She's one of the Gracedale Goons whose petitions I challenged, claiming to have circulated as many as fifteen initiative petitions at one time. On a computer program showing duplicate signatures, her name appears three times, although she clams one of them is her daughter-in-law. She has regularly interrupted County Council meetings with catcalls, hisses and outright vulgarity, as her face grows beet red. On one evening, she did it in front of forty or so boy scouts. I've read her comments on Easton Patch, as recently as Friday. "Angle wants to see everyone who does not agree with him gone ,they are all are no good lazy bumbs . And Bernie Iam sure you scare Ann McHale get a life." Now she's the alleged author of an op-ed at The Express Times. Although there are no spelling or grammatical flaws, she's a little short on facts.
The Express Times has also published an excellent op-ed from Northampton County Executive John Stoffa.
"A “no” vote to sell Gracedale is a vote to reduce the size of county government by $66 million. Voters would be authorizing the county to get out of the nursing home business. That would allow the county to allocate an additional $5 million in funding to the Area Agency on Aging over a three-year period, which will keep hundreds of elderly people out of nursing homes and in their own homes.
"What else would a “no” vote make possible?
" * An additional $2 million for farmland preservation.
" * $2 million to be used to upgrade and repair county bridges.
" * Empowering the county to defer tax increases by increasing the fund balance.
"I believe a vote to sell Gracedale is really a vote to save it"
Let the ref pass and the massive layoffs begin. Those idiots are going to love life after the resolution. I shall rejoice as each of those goldbricks becomes unemployed. And when they take my order at McDonalds in a few months, the better frickin smile or I'll have their asses kicked out of fast food, too.
ReplyDeleteOK so he has a plan for 9 million, where's the rest going? Could it be more window replacement in the County Courthouse,more upgrading for the courthouse or prison how bout more DUI Centers or some other payoff plans that will go to Mr. Atiyeh! How much MORE of a fund balance do they need! PATHETIC PATHETIC PATHETIC!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any information on this Alzheimer Coalition? Do they hold regular meetiings? Do they collect dues? Who is on the membershhip list? Where does the money go?
ReplyDeleteI have been following the Gracedale issue for some time now and this is what I see:
ReplyDeleteA county government who wishes to bring in an expert private industry who has offered a great price to buy the asset
A county council who realizes that the county can longer make gracedale a profitable stand alone entity
A county government and council who understand that the best in nursing care is what the residents of gracedale need and deserve, and made 85% indigent care part of the sale contract
A county council and government who look beyond the 4 walls and see the needs of elderly residents who wish to stay at home, and will make this part of the plan if gracedale changes ownership
A special interest group who ignores all facts, ignores the needs of the elderly in the nursing home and in their own homes, in favor of a monster union who's wages and benefits far exceed the private sector. A group who will accomplish a lose-lose outcome, in which jobs are lost and care becomes less that what it could be
This Alzheimers coalition is a figment of barbaric union anarchy. They have forced their way onto the ballot, because the workers have no desire to see life in the real world.
ReplyDeleteA real world where wages and benefits align with profit, and do not sit under a tax sheltered government entity that is propped up by taxpayer wallets. A real world where there is no such thing as job security. A real world where jobs and wages are doled out and taken away based upon merit, fluctuations in the economy, and profit/loss.
Its time to sell Gracedale, and I will vote no on May 17th.
Ok, so May 17th you'll win. Now what? No law requires the Stoffa to run that place efficiently. He can run it into the ground, making it the white elephant taxpayers can't wait for it to go away. What now?
ReplyDeleteAfter much thought on this subject I believe I will be voting to sell Gracedale. Why:
ReplyDelete1) The County made the mistake of NOT reinvesting into Gracedale when there was a profit. Too late now.
2) They seem to have gotten a fair price.
3) With the budget crunch on the state level the funding will decrease creating an even larger deficit.
4) I believe if the County must keep it the funding will decrease. Eventually this will be a slow death and a couple years from now it will be sold for much less.
I disagree that the nurses are overpaid. Take a look at what RN's are getting paid in the "real" world. And I don't wnat to hear from the plant at the Council meetings that hasn't received a raise in 10 years - that is a joke.
It's time to sell, even if I blame the County and don't like it very much.
Stoffa won't likely get the sale, but the morons who wrote the referendum have handed Stoffa carte blanche to gut the place and protect taxpayers. He deserves credit for the gentlemanly tone and tenor of his comments. He also deserves credit for playing along and stating he'll abide by the resolution, if it passes. He need only keep the doors open. He'll be able to institute wholesale layoffs to mitigate the negative impact of the resolution's passage.
