Local Government TV

Monday, July 26, 2010

Embarrassed Pawlowski Gets Permit For Mancave

On Thursday, I snapped this picture of Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski's front door. Had I finally flipped my lid and started stalking him? Was I encouraging others to do so?

That's what some of you thought.

"That is a mean thing to do Mr. Ohare. Are you trying to get some kind of senseless act of vandalism or hate generated[?]"


"Seriously, showing up at their house? That's kind of creepy."

I was even told I could "possibly even bring [the Pawlowskis] in danger by posting senseless pictures."

Well, just so you know, I would never want to see anyone hurt. I do respect the privacy of publicly elected officials, even King Edwin. It's a picture of a door. At least seventy per cent of Allentown's homes have a door.

So why'd I do it? The reason for this picture, which accompanies a blog that carefully avoids disclosing King Edwin's home address, is to show you he had no permit for a new "mancave" in his basement. That was the subject of considerable Facebook chirping by First Lady (she likes to be called that) Lisa Pawlowski.

Pawlowski has shut down businesses when they lack the proper permits, but applies different standards to himself. After all, he's the King.

Last week, when I tried to pull public permit records for the Mayor's home, City officials stonewalled. I was ordered to fill out a Right-to-Know request, which gives them five days to answer me, if they answer at all. Now, there's no question that permits, like Deeds or Wills, are public records that should be immediately produced. This insistence on Right-to-Know forms is an exaltation of form over substance. It's so Allentown can actually be less, rather than more, transparent.

But I had a secret. You see, someone had already tipped me that there was no permit. Although City Hall threw up a roadblock, a quick trip to the LC Assessor's office confirmed that there was no permit. In fact, when I showed an Assessor what Lady Lisa had posted on Facebook, he told me that not only was a permit required, but he would probably want to visit for possible re-assessment.

Pawlowski apologist Jeff Pooley, in an article entitled "O'Hare's Petty Mudslinging," derides my "flimsy evidence" and goes on to claim I should have waited until City officials were good and damn ready to answer me. Gee, Jeff, give King Edwin some time to scramble? That' rich. Jeff, whom I admire and respect, is amazingly unfazed by the City's stonewalling or the Mayor's unwillingness to apply laws to himself that he enforces against others. Time to lose those blinders, Jeff.

I'm glad I never waited.

This weekend, my grandson was in a baseball tournament in Allentown. So I swung by Hizzoner's home again, late on a very hot Saturday afternoon. Guess what I saw? That same door again, except this time, there was an ugly orange permit. So what happened? Did we all miss it the first time? Or did King Edwin, in reaction to Friday's blog, scramble and get the permit he should have obtained when he first had the work done?

Here's what happened. On Friday, in reaction to criticism from this blog, Pawlowski finally obtained the permit he should have had two months ago. I was treated to a City computer screen dump for all the permits on Pawlowski's property, showing that's exactly what happened. I was going to reproduce it here, but am concerned that vengeful City officials will try to track down the specific computer (and employee).

Had I listened to Jeff and remained quiet, writing nothing, meekly waiting for City Officials to answer my Right to Know request like a good little boy, it is very possible that permit would be dated 6/23 and not 7/23. My post made that game impossible.

What's laughable abut the computer record of this permit is that it only estimates $500 for the work. We're to believe contractors made three visits and charged only $500? When I do get my hands on the actual permit and identify the contractor, I'll be posting again. Who do you think it is - campaign contributor and city vendee Stellar, or campaign contributor and city vendee City Line?

Now, will Pawlowski be cited for having this work done with no permit?

Update (9:39 AM): Pooley admits he goofed.

31 comments:

  1. You have posted his street in the past and now a house number. The color and appearance makes it easy to track down. You are aiding an abetting possible hate crime. You should be ashamed of yourself.

    If the mayor or his family are victims of vandals or worse, it can all be laid at your doorstep.

    You are a vengeful and evil troll. You prey on the good and productive while you praise and glorify ethical misconduct and anti-semites.

    You are truly a disgusting creature on the inside a swell as the outside.

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  2. Jeff Pooley is a good team player, something you might want to try yourself someday O'Hare.

    Allentown Democrat Voter

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  3. While not in the same league, Watergate was a collection of team players. It was that nasty press that the "team" thought were awful that broke the story and the real crime.

    Way to go Bernie. Thanks.

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  4. Does Jeff Pooleys wife work for Allentown.

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  5. Ya Know What!
    Pawlowski's only been at city hall 10 years.

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  6. Annonymous said...

    You have posted his street in the past and now a house number. The color and appearance makes it easy to track down. You are aiding an abetting possible hate crime. You should be ashamed of yourself.

