Local Government TV

Friday, June 07, 2024

Hyman To NorCo Council re Dixie- "Put Simply, Folks, You Are Being Scammed"

God Threatens NorCo Council
with curses of Leviticu
s
Last night's meeting of Northampton County Council was before a packed house. Numerous previous County Council members, from Democrat Jerry Seyfried to Republican Peg Ferraro, were on hand to congratulate Linda Zembo on her retirement as Council's Clerk. In addition, numerous county SEIU union workers, mostly clad in purple T-shirts and signs, came to demand a better contract for Human Services than the one offered by Exec. Lamont McClure. There was a large contingent of pro-lifers to oppose a resolution concerning abortion being offered by Council member Kelly Keegan as well as a few pro-choice advocates. Finally, there were several people speaking in support of or against a tax break for the proposed Dixie Cup apartment development in Wilson Borough. The net result of all of this was a four-hour meeting. I intend to fill you in on everything that happened, but because I was actually at this meeting and am attending a hearing for the Northampton Four early tomorrow morning, my writing time is limited. Fortunately, I was able to obtain a copy of the speech that local apartment developer Nat Hyman gave to County Council and will share that with you. 

Before I do, I should warn you that County Council was threatened by Republican kook Beverly Hernandez last night with the curses of Leviticus. "I will terrorize you with disease and fever. You will suffer from eye problems and depression. You will plant your crops and get nothing because your enemies will eat them. I will condemn you so that you will go down in defeat in front of your enemies. Those who hate you will be your rulers. You will run away even when no one is chasing you." So, there's that. Now I know why I have cataracts. "I hope you look good with millstones," she said in a parting shot.

I did not see any millstones but noticed than Council members Ken Kraft and John Goffredo started walking into walls after the meeting even though Kelly Keagan's pro-choice resolution went down the drain. They might be in deep shit with the Big Guy. Not that Big Guy, but the real Big Guy. But I digress.

Nat Hyman is a lousy Hearts player, but he knows real estate better than most. In addition to completing projects in Allentown, he has been developing old factories into apartments in Northampton, Palmer Tp, Nazareth, Stroudsburg and Williamsport. He has a master's degree in architecture, so he knows how to repurpose these vacant buildings and bring them to life. He also is pretty good at spotting a red flag, as he did with the initial developer proposed for Allentown State Hospital. The state was forced to back away from this person, and the project fortunately went to a far more responsible developer. 

Here's what Nat told County Council about the proposed tax break for Dixie. 

Hyman learning how to play Hearts
As the person who has likely done more adaptive reuse projects than anyone else in the Lehigh Valley, many of which are almost identical to the Dixie Factory, I am here simply to share my opinions on this subject. 

First, one disclaimer, I did attempt to buy the Dixie factory. Contrary to the conspiracy theorists out there, I am not here tonight to sabotage this project so that I can buy it.  Joseph Reibman has made it abundantly clear that he will never sell me the building, and, after my comments tonight, I’m sure that is a fait accompli. 

And, as I made clear in my email to Mr. O’Hare, I very much want to see this property returned to productivity.  As I recently purchased a 102,000 square-foot building, less than one mile away from Dixie, I am now invested in this specific area and want to see the whole area improve. But it must be developed successfully and expeditiously to benefit this neighborhood. 

I believe your evaluation of this matter should be binary in nature…..that is you need only ask 2 questions:

1. Is it necessary to grant a TIF to have this property developed and what message would that TIF send to other potential developers? and 

2. Is this developer the best option to whom you entrust $29 million dollars of TIF money and potentially $10 million in RCap money to successfully develop this property? 


Let’s take the first question….is the TIF necessary. The short answer is absolutely not!

I know Mr. McClure has been zealously screaming from the rooftops and posting on every known social media site about how great this project is and how important it is to approve the TIF. I can’t speak to what his motives are but the immutable evidence that a TIF is absolutely not needed here is that I made an offer to buy the building for $7m and was not going to ask for a TIF or any other assistance. To be clear, I am the expert on these projects, not Mr. McClure, and I am telling you that a TIF is categorically not needed here. It is not up for debate. Put even more succinctly, if Mr. Reibman would agree to accept $7m from me, I would write him a check today and sign a contract not to ask for a TIF, RCap or any other assistance. 

