion by our ruling class.  He's now being blasted for his vote to confirm another Senator, Markwayne Mullin, as the new DHS Secretary. It makes no difference that Fetterman was among those who called on Kristi Noem to resign or be fired.

In my view, Fetterman is precisely the kind of person that Democrats (and the country as whole) need.

But Susan Wild has a different take. She recently slammed him as a "disappointment." The former Congress member who pretended to reach across the aisles is apparently angry that Fetterman is insufficiently partisan. 

And we wonder why nothing gets done,

These days, Congress is little more than a glorified call center, where members are required to spend their days raising money instead of legislating. 

I'd prefer a guy in a hoodie to someone who parks in handicapped spots. 

Jill Mancini Still Awaits Her Payday

I've written several times about the Jill Mancini case. She was a full-time assistant NorCo solicitor who was summarily fired in a Christmas phone call by the Brown administration. A federal jury concluded that her due process rights were, in fact, violated, and she was awarded $94,000. Her attorney was awarded $186,000. That finding was upheld on appeal to the Third Circuit as well. Her claim for reinstatement and back pay were unresolved.

After years of going back and forth between the Personnel Appeals Board, Common Pleas Court and Commonwealth Court, President Judge Craig Dally ruled in 2024 that Mancini be reinstated, that she be awarded back pay and all fringe benefits between 2014, the date of her termination, and 2018, when she found alternative employment. He scheduled a hearing for damages. But Judge Dally has decided to remand her claim to the Personnel Appeals Board to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the issue of damages and report back. You can see his Order below.

Judge Dally has determined that the Personnel Appeals Board has failed to determine Mancini's damages and fringe benefits and her administrative remedies must first be exhausted at that level. 

This case has now been litigated through three different county executives. 

Mancini Remand by BernieOHare

Zoning Reforms That Can Make Housing More Affordable to the Workforce

Northampton County Council is poised to grant a special tax break known as a TIF for the developer of a luxury apartment building and a high-end hotel, complete with butlers, in what was once Wilson Boro's Dixie Cup factory and LA Fitness Center. I'll have more to say about this next week and how it actually exacerbates our housing crisis. In truth, there's little county government can do to assuage our housing crisis. It has no say in zoning, the construction market or financing. Local governments at the city, township and borough levels are another story. Here are some zoning changes I's like to see:

Amend zoning ordinances to be more friendly to tiny homes.

Reduce minimum lot sizes and setbacks.

Accessory dwelling units should be allowed by right in most areas. 

Mixed use development should be encouraged. 

Loyola U Student Allegedly Murdered by Venezuelan Immigrant Who Illegally Entered US

I've criticized the brutal way that the Trump administration has enforced our immigration laws. Instead of targeted enforcement, even US citizens have been stopped simply because they look different. Moreover, until Kristi Noem was removed from DHS, even US citizens were killed and shot. Having said that, I acknowledge that we have had a problem with immigrants who have entered the country unlawfully and then committed crimes. 

Most recently, an 18 yo Loyola U student was allegedly shot and killed by a Venezuelan, who entered this country illegally and who was apprehended and released by Border Patrol. He later was arrested for shoplifting and released again. 

I have received criticism for failing to acknowledge these incidents and agree I should have drawn attention to illegals who engage in criminal activity, especially those who entered illegally.

Can NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski Talk and Chew Gum at the Same Time?

Despite some mind groans from NorCo Council President Ken Kraft, Executive Tara Zrinski continued her practice of providing thorough reports during County Council meetings. "It's called a county council meeting," snarked Kraft, but Zrinski responded, "Listen, you want me to be thorough and transparent, that's what I'm doing." I actually appreciate these informative updates and hope they continue, and I'd much rather listen to news about the county than another state house campaign pitch by Council member Jeff Warren. So far, the biggest complaint about her detailed accounts is that she chews gum. If that's the best ammo her critics have, So long as she's not blowing bubbles and popping them, who cares?  with that out of the way, let's discuss her actual report.

DCED: has applied with Congressman Ryan Mackenzie and both of Pa.'s US Senators for P-25 radio systems that can be used by first responders in both analog and digital modes. The department is also planning for this year's May 16 County festival at Louise Moore Park.

CORRECTIONS: Director DeeAnn Lawrence convened a "facility operations" meeting on March 18 to discuss the importance of morale, ethics and leadership, and responsibility in creating a safe and healthy environment. The meeting included captains, sergeants and wardens. Interviews were conducted to fill a vacant captain slot. The correctional academy was graduating six people on Friday and the next class begins today.

ADMINISTRATION: Is trying to improve labor management relations. It is also reviewing a mail-in ballot stuffing machine that could reduce human error like that which occurred in the last municipal election. It is funded by grants.

GRACEDALE: A recent storm caused damage to one of Gracedale's roofs. An insurance claim has been filed and repairs are under way. She warned that changes are coming to the nursing home, both "fiscally and administratively." She said the state Department of Health has visited the facility a few times recently but found no deficient practices. She added that Gracedale's chef provides a monthly cooking demonstration and did so in March for St. Patrick's Day. 

As an Irishman, I can assure you that nearly all British cuisine was invented on a dare.  The only decent seven-course Irish meal is a six-pack and a potato. 

