On his campaign web page, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski brags his "new pragmatic, non-partisan approach to local politics" has restored fiscal stability. In stump speeches, he claims to have righted the financial ship of state without raising taxes. (He fails to mention a new EMS tax enacted in '06.) Even when he had his hand out to Lehigh County Commissioners for a community policing grant, King Edwin just had to tell them he turned an $8 million deficit into a $6 million surplus, among other things.One fawning former blogger, a Dem committeeman admitted into King Edwin's sanctum sanctorum for an "exclusive" interview, was completely enthralled. "My opinion so far is that at least concerning the city's financial health, Ed Pawlowski waded in to swim in the deep end of a cesspool where over 8 years of Bill Heydt and 4 years of Roy Afflerbach, neither dared to swim." In yet another "exclusive" interview with a duo of cheerleaders, Pawlowski puffs there is "total transparency on how the city spends its money."
Well, guess what?
Turns out that Allentown is still a financial mess. Looks like that surplus is actually a deficit. How much? Beats me because Ed "total transparency" Pawlowski won't tell us. In a Jarrett Renshaw exclusive, which has a tad more credibility than those adulatory interviews, we learn that Pawlowski is even pondering layoffs to help meet the city's fiscal crisis.
Allentown City Council member Michael Donovan, who amazingly still supports Hizzoner's reelection bid, had correctly questioned Pawlowski's revenue predictions during the budget process. And now, an elected representative of the people is being denied access to this information. "I have heard hints of lower than expected receipts, but just hints. No report."
In his typical confrontational style, King Edwin responds by stating that Donovan "hasn't shown any leadership in this matter.''
How would you know, Ed? You were a no show at the budget hearings.
38 comments:
you fire a shot about donovan still supporting pawlowski. Who else should he support? Nepon, who probably shouldn't be allowed to run b/c he is a city employee? Sure the ethics commission is messed up. That does'nt mean rules go out the window. Philips? The guy is a bumbling fool who doesn't know that money for cameras CANNOT be used to hire police.
I'm sorry, but the options are bad, horrible and incomprehensible. I won't fault anybody in the city for supporting or not supporting one of these ding-dongs. If there was a good choice, I'd hear you on this one, but there isn't a good choice in the matter.
Yes, I fire a shot about Donovan still supporting Pawlowski. You ask who else he should support, but he does not have to support anyone.
I would not support a bad mayor just because the choices are lousy. Nepon should not run bc he is a city employee? Does that mean he would be a bad mayor? Phillips is a bumbling fool simply bc his campaign manager wrote a blog claiming that camera $ should have been used to hire more cops? I hear all these complaints about Phillips being such an idiot. One blogger actually had the gall tyo suggest he take "elocution lessons." As I said at the time, she'd like him to sound more white.
I've spoken to Phillips a few times and he's nobody's fool. Neither is Nepon.
Perhaps you can persuade Michael Molovinsky to dust off some of his old signs and try again as an independent. Perhaps not.
Allentown does have a leadership vacuum.
You complain about a "leadership Vacuum" im Allentown. That is nothing compared to the moral vacuum in your head.
You are posting about Prevarications. Finally, a topic at which you are the Valley's expert, lying.
As the LV's expert, then, my opinion should carry great weight. Pawlowski's vaunted surplus is actually a deficit. That makes him a liar. Instead of transparency, he won't even tell fellow council members what is going on. That makes him a liar.
Thank you for your recognition of my expertise on the subject.
"Allentown does have a leadership vacuum."
It's the void that is left when good people opt not to run b/c the problems are so HUGE. It doesn't help that when somebody in a leadership position comes up with a good idea that they are cut down from several different directions. The standard R/D, long-time resident/new-comer spectrum is killing city gov't. Who wants to run in that kind of poisonous environment? Political hacks is the response (surprise, that's what we got).
