Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election 
Category: Election
A status report on the candidates
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
How’s the candidate pool for the May 18 election shaping up?
It’s early yet.
Candidates have until March 9 to formally file to run in the May 18 primary.
About a month from now.
Plenty of time for others to show up, but candidates do have to allow enough time to collect the proper number of signatures to accompany their filing paperwork.
Gadfly focuses narrowly on the Bethlehem City elective positions, Mayor and City Council.
Here are the slates the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee recently put out:
Mayor
City Council (4 seats)
Bryan Callahan
Grace Crampsie Smith
Hillary Kwiatek
Adam Waldron
Gadfly hasn’t heard anything about Republican candidates.
So, good, we have competition for Mayor. And there’s the further possibility that Councilman Callahan might enter the race (see below).
But four candidates for four Council slots is not good. (Two-term current Councilwoman Negron is not running again.) At the moment, no competition.
In these pages Gadfly has several times asked rhetorically “Where are the Republicans?”
Along that line of thinking, he happened yesterday by chance to come across Nicole Radzievich’s “Why Republican challengers are scarce in Bethlehem, Easton” article from a few years ago.
“Bethlehem, which has had two Republican mayors, and had split councils decades ago, has been run by a Democratic mayor and council the last 20 years,” Gadfly learned, “The last time Republicans ran a full slate of council candidates was 2011, and the last Republican to run for mayor was in 2003.”
Interesting.
More interesting and more indicative of the kind of thinking that demonstrates why Gadfly could never be a politician was the idea that Republicans were actually discouraging candidates in Lehigh Valley cities in order to focus on the suburbs.
Go figure.
Noteworthy, as Gadfly has pointed out several times in these pages, Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance has been looking to recruit candidates for Mayor and Council.
Just yesterday it was, Gadfly believes, that LVGNA identified Councilman Callahan as a candidate to support for Mayor and sought its followers to put some pressure on the Councilman to run.
Ouch.
Gadfly would welcome Councilman Callahan in the mayoral race. Gadfly likes the idea of competition. And even a cursory Bethlehem government watcher knows that the Councilman’s views would clash in many respects with the other two contenders.
But, frankly, if Gadfly were Councilman Callahan, an endorsement from LVGNA is not one that he would particularly welcome.
Gadfly is invigorated by many of the posts on the LVGNA facebook page, but in the post soliciting their followers to nudge Councilman Callahan, LVGNA includes their “coffee cup” brochure that Gadfly found a pretty sorry and low specimen of political argument. Not the kind of political discourse we or the world needs more of at this cultural moment.
Gadfly has had significant problems with some of LVGNA’s positions and style, and he hopes Councilman Callahan would not become associated with them.
Hillary Kwiatek announces candidacy for Bethlehem City Council
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February 11, 2021
West Bethlehem resident Hillary Kwiatek will seek a four-year term on City Council in 2021. “I am running for Bethlehem’s City Council to serve all of the people of the city that I have called home for more than twenty years,” she stated. “My husband and I have raised two children and built a fulfilling life here. I love Bethlehem, but I know there’s so much more we can do to become a stronger community where all of our residents feel a sense of true belonging.”
Kwiatek’s priorities include:
Recovering From the Pandemic
“Through an inclusive and progressive approach to public health and a focus on transparent economic development, Bethlehem can recover from the pandemic while also creating jobs with family-sustaining wages. We must also increase the availability of quality, affordable housing. We will only emerge stronger on the other side of this crisis by ensuring that no one is left out of our recovery.”
Reimagining Public Safety
“Creating a strong partnership between our public health and police departments will best serve all of our community members. For example, health care workers and other professionals can be dispatched instead of police to respond to mental health, substance abuse, and other non-violent incidents. This approach has been proven to create safer communities and better outcomes for people in crisis.”
A Vibrant Sustainable City for All
“As a City Council member, I will work toward the goal of increasing affordable housing and ending homelessness. Bethlehem can be a thriving green city through implementation of the climate action plan. Our neighborhoods should include well-maintained parks with activities for families. And I will work to support vibrant and diverse small businesses throughout the city.”
Addressing Racism and Inequity in our City
“Black Lives Matter. We must identify and eliminate racist and discriminatory practices across all aspects of city government that have led to inequity for Black and Latino residents of Bethlehem.”
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About Hillary
Hillary and her husband Brandon, an Allentown native, moved to Bethlehem in 2000. She has worked in non-profit fundraising and communications over the course of her career and currently works at Lehigh University as a communications specialist. Her volunteer activities have included serving as President of the Friends of the Bethlehem Public Library, captaining a KaBoom! playground build, serving on the Connect Bethlehem working group to help the city better understand its communications needs, and serving as an officer and precinct committee person on the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee.
Contact Information
Hillary Kwiatek
hillaryforbethlehem@gmail.com
610-984-7748
Advice on running for office
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Gadfly will be out of work May 19.
