DA Baratta Proposes Early Intercept Program at Jail

During last week's interview with NorCo DA Steve Baratta, he told me he had just completed and submitted a proposal for an early-intervention program at the jail. Tise program would use approximately $400,000 in opioid-related funding, not tax dollars.

Under this program, casweorkers will interview newly admitted inmates during classification to identify defendants whose criminal behavior is primarily the result of substance abuse or ongoing mental health problems.

For appropriate defendants present no public safety risks, Baratta wants to develop treatment plans and bring them before a judge for reconsideration of bail.

For peoplke who sit in jail with drug and mental health problems, and wait for six months to a year to get their case resolved, no one benefits from that," he remarked.

According to a 2018 assessment done by NorCo's health provider at the jail, 72% of inmates either are or were suffering a mental illness. A whopping 23% suffer from severe mental illness with current and acute symptoms.

That's what happens when you close state hospitals. Many of the people who belonged there end up at the jail or Gracedale.

When someone is jailed, the county bears the cost of housing and feeding an inmate. Moreover, incarcerated individuals are generally ineligible for Medicaid coverage, which means the county has to pay for medical expenses.

Baratta added that even though the jail is at half-capacity, it is "in turmoil because they can't manage their operations."They don't have enough corrections officers.

Lafayette Journalist Slams Gracedale Spending at NorCo Budget Hearing While DOH Pays Another Visit

Yesterday, NorCo Council conducted the first of four scheduled budget hearings to review Executive Tara Zrinski's proposed 43.5% tax hike next year. No amendments will be offered until next month, but it's pretty clear that Council is unhappy with Zrinski's spending plan. Several members of the public spoke in opposition as Jeff Ward reports in Lehigh Valley News Briefs. I was particularly struck by comments from Alexa Krabbe, a student journalist at The Lafayette. 

Lafayette's Landis Center provides Gracedale with student volunteers, but she reports that some have become wary as a result of patient safety and staffing issues that were never communicated to them.

We've heard numerous times from Executive Tara Zrinski and Council member Kelly Keegan that Gracedale must be great because they did such a good job of caring for their family members. But just as there is positive anecdotal evidence, there is also the negative. Krabbe stated, "One of the first things that I heard about Gracedale, when I got here, was never sent anybody that you care about to that home, because they will be subject to horrible treatment."

"One in 10 Americans over 60 years old is subject to abuse and mistreatment, and a nursing home that adds to that abuse is not useful in this county," she added. She argued that county tax dollars should be spent on things that actually benefit people.

As she spoke and Council listened, the state Department of Health was wrapping up yet another visit to the home. Hopefully, County Council will be told what's going on this time. From what I'm told, it's more bad news.

Details Emerge for Two of Three Deficiencies at Gracedale in September

Earlier this month, at the first-ever meeting of NorCo Council's Gracedale Oversight Committee, it was learned that the home, which is currently operating with a Provisional II license, was cited by the state Department of Health on September 10 and again on September 24 with three deficiencies. Two of these were "G" level deficiencies, meaning there was actual harm to a resident.

There was little detail about these violations at the meeting, but the September 10 deficiencies are now posted on the Department of Health website. 

The first violation involved a resident with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), traumatic brain injury, and spastic hemiplegia (a neuromuscular condition that causes muscle tightness and involuntary contractions in the limbs and extremities on one side of the body resulting in muscles on one side of the body). He has a swallowing problem and was placed on a special diet of soft food. Direct supervision is required when he eats.

On August 28, he began choking on a meal that was supposed to be pureed. Although he was supposed to be under supervision while eating, another resident slipped him part of a sandwich without notice by a nurse. He began to choke and the Heimlich maneuver failed. The resident had to be laid on his side and was subject to back thrusts until he spit out pieces of the sandwich. He was rushed to the hospital, where it was determined that he had acute respiratory failure with hypoxia from aspiration pneumonia. He remained in the hospital for four days.

Gracedale's nursing director admitted that the facility failed to provide adequae supervision.

The second violation occurred on August 22, and involves a resident suffering from ALS. Her medical plan requires that a gait belt be used when she is walking or moving from his wheelchair to a bed. A nurse's aide was assisting this resident in getting from his wheelchair to his bed when the resident began to cry and fall down. The nurse's aide had failed to use the required gait belt, but had the presence of mind to lower herself to the floor with the resident to break the fall and reduce injury. There is no indication that the resident suffered any harm.

Although one of these incidents is a "G" level deficiency, I'd agree that they pale in comparison to some of the other deficiencies found at Gracedale since Michelle Morton has been its Administrator. But deficiencies are still deficiencies, and even Executive Tara Zrinski concedes that the home will be in Provisional status a bit longer than had been hoped.

The details of the third incident are still unavailable for public review.

According to the CMS website, there is no indication that Gracedale was fined over either of these incidents.

Baratta Warns About NVE, a Disturbing New Form of Online Child Exploitation

During last week's interview with NorCo DA Steve Baratta, he warned of a new trend in crime called Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE), associated with online networks such as 764. Baratta said his office has encountered several cases involving the online grooming and exploitation of minors. Perpetrators, frequently young males, will manipulate teenage girls into self-harm, sexual exploitation and other disturbing conduct.

He described a recent investigation involving a juvenile male who allegedly persuaded a girl to cut herself, collect her blood, mix it with water and use it to paint a so-called blood wall containing images and slogans.

The girl recorded the activity and transmitted it electronically. The material was intercepted, allowing authorities to identify the juvenile male. Unfortuantely, at the time of the interview, investigators had yet to locate the girl and provide appropriate services.