Instead, according to the TIF plan, they are paying $12m (which, by the way, is odd given that it has been advertised for the last several years at $10m and if you went on Loopnet right now you would see it advertised for $10m. I have brought a copy of that listing for you at $10m). So, the taxpayers are paying $29 million in TIF and $10 Million in RCap to pay Mr. Reibman $5m more for the property. It is that simple. 

I have previously developed many of these buildings, including some almost identical to the Dixie Factory like the 325,000 square foot Adelaide building in Allentown. In Northampton County alone, I have completed the 130,000 square foot Lincoln Commons project in Nazareth, and will be undertaking 2 other substantial developments….all affordable housing, all with NO TIF. 

So, the question is why am I able to do affordable housing adaptive reuse projects with no TIF and these people need $29m for luxury housing? Is it because the Dixie presents some unique challenges. The answer is again absolutely not!

I will shortly begin work converting the Northampton Brewery to 70 affordable apartments. I have brought with me tonight a package of pictures to leave with each of you which will make very clear the significant challenges I will face with this project: 
1. Enormous 20 foot wide holes in the floors where brewing vats existed.
2. Entire concrete floors that are only 7 feet high which must be removed. 
3. Six story stairwells and elevators which must be created. 
4. All new window openings need to be cut through the stone and then structurally reinforced. 
5. Entire concrete floors which are slanted with troughs for the beer run off. 
6. Concrete platforms must be jack hammered out 

7. And all new underground stormwater sewers and catch basins need to be installed, as well as all new parking lots. 

NONE of this work is necessary at Dixie. Compared to this Brewery project, the Dixie redevelopment is a walk in the park!

In Dixie, all of the window openings exist! They simply need the existing windows replaced with new windows and mullions. 

Inside, it is an empty shell. After removing some lead paint and asbestos, which we all contend with in buildings of this age, it is ready to run new systems and build the apartments. 

There is minimal demolition, minimal structural work, and the parking lots already exist.

We all can agree that the building is a mess and an eyesore and in desperate need of redevelopment. But ask yourself if that should be rewarded with a TIF. 

The building is in this disrepair because it was left to atrophy and was never maintained. Are we as taxpayers now going to reward that negligence with a tax benefit?!

Also ask yourselves, Is granting a TIF here fair to all of us who are doing identical work without the benefit of government largesse? As I said, I am doing a 102,000 sf building less than a mile away. May I please have $29m? Granting a TIF to this project will create an uneven and unfair playing field. It is bad precedent. The government will be picking winners and losers and I can’t imagine that you want to be in that position. 

And as far as Mr. McClure touting how great it is that the developer will be contributing $1m to some affordable housing fund, well if you’ll give me $29m I will happily contribute a million dollars to whatever you want! That’s a brilliant business play! I Would proffer that thinking like that is the difference between using your own money vs. taxpayer money!

So, we are left with the enduring question as to how do you get the Dixie factory developed without a TIF. My friends, the answer is simple. Enforce the building codes on this building now! It is unsafe, unsightly and unfair to all of the good neighbors who maintain their properties. Building codes should have been enforced years ago. 

Directing the owner to promptly bring the building up to code will force him to sell the building to a responsible developer at a reasonable price. No TIF will be necessary. Then you can sit back and watch the building go through an exciting metamorphosis and watch your tax rolls swell……immediately …….not in 20 years!

On to the second question… 

To be clear, I do not know Mr. Bartee or Skyline Investment Group, never met the man or even heard of him. What I do know is that which Mr. O’Hare uncovered and subsequently confirmed with him in a telephone conversation. That is:

1.He has never developed anything….not one building. 

I was recently approached by Catasauqua and asked to respond to their RFP to purchase and develop the Iron Works land. The first criteria for their approval is the experience of the developer. If they are doing due diligence as to the experience of the developer for the opportunity to BUY a property, shouldn’t you be questioning the developer’s experience before giving $29 million dollars?

