tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post941880038600526880..comments2024-03-29T04:47:16.071-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bethlehem Has 90 Pages of Documents Detailing Dolan's Nonprofit DebtBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3467202371236766452014-04-22T09:21:58.386-04:002014-04-22T09:21:58.386-04:00I am not crazy about extensively quoting from the ...I am not crazy about extensively quoting from the copy of another person without his consent or a link. <br /><br />This copy is about half of Bill White's column. <br /><br />I generally delete this kind of comment. <br /><br />Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63398200302036584922014-04-22T09:03:06.161-04:002014-04-22T09:03:06.161-04:00"Yes, they should. Now let's go to our se..."Yes, they should. Now let's go to our second case study, entitled How Not To Be A City Councilwoman. For variety, let's call this city … Bethlehem.<br /><br />"In addition to your duties as a city councilwoman — let's call you Karen Dolan — you are paid $24,000 to be executive director of a nonprofit environmental center in one of the city's parks. Your group raised $1.2 million and restored an 1856 grist mill, which it leased from the city. It also has been benefiting from free city services.<br /><br />"The mill can be rented for weddings and other events in addition to its environmental objectives. Its website says it hosts about 20 weddings and another 100 other events a year.<br /><br />"There have been concerns that your arrangement with the city was uncomfortably generous. Whatever lease you had at one time has not been enforced, and the parties haven't been able to negotiate another one, so the organization has been using city property — and until recently not being billed for utilities — without a formal legal arrangement.<br /><br />"At one time the organization owed the city $128,000, but that debt was quietly written off. Still, you could reasonably argue that Bethlehem is better off with a restored and open historic building in its park, so it has a stake in keeping this organization and its building financially viable.<br /><br />"Anyway, you are named chairwoman of City Council's Parks Committee, and in that capacity, you propose changes in park regulations, including easing restrictions on alcoholic beverages in such a way that it would permit wine to be served in park facilities. You use the city's Ice House as an example of a facility that would benefit from this change by becoming more attractive as a place for wedding receptions.<br /><br />"What you don't mention is that another beneficiary would be the facility you run as executive director.<br /><br />"The city's relationship with your nonprofit is under fire, and the new mayor proposes a new lease that would formalize and legitimize whatever arrangement has been made. You respond by threatening to do whatever you can to keep this from reaching City Council for a vote — then back off and eventually announce your resignation as executive director.<br /><br />"Have you behaved properly? Yes, Fred?"<br /><br />"As a city councilwoman, she never should have proposed changes that would benefit her facility," he said. "But if she did, she should have disclosed how the change would benefit her organization. It's one conflict of interest after another."<br /><br />"Very good. It may be in the city's best interests to help this nonprofit. But any such arrangements should be out in the open — and this city councilwoman has behaved stupidly and unethically.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-48887367208237371912014-04-17T13:26:51.487-04:002014-04-17T13:26:51.487-04:00Bernie,
City money was spent on a city property...Bernie, <br /> City money was spent on a city property. I think you are right when it comes to the question of paying rent and utilities. But if you rent a home or office space, the renter is not responsible for any electrical, plumbing or foundation upgrades or issues. That is the responsibility of the property owner. The property and the Fox Environmental Center in my mind is a wonderful place that hundreds of children get to visit every year. Considering what this building was and what it now is, I think the City made a great investment in a fabulous part of our beautiful Monocacy Park. <br />If the Admin. and Council doesn't have a problem with it, which they obviously don't , I'm just not getting where the big scandal is? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23621010521546476332014-04-17T09:37:34.802-04:002014-04-17T09:37:34.802-04:00I'm not seeing this corruption you are seeing....I'm not seeing this corruption you are seeing. I don't disagree that she should resign her council seat but I'm seeing how she enriched herself personally or made any monetary gain on this thing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-88018049731725825472014-04-17T09:26:51.442-04:002014-04-17T09:26:51.442-04:00I see, Requiring a nonprofit to honor its own word...I see, Requiring a nonprofit to honor its own word is a witch hunt. Asking questions about the favoritism shown, when its Executive Director just happens to sit on Council, is a witch hunt. <br /><br />Well, Dolan has resigned from the Mill, but she needs to resign from the office she disgraced. Then the hunt will end. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51843598383158815712014-04-17T09:22:23.508-04:002014-04-17T09:22:23.508-04:0011:05 - The other guys argument was much better. ...11:05 - The other guys argument was much better. This non-profit did apparently consume city dollars but they also maintained a historic property that the city didn't have to worry about. The problem here was forming this non-profit to begin with to deal with the mill. It was never going to make money to pay back any loans. Be real. The city obviously knew that and absolved the debt. <br /><br />Dude, you are on a serious witch hunt. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-78212759846338758772014-04-16T23:41:45.427-04:002014-04-16T23:41:45.427-04:00Ovem, You are correct. This is a won battle, but n...Ovem, You are correct. This is a won battle, but not a won war. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-89760593778467807752014-04-16T23:17:00.987-04:002014-04-16T23:17:00.987-04:0010:36,
Wow!
