McClur Sez No to Third Term as NorCo Exec

Earlier this month, I told you that rumors were spreading through NorCo's courthouse that Executive Lamont McClure had decided against seeking a third term. This is in spite of a $166,000 warchest heading into an election year. This is in spite of telling radio host Brad Osborne in December that he would seek re-election. It turns out that the rumors were correct. Yesterday he told WFMZ-TV69 that he will be riding off into the sunset. He later told me as well. The WFMZ-TV69 story reports that McClure's decision was "unexpected." It was actually the worst kept secret in the courthouse.  

He would likely have no primary opponent, so he could continue raising money for the general election. So why bow 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. No NorCo Exec has lasted three terms. 

There were some corollary rumors. State Senator Lisa Boscola seriously considered the county's top spot and made numerous calls about what would be expected. Once she learned that it would be difficult for her to be poolside at the country club by noon in the summer, her desire to leave a comfortable job vanished. 

Democrats have reportedly talked Controller Tara Zrinski into running even though she's only served one year in that position. Though this is very much against her own will, she will still be defined by Republicans as a job hopper who runs for every seat that becomes available. I hope that the Democrats who persuaded her to run are willing to support her with some serious campaign money. 

And yes, there will be a Republican candidate. I've been tolf to expect an announcement very soon, possibly as early as today. 

So what will McClure do?  He told me he might return to the practice of law or "explore other options to consider serving the public."

That would certainly include a run for Congress to challenge recently elected Ryan Mackenzie in next year's midterms. 

Susan Wild, who was defeated by Mackenzie, fell off the planet after that race, especially after it was reported that she had leaked an investigative report into another Congress member. But she's back. On Martin Luther King Day, she was at Shiloh Baptist Church in Easton, shaking hands everywhere she went.

Except for McClure. She snubbed him.  

Allentown Conducts Segregated "Healing Sessions" To Combat Racism

Yesterday, most government workers, schoolteachers and banks took the day off in honor of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. He, and many like him, fought for the Civil Rights, Voting Rights and Fair Housing Acts.  Groups like the Freedom Riders peacefully protested segregation despite being beaten, fire-bombed and arrested. This segregation existed locally, too. Blacks were barred from swimming in our local pools. When they did, the pools were drained.  Now, despite the valiant efforts of civil rights leaders to bring people together, Allentown is doing its best to drive them apart with absurd "healing sessions" in response to a noose supposedly found on the computer of an employee who has made complaints about discrimination at city hall. 

Get this. These "healing sessions," which were conducted on Friday, were divided into two groups. One was for black, the indigenous and persons of color. The other was for whites, even those who call themselves "allies" to persons of color. This initiative imposes the very segregation that civil rights leaders fought against for decades. 

A letter to city staff states, "The purpose of these affinity spaces is not to divide AT ALL. We do not want people thinking that we are dividing by ethnicity, to put people on separate sides or ideals."

Whatever the intention, that is precisely what happened. George Wallace would have been proud. 

By the way, the "affinity space" for persons of color is a basement.  

Trump 2.0

When Donlad Trump was first elected in 2016, Democrats responded with fury. Locally, Lehigh Valley For All (who agree with us) was formed. Nationally, there was the million-woman march, complete with pink hats. This time around, it's mostly a whimper. I confess to feeling resigned to four very uncertain years. 

My feelings can be summed up in Dave Chappelle's message to Trump: "Remember, whether people voted for you or not, they’re all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they’re all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you. I mean this when I say this — good luck. Please do better next time. Please, all of us do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.”

I believe we all can do better, and that includes me. 

Expect County Exec Announcements This Week

Earlier this month, I told you of rumors wafting through Northampton County Courthouse halls that County Exec Lamont McClure had decided against seeking a third term. This would be contrary to what he told radio host Brad Osborne when he appeared on his radio show on December 11. But that was then. Since that time, he has declined to declare his intentions. I believe his silence will come to an end this week, possibly on Wednesday. 

There is little doubt in my mind that he's stepping aside. As I explained a few weeks ago, a citizen plebiscite limiting an executive to two terms weighs on his mind even though it has no application to him. If nothing else, it would be a ready-made issue for his opponents. His future intentions are unknown. He has reactivated his law license, so he might just want to return to the practice of law. 

So who will be running, if not him?

State Senator Lisa Boscola was rumored to be running. She often likes to tell people that she wants to run and has been doing that for at least the past decade. This time around, she seemed more serious as she made several calls to local politicos. I'll believe it when I see it. As a State Senator, she lives a fairly carefree life. She can be at the country club pool by noon most days. Moreover, she gets no scrutiny from Harrisburg reporters. I can guarantee that would change if she decided to run for Executive. She would be under a magnifying glass, as she should be. If she decided to get drunk and put on an embarrassing display at Larry Holmes' recent birthday bash, I would be reporting it. I doubt she wants the kind of scrutiny she deserves.

So if not her, who? 

Democrats apparently have talked Tara Zrinski, the Kenny Pickett of NorCo Dems, into running and against her own will. She is doing a fine job as Controller and would have liked to have avoided the rat race of another campaign just one year after being elected. She knows she will be painted as an opportunist who runs for every job that comes along.  She would do better to follow her own instincts than listen to other politicos like McClure and Boscola, who assure her she can win. 

If that's what they think, they should put their money where their mouths are and give her sizable campaign donations so she can mount a campaign. That has historically been her major weakness. 

If Tara decides this really is bad for her own political future, which it is, then who?

There's the Tanner McKee of NorCo Dems, Steve Barron. He has thrown no passes for a few years, so he could actually be more like Carson Wentz. I think Steve is quite happy where he is. 

What about Republicans? Do they have a candidate? I am told they do and that I should expect an announcement on Wednesday. 

What about Lehigh County? We know that State Rep. Josh "Fuck the Police" Siegel is running on the Dem side and is amazingly unopposed. On the GOP side, I expect either or both former State Rep. Justin Simmons and former Allentown City Council member Roger MacLean to announce. 

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.