Allentown Health Assessment Reveals Need For Education and Learning English

Last week, I told you that Allentown's Community Health Assessment (read it here) concludes there's a need to combat loneliness. That's complete horseshit. What it really reveals is a serious need for both an education and the ability to speak English as a second language. Those two things will do more to achieve upward mobility among its residents than anything else. That is made abundantly clear by this portion of the assessment:

Amidst an economic resurgence, many communities within the City of Allentown are burdened by persistent economic distress. Across the City, the poverty rate is 23.3%, and the median household income is $47,700. Compared to the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area, Allentown has a poverty rate twice as high, and a median household income that is lower by one-third. Economic disparity illustrates the reality and the persistence of a citywide prime-age employment gap of 6.1%. The gains of a growing, prosperous regional economy are not being shared by all, especially here in the City of Allentown. Regionwide, there is a noticeable disparity in access to opportunity between different racial and ethnic groups. White individuals are twice as likely to live in an area with very high opportunity compared to Non-Whites. Just 38% of the Hispanic/Latino community in our region have high access to opportunity, 40-points less than white individuals. This disparity is especially pronounced within the City of Allentown, a now majority-minority city following the 2020 Census.

Allentown is a diverse city with 54.5% identifying as Hispanic/Latino and 47.5% identifying as non-native English speaking. Skills and education gaps are the fundamental barriers to employment for Allentown residents. Among this subset of the city, 25% of prime-age residents are not high school graduates. Language barriers accentuate this gap: individuals who do not speak English at home are over three times less likely to graduate from high school compared to those who do. Low educational attainment and proficient skills render many of the higher paying local jobs inaccessible to many within this area. A consequence of this incompatibility is the challenge many residents face arranging transportation to work. Despite 90% of residents traveling to work outside of their neighborhood, one in every three households in this area are without a personal vehicle.

I like to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant in this area once a week. A few months ago, the owner's two nephews immigrated (legally) after waiting for years. Neither spoke a word of English. Despite this handicap, both obtained jobs very quickly. Both also immersed themselves into studying English. While waiting for ESL classes at Northampton Community College, they used an online app to teach themselves. They both speak English quite well now and one of them just bought a car. 

Being an Auschlander hurts you only if you let it hurt you. 

Gracedale Shooting For 450 Census By End of May

Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King, who was a bit breathless. updated NorCo Council about the county-owned nursing home on May 2.  She was a bit frazzled because the state Department of Health decided to conduct its annual inspection two weeks early and were at the facility for two days. Stewart-King was happy to report that only two minor deficiencies were found, compared to a state average of 9.3 and a national average of 9.4.

Stewart-King noted that admissions are up. The current census is 434, with 42 new admissions in April. Her goal is to reach 450, which she expects to do this month.  This includes a short-term rehab unit, which currently houses 17 residents with room for 31. 

The home still relies heavily on outside agency nurses, who are usually paid double what is paid to an actual employee. Stewart-King denied that agency nurses are paid $250 an hour. "No, that is not what we pay." She joked if that were so, "I'm joining an agency." She acknowledged, however that agency RNs in the Pittsburgh area were getting $500 an hour during COVID. 

Stewart-King added that outside agency nurses make up about 35% of Gracedale's nursing corps.  

NorCo Received 8,745 Referrals of Child Abuse or Neglect Last Year, Is Down 22 Caseworkers

Maria Torres, Administrator of NorCo's Children Youth and Families (CYF) department, updated County Council on May 2. 

She indicated her department received 8,475 referrals of child abuse or neglect las year, which is the highest number of complaints received since the county began keeping tack in 2015. This year, there have been 2,356 referrals through March. Torres indicated that, though the numbers have decreased slightly from where they were at this time last year, the cases are more complex.

She indicated that 179 children are currently in placement. Of this total, 71 are in county kinship, a program in which relatives care for a child in an effort to reduce stress and promote family stability. Another 73 are with foster care agency vendors. The final 25, mostly teenagers, are in congregate care.  "A lot of people really don't want to deal with teenagers," remarked Torres.

