Why You Need to Vote For Dennis Pearson For LC Comm'r

Dennis Pearson

Never say never. At age 70, Dennis Pearson is finally a married man. I also believe the time has come for the people of Lehigh County to elect him as a District Commissioner representing West Bethlehem and Allentown's east side. He has been a tireless advocate for neighborhoods, and has taken a keen interest in local government for decades.  While his delivery has always raised eyebrows and snickers, his dedication and knowledge are beyond dispute.

Dennis has two Democratic rivals.One of them is Basilio Bonilla, a former Bethlehem School Director who , when he bothered showing up, managed to piss everyone off. A grandstander, he was yanked from every committee post after Bethlehem's School Board had to apologize for a second time to Allentown's School Board after he attempted to interfere in their business. Some say he's matured. I'd prefer to see him spend more time serving his community instead of being a professional candidate.

Then there's Amy Zanelli, the supposed establishment candidate. I remember her as the chicken lady.

In 2015, Zanelli lived in Hanover Township, Northampton County and appeared at a Supervisors' meeting to complain about the Township's ban on chickens in residential areas. She told Supervisors she was a caseworker in Children and Youth. Flashing her badge,she accused Manager Jay Finnigan of fowl play for refusing to allow her to own backyard chickens. She asked Supervisors if she could make a presentation at their next meeting, and they agreed, but she never showed up.

That was the last I saw of the chicken lady until early this year, when Tom Muller announced he had decided against running for re-election as Lehigh County Executive Muller singled the chicken lady out as his preferred candidate in that district. She was identified as a Rutgers grad who worked in child protective services in New Jersey and now is a realtor.

What Muller failed to mention is that the chicken lady had been fired.

Zanelli had been employed as an intake worker in Somerset County, but was terminated in 2012 because she refused to return to work after receiving a number of leaves of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Though she refused to work, she dropped in on her office one day to deliver Avon products to co-workers.

Zanelli appealed her termination and lost.

She told me she was a victim of discrimination.

Zanelli worked in Northampton County Children and Youth as a caseworker between  March and October 2015. She was terminated there as well, and during her probationary period.

She told me this was because her hours had been expanded beyond the time she had agreed to give.

Dennis is far superior to both of these candidates.    

Brown Skips NorCo Retiree Luncheon

Nearly 200 people attended the semi-annual luncheon for retirees at Northampton's Memorial Community Center on Tuesday. Executive John Brown failed to appear. He has been a no-show at every retiree luncheon since he was first elected, though he and Council are always invited.

Because Brown was invited, so was Lamont McClure, a ten-year Council veteran who is Brown's Democratic opponent in the Executive race. McClure received a very friendly reception,especially from former Gracedale employees.

Peg Ferraro and Ron Heckman, a retiree who is running for Council, were there. So was Matt Dietz, who represents the slate belt region on county council.

Peg was questioned on her vote against a cost of living increase (COLA) last year, and she explained that she got no COLA last year and was primarily concerned that the funds are stable.

No Wild Turkey at Turkey Hill

Steve Salvesen

You might be able to buy booze at Wegmans or Weiss. But by a 3 to 1 vote at their May 9 meeting, Hanover Township Supervisors voted down an ordinance that would have approved the transfer of a liquor license to a high-end Turkey Hill gas station located at Sterners Way. Mark Tanczos, who owns a beer distributorship, recused himself. The sole Yes vote was cast by John Diacogiannis. Jack Nagle, Steve Salvesen and Michael Prendeville voted No.

Each Supervisor explained his vote. Salvesen said that he supported alcohol sales at Wegmans and Weiss because there was testimony from both of those stores that there would be 24 hour supervision of the alcoholic beverages sold there,but no such assurance was made by Turkey Hill, a gas station that hires part-time people. He said there were too many avenues for abuse.

Nagle said it comes down to common sense and thinking about the "health and well-being of our Township." He said that, contrary to testimony offered at a hearing two weeks before, a convenience store like Turkey Hill is a destination for people who want to get a quick can of soda or jug of milk. He said permitting alcohol sales at a gas station "goes totally against what's been going on in this nation for the last 30 years, with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the National Transportation Safety Authority. ... For me, to permit alcohol to be consumed at a place that dispenses gasoline is literally like throwing gasoline on a fire."

John Diacogiannis

Prendeville said the density of alcohol licenses "contributes in a very detrimental way to neighborhoods." He said he would be uncomfortable sending his children to get a gallon of milk at Turkey Hill at 1 am and have them compete against people trying to buy and drink alcohol at a gas station because other bars have closed. "The potential risk far outweighs any reward in my mind," he concluded. "It has the potential to introduce problems that have already overburdened our police department and first responders."

Diacogiannis, unlike his fellow Supervisors, voted to approve the liquor license transfer. He reasoned that the state legislature has expanded sales to gas stations. "This decision has already been made by the state," he said. "It's really not our part to make these decisions."

Finnigan later noted that there were also concerns whether parking would be adequate for this new use, but there was no plan to review.

Though Supervisors denied a liquor license transfer to Turkey Hill, they unanimously approved changes to their zoning ordinance that would permit distilleries, brew pubs and wineries at certain places within the Township. Solicitor Jim Broughal explained the reason for this ordinance. If you don't put this in your ordinance, your neighbor can put a distillery in his house," he explained. "You are required by law to provide for every use we know about. If you don't, it's exclusionary zoning."

They also adopted an ordinance banning invasive bamboo, joining a number of other Lehigh Valley municipalities that have followed Bethlehem Township's lead in banning or regulating this legal immigrant from southeast China.

Invasive or running bamboo is actually a grass and is recognized by the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as one of the fastest growing and most invasive plants in the world. According to a study by the Institute of Invasive Bamboo Research, running bamboo even survived the Hiroshima bomb.
Throughout Pennsylvania, 19 communities have adopted bamboo ordinances. Some, like Douglass Township, have imposed a ban on this grass,which can reach a height of .

A Cumberland County Court has declared running bamboo a "vegetative nuisance" The court reasoned that urban living includes certain responsibilities, including a responsibility to take precautions against invasive plants that encroach upon another person's property.

