NorCo Council Picks Parking Deck Architect For Courthouse Campus

At their June 18 meeting, Northampton County Council voted 7-2 to select Alloy 5, a Bethlehem architectural firm, to design a new parking deck at the courthouse campus for a price of $463,000. Alloy 5 was the Council choice of three firms who selected bids. The two votes against this selection came from Council members John Goffredo and John Brown. The remaining 7 Council members voted Yes.

Public Works Director Michael Emili told Council that he (and a selection committee) favored Alloy 5 because it has "a ton of experience designing parking decks, particularly in the City of Easton" and is a local firm. But Goffredo, who also participated in that selection committee, preferred another architectural firm whose bid was "$100,000 lower than the other bids." 

Goffredo argued that a low bidder should not be penalized for being the low bidder. But Council member Jeff Warren argued that bid was "aggressively low. That sends up a red flag to me." 

Brown opposed the selection because of problems with the "internal process". He was opposed to borrowing money to pay for a new garage and should have used existing funds. Yet Brown has also argued that the county has no money. Which is it?

Alloy 5 founder Randy Galiotto and development director Bekah Rusnock gave a brief presentation. Galiotto, who grew up in Easton, reminisced about riding his bike in the garage as a kid. Rusnock noted that Alloy 5 has relationships with Lehigh County, Montgomery County and numerous municipalities, private businesses and nonprofits. The firm has designed over 5,000 parking spaces in the LV area. This includes the design for a parking deck that will actually be under a proposed stadium at Executive Education Charter School in A-town. The firm has designed 5 of 7 parking structures built in Easton over past 10 years. 

Council member Ron Heckman agrees with Goffredo that "procurement is an imperfect process at best." But he suggested that no process is perfect and that he "always preferred local firms.  ... We gotta' get this garage fixed. ... [It's] made of play doh." 

The design process will take nine months. The garage itself will not be built until 2027. 

Chester County Business Leaders - Funding For Mass Transit a Statewide Issue

I've written twice now about proposed cuts to LANTA, including route eliminations and fare increases. NorCo Dem Exec candidate Tara Zrinski has complained about the proposed elimination of mass transit to the slate belt. And last week, Northampton County Council, which includes GOP Exec candidate Tom Giovanni, unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the state senate to include a $292 million increase statewide for mass transit. Though this increase has passed the Democratic state house, its fate is uncertain in the GOP state senate. This is so even though the House version includes $500 million for road and bridge projects, which has been a sticking point in the past. With a budget deadline of June 30 looming, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) is dubious. "Funding transit,” he said, “is something that we can live without in our caucus.”

Maybe he and his fellow Senators can. They get per diems and state cars funded by state taxpayers. Not all of us are so fortunate. 

Some say this is just a Philly problem. But as Laura Manion (President & CEO, Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry) and Mike Grigalonis (President & COO, Chester County Economic Development Council) observe, all of Pennsylvania has a stake in mass transit. Below is what they sent me. 

In the debate over how to fund Pennsylvania’s roads, bridges and transit systems, one counterproductive misconception persists: that mass transit, and specifically SEPTA, is a “Philadelphia problem.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

From Pike County to Erie County, Westmoreland County to Lehigh County, Pennsylvania’s businesses rely on a robust network of roads, bridges and transit systems to bring employees to work and attract customers. What every Pennsylvania county shares is public transportation that connects people and communities to work, school and essential services.

Here in Chester County, and the Greater Philadelphia region, our economic growth has been undergirded by this system, with SEPTA mass transit at its foundation.

SEPTA is an essential cog in the economic engine of Southeastern Pennsylvania — an engine that generates billions in economic output and tax revenue for the entire state. A weakened SEPTA means a weakened regional economy, and that ripples out to the rest of Pennsylvania in real dollars. The income, business, and sales taxes generated here help fund state programs and services that benefit all 67 counties. When our region suffers due to impaired transit, the state’s ability to reinvest equitably across Pennsylvania suffers too.

Counties across Pennsylvania also benefit directly from SEPTA’s operations every day — not just through travel, but through jobs, procurement, and commerce. Over the past five years, SEPTA has awarded over $1.14 billion in contracts to Pennsylvania-based companies in 39 counties, with an average annual investment of $228 million. That’s not just rail cars and bus routes in the southeast — that’s steel, rubber, electronics, parts, safety equipment, and professional services supporting jobs across the Commonwealth.

If SEPTA is forced to cut service or delay infrastructure upgrades due to unstable state funding, it’s not just riders in the southeast who are directly impacted. It’s those employers and the Pennsylvanians they employ who will also feel the impact. SEPTA is one of the largest transit systems in the country and one of Pennsylvania’s largest purchasers of goods and services — and when funding cannot fully support operations, that economic activity across the entire Commonwealth is also reduced.

This is proof of a fundamental truth: mass transit is regional infrastructure with statewide economic impact.

We fully support statewide transit funding to address SEPTA’s shortfall this year to avoid devastating cuts. But we also recognize the need for a long-term, sustainable solution that ensures our public transit systems — not just in Philadelphia, but across the state — are viable for the future. We are not suggesting a blank check or permanent patchwork. We are advocating for a smart, stable, and transparent approach that recognizes the shared value of a functioning, modern transit system.

Now is not the time to retreat. With major global events like America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, the PGA Championship and the NFL Draft all coming to Pennsylvania in the next year, our transit infrastructure must be ready to move tens of millions of visitors efficiently and safely. Without it, the region — and the state — will miss out on untold economic opportunity and global visibility.

Pennsylvania must now rise to meet this moment — and not just to “save” transit, but to invest in what it already delivers: regional economic impact, workforce access, and job creation.

This isn’t about urban vs. rural or east vs. west. It’s about building a statewide economy that moves — powered by a mass transit system that serves millions of Pennsylvanians in all 67 counties.

If you’re a business owner or policymaker outside of southeastern Pennsylvania, don’t think of SEPTA as someone else’s concern. Think of it as your next contract, your next job posting, your next opportunity. It’s time we fund transit operations across all of Pennsylvania like the statewide engine it is.

Trump's Attack on Iran's Nuclear Sites Results in Ceasefire

I would never have expected this, but President Donald Trump's attacks at Iranian nuclear sites appears to be on its way to a happy ending. Instead of activating sleeper cells or closing the Strait of Hormuz, I ran has agreed to a ceasefire. Everybody wins. Iran's nuclear dreams have been delayed a few years. Israel has seriously weakened its most belligerent adversary. Iran survives.

Here's how the nonpartisan Institute for the Study of War, which tends to be unbiased, has to say: 

US President Donald Trump announced that Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire that will go into effect at 12:00 AM ET on June 24. Trump said that Iran would adhere to the ceasefire starting at midnight on June 24 and that Israel would join at noon on June 24. Trump said that the war would officially end at midnight on June 25. Trump congratulated Israel and Iran for “having the stamina, courage, and intelligence” to end the war. Trump announced the ceasefire five hours after Iran conducted a ballistic missile attack targeting US forces in Qatar. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Iran agreed to a Qatar-mediated, US-proposed ceasefire.

Iran conducted a retaliatory, but largely symbolic, ballistic missile attack targeting a US airbase in Qatar on June 23. Iran launched 14 medium- and short-range ballistic missiles at the United States’ largest position in the Middle East—al Udeid Airbase—just before 1:00 PM ET. The United States and partner forces intercepted 13 missiles and “set free” one missile on a “nonthreatening” trajectory. Trump confirmed that the Iranian attack did not injure or kill any US servicemembers or Qataris and caused “hardly any damage.” Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian claimed after the attack that Iran fired one missile at al Udeid Airbase for each bomb that the United States dropped on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21. Initial reports claimed that Iran also fired a single short-range ballistic missile targeting US forces at Ain al Asad Airbase in Iraq, but a US military official refuted that claim.

