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Unhappy with a recent report I wrote, that cited a witness statement and asked questions regarding a ride taken by Council President Kelly Gross with a representative from one of the bidders for a trash hauling contract, Mayor Gross accused me of hiding behind a computer screen, not revealing who I am, having an agenda, and wrongfully accusing his daughter.

He claimed that I’m now under the scrutiny of the high bidder, Waste Management, who “has turned it over to their legal department.” He went on to say that it could cost me my home.

I think I just heard the Boogeyman knocking on my door.

“His blog hurts West Easton,” he claimed, referring to my website. Referencing things he believes I do not write about, such as the Halloween Parade, and the other good things in West Easton, he lambasted me as an important topic in his Mayor’s Report.

He took some time to vent his frustration at me and forewarn me of impending doom and Karma, at one point perturbed that I was taking notes during his scolding. “Keep writing, Matt” he told me, but I got the distinct impression that he didn’t mean it.

Though he didn’t say anyone lied, he claimed I threw those who made the observation of his daughter, “under the bus,” by writing about it.

I can only say that I write what I am told. I ask questions and I give opinions.

If those aren’t in line with what he thinks should be written regarding the wanted stories of rainbows and unicorns in West Easton, so be it. If he wants nothing but those types of stories, he needs to find a “Super Voter” to start another website and compete with me. Though, if that Super Voter is anything like the last one placed on council, his desired website would be nothing more than blank pages.

If Mayor Gross had bothered to read more than the occasional copy of a post, provided to him by some council puppet of his daughter, he would find stories of the Halloween Parade, Labor Day, support for his daughter and of him, and other “nice” stories when they are warranted. There are more than a few good things about West Easton I have written about.

He would also find that my name as owner of this website is visible on a number of items I’ve written, just as it is visible at the footer of this website. I have never denied the ownership of this website, nor tried to hide that fact.

I suppose I could quote his daughter, Kelly Gross, who once told me, “If you don’t like it, you can move,” but I’m not that petty.

I’m sure that as a father, he felt a need to respond in what he saw as an attack on his daughter. He can’t be happy with the coming makeup of the new council that will take their seats in January, or the fact that his daughter had angered enough residents over the past few years to be ousted off this last election ballot during the primary by a write-in candidate.

I could mention that an update to my original report repeated a statement, from Councilman Nodoline, that Kelly Gross had no type of paperwork when he viewed a video of her leaving borough hall. That update came from political blogger, Bernie O’Hare, who spoke to Nodoline and was good enough to relay to me what he was told.

I didn’t bother to ask Mayor Gross why he would state that any paperwork Kelly might have left with, was requested by him, which would contradict Councilman Nodoline. Either she didn’t have any, according to Nodoline, or if she did, it was for the Mayor, says the Mayor.

I guess it depends on who you ask.

Mr. Mannana, who first told me of the incident, again stated to me tonight, “I know what I saw.”

Kelly Gross, by the way, voted in favor of awarding the 5-year trash contract to the lowest bidder.

Councilman Nodoline was the sole dissenting vote, wanting to throw out all bids and repeat the bid process, apparently believing Waste Management’s high bid loss of the award was affected by little ol’ me.

That and more important issues will be written about on Tuesday evening and Wednesday, as will the posting of the meeting video.