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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, May 20, 2019

Easton's Mayoral Race

I was speaking last week to a woman around the same age as me. She and her husband are both of Mexican descent, though both were born here. She has lived and worked in Easton's west ward for most of her life. On Tuesday, she will vote for Taiba Sultana over incumbent Sal Panto in the Mayoral race.

Now before I go further, I expect Panto to win. Easily. Though he is egotistical and thin-skinned, he has been a good Mayor. Sure, he's had idiotic ideas like the giant fish tank and the high school hall of fame.  But overall, he's been good and passionate about Easton. He has basically delivered on his "clean and safe" mantra ... except in the west ward. The downtown is hopping, but the western part of the city is horrible. I personally know one gentleman who was shot while taking an after-dinner walk. The homes, most of which are owned by absentee landlords, show signs of neglect.

This woman agreed that Panto has done a good job downtown, but not where she lives in the west ward  She has also been plagued by parking tickets. She worked nights for a time a few years ago, and often would get home around midnight. Rather than park several blocks away, she would find a spot on the corner near her home. She'd be ticketed because she was too close to the intersection. But at least she was not robbed ... or worse.

Getting no satisfaction from Easton's so-called appeal process, she would take her ticket to then Magisterial District Judge Michael Koury. Judge Koury would always take her ticket and warn her to find a better spot.

I doubt that now President Judge Koury even remembers this. But the women was able to go to him when ignored by city officials. There is little doubt in my mind that he either paid those tickets himself or that Easton officials were willing to listen to him.

Now, there is no judicial review at all of parking tickets

Sal needs the dough.

When speaking to this woman, I picked up on another reason why she'll be voting for Sultana. She feels that the community discriminates against her family, and that Sultana would understand this better than Panto.

She told me a story. Not long ago, her granddaughter celebrated her 13th birthday with a party at the family home on Ferry Street. She invited 20 classmates. Two came. The word she received from most of her friends is that their parents felt the area is too unsafe.

I believe my friend is mistaken about Panto, who has always stood up for underdogs. He's been one himself.But this woman feels that Sultan has a better understanding.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Old Sal will certainly win. I do agree he is thin skinned and an egomaniac. He verbally attacks anyone who disagrees with him and claims he is defending "his city". No he is not, he is unable to civilly discuss anything he doesn't liker. He is a very poor public servant. This is unfortunately what happens when someone sees themselves as a gift of God. he knows the voters are lazy and will continue to vote for him

His opponent is not really an alternative to govern. She is part of the Matt Munsey Prog Dem revolution. She has no ide of how to manage a city. However, she will no doubt get some votes of people fed up with Sal's grand(and long) speeches about what a great job he does. The west end is a jungle and downtown is only viable for a few blocks.

He should have opposition but Easton can't tear themselves Away from repeating their mistakes and expecting a different outcome.

Sal by a landslide.

Anonymous said...

The West Ward is easily the most dangerous neighborhood in Lehigh Valley. I feel safer in Allentown at night than in the West Ward during the daytime. There's more of a "gangland" drug dealing culture in West Ward than you have in even the toughest neighborhoods of Allentown. That said, I have noticed numerous drug dealing stings and arrests in Easton as reported on Lehigh Valley Live and while its a tough problem to tackle, I think its fair to say that Easton Police are doing a good job of trying to make a dent in the problem.

Anonymous said...

Don't blame Sal for his idiotic ideas. He just wants Easton's version of the Sands, ballpark or hockey arena. He's just throwing ideas out there in hopes one of them sticks.

Anonymous said...

Old Bernie will certainly win. I do agree he is thin skinned and an egomaniac. He verbally attacks anyone who disagrees with him and claims he is defending "his mancrushes". No he is not, he is unable to civilly discuss anything he doesn't like. He is a very poor public blogger. This is unfortunately what happens when someone sees themselves as a gift of God. he knows the readers are lazy and will continue to never challenge him.