ReplyDeleteUnions will win the battle. But they've already lost the war. They are already dead, and too stupid to keel over.
Possible future: Gracedale, the Nursing home, is gone in 3 years.
ReplyDeleteBernie (Stoffa and Angle's public spokesman) says "Bingo'. which pretty much is a confession that this was a deliberate orchestration on NorCo's part to run the place into the ground. Something few weren't aware of already, but now that Bernie (the court jester) left the cat out of the bag on Stoffa who he indicated already staked the deck against the referendum's outcome, we know where things stand. Stoffa already stated publicly he'd deny any new patients in the future. Talk about fraud!
ReplyDeleteIt really is time the state attorney looks into this whole cesspool of what is transpiring. Hell maybe even the U.S. Attorney's department, Social Security enforcement and the oval office, since it affects Medicare recipients. Perhaps the next petition should to be sent to Washington.
Gracedale has made over 14 million dollars in the past 15 years. The worst Administration in County history, Stoffa, has lost the most in the past two years. Even with his incompetence the palace still has endured.
ReplyDeleteThere are no drastic cuts to the reimbursement in bed rates from the state, call and ask. Another out and out lie.
The so-called need for taxes has gone from 5 to 30%. Everyone who understands County government knows it is broken under Stoffa and Angle but even for these guys, this desperation number game is laughable.
The bottom line is that this is and has been a teabagger inspired move to cut employees at the expense of the elderly and disabled. Stoffa wants cash for his buddy Atiyah and the drug addict lounge, now there is a tax increase.
The threats to "just keep the doors open", will be meet with lawsuits, state intervention and no-doubt a recall on any who are so negligent of their duties as elected officials, as to jeopardize the lives of those for whom they are responsible. Oh and the lawsuits from residents and families. You think the courts slam-dunked the unholy three before, wait until a resident sues for lack of care and Stoffa says, its my right to turn off her feeding tube. Yeah, his leadership will be what costs a 30%tax increase.
His article was much like his year long incoherent rants, full of half-truths, full out lies and just made less sense than a sophomoric essay.
Just The Facts!
The dirty little secret lost in the so called "Save Gracedale" campaign is simply put, control. Sadly, the very term being offered as a plea for the residents of Gracedale is nothing more than a power grab by a public employee union.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is, the unions of today couldn't care less about their workers. They have shown themselves to be merely political action networks and powermongers rather than employee representatives. Union members today are nothing more than a slave class.
Mr. Stoffa and county council are the best equiped to make any decsion regarding Gracedale, or any other operational funtion of the county.
Unions, just as civil service laws, are an anathema in today's world.
Save Gracedale... sell it!
"The worst Administration in County history, ... Everyone who understands County government knows it is broken under Stoffa and Angle ... teabagger inspired move to cut employees at the expense of the elderly and disabled ... Stoffa wants cash for his buddy Atiyah ... Stoffa says, its my right to turn off her feeding tube ... Just The Facts"
ReplyDeleteJust the facts? Yeah, from someone in the looney bin.
"Bernie (Stoffa and Angle's public spokesman) says "Bingo'. which pretty much is a confession that this was a deliberate orchestration on NorCo's part to run the place into the ground."
ReplyDeleteStop squealing because all you could afford was a waterborne ethical oil slick of a lawyer who is long on tactics but very short on strategy. His nearsighted lawyering will win the battle, but has already lost you idiots the war. And good luck finding relief from that huckster. He has no malpractice, likely because he can't afford or obtain it. Gentlemen usually prevail and Stoffa will over the Spraintmeister and his fraudulent clients.
The plan was to get out of the nursing home business to the benefit of taxpayers (including my 82-year old mother), and to the benefit of patients who are crammed in rooms where they receive poor to average treatment vs. consistently better care in private homes. The idiots would have kept their jobs and had a future. Now, they are doomed and their future is handing out smiley face stickers at Walmart.
It doesn't take a village. It only takes an otter. And no 99-weeks for the newly idled. You'll have to get off your asses quickly.
your group will get far.. with the run gracedale into the ground attitude! you are pushing the vote right into our hands! thanks bernie, john and ron!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that most of the teabaggers in their money rage still see this as a 'union" issue. The union certainly is in the fight but the concerned citizens are not about the union, they are about Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, the COAF is about the need for the county home and has never really been fighting for a union.