In December or January, Baratta will begin training local police departments and school districts about this emerging threat, with the help of federal authorities. He wants to educate police, school personnel and children about online grooming, coercion and exploitation.

NorCo Council President Ken Kraft Unilaterally Decides to Stop Executive Reports

NorCo's Home Rule Charter specifically provides that County Council can require periodic reports from the Executive branch. Ron Angle, when he was Council President, suggested to fellow Council members many moons ago that it would be good for them, the administration and the public they serve, to provide an opportunity at every meeting for the county's top official to tell us what's going on. Council agreed. And so, the county executive report was born. It became a feature of every County Council meeting agenda. Until now. County Council President Ken Kraft has unilaterally decided to remove this feature from county council agendas

This tradition lasted through several Executives, starting with John Stoffa. Sometimes they had a lot to say. On other occasions, nothing at all.vs. 

Kraft has the authority as Council President to preside at meetings. By tradition, Council Presidents also set agendas and appoint county council committees. But he has no actual authority to make appointments or set agendas. He is little more than a first among equals. 

After she became Executive, Zrinski took the opportunity to deliver informative reports about what was going on in different county departments. Anyone with an actual interest in county government, instead of county politics, would find these useful. Not Kraft. He preferred that we know as little as possible, and pressured Zrinski to speed things up. When I complained, it was played off as a running joke. 

Not anymore. 

Although Zrinski has continued to provide these updates, she has also spent perhaps a bit more time than she should talking about herself. That's who she is, and she is far from the first politician to have a massive ego. During her report at last week's meeting, she went too far. She directly confronted several audience members who are understandably critical of her planned 43.5% tax hike. She also got emotional and had to choke back tears during the remainder of her report. 

It made her and County Council look bad.  

Kraft seized on that poor display to make a change. In an email sent to County Council members on Friday that has Lamont McClure's fingerprints all over it, Kraft made the unilateral decision to remove the Executive Report from future County Council agendas. "The objective is not to restrict questions or diminish accountability; it is to eliminate an unnecessary standing agenda item while preserving every Commissioner’s ability to obtain the information needed to perform their duties."

This is nonsense. When the county executive exercises the option of reporting on what is happening throughout different departments, she is providing accountability and transparency that also reaches members of the public who have no ability to ask questions of obtain this information any other way. 

This also enables both Council and the public to evaluate the kind of person who is speaking. Is she informative? Knowledgeable about county operations? A little too juvenile? Or instead, is she too pompous? Is she sincere? 

Kraft lacks the authority to do what he did. He is depriving both fellow Council members and the public from an opportunity to see their Exec in action and judge for themselves.  If he hates the idea that it adds 15 minutes to a meeting, he should resign. Hopefully County Council will reverse him at their next meeting. 

Let me tell what I've learned about watching and listening to her. She is working hard and grows more and more familiar with each department. She is a bit too jocular and laughs at the strangest times with very odd facial expressions. She talks a bit too much about herself. But she also has a deep desire to make the county a better place, is empathetic and is certainly sincere. 

We learn a lot from watching the Execs. What did I learn? John Stoffa displayed a deep sense of personal integrity combined with a wry humor. Brown was very knowledgeable about finance but had no empathy and hated saying more than was necessary. McClure by far was the most brilliant of the Execs and was often responsive to members of both Council and the public. He often would focus on one or two matters and sometimes used the Exec report to honor people. He was the first Exec to recognize that this report was a very useful too that combined good politics with good governance. Zrinski should have the same opportunity as other Execs.  

NorCo DA Steve Baratta Concerned About Three Suicides at Jail

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.

Congressional Candidate Bob Brooks Cancels Only Debate ith Incumbent Ryan Mackenzie

Bob Brooks, the Democratic nominee in the race for the Pa.-07 Congressional seat, has canceled his one and only debate with incumbent Republican Ryan Mackenzie. 

During the primary, Brooks received no accolades for his rhetorical skills. Mackenzie, on the other hand, did well in debates with former Congress member Susan Wild. 

The Brooks' campaign decided to drop out as a result of criticism over stealing from his own family, cheating his workers by paying no workmen's compensation insurance and lying on two separate applications for $30,000 in federally funded COVID grants. Brooks has issued a "cease and desist" letter to Mackenzie, which is probably sitting in a trash can right now. 

I suspect there would be two good reasons for Brooks to refuse to debate.

One, he is so far ahead in polling that it makes little sense for him to give any visibility to his opponent. Given that Mackenzie is an incumbent Congressman whose campaign is well-funded, he's already visible.

Two, Brooks will do very poorly. That's the more likely explanation. This is a guy who basically cheated his own family and lied about a judgment they obtained against him when he applied for COVID money. That's pretty sleazy. 

I also am disappointed that anyone who believes in our democratic republic would refuse to let the people see him for what he is, bad or good. 

Zrinski's Proposed 43.5% Tax Hike a Factor in Emrick-Warren State House Race

NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski's proposed 43.5% property tax hike has worked its way into the state house race between incumbent Joe Emrick and challenger Jeff Warren. While I would expect Warren to be part of a blue wave that sweeps Republicans out of office in this year's local races and midterms, Zrinski's unpopular proposal could cost him the election.

Warren, along with Ken Kraft and Kelly Keegan, have thus far been Zrinski's loyal lapdogs, as they were for former Exec Lamont McClure. But loyalty in politics can be very short-lived if it has political consequences. But he now claims that "she blind-sided the community, and she blind-sided county leadership as well, without seeking input or working towards solutions before announcing it."

