State Rep. Hogan helps craft bills for more housing in PA – Bucks Round-Up – December 2, 2025
State Rep. Hogan helps craft bills for more housing in PA
State Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Langhorne) is pushing a package of housing reforms he says could help Pennsylvania confront its growing affordability gap. Hogan has been holding roundtable sessions with Rep. Jared Solomon (D-202) to examine why building remains slow despite strong demand. He argues the conversations have revealed a thicket of obstacles imposed at multiple levels of government, from municipal bottlenecks to state-level bureaucracy. Hogan points to rising buyer ages as a warning sign: The typical first-time homeowner is now about 40, and the median buyer is 59, according to the National Association of Realtors. Hogan is backing several bipartisan bills aimed at expanding supply. One proposal would establish preapproved housing plans to streamline local approvals and lower project costs. Another would create a statewide housing ombudsman to help developers navigate Harrisburg’s regulatory delays. Hogan is also calling for a Residential Economic Development District program, which would use state grants to help municipalities build housing near major employers. The effort reflects a growing recognition in Harrisburg that high housing costs are limiting opportunity for young families and hindering economic growth.
CBSD HR director received salary and benefits through end of last year
Former Central Bucks School District Human Resources Director Robert Freiling his full salary and benefits through the end of the last school year, pursuant to a separation agreement. He served in that position for seven months before being placed on paid leave at the end of April, a week after the nonprofit Disability Rights Pennsylvania released its report positing that several school employees mishandled allegations of abuse of autistic students at Jamison Elementary School. Freiling was tasked with heading an internal investigation when the accusations were first made last November. In August, Freiling said at a public discipline hearing that Superintendent Steven Yanni instructed him to advise a Jamison parent that the internal inquiry determined the abuse didn’t happen. Two days later, on August 21, Freiling reached his settlement with the district. The prior September, CBSD hired him at a $160,000 salary. In October, the district fired Yanni and, in late November, commissioned the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to conduct a search for a new chief administrator. Charles Malone serves as interim superintendent.
Cryptocurrency scammers active in Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township police are warning residents about a noticeable increase in cryptocurrency scams targeting local households. Officers say the schemes vary — fake investment platforms promising outsized returns, phishing attempts disguised as legitimate crypto services, romance scams built around fabricated online relationships, and impersonations of government or financial institutions. Authorities urge residents to be skeptical of unsolicited pitches, verify websites and emails, avoid investments they do not fully understand, and use strong passwords with two-factor authentication. Police ask anyone who believes they were targeted to file a report immediately.
Ribbon cutting scheduled in Middletown for upgraded Lions Park
Middletown Township is preparing to unveil major upgrades at Lions Park, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for Saturday, December 13, from noon to 2 p.m. The playground at Snowball Drive — a prominent corner along Trenton Road and Veterans Highway — has been outfitted with new equipment replacing structures nearly three decades old. The $120,000 township-funded project includes additional state grant support and in-house construction work by the Public Works Department, which also added new pathways and a small parking area. Newly planted trees from the Environmental Advisory Council are expected to enhance the park as they mature, creating a more shaded and welcoming neighborhood space.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
