Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle Takes Millions of Taxpayer Dollars But Blocks Public From Its Annual Meeting

Sept. 25, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Bethlehem Co-Op Boondoggle has taken in more than $3 million of taxpayers’ money, but it’s shutting the public out of its annual meeting.

That event will be held Oct. 6, but it’s open only to people who put up $300 to become members of something that does not exist, has pushed back its opening date years and has more than $1 million in debt.

The members have put up a little over a half-million dollars, based on 1,700 or so of them each paying $300 each.

The public has involuntarily contributed $3.1 million at least:

— $2.9 million federal grant.

— $100,000 state grant (more on that later).

— $105,000 from Bethlehem from a federal program. That money could have been used on fixing a street, not establishing a small grocery store at 250 E. Broad St. under three floors of yuppie apartments.

So taxpayers have put up six times as much as the members have in fees but if some irritating blogger or pesky reporter wants to listen to the Oct. 6 meeting, they’re out of luck.

From the Co-Op website: “The meeting is open to all member-owners” who should look for email that “contains a link to a form to RSVP for the Annual Member-Owner Meeting; you must RSVP to receive the link for the virtual meeting.”

So the link isn’t available to taxpayers who are curious about why a small, vocal special-interest group received their money.

I’m asking City of Bethlehem officials to ask that the boondoggle’s meeting be open. They can’t compel that, but some of them are members and even voted in 2019 for it to receive the $105,000.

The Co-Op might send me the link on its own. They didn’t respond to my last email, but it could happen.

Perhaps some disgruntled member or public-spirited donor could send me the link.

I could send $300 and become a member … no, thank you. If it does open, I’ll venture inside and look for the pork barrel.