UPDATED: Trump Now Faces Criminal Charges on State AND Federal Level

In April, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced a 34-count felony indictment of Donald Trump for falsifying business records concerning hush money payments to two women. That case is incredibly weak. But now another shoe has dropped, with a few more very possible. According to USA Today, Trump faces a seven-count indictment for his mishandling of confidential documents, including nuclear secrets, that he carted off to Mar A Lago at the end of his Presidency. A criminal case means that, unlike other high office holders who accidentally took classified documents, Trump knew what he was doing. After all, he's a very stable genius. Just ask him. It also appears that Trump obstructed the efforts of federal officials who attempted to retrieve this sensitive information, which apparently even included contingency plans to attack Iran. 

In addition to these two prosecutions, Trump is being investigated for his role in the failed Congressional coup of January 6, 2020 as well as his efforts to persuade the Georgia Secretary of State to "find" the 11,000 needed to win in that state.  

One silver lining for Trump is that he's been indicted in Florida, not D.C., where he should have an easier time finding friendly jurors. 

He's going to be distracted. This is why I've told you that, despite the polling, someone else is going to be the GOP nominee. 

UPDATED SATURDAY, 10:30 AM: Read the unsealed indictment here. 

Trump stored nuclear secrets in bathroom, shower, ballroom, bedroom, storage room. 

UPDATED: Outdoor Air Improves From "Hazardous" to "Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups"

Lehigh Valley air quality remained "hazardous" as of 10 AM. The AQI was 309, which is considered Code Maroon by AirNow. At this level, all activity outdoors should be as limited as possible. The AQI was 422 at 3 pm yesterday. 

Air quality in the Lehigh Valley improved from 309 at 10 am to 235 at noon. This is still considered "very unhealthy," but is an improvement.  At 1 pm, it improved to 200. At 2 pm, it improved to 179. This is considered "unhealthy,"  with guidance suggesting reduction of long or intense outdoor activity. By 7 pm, it had improved to "unhealthy for sensitive groups," meaning people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations and outdoor workers.   

(Updated at Noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, 7 pm)

UPDATED: Canadian Wildfires ... And The Conspiracy Theories Begin

Failed NorCo Exec candidate and tin-foil hat brigade commander Steve Lynch has just announced his latest conspiracy theory. Most of us have been told that numerous wildfires ignited by lightning strikes on unusually dry forests in Canada have created plumes of smoke that have made their way down to the northeast US, This is scorching our lungs with unhealthy air. Instead of accepting this reality, Stevo is reaching more sinister conclusions. He claims it's actually a chemical attack. His readers blame Democrats, of course, and China. 

Lynch, incidentally, is a GOP state committeeman. I think of him as the gift that keeps giving.  

He tells a follower, "If people don't realize that human beings are under assault  and they're trying to make us sick, weak and ultimately dead through their depopulation agenda I have no idea what else to say to people at this point." 

Several more creative conspiracy theories listed at Rolling Stone. 

UPDATED 10 am. 

Despite Unhealthy Air, Nazareth Carnival Begins

As I write this, the air quality index in the Lehigh Valley is at 403, making the air unhealthy for everyone. Allentown acted responsibly and postponed a meeting to discuss a citizens' initiative that would send social workers, and not police, in response to may 9-1-1 calls. Nazareth's annual carnival, which benefits a fire company that should know all about the dangers of smoke inhalation, went on anyway. Vigilance Hose chose profits over people. 

UPDATED - LV Air Quality is Now "Hazardous" - Code Maroon

Lehigh Valley Air Quality was Code Red (198) as of 8 am.  As of 2 pm, it has jumped to Code Purple (361).  As of 3 pm, it has risen to Code Purple (422) This means our aiur quality is now considered "hazardous" for everyone.  "Avoid all physical activity outdoors." Our reduced air quality is the result of smoke spreading from Canadian wildfires. Below is a guide.

AirNow has the following advice:

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic materials burn. The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases - and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.

If you are healthy, you're usually not at a major risk from short-term exposures to smoke. Still, it's a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it. Everyone should take the steps below when wildfires are present.

Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, it's probably not a good time to mow the lawn or go for a run. And it's probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors.

Pay attention to local air quality reports. Stay alert to smoke-related news coverage or health warnings.

Visit AirNow to find out the Air Quality Index in your area. As smoke gets worse, the amount of particles in the air changes - and so do the steps you should take to protect yourself. AirNow recommends precautions you can take to protect your health when air pollution gets bad.