Thinking to explore what might lay on the next horizon, he dropped in (virtually) to the January 30 Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters webinar on “Running for Local Office”
Ken Mohr, former Lehigh County Commissioner, was the keynote speaker. His topic was “Prepare Yourself to Be a Candidate.”
Mohr structured his advice to the assembled first-time office seekers around two-dozen what-he-called cliches.
Quite interesting.
What would you like to see added to Mohr’s list of advices for the wannabe’s?
———–
Every day I’m a little smarter than I was the day before.
Have a desire to learn, running and serving is a great education.
Politics is for the long-distance runner.
You need to bring along a lot of people.
They who assume public office should consider themselves public property.
Everything in your life can and will be brought up in a campaign.
Never write anything or say anything that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.
Do not stretch a point.
They who live in the media, die in the media.
Reporters, etc., who use your information will turn on you in a minute; everything you post on social media will alienate a certain percentage of the electorate.
Never speculate in public.
Don’t share your first thoughts.
A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Know what you don’t know; don’t guess; say I’ll get back to you.
It is different in the bull ring than to speak of bulls.
Politics is a contact sport, it is not like sitting in a bar talking to a buddy.
In politics, friends may come and friends may go, but enemies accumulate.
It’s easier to create opposition than to build consensus.
You have to count to five (or, on Bethlehem City Council, four).
If you want to get something done, you have to get the votes; being right is not enough, you have to build consensus.
Do you want to make a point or do you want to make a difference.
You have to bring others along.
A good product with no advertisement will not succeed.
You are the product.
Target the market.
Only market super-voters, people who are known to vote.
A campaign brochure has a life expectancy from the front door to the garbage can, or from click to swipe left.
Keep it simple: your name is key thing and no more than three issues.
Too much information can be a dangerous thing.
Too much detail can be used against you or alienate some voters.
Everybody knows my name, so why do I have to campaign.
Most local elections are about name recognition not issues; put your name before the super-voters at least five times.
Begin with the end in mind.
List the benchmark events of your campaign in order.
Time is the hunter.
Drive the process and keep the schedule moving.
Asking for campaign contributions from friends is their way of contributing to good government because they like and trust you.
Price out the scope of your campaign and budget accordingly.
If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
Form a committee and assign responsibility, minimize you and spouse, whose responsibility is speaking and raising money.
I love it when a plan comes together.
Stick to your plan.
(Should you get elected), governing is win/win, you need to bring others along.
Campaigning is win/lose, somebody has to win, somebody has to lose.
Power is like an inheritance, you can grow it or squander it.
Depends on your actions.
America is great because she is good.
Good people make good government, democracy is fragile; our future is in your hands.
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Gadfly tries to use every opportunity to bring the candidates to you, so he apologizes for missing the Bethlehem Dems last night, where several local candidates gave brief presentations.
Mayoral candidate Reynolds announces Congresswoman Susan Wild’s endorsement
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Councilman J. William Reynolds recently announced Congresswoman Susan Wild’s endorsement for his mayoral candidacy:
“Willie Reynolds is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and a lifelong resident of Bethlehem. He has already demonstrated his concern and work ethic as a member of Bethlehem City Council.
Willie’s experience and steady hand will be invaluable for the City as we emerge from the crisis of this pandemic. Willie has the vision and vitality to lead Bethlehem into a prosperous future while always respecting its rich history.
He will follow in the footsteps of a long line of excellent Mayors, while still bringing his unique perspective and style to the job. I believe there is no one better suited for the job of Mayor of Bethlehem, and I enthusiastically endorse Willie Reynolds.”
– U.S. Representative Susan Wild
The campaign war chests
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Candidate financial disclosures
Bernie O’Hare has reminded us to follow the money.
The first round of candidate financial reports are in.
Let me copy Bernie’s convenient list:
Bethlehem
Bryan Callahan – $19,461.36
Michael Colon – $28.59
Grace Crampsie Smith – $2,993.54
Bob Donchez – $107,486.44
Eric Evans – $2,108.01
Dana Grubb – $2,772.05
Willie Reynolds – $21,303.01
Adam Waldron – $0
Some things to think about:
- What happens to Mayor Donchez’s $$$$?
- I don’t believe President Waldron has formally announced.
- Nothing from Hillary Kwiatek yet, which must mean she hasn’t formally filed for election (deadline March 9).
- There was a controversy last election about the propriety of one candidate giving or loaning money to another that I don’t think was settled.
- Will election strategies change as a result of the pandemic and will money make a difference?
- How important is money to election success anyway?
Now it’s always interesting to see who’s donating to candidate campaigns.
Sometimes it can tell you something very important to know.
But one must be careful about making inferences.
You can check here.