Key Takeaways:

• US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, beginning the evening of June 23. A senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the ceasefire would occur following Qatari mediation.

• Iran conducted a missile attack targeting the US al Udeid Airbase in Qatar in retaliation for the US strikes on the Iranian nuclear program. The attack was largely symbolic and inflicted no casualties or damage, however.

• Iranian elite, including some moderate leaders, have reportedly tried to pressure Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to accept a ceasefire or sideline him entirely. It is unclear what role these individuals played in the US-announced ceasefire.

• Iranian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Policy Majid Takht Ravanchi announced that Iran will remain a member of the NPT. Iranian officials have previously threatened to withdraw from the NPT in response to US and Israeli strikes.

• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that the United States likely inflicted “very significant damage” in its strikes on the Fordow nuclear site. Iran may have moved some of its nuclear material to undisclosed locations beforehand, however.

NorCo Council Awards $525,000 for Open Space Projects

Northampton County has what it calls a "livable landscape" program that provides grant funding for land preservation, municipal parks, open space planning, ecological restoration and regional trails. At their June 18 meeting, County Council approved five such grants, totaling $525,000, to Bethlehem, Northampton, Palmer Tp. Upper Mount Bethel Tp and Hellertown.

Bethlehem is receiving $300,000 towards a $1.043 million project to connect the Soth Bethlehem Greenway with the Saucon Rail Trail. Once completed, it will be possible to cycle or hike from South Bethlehem to Quakertown. this will create continuous greenway in a populated urban area to promote physical activity, health and wellness, and outdoor recreation opportunities. The gravel trail will be 12'wide.

You never know what you'll find on the South Bethlehem Greenway. It's where I met the Wizard of New Zealand. 

Upper Mount Bethel Tp be awarded $75,000 towards a $1.125 million plan to rehabilitate a former sand and gravel quarry site at the UMBT Preserve. This will include a new main entrance and two smaller trailheads for public access at different areas into the preserve as well as observation decks, overlooks, fishing or kayak platforms.

Palmer Tp will be provided $50,000 towards a $104,000 plan to restore a 0.5 mile section of the Schoeneck Creek riparian buffer at Fox Run Park. This is expected to reduce stormwater runoff and improve wildlife habitat.

Northampton Borough will get $100,000 towards a $763,897 plan to replace outdated and unsafe playground equipment with a new 100,000 sq ft facility with a poured-in-place rubber surface. The gaol is to transform 4th Street Park into an exemplary recreation system serving as a welcoming, inclusive play environment for families of all abilities.

Hellertown has been awarded $75,000 for the $560,000 Tumminelo Park improvements. Hellertown will install a install a new footbridge over Mill Race to connect the Saucon Rail Trail (SRT) to Tumminello Park. This will improve access to the trail.

Irani Attack Was in US Nat'l Security Interests

Northampton County approved a number of livable landscape grants and have awarded a contract for a new parking deck at the courthouse campus, but those stories will have to wait until tomorrow.

On Saturday evening, US B-2 stealth bombers launched precision strikes at three Irani nuclear sites, including the underground site at Fordow. Not only was this attack justified, but it was in the interest of our own national security. six American warplanes dropped 12 30,000-lb GBU-57 massive ordnance penetrator (MOP) bunker-busting bombs on Fordow

According to the Institute for the Study of War, satellite imagery of Fordow from June 22 shows six probable entry-point craters on top of a ridge above the underground complex that houses two halls of at least 2000 centrifuges. These were producing nearly enough highly enriched uranium to fuel one nuclear weapon per month. Initial Israeli assessments indicate that US strikes did not destroy but inflicted serious damage. Iran may have moved materials and equipment from the site ahead of the strike. A senior US official similarly said that the US strikes did not destroy but severely damaged the Fordow nuclear site and took it “off the table.”

Was it the right thing to do?  Opinion is divided in both parties. 

House Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that Trump acted unconstitutionally and has given the House grounds for yet another impeachment. But the attack was praised by Democratic Senators John Fetterman and Josh Gottheimer.

Republican congressional leadership lined up behind Trump.  But there are voices in the isolationist MAGA movement, like Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Greene Taylor, who condemn our involvement in yet another foreign war.

I believe this strike was an absolute necessity and in our own national security interests. Iran's raison d'etre since 1979 has been to promote a Shia version of an Islamic revolution, including state-sponsored terror by the 3 Hs - Houtis, Hamas and Hezbollah.  It has been a driving force behind international instability. 

British journalist Matthew Syed, whose father was a Pakistani immigrant, makes the case at Triggernometry. Here are some excerpts. 

"The doctrine of mutually assured destruction is what prevents people with nuclear bombs from initiating the first strike, because they worry that in the counter stripe they will be eliminated. So it's a very strong doctrine that even though there are nuclear weapons in the world, we have not yet, thankfully, be subject to a nuclear holocaust."

But Iran, unlike most countries, has no interest in the mutually assured destruction doctrine because they are religious fanatics.  

"They believe that they have absolute truth, many of them in the regime, and that anyone who disagrees with them by implication are infidels, and, moreover, they glorify martyrdom, they believe that if they can take out infidels, they will go through a door, into heaven, and be blessed for eternity." 

"A lot of people don't seem to know about the 20,000 child martyrs who are indoctrinated by the fanatics and the clerics who took over after the ' 79 Revolution to believe that the greatest duty they could perform for Allah was to walk and sometimes run into minefields and up against machine gun fire, to clear a path for the adult military coming in behind, and they died, their limbs strewn across battlefields, and they were then glorified in government propaganda , held up as icons of the Revolution. 

"The fact that the people who are supposed to protect [children] indoctrinated them into what is effectively a death cult seems to me very good evidence, in addition to all the more contemporaneous stuff, - the repression of women, the killing of people who have a sexual [difference], the funding of genocidal proxies committed to the elimination of Israel -  tells me that if they got a nuclear weapon, it is likely they would use it. 

"I could envision an aging fanatical leader initiating a first strike and then looking at the radar screen and seeing the inevitable response in which that person would die in thinking that I am closer to Allah. I don't think that that is true of Vladimir Putter. I don't think Putin is prepared to die for his ideology. He's a venal corrupt leader, of the old school. He's worth billions. He had a Black Sea palace, he's got a young girlfriend . He wants to live. I think the same is true of the North Korean leader, with this ham and his looted opulence. It is not true of religious fundamentalists who glorify martyrdom. 

"Nuclear weapons, potentially 9 or 10 nuclear devices being held by a militarian cult that is committed to the destruction of Israel and calls America the Great Satan. A nuclear war of that kind, even if it occurred between Israel and Iran, would kill hundreds of millions of people around the world."  

So yeah, eliminating Iran as a nuclear threat is in our own national security. If Canadian wildfire smoke can travel to France and interfere with the Criterium du Dauphine, there is little doubt in my mind that the nuclear fallout of a nuclear winter involving as few as 15 nuclear bombs following an exchange between Israel and Iran would kill millions worldwide.

NorCo Council Supports State Funding Increase For Mass Transit

Earlier this week, NorCo Controller Tara Zrinski issued a news release concerning the possible outright elimination of bus service to the slate belt. LANTA is currently planning a 20% reduction in fixed route bus service and a 25% fare hike even though 75% of its riders rely on it to get to and from work. This is because of a significant gap between stagnant state funding and costs.

