That's a mistake, as review of the Allentown subpoenas and warrants make clear.
In the Allentown subpoenas and warrants, the FBI sought information concerning campaign contributions to any Allentown elected officials. In addition, they wanted the Mayor's interactions with about a half dozen high-powered law firms as well as about 20-25 companies doing projects on Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ).
The paperwork specifically lists J.B. Reilly's companies. So far as I know, this is the first indication that this investigation actually involves the NIZ.
In the Allentown subpoenas and warrants, the FBI sought information concerning campaign contributions to any Allentown elected officials. In addition, they wanted the Mayor's interactions with about a half dozen high-powered law firms as well as about 20-25 companies doing projects on Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ).
The paperwork specifically lists J.B. Reilly's companies. So far as I know, this is the first indication that this investigation actually involves the NIZ.
Reading has nothing to do with the BIZ. But Schlossberg's own finance reports reveal that he does. I'll tell you about that on Monday.
Updated 10:00 pm. Ionically, The Morning Call was working on this story as well, and its story published shortly after mine. It includes more detail, including an Abe Atiyeh connection. Atiyeh had been suing Pawlowski over billboards, but after hiring Fleck as a "consultant," things suddenly changed in his favor.
Updated 10:00 pm. Ionically, The Morning Call was working on this story as well, and its story published shortly after mine. It includes more detail, including an Abe Atiyeh connection. Atiyeh had been suing Pawlowski over billboards, but after hiring Fleck as a "consultant," things suddenly changed in his favor.
Time to bring the big fish into the net.
ReplyDeleteWho falls next, Francis D. or Sarah H.?
Who do the Feds turn next?
Does the Mayor do 1 to 3 or 3 to 5?
Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteCould happen to a more venomous nest of vipers. Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteLOL..sorry..Allentown grammar.."couldn't happen to a more venomous nest of vipers"!
ReplyDeleteHuzzah!
I wonder who all the elected officials are that they maybe looking into.
ReplyDeleteThen theres the matter of influence pedaling. What a mess to sift through in the upcoming election for city council. Shame on the republicans for not fielding candidates and giving us choices. also how about taking down the city of allentown flag at city hall and raising the flag with the symbol of the almighty dollar.
ReplyDeleteWhat FBI was after in Allentown City Hall investigation
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-fbi-investigation-20150710-story.html#page=1
The chickens are coming home to roost.
ReplyDeleteMichael Schlossberg deserves what he gets.
ReplyDeleteIn spades.
Run up the white flag ------ this administration is toast.
ReplyDeleteSchlossberg has nothing to say, neither does Jennings. Mums da word........
ReplyDelete9:43 said: "Shame on the Republicans for not fielding candidates and giving us choices"
ReplyDeleteSo it's the Republicans fault that it takes an FBI raid for this city to even consider voting for them. Sorry, but there have been numerous quality people that have run for council as Republicans, only to be rejected for the future convicts now in office. If there's any shame, it's on the voters of Allentown.
If you want choices this time around, vote Hershman for Council and Ramos for Controller. Doesn't matter what you think of them, they'll take their jobs seriously and aren't connected to the people in charge right now.
Above all, you're sending a message that you won't tolerate what's been going on for the last decade any longer.
Vote them all out. Ask Jeanette Eichenwald to run for another term.
DeleteBig changes are coming to Allentown.
Agreed. This is Allentown City Council's chance to stand tall and stand down, or to keep their seats and cover themselves with shame. Immediate action to pass tough anti pay to play ordinances is a must. And Jeanette Eichenwald should be drafted to be appointed mayor.
DeleteBy the way, this is not the Republicans' fault for not fielding candidates. The fact that Allentown is completely dominated by the Democratic Party so that it has been impossible to offer voters a real choice in any of the city wide primaries results in voter apathy and cynicism because the voters realize they really don't have a say in who represents them.
Lots of people will now be pushing the likes of poor Emma Tropiano from Bill White's Hall of Fame.