Mayoral Candidate Reynolds: Climate Action Plan
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election 
J. William Reynolds for Mayor
Episode 3: Climate Action Plan
Episode 3: Climate Action Plan
J. William Reynolds for Mayor
Mayoral candidate Dana Grubb sees rebuilding city workforce morale as first challenge
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Campaign website
“I believe that the first challenge of the next mayor will be to rebuild the morale of the city workforce. . . . Far too many instances of fearful, tense and depressed conditions within city hall have been reported. The city workforce is the single most important asset that the public and the mayor have: a respected and content workforce will deliver better services.”
Campaign Facebook
Campaign website
Mayoral candidate Dana Grubb: “It is time for a mayor who is not a political insider”
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Former Bethlehem city administrator Dana Grubb on Wednesday jumped into the Bethlehem mayoral race.
Grubb, 70, is running as a Democrat and he’ll face Bethlehem City Councilman J. William Reynolds, 39, in the May Democratic primary. Mayor Bob Donchez cannot run again because of the city’s two-term 
limit for mayor.
Over his 27-year career in city government, Grubb helped create the tax increment financing district that ushered in the redevelopment of the former factory into the SteelStacks campus.
“Our history is what makes Bethlehem unique, and distinguishes it among others,” Grubb said. “We need to build on that history to secure and grow our future.”
In his speech Grubb touted his ability to work collaboratively across departments over his career to solve the problems facing the city. He vowed to bring that attitude back to City Hall.
Grubb was the city grants administrator and deputy director of community development among other roles. He retired from the city in 2004 after he and Harvey Joseph, who was the environmental health director, got into a fistfight in City Hall. Then-Mayor John Callahan told them they could retire or be fired.
“I also believe in personal accountability, service to community, and leaving the world in a better place,” Grubb said Wednesday. “We’re all held accountable for the mistakes we’ve made. We should learn from them, and then move on to remain active and contributing members of society.”
Currently, Grubb owns a small business providing photography to local Relators, the Wind Creek Event Center and working for The Bethlehem Press.
The lifelong city resident said he’s running for mayor solely to serve the citizens of Bethlehem. If elected, he will not take city health benefits or accrue a pension, he vowed.
“It is time for a mayor who is not a political insider, someone who will be independent of political expediency, and who will seek only to serve Bethlehem residents and improve the quality of life throughout the community. It is nobody’s ‘turn’ to be Mayor, after holding other elected offices,” Grubb said referencing Reynolds, who lost to Donchez in the 2013 mayoral primary but did not challenge him four years later. “Bethlehem needs someone who will apply common sense and logic to governance, and not default to political favoritism based on campaign contributions or other influential factors.”
Bethlehem residents tell Grubb they don’t feel their government is responsive and Grubb says city worker morale is at an all-time low. A respected and content workforce will deliver better services to residents, developers, contractors, business owners and relators, he said.
If elected, Grubb would form a a small business concierge, a one-stop shop to help aspiring and current business owners navigate bureaucracy.
“Public service is an attitude as well as a commitment, and poor morale among city workers affects how well services are delivered to the community,” Grubb said.
The Bethlehem Parking Authority is a top complaint for many residents and business owners, who feel it is not responsive or in touch with the community’s needs, he said. Grubb floated the idea of possibly bringing the day-to-day operations of the authority into City Hall, allowing the authority to operate solely as a financing authority.
The city needs to continue to expand its tax base via economic development, but in a manner that respects the city’s rich history and is compatible with its neighborhoods, Grubb said. Bethlehem needs more affordable housing — not public housing — but homes for working-and-middle class families like the one he grew up in, he said.
“Community development has played second fiddle to economic development for too many years,” Grubb said.
He vowed to create a city-wide affordable housing task force. (Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith recently created an affordable housing task force.)
Public safety and a strong parks and recreation systems would be at the forefront of city services in his administration, Grubb said.
“I believe that a robust community policing program strengthens relationships between residents and law enforcement, and builds trust,” he said. “Training in both traditional law enforcement disciplines as well as newer applications will ensure that every resident can trust the Bethlehem Police Department to apply the law equally, to everyone, at all times.”
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Former city administrator Dana Grubb announced his campaign Wednesday, delivering a 10-minute speech before supporters at the Steel Ice Center in south Bethlehem.
Before his speech, Grubb said there are several key issues facing the city’s next mayor, including improving public safety, building up the city’s affordable housing stock, and creating a caretaker, or “concierge,” to help small businesses.
Grubb, 70, whose nearly three decades of work for the city included time as grants administrator and deputy director of community development, last held a city position in 2004. He was forced to retire after fighting with another employee in City Hall.
But the northeast Bethlehem resident, who said he received approximately $24,000 a year in a city pension after retiring, has stayed active in Bethlehem government in various ways. He has also worked as a freelance writer and photographer, and has owned a photography business. He said during his speech that he would not take another pension or accept health insurance benefits if he is elected mayor.
