Today's one-liner: “In a republican nation whose citizens are to be led by reason and persuasion and not by force, the art of reasoning becomes of first importance.” T Jefferson
On November 11, Northampton County's Executive branch submitted a resolution for consideration by County Council. It was hand-delivered by Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron and sought approval, at least in concept, of an employee-only health center. Council Clerk Linda Zembo advised Barron that the resolution would not be considered at a finance committee or full Council meeting that week because the agenda was already full. It never made it to the agenda at all in November, in December or as of the date of this blog post. This decision was made behind closed doors by former Council President Lori Vargo-Heffner. On Tuesday, Executive Lamont McClure told Council this refusal to consider proposals from the Executive branch violate the Home Rule Charter.
Under the Home Rule Charter, the only power a Council President has is "to preside at all meetings of the County Council at which he [she] is present." Sec. 206(b). She has no authority to decide, on her own, what matters get placed on the agenda. County Council could adopt rules spelling this out, but has never bothered.
A County Executive has the power "to recommend such measures for legislative action as may be in the best interest of the County." Sec. 302(3). Thus he has the right to propose ordinances or submit resolution, which County Council may consider or reject in a public meeting as opposed to a decision behind closed doors made by the Clerk or an individual Council member.
I was astonished at the ignorance displayed by most Council members at Tuesday's reorganization. Many of them, even the Clerk herself,. thought Council could elect a President with four votes Nearly all actions, with the exceptions of procedural motions, require the assent of five of the nine members of County Council. Sec. 601(a).
I believe that all Council members should kick off every new year by reading the Home Rule Charter. I do not say this to be insulting. I do it every year myself, and every year, I learn something new. Doing this would make them better servants of the people because they would better understand their roles.
Though he's just stepped down from the judicial heavens and has yet to announce his candidacy, Retired Judge Steve Baratta has fired the opening salvo in what promises to be an ugly primary race for Northampton County District Attorney. Republicans will love this.
In a 65-page memo sent to Northampton County Council, Executive Lamont McClure and Attorney Disciplinary Board, Baratta contends there's a conflict of interest in the District Attorney's office. He asserts that First Assistant DA Richard Huntington Pepper, a full-time employee, still maintains a private practice. He notes that Pepper not only rents office space from a prominent criminal defense attorney, but approves all plea agreements coming from him. Finally, he asserts that Pepper improperly represented someone accused of harassment. Baratta, who would like to be District Attorney Baratta, obviously has political motives. He seeks an investigation.
I've summarized Baratta's complaint, but think you should read it yourself. (I redacted his email and home address) I will then tell you how District Attorney Terry Houck responded.
Baratta's Complaint
As a resident and citizen of Northampton County, I submit this request for an investigation into the Office of the District Attorney for the County of Northampton (“Office of the District Attorney”), Pennsylvania, specifically, into the actions of the District Attorney, Terrance P. Houck (“Mr. Houck” or the “District Attorney”) and his First Assistant District Attorney, Richard H. Pepper, Esquire (“Mr. Pepper”).
I. Background
In 1996, Northampton County converted the position of District Attorney, which Mr. Houck currently occupies, from a part-time to a full-time position whose duties and responsibilities are defined at Section 1401, Title 16 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Section 1401(2)(k) directs that a full-time district attorney is not permitted to accept any civil or criminal cases and is also subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Canons of Ethics as applied to judges in the Courts of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Further, Section 1401(2) (o), instructs that the Judicial Rules and the Canons of Ethics are specifically applicable to the district attorney’s salary, full-time duties, and conflicts of interest.
On February 16, 2006, Northampton County Council adopted Resolution 21-06, converting the position of part-time First Assistant District Attorney to a full-time position, Group VI Career Exempt Scale. Resolution 21-06 did not provide any authority or permission for a full-time First Assistant District Attorney to run, manage, or direct a separate, private legal practice.
All Northampton County Assistant District Attorneys are full-time county employees. Further, like the prohibition against the District Attorney himself, all full-time Assistant District Attorneys are prohibited from engaging in the private practice of law. This prohibition had been rigorously enforced by our previous District Attorney, John Morganelli, who is currently a Judge with the Court of Common Pleas for Northampton County.
II. Concerns Raised
The position of full-time First Assistant District Attorney is occupied by Mr. Pepper. Mr. Pepper has been so employed for the last three years. Mr. Pepper is the second highest salaried the employee in Northampton County, earning approximately $130,000 per year. Mr. Pepper’s salary is only exceeded by Mr. Houck. When Mr. Pepper was hired by Mr. Houck as his First Assistant, Mr. Houck quietly and without the knowledge and approval of County Council, and in violation of the rules governing the full-time staff of the Office of District Attorney, permitted Mr. Pepper to maintain his robust private practice of law in both Northampton County and Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, representing civil clients in general legal disputes and family matters.
During business hours when Mr. Houck’s office is in full operation, Mr. Pepper can be frequently seen walking back and forth from the Office of the District Attorney to his private legal office located 717 Washington Street, Easton, Pennsylvania, apparently to conduct his private practice. In addition, Mr. Pepper can frequently be found in the halls of both the Northampton and Lehigh County Courthouses conducting legal business on behalf of his private clients.