Supervisors endorsed the bamboo ban in a 4 to 1 vote. Once again, John Diacogiannis was the sole dissenter. He called it an "invasion of individual property rights." He said this is a matter that neighbors should handle between themselves, although some neighbors can be unreasonable. He said he doesn't like invasive bamboo, wither, but is opposed to an ordinance "for every single little thing."

"I'm planting it!" joked a resident who earlier that evening had complained about an unreasonable neighbor."I gotta' go."

 In an unusually busy night, Supervisors also approved the vacation of paper streets laid out on property owned by the Earl Kunsman family, near Bath Pike. Prominent Bethlehem Attorney Jim Holzinger advised Supervisors that he was unable to ascertain that these roads ever existed or were accepted by the Township,but are referred to in the deeds.

Finally, Bill Vogler asked Supervisors to do something about sinkholes.He recognized that "we live on Swiss cheese, but said sinkholes caused by water main breaks are different than those that occur naturally. Several water companies have infrastructure in the Township, according to Diacogiannis.

Vogler and Finnigan discussed the situation after the meeting.

Finnigan Tormented on 60th Birthday

Hanover Township Manager Jay Finnigan celebrated his 60th birthday on Monday. Quietly. That changed Tuesday night. Supervisors decided to draw attention to Finnigan's sixth decade on earth with both balloons and insults.

"Is that his age or IQ?" wisecracked Solicitor Jim Broughal. "His IQ isn't rising," answered Jack Nagle.
  

Bangor School District To Form Diversity Committee

In the wake of a pretty serious act of discrimination at Bangor High School on Friday, Superintendent Frank DeFelice and Easton NAACP President Lance Wheeler met yesterday. While school officials are unable to get into specifics, I understand that disciplinary action has been taken against the students involved in that incident. In addition, the school district has agreed to form a diversity committee that will include parents , administrators and teacher. The goal will be to level the playing field.

A diversity committee was formed once before in Bangor, after a federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination was settled.

It met only once.

This one needs to be more active.    

Lance Wheeler will make sure.

It appears that pockets of racism are still prevalent in the Bangor area. Not the subtle kind, either.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with yet another mother of three biracial children. Her oldest graduated last year, but she still has two boys going through the system. None of her three children ever presented a disciplinary problem. Their experience at what really is a good school is mostly positive. But not completely.

One of her sons, when in the 9th grade, was involved in a debate class and was arguing his points. The student opposed to him eventually blurted out that no one cares what he thinks because he is a "n-gg-r." School officials admonished the boy, but when they called his parents, they were told that is the way they all feel.

Her daughter, who was a senior last year, also experienced a racist encounter with a star baseball player. She had been trying to park her car in her numbered spot when another girl jumped in ahead of her. The two began to argue, and the star baseball player intervened.

He yelled at the biracial girl, "Get in your car. You need to leave. You and your brother are n-gg-rs here,and we don't want your kind."

This incident was witnessed by several students,and an Assistant Principal who conducted an investigation brought them all into his office and told the star baseball player, whose dad happens to be a coach, That statements like that are not permitted on campus. That was it. No apology. No discipline. Everyone was just sent back to class.

Bangor at the time was undefeated in baseball. It finished 23-1.It was around this time when that incident happened.  

Is Lehigh County Sanctuary City? Beitler Says No, ICE Says Yes

In an interesting piece on negative campaigning in the Lehigh County Executive race, Lower Mac Comm'r and blogger Ron Beitler asserts that Lehigh County is not a sanctuary city. I tend to agree, but would feel a lot better if ICE and Center for Immigration Studies felt the same way. .I wish I could answer this definitively, but can't.

Campaign Signs in East Allen Township

The purpose of an election is to get people top vote for you, not piss them off. Someone might want to tell that to East Allen Township Supervisor candidate Georgiann Hunsicker and her husband. They've been planting campaign signs in people's yards without permission, and when property owners take them down, they get phone calls threatening them with criminal prosecution unless the signs return to their supposedly rightful place. What these people are being told is that they have no right to interfere with political signs placed in the public right-of-way.

There's no question that the public right of way extends into the yards of many people, especially in the 'burbs. But the property is still owned by the homeowner. It is subject to the public right-pf way. To know exactly where that right of way ends would require a survey.

Hunsicker believes it is her God-given right to plant her 100 signs anywhere within a public right-of-way, even if that right of way extends over someone's property. It's not. According to PennDOT, they compromise public safety because they distract drivers. They also pose liability concerns. And if a person owns property that is subject to a right-of-way, he still owns the property. Any person who wishes to place a campaign sign on someone else's property, even if it is on the public right-of-way, still needs permission from the property owner.  The fact that PennDOT or the township has an easement for road purposes does not mean that a political candidate has an easement for sign purposes.

Generally, people like to be asked. My guess is that Hunsicker has lost more votes than she has gained as a result of her behavior with residents who object to her signs in their yards.

We'll know in a week.  

Apologies to E Allen BOS Candidate Don Heiney

I was quite pleased with myself when I published an unofficial list in early March of candidates running for local office in Northampton County. I got it out there just hours after the deadline for filing had passed. I made a few mistakes, and corrected them as they were noticed. But in one case, I completely missed a candidate running for a Supervisor's seat in East Allen Township. His name is Don Heiney.

Two seats are up this year. One Democrat and six Republicans are seeking their party's nomination for two seats. The lone Democrat running is Eric Yocum. The six Republicans are Heiney, incumbent Madelyn Kemp, Janice Buskirk, Brian Budraitis, Georgiann Hunsicker and Edward Heiser.

The Fed Ex being built in Allen Township, which is going to spawn big boxes and traffic congestion in East Allen Township, has people concerned.

Heiney has a fairly impressive resume. He's held the following positions in East Allen Township: Supervisor – 2 ½ yrs; Chairman, Municipal Authority – 3 yrs; Chairman, Planning Commission – 4 yrs; Chairman, Board of Auditors – 5 yrs; Township Delegate, Board of the First Regional Compost Authority (FRCA) – 4 yrs; and Township Delegate, Nazareth Area Council of Governments (NAZCOG) – 4 yrs.