If you are advised to stay indoors, take steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible. When smoke levels are high, try to avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves - and even candles! Don't vacuum. That stirs up particles already inside your home. And don't smoke. That puts even more pollution in your lungs, and in the lungs of people around you.

If you have asthma or other lung disease, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Note: If you don't have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. In these cases, seek alternative shelter.

If you have heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, talk with your doctor about whether and when you should leave the area. When smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of time, fine particles can build up indoors, even though you may not be able to see them.

To track wildfires across the U.S., go to Fire and Smoke Map.

As of 5 pm, the Lehigh Valley has the worst air quality in the state. 464!

UPDATED 2:58 PM, 4:13 PM, 5:38 PM

Where to Check Air Quality - We Were Code Purple

When I walked yesterday morning, things seemed fine. But in the late afternoon, when I left Nazareth to meet my grandson for a bike ride on the Ironton Trail, the skies were hazy and I could smell burning wood. One of my neighbors told me it was from a wildfire on Farmersville Road. I figured that I'd be fine in Coplay, but it was just as bad there. I was unaware at the time that the haze and burning odor were the result of a Canadian wildfire. I checked and learned that the air we were breathing was unhealthy and we should refrain from outdoor activity. So we rode. It was very nice because, other than a dead body here and there, there was no traffic. 

As the evening progressed, I developed a burning sensation in my eyes. I looked for and found the Air Quality Index here. At 11 pm, the Air Quality Index in the Lehigh Valley was 220. That is Code Purple, meaning the air is "very unhealthy." At this time of year, our AQI is usually 42. 

The forecast for today is an AQI of 135, which means the air will be unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

Guess what? N95 Facemasks help. 

Bethlehem City Council Unanimously Vote Down Zoning Change That Would Replace Tech Center With Unaffordable Housing

The warning bells sounded by former Bethlehem Mayor Don Cunningham and ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks worked. Last night, Bethlehem City Council voted unanimously against a zoning change that would pave the way to replace a tech center on the city's south side with high-end apartments.  The plan was to replace the former Bethlehem Technology Center, built with public money, with The Emery, a six-story, 240-unit apartment building. 

From the floor, Bethlehem sage Bill Scheirer (he has white hair) called it a situation in which "profit comes into conflict with planning. Profit has generally won over planning, but maybe not this time."  

Grace Crampsie Smith. No. - Over the past 5-6 years, 85% of Bethlehem development has been in the form of rental apartments. "I ask is this really a balance?" She noted the average median salary of a Bethlehemite is $54,000, and the rentals from new development are unaffordable. She would prefer the jobs at a high tech building built with taxpayer funds. 

Wandalyn Enix. No. - When it comes to jobs and work, we need to think 10 years down the line. "We need to think globally. We have all the assets and resources to be designated as a technology hub. We have the colleges, universities, technical schools and community colleges to develop our workforce, our businesses, our business community and our geographic proximity to major metropolitan areas is spectacular." She noted that the former tech center still has significant possibilities.  

Mayor Willie Reynolds. (No Vote) - believes that adding housing supply, even high-end, is a good thing. "We don't want to see [the former tech center] sit there vacant." His first priority is increasing housing supply. His second would be to see how the tech center can be reutilized.  

Paige Van Wirt. No. - believes any kind of housing will reduce cost. Her thinking gas changed because she thinks now that Bethlehem can become a tech hub. She said retaining the tech hub would signal to the tech industry that "we're open for business. I think it deserves that chance."

Kiera Wilhelm. No. - She initially favored the rezoning, but changed her mind now that she's learned more about the semiconductor industry. "We're looking at the possibility of something extremely valuable happening in that space."

Rachel Leon. No. - She initially thought of this project from the perspective of a south side resident. 

Michael Colon. No. - Realizes there is a housing deficit, but feels this property is more appropriately zoned the way it is. Other adjacent properties in that neighborhood have been developed for industrial use.

Hillary Kwiatek. No. Rejects the use of disparaging terms for renters. Agrees that we should give the semiconductor indusrty a chance.   

Bethlehem Firefighters Have No Confidence in Their Chief

Brian Salabsky, a Bethlehem firefighter for past 26 years and President of Bethlehem Firefighters Local 735, told Bethlehem City Council last night that his membership has lost all confidence in Fire Chief Warren Achey, During a recent vote of the union's 95 members, 88 indicate they've lost confidence in Achey.

Salabsky accused Achey of creating a toxic environment with threatening behavior and poor communication. He noted that, during budget discussions last year, Achey failed to inform Council that the Civil Service list of applicants had expired. This meant that there was insufficient time to send anyone to Allentown's fire academy in February. He added that Achey has denied 100% of all grievances filed, something no other fire chief has ever done. He concluded that poor moreale in the fire department has created an "infectious plague."