That is why this referendum will pass. More and more people especially older voters, of both parties shake their heads over this Gracedale issue. They are going to vote to keep Gracedale as they say they can smell something rotten about this and someone is wanting to get their pockets lined with a sale.
These folks have been around a long time and are familiar with all the snake oil salesmen that come now and then. Outside of the slate belt, they know when Angle's name is mentioned something is indeed not right. They want to have Gracedale run by the county as it has been for decades and they have no confidence in the entire Stoffa and Angle pitch. As one lid fella said they change tax rates faster than my great granddaughters diapers. These are wise folks.
The funny thing about this is if the Administration had been professional at one point in time, this would have never even made it to the referendum stage. These guys would have pulled off the biggest and saddest con in county history.
Now the voters know the game. They aren't being distracted by union side issues of the baggers, they are focused on Gracedale and the needs of the elderly of the county. They are clear, if this Administration cannot figure out how to manage effectively, leave and let better managers run the place. They have in the past and they can in the future.
The Angle/Stoffa snake oil may play well on this blog put it is less than meaningless out in the real world.
Real People!
Can the scrotal obsession. Counties are getting out of the nursing home business. There is no longer a need for county homes or poor houses.
ReplyDeleteCOAF has been a front for the unions to hide behind.
I recently talked to a retired teacher (supposedly an intelligent being) who asked me who would pay for the indigent elderly already in Gracedale if it were sold. Who does he think pay for them now?
ReplyDeleteA yes vote on saving Gracedale is going to mean Gracedale will be greatly diminished. There will be layoffs and no new admissions until the resident population is down to half its size or less. That will give a lot of people more time to disrupt County Council meetings.
ReplyDelete"teabaggers in their money rage ... someone is wanting to get their pockets lined with a sale ... , they know when Angle's name is mentioned something is indeed not right ... Angle/Stoffa snake oil"
ReplyDeleteThis is supposed to be a factual argument? It accuses someone of being on the take, bashes conservatives, sand slams Stoffa and Angle. But there are no facts, just smears.
The Save Gracedale movement is led by the selfish concerns of friends and relatives who work there, and not the residents or future residents. These employees have been lucky enough to enjoy outdated generous anachronistic benefits that haven't been seen since Bethlehem Steel was around and don't want to see them go without a fight. On the other side of the NO vote are the residents. More people will be helped with better care in a private home without increasing taxes. In the end, the current and future resident population will far outweigh the present employee populations which will be dragged kicking and screaming to keep their gold plated Cross pens every anniversary and pensions. Think of the old people in Gracedale and vote to sell.
ReplyDeletewow, guess i missed something, i worked at gracerdale for many years and never recieved a gold pen! i want my gold pen! no I just want my penison when i'm old enough! i'm not greedy, i worked hard very hard over the years and now you baggers want to take everything away from the underpaided hard workers of the county home.. shame, shame, shame... and yes i feel someone is getting a little something for this sales,why would they want to do it so fast? vote yes to save gracedale
ReplyDeleteand i'm not a union good!
ReplyDeleteDo they even make Cross pens any more? They were skinny, hard to hold and frankly sucked. I doubt that employees get much more than a cookies, coffee and a certificate on their anniversaries.
ReplyDeleteLet's not diminish the hard work and pride of the many good Gracedale employees. That being said, I feel that Gracedale should be sold and that a large majority of those caring, highly-qualified workers will be hired by a new owner. The few deadbeats there who take their job for granted should be shown the door, something that will never be done under the current union "dumb down" mentality.
Why do some people think the poor won`t be taken care of if Gracedale is sold ? Who else with money would go there for care ? Gracedale will always be for the indigent and paid for by you and me at 110,000bucks per patient per year at this time ...what a bargain.
ReplyDeleteThe Alzheimers` group is a gang of people who used this name to make the public think they were interested in old people. They are actually interested in protectin 69 per cent benefit packages for union workers. They don`t care about patients. What a sham.
ReplyDeleteThe sham is the lack of honesty by the Stoffa Administration and the inability to be be consistent in their lies.
ReplyDeleteThe initiative will pass and that will be the end of that. Real people with real morals will make the real choice, the only choice.
The initiative will pass bc it is supported by two unions who are spending money to misinform people. There are no groups to represent the "real" people except for the elected county government. Stoffa has decided against using county resources to combat this disinformation, and refuses to permit the Buyer to send out any educational mailers. That's likely the right call. But good people who only occasionally read the papers will think they are "saving" Gracedale when in fact they are condemning it.
