I can sum up everything Jefferson Pooley says in one short and sweet sentence. Allentown Mayor Edwin Pawlowski is a total asshole. He thinks he's so bad ass, but he's an asshole. And no, I don't have ass tourettes.Jeff Pooley's wife Karen has stepped down from the helm at Allentown Redevelopment Authority.
Karen, well regarded by all, will land on her feet, probably better off. Pawlowski will continue to be an asshole. But what's really sad is this astute observation by Professor Pooley:
"Anyone who’s walked around center city lately has seen the orange tide of “unfit for human habitation” stickers. Foreclosures are piling up—more than half of all “sales” in the city’s three historic districts last month were bank or Fannie Mae foreclosures. According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, median income in the residential neighborhoods around Hamilton has taken a sharp dive over the last ten years.
"And yet the mayor is doubling-down on flashy, big-ticket economic development."
Bernie -
ReplyDeleteI find it difficult to believe that Karen and Jeff are just realizing who Pawlowski is and that Pawlowski's policies aren't working and are actually hurting the city.
Yet they have been one of Pawlowski's biggest cheerleaders.
I'd have a lot more respect for them - and their apparently new found conversion - if they had spoken out while Mrs. Pooley was still head of the Redevelopment Authority.
Patrick,
ReplyDeleteI can only speak to Jeff. Jeff has been somewhat critical at times. His wife, obviously, avoided public pronouncements, and I have never met her. Jeff certainly is not in my category when it comes to criticism, and his wife had her job thanks to Pawlowski.
I would not put him in the cheerleader category. I have a great deal of respect for Pooley's honesty and intelligence, even though he and I often tangle over issues.
I believe, if I am not mistaken, that Pooley took a dim view of Pawlowski's permit antics and his campaign finance practices, but supported many of Pawlowski's policies.
ReplyDeleteBernie -
ReplyDeleteOne more thing. Jeff noted that "median income in the residential neighborhoods around Hamilton has taken a sharp dive over the last ten years".
In yesterday's Call article on the population increase in Allentown, Pawlowski is cited as saying "The greater the population, the more dollars you have a potential to receive."
Maybe instead of looking at the increase in population as a source of increasing federal and state money, Allentown taxpayers should take a look at what Pawlowski's policies are doing to the city. Our poverty rate is getting close to making the city financially unsustainable, and the Mayor doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
More people - particularly those below the poverty line - might mean more federal and state dollars in the short term, but it will kill the city in the long term.
Just the other day, I came to Ed in a dream and urged him to placate the masses with bread and circuses. His next initiative will be razing the Soldiers and Sailors Monument to construct a totally awesome wave pool and log flume at Seventh and Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteRock On,
J
No big loss with Pooley. Unfortunately, she seemed way, way over qualified for that unnecessary job. The people in the City Planning Department can take on that work and probably do better. Mrs. Pooley may want to retreat back to academia and now teach. Having people with PhD's on city staff is a little overboard.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Lisa.
ReplyDeleteI heard that the Pooley decision was Sarah Hailstone's. Whomever thought of it, Karen Pooley was an asset to Allentown and will be missed. And, what is to become of all of those properties with orange stickers now?
ReplyDelete