If you ever needed proof that Allentown’s homelessness strategy is basically a rotating scavenger hunt designed by people who don’t care about the homeless, behold the City Council and Mayor’s eviction saga.
Tuerk is in California this week at another “conference” according to a post on Facebook. ON THE TAX PAYERS MONEY. PLEASE TRY AND PUSH THE REMOVAL OF TERM LIMITS. #yourdonein3yearsorless
I like the end "nice city mayor." I hardly think any visiting mayors would say the same. Curious but why is his left hand doing a reverse pepper grinder??? Tattoo was probably free if you give a happy ending. I'll be here all weeek lmao
Anyways
The only standard with this mayor is that he will be out of town on a business trip or conference when a crisis happens in Allentown. Why do we even have a mayor in this city? I find it convenient that our self-described loser “Punk Rock Mayor” is in California during Coachella?
The controller better pay closer attention to his travel reimbursements. Coachella tickets are not an authorized expense.
People have lived peacefully by the waterway for years, which in Allentown time is basically since the earth’s crust hardened. Suddenly in the last few months and rather shockingly the city has discovered the area is a “high flood risk.”
Amazing how the flood risk only becomes life‑threatening the moment someone decides it’s time to print a notice and slap it on a retaining wall?
The latest evacuation has residents ordered to uproot their lives in 10 days. We have been waiting for answers from the administration and Finance Director related to the budget for 8 months, but timelines only matter when Pee Wee decides to attack his enemies.
Oh! and the YMCA shelter? Closing Wednesday.
Perfect timing.
It’s like the city looked at the calendar and said, “What if we shut down the only warm beds and evict people at the same time? Efficiency!”
Where are the people supposed to go? The city’s answer basically translates to “Not our problem, but please remove all personal items so we don’t have to pretend we didn’t throw them in a dump truck.”
The notice even warns that anything left behind will be “considered abandoned.”
Right — because the real tragedy here would be a tent left unattended, not the fact that people are being shuffled around like human pushpins on a corkboard.
Residents say they’ll likely move together to another patch of land until they’re evicted again.
In Allentown, homelessness isn’t a crisis — it’s an American Gladiator obstacle course the city keeps expanding…all because the Mayor has moved his target to the homeless population. That should be a very welcome relief to the city staff.
Cece has claimed that there are resolutions, proposals, and calls for emergency action floating around — they sound great on paper and on social media, but other than talk about action, what has Council done but throw money at the situation? This is not an attack on Cece – I know her roadblocks to correcting the situation are put up by the people on the dais and mayor himself. They have had months to put a plan in place. A plan and a response should have existed before the eviction notices were taped up like yard‑sale flyers.
There is some talk of action on the horizon and although I am not a fan of County Executive Siegel, I must applaud him for introducing a declaration of emergency to call attention to the homelessness crisis in the county; time will tell if there is just talk or real action out of the declaration. Matt Tuerk chooses to post notices to vacate and ignore the crisis. We all know that Tuerk will be there at a press conference standing next to Josh when/if the county announces next steps. Tuerk will never miss a media opportunity and an opportunity to hijack someone else’s accomplishment and package it as his own.
But hey — why solve a problem when you can just relocate it every few months and call it “public safety”?
Part 2. Maybe Ill add memes to this section later
Recap of the council meeting:
So I wrote this part before the meeting. I am going to bet council comes up with some grand resolution to help the homeless but it never gets implemented. That they all feel awful for these people and somehow Ripple get money out of this. Somehow they will push the blame somewhere else. Affa will thank Chief Roca for something.
What did we miss tonight?
Bill 29 – Borrowing $5.05million for capital improvement, including a fire station that is being replaced.
Bill 30 – More promotions! An S10 Project Coordinator is now a S14 Project Manager.
“Project Coordinator (s10) with a total budgeted salary of Seventy-Three Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($73,190) is replaced with Project Manager (s14) with a total budgeted salary of Eighty-One Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars ($81,123).”
