Should State Prisons Remove Guards From Watch Towers?

Inmate Population Drops Nationwide, But Rises 4.3% in Pa.

Bethlehem Township Nixes Treatment Center ... and Cameras, Too!

Chalk one up for the NIMBYs.

Last night's meeting of the Bethlehem Township Zoning Hearing Board was certainly no surprise. Once again, they've rejected an Abe Atiyeh request for a 300-bed county treatment and work release center, located nearly a mile from the nearest home. That's a real shocker from a municipality that refused to contribute a dime towards homeless shelters. The only Bethlehem Township zoner to support this proposal was Robert Furst, who also supported it in Round One.

Last night's hearing was supposed to include testimony about traffic concerns raised by neighbor Meals on Wheels, but they were mollified by concessions made by developer Abe Atiyeh, and withdrew their objections. Incredibly, ZHB Chair Stephen Szy still nevertheless raised those concerns in voting against the treatment center.

Before they started deliberating, Solicitor Larry Fox warned zoners that there were disgusting bloggers and reporters in the room, who might actually film them. "You shouldn't be distracted by that form of media retention." In other words, don't let those bastards film you as you blow this call.

I had to turn my flipcam off. I considered defying them, but I seem to be on bad terms with law enforcement personnel lately and forgot my toothbrush and rubber underwear. You can see Chairman Szy magically conclude they've unanimously decided to shut the cameras down, even though no vote was taken.

Naturally, Abe Atiyeh is going to sue everyone. He's not called the Rajah of Rezoning for nothing. In addition to reversing the kangaroo court known as the Bethlehem Township ZHB, he's going to spite everyone, build a full-fledged prison in Bethlehem Township, and give the inmates their own keys. He's going to sue zoners individually for "abuse of power." He's drawing up a complaint against zoner Jennifer Sletvold for wearing designer glasses, although she insists they're off the rack. Last, he's going to sue Solicitor Larry Fox for managing to use the most words anyone has ever heard to say absolutely nothing. He'll win that last one.

The only real question right now is how long it will take Northampton County Court to reverse Bethlehem Topwnship zoners.

It's coming.

Update: From his perch atop Valley 610, Morning Call reporter Michael Duck now wishes he had brought his camera. Would he have thumbed his nose at the zoning gods? "I'm not sure why the board should be so scared about Internet users in Australia finding out what they're doing; it's not as though the baby-dances-to-Beyoncé clip is ever going to be knocked off its viral video pedestal by a recording of board deliberations. Recordings can only make reporters' accounts more accurate and help the public — maybe even the public in Australia! — learn what public officials are doing with public money, public laws and public policy."

Express Times Tags McHale, Dertinger & McClure for "Political Grandstanding"

On Friday, I told you that Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale's vote against a treatment center/work release facility in Bethlehem Township was nothing more than a cynical ploy for votes. She denied knowing that the facility would be a work release center even though the project has always been represented that way.

In a Monday editorial, The Express Times correctly condemns the No vote that McHale, joined by Councilmen Charles Dertinger and Lamont McClure, cast against this project. McHale wants to be county exec. Dertinger is up for reelection. McClure lives in that District and would like to run for state representative. Their opposition is nothing more than an appeal to NIMBY voters.

"Despite political grandstanding from the opposition, Northampton County Council also supported the project last week by a 6-3 vote.
* * *
"It's time to try something different. It's time to build this center and offer these inmates -- inmates who come from all geographical points on the map, including Bethlehem Township -- the help they need."

In addition to helping inmates, a successful rehabilitation program will reduce the 65 cents coming from every county tax dollar to pay for the back end of crime.

Photo credit: Express Times (hard copy).

Northampton County Council Makes Bad Bet on Shiloh Baptist Church

Last week, Northampton County Council Prez Ann McHale asked representatives of Easton's Shiloh Baptist Church to make a pitch for the public funding of renovations to a halfway house on Canal Street, estimated to cost $295,000. Council agreed to kick in the final $50,000. The Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, usually snarls at requests for public money. But instead of doing that, he actually hugged one of the presenters.

Perhaps the real reason why council members were so receptive is because Shiloh, a great church is the voice of Easton's proud African American community. It's no secret they vote in large numbers, and this is an election year.

I think a halfway house is a great idea. But last week, I expressed my concern that their program, as described, tears down the wall separating state from religion. People who agree to go there must consent to "spiritually based" recovery programs. No mention was made of a secular alternative.