Mr. Pepper’s private office is located within a legal office owned by a high-profile criminal defense attorney. Mr. Pepper rents office space or is provided office space within the office of the defense attorney. Thus, when the criminal defense attorney’s clients walk into that building, these clients learn that the First Assistant District Attorney of Northampton County, Pennsylvania has a business relationship with their criminal defense lawyer. This is a clear conflict of interest for Mr. Houck. However, what should be of even greater concern is that Mr. Houck’s has delegated to Mr. Pepper the authority to negotiate plea bargains with defense counsel, including the authority to overrule the staff attorneys working under Mr. Pepper. Further, even if one were to assume that Mr. Houck was operating under a misguided interpretation of the law addressing this legal conflict and he assumed that the conflict could be somehow avoided, Mr. Houck failed to implement a written office policy constructing the proverbial “Chinese Wall” to prohibit Mr. Pepper from negotiating his landlord’s cases. Mr. Houck merely turned a blind eye to the self-created conflict of interest and allowed Mr. Pepper to conduct the District Attorney’s business without concern.
To make this conflict even more unsettling, in 2020, Mr. Pepper represented a husband who was charged by the Freemansburg Police Department of Harassment (by physical contact) - a summary offense. Wife was the alleged victim. Husband was found guilty of Harassment by a Magisterial District Judge. Husband appealed his conviction. This domestic violence case was finally resolved by a guilty plea before Judge Paula Roscioli in Summary Appeals Court on July 12, 2021. During the pendency of that summary criminal case, the female victim apparently wrote a letter to Mr. Houck complaining about the clear conflict of interest created by Mr. Pepper’s representation of her husband. However, Mr. Houck failed to take any action on the complaint. Eventually, a request was made to Mr. Houck seeking a copy of the letter sent by wife complaining about Mr. Pepper under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law (RTKL). The requestor was husband’s new attorney. Mr. Houck refused to release the letter citing his claim that the letter should remain confidential because the letter was part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The refusal to release the letter was appealed under the Right to Know Law and heard before Judge John Morganelli. During the June 8, 2022 hearing, Mr. Houck continued to claim that under the RTKL wife’s complaint letter could not be released due to an ongoing investigation; however, the guilty plea the year before concluded the case long before the Right to Know Hearing. I suggest that a review of the transcript of the hearing will establish: (1) Mr. Houck was fully aware of Mr. Pepper’s private practice of law; (2) Husband’s new attorney recognized the conflict created by Mr. Pepper’s representation of husband and the District Attorney offered no objection to that characterization; and, (3) The criminal case was finally resolved by a guilty plea by husband, therefore there was no ongoing investigation and by logical extension the claim of an existing investigation calls into question Mr. Houck’s candor to both the court and the citizen requestor seeking the letter under the RTKL.
In conclusion, I ask: How can the District Attorney allow the second highest salaried employee in Northampton County to maintain a private practice (a second job during work hours) where no other employee working for the District Attorney, or, for that matter, any full-time employee working for the County Executive of Northampton County, is permitted to do the same? This appears to be a flagrant violation of not only the statutory intent of Section 1401, Title 16 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, but also the policies of County Council and the County Executive of Northampton County, as they relate to the prohibition against county employees “moonlighting” during work hours.
I am requesting that Northampton County Council, the Northampton County Solicitor’s Office, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Attorney Discipline Board investigate this matter and take whatever action is necessary to vindicate the interests of the citizens of Northampton County. The actions and inactions of Mr. Houck are not appropriate and present unacceptable conflicts of interest to the citizens/taxpayers of Northampton County and to victims of crimes, who Mr. Houck is entrusted to protect.
In support of the concerns noted herein, I have enclosed the following exhibits:
1. A copy of 16 P.S. 1401;
2. A copy of Northampton Council Resolution No. 21-06;
Copies of eleven (11) docket sheets recent/active civil cases in which Mr. Pepper is representing civil litigants in Northampton County, while employed as the First Assistant;
4. The transcript of the Right to Know Law Hearing in which the District Attorney’s Office acknowledged that Mr. Houck received the Complaint involving Mr. Pepper’s alleged conflict and the fact that Mr. Houck refused to make that letter available to the public; and
5. The docket sheet of the summary appeal guilty plea noted herein.
Should you have any questions, you may contact me via email at [redacted]. Thank you for your kind assistance. I look forward to hearing from you.
Houck's Response
"This is a desperate attempt by a desperate man to impugn the reputation of a guy who has been working in this office since 1980," responded Houck. "He should at least have some facts."
Houck, as a full-time District Attorney, is statutorily barred from accepting compensation from any other source or engaging in the private practice of law. "The district attorney while in office, shall not derive any other income. ... [T]he district attorney shall not engage in any private practice ...." There's no allegation that Houck has violated this proscription. But there's nothing in state law that prohibits full-time Assistant DAs from accepting compensation from other sources or practicing law in a part-time private capacity.
Except for those days when he was a beat cop on the streets of Philadelphia, Houck himself has always been a full-time prosecutor who worked in Bucks, Lehigh and Northampton County. But he tells me that when he was in Bucks County, full-time assistant DAs were not only permitted, but encouraged to practice some civil law so long as there was no conflict of interest. This resulted in more well-rounded and experienced assistant DAs.
Before he tapped Pepper as his First Assistant, Houck and Pepper discussed and agreed Pepper would continue to represent civil clients on a part-time basis. "I'm proud to have him," Houck said, noting that Pepper's typical work week is 50-60 hours. Moreover, in the event that Pepper is required to attend a hearing for a civil client during regular business hours, Houck notes that Pepper uses his vacation and personal time.
As Baratta observes in his memorandum, a County Council resolution adopted in 2006 reclassified the First Assistant DA from part-time to full-time. But unlike the state statute that applies to District Attorneys, nothing in that resolution bars the full-time First Assistant from accepting compensation from other sources or practicing civil law on a part-time basis. If that was County Council's intention, it should have said so.