There are 29 vacancies in her department of which 22 are caseworkers. So, when union agent Chris Ellis told Council two weeks ago that there were double digit vacancies in Human Services, he was accurate. 

Human Services Director Sue Wandalowski said there are more vacancies, but there are more positions. CYF has expanded from a department of 125 on 2018 to 164 today.  She pointed out that the county's vacancy rate is 17%, well below the state average of 30-40%.

Has Your Local Sheriff Been Calling You?

I usually ignore calls marked as "potential spam," but accidentally answered one about a week ago. A fellow with a thick accent told me he was with the Sheriff's Office and had a warrant to bring me unless I paid him thousands of dollars. As someone who has been arrested numerous times for unpaid parking tickets, I knew exactly what to say. 

"Get in line!" Then I hung up. 

Actually, since moving away from the skyscrapers of Nazareth's bustling downtown, I've received no parking tickets. So aside from the spam designation on my caller ID, I Knew the call was bullshit. But many people my age and even younger are a bit more gullible. 

NorCo DA Steve Baratta has issued a news release to say his office is investigating numerous scam calls that are supposedly from the Sheriff's office. In those calls you are informed you failed to appear for a court date (that's the only kind of date I get), and you have to pay a certain amount of money. This will be returned of you show up at the next date.

As scams go, that's a bad one. A good scam appeals to our greed. This one is aimed at guilt, which probably appeals most to Catholics. 

In any event, the Sheriff's office wants you to know it is not a collection agency and would not call you this way. 

NorCo Council Delays Consideration of Voluntary Employee Health Center

Northampton County Council was poised to consider a resolution approving the controversial employee health center at last night's meeting. But Council member Jeff Warren, who proposed the measure, moved to withdraw it last night after learning that Council member Tom Giovanni was visiting family in Italy. (I might see him there when I win the Giro d'Italia this year).  Warren would prefer to wait until all nine members of Council are physically present and can vote. The eight members were present, either in person or by phone, voted to allow Warren to withdraw the resolution. 

NorCo Exec Lamont McClure: "We Had a Successful and Uneventful Primary"

Last November's election in NorCo was an unmitigated disaster for anyone who voted in person in NorCo. A coding error compounded by Logic and Accuracy testing that appeared to be neither reversed voter choices in the Superior Court retention races. When the problem was discovered, elections officials quickly exhausted a meager supply of emergency ballots. Rightly or wrongly, the problems resulted in the resignation of Administrator Charels Dertinger. Would these problems continue in the year's Presidential primary?

For those of us who still believe in democratic government, the voting system worked. Executive Lamont McClure told NorCo Council at last night's meeting that "[w]e had a successful and uneventful primary election on Tuesday, April 23. There were no machine issues and in-person turnout was very light across the county. "

McClure added that the Elections Commission signed and certified the unofficial results on April 30, after the canvass of the vote was complete. An Elections Comm'n meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 3 pm, in the training room (3d floor) so that the official results can be certified. 

There are 16 districts with tie-votes in the elections of GOP county committee members. At high noon, Friday, May 10, there will be a casting of lots to determine winners. This will be livestreamed on the county's Youtube Channel.

Thode: Voters Disgusted at Government's Misplaced Priorities

Earlier this week, I pointed to the anemic turnout in our Presidential Primary and posited that voters really have pretty much no choice, which is pretty sad on every level of government. I suggest a real need for both open primaries and term limits. Some readers suggest age limits and campaign spending limits as well. Steve Thode, who is only slightly older but a lot smarter than I, sent me an essay that mainly looks at traffic patterns here in the Lehigh. He believes government has misplaced its priorities, and I pretty much agree. Here's his opinion:

Julie and I vote almost every primary and general election - just as we did last week. I think I have missed just two elections in the last 50 years. Both times because I was called out of town unexpectedly just before the election.

However, I am growing increasingly pessimistic.

I have a few suggestions for you. Take a drive across the Valley on US 22. Stay in the right lane and drive at the posted speed limit. See how many vehicles you pass. Not many. And see how many vehicles pass you going 10-20 miles over the posted speed limit. Lots and lots. Some will angrily honk at you for daring to observe the speed limit. Those who pass you cannot all be climate change deniers!

