DROP it like its Hot!! Please Read

So I saw some comments maybe a month or so ago on a police pension DROP and also some yesterday. I had to do some digging.  What I heard is the mayor offered the police a DROP pension. So, for those that do not know what it is (including myself) or how it works, I will explain from what I gathered.

Basically say an employee retires on Jan 1 2026 with a pension of $50,000. The employee does not collect the $50,000 but instead the money is put into a retirement fund, like a 401k.  The city does make some money off of this $50k and the employee is normally capped at a max percentage return say 3-5%. Anything above the 3-5% is the city's however the employee is guaranteed not to lose any money. The employee continues to work at the salary they left at say $75k.  

DROP programs usually last around 2-5 years that someone can benefit from it, but that depends on what is negogiated. When the employee decides to retire a 2nd time, their $50k which has accumulated $50k a year plus interest has to be rolled into another account or that money can be taken out early with normally a 10% penalty. Example.  $50k x 4 years in the drop = $200,000 adding say 3% interest, roughly another $50k (my math isnt 💯  fyi) , said employee after four years would have $250,000 in an account. Or said employee was basically making $62,500/year drop pension plus 75k salary or $137,500  a year for four years.  Aka double dipping in my opinion.

The program is used to keep senior employees or experienced ones. Or in this instance is it for Chief Roca since the mayor has openingly said he wants his "yes man" to be chief as long as he is mayor. However, at what cost? 

Lets 1st look at the raises coming up since Apd's contract is up at the end of the year.

The average officer after 3 years makes over $100,000. Those eligible for the DROP mostly have 20 years of service and have obtained some rank.  So the $100,000 is for patrolman and with those with rank making significantly more. Starting officers make around $70k I believe. A 3% raise per year (which most police contracts are. Fire got 3% and SEIU im hearing got 5%) is roughly $3,000 per guy per year. $3000x200 officers on the force. Thats atleast $600,000-$800,000 a year for tax payers to cover. That doesnt account for the 3% thats added to all overtime.  SEIU's raise probably cost the tax payers $450,000 a year and dont quote me on this, but I am told that each employee got 2 checks each for $1500 as part of their contract. Good for them tho, they deserved it. 

Just a thought. Remember when the water plant had to be sold just to cover the city's obligations to the pension fund. Anything else left to sell if this goes through?

Back on track, the 4% property tax increase for 2026 generated about $1.5 million for the city. So basically the tax increase was gobbled up by the union raises. 

I am figuring the Police DROP Pension will cost tax payers  approx. $885,000-$1.2 million a year since the city loses state funding for the pension when officers enter the DROP program. This number could be more. But I highly doubt the finance department will tell council the cost.

*please note all my numbers are not 100% accurate, but they arent far off at all.  Simply used to give everyone an idea so don't chew my head off.

So I understand needing or wanting to keep older senior officers for their experience, but the cost doesnt seem obtainable in a responsible sense for the city. Plus does anyone think according to my sources Chief Roca getting a $125,000 pension plus his $170,000 salary is right?  That would essentially have him making close to $300,000 a year under the DROP. He could leave after 4 years in the DROP without counting interest at $500,000 in his DROP account.  Is he worth that? Or can't he get another job and has no choice but to stay?

Don't forget the $50 million police station that is getting built which at this rate will cost over $70million. Or the Fire department and health department that is proposed at another i dont know 60-70 million.

Where the hell is this money coming from?  Is the tooth fairy dropping Mayor Tuerk millions?

Without some serious budget cuts, the city is looking at atleast an 8% tax increase next year to cover a DROP and to pay for the new station. 8% is probably low, but expect tax increases of atleast 5-12% each year for the next 4 years. Will be interesting for the 1st year councilmen to have to vote on a huge tax increase just to save the city.  

I just explained where alot of money will be going and I am letting out more expenses they need to cover. The city will be broke.  But honestly I feel that at this point is the mayor’s goal.

Little story: I have a friend who worked a union job where there was a DROP program. He told me the DROP keeps alot of sluggish people. Mostly, the people who have little to know skills besides what they are currently doing. Or it helps those that are financially irresponsible. Either way, it really isnt keeping the best employees. He stated he was amazed by the amount of surgeries people had once they were in the DROP. He stated sick time abuse or personal leave  was sky high and basically anyway to not come to work was the goal.  The reason why was because people didnt care if they got fired. THEY WERE ALREADY RETIRED!! Also, they were guaranteed their pension no matter what!!

Lastly, I am not sure how SEIU and AFD would fare if APD is given a DROP since they just signed new contracts, but I imagine they will want one as well.  Atleast the greedy firefighters will.

