Berks Democrats

Seven Deputies Fired

Sheriff Eric Weaknecht fired seven deputies for using County computers to play online games.  The articles in today's Eagle are humorous.  They pretend to detail strict County computer usage while, at the same time, a high County official is covering up for someone using a County computer (or access) for harassment.  Either enforce the policy uniformly or provide these seven people with grounds for a lawsuit.  You cannot allow it, and block an inquiry into misuse of these computers then turn around and dismiss seven employees for lesser offenses.  WTF!  Of course this is a no win situation for the County:  it gets sued either way.

Scott, Leinbach Hate the Homeless

Just as the mortgage foreclosure crisis is causing increased homelessness two Berks County Commissioners are snubbing their thumbs at people left without housing.  Mark Scott and Christian Leinbach are opposed to the redevelopment of the Reserve Center for homeless housing.  Mark Scott idiotically says by adding temporary shelters we increase homelessness.  This is one of the most bigoted thinsg I've ever heard him utter and that list is endless.

Providing shelters doesn't cause homelessness.  Republican ideology of refusing to regulate business causes homelessness as we're seeing now.  Rampant greed, fraud and deregulation are now crippling our economy and causing thousands to lose their homes.  Now, thanks to them, they will have fewer options for temporary help. 

People don't become homeless because Berks County has a new homeless shelter mark and Christian.  I understand this may be breaking news for both of you but the Reserve Center would not be so luxurious and comfortable that people will abandon their homes to stay there.  I'm also amazed at their unChristian lack of charity for the needy.  It's bad enough Berks County has little affordable housing outside Reading and doesn't even keep a waiting list for housing assistance.

Scott and Leinbach are telling those caught in the housing crisis to go f*ck themselves.  This economic crisis is going to result in many empty, vandalized houses forcing neighborhood property values down and reduce current county property tax revenues.  While other counties are busy exploring ways to minimize the effect of this crisis the Berks County Commissioners are doing everything possible to make things more difficult for those needing help.

This Weeks Commissioners Meeting

Oh wait, I didn't go because of the parking costs and scams in Reading...

Adams Won't Seek Death Penalty for KU Killers

District Attorney John T. Adams announced today he will not seek the death penalty for the three young men who murdered a Kutztown University student last year.  I was at the news conference where former DA Mark Baldwin announced he was considering the death penalty and thought he was grandstanding.  While openly acknowledging his office's investigation wasn't complete, Baldwin still told the press he was considering such extreme action.  I though he was playing for votes because it was awfully premature for such an announcement.

This was a horrific murder but doesn't rise tot he level of a death penalty case in my opinion.  I think the state should use its right to kill very rarely, in cases of killing police officers, acts of terrorism or for serial murderers.  This case doesn't fit those parameters.  It also wasn't premeditated.  Kyle Quinn's killers deserve to be incarcerated for the remainder of their natural lives.

This Week's Commissioners Meeting

The new Board convened yesterday for their first gathering as a Board and spent most of the session reviewing a list of major projects.  The list has nothing new and is filled with all the major initiatives the County has been pursuing for some time.  It served to bring the two new Commissioners up to speed.  Let me not that is no need to prioritize this list because these projects are spread over many different departments.  Each department has already prioritized its projects and these tend to be the highest priority projects for each department.

Commissioners oversee the County and provide guidance on projects, decide which ones go forward and expend the funds for the projects.  They do not manage these efforts, department heads do in coordination with Bill Dennis the County Administrator.  For example the financial management software project is being done through the Controllers Office, the Community Corrections Center is a project of the Prison Board, the new 911/EMA communications system is their effort, the tower for cell phones at the North Campus is being negotiated by the Solicitor's Office, etc. 

Sitting through these meetings for a long time gives a sense of the status of each project as matters involving them come before the Board.  This is the role of the Board of Commissioners.  They shouldn't be telling Sandy Graffius, for example, that her project is subservient to another.  The other projects don't impact on hers and vice versa (most of the time).  The County is big enough to simultaneously perform many tasks at once.  It does so every day.

In other business Lisa Siciliano came before the Board with an emergency request for immediate action on a situation with the Visitation Center.  This is an operation which provides divorced/separated/estranged parents with a safe environment for transferring their children for visitations.  It seems the rent and other expenses haven't been paid for several months and eviction proceedings are commencing.

After some discussion it turned out this wasn't a dire emergency needing immediate attention and will be voted on Thursday. 

A crime fighting grant of federal funds was also discussed.  This annual grant is split with Reading and the Commissioners need to decide how to split the money with the city.  In the past the split has been 80-20 though it presently is 85-15.  One of the projects it has funded is the camera system installed by Mayor McMahon.  I remain doubtful about having video cameras scattered around public areas as a privacy issue but the argument is that they are effective.   Police states always are effective at fighting crime but that doesn't make them proper or appropriate.  As much as I like and support the Mayor sometimes this City can be very heavy handed.

Good Luck Tom

Today's County Commissioners meeting was the first in four years without Tom Gajewski.  My friend finally has a private life again though I'm sure he wishes he were still serving the people of Berks.  Tom routinely put in 70 hour work weeks and was dedicated to the people.  The fact he lost the election shouldn't be a reflection of his many accomplishments. 