ReplyDelete10:18 PM
ReplyDeleteBILL WHITE has two selections for his Hall now without even looking. Maybe Bill should join as well.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-fbi-investigation-list-20150710-story.html
ReplyDeleteRecords relating to billing by and efforts (successful and unsuccessful) to procure work for the following:
Vendors, individuals and entities
•Arts Academy Charter School (Abe Atiyeh owns building)
•Abe Atiyeh (Lehigh Valley developer, owner of two area nursing homes)
•Pennoni Associates (Philadelphia engineering and design consulting firm)
•Nelson Shaffer (consulting engineer at Pennoni Associates)
cComments
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ADD A COMMENT
0
•Matthew McTish (principal in Allentown engineering firm McTish, Kunkel & Associates)
•Northeast Revenue (Wilkes-Barre municipal collections service that does work for Allentown)
•ESCO
•TEN (The Efficiency Network, a building efficiency company in Pittsburgh)
•Patrick Regan (national director of government programs at The Efficiency Network (TEN))
•T&M (T&M Associates is an engineering consulting firm headquartered in New Jersey)
•Mark Neisser (Business development manager at T&M)
•Sean Boyle (principal in Boyle Construction Management, Allentown)
•Sovereign Enterprise (Hanover Township (Lehigh County) corporation organized by James Hickey)
•James Hickey (consultant, former Democrat Party operative, former Northampton County director of administration)
•Ramzi Haddad (Lehigh Valley developer)
•5C Security (investment of Rosen Partners, a New York City firm headed by Jack Rosen)
•Jack & Jordan Rosen (Jack heads Rosen Partners in New York City, Jordan is his son)
•Hamilton Development Partners (private development arm of Michael Fleck's former company)
•Mike Fleck (former Allentown-based campaign adviser to Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Reading Mayor Vaughn Spencer)
•Sam Ruchlewicz (worked for Mike Fleck)
•J.B. Reilly (CEO of City Center Investment Corp., which has built or proposed nearly $500 million in office, hotel, retail and apartment development in Allentown's 127-acre Neighborhood Improvement Zone)
-
•Norris MacLaughlin & Marcus (Allentown law firm)
•Scott Alinson (sic) (Allinson is an attorney at Norris McLaughlin & Marcus)
•Richard Somach (attorney at Norris, McLaughlin & Marcus)
•Duane Morris (Philadelphia law firm)
•Alan Kessler (attorney at Duane Morris)
•Sean Kilkenny (attorney at Friedman Schuman)
•Stevens & Lee (firm with offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York City, Virginia and South Carolina)
-
Offices searched
•Mayor
•Managing director
•Administrative offices
—Finance Department
—Purchasing agent
—CEDC Department
Any and all expense related documents including receipts & reimbursement records & methods of payment related to the mayor of Allentown for a period: 2005 to present.
Documents of any kind — financial documents, communications or emails relating to any Allentown City contracts and campaign donors to any Allentown City official from 2005 to present.
* Descriptions of those on the list in parenthesis were added by The Morning Call
Schlossberg's potentially the most dangerous of all of Allentown's local politicians.
ReplyDeleteBy that I mean I don't know that he has any real world experience in anything but politics and was groomed by many of those already known to be involved in this scandal.
Add the fact that he's extremely partisan, and in a state house district so safe he didn't even have an opponent, there's really little to hold him accountable for anything (other than possibly the FBI, now or in the future).
"Any and all expense related documents including receipts & reimbursement records & methods of payment related to the mayor of Allentown for a period: 2005 to present."
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor needs to step down.
The Morning Call coverage is so much better than that rag, Express Times. Their headline article talks about Fleck being a fighter and not backing down. That is real hard-hitting journalism. What a joke that rag is.
ReplyDeleteWould anyone care to comment on the relationship between Boyle and the City of Allentowns current Community Development director?
ReplyDelete10:44
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering about that myself and having a feeling that will be looked at with a microscope.
I also find this part very interesting..."Documents of any kind — financial documents, communications or emails relating to any Allentown City contracts and campaign donors to any Allentown City official from 2005 to present."
ReplyDeleteDoes that mean they could also be looking into current city council members and past council members? Seems this whole thing has the recipe to blow up very big.