Zrinski, in fact, has told County Council repeatedly that the tax man cometh. She has also hinted that a reassessment is needed.  

Warren has previously stated that he would be very troubled by a county council that provides "oversight," although they, and not Zrinski, are actually the governing body. 

What has happened is precisely what can be expected when Council members like Warren abdicate their responsibility. His failure to provide that oversight is precisely why Zrinski, and McClure before her, felt they could operate with impunity. 

Warren has said on his Facebook page that he opposes Zrinski's 43% tax hike. "When Executive Zrinski brushes this off as just $25 more a month, it does show how out of touch she is with household budgets."

There have been 30 mailers in this state house race, and most are garbage. But this one will hurt. 

Former NorCo Exec Defends His No-Tax-Hike Budgets, Justifies Kicking Can Down the Road

As most of you know, NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski has proposed raising property taxes by 43.5%. County Council will never agree. Even her closest allies there have distanced themselves from a very unpopular spending plan. At last week's Council meeting, she nearly broke down in tears as she tried to justify it to an unpersuadable public. Partisan Republicans are opposed to any hike at all, even if it means drastic cuts in services. But more open-minded Republicans and many others would agree with her goals. Employees are paid far too little, and that needs to change, especially in the county's 24/7 operations. The county needs to keep its retirement accounts funded. Its rainy-day fund is depleted. Necessary repairs to county infrastructure have been deferred. Even the county's commitment to open space to the tune of $3 million a year was shortchanged in the last budget. Without naming names, Zrinski has laid the blame for this financial morass on former Executive Lamont McClure. In a recent Facebook post, he explains why he never sought and actually reduced taxes.  I'll post what he says, and tomorrow, I'll give you the perspective of District Attorney Steve Baratta and his fractious relationship with McClure

The recent news that my successor as County Executive has proposed raising real estate property taxes an astonishing 43% has caused a furor. It’s also raised several questions in the minds of citizens about the decisions we made over the last 8 years. In this and other mediums, I will try and answer the most common and salient questions I get asked. The first one I will tackle is why didn’t we incrementally raise taxes over the years to avoid a huge increase in one year ? (This is long and you may need to take a nap while reading, and if you’re not from Northampton County, you may want to use it to combat insomnia, but here we go.)

First, I disagree that a 43% increase this year is necessary or warranted. But, that’s a different post. I’m only going to discuss the 7 no tax increase budgets in this post as the 2022 tax cut deserves its own treatment.

Second, the last 8 years were dominated by the COVID-19 Global Pandemic. The economy was crushed when the Country shut down, and after the attempts at rescuing the economy supercharged inflation it would have been economically counterproductive and overly burdensome to place an additional property tax obligation on our taxpayers.

Third, in order to attempt to rescue the economy the Congress, during the first Trump Administration passed The Cares Act, and during the Biden Administration it passed The American Rescue Plan. Northampton County directly received $63,000,000.00 from these two Acts of Congress. Gracedale received many millions more directly as did Emergency Management and the Area Agency on Aging. Northampton County received tens of millions of dollars in aid and it would have been immoral to raise taxes while that money was coming into the coffers. (An approximate total of 90 million dollars.)

Fourth, when I took office, Northampton County was normally keeping surpluses of 60-100 million dollars per year. There was no need to raise taxes just to keep citizens money sitting in our bank accounts. I’ll talk more about this when I discuss the 2022 tax cut. Fifth, philosophically during my time on County Council and as County Executive, I came to view the real estate property tax as regressive. This is ironic in that when the property tax was conceived it was the ultimate progressive tax, however, after WWII and the GI Bill, home ownership was democratized and now the people being asked to bear a great burden are middle class seniors on a fixed income.

Sixth, while I’m a Democrat, I also found myself in the context of the property tax, and the way Northampton County had budgeted for so long, to be an avowed tax cutter. While on County Council I tried to cut the millage rate 5 or 6 times, and by now you know what I did in 2022. Seventh, I ran in 2017 for County Executive promising not to raise property taxes, and I won convincingly. When I ran for re-election in 2021, I promised not to raise property taxes. I kept my promises to people of Northampton County.

Eighth, during all 8 of our years we never had to cut any core or vital services such that we would have needed a tax increase. In fact, we expanded services.

Ninth, the politics of taxes are very tricky anywhere, but especially for Democrats in one of the most Purple counties in the Country. I was personally involved in two elections where we wrested control from the Republicans, and both times it was because they had raised taxes. The first time was in 2005 when we took the County Council majority as the Republicans raised taxes 64%. The second was when I defeated John Brown in 2017 after he and his Republican Council majority raised taxes by 1 mil.

Tenth, I take full responsibility for the 8 budgets that I proposed and passed. I’m quite proud of my record, but it’s worth noting that our 9 member County Council is the Governing Body of Northampton County. Only County Council can establish the millage rate. At any time, during those 8 budgets, any 6 members of County Council could have raised taxes “incrementally.” They would have needed 6 because I would have vetoed it, but I digress. Only once during the 11th hour of the 8th budget did any member [former Council member Ron Heckman] propose raising taxes even 1 mil. That motion died for failure of a second.

In his 10-point manifesto, McClure fails to address the poor morale and turnover, his refusal to fully fund open space and the sub-par salaries paid to county employees. Whether he likes it or not, he certainly appears to have balanced budgets on the backs of county workers. His philosophical objection to property tax is no justification for treating workers like shit. 

Zrinski has clearly gone too far, but her goal of providing a decent wage is something that must be pursued.   