He is a Certified Community Planner with training in community planning, zoning, Subdivision and Land Development (SALDO) Review and creating an Implementable Comprehensive Plan (series 1, 2 and 3)

In the real world, he has been an independent IT Professional for over 17 years.

And he's got a beard. They like those in East Allen Township

NorCo Exec: McClure Way Ahead in Money Race

Lamont McClure at Bethlehem rally

Though the numbers that matter are the ones registered in the voting booth, it's no secret that money helps get the message out. Right now, Democrat Lamont McClure is way ahead in that category in his bid to become the next county executive. He is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and used his time to focus on raising money. His second Friday Pre-Primary report shows that he has raised $49.5000 so far. His total warchest now stands at $51,778.56.

Incumbent John Brown, running unopposed for the GOP nod, has made no effort to campaign. He skipped a county party meeting last week and also was a no-show at a pizza party thrown by popular Judge Emil Giordano, a Republican running for the Superior Court. His second Friday Pre-Primary report shows just one contribution, $1,500 from landfill owner Charles Chrin. His warchest  has just $2,137.74.

That's hardly enough for one night in Vegas.

Most of McClure's money comes from unions, including AFSCME, the bargaining unit that represents many of the county's unionized workers. That's no surprise, given that Brown has hardly endeared himself to county workers. But what is a surprise is to see that several Bethlehem Democrats who previously supported Brown are now supporting McClure.        

Brown kept things close in Bethlehem, enabling him to win the race countywide. He appears to have lost his Bethlehem advantage.

Fed Ed's Candidates

I support cops, not criminals, in Allentown. So the last person I'd like to see elected next week is Public Official No. 3, aka Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski. We now know who he is pushing, thanks to a little house party last night. City Council candidate Jessica Lee Ortiz, who masqueraded as a grass roots candidate, is a No. So are school board candidates Lisa Conover and Phoebe Harris. These supposed grass roots candidates  are Fed Ed put-ups.

Dour Molovinsky to become Whirling Dervish

As most regular Lehigh Valley blog readers may have noticed, Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky was really blowin' oil a few weeks ago when Morning Call columnist Bill White wrote about his annual Hall of Fame and forgot to mention me. Twice. Now I agree that I am entirely unforgettable. But I usually only get that from the ladies, and then, only in my dreams. Denied his moment of schadenfreude, Molovinsky was outraged and claimed there had been some sort of conspiracy theory.

Last week, White wrote about his Hall of Fame again, and made sure he mentioned me this time. Twice. He explained he had forgotten. But at the same time, he also ripped into dour (I prefer to call him petty) Molovinsky, who started blowin' oil again. "[T]hey both knew that i hit the nail on the head, and that's why they were both offended," he insisted, before being sedated.

On Thursday night, he begin to feel a little better and decided to go to the Lehigh Valley Tea Party. Fellow zionist Pamela Geller, who hates the Islamization of America almost as much as he does, was the main speaker. Maybe he could cry on her shoulder about Wehr's Dam and Bill White. But alas, his dreams were dashed.

You see, Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle was at that meeting, too. I was busy covering NorCo Council, as any award-winning broadcast journalist would do, but Angle was at the tea party as my eyes and ears.

I'm everywhere.

Unfortunately, Ron is a conservative, and really liked what Pamela had to say. So after her speech, he stood in line and bought her book.

"Have you ever heard of Bernie O'Hare?" he asked as he handed her a copy of her book to sign.

"Why of course. He's the number one blogger in the Lehigh Valley," she answered. "Everyone knows that." And that's how she signed the book for me.

Unfortunately, Molovinsky was standing behind Angle all this time. Hearing that I was the number one blogger was more than the dour little bastard could bear. He began blowin' oil everywhere, started rolling on the floor and screaming "Allahu Akbar," converted to Islam himself, and had to be carted away in a tow truck. He's been on a lift all weekend.

He may never write again. Doctors tell me he now wants to become a whirling dervish.

Grammar teachers everywhere will be thankful.

Meet Wind Gap Magisterial Candidate Mike Ondilla

Wind Gap's Magisterial District Judge race is a three-way affair including incumbent Doug Schlegel and Attorneys Dave Jordan and Mike Ondilla. Mike's wife called me and told me, "You really need to meet my husband." I made her a promise to do so but fell short. I missed him at Rita's Italian Ice, where he had a campaign event last weekend. But we finally connected on Friday, when Ondilla filed his second Friday Pre-Primary report.

A graduate of Moravian College and Widener School of Law, Ondilla got his start as a law clerk for Judge Leonard Zito. "Nothing riled him," he told me. He said he learned more than the law from Judge Zito

After his clerkship, Ondilla worked with a few firms but then took a slightly different path than most lawyers. He became a sales tax consultant.  He can use his legal knowledge, but does not have to worry about winding down his practice if elected.

He's fortunate to have a lot of support in Wind Gap. He is backed both by Democrat Scott Parsons and Republican Matt Dietz. He also has the support of Adriane Masut, who was Magisterial District Judge in Wind Gap before it went to Schlegel.

I gave him a few openings to take shots at his opponents but he declined, telling me he'd rather lose than go negative.

Obviously, he'd make a great Magisterial District Judge.

NAACP Wants Moon Cricket Lesson From Bangor Schools

Lance Wheeler, President of the Easton branch of the NAACP, likes to learn new things.Today, he plans to visit Bangor Area School District to learn all about moon crickets. He has read the stories and also has been contacted by parents in the slate belt with additional stories.

I have previously told you that two of the high school's most talented basketball players were thrown off the team at the end of the season. They happen to be of color. Did race play a role in this decision? I'd hope not.

Then on Friday, just as my moon cricket story began to die down, a student at the high school donned KKK garb - some say it was ISIS - and shouted "F-ck n-gg-rs!" A mother of biracial children pulled them out of the school, and they may be home-schooled for the rest of the year.

Swift action has been taken. Some of the students who instigated this have been suspended. One has been expelled.

