Should We Give Driver's Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants?

Easton City Council thinks so, and adopted a resolution last week calling on state legislators to ease the current law. It did so in reaction to a group calling itself Fight For Drivers License. On their website, theu offer this justification: "We believe that driving represents not just access to the use of a car, but the right to use the roads in peace, get to our jobs, and bring food to our families' tables. It represents our ability to live with dignity." But one person is setting up a roadblock - Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. He has called for a news conference today so that he can expound on his reservations.

On Saturday, he shared his feelings on Facebook. "Last night, although well intentioned, a misguided and uninformed Easton City Council passed a resolution to allow illegal aliens to obtain valid Pennsylvania drivers licenses. These are people who intentionally entered the US illegally with no respect for our immigration laws and without permission from our government. Council should have asked for input from those of us in law enforcement who know that the terrorists who blew up the World Trade Center and killed thousands of Americans all used fraudulent drivers licenses to pass money, get on planes and give themselves cover from their criminal activities. States that in the past handed out drivers licenses to people illegally in the US saw an influx of thousands of foreign criminals to their states and many are now moving to repeal them like New Mexico. This is bad public policy and makes it easier for illegal foreign criminals to do us harm under the cover of a valid state issued drivers license."

Nobody Expects The Spanish Inquisition

 (This is an open letter to J. Willie Reynolds, President of Bethlehem City Council).

Dear Willie,

On January 30, you were forced to endure a six-hour long special meeting of City Council, convened to interview 11 applicants for the vacancy created when Bob Donchez resigned his seat to ascend into the Mayoral atmosphere. The reason for this lengthy meeting, we both know, is Karen Dolan. Though she had already decided she was supporting one of the candidates, she felt it necessary to belittle other applicants. Even Ron Heckman, a former Director of Northampton County's Human Services, was basically told he's too white and too male. A CPA was demeaned. It was City Council at its worse. In fact, it's what prompted me to look at Dolan's nonprofit.

During a meeting I had with Dolan at Illick's Mill in February, I learned that she had failed to file her nonprofit tax returns for three years straight. As a result, her nonprofit status was revoked by the IRS and stayed that way for at least a year, while she had to re-file. I decided against writing about it because she broke down in tears, said it would ruin her nonprofit and promised that she would be more respectful to people who come before your body.

I was to later learn that she told you and at least one other Council member that I was writing no story because it lacked merit. If she told you this, it was a lie. In fact, I began learning that she had told me lies, too. For example, she assured me she was paying the utilities at her nonprofit, except for heating oil, and couldn't understand why she was getting free oil. We now know that she actually voted for the free heating oil in two city budgets, and that Bethlehem has been footing utility bills for several years.

When she used her position as Parks Chair to promote easing alcohol limits in City Parks, you appropriately ended her role there. It was one of several blatant conflicts of interest that diminish all of you.

I am writing to request that you ask Dolan to step down from another City Council Committee - Human Resources and Environment. It is Dolan, an eight-year veteran of Council, who acted as ringleader to turn a simple appointment to the Parking Authority, an unpaid volunteer position, into the Spanish Inquisition. Diana Morganelli, wife of the District Attorney, was assailed with ridiculous questions that even included the square foot per parking lot spaces and the capital of Assyria.

In the face of public condemnation, Dolan called the whole thing "an incredible learning experience" and paid homage to treating others with more respect. But given her track record, I think that's impossible. Her continued presence on a committee that interviews appointees is going to continue to diminish City Council in the eyes of the public. For that reason, I request that she be removed.

Notre Dame's 121 Grads Reminded, "God Is Always Here"

National Honor Societ listens to MVB (most valuable Bishop)

Notre Dame Green Pond's gridiron was filled to the brim on a sunny June 1 with over 500 raucous people. But instead of a rooting for the Crusaders' improving football team, these fans were cheering for 121 graduating sons and daughters, who were saying good-bye to their second home over the past four years. But valedictorian Gabrielle DeMatos Grys reminded them, "We are never alone. God is always here."

