According to a reliable Allentown source, Joyce Marin is resigning as Allentown's Director of Community & Economic Development. When she was hired earlier this year, the job carried an annual $87,000 paycheck. Her appointment followed two contributions to Mayor Ed Pawlowski's campaign, totalling $1,150.
I have no additional details. The city web page still lists her as Director.
Update: It's official! According to a news release on the city web page, Marin's resignation is effective December 18th. She and her husband are moving to Madrid, where she will begin her training as a matador.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
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Monday, November 23, 2009
42 comments:
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Sounds like a lot of bull.
ReplyDeleteThis past summer, I worked for her as an intern. I hope that I have a boss as dynamic as her in the future. I wish she were staying, but Madrid's incredible!
ReplyDeleteKatie Bee, Thank you for your comment. Not to go OT, but tell us about Madrid. What makes it incredible? I've always wanted to visit there.
ReplyDeleteBe nice to the Marins and they will invite you to Madrid. After all, Marin invited Ron Angle on Business Matters. Imagine you would also have the opportunity to ride a high speed bullet train! BTW, its her husband that has the matador suit.
ReplyDeleteKatie Bee,
ReplyDeleteThink about me on Thanksgiving. I assume you are going home. I will be here in D.C. While you'll probably eat turkey, I will be eating at Z-Burger near A.U.
Peace, ~~Alex
"Be nice to the Marins and they will invite you to Madrid."
ReplyDeleteToo late! I'm going to have to settle for Spain restaurant in Jersey.
"I will be eating at Z-Burger near A.U."
ReplyDeleteYou should be fasting for my sins.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteDon’t be so parochial, get out a bit and see the world. Madrid is great but all of Spain is worth the trip.
Scott Armstrong
Scott, I can't help it. I went to parochial school.
ReplyDeleteFasting for your sins???
ReplyDeleteYou know I want to say something about that, but confidentiality is looming over my head!
Let us just say, I'd look pretty thin.
Peace, ~~Alex
First of all, Joyce Marin was a hack. In the local community development and planning circles, she brought absolutely no credibility to the table. He training and experience clearly showed she was not qualified for her appointed Allentown position and was clearly a put in for political reasons. The word in City hall is that co workers were cordial, but did not respect he because of her limited knowledge. Hopefully, Allentown will now search out a professional at the top of his/her game with at least two decades of city/local government experience. I hope Joyce enjoys the European way of life and her and Phil use the train daily.
ReplyDeleteHer husband's name is Paul. He was the driving force behind the passenger rail movement in the LV. I wonder if his departure signals an end to that.
ReplyDelete$87 K for what? Marin was a charlatan who paid to play and did NOTHING for the city. Palowski's judgement once again is tainted. Good riddance. Ole!
ReplyDeleteShe belongs to Spain now.
ReplyDeleteI hope she and her husband are happy there, and I mean that. Whatever disagreements I may have with them on policy, they seem to love each other very much. It's very refreshing to see something like that.
ReplyDeleteShe reminded spme of the Lehigh County DCED head.
ReplyDeleteBernie,
ReplyDeleteI hope this kills the ludicrous idea of a government run rail road for the Lehigh Valley.
Of course, trillion dollar deficits in D.C. and Billion dollar deficits in Harrisburg might also kill it.
But, probably not....
Whip out the credit cards.
This job will next be filled by Mike Fleck. You heard it hear first.
ReplyDeleteThen I guess he'll have to resign from Easton Cuty Council. A-town's DCED director must live in the city. Dumbass.
ReplyDeleteDumbass is obviously Mike Fleck. Who else would say "you heard it hear"?
ReplyDeleteBernie - this link is from my Europe trip. Madrid is DEFINITELY my favorite city, but I agree with scott (!!!), every place is worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteHe has up to a year to move, I believe. I agree I don't see Fleck in that job but he is going to get a job with Pawlowski. That has been confirmed by some ABW regulars.
ReplyDeleteIf Marin or someone (maybe Katie Bee) would list the actual successful and continuing to operate business ventures she brought to Allentown, it would be a benchmark of her success.
ReplyDeleteShe is not responsible for the Brew Works.
