Armstrong: Allentown's Frankenstein Monster

Scott Armstrong 

When I posted a Scott Armstrong essay is September, there were numerous complaints like this - "And here is the challenge to Bernie: Stop publish nonsense like this from Scott Armstrong if he cannot produce a commentary with some substance. Just refuse to publish it." So I will respond to this challenge by publishing another Scott Armstrong essay. His last epistle, by the way, generated 83 comments, good and bad.

This one's about Allentown, and I pretty much agree with him.

For years now Allentown’s Democratic voters have chosen party allegiance over common sense at the ballot box. In 2005 they promoted to mayor a key player in a failed administration and since, have repeatedly elected and re-elected proven incompetents to city council. Meanwhile, they voted out of office every Republican-- including by all accounts, Allentown’s best city council person in memory, Tom Burke--and failed to support well qualified and capable Allentownians for city positions just because of party affiliation. Their straight party voting has produced a city controlled by a party machine under the thumb of a Democratic mayor and his Democratic cohorts on council. Every city bureau, agency, commission, and board is also populated by Democratic team players; all stand ready to receive and act on orders from the top. For good measure, the local press and media dominated as well by Democrats, routinely reports favorably on all this. This is how Allentown works, or more precisely, doesn’t work for the greater good. The latest example of this is the mayor’s plan to sell the city’s water works to pay off poorly thought out public sector pension obligations. This plan is so bad a few current and former Democratic elected officials are aghast. In a desperate attempt to stop the sale they are sounding the alarm and expecting a result. The monster they had a hand in creating is running amuck, bent on the fiscal destruction of the city, and despite their plea, the public pays no heed. After all, why should the citizenry be aroused? Aren’t the good guys in charge? Weren’t all the threats to the city removed when the Republican Tom Burke was thrown out of office?

The old adage of “you reap what you sow” is coming home to roost. Allentown’s Democratic voters and Democratic civic leaders have all had a hand in creating the monster that is the Pawlowski Administration. Presently, the wiser ones, aroused, are shocked by the destruction it/he is leveling on the city. How unfortunate it is for them to comprehend that their campaign to vilify those who could have stopped the monster was all too successful. Their call to action now falls on deaf ears.

Anonymous Commenters Welcome, But I "Out" Trolls

My Comments Policy

You are welcome to comment anonymously here. Some of you have good reason to fear retribution if your identities are disclosed. Without anonymity, we'd all be deprived of your inside insights. Others among you may own small businesses, where it is never a good idea to voice strong opinions. A few of you may even wish to remain anonymous simply to protect your children's identity.

Whatever the reason, I am more interested in the message than the messenger. I respect the preference of many genuine commenters for pseudonymity and will protect their privacy. On the other hand, I have and will out people who hide behind the veil of anonymity to launch nasty personal attacks. I'll also out public officials and corporations who attempt to mislead readers.

I'm about to do it again.

These sinners violate the Daily Whackjob's Fourth Commandment: "If you feel like you can’t say something using your real name or your usual screen name, then you probably shouldn’t say it." Violations inevitably lead to the Sixth Commandment: "Don’t be surprised when anonymous commenters/bloggers get outed after making fools of themselves."

A Few Outed Trolls

Over the past two years, I've outed a few such fools. One of them is George Speros Maniatty, Jr, an anonymous troll who constantly tries to ruin meaningful discussion with misinformation and childish taunts. He's an Allentown Democratic committeeman and rabid Sam Bennett supporter. But candidates keep George at arm's length because his sleazy antics can get them in trouble. George's myspace profile tells us he's single and looking. I'm already taken, so he's reduced to friends like "Ivana Fukalot."

I outed Northampton County council member Lamont McClure when he disingenuously tried to pass himself off as a normal "man on the street", who was gathering information about county government on the basis of what he reads in The Express Times. I even outed an astroturf blog being paid by AT&T to manipulate public opinion about net neutrality. In both of those cases, there was a dishonest attempt to manipulate public opinion.

You can be a troll, too!

Local blogger Chris Casey thinks my comments policy is just horrible, repeatedly calls me a blog Nazi (without having the guts to mention me by name) and ridiculously complains my comments policy is the reason no one ever comments on his blog. Waaah. He even goes so far as to recommend you all rush out right away to buy anonymous surfing software so that you can all be trolls, too. I've got news for Casey. Anyone, including him, who thinks anonymity gives him a license to launch vicious personal attacks, is eventually going to be outed.

This brings me to the latest troll, a person who first appeared in January, when I wrote about Allentown Mayor Pawlowski's strong-arm tactics against a 75 year-old woman who dared conduct yard sales outside her Turner Street home. Lagata8484 exploded with a vicious diatribe aimed at Lázaro Fuentes (with an á, damn it!), Michael Molovinsky, Scott Armstrong and yours truly.

The words that never hurt you

Bernie: "is only known to his bellyaching companions and the leaders in business and commerce and government dont take him seriously as he is annoying and very small."

Molovinsky: "was ridiculed and trounced when he took himself seriously and made a run for mayor, the city has spoken loudly that no one knows how his mind works nor cares."

Armstrong: "is ever present at city council meetings bitching about stuff that no one else seems to care about. He is a case study for bad style and has a pit bull mind on a french poodle face and a voice that makes God cringe."

Fuentes: "Lazaro's Hispanic Chamber may be down to 2 members soon, him and his wife , as he is a hispanic version of Scott. The chamber has no presence in the latino community or any where else, it has as much credibility as Lazaro's degree from Columbia University. What a joke the lot of you are."

Intimidation Tactics a Pawlowski Standard

According to Scott Armstrong, these intimidation tactics are standard fare from Pawlowski's horde. He should know. Sycophants have attempted to intimidate Armstrong with love notes like this:

"I heard you on WAEB the other morning. You certainly have a big mouth. Instead of flapping your gums, why don't just keep sucking cocks? We in the neighborhood know exactly what you do, and to whom you do it. We are watching every move you make. We wonder what the members of Allentown City Council, would think of you, if they only knew. The next time you attend a Council Meeting, you are going to be exposed, for what you are. A cock sucker.
Have a great day, From all us"

And this:

"Hey, Blow anyone today? You know who we are!! TaTa, You, neighbor on the corner."