No Republican has formally announced for mayor. The Northampton County Republican Committee did not respond to messages seeking comment. Bethlehem traditionally has held a Democratic majority among voters, with the last Republican mayor, Ken Smith, serving during the 1990s. He resigned three months early in 1997 to take a position at Lehigh University.
Grubb on the mayoral stump for the first time tomorrow
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
A reminder that mayoral candidate Dana Grubb meets the public tomorrow for the first time after his press release announcement a week ago.
That would be 11 am at the Steel Ice Center, 320 East First Street on the South Side, tomorrow Wednesday, January 27 — mask and social distancing in order.
Gadfly is still under house arrest (first rendezvous with the vaccine tomorrow!).
He hopes some followers will attend and report back to Gadfly headquarters.
At the moment Grubb and Councilman Reynolds are the only contenders in the mayoral ring.
The competition is a good thing.
Let’s make sure we hear the different views.
Mayoral candidate Reynolds stakes out a Bethlehem corner
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and he ain’t singin’ doo-wop either!
Check him out here
Check him out here
The local ballot so far
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Having mentioned the May primary election, let’s remember what the ballot looks like so far. The official deadline for candidates to file their petitions is March 9. Lots of time for the fields to enlarge.
Mayor
City Council
possibly Olga Negron and Adam Waldron
Bloggers needed
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
In a post entitled “Would you like to do some blogging?” in his Lehigh Valley Ramblings today, Bernie O’Hare makes the case for and makes a call for additional bloggers to cover the upcoming local election(s):
This year’s municipal races will attract far fewer attention (and votes) than the Presidential election we just endured. But it is arguably far more important. What your local elected officials do in office has much more of an impact on your daily lives than whatever Congress and the President do. Are the roads being maintained? Do 911 dispatchers answer your emergency calls? Are police or firefighters around when you need them? Are you being taxed to death? Is anyone out there doing any thing about warehouse proliferation or the increased truck traffic? These issues matter. Yet turnout in municipal races drop dramatically after a Presidential race. The result is elected officials, often bad, who have received insufficient scrutiny. Compounding that problem is a local press that no longer has the manpower to pay attention to local races.
In my blog coverage, I usually focus only on a few races where I have an adequate understanding of the issues and candidates. These would primarily be in Northampton County, Bethlehem and Allentown. That leaves numerous races uncovered. Also, I write from my own perspective on things. Though I always try to be factually accurate, I am biased. It would be refreshing to both my readers and myself to see stories, especially about upcoming elections, from others.
If you have such an interest, please email me at BOHare5948@aol.com.
Gadfly wholeheartedly seconds Bernie!
We need more perspectives.
And this is a good time to remind everybody that, since the May 18 primary tends to finalize the Bethlehem mayoral and councilmanic positions, Gadfly plans to fold his wings May 19.
And that he hopes that somebody will either take over this blog or establish a new one.
Every community needs a gadfly.
Contact me through the blog or at ejg1@lehigh.edu.
Councilwoman Crampsie Smith running for re-election
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For Immediate Release
Contact: 610-554-1857
Grace Crampsie Smith January 22, 2021
Grace Crampsie Smith has announced her candidacy for re-election to Bethlehem City Council. Crampsie Smith was appointed to Council in September, 2019 to fulfill the unexpired term of Shawn Martell, and won election to a 2- year term, effective January 2020.
She is the Chair of the Public Works Committee, and a member of the Public Safety and Community Development Committees.
Crampsie Smith is a School Counselor at Easton Area High School. Previously, she worked as an addictions counselor and administrator of services for those with developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses, and their families. She has also instructed community college courses that focused on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
In her 1st first year as a council member, she initiated and co-chairs the Affordable Housing Task Force, which is comprised of members of public and private entities whose goal is to formulate recommendations to address and alleviate the lack of housing that is affordable for working and middle class within the city.
She sponsored a resolution to assure insurance coverage for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) care for 1st responders, and she recently introduced a Responsible Contractor Ordinance.
She is a member of the NAACP Community Advisory Board, Lehigh Valley Regional Housing Advisory Board, Northside 2017, Lehigh Valley ROAR, Lehigh Valley 4 All, Bethlehem City Democratic Committee, Northampton County Council of Democratic Women, Northampton County Democratic Committee, Bethlehem Food Co-op, and American Legion Auxiliary.
Crampsie Smith regularly partners with Pros Fore Clothes to facilitate clothing drives for the homeless and those in need. She also assisted in initiating the Moravian College Block Watch.
Councilwoman Crampsie Smith believes that her interpersonal and professional skills have been a definite asset while serving on council, and she seeks re-election so she can continue promoting her agenda of assuring public health and safety, balancing economic development with housing that is inclusive and affordable, and encouraging sound fiscal management.