It's no secret that Boyle is involved with Sara Hailstone, Exec. Director of ANIZDA. He also is a heavy Pawlowski campaign contributor and donates to Pawlowski allies.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrKEVZcSxNM
ReplyDeleteWondering if someone is counseling the young State Representative about looking into the abyss!
I am an embarassed voter. I grew up in Bethlehem and took pride in voting as a young 18 year old. I now live in Allentown and vote. I will, admittedly state, that I never took enough time to actually consider who I was voting for other than on a superficial basis. Examples....1. Pawlowski seemed to be doing a great job and got my vote. 2. Schlossberg helped me in a personal situation and seemed nice enough. Got my vote......I am a huge part of the problem. Now old enough to have children of my own, I cart them to my local polling place and teach them it's important to vote. They get stickers and a cookie and I go home feeling like I did a good deed. Hell, I voted. I showed up! It's only once this story that broke (and my diligence in feeling I should be more proactive that led me to this blog.) I am intelligent enough now to do my research and believe half of what I read anywhere. I applaud you Bernie for telling things the way you see it. Your views make me question all parties and remind me that, all though I see the good in all people, circumstances also change these people and have an effect on me. I hope this FBI raid does more for the uninformed voters, like myself, than it does the people who may have done such selfish acts at the expense of a community. We need to do.more to stop the cycle from occurring again for the next generation's children. I am a bigger, or was, a bigger piece of the problem.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Bowing my head in shame
But not any more!
ReplyDeleteFull disclaimer and transparency(things I naively thought were human nature). I do have a dog in this fight. (It's a tea cup pomeranian by comparison) So many people and neighborhoods, I believed share interest in filling my family's mission, have come up in these conversations. It has left my mind blown as to what goes on behind the scenes and just how much money/greed/politics are involved in what our work is and what the legacy we want to leave behind for our children. Does this make me a liberal? I am starting to feel like there is no such thing as a win win situation.
DeleteAnon @ 10:42...
ReplyDeleteIn regard to miserable E-T coverage.
Not sure they are asleep at the switch in Easton (always a possibility) or just embarrassed that one of our exported former council members is a crook (what a shock). Not to pile on here...well actually yes, I am piling on. In 2012 I was part of a group of 15-20 citizens in Easton that asked for a public hearing to discuss the possibilities of a Citizens Bill of Rights for the city. As Bernie has pointed out, we have no democracy in America today. The best way to re-establish it is by first re-establishing the right to govern at the local level - most effectively through first re-establishing those rights in a formal document.
One or two of our group met individual with each member of council and the mayor one at a time before we presented to the public. All of them supported it in private. As soon as the meeting started Panto and his trained monkey Fleck attacked us like we were anarchists wanting to destroy the city. While the meeting was still going on Fleck was tapping away on his laptop, sending emails to Alan Jennings of CACLV to complain that Esther Guzman and I (at the time employees of West Ward Neighborhood Partnership) were leading a citizens' revolt against the government.
After the meeting ended councilperson El Warner told Esther that she rode down in the elevator with Fleck after the meeting and he was bragging about how he was going to get us fired. If I tried I could probably remember twenty more of these stories.
Just another day of public service for Easton's rising star.
I guess Mr. Fleck - unlike Mr. Smith - won't be going to Washington after all (unless its to testify).
Is Bethlehem next???
ReplyDeleteMike Fleck had been a loyal board member of CACLV. He and the CACLV Executive Director
ReplyDeletequite often collaborate on issues of mutual and overlapping concern.
...not anymore!
DeleteSomeone using the false name "Nick Bussells" came on this blog primarily to trash my grandson. He claims to have had discussions Friday bight with other fans at Cedar Beach. He also basically claimed my grandson will fail because of my political views. Since CCHS had no games at Cedar Beach tonight, this person is a liar. There is little doubt in my mind that the liar is none other than the Blog Mentor, who is being sued by DA Jim Martin for defamation. You are a sick asshole. I am disabling additional commentary here.
ReplyDeleteSal Panto's office and home next? Due to Mike Fleck being involved with Easton? Any funny business that we know of with Easton and it's officials?