This emphasis on spirituality, along with a sprinkle of humor here and there, was the common theme throughout the ceremony. Salutatorian Jimmy Capella, for example, insisted on starting his address by taking a selfie. But his address focused on the impact of the Blessed Mother. In fact, at a school named after her, Capella finished his speech by reciting the Hail Mary.

Most Rev. John O. Barres, Bishop

Capella was by no means the only person taking pictures. Parents flooded both sides of the outdoor stage for their own shots of the ceremony. Even Valedictorian Grys took a selfie before she started her speech, explaining her class had commanded her to do it.

Selfies must matter. But according to Grys, accolades and big paychecks mean little. In fact, she even conceded her class is not the smartest or most athletic that Notre Dame ever graduated. But what sets them apart is that they care about others. "We impact the people around us in a positive way."

Graduation photographers

And then, perhaps in a hint to the moms and dads in the crowd, she quoted F. Scott Fitzgerald.

"It’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it."

The MVB (Most Valuable Bishop), as Seniors referred to The Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop of the Allentown Diocese, was presented with a gift, after which he delivered the commencement address. He reminded the audience of the example that Pope Francis, increasingly referred to as the "People's Pope," has set for people of all faiths. Calling the Holy Father a man of "communion and peace," he called on the graduating class to be men and women of communion and peace.

More graduation photographers

Graduates of this class will go on to pursue their education at 52 different colleges and universities, from Moravian College to Georgetown University. Scholarships have been awarded to 14 students.

Notre Dame High School is a private, co-ed Roman Catholic high school near Easton, Pennsylvania, United States, in Bethlehem Township. With an enrollment of about 570, taught by a 40-person faculty, it includes 9th through 12 grades. Joseph R. Kramer, Jr., is the Principal.

Summer Hoops Under Way

Instead of going to a meeting, I spent last night at Allentown's Cedar Beach Park. Local high school teams were playing basketball, and it cost nothing to watch. Teams came from all over the Lehigh Valley. I saw Saucon Valley, Freedom, Easton, Liberty and Emmaus, to name a few. But I was there primarily to watch Becahi and Whitehall.

Many varsity basketball players also play football, and their coaches won't release them from the weight room for these games. So they arrive late, or not at all. But that's good news for 8th graders like Mikey Esquilin (left) and Dat Lambert (right). They both not only played, but even started. That's the beauty of Summer Hoops, when the coaches and kids are more relaxed, more willing to try different things, more willing to have fun.

Mikey and Dat are both point guards, and have been playing with or against each other since first grade. Over the years, they've become great friends. But all that goes out the window when they face each other. They had a blast, and also play on the freshman and JV teams, along with AAU. They basically play 6 days a week. They are lucky, too, because they both have had plenty of support from people who, unlike me, know how to play the sport.

Dat's first baptism into basketball came at the hands of Rodney Robinson. He taught him to dribble with his left hand by tying his right hand behind his back. Judge Emil Giordano, who really should give up the judge biz fir professional coaching, was next. He taught Dat how to steal. Dat also played under cerebral Craig Golden for the 'Canes. He taught Dat to use his head on the court. Chuck Rockmore, whose Wall2Wall teams have won multiple tournaments, taught Dat enthusiasm. His biggest supporter, however, has been his mother. She gets him to all these practices.

Mikey has had different coaches, including his Dad and a Salvation Army coach who never lost a game. His mom and grandmother are at every game, rooting him on.

Last night, Rodney watched Dat play. "Keep your head up," he'd remind him."Don't lose that dribble too soon," whatever that means.

I take pictures.

Whitehall drubbed Becahi in this game, though nobody seemed to notice the score. Dat blamed his new shoes. He and Mikey skipped off to the playground (at least that's what they said) while parents gossiped.

He's definitely getting a lot bigger than his mom. 

I did give Dat a few pointers, too, but I had no idea what I was talking about. Dat politely listened.

