Bethlehem Tp Comm'rs Table Library Referendum, Hear V-7 Redevelopment Plan

Jim Broughal (L) and Mike Hudak (R)

I told you yesterday that Bethlehem Township's Commissioners want voters to decide whether to remain part of The Bethlehem Area Public Library. Earlier this month, they voted 4-0 (Tom Nolan was absent) to direct Solicitor Jim Broughal to prepare a question in time for the primary election. But last night, they voted unanimously to table the matter.

Initiatives and referenda are examples of direct democracy, but Pennsylvania law severely limits their use. Courts have directed county election boards to reject initiatives and referenda that seek advisory opinions from the public on controversial topics. In a memo to Commissioners before last night's meeting, Broughal explained that the Library Code limits referenda to these four matters: (1) levying a special tax for the establishment and maintenance of a local library; (2) remaining part of a county library when there is a pre-existing local library; (3) participation in a “district library center cooperative program;” and (4) a bond issue for the construction or purchase of a library building.

Only the first of these has any application to continued participation in Bethlehem Area Public Library, so Broughal came up with this question: "Do the voters of Bethlehem Township desire that the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township levy a special tax on all taxable property within Bethlehem Township to be used exclusively for the establishment and maintenance of and aid to a local library?”

As pointed out here yesterday, what that question means is subject to numerous interpretations.

"I'll submit any question that the Commissioners vote on," said Broughal. But he warned that the Board of Elections could deny a referendum question outside of what is expressly authorized by the Library Code. "I'm stuck with the law.As bad as it is, that's what it is.

Hudak stated that the latest they can vote ion a question is at the first meeting in February because the cutoff with the Board of Elections is March 7.   He added that the intent of a referendum is "to let the voters decide" whether they wish to continue participating in Bethlehem Area Public Library, not how it should be funded. "There seems to be some confusion among our Board members here as to the intent of this referendum," he observed. He believes the question is misleading, and wanted to hear and said he'd abide by what voters think.

If Bethlehem Township does eventually opt out of Betlehem Area Public Library, all is not lost. A reader, Pippysqueek, commented yesterday that the Free Library of Philadelphia offers free membership to any Pennsylvania resident. It took me about three minutes to join.

A  sketch plan for the redevelopmentof the V-7
includes a movie theatre and a 24-hour gas station.

In other business, Commissioners reviewed a "sketch plan" for the redevelopment of the long-vacant V-7 golf range, a 17 -acre tract located along the southeast corner of William Penn Highway and Route 33.

Chrin is proposing a movie theatre, along with a 24-hour high end convenience store and gas station. He is also planning a bank, some office buildings and a restaurant. A tenant for the movie theatre have been found, but planners prefer to keep that confidential for now. He noted that there will be very high berms,some as high as 20', to shield residents to the east from the development.He added that the development would employ dark sky lighting to reduce light pollution.

Attorney Timothy Charlesworth, who represents Chrin in this endeavor, called it an adaptive re-use of a vacant commercial site. He noted that the Township's comprehensive plan emphasizes the rejuvenation of vacant commercial areas. He added that this development would be a benefit to the Township because it would realign Hope Road and include a traffic light. But a movie theatre is not a permitted use on the V-7 tract.

Tom Nolan noted that the comprehensive plan should be updated by April, and that's when he should seek a zoning change.

Malissa Davis suggested that the 24-hour gas station should be relocated to the western side of the tract, nearer to Route 33, to keep it away from residences along Hope Road.

Don Wright, a member of the Planning Commission, said he'd like to see the size of the parking lot reduced and more green space added.

Resident Roy Roth complained that the plan has no provisions for stormwater management, but Planning Director Nathan Jones responded that stormwater management would be an integral part of the planning process.

His son Barry was even more negative. "My personal feeling is we just rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic from the original plan," he groused.

No formal action is taken on sketch plans. They are informational only.

In a final item of business, president Mike Hudak announced that a public hearing on Tradition of America's tentative plan for Green Pond Marsh will be conducted on February 22 at 6 pm. This tentative plan has been recommended by the Planning Commission.

Alicia Zito "Perfect Fit" in Slate Belt

Bangor, PA – Magisterial District Judge Alicia R. Zito has announced her candidacy for the seat of District Court 03-3-03, aka The Slate Belt Districy, serving the residents of Lower Mount Bethel Township; Plainfield Township – Delabole Distrct; Upper Mount Bethel Township; Washintgton Township; Bangor Borough; East Bangor Borough; Pen Argyl Borough; Porland Borough; and Roseto Borough.

She's a perfect fit. For one thing, Judge Zito is a lifelong resident of the Slate Belt. She's a 1995 graduate of Pius X High School. She graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Scranton in 1999 with a B.S. in Health Administration and minors in Business and Spanish. Judge Zito received her juris doctorate (J.D.) from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 2002. While in law school, she was a member of the Appellate Moot Court Board and conducted legal externships at the Pennsylvania Department of Health and with the law firm of Nauman, Smith, Shissler and Hall LLP. Judge Zito was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2002.

In her young life, she's already had an extensive legal career in public service as a judicial law clerk to our best judges. She started with Judge Jack Panella,and when he was elevated to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 2004, he took her with him.

Unlike Common Pleas judges, who typically only keep a law clerk for one or two years, federal and appellate judges like to have at least one clerk who is always there. She became is Chief Clerk and and Deputy Clerk of the entire Superior Court of Pennsylvania until 2014. While there, she helped Judge Panella write the nation’s first Sexual Violence Benchbook. That book is designed specifically to guide magisterial district judges in the handling of crimes of sexual violence.

In 2015, Judge Zito accepted a short-term position as a law clerk to President Judge Stephen G. Baratta, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas to assist the Court with backlog. She went from there to a federal clerkship on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with the Honorable Edward G. Smith.

Zito was nominated by Governor Tom Wolf and confirmed by bipartisan support of the full Senate on July 13, 2016, to finish the term of the late District Judge Todd Strohe.

Northampton County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Stephen G. Baratta  has described her as “intelligent, decisive, principled and calm, all attributes that…serve her well as a a district judge.” State Senator Lisa M. Boscola said that “her legal knowledge, experience and integrity make her an outsanding choice for this position.”

In addition to her judicial experience, Judge Zito has committed herself to the education of young men and women in the community, as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Northampton Community College from 2004 to 2006 teaching courses in Criminal Law, American Legal Systems and Constitutional Law. More notably, as Magisterial District Judge, she works with Administration, parents and students in the Bangor and Pen Argyl School Districts in an effort to reduce truancy rates, provide guidance and, foster the role of education in every child’s life. This truancy problem is bigger than you might think,andit is refreshing to see a judge work to reduce this problem.

Judge Zito lives in Upper Mount Bethel with her husband Matthew J. Goodrich, Esquire and nine-year-old son, Gianni. I met him at a field event at the Stockertown Rod and Gun Club with this old guy who claimed to be his grandfather. That old guy is Senior Judge Leonard Zito.  

Though her Dad is a judge, she's entitled to this position on her own merits. She is highly regarded in the community for her public service to youth organizations. She is a board member of the Slate Belt Little League, member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Five Points Elementary School and, serves as the Director of Rebels Elite Cheer and Gymnastics. In 2015, she was honored by Eastern Cheer and Dance Association as the “Coach of the Year” and featured in a national magazine for her work as a coach, mentor and role model to young athletes in the community. She is also a lifelong parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Bangor, PA.

Judge Zito is honored to serve her communities as Magisterial District Judge and she looks forward to continuing to serve the Slate Belt with dignity, fairness and respect.

Bethlehem Tp Poised to Opt Out of Library

At the suggestion of Mike Hudak, Commissioners will vote tonight on whether to advertise an ordinance to establish their own library. Hudak complained earlier this month that only a small percentage of residents use it, but the annual fee is $17.25 per capita.