MM can't run... he doesn't live in the city. And I'm not sure he'd be good at it (no disrespect). His fire first, ask questions later approach to public discourse is not what we need. If Dick thinks he'd be a good mayor, then he should leave his post. Your sad attempts to shield Tony Philips based on race is a discredit to him and other minority candidates. A bumbling fool has nothing to do with race. Stop trying to make it so.
I'm still not voting for any of these clowns.
"Your sad attempts to shield Tony Philips based on race is a discredit to him and other minority candidates. A bumbling fool has nothing to do with race. Stop trying to make it so."
Here's my problem. Tony came up hard, but managed to get himself thru college. He qualified as a teacher. He served APD. He is a distinguished wrestling referee, where he gets a lot of respect. He managed to get himself elected to city council, and has stood up to Pawlowski's nonsense while other council members looked the other way.
Is this a bumbling fool? Perhaps we need a few more.
Some elitist with her own problems actually has the nerve to go on his mayoral blog and suggest "elocution" lessons.
I know everyone denies race has anything to do w/ anything, but this is in a city where police won't arrest Kari Holmes' white assailants and actually demanded she take a polygraph. Racism is alive and well in Allentown. A brief visit to Top[ix should clear up any lingering doubts in your mind.
As far as Nepon goes, why should he resign? Is a charter prohibition, drafted to minimize the competition, constitutional?
As far as MM goes, the Charter merely provides that a " candidate for Mayor shall be a registered voter of the City. The Mayor shall continue to reside in the City throughout the term of office." MM could easily move into the city, change registration and announce his candidacy. He was raised in A-town and has spent his adult life living and working here in the Lehigh Valley, not Chicago. When it comes to residency, MM actually can make a better claim than the carpet bagger from Chicago.
I'm not suggesting you should vote for ANY of these candidates. A decision NOT to vote for Pawlowski, or anyone else, is a message in and of itself.
You just can't decide who you want to fight with, do you?
I was honestly surprised to click on the MCall Blog pages this morning and not see one of your patented lectures on the wonderfulness of DA Jim Martin.
Gosh, it only took a year to file DUI charges AGAIN. But I guess Monday is Pick on Pawlowski and other Bloggers day. Tuesday and Thursday are Northampton County enemies day, and Wednesday and Friday are resrved for none other than Sam Bennett.
Do you spend Sunday and Saturday hiding from the men in Black Suits who drive Black SUVs and Ride in Black Helicopters? I hear they work for Joe Long, and his vaunted "Bernie O'Hare Surveillance Squad." or B.O.S.S.
I see you had another parking ticket Saturday AM. is the reason you don't pay them because they are putting microchip's in them to track you?!
You are calling someone elitist?
You openly mocked Dennis Paerson and put up links to his website making fun of him for his views. You suggested he was out of this world crazy to people at the LCC meeting last March, yet you take other peoples comments out of context and use them to demean them. You are right, you are an expert at lying. If they gave doctorate's, you would have one.
I just remembered, you do have a juris doctor. and you're researching titles. Putting it to good use. Someone should tattoo the L on your forehead.
See you in court.
Can you feel the love?
1) Yep, I thought Dennis Pearson's interest in otherworldy pursuits was amusing. On the other hand, I've also published some of his essays here.
2) I've never published a blog extolling the virtues of DA Jim Martin. But he is a good DA. I have set the record straight concerning some vicious lies told about him by people with a personal vendetta. If you'd like to slam him, start a blog and write away! Nobody is stopping you. But if you think you can dictate what I write about, better think again.
3) Yes, I did get a parking ticket on Saturday. I pay every one of them. Is this your quaint way of telling me you know where I live? How nice!
4) Next week, I will be in court to testify in a criminal prosecution brought against someone who committed harassment. It is not a political dispute. If you have the courage to show up, you'll lose your anonymity.