Verbal intimidation is one thing, but it extends to physical threats, too. Armstrong tells me "my car was vandalized with an M-80, and it was keyed countless times. The phone would ring when I entered the house and when I picked it up the caller would hang up; this happened routinely and was meant to send a message. My back door bell was rung in the middle of the night. My phone would ring at all hours with no one on the other end."

Armstrong is by no means alone. I've noticed myself that the standard response to any criticism of Mayor Pawlowski is an anonymous personal attack. But I had decided to ignore Lagata8484.

Until last week. That's when he posted a comment that snarked Lázaro's wife, calling her a "rice and beans" eater. I tried ignoring that, but can't.

Pawlowski Troll is Edward DeGrace

Lagata8484 is actually Edward DeGrace, described by Scott Armstrong as a Pawlowski apologist. "He's part of the city machine and will do what he has to do to make sure the machine succeeds." DeGrace, who actually hails from Cape Verde, is a Democratic activist who worked for Pawlowski's 2005 mayoral campaign. I tried calling him at his home last night, but this Air Products-employed intimidator was too scared to get on the phone. Morning Call archives paint him as a "community activist" who has even had a few op-eds published. He's also a Pawlowski bully who lacks the courage to be accountable for what he writes.

It matters very little to me if someone wants to attack me or talk about my alcoholism or legal suspension or weight or adult film career. And I appreciate people who disagree with me. I already know what I think and think we all benefit from different points of view. But when someone uses anonymity to attack other people, they're already doing something stupid. After that, it's only a matter of time.

Lehigh County Republicans Fighting ... Themselves

Triangulation.

That's what Bill Clinton did to stop Republicans from outright world conquest when they seized both houses of Congress. It worked, too. Now that the shoe's on the other foot, Republicans are having a devil of a time trying to figure out how to respond. Are they too conservative and driving people away? Or are people running from the GOP because it no longer stands for anything?

Beats the hell out of me!

I do know this. Lehigh County Republicans are embroiled right now in a bitter fight for the soul of the party. An email war has been raging for the past several days over an attempt by some local Republicans to censure Senator Arlen Specter. Nobody's been killed, but it's getting hot and heavy, a battle between purists and bluebloods. Some of the email exchanges have been leaked to me.

Charles Snelling: "This is madness!!! Some of us have certainly lost our way. I don't know how this particular episode of craziness will end, but I do know that if we don't find ways to work together as a party, we will cease to be a party."

Scott Armstrong: "Those who refuse to act are the ones engaging in the 'self destructive behavior'. It is 'madness' to do nothing."

Charles Snelling: "I don't know how we are going to make progress if Scott and others of like mind, continue to heap calumny on everyone that doesn't hold to their very exact line, and on our hard work, in our own way, for the value system in which you claim to believe."

Scott Armstrong: "This is a deeply offensive remark and totally undeserved. I have done no such thing; I have expressed my opinion and done so respectfully. Charles, the resort to this sort of rhetoric undermines both your argument and your reputation."

Charles Snelling: "I credit myself as being a very precise user of English-language. It is my considered opinion, after rereading the e-mails, that it is certainly true that they "heap calumny" on the Sen., on me and indeed on anybody who supports him. If you wish not to be accused of this than I can only recommend that you and your associates, since my subject was plural, be more careful and courteous in your originating e-mail's. Friendship is one thing, and I respect and enjoy it. But it is not a free pass to be rude and abusive. When that happens I will respond directly, now and in the future."

Joseph Lynn: "I have heard you say in a room full of people, 'Oh, knock it off. Nobody likes me!'"

Joseph Lynn: "It seems to me enough cooler heads at meeting may keep censure resolution from going anywhere substantive."

Joe Hilliard: "The letter has been submitted. The proposed censure has been submitted. Chairman Platt is correct that this would be 'uncharted waters'. However, more and more Republicans feel that our Country is plunging into 'uncharted waters' as well as the liberal/socialist agenda is ramrodded through – with too much Republican support. Extraordinary times require extraordinary leadership."

Joseph Lynn: "YOU ARE PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF OUR OPPONENTS!!!"

Joe Hilliard: "The tiny minority that advocated the 'move to the Left' strategy just to win elections have also proven quite 'self-destructive' to the GOP. Those who make 'political calculations' based on polls (framed by liberal groups) have also been quite 'self-destructive'. Those who think that the base will vote for any Republican 'no matter what' have been quite self-destructive. The last two national election cycles have CLEARLY proven that when ignored, the base will not turn out."

Charles Snelling: "Joe, I really really wish that you would run for office. Run with all your purity and extremism. I've got money to wager that you would lose at least two or 3 to 1. Maybe that experiment is what is absolutely necessary to teach you a little humility and acquaint you with the realities of the body politic."

Scott Armstrong: "Unless an apology is communicated to me by Charles I will feel no need to in any way further assist the local committee and/or its local candidates."

Charles Snelling: "Bill [Platt], I think that Armstrong's offer is too good to refuse. I have nothing what so ever to apologize for and I certainly do not intend to apologize. So, Scott, please be my guest."

Unfortunately, nodody started cursing or even threatened anyone. If these were Dems, someone would be floating down the Delaware River right now.

LV Conservative Voice Gives Me a Fruit Basket

I was going to spend a quiet evening at home, throwing hatchets into the wall, until I remembered that Lehigh Valley Conservative Voice (LVCV) was having some sort of public meeting last night. Figuring this was my chance to load up on "cigars, cognac and fine wine," I bolted over to Allentown's Scottish Rite Center.

As everyone knows, the Scottish Rite is actually some sort of secret society bent on world domination. It includes the Gettys, Rotschilds, Vatican, Queen Elizabeth, George Foreman and Scott Armstrong. Shawn Millan is their evil henchman, and sure enough, he was the first person I saw when I entered the belly of the beast. He had local Republican Julian Stolz strapped to the rack, and was yelling as I slipped past him.

"Talk, Stolz! Did you ever vote for a Democrat, yes or no?"

"No."

"You lie!"

Shawn turned the crank a little and poor Julian broke down.

"Alright, alright, I admit it. I voted for Sam Bennett. She has nice hair."

Shawn laughed maniacally, and cranked the rack a little more.

It's nice to see someone who really loves his job.