But this story has led to a charge of racism by another parent with bi-racial children. She emailed me. I have been unable to talk to her and don't have permission to use her name. But she claims that reported discrimination against her children to an assistant principal who told her he "had no tolerance for bullying, or racism in his school. The students should always feel safe there and like a big family. ... However, after his investigation and interviews with witness the perpetrator was called in the office along with my children and told not to say things like that anymore and that was it. No disciplinary action, no apology to my kids nothing."

The claim is that the student who donned this regalia was instigated by others, and I can see that happening. But I have since seen his Facebook page. If Bangor school officials are unaware of it, they really need to take a look. It is loaded with photographs of the Confederate flag. That in and of itself could have many explanations. But what really bothers me is the one above.

Like I said on Friday, Bangor has a problem.

Fox Calls Benol Out For Hypocrisy

Controller Steve Barron has suggest tighter internal controls over travel by county staffers. He also noted that the amount of money spent on "training" in Human Resources has skyrocketed. It's about ten times what it was before Brown took office. In what seems like a choreographed response to Barron, Executive John Brown used most of Council's Thursday night meeting to bash Barron. First, he had Trapp take the podium to explain that he's saved a million dollars in workers compensation costs, although the truth is that those savings actually began under Executive John Stoffa. Then he had Corrections Director Dan Keen come up and talk about active shooters and other problems that can happen at jails,even though Barron never questioned the money spent on training in Corrections. Finally, Mat Benol unleashed a vicious personal attack on Barron, claiming the position should be defunded. He even called Barron "corrupt," based on his incorrect assumption that Barron had personally profited from the use of an autodialer in John Morganelli's AG race.

Slate Belt resident Jeff Fox is a conservative who backed Hayden Phillips in the Controller's race against Barron. I doubt that he sees eye-to-eye with Barron on many things. But he saw through the nonsense spewed on Thursday night, and sent the letter below to Benol,with copies to every Council member.

Matt Benol,

After reading and viewing the meeting of 5/4/17, I do have a few comments.

In my humble opinion, it seems that you are the one being extremely partisan. Your role on council, once elected, should be about issues and policies which serve the county and its' citizens, taxpayers, well. You work for all. Not just R's. Saving money is saving money. The controller position is an important one, especially for the taxpaying citizens of Northampton County. Defunding this position, even if legal, is not even a reasonable suggestion. The controller is doing his job. Council, including you, should do theirs.

According to the article posted on Lehigh Valley Live by John Best, you said..."... Barron should have sat down with the HR department and discussed how the money was spent before sending a memo out with accusations of abuse and overspending."... Did you sit down with Mr. Barron to discuss these issues as you suggested Mr. Barron should have done? Do as I say not as I do? You publicly attacked Mr. Barron for doing his job. Did you speak to him, man to man, before you did so publicly? Who is politically motivated? Enough with the politics! Grow up and remember for whom you work. This is just one example of many which have prompted me to leave the republican party after 30+ years. Too much petty party partisan politics which interfere with what is in the best interest of We the People!

Jeffrey Fox

Return of the Moon Crickets of Bangor (Updated)

One week ago today, I told you about the moon crickets of Bangor. I never heard this expression, but a coach at the school district did, and is alleged to have used it while addressing some black athletes. They sued, and received a settlement.

This story made me wonder about two basketball players kicked off the team at the end of the season. Was it because they are of color or their inability to follow team rules, I wondered.

I know who these boys are, have watched them play, and  know they are tremendously gifted.  One of the played with my grandson.  But I never spoke with either of them before writing my story.

Last night, I was contacted, for the first time, by their mother.  She explained what had happened, from her point of view.  She told me that, at school, her sons have been accused of stirring up this story, which is untrue. What really provoked me to dig a little, and I did not have to dig long, was the result of other problems at the school district.

Today, as one of these young men made his way down the hall, he was confronted by a student adorned in what appears to be a white hood and mask.

No one has to tell me what means.

 As he was dragged down the hall, students claim he began to shout, "F-ck n-gg-rs!"

No one has to tell me what that means, either.

Bangor has a problem.

(Originally published 1:47 pm)

In Defense of Trips to Las Vegas

Last month, Controller Steve Barron submitted a troubling memo to Northampton County Council, suggesting that stronger internal controls are needed over the amount of money spent on travel and related expenses. What bothered him were trips to New Orleans and Las Vegas by Human Resources staffers, as well as a staggering jump in training for Human Resources (HR), where spending increased from $5,749.35 in 2015 to $56,758.15 in 2016. He never even got into HR Director Amy Trapp's decision to blow $800 on a popcorn machine, or thousands of dollars spent on Target gift cards with no accountability. At a Council meeting later that week, Mat Benol dismissed Barron's report as "one of those knee-jerk things that our Controller has done to try to make the Executive look bad. I'm just getting tired of it." Amy Trapp herself was unavailable, but was at last night's meeting to explain why all this spending was so necessary. Though Barron never criticized the money spent on training by Corrections Director Dan Keen, he was called forth to explain how the training at the jail saves lives. And Benol renewed his attacks on Barron. Instead of responding to the message, he attacked the messenger. He wants to defund the Controller.

Trapp justified the conferences in Las Vegas and New Orleans. She indicated the trip to Las Vegas was to learn how to use a software system, and that is the only place where the training is done.

Her justification for the New Orleans trip for workers compensation was that it had been recommended by the third party administrator and saved the County money. She noted that the County spent $1.4 million on workers compensation claims in 2015, but only $595,000 in 2016. She implied that the County saved all this money on workers compensation because of that New Orleans trip.

That is a flawed argument because the New Orleans trip was in the end of 2016, between November 29 and December 2. That trip could have only affected workers compensation matters after December 2.

She also claimed that the money spent on training reduced turnover by about five per cent. Turnover may have been reduced in 2016 over 2015, but no evidence linked reduced turnover with the increased training.Moreover, she herself indicated that the county's turnover rate last year was 15% and that the average in the public sector is 10-12%.

It's unclear whether anyone aside from Benol or Seth Vaughn was persuaded by her spiel.

Matt Dietz asked her whether she shopped around for the best hotel rates. Trapp attempted to justify paying more at the Mirage Hotel. Dietz stated that his job requires him to travel and his company shops for the best rates. He noted that there are workers comp classes in Pennsylvania.

