Spoiler Alert

Little Spoiler coming up.  

Abe's Elves made several gifts for the Allentown Cabinet members. For a the hard work they do, and for always putting the citizens ahead of themselves and their salaries. Hence, Tis the season for giving. 

However, I Honest Abe am having some trouble figuring out what gifts should go to who.  I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Here is a few gifts I have so far

 

I don't even know what this is???

I need to make sure I can get them out in time.  

Please leave some gift ideas in the comments. I can try to get the Elves to make them, and then I can post a photo of them for all to see. But don't say who you think they should go too.  I want everyone to decide.

Also, I have some Christmas Carols from Abe's Greatest Hits going to be released for the 1st time ever. 

Shelter Shuffles, No Solution in Sight

A Tale of Two Priorities in Allentown

Allentown, Pennsylvania, is at a crossroads. On one hand, the city is looking to invest heavily in infrastructure, including plans for new fire stations designed by Alloy5, a Bethlehem-based architecture firm with project management by Butz Construction. Imagine that. 

I guess JB Reilly cannot soak up all of the city's taxpayer funds and is throwing a few breadcrumbs at Butz. On the other hand, the city’s homeless population is being displaced from encampments with little to no long-term solutions in place. The mayor has been tone deaf in his approach to handling the homeless in our city. In one breath he says that he is looking to support the homeless, but my sources tell me secretly he has waged his own war against the homeless because he has no sympathy for their situation at all. He wants them off the streets and out of Allentown.

Alloy5 was contracted to design a new fire station with budgets reaching in excess of sixty million dollars. The city engaged Alloy5 to search for a viable location for the new fire station.

They explored nine 9 potential locations for the new fire station and homed in a parking lot on Fourth and Turner streets owned by Lehigh County. 

This project is being framed as essential for public safety and modernization, ensuring firefighters have state-of-the-art facilities to serve the community. Uhm ok. My post today does not focus on the vanity reasons that the Fire Administration and the Mayor are looking to have a new station. The lies around the condition of central fire and the need for a new structure vice complete renovation will surely show up in a separate future post if this building ever becomes a reality. There is no use spending time on a dream.

 

The Homeless Crisis

Meanwhile, homeless encampments along Jordan Creek have been repeatedly cleared by city crews, often during bitterly cold weather. Mayor Matt Tuerk acknowledged that about twenty residents living in floodplain encampments will be forced out, but efforts to establish a “safe camping” site for displaced individuals have stalled.

Advocates argue that the city’s search for a safe site was half-hearted, with officials ultimately declaring such a solution “not feasible.”  

The juxtaposition is stark: millions of taxpayer dollars are being allocated to fire station construction while homeless residents are left without shelter or support. 

The Commission on Homelessness exists to advise the mayor and council, but its recommendations have not translated into meaningful action. Clearing camps without providing alternatives has left many residents vulnerable, especially during winter months.

Mayor Tuerk and his administration spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a study for a "Life, Health and Wellness" center and a $10 million parking deck but continues to ignore the homeless issue because his actions and attention to this matter show that the "homeless just don't matter".  

Public safety is undeniably important, but so is human dignity. Fire stations protect property and lives, but ignoring the plight of the homeless undermines the very fabric of community safety. When taxpayer dollars are spent on infrastructure while basic humanitarian needs are neglected, residents are right to question the city’s priorities.

Mardi Gras anyone?

I dont even know half of what was going on at the council budget meeting tonight. Clearly the administration is still rattled by the release of the Curtis files and are on edge. What else could be the explanation for this evenings rambling budget meeting?

I watched Bina Patel finance director attempt to justify Tuerks new tax proposal. So I can sum it up real easy or try to explain it from what I interpreted. Basically, she said lets borrow from the Storm waste fund and pay it back over 5 years. Then mentioned how people who aren't on fixed incomes will pay more vs those on fixed incomes. Thats fair to those that work.

At one point she rambled for like 10min trying to explain whatever, or what I think was an attempt to confuse people. She just wouldnt shut up, kept going and going and going.

I dont think anyone bought her nonsense. Zucal pointed out the borrowed money will have to be paid back. So that will be on the taxpayers, just in the future. she kept saying that she is here to deliver real clear information so the council makes an informed decision. I will bet 3.96% of my christmas bonus that the entire Dias had no clue what the administration was trying to sell.

Oddly, the part-time rip off background positions werent even brought up. They were on the agenda. Did Tuerk realize that would never pass? Do yourself a favor and read the job description. If it doesnt look like those two APD detectives wrote the requirements, I should be given the job. What a joke by all involved.  Thinking they could pull this off.  