I decided to disguise myself instead of telling this horde of nearly two hundred meat-eating, gun-toting conservatives that a pinko was in their midst. So when I got my name tag, I carefully scrawled "Barack Obama." That should fool those knuckledraggers.

Unfortunately, Joe Hilliard blew my cover almost immediately. "Hey Bernie, nice to see you. You and Barack Obama have the same initials and you both stink." Right after that, Scott Armstrong grabbed me and said, "You're paying for your food."

"Rightyo, Scott, rightyo."

That's why I was there. I was expecting a buffet of lobster and filet mignon and whatever else it is that Republicans eat. Maybe freedom fries. But all I saw were chicken mcnuggets and watermelon. What is up with that? Obviously, this was intended as some sort of racist slur.

Let me tell you, it was a veritable who's who of local conservatives. In addition to the players I've already mentioned, I saw Vic Mazziotti, John Hinkle, Lou Hershman, Dave Shoemaker, Glenn Eckhart, Dawn Berrigan, Bill Hall, Dave Balliet, Bill Platt, Dr. Bob Romancheck and Mike Schware. I also finally met affable Allentown City Council candidate Joe Brudnak.

Former Northampton County Council member Nick Sabatine told this collection of conservatives they need to work within the Republican pary. Third party efforts will fail. He should know. He organized the Patriot Party in Pennsylvania and ultimately became its national chair. Although his party included people as varied as Klansmen and Communists, it has evaporated. Nick explained why. "Ultimately, people will not vote for a third party candidate because they can't win. They can only make a point."

Last night's keynote speaker was Lehigh County Exec candidate Scott Ott, who delivered a lengthy but stirring speech. At his most eloquent, he derided real estate taxes as the "most pernicious form of taxation out there," noting their impact on seniors with fixed incomes. "We owe them an explanation of what we do with their money. You think we pay sheriffs to take care of you. But we pay them to take away your home. ... Is it too much to ask that our government show a little restraint and cut spending at this time?" Ott claims that incumbent Exec Don Cunningham has "backed himself into a corner," which means a tax increase or spending cuts next year.

"You lie!" I was ready to shout, but Millan was a little too close and had already turned poor Julian Stolz into an NBA player. So I ate some watermelon.

Ott received a standing ovation from an obviously friendly crowd. The closing ceremonies included a raffle drawing, followed by some waterboarding videos. The fruit basket was won by a person Scott Armstrong called the "biggest fruit in the room." Me.

Those damn Republicans can't win anything.

Now I completely disagree with most of what I heard last night. I believe government exists to help people who can't help themselves, while these folks tend to view government as our worst enemy. But I still left feeling really good inside. Despite occasional digs that were more humorous than insulting, we both want to help people. There was none of the partisan rancor that has made dialogue impossible. We just have different approaches.

Scott Armstrong, French Chef

From time to time, I publish a Scott Armstrong essay here. Unabashedly conservative, his well-written missives are guaranteed to inspire discussion. What I did not know, at least until last night, is that Scott is also a gourmet chef.

Last night, I had dinner with Scott and his fascinating family. Unable to find the home, I called Michael Molovinsky for help and he was kind enough to give me detailed directions. I walked up to the house, knocked on the door, and Ed Pawlowski answered.

Eventually, no thanks to a laughing Molovinsky, I found the right place. Scott's two sons, like their dad, are obviously brilliant conversationalists. They also speak fluent French like their mom. Scott's ravishingly beautiful wife, Sophie, happens to be French. That explains that. She also has a contagious laugh.

Scott prepared the meal, which consisted of a great salad, homemade bread, followed by a crusty tomato tart with herbed cheese. I thought our meal was over, but Scott returned from the kitchen with delicious crabcakes. They were accompanied by Thai noodle and vegetable combination. After that, we picked at assorted French cheeses and an apple tart desert.

I want to thank Scott and his family for the hospitality they showed last night. I also enjoyed the conversation. We solved all the world's problems. His wife and I tried slipping a few liberal pills into Scott's wine when he was out in the kitchen, but they had no effect.

Student Walkout Helps Scott Armstrong's School Board Candidacy

As only he can, Allentown School Director Scott Armstrong has spoken out strongly against the student walkout planned for today. On Michael Molovinsky's blog, he called it a "lesson in anger and hate" put on by "an adult charlatan protest leader." He's one of the very few who has been willing to dip his toes into the pool, as most candidates have steered clear of the issue. I believe the backlash over this walkout might just get him re-elected.

Armstrong, a Republican in a heavily Democratic School District, is seeking one of five seats available on the Board. The other candidates include Ce-Ce Gerlach, Bob Smith, Charlie Thiel, Audrey Mathison, Elizabeth Martinez and Mark Smith. Gerlach, Thiel and Bob Smith won nominations in both primaries. Martinez and Mathison also won the Democratic primary, while Armstrong and Mark Smith won the Republican primary.

Ce Ce Gerlach, though a hard-core Democrat, has distanced herself from Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski and his wealthy friends. She has chosen instead to run a real grass roots campaign and should win easily. Bob Smith, the current school board president, is quite popular in Allentown and should eke out a victory as well.

Thiel, Mathison and Martinez are nothing more than Pawlowski puppets, but the money spigot has been turned off, thanks to the federal investigation.

Ordinarily, I'd say that Armstrong's brash style would work hard against him. But so far as I can tell, he is the only school director willing to stand up to the mob, which may very well be instigated by charter school proponents as well as by a few misguided demagogues. I think people will appreciate that, and perhaps enough to re-elect Armstrong.

By the way, this job pays nothing. I have no idea why anyone would want it.

ScrappleFace is No Joke!

He calls himself a member of the "new media." I like that. I think I'm in that club, too.

I'm talking about Scott Ott, who is running against Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham this Fall. If you know anything about Scott at all, you most likely know him as "ScrappleFace," where he takes a satirical look at national news. He also blogs, a little more seriously, at Townhall and even has a column with The Washington Examiner.

I met Scott and Bob Romancheck for lunch at Stahleys, a great sportsbar built with no public money or tax breaks. I love their cheesesteaks, but my grandson is partial to the clams. At age 8, he's already wolfed down 8 dozen in one sitting. Once Bob uttered the magic word "Stahleys," everything else became a jumble in my aging mind. He did mention Scott, but I thought he was talking about Allentown pundit Scott Armstrong, bane of liberals everywhere. Armstrong is actually quite the refined guy in person, no doubt the result of a liberal and refined French wife. He listens to classical music and everything! So I figured we would get together and discuss Plato.