Chief Achey was appointed in 2017 by former Mayor Bob Donchez.  

NorCo Administrators Respond to Staffing Crisis Story at Juvenile Justice

Yesterday, I told you that the Express Times has awarded well-deserved turkeys to Northampton County Council members Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski. They've thrown up roadblock after roadblock to Court Administrator Jermaine Greene's attempt to resolve a staffing crisis at the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC). This has real world implications. One juvenile who should have been detained after a carjacking committed the very same offense the next day, driving off a car he stole with a girl in the back seat. It's only a matter of time before something far more serious happens. Instead of helping to solve a staffing crisis, Lott and Zrinski are endangering public safety. 

In March of 2022, Executive Lamont McClure told County Council this staffing crisis could be resolved. Subsequently, he made the largest three-year contract offer in the history of the county to the union representing JJC staff  - 4 1/2% step, 4 1/2% step and 2 1/2% COLA. There would be no increase in the cost of medical care. But union negotiators declared an impasse, primarily because the senior members were not given a new step or some other increase until the final year. They wanted it now.

Northampton County has submitted a rare reply to my story. It comes from Information Officer Brittney Waylen. Since it starts with  "As a matter of law," I presume the actual author is Executive Lamont McClure, who is an attorney. 

As a matter of law, the County is the bargaining agent of the court system with respect to collective bargaining. In negotiating with the YDC workers, we have held multiple meetings seeking to find a fair funding formula. Like the Commonwealth, the County bargains wages and health care on a pattern basis meaning that it tries to generally treat all employees identically when it comes to cost of living adjustments.

Despite that pattern, the County made an offer to the YDC workers based on what the Court system informed the County the YDC workers would agree. That did not result in an agreement and the YDC workers chose instead—as is their right—to seek arbitration. That arbitration is scheduled for June 29th and will result in a new contract and some degree of retroactive wage adjustment. In the interim, the Court system has also unilaterally proposed the creation of supervisory positions which cannot be imposed but must instead be bargained. Moreover, the Court’s proposal will have an effect on the wages of the YDC workers—the majority of whom would be out of a job under the Court’s proposal.

While the County is the bargaining agent for the Court system, the County also has an obligation to follow applicable Pennsylvania labor law. That means that, while the Court’s idea regarding supervisory positions is extant, it is left to the County to work with the union to attempt to bring the Court’s proposal into line with the law. This is what the County is attempting to do.

I appreciate your suggestion regarding tweaking the prior offer to the YDC workers. I would respectfully point out that the YDC workers have yet to accept any offer made by the County despite prior tweaks and adjustments. In addition, in the wake of the unilateral creation of these supervisory positions, this further complicates the matter. Why accept the frontloading of these positions when the supervisory positions pay more? (even though they are not self-executing and cannot simply be imposed without bargaining)

At the end of the day, the County has the duty to the taxpayers to find the right combination of expenditure and service regarding all employees in an effort to create a model sustainable for the future. The most effective forum for doing so is in front of a neutral arbitrator who will hear both sides and help the parties reach an equitable solution. While we cannot go back to the beginning of bargaining, we can prepare for the future secure in the knowledge that a process designed to resolve these disputes will address all the equities you mention and a solution will be found. I have great confidence in the wisdom of the arbitrator—working with the Union and the County in properly litigated forum designed to resolve industrial disputes—will reach a fair outcome.

The county likes to take a cookie cutter approach to union negotiations, and this pattern approach has benefits. But no two bargaining units are the same. What works with one union is unacceptable to others. In fact, the county deviated from its own approach with Gracedale by offering bonuses to hire and retain workers. The county itself has failed to follow its own pattern approach. 

I agree that the County is the bargaining agent for the courts and offered the same salaries that the courts recommended. But the stumbling block had nothing to do with the salarie. It was instead a trivial disagreement whether more senior youth care workers get a raise or a new step in the first or last year. The amount in dispute really is a pittance, and in view of the threat to public safety resulting from a staffing shortage, the county really should have just agreed to pay the money. 

The county and union both have allowed this unresolved contract to languish in spite of the staffing crisis at JJC.  Nearly every month, Court Administrator Jermaine Greene has made you aware that no arbitration was scheduled. Neither you nor the union bothered to contact the PLRB to learn why this was taking so long. When you learned that it was because an arbitrator had retired, you took no action with PLRB to urge a prompt resolution. When the arbitration was finally scheduled, it was not until the end of this month, meaning the crisis will continue with no resolution until weeks or months later. 