Now I have a new concern. Apparently, Shiloh is lousy with money. Council would do just as well to take the $50 thousand promised to Shiloh and just flush it down the toilet. You see, Shiloh did business with the county a few years ago, and the result was a financial disaster with the state eventually deciding to cut off the gravy train. Here's a report prepared by the Northampton County DCED, which has been sent to all council members. It speaks for itself.

Overview

The Northampton County DCED traditionally had a good working relationship with one of the few housing services providers in the Easton area: Shiloh Community Services, Inc. (“Shiloh”). Shiloh received small amounts of funding through the DCED for projects, including funds to provide HUD-certified counseling for first-time homebuyers.

In 2002, the County received money through the PA DCED to create a “revolving loan fund” (RLF), whereby money would be used to acquire and rehabilitate homes that could later be sold to income-qualified buyers at a reduced price. At the point of sale, the funds would return to the RLF to be used for future acquisition and rehab. Based on the past relationship, the Northampton County DCED sub-awarded the $123,141 in state “Brownfields for Housing” grant funds to Shiloh. In addition, the county contributed $40,000 in matching funds to Shiloh from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund, derived from fees assessed to deed and mortgage transactions. In addition, the County secured another PA DCED Brownfields for Housing grant in the following year for $142,945, with the county Trust Fund match totaling $100,736. These funds were once again sub-awarded to Shiloh.

Issues

On 10/3/06 and 12/1/06, the County Controller’s Office released independent audits which found deficiencies in the administration of these grants, both by Shiloh and the County DCED. The findings for the first audit were inconclusive in that Shiloh could not substantiate over $140,000. Little paperwork could be provided verifying costs or substantiating the eligibility of the buyers. The auditor further found that Shiloh had submitted estimated costs for payment rather than actual invoices, and could not account for where the differences in costs were applied.

From the release of the report in 2006 through March of 2008, the County attempted to close out the contracts with Shiloh. Shiloh maintained two acquired properties but had not rehabbed them. Based on the negative findings, the PA DCED refused to allow the County to drawdown any remaining funds.

During this time period, many letters and two meetings occurred with the new Director of SCS and pastor of Shiloh Church, Philip Davis. While he did terminate the employment of the Housing Manager and reassigned the duties, he indicated that the projects would be completed and funds returned to the County. That said, various requests for reports and updates were disregarded.

Unfortunately, Shiloh Community Service’s financial troubles led to obligations that mitigated their ability to repay the County upon the sale of these properties. Shiloh owned other properties that were delinquent in mortgage, tax, and utility payments, thus liens were placed on the two properties purchased with the County funds. Further, it was discovered in February 2008 that a mortgage for the purchase price of one of the two properties never had been satisfied, despite the fact that the County gave Shiloh a check for over $81,000 to pay off this mortgage. During this time, two of Shiloh’s other properties were sold off at Sheriff Sale and they no longer have their certification through HUD as an approved housing agency.

Therefore, on March 7, 2008, several representatives of the County, including Executive John Stoffa and County Solicitor Karl Longenbach, met with the representatives of Shiloh and their counsel to establish a reimbursement plan. As such, Shiloh entered into a mortgage agreement on with the County for $180,000. In order for this money to be returned, Shiloh Church (which remains financially healthy), refinanced another structure so as to allow for repayment. The mortgage was finally satisfied in full in June 2008.

Effects

There was negative press emanating from these findings as first reported on 11/23/06 in an Express Times article by Sarah Cassi: “Shiloh misplaces grant paperwork.” Further negative press included accusations that homes were sold only to church members with work done primarily by church members through non-competitive selection, and suspicion that the former NC DCED Director’s participation on the church’s Board was the reason for the large grants and lack of oversight.

The 2003-2006 Brownfields grant could not be closed with the state and we continue to negotiate closure of this with the state’s DCED. Further, during the two-year period od 2006-2008, any County department was limited in receiving state funding through PA DCED as we were red-flagged until Shiloh sold the properties. This led to significant delays in receiving both a Veteran’s Memorial grant and a tax reimbursement grant.

Bethlehem Township Zoners Kill County Work Release Proposal

Without listening to a word of testimony, Bethlehem Township's five-member Zoning Hearing Board has already dismissed Northampton County's application for a work release center. It did so unanimously after lawyers sniped at each other for about an hour in front of forty-five onlookers. Most burst into applause when the decision was announced, but it's a hollow victory. The application will simply be refiled.