Instead of seeing Scott Armstrong, Romancheck introduced me to the very well-dressed Scott Ott, who was sitting at a table looking very much like a patient about to undergo root canal. He knows I'm a big Cunningham cheerleader.

What struck me right away were the similarities between Ott and Cunningham. Both are charming in person, obviously good-hearted people who actually listen to you. Both have a background in journalism and public relations. Both have great radio voices. But that's where the similarities end. For one thing, Cunningham's warchest is in the vicinity of $700 thousand, while the ScrappleFace web page reveals just $671 as of last night.

"You know you can't win," I told him, perhaps a bit too cavalierly. For a moment, just a heartbeat, he took on a steely look, then relaxed. It dawned on me then that Ott, despite his humor and satire, is in this race to win. He's never held elected office, has no money, is challenging the Lehigh Valley's most formidable politician, and is nevertheless convinced he can win. Or perhaps he believes that the issues matter more than the final victor.

I think the main difference between these candidates is that, while Cunningham believes government exists to help people unable to fend for themselves, Ott believes government's primary role is to "protect people from being oppressed by other people." He refused to classify himself, noting that if he told me was a Republican, I would know nothing more about him than I did before.

Doesn't that sound just like a Republican?

If elected, he told me he would focus on balancing the budget and reducing Lehigh County government, which he claims has grown from $345 million in 2006 to $405 million in 2009. Most of this, he acknowledges, is state pass through money, but he questions this reliance on state funding. "We are essentially helpless to do so many things because we are so dependent on the state."

As far as balancing the budget is concerned, he and I had some disagreements. He notes that Lehigh County spends more money than it takes in annually, and that's certainly true. But he fails to consider that Lehigh County has a tax relief fund established by Republicans for the specific purpose of balancing the budget. Why shouldn't Cunningham use that fund when revenues become meager? Ott disputes that, but it's called a tax relief fund for a reason. There's also a tax stabilization fund, a $20 million rainy day fund that Cunningham has left untouched.

Although the budget has grown, largely as a result of state pass through grants, Cunningham has actually reduced the size. He has fewer people working for the county now than at any time since 1995.

Ott stated he would support the elimination of offices that serve no vital roles, anything to be a "good fiscal steward."

Community policing grants? No.

State tree grants? No. "The whole thing is a shell game."

Noting that Cunningham will soon be proposing a new budget, Ott claims at the current rate, a major tax increase is only a matter of time. He worries how this will impact seniors on fixed incomes. "They can't rip a piece of siding off and roll it into the county when taxes go up. We owe it to these people to treat every single penny as though it was precious."

As our lunch went by and Ott's hamburger began to kick in, he grew more passionate. I admire his willingness to give voters an alternative, a debate that I'm sure Cunningham himself will enjoy. As Ott put it himself, and this is no joke, "I really hope people start paying attention to county government. Four hundred and five million dollars will blow through the county this year and most people don't even know we have a county executive."

Did he make the sale? No. I still prefer Don's less ideological approach to local government, and have never seen a county executive make a difficult job look so easy. But if you advocate limited government, Scott is the man for you. He promises a few surprises as his campaign progresses. I hope none of them involves farm animals.

Are McCain Supporters Racists?

When I was a young man, around the same age as Scott Armstrong's son, I can remember how proud my father was when one of his own, John F. Kennedy, was running for President. In those days, we Catholics were still viewed as something of an underclass in the Lehigh Valley. We weren't quite so bad as those damn Jews or the pork chops (yes, that term was used), but we were still pretty revolting.

I noticed this latent prejudice in high school, when Bethlehem Mayor Payrow invited students from Freedom and Liberty High Schools, Bethlehem's two public schools, to be mayor for a day. The now defunct Bethlehem Globe Times ran a story claiming that Bethlehem's high schools had been represented.

They all forgot about Bethlehem Catholic.

A high school junior, I fired off my very first letter to the editor, nailing both Payrow and the Globe Times for their obvious bigotry. Payrow certainly made sure Becahi was included the very next year.

So I can understand what it must mean for a young person of color to see Barack Obama as a candidate for President. Win or lose, Obama's candidacy alone is a great step forward for a people that, not very long ago, were slaves. I suspect I would be quick to label people who support McCain as racists just as my father called Nixon supporters anti-Catholic.

Scott Armstrong's son is putting up with some of this himself. Here's Scott's story, which also appears in the informative Allentown Commentator.

My twelve year old son informed me today that he was called a "racist" at his school lunch table today by his lunch mates when during a political discussion he volunteered that he preferred McCain to Obama. It made no difference to the accusers when he told them that he had hoped Lynn Swann, an African American would win the governors race two years ago. No, apparently anyone who doesn't support Obama is a racist and that is all there is to it. It was that simple to them.

Where does this sort of thinking come from? How sad is it that it comes from the mouths of twelve year olds? How counter productive is it to the ideals of civil discourse and racial harmony?

I told my son it isn't easy to be a conservative these days. He agreed that it would be much easier to just go along and pretend to believe in the liberal agenda. I was proud he didn't.

Scott Armstrong

Don Cunningham, Infidel

Despicable.

That's how Allentown Republican Scott Armstrong has described Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham's letter (via campaign manager Dan Kelly) complaining about opponent Scott Ott's living arrangements at a Zionsville church, especially since it includes a cc to the IRS. Armstrong was never a Cunningham supporter, but this has made him angry.

Now I support Cunningham, who is perhaps the finest County Executive I've ever seen in both counties. But even I would agree this letter is a mistake. On Saturday night, I was preparing a post to condemn this tactic when I started receiving information that Ott really is using the religious community to further his campaign. Even in the People's Republic of Northampton County, religious groups and home schoolers are getting Epistles from Saint Scott, entitled "Don Cunningham Attacks Lehigh County Churches."

Uh oh. Get the pitchforks.