Greene tried at first to hire more part-time workers. Then he proposed more supervisors. Now he wants assistant supervisors because he needs bodies. I'm sure he would have been happy if he had a contract, but this has been delayed for far too long. Lott and Zrinski have resisted Greene every time he attempts to get more badly needed staff. . 

You indicate that, as a matter of law, these assistant supervisory positions should be union. You may be right, and all you need do is file a unit clarification petition. But you also have an obligation to follow the County Council resolution authorizing these new positions. I agree you have an obligation to taxpayers, and that includes their public safety. This has gone on long enough. You could solve this impasse tomorrow if you wished. Why not do that instead of letting Lott bray about union bustin' and Zrinski accuse Greene of being a liar?

Finally, I disagree that the majority of youth care workers will be out of a job. Those positions eliminated are all vacant. Nobody is going to be out of a job. 

Thanks for the reply. 

Shakespeare in Easton?

On summer and fall weekends I like to ride long. Last summer, most long rides were on trails. This summer, I'm trying to do as many cycling adventures as I can without using a car at all. The trips are shorter, but there are a lot more hills. On Saturday, I rode from Nazareth into Easton and then got on the trail to Bethlehem. When I got to downtown Easton, I was blown away by the farmer's market. 

We have one in Nazareth at the circle. It's nice but very small. The one in Easton is gigantic, by far the biggest I ever saw. It had the atmosphere of a festival

It included a group of thespians performing A Midsummer's Night Dream, with an enthusiastic audience surrounding the stage. 

I think this weekly market attracts a lot of people from out of town. I was there about 30 minutes, but recognized no one. 

Bethlehem City Council Set to Vote Tonight on Replacing Tech With Unaffordable Housing

Bethlehem City Council will vote tonight on rezoning the former Bethlehem Technology Center, located on the city's south side, from industrial to central business district. This spot zoning will replace a technology center containing a rare cleanroom with unaffordable housing. Yesterday, I told you that Bethlehem's former Mayor, Don Cunningham has reservations about rezoning this tract, at least at this time. Cunningham's view is echoed by ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, who helped transform the Christmas City from steelmaker to cultural center. 

Parks notes that, with enactment of the CHIPS Act, the feds will be spending $52.7 billion in subsidies for American chip-makers and another $25 billion in tax credits. It would be foolhardy to walk away from that money to build an apartment complex that only the upper echelons could afford. 

In the 20th century, Bethlehem's steel built the warships that defeated the Axis powers. In the 21st, Bethlehem could be making the microchips we desperately need as a bulwark against foreign powers. We should be seizing this opportunity, not creating artificial villages that will end up consuming more city resources than it contributes.

With Don Cunningham and Jeff Parks on the same page on this Bethlehem issue, City Council's best bet would be to table this ordinance.    

Don Cunningham Cautions Against Walking Away From Life Sciences and Technology

Bethlehem City Council is poised to vote on rezoning the former Bethlehem Technology Center, located on the city's south side, from industrial to central business district. This spot zoning will pave the way for The Emery, a six-story, 240-unit apartment building charging monthly rent that most of us could never afford. In a rare move, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. CEO and President Don Cunningham has warned against this move.

Cunningham was Bethlehem when the steel company shut down. Over night people lost jobs and the city lost a quarter of its tax revenue. Cunningham brought people something they desperately needed  - hope.  Bethlehem would rebound, thanks to the moves he and his successor, John Callahan, made. They were fortunate to have Tony Hanna as Director of Community and Economic Development. But it all started with Cunningham. So when Cunningham speaks about Bethlehem, its City Council should listen. Here's a letter he sent to City Council about this proposal on April 18.

Dear City Councilmembers,

As you prepare to take input on the proposed rezoning of the former Bethlehem Technology Center property in South Bethlehem, I'm writing to raise several issues that don't appear to have gotten much attention yet.