ReplyDeleteGood people now know they condemned Gracedale and the county when they elected Stoffa and Angle.
ReplyDeleteEven with the help of his friends in the newspapers, Stoffa and Angle have failed to make the case to sell Gracedale. Maybe if they had been honest about why they want to dump it, they may have had a chance. Their desire to paint the doom and gloom scenario with constantly changing numbers and revolving door facts hurt their cause.
The initiative will pass because it is the right thing to do. Sometimes in life the "right"
thing actually happens.
Thank God!
"refuses to permit the Buyer to send out any educational mailers"
ReplyDeletewhy? and how is that Stoffa's call?
In all fairness, McClure had an opinion piece next to Stoffa. It was short on facts, but claimed the higher moral ground.
ReplyDeleteJust the facts
ReplyDeleteShow us the money
The Gracedale Save-Sell bloodbath boils down to one thing.
ReplyDeleteThe county tried to remove the beef wellington and 6oz lobster tails from the smorgasboard buffet table (aka Gracedale wages and benefits)
The union revolted. Unfortunately for them, when they return to the smorgasboard table, they will likely find a pile of radishes, kale and baby pickles.
Saving Gracedale means selling it
"Good people now know they condemned Gracedale and the county when they elected Stoffa and Angle."
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. And many good people are thrilled. To "condemn" Gracedale is to provide a higher quality of care (check the state's quality of care ratings) at lower cost to strapped taxpayers. It's a win-win and Stoffa deserves much credit for taking your slings and arrows and bringing the issue to the fore. He has acted as a gentleman. You have acted as goons. That he and his team are much smarter than the best lawyer you could afford (sans his apparently much needed malpractice insurance), is no reason to continue to launch personal attacks against a good man with whom you disagree.
The "who will pay for them now" excuse is getting old and tiring:
ReplyDeleteIf a resident is getting medicare or medicaid now in a county facility, they will still continue to get medicare or medicaid in a privately run facility. It is the state/ feds that controls how a person's care is paid for, not the county.
Funny you should mention 'smorgasbord'. Ask the Gracedale employees about the 'smorgasbord' they receive on a 'regular' basis in the Gracedale dining hall. It doesn't cost the employees one penny. You would be amazed at the lavish food they eat. All of it on the taxpayers' dime. I never received free food like that from my employer.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Mr. Barron, Mr. James and Mr. Martinez will one day be able to reflect upon the upheaval they have caused in this gracedale saga.
ReplyDeleteA very intelligent county executive who is able to see the forest beyond the trees, tried to have a win-win situation in which our elderly residents could continue to have the very best care that the market can provide. In doing this, the residents and the workers of Gracedale would be able to see the friuts of their labor pay off , in more ways than one. The taxpayers would no longer have to keep their wallets open while trying to fill their gas tanks and fund their own retirements.
But Barron, James and Martinez brought a giant black cloud to 1 Gracedale drive, where it has been casting thunder and lightening non-stop for months. These three men have been most irresponsible in their thoughts and actions. None of these three men care about residents or their rights.
These three men should pack their bags and continue their rioting in wisconsin, where public sector unions are now the subject of some serious ass-whooping. The taxpaying public of Northampton County does not need you or want you.
If the referendum passes on the 17th, no doubt, your greedy, frothing union mouths will be declaring victory and shouting out 'we told you so".
Just dont forget that those words may come back to haunt you. All of the progress you have made in your bloated union benefit preservation plan will likely avalanche in a matter of weeks and months.
Anarchy has no winners at all.
When all is said and done , I will be hosting a retirement party for the inflatable rat.
ReplyDeleteI will sell darts to anyone who wants to pop its ugly face.
when it is popped, the winner gets a limo ride to AFSCME headquarters, where he/she gets to wrap it around the front door.
BYE BYE RAT AND WE ARE TAKING YOUR PENSION WITH US
Hey Brenda! If you want to quote the address of gracedale, get it right it's 2 Gracedale ave. You probally were never there, so you don't know the address! Get the facts straight!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen all is said and done , I will be hosting a retirement party for the inflatable rat.
ReplyDeleteI will sell darts to anyone who wants to pop its ugly face.
when it is popped, the winner gets a limo ride to AFSCME headquarters, where he/she gets to wrap it around the front door.
