Stuck in Shit again

Let us continue the discussion centered on how the Lehigh Valley has been stuck in a vicious cycle of political underperformance for many years.

Today’s highlight: Ana Tiburcio, another hand selected person that has been plucked from obscurity to represent the PA 22nd district. The position was previously held by Josh Siegel who has now moved on to the Lehigh County Executive, leaving his seat vacant for the remainder of term.

Ms. Tiburcio became the default nominee to replace Siegel only after the original establishment selection, Julian Guridy, abruptly dropped out of the race for the special election due to not meeting all the residency requirements to serve the PA House. Guridy’s exit was yet another misstep in a district already shaken by mismanagement and a political culture that seems allergic to basic competence.

The Democrat establishment that rushed Guridy’s nomination was left with serious egg on their faces when it was discovered that he was not eligible, so they rushed to choose a quick replacement. You would think that the vetting process would be more than a heartbeat and would include verifying eligibility?

Enter Ana Tiburcio.

Who is she? Other than being related to Cynthia Mota and serving on the Allentown School board for two years, not much is known. She does not have much of a political career – something that could be spun as a positive in the politically turbulent Lehigh Valley. 

She also served for 3.5 minutes in the Tuerk administration before suddenly disappearing from City Hall without an explanation. She runs a tax preparation service in Allentown. Yet despite the lack of experience in politics, she garnered support from many sitting politicians in the area. 

Josh Siegel, Pete Schweyer- nerd, Mike Schlossberg- dork, Sen. Nick Miller, ASD Board President Andrene Brown-Nowell, and Matt Tuerk-fart. All of them rushed to endorse her and her impressive “qualifications”.

Then came the disastrous debate with her Republican opponent Robert Smith in Feb 2026. She appeared more surprised than everyone that she was standing on the debate stage as the democratic nominee for the seat and her performance proved it. What we learned from the debate is that she was chosen because she could easily be manipulated to vote the way seasoned politicians like Schweyer and Schlossberg preferred. Tiburcio stated the same in her debate, claiming that she was not smart on many of the issues but would rely on the advice of those who had faith in her. Just what we need in Allentown – another rubber stamp. We already have this with our city council.

The May 19th primary is rapidly approaching, and the race is considered close between Gerlach and Tiburcio. Democratic voters truly face a bleak choice. Cece Gerlach, a frequent critic of the Tuerk administration, has been publicly dismissed by the mayor — a move that speaks volumes about internal party tensions. On the other side is Ana Tiburcio, the establishment's favorite whose rapid ascent has raised more questions than answers.

 Unfortunately for Allentown, both candidates come with their issues and baggage that result in a lesser of two evils situation.

Until voters are willing to break from the cycle of rushed nominations, inadequate vetting, and candidates chosen for their ability to be managed rather than their qualifications, we will continue to suffer the consequences — in Harrisburg, in Washington, and certainly in Allentown.

The political establishment must start treating voters with respect — and treating the process with seriousness. Sadly, Allentown will remain stuck exactly where it has been for far too long: spinning in circles, wondering why nothing ever changes while our fat cat politicians remain trapped in alternate reality where everything is fine and their own lives are enriched.

Not my money, not my problem

The council meeting was exactly what should have been expected-Council disagreeing with themselves, Frank trying to justify the mayor's expenses without knowing if his own data is correct or even fact based, the mayor absent (probably booking his next trip), and of course Napoli nervously trying to figure out how to squash the bill and discussion. 

I would have to give Mota an 8/10, Affa an 8/10, and Binder a solid “meh.” Napoli easily receives a 1/10.

The resolution was introduced to audit all of the mayor’s travel expenses. What was lost here tonight is that the mayor is not above any rules just because of his position. In fact, he should be following the rules to the letter since he is responsible for their implementation and execution. The weak justification that Frank Kane tried to use to justify the mayor's travels is that it represents a small portion of the city budget. Almost like saying "so what?!? Who cares?" Sorry, a mismanaged penny is still mismanaged public funds and officials should be held accountable. Second, he stated the mayor is "boring" and only bought a candy bar and that the money was within the budget. The question isn't whether there is money in the budget. The question is what is the city getting for this trip?