Bob Werner pointed out that Trapp is in charge of the policies for travel and meals. She admitted she scheduled the trip. He pointed that the policy requires government employees who travel o get discounted and low rates. Then Trapp said that someone else scheduled the trip "This was absolutely in your area of expertise," Werner told her. "I don't think this was done as well as it could have been done." He also noted that Trapp is using savings in 2016 to justify a trip at the end of 2016.

"There are questions here that should have been reviewed before the trip," he said.

Seth Vaughn then said he was encouraged by Trapp for "seizing these opportunities." He believed that a trip to New Orleans at the end of 2016 saved the county $1 million in 2016. Even though it didn't.

"This is nothing more than a political hit piece," said Mat Benol, "and I'm going to address the gorilla in the room." He called Barron's report "false news."

After Trapp was done, Brown then decided to call Corrections Director Dan Keen to justify his training expenditures, even though Barron had no complaints about the amount of money his department spent on training. Keen, who was away from his job at least 39 times over the past two years, spoke about the importance of training, though what he did has nothing to do with New Orleans or Las Vegas.

"God forbid, look what happened in Delaware," he said, though I had no idea what he was talking about.

Then he started talking about active shooters in prison lobbies, and I suppose that's a justification for trips to Las Vegas and New Orleans.

After they were done, Benol said he wants to do something to Barron because he has a history of violating the Home Rule Charter and Administrative Code. Then he slammed Barron for getting $22,100 from DA John Morganelli when he ran for Attorney General. He noted that Barron failed to report this on his ethics report. "He's nothing more than a corrupt officer," said Benol. "The optics of this stinks."

He went on to say that Barron's salary be defunded.

He seemed to think that money was going into Barron's pocket, but this accusation is false. As Benol might say, false news. Barron owns an autodialer, and Morganelli gave him money so he could purchase time on it for calls made by Morganelli. None of that money went into Barron's pocket.

Instead of paying attention to the message, the Brown administration went after the Controller. He was called "corrupt" for pointing out that Human Relations is blowing taxpayer money like drunken sailors.

The whole point of bringing this situation to Council now, instead of September, was to keep it from becoming political. But it will be political now. I am sure voters will have a different view of Barron's memo than the one offered by Benol.

Why Dent Voted Against Trumpcare

“I am disappointed the House passed this bill that I believe will increase health insurance costs particularly for low-to-moderate income Americans, increase the number of uninsured by as much as 24 million people, and undermine important protections for those living with pre-existing conditions. It is my hope that cooler heads will prevail in the Senate and that they will produce a better bill that is focused on improving the health care for all Americans rather than the haphazardly constructed and hastily considered House bill. Health care reform should be about the improving care for the American people.  Too much time and energy has been spent on meeting arbitrary deadlines and artificial timelines, all to improve the budget baseline for tax reform. We must and can do better.”

Updated: Allentown Fire Dep't Still Running on Fumes

This comes directly from the Firefighters.

Local 302 Allentown International Association of Firefighters

7 mins · 

The City was without a ladder truck again last night for 2 hours. This morning the ladder truck is back out of service and the crew was operating out of a PICKUP again. Ideally the City should never be without coverage because the ladder truck crew should be able to switch into another ladder truck. Unfortunately the other ladder truck is also out of service due to major repairs. Pickup trucks should not be the replacement for fire trucks.

Contact City Hall and tell them.....The citizens of Allentown pay for and deserve around the clock safe coverage.

And at 6:30 pm: "Fire doesn't wait for replacement plans and out of service trucks. There was a working fire tonight and T2 is still out of service. Engine 11 had to act as the aerial which leaves the city with 1 fire engine left to respond to all the other responses. Good job Allentown Firefighters having to do more with less once again. This has gone on far too long, the citizens deserve better. Call City Hall and demand answers."

On scene 13th and Liberty Allentown House Fire with a Juvenile Transported to a Local Hospital.

Zito Maligned Over landfill Decision

Judge Zito in shorts instead of a robe,
poses with five cops who never claimed he was biased. 

Friends of Lackawanna is no friend to Senior Judge Leonard Zito. Nor are The Scranton Times editorial board and oneof their columnists, Chris Kelly. They're blowin' oil over a ruling issued by Judge Zito on Monday, denying standing to Friends of Lackawanna and a group of Dunmore residents opposed to the expansion of Keystone Sanitary Landfill. Judge Zito got stuck with this case after the entire Lackawanna Court of Common Pleas decided this was one political potato too hot for them to handle. After all, they have retention races to win every ten years. So they all recused themselves and Judge Zito got stuck with it. He didn't exactly volunteer, but was drafted by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Nobody had a problem with Judge Zito until he ruled against them. Now, he's apparently a mobster.

According to The Scranton Times, the entire region should have standing in a landfill expansion dispute. Never mind the law. Columnist Chris Kelly kicks things up a notch. He has published two columns. In his first, The Jurist Puzzle, he suggests that Zito is biased because he represented several landfills when he practiced law.

Using that logic, I could argue that he should never sit in judgment of a criminal case because he represented numerous criminal defendants and was once the County's Chief Public Defender. Cometo thinkof it, judges who served as prosecutors should never hear criminal cases, either.

What really seemed to piss Kelly off is that Judge Zito refused to discuss his decision with him. Let me get this straight. After insinuating that a judge is biased and in the pocket of Louis DeNaples, Kelly thinks that same jurist should pick up the phone for an ex parte conversation with him about a matter that is still before him?

Are you out of your mind, Chris? One too many Texas wieners?

It gets better. In a second column, entitled It Keeps Piling Up, Kelly concludes that Zito must be biased because a landfill opponent in Williams Township says so. He complains again that Zito refuses to engage in ex parte communications. He apparently made no effort to get other opinions.