If one thing is clear, it's that Bethlehem Township wants nothing to do with anything that houses prisoners. That's no surprise from a municipality that refused to contribute a dime towards homeless shelters.

If anything else is clear, it's that this dismissal was pre-ordained. Let me tell you how that happened.

Shortly before tonight's hearing, Bethlehem Township Commissioners authorized solicitor Tom Elliott to act as an objector. He sent the county a subpoena that essentially asked for the production of all documents since it was formed in 1752. Although the county responded with over 800 pages of documents, that wasn't good enough for Elliott. He also argued that, because there was no parking study or site plan attached to the application, it is void on its face.

Now the county intends to build a treatment center in Bethlehem Township, but does not own it. Who does? That would be Abe Atiyeh, dubbed the Rajah of Rezoning by Morning Call columnist Bill White. However loud-mouthed he may be on other occasions, he was strangely silent tonight. He sat quietly, munching on a bag of penny candy, while lawyers hurled terms like "equitable estoppel" and "ab initio" at each other.

Atiyeh's mouthpiece, Jim Preston, was actually pretty impressive. When Elliott complained about the inadequate response to his subpoena, Preston started ticking off some of the sixteen separate items requested. He also charged that deputy zoning officer Howard Kutzler had deliberately misled them and asked for a thirty-day continuance so he could supply the parking study and site plan.

This is when it became apparent that this result was arrived at in advance, not by the board, but its solicitor. Solicitor Larry Fox just happened to have a copy of an appellate decision concerning faulty zoning applications. That's just a little too much of a coincidence. "I'll be happy to supply a citation if you like," is what Fox told Preston.

While the board deliberated, you could see Fox was very hard at work, going from board member to board member, showing them the decision and making his points. Clearly, Fox had his marching orders.

I predicted the board would grant the continuance anyway. Northampton County Exec John Stoffa, who sat next to me in the cheap seats, said no. Stoffa was right.

Bethlehem Township won a round, but it's going to lose this war. The area proposed is zoned to permit precisely the kind of facility the county desires to build. It does have the power to regulate the types of prisoners allowed to occupy this treatment center, and should be focusing its efforts in that direction.

Northampton County Exec Stoffa Proposes Moving All Admin Offices to Gracedale

During a lengthy finance committee hearing yesterday, Northampton County council members were supposed to hear details of a $30 million bond for a new parking deck, among other things. But county exec John Stoffa, at the last minute, pulled that item. He told council members there's a more pressing problem - the prison.

Northampton County's prison, built in 1871, has "outlived its usefulness," according to consultants from Highland Associates. It's a "problem waiting to happen." Six unpleasant and expensive options were presented for bigger prisoner warehouse, one that can pack in around 1,488 inmates. The county could simply abandon the site and start out fresh somewhere else. $130 to 136 million. Cha ching! It could rip down the old prison and build a seven story monstrosity that Eastonians are sure to love. $128 to $132 million. Cha ching. And, of course, it could split operations up and still spend gobs of money.

As consultants laid out the proposals, exasperated Finance Chair Ron Angle questioned where we could build a new prison or even have a split operation. "The reality here is, who the hell wants a new prison?"

To make matter worse, John Stoffa informed Angle's committee that once a new judge is legislated, the brand new courthouse will be full.

Stoffa suggested that all administration offices should be concentrated at Gracedale, which is the geographical center of the county. The Bechtel and Governor Wolf buildings would be sold and the vacated government center would be left for the courts. That would leave more room for both the judges and the people they send to jail. It might even eliminate the need for a $30 million parking lot. It might even reduce the cost of a proposed prison expansion.

Whether Stoffa is right or wrong, it's clear the county is suffering from a lack of long-range planning. In 2001, when the first prison expansion was proposed, everyone knew it would be full the moment it was built. It was a $29 million band aid.

Instead of planning how to embarrass Stoffa, council members should help him plan the county's long range needs.

It's called governing. What they've been doing is called politics.

"What is a NIMBY?"

That's a question LC Commissioner Andy Roman posed to Chairman Percy Dougherty last night. Roman obviously knew, but wanted to make sure that everyone else (including those of us in the peanut gallery) understood what was being discussed. That's just one reason why it is such a delight to watch Lehigh County's legislative body in action.