Bethlehem Area Public Library is financed by Bethlehem, Bethlehem Tp, Hanover Tp and Fountain Hill Borough. Bethlehem Tp has 9,749 cardholders, including 528 new cardholders in 2015. That translates to 41% of the Township's population. In addition to the annual per capita assessment of municipalities, the library benefits from nearly $215,000 in donations and grants each year.

Commissioners are unable, under the current Library Law, to directly ask voters whether they want to remain at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. So the only question that can really be asked is whether residents are willing to pay a special tax for a library of their own.

Solicitor Jim Broughal has come up with the following referendum question: "Do the voters of Bethlehem Township desire that the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township levy a special tax on all taxable property within Bethlehem Township to be used exclusively for the establishment and maintenance of and aid to a local library?”

But thanks to the Library Law, this is really confusing.

A "Yes" could be interpreted as acknowledging support for what the maintenance and aid of the Township's own library. But it could just as easily mean that residents support the already existing Bethlehem Area Public Library. A "No" could indicate that taxpayers want no library of their own. But it could also mean they want no library at all.

I understand that Commissioners want to give voters the final word on this question. But to give this matter more certainty, I think the question should be more clear. Here's a suggestion: ""Do the voters of Bethlehem Township desire that the Board of Commissioners of Bethlehem Township levy a special tax on all taxable property within Bethlehem Township to be used exclusively for the establishment and maintenance of and aid to Bethlehem Township's own library?”

Ex NorCo CYF Staffer on Packer - "She Fooled All of Us!"

Until late December, Mary Beth Jacavage was employed in Northampton County's Children Youth and Families Division (CYF). You can still see her name listed on the County web page as a General Protective Services Intake Supervisor. This Bloomsburg University graduate, with a degree in psychology, spent 22 years on the front lines of child abuse, as well as an additional year in Early Intervention. She believes that CYF is in need of an overhaul. She was also able to share what she knows about Sara Packer, the ex-adoption supervisor charged with murdering and dismembering her own adopted daughter.

Sara Packer: Jacavage was employed by NorCo CYF during the entire time that Packer was there, but never directly supervised her. "She fooled all of us!" is how she summed up Packer. "Nothing was saying to us that she was going too rape and murder a child." But she described her as liking to dress in Goth attire, or dyeing her hair numerous different colors. She indicated that ne fellow supervisor had expressed concerns about Packer. She also said that Packer had told her co-workers that she never wanted to adopt Grace. She only wanted a boy, bit Pennsylvania promotes sibling adoption, and Packer would be unable to adopt the boy unless she also took Grace.

CYF workers: Jacavage indicates that the staff is overworked and underpaid. I know from other sources that twelve hour days are not common, and the starting salary for a Caseworker I is only about $33,000. She indicated that the low salary is "no excuse for an uncaring and inhumane attitude." She indicated that most caseworker are conscientious and work hard, but there are a few "who are cold and power hungry and disrespectful."

CYF Administration: Most of her criticism is focused on Director Kevin Dolan and his Assistant, Patricia Himmelwright, as well as their managing attorney, Valerie Cammarene. In fairness, and this has been my big concern all along, they have been muzzled and are unable to respond. But after speaking with Jacavage, I believe her concerns about Valerie Cammarene. If true, they illustrate a person who is cold and disrespectful.

• At a dependency hearing this summer, a mother was in court who had children with several different fathers. According to Jacavage, Cammarene started singing a song about it, set to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," ridiculing the mother. We all have opinions about women whose poor choices often lead to multiple fathers, but Cammarene publicly humiliated the mother, displaying a total lack of respect. Kevin Dolan was apprised of this situation, and refused to do anything.
• In another dependency matter involving a father who was extremely nervous, Cammerene taunted him with "Let the games begin!"  
• In a dependency or custody matter in which a judge had requested information from CYF, Cammerene took it upon herself to review the file, gave erroneous information to the court because she failed to read it properly, and the judge awarded custody to the wrong party. The child involved was so devastated by this turn of events that she tried to commit suicide. She was sent to a psychiatric facility, where another patient assaulted her and knocked out a tooth. 

I have focused on the Cammarene allegations because she just happens to be the attorney who is reviewing the cases on which Packer worked.  The state DHS has decided to conduct its own investigation.

I have hesitated to write about Jacavage for two reasons. First, what she tells me is inconsistent with my own interactions with Kevin Dolan. Second, he's unable to respond. But I am disclosing her more pertinent criticisms primarily because this kind of abuse has happened befo CYF.

In 2010, Jose Huertas Aponte, a NorCo CYF caseworker, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 12 year-old boy. Judge Michael Koury sentenced him to 12-24 years in state prison, the maximum he could impose under state law. “You of all people know it was your job to help and protect children,” Judge Koury said.

That's a job we all have.

Northampton County Has No CASA Program

Throughout the state, there are Court Appointed Special Advocates who seek the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. I'm unaware whether such advocates exist in NorCo, but am about to find out. I know there is no local program, though one exists in Lehigh. If you'd like be become a CASA, you can apply here.

Memorial Service For Murdered Teen on MLK Day

A memorial service has been set for Grace Packer on MLK Day, 1:30 pm, at New Life Church, 467 N Easton Rd, Glenside, Pennsylvania 19038. Though no one would call me a religious person, I intend to go and see that she be given some of the dignity and respect that was denied to her in her short life. "Rise Up and Say, I am Somebody," preached the fallen civil rights leader. She was somebody, too.

NorCo Council Still Refuses To List Contact Info

Several weeks ago, I began ticking off numerous deficiencies in Northampton County's new website, which has had the effect of making government less transparent and accountable. Years of minutes of Council meetings just vanished. The $91,000 a year clerk refuses to include back-up documents on agendas. And though there are pretty pictures of the nine Council members, no contact information is listed.

Since my initial complaints, Council has managed to include minutes dating back to 2005, but the rest are still being kept away from the preying eyes of the public. Those old minutes were quite useful during the swaption discussion, as everyone tried to blame everyone else. Now our county government seems to think that what you don't know won't hurt you, even if it does.

Most amazing of all, no effort has been made to include the contact information of individual Council members. I would never expect to see home addresses and home phone numbers listed, but there should at least be a county email address listed.

This is basic transparency. Council's refusal to provide this basic information is something you should keep in mind when five of them seek re-election this year.

While NorCo Stonewalls, State DHS to Investigate Former NorCo Adoption Supervisor

While Executive John Brown is enjoying himself in sunny Florida, Northampton County officials have done nothing to reassure the public or defend their own Children and Youth Department after the arrest of a former adoption supervisor over thee drugging rape, murder and dismemberment of her own adopted daughter. This complete lack of accountability and transparency only sews the seeds of distrust in a department that is already often vilified, and unfairly, for saving the lives of children. While the county administration pretends all is well, the State Department of Human Services has thankfully opened its own investigation.

Cathy Utz,  Director of the State Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF), has been in contact with Controller Steve Barron to confirm the dates of accused murderer Sara Packer's employment with Northampton County. Incredibly, county administrators were unable to give her that information.It's one thing to stonewall the press or the public. It is quite another to play games with the state. Hopefully, this is just some sort of misunderstanding.

Over the years, Sara Packer had 30 foster children living under her roof. They came from Lehigh, Berks and Bucks County. She had no foster children that were from Northampton County, so far as anyone knows. It is my understanding that a NorCo CYF employee is unable to foster children up for placement in Northampton County. According to Barron, after the 2010 child abuse charges against Sara Packer's ex husband, she has been unable to foster children from anywhere.  This is something the County administration could confirm if it spoke publicly.

