One of the reasons former Allentown mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski got away with political corruption is that City Council, which was supposed to be a check on him, failed to act as a check on his excesses. This irresponsibility has continued. At Monday night's meeting, when Council should have been taking a hard look at a proposed major tax hike with meaningful amendments, Council members Cynthia Mota and Candida Affa instead were engaged in a private discussion - in the middle of a vote no less - on a serious budget amendment. As the video taken by citizen Lew Shupe makes clear, it looked as though they were performing oral sex on Council President Roger MacLean. While two council members blatantly violated the Sunshine Act, a city solicitor turned a blind eye. This is just as the Solicitor's office did for Fed Ed, when not involved in bid rigging. A complacent press sat there without noting or objecting to the violation, just as it did with Fed Ed's political corruption.
Because of this simulated oral sex, the city video of one of the most important meetings of the year has been withheld. One citizen who was there tells me that many city officials were snapping pictures of the event and having a good time. Obviously, they are concerned they have been caught in an embarrassing act.
The video of last night's meeting, in which city council irresponsibly rejected the budget with no meaningful alternative, is posted. No explanation was offered for Monday night. But hypocritically, a sexual harassment policy was recommended by a Candida Affa committee.
A meaningful budget amendment would eliminate all pay hikes.It would remove the managing Diorector. It is the Mayor's job to be the managing director. It would remove all the do nothing Mayoral assistants. It would look at waste in every department while preserving public safety.
Just as with Fed Ed, City Council is failing to act as a check on the Mayor. The Solicitor's Office is ignoring blatant violations. And the press is failing to report to you.
28 comments:
I believe the only reason Pawlowski was investigated and arrested was that he stepped on the wrong toes. The corruption continues and no one cares. they all feel as thought there is no risk. Stay on the right side side of the right people and you can do just about anything you want, without fear. It is also true in the state and very obviously the federal government, the laws are enforced on those that rock the boat. Same system as the cartels, we will make you wealthy if you cooperate and we will destroy you if you do not. We have third world corruption but are unwilling to see it or do anything about it. Denial, makes everyone more comfortable.
Bernie: We all know that you love Ray, but why don't you put the blame where it belongs??!!! City council, the solicitors, the press and city officials are not the ones at fault here! This outrageous 27% tax increase lies squarely on the shoulders of Ray O'Connell!!! He is the one who proposed this budget and if he wanted cuts, he should have made them...not rely on city council to do his job for him !! And the reason Ray doesn't eliminate the managing director position or any other position is because he would then have to do the work and he will never do that!
They are all at fault, including Ray. I thought that was clear.
For those who thought the Pawlowski episode would provide purification, think again. This is the same old Allentown where leadership's hubris reigns supreme.
Rejecting the many proposed amendments on Monday and then the entire budget last night is the Mann mob at work, Affa, MacLean, and Li'l Courtney were and are Charlie Thiel supporters. Their strategy ever since Ray O'Connell was selected as Mayor is to disrupt and embarrass him at every opportunity. If Charlie Thiel would get into the Mayor's office the FBI will also be returning to Allentown City Hall. Charlie was a willing participant of the pay-to-play.
The lack of comments speaks volumes.
Anon@2:21 is 100% correct about Thiel! The FBI knows full well that Thiel got a no bid contract for the camera system in Allentown from Fed Ed after making contributions to his campaign. He was very close to be indicted. The FBI could reevaluate their case against him if he has the audacity to run for mayor again. Thiel also failed to file the proper paperwork for his so called charities after taking hefty salaries for himself.
Let's face it, O'Connell is incompetent and Thiel is a crook and has run the school district into the ground. Allentown's only hope is that Hyman runs and wins. If he doesn't Allentown is doomed. Ask yourself why Bethlehem and Easton continue to grow and get nicer and Allentown gets worse (except for the NIZ area). The answer is poor leadership.
Even worse is that everyone involved - Council, O'Connell, the City Solicitor - all seem to be willing to stand by and allow the City's Home Rule Charter to be violated again.
The Charter clearly states that a property tax hike requires 5 votes in favor of the tax hike. So it cannot be raised by default (without council approval).
Ignoring the Charter was routine under Pawlowski, and helped get Allentown into the hole it is in today.
