Blogger's Note: Opinions Online is a regular Saturday feature. If you'd like to express your opinion on any topic, click on the Opinions Online button on my left sidebar. You can also call 385-325-2564. In addition to these submissions, I am taking some comments from throughout the week and re-publishing them here.
The Northampton County 911 Center is definitely filled with less desirable employees, people wake up.
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START SPEAKING OUT AMERICA! Our nation is in trouble and it's too far gone to hide anymore. Remove incumbents.
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I have developed a friendship with incarcerated former Bethlehem City Council President James Gregory via letter and phone, my feeling is he was railroaded by his political enemies and now is forced to endure barbaric conditions simply because he refuses to admit guilt to crimes he is insistent that he did not commit.
My hope is that all can find it in their hearts to put some money on Jim's books to support him in this darkest hour, Harvey is simply not enough to carry him through.
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When Obama said he has "the most transparent Administration in history," he meant that he doesn't hide the fact that he's a Manchurian Candidate hell-bent on destroying America.
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As a court-appointed employee of Northampton County, I'm routinely told by my supervisors and Court Administration that I'm prohibited from publically expressing my opinion regarding politics in any way. For example, an e-mail from Jill Cicero dated 1/28/13 states: "Please remind staff that the Supreme Court Prohibition against Political Involvement extends to social media, ie. Facebook, Twitter, etc. Staff are prohibited from “liking” and/or commenting on statuses or pages for political candidates and cannot respond to invitations for events for same." Court Administration's interpretation of the 1998 Supreme Court Order is overly broad and is, in my opinion, a violation of hundreds of employees' First Amendment rights. I understand that running for public office or soliciting campaign contributions are prohibited, and rightly so. However, I believe that employees have the right to discuss politics or express support for a political candidate via their personal social media accounts or in any other public forum, so long as it's not done in their official capacity or on county time.
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In the recent cases of Jack Cuvo, the Blog Mentor, Mezzacappa, J. Gregory and who ever else fits the case, how does a person as such get and receive the help they need in today's society. Or do we just see them throw their and ruin lives away along with their loved ones?
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Chamber of Commerce - Still a good old boys network or really worth the time?
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Good government REQUIRES an underlying system of checks and balances. News media, both national and local, was once a big part of that mechanism. It brought resources to the discussion of events and proposals that no average citizen could match. It's role was as guardian of the public interest. It had leverage in securing accuracy and moderation. Most, not all, news agencies valued the public's trust.
In today's America, citizens are being deprived that same protection. They are often purposely misled by an owner/publisher who answers to another 'Master.' - Fred Windish
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Officer Hendricks should quietly, and quickly, slide back into his private life where he can enjoy his fat public pension.
Think of him (and Juilo) next time you pay your water bill...and you'd better damned well not be late or it WILL be shut off.
That you can count on.
Okay, lets consider something. let's rate the best to the worst County Executive ever to hold the office........
Hartzell is my no 1
Seyfried is my no 2
bechtel is my no 3
brackbill, brown, Stoffa and reibman are all tied for last.
Cmon Bernie, let's have a column dedicated to this issue.
How do all you other Bloggers rate the executives.
43 comments:
Here, put this on Gregory's books....$72,746.65 on 8/18/15
What's your take on the Northampton county employee opinion, Bernie? I thought they were not permitted to endorser not participate during work hours or as capacity as employees, but during free time they could participate as they like
I hope Jim Gregory is doing OK. Word is the state penal system is treating him terribly. He is a vegetarian yet the state is apparently disrespecting his nutritional lifestyle. I thought the state was obligated to ensure he receives a vegan diet while incarcerated.
Why is the state treating him this way?
Bechtel was the best, then Hartzell. After that Seyfried, Reibman, Brackbill and Stoffa somewhat in that order. We all went downhill after Bechtel and Hartzell.
The First Amendment (as well as the others) Limits the government, it does not empower it. I don't agree that county employees are denied free speech online.
Unfortunately the type of tyranny that prompted the Constitution is the tyranny that needs to be addressed today.
Most county employees have every right to engage in political activity outside of their usual duties. The reason they can't play politics in duty is because of the dangers of macing and cronyism. It is counter-productive in a system based on merit. For judicial employees it is different. No politics. The courts have to be completely free of politics or they will be unable to enforce that constitution the anonymous commenter at 7:07 talked about. Because the judges are restricted, so are those who work for them. You can still exercise your rights. You just can't work for the courts.
County Exec rating: 1) Marty Bechtel. 2) Gene Hartzell. 3) Jerry Seyfried. 4) John Stoffa. 5) Bill Brackbill. 6) Glenn Reibman. 7) John Brown.
There's no reason a clerical worker in probation or a file clerk in domestic relations should be prohibited from expressing his/her political opinions outside of work. The Court Appointed employees are still private citizens outside of work, and they are entitled to the protections the Constitution provides.
its called HATCH ACT
The Hatch Act prohibits political activity while on duty, but expressly allows almost all types of political activity in one's personal life.