According to Barron, state officials plan to interview every one of the foster children who lived under Packer's roof. Hopefully, that investigation will also include interviews with the personsin thoseadoption agencies who referred children to Packer.

It is unclear whether the state DHS will investigate the files on which Packer worked for NorCo. It is known that a county CYF lawyer has taken them for review. In my view, this requires an independent investigation, not a whitewash, and an interview with every family she touched.

Another disturbing point. Packer did work for a human services agency in the private sector after being let go by Northampton County. It is unclear whether this agency involved children.

I have also heard from someone calling himself  "Max Quaad." Though county officials have done nothing to inform the public about the standards fora CYF caseworker, he has supplied some details.

"CYF Caseworkers as well as all County Caseworkers are vetted by PA Civil Service regarding initial application credentials. Applicants for CYF ( Since this is the topic) are interviewed by a the Assistant CYF Administrator and a "Committee" of managers and if selected, require FBI, SBI and Child Line clearances before they are offered a position. Once an applicant is hired as a County Caseworker, they are required to complete a basic training program prescribed by the State Office of Children, Youth, and Families through the U of Pitt and other sanctioning organizations to be certified. ALL County Caseworkers are on probation and AT WILL employees for a period of six months and are to be further vetted during that time. County Caseworkers are required to complete at least 20 hours of training each year to hold the certifications.

"After all of that, it's a crap shoot because County Administration has a dubious policy of standing shoulder to shoulder with local managers and supervisors no matter how bad, and that policy is entirely unacceptable. Every administration is briefed by appropriate people and this one was too. The cases that Mr. O'Hare references in his blog ought to be reviewed for the purpose of ensuring that each and every child involved has been accounted for.

"Further, Human Resources should be part of any interviews for promotions and this Executive needs to act on behalf of the Public AND the good people that are trying to perform their duties by the professional standards that important posts require. These County Caseworkers require proper support and have laid down an offer of proof that is irrefutable. We haven't seen any meaningful changes beyond that. No one can predict anything like what happened to these children from walking through those doors. But it's not the only one over the course of a few years. Right? - Max Quadd"

Print Media Plays Catch-Up in Sara Packer Case

For many years, I've attended news conferences about all kinds of local issues, involving both the print and broadcast media. Up until a few years ago, the print media would turn up their noses at the broadcast journalists, who usually would arrive late and unprepared. While print media peppered politicians with pertinent questions, the TV types would ask questions like, "What's your favorite color?"

Those days are gone. Despite being supplied with taxpayer subsidized offices, the coverage that daily newspapers provides concerning county government is abysmal. The Express Times has failed to send a reporter to cover NorCo government for months.It's been over a year since a real reporter, as opposed to a freelancer, has been there.The Morning Call is only slightly better. It still sends a real reporter to cover most Council meetings, but is absent or late from numerous committee meetings. WFMZ-TV69  has a reporter at every meeting, and sends someone to cover many of the townships and boroughs as well. One news source is still making an effort to hold government accountable

While the daily newspaper coverage has been shallow or nonexistent, just the way government likes it, TV reporting has grown by leaps and bounds. DA John Morganelli actually commended WFMZ-TV69 over its coverage of the Stockertown firing range, which eventually led to the prosecution of the person responsible for firing at people's homes.

The coverage that WFMZ-TV69 and NBC10 provided of the Sara Packer prosecution has caught print media flat-footed. I have told you that NBC10's Deanna Durante first reported about Sara Packer's employment as an adoption supervisor on December 28, but WFMZ-TV69 made the connection even earlier, on December 23. Despite having their own taxpayer-subsidized offices at the courthouse, both dailies yawned and celebrated Christmas. Only this week have they begun to cover an important story, and one that includes a county administration that is unwilling to do anything to reassure the public or defend beleaguered caseworkers.

Because of all the cutbacks, the only reporters left at the dailies are those who've been conditioned to keep their heads down and not speak out.The ones who did ended up at WFMZ-TV69.

So Tuesday, when Willie Reynolds was presenting his eight-point Bethlehem 2017 plan, one of the reporters asked whether anything had happened to prompt him to recommend campaign finance limits. What she was really asking is whether the shitstorm he took over Martin Tower made him realize he needed to do something. But she couldn't ask that question. She's learned to keep her head down.

And so it goes.

This and other blogs attempt to hold power accountable, but we lack the audience. Ironically,the persons they used to sneer at are doing what they once did.

When that stops, this democracy will officially be dead.

Werner Rules Out NorCo Exec Seat

Steve Barron and Bob Werner, on the day
both were locked out of a John Brown news conference

This summer, at a picnic of exuberant Easton Democrats, NorCo Council member Bob Werner announced rather prematurely that he was running for Executive. He's had second thoughts. He confirmed last night that he has decided against running.

Werner is a mixed bag. He's very dedicated and rarely misses a meeting. He is also bipartisan, and has worked with proud tea party member Hayden Phillips on several issues. But he lacks spontaneity, even to the point of writing out his Council speeches. When he attempts to play interrogator, he usually ends up looking both foolish and angry.

He'd of course win Easton because But that is it. He'd end up forcing the eventual Democratic nominee, Lamont McClure, to waste money that should be saved for the general election against John Brown.  Brown

Nazareth's Ex-Mayor Strye- "The Truth Will Come Out"

Nazareth ex-mayor Carl Strye, who was forced to resign in disgrace after being caught skimming money from poker machines at a local club, was feeling no pain on New Year's Eve at Not-So-Holy-Family, his new hang out. He has a strange New Year's message. He claims the truth will come out soon, though the truth has already come out. He's an admitted thief. He's says this will be the "year of the KARMA." According to the Chinese Zodiac, this will actually be the Year of the Cock.

Here's Strye's Facebook rant.

All day Facebook friends and family will be wishing everyone a Happy New Year. I too will join in the madness and also wish all my Facebook friends and family a very safe and Happy New Year.
On a personal note, 2016 was not a very happy year for me. Oh yes, three or four individuals targeted me and i had to make decisions because of their revengeful actions. I hope they feel proud of what they have done, (NOT).The truth will come out in the near future. However, I am a very positive person, always looking at the good and not the bad. Always putting other people ahead of me and always there when someone needs a laugh or a lift.
No matter how bad or how stupid it may have been, there is one thing I do believe in, I believe 2017 will be the year of the KARMA, Everyone who actually knows me know exactly what I am talking about. And when it happens, I will sit back, smile a little and move on.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! There is no sense looking back, but only to a positive future, I will say it one more time, It is a great day in Nazareth, PA
Thank you to all of my true friends and family for your support!
God Bless all of you and may your New Year be one of the best!

Updated: Reynolds Unveils Bethlehem 2017

J.Willie Reynolds

Four years ago, Willie Reynolds and Bob Donchez both wanted to succeed John Callahan as Bethlehem's Mayor. But unlike ancient Sparta, which was at one time ruled by two kings, there can only be one Mayor. After a contentious primary race, Bob Donchez emerged the victor. But both sides were bruised. Donchez felt betrayed by outgoing Mayor John Callahan, who had pledged to remain neutral, and then endorsed Willie. For his part, Willie was bitter over campaign ads that made him appear to be too immature. Fortunately, both men were still able to work together for the good of the City, and eventually, put aside past differences and grew to respect each other.

This year, instead of running for Mayor against Donchez again, Reynolds will be supporting him. He's also introduced a 37-page Bethlehem 2017 proposal. He presented this ambitious, eight-point good government initiative at Town Hall yesterday, before a small crowd of supporters that included Bethlehem School Board President Michael Faccinetto and School Director Dean Donaher. Council members Michael Michael Colón and Shawn Martell were there, too.