Governor Josh Shapiro has proposed a fix. Currently, mass transit statewide gets 4.4% of the sales tax collected every year. He has proposed increasing this allotment to 6.15%. This would result in an additional $292 million for mass transit statewide, including $7 million in revenue for LANTA, This would fix its funding gap. But it's unclear whether the state senate is willing to go along.

At their June 17 meeting, NorCo Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting a state increase in mass transit funding. 

There's a New Sheriff in Town

At their June 17 meeting, Northampton County Council voted unanimously to confirm the appointment of Chris Zieger as Sheriff. He was appointed to the position by Executive Lamont McClure, but under the Home Rule Charter, County Council must consent. He comes in at pay grade Group V, Step 4-D, salary $111,868.

McClure told Council the day before that "[t]here is no person more ready to be Sheriff of Northampton County than Chris Zieger is. He's done an amazing job as Acting Sheriff since Sheriff Johnston retired. ... There truly is no one more qualified to lead this department than Chris."

Northampton County has had a Sheriff since the county was first established in 1752. Deputy Nathan Ogden was the first law enforcement officer killed in the Commonwealth. He was shot in 1771 when attempting to arrest a fugitive during the Pennamite-Yankee War.

The Sheriff's office is charged with providing physical security for the courts; service of civil filings; fugitive location and arrests; administration of monthly Sheriff Sales; and prisoner transport.

Zieger, a 1991 graduate of Muhlenberg College, has been employed with the Sheriff's department since 1994. He started as a Deputy and worked his way up through the ranks to become the Chief Deputy in 2010. 

Northampton and Luzerne are the only Pennsylvania counties that appoint the Sheriff. In other counties, the office is an elected position. 

Is Council Member Brown Acting in Good Faith?

John Brown is without doubt the worst county exec Northampton County has had since the inception of Home Rule. He unliterally cut health care for county employees when he was Executive. He would later learn to his chagrin that he violated a number of union contracts in doing so and had to restore benefits to most union employees. Career service workers, however, got screwed.  On top of this misstep, he drew up plans to relocate the county's jail to the Gracedale campus, discussed them behind closed doors with Upper Nazareth Supervisors and then tried to pretend he had no such intentions. Finally, his goofy P3 bridge project was and remains a disaster. The only beneficiary of that brainfart was attorney John Lushis, whose law firm billed the county $813,000. Now Brown is a County Council member. Two nights ago, when reviewing an audit of $5 million in retention bonuses, I thought (and wrote) that he made some interesting points and raised questions that should be answered. He had that opportunity last night, when he could have posed those questions to Exec Lamont McClure or Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron. He asked neither any questions but instead made a previously debunked claims that the county started the year with just $3,000. In addition, he attempted to block two routine budget amendments that the remaining eight Council members supported. He basically wants to jam the wheels of county government until his questions are answered. But he never presented them last night to the very people who could answer them and made themselves available. So is he really acting in good faith or is he little more than an obstructionist who is trying his hardest to slime Lamont McClure, Tara Zrinski, Steve Barron or anyone who has a "D" after his or name? 

On Tuesday, Controller Tara Zrinski presented her audit about what actually happened to $5 million that Council had previously approved for retention bonuses at Gracedale. Zrinski was accompanied by her lead auditor, Stacy Duke, as well as Mark Dilberto, the accountant who did most of the legwork. Though she was battling what appeared to be a cold, or allergies or a combination of the two, Zrinski and her staff did a good job. The audit revealed that less than half of the $5 million approved by Council was actually used for that purpose. It was hardly helpful to McClure or Gracedale administrators.  

I was impressed by the concerns raised by Brown. He noted that the bonus money was used up in 2023 to pay for Gracedale operating expenses and wondered how the county could have paid bonuses in 2024 and even this year, as it has. Good question, but one that is beyond the scope of the audit. 

Brown wondered why Gracedale's former administrator failed to place the bonus money in a separate line item but instead commingled the monies with other funds, making them impossible to track. Another good question, but again, beyond the scope of the audit. 

Perhaps most importantly, he suggested that the county was moving money into Gracedale's general fund and did so both in 2023 and 2024 without Council approval. This is also beyond the scope of the audit, but a good question. 

Lead Auditor Stacy Duke told Brown several times that those are questions he could ask Fiscal. He could also ask the County Executive

At last night's meeting, as is his habit, Exec Lamont McClure specifically asked Council if they had any questions. Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron actually spoke during courtesy of the floor and specifically told Council that he was available for any questions they might have. 

Brown had no questions of McClure or Barron about the audit. He instead repeated later that night the irresponsible and debunked claim that the county had only $3,000 in cash on hand at the end of 2024. He insisted that the county is operating at a deficit and his questions have gone unanswered. Therefore, he suggested that County Council reject routine budget amendments of pass-through money that would basically paralyze the government and prevent it from providing vital core services. 

"You really think as an ex county executive that we have $3,000 in the bank right now? asked Council member Ken Kraft. "That's your honest opinion?" Brown said he was relying on unaudited financial statements. 

NorCo Controller's Office Faces Tough Questions Concerning Gracedale Retention Bonus Audit

Northampton County Controller Tara Zrinski formally presented her audit of Gracedale's retention bonuses to County Council yesterday. I previously posted her report (you can see it here), in which she determined that less than half of $5 million that Council authorized for employee retention bonuses was actually spent for that purpose. Council had requested the audit in March. 

The $5 million in retention bonuses at Gracedale was part of a larger $15.5 million spending plan of federal pandemic funds at the nursing home, passed in 2022 by County Council. The only Council member to vote against bonuses was John Brown. 

The audit makes no recommendations. Council member Ron Heckman asked if the Controller had any recommendation that future contributions like this be placed in a restricted account so that the funds can be tracked as spent. Zrinski and Lead Auditor Stacy Duke both stated that a controller makes no recommendations when it does an "agreed upon procedures" audit. It just presents its findings. 

Council member John Goffredo, who like Heckman was participating by phone, was "very dissatisfied" because the audit fails to state specifically how these funds were spent after they were commingled with other funds. No matter how hard Zrinski and Duke tried to tell him that is impossible once funds are commingled, he kept insisting that the Controller could answer that question "with a little more work." Eventually, he was stopped by Finance Committee Chair John Brown, who said "we are going around in circles." 

Stacy Duke later explained that the Gracedale general fund was exhausted the year in which the retention bonuses were poured into it, so all the funds were necessarily spent on Gracedale expenses. Gracedale was contacted to see if there were any tracking, spreadsheets, balance sheets or excel reports that would show expenditures being paid from money set aside for bonuses. There were none. "There was no tracking system. I'm not really sure how you can get a tracking system out of somebody who did not track it."

In response to questions from Council Prez Lori Vargo Heffner, Duke stated that the $5 million in retention bonuses was reported to the federal government as a "revenue loss." She indicated that Gracedale had $88 million revenue in 2023 but operating expenses of $116 million. So the $5 million was used for a "revenue loss."

Council member John Brown noted that retention bonuses were still being paid after 2023, even though the federal funds had already been exhausted. This means that the county would have been spending its own money for a portion of the $2.3 million paid out in retention bonuses. Duke agreed with his observation. He would like to know what county monies were moved over to Gracedale, but he acknowledged he would need to seek a new audit to get an answer. Given that county funds were used to pay retention bonuses after 2023, Brown questioned why they are not being used to pay career service employees now. He also wanted to know why Jennifer Stewart King, who was administrator for more than seven years, was never interviewed. "our audit staff does not have the power to compel somebody to give a statement," said Zrinski, who was battling a cold, allergies or both. 

