Now That Trump Has Changed Course on ICE, Perhaps His Supporters Should, Too

In response to yet another ICE killing in Minneapolis, this time involving an ICU nurse who was shot in the back, President Donald Trump appears to have recognized that sweeping raids by untrained and masked agents wearing tactical gear are bound to backfire. Stopping someone and demanding proof of citizenship simply because he looks or sounds different is repulsive to freedom-loving Americans. Grabbing 5 year-old kids on their way home from preschool is third-world, something I'd expect to see in North Korea, not Minnesota. Yanking a disabled American citizen out of her car when she is on her way to see her doctor and what we see in a police state. Trump has finally made nice with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and has shuffled ICE boss Greg Bovino back to California, along with numerous of his shoot-first agents with him. Bovino has been replaced by Tom Homan, who favors the Obama approach to illegals as opposed to ICE Barbie's repressive tactics. So those of you who attempted to justify the blatant violations of our Constitution in comments on this blog, perhaps it's time for you to re-evaluate.  I'll agree that illegal immigration was getting out of hand and something had to be done. Perhaps it's time for you to agree that the approach taken by Kristi Noem, who actually bragged about shooting her dog, is completely in-American.   

The Nadeem Qayyum Smear

Nadeem Qayyum was swept into Northampton County Council in November's election. He finished fifth in the race for five at-large seats, with 45,000 votes. It was a blue wave in which every Democrat running for county office won. Though Qayyum finished fifth, he still beat the highest Republican candidate (Sam Elias) by nearly 10,000 votes. It was an outcome that few expected. But as my father told a reporter when he lost a DA's race to Charlie Spaziani, "The people have spoken. ... Fuck 'em!"

To put it mildly, I am leery of Qayyum, a Pakistani immigrant whose understanding of English has been very limited in the conversations I've had with him. Over the past two years, he's been the subject of eight incident reports from Easton police. He was investigated for possible witness intimidation when his wife, the infamous Taiba Sultana, was facing assault charges for domestic violence against her adult son. During his county campaign, he was focused on state issues like the minimum wage, which have nothing to do with county government. 

He missed County Council's first Personnel Committee meeting. That's when Matt Deschler was interviewed as County Council's successor to Chris Spadoni as County Council Solicitor. Deschler was peppered with numerous questions about whether his other roles as a Bethlehem assistant solicitor or as the East Bangor Solicitor presented a potential conflict. He explained that the likelihood of such an occurrence is remote. 

The very next night, when County Council was poised to vote on Deschler's appointment, Qayyum suddenly had the same questions. Because his understanding of English is clearly limited (watch the video), he read a number of questions written in advance. They all related to potential conflicts, and I'm unclear whether he understood a word in each response because he kept asking the same questions. After wasting everyone's time with questions that had been asked and answered the day before, Qayyum voted to support Deschler. 

Based on my limited observations, I'd conclude that Qayyum will be a poor member of County Council. But that is no justification for the smear campaign being orchestrated against him. For weeks, I have been receiving anonymous comments claiming that Qayyum wants to use his wife as his interpreter at Council meetings. Yesterday, I received a text from someone claiming that he had heard from a third party that Qayyum had actually approached a judge for permission to use his wife in that capacity. 

This rumor is completely false and is a designed smear against Qayyum. County Council President Ken Kraft told me that Qayyum has never approached him to ask to use Taiba Sultana as his interpreter. County Executive Tara Zrinski said she has not been approached, but said there are earbud translators out there. I also asked former Exec Lamont McClure, and he doesn't think Qayyum approached him. Finally, President Judge Craig Dally affirms that no judge has been approached. He adds there are co court filings about this topic. 

Basically, parties unknown are running a smear campaign against Qayyum to diminish him before he has even had a chance to get his feet wet. This could be because he's Muslim or Pakistani or Taiba Sultana's husband or a Democratic Socialist. Whatever the reason, it's an ugly falsehood designed to reduce his effectiveness. 

Let him screw up on his own. He needs no help from anyone. He might even surprise us. 

Politicians Exploit ICE Homicide to Raise Funds 24 Hours After His Death

On Saturday, an ICU nurse who was participating in anti-ICE activity was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agents that have turned Minneapolis into a war zone. Without question, Alex Pretti was armed. If you want to make cops nervous, that's the way to do it, even if you have a valid permit. At this point, there's no evidence that Pretti was brandishing his weapon, as Kristi Noem falsely claimed, or that he was intended to "massacre law enforcement," as Border Patrol czar Greg Bovino has stated. In fact, Pretti's gun was removed from a holster by an ICE agent before our masked police opened up and poured 9 or 10 bullets into him. 

Without question, this homicide is yet another tragedy inflicted by poorly trained cowboys who, once again, initially refused to allow a physician to render aid. We've been asked to believe that this was a justifiable homicide by officers who were defending themselves from a domestic terrorist. Like Renee Good. Or a disabled American citizen on her way to her doctor when she was yanked from her car. Or detaining a 5 yo boy on his way home from pre-school. I'm sure they were domestic terrorists, too. Ironically, the same people who vehemently protested about being asked to wear masks during a pandemic see nothing wrong with secret police that is stepping all over our basic fourth and fifth amendment rights. 

I've written several times that ICE is totally out of control and needs to refocus its entire strategy. But what I also hate is to see grubby politicians who lack the basic decency to wait until Pretti is buried before exploiting his death and trying to cash in. I'll give you three examples.

First, a PAC with ties to Kamala Harris began exploiting Pretti's death just hours after he was shot. "Alex Pretti is the limit," pontificated Democratic Youth Wave PAC, hitting people up for $50.

Second, Bernie Sanders exploited Pretti's death in a bombastic email today soliciting money for candidates in Minnesota. He only wants $27.

Finally, and close to him, Taiba Sultana sent a blast email to potential contributors on Sunday under the subject "ICE IS KILLING CEVILIANS [sic]". She announces "Another American Killed by Immigration Enforcement," tries to pin the blame on State Senator Lisa Boscola and then asks you to send her "$150 $250 $550 $1000 or any amount [that] helps us organize, reach voters, and prove that conscience still has a place in politics."

My conscience tells me that you don't exploit the murder of a fellow human being 24 hours after his death.

She finishes her email with "Because Pennsylvanian[sic] deserve better.

You certainly deserve someone better than Sultana in Harrisburg.

NorCo's Gracedale Nursing Home Will Need County Contribution for 2025

In late November, former NorCo Council mewmber John Brown predicted that Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home, would require a contribution of $10-15 million from the general fund to balance its books for last year. Was he right? Well, at Thursday evening's County Council meeting, Executive Tara Zrinski conceded that a county contribution would be needed.