"If I was going to run for Mayor, this is the stuff I would want to run on," he said. "Why not take this opportunity to work with Bob and work with other people. He said people are "sick of campaigns" and "want to see government work." That's what he intends to do. He pointed out that Bethlehem's focus in recent years has been finances, a subject that was pushed on to the front burner when Bethlehem Steel closed down. But as time has gone on, he thinks it's important to focus on other issues as well. The nine-year Council member noted that people are frustrated with their local governance, and that it's time to take action that includes a big public component.

1) Climate action plan. - In 2006, the Lehigh Valley Mayors John Callahan, Sal Panto and Edwin Pawlowski signed a climate protection agreement to reduce their carbon footprint in city-owned properties by about 20%. Bethlehem achieved that goal, and Reynolds believes it is time to move forward. He proposes this year as a year of study in which to decide on additional steps, along with heavy public involvement. He said the City should lean on its underutilized Environmental Advisory Council. "This is right up their alley," he said.

2) Open Bethlehem. - Reynolds noted that the City has a great deal of internal data that should be shared with the public. He said citizens and local colleges can look at the data and develop applications for it. The use of open data could start with potholes or snow plowing, but basically can be expanded and lead to greater citizen participation. It can provide information about crime, health, transportation, budget, city planning, GIS, education, permits and virtually all information that is not protected by confidentiality.

3) Expanded use of social media.- Just as Open Bethlehem would be a way for Bethlehem to provide data to the citizenry, the expanded us of social media enables citizens to engage government. Bethlehem township has embarked on an ambitious effort touse social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat to communicate with citizens.It also is using Nixel to inform residents of weather conditions,accidents and road closures. The use of these social media sites is all the more imperative as daily newspapers provide less and less coverage of local government. Most citizens,especially the young, now get their information from the Internet and social media. When government uses social media effectively, and engages the public, it is more efficient and accountable, Reynolds claims. "The thing people get most frustrated about on any level of government is when you can't give them an answer."

Though I completely support this idea, it is as an in-house idea. In the audience was George Wacker (the Lehoigh Valley with Love blogger),who was hired by the Bethlehem Area School District last year, and at $2,000 a month, to give the school district a social media presence. The last thing government needs is a hired gun to tell the public how great it is. This function should be strictly in-house. If city officials are unsure how something works, they should ask one of their grandchildren for help, not some paid propagandist. I admire Wacker's blog and humor, but question whether he is licking his chops to get a chance to be Bethlehem's spinmaster.

4) Financial Accountability Incentive reporting (FAIR). - Reynolds acknowledged the widespread public perception, one shared with this writer, that tax incentives provided to developers create an unfair playing field in which the City, as opposed to the market, picks winners and losers. Reynolds is opposed to ending them because they are offered everywhere. He instead is proposing an ordinance in which citizens will get answers to the question whether a developer is really doing what he promised. Reynolds credited Philadelphia council member Helen Gym, who managed to get similar legislation enacted in September. "We'll see which programs are working and which programs are not working," said Reynolds.

5) Campaign Contribution Limits.- In addition to posting campaign finance reports online, as currently is happening, Reynolds proposes campaign contribution limits. His proposal is undergoing legal review. Instead of setting up an ethics commission to enforce violations, Reynolds would use the courts. An aggrieved party could file a complaint.

6) Northside 2025.- Calling neighborhoods "the backbone of our City," Reynolds proposes using LERTA funds and private contributions to revitalize neighborhoods on the northside, similar to a similar program on the South Side. He would also lean on Moravian College, with the goal of improving neighborhoods.

7) Parking Authority Revenue Re-Investment. - Acknowledging that no entity is despised more than your friendly parking authority, Reynolds wants to take some of the revenue generated to improve areas where parking meters are in place. The money would provide streetscaping, landscaping and other improvements.

8) Community policing.-Though Bethlehem has a community-minded police department, Chief Mark DiLuzio would like to see it increase among the 154 police officers. Reynolds would want a community discussion to see what is working and what is not. What works will be implemented in 2018.

"It's a vision," said Reynolds. "It's a vision about what Bethlehem can become." But he noted that he is essentially setting up a conversation in which everyone will participate. He acknowledged that he's learned over the years that it's important to get input from everyone.

Willie has also created Bethlehem 2017 as a webpage, so that you can offer your insights there.

Which of These Cameras Takes a Better Picture?

I'm hoping you can help me here. I'm a lousy photographer, but am aware of the power that pictures have in a story. Yesterday, at Willie Reynolds' Bethlehem 2017 presentation, I took pictures using two different devices.

Here is a picture from Device #1:

Here is a picture from Device #2:

Which camera takes the better picture, Device #1 or 2? Tomorrow I'll name the devices used.

Reynolds Decides Against Challenging Bob Donchez

Ten year Council member Willie Reynolds has announced he will support Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez this year instead of running against him. He made this announcement during his unveiling of Bethlehem 2017, which I thought would last until 2018. Will have the down and dirty at midnight.

NorCo Needs To Reassure Public In Murder Charges Against Ex-Adoption Supervisor

Sara Packer

Blogger's Note: You may wish to postpone reading this story until later in the day. It's disgusting at parts. 

A fellow used to stand outside the courthouse every morning. He was at the losing end of a custody battle, and carried signs that lambasted several county judges, as well as Children and Youth. Though likable, he was generally regarded with healthy skepticism. The same is true of child abuse awareness groups that occasionally gather outside the courthouse. But now that a former adoption supervisor in Northampton County has been charged with participating in the rape, murder and dismemberment of her own adopted daughter, the public is going to feel far less confident in the caseworkers at the county's Children,Youth and Families (CYF) division. Instead of assuring the public that what happened is an aberration, Executive John Brown has circled the wagons and has directed his staff to clam up. This is a disservice to the public he represents, as well as the many good people in CYF who work under him.

It's a case so bizarre it could be turned into a Netflix movie. Sara Packer was supposed to be the kind of person who looks after children, instead of participating in a scheme to rape and murder them. She had two adopted children herself. Her daughter Grace was adopted in Berks County. She was also, from time to time, a foster parent. She was unable to foster any children in Northampton County once she started working there in 2003, but she did foster about 30 children from other counties. Eventually, she became an adoption supervisor in Northampton County. But all that came to an end in 2010, when she was suspended without pay and terminated.

Shortly thereafter, her husband at that time, David Packer, was charged with sexually abusing an adopted daughter and a foster child in 2010. He and Sara were Grace's adoptive parents, so it's safe to assume he abused Grace when she was about nine. Packer was sentenced to one to five years in jail in Lehigh County, and was classified as a sexually violent predator.

After losing her job, it's unclear what Sara did until September 2015, when she began working for The Results Company, a corporate call center.

Eventually, she had a new boyfriend named Jake Sullivan, who is originally from Wisconsin. According to what Sullivan has now told police, she and he cooked up a plot to drug, rape and then kill 14 year-old Grace. He had sexually abused her before, performing oral sex on her twice. This time, he would rape her as well, while the former adoption supervisor watched and was sexually aroused as he bit the semi-conscious child's breast.

After it was over, they gave her more pills, hoping they would kill her. She threw up instead. So they just left her in the third floor attic, bound and gagged, figuring the heat would do her in. But a few hours later, when she was still alive and conscious, Sullivan wrapped his arm around her face and neck, "and slowly squeezed the life out of her."

Obviously, she suffered horribly.

The child was packed in kitty litter while Sara eventually went to Tractor Supply for a bow saw and two extra blades. She and Sullivan eventually cut up the desiccated remains, which were found by hunters in Luzerne County on Halloween Day 2016.

Though Sara Packer had reported that her daughter was missing, she made no frantic pleas on Facebook about her, something that people usually do if they're even missing a pet. She told police she had notified all her relatives, but they soon discovered that was untrue.

