Let's get Ethical

What an Ethical Councilperson Should Be

An ethical councilperson serves as a steward of public trust in local government. City council members make decisions that directly impact residents' daily lives—zoning laws, budgets, public safety, infrastructure, and community services. Ethics in this role is not merely avoiding illegal behavior; it demands proactive integrity, transparency, and a unwavering commitment to the public good over personal or special interests.

At the core of ethical conduct is integrity and honesty. (Ha, I peed my undies a little) An ethical councilperson tells the truth, even when it is politically inconvenient. They disclose conflicts of interest immediately and recuse themselves from votes where they or their family stand to gain financially. (Binder did this) They reject gifts, favors, or campaign contributions that could create the appearance of undue influence. (Lets not go there) Personal gain—whether through contracts awarded to connected businesses, real estate investments influenced by insider knowledge, or nepotism—must never guide decisions. 

Transparency and accountability form the foundation of public confidence.(which there is zero transparency)Ethical councilpersons prioritize open government by supporting clear public records (Scott Curtis files???, and communication channels. They respond to constituent inquiries honestly and promptly (did you ever wonder when someone asks a councilmember something at a meeting, and they say "Mike take their info." Do you think that person ever gets an answer?)

When mistakes occur (MR. HANLON WHAT DO WE DO!!,) they acknowledge them, explain the context, and correct course rather than deflect or obscure. (Make sure to get your chaser tickets punched)

A defining trait is putting the public interest first. 

There is no Luck in the Aor tonight,  you Dirty Minds.  Decisions should be guided by evidence, "long-term community benefit", and fairness across neighborhoods and demographics. (Decisions are often made without any knowledge of the topic)This means resisting pressure from loud special interest groups( promise neighborhoodz), developers unions( FOP and Fire), or ideological factions when their demands conflict with the broader welfare of residents. Fair allocation of resources, protection of the vulnerable, and prudent fiscal management are hallmarks of this mindset. (Never) 

An ethical councilperson studies issues thoroughly, seeks diverse expert input, and bases votes on facts and values rather than popularity or reelection prospects. (not in Allentown)

Councilpersons operate within a system of checks and balances.(nope) Ethical ones avoid abusing procedural rules. They model civility in public discourse, rejecting personal attacks (not naming anyone), inflammatory rhetoric, or attempts to silence opposition.

Finally, competence, diligence, and community engagement complete the ethical profile. (Mota is the only one who engages in the community). An ethical councilperson prepares for meetings, asks hard questions, and continuously educates themselves on local issues. 

In conclusion, an ethical councilperson embodies service over self. Communities thrive when voters demand—and elect—individuals who view public office as a solemn responsibility rather than a platform for power or personal advancement. (Tuerk is the opposite) Holding councilpersons to these ethical standards through vigilance, civic participation, and transparent evaluation ultimately strengthens local democracy itself.

Allentown could be great.  "Could actually be the heartbeat of the county."  But voting on frivolous spending by council has put burdens on taxpayers.  Just an example. Remember last year around summer time those 2 guys that came to the council meeting asking for $300,000 for some type of greeting kiosk on hamilton st?   Where are they?  They were supposed to be seen greeting people and providing parking info, restaurant info, shopping info, etc.  Council wasted $300,000 on nothing.  That money would have resulted in about .75% of a reduction on property taxes.  So people could have paid 3.25% last year not 4%.  Actually that $300,000 could have bought 120 speed bumps!!! Things like that which are wasteful spending need to stop.

Sorry this has no relevance, but #6. Im dead!! Lmao

Could the City be any slower?

Did anyone see the mayor's new kick is putting rubber speed bumps throughout the city in an attempt to curb pedestrians getting struck? However why did he wait so long to do this? I guess there is no worry that they will be damaged since he hasn't figured out snow removal. They claim that it costs only $2500 to put a set of speed bumps down. $2500! Maybe if he wasn't going on stupid trips all over the country we could have speed bumps all over the city, instead of Allentown being littered with giant potholes at every turn.  Matt is combating them with a TikTok and by filling them with Oreo cookie crumbles. 

His plan to have zero vehicular deaths by 2030 is clearly a claim handed to him by Mark Shahda, you know the non engineer.  

