Commonwealth Court Schedules Hearing on Objections to Taiba Sultana's Nomination Petition For State Senate

Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court scheduled a March 25 hearing on objections to the nomination petition filed by Taiba Sultana for the state senate. She hopes to face incumbent State Senator Lisa Boscola in this year's primary. 

Representing objectors Patti Hitzel, Pam Panto, Patti Bruno and Cleste Dee is Allentown Attorney Ray Lahoud, who grew up on Easton's south side. In addition to is challenges to specific signatures, Lahoud has raised the novel argument that Sultana has deceptively claimed to be "self-employed" without explaining precisely what she does as a self-employed person.

The Pa Supreme Court has in the past stricken a nomination petition filed by a law school graduate who held himself out as a lawyer while awaiting bar exam results. So I could see a court ruling against Sultana on this basis alone. 

Lawyer Who Allegedly Left Cocaine at Courthouse ... Twice ... Is Temporarily Suspended

Easton-area Attorney Stan Margle, who is well known as both a family and municipal lawyer, has been temporarily suspended by the Pa. Supreme Court. 

A per curiam (unsigned but unanimous) order dated March 26 imposes a temporary suspension based on a pending criminal proceeding. It was granted pursuant to a joint petition, indicating that Margle himself was a party to the request. 

Margle faces two sets of criminal charges as a result of cocaine and drug paraphernalia he amazingly brought to the courthouse inside his satchel. Unfortunately for him, he left his bag behind when he left on both occasions. 

Most recently, Margle was receiving in-patient treatment for what certainly appears to be an addiction. 

My hope is that he is getting the help he needs. 

UPDATED: The Hubris of Zach Cole-Borghi

When Lehigh County Comm'r Zachary Cole Borghi was charged last year with participation in a still mysterious interstate marijuana ring, he loudly protested his innocence from his perch in Lehigh County's meeting room "I am an innocent family man. I am a leader in the community, and I am a dutiful public servant who has been damaged by the mishandling of this investigation,” he asserted, adding that "I intend to identify and bring suit against anyone who maliciously conspired to destroy my reputation.” Not only did he retain his position as Chair of the Courts and Corrections Committee, but he cruised to re-election with 69% of the vote.  Yesterday, his hubris ran headlong into reality. In four separate and detailed criminal complaints (you can read them below), Cole-Borghi has been charged with more than 100 criminal charges related to the sale and purchase of cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms over a period of roughly two years. He was still able to participate in last night's meeting of Lehigh County's Board of Commissioners but did so from the county jail. His bond is set at $500,000.

Cole-Borghi is accused of 89 counts of criminal use of his cellphone to arrange drug deals, 14 counts of delivery of cocaine and 1 count of delivery of psilocybin mushrooms. Incredibly, the text messages show that he arranged drug deals from his cell phone during Commissioner meetings, from his job at Bethlehem City Hall (where he complained that he was running late because Mayor Willie Reynolds talks too much) and even during a "Peace and Justice Symposium" conducted by the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute and attended by Lehigh County DA Gavin Holihan. 

Cole-Borghi's arrogance in the way he allegedly conducted drug deals and his reaction to the marijuana charges is simply stunning. When he was first charged, Comm'rs John Irons and April Riddick quickly played the race card, noting that black men like him are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement. 

While that may be true in some instances, Cole -Borghi's fatal flaw - hubris - has nothing to do with his race. "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud." He may have felt he was above the law because he is an elected official but is learning the hard way that he must face the consequences of his own actions. 

I suspect the circumstances concerning this prosecution is fertile ground for defense motions, but if this case goes to a jury, I doubt Cole-Borghi gets any sympathy. His refusal to resign his position as a Comm'r could enhance his sentence, as it did to disgraced former Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski. If he were smart, he'd resign now. But as of now, he just looks like someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone. 

Oh yeah, he is presumed innocent. 

UPDATED: 11:40 - Cole-Borghi was absent at last night's meeting of LC Comm'rs. My evil Republican brother told me he was there but was joking with me. He called me to inform me of my error and then laughed maniacally.

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 1 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 2 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 3 by BernieOHare

Complaint Zachary Cole Borghi 4 by BernieOHare

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.