ASD Ass't Principal Loses Demotion Suit in Commonwealth Court

A former Allentown School District assistant principla, James C. Dotterer, has lost his demotion challenge in Commonwealth Court. In 2011, while on medical leave after shoulder surgery, Superintendent Russell Mayo demoted him from assistant principal, where he was paid $100,500 annually, to a $80,000 teaching job. He eventually retired and sued.

Judge Robert Simpson, a former Northampton County jurist, ruled that Dotterer was barred from seeking judicial relief by the School Code, which establishes its own review system.

Pa. Supremes: "False Confession" Experts Inadmissible

Bucking a trend in other jurisdictions, a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court today decided that the use of experts who pontificate that a Defendant's confession was falsely induced by police, is inadmissible. Speaking for the Court, Jutice Seamus McCaffrey called it an "impermissible invasion of the jury’s role as the exclusive arbiter of credibility." It's a 4-2 decision with two concurring opinions, along with a dissent.

In this case, a Defendant with a low IQ and mental health issues, confessed to a bar shooting after six hours of police interrogation.

In his dissent, Justice Saylor said he would "trust our trial judges to make fair and just decisions on admissibility of expert evidence, knowing full well that there will be inconsistencies which will need to be addressed by the appellate courts in the developing decisional law."

Despite NIZ, Allentown Shrinking

Despite all the tax incentives of the NIZ and attempts to poach businesses from other Lehigh Valley communities, the Miracle That is Allentown is shrinking. Not by much, but it's an indication that all the public money poured into the downtown might be a mirage, after all.

According to Governing, Allentown's population dropped by 0.2% last year. That's just 187 people, but should be cause for concern. In the meantime, cities like Philadelphia grew 0.3%.

King, Spry Advised Not to Report School Sexual Abuse

Last week, I told you that the King, Spry law firm firm billed the Bangor Area School District $178,000 in 2013 and $202,000 in 2012 even though it was involved in no outside litigation. Don Spry even charged to fill out his Ethics Act statement. These annual payments seem excessive to me. More importantly,they seem excessive to some school directors. But the firm has come under criticism for something much more serious than money. The complaining party is not some disgruntled mom or dad, but the Dauphin County Grand Jury. 

According to a report released late January, the Grand Jury investigated why the Susquehanna School District took so long to notify police about a sexual relationship between a teacher, who was later charged, and a 16 year old female student. The bureaucrats looked at it from the perspective that someone was spreading false rumors instead of determining whether there really was abuse. As it turns out, there was, and it continued for months despite the administration's knowledge of these allegations. They refrained refrained from making a report to the police on the advice of their solicitor. The King Spry firm.

According to the Grand Jury, which filed no charges, "This advice unnecessarily delayed discovery of [the teacher's] criminal conduct ... and potentially endangered other students."

Amazingly, King Spry partner John Freund defended keeping police out of the loop, called the Grand Jury's findings "unfounded" and denied that students were at risk. They weren't just at risk. One of them was being abused.

The King,Spry firm, which loves to contribute to the politicians, was promptly fired.

A Tale of Two Directors of Administration

Ryan Kish

By a 6-3 vote, Northampton County Council recently rejected Executive John Brown's nominee for Director of Administration, Cathy Allen. Council complained that Allen's education (a high school diploma) and her relative inexperience (two months of County employment) made her unqualified to administer a $360 million budget with 2,200 employees. But she's still Deputy Director. Before he went on a week's vacation in May, Brown designated Allen as the person to contact in his absence.

Hanover Township's budget and workforce is decidedly smaller than Northampton County. But at their May 27 meeting, Supervisors approved a new "Director of Administration" position, to be filled by Tresurer Ryan Kish at a annual salary of $55,000.

Kish has a Master's degree in Public Administration and Policy Planning, and two years of experience working under Township Manager Jay Finnigan.

When Your Dad Is a Township Engineer

... you get to stand on top of the new firetruck. Christopher Milot, son of Hanover Township Engineer Vince "on target" Milot, inspect a newly acquired rescue truck acquired by the Hanover Township Volunteer Fire Company for a little over $600,000.