    Actually the mayor's house was on a recent house tour and has been featured in photos.

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  7. Redevelopment Authority of the City of Allentown. ... Allentown Resident Services ... Karen Beck Pooley Executive Director

    She's really smart and very well-spoken.

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  8. You are a vengeful and evil troll. You prey on the good and productive while you praise and glorify ethical misconduct and anti-semites.

    According to yesterday's Call's lead story, the mayor knew the Little Lehigh filled with human waste following heavy storm rains and still allowed city children to swim in this filth. Who is unethical?

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  9. For the folks complaining about Bernie posting a photo of the mayors house:
    Pawlowski's address and home phone number are listed in the telephone book (or at least online phonebook searches).

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  10. "Aiding and abetting possible hate crime?"


    What a poontang, you are.

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  11. Wow, what an accomplishment.

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  12. How could he get a permit over the weekend? Does he pay a fine?

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  13. Anon 2:47, Before posting my blog on Friday, I went thru my site to see if I posted anything that might lead someone to Mayor Pawlowski's actual home. I did not. His address is a matter of public record, but I have enough respect for his and his family's privacy to keep that information to myself, as I've aexplained.

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  14. Anon 7:03, I've never met Karen Beck Pooley but have no doubt about her qualifications. Jeff claims Pawlowski can't get rid of her, but I think that if he wants her gone, she's gone. I know for a fact that he has injected himself into that operation. Although Pooley makes a general disclosure on hids blog, I think he should always note this connection when he writes a blatantly defensive piece like he tried over the weekend.

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  15. "How could he get a permit over the weekend? Does he pay a fine?"

    He did ot get a permit over the weekend. He rushed out and got one Friday, after my first complaint concerning his failure to have one. In bethlehem, a person who does not get a permit pays double the fee. I do not know if Pawlowski was similarly assessed. I will find out.

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  16. The Central ScrutinizerJuly 26, 2010 at 9:54 AM

    The mayor is ripping off the city by claiming only a $500 job. That is total bullshit. I think that's even worse than not getting a permit. It's the big FU to the little people that actually do need to be accountable to city inspectors.

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  17. The Central ScrutinizerJuly 26, 2010 at 9:56 AM

    You have posted his street in the past and now a house number.

    The residence of a mayor is pretty much always public knowledge. He's the goddamned mayor. Heydt lived on the corner of Ott St. Everyone knew it.

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  18. Are you kidding? The mayor said this project only cost $500. How do you know that?

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  19. I do not know if Pawlowski was similarly assessed. I will find out.

    9:23 AM

    Only because if he wasn't fined, neither should anyone else.

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  20. "The mayor said this project only cost $500. How do you know that?"

    That's what is on the computer screen dump.

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  21. Bernie O'Hare said...

    Anon 7:03, I've never met Karen Beck Pooley but have no doubt about her qualifications. Jeff claims Pawlowski can't get rid of her, but I think that if he wants her gone, she's gone. I know for a fact that he has injected himself into that operation. Although Pooley makes a general disclosure on hids blog, I think he should always note this connection when he writes a blatantly defensive piece like he tried over the weekend.

    9:21 AM

    Bernie,
    Yes, we agree. Pooley should include a statement about his wife in every commentary.

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  22. Of course you know this, but that's not what I said. When he wants to defend the mayor or attack a pawlowski critic, he should note it somewhere.

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  23. The mayor and his wife would do well to own up to their mistake and simply say, "we're sorry."

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  24. Bernie,
    Can you hurry up with these scandals. We wanma talk gossip like how did Callahan get the former president to come to town? Might you know how much it costs to attend this event.

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  25. If this is the same Jeff Pooley that serves as a local college professor, he definitely should "under full disclosure" list his wife's profession.

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  26. A hate crime?

    Please.

    Pawlowski is white.

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  27. The Central ScrutinizerJuly 26, 2010 at 4:10 PM

    Bernie,
    Can you hurry up with these scandals. We wanma talk gossip like how did Callahan get the former president to come to town? Might you know how much it costs to attend this event.


    It always costs $2400 to attend since that is the maximum contribution to a candidate. $150 will get you in the door and dinner but you won't meet Clinton.

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  28. We're happy to hear some residents will get to enjoy meeting the former president. He continues to be very popular.

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  29. For $150 they will let you sniff the Mayors underwear. This is like the longdem-Barron affair for Callahan at $1500 except at least here you get to see a former President.

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  30. Pooleys blog seems to have as it's sole purpose to crtique OHare. Get a life.

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  31. Jeff and i are friends. he sometimes criticizes me and I sometimes criticize him. We don't take it personally.

    ReplyDelete

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