2. On his website, He claims to have developed one project, The Louix. That is a lie, it does not exist. 

3. He claims to have 5 offices. That is a lie. They do not exist. 

4. He told The Morning Call that he would not be applying for any other government assistance beyond this TIF. That is a lie, he is in the application process for $10 million in RCap money. 

5. The phone number for all 5 offices is his cell phone number

6. He has said that he will be spending $155,000,000 to build 400 apartments and will rent them between $1,800 and $2,900 a month. That is a mathematical impossibility! Just do the basic math….one or both of those numbers must not be true. At market rates the interest alone is $2,300 per unit per month and with the amortization it is over $3,000 per month. So not even accounting for all of the other expenses, how can he possibly rent the units for less than his debt service? They may tell you that some of that is equity, but that requires a return on investment as well.  Before you give someone millions of dollars, I would want to be 100 % certain that they will be successful with it.

My time limit does not allow me to go through the myriad other inconsistencies and red flags with this developer, but the bottom line is if walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are it’s a duck. Put simply folks, you are being scammed. Don’t be swayed by pretty renderings and promises of roof top pools. 

After Hyman left, he was subjected to attacks by Council member Jeff Warren and Skyline advocate Claudia Robinson. I'm sure he'd be happy to return and respond to their accusations. He did have one powerful backer. Ron Angle was at the meeting and was fascinated by and agreed with what Hyman had to say. As Angle spoke, Council member Kelly Keagan kept looking at her watch to make sure he did not go beyond five minutes of saying things she did not want to hear.  

I will bring you the rest of this story, pro and con, on Monday. I will also tell you about the 10-week old model fetus that a pro-life sympathizer brought to the meeting as well as the SEIU union workers who just rejected a fairly generous contract offer. 

By the way, if anyone is offended by my irreverence towards the Almighty, I don't give a shite. I called God last night and he approved this message. 

65 comments:

  1. We sorely need Ron Angle back on Council. Someone with common sense watching out for the taxpayer. Let's make Northampton County great again !!!

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  2. Bernie, Jeff Warren is a punk. He has bounced from one pol job to another. No one knows what he does for a living. He is a sanctimonious blowhard. He loves to lecture. The guy will be hard to stomach on council as he has an opinion on everything and experience in nothing. Even Mcclure may question putting him on council. Good Luck!

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  3. Keegan let people believe that the county has authority regarding abortion law. Is she irresponsible or incompetent. What is with these people getting elected to local boards and wanting to pretend they are in congress.

    Does she even know what the county does?

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  4. Bernie, your opinions on Federal politics are very wrong. You are occasionally a devious bastard. But, this is OUTSTANDING news reporting on your part, and you deserve my highest praise (for this contribution). Don’t get too giddy.

    Mr. Hyman continues to impress. Thank you, Sir!

    Reporting of local civic decisions and events should ALWAYS be done in the public interest. Unfortunately, that noble mission to serve all citizens has been squandered away. Public interest reporting is now a weapon. A weapon used against some, not in defense of all of who actually pay the bills to live in our, now foundering, nation.

    Personal note to the failing Morning Call . . . . THIS is how it’s done!

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  5. Wait....what? A fetus?

    You're burying the lede here

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  6. I'm disappointed in Kelly Keegan. The County has nothing to do with regulating abortion. The Resolution she put up would have no legal effect and all it did was rile up religious extremists.

    I watched the meeting on YouTube last night and it was clear that other Council members had tried to talk her out of presenting this for very good reasons and she had ignored them.

    Reproductive freedom is an important issue but last night's proposed Resolution did nothing but make everyone mad and extend a meeting with an already jam packed agenda.

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  7. Follow the money. McClure is akin to fed ed

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  8. I received and rejected a comment accusing McClure and Democrats of anti-Semitism. That's nonsense. Reibman, a principal at Dixie, is Jewish. So is one of the principals involved at Skyline.