Ott tells his religious audience that one reporter called Cunningham's letter a "big mistake," but then complains that the very same press is refusing to cover the story. He fails to tell his evangelical readers that most news organization impose a blanket on covering campaigns in their waning days. Moreover, aside from a response to Ken Petrini, he's made no attempt to reach out to the blogosphere.

If Ott is really keeping church separated from state, why is he trying to inflame religious groups as far away as Northampton County?

"Don Cunningham's camp must be rattled after yesterday's debate. In what one reporter calls a 'big mistake,' Don Cunningham has tried to create a side circus so he does not have to deal with the main issue of the campaign: avoiding the 2011 tax increase. Despite the copy list at the bottom of Dan Kelly's letter it is unclear who exactly received this letter. They did not send it to us, for example, despite the implication that they did. We only found out about it when a reporter asked for a response from us. So far only Ken Petrini has covered this story. Even though this could be a valid issue (though the facts, which Cunningham's camp must not have researched very well considering they addressed the letter to an organization that hasn't used that name for over 50 years, show that the allegations are baseless), there is no denying this issue was handled in a very unprofessional and un-executive way. Below you can find the letter and Scott's response to it. Sean

After yesterday's debate (10/29), Don Cunningham's campaign sent the following letter to my former employer (although he apparently doesn't know that the denomination changed its name back in the 1950s). I have included my response below the Cunningham camp's letter. I have also sent it to local reporter Ken Petrini (who first sent me the Cunningham letter), and to Bobby Gunther Walsh at WAEB 790AM, who has mentioned it, and may read it on air this morning. Feel free to circulate. Scott Ott"

I like Scott. I believe him when he says his living arrangements are part of his compensation package and not some sort of hidden political contribution form those damn Mennonites. But by the same token, sending missives to religious groups in Northampton County, entitled "Don Cunningham Attacks Lehigh County Churches," prove Cunningham was right to ask him about his living arrangements. He's clearly using his religious connections.

Update: The letter from the Cunningham camp is located here.

ASD's Armstrong Likens Guridy to Vulture

Never one to mince words, Allentown School Director Scott Armstrong was perturbed by a guest appearance from Allentown City Council President Julio Guridy. After all, Guridy has had so many good ideas in The Miracle That Is Allentown.

From ASD Director Scott Armstrong: Allentown city council president Julio Guridy chose the May 22^nd Allentown School Board meeting to score political points by making the totally ridiculous pronouncement that the school district should find other remedies than staff reductions or tax increases to solve its current budget crisis. This, of course, drew applause from the assembled vested interests that filled the chamber. One might ask how cheap, insincere and self serving this act was.  In truth, it was no less self serving than the intransigence of the teachers’ union to engage a process to find an equitable solution to the state’s public pension crisis. On this night Julio Guridy was the vulture circling the financially distressed district seeking profit for himself.  So self serving, so Allentown. God help us.

Armstrong: Wayne Woodman's Pyrrhic Victory

My favorite Allentown conservative, Scott Armstrong, reflects on Wayne Woodman's Pyrrhic victory against an incumbent Lehigh County Comm'r who followed his conscience instead of a party boss.

"In the May 17th primary election Lehigh County Republican chair Wayne Woodman achieved his goal of “destroying” Republican County commissioner Dean Browning. A great victory? Hardly. Although one shouldn’t doubt that he is very pleased with his own handiwork, wiser heads understand his victory came at a great cost to both the committee and his reputation as a leader. Contrary to the chair’s pronouncements that the committee will be united after this primary the ugly and bitter nature of the campaign ensures the opposite is true. Many committee insiders are appalled by the tactics and smears that were employed in the effort to defeat the party stalwart Mr. Browning. They are also frustrated and disappointed that many of the committee priorities became subordinate to his desire to punish the disobedient Dean. In all this Wayne Woodman has revealed a selfish and vindictive nature. These qualities may serve Wayne well in the business environment he operates in but in a volunteer political organization they are poison. He has yet to learn this lesson and he will when attendance at the meetings continues to dwindle, activists don’t return calls and donations fail to materialize.

"For the moment Wayne may bask in the glory of his triumph; yet, in time he may come to understand this was the wrong fight to engage and that the means of victory were not worth the cost. On the other hand, he may not and that would be bad news for local Republicans."

Scott Armstrong

There's a New Blog in Town

Lehigh Valley Conservative is actually much more than a blog. It's a political action committee promoting limited government. It will start things off right this Thursday with a 6 PM meeting at Allentown's Scottish Rite Center, 1540 W Hamilton Street. Isn't that anti-American? Scott Armstrong is bringing the haggis, followed by a bagpipe duet featuring Glenn Eckhart and Dean Browning.

Blog authors so far include two well known local conservative voices - the Allentown Commentator's Scott Armstrong and former Morning Call columnist Don Hoffman. In his latest post, Scott worries that President Obama may soon be compared to former Allentown Mayor Roy Afflerbach.

Was Afflerbach born in Kenya, too?

These guys may claim they're trying to get money, but I think they're hoping to pick up babes.

Lehigh County GOP Broke? - Thank Scott Ott, Wayne Woodman

"Approachable, warm, family, kid friendly, pro." That's how Lehigh County GOP Commissioner candidate Scott Ott describes himself at Voice123, where he promotes himself as a voice over artist for commercials, documentaries and even answering machine messages. You can listen to his riveting rendition if "The Land Before Time" here. But is Ott really all that approachable, warm and kid friendly, especially when nobody is looking?

I called him once with a question during his County Exec race against Don Cunningham, and he nearly took my head off. Then, last September, he nearly threw me into the lion's den at The Great Allentown Fair for not calling him about a story questioning the amount of money being paid to him as the GOP's brand new Executive Director. After he lost to Cunningham, this new position was created just for him. Grateful Lehigh Republicans were paying him a nice salary, but couldn't afford the $900 fee for a stand at the Allentown Fair, something that both Democrats and even the tea party managed.

I may be a Democrat and I read every day that I'm lower than whale shit, but I thought the decision to hire Ott was fiscally irresponsible. As I said at the time, "It's a total waste of money that should be used to promote candidates and drive up registration."

Now the Lehigh County GOP may be broke. It's unable to meet payroll and may be unable to pay taxes or rent. And the reason is because it wasted its money on Scott Ott.

