When you weigh Reibman's responsibility for county corruption during his tenure, the best case scenario is that he took the area's most controversial and arrogant political operative in Solomon and handed him the power to draw up and award county contracts, hire and fire county employees, reshape county departments and authorities, and plan the county's economic future. And then didn't pay attention to what he was doing.In his 8 years as Exec, two Reibman cronies went to jail for what amounts to bribery. He imposed a 70% tax hike over two years, conceived a ridiculous $111 million bond that was used as a re-election gimmick, proposed a swaption that ended up costing the County $25 million, and drove county workers into the smiling arms of 11 different unions. Now he's collecting a public salary at Political Hacksville, the Joint Toll Bridge Comm'n. His return to politics has nothing to do with a desire for good government. Corbett is getting rid of him to make room for one of his own, so Reibman wants to pad his numerous pensions.
Under this scenario, Reibman could be ethically indifferent rather than dishonest. He also would be a monumental dolt.
Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski has already dispatched his campaign manager, Mike Fleck, to help. This has nothing to do with good government, either. It's revenge. Pawlowski, who is rather thin-skinned and part Klingon, is still having a hard time getting over Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan's rather muted criticisms of a very controversial NIZ. It's no secret that Callahan is running for Exec, too, and Pawlwoski wants to ruin his chances.
Ordinarily, I'd say that Republicans are salivating over what promises to be a primary fight. Their candidate - Council Prez John John Cusick or Bangor Mayor John Brown - should deliver the finishing blow to a wounded Democrat. But Republicans have problems of their own. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.
Everyone knows White has always had a hardon for Reibman. He also has a mancrush on Stoffa much like you.
ReplyDeleteHe totally ignored Stoffa's disgraceful behavior and his dishonesty undering the Gracedale fiasco.
White's over the top story reads more likle the rantings of a petulent child than a journalist.
Good job Callahan clan in getting that story out. Wait til the voters read your story in their mailboxes.
Because you are unable to rebut the message, you attack the messenger.
ReplyDeleteI really hope Cusick runs for Executive. I really want to see him get his head handed to him. Then we will see if he has that cocky grin. He really doesn't even have enough time from his day job to give full attention to being on council, let alone president of council. Would it make sense to give up his teaching job with his pension and benefits, to become the Executive. But then again, we will never know, because he doesn't stand a chance at winning. Next I hope Dertinger and McClure run. I want to see them lose and lose badly.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Angle going to throw his hat into a county wide election. He stands a better chance at winning in a county wide election than he does in the regional Slate Belt election. I hope we see him again in politics, and see him again soon!
its all government they all have there hidden agendas and what not. whoever is head of office never work for the people they only work for what benifits them and there cronies.
ReplyDeleteI would still take Reibman over Stoffa. At lerast the media covered Reibman, fairly or unfairly. Stoffa has goten a pass. As a result, he and his inept cabinet have established themselves as the the most inept and incompetent Adminstration in county history.
ReplyDeleteStoffa wins no prize for hionesty either. He has lied to the citizens and the empoyees. Just because guys like you and White refuse to write aobut it, it doens't change the facts.
Due to that neither you nor White have any more credibility tyhan Reibman.
"Never, ever trust anyone without eyebrows."
ReplyDeleteVOR
Math teachers a certainly qualified to run an entire county...certainly.
ReplyDelete"Mickey Grollman"... haha classic Easton reference.
ReplyDeleteMuch like a constipated math teacher, he couldn't work it out with a pencil. He left a mess, instead.
ReplyDeleteThe corrupt android Reibman for CE again? God forbid such an abomination.
ReplyDeleteWhere are they now, the two guys that went to jail?
ReplyDeleteReibman was the biggest disgrace to ever hit this County. His record was atrocious. You didn't even get into the "macing" of employees or illegal campaign donations maced by Soloman. The Council that served at that time waa just as bad. They were to be the check on the administration. When you cut the head off a snake it can still bite. Reibman is proof of that.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't we get good people to run for political office (County Executive)? Why is it always the cronies? Executive shouldn't be a stepping stone to another office. Reibman CANNOT be Executive. He will never get elected. Callagahn is bad news. He needs a job and will run for anything. How do we recruit good people? The median income in our County is around 46,000 dollars. Do we pay our elected officials enough?
ReplyDeleteReibman is right there with Bethlehem councilwoman Belinski, hello... anybody home?@?#)(*&???
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you mentioned Bangor's Mayor Brown as a possible candidate for county Exec. I think he is well qualified but he has very little name or face recognition outside the SB area at the moment. I believe that he will pass this time and wait for the next cycle four years down the road. A possible challenge to Emrick in two years may be an option for him too if he gets the itch to leave municipal politics.
ReplyDeleteHow about Lamont McClure? He would be the best out of all candidates in my opinion
ReplyDeleteActually no one who was a
ReplyDeleteReibman cabinet memeber went to jail. The one guy was a private vendor involved in some deal with Soloman.
As to county ocuncil. Ron Angle was on after only two years into Reibmans first term, so are you sayng he was incompetent? In fac,t the Republicans took over county council. They passed the tax increases.
Ron Angle ran against Reibman for county Executive and the voters picked Reibman.
Bottom line is anyone is an improvment over Stoffa. He took the massive surplus Reibman left him and has chewed it all up. With his over generous labor contracts and his buying buildings craze, he will leave nothing.