“While my first year in office has been challenging given the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent challenges, it has been an honor and privilege to represent and serve the members of our diverse Bethlehem community. I look forward to continue to work towards the delicate balance of progress while concurrently preserving our city’s unique history.
She is the grateful mother of three children: Shannon, a student at Widener Law School, Bridget, a student at Jefferson Medical School, and Brendan, a student at Albright College.
A new face in the race
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Candidates for various elective positions all across the Valley and, in fact, state-wide, made very brief presentations at the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee meeting last night.
Bethlehem candidates Councilpeople Reynolds, Callahan, and Crampsie Smith spoke — as well as new face Hillary Kwiatek running for Council.
Councilwoman Negron attended the meeting but did not speak.
Councilman Reynolds is, of course, running for Mayor.
Councilman Callahan said he was not sure at this point if he is running for Mayor but for Council for certain.
Councilwoman Crampsie Smith is running for a 4-year Council term.
The presentations are brief. One candidate likened it to speed-dating!
Gadfly hopes you will listen to all. But especially to Hillary Kwiatek’s.
Gadfly apologizes to Councilwoman Crampsie Smith. The audio clip here is from the last City Council meeting. He made a mistake when uploading and now unfortunately can’t restore the proper clip.
O, yes, election season has begun
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
ref: Councilman Reynolds opens his mayoral campaign
ref: Thinking about the primary election
ref: Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance issues a CALL TO ACTION
As Gadfly tries to dial back from the national drama (though this week promises to be as portentous as last), he would like to call attention to the beginning of the local political campaign season.
In an event likely to have been overshadowed by the insurrection, Councilman Reynolds kicked off his run for mayor last Wednesday. He should never have any difficulty recalling the exact date he tossed his hat in the ring!
Four City Council seats are also on the line.
Elections excite the Gadfly. They represent periodic new beginnings, fresh starts.
And Councilman Reynolds has laid out substantial visions for the future to woo our votes.
And we will hear more from campaigns that will necessarily have to be run under pandemic rules.
How interesting. What impact will there be on such standard fare as door-to-door solicitation, meet-and-greets, candidate nights, and so forth? Will campaigning radically change? Will we see innovative tactics?
You’ve seen Gadfly hope for competition, the vigorous exchange of ideas in the public square that makes us all better.
He would particularly like to see people of color and women candidates.
But sometimes, as they say, you gotta watch what you ask for.
The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance is looking for candidates.
That does not bode well, thinks the Gadfly.
We’ve seen one commenter in these pages say that “this group seems to prefer labels & fear-mongering to actual analysis or truth.”
And to wonder “what the term ‘Marxist’ means to them.”
Another poster found the LVGNA commentary “pretty awful . . . incendiary and off-putting, not an opening for a conversation.”
If there is one thing that the insurrection tells us, it’s that we need to seek a greater sense of community.
In addition, Gadfly hears President Waldron’s wise call for civility in our local dealings.
As a first step in fielding a candidate, Gadfly would ask LVGNA to stop the name-calling and to explain how Marxism pertains to the actions done by and positions held by current elected officials.
Councilman Reynolds opens his mayoral campaign!
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“Bethlehem has always been a wonderful place to live but it is time for us to become something more. We need a clear vision for the future of our city that builds on our strengths and reimagines what our community can be. ”
J. William Reynolds Announcement
Reynolds campaign website
Reynolds Facebook
“So you wanna run for City Council”
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So you wanna run for City Council Game Show!
Lehigh Valley Stands Up
Moderated: Jon Irons
December 10, 2020
As you can see from the previous posts this morning, the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance is aghast at “Slick Willie” Reynolds’ participation in a Zoom event — a “Game Show” — hosted by Lehigh Valley Stands Up called “So you wanna run for City Council.” 
It behooves us to learn more about this event and Councilman Reynolds’ participation in it.
You can see for yourself via the link above.
The game was run on Kahoots, which looks like a popular educational tool.
The game was moderated by low-key LVSU member Jon Irons, a familiar public commenter at City Council meetings. There were a dozen participants, two Gadfly knew professionally, and one whom you can see was cooking in her kitchen the entire time. Except very brief comments by winners of the game at the end, participants did not speak.
LVSU compiled 20-some mainly multiple-choice questions relating to City Council membership.
- Should you run for office?
- I would vote for a city council candidate who supported which of the following statements.
- Which of the following are great reasons to run for city council?
- What professional qualities do you need to run for city council?
- What qualities make for a successful councilperson?
- What types of people does it help to have in your network to run for council?
- What are some skills you should have to prepare to run for council?
- Add some qualities or ideologies you would like to see in city council members.
- What’s it like to work for council?
- What is the most time consuming part of a council member’s work week?
- What type of career background is REQUIRED to run for city council?
- What are some responsibilities of council members?
- How much does a city council member earn for their work?
- What is another IMPORTANT non-legislative role that city council members have?