UPDATE: Zrinski Frustrated by Public Criticism of 2027 Budget

In a rather disappointing Facebook Live, NorCo Executive Tara Zrionski unveiled her 2027 spending plan on October 2. She proposed a roughly 43.5% increase in property taxes, increasing the millage rate from 10.5 to about 15.6 mills. Instead of recognizing the heavy burden she hopes to impose on property owners. she displayed a jocular attitude with stray tangents and inappropriate laughter. She even arrived late although she said, "Nothing happens without me." If she expected the public to laugh along with her, she was wrong. Social media exploded with indignation. That anger continued at last night's first meeting of County Council since she released her budget. 

Her own Administrator and Joe Welsh, Zrinski's head cheerleader, spoke in support of the spending plan. Everyone else was angry. Some speakers who know little about county government or any government, for that matter, made County Council their whipping boys. But most members of the public pointed directly at Zrinski. When it was her turn to speak, she did the same thing she did during the Gracedale Oversight Committee hearing. She got emotional and confrontational. Perhaps a bit too emotional. At times, she appeared to be beating back tears. 

Though she thanked people for coming, she was clearly frustrated and surprisingly unprepared for criticism suggesting that she did not understand or appreciate the burden her proposal would impose on taxpayers.

"You can tell me that I don't. And that's fine because you have already decided what you believe about me and this budget," she stated.

She then rather condescendingly urged residents to go home, obtain the proposed budget from the county website and examine it themselves. She also challenged residents to identify specific spending reductions they would support.

"You tell me which employees should not get raises. You tell me which services we should cut. You tell me what part of Gracedale should I sell? Should I burn down the prison?"

Instead of addressing County Council, which is the point of an Executive Report, Zrinski instead faced the public and began to argue. She was asked several times to speak into the microphone.  "Don't tell me to stop, she said at one point, though she later started using the mike.  

"It is very difficult to hear all of these comments at once," she declared. They are the same comments that have been appearing day after day on the county's Facebook page.  She also told those present that she appreciated their contributions and wanted them to understand that she was listening.

She characterized the 2027 budget as an effort to fulfill the county's responsibilities to employees, retirees and residents while addressing long-neglected infrastructure needs.

She identified four principal priorities:

- Providing adequate compensation and support for county employees.

- Maintaining services upon which county residents depend.

- Repairing county facilities whose maintenance has been deferred.

- Honoring commitments made to employees, retirees and the public.

Zrinski acknowledged that her proposed budget would be difficult for taxpayers to accept.

I will also be difficult for County Council to accept. They are no doubt sharpening their budget knives. 

UPDATE: There may be a lag between you submitting comments and me being able to publish. I am headed to Philly foir the annual Philly Bike Ride, which I love to do every year. On Sunday, my grandson and I are goingh to see the Eagles, thanks to his girlfriend, who got him tickets for his birthday. I won't be back 'till late Sunday.

Let me add here that Zrinski's public response to the Grand Jury report, her poor presentation of the budget during a Facebook Live, have all been far more emotional than I usually see. But I do believe, and many of you agree, that she wants to do the right thing by everyone and has a big heart. She has had a lot of cheerleaders so it's good for her to hear some criticism, even if some of it is unfair.

I agree completely that a tax hike is needed. Any of you who fail to see this are wrong. Talk to former and current Council members. Talk to her. We have to be able to pay people more money. In the end, that is what this about. It is time to stop balancing the budget on the backs of the hard workers, and yes, they do work hard.

NorCo DA Steve Baratta "Inclined" to Seek Second Term

Yesterday, I sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Northampton County DA Steve Baratta. I had a lot of questions, and he had plenty of answers. What has he accomplished in his first term as the county's chief prosecutor?  What kind of criminal activity is trending? What are his thoughts about three recent suicides at the jail? What can he do to help inmates who might be better off elsewhere? What's his assessment of Executive Tara Zrinski? (He is much kinder to her than you might think). What does his office need? Most importantly, is he going to seek a second term? I'll be providing a detailed account of what he said in postings next week. For now, I'll tell you that he's likely to seek a second term. 

"My wife doesn't want me to run," he confessed. But he later said, "I think I am inclined right now. One more term, I think. I'm not old. I have a lot of energy. I still want to work."

He said it's too early for him to leave. "I want to be more involved in community outreach. If I'm going to leave, I'm going to leave a legacy or a footprint for the next DA to understand what is needed right now, and to have an infrastructure to continue."

Baratta has devoted his entire career to the county in various roles - assistant county solicitor, First Assistant DA, President Judge and now, as District Attorney. 

I will support him if he runs. After you read what he says about the various serious issues he's confronting, you will, too.  

Embattled NorCo Court Administrator Now Faces Felony Charge

In September, Lehigh Valley Live reported that Northampton County's Court Administrator Jermaine Greene was the subject of a temporary Protection from Abuse Order (PFA) based on allegations by his wife that he soaked his wife's clothing in gasoline, broke her rib and threatened to kill her. 

A temporary PFA is based on allegations alone. But Greene was charged by Pennsylvania State Police with criminal mischief as a summary offense based on his wife's allegation that he soaked her clothing in gasoline on August 22, I posted a story.  Now it's time for another. 

Greene has been charged again by Pennsylvania State Police, but now it's a felony. He's been charged both with burglary, a second-degree felony, and harassment as a summary offence based on a new incident occurring on September 4. 

Under Pennsylvania law, "A person commits the offense of burglary if, with the intent to commit a crime therein, the person: ... enters a building or occupied structure, or separately secured or occupied portion thereof that is adapted for overnight accommodations in which at the time of the offense any person is present."