As a result of intense pressure from the police, Packer and Sullivan entered into a new pact. This time it was a suicide pact. They would both overdose on sleeping pills, and took them at the home of another of Sullivan's girlfriends. He left a note."I can't exist with Sara in jail and those fucking lying pigs and the whore media have made it impossible for us to live."

But he didn't die. The other girlfriend found him, and called police. A few hours later, she called again. Sara was in another room, and had taken pills, too, but not as many. Had Jake Sullivan died, the one witness who could clearly inculpate her would be out of the picture. But he lived, and now he's sorry.

The Northampton County connection was first made by NBC10’s Deanna Durante on December 28, but was completely missed by the dailies until yesterday. If they had any real integrity themselves, they would have given Durante credit because they never would have known about this but for her own hard work.

The county stonewalled multiple calls from Durante about Parker, even though Parker was discharged long before John Brown became Executive. I was waiting for Durante to appear before the Council's Human Services Committee later this month, something she was considering in her quest for information.

I understand the unwillingness to discuss someone's employment, even though the rules are different for a public sector employee. We have a right to know when a person was hired and why she was fired. We have the right to know how much she was paid. But there are bigger concerns. A prosecution like this destroys the public's confidence in our child protective services program. It tarnishes every person who works in CYF or Human Services, no matter how dedicated. By refusing to address this crisis, Brown has validated every criticism made of the department.

I understand that he's in Florida. If he can't return, he needs someone who can speak for him and address the public on the following matters:

• The County needs to review every case on which Sara Packer worked, and should be able to either confirm that nothing inappropriate happened,or that corrective action has been taken.
• The County needs to make the public aware of what kind of training CYF workers receive after they are hired.
• The County needs to assure the public that she was never a foster mother for any child in the Northampton County system because that is contrary to county policy. 

Synagro Plans to Bake Shit Cakes at Plainfield Landfill

Just what the Slate Belt needs, a shit bakery.

Synagro is planning to bake shit cakes at the Waste Management Landfill in Plainfield Township, but needs a few variances. Use variances. That's supposed to be the most difficult kind to obtain, requiring proof of a hardship that is not self-created. Last night was the first of two informational meetings concerning the proposal. But though the meeting was held at the spacious Plainfield Township fire hall, there was no room when I arrived.

Ron Angle, who has used Synagro to fertilize some of his farmland, was there. He has questions about the site and the involvement of the Green Knights Economic Development Corporation (GKEDC). They went unanswered. The meeting was a dog-and-pony show, not a question-and-answer session.

Green Knights is an organization that grew out of a once troublesome group called Pen Argyl Area Concerned Citizens. That outfit was asking too many questions. The state DEP and Waste Management bought them off with the promise of a methane to energy plant, something that Waste Management is prohibited from doing directly.

Methane has been good to the Green Knights. It has cleared $600,000-$800,000 in each of the last three years, according to its nonprofit tax returns. It's sitting on a mountain of cash that could be as high as $4 million. That's great news to the slate belt, especially since GKEDC exists to "provide economic relief for poor and distressed local citizens."

But the grants have pretty much dried up. They are down from about $120,000 per year to about $20,000 per year over the past three years. At the same time,the Charter has been changed to accommodate members of an insular Board.

The Synagro proposal, which essentially uses waste heat to bake sludge cakes would mean more revenue for the Green knights, would produce about 16 jobs. It will mean revenue for Synagro and Waste Management as well. But whether this can be done without destroying the environment is another question. I'd like to see those questions addressed. Shit is shit.  It has its good points (feels better than sex on the way out) and its bad points (an odor that has killed innocent people when I eat garlic).  .

If you'd like to read more on this topic, visit Don Moore's informative blog.

Angle Likes Bethlehem's Ethics Comm'n Proposal

Last week, when Olga Negrón-Dipini and Michael Colón unveiled their local ethics commission proposal, I had lots of questions. So many that audience members might and did think I opposed the idea. The reality is that I support any and all efforts to improve local government accountability and transparency. While meaningful reform must come from the state, I'll take what I can get.

Ron Angle is a former member of  NorCo Council. Before I go any further, let me tell you he's happy as a citizen, where he believes he is more effective. He told me, "I'd like to buy both of them lunch." I told him that would violate their gift ban proposal.

Whether an ethics commission is enacted is unimportant. What is important is that honesty in local government is addressed.

NorCo: No Comment on Ex Adoption Supervisor Accused of Killing Adopted Daughter

Sara Packer, accused in a scheme that involved the rape,murder and dismemberment of her own step-daughter, was employed in Northampton County's Children, Youth and Family division between 2003 and 2010. She was actually an adoption supervisor until 2010. Though this connection was uncovered by a Philadelphia's NBC10 in late December, both of the local dailies are acting as though they just uncovered this sordid little detail.

At one time, the dailies looked down their noses at TV reporters. Now they get their stories from them.

Northampton County's Brown administration has just issued its usual uninformative news release, admitting that Packer was employed by the county between 2003 and 2010, but nothing else.

This is yet another demonstration of a complete lack of transparency. The dailies  are stretched so thin they don't notice.  

Trump to Snub African American History Museum on MLK Day

In recent days, President-elect Donald Trump has been engaged in a pissing match with Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights leader who marched with Martin Luther King and paid for it with beatings, arrests and a skull fracture. Both have been petty. Lewis refuses to recognize that Trump is his President, while the latter erupted in a tweetstorm, reciting several inaccuracies along the way.

Now Trump is going to show Lewis by snubbing a planned visit to the African American Museum.

This is sure to delight the numerous racists who supported Trump, but is also evidence that he simply lacks the temperament to be a President. I want him to succeed, but thin-skinned gestures like this are appalling.

NorCo's EMS is Code Red

Just before Christmas, I told you that Executive John Brown had named Todd Weaver to the EMS Director slot that had been vacant for 18 months. Because this is a career service position, no Council approval was needed. But Brown wanted to give him a Christmas present, and needed Council, to approve a wage hike from 76,351.81 to $91,051 per year. That way, at the beginning of this year, Weaver's wages would shoot up another two per cent to shoot up another three percent to nearly $93.000. Council granted Brown's wish, and Weaver saw a 22% raise in just two weeks.

At that salary, the County probably could have held onto Bob Mateff, the person whom it allowed to get away.

The Weaver selection comes at a time when the county is considering a merger for 911 with Bethlehem and is no reason for joy in the Christmas City

Weaver, incidentally, was a member of a selection committee that found everyone else unqualified. Weaver ostensibly had no interest in the position but conveniently allowed himself to be persuaded to accept it. Among those rejected was a highly recommended person from this area who actually had a master's degree in the field, and did emergency emergency management in the private sector. Another applicant was a high-ranking public sector emergency management employee within this area.

Brown's first choice for this job flew into town, took one look at whatever had been set up from him by Weaver, turned around and flew home. Thanks, but no thanks.

Then the selection committee refused to consider any of the qualified people who had previously applied.

Another member of this selection committee, incidentally, is Cathy Allen. She and Weaver have known each other for years.

as I told you in December, Weaver was engaged in what clearly appears to be a conflict of interest under the state ethics act. Cathy Allen apparently told him it's OK, though she's hardly an expert,has numerous tax liens and has a home in foreclosure. He was approving payments to the nonprofit fire school in Washington Tp for training. His father is an instructor there. His daughter is the Secretary. his wife runs the concession stand.

Not only does Weaver get to make these payments, but he gets to decide which outfits will not be used. Clearly he won't select a vendor that might compete with his fire school,whose reputation is such that many of the fire companies in the slate belt prefer to go to Monroe for training.

Though Hayden Phillips was troubled by these ethical problems, which were raised by Controller Steve Barron, the vote to give Weaver a 22% raise was still unanimous.

This department was supposed to expand and had the money for that purpose, but the bid came up a little short. Instead of finding the Money, Brown gutted the planned expansion and plowed the money back into the general fund.

