I call himself LáZorro (with an á, damn it!) because of his keen sense of right and wrong. He is also known as Lázaro Fuentes, a venture capitalist who chairs the Lehigh Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania's largest Hispanic organization. It includes 318 businesses that employ over 2,550 people with over 12,500 family and extended family members right here in the Lehigh Valley.Like many of you, Fuentes is outraged over the racial assualt reported by Kari Holmes and by the way Allenotwn has reacted. This is his letter to my pal, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski.
Dear Mr. Mayor,
I hear that the policeman that took this report refused to shake her hand [Kari Holmes] when he approached her to take the report and that the report mysteriously was lost at the precinct. I also heard that you did not have the decency to contact Ms. Holmes yourself and instead had one of your “people” call, even though she was instrumental during your campaign to help get you elected. I suppose that you are just too busy, again, to deal with the rampant crime in your city. Maybe had another meeting with Butz or your buddies at the LVEDC?
I for one hope that Allentown gets a real Mayor one day. A genuine one. If only a Guridy or a Donovan would run against you. That would be something, wouldn’t it? Maybe then the people might get some needed attention and security not “just” the developers and bankers. You should have run for Bus Driver. It would have saved you having to throw the people closest to you under the bus. You would be able to just run them over.
Fix your issues Mayor. Stop ignoring the policing problems. You might want to start by getting them to leave the precinct.
Good job Bernie! I am an Allentown resident and I am amazed at the lack of progress with our city. Admitedly our Mayor followed Afflerbach and all of his problems but the Mayor in Easton followed Mitman and Easton seems to be moving in the right direction and he has only been in office 3 months. My sister tells me she sees more police officers on the street, big drug busts and small ones as well, employees actually working and cleaning up the city, planting trees and doing all kinds of things. Why can't we? Or should Panto move to Allentown? Something to think about.
ReplyDeleteThis was rather poorly written and immature.
ReplyDeletePanto is a good mayor. The first thing he did was look at areas to cut where Easton is top heavy while A-town added to the load. He recognized Easton's very real crime problem and said he wanted to expand police and fire departments, where it really makes a difference. In contrast, Pawlowski broke three promises to improve public safety. Panto is the real deal, and from the LV. Pawlowski, like the Morning Call, is from Chicago.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:33, Speaking of being poorly written, your comment fails to make clear whether you're talking about my post or Fuentes' letter. If it is my post, fine. if it is Fuentes, I like his style. It's honest. We have too little of that. Pawlowski has ignored A-town's crime problem his first two years in office and only now realizes he better do something or he might go down no matter how much money he has tucked away.
ReplyDeleteIf only the contents of that letter could be said to Pawlowski's face - for that to be done, he would have to spend time with the citizens.
ReplyDeleteGo Mr. Fuentes!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe need more community leaders to step forward and point out the REALITY of Allentown instead of the P.R. spin.
We had two years with MAJOR DEFICITS with Pawlowski.
Crime is not a "perception problem".
New businesses are empty, small, long-term businesses have been closing down.
Soon the Country Club Cocktail Circuit will put forth Mr. Butz with another Letter to the Editor proclaiming how safe Allentown is. Or they will find someone new - like those who have written about Allentown, yet, they do not live here.
I am always called a partisan. Councilman Donovan even declared "You just hate all Democrats!" at the Leonard Buck Award Dinner.
However, it is a battle between the R's and the D's. Not the political parties but the Realists against the Delusional.
Guyz, Let's not be undignified .... everyone in this thread, roll up your sleeves and perspire a bit while you help to improve the city ...
ReplyDeleteBill Leiner, you must be kidding. These guys don't have any solutions to problems, they just make them bigger, and try to create more.
ReplyDelete'The policeman refused to shake her hand'. Sorry but that sounds silly and now sadly the alleged incident is being played for effect.
ReplyDeleteHow many alleged crime victims get a call from the Mayor. Leave politics out of this.
I'll have more on this tomorrow, but the responding officer was rude and initial efforts to get a copy of the police report were thwarted. When he ran for Mayor Pawlowski promised to (1) increase the police force (2) use deputy sheriffs and (3) start community policing. As mayor the force decreased. There was no use of deputy sheriffs. Pawlowski is only now meeting with groups about community policing. The simple truth is that he has ignored the city's biggest proble, sometimes going so far as to just call it a "perception" instead of reality. Allentown citizens, both black and white, have the right to feel secure in their homes. This is not politics, but basic government.