Bernie -
Ed Pawlowski has been using smoke and mirrors for years in order to hide the true state of the city's finances. The only thing different this year is that I suspect the national financial climate precludes the city from borrowing or refinancing to cover it up (again).
However, the most aggravating part of the article dealt with Councilman Donovan. From the article:
------------------------------
City Councilman Michael Donovan, chairman of the budget committee, raised questions about the mayor's 2009 revenue projections during the budget process last year.
"I really didn't believe any of the revenue forecasts," Donovan wrote last week in his blog Inclusion.
-----------------------------
Excuse me, but if the Councilman did not believe the projections, he should have spoken out - forcefully - at that time. If my memory is correct, I believe the Councilman also voted to approve the budget - despite apparently not believing the numbers.
That's exactly how we got into a similar mess under Roy Afflerbach. Roy also presented unrealistic budgets with rosy revenue projections. He was aided by an compliant majority on City Council. It would seem that the only thing that changed over the last four years is the players.
As to the Councilman supporting the Mayor's re-election bid, I think it has to do with the mistaken belief that this is an isolated incident with the Mayor. It is not.
The Mayor has misled, withheld information, and outright lied about financial (and other) issues throughout his term. That is unacceptable.
Unfortunately, those in a position to change the situation seem willing to ignore that.
Bernie, this is slightly OT but still on Allentown's budget and financial condition - I have not heard whether Allentown is doing anything to deal with their unfunded pension liabilities. All municipalities/school districts are about to hit with double/digit increases in contribution requirements very soon as the drop in the market has left the funds short. These pensions are guaranteed by the taxpayers, so we have to pay up at some point.
Does anyone know whether Allentown has acknowledged that this is coming?
The Banker
Actually Bernie, I think the blogger you are referring to suggested it might help if Tony Phillips appeared to be a bit more "Intelligent." Your injection of racism as a defense further expands the perception that you are ahem, a racist yourself.
I'd like to know why he is teaching in Philadelphia when there is a shortage locally. Better Pay?
Indeed I am interested in man creating a space-faring civilization ... What is crazy in that? ... Was Christopher Columbus crazy in insisting that the Earth was round? ... Were my ancestors crazy in leaving Europe before the American Revolution to come to America? ... The fact is the Space Faring part of my Political Websit was not there when I campaigned for State Representative ... It only came on board when I transformed the site to a more general site instead of creating a new domain name for the site... And my interest, amusing or not, did not disqualify me fom seeking the Lehigh County Commissioner Appointment ... The fact is, if all things be considered I would have been a fine Commissioner from day one ... But we know other criteria entered the selection ... Some say there is a leadership vacuum in Allentown ... No wonder there is when good solid citizens are pulled into a black hole by bystanders more fitted for promoting disconection then seeking to make things better ... Failure is when you quit trying ... While I am in good health I will never quit trying and doing the right thing .... But I say that Society is the loser when they don't use me in ways I can effectively do what is right for the community.
Dennis Pearson
Banker -
The city has not acknowledged that problem yet.
During my unsuccessful run for controller (about a year and a half ago), I was taken to task for pointing out the problem with the pension fund and advocating that (given the increased number of retirees) an actuarial study should be performed annually instead of biannually. This would have given the public a much clearer picture of the city's finances.
However, the Administration's preference was not to perform the next actuarial study until two years after the last one. Council unfortunately agreed to that.
I think the administration did not want to acknowledge the real unfunded liability or what the annual contribution might increase to (because of all the retirments). Of course, all this was before the recent market meltdowns.
I suspect that taxpayers will be stunned when the updated numbers come in showing what the city's true unfunded liability is - and the related adjustments to the annual pension contribution(s).
I also believe that there will be an attempt by City Hall to blame the increased contributions solely on the market decline and not because of the underfunding over the last few years.
As the son of the owner of Trinkles Cafe I no how badly this city needs to get rid of a crappy Mayor like Ed Pawlowski. This man is anti-business and is ruining the city of Allentown which used to be a great city.