That question arose because Lehigh County is forging ahead with plans for a new work release facility in Salisbury Township. Glenn Eckhart, who represents that district, felt compelled to oppose it. But even he noted there has been no groundswell of opposition from Salisbury residents. The rest of the commissioners agreed to move ahead. Dougherty noted the current facilities - a collection of trailers from 1989 - are "dilapidated. Someone is really going to get hurt if we don't take care of this."

And that's when the subject of NIMBYs (Not in My Back Yard) came up. Lehigh County is well aware of the opposition that Northampton County officials face when they try to expand their own work release facility, whether it's in Glendon, West Easton or Bethlehem Township.

"My only regret is that Northampton County did not go along with us on this," said Dougherty. "I even reiterated this today in a telephone conversation with Northampton County Executive Stoffa."

NIMBYs are everywhere, even in Lehigh County. Both Dougherty and Eckhart agreed it would be virtually impossible for them to try an expansion anywhere else. Asked to define NIMBYs, Dougherty laughed and said, "You can read about them on the blogs tomorrow."

So what is Northampton County really doing about its new work release facility? Is Bethlehem Township still on the drawing board? Is Lehigh County really out of the picture? Stoffa, having been burned by a member of his own council once, is keeping his cards close to his vest. And at yesterday's finance committee meeting, he refused to show his hand.

Norco Work Release Facility Discussion is Premature

At last night's meeting of Northampton County Council, it was nice to see council VP Wayne Grube, who has been battling his way through some physical problems. He must be getting better because he wasted no time blasting county exec John Stoffa.

According to Grube, Stoffa should talk to Bethlehem Township commissioners about relocating a work release facility in Bethlehem Township before coming to council. "How do you think they felt, reading about it in the newspaper?" Stoffa countered he'd have to be crazy to go there before taking county council members through the facility. "We could have kept you in the dark. One of you blew the whistle on us. If I don't have five or six people interested, why would I go to [Bethlehem Township]? My protocol was to tell you first."

This proposal was tipped to the press before all council members or Bethlehem Township commissioners even knew what was going on. Since that time, there have been discussions here about a possible partnership with Lehigh County, the privatization of this facility and a petition drive by Bethlehem Township residents.

But the truth is, I don't really know what the hell is going on. I know this because, after last night's meeting, Stoffa looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're going in the wrong direction."

- "Well, point me in the right direction," I pleaded.

"I can't do that. You're going to have to figure this out yourself." And then Poof! He disappeared. County execs have superpowers.

I can certainly understand and respect Stoffa's reluctance to share information on so sensitive a subject with a blogger, especially after having been burned once by a member of his own council. But I think Stoffa is trying to hint that this situation is still very fluid and nothing is etched in stone.

When this new treatment center is announced, it may bear very little resemblance to what is being discussed now.

Update: In an editorial published today, The Morning Call raises the same concerns about privatization and the failure to go regional, that have been expressed here. In addition, the paper notes that the upfront cost for going regional with Lehigh is actually far cheaper than the Bethlehem Township proposal. "If there are other concerns regarding politics or 'turf,' let's hear about them in public." After already being burned once, that's unlikely. But based on last night's conversation, I suspect we don't have all the details.

Is a Privatized Bethlehem Township Prison a Good Idea?

The petition being circulated by Bethlehem Township resident Joseph Perno notes one salient detail that I had completely missed. This facility will be privatized, administered by Community Education Centers, Inc., a New Jersey corporation whose allegiance is to its bottom line, not the public or inmates.

As a former warden of three Florida prisons makes clear, these privateers will profit at our risk.

* Private prisons have much lower standards than state operated prisons;

* Private prisons pay their employees lower wages than the state and thus draw a lower caliber applicant;

* Private prisons are well known for hiring staff who have been "fired" from state agencies;

* Private prisons have a very poor retirement set-up compared to state agencies;

* Private prisons draw commuter employees from poorest areas ... as affordable housing is not available;

* Private prisons have high escape rates, thus creating special dangers to the community;

* Private prisons return the sickest of their inmates to the host state, thus sucking profits from the public whilst creating extra costs to the state;

* Private prisons are definitely more dangerous for both staff and inmates because of lax and often insufficient security; assaults on staff by inmates are 50 percent higher than in state run facilities;

* Private prisons will preach strongly that they can do it for less and save money, but it's all based on "selective citation of data" in lieu of factual material; the cost is actually higher;

* Private prisons are well known for not accurately advising the public on what final prisoner population numbers will be, often saying 1,500 "or more";

* Private prisons have one goal - profit!