ReplyDeleteBoyle, Hickey.. Good Lord what's next, Callahan, Cunningham, Muller?? If any of this is true, the Feds have broken into the Lehigh Valley Political illuminati. The money talks other walk has been going on for some time and the players are all around. Contributions, jobs, donations.. it has been quite a ride.
ReplyDeleteA few sate rep's may be getting visits based on their connections to all of this, time will tell.
It's time for Allentowns mayor to step aside.
ReplyDelete"Shame on the republicans for not fielding candidates and giving us choices."
ReplyDeleteIn Allentown? Seriously? Have you been paying attention to Allentown politics for the last 15 years? You must be an Allentown super voter. This wins the dopey post of the year.
Allentowns blessed with two disfuntional parties.
ReplyDeleteIs it too early to say, national coverage of one of the biggest municipal government corruption cases in America is about to begin?
ReplyDelete" . . . and we're living here in Allentown"
(Billy Joel)
What about Browne he's tied into this bunch?
ReplyDeleteStep aside Mr. Mayor.
ReplyDelete@ 6:55
ReplyDelete"Allentown's blessed with two disfuntional parties.".....and with Pat, we do mean party.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteSchlossberg's potentially the most dangerous of all of Allentown's local politicians.
By that I mean I don't know that he has any real world experience in anything but politics and was groomed by many of those already known to be involved in this scandal.
Add the fact that he's extremely partisan, and in a state house district so safe he didn't even have an opponent, there's really little to hold him accountable for anything (other than possibly the FBI, now or in the future).
10:39 PM
Wasn't Schlossberg one of the top spenders in a recent legislator expense story?
I bet if you look into CACLV's (S3) oversight of Federal Funding on construction projects on the NIZ (or lack of, I herd they fired the oversight officer years ago when construction started on the PPL Arena) its contributions and the NPP Tax credits that the organization receives you will find even more improprieties. Alan Jennings sits on the NIZ Authority..Hmmmm
ReplyDeleteFrom what i remember Fleck was chased out of Northampton county
ReplyDeleteHow about Browne and Brown? Arn't these two stains involved?
ReplyDeleteThe 3rd DUI will get him prison and the corruption will add on time.
Don't think Mayor Ed will go down without a fight. They'll have to pry his ass out of the Mayor's chair with a crowbar.
ReplyDeleteIf Pawlowski does fight to remain in office, can he bill the taxpayers for all of his legal expenses?
ReplyDeleteThis isn't NIZ or Allentown specific. There are far too many absolutely incestuous relationships in the land development realm Lehigh Valley wide. Look at the Lower Mac shopping center TIF. NMM (named on subpoena list including LMT solicitor) represented the township, township planning commission, county and the industrial development authority. All at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem. A handful of connected land use attorneys play all sides in almost all cases.
"This isn't NIZ or Allentown specific."
ReplyDeleteRe: facts uncovered to date in this investigation: yes, it most certainly is. But yours is good attempt at Clintonesque triangulation.
No doubt the IRS will be scheduling a few audits, and rightfully so.
ReplyDelete"From what i remember Fleck was chased out of Northampton county"
ReplyDeleteNot at all. And he continued to represent Northampton County politicians.
Reilly and City Center will be involved here because they have never had a city contract. City Center is not a company that provides any services that the city can pay for.
ReplyDeletecorrection to my last comment: "Reilly and City Center will NOT be involved because they have never had a city contract."
ReplyDeleteExcuse me? Reilly is offering you a bullshit burger smothered with more bullshit and you swallowed it. Guess what? ANIZDA is completely under the control of Pawlwski, Browne and Mann. They make the appointments, and make sure their toadies are on board. Sara hailstone, the ANIZDA Exec Director, is the City's DCED Director. The companies benefiting from the NIZ are contributing to Pawlowski and the candidates he wants supported. Reilly's statement is pure nonsense.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I would need to see lots more before concluding that he is guilty of anything other than greed and bad judgment.