Why aren’t the police out there doing traffic stops in these high speed areas?It this is the same old story just like the homelessness the problem is always been there yet the leaders take forever to do anything. 

The speed bumps over on Graham St. have worked wonders in that area. Grant it, people go over them slow and then floor their car in between them (ha ha ha) but it makes it more difficult to speed in that area. The ones in front of Dieruff have helped a great deal and slowing traffic down.  If you recall it had to take someone getting killed before the speed bumps were put in there. 

Why does the city wait and continue to be reactive to everything?  Not just speed bumps.  Put the ******* speed bumps in all the areas where people drive fast.  

Put them on Linden St. Turner St. You want to have the slowest city in the country mayor?  is that going to be your new slogan we are the "slowest city" yeah you're right we are the slowest city we have the slowest ideas the slowest brain power and the slowest mayor in the country....well, except when it comes to boarding a plane out of Allentown.

This is getting old

The Big Bad Wolf Routine Is Getting Old

So the big bad wolf caved in on the homeless.

He didn’t blow their tents down — for now.

And of course he waited until Friday, the very last day, to make the decision, the day Frank Kane promised. Because that’s how this whole operation works: drag it out, stall, pretend it’s complicated, blame on others, then act like the last‑minute scramble is “leadership.” 

Maybe someone finally found their phone and passed along the message. Who knows anymore.

This whole topic is worn out and run by idiots. Seriously — why can’t the people running things come up with a plan that stops the same stupid decisions from happening week after week? It’s like the entire administration is stuck on autopilot, and the autopilot is broken....actually the entire administration is just not "showing up".  

When I say “idiots,” I mean the whole decision‑making structure — All 7 Council members, 1 Mayor, 1 Managing Director, 1 Public Works Director, 1 CED Director, Solicitors office, the Finance Director just because she doesn't have answers. Half the time nobody ever has answers. And homelessness isn’t going away, no matter how many times they pretend it will.

My suggestions are simple. There are only three because there only need to be three:

1. Leave them the fuck alone.

2. Put a dumpster and a portable toilet at their site.

The rule is simple: keep it clean. No trash, no mess. If the area gets trashed, they get moved. And if they keep trashing sites, they keep getting moved.

3. Find a plot of land and let people stay there.

Tents, tiny shelters, whatever. One location. One place where outreach workers can actually help instead of chasing people all over the city.

Why is this so difficult?

It shouldn’t be.

Evicting people with barely any notice — especially when they’ve been in the same spot for a long time — is just wrong. It’s not strategic. It’s not compassionate. It’s not even efficient. It’s just lazy governance pretending to be action.

Ignoring homelessness isn’t just negligent — it’s cowardly. A city doesn’t crumble because people fall on hard times. It crumbles when the people in charge decide those lives aren’t worth the effort.

If leaders can’t acknowledge the people who have nothing, they don’t deserve the authority to manage anything.

A Blog Gone Wild!!

 

What started as a way to vent about the issues and problems in Allentown has become a little more than just that. With your help and under 1 year of blogging we have hit over 125,000 views!!! And this post makes 151 published.

It is a little insane to think about that number. The target audience is not that big. But it shows people are reading and staying informed. There has been over 2200 comments as well. 

My hope is to continue to show the truth behind the issues and decisions of those "in charge" of this City of Allentown. I also hope for leaders to start making better decisions and being more transparent. Better decisions means less posts and less embarrassment. 

They hold us accountable for everything we do, it's time for the tables to be flipped on them. Remember, we aren't allowed to ask questions at Council, they certainly wont answer if we do. The Mayor and his staff don't show up to city hall enough to answer any calls or emails.  I have already given up on Kane after last Wednesdays performance.  You find your phone yet??

Continue to speak your peace on this blog because I believe in your right to free speech and will always share your voice. The blog is 100% anonymous. I mean, my name isn't even Abe or is it, but that is who everyone refers to me as, simply because I have a penchant for honesty and integrity.  

LMAO.  

Possible Future topics

Roundabout is starting, look out

Where did the police go?

A secret surprise on where your tax money is being wasted this week.  If I feel up to it, maybe Ill start a weekly or monthly Topic called- Where is your tax money wasted lol. I'll think about it.

Why are council meetings such a mess?