Brown concluded that the audit report was "misleading." He also expressed concern that the county moved money over to Gracedale in 2024 to cover a $8 million shortfall without a budget amendment or seeking Council's approval. "Someone's moving money without the authorization of this [Council]. ... This, along with the way monies are moved without being brought before this body is troublesome. They [the county administration] ignored or didn't honor the [council] resolution ... . There's a pattern of disregard for the checks and balances that are meant to be put in place."

Based on the points raised by Brown, there are still questions that need to be answered.  

Zrinski Wants Bus Service in Slate Belt To Continue

As most of you know, I'm an old fart. I live in an apartment building specially set up for old farts and younger disabled people with limited incomes. I like it. My next door neighbor (he passed away a few weeks ago) was a retired garbage man who spent 40 years on the back of the trucks. Another was a drummer for famous singers like Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. One fellow - a giant of a man - provided security for celebrities in California before going blind. I could go on and on, and maybe one day I will tell their stories. One thing that most of us appreciate is the LANTA bus. There is a stop right outside the building. At one time, it was served by two separate routes. (217 & 216). Now it's just one (216), and that will no longer serve Nazareth at the end of June. There will still be service from another route, but it will be far more limited. This will affect several residents who rely on LANTA. It will also impact several other Nazareth residents whom I have seen on the bus from time  

I realize this is a "poor person" issue. I often hop on a bus, especially when riding my bike so I can pretend I went farther than I actually did. I've seen the people who rely on buses to get to jobs at restaurants, Walmart and local industrial parks. One Spanish lady - she does not speak a word of English or pretends not to when I'm on the bus - always has a piece of fruit for me. 

Although Governor Josh Shapiro is pushing for $292 million in mass transit funding statewide, his quest faces an uncertain fate in the Republican held state senate. LANTA is planning to reduce service by 20%. This should have little impact if you live in downtown Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton. But the farther you are from the urban core, the more difficult it will be to get around. It will be especially tough for Slate Belt residents. They are often little more than an afterthought among elected officials, so I was surprised to see a press release from NorCo Controller and Exec candidate Tara Zrinski about bus service to the slate belt (Route 217), which will be reduced at the end of the month.

Her news release states that Route 217 is being eliminated, but my understanding is that service is just being reduced. Here's what she says:

As the Democratic nominee for Northampton County Executive, and as a former county councilmember and current county controller, I am deeply concerned about the proposed elimination of Route 217 and other essential bus services in the Slate Belt region.

While I do not reside in the Slate Belt, I understand that public transportation is a lifeline for many Northampton County communities. Route 217 connects residents to jobs, medical appointments, grocery stores, and vital services. Surveys show that the vast majority of riders—about three-quarters—have no other transportation option. Eliminating this route would strand those without access to a car—especially in rural areas where alternatives are scarce.

It is especially important to recognize that many individuals in recovery from addiction rely on these bus routes to reach recovery centers, counseling sessions, and support group meetings. Reliable transportation is essential for successful recovery; without it, missed appointments can disrupt progress and increase the risk of relapse. 

Seniors, low income individuals/families and the disabled are all especially vulnerable to these proposed cuts. Reductions in fixed-route and paratransit services will limit their ability to reach medical appointments, grocery stores, and social activities, leading to increased isolation and diminished quality of life. The planned 25% fare increase on the Shared Ride for Seniors program and restricted service days and hours will further compound these challenges.

Removing Route 217 would undermine the hard-won progress of many in our community.

Northampton County has consistently advocated for equitable bus route allocation, ensuring that all residents—regardless of location—have access to essential services. To take these routes away now would undermine years of progress and jeopardize the well-being of those in recovery from opioid addiction and other substance use disorders.

Where can LANTA get the money?

LANTA’s funding challenges are real. The transit authority has relied on federal COVID relief funds, but those have now run out. Governor Shapiro’s proposed budget includes a $6.6 million increase in state operating funds for LANTA, which could help avoid devastating service cuts. Additionally, the Governor has proposed increasing the transit share of the state sales tax, which could provide LANTA with millions more annually if approved by the legislature. Federal grants, such as those from the Federal Transit Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also remain important funding sources.

I urge LANTA and state leaders to prioritize these funding solutions and to preserve essential services for all communities. Northampton County is a growing community and, as part of the Lehigh Valley our services are essential to that economic growth. Public transportation is not just about mobility—it’s about access, opportunity, and dignity. We must not let funding shortfalls harm our most vulnerable residents.

Israel Has No Choice

Although I'll agree that Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu is a thug, there's a marked difference between him and Israel itself. If Iran is able to develop nuclear weapons, there is little doubt in my mind that they will be used, and against Israel. While Tehran insists it only wishes to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, it is enriching uranium far beyond the level needed for civilian use. Moreover, the UN nuclear watchdog concluded last week that the Persian Power is ignoring its nuclear safeguard obligations. 

With the backing of 19 countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency has determined that

“Iran’s many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran ... constitutes non-compliance with its obligations under its Safeguards Agreement.”

Instead of vowing to comply, Iran instead said it would start a new "secure site" and speed up its uranium enrichment program, which is what is needed for nukes. 

So Israel has no choice.

Israel has attacked military targets, but the underground sites might be invulnerable to bunker buster bombs. If that is so, it might be necessary to use troops as Irael did in Syria.  

Why We Need Public Libraries

In the 21st century, are libraries a thing of the past? Even on Northampton County Council, Kelly Keegan has stated nobody reads anymore. I personally think libraries are more important than ever, primarily because they have adapted to changing times. They now have extensive digital collections; are accessible by rich and poor alike; usually provide internet access to persons unable to afford this service; and encourage intellectual development. If it were not for the public library, there's no way a person like me would be able to afford to books I enjoy reading.

Northampton Area Public Library's Exec. Director, Veronica L, provided NorCo Council on June 5 with a run down of exactly what a public library does in 2025. She called it the "first point of access for information, self-enrichment, leisure, and social connections." It serves about 44,000 people spread out over 96 sq miles. 

The library operates with a "fun bunch" staff of 12 people. The latest financials reveal that a total of $280,171 is paid in salaries. "Our goal is approachability. ... Please, bother us." 

Its resources include extensive physical and digital collections, including a historical and growing Spanish collection; board games; 500 online continuing education courses; and WiFi hotspots. The library will make homebound and senior center visits as well. It also includes NewsBank, a news content aggregator that contains thousands of news articles from all over the world. It is updated daily.

The library had over 60,000 visits in 2024 and circulated nearly 100,000 items (62,033 were physical, i.e. books). The library also made 525 visits Over 11.600 area residents have a library card.  

The library is 52% funded by the Northampton Area School District, and area municipalities also contribute. The library will be fine free in July. "Just get the books back to us."

Why US Senator Removed From Kristi Noem Presser

I don't care for people who shoot dogs, so naturally, I dislike Kristi Noem. From my own personal experience, I know ICE is populate by cowboys who act without thinking. Nevertheless, the removal of US Senator Alex Padilla from a Noem presser yesterday appears to have been justified. 

I say this based on the account of a CBS cameraman who was there. He said that Noem was still delivering her opening remarks when he saw "an individual emerging from the press corps, taking steps toward the Secretary. ... trying to ask a question, saying, I have a question. And immediately, security is on him because as he is saying these questions, as he is speaking, he is taking steps approaching the secretary at the podium. So security grabs him, moves him out, and I gotta' tell you, I didn't recognize him at first either." It was only as he was being dragged out that he identified himself as a US Senator. 