Speed enforcement is largely a joke. PennDOT recently announced it is going to continue to use photo radar in highway construction zones. However, speeders will face no sanctions whatsoever unless they are speeding more than 10 miles over the posted limit. And, those photo radar units are brightly colored and easily seen at a distance. We all pay for speed limit scofflaws through much higher auto insurance premiums as speeding is a primary cause in most accidents. Why should the public take the government seriously when the government doesn't take itself seriously?

While on your drive, note that the last "upgrade" to US 22 was 25 years ago and only covered the area between the Lehigh River and Schoenersville Road. Virtually all other interchanges are nearly identical to their original configurations in 1954. The PA 191 interchange is a hot mess. And, the cloverleaf merges at interchanges are substandard and dangerous. Drive north on Center Street and try to merge on to US 22 or drive north on PA 309 to merge on to US 22 West or drive east on US 22 to merge on to PA 33 North.

I haven't heard one word about widening US 22 to three lanes each direction. Most weekday afternoons, US 22 West is a parking lot from Center Street to Airport Road. Likewise, US 22 East is a parking lot from Cedar Crest Blvd to the Lehigh River.

Next, take a drive at night along US 22. Note how many overhead lights are either burnt out or non-functional at interchanges. For example, if you are heading east on US 22 and exit at Center Street all of the overhead lights along the entire exit are non-functional and have been for more than 18 months.

I-78 in Northampton County is in terrible shape, especially going east from PA 33 to Exit 75. No significant resurfacing has occurred on this section since the highway was built more than 35 years ago. Millions of loaded semis headed to NYC have beaten the crap out of it. Heaven help a person with dentures who gets stuck in the right lane.

Congress passed the laughably named $1 trillion "Infrastructure" bill last year. Billions in subsidies for windmills, EVs, and non-existent (so far) EV charging stations. But, apparently, little for roads and bridges.

Also note the public employee pension funding crisis in so many states. A State of New Jersey pensioner who retired 14 years ago has never received a Cost of Living Adjustment. Using the CPI as a gauge, that pensioner would need a COLA of more than 40% to achieve the same level of purchasing power they had the day they retired. And, there is no expectation that State of NJ pensioners will receive a COLA anytime soon because the legislature deliberately underfunded New Jersey’s pension obligations for decades.

At the national level, neither political party dares to engage in a conversation about the Social Security/Medicare funding crisis that is less than a decade away.

Many of us are cynical about our elected leaders because, although they spend money like drunken sailors, when it comes to making tough choices like adequately funding roads and bridges, public employee pensions, and Social Security and Medicare, they kick the can down the road. Instead, they craft spending bills that reward special interests at the expense of the general public. Interest payments on the federal debt – alone – consume more than 40% of all personal income taxes. The Treasury Department projects that interest on the federal debt will exceed $1 trillion this year. And, it has taken a bipartisan effort to achieve those startling numbers.

Why should voters believe in the government? I'd like to hear someone make that case.

Tax Break For Dixie Cup and Employee Health Center to Be Considered By NorCo Council Tonight

A tax break known as a TIF for the Dixie Cup factory in Wilson Borough will be introduced tonight at NorCo Council. Dixie Cup has a TIF before. Principal Joe Reibman failed when he sought a LERTA because it was going to be partially used for warehouse space and there were unpaid real estate taxes. We'll soon learn how the property will be developed. 

Council will also consider a resolution providing for a voluntary employee health center. 

Allentown's Community Health Assessment Released

Allentown has released its community health assessment, which you can read for yourself here. According to a news release accompanying this assessment, three issues have been identified for inclusion in its health improvement plan: (1) loneliness and isolation; (2) a need for safe, stable and affordable housing; and (3) a need for upward economic mobility. 

The three issues identified strike me as wholly misplaced, especially the notion that Allentonians are lonely or isolated.  But the assessment itself provides a great deal of useful data. I plan on reading it thoroughly over the weekend and will weigh in next week on what a health improvement plan might wish to consider. I invite you to do the same. 