- What is a way that elected officials can engage with and grow from constituent feedback and meetings?
- What are some fundamentals for thinking about a campaign for local office?
- How many signatures does it take to get on the ballot for a city-wide race?
- How many votes are needed to win a city council race in Bethlehem?
- How much cash money should a candidate raise to fund a city council race?
- What is one of the most expensive parts of a city council campaign?
- What are some ways to get started with a campaign for city council?
- Are you feeling ready or willing to run for office?
Our Councilman Reynolds and Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach were present to expand on answers to questions. They had no other role in the program. They participated almost not at all. Here’s an example of Councilman Reynolds responding to a question about time management. (1 min.)
There was no political commentary or discussion during the event.
Information about LVSU’s 3-point political platform was quite brief and presented at the end. The 3-point platform is police accountability, affordable housing, voting rights. None was expanded upon. There was no overt attempt to proselytize. Invitation to join was offered. (4 mins.)
Should “Slick Willie” have passed on this opportunity to foster active public participation in the political process?
Was his behavior anti-American?
Is Lehigh Valley Stands Up not good company?
What are you thinking about a morning devoted, in effect, to the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance?
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See Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance under topics on the right-hand sidebar.
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance: “trained Marxists” biting the Council hands that fed them
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See Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance under topics on the right-hand sidebar.
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance on debunking defunding the police
Latest in a series of posts in the wake of the George Floyd murder
Facebook January 3, 2021
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
Wanna hear the truth for a change?
Ya know, just for a goof.
Here ya go.
(Don’t let misguided politicians like Willie Reynolds or brainwash professors like Holona Ochs manipulate your mind with their debunked ideology.)
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As a progressive who wants to decriminalize drugs and advance the welfare state, I fit in well in my Pacific Northwest community. Except, that is, for my job: I’ve been a big-city cop here for 26 years. Before that, I served in the military. The raging #DefundthePolice movement doesn’t know me and my colleagues at all — and persistent myths about police and their critics do more harm than good.
Four myths especially deserve debunking by an officer who knows.
1) Police are killing large numbers of civilians. That’s simply not true. . . . The reality is that US policing has steadily improved over the past 50 years. In Gotham, officers firing a gun have gone from a daily to monthly occurrence. And the city has become dramatically safer over the same period. In other words, the NYPD has successfully used less lethal means of preserving — and improving — the rule of law.
2) The anti-cop movement is largely peaceful. Again, false. The movement, rather, is akin to the Batman villain Two-Face. Anyone who watched the protests on television would know that the daytime ones were lawful free speech. But the dynamic changed dramatically at night. Protests became intentional riots, designed to draw a police response that allowed rioters to claim victim status.
They would begin with insults, shouted at the riot line for hours in the hope that exhausted officers would retort on video; some told officers to commit suicide. Then they would throw rocks, shine bright lasers in our eyes and throw fireworks and Molotov cocktails — forcing the police to respond.
Yet the mainstream media adopted the comically false “peaceful-protest” narrative and perpetuated the myth of pervasive police brutality. For activists, it was a successful propaganda operation, encouraging the police to engage with force, then driving the narrative that law enforcement “overreacted” to latter-day Gandhis.
3) Abolishing police wouldn’t lead to lawlessness. Many of the defunders are genuine anarchists, who want no government at all and believe in a society of angels who serve each other voluntarily.
This is nonsense. One of the greatest achievements in human history was creating government monopolies on the use of force. Ancient tribal societies had a violent death rate of 500 per 100,000 people per year. That number dropped to 50 in medieval societies and just one to five in the modern West.
Seattle’s recent experiment with the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or CHAZ, proves this. Police weren’t allowed in the “occupied” protest zone for three weeks. It immediately became a hellscape and led to the shooting deaths of two young black men — the very people the movement claims to want to protect from the police.
4) Today’s police are “militarized.” Wrong, wrong, wrong. As a soldier, I rode in an armored vehicle and sat in a turret with a belt-fed machine gun. My job was to shoot enemy soldiers. In my 26 years as a cop, I have done no such thing.
Contrary to activist complaints, SWAT teams’ armored vehicles, armored clothing and special training help them avoid deadly force, not commit it. A regular cop is often justified shooting someone who threateningly brandishes a gun. A SWAT officer wearing protection, however, will wait longer before resorting to deadly force. In Seattle, our SWAT team recently saved a suicidal young black man with a gun.
Here’s the reality. We need police on the streets.
Social-justice warriors say that policing is hopelessly broken, and the only solution is “defund, disarm and disband.” Take it from a left-leaning cop: Those arguments are either wildly exaggerated or just plain false.
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See Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance under topics on the right-hand sidebar.
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance asks a question
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
Facebook January 3, 2021
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT COULDN’T GET ANY WORSE . . . SLICK WILLIE STRIKES AGAIN!