File a class action suit against the County and the Administation for enforcing this rule. The County will lose this one and so will the administration. Judicial employees are the exception. Should be interesting who is really enforcing this "RULE"
I don't think a law suit is necessary just yet. I just think it was a misinterpretation by Court Admin. And I don't know if it's ever been "enforced", per se, but I do know that we're given so many warnings in my office that I make sure to only engage in political discussions on-line in forums that allow anonymous participation. I'm also careful not to retweet or share any politically affiliated content, which is limiting since technology plays an ever-increasing role in our modern day democratic process. I think the county should review their policy. And I wish they'd do it before the upcoming debates so I can live tweet them with my friends!
Easy one. 1 Hartzell,2 Bechtel,3 Reibman,4 Brackbill,5 Seyfried,6 Brown, and 7 Stoffa
Good luck finding a lawyer willing to file a class action suit. Judges and those who work for them are all subject to the very reasonable and necessary limitation on political activity. There are limitations in other public positions as well, now that i consider it. A case like the one you envision has "loser" written all over it, especially since you have the remedy at your own disposal. Quit. If you don't like being told that judicial employees are unable to engage in politics, find something else.
Who are Bechtel and Hartzell and how long ago did they hold office. It must be long before my time.
Bechtel and Hartzell are the first and second county executives. Bechtel was originally a Commissioner. Hartzell was a Clerk of Orphans Court and Register of Wills. Jerry had numerous years of experience on Council. Stoffa ran Human Services in both Northampton and Lehigh County. Eeibman had years of experience on Council. I give Reibman and Brown low ratings bc they both alienated the work force. if I were to rate them based on integrity, it would be Stoffa and Seyfried.
1) Hartzel, 2) Bechtel, 3) Brackbill, 4) Stoffa, 5) Seyfried, 6) Brown, 7) Reibmann
Easy one.
Bechtel, Hartzell, Reibman, Seyfried, Stoffa, Brown in order of effectiveness and getting things done.
Enough of this county executive Miss popularity contest, What of Jim Gregory? Is it true the state is denying him his constitutional rights?
His friends have said the state is not meeting his right to his nutritional requirements. How can they get away with that?
The man has rights!!!
@8:49PM Please get it through your thick skull that nobody gives a flying frig about Jim Gregory. He literally begged to be tossed in state prison, and the courts obliged. Then from prison he wrote multiple letters that MezzaBrainDead the convicted defamer published online that showed he has no remorse and no acceptance of responsibility.
Who cares if Gregory dies from malnutrition? He has the right to wither away and be placed in a pauper's grave, IMO. I'd pay more attention to a fart in the wind.
Enjoy your drug cocktail this evening - hot weather is coming and you'll need extra ice for your vodka cocktails.
Is it just me or does anyone else see similarities between Donald Trump and Ron Angle?
I deleted a comment that personally attacked me for answering a questionand giving my own rating of the Execs. Of course, it was anonymous.
Are other opinions so disturbing? Very well, I will comply.
Let us set the record straight. The best executives were Bechtel and Hartzell. They set the high water mark. After that you had Seyfreid who the voters tossed after one term for a write-in Republican candidate. Why? Probably his temper and terrible handling of the Sheriff incident. Brackblill was dumped after one term but at least he accomplished something by instituting county-wide 911.
As to the claim that Brown and Reibman alienated employees, I believe there is more to that story.
Reibman froze non-union employees pay for one year only. AS for John Brown, he is merely following the template laid out by John Stoffa. Stoffa tried to dump almost a thousand county employees with his scheme to dump Gracedale. Even with all the Brown issues, we will never forget that betrayal. Employees and retirees still have no respect or love for the guy. He out and out lied and showed that you can shit on employees and get away with it. He forced Gracedale employees to take horrific cuts in pay and benefits, while giving others fat checks. He turned employee against employee and citizen against citizen with his vilifying Gracedale employees. He ushered in a very mean and nasty period of county government and should be ashamed of himself for the rift that still exists to this day. John Brown is merely following his example.
So who alienated employees the most. The guy who tried to fire the most county employees in county history? John Stoffa.
So here are my picks.
Bechtel number one, Hartzell number two, Brackbill number three, Reibman number four, Seyfried number five, Stoffa number six and as of now Brown last. Who knows, Brown may end up near the top.
Thank you for the opportunity to get things straight with no attacks on your opinions. Hopefully, I have not mad e light of any other persons picks.
God Bless Jim Gregory. Please don't attack him when he is still in jail. He has suffered enough.
Has Allentowns paper the moronic gag allways has been part of the circus ACTS put to print for public viewing of the propogated twist for the flopp of allentown pa¿!($
redd
patent pending
1)Bechtel 2)Reibman 3)Hartzell 4)Seyfried 5)Stoffa 6)Brackbill 7)Brown in terms of consequential administration policy/history
God Bless Jim Gregory. Please don't attack him when he is still in jail. He has suffered enough.