In other matters, it has. In 2013, then Controller Steve Barron was taken to task when it was discovered (by this very blog) that he was a part-time adjunct professor of political science who conducted three classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during regular business hours. He was in direct violation of the Home Rule Charter, which specifically provided that "[d]uring his term of office the County Controller shall devote full time to the office, and shall not actively engage in any other business or occupation,"
Unlike the then ban on outside employment by the County Controller (since dropped) or the DA, nothing prevents the First Assistant DA from part-time employment.
Baratta goes on to complain that Pepper practices law out of the office of a prominent criminal defense lawyer, which gives incoming clients the impression that they have an "in." Moreover, Pepper signs off on all plea agreements involving that lawyer.
Not so, says Houck. He noted that Pepper is a tenant, has no sign and has no involvement in the approval of plea agreements involving his landlord.
Finally, Baratta alleges or implies that Pepper represented a criminal defendant accused of harassment at the magisterial level. But his own attachment makes abundantly clear that Pepper had no involvement at all in the criminal matter. Pepper did represent this defendant in a civil matter, but once he learned that there was a criminal case, he withdrew completely. The defendant ultimately entered a guilty plea. "Where's the conflict?" asks Houck.
"Instead of taking information and distorting it, maybe [Baratta] should check his facts first," said Houck. "This is so very sad and reeks of political ambition. Had he believed one sentence of what he wrote, or had one sentence been true, he would have been in violation of his judicial ethics by not reporting it when he sat."
Blogger's Observation: The state statute banning full-time DAs from engaging in private practice or accepting compensation from any other source is very clear. It expressly rules out any form of outside employment. The same is true of the former Home Rule Charter ban on any outside employment by the Controller. But it's ridiculous to assert that a resolution establishing a full-time county position necessarily rules out any part-time employment elsewhere. If that were so, a large plurality of county workers who have second jobs to help make ends meet would have to quit their part-time positions. County clerks would have to give up their jobs at Walmart and Target.
Baratta's request for an "investigation" is something he could have done when he was still perched in the judicial heavens. His failure to do so tells me this is pure politics. This ham-handed approach sounds exactly like something coming from the John Morganelli playbook. As a judge, Morganelli must stay out of politics. But it's obvious he and Baratta have been laying the groundwork for Baratta to run for DA for some time.
They must have been doing it part time.
Morganelli was also behind the push to Nuria DiLuzio to run against Houck. We all know how that ended.
Kerry Myers was elected President of Northampton County Council yesterday in the second round of balloting in a party-line vote. All five Democrats, including Myers, voted to install him as President. Three of County Council's four Republicans voted for John Cusick, who abstained from voting.
Myers was nominated by Ron Heckman, and seconded his own nomination.
In the first round, Myers only got four votes because Kevin Lott voted for Tara Zrinski. He argued she was the high vote getter in the most recent at-large Council races and that she is the only second term Council member who never served as President of VP.
After the first round, Council Clerk Linda Zembo incorrectly advised that Myers had been elected with four votes. Under the County Home Rule Charter, all matters voted on require five votes.
After Myers had been elected President, Lori Vargo Heffner continued to run the meeting
Ron Heckman was elected VP in a second round of balloting with six votes after Republicans John Cusick, Tom Giovanni and John Goffredo cast their ballots for him. Democrats Ron Heckman, Kerry Myers, Lori Vargo Heffner also voted for Heckman. Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski voted for Zrinski and John Brown voted for Cusick,
Myers' election as Council President is good news for me. For anyone interested in good government, it's a travesty.
Yesterday and last week, I told you about Bethlehem's plan to use eminent domain to seize a parking lot owned by St. John's Windish Church after it had failed to acquire it through the bidding process. Mayor Williw Reynolds wants to use the parking lot on E 4th Street for affordable housing. Without question, the City has an affordable housing problem. But that is due almost entirely to the constant tax increases (five of the past six years) , which are passed on to tenants by landlords. Moreover, its most recent $79.8 million budget will only exacerbate the problem.
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, no municipality should need to shackle its homeowners and small businesses with a property tax increase. Bethlehem received $34.4 million, and has spent $7.2 million going into 2023. It plans to spend another $18 million for fire engines and road repairs, which should lower the property tax burden. This Act specifically authorizes the use of federal funds for revenue replacement. But the City is instead flushing $7 million down the toilet. It has set aside $7 million for affordable housing and a homeless initiative in this year's budget (page 179). That's nearly 10% of the budget to just throw money at a problem with no real game plan.
So far, the City's approach has been to coax developers to set aside a small proportion of each development for affordable housing. This is a self-defeating plan that actually keeps housing unaffordable.
The City has numerous vacant properties, and could ask the state to authorize a vacancy tax on absentee landlords. Filling these properties with tenants would lower taxes.
The City has made no moves toward a zoning overlay that would permit the development of tiny houses or even a tiny house development like the one in Elizabethtown. Think about it! On a one acre tract (yes, the City does have a few that size and larger), A tiny home development could be built for rent or sale with densely packed homes connected by walking paths (not roads), solar roofs, raised gardens and a covered parking area. Some of them could actually be carbon negative and enable homeowners to collect money from utility companies instead of paying.
Bethlehem could also spend up to $10 million (perhaps more) for revenue replacement, It might even be able to reduce taxes the way Northampton County did last year. This would keep most rents stable.
Instead, the City is employing a Darth Vader tactic. According to Realtor Lucy Lennon, Mayor Reynolds scared off potential bidders with not-so-subtle reminders about city cooperation in other developments. Such a threat, if proven, is considered official oppression. Given what happened in Allentown, Willie Reynolds should drop the bully approach.