"This isn't NIZ or Allentown specific. There are far too many absolutely incestuous relationships in the land development realm Lehigh Valley wide. Look at the Lower Mac shopping center TIF. NMM (named on subpoena list including LMT solicitor) represented the township, township planning commission, county and the industrial development authority. All at the same time. "
ReplyDeleteIt's called crony capitalism.
"If Pawlowski does fight to remain in office, can he bill the taxpayers for all of his legal expenses? "
ReplyDeleteNo.
"How about Browne and Brown? Arn't these two stains involved?
ReplyDeleteThe 3rd DUI will get him prison and the corruption will add on time. "
His third DUI follows his second by more than ten years and will be treated as his first offense. He will get ARD.
"Wasn't Schlossberg one of the top spenders in a recent legislator expense story?"
ReplyDeleteThere are practically no legislative expense stories in the local papers any more. This is part of the problem. The papers have largely stopped informing people who is supporting whom.
@12:58 oh no. You mis-interpet. I'm not by any means normalizing it. That wasn't the point. I'm saying... it's just as bad everywhere. Across the Valley. Not NIZ or Allentown specific. It's just par for the course. All the same players working together in the burbs as much as the city. Again, land development in the entire Lehigh Valley is as Bernie said filled with crony capitalism.
ReplyDeleteReilly and City Center have done nothing illegal. The NIZ was created 2 years before Reilly knew about it and the mayor approached many developers before he contacted Reilly, the mayor has done great things for this city, why wouldn't Reilly support him by donating money? and the state makes sure that the $54 million is not used illegally. The ANIZDA board is not sun by the city, they are not city representatives making the decisions, Reilly was able to do what he has done simply because he knows the he needed funding (others did do that), he needed to have clear plans that ANIZDA could know exactly what is happening. others who tried to get into the NIZ didn't know enough to have their shit together in a way that they could get things approved, Reilly did.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea of what this means -- and it may mean nothing at all -- but since the Pawlowski story broke, the usually prolific Ed DeGrace has been radio silent in all his usual Facebook haunts.
ReplyDeleteOne minute he's making proof-free accusations of molestation against a distinguished Allentown School District employee, and the next he disappears without so much of a puff of sulfurous smoke.
My concern, of course, is what on earth will Latinos for a New Lehigh Valley do without his leadership?
Always a pleasure reading Lehigh Valley Ramblings, Mr. O'Hare
@ 2:58 The load of horse shit your attempting to sling is remarkable even in this full of shit town. Totally remarkable.
ReplyDeleteReilly certainly did know about the NIZ before it became public.
ReplyDelete@2:58, actually, reilly was fronted the seed money to buy buildings in the zone before the anizda board was even filled. but, what's more amusing, is the time and effort you're spending as an apologist for pawlowski, anonymously no less.
ReplyDelete2:58, I have no reason to think Reilly acted illegally bc the NIZ legislation enabled him to divert state taxes legally. My sources tell me the state legislation proposed by his childhood friend Pat Browne was actually crafted by him. This had been in the works for some time, and is likely why Pawlowski started making life tough for Hamilton Street merchants in 2007. As for state oversight, this was set up to avoid that. The state usually requires bid contracts, but that was winked at here. As for the ANIZDA Board, they actually are selected by the City. I addressed that above and won't repeat myself.
ReplyDeleteBernie Bernie,
DeleteHow could any underhanded land holding aqwisitional tecniqs tools be legal in the injustice system in the county seat epicentralized¿ Than there iz the bigger bigger fish question who and what legal team were the ones fileing this ponzie scheem and changing of the deed records that put to print could be risking a catastrophee and putting the public in risk of LIFE¿
There is conflict of intrest in a cognazant complicite land holding deals in the Hole of the valley and beoned¿
redd
patent pending
I will be glad when we have Chicago out of our city and we again have Pennsylvanian leadership in City Hall.
ReplyDeleteThe entire NIZ/ANIZDA board/Reilly/Browne/Schlossberg reminds me of a very closed Fraternity. It's unclear how this is related to the influence peddling that clearly appears to have gone on in Allentown City Hall, but with a billion dollars in commonwealth money flowing though Allentown, I'm sure that a good deal of it has stuck to the pockets of the players involved. It would be incredible that it did not. Lets not forget Browne's wife, who is even more corrupt than her alcoholic husband. I suspect that most of those involved in the NIZ development were, if not directly involved, were fellow travelers in this scheme.