The Community Corrections Center will be one of his lasting legacies.  Not only will it ease overcrowding at the prison but it will do it at considerably less cost and rehabilitate non violent offenders.  The budget process he initiated with Ms. Schwank streamlined the budget, reduced waste and corrected a serious problem.  One of the first things Mark Scott did today was try to put an end to those meetings.   Gajewski's fiscal watchdoggedness saved County taxpayers considerably over the years.

The prescription drug card was one of Tom's personal endeavors.  Every time someone gets a discount with them it's due to Tom's efforts.  The amphitheater at the Riverfront may be rescinded but developing the waterfront is crucial to the future of the city and was another project on which Tom worked.  If a new Board deep sixes the project his efforts should still be appreciated.

There were many more things he worked on as Commissioner and with the launching of the new Board I thought I'd take a moment to salute Tom and his tireless work over four years.  We're still friends and we'll continue being friends regardless whether he's at the courthouse or not.

Leinbach Injecting Religion Into County Government

In his first official statement as a County Commissioner when his place came up on today's agenda Christian Leinbach announced he will commence having prayers at County Commissioner meetings in flagrant violation of the constitution.  It's bad enough pseudo prayer is already present with the ubiquitous "moment of silence" which everyone knows is prayer time but having the Council of Churches bring actual priests, ministers, pastors, and other clerics into the County Services Center to orally utter religious services is outrageous.

This is going to get the County sued, big time.  It isn't right to inject religion into government or vice versa which was the entire point of the clause in the constitution and the courts upholding of the establishment clause.  I will object each time I'm at one of these meetings and my constitutional rights are violated in this manner.

I'm a Christian and not an atheist but I have many friends who are atheist or agnostic.  I have no right to sit idly by while their rights are trampled by Christian Leinbach.  He has no right to inject religion where it doesn't belong and to shove it down the throats of those in attendance or watching on television.  If he is allowed this outrage he also cannot stop non believers equal time before meetings to denounce religion.  This is going to be a mess.  A costly mess.

Johnson Joins District Attorney's Office

M. Theresa Johnson, a highly regarded prosecutor who left the DA's office under Mark Baldwin, has rejoined the staff as John Adams' First Assistant.  Adams is reshaping an office which lost much of its effectiveness under Baldwin and was scorned by almost all those involved in criminal justice in and around Berks.  My sources said Johnson had considered running against Baldwin herself and her joining with Adams forms a very strong team.  This is an office which needed an extensive overhaul.

In other news there is information about a scandal emanating from Ellie Antoine's mismanagement of the Recorder of Deeds office.  I got some confidential info about a year ago about certain fees collected by Antoine finding their way into a safe in her office.  This seems to be true (I couldn't report on this before because the information was given on a highly confidential basis, off the record).  I've also heard it involves fees which were steered into a "technology fund" established by the Republican Row Officers.  Some of the five dollar fees were kept by Antoine and the remainder to the other Row Offices.  This money has not been subject to audit by the Controller's Office and there are nasty rumors about how the money was spent.

Reading Eagle Gets It Wrong

The Reading Eagle is reporting today that Tom Gajewski voted against the 2008 budget.  That is wrong, he did vote for the budget after trying to save taxpayers money for the next two years when the budget is continuing to show a surplus.

For 2008 the fund surplus is projected to be $83 million, or 22% of tax revenues.  The standard for this account is between 10-15%.  Gajewski, after getting mercilessly attacked for the size of the balance sought to reduce it to acceptable levels and return some much needed funds to taxpayers.  His effort was defeated.  After it lost he did vote for the overall budget.  The Eagle's reporting is wrong.

Update:  The Eagle still has failed to correct their error.  I now have to begin questioning their motivations for printing this lie.  John Forrester moderated a candidate's event in Kutztown shortly before the election and is well aware of the issue raised by the Republicans about the fund surplus.  Why are they so silent about the flip flopping by the GOP on this issue?  They cannot have it both ways, harshly criticizing the surplus during the campaign then refuse to reduce it during the budget approval process?

The Riverfront Amphitheater

The County Commissioners voted this morning to appropriate $625,000 in matching funds for the initial phase of the Schuylkill River waterfront development project.  Judy Schwank and Tom Gajewski overcame Mark Scott's vehement opposition to approve the action.  The development of our river front area has been slow to develop and now something finally is underway.  The Commonwealth has approved $1.8+ million for the amphitheater project but it requires matching funds from the City, County and RDC.  Without some movement towards those matching funds Harrisburg might have reallocated the state money for other projects.

This move was designed to get the ball rolling and secure those funds.  Scott has been extremely vocal in his opposition to this project even though history shows strong urban renewal spurred by waterfront development projects everywhere.  These areas have rejuvenated many communities and brought serious investment into the communities and engendered great public appreciation and activity.  Opposing the development of our riverfront doesn't make any sense whatsoever.  David Thun was at this morning's meeting and reiterated the significance of the project and to allay concerns about progress of planning and dispel Mark Scott's objections.