Who Will Succeed Gay Elwell?

Last night, I received a list of six people who may be interested in succeeding District Judge Gay Elwell.

* Easton Code Inspector Sharbel Koorie, aka DJ FlyGuy.

* Easton Attorney Antonio Grifo, daughter of Judge Richard Grifo.

* Easton Attorney Theresa Hogan, daughter of Judge James Hogan.

* Easton Attorney Tim Prendergast, son of former State Representative Jim Prendergast.

* Constable Lance Wheeler, Northampton County's former lead court officer.

* Easton City Controller Tony Bassil.

They might succeed her, but they'll never replace her.

Malkemes v. Malkames

Attorney Mark Malkames has been spending lots of late nights before Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board. Representing developer Abe Atiyeh, he has fought an uphill battle to get zoning approval for voluntary alcohol rehab enters that always seem to be located near a school. At this point, he's cross-examined half the City, but met someone new at the December 10 hearing - Bob Malkemes. Malkemes told Malkames that their names are spelled differently, but the two families are distantly related.

"I think we spell it right," said the barrister.

"We're more handsome," replied the witness.

LU's First Ever Outdoor Menorah Lighting Ceremony

LU celebrates its first outdoor menorah lighting ceremony, thanks to Chabad

On December 10, for the first time in Lehigh University's history, an outdoor menorah lighting ceremony was conducted at Asa Packer Campus in recognition of Hanukkah. Over one hundred people, most of them students with Chabad at Lehigh, celebrated what is also called the "Festival of Lights."

Before three candles were lit atop a 12' high menorah strategically located next to the flagpole at the center of the campus, Rabbi Zalman Greenberg explained why he loves Hanukkah. "No speeches, no synagogue, no sermons, no fasting. All in all, its just a beautiful holiday," he explained.

As his son Menny, age 5, danced by the flagpole, Rabbi Greenberg also related the miracle of this holiday. Some say it is a temple lamp that shined brightly for eight nights though it only had enough oil for one. But to the Rabbi, the real miracle is that a "band of a few Jews" was somehow able to defeat the world power of that time.

Instead of celebrating that victory with a symbol of war or military glory, Greenberg notes that Jews celebrate with a menorah, a "sign of light, a sign of goodness. That is the greatness of the holiday."

Rabbi Yaakov Halperin, who established Lehigh Valley Chabad, was also on hand for the brief lighting ceremony. It was followed by music, doughnuts, latkes and kosher Dunkin' Donuts coffee!

Mandy Freedman (L) who came from Brooklyn, poses with Chabad LV Rabbi Yaakov Halperin

Alex Lass, President of Lehigh Chabad, with Rabbi Zalman Greenberg

Mussie, age 4 1/2, dances with Emily Gallin

Menny, age 5, dances during ceremony

You can see more pictures here.

Bangor Looking at Half Mil Tax Cut

It won't be official until December 27, but little Bangor Borough on Monday night tentatively tentatively adopted a budget for 2013 that will include a half mil tax cut.

Council member Dave Houser credits the "great work" done by boro manager John Kasten.

Panto Rules Out NorCo Exec Race

In a news release today, Easton Mayor Sal Panto, Jr., has ruled out next year's Northampton County Exec race. "While I appreciate the encouragement and support I have received over the last few months, I never considered political office for any other reason other than to assist in the revitalization of the city of Easton,” stated Hizzoner.

Panto added, “I do appreciate the support I received from individuals, former office holders and labor unions and their confidence that I have the skill set to bring about the changes needed to move our county forward.“

I happen to be one of the people who encouraged him to run, but respect and actually admire him for his first love - Easton.

Community service, historic preservation and a desire to make Easton a better place is why he shied away from becoming a Superintendent of a public school district.

“Because of my love of education, a Superintendent’s position would be the only position that could entice me to leave my position in the city.” Panto holds a Master's Degree from Lehigh University in Educational Administration. He is a frequet guest in classrooms, especially with the younger children.

But Panto stated that “our city is on a path of growth and continuous improvement. To divert my attention away from the city at this time would be a disservice to the people who placed their confidence in me during the last election."