This may be a transitional prison, but it is still a prison. I have created a link to Perno's petition, which you can review and sign here.

Bethlehem Township: Prisons, We Don't Need no Steenkin' Prisons!

Last night, I visited Bethlehem Township commissioners' cathedral-like meeting room for the first time. I was there because locals are unhappy about county plans to relocate a new work release/rehabilitation treatment center at 4255 Fritch Drive.

Have you ever visited that meeting room? What a magnificent waste of space! It's a blend of rustic beams and stones, contrasted by what appear to be gigantic sewer pipes, located up top, sweating and ready to burst. That's some strange kind of holy water. The ceiling is at least seven hundred feet high, and I swear I saw a few birds perched on a beam right over the commissioners, waiting for their magic moment to drop a little white bomb.

"Say hello to my little friend."

I was a little late because there are actually two of these gargantuan Bethlehem Township buildings. The first is actually one of those rec centers that municipalities are building everywhere. That place was packed, and I thought I was in for one hell of a meeting. It turns out everyone was doing step aerobics. It features an indoor pool, basketball court and gym.

I finally stumbled into the right place, where it was a lot easier to park. There were only twenty-seven people scattered throughout this cavernous room, which could easily seat a joint session of congress. But I saw two familiar faces right away, Mary and Jenn, whose office is only a stone's throw from a proposesd Northampton County recidivism center. They're worried. I told them I'd drop by to show my solidarity.

"Really, Bern, you don't have to come. Aren't you regarded as some kind of --

- "Genius? True, but I'm actually pretty modest."

Funny thing. When Mary and Jenn saw me coming, they immediately got up to leave. They were probably getting cold feet about attending a public meeting. It's a good thing I came. I blocked the exit, walked them back to their pews, and told the old lady who had been sitting next to them that her house was on fire.

In this cathedral alone, you probably could house about a thousand prisoners. But that's not the plan and nothing about a work release center was on the commissions' lengthy agenda. Nevertheless, during courtesy of the floor, four people addressed all five commissioners.

Here's how courtesy of the floor works in Bethlehem Township. President Tom Nolan calls people up, pew by pew, just like Holy Communion. Joseph T. Perno, a Bethlehem Township resident who lives nowhere near this proposed facility, still opposes the idea. He was the lead off hitter. He argues this facility, especially when combined with a 132 room hotel that will be finished this month, will stretch municipal resouces to their breaking point. Bethlehem Township has only 23 patrolmen, two volunteer fire departments and just four ambulances.

After just three hours of circulating a petition, he was able to provide 115 signatures. A woman, accompanied by her young daughter, told commissioners that if a recidivism center comes to Bethlehem Township, her family will simply leave.

"Build it and they will come. But we will leave."

She provided another ten signatures. A third resident noted the center's proximity to Routes 191 and 22. "I would hate to think our community is a place where drugs are more readily available."

Batting cleanup was Jennifer Hodges. She told commissioners that the recidivism rate in Pike County has dropped from 63% to around 10%, thanks in large part to programs administered by its progressive warden. He even mailed her a packet of all the programs that are really working. She told the commission it is a mistake to call the Bethlehem Township proposal a "facility." "It is still a prison." She expressed reservations about the quality of personnel that a private buysiness would supply. What works best, according to Jenn, is "not sending people away from a prison to a place where there is no treatment, but keeping them at the prison and offering treatment programs there."

President Nolan told each speaker nothing is before them, and their concerns should be addressed to Northampton County Council.

After everyone had spoken, they went out in the lobby and were joined by just about everyone in the room, including two curious reporters. The meeting finioshed about two minutes after courtesy of the floor, and even more joined in this outside discussion. Total meeting time? Forty-two minutes.

Perno told reporters and the crowd that the county had already agreed to build another phase of the prison, expanding its size. That's news to me. He claims Northampton County Executive John Stoffa "is being unfair. He's already tried to take it to two other communities. The third time's the charm. The people I really feel bad for are in Lower Nazareth Township. Their residences are actually closer and they have no say." Northampton County's prison, built in 1871, is getting old, and Easton residents are just as unhappy about another expansion on their turf. One asks, "Why should Easton bear the burden of the rest of the county on this issue?"