Please get some sleep Tricia, you need it. Maybe invest your time in running for WE council with a criminal charge against you - that should be fun.
Jim is where he belongs, and is only still in prison because of his refusal to take responsibility for his actions. You are on the same path, and Jim can cry crocodile tears for you when he finally is released and the tables are turned.
If Jim Gregory's nutritional needs were not being met, he would have died long ago. Cut out this crap attempt at sympathy.
Who is Jim Gregory? And why should I care?
@1:54
Don't feed the troll by asking.
He is a loser and you shouldn't care.
@1:54 He's a hasbeen rotting in state prison, having tossed pretty much everything he ever had into the dumpster - his career, his reputation, and his house. You don't need to care. There's a million pathetic stories in the naked city.
Jim Gregory is a lot of things but has been is laughable considering the number of influential people he has been corresponding with on a regular basis while incarcerated. His SEIU brethren have been instrumental in mending various bridges that at one point seemed more doomed then the famed one over the river Kwai. Gregory's beloved Unity PAC has been hibernated with Harvey keeping the embers alive like the skilled woodsman he is, Pookahs have been known to do things beyond the scope of mere mortals.
One thing about Jim Gregory he is not a gambler but a card player someone who takes calculated risks based on an expected value. The reward of going on WGPA to win back his ex outweighed the risk, his time in the penal system has burnished his steely frame, vulcanized it leaving him taut and leaner than ever. That is what 1000 pushups a day will do, along with his explorations of scripture which has brought him closer to god than most of the poison posse could ever hope to be.
His prisoner ID is LE1514 if anyone would like to make a contribution not only to Jim but the fledgling Unity PAC which will be making waves in the spring of 2016.
I don't know who the heartless inhuman is that keeps attacking Mr.. Gregory. There are hundreds of people who want the best for Jim, not including O'Hare's crazy old girlfriend.
Jim dedicated his life to helping the mentally challenged. He is a member of Mensa and was known as local political genius that helped many get elected. Where are thyme now?
There are a couple who bad mouth him out of jealousy because they are has beens.
He is a vegetarian and word is the state is not honoring his nutritional requirements. You are a heartless moron.
We all care for Jim and want him to know we are ready to help him and his new ministry. If you can't communicate like a decent human then just be quiet.
Well said 9:22, Gregory is a polarizing figure largely due to his dark complexion and stunning appearance. Many who troll online blogs are not happy with themselves and Jim is a convenient target for the morbidly hateful basement dwellers who gobble up all the slop that spills out of O'Hares trough of venom.
@9:22PM You're chugging your drug-laced cocktail early this evening, Tricia. No work tomorrow? Hope you're earning a solid income so you can pay off your debts. McFadden will be on your ass like stink on a pig soon. lol Sleep "tight". BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA. As you would say, "read em and weep."
His prisoner ID is LE1514 if anyone would like to make a contribution
I'd like to send James what I just deposited in my toilet. Do you think it would make it past the "screeners"? ;)
"Jim dedicated his life to helping the mentally challenged. He is a member of Mensa..."
For an alleged member of Mensa, his writings that you posted on your defunct blog looked more like those of a 3rd grader, and he should apply his spare time to helping his own mental challenge. Maybe the rats in prison have eaten his brain. A Mensa wouldn't have gotten himself thrown in state prison the way he did. I don't believe for a second that he is a member of Mensa.
You robscession with this Mezzacappa woman is an illness. You need help. You really do. Wheter you are that Gross woiman or another rone o fBernie's poals. You are really in deep.
That has nothing to do with poor Jim Gregory who is imprisoned. Why would he admit to a crime if he feels he is innocent. He has his morals and principles.
He is in fact a Mensa and Bernie knows that. He is also a strong and virile life force.
He is now a disciple of God and when he is released will begin a ministry to spread the word of God.
Now get over your narrow minded hate. You have more serious problems than Jim Gregory.
anon 11:56, Amen brother. Some people on here have real problems and should not throw stones.
Jim Gregory had his ass handed to him by the Superior Court today, which is closing his appeal. His counsel ran for the hills, and Jimmy boy tried to file his own brief. The court kicked his request to the curb. Looks like another winter in state prison.
"He is now a disciple of God and when he is released will begin a ministry to spread the word of God."
Will he carry a cross around the streets of the LV like that moron who skipped town for the islands? They'd make a great team, and Jim could minister to his new friend the way his buds taught him in prison.
Bernie, you really should consider a new story on NCP. John browns lack of funding leading to inadequate staffing which is leading to rolling lockdowns, which lead to a riot on a tier last week that forced the prison to move the inmates into a different part of the prison while they repair the damage from the riot. Just yesterday a prison guard was sent to the hospital after being burned by an inmate because brown is allowing the prison to rot.
Wow! I will look into this Tuesday.
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