Some of the recent pensions, which are close to 90% of their salary.  Something is not right.

https://allentownpa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1385249&GUID=8DD66DB9-3524-4568-8C15-E4CB0A0CD617

https://allentownpa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=1385251&GUID=07701725-460D-4B27-B58F-6DBB1C8692C9

Here's also why the city is going broke.  

https://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Departments/Finance/Budget2026/Final/000-04%20Police%20Final%20Book%20-%20Amended.pdf

Look at some of these salaries.  Two public safety analysts making over $80,000 due to a $4500 raise from last year.  What exactly do they do??? Analyze where crime is? Those positions should be outsourced to a data company.  Waste. 

The police raises and budget is insane.  I do support the police, but lets be honest, they are the cause of some of the city's financial issues and like AFD they continue to want more.

Now compare all I said to your job. Ridiculous right?  I work part time and am semi retired, but my career did not offer pensions this high. Drain the swamp.  

Word of the Day: Ice Cream

Word of the Day: Ice Cream — Because the Mayor Finally Picked Something as Soft as His Leadership”

While some cities get infrastructure and others get fiscal responsibility.

Ours gets… a “Word of the Day” series from a mayor who genuinely believes the public wakes up wondering what vocabulary he’s blessing us with next. 

Recently, he’s taken to social media to unleash a catastrophically stupid “Word of the Day” series…

Because apparently nothing screams “competent leadership” like a man who treats basic vocabulary as if he’s discovered fire. 

A sorry attempt to make him appear to be smart and capable leader, but it is much more like another cheap cry for attention. Poor Matt is really hung up on not being popular in life and we get to sit here listening to his cries for attention.

Today’s word? “Ice Cream.” Bold choice for a man whose biggest accomplishment this year was remembering his TikTok password. 

Tomorrow’s is rumored to be “Ass Clown,” which is fitting for exactly who we have running our city. It is quite bold for a man whose approval rating could fit on a Post‑it. A mayor so convinced of his own popularity that he’s basically running a one‑man circus, starring himself, directed by himself, applauded by… himself.

It’s almost impressive, really — the sheer confidence of someone who thinks the city is clamoring for his linguistic leadership. Potholes? Still there. Budgets? Still wobbly. Snow plan? Let’s not even go there. But by all means, let’s gather round for today’s inspirational adjective. 

He posts like he’s the main character in a town that’s mostly just trying to get to work to afford his tax increases without hitting a crater the size of a Ford Focus.

But hey — if nothing else, his social media has taught us a valuable lesson:

When actual accomplishments are scarce, content creation becomes a form of cardio.

And this mayor?

He’s training for a marathon.

Tho the Easter Bunny may have skipped the Tuerk residence,  the Tooth Fairy did not.

Easter Egg Dud

Did anyone go to the Mayor's Easter egg Hunt?  I did.  What a horrible showing.  Where was everyone?

I remember years past, hundreds of kids would show up.  Lots of great prizes and fun. 

Do kids have no interest in doing egg hunts anymore, or is it just the Mayors egg hunt?

Considering Midway Manor had a good showing I am thinking it was just the above mentioned. 

Who is in charge of organizing this event?  They dropped the ball this year.  I am just so surprised a free event did not draw 100s.  Its Allentown.  So if its free, everyone should be there

.. no????  

I took some photos of the event.  Maybe this is why it wasn't well attended.

F.B.I was in town

FBI Director Kash Patel and Senator Dave McCormick were in Allentown today for a roundtable on the fentanyl crisis. While their visit highlights the severity of the issue, there is a huge ongoing crisis that the local health department and police department rarely speak about publicly. I wonder why.

How many calls do Allentown EMS, fire, and police respond to where fentanyl is involved? The police department has data analysts on staff—I don’t know exactly what all they do, but tracking and publicly reporting these numbers should be a core task for them.

How many fentanyl arrests are made each year? How many overdoses involving fentanyl occur annually in Allentown and Lehigh County? Homicides may be down—and that’s the metric the mayor and police chief often highlight as a major success. But what about all the overdose deaths? Someone is selling this poison, and in a very real sense, they are killing people. It’s a different type of homicide, if you ask me.

Yes, people have a choice to use drugs, just like they have a choice to shoot someone. But that doesn’t absolve the dealers who flood our streets with a substance so potent it kills users—often unknowingly—by the hundreds.

The Mayor only ever highlights its accomplishments and never its downfalls. The mayor only says how great Chief Roca is, yet continues to hide all the things he isn’t accomplishing. Between the illegal dirt bikes, the huge juvenile gatherings, recent shootings,  and the fentanyl problems, what is really being done? It’s all just smoke and mirrors.

What is the health department doing about this? Ms. Kistler, where are you? Haven’t seen you at a council meeting in a while.

(She makes me cringe. Eeeewww)

The public deserves transparent data on fentanyl-related emergency responses, arrests, and fatal overdoses. Shining a light on the full scope of this crisis—not just the declining homicide numbers—is essential to holding leaders accountable and driving real solutions.