ReplyDeleteDon't hold your breath waiting for the Community Policing. That idea was based on collecting grant money from Lehigh County to pay already budgeted police salaries. Now that County Council wisely opted not to provide the money, Community Policing will likely not happen. Ed's number one priority is not fighting crime, but finding revenue sources to pay for already budgeted items, thereby "saving" funds for other things.
ReplyDeleteLazaro dont you ever utilize facts in your charade as a latino leader? Why is it no latinos ever support your misguided pronouncements? Face it dude you aint a leader even if totally out of touch Bernie declares you one. June is almost over and you wont be able to use that bogus title as chair of that dance organization HCCLV. Kari is sweet but, maybe sge eats rice and beans, Laz. You know we are all losers compared to your status as the most universally repugnant latino in the Valley. Stop capitalizing on this issue you vile media slut. You disgust me. Sorry for the ad hominems Bernie. Do you like my straightforward style too?
ReplyDeleteYou are posting a comment in June on a blog pubnlished in April. And I'm out of touch?
ReplyDeleteYeah Bernie, I have a life and you dont figure in it very much. I dont have time to keep up on your lunacy. BTW what happened to those throngs carrying torches that were going to have your back when you outed me? Remember my original post. You are a loud misguided, bellyacher and only a few people give a crap that you draw air. That's why you havent heard from me. Stop being such a recalcitrant malcontent and get in the game. This blog crap is rather trite, Really paperboys,garage sales, tipping percentages, bus routes, anything about Laz and HCCLV,WHEW. You are out there! Happy Father's Day. He would be Oh so proud. Loser.
ReplyDeleteLazaro tells me he's already confronted you and you cried like a little baby. I'm sorry, but your name escapes me. All I remember is that it's a name I did not recognize and I have better things to do than write about you or to you. Don't forget to take your pills.
ReplyDeleteBernie,you were so consumed with my identity you utilized the sitemeter to find me you posted on the date of you HIGHEST readership and now you dont have time for me,I'm hurt.I dont care if you know me or not you are still a lunatic( yeah truly psycho) and I have the proof from Judges Nix,McGinley et.al. As for that megalomaniac Laz,of course I'm gonna cry like a baby. He is the chair of that MEGA MONSTER HCCLV who meet monthly to dance and smoke cigars,such power. You see me hiding right now dont you? The only pills I take are prescribed by my doctor not by Judges who declare me "mentally and physically unfit" and order treatment. If you and Laz have so much influence gather your throngs of followers and obtain full disclosure from the police, is it possible you guys dont have a following or the power to do anything other than bitch and blame Pawlowski for everything. You and Laz are pathetic and it is obvious that neither of you have a grasp on how the political system works nor do you have the same perspective on what is right and good. Maybe you should share your mandated meds with Laz and you can join reality and do something productive for a change. This crap is so small,Bernie. You and Laz are misguided buffoons,you make me laugh but I DONT take either of you seriously. HAH.
ReplyDeleteZzzzzzzzzzz. You bore me.
ReplyDeleteEd,You have no Grace for someone of Grace [Degrace]. It is funny to me that this is the last place, the last bastion that you can rant and rave from. You talk of others, but you have been given restraining orders for your violent and terroristic behavior to another leader in the coimmunity. You have been reported to the District Attorney's office for your terroristic behavior towards me. You have been kicked off of the Democratic party hierarchy. You have been shunned by everyone in the community because of your bombastic behavior. You are an outcast that now hangs out at Obama events so that you can get some semblence of being and inclusion. You talk of those like Bernie or myself which are a part of the system, recognised by the community, when all along the outcast and pathetic one is you. Stop trying to get back into the Mayor's Grace's Mr. Of Grace. Everyone is tired of your nonsense. That is why they vomitted you out. Focus on selling water filters, or whatever it is you do. Leave the community building to those in the game, as you have obviously been put on the bench long ago. Hah back at ya!
ReplyDelete