Last Friday, I told you that when the Pawlowskis recently put a "mancave" in their basement, they never bothered to get a permit. As Allentown Mayor, King Edwin has shut down businesses for less than that, especially if they don't contribute to his campaign.It's good to be King.
Now some of you thought I was just being as mean as catshit, or that King Edwin never needed a permit. But on Friday, in response to my post, King Edwin rushed out and finally got one. Sure, it's two months late, but it's the thought that counts.
So who ratted them out? They did it to themselves. First Lady Lisa was bragging all about the mancave on her Facebook page.
Last week, I completed one of the City's Right-to-Know forms, asking for Pawlowski's permits. Their answer was due yesterday. Although these are clearly public records that actually have to be posted, city attorneys have still dragged their feet until the last possible moment. A secretary told me they were waiting until the end of the day to send me their reply.Nobody can ever accuse King Edwin of being an advocate of open government.
In the meantime, Lady Lisa began to scrub her Facebook page, "defriending" anyone who might have leaked this information. The list is long, but distinguished.
While Lisa is scrubbing away and the City's reply to my Right-to-Know request is in the mail, I thought I'd share a few pictures she posted in December.
The first two show the new cedar siding she had installed at the rear of her home in December. "I'm lovin it," she says. "Next will be a new fence. ... The new doors and windows are great, too. My kitchen is finally warm!"
It's good to be King.
She tells us that "Stellar Construction installed the Anderson Windows and doors." Does she mean the very same Stellar Construction that contributes heavily to King Edwin's campaigns and is rewarded with City contracts? Yep.Alison Hansbury Fleck - political consultant, Dem committee member and wife of Easton City Councilperson Mike "take the money and run" Fleck - fawns, "Looks great!"
It's good to be King.
In Picture #3, you can see several Pawlowski servants working in Lady Lisa's back yard, preparing doors for installation in her kitchen. "Brrr, it's cold in my house," complains the First Lady.
Did I mention that Pawlowski never bothered getting a Building Alteration Permit for the work done in December? It appears nowhere in the computer screen dump of a City employee. Nobody inspected the work. Lehigh County assessors have no idea about this recent improvement to the King's castle, which should result in higher taxes to the County, school district, and City. But others can pay taxes.
It's good to be King.
So who did the construction? One person suggested Cityline. What's the answer?
ReplyDeleteAllentown is a down right mean City, when the Mayor can't even collect on free perks for political favors. So we get get $200 table cloths, free babysitting, free meals from Johnny Manana's, the King gets to drive around in City SUVs and free Bennett Toyota loaners and we get treated to donor luxury baseball boxes. We deserve it!! When these campaign donors fixed up our house and I admired my table cloths, it was the first time in my adult life that I felt really proud about my City.
ReplyDeleteQueen Lisa
As Allentown Mayor, King Edwin has shut down businesses for less than that, especially if they don't contribute to his campaign.
ReplyDeleteBernie
We're staunch supporters of rumor and innuendo but now that you're a real reporter, ya really have to back this up with an example, don't ya think.
Funny, I was just "defriended" on Facebook as well. I always thought I was on really good terms with the Pawlowskis, almost on a personal level.
ReplyDeleteI had nothing to do with this, and would never even have considered spreading rumors or causing them trouble for any reason.
Perhaps removing questionable posts, or not posting them in the first place, would be a better move than alienating people who support you.
That free babysitting thing stinks.
ReplyDeleteSome parents would be embarrassed.
Charlie Rangle is up on charges for accepting free gifts. It must be contagious.
ReplyDeleteYou don't even need to be friends with Queen Lisa to see her photos. Her settings allow anyone to see them.
ReplyDeleteShe marginalized all these people who thought they were her friends when she didn't even set her privacy settings properly. What a bonehead move.
How can it be legal for a mayor to drive a car with dealership advertising on it? WCorbett's office should be contacted.
ReplyDeleteHere's a true story about a
ReplyDeletelongtime Allentown business. For years, a South side grocery has been a city mainstay. As the
story goes, a large quantity of grocery carts recently were stolen and now the store will only allow customers to access the carts at one of its two main entrances. This means all shoppers especially families with young children now have to fight for a limited number of parking spaces near the carts or walk have a parking lot to find one. Eventually this new policy will get old and customers will find a new grocery store where the carts are easily accessible and the owner will complain.
"So who did the construction? One person suggested Cityline. What's the answer?"
ReplyDeleteStellar Construction, which has donated somewhere between $15 and $20k to Pawlowski, which it makes up in just one fire rehab job from the city.
" ya really have to back this up with an example, don't ya think."
ReplyDeleteFair enough. I direct you to Michael Molovinsky's blog, which is replete with examples. They range from a downtown business that used to serve deputy sheriffs breakfast every morning to Hava Java to a nice apartment complex at which the City actually posted eviction notices for bullshit code violations. They include systematic inspections in downtown homes, whhere owners must allow inspectors to come in and find all kinds of code violations.
Where is the Morning Call? Oh yeah, I forgot, they also cowtow to King Edwin!
ReplyDeleteBernie O'Hare said...
ReplyDelete"So who did the construction? One person suggested Cityline. What's the answer?"
Stellar Construction, which has donated somewhere between $15 and $20k to Pawlowski, which it makes up in just one fire rehab job from the city.
10:24 AM
Oh that makes sense too
Stellaaaaa (Where's Brando when you need him) was/is an Allentown heavy-hitter. Their often called in for fire damage, but so has Cityline.
"So who did the construction? One person suggested Cityline. What's the answer?"
ReplyDeleteStellar Construction, which has donated somewhere between $15 and $20k to Pawlowski, which it makes up in just one fire rehab job from the city.
10:24 AM
Blogger Bernie O'Hare said...
" ya really have to back this up with an example, don't ya think."
Fair enough. I direct you to Michael Molovinsky's blog, which is replete with examples. They range from a downtown business that used to serve deputy sheriffs breakfast every morning to Hava Java to a nice apartment complex at which the City actually posted eviction notices for bullshit code violations. They include systematic inspections in downtown homes, whhere owners must allow inspectors to come in and find all kinds of code violations.
10:32 AM
Oh, we remember now. Didn't you mention one downtown homeowner and
Weed & Seed?
We sure hope someone looks into the mayor and Bennett free car.
ReplyDeleteDear Bernie,
ReplyDeleteI simply can't get enough of your work on this story. Is that mean of me?
Sincerely,
Ornery in Ormrod
5:01, Yes!
ReplyDeleteHurray Bernie!!! Its amazing how people all over this Valley and Commonwealth secure permits for this very same work.. fencing and basements (siding is exempt actually as well as windows and doors so long as the openings are not enlarged. What should be now happening with a post construction issuance is that the basement needs to be verified by all trades inspectors employed by the city. Those records are too public. The applicant should be paying a fine and may have to tear out some portions of the work so that it can be checked. Wondering if the City Inspection Department has the stomach to do this to the Mayor. I know they have done it to other City homeowners!!
ReplyDelete