Trump's TIME Magazine Interview

Donald Trump recently sat down for an interview with TIME Magazine, a mainstream new publication. It goes well beyond his illegal suggestion of using the military to remove illegal (undocumented) immigrants. It also shows a petty little man who has learned nothing from the attempted coup at a joint session of Congress on January. He actually hinted at violence unless he is elected in November, And, of course, he'll consider a pardon for those who smeared shit on the capitol walls. 

As Biden [I mistakenly typed Buden in original post] said of himself over the weekend, he's grown man running against a six-year-old child. 

The Real Problem With Tuesday's Primary Election

According to the unofficial results of NorCo's election in a Presidential primary, turnout was an anemic 22%. Only one out of five registered voters bothered to cast a ballot. And I'm not picking on NorCo. Statewide, it was only 25%.  Now I understand that part of the reason for this is that independents are unable to participate in closed primaries. But there's another, even deeper, problem. Voters have little choice. Most candidates are incumbents who run unopposed. Even in the Presidential race, Republicans and Democrats had no realistic alternative to Trump or Biden. And this is democracy?  

You can say that people should vote as a matter of civic responsibility. But for what? The same ol' same ol'? There are few contested races. Yes, there were a few challengers to incumbents Zach Mako and Bob Freeman in Lehigh and Northampton, as there should be. But Mako's opponent looks like he's in fourth grade and Freeman's nemesis destroyed herself in so many ways that her career is hopefully over. Because there's no real choice, we are drifting from democracy to oligarchy.

I've argued before that we need open primaries. But we also need term limits. As nice a guy as Bob Freeman is, it's ridiculous that he has been a State Rep for 40 years. 

Ancient Rome, when it was still a republic, was very leery of seeing the same people in office over and over. Its highest office, Consul, could only be held for one year, and after that, a person had to wait five years before running again. Things began to change when populists like Gaius Marius bent the rules and got himself elected seven times. He ended up killing a number of his political enemies and started the devolution to one-man rule. I believe we are headed in that direction here.   

Gracedale Not The Only Public Nursing Home With Staffing Issues

I've written numerous times about staffing issues at Gracedale, Northampton County's nursing home. It is relying heavily on outside agencies to provide nursing care. An operational assessment recently revealed that these nurses are paid 41% more than county employees. But Gracedale is far from alone. According to Lehigh Valley News, Lehigh County nursing home Cedarbrook is contracting out one-third of its nursing care to these outside agencies. 

Cedarbrook Administrator Jason Cumello told Lehigh County Comm'rs that these outside nurses just want cash and do not really care as much about benefits like a pension or healthcare. 

Cedarbrook and Gracedale are by no means outliers. Cumello also said that there is a 130,000-nursing home worker shortage nationwide.  AARP calls it a staffing apocalypse. 

In the midst of these vacancies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have incongruously decided to increase the amount of direct nursing care required to 3.48 hours per resident per day. In March, Exec Lamont McClure told me that Gracedale was providing 3.7 hours of nursing care per day per person. 

Dr. Michael Pittaro Conformed as NorCo's New Director of Corrections

Last week, I posted the resume of Dr. Michael Pittaro, who was nominated by Executive Lamont McClure as the county's new Director of Corrections. In addition to an impressive education, which includes a Ph.D. in criminal justice as well as a master's degree in public administration, Pittaro has direct experience at the county jail. He was a filed investigative officer for five years, where he received several commendations for assisting on the capture of escapees. As Treatment Services coordinator, he created the jail's first therapeutic community. He also worked as an internal affairs investigator and criminal records administrator at the jail. 

At Northampton County Council's April 18 meeting, Pittaro was confirmed in a 7-2 vote. The two dissenters were Council members John Brown and Lori Vargo Heffner. 

Traditionally, an Executive is given great deference in his selections for cabinet positions, which are exempt. In the past, I have only objected to three nominations: a Chief Public Defender under John Brown whose wife was a judge (that nomination was withdrawn); a Fiscal Affairs Administrator under John Stoffa who had a history of bad checks (that nomination was withdrawn); and an Administrator under John Brown with no experience and several tax liens (that nomination was confirmed). 