It still has that new firetruck smell.

Controversial Cop Out at Fountain Hill

A Fountain Hill police officer fired for roughing up a suspect and then lying about it, but who was later reinstated after binding arbitration, is finally gone for good. Grady Cunningham, Jr., a police officer with a "Fighting Solves Everything" tattoo emblazoned on his forearm, resigned from the force on May 23. But it will cost the Borough. In an agreement approved by a vote of 4-2 during a short but heated special meeting, Fountain Hill Borough Council will pay Cunningham $35,000 and provide a neutral recommendation to any prospective employer.

Cunningham, a Fountain Hill police officer since 2010, was fired in February 2013 after being deceptive about a police surveillance tape that showed him approach a handcuffed and shoeless Richard McLaughlin from behind, place him in a choke hold, spin him around and then throw him head first to a hard floor. He also appears to be taunting McLaughlin, though there is no audio.

At the time, McLaughlin was being processed for public drunkenness, harassment and disorderly conduct. He later entered a guilty plea to those charges and spent a few days in jail. But McLaughlin sued both Cunningham and Fountain Hill over the incident, alleging that the police brutality is a violation of his civil rights. Represented by South Whitehall Township Attorney Richard Orloski, McLaughlin recently settled his claim for $95,000, according to borough officials.

It was not the first time Cunningham roughed someone up.

Cunningham's checkered past

As a bouncer at Jelly Beans Southside Jam in Allentown, Cunningham was ordered to pay more than $1 million after severely beating a bar patron who was annoying others with talk of religion and his missionary work.

In Northampton County, magistrate dockets reveal that, in 1993, harassment and terroristic threats against Cunningham were sent on to County Court. Also in 1993, bad checks, forgery, receiving stolen property and unlawful use of computer charges were sent to court. What happened at the County level is unknown. There is no record. It could be that he was admitted into ARD, a special program for first offenders, after which the charges are dismissed and sometimes expunged.

He still owes Northampton County $354.50 in costs for an old (1991) disorderly conduct conviction. The matter was referred to a collection agency..

In Lehigh County, Cunningham was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, disorderly conduct in 2003. Charges were downgraded to two counts of harassment and he was placed on six months probation and fined $600. He was later brought back to court on contempt charges for ignoring his costs.

Cunningham also has a history of domestic violence. In Lehigh County, Protection From Abuse Act (PFA) contempt charges were filed against Cunningham in 2003. That same year, a PFA was sought and obtained against him in Northampton County. Those PFA charges were eventually dropped by his battered girlfriend after a custody order was entered, assuring that his visitation with his son would be supervised.

Arbitration and Reinstatement

Despite this checkered past and unprofessional behavior as a police officer, Arbitrator Steven Wolf concluded last August that Cunningham was entitled to "one final opportunity." He then gave Fountain Hill and the FOP the opportunity to pay his $12,600 bill for three days of testimony.

Though Cunningham was reinstated, he would never patrol again. Chief Ed Bachert kept him on desk duty. Then, because of "concerns" that needed investigation, Mayor Jose Rosado had Cunningham placed on paid administrative leave. Cunningham himself began making complaints against the Borough with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Resignation
.
The impasse ended with the acceptance of Cunningham's resignation during a special meeting on May 23, along with a $35,000 payment and promise to provide neutral recommendations. Attempting to fire Cunningham again would have been financially irresponsible, according to Mayor Rosado. He explained that the process would take 6-8 months, and that the Borough would pay 2-3 times more in attorney fees than it agreed to pay Cunningham. "There's also no assurance that we would get the outcome that we did receive," he added.

The six Council members who voted (Carolee Gifford was delayed by a medical emergency at her hospital and missed the vote) all agreed that it was time to part ways with Cunningham. But it was still a fractious meeting, with Council President Larry Rapp and Helen Halleman trading barbs.  Rapp voted to approve the resignation settlement, and was joined by Norman E. Blatt, Fred Capuano, and Doug Trotter.

