Express Times Reports Nazareth Police Officer's Civil Rights Lawsuit

The Express Times has picked up on Officer Steven Schleig's civil rights lawsuit that was first reported here on August 14. The content provider has yet to report Nazareth's termination of Officer Adam Shimer, which I also reported that same date.

Express Times Publishes One NorCo Election Story

There are several wide-open races in Northampton County. On the county level alone, there are two council districts up for grabs. There is also a judgeship very much in dispute. Yet The Express Times has written nothing about these races, leaving readers to run to The Morning Call or elsewhere for information.

But on election eve, it has published a story about the Controller's race, even though no Republican is on the ballot. The article notes Ron Angle's write-in bid, but fails to mention another Republican write-in hopeful.

Ron won't be the Republican's candidate unless 250 of them write in his name. If he really wanted this, he would have circulated. What his candidacy does do is make it more difficult for Barron to wage his own write-in race. Yet The Express Times has placed him on equal footing with another candidate who actually is on the ballot, incumbent Steve Barron.

I have no problem with informing people about this race. but why nothing about other races where the candidate names actually appear on the ballot?

Express Times MIA Again at NorCo Council

The Express Times failed to provide coverage at a meeting of the largest local government in Northampton County - the County itself - on March 19. Just two weeks later, the daily let down its readers again. It failed to cover an important meeting in which Council was concerned about endangered children and at-risk seniors who might also be victimized by a county unwilling to pony up and pay for the staff to protect them. It failed to cover a story about our elections process. It failed to tell taxpayers what the county is doing with the 1-mill tax hike it voted for last year.

This failure is not just hurting Express times readers. It hurts democracy itself.

Express Times Provides No NorCo Coverage This Week

No reporter from The Express Times was at last night's meeting of Northampton County Council. The paper also missed a committee hearing earlier that day as well as three committee hearings the day before. The biggest county story missed by the paper is Judge Craig Dally's announcement of a Drug Court, starting April 2.

Part of the reason for this is that the newspaper recently lost Tom Shortell, who is now working for The Morning Call. But it is still very irresponsible for a news organization  to allow the largest government in Northampton County go without coverage for a week. The paper had ample notice of Tom's departure and could even have watched and reported on the meetings online.

When the paper pens editorials condemning the public for its apathy, it needs to look in the mirror.

The Express Times: Comforting the Comfortable, Afflicting the Afflicted

I'm old enough to remember the days, long before the Internet, when newspapers were the gatekeepers. They did provide a public service by sending out small armies every night to cover everything, from municipal meetings to high school sports. But they regulated what public knew, and what it did not, and often in a dishonest way. Thanks to the Internet, those days are over. Thanks to the Internet, people like me can tell you when a newspaper like The Express Times is feeding you a big, fat juicy bullshit burger. The Express Times is doing just that, with extra horseshit sauce.

Although Congress and Harrisburg are both usually caught up talking about abortion or gay rights, that's really a smokescreen. The real problem in this country, as most of you already know, is that you don't make enough money. Many of you may be making less than you were ten years ago. while working longer hours. Some of you have been forced to take on an extra job, not for a Summer home or a trip to Europe, but to pay for your children's education. In some cases, it's to put food on the table.

In 2012, the income of the wealthiest 1% rose 20 %. Good for them. For the rest of is, it was just 1%. In fact, for the bottom 90% of the population, income dropped about six percent between 2010 and 2013.

The American Dream is becoming a nightmare.

In a climate like this, organized labor is more important than ever. That includes public sector unions, as anyone working in Northampton County should realize. Yet starting last week, The Express Times launched an attack on them.

It started with a story about an annual fund drive conducted by the Nazareth Borough Police Association. Mayor Carl Strye and a Council member obviously contacted the press in an effort to get some bad publicity. Never mind that Strye was the President of a social club that for decades has been routinely charged with possessing illegal poker machines. Never mind that Strye's fire company conducts one or perhaps two fundraisers of its own every year.

The Mayor hinted that money raised might help pay for some of the litigation in the grievances that these officers are forced to file (and win) against the Borough.

My guess is that some money might go to that, but as I explained in a post last week, the money raised also funds random acts of kindness. This includes a used car that police officers purchased for a woman after her own jalopy was totaled in a hit-and-run. It includes $500 in cash to a single mother who is at her wit's end and already works two jobs.  It also includes $500 in college money for a high school senior who writes an essay that officers like.