In addition, the temporary PFA is now permanent, meaning he's barred from contacting his wife for three years. 

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 18, 10 am, before Magisterial District Judge Jamie Levy in Monroe County. 

A second-degree felony charge is a serious accusation in Pa. It carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $25,000.   

The courts have previously declined comment but it's abundantly clear that Greene's career is over. Judges are reportedly looking for a new court administrator.  

Gracedale By the Numbers

I've written three times about last week's Gracedale's Oversight Committee meeting. Continuum of Care Director Tom Carson has told NorCo Council established that an operational assessment they obtained in 2023 has been largely ignored by a former county executive who opposed it. We learned that the county's CNA training program was actually stopped by the state Department of Health. We also discovered that Gracedale, currently operating with a provisional II license, had two G-level deficiencies (actual harm) in September and failed to inform County Council. Most astonishingly, the very matter that led to an investigating grand jury had still been unresolved. There still is no formal protocol between Upper Nazareth police and Gracedale on 911 calls despite several attempts by the police to establish one. I'll finish my reporting about this meeting with some of the facts presented by Administrator Michelle Morton.

Employment Hires & Separations. - From January through August, Gracedale had 78 new hires, but lost 59. 

Open AFSCME positions (incorrectly spelled as AFCME) in Morton's report - In Dining, there are 43 positions, of which 23 are staffed. In Housekeeping, there are 54 staffed positions, of which 16 are open. In nursing there are openings for 319 CNAs, with only 69 positions staffed. There are 51 LPN positions staffed, with another 134 unfilled.  

Why did Executive Tara Zrinski raise the salaries of front-line workers before the nursing supervisors. She said the union actually asked her to raise the wages of nursing supervisors first. She added that the large number of open positions "will get better if you throw money at it." 

There are many dedicated employees, including 11 people with 30-35 years at the home. 

What about RNs? Morton failed to provide that information. 

Admissions. - Gracedale has had only 48 admissions this year through July. Over that same period, 56 residents have left. Average daily census dropped from 493 in January to 463 in August. 

Finances  - Gracedale is projected to lose about $2.3 million in 2026 according to one slide, but in another the loss is about $1 million. 

NorCo Council Needs to Adopt Rules Concerning Social Media Use

Northampton County employs a full-time communications director who periodically provides informational posts about what is happening in the county, like the need for a few more elections workers or drop box locations. But increasingly, the person paid by taxpayers is using a governmental social media platform to instead promote both the county executive as well as her agenda. This needs to change and the best way for that to happen is by having County Council adopt a social policy ordinance to prevent elected officials from self-promotion or advocacy on issues that have yet to be endorsed by the governing body. It should never be used to promote a private business. Both of these happened on Sunday. 

In a Facebook post, the "County of Northampton" on Sunday posted a message that promotes Executive Tara Zrinski's proposed tax hike with the argument that seniors and the disabled can apply to the state for a rebate. This leaves the realm of information and goes into advocacy to promote a tax hike that has yet to be adopted by the governing body. If the County Exec wishes to engage in advocacy or self-promotion, she should do so from her own Facebook page and use her own resources, not a communications director employed by the county. 

Even more disturbing than the position advocacy or self-promotion, the county's official Facebook page was also used to promote a real estate agent who could "help" you determine what your home is worth. This real estate agent then misrepresents that there is only one county hearing on Zrinski's proposed tax hike. "Just reach out to me, I'm your neighbor. .... If you're a homeowner in Northampton County, I'm here to help," says the real estate agent. 

There will actually be five budget hearings before adoption, rejection or amendment of the Proposed 2027 budget. They will happen on October 21, 2026, October 28, 2026, November 4, 2026, and November 18, 2026 and December 3, 2026. All the October and November meetings will be at 4:30 p.m. The December 3 meeting will start at 6:30 pm.

County Council's social media policy ordinance should bar the use of a government page from promoting elected officials or advocating issues that have yet to be decided by the governmental body. It should be used instead to share useful information about the county and its departments. 

Are We Going to Cheapen Humanity by Livestreaming Executions?

Though I'm an old fart who's seen many things, I've never actually witnessed the violent death of another human being. I've seen its immediate aftermath a few times. It stays with you forever. I remember going with my father for some reason to the south side Bethlehem home of a man who killed his son in a rage. Blood was everywhere, along with cockroaches crawling up and down walls and along the floor as women wailed. It stays with you. It changes you. It is why I believe most combat veterans are so unwilling to discuss their experience. It changes the murderer, too. I've seen it in their eyes, if I look long enough. The warm light of humanity flickers and then is gone. What's left is death.

As I'm sure most of you know, the US military plans to livestream the firing squad execution of a mass murderer who himself was an Army psychiatrist. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended this, saying it is a way to restore American values. I believe it erodes them and debases us, not just as Americans, but as human beings. 

Hopefully, President Donald Trump will stop this madness. I'm not holding my breath. 

A 2023 Operational Assessment of Gracedale, Paid for By Taxpayers, Collected Dust for Three Years

Northampton County Council's Wednesday discussion with Continuum of Care Director Thomas Carson and Gracedale Administrator Michelle Morton included a detailed discussion of the 2023 Affinity operational assessment. at Gracedale. 

This report was ordered by a previous County Council over former Executive Lamont McClure's veto. Council thought it would be helpful to have some "outside lens" on Gracedale. Tara Zrinski, then a Council member, supported McClure's veto. 