Process to impeach a mayor

Enjoy your day

Allentown’s Latest Masterclass in Compassion: “Pack Up, Move Along, Try Not to Drown”

If you ever needed proof that Allentown’s homelessness strategy is basically a rotating scavenger hunt designed by people who don’t care about the homeless, behold the City Council and Mayor’s eviction saga.

Tuerk is in California this week at another “conference” according to a post on Facebook.  ON THE TAX PAYERS MONEY.    PLEASE TRY AND PUSH THE REMOVAL OF TERM LIMITS. #yourdonein3yearsorless

I like the end "nice city mayor." I hardly think any visiting mayors would say the same. Curious but why is his left hand doing a reverse pepper grinder???  Tattoo was probably free if you give a happy ending.  I'll be here all weeek lmao

Anyways

The only standard with this mayor is that he will be out of town on a business trip or conference when a crisis happens in Allentown. Why do we even have a mayor in this city? I find it convenient that our self-described loser “Punk Rock Mayor” is in California during Coachella? 

The controller better pay closer attention to his travel reimbursements. Coachella tickets are not an authorized expense.

People have lived peacefully by the waterway for years, which in Allentown time is basically since the earth’s crust hardened. Suddenly in the last few months and rather shockingly the city has discovered the area is a “high flood risk.”

Amazing how the flood risk only becomes life‑threatening the moment someone decides it’s time to print a notice and slap it on a retaining wall?

The latest evacuation has residents ordered to uproot their lives in 10 days. We have been waiting for answers from the administration and Finance Director related to the budget for 8 months, but timelines only matter when Pee Wee decides to attack his enemies.

Oh! and the YMCA shelter? Closing Wednesday.

Perfect timing.

It’s like the city looked at the calendar and said, “What if we shut down the only warm beds and evict people at the same time? Efficiency!”

Where are the people supposed to go? The city’s answer basically translates to “Not our problem, but please remove all personal items so we don’t have to pretend we didn’t throw them in a dump truck.”

The notice even warns that anything left behind will be “considered abandoned.”

Right — because the real tragedy here would be a tent left unattended, not the fact that people are being shuffled around like human pushpins on a corkboard.

Residents say they’ll likely move together to another patch of land until they’re evicted again.

In Allentown, homelessness isn’t a crisis — it’s an American Gladiator obstacle course the city keeps expanding…all because the Mayor has moved his target to the homeless population. That should be a very welcome relief to the city staff.

Cece has claimed that there are resolutions, proposals, and calls for emergency action floating around — they sound great on paper and on social media, but other than talk about action, what has Council done but throw money at the situation? This is not an attack on Cece – I know her roadblocks to correcting the situation are put up by the people on the dais and mayor himself. They have had months to put a plan in place. A plan and a response should have existed before the eviction notices were taped up like yard‑sale flyers. 

There is some talk of action on the horizon and although I am not a fan of County Executive Siegel, I must applaud him for introducing a declaration of emergency to call attention to the homelessness crisis in the county; time will tell if there is just talk or real action out of the declaration. Matt Tuerk chooses to post notices to vacate and ignore the crisis. We all know that Tuerk will be there at a press conference standing next to Josh when/if the county announces next steps. Tuerk will never miss a media opportunity and an opportunity to hijack someone else’s accomplishment and package it as his own.  

But hey — why solve a problem when you can just relocate it every few months and call it “public safety”?

Part 2. Maybe Ill add memes to this section later

Recap of the council meeting:

So I wrote this part before the meeting.  I am going to bet council comes up with some grand resolution to help the homeless but it never gets implemented.   That they all feel awful for these people and somehow Ripple get money out of this.  Somehow they will push the blame somewhere else.  Affa will thank Chief Roca for something. 

What did we miss tonight?

Bill 29 – Borrowing $5.05million for capital improvement, including a fire station that is being replaced.

Bill 30 – More promotions! An S10 Project Coordinator is now a S14 Project Manager.  

“Project Coordinator (s10) with a total budgeted salary of Seventy-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($73,190) is replaced with Project Manager (s14) with a total budgeted salary of Eighty-One Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars ($81,123).”

