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Thursday, March 05, 2015

DA Morganelli Pays His Debt to Society

Northampton County DA John Morganelli was ticketed in December while visiting downtown Easton. He attempted to deposit money in a meter, but it malfunctioned. That, combined with several resident complaints, is what prompted him to see exactly how Easton is handling these tickets now. What he learned is that  Easton is just handing out tickets and booting cars after five of them are ignored. The City is acting without any authority, even under its own ordinances. Moreover, its use of the boot and towing is a violation of the due process rights to notice and opportunity to be heard. 

In February, Morganelli wrote,:
"The City of Easton's present procedure is woefully inadequate and violative of due process rights. The notice sent to citizens essentially warns them that their car will be towed or immobilized unless they pay the fine. There is absolutely no opportunity to be heard nor is any notice given to the violator that he has a right to be heard. If a car is towed or immobilized, that is a violation of due process in that it is taking of private property by the government without due process of law."
Every ticket issued last year and every ticket being issued right now is done with absolutely no authority under state or city law. There still is no codified due process provisions, Easton is scrambling to fix this problem. Sal Panto's claim that everything is necessarily false, and is rebutted by the very Ordinance that Panto is rushing through his hand-picked council. In the meantime, the city quickly excused Morganelli's ticket.

But Morganelli does not want to be  excused. Yesterday, he issued a check to the Panto Parking Police for $65. This covers his fine and any late penalties.

"[I]n light of the fact that I am now in a position of reviewing the Easton parking process, and also to avoid any appearance of impropriety, special treatment or favoritism," Morganelli paid his ticket even though he's been cleared. "I would feel much better if I remit this regardless of my exoneration," he states.

So John is now a free man.
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9 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 1:20 AM

    Doesn't this clown have any real work to do?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 6:45 AM

    Mayor Panto seems in denial. If he refuses to admit a mistake when a county district attorney highlights one, imagine how he treats the common hard-working
    taxpaying folk.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 10:20 AM

    6:45 - nailed it. Sal's hubris is remarkable.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 5, 2015 at 2:01 PM

    Sal doesn't know what hubris is. He'll have to look it up or ask someone.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 6, 2015 at 2:34 AM

    There is one Democrat on city council Panto does not get along that well with.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMarch 8, 2015 at 7:55 PM

    Bernie did John represent the med manslab during his dispute with lower saucon township and his "wrongful" termination as a police officer?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bernie O'HareMarch 8, 2015 at 8:03 PM

    He did.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousMarch 8, 2015 at 9:36 PM

    I'm writing as a proud member of the Sons of Italy and also as a supporter of both Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and Bethlehem City Council President Jim Gregory. I think it's unfortunate the way the interim mayor issue is being distorted, and the names of these two fine gentlemen are being smeared over nothing more than, in my opinion, an unfortunate remark.

    While I'm not a voter in the city of Bethlehem, I am president of Teamster Local 773, which represents hundreds of members who are citizens of Bethlehem. I've called Mr. Gregory many times regarding issues of concern to our members, and my calls have never gone unanswered. While Mr. Gregory and I have not always agreed, the debate has always been courteous and respectful. Never once have I felt any prejudice toward my Italian heritage.

    I hope both can let bygones be bygones and get on with what they do best, defending and representing the interests of their constituents.

    Dominick Buscemi

    Martins Creek

    An LTE to the mcall in 2003, sad these two power players could not patch things up

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bernie O'HareMarch 8, 2015 at 9:47 PM

    Buscemi is himself a bigot who made anti-Mormon statements on Facebook during the duration of Romney's run. I eventually defriended him bc I got tired of the partisan rhetoric.

    ReplyDelete

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