Halleman, joined by Philip Trable, voted to reject the deal. "No, no, no, absolutely not!" she voted. She was disgusted by any financial settlement. "Shame on the arbitrators and my colleagues for voting in favor of this, since [Cunningham] has been collecting full salary and health care benefits for several months."

"Listen up, you citizens of Fountain Hill," she said after the meeting. "These are taxpayer dollars. All gone to waste. When budget time comes, you will all be given a big shot with a tax increase because we are in a bigger than ever deficit. When you go to the polls, you know what you can do? Get on the ballot and help the Borough survive."

Rosado stated that the police force is now down to four full-time officers, plus the Chief.

Charlie Dent Hailed as Fiscal Hero

"Fix the Debt" is a non-partisan movement led by heavyweights like former Senator Alan Simpson, Erskine Bowles, former Governor Ed Rendell and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. PoliticsPA is reporting that this group has honored Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent as a "Fiscal Hero" for using his position in the House, particularly on the Appropriations Committee, to reduce the national debt.

Dent is one of 31 other Congressmen so honored.

According to Dent, discretionary federal spending has gone down in each of the last four years.

Northampton County's Quiet War on the Church

Covenant United Methodist Church

By all outward appearances, Northampton County government is church-friendly. Before every meeting, all Council members and the Executive rise in prayer. A former and current member of Council are clergymen. Despite occasional grumbling from an atheist here and there, a plaque with the Ten Commandments defiantly adorns historic Courtroom One. But behind the scenes, little known to even elected officials, a quiet war has recently been declared against the Church. This is the story of that conflict.

It's an old story, really. Since the days of Henry II and St. Thomas Becket, government officials have always wanted more money than churches are willing to give. In Northampton County, the Revenue Appeals Board has assumed Henry II's crown. Starting ironically on St. Patrick's Day, 34 churches have been summoned to justify their tax exemptions. This is part of a process that this Board decided on itself, without a formal resolution or ordinance from County Council.

The Revenue Appeals Board

What is the Revenue Appeals Board? It's a five-person board, appointed by the Executive and confirmed by Council, who are paid to hear assessment appeals filed by property owners and taxing bodies. They can lower or raise a property assessment, and can declare a property exempt, taking it off the tax rolls.

It is supposed to be a quasi judicial body, but it has played favorites. Late last year, worried that multimillionaire developer Mark Mulligan might back out of purchasing the Wolf Building from the County, the Board entertained and granted a late appeal to reduce the assessment, in complete violation of county law. The person who strongly advocated for this illegal reduction, Richard McAteer, happens to be a member of the Revenue Appeals Board. He also chairs the Easton Redevelopment Authority. Wearing his Revenue Appeals Board hat, he voted by proxy to break a 2-2 tie in favor of a reduced development.

Charles Gordon, the Solicitor who represents this Board, was asked how he could allow a member of a quasi judicial body to vote on a matter in which he heard none of the evidence. "Nobody asked me," he answered.

No Reassessment since 1995 

Northampton County has a $8.834 billion assessed value tax base. This is where the property taxes imposed by all municipalities and school districts are derived. There's been no appreciable increase in recent years, thanks to the Great Recession, a stalled real estate market and an increase in assessment appeals in recent years.

These appeals stem from the inequities that result from a lack of reassessment. Politically unpopular and costly, there has been no county-wide reassessment since 1995. They are often perceived as tax hikes in disguise, especially to those who end up paying higher taxes. State law, however, requires that the process must be revenue neutral. Some property owners would also see their taxes go down.

Because there's no political will for reassessment, County officials began turning their eyes on nonprofits as a revenue source, much as Henry II looked on the church. And for good reason. Nine percent of the County tax base, or $770 million, is listed as exempt. That's 4,060 parcels.