The reporter who wrote this story knows all this because I told her and wrote about it on this blog. Though the Express Times has no problem lifting one of my stories to create its own, as it did with last week's story about the firing and re-firing of the Plainfield Police Chief, it failed to acknowledge these uses of the money.

In fact, the paper tried to manufacture a few resident complaints. It called two citizens I know in an attempt to get one of them to bash the police union for conducting a fundraiser. These residents refused to play along, even when the reporter told them that residents were complaining.

After publishing a story designed to smear the Nazareth police union without telling the public the full story, the editorial board jumped in and awarded these officers a turkey for daring to solicit funds. Never mind that one of them, Officer Stephen Schleig, had just received a commendation for saving a citizen's life. According to EMT Anthony Skorochod, Officer Schleig started an "AED fibrillation which saved the guys life." (Of course, Skorochod and the other EMTs deserve recognition as well).

Basically, the paper allowed itself to be used by a power structure in Nazareth that is intent on destroying the police union.

Is it any wonder that officers like Lahovsky won't return the paper's calls?

The newspaper continues its bashing. On Sunday, it published an editorial citing four recent arbitration rulings as proof that the "process is out of whack."

A little more than one year ago, I might have agreed with this editorial. But I sat in on the kangaroo court in which Bethlehem City Council voted to fire Officer Hoffman. It opened my eyes. That was a predetermined decision if ever there was one. I saw and heard Bethlehem police officers who were subpoenaed to testify against Officer Hoffman. At considerable risk to their own careers, most spoke on his behalf. I watched in disgust as a council member called a bar bouncer a hero, although my own evidence revealed that he was under house arrest at the time.

Nobody was interested in why this happened. Nobody cared that, two years before this accident in which no one was hurt, Officer Hoffman was holding a dying police officer in his arms, trying to keep him alive. He was the first outside officer on the scene when Officer Robert Lasso was brutally murdered.

We increasingly have recognized that veterans suffering from PTSD will often act erratically, and are trying to get them help instead of punishing them. Certainly we should give as much consideration to a police officer.

In the Lahovsly case, I read the ruling. The paper has, too. It knows Lahovski was exonerated on all but one minor matter. In fact, the record in that case shows that Nazareth officials were exercising a vendetta.

The teacher mentioned received a suspension equivalent to 1/3 of a year.

The Express Times is exhibiting an anti-union bias at a time when most of its readers are struggling to make ends meet. But does it serve those readers or does it serve developers like Mark Mulligan, who will soon be the paper's landlord? Is it interested in telling the truth, or is it interested in access?

I admire and respect much of what The Express Times has done over the years. But in the final analysis, that paper is a sell-out no different than The Morning Call is a sell-out from within the NIZ. One reports to Mulligan, the other to J.B. Reilly.

ET Names NorCo Exec, Naz Police Chief and Easton City Council As Turkeys of the Year

The Express Times has named its turkeys of the year (I don't think this was done last year), and the short list includes John Brown (for his boneheaded first year as NorCo Exec), Cupcake Trachta (for Stickergate) and Easton City Council (commuter tax). I would have included Mayor Sal Panto since he is responsible for the commuter tax first imposed in 2012, as well as the increase, and claimed that people who live in the "lily white" suburbs have to pay for the experience.

"There needs to be some sort of revenue sharing in those lily-white suburbs,” Panto said.

I would have included K. Deirdre Dolan, as she now calls herself, among those turkeys.

In 24 Hours, ET Publishes 12 Stories About Shootings Near Musikfest

In the span of just 24 hours, The Express Times has published 12 stories about the shootings near Musikfest.

Center City Bethlehem shooting: Witnesses report hearing several gunshots

Your comments: Musikfest 2014 still fun, despite safety fears raised by a 'few dungheads'

Musikfest: Bethlehem shooting was off grounds, festival still safe

Has violent crime at or near Musikfest grounds made you reconsider going? (poll)

Bethlehem police presence strong, chief says as detainees released in Musikfest shooting that hurt two

Bethlehem mayor says more police will be deployed on Main Street, repeats Musikfest is safe

Bethlehem mayor says violent incidents won't go 'unanswered' but doesn't announce Musikfest policing changes

Bethlehem police on their way to disperse crowd when shooting starts, chief says

Bethlehem police chief 'evaluating' what could change in Musikfest policing in wake of shooting

Two face minor charges during Bethlehem police investigation into recent violence

Northampton County district attorney to talk to Bethlehem police chief about shootings, strategy

What do you think about recent violence in and around Musikfest in Bethlehem?