Zrinski was presenting a detailed report on the county, department-by-department. When it came to Gracedale, she stated that the county is "working" on eight new hires to reduce dependence on expensive nursing provided by outside agencies.

She went on to say that "we've actually showed some real fiscal progress in so far as the medical aid pending Medicare [I think she means Medicare and Medicaid], pending dollars, is almost double the anticipated reimbursement for Medicaid. So that means the annual loss, and whatever we have to make for a county contribution, is half of what we expected."

Nobody asked her what that annual loss actually is.

The County's proposed 2026 budget (the adopted budget has yet to be posted online) anticipates about $105 million in revenue this year from property taxes. A shortfall at the home would be paid from the revenue generated by property taxes.

The census at Gracedale was recently below the 520 it needs to be in order to brake even.

CPA Selected as NorCo's New Controller

For the first time since the inception of Home Rule, Northampton County's Controller is a certified public accountant. Timothy A Brezinski, who resides in Hanover Tp and is the Controller of Comprehensive Pain Center in Allentown, was chosen in the first round of voting for four applicants. Voting for him were Council President Ken Kraft and Council members Jeff Warren, Kelly Keegan, Jason Boulette and Theresa Fadem. Brezinski fills the vacancy created when Tara Zrinski resigned from that office to assume her new role as county executive. The vote was conducted after public interviews of all four candidates.

The salary for this position is $85,0000. 

Of the remaining three candidates, former NorCo Council member John Cusick, who lost the Controller election to Zrinski, received votes from Lori Vargo Heffner, Dave Dolland and Tom Giovanni. During his tenure on County Council, Cusick displayed a deep understanding of both the Home Rule Charter and county finance. But he's a Republican and would be filling an elected position previously held by a Democrat. Though the Home Rule Charter is silent on this point, several Council members in the past, notably Kraft, have maintained that vacancies should be filled by a person who belongs to the same party as the person who resigned. 

A third candidate, Leo Atkinson, is heavily involved in the Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America, He received one vote from Nadeem Qayyum, who also is involved in that organization. Atkinson was Executive Zrinski's campaign treasurer. 

A fourth applicant, controls engineer and farmer Thomas Frumpkin, received no votes. 

Brezinsky is a 1983 graduate of St. Bonaventure University. He has extensive experience with audits in both the public and private sector. For some strange reason, he is passionate about accounting. He complimented the staff in the Controller's office as "very professional," and told Council he has reviewed the audits they post online. He added that they came through a peer review with "glowing colors" just last year. 

He said he especially likes to do sewage authority audits, so he's perfect for Northampton County. 

NorCo Council Votes Unanimously To Appoint Matt Deschler as its New Solicitor

I told you yesterday that NorCo Council interviewed Matt Deschler to take over for Chris Spadoni, who is stepping down to open an Italian bakery in Greenland. Deschler went through the ringer and was peppered with numerous questions despite being a superbly qualified attorney. Strangely, at last night's Council meeting, he had to run the gauntlet again, answering pretty much the same questions posed the previous day. I would have changed my answers to throw them off. All's well that ends well. He received the appointment and votes of all nine Council members. 

NorCo New Exec, Tara Zrinksi, Updates NorC's New County Council on What the County is Doing

In her first report as NorCo's new Executive, Tara Zrinski provided NorCo's new County Council with an exhaustive report about just what is going on. Instead of pious platitudes, she hammered away with fact after fact about just what the county is doing. Here's a summary. 

Administration

• Election preparations are underway for this year's midterms.

• Letters are going out to permanent mail‑in voters to confirm their preferences. (People like me, who prefers to vote by mail, will get one.)

• Precinct redistricting in progress, with expansions in high‑growth areas and consolidations in low‑population boroughs. (Lower Nazareth will be expanding.

• Nomination Petitions for the 2026 primary can circulate on February 17.

Emergency Management / 911

• P25 radio system installation progressing.

• Director Todd Weaver is retiring, and the county is looking for a new permanent director.

  Risk Management

• Monitoring open and pending claims against the county

• Completed liability insurance application with County Commr's Ass'n of Pa (CCAP, not to be confused with CCP).

Human Resources

• Supports onboarding of new employees as well as benefits, leave and pensions.

• Recently conducted testing and interviews for deputy sheriffs, 911 telecom, and corrections officers.

Human Services

• Developmental Programs: 20th anniversary event on March 25.

• Aging: Outstanding Senior Award ceremony on April 23.

• Drug & Alcohol: Narcan trainings scheduled throughout 2026.

• Veterans Affairs: Implementing a new suicide‑risk assessment tool in 2026.

• Gracedale: Hiring efforts underway; reducing reliance on agency nurses; improved Medicaid reimbursement outlook.

Community & Economic Development

• Issuing FY 2026 grants across multiple programs.

• Preparing for grant workshops.

• Planning for First Day event and county festival.

• Advancing affordable housing projects and digital literacy initiatives.

Fiscal Affairs

• Closing 2025 books by February.

• W‑2s distributed.

• 2026 tax bills mailed.

• Streamlining procurement and reducing P‑card usage.

Corrections

• Current population: 470 inmates.

• 19 correctional officer vacancies; new academy begins Feb. 16.

• Passed all state inspection requirements; compliant through 2027.

• Facility upgrades ongoing; strong partnership with PrimeCare for addiction treatment.

Public Works

• Government Center parking deck demolition planned for summer; 12–18 month rebuild.

• Bridge #15 replacement nearly complete; paving to resume in spring.

• Parks & Recreation preparing annual report and updating key planning documents.

• Facilities preparing for winter storm operations; nurses at Gracedale planning overnight stays.

Court Services

• Increase in probate estates and marriage licenses (Valentine’s Day).

• Archives retrieved an 1872 document found in an office drawer.

• Space constraints across courthouse offices; exploring options but no easy solutions.

Criminal & Civil Divisions

• Managing year‑end financials, staffing transitions, and process improvements.

Sheriff’s Office

• Continuing security, transport, and licensing duties. Extremely helpful to Zrinski as she toured county offices.

• Preparing for collective bargaining negotiations.

Coroner’s Office

• High caseload; three autopsies pending.

• New optional CT‑scan program for non‑forensic cases being finalized.

NorCo Council Asks Tough Questions in First Committee Meetings

 I'd be tempted to believe that NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski would have an easy time with NorCo Council. After November's election, there's only one Republican left. But after yesterday's Personnel and Finance Committee meetings, I'd say that Zrinski is going to have to do a good job of justifying what she wants to do or she's going to run into trouble. Yesterday, she presented a proposal to switch around two of the political appointments allotted to the Executive branch for a communications director and an inmate re-entry specialist. Council was confused because she failed to make clear at the onset that these are political appointments permitted under the Home Rule Charter. 