The ArtsQuest Exemption

In 2012, when ArtsQuest sought an exemption for two South Side Bethlehem parcels, Council member Lamont McClure and Controller Steve Barron fought against it. McClure threatened to withhold hotel tax revenue already pledged to the Jeff Parks nonprofit, while Barron complained about "the funnel of cash going down there."

Council member Peg Ferraro disagreed, calling the ArtsQuest improvements a "blessing" and "asset to all of us." Echoing Ferraro, Council member Ken Kraft called ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks a "visionary" under attack by "jealous people" in what seemed to him like a "witch hunt".

A Back Door Reassessment of Nonprofits? 

What was unknown at the time of the ArtsQuest debate is that the Revenue Appeals Board had already ordered assessors to review all 4,060 exempt parcels. By reviewing all parcels, the Board could avoid a claim of spot assessment, i.e. a property owner being singled out. It's unclear whether the county board has any independent authority to review an assessment without a request by the property owner or a taxing body. In a recent Warren County case, a county court ruled that a county revenue appeals board has no authority, on its own initiative, to change the exempt status of a nonprofit. But that's precisely what has happened in Northampton County. Reviews were completed early this year, and the Board started exemption hearings on St. Patrick's Day. Because the Board has targeted all nonprofits, numerous small churches scattered throughout the County are being put through the ringer.

War on the Church

In many cases, the Board has learned that parsonages and convents are listed as exempt properties, and the churches responsible have quickly agreed to start paying taxes. Even in the case of Roseto's Independent Presbyterian Church, where the Pastor lives in just 292 sq ft, taxes were imposed. But other decisions are even more questionable.

One of these small churches is Covenant United Methodist Church, located in Klecknersville. Built in the '60s, the Church was surrounded by acres of grassland. Some was converted into a baseball field, and a farmer approached the Church for permission to till the remaining land. The Church, which would otherwise have to spend money cutting the grass, agreed.  After a few years, the farmer asked the church if he could make a donation every year. If he plants soybean or corn, that donation could be $400. If it's grass, like this year, it's around $250.

At an April 22 hearing, the Revenue Appeals Board decided to tax this land. It determined that four acres are being farmed, though it conducted no survey. It valued the land at $29,600, or $7,400 per acre, even though it is landlocked and can only be accessed via remaining church property. This is much higher than the $4,191 per acre average paid by Northampton County for farmland preservation.

This translates to $910 in taxes, well above what the farmer is donating. Trustee Alfred Miles doubts that the land will continue to be farmed if this ruling stands.

Miles is also irked that the Board just divided four acres off the property when everything is contained on one Deed. "They did a subdivision we didn't request," he remarked. He's still scratching his head over how a church can be assessed taxes on a property from which it derives no profit and that encourages our threatened farmland.

Ironically, Northampton County has preserved over 13,000 acres of farmland with a half mill open space tax increase dedicated for that purpose.

One hand giveth, and the other taketh away.

Things could be worse. At the nearby Salem United Church of Christ, located in Moore Township, the Revenue Appeals Board imposed a $39,100 valuation on four acres being farmed. That's $9,775 per acre.

Has the Tax Basis Increased? 

In two months of hearings, the Revenue Appeals Board has added $1,469,700 in taxable assessments. Most of the increase is undisputed. This quiet war has increased the County's taxable assessments by 0.016%.

ArtsQuest is on deck.

Tighter Gun Control Measures Needed For Mentally Ill

Under Pennsylvania law, it is practically impossible to deny not just gun ownership, but a license to carry, unless that person has been committed. That leaves a lot of mentally ill people out there who have access to firearms. After the Isla Vista shootings this weekend, which left seven people dead and thirteen people wounded, it's time to start insisting that our state and federal legislators start listening to us instead of the NRA, even if that gun lobby does contribute heavily to their campaigns. In fact, it's time that the NRA start listening to us instead of the gun manufacturers who fill their coffers.

I need a prescription for antibiotics, but can buy all the ammo I want. Something's wrong there.