Now what happened outside when they cuffed him is another story. 

Padilla never explained why he chose to interrupt Noem while she was making her opening remarks or why he approached the podium as he did so. 

Is Pa. Finally Going to Increase Minimum Wage? Don't Hold Your Breath

Spotlight reports that the Democratic Pa. House has passed a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour over a period of time. From there is will move to the Republican Pa. Senate, where I expect it to wither on the vine. 

This has happened before, when a then Democratic Pa. Senate adopted a minimum wage increase that died in the Republican Pa House. 

Pa.'s minimum wage is $7.25, which also happens to be the federal minimum wage. 

Has Crosswell Crossed Us?

On Tuesday, I told you that a former federal prosecutor, Ryan Croswell, is seeking the Democratic nomination to the Pa. 07 Congressional seat currently held by Republican Ryan Mackenzie. At a time when everyone and his mother is running from the Democratic party; this lifelong Republican joined it in late December. His campaign committee (Croswell for Congress) lists an Allentown PO Box, although its unclear whether Croswell himself actually has moved into the district. His campaign treasurer, Jeremie McCubbin, lists an address in Tempe Az. McCubbin is actually a compliance consultant with Common Cents Solutions, a Democratic campaign finance compliance firm. 

Croswell resigned as a federal prosecutor in February after refusing to participate in the dismissal or public corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. He portrays his campaign as a principled stand, in his own words, for "the rule of law" and to "defend our country." He pours it on some more with this: "[Trump] wanted me to break the code and ignore the law, and that’s something I would never do." 

He sounds very noble, doesn't he? But is he really?

The truth is that Croswell registered a congressional campaign committee website back on December 15, 2024, several months before Trump or Mackenzie had ever taken office. So at the time that Crosswell wrote his very principled resignation, he had already decided he was running for Congress somewhere. PunchbowlNews (subscription required) reports he's already raised $200,000. 

I doubt any of that money comes from the Lehigh Valley. 

While he now claims to be Trump's fiercest foe. "I may not have the power that Trump has forcibly seized for himself," he says of a Democratically elected President, "but that won't stop me from fighting against him again - with Honor, Courage," etc. 

And by the way, can you spare him a few bucks? Apparently, he needs to fight with Honor, Courage and Money, too. 

I agree with Easton Mayor Sal Panto. Crosswell is a fraud. He's also being played.

I see Susan Wild's fingerprints all over this. In her own first race, she recruited Roger Ruggles to run against John Morganelli for Congress, knowing that would dilute John's vote total in Northampton County. Now she's recruited a former prosecutor who thinks very highly of himself to run, but what she isn't telling him is that she hopes that with two men and one woman in a Democratic primary, the woman will win. 

UMBT Supervisor Apologizes For Flipping Off Public During Public Township Meeting

I previously told you that appropriately named Vice Chair David Friedman gave the middle finger ... twice ... during a recent meeting of Upper Mount Bethel Tp's (UMBT) Board of Supervisors. He did this to the members of the public that he's supposed to represent. It's what I'd expect from someone ruled unethical by both the State Ethics Board and Commonwealth Court. It's what you can count on from someone who promised to resign if a court ruled he was unethical but then went back on his own word and refused to do so.  

He has demonstrated that his own words mean very little to him. But at Monday night's meeting of UMBT's Board, he did apologize. "I owe everyone an apology for my gesture at the last meeting. It was uncalled for, uncouth, unprofessional and everything else that everybody has said about it so far." He then tried to minimize it as "an act of frustration," but that's false. He was actually gloating after winning on a motion. He promised he will decline to participate in any future meetings of prospective River Pointe tenants. 

Like Amazon. His Eminence, the Right Rev. Ron Angle  lives in Township. (Yes he is a Bishop. I know this because I sent away for his certification a few years ago in exchange for $20). He told the Board that Amazon had set aside $20 billion for a data center in Pa., and Governor Shapiro even designated an envoy to help the world's largest online retailer find data center sites. It has settled on Luzerne and Bucks Counties, and expects to create 1,250 high-paying jobs. "We lost Amazon because of a couple of people in this township that got greedy." 

During public comment, resident Robert Teel observed that both Bermingham and Fredman had campaign signs that promised "better leadership" when they ran for office. "I think you missed it. Better leadership doesn't mean saying FU to the crowd."

Supervisor Jonathan Erler condemned Friedman's antics. "In the year and a half since I've taken this seat, he has not only been found guilty of ethics violations, but also repeatedly misled our residents, promises given three separate times to resign if found guilty. Since then, he has verbally accused at least two residents of considerable violations without providing evidence. Mr. Friedman has threatened me personally in the company of this board with filing ethics charges against me for merely performing a core function of a township supervisor. And again, he just might have violated the ethics code and his oath of office with his motion to resolve a lawsuit that he himself is a defendant in."

Erler then referred to letters from elected or appointed township officials and Supervisor John Bermingham's praise for Friedman. Bermingham then defended himself, saying that Friedman's display of the middle finger was peaceful. Erler them moved to censure Friedman. This motion carried 3-1, but I don't know who voted No. 

Solicitor Ron Karasek will prepare a formal resolution of censure for the next meeting. That's a good thing, As he reminded the Board, a last-minute agenda item like this might very well run afoul of the Sunshine Act.

By the way, what is the legal effect of a formal censure?

Nothing. 

Lifelong Republican and Former Fed Prosecutor to Run For Congress (Pa. 7), But as a Democrat

A month ago, I told you that a lifelong Republican who worked as a federal prosecutor under Donald Trump 1.0 and 2.0 was considering a run for the Pa.7. congressional seat currently held by Ryan Mackenzie. 

Ryan Croswell is one of a bevy of DOJ lawyers who have resigned rather than do Donald Trump's bidding. His resignation accompanied a decision to drop a public corruption case against NYC's Mayor. He took what seems like a very principled stand, and I would ordinarily be happy to see someone like him run for Congress in Pa.7. It would be great to see a Republican with moral courage take on a Trump acolyte. Except for two things. First, Croswell has never lived in the Lehigh Valley, although he may have visited Allentown. Second, Croswell switched parties to Democrat just six months ago. 

Crosswell spent 4 years working for the Trump administration and voted as a Republican during the first four years Trump was in office. He continued voting as a Republican in the election Trump lost in 2020 and voted as a Republican in the election Trump won in 2024.

This possible Democratic candidate has a Republican voting history that stretches back to 2011, when he registered to in North Carolina. He registered as a Republican in Louisiana in 2014 and voted as such in the 2016 election. He continued voting as a Republican in the 2020 Presidential, 2022 midterm and in 2024. 

Mysteriously, on December 27 of last year, this long-time Republican suddenly switched parties to Democrat. He also moved to Allentown from wherever he was. 

Why?

I'm certainly suspicious about this sudden change of heart from a Marine veteran. It could very well be sincere. It could be a recognition that he thinks the easiest way to prevail in Pa. 7 is as a Democrat. But he could also be a stalking horse for Mackenzie with the goal of making sure that the remaining Democratic candidates - Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine - spend so much money that little will be left for the general.  

FEC records do not list him as a candidate, but he has announced his intentions to several news outlets. 

In a fundraising text he has already sent, Croswell paints himself as someone willing to stand up against Trump. 

I joined the Marine Corps after 9/11, and I learned the code of Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

I kept that code during my time as a federal prosecutor under Presidents Obama, Biden, and Trump — until the day Donald Trump decided to weaponize the Department of Justice by asking the prosecutors in my section to drop a case against his political ally.

