Tonight we witnessed the brains of the city show that even a Rosetta Stone on how to run a city would offer zero help.
Allentown’s budget process is a cautionary tale of dysfunction, almost leaving the city without an approved spending plan for 2026. If anything is glaringly obvious it is that this year’s flawed process has exposed deep flaws in governance.
Mr. Binder brought the only brain (not giving him that much credit) to tonight’s meeting and gave a statement about how the failure to pass the 2026 budget at the hands of Tuerk, Napoli, Affa, Zucal, Mota, Gerlach, and Santos under the direction of then President Hendricks led to this failure.
Binder and Napoli mentioned that the inability to pass the budget by 12/31/2025 is a possible violation of state law so they were put in a precarious and difficult position to vote yes. Cause that seems ethical.
I am sorry but didn’t our crooked mayor say on Jan 6th: "It doesn't say, or else, alright? There's no, there's nothing in the Home Rule Charter that says what happens if Council fails to adopt a budget”. So if the mayor says there are no penalties for not passing a budget, why did Council cave on this budget? Simple, when the King Rat lays out the cheese, the little rats must eat. Its all a joke.
I agreed with the need for council to cleanup the rules, regulations, and procedures so that the mayor is kept with controlled boundaries. Since he doesnt believe in following rules, since he is above them.
The mayor got everything he wanted originally tonight, with the exception of his promotion for his Asst. I am sure that this new council didn’t really have a clue about what they were actually voting for this evening. You could read the faces on the Dias and clearly everyone was confused. I mean Mr. Hanlon "what do we do?" Its like a bunch of toddlers looking around for the teacher to tell them their assignment. Doesn't anyone in this city know anything?
Allentown has officially become the poster child for how not to run a city. The 2026 budget fiasco isn’t just a minor hiccup—it’s a full-blown embarrassment that exposes the incompetence and dysfunction at the heart of City Hall. I wouldn't sit up on that Die-ass for a million dollars.
I dont think anyone from the public was even there. No one cares anymore. People have given up on this city. Not even the Mayor was there. You wanna know why? Because he knew there wasnt going to be a discussion on the budget because he secured the 4 votes ahead of time.
Allentown’s leaders have failed. Again, as always, as expected. Period. They’ve turned the budget process into a circus, and the people of this city are the clowns forced to watch and PAY for this show. If this is what passes for governance, then Allentown deserves better—much better.
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34 comments:
All this is just a continuation of what has passed for city government for the past two decades. You are correct, residents have learned over time the futility of speaking truth to power in the queen city. One might as well address a cow chewing cud, the intellect is on a similar par. Apathy has become the common currently of the City’s voters, why bother to care when no one cares what you think. It's been so bad, good people won't run for city offices. They don't want to be associated with that sh*t show.If you doubt my words just attend any city council, or ASD meeting. One might even go to a planning commission or zoning board meeting if you want to see a real dog and pony show. It's a city a stupidity and rubber stamping, it has become the joke of the valley. A place to avoid. I find no joy in writing this, I spent countless hours in front of everyone of these boards all for naught. It's not a good time to move but when the time is right we will leave our lovely historic home and the beleaugered West Park community for a saner place to live. There's only so much even the tolerant can tolerate.
This mayor is a joke
Yep and Pungo and Binder are too.
The people voted for these three clowns. Binder, Pungo and Tuerk. Thank you Mota, Natalie and Ce Ce for voting for what the people wanted. People need to start a savings account for next year's 4% tax increase and the Department Directors 9% raises.
Sit on the die-ass for a million in pay offs and in kind gifts is a low figure TRUTH. Them anticipated taxes taken in are just one way of filling pockets for swayed votes due to threats of violence with the gift that keeps giving in allentown.
It’s a shame that not one of seven people can introduce amendment to cut the waste in this budget, comm on !!! Non bargaining salaries should be first!! And what happened to mayors ZERO BALANCE BUDGET, remember this was his first term speech when he took office. Funny we don’t see anything about this!! He needs to stop making videos and cutting ribbons and watch how departments are spending money !! But here again he has no clue relying on his high paying cabinet to guide him!!
What a disappointment in Pungo and Binder. Violation of state law my ass, no one gave a shit for the past 13 days about no budget. Instead it was happily pushed to the new members who are in Tuerk's pocket. Shame on them.
Affa continues to sit on the dias rolling her eyes and muttering under her breath even when no public comment is happening. She needs to be called out for it. Funny how she wants the rules to apply to everyone else, but she can't seem to follow them.