• The building under discussion was built as The Bethlehem Technology Center in 1993 as the first stake in the ground in Bethlehem's economic redevelopment from heavy industry to a new economy with an aim to grow a life sciences and technology sector.
• The property was built with public money through a consortium of the City of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Ben Franklin Tech Partners at Lehigh University, and the non-profit developer Lehigh Valley Industrial Parks. (It was sold by Bethlehem Steel Corp.)
• It was so successful that the same consortium built The Bethlehem Technology Center II (currently owned and occupied by OraSure Technologies) next door.
• Both consortium-owned properties were sold to the building's dominant tenants in 2007.
• The intention at the time of construction and at the time of sale was for the area to serve as a life sciences and technology hub for Bethlehem on former Bethlehem Steel land that could serve as a home to companies graduating from Ben Franklin Tech Partners or to house other tech and life sciences companies.
• The Bethlehem Tech Center was built with unique and redundant infrastructure features such as electric supply, natural gas, life safety features, wet labs, and clean rooms.
• There were covenants placed in the sales agreements from both 1993 and 2007 to limit the reuse of the properties for residential purposes, schools, daycares, and many other people-intensive uses. Those covenants need to be released by several entities for the property to ever be used for residential. (The 2007 covenant document is attached.)
• The large grass areas outside of OraSure were purposely built to create a "tech campus" feeling that would connect Tech Center I and Tech Center II. Nearby companies have concerns about that area being used by residents and/or as a park.
• The central question before you is one of timing. Is it time to walk away from technology or life sciences uses? Has adequate effort been made to continue this use and/or is it time to repurpose the property for residential? Here are a few points to consider.
• IQE, the current owner of the building under discussion, decided to shut down its semiconductor operation in Bethlehem and move it to North Carolina. Lehigh University had the building under agreement for nearly a year but decided against buying it in the fall of 2022. IQE marketed the building within the Lehigh Valley during the fourth quarter of last year before settling on an agreement with Serfass this January.
• The federal government, state government and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. - through its strategic plan - have targeted life science and technology development. There is a base of about 170 life science companies and about 6,600 employees in the Lehigh Valley.
• LVEDC has embarked on a national marketing campaign to help grow this sector here. It is a growing sector in the United States. One of the biggest challenges to growth is the cost of building new space. And one of the biggest impediments to growing companies in this arena is the availability of space.
• It will send an economic development message if the region's second-largest municipality moves this quickly to repurpose away from its life sciences-technology hub at a time when other states, regions, and the federal government are investing money and creating consortiums to build capacity.

There is clearly a demand for new housing in the Lehigh Valley. And I understand that the job of policymakers is to strike a balance regarding needs.

It's up to you to decide if now is the time for Bethlehem to do that. I just want you to do it with your eyes wide open.

New life science and technology developments, campuses, and innovation hubs will be built in our country, our state, and in the Lehigh Valley. The question under consideration is if Bethlehem will be involved.

Again, timing is the real issue. You will hear tonight that the property was marketed for life sciences and technology and there were no takers, therefore, there is no other option. Because of what I do for a living, I can offer that it often takes harder work -- longer than 90 days -- and a much-wider national net to find a specialized user for a building constructed for this purpose. Buildings in Bethlehem have been vacant for years or decades while much work was done to see if they could be reused, such as Bethlehem Steel's Martin Towers, the Bennett Toyota car lot on W. Broad St., and the numerous former Bethlehem Steel buildings on the ArtsQuest campus preserved for adaptive reuse.

I respect the difficulty of your job. I once was a City Councilman.

I know you all have the good of our city at heart. I want you to make your decision after a full examination.

While I cannot be at your public hearing tonight, I am open to questions and discussions at your pleasure.

Express Times Awards Turkeys to Tara Zrinski & Kevin Lott

Kevin Lott

Over the past few months, I've been highly critical of Council members Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski. Lott is a lame duck on his way out, as evidenced by his failure to show up or just phone in at numerous  meetings. Zrinski is no lame duck. She's instead an opportunist whose public Facebook page states "Tara Zrinski - Political Candidate." She's always running for something, and her favorite flavor this year is the Controller's job. Am I too harsh? If so, I've got company. This past weekend, The Express-Times awarded them both turkeys.

As I've been telling you for several months, there's a serious staffing shortage at Northampton County's Juvenile Justice Center. It's actually a statewide problem caused by low pay, and has prompted juvenile court judges to request that higher salaries be paid to youth care workers. The Lamont McClure administration has offered a contract that pays the same amount of money that corrections officers get, but union negotiators rejected this and declared an impasse. It wasn't until two weeks ago that the Pa Labor Relations Board bothered to schedule an arbitration for the end of June. 

