I smell a Fake

If you are like me, you are noticing that the Lehigh Valley has very poor representation in government. This can be seen in Harrisburg with our summer hire representative, Ana Tiburcio, all the way through the ranks up to the Governor. I believe it is fair to say many people in the Lehigh Valley share my deep frustration with the quality of local and regional governance.

The most recent candidate that has found a lot of press lately is the Democratic candidate for the PA-7 district, Bob Brooks. Brooks, a retired firefighter and former union leader, is seeking to unseat Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. Brooks claims to be blue collar Democrat running for the working class. He says that he knows the people of the 7th better than anyone else running because he “grew up in a working-class environment” and one that “struggles just like the everyday workers. 🥱 Doesn't mean you know shit.  And the whole I was a firefighter is played out.  As I have written the fire union is one of the most corrupt around here.

However, as with most politicians in the Lehigh Valley and througout, once you begin to pull back the layers of the onion and see the 'real deal', you learn that it may just be that the spoken words don’t match his claims. 1st. Brooks has owned businesses, including a real estate company. 2. He worked in management and entrepreneurial roles and 3. He has been involved in property transactions and civil litigation related to debt and asset transfers.  

I have a hard time understanding why he categorizes himself as a “blue collar” when these roles are typically not categorized this way. His public social media posts from the past also do not match his carefully crafted public persona. They reflect a professional background rooted in business ownership and management — not the trades or manual‑labor fields that the term “blue collar” traditionally describes. At a minimum, people are seeing his past self being inconsistent with his current public self. 

His social media posts in the past have included statements about Colin Kaepernick. In a 2019 Facebook post, he referred to him as “douchebag” after the NFL National Anthem scandal. I am not here to discuss the relevance of Kaepernick being a douchebag or not, I certainly have my own opinions of anyone that disgraces the National Anthem or doesn’t respect the flag. He has also taken to social media with a pro-gun position. He posted on Facebook that “the problem is not guns. It’s the hearts without God, homes without discipline, schools without prayer and courtrooms without justice – sounding more like a Republican in Democrat clothing.    

We do not need more imposters in Washington DC, Harrisburg, Allentown, or the Lehigh Valley and this is what I see with this man. He has been endorsed by a class of clowns that are far too long to mention here but I will say when Matt Tuerk, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Tuerk’s man-crush Pete Buttigieg endorse someone it has to be setting off alarms!  

Brooks does not feel right for Lehigh Valley 7th . His Public records show a professional background centered on business ownership, real‑estate ventures, and ongoing civil litigation over a six‑figure promissory‑note debt ($160,000+). The gap between his self‑branding and his recorded occupational history is a matter of public record, not interpretation. Court filings describe disputes over repayment and property transfers, including allegations—still unresolved—about how assets were handled.

This post is not to question Brooks’s right to run or his ability to advocate for policy positions. It is about accuracy. He presents himself as something he is not, and we as voters are left to navigate the gap between his 

crafted image and documentation. That gap matters — especially in a region that has spent years stuck in a political rut, cycling through leaders who promise authenticity but deliver ambiguity. Voters deserve the truth — not another crafted persona pieced together by the political establishment.

Recap of Crap

 The recap of the council meeting was thus:

The homeless issue again was the main topic. The mayor wasnt there, of course. Probably in Hawaii or wherever there is a stupid race and free selfie sticks.

Once again nothing is being done about the homeless except talking about it. Almost every council member spoke about how this is inhumane. Inhumane - but we will continue to do nothing. "See you next evacuation where we will go through this exercise once again". I say every Council member but I really mean 6 out of 7. Other than "present/here" and "yes/no"

 I don't think Natalie Santos has ever said a word at council. Quiet as a church mouse.

Then they all started congratulating each other for pausing any action and deciding to work with the mayor Frequent Flyer. What a joke. You people are adults arent you. Why are you praising a bad thing? Why aren't any of you doing anything but talking ?

Cece Gerlach, Miss "I am still Amending.". Wanted to amend like 50 things on the homeless bill. Do it right the first time and stop sitting down the day of the meeting to finally review - it shows. I could only imagine if the lights went out at a council meeting. They all would sit there and look around having no idea what to do, Napoli would be reminding everyone to get a chaser ticket and look on the back for a coupon for savings at one of his businesses.  

Everyone else: Mike!!! Mike!!! Take a vote on what we should do. Sadly, they definitely couldn't figure out what they wanted or needed.

