During my interview with NorCo DA Steve Baratta last week, he expressed particular concern about the jail. That facility has experienced three inmate suicides in approximately three months, including two in one week. "And they don't call us," noted Baratta. "They don't call Easton police. They don't even call the coroner [except for the last suicide]. They just clean them up, call the EMT and make them go to the hospital with the dead body. And that's how we find out about it." He indicated that law enforcement should alwayus be summoned to investigate and make sure no crimes were committed. "It's part of transparency in government."
He believes part of the problem is the result of a critical shortage of corrections officers. The county has only been able to fill about half of these m[ositions, which leads to mandated overtinme, 16-hour shifts and exhausted guards.
He believes Executive Tara Zrinski is well aware of the problem.
Baratta believes that Zrinski took office with "rose-colored glasses," but is beginning to understand "how overwelming some of the issues are right now."
He acknowledged that the county is at a "low point right now", but adds that Zrinski understands that, and we'll see."
He believes Zrinski was getting bad advice from former Exec Lamont McClure. "I believe he was motivated to have her undertake his problems and shield himself from criticism because once she understands the problem and acts, people turn away from the last administration and say 'Well, now it's your problem, get it done.'"
Baratta believes that Zrinski was led to believe that the county's financial problems were manageable, but no longer has that view.
“Baratta believes that Zrinski was led to believe that the county's financial problems were manageable, but no longer has that view.” He really thinks she ran for a position but didn’t fully research it? If she did, it’s even funnier the left voted for her. Let’s just all admit she doesn’t get it. Her doubling down on her tax proposal is tone deaf.
ReplyDeleteShe was the Controller for a hot minute how didn’t she know??
DeleteI'd commit suicide if I had to live in NORCO, much less go to jail there.
ReplyDeleteNo one can claim TZ didn't understand the financial mess that NORCO is. She was a council person and the comptroller.
ReplyDeleteI guess Lamont had a lot of people fooled, including you Bernie. I recall that you posted that you thought overall he was a good exec. The more we find out the worse it gets for him. The problems are real and extensive.
ReplyDeleteI have never hidden where I disagree with him. He tends to come on too strong with others, can be a bit of a bully unless you stand up to him, went after other people far too easily and failed to pay county employees what they are worth. He was also a bit too partisan. But overall, he was a good exec. He responded well to emergencies, got a forensic center built, paved the way for the replacement of a garage that was becoming dangerous, bought more land for parks than any exec I remember, was ahead of the curve on workforce housing, and had a good overall strategy with COVID relief funds. He actually saved lives.
DeleteAlot of what you say McClure did was at the urging of Dertinger. He urged MClure to get stuff dione for the county. McClure just liked the recognition and the applause. He never left his office unless he was asked to or made to. The only one who went around the building to see how things were doing and spoke to employees was Dertinger. On his own McClure did not pursue any of that. Ask an employee who came around more? No one will say McClure. Notice how once Dertinger “resigned” nothing got accomplished.
DeleteWow. The pummeling of McClure's horrible reputation continues. Republicans knew he was lazy, lying fiscal disaster. They knew he was flat-out dangerous to our seniors. Now, his own party is showing up to urinate on what's left of his stunningly rotten record. He's the single worst executive in county history. He may be the worst in any PA county - ever. He was even rejected for a racist scumbag coward who ripped off his own family. Keep this in mind as bloggers make their "endorsements" in the coming days.
ReplyDeleteAsk Baratta about the money that his employees stole from the County and what he did about that theft ?
ReplyDeleteBaratta thinks there is an endless piggy bank to pay his friends big dollars in the DA's office. There is not and he is not tasked with affording his office. He spends and let's others figure it out.
ReplyDeleteMany of the messes in his office never see the light of day because people in the previous and this current administration clean them up. Just ask them.
Truly a humanitarian crisis as is Gracedale. By the way, two deficiencies posted on the PA state nursing home locator site today (you know, the apparent G and D that Morton appeared to not want to report and Tara appeared to think were not that bad at the oversight committee meeting). Actual harm and potential harm by not following the plans of care. Wonder if Mr. Carson even understands any of this? Wonder if there was another one? More staff education and audits to be reported to QAPI. Wonder if that will help?
ReplyDeleteA joke. Don’t trust the documentation.
DeleteThis is laughable- she was Controller! Not surprised by this since she used the Controller's office as her Campaign headquarters.
ReplyDeleteZrinski is a petulant child living in an adult's world.
ReplyDeleteHis criticism of her is warranted, but I am kind of surprised by it, as Baratta and Morganelli are really good friends, and Morganelli and McClure are really good friends, and McClure and Zirinski are really good friends. Doesn't a friend of a friend of a friend count as a friend, at least to some degree?
ReplyDeleteOn a separate note, regarding the budget, I'm not sure where the notion that several employees are grossly underpaid is coming from. It is fairly typical for government employees to earn less than their counterparts in the private sector.
This is true that the public sector usually earns less than the private, but that isn't the issue. The issue is that Norco is underpaid compared to the rest of the surrounding county governments. Therefore they struggle to attract and retain quality employees. People who have been in the county for 10+ years can go to Lehigh and start the same job making more money their first year.
DeleteIf the current director of corrections had any decency she’d resign. This all happened on her watch. She does not have the credentials or experience to perform the duties.
ReplyDeleteIs the jail administration being held accountable for not calling the police and/or reporting the deaths? What is their policy? Did they follow policy?
ReplyDeleteExcellent question. Sounds fishy as ambulsnce won't usually transport people who havr died. Especially under those circumstances? Coroner and investigations always are involved. Honestly this makes no sense lots of questions
DeleteThe leadership at the jail is pitiful. The director has zero qualifications for the position she is in. The only person with experience, the former warden, was bullied into retiring. The current deputy wardens only care about which one of them is the next warden. We just want someone to step up, go to bat for us with administration, and show some concern about us. Real concern, not just say, yes we know, you’re short staffed. We have given thoughtful suggestions on how to improve recruitment efforts and increase numbers, most of which don’t revolve around the obvious improvement in salary. But I guess because we are CO’s we don’t know what we are talking about.
ReplyDeleteYou're exactly right, you don't know what you're talking about. Glad we can agree there.
DeleteDue to poor leadership, the County is in the worst position it's ever been!
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a management company that can run the prison? Gracedale also needs a management company.
DeleteSomething, anything is better than hiring a director whose only experience was 12 years as a CO working the night shift.
DeleteA director that is over her head, a captain who complained that an office “smelled like black people” and another captain that’s in charge of staffing that has zero HR background…….sound like a recipe for success?
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget about the PSA who thinks he’s the smartest person in the room but is the biggest imbecile of the whole bunch.
DeleteDon't forget about all the Officers who can't read, write, or pass a physical. You're probably one of them.
DeleteI've met Baratta. I seriously doubt he gives a shit. Doesn't make him a bad guy.
ReplyDeleteWell from what the rumor mill going around is. The director is furious with the union so she is making changes this week that is going to piss off all the COs and she doesn't care. Let them file grievances!! Tara you need to get rid of her before it only gets worse in the jail.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the union should reach out to her buddy Jeff Warren and let him know about her anti-AFSME rhetoric. I’d hate to see her cost him some votes.
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