No Kings? Or a good Mayor

Look at this clown. I'm genuinely curious how Mayor Matt Tuerk has the balls to keep talking shit on the Trump Administration when Allentown City Hall is a complete and utter joke.

I hear he reads this blog and isn't a fan — probably because I shine a harsh light on the real truth about his administration and this failing city. 

By the way, I wear that badge of honor with pride. Knowing Tuerk is annoyed by my blog gives me all the fuel I need to keep exposing him. That, plus the flood of voices reaching out daily with the nonstop nonsense coming out of City Hall. Those who fear retaliation and targeting by Matt, his administration, his HR team, and their weaponized legal crew will always have a voice and a safe place here with Abe.

How the hell is our mayor so obsessed with Trump and ICE while he can't even handle a basic snowstorm? Residents were furious at council meetings — streets still a nightmare weeks later, with Tuerk himself admitting "everybody's pissed" about the pathetic cleanup. Yet he's out there today at the "No Kings Palooza" protest in Bethlehem, grandstanding like it matters.

At the same time, he's promoting unqualified individuals to important positions, has zero control over spending, and is gearing up for more tax pain (we already got slammed with nearly 4% plus trash fee hikes in 2026 — expect 6-12% or worse in 2027). He can't get the roads fixed, shows zero real care for the homeless, bullies councilmembers, pushes family members of council into positions, and after five years has basically zero meaningful accomplishments to show for it. Pay attention to Allentown, Matt!

As mayor, you shouldn't be sticking your nose into these divisive national controversies. You're a local government leader with zero impact on the federal government or the current Trump Administration. 

You're absolutely nobody to them. Remember this, my man: You can scrape out wins in Allentown by playing up your Latino heritage, but step outside the city limits and try winning anywhere else. This is as good as it gets for you — and you're continuing to disappoint the people who actually live here.

Taking part in the No Kings protest today won't change a damn thing. It's a pathetic waste of time and energy. But wasting time and taxpayer money seems to be one of your basic tenets of "management." Who exactly is the "King" you're protesting, by the way? Last I checked, the only really recognizable King is in England.

Tuerk conveniently forgets how he pissed off Trump's people when the President was here for that rally. He got into a screaming match with a staffer over barricades, got handed his ass publicly, and the viral clips racked up millions of views — embarrassing himself and making Allentown look ridiculous. So sad.

If you zoom in really far, you can see Matt on the map.

You tried to put yourself and the city on the map, but only succeeded in showing everyone what a lying fool Allentown has for a mayor. Then you had the nerve to claim Trump supporters "left trash everywhere." We all know why: You ordered not enough trash cans to be put out, forcing people to leave their mess behind so you could paint the "Trumpsters" as slobs. I know this because I had friends who were there, picked it up themselves, and told me straight about your sabotage orders.

This post isn't about whether I support or oppose ICE. It's dead simple: Our so-called mayor keeps obsessing over things he can't control while the basics in his own city rot. Do your damn job, Matt. The people of Allentown deserve way better than this epic failure 

Sorry this is just funny

Tuerk hands over keys to new Managing Director; Immediately added to snow emergency contact list

Council was scripted and predictable.  I watched the video playback so you didn’t have to waste YOUR time.  There was absolutely no one from the public there.  I felt like I was attending a Trenton City Council meeting—empty public seats, heavy scripting, and a lot of back-patting over the new managing director.  There was so much optimism coming from the Mayor and Council that even a Trump rally would pale in comparison.   The thought that a new managing director is the savior to the city is laughable.  

Affa thinks council is already great and the director will make the city so much better.  Yea okay??  Affa is 20 minutes past her 15 minutes in the spotlight.  She is irrelevant at this point.  

I am not sure why the city needs a mayor and a managing director.   Matt doesn’t “show up” for committee meetings or council meetings 90% of the time and really wasn’t missed.  

Oh boy Bina came up and said the city is doing financially great and they will just realign the budget to pay for the new director.  I am not sure how council was able to fully fund a position that has a $131,977 salary and the 2026 budget had it funded for $1.  Basic procedures would make you believe a transfer at a minimum to the position would be necessary.  This was not a fully funded position in 2026.  Bina sucks too…i feel somewhere she wanted to say “we are hiding our plan until after this passes so we can box council in to a decisions that you may not have made”

Mayor said they will not fill some positions so they can fulfill the managing director budget.  

I truly believe the M.D is a waste of money, but not more than the mayor’s position and the Civic Innovations Manager.   The mayor needs someone to blame for his own missteps.  Essentially, he will be Tuerk’s fall guy. 