Over this same period, The Morning Call has had one report about the violence. I think it's safe to say that The Express is needlessly sensationalizing what happened. All too often, newspapers try to brush violent crime under the rug because they are fearful of upsetting the urban growth regime and losing ad revenue. But for some reason, the paper seems intent on scaring people away.

In an editorial criticism disguised as a news story, Lynn Olanoff writes, "Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said this morning that recent violent incidents in the city won't go 'unanswered' but didn't announce any new Musikfest police staffing plans." When Mayor Bob Donchez did precisely that, just three hours later, she never bothered to update her original story, even though she is the reporter who wrote about the additional staffing.

It's unclear to me whether The Express Times is trying to make the mayor look bad, Musikfest look bad, or scare the shit out of everyone for shits and giggles. But it's more interested in confusing everyone than reporting facts.

Mable they should become bottom-feeding bloggers.

RumorMill: Mulligan Negotiating Purchase of ET HQs

Although The Express Times (both editor and publisher) has declined to confirm what is happening, The Express Times is rumored to be selling its office headquarters at 40 N. 4th Street to developer Mark Mulligan.

According to my source, whose information has been reliable in the past, the newspaper no longer needs the large building, thanks to downsizing and the relocation of its printing operation to Staten Island. The building is over 50,000 sq ft on a 1.06-acre lot, and is reportedly worth $485,000, approximately half that was paid for the site in 2000.

My source informs me the newspaper is looking for about 7,000 sq ft of office space for its operations.

Is the rumor true?

"Sorry, I don't have any comment," states publisher Lou Stancampiano. Editor Jim Deegan declined to confirm the rumor as well.

Developer Mark Mulligan already owns many of Easton's prominent properties. This includes the National, Pomeroy, Alpha and Governor Wolf buildings, along with the Simon Silk Mill.

He also is partners in a burnt-out building on West Wilkes-Barre Street, which he owns with Easton RDA employee Mike Brett.

Mayor Sal Panto has called me an "agitator" for pointing to this obvious conflict of interest, which was hidden from the public through the creation of both a LP and LLC.

ET Reporter Wants to Suppress Bethlehem Whistle Blowers?

Lynn Olanoff is a reporter who covers Bethlehem for The Express Times. She's apparently had enough of my bottom-feeding. She has yet to tell her readers that Bethlehem City Council member Karen Dolan failed to file her nonprofit tax returns for three years in a row. She doesn't think you need to know that Dolan's nonprofit status at Illick's Mill was revoked for at least a year. She'd rather not discuss the $128,000 bill that Dolan ran up with the City, or her conflicts of interest in using her public office to get preferential treatment at a nonprofit where she was the paid Executive Director. She's downplayed that Investigating Grand Jury. She'll decide what you need to know. She's the gatekeeper, damn it! Time to put me in my place.

My report about Dolan's removal from the Parks Committee seems to have been the final straw. I got that out there before the dailies. This is not a knock on them. I have no editor and 5,000 editors. You are my editors. It's a blessing and a curse.

Earlier this week, Olanoff chilled rank-and-file City workers from whispering into the ears of bottom-feeders like me. No deep throats in Bethlehem. She did this by filing a Right-to-Know request with the City, demanding copies of all emails sent by City workers to me. She also wants to know what they're telling District Attorney John Morganelli. As I understand it, the Right-to-Know was sent to somewhere between 50-150 City workers.

Interestingly, this Right-to-Know also comes at a time when Karen Dolan is trying to find out who is leaking all that negative information about her to me.

Now I know I'm just a bottom-feeder, but what possible reason could a real reporter have in discouraging City employees from talking to news sources, even if it's not her?  She actually wants to scare people away from revealing information instead of encouraging it. She is also interfering with another reporter, although I suppose that I don't count.

I called and emailed her. I did not get the courtesy of an answer. It must be beneath her. I did get a reply from her editor, who told me he still loves me and that I am way off base.