Last week, I shared Lucy Lennon's claim that Bethlehem Mayor Willie Reynolds has interfered in an effort by the Lutheran Church to sell off some of its churches and a parking lot so it could use the proceeds to build one consolidated church. According to Lennon, Reynolds told both her and the church leadership that he wished to build a homeless shelter at St. John's Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church. (He really wanted the parking lot for affordable housing). He also allegedly warned off developers who expressed an interest in the property, apparently reminding them that the City could impede their development plans. Three bids were submitted, including a bid by the City. The City lost. It responded by having the Bethlehem Parking Authority send a letter declaring that it planned to take the property by eminent domain,
Although Reynolds apparently told the church he wanted to build a homeless shelter, Lennon believes that he really wants the property for an affordable housing project. The way that works in Bethlehem is that a developer is pretty much given carte blanche to charge outrageous rents so long as he sets aside a few apartments for "affordable" housing. This practice just leads to more and more unaffordable housing.
The City certainly wants to sound the right chords, bit really has no interest in affordable housing. If it really cared, it would not have raised taxes for 5 of the past 6 years. Those tax increases are passed right in to tenants. If the City cared, it would adopt zoning that permitted tiny house overlays in all residential districts. It would encourage its Housing Authority and Redevelopment Authority to start tiny home development now.
Northampton County Exec Lamont McClure has vetoed the attempted murder of an exclusive, voluntary, employee-only, health center for county workers and their families. McClure has proposed a health center for two reasons. First, he thinks county workers will like and use it. Second, it will help s County to combat out-of-control health care costs, They've risen from $11.3 million in 2017 to a projected $23 million next year. Council member John Brown County Council members who support trhis ordinance would apparently rather see the solution that Brown imposed when he was Exec, - an increase in co-pays and employee contributions. Integrity Health, whom McClure would like to employ, operates at eight different locations. I've suggested several times that County Council should reach out to some of these end users. I can report that one of them, Long Branch School District, is quite pleased.
Dr. Michael Salvatore is outgoing Superintendent at Long Branch. He's been tapped to become senior VP at Kean University. His school district was confronted with rising costs as well, but felt it was unfair to place them on the shoulders of his teachers and staff. Here's what Dr. Salvatore says about the employee-only health center:
"What I loved about this model ... is that [all staff] had the same concierge-type service as everybody else. No waiting lines, no co-pays, we did a fabulous job that first year. Care coordination was the difference maker. Having the staff from the partnership health center communicate with medical professionals to avoid unnecessary appointments and procedures, our staff benefited tremendously and we has major savings from that. The following year we collected enough information that we started to add more to our medical services because what we realized was, educators are people who take care of other people; sometimes, they leave themselves behind. We want to make sure that they had the care that they deserved. We started to offer a wide array of medical services, including chiropractic, physical therapy, x-ray technicians on site, we even had acupuncture and free yoga sessions. Our goal od fiscal sustainability was accomplished, but more importantly, we were taking care of our people."
Blogger's Intro: This is a story told by Lucy Lennon. She describes herself as a Realtor, but is a lot more than that. She ran the Dancing Fish in South Bethlehem, where she introduced sushi long before it became popular. Her experience turned her into a vocal advocate for small business owners in Bethlehem. She's an animal lover. She might own several dogs at any given time. She's a Republican who can and does get involved in local races. She took John Brown by the hand and walked him up and down city streets when he first ran for Northampton County Exec, and he nearly won the city. Her latest problem involves an attempt to help the Lutheran Church gather the funds to consolidate into one church. Here's her story.
First off-let me apologize for the length of this post…it’s a doozy…
I am writing this for many reasons, for the protection of my clients, and for my own safety and peace of mind.
Let me begin.
I am a Realtor, who proudly calls Bethlehem my home-both professionally and residentially . I am quite outspoken in my love and appreciation of the city, it’s employees, small business community, schools and residents. I’ve always felt that City Hall was a great resource for me ( and others ) to guide us through permits, zoning and development. And now, more than ever, it’s all changed. Now The Mayor and The Economic Development Department have become actual obstacles in my ability to make a living and my clients ability to choose whom they do business with. Ethically not what I would expect from my elected city officials.
As you may know, I have 3 churches and 1 parking lot listed for sale. The parking lot [1.3 acres] being a large piece of property in the city that the city has had an eye on for over 20 years. These churches are facing a financial crisis and in order to continue with their service to God, the community and their ministry, they have made a decision to sell their properties and merge to a new location.
The City has approached the churches through the members themselves, myself, and various methods. I personally was told to inform any other interested parties that the city was interested in the property and if another interested party had ongoing/projected projects-to remember that they would have to deal with the city. I was also informed, personally, that if their offer was not accepted they could always take the property through eminent domain ( the mayor said this with a chuckle, shared with a member of ED )
I showed the property to both developers and other non profits. 2 developers, who were very interested and wanted to submit an offer told me in no uncertain terms that they were told to back away, from the city. An additional developer’s realtor insinuated the same.
In the end 3 offers were submitted. The “winning” offer was hands down better for my clients-in terms, timing, lack of contingencies and pricing. The churches, with their attorney’s blessing, voted unanimously to reject the city’s offer and accept an offer from another non profit.
Fast forward…
The churches have now received notice that The Bethlehem Parking Authority will be filing to take the property by eminent domain.
This would in essence potentially create a delay, if not a cancellation of the contract to sell to their buyer. And cause a financial catastrophe for the churches’ future.
Here are my questions…
When did it become ok for the Mayor and his administration to dictate who buys or sells property in the city of Bethlehem?
Is the city of Bethlehem now in the real estate business?