Dietrich, Kraft Propose Electing NorCo Row Officers

Council members Ken Kraft and Tom Dietrich are proposing a bipartisan blunder. Since 1978, when Northampton County's Home Rule Charter was adopted, the row officers are appointed positions. Professionalism replaced politics. But now, in the wake of an admittedly bad appointment in the Register of Wills, they want to return to the world of Tammany Hall. Taking a step backwards, they are proposing a change to the Charter that would require all row officers, from Sheriff to Coroner to be elected.

For starters, proposed changes to the Home Rule Charter should really be considered by Lamont McClure's Law and Order Committee. He hasn't bothered to convene a meeting about anything in several years, even though the Charter is crying out for numerous tweaks. Kraft's Personnel Committee should not even be considering this question, but it's on the agenda for Wednesday.

Reform groups like Philadelphia's non-partisan Committee of Seventy have long advocated the elimination of these "barely-understood elected positions that date back a century and a half or more ... ."

First, having six independently elected row offices will just increase inefficiencies and bloat County government. Second, there is no compelling need for an independent Recorder of Deeds or Coroner. That's just nonsense. Third, best practices around the country make clear that these offices function more professionally when they are appointed, based on merit. Fourth, it would increase patronage and nepotism. A newly elected Register of Wills would install relatives and political hacks instead of making sure the best persons are in place. Fifth, there would be a decrease in accountability and transparency. With so many row offices acting independently, it would be far more easy to hide things from the public, Executive and Council. Sixth, this would guarantee the election of whomever is put forward by the ruling party, which is most often the Democrats. Voters will not know who is running for these obscure offices, and will just vote party instead of person.

Disagree? Gerald E. (Jerry) Seyfried, a former Northampton County Executive, Council member and Director of Court Services, weighed in on this topic a few months ago. He changed his thinking about electing row officers, and here's why.

"I, as a private citizen didn't like the idea of losing the ability to elect County Row Office Officials. I later changed my mind. Here's the reasons. Today, Northampton County promotes and compels competitive testing for all these positions. There are 'Career Service Regulations' that are updated periodically to assure that we are getting the best individuals to head these departments. All the positions under the Department head are also filled by testing. Highest test results usually result in getting the promotion. Most of our Department Heads have years of on hand experience. Under the Row Office Election system, it was a popularity contest and the newly elected official gave out the jobs in those respective offices to political hacks. That doesn't happen anymore in Northampton County. There is also a grievance procedure in place for any individual who feels they were passed over for a promotion. There is an independent Board of arbitrators who will hear the case and they have the authority to override the decision of the appointing authority. There are also safeguards as to posting of all test scores to eliminate someone with a low test score being interviewed before someone with a very high test score. Northampton county is the leader in this field. I don't want to bore you with lots of details, but I do want your readers to know that Northampton County has a great staff of employees. Most of this is because we no longer elect 'row Offices'."

I'd agree with Ken that the process might need a few tweaks to give the courts a greater say in appointments to some of these offices. But let's not destroy a system designed to encourage professionalism over politics.

Rogue Deputy: Where's Our OT For Hurricane Sandy?

Before I get started, I should tell you that, one-on-one, Northampton County Deputy Sheriff Tom Bachik is very personable. Just like me! He's a good father, and his son is a great shooter on his Nazareth Middle School basketball team. In a few years, you'll be seeing that name on the sports pages. But when it comes to public sector unions and the public image of Deputy Sheriffs, Bachik is a one-man wrecking crew. He makes them all look like greedy pigs. He proved that again at last Thursday's Council meeting.

Years ago, it was Bachik, along with a few other deputies, who had a hissy fit over payments for high school football coverage. After he had finished his rant, he and those same few deputies could be heard in the hallway outside, screaming like little kids.

Executive John Stoffa solved their problem. He banned deputies from providing coverage at any more high school games.

More recently, it is Bachik who managed to piss off the entire court - all nine judges - after accusing them of playing favorites. That's something even I have never been able to accomplish. They actually issued an order banning him from their courtrooms. When Sheriff Randy Miller refused to tell the judges to pound sand, Bachik started a movement to have him fired. In addition, he wants the Home Rule Charter changed to make the Sheriff an elected position. That way, he can install some of his public sector union buds. The hell with professionalism.