Really? What possible reason could Olanoff have for this request other than to find out who is leaking information about Dolan? What possible impact can it have other than to scare City workers, who have enough problems?

How would she feel if I filed a Right-to-Know request, seeking emails sent by City workers to her and Karen Dolan?

Incidentally, what this reporter and Dolan will discover with this Right-to-Know is that I get lots of emails. They're called news releases, along with notices of zoning and planning meetings.

A real smoking gun there.

But I want to thank her. She has unwittingly identified me as the go-to guy for information about government corruption. My email address is BOHare5948@aol.com. Send all dirt my way. Just don't email me from a government account.

Express Times: All Some of the News That's Fit to Print

When someone runs for public office, whether it is Ron Angle or Tricia Mezzacappa, they are subjected to heightened scrutiny. The public has a right to know.

The Express Times finally did "break" a story about the Sheriff's failure to check references in Tricia Mezzacappa's gun permit application. That story first appeared here on March 28,  On April 1, I followed up with a report on the Sheriff's inability to check references. The newspaper is about two weeks late, and with half the story. Of  course, that's still better than The Morning Call, which has yet to publish a word about a dangerous candidate for public office.

I attempted to complete The Express Times account with two comments. They've been deleted. Instead, they're allowing comments that state Mezzacappa is just swell. I believe my comments were deleted because the newspaper is running scared and is allowing itself to be intimidated by Mezzacappa. They nevertheless complete the story. I believe truth is a bit more important than a lawsuit. Fortunately, I saved the comments and will post them here.

Newspapers are no longer the gatekeepers. Thanks to the Internet, they have lost control over the pablum they would prefer to feed you. If they want to regain some of their lost readers, they might consider being more timely and more honest.

Ubernieohare

The Sheriff is required by law to conduct an investigation into those seeking a LTCF, but is only given 45 days to do so and may only charge $20 for a permit that lasts for 5 years. Even gun rights advocates acknowledge the importance of thorough background checks. Before adopting new laws that may very well be ineffective, legislators would do better to give Sheriffs the resources to enforce laws already on the books. A Sheriff needs more time. The fee should be more than $20, which is cheaper than a dog license.

Tricia Mezzacappa, who incidentally is running BOTH for County Council and West Easton Boro Council, listed two people as references that she knew would never support her. This is because she treated this as a joke.

Attorney Orloski is not "feuding" with Mezzacappa, as reported in this story. He is instead the attorney in my defamation suit against her. He is doing his job and is acting professionally.

Mezzacappa bragged about her LTCF, showed her firearms to numerous people in public places, posted a horrendous video about shooting people, and posted three death fantasies on this site about shooting someone with hollow point bullets. In fact, her account was so offensive that her account was suspended. The Express Times fails to report that the online commentary referred to in the story was posted here.

She has been convicted of disorderly conduct for conduct including allegations that she threatened to drag West Easton Boro Council Prez Kelly Gross to the Delaware River and drown her. Just a few days ago, she was charged with criminal harassment for impersonating someone on the internet. In my defamation case, she has filed papers claiming that she is incompetent to stand trail as a result of drugs prescribed for her mental condition. She is the last person who should be given a LTCF, and it is my hope that it has finally been revoked.

On Thursday, she sued against The Express Times for defamation, claiming that the newspaper writes too much about her. That story has not appeared at this news source, but it certainly is newsworthy. The paper has an obligation to inform the public about the erratic behavior of this candidate for public office. 

This story is overdue. 

bernieohare

Although I understand there is an ongoing investigation onto the Deputy who leaked Mezzacappa's application, I would hope that no charges are filed. First, Mezzacappa has vitiated any confidentiality by listing reference she knew would oppose her LTCF. Second, she herself repeated bragged publicly about her LTCF. Finally, the Deputy who leaked this blew the whistle on a glaring deficiency in the Sheriff's office, and one with public safety repercussions. Rather than violating the public trust, he was upholding it.

37 Minutes Ago

· Reply · Like · Flag

Drawn7979

i agree, he was truly upholding it.  

You like this.

8 Minutes Ago

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Updated 7:40 PM: An Express Times editor tells me that no one in Easton authorized the deletion of the above comments, but that decision was apparently made by an affiliate. I am contacting this affiliate.