OK now what happens after the daylight is let in and the resignations, and ramifications have ended? Allentown will be here, of course. And the buildings on Hamilton Street will be there, more or less. It's likely that what has not been built will never be built, so we have what we have.
The rent subsidies will likely end, and I expect many of those businesses that Reilly recruited to fill his City Center buildings will leave. The Renaissance will close, although as long as the Phantoms fill the seats, they may stay in Allentown if they are profitable. Allentown is, after all, an hour from Philadelphia and there are advantages of being at the AAA level close to the major team.
The office space, at least the lower floors, may even find re-use as storefront retail and perhaps LANTA will return city bus service to Hamilton Street. The apartments may be taken over by the Allentown Housing Authority as senior living centers as the old Allentown Bank building is.
Allentown, however, will be in serious financial straits. Quite honestly, a municipal bankruptcy may be the only remedy to return the city to a sound financial basis..
Just some musings on a late Saturday afternoon....
As the morning call once pointed out Reilly had purchased several properties downtown before the NIZ was made public. They put a nice map on the from cover of the paper that pointed out all of these properties. When you look at the NIZ it jumps out in certain areas just to include Reilly's properties. While this is very suspicious it may not be illegal. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteHowever Reilly's first NIZ grant was given out before there was ANIZDA and before there was a way to apply for NIZ funds. It was all back room deals and was reported in the morning call. I may be wrong but I want to say $700,000 was given to city center before there was a way to apply for NIZ grants. This money was used to buy much of the block across the street from the arena including the former house of chen. I personally called the state ethics hotline and reported this fact (quoted from the morning call) to their answering machine. I know others said they were going to call the state ethics hotline and file similar complaints. Honestly I called it on a lark. I didn't think the state would ever investigate their own misdeeds but I may have been incorrect. I can not take all the credit for this but as anyone who read the flyers I used to write for Occupy Allentown knows I have been bringing attention to these issues since they first started to rear their head.
~Elijah
Maybe someone should look into exactly how many clients Scott Allinson has in come with everyone. For years he has been a very quite strong force behind the scenes. Only A few people have ever stood up to him.
ReplyDelete*in common
ReplyDeleteelijah, actually reilly was loaned $20 million by national penn bank before the anizda board was formulated. it was these funds that he used to purchase the properties, and use also as down money on the new construction. although this is not my usual MO to make such an announcement, my planned blog post on monday happens to address these questions.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a while since I've looked at all the NIZ numbers. Kind of put it behind me when I moved out of town. Too much cronyism. Thanks for the reminder of the $20 mill number, I look forward to your Monday blog post.
ReplyDeleteHonestly this whole thing makes me feel a bit vindicated after all I and others who called out Mr. Mayor went through what with the ridicule by Julio in council chambers, dirty looks from the mayor before he ran and hid rather then answer any questions I might ask him, threats from random people stopping by my camp site at 7th and Hamilton, etc. Feels good to see something come of it all even if from a distance. Good luck, if this keeps up I'll come visit the city that has the motto "sic semper tyrannis" again. I like it more the the city without limits.
~Elijah
We miss you Elijah. You were there in the beginning when we called the Mayor out on his bullshit.
DeleteElijah: When you look at the NIZ it jumps out in certain areas just to include Reilly's properties. While this is very suspicious it may not be illegal. Time will tell
ReplyDeleteDon't they call that "insider trading" on Wall Street?
It smells of conspiracy and it's a felony.
Allow me to respectful point out MM, Elijah is hardly a Republican, although he has been a courageous and unrelenting critic of this arrogant administration. If you had the pleasure of knowing his mother as I did this won't surprise you.
ReplyDeleteTo suggest Democrats haven't stood up to this administration is incorrect at best, disingenuous at worst.
"Don't TAZE me Bro!"