The Express Times awarded Bachik and his pile of monkey nuts a turkey for that little stunt. "[T]hey should remember who is working for whom."

The latest incident involved Hurricane Sandy, which by most accounts is the worst storm to hit this area since we began keeping records. Northampton County went into emergency overdrive, and people like Emergency Management Director Bob Mateff were working 'round the clock.

When the Red Cross activated a shelter for people without power, it had to be manned 24/7 by Deputy Sheriffs. Sheriff Miller asked his Deputies for help. They agreed and were there, but have not been paid the overtime they thought was promised.

So Bachik, who was relatively restrained for once, went before County Council to complain. He knows they can't do a damn thing about a labor dispute, and he said as much before he started. But he plowed on anyway, essentially calling Sheriff Miller a liar. He submitted a letter from their union, but admitted it was actually only signed by about five of them.

He threatens to sue unless he gets his money, damn it.

Sheriff Miller declined to respond to Bachik, but turned about 30 different shades of red, and I thought I saw steam coming out of his ears.

One thing Sheriff Miller wanted in next year's budget was two more part-time deputies.That request went down in flames, probably in no small part due to Bachik's embarrassing behavior.

Other deputies are embarrassed by the guy. "He makes us all look bad," one deputy told me Friday. "He's not representing the union," added another.

A Call to Peace, From Nazareth to Bethlehem

Dimitri Schwartz, at the vanguard, leads the 10-mile pilgrimage

When Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem two thousand years ago, as claimed in the Gospel of Luke, they covered approximately eighty miles. On December 8, in memory of that journey, approximately 150 people made the shorter, 10-mile, trip between Nazareth and Bethlehem here in the Lehigh Valley. Called the Christmas Peace Pilgrimage, it's the 53rd time this group has made the trip, walking with simple star and peace signs. It's an annual reminder of the true meaning of Christmas - peace on earth.

This year's trek, which started at the Moravian Church in the Nazareth Circle at noon, slowly made its way along Route 191 and into Bethlehem, stopping at three churches along the way. It ended, as darkness fell, with Christmas carols at the Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem. Although most participants were from the Lehigh Valley, they included people from the coal regions, Maryland and Ohio.

Some have been making this an annual expedition since the '70s. As Grant Stevenson explains, "Somebody's gotta' be for peace." A sign at First Baptist Church, a rest stop along the way, refers everyone to Christ's message: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Lanna Melchiorre, Hillary Frigm and John Bergdoll join pilgrimage from Nazareth race track

Nick Butterfield, Tom Stimmet and Grant Stevenson join hike about 2 miles into trip

Russell Fry, age 8, walked the entire 10 miles. 

After three miles, group rests at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lower Nazareth Township

It's a family affair for Bethlehem resident Rick Dow. His wife manned the sag wagon. His daughter forgot the camera.

After 6 miles, Colleen Gahman and Rhonda Mitchell are still smiling

Cindy Yost waves as she makes her way to First Baptist Chruch

Rita Skechus comes from the Scranton area to walk 10 miles for peace

In Bethlehem, pilgrims stop at First Church of the Nazarene for vigil candles

Sgt John Karr, one of Bethlehem's finest, provided traffic control

This is what it was all about - a call to peace

You can see more pictures here.

South Side: A Community That Still Has a Soul

Despite a bone-chilling rain, over fifty people attended a candlelight vigil in South Bethlehem on Friday night, just a few feet from where six people were shot the previous weekend. After a volley of thirty bullets, Yolanda Morales, age 23, is dead. Her killer and another shooter, still hospitalized, have been charged. But that was little consolation to the people who came to wonder why.

Kim Carrell-Smith, a Lehigh University History Professor who lives on the South Side, pointed to the where the shooting occurred and said, "That is not who we are. But this, the community gathering, is who we are. We're the South Side."

Kim Carrell-Smith (L) and Lorna Velazquez (R)

Those attending the vigil included Evelyn Rivera, President of the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, where a minor argument escalated into a gunfight outside. "There's not much you can do except cry," she said, as her daughter, Jaclyn, consoled her.