What do those two detectives have that the mayor would even attempt to create such an asinine job? $72hr part time. That is such an embarrassment. Then ask for a 4% tax increase, in which 8% of the generated money would go towards their salaries.    

I understand HR has been failing the city for years, but why does it seem they are getting more positions and outsourcing their work? The PT investigators would take on background checks, investigations and interviews. Inherent HR Manager jobs. Something is not right here. Now they outsourced FMLA and are getting a Deputy Director?!? It seems HR is getting a paycheck with little responsibility.

More importantly where was Matt Tuerk? Word is he is in New Orleans on the city's dime.

How many trips has he taken this year. Seems he is a PT mayor, just like his entire 5th floor.  

I can only imagine what type of witchcraft he's getting into there. Probably placing a hex on all who challenge him. I wonder if he is purchasing an Abraham Lincoln VooDoo doll?  

Here is the kit Tuerk bought

Good news though, I have God on my side and in my heart.

Its time to Release the files

Will the tax payers finally get the truth?

Will this report show that the Mayor has been lying to us all along and was scared to release to the report? I personally do not care who was interviewed. I commend those who were brave enough to stand up. I only care about what they had to say. And I will think it is the Truth. Will people lose their jobs after this is released? Better not, just because they spoke to Curtis. That would result in big lawsuits, since the mayor was quoted back on

5-Oct-2023 in a Morning Call Article:

"We in the administration, particularly in the mayor’s office, welcome an investigation. I think what you’re going to find might not be what some folks are hoping to find,” Tuerk said. “You’re going to find an organization dedicated to fostering an environment of care and respect and inclusion and support in the city of Allentown.”

Is that so big boy? Well your foot might get shoved in your mouth? I will do a Gentlemans bet with Molivinsky (since he is more of a gentleman than me 😀) if he will take me on.  I bet this report will be damaging and could result in more lawsuits. The mayor and his staff are becoming huge liabilities for this city at this point.

Wfmz Jaccii Farris stated the Curtis report she has is not the complete report. However, she stated dozens of people were interviewed, and it appears she didnt have time to dig into this. I sense now that she can talk about the report its only a matter if time until the Truth comes out.

One can only speculate the magnitude of people interviewed.  What people have to say about working for the mayor or the city.  How people really get treated. The corruption and outright disrespect towards employees. The lies, unethical decision making, and racism that somehow still exists in 2025.  I hope I am wrong, but I am not.  Lets be honest, Allentown is the third biggest city in the state and the Mayor is going to give that stupid ass quote.

Of course there is going to be problems.  The correct response should have been,  "Allentown promotes the best in its employees. We strive to help everyone, and treat everyone with respect. Unfortunately, we are still not 100% clear of ridding all discrimination, harassment or in some cases a hostile work environment.   My goal is to try and get us to 100%."  Now thats an honest answer, that people will respect. 

 Its not okay to have a shitty place to work at,

however it is okay to admit that everything isnt perfect but you are trying to get there.  Remember Allentown employs like 600 people or something.  Does anyone honestly think everyone is going to get treated fairly? Highly unlikely. Though it is wrong things like this still happen.

This report has rumored to have 90 plus interviews in it. Thats a good sample of people.  Mayor I can only imagine how much you are pissing people off trying to say everything is great.  Also, dont think that people who you think are your friends aren't cheering this report is finally coming out.

Tax me baby... one more time

Today, I consulted my magical sorcerer's crystal ball to find out what predictions might happen this week. Here is what she said. The ball is female (you know one of the two genders), just so everyone knows. Her name is Purge.

 

Mayor Tuerk is actively pursuing his tax increase as anticipated. He proposes a $25 trash bill reduction for residents alongside a 4% tax increase.  This wont pass.

 

Kindly take note of the following;

 

In order to reduce expenses related to waste management, it will be necessary to temporarily allocate funds from another account, with a commitment to reimburse the borrowed amount. What does this mean? Matt Tuerk is kicking the literal trashcan down the road. When all is said and done, the taxpayer will have a tax increase this year and the requirement to repay the deferred $25 for 2026/7. The taxpayers will end up paying 4% and paying the trash increase that is set aside this year. These increases are without Matt Tuerk taking a single look at his overinflated budget for any cost cuts. 

Remember his claims in 2022 and 2023 that previous Mayor’s didn’t know how to do a budget and he was going to focus on a zero-based budget approach? What happened? He mainly promotes loyalists, creates unnecessary positions, and uses taxpayer funds to support unions and non-profits for votes. Recall the nice billboard in Allentown paid for by the Allentown fire union? Quid-pro-quo’ish? Also weird the firefighters while working are always standing outside the polls promoting Tuerk.