 Why does the mayor continue to tap dance around his travels. Where are the travel reports?

Here’s my take on Managing Director Frank Kane’s defense:

Frank kicked things off by bragging about the mayor’s heavy social media presence and how he spends his days doing community outreach through his online activities.  

He even claimed that if you buy a house in the city, the mayor personally knocks on your door to welcome you. (If he knocked on mine, I’d sic the dog on him).  

496 homes were sold in April 2026 and he was out of Allentown for 2 weeks. I doubt he knocked on all doors...most likely only registered Democrats, if any. Please correct me- if you recently moved to Allentown and the Mayor knocked on your door to personally welcome you, add a comment below. 

Frank tried to tie all this travel to the mayor’s “outreach,” but traveling has nothing to do with getting tattoos or running marathons in other cities. 

He told people not to believe everything in the “blogosphere” (pretty sure he meant AllentownTruth). 

Frank admitted the mayor only spent about $5,000 on travel in 2022, but he refused to give numbers for 2023, 2024, 2025, or this year. 

Again, he wasn't sure of his own data. 

He highlighted the mayor meeting Buttigieg (grabbing him by the lapels and what sounded like just may have kissed him to get a grant) and attending the Conference of Mayors, where he gets to be in a room with “real mayors.”

Frank insisted all this travel brings in tens of millions in grants for the city. Yet when pressed, he couldn’t point to any specific new ideas the mayor has brought back and actually implemented. If the mayor is single-handedly pulling in that kind of money, why are we still seeing tax increases? The connection feels unprovable.

Why doesn’t the mayor go to auditors’ conferences instead? Those are probably free. 

Although I highly doubt the Spain trip cost zero dollars to the city. Not saying that the mayor hasn't attended conferences for free, but I do not think Bloomberg paid for all attendees at its recent global conference in Madrid. Frank claims it was free - we shall see when the receipts are finally found and verified. 

Frank seemed very defensive about the idea of an outside firm doing a proper audit and that leads me to be suspicious of his intentions.

Bottom line: The mayor rarely reports back on what he actually accomplishes on these trips. It’s mostly nonsense. 

Frank’s numbers sounded wildly inflated. If the mayor was truly bringing back millions thanks to his travel and networking, he’d be bragging about it nonstop. If we know anything about Matt Tuerk it is that he loves to see himself on camera and truly loves to brag about his favorite subject -- himself.  

Council seems to be behind on this legislation. It is 2026 and they are only now deciding that mayors, council members, and others should have to report what they actually do on taxpayer-funded trips? I bet the policy already exists and no one enforces it. That’s wild.

On a personal note, I gotta say Frank you seriously remind me of a sleezy used car salesman.  Not just any salesman, one from New Jersey.

99 problems but spending your money ain't one

A resolution requiring an audit on the mayors travel expenses will be introduced Wednesday at the council meeting. R63 is the introduced legislation and what surprises me is that the city hasn't had a policy like this on the books

My guess is that we have not had a social media/globe prancing mayor like we have now so a policy is very much needed. The mayor isn't above audits and this will put a necessary process in place that will hold him and his staff accountable. 

Holy shit!!! I cant believe that this legislation is being sponsored by Mota, Napoli, Affa, and Gerlach. I give you four congrats on doing this. Honestly, I am surprised Binder didn't sign on to the legislation since he is very fiscally responsible and continually talks about accountability.

This is definitely necessary to thwart unnecessary future spending. I will be doing a follow up after council meeting. 

I think this audit should include the expense accounts of ALL Mayor's staff since there are others who like to travel for free as well to Taylor Swift concert locations. Yeah, Abe knows. wink wink 

Lastly since I don't want to share too much, but maybe a committee should be made to approve any future trips before the mayor goes. Oh wait, and since he says on Facebook why he is there. Maybe a 500 word report on what he learned and how it will be implemented in the city.  

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.