Jaclyn Rivera consoles her mother, Evelyn

Police Chief Jason Schiffer, who helped light candles, said his force is proud to partner with a "community that still has a soul." He stated his force would never have been able to piece this together without them. "We're standing here together, and against what happened," he said.

Police Chief Jason Schiffer mourns with the rest of the community

Northampton Community College's South Side Campus Dean, Paul Pierpoint, stated we are all "shocked and saddened at the senseless violence and loss of precious life that occurred on this street." He attributed it to "our current gun culture. None would have died here last weekend if guns were not present." Guns "exacerbate our flaws," he said. "Maybe guns don't kill people. But angry or frightened people with guns far too often do." Pierpoint dreams of an "island" without gun violence. "But it is only a dream so long as our island is surrounded by an ocean of guns."

Bearded Paul Pierpoint listens to other speakers

Twins Brigid and Stephen White, age 9, attend the vigil with mother Sheila.

A saddened State Rep. Steve Samuelson said little, and spent most of his time at the vigil in prayer.

City Council member J. Willie Reynolds, in brief remarks, said that despite geographical divisions, there is only one Bethlehem. What happened last weekend is unacceptable, he claimed.

Bethlehem police help light vigil candles.

Bethlehem South Side Shootout Leads to Charges Against Two Men

DA John Morganelli grew up on the south side

Yolanda Morales, age 23, died in a hail of gunfire during the early morning hours of December 2. She was killed just after leaving the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society, a club located at 205 E. Third Street. Five others are hospitalized. Altogether, six people were involved in the most bloody episode of the South Side's history since the 1910 Bethlehem Steel strike. But unlike the violence in 1910, which involved workers' rights and wages, this fight appears to have started over nothing. "It should have never reached this stage," said veteran District Attorney John Morganelli, who grew up on the South Side himself.

On Friday, Morganelli announced that two of three shooters in this gunfight, both Allentown men, have been charged. Rene Figueroa, age 32, faces homicide and related charges, including the use of a stolen .45 caliber pistol. Javier Rivera-Alverado, age 38, has also been charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault. Neither man possessed a license to carry.

Both remain hospitalized at St. Luke's Hospital and are under guard.

A third shooter, Orialis Figueroa, age 38, and no relation to Rene Figueroa, will face no charges. According to Morganelli, he was defending himself and others. "His actions may have saved other lives that night," stated Morganelli.

Am incidental bumping inside the Puerto Rican Beneficial Club is what led to the shooting, according to court documents filed by Bethlehem police.

None of the participants in this firefight are club members, but were there for an "open night."

The two charged shooters - Rene Figueroa and Javier Rivera-Alverado - were at the club together and were concerned by another group that was supposedly eyeing up Rene Figueroa's gold jewelry.

This other group consisted of Orialis Figueroa, who was at the club with his brother, Angel Figueroa, age 35, and his nephew, Luis Rivera, age 24. Orialis was also accompanied by his girlfriend and her friend, Yolanda Morales. They are from the Easton area.

Lieutenant Mark DiLuzio, Criminal Investigations

Orialis Figueroa bumped into a group of men that included the charged shooters, and words were exchanged. One of them threatened him, saying, "Te voy a Disparar" (I'm going to shoot you.")

After the threat, Orialis Figueroa decided to leave, and waited at the club's front door for his girlfriend. Because the club was ready to close, and she would likely leave with a crowd that included the same people who threatened him, Orialis retrieved a baseball bat from her car for protection. But as he turned around along the sidewalk, he was ambushed by Rivera-Alvarado.

Pointing a handgun at Orialis Figueroa's head, Rivera-Alvarado taunted him and fired several shots into his legs.

Just as this happened, Yolanda Morales and Angel Figueroa approached. Rivera-Alvarado turned and fired at them, too. "I'm hit," said Morales. Rivera-Alvarado then turned and shot Luis Rivera.

While Rivera-Alvarado was turned, Orialis Figueroa, despite his wounds, managed to strike Rivera-Alvarado in the back of the head with the baseball bat. Rivera-Alverado collapsed to the ground.

