The Great Alan Jennings Responds to Toy Factory Story

The last time I spoke to the Great Alan Jennings was during the late Summer or early Fall of 2018. He made a point of telling me he was calling me from the beach, which I thought a tad odd for someone who proclaims himself as the voice of the voiceless. In our brief conversation, he churlishly berated me in a profane-ridden tirade over my coverage of Upside Allentown's corrupt facade grant program, in which insiders were awarding grants to themselves. Upside Allentown then operated under the rather large umbrella of Community Action LV, whose biggest accomplishment in recent years has been to change its name. Jennings, its former Executive Director, had responded to my inquiries and did have to amend one of his tax returns, but was nevertheless upset with me for giving a voice to two people who would otherwise have been voiceless. He got ugly in that call. 

Fast forward to the present. I recently wrote a story about Allentown's Toy Factory, in which Jennings plays a minor role as a member of Allentown's Redevelopment Authority (ARA). This vacant factory was purchased by the ARA in 2022 for $400,000. Hasshan Batts, a two-time convicted drug dealer who is nevertheless heralded by the increasingly irrelevant PBS as a hometown hero, proposed turning it into a mosque, and nearly succeeded. 

Nothing much happened since then until earlier this year, when the ARA finally got around to publishing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP), and the main purpose was to provide affordable or workforce housing. 

That's what Allentown developer Nat Hyman does, and without sticking his hand in the taxpayer's pocket for grants or LERTAs or TIFs. And he's been successful at it, having completed 41 projects with 1,480 apartments over the years. He submitted a plan to turn the defunct factory into 20 apartments with on-site parking. He also offered to pay $410,000 for the properties with no contingencies. 

Another developer, Warren Lim, gave the ARA two options. The first would be 6 apartments, a daycare and no on-sire parking. The second would be 12 apartments with no on-site parking. The ARA would lose between $50,000 to $100,000. And Lim's offer is contingent upon his ability to get a loan for $1.39 million. 

This seems like a no-brainer, right? But this is Allentown, land of pay-to-play, a former Mayor who went to jail for public corruption, and a city Council that very nearly ignored state law a few years ago to appoint hometown hero and convicted felon Hasshan Batts as Mayor. 

After a private meeting with LIM, the ARA has tentatively decided to go with him. Jennings actually insisted that Hyman should apologize to ARA. 

Allentown developer Nat Hyman has sued. That's another thing he does. 

This case is making its way through the legal jungle, but Jennings hates any form of criticism. He is more accustomed to adulation. He also occasionally pens condescending op-eds railing about numerous topics, including how to solve the affordable housing crisis. Hypocritically, when he had an opportunity to provide 20 affordable rental units in Allentown, he said No.  

His real schtick over the years has been to threaten banks and wealthy developers unless they give him money. When they do, he gives them cover like he has done with the NIZ. His approach has helped some people over the years, but there's no denying that his shakedowns are nothing short of legal extortion. 

He would have done well in the Mafia. 

In my Toy Factory story, Jennings was unable to take the public criticism. Like so many public figures, he is incredibly thin-skinned. 

Here's a few excerpts from that story, including what people said and how he reacted. 

Jennings once again proves he is the north end of a south bound jackass.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

This stinks and doesn't surprise me that Jennings was involved!

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

All you have to say is “Alan Jennings” and you know the process is corrupt. That guy made a lifetime of fleecing people out of their money and doing nothing for the community. He thinks he’s important and that people admire him. Little does he know that everyone thinks he is do nothing asshole !

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Ok what the hell is Alan Jennings doing in that room? I swear, I have never seen someone try harder to remain relevant. Alan, you're retired. Enjoy it already.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

There’s no bigger blowhard in the world than Alan Jennings. If you ask him, he knows everything ! A legend in his own mind.

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Nat is a decent guy- on the other hand, Alan Jennings has been a scrubber his entire adult life- I wish he would just go away!

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Hasn’t the First presbyterian Church of Allentown already erected a monument for Alan?

Jennings: Fuck you, coward.

Jennings: Anonymity is cowardice.

Me: That is more often than not true but they could be cowards who are still telling the truth. You, on the other hand, have been behind nearly every major mistake in Allentown, from your rabid support of Fed Ed to your role in the facade grants, and don’t get me started on other communities. Yet you think every time you fart. People should applaud.

Jennings: Speaking of cowards, it's pretty pathetic that you won't publish my response to the paranoid schizophrenics. And you take cheap shots knowing we can't comment on the substance of the lawsuit.

I know you're too smart to believe your bull shit. You know damn well that my salary was among the lowest in the nonprofit sector. You know damn well that I declined raises. You know damn well how modest my home is. You know damn well that I received countless awards from groups throughout the Lehigh Valley, from the Conference of Churches to the Chambers of Commerce, from the US Marine Detachment to the CPA's. You may not know that my papers are in the archives of the Lehigh County Historical Society and that I was inducted into the National Community Action Foundation Hall of Fame. Surely you can''t believe that all of these people are members of Sinister Creeps and Satan Worshipers of America's Lehigh Valley Chapter.

Despite my retirement I continue to volunteer my time working on a range of groups' agendas, including housing, the arts, children and community development.

You, on the other hand, have, for decades, been a mean-spirited loser, a malicious liar who takes pleasure in trying to smear good people trying to do good things for their community, trashing their motives because you hate that people could care for others if for no better reason than that it makes them feel like decent human beings.

So, come after me, you pathetic SOB, remind us what a small, ugly antidote you are for all that is good in our world.

Me: Alan, I have published every comment you submitted, from you patting yourself on the back to the vulgarities. Aren't you special!