Bethlehem, already drowning in $298 million of debt, has two ordinances requiring city council approval before spending casino revenue or borrowing from the Treasurer's Escrow Account. Callahan's administration has broken both of these city laws, spending $335,000 of casino revenue and borrowing $2 million without a green light. Council member Jean Belinski, noting that "I don't think that anybody should be above the law," asked Solicitor Chris Spadoni to investigate, and he lead out several options at Monday night's meeting, from mild to severe. According to The Morning Call, an unrepentant Mayor John Callahan told city council, ''We should be applauded for our conservative estimates.''
This arrogant disregard of spending controls is disturbing, especially when it comes from someone who thinks he belongs in Congress.
If Callahan is an arrogant Democrat, the last year proves Congress is the place for him. Of course the results in Massachusetts could put a curb on some of that attitude.
ReplyDeleteThat is not arrogance, that is leadership. Council failed to see the positive, Callahan pointed it out.
ReplyDeleteGee, thanks for straightening me out. Leaders who fail to take positions.
ReplyDeleteCallahan's arrogance has apparently led to raising a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteCentral, Why is it that when Dent raises money, he's a tool of special interests, but when Callahan raises money, it's a sign his campaign is resonating?
ReplyDeleteCallahan's funding will dry up this quarter. Dems have lost some big races in recent weeks, and will need to spend money to play defense.
Dent PAC Contributions: $243,250 (45%)
ReplyDeleteCallahan PAC Contributions: $26,051 (8%)
Dent Individual Contributions: $291,474 (54%)
Callahan Individual Contributions: $320,014 (92%)
Who is the candidate of the people here?
That's easy. Dent is the candidate of the people. They've proved that by re-electing him twice in a Democratic district.
ReplyDeleteCallahan's arrogance, demonstated in all its glory before City Council, will kill him. And watch his money go buh bye.
Why are you deflecting the point of the numbers I posted?
ReplyDeleteSimply being elected over tomato cans doesn't prove anything. It proves that even against a no name like Dertinger, Dent almost lost with a significant fund raising advantage.
I'm interested in hearing your defense of the PAC funding though.
Is any money missing?
ReplyDeleteThen, what's the big deal
I deflected nothing. Actually, you attempted to deflect the point of this post by talking about his campaign finance.
ReplyDeleteI detest PAC funding as a rule, but notice that Callahan accempts it, too. So what's your point, moral equivalence. Callahan is less bad than Dent? If they both do it, then it makes little sense to make an issue of it. If you do consider it important, then why are you supporting Callahan?
Silence by ohare....you on the phone to millan trying to figure out why Dent is only getting support of big business and the Republican machine (patriot program anyone) and callahan is getting biparty individual contributors support.....
ReplyDelete45% vs 8%.
ReplyDeleteNearly half of Dent's campaign is financed by PACs. Nearly half.
By the way, why do I support Callahan?
ReplyDeleteBecause he is a local leader who is leads a great city. Crime is low, culture is prevalent, and business is good. He worked in the private sector and is not a career politician like Dent. Dent has little interest in the Lehigh Valley now that he is a Washington insider. We need someone familiar with the problems we are facing here in the valley not someone who checked out a long time ago.
Anon 9:39, It's a little silly to accuse me of running from a point when I have a reply posted within 4 minutes of the orignal observation.
ReplyDeleteCentral,
ReplyDeleteI don't like to see campaigns funded by PACs, whether they are unions or big business. If Callahan refused to accept any money rom them at all, I'd consider that a point in his favor. But he does take money from them, too. And as the camaign continues, that percentage will increase.
We need clean election laws on a state and federal level.
I have not scrutinized Callahan's funding bc I have yet to see his second report. But I intend to do so.
I have scrutinized Dent's funding. Most of his support is local, within his district. Even the PACs are often PACs for the businesses and workers in his district.
You can rest assured I will be posting about the campaign finances of both candidates.
But the subject here is a mayor who thinks a ity council should applaud him for breaking the law bc his casino projections were conservative.
If Callahan broke the law, why has a suit not been brought against him?
ReplyDeleteOn Monday night, City Council was given 6 options. it is doubetful that anyone will be suing anyone bc Callahan's transgressions involved only an excess of power. But his reaction, as summarized in TMC, can only be characterized as arrogant.
ReplyDeleteDeliver Us From Allied Evil
ReplyDeleteDeliver Us From Allied Evil
ReplyDelete