Orialis Figueroa took Rivera-Alvarado's handgun and went to assist Angel Figueroa and Yolanda Morales. Rivera-Alvarado's friend, Rene Figueroa, was trying, with a handgun he had taken from his waistband, to get a clear shot at Angel Figueroa. Yolanda Martinez inserted herself between Rene and Angel Figueroa. Rene Figueroa just shot her. After that, he gunned down Angel Figueroa and began shooting at Orialis Figueroa, who was returning fire.

Rene Figueroa then ran back into the club and ran around the metal detector in all the chaos, giving his handgun to someone to hide for him, after which he collapsed from his wounds. Bethlehem police found it inside the club's bathroom. It has been reported stolen from Jones Gun Shop in Allentown. They continue to search for the person who hid it. The other handgun was retrieved from underneath the hood of a car.

In addition to witness statements, Bethlehem police have retrieved surveillance video from the club. District Attorney Morganelli praised them for their "excellent job piecing this together." He has assigned prosecution of this case to First Assistant DA Terry Houck.

According to Morganelli, it is too early in the prosecution to say whether the Commonwealth will seek the death penalty against Rene Figueroa.

Rene Figueroa has faced criminal charges before. In 1999 and 2006, he was charged with several firearms offenses, and entered pleas. In 2004, he entered a plea to drug offenses.

NorCo Adopts No-Tax-Hike Budget, Looks For Repeat Next year

With minor amendments, Executive John Stoffa's no-tax hike budget was adopted tonight 8-1, with the sole dissenting vote coming from Tom Dietrich. This was more or less expected. But Fiscal Affairs Director Doran Hamann supplied the surprise of the night when he predicted there will be no need for one next year, either. He did caution, "We don't know what's going to happen in the next 365 days."

According to Hamann, this is for three reasons. First, the County has begun using its self-insurance fund to pay benefits. Second, it borrowed money to pay off part of the swaption instead of dipping into reserves. Third, as a result of bond refinancing, it was able to avoid a debt service payment due on October 1.

Hamann was proud to report that the County has managed to retain its AA bind rating.

But there are still clouds on the horizon.

Hamann noted that Gracedale, the County-owned nursing home, is in need of "Major repairs." Council President John Cusick noted that the County will still be paying $4 million for operations at nursing home next year. Despite a private management firm, it continues to lose money.

In addition to Gracedale, Hamann noted that 2/3 of the County's revenue comes from the state and federal governments. The state, in particular, has made substantial reductions in payments for human services.

Council President John Cusick noted that, despite a declining tax base, the annual pension cost next year will be $12.5 million. Fifteen per cent of the County's real estate tax revenue will have to pay for the pension.

In addition to these concerns, the County is looking down the barrel of $19.6 million in bridge replacements and repairs over the ext three years, which will almost certainly require a bond. Council member Lamont McClure argued against including these cost projections in the capital plan, but Cusick countered, "Repairing bridges has been a core function of government since the Roman Empire."

This budget appears to include (I'm not entirely sure) an across the board 2.25% wage hike for its non-union staffers.

Here's a sampling of some of the wages:

position	2012       salary	2013 salary
county council solicitor	$50,124	$51,252
controller solicitor	$18,360	$18,773
county solicitor	$55,533	$56,782
first ass't cty solicitor	$47,268	$48,332
ass't cty solicitor (4)	$40,686	$41,601
assistant das (7 pt)	$43,377	$44,352
chief public defender	$55,399	$56,646
first ass't public defender	$55,260	$56,503
ass't public defender (14)	$43,377	$44,352

Full-time Assistant DAs and public defenders will have a salary that ranges between $61,901 and $92,080, depending on years of service. Cabinet level officials will be paid between $81,594 and $121,373.

Northampton County's Shrinking Tax Base

In 2012, $85.9 million in real estate tax revenue was budgeted. But last night, when Northampton County Council adopted its no-tax hike budget, they had to revise their real estate tax revenue projection downwards, from $85.37 million to $84.97 million.

It's going the wrong way.