And as for Phillips, I have spoken to him many times and this man is NO fool. He knows this city inside and out and loves it. He cares about businesses and helping them run, no throwing the owners on to the streets. Phillips has brought the support of popular politicians like Charlie Dent, Gary Day, and his friends on city council.
As for this november, I really dont see Ed Pawlowski getting re-elected. I see Phillips running away with this one and getting over 50% of th vote.
Go Tony!!!
Thanks Mike, that's what I was afraid of.
Michael Donovan, if you read this can you respond from your perspective, has this been discussed at Council?
The Banker
Bernie, Great pix of King Ed. He will win because he has done an outstanding job. Down deep you know it and all your writers here know it. Running the city of Allentown at this point in time is like holding a tiger by the tail. The last time I was with Ed I did not see any scratches on him. Have a great week. Bill
Okay geniuses, considering the finacial disaster the city was the day that Pawlowski took office, just what would your crack team of Bush Lovers done differently?
What was your plan?
Your plan was 4 more years of Bill Heydt, whose 8 years in office helped get is here.
I suppose we could have clearcut Lehigh Parkway and lit it with Xmas lights year round.
If you want to raise money, start televising the executions of all the banking criminals.
Say B.O., what makes you so important that you ignore the law and park wherever you want, whenever you want? Are you so rich that you can afford the tickets?
Or are you the Leone Helmsley of Parking tickets?
"I don't pay parking tickets, only the little people pay parking tickets!"
Bill Liener Jr.
How facile it must be to credit Ed Pawlowski from outside the city limits. Those of us who live here (with our families) know better. The situation here is no joke and the situation in the schools is truly frightening. Why don’t you move your family into the downtown and put your children into the schools if you have such confidence in Ed’s “outstanding Job”.
For too long and too often those who reside in areas other than Allentown have injected themselves into city politics for all the wrong reasons with unfortunate results. That is of course again the case here.
Scott Armstrong
For too long and too often those who reside in areas other than Allentown have injected themselves into city politics for all the wrong reasons with unfortunate results."
Scott, your referrng to Bernie O'Hare, yes?
How petty and small minded the defenders of the Democrat status quo in Allentown are is demonstrated repeatedly for all to see. While real lives are affected and a city ruined some think (not so clever)clever retorts are appropriate.
Scott Armstrong
How right you are Scott, we need more of YOUR clever retorts ... bhwahhhh!
Scott Armstrong -
You should listen to yourself sometime. So full of insults and disrespect for the rights of others to voice their opinion, as if yours is the only one that matters. You are so full of yourself it is disgusting. Someone should shove a pacifier in your mouth. You act like a recalcitrant little baby.
Cuckoo.
So full of insults and disrespect for the rights of others to voice their opinion, as if his is the only one that matters.
Hey Scott, that's no way to speak of Bernie O'Hare, and on St. Patrick's no less, you should be ashamed of yourself. We all are.
Bernie, Tony won election b/c he was a Democrat. Republicans don't win city wide in Allentown. The fluffy story that you came up with, as touching as it may be, neglects the fact that if Tony ran as an R in 2005, he would have lost. Ask Tom Burke. I don't know who or what you are talking about when you quote the woman who made this comment or that comment, b/c I'm not her. I've interacted with Tony several times and in public settings. I always find him to be the person in the room least likely to understand the conversation.
Re: Nepon and constitutional issue... then challenge it. Using that line of reasoning, the Hatch Act is unconstitutional b/c it bars the same kind of activity. Your argument is not likely to withstand legal scrutiny if it has the priviledge of seeing it.
Speaking of cute legal phrasing, MM only has to be registered in the district... as in... it needs to be his primary residence. HE HAS TO LIVE IN THE CITY.