There I fixed it for you.

E Mest said...

I hope that Sal Panto reads your blog Bernie and does something. After all, he is the mayor for the ENTIRE city. Everyone is entitled to safety. I personally don’t go to Easton because of the greed in the parking tickets!

Anonymous said...

I live in the West Ward or I like to call it Dodge City where the thugs come out at night and you are only safe when you are behind locked doors. Old Sal will def win the election and continue to make promises to clean up the West Ward Ad nauseum And I too avoid downtown.I went to the opening of the Farmers market parked in the Garage for3 hours and paid $12 Will I be doing that again? NO Way

Anonymous said...

Remember when you though Michael Koury would make a horrible Judge, not qualified as a Judge, even you said so the 3 times that he ran for Judge. Remember when you said Abe Kassis wasn't qualified to be a Judge either? Or last year when Peter Melan was not qualified for county Council. Can't wait to see your opinion on Tony Bassil in November when he is head to head against your man-crush Hayden Phillips. Don't let these Lebanese people off the hook. Stand with John Morganelli hold these Lebanese people accountable.

Anonymous said...

There’s no reason to believe that Ms. Sultan is anything other than a compassionate, considerate and engaging young woman, she is also completely clueless about what the duties of a mayor entails.
It’s unfortunate that a person with such a promising future is beginning a political career in such a spectacularly incompetent fashion.

Anonymous said...

The West Ward was already beginning it’s steep decline during the Goldsmith era but Tom and a hapless police department lacked the capacity to see the the obvious trend building as they pointed to the South side as the rough part of town and downtown as the be all end all game.
Their inability (or unwillingness) to map crime is shocking even in hindsight.

Anonymous said...

Just another fed Ed with some hare dye trying to via to the local criminal elements on both sides?

Anonymous said...

Tuesday Vote Trump!

Anonymous said...

OK. But I won't vote for him next year.

Anonymous said...

I wonder what local Trump supporters think of Mayor Panto. Trump and his supporters want to flush out all the illegals in this country yet in the past Mayor Panto has shown his support for illegal aliens even bringing one to a city council meeting to show his support for illegals getting drivers licenses. Perhaps Trump should start shipping illegals to Easton. Since most of them start driving at age 14 Easton could really make a lot of money off of the parking meters. Sal might want to brush up on his Spanish though.

FRED said...

I worked many years as a Constable for PJ Michael Koury Jr., this doesn't surprise me in the least..he did this with a lot of cases. He is a Judge of the people and always is fair to everyone. And Bernie you did bash him a bit when he was running for Common Pleas Judge apparently you now see what I did and most others.

Anonymous said...

I'm a bit confused. Parking is not a judicial matter because it was decriminalized. In 2009, I was living on the Southside of Allentown when a constable knocked on my door. He was there with a warrant for my significant other. Pay the ticket plus fees now or ride to the jail with the constable. That's preferable? I couldn't believe they came all that way for a $15 ticket that turned into $120.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"And Bernie you did bash him a bit when he was running for Common Pleas Judge apparently you now see what I did and most others."

I supported him in his first two attempts to become a judge and opposed him on his third try. I was clearly wrong. Judge Koury is hard-working and brilliant, and what I learned last week tells me he is compassionate, too.

Bernie O'Hare said...

"I'm a bit confused. Parking is not a judicial matter because it was decriminalized. In 2009,"

You're not confused but are attempting to confuse readers.It is only in recent years that Panto has "decriminalized" parking tickets. It's clear why. He wanted more revenue and less scrutiny.

Anonymous said...

Keep America Great, a forensic accounting is needed on parking authority's in the hole of the Lehighvalley to see the panderance of political parasites claims of anticipated revenue to actual accounting when lots don't fall in the zone?

Anonymous said...

"beginning her career". She ran for city council, and lost. She went for a school board appointment, and lost. Now she's 0-3..