When did the threat of eminent domain become a weapon?
You may ask why I am bringing this to light…
I now fear my clients may be bullied into bankruptcy or financial and spiritual ruin.
I worry that my other clients may now experience difficulties in City Hall.
And me personally?, I’m not quite sure what they can do, but so far I’ve seen vindictive and unprofessional behavior and it can only make one wonder….
As I understand it, the Mayor lobbied the Church to let the City have the property so it could build a homeless shelter. This had some appeal to some of the voting members, but they unanimously decided to seek bids on all properties. It later became apparent that, instead of a homeless shelter, the Mayor wanted the property for an affordable housing project.
It's unclear to me whether a Parking Authority may condemn private property for affordable housing. Under Kelo v. New London, the answer would probably be Yes. But the Supreme Court has changed and might be more interested in preserving private property rights now than it was in 2005.
An op-ed from NorCo Exec Lamont McClure, published in The Morning Call, touts the importance of our affordable housing and open space. Here is an excerpt.
"Our extensive parks and trail system has always been appreciated, but the pandemic showed us that these areas aren’t just a nice place to take a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, they’re a crucial resource to promote public fitness and, during lockdowns, necessary to keep our sanity intact. And they’re a reminder that good things don’t simply happen; they require planning. Governments do not have the luxury of just living in the present; one eye must always be on the future to build the infrastructure necessary to fulfill the needs of future generations.
"In 2022, some of Northampton County’s major challenges included the traffic and air pollution that comes from a building boom in large-scale distribution centers, and a shortage of affordable housing. To address the issue of warehouse proliferation, the county has been aggressive in protecting farmland, open space and environmentally sensitive land. We preserved 941 acres of farmland in 2022 and plan on continuing these programs in 2023 and beyond. But this approach won’t solve the problem of ill-conceived and ill-sited distribution centers. That’s why, in 2022, the county invested $75,000 to develop a Freight-Based Land Use Management Guide. This document provides drafts of model ordinances municipalities can use to prevent unsupportable freight development from being constructed in their communities.
"Housing is a thorny issue, as it is governed by the laws of supply and demand and constructed by private developers. However, we can’t ignore the fact that it is in the community’s interest for the people who work in Northampton County to be able to live in Northampton County. This year our Department of Community and Economic Development participated in two projects — planning for the development of five affordable townhouses at the site of the old Glendon Hotel and contributing $1 million in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley to buy 11 acres in Forks Township. Habitat for Humanity plans to build 50 affordable housing units on the property in coming years.
"The future of Northampton County is green. Green for the color of our environment and green for the color of our economy. It’s important that Northampton County works for everyone — farmers, factory workers, construction laborers, educators, health care professionals and outdoor enthusiasts. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” We look forward to working with our partners in 2023 in continuing the work of building a brighter future."
Blogger's Note: It's always a good idea to quote Lincoln, except for anything he said about predicting the future. If he was any good at it, he might have finished his second term.
Though he now claims he wants peace, Putin's actions tell a different story, This includes a Christmas Eve attack on a Kherson shopping district that left 8 people dead and 58 injured. It also includes nonstop missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure. I have to wonder about the increasing number of attacks aimed at our own power grids
On Christmas Day, four power stations were vandalized in Washington State, leaving 14,000 people without power. Authorities claim these attacks were coordinated. Earlier, shootings at two electrical substations in North Carolina left 40,000 without power for several days. There have also been "intrusions" in South Carolina, Hawaii, Oregon and Florida. Politico reports these power grid onslaughts are at their highest level since 2012.
These are just the physical attacks. In March, Texas utilities and energy producers went on high alert in March after detecting probes by Russian hackers looking for weak spots in digital systems. Ukrainians have been enduring a winter without electricity and water, thanks to Russian attacks. What we fail to realize is that our own power grid is vulnerable, too. The United States has yet to implement GAO recommendations to enhance the security of our energy grids. This is inexcusable and could end up costing lives.
Authorities believe anti-government extremists may be behind some of these attacks, noting online forums that actually encourage these attacks. That's certainly possible, I also believe it's certainly possible that some of these attacks are really coming from Russia and China. The extremists who actually pull the triggers are just their useful idiots.
As I feared, former Northampton County Council member Ken Kraft, who resigned to take an exempt (political) appointment with the county under Executive Lamont McClure, has announced that he's running to represent District One again. His candidacy is insulting. He already quit Council in the middle of his term to take a political appointment at the jail. Now that he has five years in, he can collect a pension and go back to being a rubber stamp for McClure.
Kraft told WFMZ-TV69 that he wants "to do what is best for NorCo (Northampton County) and not a party," but that's complete horseshit. Ken Kraft is interested in Ken Kraft. He's already abandoned office once midstream just to pad his pension. Why on earth would we want someone who put his own financial interest over his duty to his district? Moreover, as a former trade union agent and Dem appointee to the Elections Commission, he's as partisan as it gets. If you get past that, how can someone who worked as a McClure political hire be considered a true check and balance on the Executive? I think McClure is a good Exec, but ham-handed power plays like this actually hurt him more than they help. Finally, Kraft has no filter. He has a tendency to be abrasive and put his foot in his mouth.
Over two thousand years ago, Marcus Cato spoke against the revolving door of the same tired faces constantly stepping in and out of public office. "You appear to think either the office is not worth much or else that there are not many worthy people to fill it," he admonished Romans.
District One is not Rome, but consists of Bethlehem, Hellertown, Williams and Lower Saucon Tp. It certainly includes people who are far more worthy than Kraft, but he's banking that no one takes him on. The biggest issue in that district right now is the expansion of the Bethlehem landfill. Where has Kraft been? Nowhere.