Bethlehem's taking a closer look at ethics these days. Bob Donchez announced a gift ban. Olga Negron-DiPini and Michael Colon have proposed a local ethics commission. Willie Reynolds will unveil his own ethics proposal on Tuesday. As much as they need to merge with somebody, that somebody is not going to be NorCo if ethical shenanigans continue.

Lehigh and NorCo are Exact Opposites on Dog Licenses

On Friday, I told you that you can no longer get a dog license at any location in Northampton County other than the courthouse or at the Centralized Human Services building on Emrick Boulevard. You can apply online, but you'll be paying an extra $2 as a "convenience" fee.

I was under the impression that this change must be the result of some new statewide rule, but it appears to have been a county decision.

To show you how crazy things are, take a gander at Lehigh County. If you try to buy a dog license there,you'll be sent away. You have to buy online or at one of these locations: Pet Supplies Plus (Whitehall and Allentown); Family Pet Shop (Westgate Mall); Hometown Pet Center (Coopersburg); K-9 Kampus (Fogelsville); Animal Control Center (Allentown); Paul's Hardware (Orefield); Boyer's Hardware (Slatington); E-G Notary (Emmaus); Buchin's Notary (Macungie); and Blose's Market (New Tripoli).

Most counties permit you to obtain a dog license at either the county offices or various subagents.

Executive John Brown has said he's all about customer service. How does forcing citizens in Bangor to come to the courthouse to renew a dog license make any sense? And why should citizens be forced to assume the risk that their financial data will be stolen when ordering online?

Kudos to Matt Dietz for calling attention to this issue.

The Dog License Blues

As recently as last year, you could get a dog license at any number of locations aside from the courthouse in Easton or Centralized Human Services Building on Emrick Blvd in Bethlehem Tp. You could also get one at The Center For Animal Health and Welfare (Williams Tp), Sandy King's Pet Supplies (Easton), Affordable Pet Center (Northampton), AVH Veterinary Group (Pen Argyl), Neighbors Home and Garden Center (Hellertown), Super Petz and Canine Grooming Shoppe (both in Bethlehem), and Mike's Bait and Sport Shop (Nazareth). But for reasons unknown to me, and this may very well be a new state rule, you know must visit the county offices or order a license for Fido online.

All dogs three months of age or older must be licensed and up to date on its rabies vaccinations. For a neutered male or spayed female dog, it's $6.50. For all others, it's $8.50. Disabled Pennsylvanians and seniors citizens get a $2 discount per dog registration. You can also buy a lifetime license. Licenses online cost $2 extra. It's called a "convenience" fee.

Though the County's"new" webpage tells you that you can get your dog license online, the supposed link is a failure, like pretty much everything else on that disaster. You can get your online dog license here.

At NorCo Council's January 5 meeting, Matt Dietz noted that some have difficulty applying online, and argued that local businesses should be offered the opportunity to sell these licenses.

"We spend a lot of money on economic development, helping these small businesses, and we did something that took business away," he complained.

"We passed a $300 million budget last month,and the biggest concern I heard about over the last few weeks was dog licenses," agreed Council Prez John Cusick.

Litigation Adds $1.5M and 1 Year to NorCo's Bridge Bundling Project

Att'y John Lushis

In October, Northampton County Council voted 7-1 to approve a bridge-bundling ordinance under which 33 of the County's 119 bridges will be conveyed to the General Purpose Authority (GPA) for repairs at 20-30% less than would be paid if the County were to do the work itself. In addition to being cheaper, Executive John Brown has argued that the work will be done more quickly.

County officials expected that the GPA would award the $31.5 million deal to Kriger Construction, located in Dickson City. Work was expected to start right away and take about four years, followed by a 10-year maintenance period. But at their January 5 meeting, Council learned that the project will be delayed at least a year. In addition, it will cost about $1.5 million more than anticipated. The County's annual payment over 12 years will increase $125,000.

"We haven't even started and we have a five percent increase," complained Ken Kraft, who has steadfastly opposed this project from the beginning.

But why? Is it concern over being low-balled or the use of an unqualified contractor, or does Kraft have some other agenda?

In addition to his duties as a Council member, Kraft is also the business agent for Painters Local 1269 DC 21. He is also a member of the Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, a consortium of local trade unions. Though the only persons qualified to perform bridge repairs belong to a trade union, Kraft seems to be concerned that other unions will do this work, to the exclusion of Lehigh Valley trade unions.

Though nobody is talking, the County appears to be the victim of a turf war between Lehigh Valley and other trade unions.

One of two lawsuits challenging this deal, filed by Kevin Lott, demonstrates that the Lehigh Valley trades unions are opposed to Kriger's selection as the contractor. Lott is the business agent for the Lehigh Valley Carpenter's Union. He inexplicably withdrew his suit in November.

A disappointed bidder, Clearwater Construction, has filed another suit over the award, claiming that Kriger is unqualified and alleging irregularities in the selection process. Interestingly, Clearwater is represented by the same Allentown law firm that represented Lott.

Judge Craig Dally ruled in October that Clearwater lacks standing. His decision was appealed to the Commonwealth Court, where argument is tentatively scheduled for March. Kevin Lott, a Hellertown resident and trades union organizer, has also sued.

Ken Kraft is the sole Council member to vote No to this ordinance, even though one of the union painting that he represents, would be used by Kriger. Kraft had no comment, but has previously complained that Kriger is unqualified to replace bridges. He is also concerned that there will be cost overruns because Kriger low-balled the project.

Executive John Brown has previously touted this bridge bundling project, arguing in an interview with PCNTV that the County lacks "the capacity to do this" and that it's time to "stop pretending we're going to get to the bridge repair." He has claimed that PennDot sees this "a pilot project that, when successful, they'd like to probably roll it out to the other 66 counties in the state. We're very fortunate that the Federal Highway Administration is taking a look at our project as a model to roll out, potentially nationally."

Mike Bonini, director of PennDOT’s P3 project, has said that Northampton County is blazing a trail for other counties.

Brown told Council that, even with the delay and added cost, the project is in the County's best interest. He noted that Kriger's bid is still tens of millions of dollars less than Clearwater's. "I still stand by the contract," he said, noting that the agreement was written in a way to prevent what he calls "cost creep."

John Lushis, GPA's Solicitor, claimed that the litigation gave Kriger cold feet and that an agreement still remains unsigned, although he expects it will be in place next week. "This litigation has had a very significant impact, and it's not just the litigation ..., but it's been the actions that have occurred behind the scenes by certain people ... ." He called those actions "dishonorable" and "distasteful."

At one point, Lushis confronted Kraft. "You checked me out, I know that. Quite erroneously, in fact."

Lushis went on to say that he was confident that the Clearwater appeal, despite the delay it caused, will ultimately fail.

Chicago Demonstrates Why We Have Hate Crimes

On Tuesday, NorCo DA John Morganelli authorized a hate crime prosecution against a 14 year-old Saucon Valley High School student. In October, he filmed a 16 year-old black boy eating chicken, and included a running commentary that he then distributed to others on Snapchat.

"So there's a chicken eating contest here. This f---in' n----- is taking his time. He's getting free f---in' chicken, you n-----. It has been a minute and he's on the same f---in' wing. Oh, now the black kid is taking the wings back up to his seat. What, what, are you that broke?" At this point, "His welfare check canceled" scrolls across the screen.

This African American, whose family had just moved into the area, had already received a rude welcome by a group calling themselves the "Red Necks." They disparaged him and even tried to drape a Confederate flag around him.

When the 16 year-old African American learned of the video, he confronted and struck the younger 14 year-old. Lower Saucon Police charged the African American, but when made aware of the offensive video that precipitated the assault, they turned that over to DA John Morganelli. County Detective Paul Hulbert investigated, and that led the District Attorney to conclude that a criminal prosecution was appropriate for ethnic intimidation.

