Residents press commissioners on armed‑group contingencies, housing authority staffing and wages
January 15, 2026 | Franklin County, Pennsylvania
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During public comment at the Jan. 14 Franklin County meeting, two residents raised safety and housing concerns that drew direct staff clarification.
An unidentified commenter (Speaker 3) opened public comment by asking commissioners what contingency plans exist to prevent "an armed body like us" from operating in Franklin County, referencing incidents in Portland and Minneapolis. "What's the contingency to keep, a let's say, an armed body like us out of this county? Or do you even have any type of contingency?" the speaker asked.
Valerie Jordan of Fayetteville (Speaker 4) delivered an extended set of questions about the Franklin County Housing Authority, asking: the exact number of county employees working for the authority; how many employees had left the union; the total 2025 salaries for those who left; and the authority's 2026 annual budget. Jordan also claimed the county pays "$500 a year for leaving a union," cited a $154,200,000 figure without context, expressed concern that starting wages (she cited $18 an hour for a sheriff's deputy) are too low for home ownership and asked whether a planned food pantry would serve U.S. veterans. "Please answer my questions," she told the commissioners.
Carrie (Speaker 5) responded during the public comment period to clarify the housing authority matters Jordan raised: "Is it an independent entity? So there are 0 County employees that work for that. The commissioner's role is to appoint the board members. The executive director's name is Daniel Myers... [the housing authority is] not part of the county budget." Carrie did not directly corroborate Jordan's asserted figures about union payments or the $154,200,000 number; those items remained unaddressed in the meeting record.
Chair (Speaker 1) then closed public comment and the board moved to the consent agenda. No formal staff report or vote followed on the specific claims about union payments, the 2026 authority budget or the $154,200,000 figure.
What to watch: Valerie Jordan asked for email responses and for the commission to provide the requested budget and staffing details in writing.
An unidentified commenter (Speaker 3) opened public comment by asking commissioners what contingency plans exist to prevent "an armed body like us" from operating in Franklin County, referencing incidents in Portland and Minneapolis. "What's the contingency to keep, a let's say, an armed body like us out of this county? Or do you even have any type of contingency?" the speaker asked.
Valerie Jordan of Fayetteville (Speaker 4) delivered an extended set of questions about the Franklin County Housing Authority, asking: the exact number of county employees working for the authority; how many employees had left the union; the total 2025 salaries for those who left; and the authority's 2026 annual budget. Jordan also claimed the county pays "$500 a year for leaving a union," cited a $154,200,000 figure without context, expressed concern that starting wages (she cited $18 an hour for a sheriff's deputy) are too low for home ownership and asked whether a planned food pantry would serve U.S. veterans. "Please answer my questions," she told the commissioners.
Carrie (Speaker 5) responded during the public comment period to clarify the housing authority matters Jordan raised: "Is it an independent entity? So there are 0 County employees that work for that. The commissioner's role is to appoint the board members. The executive director's name is Daniel Myers... [the housing authority is] not part of the county budget." Carrie did not directly corroborate Jordan's asserted figures about union payments or the $154,200,000 number; those items remained unaddressed in the meeting record.
Chair (Speaker 1) then closed public comment and the board moved to the consent agenda. No formal staff report or vote followed on the specific claims about union payments, the 2026 authority budget or the $154,200,000 figure.
What to watch: Valerie Jordan asked for email responses and for the commission to provide the requested budget and staffing details in writing.
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