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| Then DA John Morganelli investigated Dolan |
curmudgeon Steve Antalics posed an interesting question. Which Bethlehem City Councils were the best? Since he's about 1,000 years old, he should know. His conclusion is that the City Councils of the '80s and '90s were the best. He suggested two reasons. First, those councils had both Democrats and Republicans and tended to have a better perspective. Second, Council members were made up of citizens who actually had lived in the City for some time. He noted that as Bethlehem became more of a one-party town that elected people with no real ties to the City, government went downhill. The result was Karen Dolan, a City Council member forced to resign in 2014 after an investigating grand jury concluded that she had violated the public trust.
Mayor Willie Reynolds, himself a product of one-party government, took issue with Antalics. He "didn't think twice" about how long any of the current Council members have actually lived in Bethlehem. And as for Dolan, who these days calls herself K. Deirdre Dolan, he twice called her "fantastic" He stated that she paved the way for all the Council members currently in office.
If that's true, Bethlehem is in trouble.
Karen Dolan, as an elected member of Bethlehem City Council, violated the public trust. She placed the interests of her nonprofit, the Illick's Mill, over and above the interests of the people she was elected to represent. She ignored a $128,000 debt she ran up with the City. She intimidated everyone who stood in her way. She would do whatever it took, including explosive rants, to advance the cause of a nonprofit in which she herself was financially interested. She wass not fit to serve in public office. Moreover, she engaged in repeated violations of the state Ethics Act.
These are not my opinions. They are instead the conclusions of the Northampton County Investigating Grand Jury, which released a blistering, 62-page report, after hearing from 20 witnesses, including former Mayor John Callahan.
These are not my opinions. They are instead the conclusions of the Northampton County Investigating Grand Jury, which released a blistering, 62-page report, after hearing from 20 witnesses, including former Mayor John Callahan.
I find it disturbing that Mayor Reynolds would sing the praises of Dolan when he knows damn well that she engaged in a blatant conflict of interest. It is even more worrisome that he would do so at a time when a high-ranking city official has been charged with stealing from the City.
I think I now know all I need to know about Reynolds.
Morganelli performed a political hit job on behalf of his good friend Bob Donchez as she would have defeated him in a mayoral race
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand how it took so long for some to see Willie for what he is — an egotistical twerp. He is mayor only because he was next in line, not because of his qualifications (which I find to be lacking). Just the fact that he refuses phone calls says it all for me — an arrogant man who can only be reached by email or carrier pigeon and if you don’t like those options, catch him at one of his photo opps. My experience with Willie has been that he is “fantastic” if you agree with him, but challenge him on something or offer a differing opinion, he becomes a petulant child who will pout and shut down. Excellent traits for a mayor.
ReplyDeleteAs I always claim, this nation’s growing decline, and future predicament for American families to endure, is solely the responsibility of POLITICIANS currently in office. Here, then, are the culprits whose actions are failing ALL of us. Our government, especially at the State and Federal level, is misguided, self-serving, with many I consider to be downright corrupt whores.
ReplyDeleteTo have any chance to reverse course, will only come when DIFFERENT people are in office, “serving” the citizens.
I’m an Independent who will NOT vote for any person currently in elected office. Please join me. Make a strong statement!
Birds of a feather. . .
ReplyDelete"Morganelli performed a political hit job on behalf of his good friend Bob Donchez as she would have defeated him in a mayoral race"
ReplyDeleteI see. If that is so, why did she not stay and fight against this injustice? Why did she refuse to speak to the Grand Jury? Why did she run off to New England and change her name?
And if she is so fantastic, why wasn't Willie defending her then?
how soon they forget; her over-reaching to the detriment of the city, facilitated and endorsed by the pre-Donchez crowd, who called it out for what it was, was a prime motivation for council's ethics training ordinance and their nauseating ongoing pretext of concern about ethics (observe, the city will NEVER address the real ethics compromise from union campaign cash)
ReplyDelete"First, those councils had both Democrats and Republicans and tended to have a better perspective. Second, Council members were made up of citizens who actually had lived in the City for some time. He noted that as Bethlehem became more of a one-party town that elected people with no real ties to the City, government went downhill."
ReplyDeleteThis 100%.
Because of today overturn of Roe V. Wade, the Republicans will lose the midterm’s and there stronghold on America.
ReplyDeleteFEA
I disagree. She should have stayed and cleared her name. She spent countless hours and mentored students through the Mill restoration.
ReplyDeleteIf she did no wrong as you claim, why did she not stay? I'll wait.
DeleteJust another typical politician making a hero of another scum bag politician. They feel if they keep telling everyone that the dirt bags are great their own issues will not seem so bad. She should be made to pay a1,000 times what she took. Goo to jail for 10 years and permanently be ban from any and all government interactions for the rest of her life and those that aided and abetted her should have similar penalty. Until Politicians are made to understand that them stealing and all the other things they think they can get away with against their constituents will not be accepted we will get more like her and worse then her.
ReplyDeleteAnd the public should go absolutely ape shit on the moron who said she was fantastic and investigate all his financial dealings with her and his governmental financial activities.
Women still have the option to get an abortion in Pennsylvania, but not in some other states. Even in those places, an abortion can be obtained by visiting some other state that does offer abortions (like Pennsylvania). At this point, it is the Legislature of each state that will determine if the abortion procedure is available and under what restrictions.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, no State Governor, solely on his/her own preference, can determine legality of the procedure.
Just because someone doesn’t want to fight against the most powerful man in the county doesn’t make it right, Bernie
ReplyDeleteOne party rule has led to an elitist attitude. We need more free thinking Democrats, Republicans and Independents to provide perspective and real oversight in our city. Too much campaign money is coming from Unions and developers.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor did his usual hatchet job on any public comment that he doesn’t like. Antalics makes good points in most cases.
ReplyDelete"Fantastic" Wow this city is in for some tough times ahead. As Bernie mentions, he says this as just very recently the man who ultimately handled millions of dollars was caught selling city cell phones. Maybe one day he will say Mr. Sivak was "fantastic".
ReplyDeleteThe current "leaders" of Bethlehem do not hold a candle to past leaders. They cared for the city and its residents. These people are less qualified and care little for the residents and homeowners. It is now about the so-called luxury developers and the campaign donations.
ReplyDeleteBethlehem has been sold.
There are two specific reasons as to why the city is in poor shape. Besides Mayor and Council, most in leadership/supervision positions do not live in the city. While Council continues to makes decisions based on being politically correct and not is what's best for the residents most supervisors have piss poor attitudes and make a very large sum of money. Mr. Grubb would have made a difference within the city of Bethlehem.
Delete9:35 mentoring students to do what?
ReplyDeleteKen Smith , great leader with integrity.
ReplyDeleteReynolds will say and tell you anything you want to hear. He has no backbone and will change positions in a heart beat if it means there is a extra vote to pick up. Bethlehem is being run by people completely inexperienced and have no clue what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteLike most supervisors as well. The guy in streets never worked for the department. The guy who runs the water and sewer department never did the work either. Both of two of the most critical departments are inexperienced. They are ruining the departments and it only hurts the citizens. It's not who you know it's...
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