Before doing so, Morganelli received a number of phone calls from people who were upset that he was even looking into the matter. He was warned to drop the matter, but he refused. He wants the public to know that "this kind of conduct will not be tolerated. ... Harassment, whether it's based on race or otherwise, is a crime."

Around the time that Morganelli was making his announcement, Chicago police stumbled across a bloodied young white man with special needs. He had been kidnapped and tortured by four black assailants angry at white people over Donald Trump's election. They filmed their criminal activity, shouting epithets like "*F*ck Donald Trump!" and "F*ck white people!" They even forced the victim to say it, as they carved a patch off of his scalp.

The mentally challenged victim thought one of these assailants was his friend.

Chicago police had no difficulty in deciding to charge this quartet with ethnic intimidation. As one former Chicago cop explained, "This is hate. And hate doesn't have a color."

Wonder if Morganelli's critics want to argue that these four black kids have a first amendment right to commit hate crimes?

NorCo Council Stops Back-Up Docs With Online Agenda

As most local municipalities are making strides to become more transparent, Northampton County government is going in the opposite direction.In several stories, I've told you about the county's disastrous new webpage, which provides less information to the public it ostensibly serves than its predecessor.Today I wish to focus on something called the County Council agenda.

Though not required under our Sunshine Act, every government meeting I've attended in the Lehigh Valley circulates an agenda prior to each meeting. Some may do so several days in advance. In some local governments, the first order of business is actually to approve the agenda.

In most Lehigh Valley municipalities, the agenda is posted online in advance of the meeting, and can be viewed by we, the people, along with the minutes of prior meetings.Hard copies of the agenda are also usually in the meeting room.

In an effort to be more accountable and transparent, most of the larger Lehigh Valley governments do more than post their agendas online - they also include all of the back-up documents. That's true in Bethlehem City, Allentown City, Lehigh County and Bethlehem Township. Easton posts proposed ordinances.

At a meeting last year, during an informal discussion of the agenda, Council agreed by consensus to start attaching back-up documents online. But that practice has stopped.

As a result, before the last meeting of the year, there was no back-up document that would have informed the public that a new EMS Director, Todd Weaver, been selected after an 18 month vacancy, and at a salary so high (over $90,000) that it most likely would have prevented his predecessor from leaving in the first place.

Weaver is engaged in a blatant conflict of interest under our state ethics law in that he approves payments to the non-profit fire school at which both he and his father are instructors. His daughter is Secretary,and his wife runs a food concession..

Though Controller Steve Barron raised these concerns and suggested that there at least be some delay, Weaver's payhike was unanimously approved by a Council that, save for Hayden Phillips, was unfazed by an Ethics Act violation.

Tonight Council is to consider an intergovernmental transfer resolution, but a copy of the resolution itself is not attached to the agenda. Though this has been pointed out to the Council Clerk and Council president John Cusick, no effort has been made to inform the public.

What you don't know won't hurt you, even if it does

Cusick, Geissinger to Lead NorCo Council in 2017

Northampton County Council reorganization meetings,which must be held every year, are often the subject of palace intrigue. Ann McHale, Ron Angle and Peg Ferraro have each been unceremoniously deposed as Council President during these reorganizations, often with no notice. But John Cusick, a player in two of these coups, was easily re-elected as President in a brief Council meeting on Monday.

It was a 7-1-1 vote. Democrat Ken Kraft voted to install fellow Democrat Bob Werner as President, but Werner abstained. The seven Republicans supported Cusick, who was nominated by Matt Dietz.  

After his election, Cusick said he'd like to see the County move forward this year with a new jail, 911 merger with Bethlehem and an overdue but politically unpopular re-assessment. He also pointed out that an overhaul of the Administrative Code is needed.

In something of a surprise, Seth Vaughn was replaced as Council VP by Glenn Geissinger. He asked Vaughn if he'd like to stay on and the answer was No. "I would like to nominate Mr. Geissinger as well," said Vaughn to a few chuckles.  

Geissinger, who ran for Congress last year, also had the lowest attendance record (54%) of any Council member.  All seven Republicans voted for him anyway. The two Democrats voted for Ken Kraft, whose 65% attendance last year was only slightly better.

Geissinger said he'd continue "to cut the waste in government, and care for the citizens of Northampton County."

The only unanimous vote was for Phil Lauer as Council Solicitor. Asked to give a few remarks, Lauer responded, "I think lawyers have to know when to shut up."

As Council President, Cusick is entitled to a salary of $10,000. But last year, he voluntarily agreed to accept the same $9,500 salary of other Council members because he voted for himself. Under state law, a legislator must abstain on matters in which she or he has a direct financial interest.

DA John Morganelli Authorizes Hate Crime Charge Over Racist Video

Being the new kid at a strange school can be pretty tough. But imagine how things were for a 16 year-old African male who was the new kid at predominately white Saucon Valley High School this year. He was harassed by a group of kids calling themselves the "Red Necks." One way in which they let him know he was different was when they tried to drape him with a Confederate flag. Another way was to call him derogatory names. But things were too much for this student when he was presented a with a Snapchat video of him eating lunch in October, taken by a 14 year-old without the older boy's knowledge. He assaulted the fledgling cameraman. Then he was charged by Lower Saucon police with simple assault and harassment. But now the budding broadcaster has also been charged. District Attorney John Morganelli announced yesterday that, following an investigation by Detective Paul Hulbert, he has authorized charges of cyber harassment of a child, a third degree misdemeanor, and ethnic intimidation, a second degree misdemeanor.

All charges against both boys have been filed in Northampton County Juvenile Court. Since neither has a history with police, both will be offered participation in a diversionary program called informal adjustment, in which the charges are ultimately dismissed after a period of probation.

Morganelli found the video to be "outrageous, insulting, demeaning and a video that seriously disparages the African American male's physical characteristics and specifically his African American race."

Though he declined to release the video, but detailed why it appalled him. It was a video of the 16 year-old black boy eating chicken, with a running commentary by the white 14 year-old, which he them distributed to others on Snapchat.

"So there's a chicken eating contest here. This f---in' n----- is taking his time. He's getting free f---in' chicken, you n-----. It has been a minute and he's on the same f---in' wing. Oh, now the black kid is taking the wings back up to his seat. What, what, are you that broke?" At this point, "His welfare check canceled" scrolls across the screen.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police crime records, 1,975 people have been victimized statewide by hate crimes, or ethnic intimidation, since 2000. The statute requires an underlying offense like cyber harassment, which is alleged to have occurred here. Ethnic intimidation occurs if the underlying offense is committed because of the person's race, color, religion or ethnic heritage.

Morganelli noted that after announcing his intention to investigate this matter, he received a number of complaints that he was infringing on people's free speech rights. He acknowledged that people have a First Amendment right to be bigoted. But he explained that the statute does not punish bigoted thought or speech. It merely provides for an enhanced punishment against someone who commits crimes against others based on their ethnicity or race.

In the past, Morganelli has been a defender of free speech.

• He dismissed Flag law violations against a Washington Township protester who flew the American flag upside down.
• He dismissed disorderly conduct charge against anti-war activists who were peaceably assembled outside the Palmer Township post office on income tax day. 
• He dismissed the most serious charges against "Nature Dave," a bank protester who walked inside an Easton bank with a sign declaring, "You're being robbed."
• In the most recent presidential election, he dismissed littering charges filed against a West Easton woman who was placing Donald Trump signs on utility poles. 

He said those cases are a far cry from a crime committed against someone simply because of his color or ethnicity.

Morganelli hopes the charges filed here send the message that "this kind of conduct will not be tolerated. ... Harassment, whether it's based on race or otherwise, is a crime."