R57 – Homeless Crisis that Tuerk exacerbated 

Kane – Had absolutely no idea what the resolution even said – great start to your time as Managing Director. Publicly stated that he had “glanced at it” but didn’t “read it”. Couldn’t even speak clearly, probably because you are following your boss’s mantra of just not caring. You said that the city administration shares the concerns…yet, the administration has really done nothing but bully and ignore. Don’t believe me? Look to Vicky Kistler and she can tell you about how she has continued to FAIL the homeless. She may be just executing the directives of her corrupt and incompetent leader. Mr. 

Kane: You struggle to bullshit like Matt Tuerk does each day and that is a good thing. In fact, it is something that he has mastered. UPDATE: Found out later he lost his cell phone at the homeless encampment.  

Gerlach – Thank you for being a champion for the homeless but where have you been pushing the administration to keep the funds from being “tied up in a legal process”? It is great to be vocal from time to time, especially when you are trying to get elected to PA House, but I suggest you follow through in the future. If you are to be elected to the PA House, you realize that you can’t wait for someone to do something. You didn’t know the camp was there – but you knew the actions that the Council committed to were stalled.

Affa – Thank you for bringing light to the fact that this administration does not communicate with the council. This government is broken and Ms. Affa should be applauded for bringing attention to the dysfunction. She asked “why?” because Mayor Tuerk, Vicky Kistler and the administration DO NOT like homeless.

VP Dr. Mota – “It is inhumane!” Amen. She underscored the broken communication between the administration and the council.   

Pungo – It is unfortunate that we have to have another issue to address the broken communication. The council and administration need to act. Request the administration push the sweep.

Binder – Thanked Kane for being there – which is more than Matt Tuerk typically does. Asked Kane to explain what happened. Kane mentioned that the administration supports everything in the bill. Do they? They did nothing but hold up the money and action. Maybe he should ask the Civic Innovations Manager, Michaela Boyer, to tackle this problem? Mr. Kane claimed the city did not know and the Public Works and Police Department unilaterally acted without the administration knowing? Seriously? Sounds like a blame game to keep the administration’s hands clean. More BULLSHIT! Tuerk and the Administration directed last time for the city to handle the homeless issue. They were acting based on your directions. Binder was the hero tonight! “Get the mayor on the phone….he can make the decisions” Kane was deflective and afraid to call Tuerk at Coachella.

Napoli - Didn’t even know if they had the right document. 

Hanlon – looked to be downloading music from Apple iTunes the entire time.

This was outright sad.  I feel for these people.  I think Kane is now a fraud.  You had your chance, and came up way short. Hey I lost my phone too.  I was hiking in truth canyon over the weekend.  

Chaos and its only mid April

It's summer, and the streets are alive with the usual suspects: dirt bikes, those loud little ghetto scooters, and the three-wheeled machines blasting Spanish music with LED lights screaming for attention. You know the ones—folks who seem to have dropped their life savings on making sure everyone notices them. People crashing into cars and leaving the scene.

Last night took it to another level. I stumbled into what felt like a Fast & Furious scene right on Lehigh Street—street racing in full swing. (Dom probably wouldn't bother showing up; he's way too cool for this crowd.) It was intense, and honestly, I'm hoping I don't wake up to headlines about a car flipping and killing people one day. If this keeps escalating, a tragedy feels inevitable.

On top of that, two pedestrians were hit by cars just yesterday. It's not even May, and people are getting struck left and right. 

Hey Mayor Tuerk, whatever happened to that Safe Streets initiative and your big Vision Zero talk? You know, the one promising to eliminate fatal accidents by 2030.

I also got swarmed by about 30 dirt bikes and scooters while driving on Union Blvd. I was alone, and it was genuinely unnerving—loud, unpredictable, and overwhelming.

Ive been told by a few people they have seen 100 cars taking over the Sheetz and Wawa on Lehigh Street, with similar gatherings at Woody's on the Southside and the Wawa on Union Blvd. These spots basically shut down: you can't even get gas easily, and it scares off regular customers.

What’s being done about these flash mobs? Appears nothing as always. 

How about more patrols in these hotspot areas like Lehigh and Union, and actually delivering on those safety promises instead of letting them collect dust could make a difference before someone else gets seriously hurt. Anyone else seeing this ramp up this spring? Like I need to ask.