This outside performance audit has pretty much been collecting dust since that time. After Michelle Morton was hired as Administrator in March 2025, it was never provided to her. She told County Council on November 9, 2025, that she had yet to see this report. When she testified before the Investigating Grand Jury on December 30, 2025, she still had failed to read it. 

Carson has. 

He told Council it produces a remarkably candid picture of the problems facing Gracedale. This raises questions about why many of the report's recommendations were not addressed sooner. Carson suggested Gracedale use the 2023 Affinity report as a blueprint and give current management time to implement its recommendations. He noted many of its findings and recommendations are the same issues he has been reporting to now County Executive Tara Zrinski.

Carson plans to meet with Gracedale's administration and nursing leadership and go through the Affinity report line by line to determine what needs to be done. "I'm not going to stand here before this committee and suggest everything is fine when the facts tell us otherwise," he declared. But he also stressed that Gracedale's problems are only a part of "the entire story." He has met employees who have devoted years and even decades to Gracedale and remain deeply committed to its residents.

Carson said employees want leadership that listens, communicates, holds people accountable and is present. His commitment to Council was straightforward: "I will tell you what I know, I will tell you what we are doing about it, and I will be accountable for the results."

Affinity findings that Gracedale had no referral tracking system, was poorly marketing itself and had no formal daily "standout" or shift-turnover meetings, have remained poorly addressed. But the most striking part of Carson's presentation involves employee morale.

The Affinity report said employees felt demoralized by negative media coverage and the frequent public discussion of Gracedale's problems. Carson said that finding remains relevant. He mentioned one employee had told him that she covers the Gracedale logo on her sweatshirt when leaving the facility because she is embarrassed to be identified with Gracedale.

WAGES AND AGENCY STAFFING

Affinity found that Gracedale's wages were noncompetitive. Three years later, that is still the case. Carson said some employees struggle to make ends meet, feel forgotten by the county, and many leave for higher-paying jobs. He described compensation as a "critical" problem.

Carson said the recent increase in nursing-supervisor pay was a step in the right direction and that paying all nursing staff more could result in the elimination of agency nursing. The Affinity report said Gracedale spent approximately $11.3 million on agency staffing in 2022. Now it's roughly twice that amount.

In one positive note, nine people were beginning new-hire orientation last week, the largest number Carson has seen since he arrived a few weeks ago. 

Only one is a nursing supervisor, but Carson "hopes" at least 90% of the supervisor positions are filled by the first quarter of 2027. 

WHY WAS THE 2023 REPORT SHELVED?

Council member Dave Holland asked Carson perhaps the most important question of the evening: Why was Council only discussing a taxpayer-funded 2023 report in October 2026 when it contained apparently relevant concerns?

Carson was unable to answer because he was not at Gracedale in 2023 and could only speculate that someone the report was unneeded.

AGENCY CONTRACT AND RATES

Council member Nadeem Qayyum had questions about the disparity between county and agency hourly rates.

Examples cited during the meeting included:

CNA: $17.88 county versus $36.40 agency.

LPN: $25.50 county versus $53.20 agency.

RN: $32.60 county versus $84 agency.

Morton acknowledged that agency rates are substantially higher.

THE CNA TRAINING PROGRAM WAS STOPPED BY DOH

Council member Lori Vargo Heffner asked what happened to a CNA training program that had once been used to recruit workers. Morton said originally that the program had been placed on hold because too many people were using it to obtain their CNA training and then leaving for jobs elsewhere. She later told the truth, admitting that the state DOH actually removed Gracedale's training certificate as a result of deficiencies, meaning the facility currently is unable to operate the CNA training program. 

Vargo Heffner asked whether Gracedale could require trainees to remain employed for a certain period or repay training costs if they leave. Morton said Pennsylvania law prevents the county from simply imposing such a requirement. She was asked to send the legal authority to Council's Solicitor for review. 

In effect, Gracedale was spending money and staff time training people who were not necessarily staying at Gracedale.

Morton also said Gracedale's population has changed. Whereas the facility had historically been more heavily geriatric, it now has many more residents with mental-health issues and associated behavioral challenges.

Management decided that staff-development resources would be better spent providing additional training to existing employees.

There was also a second problem: following an abuse incident last July, the Department of Health removed Gracedale's training certificate, meaning the facility currently cannot operate the CNA training program.

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS 

Though Carson appeared sincere, he was hesitant and neither he nor Administrator Micheelle Morton were able to answer fully at least seven substantive questions or information requests.

1. How many Gracedale employees are covered by union contracts?

2. How many union positions are filled and how many are vacant?

3. How many employees are outside the union?

4. The biggest unanswered question was posed by Council member Jason Bouletter. How many county-employed nurses are required to operate a 450-bed Gracedale without agency nurses? - Both Carson and Morton looked like deer caught in the headlights when asked a pretty important financial and resident care question.

5. What were the exact dates of the three new Department of Health citations?

6. When will the agency contract receive a formal audit, and what would that audit show?

7. Why were the recommendations in the 2023 Affinity report not fully implemented before 2026?

There were also several questions that initially received incomplete answers and required Council members to press for clarification, particularly concerning agency staffing, the formal shift-change meetings and the CNA training program.

THE BIGGER ISSUE

The testimony creates an interesting paradox.

Carson and Morton both essentially agreed that the Affinity report identified legitimate problems. They also agreed that many of those problems are still relevant. What's troubling is that several problems identified in 2023 — referral tracking, marketing, employee morale, communication, accountability and staffing — remain issues three years later.

And the biggest unanswered question may be the one Carson was asked directly: Why did a taxpayer-funded report identifying these problems in 2023 apparently sit without being fully implemented until the current administration began addressing them?