Kelly could easily have learned that Zito was a fierce advocate for whomever he represented. He could have learned that Zito distinguished himself as the Chief Public Defender, representing clients who had nothing. Or that he represented one of the region's most difficult clients, Northampton County Council, with ease. He could have learned that Zito represented wealthy people but also represented numerous Slate Belt clients who had nothing. He could have learned that Zito, despite his senior status, is still considered the hardest working judge in Northampton County. He could have learned that Zito is considered a fine judge by lawyers in and out of the county. He could have asked the attorney representing Friends of Lackawanna why no bias claim was made.

But that would be journalism.

I can, and have, taken judges to task at times. But Kelly's Kommentary is as kooky as the landfill he despises so much. .

Kelly must want to be a bottom-feeding blogger like me. Many are called, but few are chosen.

Lacrosse 4 Food This Sunday

LAX is the acronym used for Los Angeles Airport. I learned yesterday that it also stands for lacrosse. Fellow blogger and Lacrosse official Chris Casey told me. It's a very cool game started by native Americans that sometimes involved hundreds of players beating the shit out of each other. We are more sophisticated than the aborigines. These days, teams are smaller and fields are shorter. But they still beat the shit out of each other.

Casey has asked me to tell you that Lehigh Valley Lacrosse League is conducting its LAX 4 Food event this Sunday (May 7) at Tuskes Park, located at 3040 Bath Pike, Nazareth, PA 18064. The games begin at 9:30 am, and will goon all day. Teams from the Bethlehem Township Bulldogs, Easton Rovers, Forks Falcons, Northampton K-Kids, LMYA, Palmer Panthers and Nazareth Cupcakes will play.

Casey will be at Field #3, starting at 11 am.

The purpose of this drive is to help the Easton Food bank get thru the summer when there are no school lunches for many of the kids. Lacrosse officials hope We hope to eclipse the 10 tons of food collected since this event first started this event. If you can, drop by the park with some food. Watch some lacrosse.

Updated 11:15am: An earlier version of this story had the wrong day.It will be Sunday, not Saturday.

PennDOT Releases Audio Version Driver Manual

Harrisburg, PA - Two parents, with the help of State Senator Pat Browne (R- Lehigh), have successfully achieved a victory for teens with Dyslexia. On Friday, April 28, Pennsylania's Department of Transportation (PennDot) released an audio version of the Pennsylvania Drivers Manual. This allows potential drivers with dyslexia and other reading issues to access the driver manual in a way that takes into account their learning issues.

Daphne Uliana and Kathleen Hartos, both of whom have helped teens with dyslexia prepare for the driver test, spearheaded this effort. Uliana enlisted the help of her two sons, Nick and Sam, for research.

Pennsylvania now joins 15 other states, including New York and California, in providing an audio version of the Drivers Manual.

“My son studied for the exam by taking the practice test online numerous times, and although he passed the test, he does not fully know or understand the driving laws in Pennsylvania,” said Uliana, who lives in Northampton County.

Hartos, both a parent and tutor of dyslexia children, saw similar issues with one of her students. “I saw the struggles my student had while he was preparing for his learner’s permit, said Hartos of Allegheny County. “He would have benefited from access to audio assistance, enhances comprehension of the driver’s manual content for all individuals of driving age in our state who struggle with specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Additionally, even those with low literacy skills and English Language Learners benefit.”

Dyslexia is a lifelong, neurological condition that makes reading difficult. It is the most common learning disability and effects 15 to 20% of the population. Most dyslexics have and average to high IQ. Dyslexia can cause problems with reading comprehension, spelling, writing and math.

The audio version of the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual is available on PennDot’s website: http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Driver-Licensing/Pages/PA-Driver's-Manual---Audio-Version.aspx

Both Hartos and Uliana are members of the Pennsylvania Dyslexia Literacy Coalition, an all-volunteer coalition of parent advocates and education professionals working to raise awareness of Dyslexia and improve Literacy for all children. To learn more, http://www.pennadlc.org

Unfortunately, Daphne is married to Joe Uliana, a lobbyist. They  are only slightly more popular than bottom-feeding bloggers. She should trade him in for a newer model.

Judge Emil Giordano, A Regular Guy, Throws Pizza Party

Judge Emil Giordano

Lehigh Valley favorite son Emil Giordano, a highly regarded Northampton County judge for the past 13 years, is running for Superior Court this year.  He is seeking one of four vacant seats. Giordano is "highly recommended" by the state bar association, its top rating. But Giordano never mentioned that last night at a pizza party he threw for about 300 bi-partisan supporters at Northampton Memorial Banquet Center. There was no need. He's perhaps the most popular Lehigh Valley jurist to emerge since Jack Panella. Attorney Mark Altemose, who introduced Giordano last night, explained why. In the eyes of most people, he's a "regular guy."

I've seen this for years. He's never been known as Judge Giordano at baseball games or on the basketball court. It's always been Emil. No one would know he was a judge. They instead know him as a coach, a dad, a fan. A regular guy.

Pizza galore!

Altemose said he was honored that Giordano would ask a "lowly Democrat," and one who is also a Plaintiff's attorney, to introduce him. But he learned that the reason is because Giordano ran out of Republicans at so many other events. He had to turn to Democrats, starting with the letter "A".

Giordano fell a little short in his last bid for a seat in the Superior Court, but decided to try again. He told his wife than when they first met, he was a small town lawyer in a strip mall in Egypt. "Did you ever imagine, in your wildest dreams, that I would be running for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania?  he asked her.

"Honey, you're not in my wildest dreams," his wife answered.

What was amazing about this event, aside from Judge Giordano's self-deprecating humor, are the number of loyal friends who appear with him. High school classmates. Fraternity brothers. Former students from Moravian College. Former clients.

Mayors Ed Hozza (Whitehall) and Fiorella Mirabito (Bath)
were classmates

Executive John Brown was apparently too important to attend. His opponent, Lamont McClure, had what Giordano would consider an acceptable excuse. Baseball. Peg Ferraro,unfortunately, was unable to attend because she was burying her brother John. . Seth Vaughn, who is seeking re-election, were nowhere to be found. Nor were any of the Democratic Council candidates.