Mota you choked.   You continue to grovel at the Mayor's tennis shoes. She stated the director will help support the mayor and he is in much need of support. Maybe if he had an effective and present staff?

Executive assistant is filled per the mayor, but wasn’t she just promoted to Civic Innovations Manager? Are my sources incorrect?  Say it ain't so. So when the mayor is absent the deputy mayor was Chief Roca? Too bad the mayor wasn't absent more often. I love watching Roca speak.   Now it will be the managing director.    I read the charter for the Deputy Mayor.  The actual wording is: 

“Upon taking office, the Mayor shall designate a department head or elected City official who shall serve as Deputy Mayor, in the event of the Mayor's temporary disability or absence from the City. The Mayor may change his designation from time to time. The Deputy Mayor shall exercise all the duties of the Mayor, except the power of appointment or removal from office.”

So I believe the city hierarchy now goes mayor, managing director, then whatever Boyer is, then directors.   

Does anyone know why this guy left the county? Josh Siegel is an astute and quality leader.  He is young but that is part of his appeal.  The city and the lehigh valley have an old regime problem where we see the same tired individuals in government.  Josh breaks that mold and I wouldn’t be surprised if he saw that in the Government Center and that is why Allentown has Frank. Could the county position be better than the city?  Mayor didn't answer why Mr. Kane left the county but bless him for keeping Frank employed. 

Napoli tried to explain who the best employees are and I stopped listening because....just because.  

Binder is really growing on me.  He wasnt kissing Kane's ass but instead trying to get him to answer questions.   I don’t think Kane did that great of a job. Remember when you hype up someone like I feel council did, you set an expectation.  Frank Kane didn’t meet the expectations in my opinion.  Which I'm sorry but he is stepping into a failing city with a failure of a mayor, so I wouldn’t expect a revolution to happen in Allentown with this appointment.   Most likely more of the same.

Napoli: any questions or comments from the public?? Lol.  Read the room!! No one was there. No one “showed up” because no one cares anymore. The city is a joke and residents are tired of beating their heads against a wall.  

As a parting comment - Mr Kane would definitely be able to sell a used car. 🚗

Promotion

Another set of congratulations are in order. My sources tell me that Michaela Boyer has been promoted in the Mayor’s Office to the Civic Innovation Manager position. I hope that Ms Boyer is truly interested in fulfilling the responsibilities tasked within the job description, and that this isn’t another misstep with our tax dollars by the Tuerk Administration. Or in normal words.  A WASTE OF MONEY!!! It almost seems this girl has something on Matt.  How does one get on the fast track to city leadership like she has? Is there an apprenticeship or internship available?

Good news to one of my blog followers-CHAT is coming back under Ms Boyer. I hope coffee is served.

Breaking News: Leadership is Now Important for Allentown.

I hear we may have a new director joining the ranks of this blog! This was a surprise for your humble blogger Abe. Thanks to Lehigh Valley Ramblings for breaking this news today.

I am surprised by this move by Matt Tuerk. He does not like to share the spotlight. Could this be further proof of what has been said on this blog and social media? That our Pee-Wee mayor is no longer having fun being mayor. By hiring this managing director, he can now push off all responsibility, and most importantly blame, for the operations of the city… or the failed operations of the city which have been more frequent lately. 

Tuerk can now focus on what he likes to do… turning into a silly jet-setting TikTok diva while billing it all to the city taxpayers.

From my dealings with the city, we are in desperate need of a strong managing director like Joe MacMahon, and I hope Mr. Kane can rise to the challenge. The city is out of control. Between mismanaged finances, crime through the roof, a downtown area that is more like a ghost town, and more people becoming homeless by the day, it is clear that the city is in need of leadership and management. 

What does this mean for the deadweight in the city. Let’s start with Michaela Boyer. 

 Is she no longer trying to get promoted? Is she leaving the city? Will she be able to survive under the careful eye of a managing director? Will she reduce her hours to 1 day every 6 months instead of the current 1 day per quarter?

The cabinet directors must be also shaking in their boots. They are finally going to have someone to hold them responsible for their lackluster and weak leadership.

 I am sure Vicky Kistler is currently researching retirement options because she can no longer pull the wool over her boss’s eyes. She will need to provide results and will be answering a seasoned community & economic development professional. 

Bina Patel will finally have to provide answers and not “I will have to get back to you on that.” 

Mark Shahda will have to be a present leader during snow clean-up operations. 

Freddy Agusto may just have to do an investigation to find out who in his department should be accountable for a traffic violation/” error in judgement.” It is a perfect opportunity to hold 

Chief Roca accountable for the noise and dirtbikes that plague the city.  

The job description passes the city management from the mayor to the new Managing Director. The notice on the agenda indicated that the salary will be $131,977. The mayor makes $95,000 per year.

Last comment: For what are we paying the mayor?