Re: Chicago... D/R, long-term resident/recent transplant politics is destroying the city. It's vile and has nothing to do with anything. I've lived here all of my life. it makes me no more or less qualified. Note that Donovan has only lived here for about 10 years. If you have a problem with somebody, state the real reason. Spare us the divide and conquer politics from Northampton County that seems to have rubbed off on you.
Anon 7:46, Those parking tickets are reminders I am not above the law. I do pay every one of them, but it would be better if I were always parked legally.
Anon 9:52,
As far as Tony P's party is concerned, you are right. It is an impediment.
As far as Dick Nepon is concerned, I believe the citty has an obligation to enforce the charter if it thinks it applies. He has no obligation to raise issues concerning his own candidacy, but has actually tried to contact the ethics comm'n.
As far as MM is concerned, read the charter. I did. Yes, he has to be registered in A-town abd must move there to be qualified. But there is no time requirement. He could move in the day before he announces.
Pawlowski is an outsider who has brought a kind of politcs to A-town I've never seen, especially the P2P during off election years. In addition, he has brought a mean-spirited nature in city resources are used so he can persue vendettas against his critics. I have been a big critic of NC government. For many years under Reibman, he never got personal. Pawlowski does. That's what I mean and we don't need it.
Retired ASD teacher here.
Seems to me, Tony Phillips' unvarnished approach to Allentown's problems might actually be just what's needed!
I've had the pleasure of speaking with him recently (and maybe even being one of his teachers years ago). I can tell you, Tony's assessment of today's Allentown matches my own.
As stated before, I can't vote for Tony, but DO plan to financially contribute to his campaign.
Now, what will that get me?
(sorry)
Hopefully . . .nothing! I'm fine with that!
Greetings:
Since I was asked, I'll give the answer that I provided to Michael Schware on the MCall.
First, I've lived here 4 3/4 years.
I did strongly comment about revenues throughout the budget cycle. I criticized the mayor for not attending the budget hearings. I voted for rate increases in both the water and the sewer fund because of their low retained earnings. I voted against those budgets because of that problem.
On the side, I repeatedly questioned not only the revenue projects, but also many of the fast growing overhead items in many departments. I asked for amendments to reduce certain spending, and called for a 1% decline in all expenditure -- not that would produce a large result, but at least send a strong message that there is always something that might be cut. My amendments were not accepted by the rest of council.
I voted for the GF budget because a) if it failed, the charter presents some serious problems as to what happens next and b) the budget included important items like adding more police officers.
Finally, I called for a very close watch on 1st quarter expenditures given the tenuous nature of the economy. I got that promise, which also included watching revenue.
I have great respect for Michael Schware, but I think he made some claims or implied some conclusions that are not right.
Thank you and best regards,
Michael Donovan
Scott Armstrong said;
"Those of us who live here (with our families) know better. The situation here is no joke and the situation in the schools is truly frightening. Why don’t you move your family into the downtown and put your children into the schools if you have such confidence in Ed’s “outstanding Job”."
Just a reminder that the Mayor has lived in the same downtown home for over 10 years. His kids go to McKinley, and they will go to Raub. To suggest he is blind to the problems of Allentown is beyond ignorant. There is no silver bullet to handle all of Allentown's problems. I'm excited to see a leader show up with fresh ideas soon, but based on all of the vitriol by 'long term residents' I imagine he or she will be from out of town!
Once again,
How petty and small minded the defenders of the Democrat status quo in Allentown are is demonstrated repeatedly for all to see. While real lives are affected and a city ruined some think (not so clever)clever retorts are appropriate.
For a new thought I would add that most would agree that those who use insult in the place of argument do so out of ignorance of both ideas and decorum.
Scott Armstrong
Should we give merit to the mayor for merely living in the downtown? Do we not have the right to expect him to improve the area?
I remember a quote of Ed’s some time ago when a fire destroyed a building just around the corner from his home, he said something along the lines of “that property has been a problem for years with constant drug and nuisance activity”. If I had been in his shoes I would have directed the city and its resources to fix the problem.