Remember when two-faced Bethlehem City Council members insisted they never publicly stated they were going to defund the police?
Well, on December 10th, current Councilman Willie Reynolds (who we have it on good authority is about to announce his candidacy for Mayor) participated in a “How to Run for City Council” Zoom meeting where he was giving advice to the same local Marxist group that demanded the defunding and elimination of the police.
Slick Willie’s master plan is to become mayor and then pack city council not just with the leftists who already sit there but with Marxist radicals who called the Bethlehem police an evil machine and said they didn’t want to hear from any more white people but we just want your money, frankly.
Are you going to allow Marxist radicals and their puppet to take over the City of Bethlehem?
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See Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance under topics on the right-hand sidebar.
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance issues a CALL TO ACTION
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
Ref: Thinking about the primary election
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Facebook January 3, 2021
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
From our scintillating Editor-At-Large, John Galt
CALLING ALL PATRIOTS!!
BETHLEHEM NEEDS YOU!!
We have some crucial races coming up that will elect individuals into positions where they will make big decisions for our entire community. Local races are some of the most important elections you can vote in.
They also provide exciting opportunities to participate in public service. It has become transparently clear, especially this year, that we need a change on Bethlehem City Council.
Bethlehem City Council has become radically unbalanced with Marxist sympathizers.
As a prominent example, it’s concerning that it only took a small group of loud leftists to press Council members to advocate for defunding the police which they then pursued without question until the activism of the LV Good Neighbors community stopped them in their tracks.
When the Bethlehem community fought back through passionate emails, phone calls, petitions, and displaying support police signs, we received threatening, deceptive, manipulative, angry and defensive responses from council members. That’s how incredibly arrogant and bullying they have become. How dare we accuse them of not supporting the police (when in fact it’s documented from an increasing chorus of highly placed, credible sources that defunding the police was precisely what they were and still are planning.)
And now, it has come to our attention that Councilman Willie Reynolds participated in a recent Zoom meeting with the same Marxist group of callers who were pushing to abolish the police. Willie shared guidance on how to run for City Council (remember this when he runs for Mayor).
Slick Willie has a master plan for you. He plans to run for mayor this year and pack city council with even more radical leftists than are there now.
As we think about the values that are important to our community, including and beyond public safety, do you think these individuals would have your best interests in mind as a constituent? If they run unopposed, it won’t matter.
Consider this a CALL TO ACTION. If you or someone you know, has an interest in running for City Council — please raise your hand. You don’t have to do it alone, there are people ready to help with getting signatures, fundraising, and volunteers for your campaign. If others would like to help — the more the merrier. WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.
Check out this link for an event on January 30 if you’re a first time candidate:
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See Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance under topics on the right-hand sidebar.
Thinking about the primary election
Latest in a series of posts on candidates for election
The last post got me thinking.
Mayor Donchez can’t run again. He’s in the 8th inning of his second term. Still a good bit of time to go. And there will be important things for him to do. He won’t be checking out.
But attention will inevitably turn in the next few months to the next Administration.
Gadfly posted the post below back in September.
Expectation seems to be that Councilmen Callahan and Reynolds will run for Mayor.
And who might be standing on the sidelines with hat in hand poised to throw?
And the terms of current Council members Callahan, Cramspsie Smith, Negron, and Waldron are up in 2021.
Potential for a lot of turnover.
Could/should be lively election.
Gadfly wondered in the post below where are the Republicans in this town? And Independents? And African Americans? And Latinx? And women? And LGBTQ?
Even if current election chances are slim, one could hope for candidates from such constituencies to gain experience for future elections.
Maybe more importantly right now, perhaps we should be thinking about what the key issues and priorities should be for our candidates.
Gadfly would welcome your thinking in this regard.
What needs to be done?
What do you want to see on the platforms for candidates in the May primary?
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Originally posted September 29, 2020
Where are the Republicans?
Or Independents?
Gadfly is jogged to ask by this post in Bernie O’Hare’s “Lehigh Valley Ramblings” the other day about the “Bethlehem Democratic Party Machine.”
Hoping to provide a beneficial public service, Gadfly plans to help people be the best informed voters they can be by providing info on all the candidates in next spring’s election.
He’s hoping there will be several Democratic candidates for Mayor, and scuttlebutt indicates there will be.
But where are the Republicans in this town? And Independents? And African Americans? And Latinx? And women? And LGBTQ?
Gadfly hopes for competition, for choice.
That’s the kind of thing we gadflies live for.
Especially as he plans to retire Election Day +1.
Wants to go out with some drama!
Alan Jennings: “There is too much to do”
Latest in a series of posts on City Government
We turned the corner. New year. Time for resolutions. Setting agendas. Mayoral and Councilpersonic elections coming into view. Platforms forming. Gadfly welcomes essays like this. Getting us thinking. What needs to be done? What is it on which we’d like to see local government working?