Neither Bown nor Vargo-Heffner provided any rationale for their No votes. If there was something seriously amiss with Pittaro, that should have been disclosed. 

Why Are There Double-Digit Vacancies in Human Services?

Yesterday, I told you that SEIU local business agent Chris Ellis was at Northampton County Council's April 18 meeting. He presented a petition signed by over 100 human services employees who believe better pay is needed to combat double-digit vacancies in departments like Children and Youth, where there should be none. The last time I checked, and that was in 2022, I was told that the county had 8 of 13 allotted caseworkers to investigate sexual abuse allegations. But I'll assume that what Ellis said is correct. But why? Is low pay the only answer? Are other factors involved. 

Here's what I know. Former Exec John Brown was raked over the coals on that very issue by none other than Lamont McClure. He frequently pointed to our obligation to care for our most vulnerable residents, those in the dawn or dusk of their lives.  He made this a campaign issue. 

But is the staffing shortage really the result of poor pay? Aren't there other factors?

The contract

Here's what I know about the "best and final offer" the county made to SEIU human services workers on a three-year contract. In year one, they will receive a 2.75% step increase plus cash equal to 4.5% rolled into the base. Year two will be a repeat of year one. In year three, they will get a 4% COLA.

Thise already at the top of their pay scales will be getting $1,750 cash bonuses in years one and two, along with the 4% COLA in Year 3. 

So basically, the proposal amounts to a 13% payhike over three years. 

There is a downside. Employees will be required to contribute 0.25% or 0.50% more of their salary for health coverage depending on whether they have a PPO or HSA plan. The county was wiling to offer an increase in deductibles instead, but the union rejected that option. 

Overall, I'd say this offer is more generous than what the county has offered in the past to bargaining units. It dies seem to recognize it needs to pay more. But frankly, I think the staffing crisis has other causes. 

Burnout

The simple reality is that many caseworkers, especially those who investigate child abuse or neglect, get burned out. Wen he was Director of NorCo's Children and Youth, Kevin Dolan often stated that most workers either leave or go to another, less stressful job. This stress also leads to unhealthy habits. 

Civil Service

Another reason for a staffing crisis was, until recently, the requirement that the county make hires through a state civil service list that was usually outdated. The county began the process of opting out of state civil service in 2019. It took four years, but as of July, Northampton County is now free to hire on its own. 

NorCo Human Services Employees Seek Better Union Contract

At the April 18 NorCo Council meeting, SEIU Business Agent for addressed County Council on behalf of  Human Services employees in Children and Youth, Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol and other human services provided by the county. They are in the process of negotiating a new contract with the county and are unhappy with a "best and final offer" that includes a "twoload pay increase" [I do not know what this means] as well as an increase in the employee contribution to health care. Negotiations continued yesterday. 

Ellis presented a petition signed by over 100 human services employees that states the following:

"We are deeply committed to bettering the lives of our residents and building a strong community. The NorCo Department of Human Services members take their commitment to serving the community very seriously. However, we are deeply concerned about the disparity between our wages and the rising cost of living. County Executive Lamont McClure acknowledged in the March 2024 edition of the NorCo newsletter that stagnant wages are making it increasingly difficult for middle to lower income workers to afford housing in our region. This issue affects our current workforce and our department's ability to retain qualified staff and fill double digit vacancies, exacerbating caseloads and workload issues. Staff turnover has become a consistent problem across multiple county agencies. For residents of NorCo, this could result in difficulty accessing services, inadequate outreach, inadequate protection of our most vulnerable populations and overwhelmed caseworkers."

NorCo Council Ponders, and Dismisses, Limits on Public Comment

Last September, after listening to three hours of public comment, Northampton County Council member Lori Vargo Heffner tried unsuccessfully to put the brakes on the public's right to speak. She got nowhere, and for good reason. The First Amendment specifically provides that the "people" have the "right" "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."  And under the Sunshine Act, either residents or taxpayers must be afforded a "reasonable opportunity" "to comment on matters of concern." Anyone who buys a gallon of gas or cup of coffee in the county is a taxpayer.  Whether "the matters of concern" are agenda items is irrelevant. That's why they're there. It's their job to listen, and the rest of County Council was wary of muzzling the public. I thought that was the end of it, but she's at it again. At the April 18 Governance Commitee that she happens to chair, Vargo-Heffner once again has suggested some gags on the public's right to speak. 

