Hyman Gets Apology For Attempted Smear From Allentown City Council

Allentown's Nat Hyman has been pretty much a success at everything he's tried. Following his graduation from prestigious Georgetown University as well as grad school, he started a costume jewelry chain with stores all over the country. He also began a real estate company that converts vacant old factories into apartments. He provides affordable housing in a city where it's desperately needed, and without indulging in the alphabet soup of tax breaks that local officials hand out like candy. Most important of all, he married his high school sweetheart and raised two beautiful daughters. Yet he's despised by local officials who can barely conceal their disdain, from State Senator Pat Browne to State Rep. Michael "Darth Voter" Schlossberg to Allentown City Council members like Daryl Hendricks and Candida Affa. They fear his competence far more than any virus, though there's no evidence that this is contagious in the Queen City.

This dread of Nat Hyman was on full display at a recent Allentown City Council meeting. Council President Daryl Hendricks read into the record an email from a former Hyman employee painting him as a monster. After doing so, Hendricks gave these allegations instant credibility by stating that he was referring the matter over to the state Attorney General. Never mind that the accusations were baseless. He made no effort to contact Hyman before reading that email into the record. In fact, Morning Call reporter Andrew Wagaman, who was covering the meeting, tweeted, "Hendricks does go out of his way to read this one, from a former Hyman Properties employee ... ."

This is classic "knife in the back" Hendricks. I saw him do it to Hyman before, when he once suggested that Hyman "put on his big boy pants," but waited until Hyman left the meeting before castigating him. In fact, I confronted Henricks over this and asked him at the time whether he has something against Hyman because he is Jewish, something I have heard. Hendricks denied this but was unable to explain why he waited for Hyman to leave a meeting before attacking him.

When Hyman discovered what had happened, he confronted Hendricks

The exchanges continue as follows:

HENDRICKS:

Mr. Hyman, I am sorry that you feel that I went out of my way regarding an e-mail that was sent to Council.
As we were not able to allow the public to attend our meeting I was advised that I would have to read those e- emails that were sent to us. This directive was from our solicitor. He advised that for total transparency and to follow the rules regarding the open records law this was necessary. In regard to numerous other emails sent to us all addressed the same issue regarding the homeless and as such after my colleagues agreed, I was able to make a blanket statement on the subject without reading each one separately.
All emails received were posted on our website in their entirety, again at the advice of our solicitor.
I want you to know that I take no pleasure in having to read that letter and I hold no animosity toward you. I did not receive your text initially from you as it was forwarded to me by Mr. Wagaman. I did also call him and told him that he was out of order with his comment. I did also explain to him why the other emails were not read.
I want to assure you that I hold no grudge against you and I am offended by your accusations accusing me of being anti semitic and a racist. I would appreciate that in the future should you feel slighted or offended in my actions that you reach out to me. I would be open to explain my actions.
Thank you and stay safe.

HYMAN:

Daryl:

Notwithstanding your being offended, surely you must be aware that you have a well-known and long standing reputation for making racist comments.

As far as you’re being an anti-Semite, when I was running for mayor, two of your colleagues on City Council at the time told me directly that you referred to me as “a Jew boy“.

As far as you’re reading that email, clearly there are emails which are slanderous, inappropriate or untrue which should not be read in public. I suppose that if I sent in an email stating that Daryl Hendricks is a racist and an anti-Semite, you would have to read that too? Of course not. In addition, you’re reading that unfounded and factually inaccurate email from a disgruntled employee, doesn’t explain your adding “I will be referring this to the attorney general“ giving the email credibility.

Finally, you say that in the future I should reach out to you.....I texted you. I’m not sure how to reach out any more directly. I would turn that around and say to you that, in the future, if you have anything to say about me (ex: put on my big boy pants) you reach out to me directly and not feel a need to belittle me in public.

Daryl, as I recall, you and I met once at the senior citizen home. I thought we had a nice conversation and got along quite well. I liked you and have never had anything negative to say about you, except when you have attacked me. If, when this Covid thing is over, you ever want to have a cup of coffee or a drink with an eye toward putting our differences behind us, I am always willing. Please don’t hesitate to contact me now that you have my phone number.

Nat

HENDRICKS

Mr. Hyman, you claim that I have a reputation for making racist comments and two colleagues of mine said I did. I absolutely deny that and challenge you to present them in front of you and tell me to my face. I have never used the term you stated and "NO" I do not have a reputation for making racist comments.
I treat all people equally irrespective of race, creed, or color.
The reason I did not get your text directly is because you sent it to the incorrect phone #. It was forwarded to me by Mr. Wagaman.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you personally as soon as this horrible situation subsides.
I am hoping to be able to hold a public meeting on our next regularly scheduled date but if not I am going to see what I can do to avoid reading any such emails. As I told you I took no pleasure in reading it.
p.s. it would have to be a drink.....I don't drink coffee.
Thanks and stay safe.

HYMAN

Dear Councilman Hendricks:

As you know, at the last Council meeting you selectively read an email from a former employee of mine which was both defamatory and untrue. Accordingly, I think it only reasonable that you read the following publicly at the next Council meeting:

“ I would like to publicly apologize to Mr. Nat Hyman. At the last Council meeting I read an email from a former employee of his, which contained false statements. Mr. Hyman is a respected member of the Allentown business community and that email should not have been read without first verifying it’s validity.”

So that we can put this matter behind us amicably, I would ask that this statement be read exactly as written herein.

Thank you,

Nat L. Hyman

The apology was read by Mike Hanlon at the Council Meeting on Wednesday May 13th exactly as written.

It's no secret that both Hyman and Hendricks have been mentioned as possible Mayoral candidates should Ray O'Connell decide to step down.  Though Allentown has had several Jewish elected officials, it's also no secret that anti-Semitism is alive and well.  Hyman is also a landlord, who are despised almost as much as bloggers and lawyers. But as I said before, what scares Allentown pols most about Hyman is his ability to get things done, and without schmoozing with them.

Allentown City Council member Josh Siegel and Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley want to shackle Lehigh County residents with both a sales and earned income tax to keep Allentown afloat. It might be a better idea to invest in someone who actually knows what he's doing.