Favoritism in Allentown Golf Course Restaurant Deal Continues

The Fegley family, which owns Allentown Brew Works (ABW), received somewhere around $3.4 million in federal loans when they purchased their popular restaurant from the Allentown Redevelopment Authority for $1.00. Another $500,000 came in the form of an outright grant from Rendell. Located in a KOZ, they are exempt from what would otherwise be an $82 thousand annual real estate tax. They are also exempt from sales tax and pay no state income tax. Allentown kicked in even more money, perhaps $90,000, for facade improvements. According to the Tony Phillips campaign, the Fegley's ABW has received more than $7 million dollars of taxpayer money.

The Fegleys are major Pawlowski supporters, having contributed $750 to his campaign in 2006 & 2007. Last year, Pawlowski gave Mike Fegley, a Democratic state committee member, $100 to help pay for transportation to the Democratic convention. He has also paid Fegley's wife $2,730 for campaign work. Another $1,150 went directly into ABW coffers.

I think I can safely call Fegley a Pawlowski crony.

Late last year, Allentown replaced the Sand Trap Grille with Allentown Brew Works (ABW) at its muni golf course. Both had submitted identical bids, and Sand Trap owner Robert Stanley was actually told he had won the bid. In a riveting statement to Allentown city council (captured on video by Queen City Daily), Stanley explains that when he went to city hall to sign his new contract, he discovered they had something else in mind. "Well, here they're giving me an interview, asking me questions. Greg Wetzell is the only guy that asked me any questions and one other person asked a question. Everybody else just sat there, didn't say a word, I answered my questions and off I went."

Two days before Christmas, Stanley was told he had lost the bid and had three weeks to get his equipment out. "I lost approximately - I'm not even sure - $20,000 in the sales of equipment because I had to get that stuff out of there."

"This was all said and done a long time ago. I was told ... as a matter of fact I was told four years ago that Mayor Pawlowski, when he was with Mayor Afflerbach, wanted me out of that place. He wanted to make something flamboyant there. Well, this is what he got. Everybody knows that him and Mr. Fegley - they're buddy, buddy."

According to one anonymous commenter, the Director of Golf "contacted both PPL and Lehigh Valley Propane in an effort to get the Sand Traps expenses for the year. Obviously, [this was] an attempt to answer questions from the ABW that might affect their bid. These facts are eminently verifiable."

According to its contract with the city, the ABW was supposed to be in business at the golf course by March 1. Instead, there's just "a Coca Cola trailer that looks like it should be at a knee high soccer tournament. Prices? $4.00 for a rubber hamburger, add $1.00 for cheese. Beautiful. Apparently they can do as they please, for example, opening their concession stand when they feel like it. (roughly 10AM to 3PM)."

At last night's council meeting, Jeanette Eichenwald and Tony Phillips wanted to know what the hell is going on. A irritated city administrator, Greg Wentzell, answered them in as few words as possible, like he was guarding some top secret.

Phillips: "Is the restaurant up and running."

Wentzell: "No. It will open May 1."

Phillips: "Are they paying rent yet?"

Wentzell: "No."

Phillips: "Is a fine being levied for every day the restaurant is not open?"

Wentzell: "No fines are being assessed."

Phillips: "Who's selling hot dogs."

Wentzell: "That's a good question."

Phillips: "Who operates the coke trailer? Is it the city or ABW?"

Wentzell: "The Brew Works."

Phillips: "Then they're in business."

At this point, the Solicitor was asked to look into whether the ABW should be paying rent or assessed fines. Donovan, via speakerphone from Chicago, talked about the great progress ABW has made with the kitchen.

Something stinks, and it's not the hot dogs.