The Morning Call reports that the CEO of a woman's survivor group is upset with Lehigh County evicting the Homeland Security Investigations from its office space in a county building. As reported previously on this blog, the office goes after human traffickers, not the ICE mission of deporting illegal aliens.
The eviction proceeding was the brainchild of two very liberal, ambitious county office holders, Controller Mark Pinsley and Executive Josh Siegel. Ironically, the current person complaining about the eviction heads the Bloom For Women group, hardly any sort of right wing affiliate.
Siegel in the Morning Call article double talks about the issue in regard to exploited women. Perhaps he could best serve the community by rethinking the actual consequences of evicting an office defending and helping women from exploitation. The administration in Washington is criticized for never admitting that they made a mistake, perhaps Lehigh County can do better.
The actions of the Counnty Executive on this matter is appalling.
ReplyDeleteAccording to WFMZ/69, the eviction move was supported by some county commissioners at last night's meeting. Although DA Holihan previously criticized the eviction, the other county law enforcement agency, The Sheriff's Department, has not weighed in.
ReplyDeleteWhich commissioners?
DeleteSiegel has a twisted mind combined with a rabid ideological bent. He doesn’t care who gets hurt, slandered, doxed or otherwise sacrificed or injured.
ReplyDeleteHe’s dangerous.
He’s self absorbed.
He’s ambitious.
Think the worst excesses of the French Revolution writ small.
Fortunately he’s a mediocre goof, for better and worse.
The bad news is he is surrounded by other political hacks unwilling to call him out.
I see him going far in the current political environment.
anon@5:26: I usually don't print comments such as yours, because I printed the source, WFMZ/69. Why ask which commissioners, why not go to their website and read the article yourself?
ReplyDeleteI'm not 5:26, but in the interest of making things easier, the article lists Commissioner Zach Cole-Borghi as being supportive of the eviction.
DeleteI believe he's the commissioner currently facing drug charges in county court.
anon@5:36: Tell me how you really feel about Siegel...?
ReplyDeleteSiegel is progressive, but he was elected, and no more such character comments will be accepted here. Comments may address the eviction and other county business.
We can expect that Democrats, as is their policy, if they become the major party after 2026, will do what they do, unthinkingly do the opposite of whatever Trump has done, except for engaging in foreign wars. Not a real idea in any of their minds.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the point, right now the Democrat Party/Socialists represent no “bright horizon” to look forward to.
Deleteanon@6:19: First it was the city, but now the county has certainly shifted to the left in leadership. In my opinion, partisanship by both parties is a big problem. You generally don't see people coming forward to point out mistakes within their party. A prime example is this ill advised eviction. Would both the controller and executive have the gumption to reverse themselves? No, they would double down first!
ReplyDeleteThis is the political “leader” who chanted “f..k the police” and then doxed the Mayor.
ReplyDeleteLehigh County is in for some difficult times. This smuck has a public record that would validate everything any comment on this thread.
The most disturbing part is that the politicians around him lack the courage and integrity to speak up.
How low can this situation get.
Putting idealogy asside, do they owe money or don't they?
ReplyDeleteIt is unclear to me. Reading between the lines sounds like it was an informal arrangement versus an actual lease agreement. Thus it was virtue signaling to the far left base. Enjoy Lehigh, you voted for this. I left in late 2025 and seems like I made a wise decision.
DeleteLast night I attended the Lehigh county commissioners meeting and filled in some of the blanks on the regional intelligence center, or as they are more commonly known "fusion centers"
ReplyDeleteTechnically, a fusion center is a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies to share resources, expertise, and information in order to detect criminal and terrorist activity. These fusion centers are administered by the department of Homeland security and used by various three-letter agencies, including ICE. These fusion centers were put in place after 9/11 originally to detect terrorism. Mission creep occurred and they started expanding their reach to include all manner of crime, including sex trafficking.
Historically, these fusion centers have been severely abused over the past 20 years or so. Chief among the abuses is how when evidence was found in a criminal case, law enforcement would backtrack on the case and create new evidence and omit anything gathered by these fusion centers in order to deny these fusion centers existed.
In the Facebook group "Allentown PA community" I posted more than several links on some of the abuses these fusion centers are a part of, and that was before Trump came to power again. Please consider taking a look, the group is open and you don't need to join to look through. You would only need to join if you wish to post.
Long story short, I believe these fusion sensors should all be removed as they are a gross violation of our collective Fourth amendment rights. Why is it that our constitution is considered the highest law in the land, yet it is infringed the most and infringers punished the least?
Louis, my professional position was funded in part by the USDOJ since 911 and included my tenure as a principal in the Pennsylvania Regional Policing Institute, one of 26 such collaborations around the country.
DeleteI am here to tell you as an absolutely indisputable fact that issues around the prevention and intervention in human trafficking has been incorporated in partnerships between LE agencies, civilian groups and public health organizations since federal funding was ramped up immediately following 911. Anyone who tells you any differently is grossly misinformed or a liar.
mj adams
If the County had a dozen candidates like Louis it would be an infinitely better place.
Delete“The personal is political.”