The next Administration will be stuck cleaning up after Stoffa. Maybe someone with expericnce is the best choice.
At least Reibman knows all the things not to do again.
"Actually no one who was a
ReplyDeleteReibman cabinet memeber went to jail. The one guy was a private vendor involved in some deal with Soloman."
I did not say they were in his cabinet. They were cronies, and one of them ran the show. A cabinet member did resign in disgrace after wife-swapping on the county dime. And then an administrator had to resign bc he was harassing a woman.
Yeah, he has a great record.
"How about Lamont McClure? He would be the best out of all candidates in my opinion"
ReplyDeleteMcClure is good at telling public sector unions what they want to hear. But when it comes to governing, he is abysmal. For one thing, he's never there. His legal judicial committee hasn't met in 3 years. I believe he's a stalking horse, and wants something.
"Stoffa has goten a pass. As a result, he and his inept cabinet have established themselves as the the most inept and incompetent Adminstration in county history"
ReplyDeleteNice grammar. And you talk about inept.
"Stoffa wins no prize for hionesty either. He has lied to the citizens and the empoyees. Just because guys like you and White refuse to write aobut it, it doens't change the facts."
An anonymous coward talks about honesty.
"Where are they now, the two guys that went to jail?"
ReplyDeleteGary Chromiak is a commercial advisor with the Lehigh Financial Group, and is looking to make a ton of $ on the NIZ.
Michael Solomon was working in retail, last I heard.
Just one more example of the corruption and mismanagement that exists in this Valley.
ReplyDeleteAnything that the Mayor of Allentown want is likely to be based on selfish desires and in no ways benefit the people of Allentown.
He is someone who cannot be trusted.
Bernie, is it true that Pawlowski is funding his "special assistant" to run for county council. I heard he is supposed to be there for Pawlowski if Callahan wins.
ReplyDeleteI think the guys name is "Izzy"
Yes. I posted a blog about it some weeks ago.
ReplyDeletedon't forget that in addition to Ed P and the Fleckster, JB Reilly has also committed money to Reibman.
ReplyDeleteBasically, a bunch of lehigh county politicos and developers trying to buy northampton county.
ya know, they did such a great job in allentown you'd see why they would want to export it...
Reibman over Callahan 52 to 48%.
ReplyDeleteMr. Roboto Riebman has two chances of becoming CE again - slim and none. And none just left town.
DeleteThe only way Johnny Casino wins is if McClure gets in the race. The folks in Bethlehem are sick of him and even if he could run for a third term in Bethlehem he would lose boig time.
ReplyDeleteBill White is a hack scum bag that has ignored the Stoffa fiasco of the last eight years to attack an Executive who actually got things done.
ReplyDeleteYes lets relive the last seven years which has been about waitng for the next eight years.
Bill Whites only ability is to make a pig out of himself at musakfest. His article was as over the top, as an O'Hare hissy fit.
ReplyDeleteBest way to not be taken serioulsy.
Hey White, were have youy been for the last seven years?
Bill White loves to greek wrestle with Stoffa and O'Hare.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Glenn. The county needs you.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear that..none of the above..is the best course of action. Maybe..just maybe..there is a chance for an independent person to lead the county instead of political hacks with tons of baggage. Who could that be? Is it possible for an independent to defeat the machine choices? Time will tell..
ReplyDeleteIf the Independent runs as an Independent with that "party" label we will see. Otherwisde it is just another Party hack pretending to be "independent" as a way to get votes.
ReplyDeleteBeen there, done that.
Stoffa pretended to be an "independent" and he was the worst county executive we have had.
The anonymous Stoffa hater crawls out from under his rock on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteJohn Stoffa..love him or hate him..was a true independent. He did things differently and for the most part..he did a pretty good job. He walked a fine line and the county was pretty well served. I give him an A minus overall.
ReplyDeleteHe bought needless buildings, t5ried to dump Gracedale, gave out double digit raises to some unions and givebacks froim others. He used up the largest budget surplus in county history.
ReplyDeleteOn the whoile he gets a D- for breathig, barely.
What buildings did he buy that were needless? What union got a double digit raise? The budget surplus created by Reibman was the result of a 70% tax hike, not something I'd brag about.
ReplyDeletePssu got double sdigfit rtaises. COLa plus stepts. Stoffa allowed that after two execuytives stipped th edounle dippoing.
ReplyDeleteThe archives building is a waste of money. We doin't need a seperate Human Service building when we are closing services for lack of funds. How about having planed a building for archives, Humans Services and non-court related serviecves. Wow, that may have been cost effective but it required smart planning something this Administration has never considered.
The Reibman shot is not relevent. It doesn't matter if Moses gave him the money, Stoffa and gang have spent it all, squandered on his dreams of legacy and incompetent leadership.
COLA plus steps is not a double digit raise. It was a 4.95% raise and was re-negotiated.
ReplyDeleteThe archives bldg is one bldg and is no waster of money. The County needs a place to store vital records. Our whole system of real estate transfers depends on that certainty. It's been required since William the Conqueror started the Domesday Book in 1066. The building was planned for years. It would be totally unnecessary had Reibman not knocked down the existing state of the art archives building. The Reibman shot is entirely relevant. Anyone can create a surplus by overtaxing people like he did.
Actually a contract gavve some of the Pssu staff raises of 11%(COLA plus step). Stop lying and people may think you have credibility on these issues.
ReplyDelete