He wanted me to break the code and ignore the law, and that’s something I would never do.

𝗦𝗼 𝗜 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 — 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸.

I testified publicly in a congressional hearing about the threat Donald Trump’s agenda poses to our justice system, the integrity of the federal government, and our democracy itself.

I may not have the power Trump has forcibly seized for himself, but that won’t stop me from fighting back against him again — with Honor, Courage, and a Commitment to the real people and families of Pennsylvania’s 7th.

In a news release, Congressional candidate Lamont McClure notes that “Ryan Crosswell is a lifelong Republican who has never lived in the Lehigh Valley. Even worse, Crosswell spent four years working for the Trump Department of Justice as they attacked civil rights, voting rights, and women’s rights — and only resigned to run for Congress. ... Ryan Crosswell isn’t running for Congress to help Pennsylvania families. He’s running to help himself.”

Congressional candidate Carol Obando-Derstine called Crosswell "a D.C.-backed Republican parachuting into this district."

Easton Mayor Sal Panto called Croswell a "fraud

Gracedale Administrative Mess Highlights Need For David Holland on NorCo Council

As I told you on Friday, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure was harshly rebuked by NorCo Council during its Thursday night meeting. The obloquy was prompted by a Controller's report that less than half of $5 million expressly authorized by Council for retention bonuses had actually been spent for that purpose. The rest of the money was just dumped into Gracedale's general fund (not to be confused with the county's general fund) and was used to pay the home's operating expenses during 2024. McClure believes the money was used to pay overtime to agency nurses (these are not employed by the county) as well as overtime to career service employees. Because there was no line item for the retention bonuses, however, it is impossible to determine precisely how the money was spent. McClure insisted that this all happened without his knowledge, but he is the captain of the ship and he is ultimately responsible. Three Council members told the Exec they don't believe him. It would really help County Council to have someone who actually understands the nursing home culture, and more specifically, what the hell is going on at Gracedale. Fortunately, County Council candidate Dave Holland is such a person.

Holland, a nursing professor, is a former administrator at Gracedale. During his tenure, the home passed its annual state inspection without a single citation. He was part of a third-party team replaced for an in-house administrator. 

If we're interested in fixing what is wrong at one of the few remaining county-owned nursing homes, we need Holland on County Council. 

LVEDC's Don Cunningham on LV's Economy - Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC) CEO Don Cunningham has always been a glass half full kind of guy. That attitude served him as Bethlehem's Mayor, when overnight, Bethlehem Steel pulled the plug and shut down. In one fell swoop, the City lost 20% of its tax base, to say nothing of residents who were out of a job. Cunningham, very much a local version of FDR, always inspired optimism when it was needed most. It paid off, too. Today, Bethlehem might actually be in a better position economically than it ever was.

Where are we economically? - The Lehigh Valley has grown from a GDP of $27.4 billion in 2003 to $55.7 billion in 2023. This actually tops Alaska, Wyoming and Vermont. Believe it or not, $9 billion is from manufacturing. The second biggest sector ($8.7 billion) comes from finance, real estate and insurance. Health care and education account for $8.4 billion, followed by professional services ($6.9 billion), wholesale trade ($3.8 billion) and retail trade ($3.8 billion).

Last year, instead of a brain drain, NorCo actually led the state in the growth of jobs for adults under 40. This is in stark contrast to the rest of the northeast. 

Median household income is $81,709, above the state's $76,081. "These are the numbers that are most relevant to us," observed Cunningham. The poverty rate is 10.5%, which is lower than the state rate of 11.8%.

Are there any recent NorCo projects?  Yes. They include (1) Have Hydraulik in Bethlehem Tp, a (manufacturer which moved to Bethlehem Tp from China; (2) FLSmidth Cement, a cement equipment manufacturer which moved its Illinois and Arizona operations to Allen Tp, creating up to 60 new jobs; (3) Gfm Manufacturing (Pharmatec), which opened its first US facility at the former IQE building in Bethlehem, creating up to 100 new jobs; (4) D. Gillette Industrial, a defense contractor that opened up in Forks Tp and created 17 jobs; (5) Bazzini, America's oldest nut company, has expanded into NorCo; (6) COHERENT, an existing semiconductor manufacturer in Forks Tp, is expanding operations, which will create up to 320 new jobs; (7) Infinera, a semiconductor manufacturer in Upper Macungie and Bethlehem, is creating a new advanced test and packaging facility

What is the strategic plan? Cunningham said that, for the first time since he's been at LVEDC, there are actually "more people who want to be in the market than we have products and places and buildings for them." 

He recognized the opposition to large footprint warehouses, but noted "that's also what houses the manufacturing economy." He suggested there needs to be a balance. Warehousing, however, is not among the types of economy that LVEDC is targeting. 

In response to a question from Council member John Brown, Cunningham said that a big challenge for the Lehigh Valley is its fragmented governance. NorCo and Lehigh have a combined 59 local governments, not including the county governments themselves. 

Its biggest strength is proximity to market, with about 1/3 of the nation's population within a 6-hour drive of the Lehigh Valley. Also, the plethora of colleges and technical schools has reduced a brain drin into a brain gain for new talent. 

McClure Blasted By NorCo Council Members Over Unpaid Retention Bonuses They Authorized

Yesterday, I published NorCo Controller Tara Zrinski's audit of $5 million in federal pandemic funds approved by County Council in 2022 for retention bonuses at Gracedale over a period of five years.  Her review was the result of a request from Council after several members received complaints from career service (nonunion) employees that they had been told there would be no more bonuses. Those employees were right. Zrinski's financial inspection revealed that less than half ($2.36 million) had been paid to staff. The rest of the money was commingled with other funds and used for Gracedale expenses. 

Last night, Executive Lamont McClure tried to explain what happened. He called everything political. He blamed Gracedale workers for excessive overtime, which amounted to $8 million in 2022 and 2023. He threw former administrator Jennifer Stewart under the bus for allowing it. He blamed media coverage of Gracedale and Council oversight for poor morale.  He talked about having fired people. He talked about shortfalls in an annual intergovernmental grant. He said Gracedale is owed $5.5 million from Medicaid residents, who take 325 days to receive approval. He even tried to claim, somewhat disingenuously, that he had told Council that retention bonuses were exhausted during a Human Services Committee last year, although that was only with respect to a county union that received higher pay. At no time did he actually acknowledge that his administration had defied a Council appropriation of $5 million for retention bonuses. He claimed he was unaware of what was happening at Gracedale until last year, but he's the Executive. Frankly, this was his mistake, and he should have apologized. 

Council member John Goffredo immediately asked, "Is it not your responsibility to make sure the money is spent the way the resolution [approving $5 million in Gracedale retention bonuses] stated?"

McClure: "It is our responsibility to do our level best to do that, but they [Gracedale] spent that money down, unbeknownst to me. My permission was never sought, nor was I told they were spending that money down, and I assumed incorrectly that the money had had separate line items."

He admitted, as Council members John Brown and Goffredo had asserted in previous meetings, that Gracedale was "wasting money" in 2024, and that when he learned of it, "we immediately went into action." 

Goffredo was suspicious of McClure's explanation. "There's not too many things that go on in this building that get by you." He also wondered what McClure intends to do about career service workers who were "cheated" out of retention bonuses. "We didn't cheat them out of anything," responded McClure. "That money was spent on overtime." 

Although Goffredo was tough on McClure, Brown was even rougher. In his usual monotone, he called McClure's explanation a "nice fairy tale". "If you tell me that you didn't know what was going on and that the Director of Finance didn't know what was going on, then that really points to incompetence. ... I don't believe a thing you just said. I believe it's a cover-up."