"Maybe next time our office won't be so generous," he concluded.

Bethlehem Council Members Propose Ethics Commission

Olga Negrón-Dipini and Michael Colón

When Olga Negrón-Dipini and Michael Colón were elected to Bethlehem City Council a little over a year ago, each of them had no monetary support from the usual gaggle of developers, lawyers and engineers who had business dealings with the City. That's a claim few other Council members or Mayor Bob Donchez can make. Negrón-Dipini and Colón would like that to change, and have introduced a good government ordinance that takes aim at the pay-to-play practices so common in government.

The draft 31-page ethics ordinance (which can be seen here)was introduced at Bethlehem City Council last night.

Under the draft ordinance, Negrón-Dipini stated that Council members who receive $250 or more in campaign contributions from an individual or entity would be required to abstain from voting on any matter involving that source and the City. In addition, the proposal establishes an "independent" ethics commission with subpoena powers to investigate, conduct evidentiary hearings and take enforcement action against possible violators. It imposes a two-year ban on city employees accepting employment or compensation with organizations that have city contracts. It also proscribes all but nominal gifts.

Part of this ordinance is a reaction to the controversial Martin Tower rezoning ordinance. Most of the Council members who supported this project had received campaign contributions from developers Lou Ronca and Norton Herrick,as well as unions that would benefit from the construction work. City Council President Willie Reynolds received 24% of his total funding from Martin Tower beneficiaries. Quondam Council member Michael Recchiuti received 29% of his funding from Martin Tower beneficiaries.

Recchiuti was defeated at the polls in 2015.

Both Colón and Negrón-Dipini made clear, however, that neither has been pressured by developers, lawyers or engineers to support or oppose projects before Council.

Noting that a city election will be held this year, Colón believes this is the perfect time for reform measures. "The last thing I or any elected official wants is for anyone to question their motives behind any of the reasons why they legislate," he said.

Numerous citizens questioned the motives of Council members who supported Martin Tower rezoning.

City Council President Willie Reynolds plans to introduce a fairly extensive legislative package next week that he is calling "Bethlehem 2017", aimed at making the City both more transparent and progressive.

Noting Reynolds'r efforts, Colón said that all Bethlehem elected officials are both "committed to legitimacy"and are "trying to earn the trust of the citizens here in Bethlehem."

Negrón-Dipini stated that the proposal imposes no limit on campaign contributions.

Philadelphia, Allentown and Reading have ethics commissions that have largely been ineffective in deterring political corruption in thise cities. That point was conceded by Negrón-Dipini and Colón, but Colón stated that the corruption charges in thise cities is no reason to abandon any effort to establish an ethics commission.

They also acknowledged that the state government would be more effective in dealing with pay-to-play and other forms of political corruption. But Colón noted that a laundry list of reform measures proposed by Governor Tom Wolf have failed.

"If we're going to wait for Harrisburg to pass something, we might be waiting a pretty long time," said Colón.

Both Council members also acknowledged the danger that an ethics commission can be "weaponized for political gain" by candidates making frivolous allegations that disappear the day after an election. Negrón-Dipini stated that investigations would be kept confidential until it is final.

Fed Ed Seeking More Campaign Contributions

Notwithstanding an imminent criminal indictment for political corruption directly related to his campaign fundraising, Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski is dunning his few remaining supporters for campaign money. Believe it or not, he claims to want to run for a fourth term. I think the real reason he is asking people for $500 a head is so he can pay for criminal defense lawyer Jack McMahon.

My New Year's Resolution - No More Nice Guy!

I've decided that I've been too damn nice to people. So this year, no more Mr. Nice Guy! I started things off right with a three-hour dentist appointment. I refused to take novacane, and when he took too long, I grabbed the drill from his hand, finished the job myself and billed him!

The 2016 Story That Daily Newspapers Want You To Ignore

At the end of every year, it's expected that blogs and newspapers tell you about the big stories over the previous year. The only person who really has this down is The Morning Call's Bill White. He always has a hilarious year-end wrap up. I usually play it straight. This year, as I began looking through about 1,000 posts on my blog over the past 12 months, the story that really stood out to me is one that the daily newspapers will never tell you. The top story is they have pretty much stopped covering the actual news.

Many of my stories about  the political corruption in Allentown are covered in both dailies. Bethlehem still gets some coverage. My series on gerrymandering  was covered thoroughly by Bill White. But this is the first year in which I exposed some significant stories that newspapers ignored.

My daily readers are aware of the strides that Amy Trapp and Dan Keen have taken to clean out some of the dead weight at Northampton County's jail. But there's been absolutely no coverage in the dailies. The political corruption in Nazareth, which included a Mayor skimming from poker machines and raids at the social clubs, was only covered after charges were filed and newspapers could no longer turn a blind eye. The Express Times actually hid from a major story occurring right under their own noses, in which Easton Mayor Sal Panto created two false names on the newspaper's reader forum to bully anyone who disagreed with him, while sanctimoniously attacking. That story was ignored until Panto was sued for defamation by one of his targets.

Though it is provided an office at taxpayer expense, The Express Times no longer covers Northampton County government. It produced no story concerning this year's budget. Or the appointment of an Administrator with multiple tax liens. ... Or the appointment of an EMS Director engaged in a blatant conflict of interest, in which he approves payments to his own father.  It has failed to cover a Council meeting since the end of summer.

That newspaper has stopped covering Bethlehem Township for nearly a year.

The Morning Call is slightly better. It will send reporters or freelancers to cover some meetings. But not nearly with as much frequency as it once did.

According to a 2015 Brookings Institution study, the number of newspapers per hundred million population fell from 1,200 in 1945 to 400 in 2014. Over that same period, circulation has declined from 35 percent to under 15 percent and the number of journalists has decreased from 43,000 in 1978 to 33,000 in 2015.

Some local governments have reacted to this vacuum in local coverage by using social media in an effort to reach the public. Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez sets aside one morning each month for the public,and his Chief of Staff has several news releases each week.Bethlehem Township also has a "Meet the Commissioner" policy once each month at the community center. They also are taking advantage of Facebook, Twitter Snapchat and Nixel. Tiny West Easton videotapes every meeting. Those are governments that at least try to be transparent and accountable.

But most governments love the lack of scrutiny.

Northampton County, for example, has a "new" website that actually contains less data than its predecessor. No contact information for elected Council members. It's an atmosphere in which someone engaged in payments to his father can get a major raise unanimously. It's one in which law clerks can be paid obscene sums of money and make careers out of holding a judge's robe,and even get a stipend on top of that salary. The second highest ranking county employee can be appointed despite having no education, no experience,six tax liens and a home in foreclosure.

This is how democracy dies.  
 

Happy New Year!

I am taking the day off and will return in Tuesday.

Part of the reason for this is that even I am stuffed after a great New Year's dinner at Sharon and Ron Angle's home.

Sharon's dad makes the sauerkraut himself. She visited Alpine Meats in Blairstown and picked up German hot dogs and pork. She also made dairy-free mashed potatoes just for me because I unfortunately am allergic.

For dessert, slices of the best cantaloupe I ever had, along with a light Lithuanian pastry whose name I forget but might be called angel wings in English.

On Tuesday, I will tell you the top story of 2016. It's nothing you'll see in the dailies.

Trump's Homeland Security Pick Has Quakertown Roots

Tom Bossert, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Homeland Security, has local roots. He was raised in Quakertown, and graduated from high school there in 1993. A reader who graduated with Bossert describes him as a "decent student but really seemed to excel after High School." He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and also has a law degree from George Washington University. He previously served President Bush as a Homeland Security Deputy.

In contrast to the current arrangement, in which the Homeland Security Adviser reports to the National Security Adviser, Bossert will report to the President.