@ 3:06
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure exactly what you are talking about,
Anthony, Big Ed D. has been posting all over his FB page.
redd,
ReplyDeleteI can usually decipher your cryptography. You got me on your last one. I'll need the decipher key and some of what you've been smoking.
Robert, jeanette is one of Sam Bennetts closest friends and advisors and is currently pushing Sam to run. Planned since Christmas not sure how current situation will affect campaign rollout.
ReplyDeleteI have twice deleted misogynistic and OT attacks at Sam Bennett. If you can't criticize someone without mentioning her gender, then your comment does not serve any recognition.
ReplyDeleteBerbie, this is really turning into some story. Everyday more and more. The names in the MC are a who's who of political peddling and money in the LV.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see if any other elected officials are mentioned. Sate rep's like Schlossberg and McNeil have deep roots with these guys.
Mike Schlossberg will be interesting to watch. he came into the area via Muhlenberg. He was groomed by some LV illuminati. Both Toni Iannelli and the chamber and the Don Cunningham were his mentors and political sculptors before he was handed off to Jenn Mann. Will be interested in seeing how far all of this goes.
No secret talking to old pols who are surprised this didn't happen sooner and involve many more people. Glad to see the Brooks Brothers have not been mentioned. They seem like decent guys who just want a successful hockey franchise in the Valley. I hope the arena stays and the team does well, it is the one bright spot in all of this.
What a mess.
elijah at 6:49pm, i have gone ahead and published my blog post today, hope you enjoy it. mm
ReplyDeleteI shall rake up the entire mess. Vote for me or I'll make a rambling, incoherent concession speech. Wait. That didn't come out right.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:06
ReplyDeleteYour right, I'm hardly a Republican, but I'm hardly a Democrat either. I've been an outspoken supporter of 3rd parties since I was old enough to vote. The Republicans in this country are a far right party, the Democrats are a center right party. I stand firmly on the left, so far left it starts to wrap around to the right. I will say that some Democrats have been questioning Pawlowski for some time but I am not one of them. I'm a registered green party member and my ideology is closest to the anarchist views of Mutualism. Small, decentralized local governments with a mixed market, plenty of oversite, direct accountability to the people, and freedom for all.
Sorry to make a comment that is not related to the blog post but I really dislike being labeled a Democrat despite sharing some of their stated views.
~Elijah
So far, the Morning Call has provided cover for Pawlowski's cronies. We now have the subpoena list. I doubt we will see the Morning Call report on which Pawlowski backed candidates received contributions from interested parties or PACs that they contributed to. Funny how a few weeks ago they were reporting on Pawlowski the King maker. Guess there will not be a Christmas in July party flyer with different level of sponsorship.
ReplyDelete"Democrats are a center-right party"???
ReplyDeleteOkay, if you say so.
(chuckle, chuckle)
The only thing that is delaying Ed's resignation is the background shenanigans about who will replace him.
ReplyDeleteAnd how to limit the damage to the NIZ cash cow.
anon 10:55
ReplyDeleteGlobally speaking yes they are, here we call them left but it's a joke. Despite the propaganda used against you to trick you into being part of a divide that keeps the people from rising up against the corruption around them. Look at the policies. Locally people like Pawlowski take from the tax base and use it to not fund social programs but rather try to bring in more money by spending more money on private development. He ran last election on the fact that he had not raised taxes despite underfunding the local school system. Even when people were touting his as the savior of Allentown the things they thanked him for were on the right end of the spectrum. On the national level the same can also be said for Democrats. The AHCA or Obamacare if you will is not a left socialist single payer healthcare system it's a right corporate welfare mandatory insurance gimmick. Obama's international policies have been to send more troops to a wider range of countries then even Bush did, very right wing of him. He continued to bail out private business with the bank bailouts and he has put corporate lawyers from Monsanto in charge of the FDA. His attorney general set up a right wing style sting operation that backfired much the same way the Iran/Contra sting backfired in the 80's. He raided medical marijuana clinics that were complying with state law, continued Bush era levels of domestic surveillance, etc. So yes the Democrats are a center right party and it was those center right views along with a healthy level of corruption that have Allentown in the place it is now, and not a paddle in site.