According to President John Cusick, that's a first for him. "Some of you might want to think about reassessment," he suggested.

Karl Longenbach to Resign as NorCo Solicitor

Karl Longenbach Resigns as NorCo Solicitor

Gay Elwell's Funeral Arrangments

Easton Eccentric has the details.

Att'y Blake Marles Argues Against Single Waste Hauler in Bethlehem

After several years of watching municipal bodies, I can tell you with some certainty that you'll be hard put to find a better advocate before them than Bethlehem Attorney Blake Marles. He's a good guy to have in the foxhole with you. His patrician appearance alone will give your cause gravitas. He knows the Municipalities Planning Code inside out, and prepares.

Isn't that cheating?

Sterner Sanitation, a fourth generation trash hauler with 3,000 customers in Bethlehem, has retained Marles to represent their interests in connection with Mayor John Callahan's proposal to centralize trash collection under one hauler. His most troubling argument, at least to me, is that the City may lack the legal authority to take a slice of the single hauler contract to help pay for its underfunded pension. He calls it "legally suspect."

Here's the letter he sent to Bethlehem City Council:

Marles Argument Against Single Waste Hauler in Bethlehem

Voters May Get Last Word on Allentown's H2O Privatization

The Lehigh Valley's three cities have all been stung by a budget-busting pension crisis. So in Easton, Mayor Sal Panto pushed through an unpopular commuter tax that he himself hates. In Bethlehem, Mayor John Callahan is the midst of a full court press for a single trash hauler and the money it brings into City coffers. But compared to Allentown, this is penny ante stuff. In the Queen City, Mayor Edwin Pawklowski wants to unload his water and sewer systems with a long-term lease. With $150 million, he'll be able to fund that pension debt and build every city employee a man cave to boot.

Environmentalists have concerns. Will water quality suffer? One of the bidders has purchased water elsewhere to supply to frackers. Will rates skyrocket? In power points and video, Pawlowski insists that won't happen, but many of his usual supporters are skeptical.

One of these supporters is "Camera Dan," or Dan Poresky. He, Glenn L. Hunsicker, Glenn S. Hunsicker, former Controller William Hoffman, and former Council member Michael Donovan have formed a petition committee to give the voters a direct say in this question.

As a rule, I tend to oppose direct democracy, sometimes called initiative and referendum, especially on complicated matters like this. People let their emotions, and not the facts, dictate their votes.

But this is Allentown, where democracy is dead. Three of its seven Council members have not even been elected. Of its 63,806 registered voters, it took just 7,908 of them - a scant 12.4% - to elect Edwin Pawlowski to his second term as Mayor.

Instead of a democracy, Allentown is an urban growth regime in which politicians and select members of the business world co-opt each other, not for the benefit of the community, but to advance their own business interests.

So in this instance, I'd support giving the voters a direct say in the privatization of its water supply.

Poresky and friends have already announced they have enough signatures, but that means nothing unless the City Council Clerk agrees. Last night, I was surpprsed to learn that he does.

Poresky's announcement follows:

The Petitioners Committee that was formed October 12, in response to Mayor Pawlowski’s attempt to privatize Allentown’s water and sewer system, received notification December 4, from City Clerk, Michael Hanlon, declaring that petitions submitted to him on November 28, by the committee, have been declared sufficient. Sufficient is a term used in the city charter meaning that the petitions have met all legal requirements.

One hundred-one petitions containing over four thousand signatures were submitted to the city clerk on November 1. The petition asks that City Council establish an ordinance that requires the city to go to the voters for authority to sell or lease any city property or asset valued at $10 million or more.

According to Mr. Hanlon, the initiative will be introduced at the City Council meeting December 21. Council then has 60 days during which it can act. According to Section 1007 of the Home Rule Charter, Council has three options. It can pass an ordinance consistent with the intent of the initiative. Council can also choose to decline to create an ordinance or do nothing. In either of those two instances the initiative goes to the voters as a ballot question in the May election.

Dan Poresky, a member of the petitioners’ committee stated, “We encourage council to adopt the initiative as an ordinance without delay. Doing so would require any proposed water/sewer lease agreement to go to the voters as early as May 2013."