Zrinski was also peppered with questions about whether there was money in the budget for these appointments (Dave Holland) and was asked for detailed descriptions of the jobs (Jason Boulette). 

County Council was respectful and it's clear they want her to succeed. But they are providing oversight instead of a rubber stamp.

And that's a positive sign.  

 

Matt Deschler Considered as NorCo Council's New Solicitor

A life-long Bethlehemite and well-respected attorney is under consideration as Northampton County Council's new Solicitor. Matt Deschler, a Liberty High and University of Pa grad, was interviewed by Council's Personnel Committee yesterday afternoon. Council will vote on his appointment tonight. 

Deschler, currently a partner at a Bethlehem law firm, is a 2011 magna cum laude grad of Temple Law School who started his legal career as a Clerk to former Judge Tony Beltrami. He has an extensive municipal law practice. He has been an Assistant Solicitor in Bethlehem since 2014, is Borough Solicitor in East Bangor, alternate zoning Solicitor in Salisbury Tp and zoning Solicitor in Hanover Tp. 

This involvement with these municipalities led Council member Dave Holland to ask Deschler whether he might be conflicted at times. "I don't foresee many issues," responded Deschler. His municipal work appears to be focused on land use matters, with which county government has no involvement. He agreed that some instances of a possible conflict may arise but suggested approaching it on a "case-by-case" basis. 

Under the Home Rule Charter, the County Solicitor is prohibited from serving in any other municipality, but there is no such bar for County Council Solicitors. 

If appointed, Deschler's salary will be $72,580 per annum. It is a part-time position for someone who will give it a full-time effort. I have often seen him doing legal research in the law library. Chris Spadoni, his predecessor, told me, "That's cheating."

Does LC's New Exec, Aided by Controller and Congressional Wannabe, Really Want to End Human Trafficking Taskforce?

When he was running for Lehigh County Exec, Josh Siegel attempted to portray himself as a moderate who has matured and who no longer participates in "Fuck the Police" rallies and who no longer doxes mayors. Now that he's in office, he's dropped the charade. He and his Bobbsey twin, Lehigh County Controller and Congressional candidate Mark Pinsley, called a press conference to announce that they were evicting ICE from office space in a Lehigh County building. Siegel said he was evicting them and "would not accept their blood money." Pinsley crowed, "We're going to deport ICE." Sounds good. I don't like ICE myself. Except what these two maroons are really doing is putting an end to a task force that investigates human trafficking out of those county offices. 

These are the same two dumbasses who wanted to give you both an increased sales tax and a county income tax.    

Commissioner Ron Beitler, unlike either Siegel or his sidekick, offers this insight into what really is going on.

Lehigh County was in the news today following a hastily assembled press event by the County Controller. Commissioners were notified only shortly before it occurred.

Before I get into what happened, I want to be clear about where I am coming from. I consider myself politically independent. I do not operate with a team mentality and I believe that shows in my posts. I try to start with 2 things. First, a factual foundation for decision making. Second, advocacy for what I believe is in the best interest of Lehigh County. Period. That approach does not always fit neatly into partisan boxes.

Today, the Controller and County Executive called for the immediate eviction of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from county owned office space in Allentown, asserting that a federal agency has occupied the space for years without a fully executed lease or rent payments.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by Homeland Security Investigations on October 31, 2022. It was passed unanimously by a Democrat majority and signed into law by a Democrat executive. This was before the current political environment surrounding immigration enforcement.

The intent was for the office to work closely with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement, particularly on investigations involving human trafficking and other serious crimes. Much of this productive collaboration has been driven by our world class County Regional Intelligence Center.

Today, nothing has changed with the scope of work occurring in that office space. It remains a human trafficking task force. Critically important work. 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗜𝗖𝗘.

How do I know this? I picked up the phone and called the District Attorney and asked. Apparently neither the Controller nor the County Executive took the time to do the same. That is disappointing. Our District Attorney, who is well respected across the aisle, confirmed that the original intent of the agreement is being fulfilled and that the work being done there is exactly what it is supposed to be.

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲?

There is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed. The lease and payment process stalled due to unresolved signature authority issues on the DHS side, which caused the MOU and subsequent lease to languish in the County Department of Law. That happens. Anyone who has dealt with intergovernmental agreements knows these issues can take time to resolve. This was a bureaucratic issue stemming on the fed side. DHS has indicated an intent to pay outstanding amounts once a fully executed agreement is in place. 𝗜 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼.

𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵.

This situation is being framed as something it is not. What we are dealing with is a federal bureaucratic failure and a stalled lease process, NOT an ICE operation in a county building and NOT a change in the work being done in that space. Conflating the two misleads residents and undermines trust in county government.

We deserve better than press release driven opportunism. We owe residents facts, coordination among elected officials, and decisions rooted in those facts rather than political theater. In today’s environment, careless implications about what is happening inside county facilities, especially when untrue, can inflame tensions and put people at risk.

Furthermore evicting the DHS from this county building is NOT evicting ICE (they aren't operating out of the building). It is evicting a critically important human trafficking task force. To think politicians would put that relationship at risk to score political points is.... well sad. I can't think of another way to put it. This whole thing is sad.

I don't do theater. Above is my understanding of this issue.

What questions do you have? I will do my best to answer them.

***𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘊𝘌. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭***

Readers of this blog know I think ICE is totally out of control. Just today, I viewed a news account about off-duty police officers who are American citizens being targeted by ICE in the Minneapolis area simply because of their skin color. 

But leave it to Siegel and Pinsley to make ICE look good.  

NorCo Council To Interview Controller Candidates on Thursday

When Tara Zrinski was sworn in as NorCo Exec, she was required to resign her position as County Controller. Under the Home Rule Charter, County Council has the obligation of filling the vacancy and must do so within 30 days. If they fail to do so, the courts can be requested to make the appointment. 

Two years ago, when Zrinski resigned her position on County Council to become Controller, Council deadlocked on a replacement, and President Judge Criag Dally was forced to appoint Jeff Corpora. For Council, it was a sign of disfunction that would continue until the end of 2025. With a new Council in place, will this continue?

Although no mention of the vacancy was made during County Council's meetings earlier this month, the vacancy was posted on Council's webpage and with the Morning Call. Applications were due on January 16, and those who applied will be interviewed by County Council on January 22. 

Northampton County's Home Rule Charter is silent on whether the vacancy should be filled by someone who belongs to the same party as the person who held the office. Lehigh County's Home Rule Charter does have the same-party requirement for such an appointment, and this appears to be a more democratic way of choosing a replacement that aligns with the wishes of the voters. In this case, that means that Zrinski, a Democrat, should be replaced by a Democrat. 