R57 – Homeless Crisis that Tuerk exacerbated
Kane – Had absolutely no idea what the resolution even said – great start to your time as Managing Director. Publicly stated that he had “glanced at it” but didn’t “read it”. Couldn’t even speak clearly, probably because you are following your boss’s mantra of just not caring. You said that the city administration shares the concerns…yet, the administration has really done nothing but bully and ignore. Don’t believe me? Look to Vicky Kistler and she can tell you about how she has continued to FAIL the homeless. She may be just executing the directives of her corrupt and incompetent leader. Mr.
Kane: You struggle to bullshit like Matt Tuerk does each day and that is a good thing. In fact, it is something that he has mastered. UPDATE: Found out later he lost his cell phone at the homeless encampment.
Gerlach – Thank you for being a champion for the homeless but where have you been pushing the administration to keep the funds from being “tied up in a legal process”? It is great to be vocal from time to time, especially when you are trying to get elected to PA House, but I suggest you follow through in the future. If you are to be elected to the PA House, you realize that you can’t wait for someone to do something. You didn’t know the camp was there – but you knew the actions that the Council committed to were stalled.
Affa – Thank you for bringing light to the fact that this administration does not communicate with the council. This government is broken and Ms. Affa should be applauded for bringing attention to the dysfunction. She asked “why?” because Mayor Tuerk, Vicky Kistler and the administration DO NOT like homeless.
VP Dr. Mota – “It is inhumane!” Amen. She underscored the broken communication between the administration and the council.
Pungo – It is unfortunate that we have to have another issue to address the broken communication. The council and administration need to act. Request the administration push the sweep.
Binder – Thanked Kane for being there – which is more than Matt Tuerk typically does. Asked Kane to explain what happened. Kane mentioned that the administration supports everything in the bill. Do they? They did nothing but hold up the money and action. Maybe he should ask the Civic Innovations Manager, Michaela Boyer, to tackle this problem? Mr. Kane claimed the city did not know and the Public Works and Police Department unilaterally acted without the administration knowing? Seriously? Sounds like a blame game to keep the administration’s hands clean. More BULLSHIT! Tuerk and the Administration directed last time for the city to handle the homeless issue. They were acting based on your directions. Binder was the hero tonight! “Get the mayor on the phone….he can make the decisions” Kane was deflective and afraid to call Tuerk at Coachella.
Napoli - Didn’t even know if they had the right document.
Hanlon – looked to be downloading music from Apple iTunes the entire time.
This was outright sad. I feel for these people. I think Kane is now a fraud. You had your chance, and came up way short. Hey I lost my phone too. I was hiking in truth canyon over the weekend.
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33 comments:
IMPEACH MATT TUERK!!
In the interim, call him at his office: 610-437-7547; send an email: matt.tuerk@allentownpa.gov; show up at office: 435 Hamilton Street; Call his Taxpayer provided cell: 610-653-3064.
Don't call Frank because he lost his cellphone 48 hours into his employment.
This was the biggest disgrace yet. Kane was awful. He is clueless. And where was Tuerk? Coward couldnt show up. Oh hes at a conference. Conference of loser mayors
Council needs to vote no confidence. Again.
Kane is a perfect representation of the Matt Tuerk administration. Low quality, high salary, zero results or awareness. He claims that they had meetings recently but they never thought to look at the legislation? Lies.
Where was the CED Director? Seems she hid in the back so no one noticed her. Any other council she is front and center for all to see. Probably best she didn’t speak because it is all ugly word vomit anyway.
The Public Works Director? The man seems to have more power in the city than Matt Tuerk. He just decided last week to evict these people? Lies.
Allentown is an absolute disaster.
Matt Tuerk is in Riverside California getting tattoos and prancing instead of dealing with issues. We need a present mayor, not a globetrotting fool like we currently have.
Didnt Tuerk say that he will always be in charge because of modern technology. But Kane saying he was, but wasnt or isnt. But no one could call him. Bullshit
Can they do a vote of no confidence on themselves and the mayor? Either way it is just symbolic—we need action to get these fools out of office.
Time for action, NOT meaningless paperwork!
We need an audit on the mayors travel expenses? Why is he always on a business trip? Take his car away since he don’t need it!