Poresky says, “The petitioners' committee is preparing action to prevent the city from finalizing a lease agreement until their initiative becomes an ordinance. The ordinance could be created either by Council’s action in the next couple of months or, should they not do so, then by a successful ballot question in the May 2013 primary election.”

Dent Naturalization Bill Passes U.S. House

Congressman Charlie Dent is no friend to undocumented aliens, but has nevertheless pushed a bill through the U.S House that opens a door to citizenship for those who are serving our country. Here's what his office syas.

Today the U.S. House of Representative adopted H.R.6223, a bill introduced by Congressman Charlie Dent, removing hurdles faced by individuals classified as Legal Permanent Residents who are providing translation, interpretation and security services to the Department of State or at our embassies.

Under existing rules, these dedicated individuals are unable to become naturalized citizens due to the fact that the vital services and duties they are rendering America overseas preclude them from meeting the residency and physical presence requirements of individuals who desire to become citizens. (Individuals who want to become naturalized citizens are required to maintain a continuous physical presence in the United States for one full year.)

Currently, for example, a Legal Permanent Resident, who desires to become an American citizen, but serving at our Embassy in Iraq providing security protection to Department of State personnel would be unable to meet the residency and physical presence requirements necessary for them to realize their goal of citizenship.

“These dedicated individuals are doing America a great service, often under dangerous conditions and in highly volatile environments,” said Congressman Dent.

“As Americans we know it is unfair that people who so greatly wish to become American citizens should be penalized bureaucratically while they are making critical contributions to our country in the war against terrorism across the globe,” said Dent.

The positive impact of Congressman Dent’s bill, should it become law, will certainly be felt by at least one resident of the 15th Congressional District he represents.

George Bou Jaoudeh, from Bethlehem, is a Green Card holder of Lebanese descent. He experienced a disruption of his naturalization process because his work – with the Department of State in Iraq providing security for diplomats – prevented him from maintaining a one-year long continuous presence in The United States. Bou Jaoudeh performed with distinction while in Iraq. Ryan Crocker, our Ambassador at the time, credited the Bethlehem man with saving his life on more than one occasion.

Representative Dent thanked and praised Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the role that Chairman Smith played in helping move the sensible measure through the House. “This could not have been achieved without Chairman Smith’s assistance,” said Congressman Dent. Dent had first introduced this bill in 2010.

For his part, Chairman Smith was glad to be able to help usher this bill through the House:

“I thank Congressman Dent for his work on this bill that honors the legal permanent residents who serve the United States in critical capacities in some of the most vulnerable parts of the world. This important bill makes a common sense change to our immigration laws to facilitate their path to citizenship.”

Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) has introduced a companion bill S.3643 in the Senate.

Molovinsky, Morganelli & TR on Gun Violence

If you talk to the Mayors of any of the Lehigh Valley's three cities, you'll hear that crime is a really just a "perception" problem. Things are fine. Really! But Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli has a different view.

He called a news conference on Monday, in the wake of a weekend of carnage in Northampton County. Easton just had its fifth homicide of the year. And in a South Bethlehem shoot-out, five people were seriously injured and a woman was dead

Morganelli spoke of the "night people," a culture of young "macho" males who use guns to "take care of business." While he stated that Bethlehem and Easton are still safe cities, he adds this caveat: "When it gets past midnight, it's not a good idea to be walking anywhere." At another point, he said, "A lot of these crimes occur after midnight."

Blogger Michael Molovinsky, who has been visiting gun stores in recent weeks to sell his target shooting guns, has noticed they are "now full of very light weight, highly concealable, high caliber pistols, supposedly sold for i>defense." He also notices that our lenient LTC laws "now permit anybody a gun, for any or no reason."

Why is this happening?

Bigots will claim that this is what we should expect from those people, whom they will call "animals."

But Theodore Roosevelt, of all people, is the person who predicted this, on October 14, 1912. He was running for President at the head of the Bull Moose Party, had just finished one speech and was on his way to another. While standing to waive to the crowd, a man armed with a Colt .38 shot the Trust-Buster in the chest.