In the meantime, Lehigh County will quietly forge ahead with its new treatment center, experiencing none of the controversy that has plagued the Northampton County proposals.

As Mary and Jenn quickly tried to leave, I invited them to join me at the Brazilian steak house.

"We're vegetarians."

-"But Mary, I saw you eating ham on rye on Friday."

"I switched over the weekend."

Lehigh County Plans to Expand Work Release Facility, With or Without Norco

Last week, I told you all about Abe Atiyeh, protector of homeless, prisoners, politicians and his pocket book. He throws money at pols like lottery tickets, but with a lot more success. His latest scheme is to con Northampton County into leasing its new work release facility from him. His first venture, in West Easton, went nowhere. But now he's selling the county - and he is one of the best pitchmen out there - on a tract in Bethlehem Township in the middle of an industrial park.

Problem solved, right? Wrong.

I searched through all the records of Northampton County yesterday, and neither Atiyeh nor any of his corporate shells own anything in that vicinity. He may have an option agreement, but it's unrecorded. Basically, he's scouring the area, hoping to find a site that he can then lease to the county for profit. Assuming Atiyeh buys and builds a work release facility, will he pay a living wage to his contractors, as the county is legally required when it builds something itself? I don't know, but let's not kid ourselves. His primary allegiance is to himself.

This site - located near Fritch Drive and Brodhead Road - has access to public water, but a local realtor informs me no public sewer is available. Bethlehem Township has no sewer capacity with Bethlehem.

So where are three hundred guys supposed to take a dump?

In the meantime, Bethlehem Township small business owners near this site are genuinely afraid. One of them, a young lady, informs me she is already afraid to walk to her car alone at night. When I offered to escort her, she got even more scared. She and many others plan on voicing their concerns at next Monday's Bethlehem Township's Supervisors' meeting.

While Northampton County stumbles along and runs after Atiyeh, alienating community after community, Lehigh County has quietly forged ahead with plans to expand its own work release facility, located near Route 378 in Salisbury Township. This center is so close to Northampton County, it can only be accessed by physically driving through Northampton County.

Established in 1989, Lehigh County's work release facility was never really built. That's too dignified a word. They just hauled in tractor trailers, stacked a few trailers next to each other, and threw in a few bunk beds and showers.

It was supposed to be a temporary solution.

Eighteen years later, they're finally getting around to a permanent structure. At last night's Lehigh County Commissioners' meeting, Dean Browning - who chairs the Planning Committee - introduced legislation (Bill 2008-09) for the design of a permanent work release facility, capable of housing five hundred inmates. In doing so, Browning noted that Lehigh County's work release population is currently 205. "If Northampton County chooses to join us, this would be an ideal time to do so."

Chairman Percy Dougherty was quick to agree. "I think it's a shame that Northampton County did not come on board with us. ... Maybe it's not too late."

Unlike Northampton, Lehigh has a facility. It has already introduced legislation to design a five hundred inmate recidivism center. It is very close to the homes and workplaces of most Northampton County work release inmates.

Now is the time to catch that train.

Blogger's Note: The difference between Northampton County Council and Lehigh County's Commissioners is like night and day. I will be posting a blog about that in the next few days.

Instead of Honest Abe, Why Not Deal With Don Cunningham?

On Friday, I told you about Honest Abe Atiyeh, protector of homeless, politician and his own pocketbook. Now, he wants to warehouse prisoners at county expense.

For Atiyeh, this makes perfect sense. The local real estate market is in the tank. In fact, it's actually going in reverse. Poor ol' Abe has had to put the brake on condos in land polluted by arsenic ("Arsenic Acres") and townhouses in a flood plain (he's offering free rafts to the first ten lot buyers).

That housing industry may be slow, but the prison biz is booming, baby! Lock 'em all up! In Northampton County alone, our new prison was over capacity less than a year after being built. In 2006, the US was housing a whopping 2.2 million people in jails. The land of the free has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

This is where Honest Abe comes in. As he explains things to Express Times ace reporter Sarah Cassi, "What if your family member got a DUI or wrote a bad check? Would you want them in a treatment center or sitting in Northampton County Prison? I feel this is going to be one of the most productive projects in Northampton County I think this is going to be a good thing we can all be proud of."