What I witnessed tonight while in that room is embarrassing. We have a government that doesn’t prepare or know what they are voting for or against. It was mentioned that Tuerk should be impeached. Although it was retracted I don’t disagree with the idea. He is working against the city or he is not in the city. Both are reasons he should be removed from office.
Frank Kane lost his phone today and he and Boyer are the only staff that have his number. She is probably at Coachella with him or asleep.
Allentown city government in a state of chaos and lunacy? What's new? Again, these are the voters chosen ones. Picked by the 12 percent who bother or are dragged to the polls for local elections. This is what happens after decades of one party rule, average citizens stop caring because they have learn their government doesn't care what they want.
CeCe is such a champion for the homeless. She even brings them teenage boys for entertainment. I can’t wait till she finally allows them to move into our parks. Why bring the children to the homeless, when you can bring the homeless to the children?! Honestly though, let her go be one crazy voice out of 200. As terrible as she is, at least she has views and causes she believes in. Ana seems like a useful idiot.
I view homelessness as a regional problem, so why should Allentown be stuck paying for everything? I wouldn't spend a dime on homelessness unless and until Upper Macungie, South Whitehall, Upper Saucon etc... pitch in. Now that these suburban enclaves are voting in all Democrats to Lehigh County government and their Supervisors and School Boards, its a perfect time to seek payments from them for their fair share of the costs to address the regional homelessness problem. They don't need to even need to see a homeless person, just send Allentown an annual check.
Tuerk is laughing his ass off as the residents in Allentown pay him nearly $100,000 a year with full benefits, pension, swanky car and dozens of travel junkets. As a City resident and Democrat from a working class background, It's very embarrassing to me. I wish he could be recalled and replaced by a competent, professional manager that would drive their own car and manage the city properly without expensive junkets.
I absolutely agree that this homeless issue shouldn’t just be on Allentown, however this issue right now is in the city and this needs to be addressed. Tuerk is quick to spend money to remove them instead of figuring out a solution with the surrounding townships and cities. I do blame council and the administration for bringing unnecessary attention to this issue by acting so inhumanely. As someone said last night “they don’t bother anyone”. Instead of bullying people they should’ve been working with community leaders and nonprofit organizations towards the solution.
I am rather disappointed in the entire council mostly because they aren’t holding this mayor accountable or to a standard. Instead, they pass feel good legislation with no intent of it being enacted by the administration. Then a few months later, they act like they are shocked and appalled by the actions of the mayor. This man has done this over and over again in every area of his job. He is bad for Allentown. He is bad for the Lehigh Valley. He should be removed from office.
Bethlehem’s Main Street was voted “Best Main Street in America”. Allentown didn’t lose to Bethlehem, it just never “showed up” to the competition.
At least we can look next door and see a functional city, I guess. Our city leaders are embarrassing and simply bottom of the barrel. They continue to embarrass us with every decision they make.
Kane is not the right spokesperson for Allentown. He gives off major slime-ball vibes. While he fits perfectly in the mayor’s suite, he does not fit in Allentown leadership. Frank is going to help Matt tank the city.
Remember that he was demoted at his LVEDC job and stayed there because he has no real skills. He has been a wart on the skin of any place he has landed. We are just so lucky to have him here in Allentown.
Tuerk social media rant loading ……….
Allentown can find money for consultants, PR campaigns, and pet projects, but when it comes to human beings sleeping by the Little Lehigh, suddenly the budget is a fragile, delicate creature that must be protected at all costs. Santo apologized over and over again for the mayor's absence. The reality is that the mayor employs people to speak on his behalf when he is on a self-promotion tour around the country.
Vicky Kistler - silent. Mark Shahda - silent. Roca - absent. Agosto - absent. Kane - clueless. It seems to me that no one "showed up" for Allentown.
Kane is the fall guy. Nothing more. It's his "second day on the job" and Tuerk sets him up for failure, the same way the previous council set up the current council. Tuerk needs to take a hard look in the "no kings" mirror if he thinks he deserves another term.
He may be a fall guy for Tuerk, but he is certainly not Managing Director material either. He is way in over his head, and it was very obvious as the council unfolded last night that this was yet another bad decision by Matt Tuerk. Matt Tuerk surrounds himself by mediocre individuals.