Guns may not kill people, but cRaZy people with guns do. Before anyone is permitted to own a gun, he should be forced to undergo a mental health evaluation. That should be updated every five years. If a person observes irrational behavior by a person who bears arms, he should be able to petition for seizure of that person's weapons until an evaluation is performed. If the complaining party is wrong, he should be required to pay for the evaluation.

I respect that you may feel safer with a gun. But the rest of us will feel safer if we we know you're not nutz.

Also, no one should be able to carry in any government building. Right now, our state law is impotent to prevent lunatics from barging into town halls with weapons. That needs to change.

Brace Proposes Same Sex Benefits in Lehigh

Comm'r Geoff Brace had proposed legislation that will change Lehigh County's policy to offer spousal benefits to employees in legal same-sex marriages.  The message sent to the Board also requests a special meeting on June 4, 2014 for the sole purpose of a second reading and final vote on this matter. Brace believes that a recent judicial decision justifies quick action. 

Here's a statement:

"I wish I did not need to introduce this legislation.  I am a firm believer in LGBT equality and the protection of LGBT rights.  I come to this position from my faith and upbringing and look forward to the day when this type of legislation is not necessary."

ASD's Armstrong Likens Guridy to Vulture

Never one to mince words, Allentown School Director Scott Armstrong was perturbed by a guest appearance from Allentown City Council President Julio Guridy. After all, Guridy has had so many good ideas in The Miracle That Is Allentown.

From ASD Director Scott Armstrong: Allentown city council president Julio Guridy chose the May 22^nd Allentown School Board meeting to score political points by making the totally ridiculous pronouncement that the school district should find other remedies than staff reductions or tax increases to solve its current budget crisis. This, of course, drew applause from the assembled vested interests that filled the chamber. One might ask how cheap, insincere and self serving this act was.  In truth, it was no less self serving than the intransigence of the teachers’ union to engage a process to find an equitable solution to the state’s public pension crisis. On this night Julio Guridy was the vulture circling the financially distressed district seeking profit for himself.  So self serving, so Allentown. God help us.

The Elections Office Is Looking For a Few Good Poll Workers

... but they got stuck with me. They were desperate. If you don't want to see this travesty of justice repeated, call the elections office today (610-559-3055) and volunteer to be a poll worker yourself. If you don't, they might hire me again. It's a long day, but the pay ($170) is good.

I am not going to name names or even the polling district at which I worked. If you saw me there, please don't name it out of respect for the privacy of voters. But let me tell you a few things about my experience.

* You can actually get sore from sitting on your ass all day. I thought I was well-trained for sedentary activity, but am obviously out of condition. I have to train harder.

* Though I did next to nothing, I was still tired the next day.

* The poll workers are, for the most part, very experienced. Most have been doing it for 15 years or more.

* There's a lot of paperwork involved. Each voting machine runs off four tapes, and each must be signed by each poll worker. We must also sign the return. It is not something you can do cold.

* In addition to being very experienced, poll workers really try to be fair. There were no hidden agendas, no soliciting votes. The elections judge told me, "There are no Democrats or Republicans here."

* We did blow two votes. Two voters who signed in and used the machine walked away without ever having actually pushed the button to cast their ballot. We caught most of the people doing that, but two got by. That is the voter's fault, but it's also ours. The machine lights up when the vote is successfully cast. We missed it twice, which bothered us all.

* One poll worker was very incensed that campaign workers were outside, and wanted to shoo them away. She is a purist. After awhile, I began creating stories for her, telling her they were paying voters or putting signs right in front of the door, or sneaking inside. She'd fly outside until she finally caught on. "Now I know why everyone hates you," she told me.

* Most of them amazingly knew me as "that guy who writes."

* They all have interesting life stories. I can't tell them here without giving them away.

* Our constable was barely able to walk to the easy chair, upon which he lounged until lunch and dinner time.

* The elections judge let me sneak out at 2 pm to get some food. Don't tell on me. I stopped for a pint of rice, peanuts and a coke. As I ate, the poll worker I was tormenting asked, "You live alone, don't you?"