Carson's answer was essentially that he was employed elsewhere and hence was unable to explain what happened. Morton's explanation was that current management independently identified many of the same issues and has been working on them since she arrived.

That leaves an important accountability question for County Council: Who was responsible for implementing the Affinity recommendations between 2023 and the arrival of the current Gracedale leadership, and why were so many of them still outstanding three years later?

Two words. Lamont McClure. He bristled at the notion of an operational assessment and simply ignored it. 

(More to come on Monday). 

Gracedale Still Has No Protocol with Upper Nazareth Police for 911 Calls

 On June 23, 2025, repeated calls to 911 occurred when Octavia Robinson, an agency nurse who was suffering some sort of mental health breakdown, decided to perform an exorcism on a resident (E.B.) by assaulting her. In addition to sticking fingers down E.B.'s throat and stuffing clothes and towels into E.B's mouth, Robinson was seen pounding E.B.'s back and chest with her fist, screaming that there was a demon inside E.B. This assault continued for 30 minutes before police responded. She was seriously injured and died shortly after the assault though her death was unrelated to the assault. 

In the 14 months that have passed since this incident, the county has yet to establish an official protocol with police concerning 911 calls and what is or is not an emergency. My understanding is that when receiving a 911 call, the dispatcher will first contact Gracedale to determine whether there is a real emergency. But no formal policy has been established, even after residents made multiple calls to 911 about a mentally ill nurse who was allegedly assaulting a resident. On June 23, three calls had to be made before a nursing supervisor got off her ass to check out the complaint. Then it was she who placed the fourth call. 

It is this incident, and an obvious breakdown in communications between Gracedale and Upper Nazareth police, that led District Attorney Steve Baratta to commence a Grand Jury investigation. You would think that something that sparked a grand jury investigation might induce Gracedale and county administrators to establish a formal policy. According to Upper Nazareth Tp Police Chief William Cope, he has reached out several times and has written to the county but has been ignored. 

At Wednesday's Gracedale Oversight Committee hearing, Continuum of Care Director Tom Carson told Council member Jason Boulette that he asked for a meeting but has received no response. 

But he only asked for a meeting this week. ... 14 months after an assault in which a resident could easily have been killed. 

Boulette told Carson that Chief Cope requested a meeting in June and after the Grand Jury report, releases a statement saying that he had followed up on that letter and had requested a meeting. 

"I've been in contact with him," said Boulette. "I know he's been reaching out and trying to get a meeting."

I don't know about you, but I am simply astonished that Gracedale has made no effort to establish a formal 911 protocol.  Administrator Michelle Morton should have been on top of this as soon as it became clear that three 911 calls were made before a nursing supervisor decided to do her job.

This is clear mismanagement, and it has continued until now. 

Third Suicide at NorCo Jail

In late June, I told you that there had been two suicides at NorCo jail within the span of 10 days. Executive Tara Zrinski has acknowledged a third suicide on September 23. 

Pedro Santiago-Espinosa, age 38, was described in an obituary as a "free spirit" and a Liberty High grad.  But he also had an extensive criminal history.  He had just finished an arson trial on September 21 and was found guilty in February of indecent assault. He had been sentenced to 5 1/2 to 11 years in state prison on that charge but was in NorCo's jail for the arson case. 

Gracedale Had Two Serious Deficiencies in September and Failed to Notify NorCo Council

The long-awaited first-ever meeting of the Gracedale Oversight Committee was finally conducted yesterday afternoon. Though there are only four members, all of  NorCo Council, with the exception of Jeff Warren, were present. This heavy attendance is what'll happen when an Executive proposes a 43.5% tax hike and wants $12 million to go to Gracedale. 

Chair Kelly Keegan, who voted against establishing a Gracedale Oversight Committee, explained yesterday why she waited so long to call a meeting. She said she wanted to give Tom Carson, the newly appointed Director of the newly created Continuum of Care department, some time to familiarize himself with his new role. She said she'd take responsibility for the delay, and I can accept her reasoning after watching him yesterday. I'd say he even needs more time.

It was a very lengthy meeting and I will provide more detail in a separate post. But for now, I want to focus on two September inspections that resulted in G-level deficiencies — a classification described as involving actual harm to a resident. We'll learn more about them when the state Department of Health (DOH) posts its surveys. There was also a third, less serious, deficiency.

At a meeting in early February, Council member Dave Holland requested that County Council be immediately notified whenever DOH visits Gracedale because there is a 41-day lag between when a visit occurs and when it is posted online. He was assured that Council would be notified, but that never happened. 

Holland: "So you're telling me you had a survey on September 10 and there was a G?

Administrator Michelle Morton: "Correct."

Holland: "That's the first time this County Council is hearing that. Does anyone else have that information?"

Morton: "I believe that was sent in." 

Holland: "I'm telling you No. Whose responsibility is it to notify this Council when we have surveys because that did not happen? Anybody in the room? Anybody? Whose responsibility is it to do that?"

At this point, Executive Tara Zrinski said that function would have been up to the Human Services Director but now belongs to Carson. She apologized that she failed to make that duty clear to him.

This communication failure is significant because Gracedale remains on a Provisional II license. Pennsylvania records identify Gracedale as operating under that provisional status, following deficiencies that resulted in the downgrade.

As miffed as he was about the failure to notify Council of two serious deficiencies, Holland said the more serious issue was the new G-level deficiencies and what it could mean for Gracedale's provisional license. He had been encouraged that Gracedale might be moving toward getting out of provisional status, but that new G-level deficiencies could make that more difficult.

