Pennsylvania Cut Funds for Senior Centers But Manages to Come Up With $1 Million for 250th Anniversary Events in the Lehigh Valley

May 29, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Northampton County said back in April that it would close two centers for senior citizens because Pennsylvania was cutting almost $400,000 in funding.

Then yesterday, the state came up with $1 million of taxpayers’ money for what amounts to an extended July 4 celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

I hope somebody can find a few dollars to highlight the Hamilton/Jefferson debate about government spending and authority that shaped the early U.S.

Or maybe just blow it all on fireworks, hot dogs and beer.

The local celebration will be run by Lehigh Valley 250, which includes arts, tourism and education institutions, among them Lafayette College, Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.

Those are solid outfits so perhaps the money won’t be wasted, but should the state — that is, all of us — be footing the bill?

We allow our government to compel us to pay taxes on purchases, income, homes and more. Should the government not show some respect and only spend on things that are essential?

This announcement of the “investment” (government speak for spending) in Easton on Thursday gave local politicians a chance to boast of bi-partisanship. Fair enough: Democrats and Republicans both like to spend our money, and when they do it together, there is mutual admiration among the elite.

Here’s a link to the broadcast of the event. It’s 40 minutes long. I didn’t watch the whole thing. Among the local luminaries boasting of spending our money: state senators Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem and Nick Miller, D-Allentown, and state representatives Bob Freeman, D-Easton, and Ann Flood, R-Northampton.

The party will go on all summer, but not at the Lower Nazareth Senior Center and the Northampton Senior Center. They will close as of June 30.

The national debt hurtles toward $40 trillion. The State of Pennsylvania has cut funds that help older residents, school taxes are going up and everything costs more, but hey, who cares?

Yes, let’s spend taxpayers’ money and then brag about being bipartisan.

Hey, what’s another $1 million?

Party On!