Tara Zrinski

As the staffing shortage has continued into its 17th month, this has had real world consequences. On April 21, a 16 year old teen stole a car near Cheston elementary school after the driver exited the vehicle with the engine still running. Pennsylvania State Police apprehended this youth an hour later in Ross Township, Monroe County. He was charged but was released to his mother because Northampton County's Juvenile Justice Center lacked the staffing to handle him. The very next day, this same teen carjacked another vehicle parked outside a Palmer Tp convenience store with its engine running. This time, an 8 year old girl was in the car. When the driver saw the carjacking, she ran outside the store and tried to get in the car. She got a hand on the door, but was repelled and hit her head on pavement. Fortunately, the 8 year old (the driver's daughter) managed to unlock the door and jump out. This teen led police on a high speed chase before rolling the car in Upper Nazareth Tp.

While waiting for an arbitration, Court Administrator Jermaine Greene has tried everything to provide manpower. He's tried getting more part-time positions.  He's tried increasing the salaries paid to supervisors. Most recently, he's tried adding "assistant supervisors" to the workforce. Along the way, Council members Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski have thrown up roadblock after roadblock. 

Lott has demanded performance and sustainability reviews and has even accused Greene of union bustin.' Zrinski, who once was sanctioned for lying in a custody dispute, accused Greene of being deceptive. Both were clearly bothered that the "assistant supervisor" positions being sought by Greene are nonunion. That question can easily be answered with a unit clarification petition. There was no need for the histrionics. 

The Express Times has tagged Lott and Zrinski for playing to the unions. 

Actually, I think it's far more serious. Lott and Zrinski are obstructing every effort made to solve a staffing shortage. While this continues, juveniles who should be detained are instead out on the street.  Sooner or later, someone is going to get killed because they are playing games instead of doing what is right for public safety. 

Easton Activist and Constable Claims Arrest Is Politically Motrivated

Wheeler returned to donation drive
after his arrest

According to both Lehigh Valley Live and Lehigh Valley News. Lance Wheeler was arrested by Wilson Borough police on Wednesday while conducting a donation drive for the Ferry Street fire victims. Council member Taiba Sultana was there, and has a video of the actual arrest. According to the news accounts, the arrest stems from an incident last August, when Wheeler allegedly threatened three students while driving a school van. 

Wheeler is a well-known, long-time Easton activist, the former President of Easton NAACP, a constable, and has often been called the Mayor of the West Ward. He finished short in his bid for City Council in May, but tells me he won the west ward. 

When I saw Wheeler at the candidates' night at Easton South Side Civic Ass'n, he was far from his usual affable self. He started sparring with Mayor Sal Panto and told people he had no desire to win. He was gaunt and seemed rattled. In fact, I was so concerned that I called him afterwards to ask if he's OK. 

I called him again yesterday after I learned of his arrest, and he admitted this sword of Damocles has been hanging over his head for nearly a year.  "If it happened the way they're saying, why wasn't I arrested last year?" he asked several times. 

He believes his arrest is politically motivated because he supported Steve Baratta for DA, and is the person who encouraged the Sikhs in Lower Nazareth to reach out to him. He also blames Easton Mayor Sal Panto. 

He told me he's represented by Glennis Clark, a well-known and highly respected Allentown attorney. 

Why did this case take so long to investigate? We know this investigation was conducted by a small police department. We know there was school bus video and audio to retrieve and review. We know there was a need to interview at least four juveniles, presumably with their parents, and school district officials. Wheeler told me that witnesses, including his nephew, were called to testify before a grand jury.  He also told me one of the children he was driving was autistic, yet the school district provided no aide. We know that authorities should take allegations of child abuse seriously. 

When Wheeler has his preliminary hearing, we'll know why this case took as long as it did to investigate and whether it was politically motivated or a law enforcement response to someone who actually may have attempted to persuade his nephew to assault these juveniles.  Until then, we should refrain from speculation. 

NorCo Council Introduces Term Limits, Gets Election Report on Successful Primary

At a governance committee meeting last month, Northampton County Council members, particularly Ron Heckman, had a litany of complaints about the gift ban ordinance proposed by Executive Lamont McClure. Heckman wanted a change so he could continue to eat ice cream at statewide county comm'r meetings. Council member Lori Vargo Heffner suggested that change be made before the ordinance was formally introduced at last night's meeting. But County Council is dragging its feet and failed to list the gift ban ordinance. Instead, they introduced changes to the Home Rule Charter that would impose term limits on the Exec, Controller and Council. That matter was only superficially discussed during last month's governance committee. 

There was no discussion concerning the benefits and disadvantages of term limits imposed on locally elected officials.  I fully support term limits for federal and state elected officials, but am leery of it on a local level.  I like the idea of rotating different people in and out of office. But on the county level, it takes several years to learn bureaucratese, the language spoken by Human Services and the Department of Community and Economic Development. This necessarily means that unelected bureaucrats will pretty much have their way with elected officials who simply have no understanding of the lingo.