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  9. "Follow the money. McClure is akin to fed ed"

    Let's get this out of the way. I doubt very much that McClure or anyone on Council has sought any campaign contributions from Bartee or the private equity behind him. If he has, which I highly doubt, that will come out in the wash with his year-end report and will hurt his chances for a third term. So, what's in it for him? Three things. First, he wants to see Dixie developed, and sees this this as the best way to make it happen. People of good will can have different opinions. Have we become so divided that we've forgotten that decent people can look at things differently? Second, he will be getting $1 million for affordable housing, or at least thinks he will. The affordable housing crisis is very real, as several speakers made abundantly clear at the meeting. I feel, like many of them, that the $1 million is an insult. But it is $1 million. Third, he believes the developer will use the trade unions, although there is no written agreement to do so. So that is why I believe he supports the TIF here.

    I believe Lamont is pursuing what he believes is in the best interests of the county. I happen to disagree with him and believe he is being scammed, as Nat stated. But I respect his opinion and think there's nothing nefarious about his support.

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  10. Bernie:
    I was at the hearing last night (and said hello to you). I thought Mr. Hyman's speech was excellent. However, I thought Lori Vargo-Heffner was incredibly rude and disrespectful to him when she told him he only had one minute left. They wasted 45 minutes of our time making speeches to the clerk who is retiring. When Mr. Hyman came to the podium he said that he had been asked by a council person to come to council give his opinion (I'm sure he has more important things to do). Then she cuts him off! You have the expert in this type of development standing there and are considering giving the scam artist $29,000,000 and you're cutting him off? Unbelievable! With this amount of money at stake, I would have thought they would have dozens of questions for him. Instead, Lori shuts him down.

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  11. Mr. Hyman's speech is Churchillian

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  12. Jeff Warren has 10 % of the IQ that Nat has. I would bet on Nat

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  13. If this project as proposed fails, what is the actual impact on the Northampton County or Wilson Borough taxpayer? If taxpayers as represented by NCC are about to assume a significant risk including a potential tax hike to cover a potential failure or bailout, more publicity is needed to see if there is support.

    I’m no huge Hyman fan. Neither am I a detractor. Probably wouldn’t want to live in one of his properties. Still, he is actively creating dwelling units - a lot of them - in our region. He’s making enough profit without tax breaks to expand his operation. Yes, Dixie is a big project. Sounds like his chance of success would be close to 100 percent. I don’t know why the bad blood with Reibman - in the old days their history would have been a sidebar article to the main article on Hyman’s address to NCC. Gossipy, fun, and absolutely pertinent to Hyman’s “wouldn’t sell it to me” line.

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  14. Finally someone stands up the bully that is Lamont McClure! Congratulations Nat!

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  15. Continued good reporting on the Dixie proposal.

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  16. SEIU workers received a generous offer? This surely MUST be a different SEIU Union than the one in this county......because there is nothing generous about this offer. When an employee is making about $1000 per paycheck and apartments are upwards of $1500 or more in the valley, there are your paychecks out the window and don't forget if you drive you need to fill your tank, pay your car insurance, hopefully you don't have a car payment, and maybe you can eat sometime during the month if you can afford to buy food

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    1. I hear canned cat food is delicious and nutritious.😋

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  17. I read Mr. Hyman's speech. Thanks for sharing Bernie. It is entirely factual, not an opinion. So how could anyone have an issue with anything he said?

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  18. If these people approve this TIF after hearing/reading what Mr. Hyman told them, then they should be voted out of office. He told them that he will buy the building for 7 million dollars and sign a contract to not take a TIF. So do it and save us all 29 million dollars!!! And if he is right and is this is a scam, won't they all look stupid when this all blows up!

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  19. So, Kelly Keegan is the Northampton Council version of a squad member!
    She’s a liberal cuckoo bird just like Zrinski, except Zrinski is now a centrist because she desperately wanted a job she had no qualifications for lol. How bout running the county and leave the divisive political topics to national politics.

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  20. Great speech from Ms. Johnson. What’s the one thing you didn’t hear from her ? How much they want. 15% over 3 years isn’t good enough. Then what is Ms. Johnson 20% ? That’s never going to happen. If PSSU were to except the current “more than fair” offer PSSU member wages will increase 25% over a 6 year period. Where’s the fairness to the people who pay the bills - the taxpayer.