The condescending attitude of Karen...10:36, <br /><br />Wow!<br /><br />The condescending attitude of Karen Dolan:<br /><br />"I don't live in a poor neighborhood. ... Excuse me, they're not supposed to me talking back to us."Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-90941909700199578072014-04-16T23:13:26.859-04:002014-04-16T23:13:26.859-04:00Please don't take the "war" analogy ...Please don't take the "war" analogy too literal folks, but only a noble battle has been won here, and I have my doubts about the long-term war. So long as she is on Council, in the long run the same de facto relationship exists.Ovem Lupo Commiterehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756533892368983383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-677771167185357302014-04-16T23:05:25.079-04:002014-04-16T23:05:25.079-04:0010:47, Let's put it another way, shall we? Thi...10:47, Let's put it another way, shall we? This nonprofit borrowed the money from Bethlehem for improvements at the Mill, where is has a lease for the next gazillion years with not a dime in rent. The non-profit refused to repay the money it agreed to pay. In effect, it appropriated $127,000 of the City's money for its project, at the expense of other projects that certainly had more priority, like meeting payroll. Worse than this, it took borrowed money. This means the taxpayers were on the hook for much more than $127,000, perhaps even double that amount. Worse yet, the nonprofit made its own decision on how to spend the City's money, when those decisions should be made by Council. <br /><br />Let's say that, instead of paying my Bethlehem taxes, I use the money to fix the potholes on my block. I may have benefited the City, but I still stole from it. And guess what? No judge would let me off the hook by any argument that I used the money for the City. <br /><br />By the same token, Foxs and Dolan should not be left off the hook. i doubt they have the resources to pay, but Dolan needs to resign from Council. She substituted her judgment for City Council and abused her office. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-28629133833847124832014-04-16T22:47:48.544-04:002014-04-16T22:47:48.544-04:00Let me get this straight.The city owned a property...Let me get this straight.The city owned a property. They abandoned the property. It was boarded up and condemned. <br />-Then a non profit organization spends tens of thousands of hours of volunteer work devoted to this project at no cost to the tax payer. <br />The non-profit raises over $1.2 million to totally renovate the building. <br />-The city spends a total of $127,000 on refurbishing interior aspects of electrical, plumbing and heating units. <br />-The City still owns the property. <br />-The property value is now assessed at over a MILLION DOLLARS<br /><br />And this is an issue? LOL. We should have more issues in Allentown like this. <br />Bernie you invite these idiots on here by allowing everyone to post anonymously. Put your money where your mouth is and stop allowing anonymous posts. You complain about people posting anonymously and no doubt will attack me for also doing so. Stop allowing it and make people accountable and watch the trash stop. But then that would mean the end of your blog. LOL. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-14649549127004728182014-04-16T22:36:36.463-04:002014-04-16T22:36:36.463-04:00Check this you tube video about closing the Fire S...Check this you tube video about closing the Fire Station and Karen Dolan states that she does not live in a poor location in the city and that she has a fire suppression system in her house ( i.e smoke detectors ), and does not have a 3rd floor in her house. <br /><br />BUT, she works at Illick's mill that does have a 3rd floor. So she works ( getting paid ) and this was in 2011. <br /><br />How long before 2011 has she been getting paid?<br /><br />Check this out. Starts around the 14:00 mark <br /><br />http://youtu.be/RYzIaGWevB4<br /><br />Resign from Council NOW !!!