Zrinski acknowledged that losing the license was theoretically possible but argued that the latest incident was different from previous problems and that the appropriate response was to correct the problems rather than assume the facility would fail. "We are not going to lose this license," she flatly insisted. She said remained optimistic.

Council member Theresa Fadem was less optimistic. "I support optimism, but what's going to happen if we lose this license? Why are we being asked to fund another $12 million? I don't understand what is going on here. We're throwing money at a problem and we could just lose Gracedale. What is happening"

Zrinski rejected the notion that the county was simply "throwing $12 million" at Gracedale. She said the $12 million represents a budgeted county contribution based on what the county wants Gracedale to become, rather than what the facility looks like today.

She downplayed the G-level deficiencies saying "they are not as horrific as you think. We are not going to lose this license." She argued Gracedale only gets more attention because of a critical Grand Jury report. She also blamed agency nurses, claiming, "We need our eyes on people. That's how things like this happen."

Fadem remained unpersuaded. "How do we expect to attract more people to Gracedale when we keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results? Isn't that what somebody called the definition of insanity?"

Zrinski: "I do understand the definition of insanity." She then went on to say that other nursing homes have problems, too, referring to an incident at Moravian Hall Square. But Fadem noted that Gracedale, unlike Moravian Hall Square, is a publicly run facility. Zrinski then said she is putting out fires daily.

Council member Keegan, who is a nurse, told Zrinski that she would be sure to keep her eyes on patients with histories of problems. She said she wants to hear that every single employee is staring at the residents to ensure they don't fall, they don't choke or have other issues that can be prevented. Zrinski sarcastically suggested bubble wrap, but no one laughed "We want to hear that employees are taking extra care because this is serious," said Keegan.

Zrinski then got emotional. "Things can happen in a second. And when they do, you think, 'I should have been watching." And you blame yourself. You can't think that all of us sitting here today haven't thought, 'Damn it. We failed again.' because we do. That goes through our heads. And we're trying so hard. This is not easy."

She then returned to her seat.

This emotional exchange indicates that Gracedale's problems are beginning to take a toll on Zrinski, who does seem intent on keeping a poor administrator and unwilling to look into other publicly run nursing homes. 

The next Gracedale Oversight Committee will be December 2 at 4 pm.

I will report on other aspects of the meeting tomorrow.

Gracedale's Oversight Committee Will Finally Meet Today

Northampton County Council voted on July 2 to establish a Gracedale Oversight Committee. Over three months later, and after a critical Grand Jury Report, it will finally have its inaugural meeting today at 3:45 pm. It was scheduled during a non-meeting week and in the middle of the afternoon in what appears to be an attempt to discourage some Council members from attending.

The Committee is chaired by Council member Kelly Keegan, who voted against its formation. Council President Ken Kraft, who also voted against establishing this committee, is also a member. The other two members are Council members Dave Holland, who proposed this review panel, as well as Theresa Fadem. 

The Committee will first review a 2023 operational assessment that was ordered by a previous County Council over the objections of then Exec Lamont McClure. When Gracedale Administrator Michelle Morton appeared before County Council on November 6, she admitted that she had never read the report and appeared to be unaware of it. When she testified before an Investigating Grand Jury on 12/30/25, she still had failed to read it. 

The Committee is slated to receive a report from Tom Carson, the newly appointed Director of the newly established Continuum of Care. He has no experience in nursing home administration or nursing but said he would bring leadership and would speak to every employee at Gracedale. I'd like to know if he has. 

There will then be a discussion of "public image," which obviously is suffering as a result of both a critical Grand Jury Report as well as the numerous and serious deficiencies at the home since Michelle Morton became Administrator. Keegan likes to say she wants to hear about all the good things at the home. I'll be happy to report on objective findings like an upgrade in the Provisional II license or the removal of the abuse tag and a drop in the number of deficiencies. Unfortunately, the scuttlebutt is that the home has been cited with three new deficiencies within the past three weeks.  

Morton is slated to make her own presentation. I'd like her to explain how she is entitled to a one-step increase in salary when the home has been cited repeatedly since she's been there, and as recently as three weeks ago if the rumors are true.

I'd like to know why the DON, ADONs and assistant administrator are getting two-step raises in a home that is seriously challenged, especially when other career service workers are overlooked. This hardly restores morale. 

I'd like to know if a protocol has been established on handling 911 calls. I find it astonishing that, as of the date of the Grand Jury Report's publication, there still was no understanding on such an important public safety issue. Over 15 months have ensued since numerous 911 calls were made before Upper Nazareth police responded to a mentally ill nurse who was performing an exorcism. On at least two occasions, nurses said nothing was going on. Has a protocol been established? What is it? 

Recently, at Executive Tra Zrinski's request, County Council voted to establish significant payraises for 26 nursing supervisors ($52 an hour). Zrinski claimed that some agency nurses told her they would become county employees if this happened. How many agency nurses have become county employees? How many nursing supervisors have been hired since this increase? 

Gracedale needs $12 million from the county coffers in 2027. Previously, Administrator Michelle Morton and Human Services Director Sue Wandalowski assured Council that Gracedale would be only slightly over budget. What happened?  Before proposing a continuum of care, did Zrinski do a long-range plan about finances as well as the trend for seniors to age in place rather than be packed like sardines in a warehouse to await their deaths? 

How much should taxpayers have to spend to keep Gracedale operational? Sure, there's a moral obligation to care for the elderly, but that should include seniors on fixed incomes who are struggling to pay taxes.