Council member Jason Boulette, in a comment he was kind enough to share with readers on this blog, said there are several "excellent" candidates. I will be delighted of the person selected is able to be independent. 

Familiar Faces in Tara Zrinski's Cabinet

With the exception of Administration, Corrections and Fiscal Affairs, NorCo Executive Tara Zrinski's cabinet will consist of holdovers from Lamont McClure's office. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, some might say. Others might argue her selections cast the county into the fiery furnaces of hell. Take your pick. 

Zrinski made her announcement from the courthouse rotunda on Friday, where the acoustics and lighting are terrible. Amid the cacophony, she emphasizes a commitment to collaboration, integrity, transparency, and accountability, stressing that the assembled leadership team is prepared to meet the challenges of county government and govern with the people, not over them. She pledged that her administration will work closely with employees, community partners, and residents to strengthen the county, expand opportunity, and ensure every voice matters.

Although this might seem minor, her decision to open up public comments on the county's Facebook page reflects an earnest desire to be inclusive. Here's how a county news release describes the appointments: 

Director of Administration - Mark Aurand brings more than three decades of legal, nonprofit, and public-sector leadership to his role as Director of Administration, most recently serving as Deputy Controller for Northampton County, where he supervised staff, managed audits, and ensured compliance with state reporting requirements. A seasoned attorney and former founder of a community-driven law practice, Aurand has extensive experience guiding nonprofits, small businesses, and public entities through complex financial, operational, and governance matters.

Director of Court Services – Ken Brown, a dedicated public servant with a strong background in community development and leadership, having earned his degree from East Stroudsburg University and served as Director of Programs for the Easton Boys & Girls Club, Executive Director of Shiloh Manor Inc. for over 25 years, and Northampton County’s Director of Court Services for the past eight years. A martial arts enthusiast and seasoned basketball official, he holds black belts in judo, jiu-jitsu, and karate, and has taught self-defense for many years.

Public Defender – Nuria Diluzio has been the Chief of the Public Defender’s Office since 2018. She oversees 15 attorneys who represent indigent clients from the area. Ms. Diluzio is a graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and has been practicing criminal defense in Northampton County for over 20 years.

Director of Public Works – Michael Emili joined Northampton County as the Director of Public Works in 2018 after serving as a Project Engineer for the City of Bethlehem and a construction inspector within the private sector. He is a licensed professional engineer and holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

Director of Corrections – DeAnn L. Lawrence joins Northampton County as our Director of Corrections with over 25 years of legal and law enforcement experience in rehabilitative services and public safety operations. In this role, DeAnn will oversee strategic initiatives focused on facility security, staff development, modernizing inmate programming, and fostering community partnerships for successful re-entry.

Coroner – Zachary Lysek was originally appointed to the position of Northampton County Coroner in 1992, after having served as a Deputy Coroner under Mr. Joseph Reichel for several years. Zachary has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees from DeSales University. He is a lifelong resident of Northampton County and has been honored to serve its residents with integrity and dedication for over 34 years.

Solicitor – Melissa M. Rudas is a cum laude graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and Duke University alumna who has served as Northampton County Solicitor since 2018, bringing more than three decades of legal experience in public service and private practice. Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, Middle Eastern District of Pennsylvania Federal Court, and the United States Supreme Court, she has been recognized as one of Lehigh Valley’s 20 Exceptional Women and named a Top Lawyer of 2025 by the Morning Call.

Director of Community and Economic Development – Tina Smith has served as Director of Community and Economic Development since 2018, cultivating strong partnerships across the region and helping to launch the Northampton County Festival and the award-winning Digital Navigator Coalition. Before joining the County, she spent ten years as President of the Nazareth Bath Area Chamber of Commerce and remains deeply involved in the Lehigh Valley community.

Director of Human Services – Susan Wandalowski graduated with her master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked in child welfare and human services for over 25 years. As the Director of Human Services, Sue and her team have utilized data-driven approaches to identify and build new systems to better serve our county residents.

Director of Human Resources – Mary Lou Zieger has been the Director of Human Resources since September 2021. She began her career with the County as the Deputy Director of Human Services/HR at Gracedale in January of 2018. She has a Bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University and more than twenty years of experience in human resources, benefits, and payroll.

Sheriff – Christopher Zieger brings more than 33 years of law enforcement experience to his role, having served as Sheriff since June 2025, following nearly a year as Acting Sheriff and more than two decades in leadership positions within the department. Over the course of his career, he has led critical initiatives including the Crisis Negotiating Team, planned high-profile trials, helped achieve agency accreditation, and completed advanced training through the U.S. Marshal’s Service, FBI, and the Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriff’s Academy.

The way I read the Home Rule Charter, the only appointments that need a nihil obstat from County Council is the appointment of DeeAnn Lawrence in Corrections and Mark Aurand in Administration. 

She will need County Council approval for two newly created positions. The first is Director of Communications. This position historically has been an assistant administrator and has in recent months focused more on promoting the Executive instead of the county itself. I believe that County Council should have a role in communications, and it should not be used as a muzzle to keep department heads from speaking to council members or the press. The second position is a Program Specialist, who will lead trauma-informed, equity-centered reentry and employment readiness programs to reduce recidivism and build pathways to stability and success. 

She has yet to fill the Director of Fiscal Affairs position held by Steve Barron, known as the NorCo Money Man. Steve must be very hard to replace.

Scott Janney Seeking GOP Nod for LV's State Senate Seat Held By Boscola

I've already told you that State Senator Lisa Boscola is seeking re-election in Pa.'s 18th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. On Friday, I speculated that Taiba Sultana, a former Easton City Council member would primary her. At the time, to told you that no GOP candidate had announced, but I was wrong. Scott Janney announced his candidacy on WAEB-AM 790 on November 7, the day after a blue wave swept a large number of Democrats into municipal office. He also followed up with an announcement later that evening at the local tea party.

I had spoken to Janney prior to November's election, and he told me he planned to announce his candidacy. I never received anything and thus concluded he was having second thoughts. I saw nothing in any of the local news sources, either. 

When he appeared on WAEB on November 7, radio host Bobby Gunther Walsh drilled home a point that, when John Merhottein ran for Boscola's seat four years ago, nobody knew him. He failed to make himself known by appearing on programs like his or using news sources or social media to get his message out there. 

I disagree with that assessment. Merhottein did make the rounds and did use social media but had no money to spend against a very popular and formidable foe. Well, I think Janney has made a bigger mistake. Other than a right-wing radio show and tea party, I've seen nothing from more mainstream outlets like local new organizations or blogs. 