BYE BYE RAT AND WE ARE TAKING YOUR PENSION WITH US
5:01 PM
Amen to that. Please invite me to that retirement party. I promise to shower and shave my hairy feet. I am only a filthy slob when I am behind my computer.
Just Saying Said 1:40pm ......I eat at Gracedale regulary when visiting with my mother. You are WAY off base when you say they eat free!!!
ReplyDeleteAmon:11:48
ReplyDeleteJust to inform you
The Coalition Of Alzheimers Families formed 3 years ago way before the sale of Gracedale was mentioned. There is not one member of that group that is employed by Gracedale.They all had loved ones suffering from alzheimer's,many have passed away and their family still speak for those that can not.
This group had nothing to do with union's. We are fighting our fight, and they are fighting their fight. We have from the start promised to stand by the residents of Gracedale Alzheimers or not. We are there and we are not going away.
Just saying'said 1:40 pm.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your information
about free food for the employees?
You are absolutely wrong no employee gets any thing free.The taxpayers do not pay to nourish
Gracedales workers.
SORRY !
"The Coalition Of Alzheimers Families formed 3 years ago way before the sale of Gracedale was mentioned. There is not one member of that group that is employed by Gracedale."
ReplyDeleteIf you want someone to believe you, why are you so afraid to sign your name? Here's what I've heard. This coalition was formed several years ago to complain ABOUT Gracedale. Now, they are the useful idiots behind which union muscle hides.
Isn't there huge parties where all the employees eat for free. They pull out all the stops and there are steaks and shrimp. It is all you can eat. The cookout served in the lunch room.
ReplyDeletebrenda, use the darts?? well, someone must have used them on you! your personality is horrible, yet a life.. smile once in a while! it makes life a whole lot better...
ReplyDeleteI would like to know what you people think a Fair Wage, Benefit package and Retirement plan is for a worker??? What do you think is a fair wage for a Certified Nursing Assistant who cares for 10-13 people in an 8hr shift. All of these Residents require bathing, meals, Restorative Nursing etc...? We are a Skilled Nursing Facility. Some people or caregivers and some people don't care...which category are you in?
ReplyDeleteYou have not answered the very interesting question posed by 11:04. What category are you in, shrimp or steaks?
ReplyDeleteHow did we go from a 10-20 percent increase up to possibly a 30 percent increase in taxes. It is amazing to me how the numbers are bloated. I am a taxpayer and I really want to know what the exact true numbers are...not a guestimation...I feel the County has had adequate time to put the real numbers out there so what is the problem? I am sure if the swaption wasn't due we wouldn't even be having this Gracedale issue.
ReplyDeleteYou have not answered the very interesting question posed by 11:04. What category are you in, shrimp or steaks?
ReplyDelete"This is supposed to be a factual argument? It accuses someone of being on the take, bashes conservatives, sand slams Stoffa and Angle. But there are no facts, just smears."
ReplyDeleteMuch like your rant about your window being broken. Let's not be a hypocrite!!
I'm not, and you should learn how to read. In my post about that smashed window, I clearly stated t could be a kid ... or a druggie looking for change ... or a Gracedale Goon.
ReplyDeleteThe referendum will pass. The county council will pass a budget amendment to move the money for six months, about 1.5million real dollars. The vote will be there and Angle will be one of the members voting for the amendment.
ReplyDeleteCarry on with your hysterical ranting. It means nothing to the real voters and citizens of Northampton County.
I agree the referendum will pass, but there are not five votes for a budget amendment. Angle, Cusick, Dietrich, Thierry & Dowd will likely vote No.
ReplyDeleteAfter the referendum passes. Dowd, Cusick and even Angle will have the political cover they need to do what the voters demanded and make the funds available.
ReplyDeleteIt is a standard budget amendment. they are routinely done throughout the year. it will involve no tax increase.
A few of the fanatics may hold out but it will be done.
Keep spiting out those last desperate screams of desperation.
I think I am speaking for the rest of the citizens of Northampton County saying we would be more than happy to receive a 30% tax to save Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteI think I am speaking for the rest of the citizens of Northampton County saying we would be more than happy to receive a 30% tax to save Gracedale.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:32
ReplyDeleteAnyone willing to take a 30% bat up the ass in these times is obviously a non-taxpaying, welfare collecting bum.
30% multiplied by zero equals zero.
MORON
8:32 Anonymous
ReplyDeleteWhat have you been smoking? If you are so anxious for a tax increase please put your name and address out there so I can drop off my tax bill for you. I will be only to happy to grab the tax bills of my neighbors.