I have complimented Northampton County Exec Lamont McClure for doing his best to add acre after acre to our open space with the acquisition of parklands. The County has also added trails and prerserved farms. But what about closed space? McClure's done nothing about that. We have plenty of parks, but no dungeons or pickleball courts. That's where a dominatrix known only as "Mistress Krave" enters the picture.
Clad in black latex and accompanied by two slaves in stilettos and reflective masks, Krave was at a Fort Lauderdale's City Commissioner meeting last week to demand a BDSM dungeon for the doms and subs in Broward County.
“I look forward to spanking each and every one of you at the new esteemed dungeon,” concluded Mistress Krave.
As surprising as this might be to you, there's a dungeon shortage in Broward County.
Merchants at Palmer Park Mall might see a bleaker Christmas than expected. On the busiest shopping day of the year, the Mall has been forced to close as a result of a power outage. Shoppers and merchants have both been evacuated. No word on when it reopens. The Mall's Facebook page has not been updated since December 18. Call before you go.
Last night, we heard from the leader of the free world. It's not Joe Biden. It's not Donald Trump. It's Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The former comedian has become a statesman while our so-called leaders are the real clowns.
In a rousing speech before the United States Congress, Zelenskyy had this response to 300 days of attacks from an autocrat aimed at toppling democracy: "Ukraine is alive and kicking!" Fighting back tears at times, he gave the United States a flag signed by soldiers fighting in besieged Bakhmut, where he had been just 24 hours earlier. He repeatedly thanked the United States, which has been generous. Below is a transcript of his remarks.
He was festooned in his ubiquitous military green sweatshirt and cargo pants, the same clothing he's worn for the past 300 days as he's dodged Putin hit squads and bombs. Some idiots think he should have worn a tuxedo. His country is at war. When Winston Churchill appeared before Congress, he wore his air-raid outfit.
Far-right (and some left-wing) lunatics have attacked the leader of the free world. Beyond his attire, they even accuse him of money laundering with no evidence. The only criminal conduct I see came from former President Donald Trump, who blackmailed Zelenskyy by holding up military aid unless he agreed to smear then candidate Joe Biden. Some of them think being that calling for 20 strong men to remove elderly school directors, or that smearing walls at the capitol with shit, is what makes them tough. No, standing up to constant bombardments of missiles fired by a bully from from hundreds of miles away is tough. Enduring the lack of heat in one of the world's coldest countries is tough. Prancing around armed and in military gear at a flag rally is not tough. If you want to know what tough is, look to Ukraine. If you want 20 strong men, look to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy speech:
Dear members of the Congress, representatives of both parties who also visited Kyiv, esteemed congressmen and senators from both parties who will visit Ukraine, I am sure in the future, dear representatives of diaspora – present in this chamber and spread throughout the country – dear journalists, it’s a great honor for me to be at the US Congress and speak to you and all Americans.
Against all odds and doom and gloom scenarios, Ukraine didn’t fall. Ukraine is alive and kicking.
And it gives me good reason to share with you our first, first joint victory. We defeated Russia in the battle for minds of the world.
We have no fear, nor should anyone in the world have it. Ukraine gained this victory, and it gives us courage, which inspires the entire world.
Americans gained this victory and that’s why you have succeeded in uniting the global community to protect freedom and international law.
Europeans gained this victory, and that’s why Europe is now stronger and more independent than ever. The Russian tyranny has lost control over us.
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And it will never influence our minds again. Yet, we have to do whatever it takes to ensure that Congress of the global south also gains such victory.
I know one more, I think, very important thing. The Russians will stand a chance to be free only when they defeat the Kremlin, in their minds.
Yet, the battle continues, and we have to defeat the Kremlin on the battlefield, yes. These battles not only for the territory for this or in other part of Europe. The battle is not only for life, freedom, and security of Ukrainians or any other nation which Russia attempts to conquer.
This struggle will define in what world our children and grandchildren will live, and then their children and grandchildren. It will define whether it will be a democracy of Ukrainians and for Americans, for all.
This battle cannot be frozen or postponed. It cannot be ignored hoping that the ocean or something else will provide a protection. From the United States to China, from Europe to Latin America and from Africa to Australia, the world is too interconnected and interdependent to allow someone to stay aside and at the same time to feel safe when such a battle continues.
Our two nations are allies in this battle. And next year will be a turning point. I know it. The point when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom, the freedom of people who stand for their values.
Ladies and gentlemen, Americans, yesterday before coming here to Washington, DC, I was at the front line in our Bakhmut, in our stronghold in the east of Ukraine in the Donbas.
The Russian military and machiners have been taking Bakhmut nonstop since May. They have been attaking it day and night, but Bakhmut stands.
Last year, last year, 70,000 people lived there in Bakhmut, in this city, and now only a few civilians stay. Every inch of that land is soaked in blood. Roaring guns sound every hour. Trenches in the Donbas changed hands several times a day in fierce combat, and even hand-fighting. But the Ukrainian Donbas stands.
Russians, Russians use everything, everything they have against Bakhmut and other of our beautiful cities. The occupiers have a significant advantage in artillery. They have an advantage in ammunition. They have much more missiles and planes than we ever had. And it’s true, but our defense forces stand.
And we, and we all are proud of them. The Russians’ tactic is primitive. They burn down and destroy everything they see. They sent thugs to the front lines, they sent convicts to the war. They threw everything against us, similar to the other tyranny, which is in the Battle of the Bulge.
Threw everything it had against the free world, just like the brave American soldiers, which held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas. [This is when my father was captured bring the Battle of the Bulge].