During his brief tenure as Executive Director (he was paid from 12/22/09 to 12/29/10), Lehigh County Republicans paid Ott $37,635 for "professional services." Once he bled the party dry, Scrappleface was out the door.

Bossman Wayne Woodman, elected to chair Lehigh Republicans precisely because of his prodigious fundraising abilities, has suddenly decided that's not his job. He now thinks new Exec Director Steve Ramos, who comes from Chester County, can raise the money. But when Woodman announced Ramos' appointment, he claimed Ramos would recruit and "expand our outreach to demonstrate the Republican Party represents common-sense ideals for people in every community." Translated, what that means is that Ramos might draw some of Allentown's Hispanic vote.

Scott Ott's appeal was basically to the religious right, the hard line and intolerant Republicans. He and Woodman have actually managed to drive people away at a time when Republicans were on the rise everywhere else. They managed to drive Dr. Bob Romancheck out as Chair of the Allentown GOP. Another party stalwart, Scott Armstrong, has resigned as an area captain.

In addition to losing leaders, the party has lost numbers, too. In November 2009, there were 76,803 registered Republicans under former Chair Bill Platt. But in November 2010, that number has already dropped to 75,457 with Woodman and Ott at the helm.

Exactly what did Ott do as Executive Director? Nobody really knows. He did re-design the web page, a job that should cost $2 or 3 thousand. It appears that he spent the rest of his time building up contacts and networking for his own Commissioner race against Dean Browning.

Given this financial disarray, you'd think that Lehigh Republicans would be massing for their April 26 meeting. But guess what? That meeting has been canceled. It happens to be the same night as a $500 per person fundraiser being hosted for the Gang of Four by Buddy Lesavoy.

The Gang of Four - Scott Ott, Dave Najarian, Lisa Scheller (Woodman's wife) and Vic Mazziotti - are essentially running against Dean Browning. They've circulated an email, supposedly signed by Buddy Lesavoy, claiming that both Browning and Don Cunningham have lost touch with the people. I see. A lawyer hosting a $500 per person fundraiser knows all about the people.

It turns out Lesavoy never even sent that part of the email. He ended up calling Cunningham to "apologize to him for forwarding the propagandized portion of my email. ... . I also told Don that I respect his fiscal management and the hard work he has done especially under these most challenging economic circumstances."

Apparently, the transparent Gang of Four is not above distorting another person's words, even when that person is a supporter.

Scott Ott took a fiscally stable organization, ran it into the ground, then walked away. We also know that someone among the Gang of Four distorted what Buddy Lesavoy had written. Does this "advance the cause of accountability, transparency and reform in Lehigh County government?"

The Gang of Four complains that "spending has outstripped revenues for years" in Lehigh County, "leading to painful tax hikes." Looks like that's exactly what has happened to the Lehigh County GOP, thanks to Scott Ott and Wayne Woodman.

Woodman has the resources to write a check bailing the party out, and perhaps he should.

Allentown's Propaganda Machine

I've been a vocal local government critic of Northampton County's plethora of dysfunctional governments over many years. In all that time, I can only recall one incident in which someone even came close to threatening me physically. Sure, former Northampton County Director of Administration Jim Hickey routinely threw me off the courthouse roof, but he did that to everybody. Most of my fall guys have actually treated me with respect. They recognize everyone's voice matters, especially in a representative democracy.

But in The People's Republic of Lehigh County, things are very different. Dissenters must be silenced. Chris Casey has regaled me with horror stories about things that have happened to him after he started complaining about things in Upper Macungie Township. It made no difference that he was right. Perhaps some day, he'll share the details with you.

I've also noticed there is little room for complaints about Allentown government, too. Those who do so are victimized and marginalized. Let me give you a recent example. On January 28, I told you about Allentown criminal mastermind Zee Weikel. She's that 75 year old miscreant who herself was mugged outside her apartment last year. When she dared conduct yard sales on the 1100 block of Allentown's Turner Street, Mayor Pawlowski unleashed his enforcement hounds to shut her down.

That post provoked a fairly heated reaction, as happens with nearly all of my Allentown posts. But most of us moved on the next day.

Not someone who calls himself "Ed."

Late last week, he exploded with a vicious diatribe against Lázaro Fuentes (with an á, damn it!), Michael Molovinsky, Scott Armstrong and yours truly. Instead of responding to the propriety of enforcing little known yard sale ordinances against a low income senior, this troll responded with personal attacks against each of us.

Those words will never hurt you.

Bernie: "is only known to his bellyaching companions and the leaders in business and commerce and government dont take him seriously as he is annoying and very small."

Molovinsky: "was ridiculed and trounced when he took himself seriously and made a run for mayor, the city has spoken loudly that no one knows how his mind works nor cares."

Armstrong: "is ever present at city council meetings bitching about stuff that no one else seems to care about. He is a case study for bad style and has a pit bull mind on a french poodle face and a voice that makes God cringe."

Funetes: "Lazaro's Hispanic Chamber may be down to 2 members soon, him and his wife , as he is a hispanic version of Scott. The chamber has no presence in the latino community or any where else, it has as much credibility as Lazaro's degree from Columbia University. What a joke the lot of you are.

Although "Ed" is obviously not Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, his minions have done their best to shut down any dissent, particularly when it comes from Armstrong. Here are some of the love notes he's received:

I heard you on WAEB the other morning. You certainly have a big mouth. Instead of flapping your gums, why don't just keep sucking cocks? We in the neighborhood know exactly what you do, and to whom you do it. We are watching every move you make. We wonder what the members of Allentown City Council, would think of you, if they only knew. The next time you attend a Council Meeting, you are going to be exposed, for what you are. A cock sucker.

Have a great day,
From all us

Or this.

Hey,
Blow anyone today?
You know who we are!!
TaTa,
You, neighbor on the corner.

Words are one thing, but those sticks and stones will break your bones.

Words are one thing. But in addition to shouting down the voice of dissent in Allentown, physical intimidation is also used. Scott tells me "my car was vandalized with an M-80, and it was keyed countless times. The phone would ring when I entered the house and when I picked it up the caller would hang up; this happened routinely and was meant to send a message. My back door bell was rung in the middle of the night. My phone would ring at all hours with no one on the other end."