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  21. In science and technology, there are TED Talks, given by smart people and accomplished professionals on important matters. Then there's Northampton County Council, which has Tampon Talks, given by Kelly Keegan.

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  22. It is amazing how many units of affordable housing (I think over 1,500) Mr. Hyman's company has developed without any public subsidies. He has returned about 12 old industrial mill buildings to new housing. Many of those buildings were long vacant. His largest project is the Adelaide at Linden and American Parkway in Allentown, which used to be the Phoenix Mills.

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  23. Jeff Warren is a disgusting individual who killed any remaining brain cells he had by dousing them in cheap alcohol before getting behind the wheel to endanger us and our children with his heartless and brazen irresponsibility and lack of compassion for fellow citizens. Jeff Warren is a danger to society and a very bad example for his and everyone's children. He's a perfect example of being a failure in every aspect of a human life.

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  24. Keegan and Warren should resign, Warren is so misinformed he should step down. It’s already been established abortion rights is up to the states. Pa is in no jeopardy of Losing rights. From him to bring national voting into county business, did he attempt to sway voters last night in the upcoming presidential election? Like you say Bernie elections have consequences let’s hope we can vote them both out next local election.

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  25. Lori Vargo should resign as she betrayed women and the interests of reproductive health care. This issue is going to be a huge problem for the PA Congregation of Dem Women.

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  26. Nat Hyman for Mayor 2025!!!

    Allentown doesn’t deserve him, but they need him!

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  27. The hard truth is that Council is a dysfunctional embarrassment due to Lori Vargo’s failure to be an affective President.

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  28. Thank you Mr. Hyman for giving the time to explain the mistake our council wants to make that again will cost the taxpayers money they do not have with this economy. I am being selfish by asking this but could you please come to the next meeting to finish telling us about the other red flags so it will help make it a common sense decision to turn down the tif offer and the so called developer. Bottom line is Reibman wants to make 3 to 5 million more on this property that he has let sit and fall apart. Where was the cities code officials to make him bring it up to code. I hope we don't have an Allentown act two going on here.

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  29. BO, you have your take on McClure. You love the guy and That is fine. However, on his Dixie deal there is another take. McClure is a publicity addict. Probably one of the most prolific in politics. Everything is to get his name out there. That is why he puts economic development ahead of the basic county services. He knows money, business and handing out checks is great publicity for himself and his political future.

    He may love Dixie because it is a win-win for him. He gets to brag on after forty-years he saved the building. Even if the developer screws up or something happens down the line, it won't matter to him. HE is one of the most self-absorbed and calculating politicians to ever sit on his seat. The fake renderings of this building will be plastered all over social media and on his campaign brochures.

    So, you may find him angelic but there are those who know he is there for political self-promotion and if the county goes to Hell after he is gone what does he care. Harrisburg or Washington is far away,
    .

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  30. Do any of you run in any circles that include people from organizations like Skyline? They look at you as simple fools. Skyline found a group of Pennsyltucky suckers. It’s a darn shame what’s happening to the County. We don’t have any competence whatsoever.

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  31. Thank you annon 3:37 , McClure will give you a cookie.

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  32. 5:21 p.m, in a certain light some of your critiques seem fair, however, McClure is deep into his second term. He’s made clear he’s running for a third. Norco has never had a three term Exec so it seems unlikely that he’s governing being unconcerned about a future he might have to live through, no ? Also, he even doesn’t claim to be “angelic”. Cherubic maybe, but not angelic.

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  33. This entire Skyline debacle goes down as one of the larger blunders in LV politics in quite some time. It is so egregious that it is just sad and disheartening. Lamont will realize that blunders like this are not conducive to getting into Harrisburg.

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  34. Not being an expert in anything,I ask a question. What about Wilson Borough ? Nobody’s asking about capacity to assess this project by them at borough hall. I would think code alone will be consumed by this property. What do you think Bernie? Then people that move in from N.J. Will have EMS or Fire and police there 3-4 times a week ,how much does co$t?