Scott Armstrong
Mr. Donovan, thank you again for posting here, it helps greatly.
Can I ask you to address my question regarding Allentown's unfunded pension liability exposure specifically how large it is and has addressing it been discussed/is it being planned for?
The Banker
Michael Donovan wrote:
"I have great respect for Michael Schware, but I think he made some claims or implied some conclusions that are not right."
Michael -
I'm not sure if the areas I touch on below are what you are speaking of, but I'll try to respond to your post.
The reason the retained earnings of the water and sewer departments are so low is because the administration has been raiding those funds (via interfund transfers) to support the bloated general fund budget that you voted for.
You know this. If you don't, you should.
I know that some in City Hall believe that a rate increase in the enterprise (water/sewer funds) might "sell" a little better politically than having to deal with the realities in the general fund. It won't. The problems are in the general fund, and apparently they can't be covered up this year.
Also, if the Mayor is withholding any information from council (or the public), perhaps council should withhold voting on ANYTHING the mayor wants until the information is available to both council and TO THE PUBLIC (as it should be). If information is being withheld from anyone, every member of Council should be at a press conference pointing out that the Administration is withholding information.
I think you are capable and you were admittedly uneasy with the general fund numbers presented at budget time. That is a good thing. However, I think a problem arises because you seem to have an ability to "compartmentalize" things.
You didn't believe the General Fund numbers but you are willing to accept the Water/Sewer Fund numbers coming from the same source. The Mayor is withholding financial information from council but you apparently believe he is being honest and providing you full information in other areas where he claims success.
Maybe it's my accounting and auditing background, but I tend to think that when someone is exaggerating numbers and withholding information in one area, they are probably doing it in others as well.
To Anon and Michael Schware:
On the pension question. I do not have exact information in my head, nor in my college or home office. I will pull together (or ask the City Clerk to post on the city's website) the most recent actuarial information. Also,I will also ask about posting the independent investment management consultant report that the pension board receives quarterly.
I think we can all agree that assets have fallen with the general market. However, our account managers have done a good job staying with or slightly better than the market. That is different than just a few years ago when I first joined the board. At that time, many of the account managers were performing horribly and the old independent advisor was not doing as well as I would have liked. Our new advisor is very competent and has provided excellent guidance.
Hello Michael Schware:
I am aware of money used in the past from the enterprise funds to finance shortfalls, especially those produced by a prior administration that did not fund self-insurance appropriately. I have gone back through journal entries, and I'm satisfied that at this time (though I could be wrong if I missed something), intrafund transfers paid back.
I have expressed concerns both at council budget hearings/meetings and privately that I GF expenditures may be reassigned to enterprise funds. I also know that overhead charge made by the GF on the enterprise funds has not changed significantly over 8 years.
Finally, water rates have not changed for some time while costs do rise.
I do not compartmentalize, and I do use reason, especially to not see everything in black and white. Most of the claims that I hear made outside of city hall from all sources, I take seriously, and I try to look in on them using my training and experience to do so. Am I perfect? Probably not. Am I diligent at what I have been professionally trained to accomplished? Absolutely. Do I read between the lines? All the time.
I am an operationally trained and experienced accountant with some internal auditing experience. Like you, I have had successes in other situations at fleshing out inaccurate claims, mistakes, and the sly use of information. I have an approach at how to do that, which you may not like. However, I suspect that if we were to examine our professional careers we would find many similarities.
I'm not perfect. I just do the best I can to balance lots of forces so that maximum benefit is achieved for the most people possible, from all walks of life.
And most of all, I'm willing to take a shot!
Best regards,
Michael Donovan
Thanks Michael, I look forward to hearing more. Unfortunately, while I agree with you that it's reasonable that the market value of the funds has declined due to the market, that harsh reality is the taxpayers guarantee the pensions and will have to make up any shortfall. That could be a big number...
The Banker
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