Especially Abe. He'll be collecting at least $10 million in rent checks on this deal for the next ten years. Imagine how many campaign coffers he can fill with that kind of dough!

For some reason, Bethlehem Township residents are unhappy over this possible deal. One of them tells me he's already fired off a letter to township supervisors, although they themselves have not been officially involved. Go figure!

"I am very involved with several schools and am starting a parent drive against the idea. I agree that something is needed. I am not taking the stand of not in my back yard. I am approaching it as the zoning in the area is considered a 'Dirty Zone'. It needs board approval at a zone hearing which is a public hearing. It is my contention that the township is not able to handle a facility that large. It is strained already for the police force. As a member of the Nancy Run Fire Company, I know it will stretch our manpower. We will have to use mutual aid forces to handle such a building. After all, even the new Courtyard Marriott is only a 132 bed hotel. You are talking 200-300 beds. I am starting the parent drive and any suggestions is welcomed. I have been over to the area and have spoken to a few business members who are already in the process of meetings in order to take some legal action to stop it. Wish us luck."

He's going to need it. He can't count on much help from his own county councilman, Lamont McClure, who accepted $1,000 from Honest Abe on 11/16/06. Atiyeh's business partner, Ramzi Haddad sweetened that pot with another $1,000 on 9/27/07. DA John Morganelli, godfather to one of McClure's children and employer of Mrs. McClure, raked in $51,000. Call me crazy, but I think McClure will just love the idea of a new prison center in Bethlehem Township.

What I don't understand is why Northampton County is spinning its wheels, looking at prison sites that nobody wants, when it can partner with Lehigh County. Let's face it, Don Cunningham makes everything look easy. Currently, Lehigh County is considering a a planned expansion of its work release facility located near Bethlehem. This is an ideal time and opportunity for Northampton to join forces with Lehigh for a joint work release facility and recidivism center.

Let Don Cunningham deal with any thorny political issues. That's his bag, baby. Stoffa and Cunningham, both regionalism advocates, might be able to solve this problem together. Stoffa's enemies will attack him day and night.

They'll think twice before taking a swing at Cunningham.

Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning, who chairs Lehigh County's planning committee, will be discussing the work release expansion on Wednesday at 6:30 PM. Perhaps someone from Northampton should drop by and say hi.

Women Behind Bars in Northampton County

"When I was raped for the first time by my uncle at the age of eleven, my aunt told me to smoke a joint to feel better."

That's the story of one Northampton County female inmate. She never had a chance.

Sadly, she's not alone. Lafayette College's Dr. Bonnie Winfield told Northampton County Council last night that seventy-five per cent of female inmates are themselves the victims of domestic abuse. Eight-five per cent become addicted to drugs.

Contrary to what we commonly think, few programs are available to women behind bars, at least on a county level. As Dr. Winfield explained, most have nothing when they leave. As a volunteer, Dr. Winfield has initiated a women's program, designed to create what she calls "circles of caring" on the outside. She believes efforts like hers might reduce the recidivism rate.

According to county exec Stoffa, the recidivism rate is 69% across the state. This certainly explains, at least in part, why Northampton County's prison population increases by about 100 every six months. But in Pike County, which has initiated programs like those being implemented by Dr. Winfield, recidivism is only 10%.

Northampton County Exec John Stoffa's new budget proposes a building with anti-recidivism programs for low-risk prisoners.

Pennsylvania's Slow Moving State Apparatchiks Ignore Prison Overcrowding

Blue Coyote's at it again. He got to me yesterday with the full text of Chief Justice Ralp Cappy's moving resignation letter. And now he's howling again. This time, it's over a state parole board that allows inmates to rot inside Northampton County's overcrowded prison.

Slow moving state apparatchiks? Not in Pennsylvania. Quelle surprise! And they did such a wonderful job clearing the highways last winter.

Northampton County Prison Population Sets New Record

Northampton County's latest prison expansion, just completed in June 2006, has a total capacity of 819. Less than a year later, it's over capacity. Director of Corrections Todd Buskirk tells me that yesterday, the prison population reached a new record of 827 prisoners. Of this number, 120 are authenticated or suspected gang members.

How's that for great county planning?

Update: The Morning Call has a detailed and well-written report on the prison "expansion," which was nothing more than a band aid.