NorCo Council Candidate Tricia Mezzacappa Sues Express Times

NorCo County Council and West Easton Borough Council candidate Tricia Mezzacappa is pretty busy these days. Earlier this week,  DA John Morganelli approved the filing of harassment charges against her for her online impersonations. Now she wants a green light from the DA to go after the person she impersonated (Matthew Dees), the person she threatened to kill (Kelly Gross) and the person she defamed (moi). In addition, on Thursday, she filed suit against The Express Times.

I just couldn't bring myself to look at the Complaint, but staffers tell me she's upset because they write about her too much. If this daily newspaper keeps exposing her, she might not get elected. Also, these stories are making it impossible for her to get a job as a nurse.

I'm sure Lehigh Valley Hospital would be just thrilled to hire someone who threatened to drag an elected official to the river and drown her.

I tried discussing this matter with reporter Tom Shortell, but the second he spotted me, he jumped out a fourth floor window.

His funeral is Tuesday.

When Editor Jim Deegan saw me, he jumped in the Delaware River.

On Monday, Mezzacappa will be suing herself. That way she's got all the bases covered.

Updated 4/29, Noon: You can read her lawsuit here. It's a hoot.

Callahan Discussing Proposed Budget With Express Times Live Blog

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan is in the bunker with Express Times editors, defending his proposed 2013 budget. The sitdown is being liveblogged.

Meet The Express Times' Allentown Invaders

Pictured above are Express Times reporters Colin McEvoy and Precious Petty, who were at last night's Blogapalooza, hosted by LehighValleyLive at Bethlehem's beautiful ArtsQuest Center. Both are veteran reporters, and are like kids in a candy store. They spent most of the  evening getting showered with compliments from Allentown bloggers like Michael Donovan, for their coverage of Allentown and surrounding Lehigh County.

In my view, the praise is warranted. The Morning Call's coverage of Allentown City Hall and Lehigh County government have long been its Achilles heel, and this friendly competition will make both papers better and the rest of us better informed.

ET to Host LV Bloggers' Night

Tonight, at 6:30 PM, The Express Times will host a LV Bloggers' Night tonight at the artsy-fartsy ArtsQuest Center. I'm unsure whether there will be an online chat, or whether this is just a social get together. But I'll be there.

Will it be to speak to blogger Michael Donovan, Noel Jones or ET Editor Joe Owens? Nah. Will I be there to speak to the two reporters who now cover Allentown? Nope.

I'll be there to get a $2 discount for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, which will be featured as soon as the shindig is over. I'll give you a review, both of the movie and the new ArtsQuest Center, on Tuesday.

ET Has the Skinny on Cedar Creek Parkway West

The Express Times has invaded Lehigh County and its coverage of Wednesday night's County Commissioner meeting was excellent. In addition to the term limit story, reporter Precious Petty has the details on a Master Plan for Cedar Creek Parkway West in South Whitehall Township, including a link to the actual plan.

ET's Owens Decries "Double Dip Assault on Open Government"

That's the print copy headline to Joe Owens' Sunday column, and that pretty much says it all. Having been caught red-handed in a clear Right-to-Know Law violation over a note that Council member Tom Dietrich passed to Ann McHale during a public meeting, Council followed that up on Thursday night with a Sunshine Act breach. It directed Solicitor Phil Lauer, behind closed doors, to appeal the matter.

When they spoke to Owens, both Lamont McClure and John Cusick insist there was no formal vote behind closed doors. It's still "official action" and violates the open meetings law. "Official action," as defined by the Sunshine Act, can also include the establishment of policy, recommendations, or decisions on agency business. So a "consensus" directing Lauer to appeal is precisely the kind of action that should take place in public.

This was, as Owens pointed out, a double dip assault on open government. When forced by Ron Angle to vote on what they had already decided to do behind closed doors, the consensus fell apart.

People are willing to do all kinds of things when they don't have to take responsibility. That's what Dietrich thought when he passed a note to Ann McHale in the middle of a meeting accusing Angle and Charles Chrin of bribery. McHale can be seen and heard agreeing with him, too, on the county's video.

Dietrich has had numerous opportunities to share his accusations with the public. In fact, seconds after he passed the note to McHale, they both declined to share it when Angle asked about it. Dietrich hid behind McHale's skirt that night, pretty much like a coward. Since that time, he's refused to man up, and is now hiding behind a lawyer..