Well, that was the year from hell. Certainly, the worst of my 62.
Let’s just try to move on. There is too much to do.
To be sure, our most challenging problems are national in scope . . .
But there are a ton of issues right here in our own little once-green spot on the planet we call the Lehigh Valley. Here is what you can expect the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley to pursue.
The big project is the completion of a strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusion. For many months, now, dozens of people from the nonprofit, for-profit and public sectors have been crafting a strategy to finally unlock the doors that have kept far too many from accessing economic opportunity.
It will include better access to markets for minority-owned businesses, elimination of cash bail and other criminal justice reforms, testing (some call it “secret shoppers”) various groups to ensure they are treating people the same regardless of the color of their skin or the language they speak, more participation on boards of directors, and much, much more.
This should be a game-changer, folks.
The condition of our housing stock needs an enormous amount of funding to bring it up to modern (meaning habitable) standards. We are dramatically expanding our work in this area.
The efficiency of COVID-19 in its destruction of small businesses will open many opportunities for new businesses in this market. CACLV has tripled its small business coaching and lending capacity.
The Lehigh Valley has successfully transitioned from an industrial economy to a broader, more diverse economy; and, yet, we have not lost the identity and culture of that past. We have a lot of “hip” going on, with ArtsQuest leading the way. Allentown’s downtown revitalization, the Easton vibe, Bethlehem’s gentility and other factors make it a real, live, developing culture with an enviable quality of life.
We’ve got colleges, top-notch health care systems, a business community that is refreshingly progressive. Even the Chamber CEO is a closet liberal (couldn’t help outing you, Tony).
We’ve got Musikfest (I hope), minor league hockey and baseball teams and a top-notch sports and concert arena.
But we aren’t good enough. With one in eight Lehigh County residents and one in 11 Northampton County residents living below the poverty line, and a marketplace that is merciless, too many are being left behind.
The unaffordability of housing in this market and its substandard condition is worse than a crisis — it’s a disaster. It is a public health problem by causing asthma and lead poisoning. It is an education problem by forcing families to move frequently, disrupting the rhythm of their lives, especially the kids’ educations. And if the schools struggle to teach, it becomes a community development issue if people of means don’t want to live here.
Check this out: 79% of white children who live in suburban communities take the college entrance exams (SAT or ACT). Just 8% of urban Latinos take the exams, and a particularly shocking 4% of urban African Americans take them. Those three data points are all we need to understand why color and class are almost synonymous in the Lehigh Valley; they also explain tidily why there is so much income and wealth disparity in our society.
The weaknesses in our behavioral health services, from detox and residential rehab to the critical shortage of psychiatrists, are known by all, including our two, big systems. COVID-19 is a roll-the-dice complication to all these issues.
Primary season 2020: but thinking about 2021
Latest in a series of new posts on elections
Monthly meeting of the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee tonight.
About the primary.
Got me thinking about the primary.
Not the 2020 primary. But the 2021 primary.
Gadfly thinks 4 current City Council members will be on ballot in 2021: Callahan, Negron, Crampsie Smith, Waldron.
But the big enchilada is the mayoral election.
Councilman Callahan has had occasion twice in recent months during City Council meetings to remind us that Mayor Donchez won’t be in office when certain things come to fruition — and that we don’t know who will be.
Now Mayor Donchez is only in the 7th inning — lots of time to do good left. So it’s too early to render him invisible.
But with about a year left before candidates have to file for the primary, you have to believe that some people are thinking about running for mayor. And maybe more than thinking. Planning. Organizing. Fundraising.
Gadfly doesn’t have his ear to every ground, but it’s been said that Councilmen Reynolds and Callahan may run for mayor, maybe even Councilwoman Negron.
That thought reminded me that I had not looked at the Council financial disclosures for a while. Did you ever do that? Go here.
Some interesting things to see there. Take a look. Agree?
Gadfly was pleased to support everybody in last year’s Councilperson-ic primary and plans to do so again. Was fun. Gadfly wants to help people be informed voters. He’s in the business of providing information. And he thinks that all the coverage as well as the candidate participation in the Gadfly 8-week mini-essay series during last year’s primary was helpful in that respect.
But Gadfly really looks forward to the mayoral race next time. He hopes it is competitive. More on that later.
The May 2021 primary will be special because we will obviously want to select a great mayor. But it will be extra-special for Gadfly because he thinks it will mark the climax of his project. A good time to fold his wings.
So while there are most likely people right now thinking about entering the 2021 primary for mayor, he hopes that some people also might be thinking of donning the gadfly wings.
Every town needs a gadfly.
And he hopes that followers will be paying attention to the Council dynamics he lays out for you.
For one or more Council members may be running for mayor sooner or later.
Which brings Gadfly back to the wage equality meeting on the proposed ordinance.
Heading there again in next post.