The Puff Blogs

If the threats and intimidation fails, there's always the puff blogs. And Allentown has plenty to tell you everything is wonderful. Allentown Good News, Seventh Street Now, Little Lehigh Manor and Our West End Neighborhood wave their pom poms, assuring you there's nothing to worry about. The puff bloggers? Joyce Marin, who is executive director of Allentown Economic Development Corporation, blogs at Good News. Jeff Chirico, the Little Lehigh blogger, is part of the puff news already produced at Team Tempo. Jeff Pooley one of the bloggers at the Seventh Street blog, is married to the Director of Allentown's Redevelopment Authority.

As for the anonymous blogger who has a particular disdain for Lázaro Fuentes (with an á, damn it!) and who is actually hiding behind a picture of a person he claims is his wife, he made the mistake of posting a comment late one night. Thanks to my trusty sitemeter, I have his identity nailed down to one of three possibilities, but will wait until I'm sure before outing him.

And I will out him.

I'm a miserable bastard ... from the boonies of Northampton County.

Pawlowski Cheerleader Ed Disgrace Forced To Recant Libel

Over the years, I've had a number of internet run-ins with one of King Edwin's less erudite soldiers, Ed DeGrace. They go all the way back to 2008, when I wrote about Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski's strong-arm tactics against a 75 year-old woman who dared conduct yard sales outside her Turner Street home. [REDACTED] exploded with vicious diatribes aimed at Lázaro Fuentes (with an á, damn it!), Michael Molovinsky, Scott Armstrong and yours truly. This, I would soon learn, is standard fare from Pawlowski's horde.

[REDACTED] is actually Edward DeGrace, described by Scott Armstrong as a Pawlowski apologist. "He's part of the city machine and will do what he has to do to make sure the machine succeeds." DeGrace, who actually hails from Cape Verde, is a Democratic activist who worked for Pawlowski's 2005 mayoral campaign. He chaired Latinos for a New Lehigh Valley, which donated $8,000 to King Edwin in October 2005, but never filed a campaign finance report indicating where it got its money. I contacted DisGrace and asked him where he got that money, which I believe was laundered by Pawlowski. "I've got nothing to say to you," DisGrace said, and then hung up during a brief phone conversation in 2012.

DisGrace has continued to act as one of Pawlowski's pit bulls, mostly at the ASD: Issues and Discussion Facebook group.

He's been awful quiet since news of the federal investigation has surfaced. On Sunday, he actually retracted some vicious online statements he had made about an ASD employee, after a demand that he do so from Solicitor John Freund. Of course, it was done insincerely, but it's enough to establish that he is a liar.

Scott Armstrong: Why I am for Mitt Romney

Allentown's Scott Armstrong, the conservative that local liberals love to hate, explains why he supports Mitt Romney for President.

Putting social issues at the forefront of the presidential campaign is a dream come true for President Obama and the Democrats. Too many voters will, even for a moment, buy into the fabricated lie that Republicans want, for instance, make contraceptives illegal. Whether the public buys this argument in the end or not is less important than the valuable time and energy Republicans will have to invest denying it. In other words, we play defense. That's not a winning strategy.

Rick Santorum will not play down or finesse any of his social conservative positions. That is how he is and I respect him for that. However, the press, for their own purposes, will zero in on this. If Rick is our nominee the media will turn the general election into a contest over social issues such as woman's right to choose, gay marriage, and religious totalitarianism. This will allow them to put the frightening growth of government, massive deficits, Obama Care, and the crumbling economy on the back burner.

I believe changing the subject is the media/Democratic game plan. It isn't a guarantee of victory but it is their best shot. Romney's business and gubernatorial background will not afford them this desire. In my opinion, our priority should be the certain electoral defeat of President Obama. Romney is the best candidate for that mission.

Scott Armstrong: Eliminate Middle Schools?

He's the conservative you all love to hate. I'm speaking, of course, about Allentown's Scott Armstrong, who is always interesting. Today, he's giving Allentown schools a detention.

Is the newly proposed idea by the just hired superintendent of the Allentown School District a brilliant idea or a sign of real concern? As an Allentown parent, I see it as a problem, a big problem. I would ask any doubters to stand outside Raub Middle School in the morning and ask themselves if, as parents, they would want to drop their elementary aged child off with these kids. I would ask them to go back at dismissal time to ask themselves if they would want their second grader intermixed with these urbanely sophisticated teenagers. I think the answer will be immediately obvious. The mere fact that K through 8th grade schools are under consideration is reason for real concern.

The new superintendent uses parochial schools as a model for his suggestion of the idea. This indicates to me that the poor soul is clueless as to the drastic differences in the make up of the student bodies of these two entirely different scholastic entities.

When one thinks they have seen it all in Allentown this sort of absurdity is presented as feasible in the news. Remember the police contract? One can only scratch his head and keep an eye on the exit. Clearly, the new superintendent is off to a very bad start with this idea.

Allentown's Motto: Stupid is as Stupid Does?

Although I'm a Democrat, I'm no fan of straight-party voting. It originated among resentful Democrats in the post civil war deep South, but its practice today is limited to just fifteen states, including Pennsylvania. It enables the election of weak candidates, the "coat tail effect."

In the last Lehigh Valley Congressional race, it could have easily resulted in the election of Siobhan "Sam" Bennett. Although Congressman Charlie Dent was easily re-elected, he lost in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. Many city residents just pulled the lever, thinking Sam must be a very nice guy.

Scott Armstrong, who publishes the always-informative Allentown Commentator, has written a short essay about this, aimed specifically at Allentown. But his insight applies to each of the three LV cities.

City Motto

"Stupid is as Stupid Does"

Upon taking time to peruse the election results I noticed that, once again, many of Allentown's Democrats voted straight ticket. By doing so they again threw their support to a proven self serving incompetent. In the past this sort of obedience to the party has meant that confirmed bunglers like Julio Guridy, Dave Howells, Marty Velasquez, and Frank Concannon were given second and third chances to wreak havoc on the city as elected officials. This time Allentown's Democrats sacrificed their integrity to support "Sam" Bennett. Sam was a "known" commodity in the city even before the campaign began, and, true to form, her race for congress was an embarrassment from start to finish. The coverage of her blunders was front page news so no one can credibly claim ignorance as an excuse for their support. No, the truth is much uglier and simpler than that; it is clear that Allentown's Democrat voters would rather vote corrupt and/or incompetent Democrats into office than elect the better candidate if he or she is a Republican. This lemming's approach to party loyalty is a disservice to the city and its residents. Allentown has declined and compromised its future because too many of the city's Democrats continue to place a priority on partisanship rather than good government.