 

NEXT YEAR

That $25 will be covered by the citizens plus the increase that is contractual. This isn’t a deal at all. This is the mayor trying to play a carnival shell game with our money. The council needs to sit up and pay attention to the games this man is playing. He already claims that you are asinine and embarrassing to work with, so much so that he can’t sit in the room with you. He is a classic little boy who has a temper-tantrum because he doesn’t get his way. He shows his true self each time he opens his mouth and speaks.   

So, why is he fighting so hard for 4% Increase? He just did what Council ordered him to do—“find money in the budget”. I am sure it is because this is only a temporary solution and will raise our trash back up the money it was reduced in 2026 plus the contractual obligation. This is merely a mind game to those on council.  

 

 

I’m willing to bet the mayor has approached several council members saying, "what do you want in exchange for a ‘yes’ vote?" If this is true, tisk tisk, that would be highly illegal. Desperate times equal desperate measures, I guess.  

 

It would be absurd for the council to vote yes on this; however, Tuerk has already called the council asinine. Tuerk is overspending and disregarding the city's financial health. Mr. Mayor, I am aware that you are reading this. Stop spending. No Drop pensions, no $72/hr part time positions, no more carnival games with our money!  

Councilmembers should remain authentic in both their actions and votes. Do not feed this little man's ego. He's convinced everyone likes him and tries to win them over by giving things away.

Before I sign off ---

Congratulations to Allentown School District on achieving the lowest standardized test scores in Lehigh County! 484th of 499. So now Allentown School District and the City Government are failing our children and robbing their future.

STAY TUNED FOR CURTIS REPORT!!!!! EITHER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW!!!

Some memes were AI generated and did not actually take place.  Well, they probably did, but for the purposes of this blog they didnt. For Entertainment and stupidity purposes.

"Oops, She Candida'd Again!"

 

Look at this post from our most out of touch and delusional City Council member, Candida Affa. The post was taken down from Lehigh Valley Live comments section faster than lightning, but not faster than my loyal followers could screen capture the post.

Once again, Candida has taken to social media to attack the very person she says she never attacked. Ms. Affa- do you have a lawyer guiding you? I feel you don't because you're a loose cannon and an attorney nightmare. Your outbursts lately are out of control and say THE MOST about who you really are.

This just continues to prove what I have been saying about City Hall. The climate there is one of tyranny, disrespect, and retaliation. How can the city possibly get better when the Mayor and Council are acting like high school mean girls?

No wonder the Curtis investigation is buried -- it would surely prove too much.  

#censureAffa

#removeAffa

#FireTuerk

Still Sales out there

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Its about giving the truth that matters.

Courtesy of a reader

So I went out shopping yesterday. I had to fight off some people for parking spaces. No biggie. 

But I found some really great sales for Allentonians. 

First, at Walmart I found my first deal. Trash bags reg $9.99 for 20. Now $6.99. Stock up so you can afford the trash increase.

Next I went to Dicks and found this killer deal on Tents for Allentown residents only Reg $24.99. Now $38.46!!!! What a deal. They come with a motion detector so when Tuerks bulldozers come you get a heads up to run.

Target was after that. You gotta get a bike now with all the bike lanes going in. Just be careful not to get hit. Seems like alot of people are getting hit by cars in Allentown. Cant wait for 2030 to come when their will be no fatal accidents in the city thanks to the mayors plan. So Target went all out on this Black Friday on bikes. I saw some 10 speeds reg $299.00. Now $179.99. If you choose to buy one without a seat its $169.99.

While sitting in traffic I got an email from Uber. They were offering free Mach E Uber rides for the 1st 500 riders. Only disclaimer was you have to be getting a ride out of the City of Allentown.   

I did stop at Starbucks to get a double grande chi latte with cinnamon and 2 sugars. Stirred 3x. Not 4x or I would have thrown it away.  The chief of coffee was very professional.   She seemed to know what she was doing.  I felt her skills though were limited to just making coffee.  No photos of her sorry.  

I got to Bjs wholesale around 3pm and wouldn't you guess who was there? Not Santa. But Pee Wee Herman. He was signing autographs and offering birthday appearances for 4 years for only $69.99. I booked him.

Lastly, I hit up a small business record and cd store. They had a 5 for $10 special on cds. I got all remixes Billy Joels Allentown (move to Bethlehem), Spice girls-Wannabe (MT), Elvis Presley's-In the Ghetto (aka Allentown), Ed Sheeran's- Homeless (approx 250 people) and my favorite Right-to-know (Curtis Files) by Oingo Boingo.

It was a great day!!

So many files not enough matches

Once again someone is suing the city of Allentown.

Her name is Tawanna Whitehead Allentown deputy city clerk.