Ukraine, Ukraine holds its lines and will never surrender. So, so, here the front line, the tyranny which has no lack of cruelty against the lives of free people, and your support is crucial not just to stand in such fight, but to get to the turning point to win on the battlefield.
We have artillery, yes. Thank you. we have it. Is it enough? Honestly, not really. To ensure Bakhmut is not just a stronghold, that it holds back the Russian army, but for the Russian army to completely pull out, more cannons and shells are needed.
It’s true. Just like the Battle of Saratoga, the fight for Bakhmut will change the trajectory of our war for independence and for freedom. If your patriots stop the Russian terror against our cities, it will let Ukrainian patriots work to the full to defend our freedom.
When Russia, when Russia cannot reach our cities by its artillery, it tries to destroy them with missile attacks. More than that, Russia found an ally in this, in this genocidal policy: Iran. Iranian deadly drones sent to Russia in hundreds and hundreds became a threat to our critical infrastructure. That is how one terrorist has found the other. It is just a matter of time when they will strike against your other allies if we do not stop them now. We must do it.
I believe, I believe there should be no taboos between us in our alliance. Ukraine never asked the American soldiers to fight on our land instead of us. I assure you that Ukrainian soldiers can perfectly operate American tanks and planes themselves.
Financial assistance is also critically important and I would like to thank you, thank you very much. Thank you for both financial packages you have already provided us with and the ones you may be willing to decide on. Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.
Russia, Russia could stop its aggression, really, if it wanted to, but you can speed up our victory. I know it. And it will prove to any potential aggressor that no one can succeed in breaking national borders, no one committing atrocities and reigning over people against their will, it would be naive to wait for steps towards peace from Russia, which enjoys being a terrorist state.
Russians are still poisoned by the Kremlin. The restoration of international legal order is our joint task. We need peace, yes. Ukraine has already offered proposals which I just discussed with President Biden, our peace formula, 10 points which should and must be implemented for our joint security, guaranteed for decades ahead and the summit which can be held.
I’m glad to share that President Biden supported our peace initiative today. Each of you, ladies and gentlemen, can assist in the implementation to ensure that Americans’ leadership remains solid, bicameral and bipartisan. Thank you.
You can strengthen sanctions to make Russia feel how ruinous its aggression truly is. It is in your power, really, to help us bring to justice everyone who started this unprovoked and criminal war. Let’s do it.
Let terrorists – let the terrorist state be held responsible for its terror and aggression and compensate all losses done by this war. Let the world see that the United States are here.
Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, Americans, in two days we will celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there will not be – there will be no electricity. Millions won’t have neither heating nor running water. All of these will be the result of Russian missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure. But we do not complain. We do not judge and compare whose life is easier. Your well-being is the product of your national security, the result of your struggle for independence and your many victories. We, Ukrainians, will also go through our war of independence and freedom with dignity and success.
We’ll celebrate Christmas, celebrate Christmas and even if there is no electricity, the light of our faith in ourselves will not be put out. If Russian – if Russian missiles attack us, we’ll do our best to protect ourselves. If they attack us with Iranian drones and our people will have to go to bomb shelters on Christmas Eve, Ukrainians will still sit down at the holiday table and cheer up each other. And we don’t, don’t have to know everyone’s wish as we know that all of us, millions of Ukrainians, wish the same: Victory. only victory.
We already built strong Ukraine with strong people, strong army, strong institutions together with you. We developed strong security guarantees for our country and for entire Europe and the world together with you and also together with you, we’ll put in place everyone who will defy freedom. Putin. This will be the basis to protect democracy in Europe and the world over.
Now, on this special Christmas time, I want to thank you. All of you. I thank every American family, which cherishes the warmth of its home and wishes the same warmth to other people. I thank President Biden and both parties, at the Senate and the House, for your invaluable assistance. I thank your cities and your citizens who supported Ukraine this year, who hosted our Ukrainians, our people, who waved our national flags, who acted to help us, thank, thank you all, from everyone who is now at the front line from everyone who is evading victory.
Standing here today, I recall the words of the President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, which I think so good for this moment: “The American people, in their righteous might, will win through – to absolute victory.” The Ukrainian people will win too. Absolutely.
I know that everything depends on us, on the Ukrainian armed forces, yet so much depends on the world. So much in the world depends on you.
When I was in Bakhmut yesterday, our heroes gave me the flag, the battle flag, the flag of those who defend Ukraine, Europe and the world at the cost of their lives. They ask me to bring this flag to you, to the US Congress to members of the House of Representatives and senators whose decisions can save millions of people. So, let this decisions be taken. Let this flag stay with you, ladies and gentlemen. This flag is a symbol of our victory in this war. We stand, we fight and we will win because we are united – Ukraine, America and the entire free world.
On Monday, Northampton County added another 41 acres to its parks portfolio. It's located in Allen Tp and is called The Bodnarczuk Preserve in honor of the Ukranian damily that once farmed the land and operated a nearby grocerystore. The propery was valued at $900,000, but $675,000 of the purchase price was donated by the Mauser drothers, maternial grandsons of the Bodnarczuks.
With this acquisition, Northampton County now owns 2,262 acres of parklands. This is no accident. Executive Lamont McClure has focused more on purchasing land than developing it. Better to get it now because they aren't making any more of it. That's 41 acres that will never become a warehouse.
This tract includess mature woodlands, rolling terrain, vegetated riparian areas, geologic formations, grass pathways, small pond, agricultural fields, steep slopes, and the Hokendauqua Creek.
