Abraham Atiyeh, referred to by Bill White as Allentown's Rajah of Rezoning, is a busy dude. Aside from his gig at Brookside Construction and Easton Ventures, he's worked hard on nursing homes, developments, Easton's Cinema Paradiso and a failed scheme to redevelop Nazareth's racetrack. He even persuaded Bethlehem planners recently to let him subdivide a cemetery for yet another assisted living facility! Residents there can just look out the window and pick a spot.As busy as he must be, Atiyeh still finds time for his favorite charity - politicians.
State campaign finance records reveal he's given candidates seeking state office over $260,000 since 2000. FEC records show another $20,000. And he gives generously to candidates seeking local office, although those records are unavailable online.
If they're good, elected officials can always look forward to an envelope in their Christmas stocking. His nice list includes Lisa Boscola ($8,250), Jenn Mann ($7,200) and Doug Reichley ($6,500). But not everyone is good. Craig Dally ($100), Rich Grucela ($0) and John Stoffa ($0) must be on the naughty list.
Naughty or nice, Abe's favorite local pol by far has to be John Morganelli, recipient of a whopping $51,000. A Morganelli protege, Paula Roscioli, received another $16,300 in Atiyeh money when John decided it was time for her to run for judge. Morganelli allies like Lamont McClure and Tony Branco have received $6,000 from Atiyeh and business partner Ramzi Haddad in their county council races. And guess what? They all use Morganelli's consultant, Tom Severson, although Branco denies that very unconvincingly.
So Atiyeh gives Morganelli money. Big deal. After all, how the hell can a DA help a developer?
That questioned was answered in 2003. At that time, Atiyeh was lobbying both Northampton County and Easton to get a KOZ tax break for Easton's Cinema Paradiso, which he had just picked up for $700,000. Morganelli quickly penned a letter to each member of city council, disingenuously telling them this area, located next to the police station, was crime-ridden. Atiyeh blew kisses and promised to bring in white collar businesses from Jersey. But after the KOZ was granted, he leased the Cinema Paradiso to another movie operator, who managed to go broke even with the tax break. Atiyeh recently unloaded a portion of this tract for $1.2 million, nearly doubling his money.
Now Atiyeh has a new scheme. He wants the county to team up with him and Lou Pektor to build a combination assisted living and prison center for nonviolent types in West Easton. Guess who's pushing that project? You got it. Although Morganelli has always claimed his job is done once someone is sentenced and refuses to participate in a periodic review of the prison population, he now is lobbying the county to team up with Atiyeh. That's why John did those robocalls claiming Branco is a crime dog. Tony lost anyway. But Morganelli can still count on Lamont McClure. After all, Lamont's wife works for Morganelli.
Northampton County desperately needs a recidivism center. But teaming up with Atiyeh for anything just rewards the "pay to play" mentality of most developers. And Morganelli needs to remember he's the DA - not the county executive.
I wonder if Abe Atiyeh is an illegal immigrant.
16 comments:
Bernie,
Just to set the record straight. Because Atiyeh never fixed up the property or developed it he did not receive one dollar in KOZ tax breaks. The City of Easton put that condition on Atiyeh. I know I was the one who proposed the condition. By not developing or fixing up the property Atiyeh wasted at least 4 of the 7 years of the KOZ he received.
Business as usual. I am of the opinion that all Campaign Contributions have a trail that leads to a sense of insurance and assurance. That they are nothing but paying for Protection and Access. It appears to work in both Counties.
Great work Bernie! There is a market for the Truth.
Anon 6:37,
Thanks for pointing that out. But you'd agree that having the KOZ made his property more valuable. Atiyeh did nothing, still nearly doubled his money, and still has a portion of the property. Not bad.
You forgot to mention he is a very powerful democratic committee person in Allentown.
. . . who gives to Republicans, too, especailly on a national level. He favors incumbents.
He's doing what he thinks he needs to do to make a buck. But why does he think that way? And its pretty clear that, at least in Morganelli's case, those contributions have meant more than just access.
51000+ to Morganelli. I think John has a best new friend!! it costs alot to run statewide.
Ah give Johnny a break, he needs the dough!
He gave $2100 to Dent? What will he give Sammy B? Gee, why aren't the sanctimonious Lehigh Dems condemning him for backing Dent against Dertinger?
"I pledge allegiance to the voter apathy of the United States of America, and to the political rewards for which it stands, one Nation under development, indivisible(unless you entice the zoning hearing board), with liberty and justice for Atiyeh."
O_o
Addicted,
Actually, he's given $4,000 to Toomey, $1,000 to the Rep. Fed'l Committee of Pa, $2,000 to Santorum, and $5,100 to Charlie Dent.
Yo Bernardo,
I hear you are going to Sammy Bennets Birthday Bash in New York City. Only $50. It,s a fem organized event and word is you are the guy jumping out of the cake. Not bad. I refuse to believe Angle will dress up and play the naughty policeman.
Anonymous 9:34 said...
You forgot to mention he is a very powerful democratic committee person in Allentown.
No he's not - neither the City Committee or the County Committee(of which the City Committee is a subset).
The way things are in PA, perhaps Korbett will initiate a criminal investigation into Morganelli's campaign.
They deserve each other.
Bernie a correction, he sold half of the Cinema Paridiso property for double his investment, the other half, the parking lot, was subdivided and he built the new Social Security office, which he leases to the Feds for a significant amount. And as you might remember even the design became controversial.
Badapple
Bernie,
Also right before the KOZ was passed by City Council, he gave campaign donations to two Council members, Vulcano and Fleck
Badapple
BadApple, You're right. he did sell only a portion of the Cinema Paradiso tract and is leasing the rest. And those campaign contributions were noted in both papers at the time.
If Atiyeh thinks that by teaming up with Lou Pecktor to do any kind of business is a good decision, he will likely find out otherwise. That scumbag has the worst reputation for construction and ripping off the public. Pektor can keep his moldy construction, he has been sued and lost for selling townhomes that took over 12 years to finish and turned out they were filled with the worst mold infestation the state had ever seen. Needless to say, he lost that battle. I wouldnt let him build a doghouse for me.
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