Her suit is based around Councilwoman Candita Affa allegedly making racist comments towards Ms. Whitehead. Mind you Affa has gone off on people at council and recently called a citizen a "pussy" and I dont mean cat at the last meeting. Is there really a need for the city to continue to waste our tax dollars to fight this case? There is evidence everywhere that shows Affa does not have much of a filter.

Ms. Whitehead's attorneys requested that the Scott Curtis investigation as well as the overpriced Duane Morris investigation be handed over. Their reluctance has your humble blogger wondering why they would fight this release. The Mayor himself stated publicly that he supports the investigation and wants to be cooperative and transparent with the investigations. The actions by his administration and legal office (probably outsourced since legal just collects paychecks) are contrary to that transparency promise. 

What is Matt Tuerk afraid of? That it will actually show that he is a calculated predator who takes down anyone in his way?

The city has refused to make public either report citing there is minimal or isolated discrimination, harassment, or hostile work environments within the city.

Big pause

Im done laughing now.

Then why won't Tuerk make the files public? The city tax payers paid for it. Over $400 000 and nothing to show for. 

Hand it over.  I am sure they are stored in a secret vault, being treated like the Epstein files.

 I cant wait to post the truth about whats really going on. The dirt the people who were interviewed. I question how much longer the city can continue this "attorney client privilege" with any public records. Also, didn't the Mayor say that Scott Curtis isn't an attorney? So why hold up the release of a city council sanctioned investigation? Oh the memes I can make.

Tuerk Thanksgiving morning

Its only a matter of time until a judge orders the investigations to be released. Then uh oh. Times up. More lawsuits will result.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Hopefully, no one chokes on the wish bone.

EastSide, for better or worse??

So Allentown started its new Eastside school building. Guess who is behind it all? J.B Reilly. Anyone surprised? Pat Browne facilitated the initial sale of the property with J.B and the city.  Those two buddies have been magically involved in big deals for years.  J.B. getting rich, not paying taxes on buildings.  Thanks to the NIZ. I wont harp on J.B too hard because maybe all his business endeavors are legit and his love for rebuilding Allentown isnt just about the money.  It does seem very suspect tho, he and Browne are always involved in huge things.

Anyways,

School officials are so ecstatic to have a new elementary and middle school facility.   

Here comes the quotes

“Today marks an extraordinary moment in the Allentown School District,” Superintendent Carol Birks said. 

“This milestone represents the culmination of decades of hopes and dreams for the East Side of Allentown,” she said.

Um I used to live over there. Not once was it my hope or dream to have all this construction done. Let alone all the woods being destroyed, and the traffic this will cause.  

The state hospital was a great building in its day. It gave a place to treat the mentally ill. When they closed it, and basically pointed all the patients towards center city. It was like a zombie apocalypse on Hanover Ave.

The Allentown K-8 Academy will suit roughly 1200 students.

“This is one of the most substantial educational investments in the East Side of Allentown in decades."

State Sen. Nick Miller

Nick, I believe the Executive Charter school is doing very well. I guess its an investment, since the kids dont start skipping school and dropping out until 9th grade. 

“We want our students to do more than memorize facts. We want them to learn how to think critically, create boldly and innovate fearlessly. This new school will be the engine that drives that transformation.”

Andrene Brown Nowell, school board president

Your very hopeful Ms. Nowell. Arent all schools supposed to promote critical thinking and creativity? Thats like the basics of school. 

42% of students got that problem wrong btw.  Weird.

“Today, we break ground on a building,” Brown-Nowell said. “Tomorrow, we will begin the work of breaking new ground on education.”

What's this breaking ground  going to cost tax papayers. I liked the ground the way it was when it didnt cost me anything.

As we know

J.B Reilly, bought the 195-acre site for about $5.5 million. Then he robbed the school district when he sold them 16.7 acres for 15million. 

City Center President J.B. Reilly said the school will “anchor” the new development and be “truly transformative” for the East Side.  Blah blah J.B. Btw who the hell goes by Initials for their name anymore? Its so lame. Like me saying I'm H.A.  

Reilly said the school "is going to kick off a very meaningful community-based project,” which will also bring health care, retail and retail spaces — and more than 1,000 housing units.

What I BELIEVE  he meant to say was, I'm going to get richer off of the school district and residents of the East Side. You could have easily donated that land for free to ASD and made back your 5.5 million on other projects there.

I feel like these school officials believe they just discovered water. This school will be no different than other schools. It will just be new. Why hasnt anyone stated the tax burden this will cost?  The fact that with all this building will probably require more emergency services.  I understand J.B wanting to build things,  great,  but how will this affect the East Side?