Tuerk already has said he will try to push through the job reclassifications with the new council. Could come faster than you think.
I love how Binder is a Legislative genius already. LMAO. Let's see how that works out.
Can't wait to see how that secretary's lawsuit works out against her. The city will settle so we don't hear the true story. Taxpayers lose again.
He also said he was going to have housing for all the unsheltered. How has that worked out?
I think with Pungo and Binder as bona fide rubber stampers, Tuerk now has a solid 4 member voting block to give him anything he wants.
Yes he does!
The best was when Napoli asked the Clerk "What do we do here". He clearly showed he has no clue and definitely should not be the President. The city will be done after 2026. Glad I left the city when I did. Good luck folks!
Hi. I was at the meeting last night. There were maybe 6 or 7 residents there. Unless the city residents starts "showing up" nothing will change. Council members will continue to only speak to the few in their circle and forget that 127k other people live in the city.
I wish we'd get back to calling it the Queen city instead of all these stupid slogans Tuerk keeps coming up with.
I feel it is dangerous to jump to any conclusion that Binder and Pungo are embarrassments that will rubber stamp the mayor’s agenda. This was the first meeting and they were left to cleanup from the failure of Hendricks’ poor leadership skills. It was alluded to by Binder that it is unfortunate that the new council was put in a position where they had no choice.
I am optimistic that Binder and Pungo will be a moral and ethical voice this year and will not let a situation like this occur again. Lord knows the Allentown city government needs an infusion of morals and ethics. Hopefully that means clean and decisive legislation to keep the mayor in check and limit his craziness.
We were put in this situation because of Hendricks and his wanting to cater to the mayor so his son was protected.
Let’s give them both the opportunity to prove exactly who they are…and call them out if they rubber stamp
In a city of pessimists (who can blame them???)...we've finally got an optimist who wants us to give Binder and Pungo the benefit of the doubt. More power to you...I'll be shocked if either of them gets to be independent on the big/important issues that matter to the Mayor.
Affa is a disgrace to this city and should be removed from council.
11:18 Go ahead and be optomistic. Positive thinking a good when applied to one's own life but should never be applied when dealing with entities that fail routinely. I know for sure Jeremy is tied securely to Teurk through his wife Sherrie Binder who is executive director of Ripple Communities. Teurk has done lots of favors for her/Ripple so we all know what that means. It's pay back time. Anyway,Jeremy is a huge, stary eye lib who likely believes taxes must be raised so good things can be done with the additional bucks. The other guy is is young, also a stary eyed lib so he's also going to be one of Matt's boys. Not much room for optimism when you add up the facts.
AMEN to that!
Tureky should be deported by ice because he has infected the area with illegal criminals that crossed the border.
We need to call ICE and have him deported to back to Cuba
Mierda en tu boca burro!
Tureky city owned electric mustang is parked in the fire hydrant yellow zone tonight, personal decision no one is above the law? I can provide time dated pictures as proof of many times for the allentown parking authority to add up the unpaid parking tickets of the past than there fee paid to the city could be a wash! This tureky is putting his neighbors in risk of life on the regular.
I say send the pics to Abe and he should post them.
Very good, Matt Tuerk. I see your Spanish vocabulary is slowly improving. Keep practicing and one day you may be convincing.
Yes! Send them. He is a public official using public property while violating the city laws he is entrusted to uphold and protect.
This is very hard to watch. I just wonder why can’t anyone hold these mayors accountable? There’s no reason as to why Tuerk gets to walk around violating laws, policies, regulations etc. and no one does anything about it. The FBI a whole joke all help people get away with corruption.. THIS IS AMERICA … I PRAY MR. Trump COMES TO ALLENTOWN, PA
Little Scooter you WON'T be missed as evidenced by your last election results; DEAD LAST!
If the Orange Turd shows up again in Allentown it's a relief to know the resistance will be staunch led by Matt Tuerk , id like to see a naked bicycle ride with Matty at the front that way all his low energy right wing detractors can gawk at his impressive manhood and know without a doubt he speaks softly but carries a BIG STICK!
Matty would be smacked down like the little bitch he is by Trump and ICE. Your obsession with his manhood is disturbing so either you’re one of his gay lovers or Matt himself.
We know you’re not his beard wife, she likes tacos and Matty is insecure about her overeating of tacos.
WTF is going on here ABE we have someone talking about tureky like there is a set there than the bearded fat lady that eats tacos?
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