Fortunately, numerous local government officials were there.Controller Steve Barron and NorCo Council members Hayden Phillips and Glenn Geissinger came. Council candidate Ron Angle was there. Northampton Borough officials. The entire Bushkill Township Board of Supervisors. The entire Bath Borough Council and Mayor Fiorella Mirabito. Hanover Township's Jay Finnigan and John Diacogiannis. Dave Colver from Palmer Township.Whitehall Mayor Ed Hozza. I know I missed some of you.

Hanover Tp's Jay Finnigan and John Diacogiannis

Tony Pristash, a Northampton Council member, did the photography.

In a show of bi-partisan support, Democratic State Senator Lisa Boscola and Republican State Senator Mario Scavello both spoke on behalf of Giordano.

Senator Mario Scavello said it was tough to follow Lisa Boscola and Mark Altemose

Giordano asked his son Caden, a basketball standout and scholar at Bethlehem Catholic, to stand up. Then he asked three MDJ candidates running in his district  to take a good look at him."If he gets in trouble, do not give him bail," he joked.

Caden is now taller than his father. "I can still beat him,"lied Giordano

Giordano came up hard.His parents came to this country from Italy and met in night school, where they were learning English. He worked in their pizza shop after school. Though he claims to have hated it, he said that job taught him about service.

Why is he running for Superior Court judge? Because "they don't have to all come from the big cities. Appellate courts are full of judges from Philadelphia and Allegheny County. It's my humble, self-serving opinion that we need judges from smaller counties who have small town values and that's why I'm running."

Controller Steve Barron and his lovely family. Fortunately,
his daughters look like their mother.

The ying and the yang of Northampton County. Flamboyant barrister Gary Asteak
and Northampton County bulldog Ron Angle. 

Hayden "the Colonel" Phillips ordered me to clean the bathrooms 

Magisterial District Judge candidate Vivian Zumas, with Asteak and Finnigan

Updated 8:50pm: Unfortunately, Peg Ferraro was unable to attend as a result of the death of her brother John.

Slay The Gerrymander This Thursday at Lafayette

Northampton County's League of Women Voters (NCLWV), Easton's NAACP and FairDistrictsPA are teaming up for a panel discussion about the gerrymander on Thursday, May 4, at 7:00 pm at Lafayette College's Colton Chapel (S College and Pardee Dr, Easton). Sen. Lisa Boscola and Rep. Steve Samuelson will present their plans to replace a system in which legislators pick their voters with an independent commission that will draw boundary lines.

If gerrymandering reform fails to pass this year, that will end any attempt to reform the system for another decade. That's because it must pass twice in two consecutive years and then be voted on as a constitutional amendment.

513,000 sq ft Warehouse Distribution Center Approved on Brodhead Rd

You can say what you want about developer Lew Ronca, and I often do. But his commitment to completely reconstruct about a third of Brodhead Road is going to save Bethlehem Township taxpayers $700,000. The Township will reconstruct the remaining two thirds of the 5,000' long road this Summer. Ronca, a businessman, made this commitment in connection with a 513,000 sq ft warehouse distribution center he plans to build along the south side of Brodhead Rd and north side of Route 22. It's a 37-acre tract that had been originally pitched as a Wal Mart Super Center. At their May 1 meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved a multi-tenant warehouse center after a presentation by prominent land use attorney Blake Marles.

This project includes 113 loading docks and parking for 222 cars and 141 trailers. It will be accessed exclusively by Brodhead Road. In its review, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission noted the proposal is in an area designated for urban development and is consistent with the county's comprehensive plan. It maintains a 150' buffer from Monocacy Creek, a high quality cold water trout stream that traverses the property. Because of its close proximity to Route 22, it is expected to have little negative impact on residential communities. But the truck traffic will access Route 22 at a high crash intersection.

Marles asked the township to waive a $135,000 recreation fee, but seemed top get nowhere on that one. He might persuade Commissioners to waive inspection fees for the road construction, since Ronca is doing work that the Township would otherwise be required to do.

Ronca upset a large number of Bethlehem residents when he stayed away from public meetings during the Martin Tower debate. But he was out in front of this project. Lew's son, a very pleasant young man, was with father last night and also when the plan was reviewed by the Planning Commission.

In other business, Commissioners unanimously authorized Manager Melissa Shafer to advertise for bid the stabilization and renovation project for the Archibald Johnston mansion. Estimates have placed the cost of that work at $700,000, but it would come from the Housenick Trust.

NorCo Council's Boring Expense Reports Sets Example

You could say that Northampton County Council travel expenses are an example to emulate. Or you could say they are just very boring people. Really boring. In the process of going through their expense reports since 2014, I repeatedly fell asleep. I hope you can make it through the end of the story without nodding off. My only hope for scandal and outrage was Ken Kraft. Even he let me down.

I have filed several right-to-know requests about county spending on travel, meals and other expenses. You see, when an HR Director like Amy Trapp blows $800 on a popcorn machine, you start asking questions.

I've already told you that, since 2014, Northampton County has spent $347,144 for hotel stays, travel expenses, meals and conferences. I've pointed out that Corrections Director Dan Keen has spent far too much time on the road. In the span of just two years, he's taken 39 trips,many of which were over-nighters. Through these RTKs,  I've learned that Executive John Brown was MIA for much of 2016, when he was running for state auditor general. He submitted only about half as many expense reports in 2016 than he did in either 2015 or 2014.

Hotel stays and travel have exploded under Brown So how about Council?

These nine people could charge the County mileage every time they go to a meeting, but don't. They could charge mileage for different events they are urged to attend, like the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Farmland Preservation Board, Airport Authority, visits to 911, Gracedale, Airport Authority or the various Councils of Government. But they don't. In fact, they only seek reimbursements when they go to CCAP (County Comm'r Ass'n of PA) conferences, which are usually twice a year.

Between 2014 and present, $5,239.61 has been spent on for hotel stays by some Council members. Other than that, Council members only file for mileage and an a occasional meal for CCAP, if  that. It adds up to another $2,508.08 between 1/1/14 and 3/25/17.

Total amount?  $7,837.70.

Bob Werner, who goes to these conferences, has never sought reimbursement for his travel, meals or even for hotel stays. He told me he goes right home. But I think he spends most nights knocking on Peg Ferraro's door.

No means No, Bob.