At this point, McClure said Brown was "desperate" to sell the nursing home. "You ran it nearly into the ground when you were county executive." McClure said Gracedale is now a four-star home with a census over 500 and its financial position is improving. He also accused Brown of seeking the audit for political reasons. "We've been working on this for a year. It wasn't just since your politically motivated audit." 

Goffredo then asked McClure why he only is sharing these problems at Gracedale now. "Why would you do this all in secrecy? ... You've never done a very good job of including us, Democrats and Republicans alike, aside from the three that you funded and gave campaign contributions to sit on this Council."

McClure explained that there were two reasons. First, a lot of what was going on involved personnel matters, which are confidential. He acknowledged that he could have asked for an executive session to discuss the matter. Second, he blamed the "constant picking at Gracedale" makes it more difficult to recruit and retain and lowers morale. 

This "constant picking" is called oversight and is a Council obligation. It is nonexistent at private homes, but that's just one of many prices paid for a public nursing facility. 

Goffredo then got rougher than Brown and said that a "cult of personality" surrounds McClure, and if you don't go his way, "you get shocked."

McClure: "Who got shocked because they didn't follow McClure's way? Name a name."

Goffredo: "Dertinger got shocked when he had the election issue. ... Who got shocked at Gracedale recently? Do you want to answer that question or do we have to go into executive session?" 

Council member Kelly Keegan defended McClure, stated that she had listened three times to McClure's statement, made nearly a year ago at a Council committee, that retention bonuses were finished. At that time, a union contract was being discussed, and it is my understanding that McClure was referring to that bargaining unit and perhaps one other. His statement was by no means "clear," as Keegan asserted. She apparently was unaware that career service is not part of any bargaining unit, and Goffredo noted they were "screwed." 

Keegan also accused Brown and Goffredo of seeking the audit before the primary in order to make either Zrinski, McClure or both look bad. "You were throwing anything up against the wall to see what would stick."  

Council member Jeff Warren said that he wanted to see an audit, but that the 20-day time frame sought by Brown was politically motivated, 

Council President Lori Vargo Heffner wrapped things up. She said the audit was motivated by employees reaching out to say they did not receive retention bonuses that Council had approved. Vargo Heffner also explained that she and Zrinski had agreed on a date for her appearance before Council to discuss her audit, so it was inappropriate to slam the Controller, as Goffredo and Brown did. 

She then noted Council voted to approve those retention bonuses. "Moving that money without coming back to Council, not being transparent with Council over all these years, and just shifting federal money without discussing it, I'm very concerned about the status of this county. ... I don't believe you. ... This is a body that needs to do its job and it needs to be respected."

"You should stop using your gavel to undermine Gracedale," snarked McClure.  

He misses the point. It is his administration's actions that has undermined the home. In the end, this is about an Executive branch in all levels of government, from local to national levels, that has simply grown too powerful. Northampton County Council must be a check on Executive overreach.  

I do believe McClure's explanation, but he handled himself poorly. He screwed up and needs to acknowledge that he screwed up. But his last remark to Vargo Heffner reveals he's willing to blame everyone else but should really be looking at where he went wrong. 

NorCo Controller Audit: About Half of $5 Million in Retention Bonuses Paid To Employees

Back in March, NorCo Council member John Brown wanted to know what happened to $5 million in retention bonuses, set aside by Council for Gracedale employees. By a 8-1 vote, Council tasked Controller Tara Zrinski with finding out how much money had been spent, and what was left. Brown was the sole dissenter, and that was because he wanted a report within 20 days. 

Council had the right to wonder what had happened. They, and not the Executive, control the purse strings. And it is they who directed that $5 million in federal pandemic funds be used to stop the bleeding of nursing home staff. They actually did so at the request of Executive Lamont McClure.

The $5 million in retention bonuses at Gracedale was part of a larger $15.5 million spending plan at Gracedale, passed in 2022 by County Council. The only Council member to vote against bonuses was John Brown. 

McClure had told Council that the administration would pay all employees at Gracedale an annual $2,500 bonus over a period of four years to bring in 54-60 additional nursing staff and enable the nursing home to provide the required nursing care needed at the facility.

"If you're a CNA [certified nurse's aid] within the sound of my voice, it would be a really good time to come to Gracedale," he said at the time, and repeated it several times. 

That was then. 

Early this year, on January 16, career service workers at Gracedale received an email from nursing home administrators informing them these bonuses were "temporary," were being stopped and that "the remainder has been used for caring for our residents." 

So what happened? 

At the time, I believed I had a partial answer. I speculated that retention bonuses set aside for some bargaining units may have been negotiated away in exchange for higher salaries. At that time, in response to a direct question from Council member Tom Giovanni, McClure said that the bonuses had ended, but that was only with respect to one of several bargaining units. I had no explanation for career service workers. We now know because Controller Tara Zrinski has finished her audit of this money. You can see her news release as well as the actual audit below. 

Zrinski's audit concludes that, of the $5 million approved for retention bonuses, only $2.36 million was actually paid to employees. The rest was used for operating expenses at the nursing home. Three bargaining units at Gracedale gave up the bonuses in exchange for higher pay. These agreements were unknowingly ratified by County Council. Had they known that the retention bonuses were ending. But there was no agreement with career service to end bonuses in exchange for higher pay. They just ended.

In her audit, Zrinski notes that since the money was commingled with other Gracedale funds, iit is impossible to state exactly how each dollar was spent. 

McClure told LV News that county council resolutions are generally mere suggestions, but he knows that it is Council, and not the Exec, that controls the purse strings. When bonuses ended for bargaining units, he could have been more clear. And he has provided no explanation for his decision to defy their will and prematurely terminate them for career service, who are nonunion.

He prides himself on transparency, but the way he handled this is a poor example.

Zrinski News Release

(Easton, PA) - The Northampton County Controller’s Office has released the results of its independent internal audit examining the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for retention bonuses paid to employees at Gracedale, the county-owned nursing facility, as authorized by County Council Resolution #70-2022. The audit covered the period from 2022 through April 13, 2025, and focused on ensuring that the distribution of these funds complied with the resolution and relevant labor agreements.

 The audit found that a total of $2,360,891.18 in retention bonuses was paid out to all eligible union and Career Service employees at Gracedale during the review period. Specifically, $2,204,441.08 was disbursed from 2022 through 2024, and an additional $156,450.10 was paid in 2025.

 

“The audit found that, although $5 million was designated for retention bonuses in the County Council Resolution, only a portion of that money was paid out specifically to retention bonuses. The remainder of the ARPA funds, while allocated to Gracedale, could not be specifically tracked once transferred to Gracedale in 2023 and were commingled with other funds. The Controller’s Office could not determine the exact Gracedale expenses paid with those ARPA funds after they were combined with other Gracedale resources,” said Tara Zrinski, Northampton County Controller. “Because the management responsible for that decision is no longer in that position, we cannot determine why the money was not tracked in a more transparent manner.”

 

A sample of 40 employees was tested to verify the accuracy of retention bonus payments, and it was determined that each employee received the correct number and amount of retention bonus payments ($2,500 annually). Any variations were due to the timing of employment anniversaries or employment status changes. For example, some employees received part of their bonus in one year and the remainder in the next, depending on when they reached their employment anniversary. There was one instance where an employee received a $5,000 payment in 2024, which was a catch-up for a missed prior-year payment, not an overpayment.