ReplyDeleteThis has been a bedrock principle of the “left” since the late sixties and it’s most certainly true in the case of the current County Executive.
It’s impossible to separate Siegels personally from his politics.The man himself is positioned in a political party that views Identity Politics as a primary principle.
You’re not here to be polite, remember?
Let’s stick with honesty.
anon@8:18: you're reciting facts that were presented during the election..there was no shortage of mailers from both sides. Apparently Mr. Siegel's values align more closely with the majority of LC voters.
ReplyDeleteanon@8:33: I'm not sure of the details. Pinsley claims that they owe, but there was no issue until this recent ICE commotion in Minneapolis. Furthermore, the DA offered to pay, and Pinsley declined. So the eviction is political, not financial
I have declined multiple comments. Although the post is critical of Siegel and Pinsley, it is not open season on them. The post is about priorities in Lehigh County. Fighting human trafficking shouldn't be handcuffed to make a political statement about ICE, which doesn't even pertain to LC.
With all due respect, Mike, the hyperbolic mailers are entirely beside the point. There is a huge volume of hard news, not to mention positions made public by the Country Executive himself, to draw upon.
DeleteReach for whatever adjectives that you are comfortable with, the County is being managed by a extremely problematic individual.
His party will overlook his worse qualities and policies.
There is no opposition party.
Between the city and the county the region is on thin ice.
I can tell you this: As a Democrat super voter, Siegel knocked on my door and presented himself as a mainstream Democrat, he did not articulate a word of his true leftist, radical ideology. So he fooled the majority of Lehigh County voters in this election and got to "run" against an opponent who didn't run a campaign. Believe me, Siegel's values DO NOT align closely with county voters and he will wind up doing more harm to county residents than good.
DeleteAs a "reformed" democrat, we interviewed Don Cunningham at a packed friend's house... I personally asked questions that had no wiggle room... Donnie boy gave all the right answers and as soon as he was elected, he did a 180. This, my friends, is how these schnooks get elected.
DeleteI’m approaching eighty, an Allentown native and a person who always paid attention to politics with various degrees of participation.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time in my lifetime I am really frightened for the future of Allentown and Lehigh County and I have seen some rough times before but always had hope for the future.
My 80 year old friend, you should be scared crap less the way this once great city is heading... straight down the tubes to Kline's island with the rest of the poop. Heck, the city can't even plow the streets let alone fix the pot holes, but boy oh boy, can they raise taxes and charge "fees" for every little stinking thing!!! The city is ONLY about the Benjamins...
Deleteanon@9:18, anon@9:45: Years ago when LC was a Republican stronghold, the Dems always put up the same candidate ( a local lawyer now deceased) who ran for and lost every office imaginable. Times have changed. The Republicans no longer even field a candidate for most Allentown elections.
ReplyDeleteFor the county they remain somewhat viable. Roger MacLean was a respectable candidate. Although I believe Siegel outspent him, MacLean did have a number of mailers. Siegel and especially Zach Cole-Borghi suggest that the county is turning bluer as I type.
Ive known Rodger since his early days in the APD. Rodger was always a moderate Republican who became a moderate Democrat as a matter of political expediency.
DeleteIt must be noted that Pinsley and Siegel would not be in their respective positions without the support of insiders like Jenn Mann, Schlossberg and Schyer enabling them. Same with the faux mayor.
ReplyDeleteDon’t forget the insipid LV for All posse.
Sadly, Louis, sir, the Coffee Party was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Siegel.
That chicken has come home to roost to the serious detriment of Lehigh County.
When Lehigh County was a one party Republican stronghold it was not particularly ideological and it was competently managed.
ReplyDeleteI say this as a lifetime Democrat.
Say what you will about Siegel, he has worked hard to fulfill his political ambitions. Schlossberg has always worked hard, unlike Wild and the current mayor who were essentially installed in a closed back room, insider deal.
ReplyDeleteConsider the “process” involving Julio’s son, nothing here meets the minimum standards of “democracy”.
Jenn Mann rode into office on the coattails of her father’s credentials as a Union electrician.
ReplyDeleteWhat a farce.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!
anon@1:17: There were plenty of mailers identifying Siegel as radial left. Future comments such as yours will not appear.
ReplyDeleteanon@1:21:Schlossberg has had the seat since 2013. Future comments such as yours will not appear.
I do not print all comments, especially those that distort the truth.
You don’t care about the facts.
DeleteThe County Executive may be identified as “left” in the current political jargon. It would appear that Siegel has never been a Union worker, or any other blue collar worker, for any appreciable amount of time, nor has he been identified as taking an anti-war or other traditional left leaning position.
ReplyDeleteIs Siegel an Ideological Cultural Identity Politics leftie in the most craven sense of the term?
Sure, no one paying any attention needed a mailer to point that out.
The cultural Marxist movement “progressive liberal” can’t even define the term “women”.
Brushing off these distinctions is political malfeasance.
Yes, language matters and is in fact at the heart of this important juncture in local and national politics.
The English language is a dead letter.
Molovinsky on Allentown provides a valuable service to the community. We appreciate you.