Glenn Geissinger is another fellow who seeks no reimbursements for his travel expenses, though he has allowed the County to pay for his hotel.  

Seth Vaughn also has no expenses, but that's because he's a no-show. He phones in to most committee hearings, so do you honestly think he'd be at CCAP?

I thought for sure I'd nail Ken Kraft. Last year, he dropped $233.10 at 1700 degrees, a fancy Harrisburg steakhouse. That same day, he dropped another $21 at the Ad Lib Kitchen and Bar. He must have liked it because he was back two more times and dropped $131.52 on one of his visits.

But guess what? He had to pay the tab himself. The county refused to reimburse him for anything more than his per diem allotment.

I tried my best to find a charge for the Girls, Girls, Girls massage parlor or at least a lap dance, but nada. In fact, the bastard brought his wife.

What kind of candy ass union agent are you, Ken? Jimmy Hoffa would be turning in his grave, if they could ever find it.

The example set by Council, unfortunately, has gone unnoticed in some other departments. I'll have more as I continue my review.

Bath Borough To Consider Dropping Regional Police Coverage

While Hanover Township has honored first responders by naming a park after them, Bath Borough has scheduled a town hall to discuss the furture of its police services for Saturday, May 20th - 9:00AM at the Bath Social Hall on North Walnut Street. Like Hanover and Lower Nazareth Township, Bath is a partner in the Colonial Regional Police Department. Its 2017 budget calls for $413,546.39 for police protection. Its estimated population is about 2,600.

According to the state DCED,

Pennsylvania has more police departments than any other state in the country, and many are too small to provide a full range of police services. In fact, eighty-three percent of the municipal police departments have less than ten officers.

The concept of regional policing is gaining favor among municipal leaders who are faced with stagnant or declining sources of revenue. Currently, there are 35+ regional police departments representing 125+ municipalities. Most regional police departments were created to strengthen existing police services in the areas of administration, supervision, training, investigation, patrol and specialty services.

The DCED does have a grant program for shared resources.

Hanover Tp Thanks First Responders With a Park

 First Responders Park is the product of the efforts of, from left to right, Supervisors John Diacogiannis, Michael Prendeville, Mark Tanczos and Jack Nagle, as well as Manager Jay Finnigan. Supervisor Steve Salvesen was unable to attend. 

Numerous Lehigh Valley municipalities think pretty poorly of your own need for public safety. Many of them have no police, choosing to let you wait for the time it takes Pennsylvania State Police to respond to what could be a life-and-death emergency. You could live in Bath Borough,which has scheduled a special Town hall. Or you could live in Allentown, whose fire engines are breaking down because Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski slashed their operating budget by 65.52% since 2008. That's just a tragedy waiting to happen. But things are different in Hanover Township, which is blessed with excellent police, fire and emergency medical protection. Instead of ignoring or maligning them, Hanover Township thanked its first responders on Saturday with a park named after them.

A large contingent of Colonial Regional officers came,including retired Chhief Dan Spang.  

Supervisor Michel Prendeville came up with the name for this park, which was built almost entirely with grant money.

Firefighters, cops and EMS personnel pose together. The white-shirted man in the center is
Joseph Moser,a 48-year veteran of the Hanover Tp Volunteer Fire Co.  

As the park was being dedicated, sirens wailed all over because first responders were spending their Saturday morning drilling for a hospital disaster that hopefully will never happen.

Prendeville's stirring words:

"Thank you for turning towards things that most people turn from. Thank you for bringing and maintaining order in times of chaos. Thank you for providing compassion for complete strangers in a time of dire need. Thank you for making the world a better place. Thank you for being role models. Thank you for the countless hours of training and education. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for making us feel safe. Thank you for providing service above self. There is no greater contribution to society than to be in the service of others."

Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple said that, unlike many other communities, Hanover Township has always gone out of its way to make first responders feel welcome. "The last few years have been very difficult for men and women in law enforcement," said Seiple. "Officers have been preyed upon at an alarming rate." In the midst of all the controversy over police nationwide, Chief Seiple said he arrived at work one morning to see the yellow line replaced with a black and blue line painted in the road outside of the police station.

Jim Millot is the Township Engineer who turned this dream into reality, on time
and under budget. He always claimed he was"on target," which became a running
joke for Supervisors.But it is an apt description of township governance.  

That was Prendeville's idea, too.

Seiple thanked the people of Hanover Township

After the event was over, Finnigan told me first responders will be able to visit the park for free.

So will every one else.

He also told me the Township is considering naming something after me - a dumpster.

The colors of Colonial Regional and Hanover Tp Volunteer firefighters are unfurled. 

A Warning to my Fellow Turkeys

Tomorrow is the first day of turkey hunting season, and Jerry Seyfried will be out there. So stay home. He can only go after bearded birds, so if you shave, you should be ok. As most of you know, we turkeys are vicious serial killers. I will be out all night setting up snares and staked pits for the fools who will be out there tomorrow.

After we catch someone, we tie him down and force him to listen to Justin Beiber tapes all night.

Another Allentown Fire Engine Breaks Down

Another Allentown fire engine had to be towed away again last night. If one more breaks down, firefighters willhave to respond to fire calls in a pick-up truck once again. In an interview with broadcast journalists, Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski snickered as he said that a couple of engines "were down for just a week."

The Moon Crickets of Bangor

Have you ever heard the expression "moon crickets"?  I learned what the term meant yesterday, during a discussion with a Bangor resident.  Apparently, it is a term that plantation owners lovingly used for their slaves in the antebellum South when they would come out at night and sing gospel songs. The moon crickets are out. Ohh, what wonderful music they make!

It's a term that a Bangor coach used with two of his black athletes. They knew what it meant, and sued in federal court. The matter was ultimately settled in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.

Fast forward to this year. Bangor's shadow Superintendent is Bron Holland, the athletic director and boys' basketball coach. His boys had a wonderful season.Until the end, when he kicked two players off the team.

They happen to be of color. They had an attitude, I'm told.

All stallions have attitudes. A good coach breaks them and turns them unto team players.

Perhaps this coach did all he could do.Perhaps not.