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-29491539766533177782014-04-16T17:59:19.420-04:002014-04-16T17:59:19.420-04:00anon 5:15, the hospital has a walk-in mental healt...anon 5:15, the hospital has a walk-in mental health clinic. You better hurry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-35557176174470171472014-04-16T17:15:09.625-04:002014-04-16T17:15:09.625-04:00Hank Aaron used to be a hero to this white kid fro...Hank Aaron used to be a hero to this white kid from a Republican family who worshiped him and grew up with his poster on my wall. Then, he called me a KKK member. Now, he's just another hateful racist piece of political shit. I suspect he was on speed, like most of the cheaters of his day. When he finally croaks, I'll visit his grave to urinate on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-28007163948638173592014-04-16T17:05:02.472-04:002014-04-16T17:05:02.472-04:00"Hank Aaron is the Democratic spokes(person) ..."Hank Aaron is the Democratic spokes(person) now?"<br /><br />Yes.<br /><br />This sort of obvious Hate Speech from Hank Aaron sounds exactly like what the official Democratic spokesperson would be inclined to say ... AND the Democrat-controlled Main Stream Media in all their glory, as well.<br /><br />Happy Jackie Robinson Day!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76183837250623246692014-04-16T16:57:26.330-04:002014-04-16T16:57:26.330-04:00Amazing what one can cover over in Bethlehem City...Amazing what one can cover over in Bethlehem City Government. So many people knew about this; they had to. Every one afraid to blow a whistle ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-84060032040628849542014-04-16T15:52:27.844-04:002014-04-16T15:52:27.844-04:00Hank Aaron is the Democratic spokesman now?
He ...Hank Aaron is the Democratic spokesman now? <br /><br />He IS the home run king. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-73812878933938338832014-04-16T15:02:58.807-04:002014-04-16T15:02:58.807-04:00Democrats can do and say what they want, whenever ...Democrats can do and say what they want, whenever they want.<br /><br />Just ask Hank Aaron.<br /><br />His poop definitely does not smell bad (as compared to all the Republicans, who ARE in the KKK, of course).<br /><br />What a cultural icon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87669191267618998102014-04-16T14:47:08.023-04:002014-04-16T14:47:08.023-04:0011:38, Donchez and other members of Coucil voted f...<i>11:38, Donchez and other members of Coucil voted for this, and were under the impression that Fox was paying the city under the terms of its lease. They were not given the whole story.</i><br /><br />Donchexz and the entire city council should resign. It's their duty to know what they are voting on and their ignorance is not a cover of complicity. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-75654532265513806292014-04-16T14:44:44.271-04:002014-04-16T14:44:44.271-04:00Some of the comments above reflect an tacit accept...<i><br />Some of the comments above reflect an tacit acceptance that corruption and/or incompetence are to be accepted in public government. Kind of like "let them do what they want, if in my opinion (and theirs) it is for the overall good of the community." Why go through the motions if you aren't going to actually do the job? For your own benefit?</i><br /><br />At this point in my life, I accept incompetence in ALL facets of life, not just government. It's highest in private enterprise, actually. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-42021968179015551732014-04-16T12:52:35.530-04:002014-04-16T12:52:35.530-04:00Morganelli's not too busy. He's too uneth...Morganelli's not too busy. He's too unethical and too Democrat. Is that redundant? Is that redundant? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-58638209116423583112014-04-16T12:36:48.849-04:002014-04-16T12:36:48.849-04:0011:38, Donchez and other members of Coucil voted f...11:38, Donchez and other members of Coucil voted for this, and were under the impression that Fox was paying the city under the terms of its lease. They were not given the whole story. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-23472578824677877432014-04-16T12:32:28.132-04:002014-04-16T12:32:28.132-04:00In Allentown, Councils can be bought off for free....In Allentown, Councils can be bought off for free.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-44600073136443260692014-04-16T12:29:08.240-04:002014-04-16T12:29:08.240-04:00What's a little spillage here and there?
We...What's a little spillage here and there?<br />We're all friends,aren't we?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-26494743636771173022014-04-16T12:23:17.237-04:002014-04-16T12:23:17.237-04:00I will try to do that a bit more. Thanks for the s...I will try to do that a bit more. Thanks for the suggestion.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.com