If Fleck gets that job, he can move into Marin's downtown loft.
Does anyone know Marin's salary?
ReplyDeleteWhy can't some of us looking for work get a job with Pawlowski.
ReplyDeleteWe're honest and have a strong work ethic.
Fleck will not end up working for Allentown.
ReplyDeleteEven that mayor knows that you need an experienced political pro-heavy on the innuendo, loose with the facts-to run a campaign.
Unfortunately city government can only afford one person with those attributes and that is the mayor.
7:17,
ReplyDeleteYou may have the work ethic and be honest but perhaps the real question is do you have the cash?
Anon 7:06 am said:
ReplyDelete"She is not responsible for the Brew Works."
Very true. Those "responsible" are the taxpayers, to the tune of $7.5 million in loans and grants.
For God's sake, does the city really need to pay someone $87k to decide which of the Mayor's campaign contributors will be given taxpayer money?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete7:17,
You may have the work ethic and be honest but perhaps the real question is do you have the cash?
10:58 AM
You have no idea how right you are!
The poster who compared Marin to the County DCED Director was right on. Those postions are always political appointments that end when the Executive or Mayor leave and they each have 2 principal responsibilties; complete and unquestioning loyalty/ support of the Executive or the Mayor and the ability to BS the public. That is why political hacks wind up as Community Development Directors in Allentown and Lehigh County. It would be nice if properly qualified professionals were hired independant of the political process, but...
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:52 pm: "The word in City hall is that co workers were cordial, but did not respect he because of her limited knowledge." That comment marks you as a Dem insider. When local Dems are finished using up good people, they launch smear campaigns, hoping nobody will believe them if they turn whistleblower. The local Dem machine is completely corrupt. Joyce is highly thought of in planning circles throughout the region, leaving an enviable track record in Emmaus in particular. Her departure is a great loss to the Lehigh Valley. Hope you're not reading this, Joyce, but if you are--wish you all the happiness that you deserve!
ReplyDeleteI knew Joyce and her husband and they both had great intentions and plans for the city. I wish them well on their future ventures and adventures together.
ReplyDeleteAlfonso Todd
www.lehighvalleyflavor.piczo.com
Fleck didn't get a job with the mayor last time and he won't get one this time......even Ed knows better than that! BUT, the real rumor is that he will end up with a private sector job from one of Ed's pay to play buddies.....plus look to him to double dip with one of the governor candidates...of course it will be whichever one Ed supports.
ReplyDeleteWatch out Easton........he's back!
To Anonymous @ 2:43: who were the previous "hacks" as you put it who were Allentown CD directors? Before our current mayor, it was Ross Marcus, now at Northampton County, and Don Bernhard, now of PPL. Between the two of them, they were probably at the city for almost 20 years. They are both professionals who very respected.
ReplyDeleteActually they are both Republican insiders. Jobs bought and paid for.
ReplyDeleteRepublican insiders, Marcus & Bernhard - thanks for the laugh of the day. Mr. Bernhard was appointed CD Director by Joe Daddona, hardly a Republican insider. Like I said before, both men were professionals.
ReplyDeleteBoth benefited from politicial insider status not credentials.
ReplyDeleteWell Anonymous @ 4:46, you may think you know it all but you really don't. Would you like to tell me how both Bernhard & Marcus came to be appointed CD director. I didn't think so. Bernhard was on staff of the CD dept. as was Marcus prior to their appointments. They both have credentials and are not political insiders. Do you think Bernhard is at PPL because he's a political insider? Go look up his resume. He's educated unlike you.
ReplyDeleteI've seen Marcus in action as the Director of Northampton County Human Services, and consider him a consummate professional who cares deeply about people, not politics. We've been lucky that way in Northampton County. We've had people like Ron Heckman and ... John Stoffa.
ReplyDeleteBernie you are so right about Ross Marcus, a really good guy who does an excellent job.
ReplyDeleteI would just like to say that Joyce did a great job for Allentown and is greatly missed. That she wasn't always looking for the spotlight and was willing to let the Mayor and her department take credit for her achievements is a credit to her. There should be more like her in public service.
ReplyDelete