For the third time, the US House Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol conducted its final hearing yesterday. Since the Committee will exoire at year's end, I doubt there will be any more final hearings. The full report will be released Wednesday, and a 154-page executive "summary" of the committee's findings has been released. It'ss o long that CBS news has published a summary of the summary. It has also made criminal referrals against Trump and two lawyers who assisted him.
Trump should soon be able to sell NFTs of himself in prison garb.
Easton City Council member Pete Melan, who has served for two terms, has announced his candidacy for Mayor. He believes the Mayor, who is the Executive branch, should have no vote on City Council.
December 16, 1944: The Battle of the Bulge begins.
December 19, 1944: My father and Kurt Vonnegut, two intelligence scouts in the 106th Infantry Division, are captured by advancing Germans. Looking through a phrase book, my father screams, "Nein Scheissen," thinking he's asking them not to shoot him.
He's actually saying, "Don't shit."
That little mistake may have saved their lives.
From the Jewish Federation of Lehigh Valley: On Sunday evening, we were notified of an unfortunate event at Christkindlmarkt, a holiday market in Bethlehem organized by ArtsQuest. At least four people were seen wearing T-shirts that read, “It’s Okay to be White. Less than 1% of White US Households Owned Slaves but Every Slave Ship & Auction was Owned by Jews.” These same people were heard telling patrons that “Jews were responsible” for the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, as well as slavery, and that Jews “own and run everything.” According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the “It’s Okay To Be White” slogan became popular with white supremacists several years ago, and it is upsetting to see people wearing these shirts and making these hateful comments in our community.
Within an hour of being notified of the event, Robby Wax, President of JFLV, spoke with Vicki Doule’, the Chair of the Board of Directors for ArtsQuest, as well as Kassie Hilgert, President & CEO of ArtsQuest. Both Vicki and Kassie expressed their disappointment that patrons wore T-shirts with a hateful message and made these statements at an event designed to celebrate the peace and tranquility of the Christmas holiday. Kassie also spoke with Aaron Gorodzinsky, JFLV’s Director of Campaign & Security Planning, to convey her support for the Jewish community and ArtsQuest’s clear position against antisemitism. As a result of this occurrence, ArtsQuest is reviewing its policies to prepare for any similar circumstances that may arise in the future. ArtsQuest also issued a statement on social media on Sunday night condemning antisemitism.
Despite this incident, we should be mindful of the wonderful support we have received and are continuing to receive from the non-Jewish community across the Lehigh Valley in response to increasing antisemitism. For example, the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton each signed proclamations this week against antisemitism. We will receive the Easton proclamation on Tuesday at the community menorah lighting ceremony. The Allentown and Bethlehem proclamations are pictured below. In addition, Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds will join several interfaith leaders on Monday night to help light a Menorah, and our entire community is invited to join as we celebrate Hanukkah. You can find additional information about the event here.
Events like this one are alarming, but we are prepared to respond to antisemitism wherever it arises. We began our “Shine A Light” campaign specifically for this purpose, and we appreciate your support as we continue to partner with organizations and leaders within and outside our community on this important mission.
Every Thanksgiving over the past 10 years, Frank Pintabone has pooled money from himself and a number of local businessmen to purchase turkeys. He then loads them in his pickup tuck and hands them out on a first come, first served basis. He starts in Easton and finishes in Allentown. They go very quickly, especially in Allentown. When I found out about this a few years ago, I asked Frank if I could run a story. He declined because it might make hungry but proud people less willing to accept needed help. I understand, but I'll mention it now because this is precisely the kind of person we need to see in public office. He's running for Easton City Council, and his election should be a no-brainer.
Because I'm suffering from a mild case of leprosy, I was unable to attend Frank's announcement on Friday. He sent me a copy of his statement, which is below.
Good afternoon, and thank you all for joining me today. I am humbled and honored to stand here amongst some of Easton’s greatest past and present community leaders
When I was 19 years old, Mr. Boyer's mom, Josephine Boyer, assisted me in being appointed to the executive board of the Boys and Girls Club of Easton. Over the years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving on many other boards, including the the Easton Area School Board, the operating committee of the Career Institute of Technology, the executive board of the Easton Neighborhood Center, the Northampton County General Purpose Authority, and currently the Easton Planning Commission, all positions that I have served in with honor and commitment.
I am a 4th generation Eastonian, with my son and granddaughter (who is here with me) making up the 5th and 6th generations of my family in the city of Easton. I’ve been a lifelong resident of the Easton’s south side. I am a local business owner and investor right here in this city. Easton has been good to me.
And that is why I have invited you all here today, to announce my candidacy for Easton City Council.
As good as Easton has been to me, I imagine Easton becoming even better than it is today.
As your councilman, I will push for a trolley system, an inclusive transportation system that connects the South Side, Down Town, West Ward, and College Hill neighborhoods together…
I will push for a crackdown on absentee landlords in Easton, resulting in decreased blight, crime, and cleaner neighborhoods.
I will also push for a full service grocery store in the West Ward.
I will be a voice for taxpayers in Easton. I applaud Mayor Panto and City Council for once again holding the line on property taxes, however, I will work diligently to not only hold the line, but to lower property taxes in the city.
When I served on the Easton Area School Board, I made similar promises.
I promised more public speaking time for community members, so that they can have their voices heard by the district.
I promised to move meetings into different areas of the community so that there could be participation across the entire district.
I promised to build brand new school buildings for the students of southside and the west ward.
I promised that all of these things would happen. And they did.
Shirley Chisholm once said “service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth”. I look forward to continuing to serve the city of Easton.
I am from the neighborhood, and I am for the neighborhood, and I want to be your next Easton city councilman at large.