A Civic Innovation Manager is a leadership position focused on driving community engagement, public communications, and participatory processes within a city government or public sector organization. The role blends public relations, community organizing, and strategic planning to improve how government connects with residents and shapes public policy.
Sounds to me like the mayor's newly promoted CI Manager has already failed but also has some work ahead --- time to make that money
Its not fair to compare Allentown to Bethlehem. BASD is a regional school system that includes a couple of affluent Townships, so there is no need to flee Bethlehem, city residents use the same schools as the suburban residents and they are pretty good public schools. The stand alone ASD is the #1 problem dragging down Allentown. Allentown would be so much better off if ASD was abandoned and all children given a check to attend a charter school, parochial school, private school or other regional public school. The kids might get a better education and City residents would get a much needed property tax break.
Sadly, Tuerk probably doesnt care. Neither do the citizens. Thats why his political career is over after 3 years. Then he can move to California since he is there all the time.
Allentown receives so much money for the homeless headcount from there ngo's covering there real estate scams?
It is fair to compare a city that elects competent city leaders to one that doesn't. Stop making excuses for failure, and doing so anonymously. The city has to many excusers and too few reformers. Be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Allentown residents are getting the management they voted for. When your city population and news media is 90% Democrat influenced this dysfunction is what you get, and what you will keep. Look around America, as the same pattern plays out in other municipalities.
Damm what’s so hard !!! Hire people with brains. It’s amazing that no one is accountable for anything!!! Then they ask for raises to boot ! What ever happened to sticking with budget on salaries, seems everyone in management needs more more but we get the same result.
Biggest bullshit job ever created. If the city seeks civic engagement they might start by actually listening to the very valid complaints and concerns of the residents. Stop the dog and pony shows, and acknowledge the obvious fact that the quality of life is the issue. The mayor will never touch these.
I had to watch the council meeting after reading this post. That was a masterclass in how not to run government. Napoli had no control over the meeting and even worse he had no idea what was going on. Maybe he should actively start familiarizing himself with the items on the agenda before 6:40pm? Just a thought.
today is the "deadline" for the mayor to sign the legislation. Frank Kane said the mayor will sign no later than Friday. Here we are....has the mayor signed anything? Is he even in Allentown?
Well the dork has until 4pm. But who knows where he is. Must not be any photo ops today or a flag raising.
Abe I see the police moved from their 10th St. station. Do you know where they went? I dont hear them playing with their sirens at shift change anymore.
Don't expect any communication from Pee Wee. This is the last weekend of Coachella so Allentown is the farthest thing from your “Punk” Rock mayor’s mind. He will only be signing a proclamation to make today “Justin Bieber Day” in Allentown.
Moved from 10th St? I thought the city had an agreement with the new owner (JB Reilly and Art Museum) to not vacate until the new station at 4th and Hamilton was compelled and the operations were moved to new facilities?
How much will this cost the taxpayers? Yet, we cannot even come to a $0 policy that addresses the homeless and unsheltered.
Oh! Maybe the agreed policy is as on Frank’s lost cellphone?
The homeless camps SHOULD be permanently closed. The YMCA should NOT be a homeless shelter. The homeless should NOT be allowed to sleep in public parks or anywhere outside on private property.
What we have now is incompetence masquerading as compassion.
In a sane society, these people would be identified quickly, removed from residential areas, and sent to REAL treatment facilities (outside of residential areas) for whatever their underlying issue is.
Stop the graft of funding non-profits that only make the problem worse. These non-profits pack public meetings with people interested in getting a government handout, either for themselves or for the organizations that encourage their attendance. Success of any program should only be measured by how much homelessness is REDUCED in the city, not by the number of people these organizations “serve”. Otherwise, the policy (and the organization) is only making the problem worse.
To those who believe that suburban municipalities should be helping foot the bill for Allentown’s self-destructive policies, put down your crack pipe and guess again. Those places don’t encourage homelessness like Allentown does, nor should they be asked to pay for ALLENTOWN making the problem worse..
Allentowns master class will make a person chose a tent over any tenement with in the city limits or boondoken in Walmart because there restrooms are clean.
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