Instead of listening to his friends and going to the hospital, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his next speech. "[I]t takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose," he told the crowd.

Now for the prediction.

"Friends, every good citizen ought to do everything in his or her power to prevent the coming of the day when we shall see in this country two recognized creeds fighting one another, when we shall see the creed of the "Havenots" arraigned against the creed of the "Haves." When that day comes then such incidents as this to-night will be commonplace in our history. When you make poor men - when you permit the conditions to grow such that the poor man as such will be swayed by his sense of injury against the men who try to hold what they improperly have won, when that day comes, the most awful passions will be let loose and it will be an ill day for our country."

Roosevelt was half-right. Violence is becoming all too commonplace. But as Michael Molovinsky told me in a conversation yesterday, the "Havenots" are not just taking on the "Haves." They're attacking each other, too.

Steve Barron, Controller or Union Organizer?

Some people never learn. Northampton County Controller Steve Barron is one of them.

In 2010, Barron marched on T-Mobile's Lehigh County call center with union organizers, demanding to see the customer service VP, making sure to tell him that he's the Controller, damn it. When a security guard turned him away, Barron asked the guard to tell the VP "that if he needs anything from Northampton or Lehigh County, we're going to remember this day and we'll make sure that it will be part of the negotiations."

So he used the authority of his office to threaten someone. Barron was censured by County Council and awarded an Express Times turkey, but T-Mobile eventually decided to pull out of the Lehigh Valley, taking 600 jobs with them.

I guess he showed them.

Fast forward two years. Steve Barron is a guest on Business Matters, defending teachers' right to strike, claiming they "made me become the person that I am today."

Since he managed to fail the Pa. bar exam and was rejected as a "fraud expert" in a recent criminal case, I agree.

But amazingly, Barron acknowledged during the program that he assists union members and business agents during contract negotiations with the County. And on a publicly broadcast television show, he accused Northampton County of repeatedly lying during contract negotiations. Here it is, in his own words:

"The big problem I have is when I have union members and business agents who come to me as the Northampton County Controller, and say, 'Are we being given a fair deal? Can you open up the County books for me?'

"And then I show them what we have in our coffers, and what we're spending, and what goes in and out, and I say, 'Boy, I think you guys can do better.'

"They were lied to by the management. They weren't told the full financial story of the County, and that disturbs me quite a bit. And it happens - several unions on more than one occasion."

I was unaware that Barron was elected as business agent for the unions. I thought he was the people's Controller.

Executive John Stoffa watched Barron von Footinmouth in action, and has asked for an explanation:

"Steve, last night I watched Business Matters. During this show, I thought I heard you say that this administration or someone in it had "lied" about County finances. Is this true? If so, who was it? Doran? [Director of Fiscal Affairs] Tom Harp? [Director of Administration] Pat Siemiontkowski? [Director of Human relations] When did this occur? This is a serious accusation to make against someone, especially on a local television show. Unless you can prove this allegation, you owe the accused an apology. It is so preposterous to me that you would even say something like this when all fiscal records are available for public scrutiny and are audited to death. Did I mishear what you said?"

Maybe Barron von Footinmout will address it during the next Council meeting. He likes to monopolize Courtesy of the Floor, a time that should be reserved for regular citizens.

AVL: Making Do With Less in Bethlehem

Over the last three years, in the face of a looming pension crisis, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has reduced the size of his workforce by 69 people over the past three years. Yet they're getting more done. How is this possible?

I'm sure there are several answers, but one of them is a system called Automatic Vehicle Location, or AVL.

Here's how that works. The City installed tracking devices in each of its vehicles, and has installed software enabling it to track all of them on a dynamic real time map, as well as reviewing operations over the past thirty days.

Once that was installed, road crews immediately become more efficient.

Pre AVL, a street sweeper did 20 miles per day. Now it's 28. Pre AVL, a city truck could mount 17 Christmas trees per day. Now, it's 30. Pre AVL, a leaf collector did 18 miles per day. Now it's 22.

This is a product of Callahan's Continuous Improvement (CI) innovation, in which City employees brainstorm and come up with ideas that improve efficiency.