I also think the ordinances (you can read the relevant sections in my prior post) apply a different standard to him than they do to themselves. It provides that "no person who has held the office of County Executive, or acted as County Executive for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected County Executive, shall be elected to the office of County Executive more than once."   Shouldn't this same standard apply to everyone?  

Council member Tara Zrinski wondered whether she and John Cusick have a conflict of interest in  allowing voters to decide term limits for the Controller, a position both are seeking. There is no conflict as a matter of law. She or Cusick might benefit or be hurt by term limits, but they are not voting for themselves personally. They are instead voting to allow the voters decide on term limits for the entire class of controllers, present and future, of which they may or may not be a part.  

In other business, Executive Lamont McClure reported on the May 16 primary election. Democrats cast 24,878 votes, with 13,728 coming via mail. Their turnout percentage was 25.97%. Republicans cast 16,972 votes, with only 3.626 coming through the mail. Their turnout percentage was 21.23%

There was a 74% return rate on mail-in ballots. 

Pre-canvassing (the tabulation of mail-in ballots) began at 7 am on Election Day, and was finished by 1:30 pm. 

Unofficial election results were posted by 11:30 pm. Two of the 156 voting precinct forgot to bring back the voting sticks, which delayed the computation. All other precincts were posted by 10 pm. 

Election results were formally certified on May 30, well in advance of the June 5 deadline.

"Our primary election is over," McClure concluded.

NorCo Council To Consider Term Limits For Executive, Council and Controller

Tonight, Northampton County Council is poised to propose three changes to the Home Rule Charter that will impose term limits on the Executive, County Council members and the Controller. No term limits are being considered for the District Attorney. The changes are as follows:

County Council - "Any member of County Council shall not serve more than three (3) four year terms in succession."

Executive - "No person shall be elected to the office of County Executive more than twice, and no person who has held the office of County Executive, or acted as County Executive for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected County Executive, shall be elected to the office of County Executive more than once."

Controller - "The County Controller shall not serve more than two (2) terms of office in succession."

These proposals would allow County Council members to serve 12 years, take a break, and then serve another 12. They would allow the Controller to serve 8 years, take a break, and then serve 8 more years. If either a Council member or Controller serves as an appointee, that time in office is excluded.

In contrast, the Executive is limited to two terms. Can he take a break and then serve another two terms?  No. If he serves as an appointee for more than two years, that's considered a term. 

The term limits for Executive are a bit stricter than those of other elected officials. 

No NorCo Exec has ever served more than two terms.

Ironically, County Council has left untouched the Office of District Attorney which is subject to Home Rule. John Morganelli served six terms as DA. Don Corriere served three terms. 

If these ordinances are adopted, the question will go to the voters.  There has only been cursory discussion of these matters in Council's Governance Committee, The ambiguous language concerning term limits for the Executive needs clarification.  

Does the imposition of a term limit require a government study commission? Those are necessary if the form of government is changed. It seems at first blush that the imposition of term limits imposes no change in the actual form of government. 

NorCo DA's Race: Houck Is In It To Win It

A rumor about NorCo DA candidate Terry Houck is being whispered down the alley. I first heard it in the form of anonymous comments on this blog, almost immediately after the primary.  The scuttlebutt is that Houck would drop out of the race and, once his term is up, work for either Steve Baratta or some other District Attorney. Because I know Terry and how strongly he believes that he needs to stay in office, I  immediately rejected this hearsay as sheer nonsense. But then I heard the story again yesterday from two different people, one of whom claimed he heard it during the call of the list. So I called Terry, and he made clear to me that he's in it to win it. 

Despite the money poured into Baratta's coffers by developers and Ray Lahoud, and in spite of the efforts that John Morganelli has made behind the scenes to unseat Houck, he still attracted a substantial number of  Democratic votes and was the overwhelming choice of Republicans who wrote him in.  He intends to win this race by appealing to the numerous Democrats, Republicans and independents who think that they, and not Allentown developers and lawyers, should decide this race. They think they, and not Democratic or Republican party bosses, should make the call, 

Stay tuned. 

UPDATED: Do You Really Think Trump Will Win the GOP Nod?

I was in a house full of Republicans on Memorial Day. I was curious what they thought about the numerous GOP Presidential contenders. Not much. Most of them are convinced Donald Trump will be the nominee. That's certainly what the polls say, but he's also under four criminal investigations for (1) inciting a mob on January 6; (2) intentionally concealing confidential documents that included nuclear secrets; (3) pressuring the Georgia Sec'y of State to "find" the 11,000 or so votes he needed to win in that state; and (4) falsification of business records in Manhattan. Regardless how these pan out, it's safe to say he's going to be distracted. The constant media attention, and I agree some of it is very unfair, is bound to lead to Trump fatigue. So I doubt he will be the nominee. 