Boscola's State Senate district includes a lot of voters who would rather die before listening to WAEB or going to a tea party meeting. It also includes more centrist voters who are looking for a change from Boscola. But how can they be persuaded to vote for him if they don't even know he's in the hunt?   

According to his webpage, Janney raises money for a 12-state region of the Salvation Army, perhaps one of the best and altruistic charities in existence. He touts a great deal of success as a fundraiser and told radio host Walsh that he would use those skills to raise money in his own race. But Janney was also involved in the local county races and even spoke at several county council meetings. The fundraising of those candidates was anemic, to put it mildly. It's one thing to raise money for a worthwhile charity, but quite another to raise money for a party that supports the invasion of Greenland, Venezuela, Canada, Iran, Mexico and Cuba while refusing to do a damn thing to help millions of people who need help paying for healthcare. 

Janney outlines his positions here. I suspect he's going to have problems. I don't like Boscola myself, but I dislike his stances on issues more. 

Taiba Sultana to Primary Lisa Boscola?

Sultana door-to-door

In a recent story on his Apocalypse Now blog, Rich Wilkins suggests that former Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana is planning to primary popular State Senator Lisa Boscola this year. Last year, she was pummeled when she primaried popular Bob Freeman for the State House. Since the definition of cRaZy is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result, and since we all know that Taiba is a wackadoodle, I am expecting an announcement from her soon.

As Wilkins reports Sultana savaged Boscola recently because she supports enforcement of our immigration laws, just like former President Barack Obama. Contrary to what some of you believe, there are many Democrats who believe that illegals or undocumenteds (take your pick) should be deported if they have committed serious crimes. I happen to be one of them. But like most Democrats and many Republicans, I don't think ICE should be shooting American citizens in the face in the course of performing their duties. I don't think they should use chokeholds or carotid restraints. And they should be focusing on grabbing real criminals, not some poor dishwasher in the back of a restaurant. 

I've noticed a few posts from Sultana is recent days in which she lobs a grenade or two at Boscola. I've also noticed that, on Facebook, she's now "Taiba Sultana for Working Families," even though she herself does not work.

On Instagram, she's @taiba_sultana26. This is another hint that she's running. She also has set up an ActBlue account for donations. Yet another hint. 

She'll lose, of course. I have been highly critical of Boscola, who has held office forever. But she's highly popular precisely because her office provides excellent constituent service and she has become one of the State Senate's most powerful members. Sultana, on the other hand, failed to get re-elected in her own South Side Easton district. Running against Boscola in a Democratic primary is a fool's errand. But by now, we all know that's what Sultana is. 

Maybe Sultana can get her husband to circulate another nomination petition signed by Boscola, something he actually did when Sultana was running for the state house. 

Could a Republican run against her? Sure. Before last year's election, a local Republican told me he would be announcing right after election night. Well, when five Democrats were sept into county council office, he probably changed his mind. 

Grace Crampsie Smith Says Goodbye to Bethlehem City Council

When Grace Crampsie Smith decided to run in the Bethlehem Mayoral primary against Willie Reynolds, she chose against simultaneously running for her City Council seat. That alone sets her apart from the usual politico. It is very common to see State Reps. run for re-election to that seat while trying to get elected to the state senate or a state row office. It is also common to see local politicians run for two-year and four-year terms simultaneously. Cramsie Smith had a little more respect for the people who put her in office. On her way out the door in her final meeting as a Bethlehem City Council member, she delivered a statement on the importance of separate but equal branches of government.  

As my term comes to an end, I just want to give my thoughts, as well as my wishes, for my city's council and administration moving forward.And again, you know, I want to give some quotes just on what I think is really important about government at every level, the local and state and federal level.

And, you know, again, not everything is relevant to everyone on council and administration, but some things that I say are, first of all, healthy disdain of one man rule was the basis of our Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of our great country. And the essence of good government is to be an independent thinker and voice, and the work to ensure all levels of government are recognized, powerful and strive for high quality of life for all of our residents.

If one level of government suffocates another level, the cause of the people and our Constitution suffers.

It's unfortunate that while there has been certainly good times and recent months and years, I felt the need to defend myself against attacks on my professional experience and my personal character by certain council members as well as certain administrative individuals, just because I really was trying to do what I thought was best for the community. And that's unfortunate, and I really feel that's not the way government should work.

My hope is that moving forward, all of city council will be objective in thought and action, tolerant of the beliefs opposite of their own and recognize and exercise their power as an equal, separate, and significant level of government within our city.

My hope is that destructive mannerisms, both non verbal and otherwise, toward others; desist, desist, and decorum is maintained, maintained, fitting of elected officials.

Many people have commented to me about their perceived lack of decorum and negative mannerisms among certain council members and administrations while attending meetings.

And this has been truly disheartening to me and a disservice to our community and those we serve. I think it's important that we all remember, it is an honor and a privilege to serve our community at both the administrative and legislative level. It is neither a crown nor a sword.

Being on the right side of history matters more than being uncomfortable. That's what it's all about.

Thank you very much.

Zrinski To Announce Her Cabinet on Friday

Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski plans to announce her cabinet on Friday at 10 am from the Northampton County Courthouse rotunda.

ICE Out of Control

ProPublica, a Pulitzer-prize winning online investigative journalism news site, has published a report documenting 40 separate instances during which ICE agents using chokeholds, carotid restraints, kneeling on necks, outright choking and strangleholds. It's the type of excessive force that would get any local police officer fired. There have been no repercussions to ICE officers even though chokeholds and carotid restraints are banned by the Department of Homeland Security.

This report comes in the wake of the homicide of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Right after putting three bullets into her face, either Ross or another ICE agent called her a "Fucking bitch." Rather than investigating Ross for the possible excessive use of force, the DOJ is instead focusing on his victim's ties to groups opposing ICE 's aggressive enforcement tactics. This in turn has led to the resignation of four federal prosecutors.  

As tragic as this homicide is, ProPublica starts its report by stating, "Immigration agents have put civilians’ lives at risk using more than their guns." It reviewed video footage with 8n former law enforcement officers who conclude "this is what bad policing looks like."

One person put in a chokehold was a 16 yo American citizen whose undocumented father was driving him to school. 

A husband with an undocumented wife and a 1 yo child was told by ICE agents to give her up or he would be arrested and his child sent to foster care. He chose his family and was subjected to a carotid hold. This blocks 70% of blood flow to the brain and can be fatal. He went into convulsions and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. ICE later claimed he was faking it. He was denied medical assistance. 