 

The audit also confirmed that no retention bonuses were paid to per diem employees, the Gracedale Administrator, Director of Nursing, or Assistant Director of Nursing, in accordance with the County Council’s resolution. The payment of retention bonuses was governed by union contracts for the AFSCME and Steelworkers unions, which were amended to include or sunset retention bonus provisions. While there was no formal written policy for Career Service employees, the audit found that they received bonuses consistent with union terms.

 

“Our review confirmed that retention bonuses that were paid out were paid accurately and all eligible employee groups received payments according to the established rules, with only minor issues related to timing and administrative delays, which were quickly corrected. We also found that no ineligible personnel—such as per diem staff or senior administrators—received bonuses. Additionally, the County properly amended union contracts to reflect changes in the retention bonus program and affected career service employees were notified of the program’s end in a timely manner,” said Zrinski.

 

The retention bonus program ended at different times for different employee groups, depending on contract negotiations. Steelworkers’ bonuses ended on December 31, 2023, while AFSCME Residual Union employees remain eligible through December 31, 2025. AFSCME Gracedale Union employees hired in 2024 or earlier are eligible for 2025 payments. Career Service employees were notified in early 2025 that retention bonuses to them would cease due to the exhaustion of ARPA funds.

 

In summary, the audit determined that all ARPA funds designated for retention bonuses through the Council Resolution were transferred to the Gracedale fund by the end of 2023. These funds were not tracked separately from other county contributions once transferred and were fully expended on Gracedale operations. As a result, the Controller’s Office could not determine the exact Gracedale expenses paid with the ARPA funds after they were commingled with other resources.

 

“Without tracking of the balance of the $5,000,000 allocated to Gracedale retention bonuses by the County Council’s resolution, there is no way to specifically determine what that money was used for at Gracedale beside what was indicated by the previous management—operational expenses and the care of residents,” said Zrinski.

 

One final note, the audit found that for federal reporting purposes, the County was only required to report that ARPA funds were used to replace lost revenue, not required to track specific expenditures; thus, the decision not to track the retention bonus funds separately from other Gracedale resources was consistent with federal reporting requirements.

Final Report Gracedale $5 Million Retention Bonus by BernieOHare on Scribd

NorCo Election Results Are Now Official

Northampton County's election results are now official. Results were certified yesterday by the Elections Commission. 

Registrar Chris Commini said 40,558 votes were cast, including 21,916 election day votes and 86 provisional ballots counted of 106 cast. Though turnout overall is just 17.9%, Commini noted that this was an election in which only Democrats and Republicans could vote, and that the turnout among those voters was 22%. 

How did it break down by party? 15,489 Republicans and 25,099 Democrats voted. 

The Mail-in Ballot (MIB) return rate was 75%.

Following the canvass (official count) results were audited and the county passed without issue. 

There will be a casting of lots at 10 am Friday for ballot position in races involving several candidates. 

Commini explained that consistent with what state law allows, MIBs are precanvassed starting at 7 am election day. Throughout the day, more MIBs come in from the post office and drop boxes. If an envelope fails to scan, it is hand-scanned. This happened to one Bethlehem voter whose vote was counted. 

Lehigh University has expressed a willingness to host a ballot-by-demand office several days a week prior to the election, and the county administration sought input from the elections commission. Member Margie DeRenzis moved to pursue that opportunity. "I think it makes it more likely that students will vote," she argued. "We want everyone's voices heard." Chair Sharon Gavin-Levy said that the Fowler Center should be asked to host it because parking is better. Currently, the only place to vote on demand is at the elections office in Easton.

"Why are we coddling college students?" asked member Julia Geissinger. 

Eventually, Republican members argued for an additional ballot by demand location in the northern tier as well as south side Bethlehem.

A vote on requesting the county to pursue opportunities for on-demand voting in south Bethlehem and the northern tier passed by a 3-2 vote. It passed in a party-line vote. Democrats Sharon Gavin-Levy, Margie DeRenzis and Daniel Lopresti voted yes. Republicans Julia Geissinger and Scott Hough voted No. 

DHS List of 500 "Sanctuary" Jurisdictions Goes Poof!

Late Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security posted a listing of about 500 local governments that it deems "sanctuary" jurisdictions. But if you click on that link now, you'll see "Page Not Found." It has gone poof! The public listing was removed sometime Sunday, but there's been no assurances from Team Trump whether the designation itself still remains. Although Homeland Sec'y Kristi Noem admitted to Fox News that there's been pushback, she nevertheless maintains that "[t]hey [i.e. sanctuary jurisdictions] are giving sanctuary to criminals." The significance of this label is that President Donald Trump has made clear in at least two executive orders that these governments will be denied federal funding. 

Blogger Michael Molovinsky, whose view on this topic is much different than mine, argues that while Lehigh and NorCo should be more cooperative, even if they are not interfering with this roundup. He points out that "[t]he fly in their ointment is that the Trump administration controls the funding that bleeding hearts depend upon."

Actually, that fly is in the ointment of the citizens who live in both counties, not their elected officials. Local law enforcement depends on DOJ grants and nearly every human service, from child protective services to senior care, rely heavily on federal funding that passes through each county. A disruption of this funding threatens public safety far more than an insistence on a warrant. 

While I am unable to write with certainty about Lehigh's policy, I can tell you what Executive Lamont McClure told NorCo Council several months ago. The county notifies ICE whenever it is holding an undocumented immigrant. This is above and beyond what the law requires. Most of the time, ICE has no interest. If it does, NorCo will hold a Defendant for an additional 48 hours beyond the release date if a detainer is filed. But the county insists on a warrant or court order before releasing someone to ICE. This seems pretty cooperative to me. 

I'd really like to hear what both counties have done that are "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities." Some readers have pointed to Boulder Colorado or have decried an admittedly lax policy under former President Joe Biden. But if that is a justification for designating Lehigh Valley's counties as sanctuaries for cartels and other violent immigrants, then the designation should apply to every jurisdiction in the country.

Fortunately, the Center for Immigration Studies still has a map, broken down by county and city, of the jurisdictions labeled as sanctuaries. Neither LehiCo nor NorCo honors an immigration detainer on an incarcerated defendant unless accompanied by a warrant or court order.

This is because this is what the law demands. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Pennsylvania, has ruled that immigration detainers are mere requests. It also has concluded that nothing in federal law gives ICE the authority to "command local or state officials to detain suspected aliens subject to removal."

That would violate states' rights, a clarion call of conservatives, under the Tenth Amendment. All power not expressly conferred on the federal government remains with the states. Lehigh County, which honored such a detainer in 2010 instead of insisting on a warrant, was found liable. It cost the county $95,000, and it was forced as part of a settlement to insist on a warrant or court order for future detainers.

NorCo does cooperate with ICE, despite what Rep. Ryan Mackenzie said at a recent Homeland Security hearing. Not only will it honor an ICE detainer and hold a defendant up to 48 hours after his release is scheduled, but it will notify ICE by email exactly when and where the release will take place. ICE can then obtain a warrant if it wants, or it can wait right outside the jail, on county property, to detain the defendant immediately after his release. Contrary to what Mackenzie asserted, the defendant is released on county property, and in the presence of ICE agents. 

I have obtained two videos of these releases. I am posting one of them. I chose to post the entire video so I can't be accused of snipping out parts, but you will see a Defendant being detained, on county property, at the end of this video. Contrary to what Mackenzie falsely asserted, nobody "escape[s] into our local community, [where] they would be free to reign terror all across our beautiful Lehigh Valley."

Mackenzie should remember that his job is representing the entire Lehigh Valley, including seniors, children and everyday working people who benefit from grants that help our local police and human services agencies. Instead, he has chosen to play politics.