Scott Armstrong

Scott Armstrong: Allentown's Field of Dreams?

Who the hell can be opposed to monkey bars? Blogger Michael Molovinsky, that's who. He's condemned a "destination playground" planned for Allentown's Cedar Beach even though it is designed to include children with disabilities. Now the Lehigh Valley's favorite conservative - Scott Armstrong - is taking a swipe at it, too. This is what he sings from his perch atop the Allentown Commentator.

"Changing Allentown's Cedar Beach into a vast playground will have the unfortunate effect of moving the city's problem of neglected and unsupervised children into the heart of the so far peaceful West End. Of course this obvious outcome is unforeseen to the clueless Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Weitzel. He, like almost everyone else in Pawlowski's city hall, is an out of towner, a young college grad from York I believe, here to build a resume before he moves on to another assignment in another town. He will, however, leave behind a huge problem which the city lacks the resources to deal with. Does it take much imagination to understand what the result of this mega playground in this location will be?

"A better solution would be to raze a blighted block in the downtown and build the playground there. The kids there need a place to play and with proper oversight could be a real plus for everyone. This approach however is just basic common sense, but that has been in short supply here in the city since the Democrats took full control eight years ago."

Scott Armstrong: Allentown's Sinking Away

Yesterday, in the wake of Morning Call questions about property code violations, Mayor Pawlowski withdrew Fred Bañuelos' nomination as the city's next DCED Director. That's the very office slated to start inspecting homes next month.

Instead of the usual propaganda about Allentown and the great things its great mayor is doing for that great city, it's time to start asking what the hell is going on. And who better for that than noted Allentown critic Scott Armstrong? Here's his well-written essay.

Throw out the lifeline, Allentown’s Sinking Away

The old hymn aptly describes the situation facing Allentown today. Each new day finds the city a little worse than it was the day before and closer to a point of irreparability (no return). Many of us who have not yet fled to the suburbs now feel as if we are stranded in a municipality that is floundering on the shoals. While our quality of life continues to ebb away the new disparity of real estate values between our Allentown properties and those of the surrounding neighborhoods has created a situation where many city residents can no longer afford to leave. Those who can, do so at a great loss.

Because the local paper routinely fails to find Allentown’s troubles newsworthy, too many residents remain unaware of the city’s precarious fiscal situation. The current mayor and council have “fixed” the city finances by borrowing more money and refinancing the city’s existing debt. These actions have added roughly 56 million dollars of debt to the city and saddled Allentown with long tem debt obligations that will hinder economic growth and burden future generations of city residents.

Presently, the mayor, the press, and council point to several shiny new buildings on Hamilton Street as proof of progress. Whether any of the current elected officials are responsible for these developments is debatable, but the larger point is apparent to those of us who live here. Hamilton Street is Allentown’s own Potemkin village. One block away in any direction from these once proud commercial blocks one finds residential streets where crime and blight run rampant.

It is perplexing to many of us that the man who came to Allentown as an advocate on urban housing has dropped the ball on this important issue; first as Community and Economic Development Director and now as mayor. For seven years Allentown’s downtown neighborhoods have experienced a famine of real ideas or solutions from two successive Democrat administrations. ”Weed and Seed,” the single program that was initiated, is little more than a conduit of state and federal grant moneys that provides funding for several administrative positions. Years into the program have yet to reveal any real and substantive positive change in the targeted area.

Recently, in the proverbial dead of night, council passed and the mayor signed a Homes’ inspection bill. To those unfamiliar with Allentown’s management situation this might seem to be a step in the right direction. However, who will be in charge of implementing this program points to another significant problem facing Allentown today.

Mayor Pawlowsi added to Allentown management woes by terminating most of the city’s finest bureau managers. By Ed’s decree, outsiders lacking credentials, degrees and experence have replaced veteran directors with years of expertise and statewide reputations of excellence. This mass transition from expert to neophyte managers could in time prove to be Allentown’s biggest problem. By many accounts, city hall is now in disarray and morale amongst city workers is at an all time low.

Amongst those who have been as the Morning Call put it ”retired” by Ed Pawlowski was Allentown resident and long serving Director of Building Standards, Eric Weis. The mayor replaced Eric with a Hilltown Bucks County resident who has no experience in building standards and code enforcement and no State Certifications to even review construction plans or issue permits. This non-city resident lacks any experience in working in a large urban municipality and it is anyone’s guess how this unqualified outsider is to oversee the implementation of the newly signed Home Inspections bill. It is bewildering as well to note that that just weeks after officially receiving yet another study on how to revitalize the city’s downtown Ed Pawlowski undermines this effort’s potential future success with this careless appointment.

In light of all this, many such as myself have for the most part simply stopped “complaining.” In Allentown; publicly expressed concern is labeled as complaining by both the Morning Call and the Pawlowski Administration. Speaking out on issues simply isn’t worth the effort anymore. Those who dare to speak are labeled by the same press, administration, and administration apologists as selfish, greedy, partisan, and as self promoters who are driven by agendas that have nothing to do with good government or Allentown’s better interests. I have no doubt that this tactic will be repeated against me as soon as this essay appears on this blog, so be it.

I have made my peace with Allentown. It is what it is and I don’t see myself continuing in what I now see as a futile effort to improve it. Since I arrived in the city in 1993 from Oregon, and several years of renting in Bethlehem, I have been involved in many efforts. For a time I was president of the West Park Civic Association and during this period we moved forward with the creation of the city’s third historic district. I was also one of five affidavit signers of the Rental Inspections Bill and worked hard to get that project’s leader, Tom Burk, elected to city council. I ran a successful campaign to elect a community advocate to a local district justice seat.

Since then, I have worked hard but unsuccessfully to get other good people such as Vic Mazziotti, Charlie Thiel, Steve Bodnar, Kim Beitler elected to public office in Allentown. Presently, I try to think less about the city and focus on things I can affect. To do otherwise would renew the frustration.

Scott Armstong
Allentown