I think it will be DeSantis. 

I was surprised this weekend to hear a positive discussion of him on NPR, which is hardly a conservative outlet. It was with a writer for The New Yorker, which is hardly The American Spectator. Unfortunately, I was unable to find the program or the article. I could only find a reference in National Review.

Here's what I learned. 

DeSantis grew up in a working class neighborhood, and his gift for baseball got him a scholarship to Yale. Students who attended with him say he was so smart and so outside the box that it was impossible to copy his work because only he thinks that way.  He then graduated from Harvard Law. He served in the military, and in Iraq. He has a near photographic memory.  During COVID, he read all the literature, not just the abstracts. His decision to care for the elderly, while keeping the state open for business, was in hindsight the right call. California, which had strict lockdowns, had about the same death rates as Florida. He's stubborn, as his current fight with Mickey Mouse proves.  He has embraced an anti-woke philosophy. This does have an appeal among Republicans and even some Democrats, absent the book banning and the slurs against those whose sexual orientation are outside the norm. It's unclear to me how much of this is honest conviction and how much is opportunism. 

He's quite formidable 

Do the Democrats have anybody other than Biden? We really have a weak bench compared to Republicans.

UPDATED 11:30 AM: My thanks to a reader who was able to find the New Yorker article, written by Dexter Filkins.

NorCo's Elections Results Now Official

Northampton County's Elections Commission met yesterday at 3 pm to certify the county's primary election results. The meeting was conducted in the public eye, but there is no video. The conduct of elections is one of the county's most important core functions. The county has failed to record several meetings of the elections commission. Given the importance of elections and the need to be as open with the public as is possible, an elections commission meeting should  be recorded. If there is a conflict with another group over Council chambers, where meetings are recorded, the Elections Commission should have priority.

I could have attended yesterday's meeting and reported to you. I assumed incorrectly that this would get at least as much attention as the General Purpose Authority.  

NorCo Council Invests $1,090,686 in a Dozen Open Space Projjects

At their May 18 meeting, Northampton County Council approved $1,090,686 in open space programs for a dozen projects throughout the county. They were all meticulously described by Conservation Coordinator Sherry Acevedo in advance of the vote.  Here's the breakdown. 

Reinhard's Park (Hellertown) - $166,435 (including county grant of $75,000) for a  passive recreational park area, including an ADA accessible gazebo with a native plant garden.

Wilson Borough Meuser Park - $599,000 (including county grant of $75,000) - for two tennis courts and six pickleball courts with crowned surfaces, ADA accessible pathways, parking lot resurfacing, rain gardens, fencing  and benches. 

Bethlehem Tp Municipal Park Playground rehab - $514,585 (with $75,000 county grant) to replace the playground next to community center  with poured in place rubber safety equipment. The current playground is over 20 years old, and there are no spare parts for malfunctioning equipment. 

Hanover Tp pool complex - $152,590 (including county grant of $50,000) . At the new community pool, a subsurface detention basin is being built underneath a rain garden. It will provide a slow, low volume release into an existing swale. It is believed this will minimizes sinkholes common in that area. 

Lower Mount Bethel Tp - $173,746 (including county grant of $35,161) to relocate 1 tennis courts and add 2 pickleball courts with crowned surfaces and construct a vegetated swale 

Moore Tp - $95,000 (including county grant of $47,500) for an open space plan

Palmer Tp - $125,000 (including county grant of $62,500) for Bushkill Creek Corridor Greenway plan to address flooding, access into Penn Pump Park and stream bank stabilization

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $50,000 (including county grant of $25,000) for a Portland to Minsi Park Trail feasibility study.  This stretch is 5.5 miles, and would be a combination on road and off road. 

Wildlands Conservancy - $240,000 (including county grant of $120,000) for stream restoration after a 2021 dam removal, invasive plant removal.

Greater Easton Development Partnership - $375,000 (including county grant of $187,500) to acquire 1.2 acres from Norfolk Southern at Lehigh Drive and Washington Street for an urban park and a trailhead.

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $159,000 (including county grant of $75,600) to purchase conservation easement of 33.6 acres.

Upper Mount Bethel Tp - $524,850 (including county grant of $262,425) to purchase conservation easement of 95.86 acres adjacent to Delaware River.