EMS: Interviews are ongoing to fill the vacancy created by Todd Weaver's retirement.

HOUSING: Zrinski attended a "Housing for All meeting of the Third Street Alliance, which focused on a continuum of care for seniors, a housing first model to address homelessness and a plan to develop workforce housing. 

SHERIFF: Three candidates are being sent to the Sheriff's academy, and a fourth is already in training. The Sheriff's office warns residents to be wary of scam calls that seem to be coming from their office, but are actually coming from scammers. 

PROCUREMENT: met with Manager Jeffrey O'Brien to discuss ways to save money by consolidating purchases countywide. 

HUMAN SERVICES: has brought in 12 new employees.

HUMAN RESOURCES: has conducted testing for deputy sheriffs and 911 dispatchers. 

VACANT FISCAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR: "We're working on it. You're trying to drag somebody away from a lot of money to not so much. But this is public service, and we're doing it for a greater purpose."

PUBLIC WORKS: has been addressing damage to county buildings from a recent storm that affected several properties. The new parking deck plans have been finalized, and contracts are going out to bid this week. 

PARKS: is hiring for summer positions. 

NorCo Council Unanimously Approves Human Relations Commission

Last night, all nine members of Northampton County Council voted to establish a Human Relations Commission (you can see the original version here) to resolve claims of discrimination in a timely manner pursuant to the county's police powers. 

The purpose of the ordinance, as stated in the bill itself, is to "declare [the county's intent] to promote the rights and opportunities of all persons to participate in the social, cultural, recreational, and economic life of the County and to assure equal opportunity for all persons concerning employment, housing, education, health care, and use of public accommodations without regard to actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical marital status, familial status, GED rather than high school diploma, or mental disability, relationship or association with a disabled person, source of income, age, height, weight, veteran status, use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aids, or domestic or sexual violence victim status."

The Commission envisaged by this ordinance consists of seven members appointed by the Executive, which County Council can confirm or reject. Members will reflect the diversity of protected classes. If the commission finds that a complaint of discrimination is substantiated, it can fine the offender up to $600.

Among the many members of the public who spoke in support of this ordinance was Liz Bradberry, who chairs Lehigh County's Human Relations Commission and is herself the CEO of Keystone Equality. She stated that Lehigh County's Human Relations Comm'n can resolve complaints in two days, much faster than the two-year average with the state. 

I was a bit concerned about cost, given that county finances are tight. But Bradberry explained that in Lehigh, their Commission has spent only $136 over the past two years. 

Bradberry also informed Council that 76 municipalities have established human relations commissions statewide, including 6 counties. She also reviewed case law supporting human relations commissions. 

In addition to Bradberry's factually based oration, Council members themselves made some impassioned arguments in favor of the ordinance. 

Nadeem Qayyum, the County's first Muslim and Asian American elected in the county, said that the Human Relations Ordinance is more than a legal text. "I see a promise," he said. 

Theresa Fadem said her family (great grandmother) was brought here as a slave from West Africa and that she herself "has suffered a lot of discrimination in my lifetime." She was proud of the members of the public who advocated the ordinance. 

Dave Holland, who announced that he has a husband, stated that "when people are treated differently, they struggle at another level than people who aren't treated differently. ... If we're treated differently just because of who we are, it takes a toll on the individual, not only the individual, but the whole family. ... When somebody has to deny who they are, it crushes your soul."

Lori Vargo Heffner gave no impassioned speech, but instead acted as a scrivener to tighten the language of the ordinance with a series of friendly amendments, all of which passed. 

This ordinance also was supported by Executive Tara Zrinski. "Our strength as a county comes from the diversity of our residents," she said.

I only wish that bloggers were a protected class.  

NorCo Public Defender Seeks Full-Time First Assistant

Nuria DiLuzio, Northampton County's Chief Public Defender, asked County Council last night to create a new position in her office for a full-time first assistant. That position currently exists but it is part-time. She assured Council that she has money in her budget to pay for that position this year. She added that if Council creates this position, she will return and ask to eliminate the part-time position. 

Her office currently consists of 13 part-time public defenders, 4 full-time public defenders, a support staff of 3 and a client advocate. Her office handles 75% of the criminal cases filed in the county. 

She said that her office is very strong and winning a record number of criminal cases. 

Amazingly, up until now, clients who sought a public defender were unable to do so online. She finally persuaded the county's outside IT department to make that option available, and it "really has streamlined our service" with the public and defendants awaiting trial. 

She also answered questions about the county's problem-solving courts, where her office assigns a defender. 

County Council will vote on her request tonight.  

She's doing much better than most Public Defenders throughout the state. According to Pittsburgh Courier, Pennsylvania faces a shortage of about 30% of the public defenders it needs. This results in criminal defendants sitting in jail longer than necessary and clogs dockets

Lehigh County's DCED Director Tapped as Allentown's Managing Director

Frank Kane, who has been Director of Lehigh County's Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), has been tapped by Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk as that city's new managing director. 

Kane, a graduate of Moravian College, has spent 20 years with Lehigh County and has been DCED Director since 2013. Prior to that, he spent three years as the press secretary for Pennsylvania's General Services Administration when Don Cunningham was the Director of that department.