Vargo-Heffner claimed to be worried about what has happened in Bethlehem and Easton, where pro-Palestinian sympathizers were demanding that both city councils adopt cease-fire resolutions. Things did get out of hand in Bethlehem, but that's only because Council both misled these sympathizers and President Michael Colon was completely unable to control the meeting. They never reached that point in Easton despite Council member Taiba Sultana's efforts to wind everyone up. That's because Mayor Sal Panto was able to let people speak while maintaining control. 

Current policy limits public speakers to five minutes, and Vargo-Heffner suggested more restrictions. 

Council member Jeff Warren, who previously served on both Easton City Council and as a Hanover Tp Supervisor, was less than enthusiastic at limiting the public's right to speak. "I personally like how loose it is right now. ... I honestly don't see there being a problem. ... I want folks to be heard."

Council members Ron Heckman and Kelly Keegan both said they'd approve a change that postponed public comment on nonagenda items until the end of a meeting. 

Council member John Goffredo was leery of making any changes. "We're very open, whoever wants to speak on any topic and I think it should remain the same. I don't think I'm in favor of adding another public comments section at the end of the meeting just because then you're almost inviting people to come and speak about things that are off topic." He, like Jeff Warren, believes that Council should have the latitude to let members of the public speak longer than five minutes. 

Given the lack of enthusiasm for any change, Vargo-Heffner put her muzzle away. 

NorCo Has a Problem-Free Election

Winners are certainly happy after yesterday's election in NorCo, but the person with the best night's sleep is someone whose name is not even on the ballot. Executive Lamont McClure has to be relieved that this primary election, in a presidential year, went so smoothly. But that was just a tune-up for November, when the real fun starts. 

Mackenzie Poised For Victory in Pa. 7 GOP Primary

With a projected 43% of the vote, it appears that Republicans have elected Ryan Mackenzie as their nominee in the race against Susan Wild for the Pa. 7 Congressional seat. Kevin Dellicker snagged 33% of the tally, and Maria Montero finished last with just 25%. 

Though arguably the best candidate to face Wild in November, Montero raised far too little money and ran a disorganized campaign. Despite being able to raise money, Dellicker lost Republican support when he failed to endorse Lisa Scheller, who defeated him in the last Congressional race. 

DePasquale Leads Democrats in State AG Race

Eugene DePasquale, a former two-term state auditor general, appears to be firmly in the lead of the five-way Democratic race for state attorney general. Despite having less money to spend that Joe Khan or Jack Stollsteimer, he is the only candidate with western Pa roots. The other four are from the Philadelphia area and appear to have canceled each other out. 

Though my vote went for Jack Stollsteimer, I was very impressed by DePasquale when he was auditor general. He was willing to blow the whistle on the state's failure to answer one of five calls for suspected child abuse or neglect even though it made him unpopular with then Governor Wolf. 

Unofficial: Freeman Wins 77.5% Landslide Against Challenger Taiba Sultana

With all precincts in and reported, it appears that voters have decided to send State Rep. Bob Freeman back to Harrisburg for another two years to represent the 136th legislative district. He defeated Easton City Council member Taiba Sultana with 77.5% of the vote (3,985 to 1,152). That's a slightly larger margin than the 76% that Easton Mayor Sal Panto garnered when Sultana ran against him in 2019. 

Sultana's bid for the state house was hampered by what Ray Lahoud's Pa Citizens PAC called a crazy, chaotic and criminal campaign. As if to prove him correct, two of her children were nabbed by Pennsylvania State Police on election eve as they defaced Lahoud's signs. A third has been charged with corrupting the morals of minors. 

Sultana lost in every precinct but Easton 3-3, which she won by one vote. 

No Republican is running. Barring a successful undependent challenge, Freeman's re-election is assured.