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 24 shootings by immigration agents. Six people have died. ICE agents have shot at moving civilian vehicles 13 times, a practice banned by most police departments because it is simply too easy to hit an innocent civilian. 

Without question, a majority of the American public thought that immigration was out of control under former President Joe Biden. That's why Trump was elected. But now it is ICE that is out of control. 

Pa. Senator Amanda Cappelletti has proposed legislation that would ban ICE arrests within 1000' of any state-owned or leased property without a judicial warrant. In my view, this does not go far eneough. ICE agents should also be banned from carrying out any activities within 1000' of any school. Moreover, it is time to reinstate the common law principle that prevents authorities from arresting a party or witnesses attending court. If a person knows he might be detained, he'll be less likely to appear. This is in derogation of the Pa Constitutional provision that "[a]ll courts shall be open; and every man for an injury done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered without sale, denial or delay."

Right-Wing British News Site Slams Pa Governor Shapiro

If you want proof that Pa Governor Josh Shapiro is eyeing a run at the Presidency, look at who's attacking him. A right-leaning British news site called UnHerd, which masquerades as a challenge to think again, is pretty much parroting whatever Trump trashes or extols at any given moment. Along with telling us that fossil fuels are still king and that Trump will get his hands on Greenland, it has now run a story bashing Shapiro. The problem with this story is that it is fairly unpersuasive, with the exception of taxpayer-funded expenses at his private home. 

The story makes light of the dramatic action he took in 2023, when a heavily traveled portion of Interstate 95 collapsed. In 12 days, Shapiro had the highway back in action, much to the relief of Philly commuters. But what about Harrisburg?, complains author Ryan Zickgraf, who actually hails from the Chicago area. You see, his ebike and car were stolen last year.  And a cRaZy lady stole his cat. And porch pirates steal Amazon packages, too. 

Well Ryan, let me clue you in. Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania, not Harrisburg's Mayor or its City Council. Unlike Donald Trump. he recognizes that his powers are limited. 

Zickgraf does make one valid observation. Renovations to his private residence outside of Philly included security upgrades, which even Zickgraf concedes are understandable at a time when nutjobs are intent on killing public officials. But they also include $290,000 for landscaping and groundskeeping. I'd agree that this should be explained, and I'll bet they were made necessary by the security upgrades. But it could be a lot worse. He could be accepting the unconditional donation of a $400l million luxury jet from Qatar. 

I think this attempt to muddy Shapiro only makes him look pretty good. Having said that, he's certainly not my top choice as our next President. 

Gracedale Cited Seven Times Since March 2025

I have previously told you of six separate substantiated complaints brought against NorCo nursing home Gracedale during the time that Michelle Morton was its Administrator. I'm unsure whether she has quit her job as she had indicated. but I can tell you that the home was hit with another citation on November 18, 2025, for failure to have "a minimum of 1 nurse aide per 10 residents during the day, 1 nurse aide per 11 residents during the evening, and 1 nurse aide per 15 residents overnight."

According to the state Department of Health, Gracedale failed to meet these minimum staffing requirements in 7 of 21 days reviewed. 

For its part, Gracedale promised to be in compliance by the beginning of this year and added this legal gobbledygook: "The corrections set forth in this document do not constitute admission or agreement by the provider of the truth or facts alleged or the conclusions set forth in the statement of deficiencies. The Plan of Correction is prepared and executed solely because it is required by provisions of the Federal and State Law."

The current CMS rating for Gracedale is just one star (much below average) because of both health inspections and quality control. Moreover, the home has been red flagged for potential issues related to abuse. 

This could explain why the census is below what the budget has projected.  

We All Make Mistakes - Amy Zannelli Endorsements For MDJ in 2021

Zanelli was charges last week with judicial misconduct in her role as a Magisterial District Judge. You can read the details here.

Lewis Shupe is Seventh Democrat to Announce Candidacy For Pa. 07 Congress

I've known Lewis (Lou) Shupe a long time. He and Robert Trotner are the founders of The Lehigh Valley Coffee Party, which I believe was formed in response to the Lehigh Valley Tea Party. I've always like Lou, who is affable and down-to-earth. I even voted for him (write-in) when he ran for Congress in 2024. But he was never a "qualified" candidate. He failed to obtain the 1,000 signatures needed to run. He also failed to raise or spend $5,000, which is how the FEC determines if someone is qualified. He failed as a Congressional candidate in 2018, too, but never made it on the ballot. Most recently, the Democratic party refused to select him as their candidate in the special election for the Pa. House-22 race. I expect his candidacy this time around, like the last two times, to have absolutely zero impact on this year's primary. 

Lou did send me his announcement on Friday, and I'll post it below.

ALLENTOWN, PA — 1-9-26— Lewis Shupe, a renegade Democrat and longtime local activist, today announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District.

“I am running for Congress because our democracy has been steadily weakened by moneyed interests, constitutional erosion, and a political class that no longer answers to voters,” said Shupe. “The people of PA-07 deserve representation that puts democratic power back where it belongs—with the registered voter.”

Shupe is campaigning on a platform centered on systemic reform and civil liberties, including:

• Publicly funded elections to end the dominance of special interests

• Reversing the trends of constitutional infringements and restoring civil liberties

• Single-payer, universal healthcare as a human right

• Restoration of the Fairness Doctrine to promote accountability in broadcast media

• Harnessing the power of registered voters to strengthen democratic participation and oversight

A retired and disabled professional with more than 35 years of experience in information technology, Shupe brings a systems-level perspective to public policy. Over his career, he wore many hats—problem-solver, analyst, and advocate—developing a deep understanding of how large, complex systems succeed or fail.

“Congress is broken not only because Americans are divided by all manner of foreign interference, but because the system has been engineered to ignore them,” Shupe added. “This campaign is about structural reform, restoring trust, and building a government that works for everyone—not just those who can afford to buy access.”

Additional policy positions and campaign information can be found at http://www.shupeforcongress.com.

MDJ Zanelli Accused of Keeping "Book of Grudges," Hostile Work Environment, Numerous Absences

Amy Zanelli is the Magisterial District Judge in West Bethlehem and Fountain Hill. But her days as a jurist may soon be over. The Judicial Conduct Board has finally taken action against her for numerous infractions of the Code of Judicial Conduct.  Before I get into that, I have to tell you that I have been warning you about her since 2015. Her are links to numerous stories about her.

Finnigan Henpecked Over Hanover Fowl Ban (She appeared before Hanover's Board of Supervisors, seeking a change in a ban on backyard chickens. There's nothing unusual about that, but what was totally bizarre to me was that she insisted on flashing her badge as a NorCo Human Services caseworker..)

