Not good enough, Guv.

Don’t tell me you can’t.

You just won’t.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is absolutely empowered to take varied aggressive action to combat and neutralize abuse by Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) goons.

But he refuses.

Instead Shapiro playacts leadership, preening, posturing and preparing to one day announce his bid for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. More and more feeling the heat on his religiously dull book tour, though, he now seems inclined to at least offer lip service.

Blowing bureaucratic kisses to decent, hardworking people doesn’t cut it.

But at least Shapiro’s press office finally responded to one of my regular emails, this time addressing questions about mounting concern in Tremont Township where taxpayers are outraged by future ICE plans for their community that could raise taxes and slash services throughout Schuylkill County.

Plans are already in motion to turn a now vacant warehouse into an ICE detention fortress that will imprison about 7,500 immigrant detainees. Local officials estimate the sale of the warehouse property will result in lost annual revenue of $222,000 for Schuylkill County, $555,000 for the Pine Grove Area School District and $196,000 for Tremont Twp.

On 2/3/2026 I sent questions about the furor to Rosie Lapowsky who had been promoted to the top job of press secretary since I last contacted her with specific questions she ignored.

I asked, “What is Gov. Josh Shapiro’s position on the proposed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ICE facility in Tremont? Does Shapiro support the move? Will he assist the DHS move into this community? Why hasn’t Shapiro issued a statement thus far?”

In an email instructing me to attribute the response to “spokesperson Kayla Anderson,” the statement signed not by a person but by “Governor’s Press Office” says:

“Governor Shapiro opposes the federal Department of Homeland Security establishing new detention facilities in Pennsylvania, a view shared by the local communities who would be burdened by these centers. While the state does not get advance notice of or approve these types of sales, our Administration is actively evaluating our options. The Governor continues to work across state government agencies to protect people’s rights and halt the incredible overreach of the federal government into our communities that is making people less safe.”

Despite my specific questions about a specific Pennsylvania locale “burdened by these centers,” Shapiro’s flacks fail to pinpoint Tremont Township, Schuylkill County or ICE in the statement. Shapiro’s flacks fail to detail the “options” they claim the “Administration is actively evaluating.” Nor do Shapiro’s flacks tell us exactly how Shapiro “continues to work across state government agencies,” how he plans “to protect people’s rights,” what exactly he will do in Schuylkill County or elsewhere in the state to “halt the incredible overreach of the federal government into our communities that is making people less safe.”

The most “incredible overreach” encroaching on Tremont Township residents’ rights occurs each day Shapiro fails to personally take action to combat ICE abuses with aggressive public policy he has the power to launch. Unlike strong Democratic governors in other states, Shapiro has refrained from cracking down on ICE and refuses to publicly support barring local law enforcement agencies from formally facilitating federal immigration arrests.

According to a 2/4/2026 Washington Post article, “At least eight other states have already either prohibited or set restrictions against local police and sheriff’s offices entering into what are known as 287(g) partnerships, which enable those agencies to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement take into custody people they say are in the country illegally. New Mexico, New York, Hawaii and Virginia are considering similar bans during their 2026 state legislative sessions.”

Maryland is also currently considering a ban.

As in these other states with courageous governors who actually lead, a Pennsylvania ban against 287 (g) would immediately sever ICE agreements between sheriff’s offices, police departments and rabid district attorneys such as Republican bullyboy Sam Sanguedolce in Luzerne County who has agreed to a 287 (g) partnership.

Like their Democratic Party boss Shapiro, most Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, including all members of the lackluster Northeastern Pennsylvania contingent led by punchy State Sen. Marty Flynn, have failed to offer specific action-packed suggestions to fight back against ICE wrecking ball enforcement.

Shapiro’s vague response to my questions about safeguarding former coal patch communities in Tremont Township, Tremont Borough, Pine Grove, Joliett, Reinerton and elsewhere in this hardcore hunk of hard coal country is as flimsy as a threadbare flannel hunting shirt. Not only is Shapiro wretched presidential material, he’s not even good ol’ Schuylkill County commissioner material.

A Pennsylvania Dutch saying tells us a city dog wants to run out the door but a country dog stays on the porch because he’s not fenced in. Don’t fence in Tremont, Governor. America’s better off when good people breathe free.

We also need more bite and less bark.

Too bad our Blue Dog governor won’t hunt.