Five reasons County Council’s new “wisdom” has people talking
County Council, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that what Delaware County really needs is yet another layer of bureaucracy.
Enter the shiny new Human Relations Commission, created under 43 P.S. § 962.1. This body will consist of seven to 13 “volunteers” handpicked by the County Executive and rubber-stamped by Council. These unelected appointees will wield the power to investigate, conciliate, adjudicate, and fine citizens who somehow stumble over the 18 pages of protected classes and prohibitions.
In other words — Big Brother (who now identifies as female) is alive and well at the Courthouse. As my late friend often said, “inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out.”
Protected Classes Galore
The ordinance defines an encyclopedia of protected categories: race, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, GED over high school diploma, disability, source of income, age, height, weight, veteran status, guide animals, and even domestic or sexual violence victim status. About the only thing missing is “people who don’t recycle their kombucha bottles.”
My First Complaint
Since the ordinance invites complaints, let me be the first in line. At a public meeting not so long ago, Councilwoman Christine Reuther instructed county staff, “Don’t send me any more middle-aged white guys from Bonner.”
That’s discrimination against at least four protected classes:
- Catholics (Bonner)
- Whites
- Males
- Middle-aged
A clean sweep! If the new commission wants to prove its legitimacy, it can start by holding Councilwoman Reuther accountable.
My Second Complaint
Then there’s the tragic case of a 23-year-old paraplegic prisoner at George Hill Correctional Facility, found dead in his cell. He was dressed only in an adult diaper, surrounded by catheters, and left to die slowly of sepsis. If this isn’t neglect, discrimination, or worse — negligent homicide — what is? Who answers for that?
The Missing Discrimination: Taxpayers
Curiously, the ordinance leaves out one form of discrimination: financial discrimination against the working class.
- How much will taxpayers shell out to “staff” these volunteers?
- How many millions “more” will be tacked onto the $4.5 million in annual legal bills the county already racks up?
- Why do we need a county-run commission when the State Human Relations Commission already exists — just like we already had a State Health Department before Council decided they needed their own toy, a Delaware County Health Department that costs $20 million dollars a year.
The Bigger Picture
Council, we’ve got an election coming. Last time, you raised taxes 30 percent after promising otherwise. This time, will you admit in advance you’re readying another tax hike? Or will you again “omit important information for political gain”? (Translation: lying)
Progressives claim to be forward-thinking, but with every new bureaucracy, tax, and ordinance, the policies become more regressive. Delaware County families, already burdened by soaring costs, are now footing the bill for council’s latest power grab.
How can progressives be so regressive?
Wally Nunn is the former Chairman of Delaware County Council.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
Christine Reuther’s anti-Catholic bigotry is galling, especially in light of her resume:
1-There have been many smart Bonner students through the years who never bothered to apply to Harvard. The understanding in archdiocesan schools is that unless you’re a world class rower, Harvard isn’t interested in any student who may turn out to be a pro-life Republican.
2-I’ll give her Berkeley. No smart Bonner boy was ever so stupid that he wanted to attend Berkeley.
3-And no Bonner boy has ever been a DEI hire at a left-wing law firm.
Nunn is correct. This “Human Rights Commission” ought to begin with an investigation of Christine Reuther.
Spot on, Pops! We can start with Christine’s affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America, and with her appointment to a vacancy on the Board of Elections of Scott Alberts, a current presiding officer of that organization. You know, the same Scott Alberts who cannot bring himself to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we can segue to Christine’s ongoing affiliation with the radical group, Indivisible. You know, the group that brought thousands of out-of-state “volunteers” into Delco in Nov 2020 to help Christine administer the election. Then perhaps we can look into Christine’s solicitation of Zuck Bucks to purchase 50 ballot drop boxes that same year. Just getting started, Christine.
The only comment I have is that elections have consequences. Stay at home or otherwise don’t vote in your county elections and this is what you will get. If the Republican party in Delaware County cannot mount a successful campaign to defeat the current slate of county commissioners there, then the Republican party in Delaware County is at fault, and needs to re think its ability to motivate the voters.