Why You Need to Vote For Dennis Pearson For LC Comm'r (In this story about her primary campaign for LC Comm're, I tell you that she was once employed in NJ's Child Protective Services, but was fired in 2012 because she refused to return to work after receiving a number of leaves of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Though she refused to work, she dropped in on her office one day to deliver Avon products to co-workers. Zanelli appealed her termination and lost. She told me she was a victim of discrimination.)

LC Comm'r Race: Candidate Chicken Lady Cries Fowl (In an email to me, before blocking me, Zanelli claimed she had been "exonerated" In Jersey. That is pure horse shit).

Judicial Candidate Amy Zanelli Supports Looting, Lies About Being Fired (When running for MDJ, Zanelli actually stated that looting was an appropriate response to slavery. Say what? And she also took me to task for pointing out her termination in Jersey and later, in NorCo.  She called them "false accusations and fake news. With that said, this would not be the first time in history that an intelligent, well-spoken, beautiful woman has intimidated a man who then feels the need to spread rumors and lies in an attempt to tear her down."  The problem with her denial is that her own lawyer actually admitted that she was terminated in Jersey, appealed, and lost her appeal. She was also terminated in NorCo, as per her own lawyer in a custody dispute.)

Zanelli Embellished Her Social Work in Jersey (When running for MDJ, she told a fawning Josh Popichak that her "ability to see things others didn't led me to go into investigative work on a state level for the State of New Jersey. ,,, I specialized in sex crimes and homicides and abuse and neglect for children ... ." She was a caseworker, not Phillip Marlowe. She also claimed she had to move her because she had been targeted by the bad guys).

Amy Zanelli's Nonjudicial Behavior in Custody Trial (While running for MDJ, Zanelli was in the middle of a custody battle. This is how then President Judge Michael J Koury, Jr., characterized her demeanor: "Mother's demeanor varied from happy to openly hostile. ... Mother repeatedly referred to the custody trial as a 'circus.' ... Mother accused opposing counsel of  'play[ing] semantics and stated that her questioning was 'crap.'")

MDJ Candidate Amy Zanelli Kicked Out of Fountain Hill Pool (While running for MDJ, she was ejected from Fountain Hill's Pool for interjecting herself when a manager admonished some unruly teens).

Zanelli Neglected Children in Jersey, But Wants to Be a Judge (Here I append a New Jersey rejection of her appeal from her termination as a caseworker. Incidentally, The Morning Call had this information as well, but refused to publish it. I guess the paper lacked the desire to do its job, which is to cast a glaring spotlight on public officials)

Amy "Karen" Zanelli Detests Three-on-Three Hoops (In August 2019, she summoned police over a group of minors playing three-on-three hoops, with Latin music playing. Police took no action).

Why was Amy Zanelli Fired in Northampton County (She was a probationary caseworker who did not want to work.)

Magisterial District Judge Amy Zanelli Under Investigation By Judicial Conduct Board (This is when I told you, in September '24, that she was under investigation.)

Despite clear evidence that she's a wackadoodle, she was pushed by LC Exec Tom Muller when she ran for County Comm'r. And that board actually made her their Chair. Then, when she ran for MDJ, she was pushed by outfits like LV4ALL (who agree with us) because she checked the right boxes as a gay woman who supports progressive causes. The dying news media either ignored information handed to them (Morning Call) or drooled over her (Saucon Source). 

Her backyard chickens have come home to roost. In the Complaint filed by the Judicial Conduct Board, she is accused of the following: 

(1) Maintaining a "Book of Grudges" about individuals who appeared before her, including a lawyer she referred to as "Just a Dick." 

(2) Maintaining a desk calendar with explicit sexual messages like "Bedroom Pants He'll Have to Slide Through If He Wants That Pussy."

(3) Denying a Defendant his Constitutional right to hear the evidence against him or to cross-examine the victim.

(4) Rude behavior to a county employee: "I am the judge, and you are just the fucking secretary." She also used profanity such as "cuntrageous" in courtroom settings.

(5) Numerous late arrivals and absences, which obviously denies litigants the right to a prompt disposition.

(6) Conducting Zoom hearings without authorization. 

Here's the Complaint.

 

Complaint Against Magisterial District Judge Amy L. Zanelli, 1 JD 2026 by BernieOHare

Videos Contradict Trump Administration Account of ICE Shooting in Minnea...

This is pure evil! A physician was denied the ability to render aid, and the Ice cowboy who shot and killed this woman just left the scene.

Holland Cautions That Gracedale Might Need County Contribution This Year

Dave Holland is a newly elected member of Northampton County Council. We're lucky to have him because he was once a Gracedale Administrator when Premier managed the home and turned it around. He attended a meeting at Gracedale this week and cautioned fellow members of Council last night that a county contribution to the home might be needed this year. 

The home is budgeted to require no county contribution, but that's based on the assumption that census will be 520 or greater. As of yesterday, census was only 500.

Holland went on to explain that Gracedale relies on what he calls "supplemental non-operating revenue" as opposed to the revenue received from the residents. This includes the IGT and has in the past included COVID funding. "Those funds are probably not gonna be as available moving forward. ... it's important for you to know that, and I think it's important for the public to know that that may be coming down the road based on some of the unknowns of that non-operating supplemental income."

Zrinski To Name Cabinet Officials ... Tentatively ... On Tuesday, January 13

In her first report as NorCo Executive, Tara Zrinski told County Council last night that she will be announcing ... tentatively ... her new cabinet on January 13. She wants the suspense to build. Any new cabinet official will need to be confirmed by Council.

At least one of those appointments might be known. Mark Aurand, who served as Zrinski's Deputy Controller, is her interim Administrator. He explained the county's liability policy to members last night. 

Interestingly, Council never even mentioned that they need to appoint a Controller to replace Zrinski. 

Lisa Boscola To Seek Re-Election as State Senator

State Senator Lisa Boscola has been serving in that capacity since 1998. Prior to that, she was a State Rep. for four years. I've received a news release indicating she plans to seek yet another term in the State Senate. 

BETHLEHEM, PA — January 7, 2026— Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa Boscola today announced her bid for re-election to represent the 18th Senatorial District.

Recently, identified as one of Pennsylvania’s most active and effective Senators, she is a champion of efforts to expand voter access, promote economic growth, and deliver commonsense results for families, seniors, and communities in every corner of the district.

“During my time in Harrisburg, I’ve worked tirelessly to put people over politics and to keep our taxes low – all while helping those in need,” said Boscola. “Growing our economy, investing in our neighborhoods, and expanding opportunity for everyone is how you build a better tomorrow,” continued Senator Boscola. “I’m running for re-election because there is more work to do — to strengthen our schools without crushing our homeowners, address energy affordability with an all of the above approach to generation and make government more efficient.”