Then here comes Verizon Frank chiming in after every comment with his own spin. He needs a rule book on procedures. Shut up and wait for comments. He then says he was at the homeless camp again. Still looking for your phone or was that a cover up for a job interview so you can get out of this administration? Good for you if it is the latter-doesn't take much time to see the ship is sinking.

This is the most inept council I have ever seen, and I remember the days of Roger Maclean and Daryl Hendricks. They council alright. Just cant make anything happen.  

Where's the Money??

 

Congratulations to the City of Allentown team! They received the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence. As presented, it is the city’s largest coordinated workforce‑development effort in a very long time. At the core, it looks to address barriers residents face—childcare, transportation, skills gaps, reentry challenges—rather than simply offering job listings.

The city received $20 million to address those barriers and it has great objectives in place to reduce unemployment while bringing solutions to the high cost of childcare and transportation issues. As with anything that this administration has tried to implement, it deserves a thorough audit of expenses and goal achievements on a regular basis. My suspicion is that this will be another initiative that will benefit everyone but the residents of the City of Allentown.  

The City of Allentown has not yet published a full, line‑item budget for how every dollar of the $20 million Allentown Works (Recompete) grant will be spent. Looking at the federal requirements for the grant it is good to know that the federal government requires quarterly reporting, so it should be expected to see more detailed budgets will become public; hopefully on the city website and the dedicated Allentown Works site: https://allentownworks.com/

The city launched the Allentown Works initiative with a very flashy manner with an intense plan to spend the money - $8 million in 2025 alone.

Yet, I have yet to hear of one person in the community that has benefited from this program, other than a certificate from the team and a glass award for Mayor Pink Feet. The calendar has no events since Aug 2025, no expense reports, no information on upcoming opportunities, no press releases since August, nothing. Seems to be yet another scam for the Tuerk Administration. 

Maybe a few of the $20 million is being used for the mayor’s business travel expenses?

After all, he did bill this recent trip as a 'training opportunity' to learn about “improved resident outcomes”. His full statement to a fellow blogger was:

 "I think you are missing a bigger point. I’m with mayors from around the globe, getting training on designing for improved resident outcomes. Three days in Madrid will influence the next three years in Allentown. You’ll appreciate what it means for our parks"

To me, he is one hell of a master bullshitter. Translation: “you are stupid, I am smart and just wait you see, I know better”

Sorry Mayor Pink Twinkletoes – just because you say it doesn’t make it factual. In fact, this blog continues to expose your inability to lead this city.

If you or someone you know have been positively, or negatively, impacted by this initiative, Please feel free to comment.

Running of the Fools

The Mayor of Allentown Has Logged Out: Now Streaming Live from Spain

Social media and your blogger Abe have been saying for months that the mayor treats Allentown like his own purse — something he can use to pay for his memberships in clubs and personal travel to US destinations for “conferences”. 

Well, he has gotten so bold and brash with his misuse of taxpayer dollars that he has become the global traveling, Mayor. 

Word spread to my inbox this morning that he was in Spain for a “conference” that just happens to overlap with the Madrid Marathon on April 26, 2026. The city didn’t gasp. It groaned at the thought of paying for another of his “someone look at me!” trips.

Because of course he’s there. Of course, the conference is out of town. Of course it lines up perfectly with a marathon. Of course, it is another opportunity for him to get out of Allentown. Of course, he claims he is there representing Pennsylvania, as if anyone cares.

The timing is so suspicious and convenient …. The city is knee deep in issues — infrastructure, safety concerns, budget headaches, homeless/unhoused issues — and the mayor’s response has been to pack a suitcase and sprint toward the nearest international terminal and run once again.

Meanwhile, back in Allentown…

The city is still here. The problems are still here. The residents are still here. The mayor? Not so much.

It feels like Allentown is being governed by an out of office reply that says, “I’ll get back to you when I’m done pretending this trip is work related.” I doubt that Frank Kane even knows that the mayor is out of town again. I saw him down by the Jordan Creek looking for what I expect is his cellphone. 

 While the mayor is prancing another 26.2 miles in Madrid, he hasn’t run a single mile toward the responsibilities he was elected to handle. He’s running a marathon abroad because running this city would require effort and leadership. Sorry Allentown today was the St Luke’s annual marathon, but it was too low-class for our social media tramp mayor.

Whether the trip is innocent, convenient, or a masterclass in avoidance, the public reaction has been: We are tired of watching this mayor run… unless it’s toward the job he keeps treating like the large city potholes he keeps ignoring an avoiding.

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.