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  35. Every once in a while we're reminded of what an absolute shitstain Jeff Warren is. He's a liar, a fraud, and a complete loser in life. So much given to a complete waste of human skin. Jeff should pay up his insurance premiums and do the right thing for everyone whose lives he's ruined, least of all his own miserable one. Have another drink you miserable POS. Everyone knows you're not better. Jail is where you belong and where you'll eventually reside. It's stunning that humps like this are in public life when their private lives are total embarrassments. We're lucky he hasn't killed someone already.

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    1. You’re a real POS for writing this and Bernie so are you for posting it.

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  36. Council needs a do over with all of them….what happened to county business during county meetings?

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  37. I would like to hear McClure answer to the comments that were made by Nat? I don't think he could find anything reasonable to say that makes the TIF making sense.

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  38. I am a woman of reproductive years and am so fed up with “reproductive rights” crap. Both sides love making this topic an issue because it inflames emotions and turns the attention from the real issues that impact more people. I believe abortion is a Commonwealth issue, not county or city.

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  39. Lori Vargo Heffner has made a dog’s breakfast of replacing the Clerk. The process is flawed from the start. This comes on the heels of the humiliating failure by Lori of getting consensus on a replacement for Zarazinski. I think Lori is incapable of bringing people together to achieve a common purpose. These are basic Council functions. Lori should resign as President.

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  40. Vargo Heffner is not weak at all she’s got Lamont’s Administration all tied up in knots. Her problem is her governing majority is based upon 3 Republican votes. Which is why she abstained on the abortion thing the other night despite being Pro-Choice.

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    1. Lori Huckabee Sanders should change her party. Voting with republicans she might as well be one. She’s a joke. The only thing she is doing to the administration is making them laugh!

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  41. McClure and a few of his stooges on county council should think back a year ago when they turned down a warehouse for the DIXIE building and property and turn right around and ruin farm land all over the county approving warehouses. It doesn't make sense, but then McClure and some of his stooges don't make sense.
    I personally am not totally in favor of the TIF. The property does have and approved LERTA in place for the last couple years by the WASD and Wilson Boro. USE THE LERTA THE WASD AND WILSON BORO DOES NOT NEED COUNTY COUNCIL AND McClure SINCE THEY ALREADY TURNED IT DOWN.
    County does not work well with Wilson Boro or maybe i should say, McClure doesn't work well with the Boro. I think Mr. McClure doesn't realize Wilson is part of the county.
    SOME COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOULD WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SEWAGE PLANT

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    1. Tony, You may not be aware, but no Borough has received more Community Development Block Grant Funding through the County than Wilson Borough since Lamont took office in 2018. It’s a million dollars and counting. I think he’s knows Wilson is a part of the County.

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    2. Tony
      You are a goofball! Wilson is in financial trouble, BO look into it. They need this project to happen

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  42. I’m liking Lori more and more. She’s got McClures rubber stamps pissed off. Keep up the good work!

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    1. As a republican I’m sure you are. She’s pushing the agenda that you all believe in. As a democrat that voted for her. Never Again. She has been a disappointment in so many ways and it is only getting worse. Hopefully Munsey finds some good candidates and we can take out the trash.

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    2. Actually I’m not a member of a political party. Independent. I used to be a democrat but the party has gone so far left it left me. I like that Ms Vargo is willing to stand up to McClure. I feel he’s got poor leadership qualities and his dictatorial management style doesn’t sit well with me.

      Your attitude is a perfect example of why I’m disgusted with both parties. You must conform and do what you’re told or you are to be cast out. She’s an independent thinker, so in your view she’s “trash” that has to be taken out. Maybe she’s just trying to do what’s right for the county.

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    3. If she was doing what’s right for the County she would not be working with John Brown. She’s trying to position herself for something. I’m sure we will see soon enough but, she should resign. That is what would be best for the County.

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    4. She should resign because she’s not doing what you want her to do. Wow, that’s pretty arrogant! What makes you an authority on what’s good for the county? This is why we have elections. The people decide what’s good for the county. My guess is a strong majority of the county would prefer to focus on county issues, not abortion.

      Senator Fetterman is finding out what happens when you don’t march to the progressive drum in lockstep like you’re told. They turn on you. You are not entitled to a different opinion. People are realizing just what bullies these progressives are. If the people feel she’s wrong they’ll vote her out. In the meantime suck it up cup cake she isn’t going away.