Throughout her legislative career, Senator Boscola has been a leader with proven results:

• Recent legislative success. She was the prime sponsor of the bill that brought no-excuse mail-in voting to Pennsylvania. She led the charge to move Pennsylvania into several medical compacts to make it easier for health professionals to practice here. Her persistence on pushing for harsher penalties on individuals who fail to remove snow and ice from their cars and trucks is the only reason the law was changed.

• Supporting meaningful reforms to government and the legislative process, including championing constitutional amendments to create an independent redistricting commission, allow for direct ballot initiative, shrink the size of the legislature and eliminate school property taxes, among others.

• Fighting for our school’s fair share of funding, along with common-sense Cyber Charter reforms that save school districts and taxpayers money.

• Securing $140,336,770 million in critical resources for local projects that support infrastructure, job creation, public safety, affordable housing projects and community development throughout the Lehigh Valley.

• Legislation addressing energy affordability and data centers. Incentivizing solar on warehouses, reforming ACT 129 to help homeowners with energy efficiency projects, updating Chapter 14 to help individuals struggling with high electric bills and making sure data centers pay for needed upgrades, not residential consumers.

Senator Boscola’s commitment to bipartisan solutions — delivering practical results for her constituents — underscores her reputation as a representative who puts her community’s needs first.

“I will continue to work across the aisle to find common-sense solutions that improve the lives of those I represent,” Boscola added. “We may not always agree on everything, but we can always agree that our government should respond to the needs of the people.”

Senator Boscola resides in Bethlehem Township with her husband and remains deeply engaged with community leaders, local businesses, and families throughout the district.

How Much Are Pa. 7's Congressional Candidates Worth?

As I told you yesterday, six Democrats want to be their party's candidate to take on Ryan Mackenzie in November's Pa.7 Congressional election. Candidates who intend to raise or spend more than $5,000 must file a financial disclosure with the Clerk of the US House within 30 days of raising or spending that amount. These disclosures are unrelated to the funds raised or spent on a campaign. They instead identify the assets and income. 

At this point, the "qualified" candidates on the Dem side are Robert Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine and Mark Pinsley. All of these candidates have filed financial disclosure reports, although Pinsley was late with his required report and will be fined. 

What the reports reveal is that all of the candidates, with the exception of Crosswell, participate in mutual funds.

Robert Brooks. -  reports assets and unearned income of at least $963,000. This includes a residential rental property valued at between $250,000 and $500,000 and the stocks in multiple mutual funds.  He reports salaries of $20,000 from Bethlehem and $50,000 from the Pa Professional Firefighter's Ass'n, as well as business income of $15,000 from his lawn care business. 

He reports debt of between $380,000 and $850,000 based on a residential mortgage, an investment property mortgage, and outstanding debt to Darrell and Linda Crook. He failed to list a $130,000 judgment owed to Carol Wiley, his former mother-in-law, since 2022. 

A title search of Northampton County records reveal that Brooks owns no real estate under his own name, nor is there any recorded mortgage in which he is listed. 

Something is very fishy about Brooks' disclosure.

Ryan Croswell. - reports having no assets or unearned income. He apparently participates in no mutual funds or the stock market. He reports a salary of $47,104.62 before he resigned from the Department of Justice. He also has received $13,542.12 from the Department of Defense and has received 1099s from the Singleton Schreiber law firm for $4,394.50. That law firm has no offices in this part of the country. He also lists the Antonin Scalia School of Law as a potential source of wages.  

Crosswell owes between $10,000-50,000 for a car loan. 

Lamont McClure. - reports assets and unearned income of at least $343,000 through his participation in various mutual funds. His income was his $85,000 salary as NorCo Exec. He also lists his wife's salary and pension. 

McClure's debt is between $90,000 and $215,000 for his mortgage, a loan to replace his roof, a third loan to fix his fireplace so Santa could come down and an auto loan. 

Carol Obando-Derstine. - reports assets and unearned income of at least $500,000 through her participation in mutual funds. Her income was a $44,410 salary from PPL. Like McClure, she also lists her spouse's salary. She lists no debts to anyone. 

Mark Pinsley. - His report was just filed on January 5, and though he lists his participation in numerous mutual funds and stocks, I have been unable to do the math at this point. He lists a salary of $79,000 as Lehigh County's Controller. He also lists his wife's salary. 

His debt is between $325,000 and $665,000 for a business loan and lines of credit from three credit card companies. 

What about incumbent Republican Ryan Mackenzie? I have a report from him for 2025 and am looking to see if there is something more recent. 

Pa 07 Congressional Race Attracts Two New Candidates

Two new candidates - Aiden Alexander Gonzales and Michael Ramon Granados, Jr., - have filed Statements of Candidacy in the crowded race for Pa. 7's Congressional seat. That district includes Lehigh, Northampton and a portion of Carbon County. 

Gonzales is a Democrat while Granados is an independent. 

Incumbent Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican, has no primary challengers. But the number of Democrats who want to go to Washington now stands at six. Other Democrats are Ryan Croswell, Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine, Robert Brooks and Mark Pinsley. 

Gonzalez already has a website that sticks to bread-and-butter issues like jobs, the economy, housing and healthcare. He supports the American Health Act, which places all US citizens in a single-payer system. He also wants to incentivize real estate development (can you say tax breaks) and make it more difficult for foreign buyers to purchase real estate. 

According to their Statements of Candidacy, Gonzales lives in Bethlehem's Woodmont Mews Apartment complex while Granados lives in the Stata West apartments in downtown Allentown. 

Kraft Elected NorCo Council President; Jeff Warren Elected VP

At a brief reorganizational meeting of Northampton County Council late yesterday afternoon, Ken Kraft was elected County Council President and Jeff Warren is the VP. Both votes were 6-3. Kraft, Warren, Kelly Keegan, Dave Holland, Nadeem Qayyum and Jason Boulette voted for the winners. Lori Vargo Heffner and Tom Giovanni were nominated President and VP, but only attracted votes from themselves and Theresa Fadem. 

Chris Spadoni will stay on as Solicitor until County Council can find someone who actually can read the Home Rule Charter. Kelly Keegan nominated former Exec Lamont McClure, who knows the Charter inside out, but that motion failed because McClure has already been tapped to become a part-time Assistant County Solicitor. 

Earlier that day, it was standing room only in historic Courtroom 1 during the swearing-in ceremony for numerous elected officials. I apologize but I generally avoid these events. I understand that Exec Tara Zrinski gave a pretty good speech and that Qayyum raised his left hand when he was sworn in, lol. He had no interpreter, which was something of a concern over the past week.