~Elijah
King Ed's replacement is guaranteed to be one of the people who certainly helped King Ed come to power in the first place how many years ago.
ReplyDeleteNothing more and nothing less than one deposed Soviet leader giving way to yet another Soviet leader.
The Potemkin Village can not be demolished under any circumstances in the City Without Multi-Party Democracy.
Forward to Progress!
Anonymous 4:10 is delusional
ReplyDeleteThe arena deal is at least as bad for the city as all of the other self-dealing
and they don't even want to pay taxes despite causing lots of police overtime.
Elijah,
ReplyDeleteIt is not the duty of any Mayor to fund social programs or the school district, fyi
It is also not the duty of the Mayor to diverts state tax dollars from programs that do, or engage in pay-to-play tactics at such an obscene level as to draw the attention of the Feds.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe anyone refered to you as a "democrat", Elijah.
ReplyDeleteAllentown has to buy it's way and Easton has to bullshit it's way but all is good in Bethlehem, nice and quiet and beautiful day on Main St.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a FABULOUS weekend in Easton.
ReplyDeleteSory you missed it.
Fuck you Sal!
ReplyDeleteanon @ 2:13 - I never said that was a mayors duty, only that those are left political positions, something democrats do not hold, thus my statement that democrats are a center right party.
ReplyDeleteBernie @ 2:17 - get em.
anon @ 3:31 - anon @ 8:06 implied it.
~Elijah
The Executive Director is an at will employee of the Mayor and 3 members of the board are appointed by the Mayor, 6 are appointed by the State Senator and Rep. Isn't most of the money in the NIZ Authority tax money? If that is the case is this not money laundering. Starts as tax money, gets moved to the NIZ controlled by politicians that normally must operate under some rules, however weak, of transparency and accountability, than no longer "tax money" and they no longer have to follow the rules?
ReplyDeleteEaston is totally happening.
ReplyDeleteEvery night is cool. Trash talk it all you want,
parking is already tight so do stay away.
Bethlehem is sweet too.
Fuck the bogus Allentown "renaissance".
It's a ghost town on nonevent nights.
Jail Sclossburg!!!
ReplyDeleteI am seeing some comments that ANIZDA is a separate authority from the city about the ongoing FBI investigation. Even though that is true look at the board members and compare the facts. Here is some interesting information from a Morning Call article dated March 4, 2014. "One of Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s most generous campaign contributors has been nominated for a position on the board that governs development in the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone." "Also nominated is Nelson Diaz, a property manager who already sits on the board." "Foucek would join several ANIZDA members who contributed to Pawlowski’s gubernatorial campaign. Chairman Sy Traub gave $1,000 and Diaz contributed $2,500. Bill Grube Jr. donated $500. Foucek’s $5,000 donation recorded in December was among the 10 largest Pawlowski received from private contributors."
ReplyDeleteYou have to admit it is interesting that those who were nominated to the board donated to Pawlowski's campaign. Is this another sign of pay to play politics in Allentown?
The whole rotten edifice is a nasty farce.
ReplyDeleteCorruption. Stinking foul rotten.
Cunningham is a central piece of shit in the putrid affair, Jennings too.
ROTTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the exception of Councilwoman Eichenwald, all other City Council members should resign. They are puppets of the Mayor. They voted most recently to raise parking rates in the downtown. They voted yes with nothing to show the public, no survey, no study and no plan. The City, the Chamber of Commerce and the Parking Authority LIED to the public and said that studies and surveys were done. Not one Council member had and information to back their yes vote. I feel they voted yes because the Mayor told them to. They all need to resign when the Mayor resigns. They have failed the citizens of Allentown.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet the only one that is resigning is Eichenwald
DeleteWhat I find so interesting is that the year is 2015 and only now the feds are catching up with Mr. Fleck. Anyone who has known him in the last 10 years knew his future would end up here if he continued in politics.
ReplyDeleteSearch T&M. They bought JCA and retained Neisser despite his role in ruining that company.
ReplyDeleteSoprano State