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  43. "You’re a real POS for writing this and Bernie so are you for posting it."

    Jeff Warren is an elected official, and his past drunk driving history is certainly something that the public has a right to know although he was admitted to ARD twice and his last incident was quite some time ago. My policy is to allow those kinds of comments.

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  44. Badge of honor when convicted by all left-wing radical Marxist democrats in a kangaroo court.

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  45. The Norco Dems are children compared to the Norco MAGAs. The Norco Dems are investigating Matt Munson for writing a letter. Glenn Greasinger is trying to use a former US Attorney to jail Brother Steve Lynch and others. It’s not that Munson might not be a Verbal Kint of sorts, but the D’s have tea parties, the MAGAs weaponize the Justice system to settle scores.

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  46. Based on the statement made by Hyman that tax breaks are unnecessary this property, I think the executive should be investigated for granting the TIF to an unknown out of state firm. There is no rational reason for it, and the only remaining possibilities are incompetence or bribery.

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  47. Hyman tried to rent-to-own the building as he’s too overextended to actually buy it. Human’s the fraud in this scenario and he’s a slumlord to boot.

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  48. Nat not only put it simply he put it honestly. McClure sees himself as a slick politician on the move. He is the Blagojevich of Northampton County.

    Word is he has already promised the million to a group for affordable housing or to put it plainly political support or votes. If more money comes in, he can hand out more money. I asked a council person about the affordable housing program the county has said it is the executive's private affair and does not consult them just says vote. This is another McClure community economic development game executives love to run with. Checks buy votes. County services functions are boring.

    This does not need the county to sign on as the big players tax wise are the school district and the borough, not the county. Why is McClure/Baron pushing this so fast. Let the school District and Wilson go first. This entire deal stinks of insider baseball.

    Oh, and please-please set up a debate between Nat Hyman and Jeff Warren. A successful and articulate businessman vs. A chunky dummy with crazy eyes and a big mouth.

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  49. "Hyman tried to rent-to-own the building as he’s too overextended to actually buy it. Human’s the fraud in this scenario and he’s a slumlord to boot."

    That's false. And he's no slumlord. I know several of his Nazareth tenants and they have high regard for him. I've been through his Nazareth building and it is high quality work. If it wasn't, he would never have gotten very far in Nazareth.

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  50. Before work, checking out social media. Your boy McClure is hitting back on Hyman. He is posting the old news story about how Hyman wanted to evict tenants during
    Covid. The story is like two years old but there it is along with various attacks by Keegan on Hefner and Heckman.

    Your boy and his minions are really made for each other. Mud dwellers.

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  51. Hyman performed an adaptive reuse project in Lehigh County. The neighbors said it would destroy the neighborhood. The bar was set pretty high from the codes standpoint. Bottom line, the building is occupied and the neighborhood is just fine. No trash, no loitering, no broken windows. Just everyday people trying to live within their means. In fact neighbors are quite pleased as there is plenty of off street parking. On this project Nat got it right.

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  52. Liberals are all about promoting tension between economic class and racial differences. The uproar over this Dixie matter is a curious study. Here, on one hand, we have Democrat government support for upscale apartment units that will no doubt attract New York and New Jersey residents who are familiar and willing to pay higher, per bedroom, prices than current local average.

    On the other hand, an experienced professional with an impressive track record of providing similar, but more affordable, living spaces, brilliantly criticizing Dixie as a risky gambit and possible misuse of tax dollars. This opinion being expressed by someone liberals are told to resent. That being a wealthy, Jewish businessman.

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  53. What isn't there to NOT agree with Hyman here? He said he could do this with NO, ZERO, tax break..he broke down everything. Sounds great to me! I also agree that the code violations should be strictly enforced as they are the rest of the borough and it's residents.

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  54. McClure vetoed additional funding for affordable housing in last year's budget. Judging by all the attacks, his flacks must be scared of a primary from LVH.

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    Replies
    1. Primary McClure? That’s funny I didn’t know Republicans could vote in a Democratic Primary.

      Delete
  55. At 7:19, p.m., he’s praying for it.

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