* The voters are mostly very old and very white. Those are the people making the decisions.

* One voter insisted on showing her ID. "If I need it to buy a pack of cigarettes, shouldn't I need it to vote?" she asked.

* Another voter, who is a clown by profession, told us jokes for a good while. Some were pretty good.

* One voter went to the wrong car after voting. When her key did not work, she called her husband to complain until the school custodian told her she was trying to get into his car.

* Two Independents were turned away.

High School Grad Will Lead NorCo Government Next Week

Northampton County Exec John Brown is taking next week off. Good on him. He has informed Council that if they have any questions, they should contact Cathy Allen. Up until February, this high school grad was a glorified secretary in a two-man insurance office. But she'll now be administering a $369 million budget and 2,200 employees. Aren't we lucky?

Bangor School District's Lawyer Bill Raises Eyebrows

The King Spry law firm, which includes over two dozen attorneys, is one you'll see on numerous campaign finance reports throughout the Lehigh Valley. They finance numerous local political races, with gobs of money. Where do they get all this money for Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski?  From you, of course. Bangor School District residents should be delighted to know that their hard-earned tax money is helping fund the Miracle That Is Allentown. Last year, the King, Spry law firm was paid $178,000 in legal fees by Bangor Area taxpayers.The year before, it was $202,000 to a law firm that was engaged in no outside litigation.

I guess you can call this regionalism.

What kills me is that Don Spry actually charged the school district to fill out his own ethics form. Talk about cheeky.

I have been unable to find a norm for Solicitor's fees to a school district, but these bills seem excessive to me. Any of you know what your school district solicitor is paid? I have filed a Right-to-Know for more detail.

Superior Court Quashes Mezzacappa Appeal

For the third time in two weeks, Tricia Mezzacappa has bombed out in Court. This all started last Tuesday. The Superior Court, speaking through Judge William Platt, rejected her attempt to play Super DA, and force a criminal prosecution against one of her enemies. The Court spanked Mezzacappa for her "insulting" language and failure to cite any authority in support of her numerous wild arguments. Ironically, the decisions came the very day that Bill White inducted her into his Hall of Fame.

She was a loser in Northampton County Court last week, too. She had sued me for defamation and fraud. But that wasn't enough. She also wanted taxpayers to subsidize her private vendetta. During a hearing, Mezzacappa was forced to admit that her poverty petition was mostly fabricated. She tried waterworks, but Judge McFadden said she had to pay if she wanted to sue me. Now the rules makes very clear that, once a poverty petition is denied, the party has ten days to pay up. Naturally, Mezzacappa refused, and wanted a fifty gazillion year payment plan. The case was dismissed. She petitioned to reopen the case, but Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden denied it last Thursday, without a hearing, in a one-sentence order.

Game over.

Her latest setback came yesterday, again from the Superior Court.  She appealed my $67,140 libel verdict against her, which is now worth $67,658.06. Why she appealed the matter before final judgment is anybody's guess. Maybe she thought it would slow things down. All it succeeded in doing is pissing off the wrong people. She never bothered to serve me or my attorney, but filed a fraudulent affidavit of service. Her appeal was quashed by per curiam order yesterday. My attorney filed no Brief or Motion. Other than writing a letter, I wasted no time. But she managed to waste the time of both Superior Court Judges as well as Judge Michael Koury, who was forced to write an Opinion in response to her dilatory appeal.

Game over. Again.

Her post verdict motions in my libel case, in which she raises goofy things like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, is scheduled for Tuesday. Things don't look so good for her.

She has reacted to these adverse rulings by spamming this blog with repetitive comments. That went on most of last week. She also sued me again, filing a Complaint identical to the one that was dismissed. She has also lashed out with abusive blogs, in which she repeats some of the lies that resulted in the defamation verdict.

But the walls are beginning to close in on her. Once Judge Koury decides the post trial motions, we start execution.