Interestingly, I am condemned in all the comments that accompany Joe's column. Of course, they come from people who, like Dietrich, refuse to accept responsibility for what they write. One of them, "lovestokickpigs," is an identity created just today, obviously for the express purpose of bashing me.

What I do know is that I will soon be getting that note, and it will reveal that Dietrich accused both Angle and Charles Chrin of participating in some sort of bribery scheme, and that Ann McHale agreed with him. I'd like to know more about this serious accusation and, of course, the basis for making it.

Express Times To Invade Lehigh County

This is a good thing.

Everyone, including me, likes to complain about the local newspaper. So when The Morning Call decided to put up a pay wall (and you can get around it several ways), I questioned whether it was worth it. In the only place where it has monopoly, Allentown, it seems to be an autopilot. Its coverage in Bethlehem and Easton, where there is competition from The Express Times and Patch, is much better.

It's coverage in Allentown might be getting better, too. The Express Times is invading Lehigh County with two reporters. One will be assigned specifically to Allentown, while the other will cover outlying communities.

The paper is taking applications now.

It's starting out small, and will be web-based for starters. But it will not be the Allentown Times, which stuck me as Morning Call Lite. Instead, the in-your-face style of Editor Joe Owens is going West.

ET Awards Turkey to The Ottter

In its weekly roundup of turkeys and trophies, The Express Times has awarded a turkey to the windbag representing the Gracedale initiative - Larry Otter.

Attorney Lawrence Otter was in Northampton County Court this week, trying to sell the idea that county officials and local blogger Bernie O’Hare had perpetrated a “bonusgate”-type scandal in connection with petitions to keep the county from selling the Gracedale nursing home. Thankfully, Judge Stephen Baratta wasn’t buying. He rejected a request that O’Hare and Councilman Ron Angle pay Otter’s legal fees. Nor did Baratta buy Otter’s contention that county officials, including executive John Stoffa, illegally used taxpayer money — paid to a law firm the county retained to help with the proposed sale of Gracedale — to challenge the petitions. Otter, who represents the Coalition for Alzheimer’s Families, vowed to return to court with proof that Angle and O’Hare must reimburse the county for $10,800 paid to the law firm. Good grief, imagine the claims Otter would be filing if his side had lost the referendum.

ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, who wants us to pay for his failure to maintain a rainy day fund, got one, too.

ET: Say NO to Gracedale Inititative

The Express Times editorial board has weighed in and is recommending that readers vote NO on the Gracedale question. Here's why, in a nutshell.

"We believe voters should vote “no” for two reasons — to help balance a county budget headed toward “empty,” and to provide affordable care at Gracedale for the foreseeable future. The best way to accomplish this is to sell it to a firm that will:

* Pay the county $35 million.

* Qualify for a higher return on Medicare-Medicaid reimbursements.

* Run the facility more efficiently.

* Pay taxes to the county, Upper Nazareth Township and the Nazareth Area School District."

ET Editor-in-Chief Bullies Poor Little Blogger

I'm currently consulting with several disbarred lawyers to see what legal recourse I have against Express Times Editor-in-Chief and all-around-meanie Joe Owens, who is using his considerable corporate resources to lash out against a poor little blogger.

Me.

Joe, don't you think I have feelings? If you cut me, do I not bleed? I'm just a wreck over a scurrilous blog he's posted about me after our joint appearance on WFMZ-TV 69's Business Matters. I cried in my little pillow all night.

Don't you just hate those attack bloggers?

First, Owens demeans me by posting my picture upside down. Would I ever do something like that to somebody? Have you ever known me to .... never mind.

Second, he insinuates I'm a know-it-all, calling me a "self-appointed expert in all matters media. And Northampton County. And city of Allentown. And Ron Angle's grooming habits. And many more topics." Hey, can I help that? It's a curse. I wish I were a little dumber, I really do.

Third, he claims he got the best of me on Business Matters, which I like to call BM. Not true. I schooled him until we got out into the parking lot.

Finally, he calls me a "menace." Not when I'm on my meds, Joe. Don't judge me, dude.

This is one BM you're gonna' have to see and judge for yourself. I'll post this BM when it airs. If it airs.