If any of those serving in those positions are unaware of what the Charter requires, they shouldn't be in office. If they go along with it, they are complicit in violating the Charter they swore to uphold.
ray is no leader he helped run the schools into the ground with his liberal philosophy and now he will run the city to even lower levels the guy is ab person with a very big ego but does not have or ever had the smarts to be a good leader. the people of Allentown will be taxed out of their houses if o Connell stays in office. he does not care about the elder people of Allentown nor does he care abut the middle class the people voted him out of the mayors job twice but his buddies on council put him in and you see the results.. first he wanted to pay a million for a 200000 job and now he wants to tax the people 27 percent.
Same should happen in Bethlehem Township. Eliminate the assistant public works director, the sewer dept assistant director, police captain and recreation supervisor. The commissioners are allowing all sorts of shenanigans in the administration which is a direct cause for a tax increase in 2019. Am I wrong?
o Connell wants a 27% tax increase what an ass hole
5:07, where is that in HRC?
Section 807, Paragraph D:
D. Council may reduce any tax rate or fee (provided it maintains the minimum ratios for property taxes as in Section 807(C)(2) by a majority vote. Council may increase property tax rates or fees (provided it maintains the minimum ratios for property taxes as in Section 807(C)(2) by five votes.
How many Allentown citizens actually vote?
There's the problem.
VOR
9:24, Thanks for quoting the section. Here's the problem. Council is not voting for a tax hike.It is voting down the budget. But unless it submits an amended spending plan of its own the tax increase will go into effect. They don't need to approve it. Under HRC Section 805C, the tacx hike will be automatic. If they do amend the budget and include a tax hike, they may very well need five votes. Thanks again.
The city is an absolute joke.
The Council is a clown car.
I see no use in naming names.
Stick a fork in it.
Bernie @ 12:05 -
I don't think 805C overrides the need for council approval. At best the (default) budget goes into effect without the means to fund it being legally approved.
I also question whether the default budget provision in the Charter is even legal according to PA law. Legislative approval is required for any budget, otherwise there is little need for a legislative branch.
Either way, the requirement for council approval of a tax hike has always been in the Charter and was likely included to promote accountability and good government. Neither are present in Allentown, at any level.
the mayor o Connell caused this problem never should he aSK FOPR SUCH A LARGE TAX INCREASE HI IS NOT CAPABLE of doing what is right he never did he should have looked for waste which we know is their he should have made the hard decisions not put it on the bad council he could have made the hard picks because he will not be mayor next year at this the people will vote him down for the third time
If anybody followed any amount of time with these meetings, it’s clear that Councilperson Mota is absolutely clueless and brings NOTHING to the table. She asks no questions and offers no ideas or alternatives. What a joke!
I'd like to see a professional City Manager and a ceremonial Mayor (i.e. who lights the Menorah at the Phantoms games etc..) with limited work hours and a very limited salary. I think its ridiculous to have a mayor making upwards of $130 K, with no municipal management experience. I'd like to see the Mayor agree to this common sense arrangement. He could even reduce his hours at work dramatically and enjoy his retirement.
"Let's face it, O'Connell is incompetent and Thiel is a crook and has run the school district into the ground. Allentown's only hope is that Hyman runs and wins. If he doesn't Allentown is doomed. Ask yourself why Bethlehem and Easton continue to grow and get nicer and Allentown gets worse (except for the NIZ area). The answer is poor leadership."
You simply cannot compare Allentown to Bethlehem and Easton, each of whom participate in fiscally healthy, good quality regional public school systems. The financial burden and the nearly 100% urban underclass enrollment at ASD is Allentown's greatest problem. ASD was run into the ground in the 1980s and 1990s when the middle and upper income residents of Allentown fled to the suburbs. You cant pin this on someone from 2018.
10:24:
It's not like O'Connell just showed up in 2018. He's been in city government for almost a decade and the school district (that you put down in your post) before that.
He's not a bystander. He's the problem, or at least a big part of it.
11:11 so so true
You do mean Dr. Mota
o 'Connell never had to worry about money he was an only child he married a well off women he was always very well payed by the taxpayers today his salary is 150000 he has a pension of at least 60000 or more his wife has a 40000 pension or more they both get social security do you really think this guy cares about the fixed income or the poor people of Allentown he knows best check the morning call today he knows what you need????
I don't even know O'Connell, but the Mayor makes $96,000 according to the charter.
Correct me if I’m wrong but would eliminating the new positions that Ray put into budget
Be enough to reduce the tax increase. Theses positions weren’t needed to past so not having them
Wouldn’t have hurt anyone bc there not filled.
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