Allentown Mayoral candidate Tony Phillips blasted away at Allentown's crime problem in a WFMZ (Channel 69) interview yesterday. King Edwin, wearing no glasses or tie, refused to be interviewed at the TV station, where he would have to meet Phillips face-to-face. Hizzoner claims crime is down, but Phillips - a former cop -points to an alarming increase in violent crimes like rape and robbery.Sneering at Pawlowski's crackdown on graffiti, Phillips asks, "Would you rather have your garage spray painted or have someone come and knock you out and take your wallet?"
Phillips' solution to Allentown's crime? More boots on the ground. Cops. Pawlowski's solution to Allentown's crime is to pretend it does not exist. "Nothing to see here. Move along."
33 comments:
Did Tony mention how he planned on paying for these boots on the ground? I'm just curious...with a $10 mil budget shortfall (give or take) it seems wildly optimistic to promise anybody more police at a time when we apparently cannot afford the few cops we already have.
He has previously told me he would increase cops by getting rid of a lot of the thirty or so "administrative" positions that Pawlowski created when he became mayor.
Bernie,
Each day your blog has better and better stories. How are we to go to work! Stop it.
A compliment? I don't know how to handle that. Guess I'll go to work.
Yawn, that card is getting old.
Tony Phillips has it right. He has worked on the street and he knws how efficiently operate a police force. He is also right on with the administrative costs on Allentown, they are inefficient and over the top.
As a knowledgeable non resident, I have nothing really to gain or lose on these elections BUT I do know this:
Lehigh County and Allentown have a great chance to turn things around with Tony Phillips as Mayor and Scot Ott as County Exec.
I half agree.
"He has previously told me he would increase cops by getting rid of a lot of the thirty or so 'administrative' positions that Pawlowski created when he became mayor."
We have heard this number thrown around in other settings but nobody has actually substantiated the number by clarifying what those positions are. Where the previously vacant positions that King Ed filled? Where they positions that turned over? I seriously doubt that the city's budget expanded to incorporate 30 new administrative positions. At 50k, that would be an expansion of at least 1.5 million plus the benefits. My guess is that it is a combo of turn over and unfilled positions. If not, then Tony voted for the administrative budgets that allowed those administrative budgets to be created early in his term on council.
If he is going to propose getting rid of those 30 positions, I'd like to know which ones he is targeting in particular.
I do not know of thirty, but know of several poitions Pawlowski created. I'd eliminate the jobs held by Arcelay and Aguilar for starters. Dick Nepon's appointment, although he denies it, was political. There are numerous admin positions that should go. Those positions are far less important than police officers.
can you please hold tony's feet to the fire on that question? no candidate should be able to make the claim that he did without substaniating it with specifics. I frankly don't think there are anywhere near 30. Maybe 10. that would put 8-10 new officers on the street (a good thing), but let's get Tony to be honest about these kinds of claims. The way it sounds he is promising 30 new police officers.
I also want to know if he will accept the higher mayoral salary (which he voted against) AND his pension if he is elected.
I know that at this point, I am not voting for either of these clowns.
In Philadelphia, more boots on the ground was received as code for a provocative crackdown on minorities. The results of rejecting the "provocative" approach have been tragic.
Let's hope A-town doesn't make the same mistake, but Panto and Pawlowski seem determined to emulate many of the policies that have led to Philly's horrific "success."
I am voting for Tony and so are all my friends and family (about 35-40 people) At least he is down to earth and in touch with reality. Ed P. is so far out of reality he belives his own lies he tells. This mayor has betrayed and turned some of his biggest supporters against him. It will be a very happy day for me and Allentown to see him ride of into the sunset somewhere ELSE!
anyone other than King Edwin is a better choice, so Tony gets me and my wifes votes also.
It cant get much worse than the Pawlowski's have made it!
It's Tony's to lose.
While I feel Tony is far less qualified, it is a question of whether a more qualified individual (Pawlowski) who used his abilities to mislead or manage people is of higher value then someone who will work with the people, show up for hot issues and supply all the facts?
The question remains is Tony going to do that?
So far he's been pretty quiet weighing in on either the budget and the parks issues. I remain skeptical.
How to pay? Excellent question, as it can not come out of thin air.
In the bigger picture, however, what has been the long term cost of Allentown having increased crime?
While Bethlehem has successfully rebounded from the days of Joel's "Allentown" with reinvestment, Allentown has unfortunately seen jobs/money leave center city with the void filled by an environment that is not very attractive in marketing the city for investment. Cited on Wikipedia article on Allentown:
"With the exception of aggravated assault, Allentown exceeded national averages in all criminal categories. Most notable, cases of arson in Allentown were nearly double the national average.[45] Other crimes in Allentown that substantially exceeded national averages were robbery, murder and forcible rape"
"Allentown's crime statistics are heightened significantly by gang-related crime and gang rival and retaliatory violence stemming from the presence of many of the nation's most violent gangs in the city.[47] In the 1990s, anti-gang initiatives in New York City and elsewhere resulted in an increased population of gang members in Allentown, particularly in the city's center city area."
So again, what is the long-term cost of not attacking crime more aggressively?
Well, since as our Home Rule Charter states, we are under a Strong Mayor rule, I would advocate for the removal of the Department of Managing Director. In doing so, it would eliminate 2 positions - Mananging Director and Executive Secretary plus FICA, pensions,and insurances =$176,734.00. That's where I would start. Our city should never have allowed a position of managing director without going through the process of a Charter Commission and Ballot referendum. But, instead this was pushed through council allowing Pawlwoski more time to visit groups to push his agendas through his Power Point presentations. Next year, he'll gain about $30,000.00 pay increase to do so.
Kim Beitler
Kim, it's a point well taken, but council should have the ability to restrict the expenditure of funding on such a department. since tony hasn't mentioned the elimination of this position, I find it hard to believe he will do it and in light of his inaction on the matter (or inability to do anything about it), I doubt he is so interested. Frankly, I think he is most apt to need the position of the candidates that are running.
Phillips talks a good game but it is easy to criticize hard to implement, ask Stoffa.
Ha, Lighthouse cited wikipedia. You could have written that you wit!
He probably could have, but not you.
Typo correction.
Anon 7:18 can look at the stats him/herself.
If you prefer to view Allentown Crime Statistics compared to national average:
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Allentown&state=PA
If you would like to compare Bethlehem compared to national average (below):
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Bethlehem&state=PA
Or the much smaller Easton:
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Easton&state=PA
Finally, you could also browse the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which does have the preliminary 2008 numbers for Allentown which had mixed comparisons from 2007. Forcible Rape, Property Crimes, Burglarly, and Larceny-Theft were all up in 2008.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/08aprelim/table_4ok-wi.html
Anon 7:18's comment adds nothing to the conversation other than reaffirming the original post:
"Nothing to see here. Move along."
I think he is reaffirming that you are a big leaguer BS artist, Outhouse.
Which Stoffa disciple are you?
Anon 12:42
1. what in the world does John Stoffa have to do with this post?? Who is the "BS artist"?
2. were the stats too complicated for you to understand? The sites even included bar graphs, so you don't even have to be able to read.
"out house" that is funny, call the BS artists at this blog for what they are!
"Commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete anonymous personal attacks."
Yep, only O'hare can launch the personal attacks, it is his ball, he will play with it himself!
Somebody needs to take his wittle nap.
Remember I mention this awhile ago?
Either a few days before or a few days after a full moon; that's when things start getting crazy.
Peace, ~~Alekco
And you Anon have no life and no class.
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