tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post6766050317511137805..comments2024-03-29T11:00:07.881-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Three Liens Filed Over NIZ ArenaBernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-39526574450607077522015-07-09T21:55:23.974-04:002015-07-09T21:55:23.974-04:00I forgot something in my earlier critique of the N...I forgot something in my earlier critique of the NIZ. Whether this connects back to the current investigation is beyond my knowledge. Fleck is (or at least was until he left town) a board member of CACLV as well, and probably responsible for contributing a certain amount per year to remain in good standing. I got off boards because I can't afford to do that stuff. Of course Mike had "other alternatives".<br /><br />When he was still pretending to be a citizen of Easton he was on a non-profit board here that required a not-insubstantial financial obligation from members each year. Mike bad-mouthed and undermined a grant application to the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership that was prepared by a neighborhood resident. <br /><br />That money ended up being diverted to Mike's non-profit instead. I'm sure that org. did nothing wrong and didn't even know about it, but Mike's mistake was bragging about it at a public dinner. Apparently the contribution didn't have to be cash out of pocket but alternately the result of lobbying for grant funds on the org's behalf.<br /><br />He simply made the mistake of saying this at dinner when the person sitting a few seats away was someone I know who then told me. <br /><br />How the worm turns.Dennis R. Liebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-36082135884995256342015-07-09T21:28:24.640-04:002015-07-09T21:28:24.640-04:00John, the exact concern you mention was raised and...John, the exact concern you mention was raised and rejected in POs, but you are basically correct. Though you and I both know this is a public works project, ANIZDA has claimed it is really not bc there is an outside chance the hockey arena will be purchased. They used that fiction to get around bids, but suddenly became the government when liens were filed.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83510028743893030462015-07-09T20:50:41.694-04:002015-07-09T20:50:41.694-04:00Bernie
Are you sure the arena was a "public ...Bernie <br />Are you sure the arena was a "public works project"? Because if it was, I don't think you can put a lien on a true public works project. I think it was considered a private project and thus their ability to lien it. <br />JOHN M Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-85453401324013855062015-07-09T18:32:20.342-04:002015-07-09T18:32:20.342-04:00One wonders if the Americus Hotel guy that is gett...One wonders if the Americus Hotel guy that is getting screwed by Cy and the gang got this ball rolling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-63829840733487672852015-07-09T18:31:20.322-04:002015-07-09T18:31:20.322-04:00Anybody making book on how long before these new m...Anybody making book on how long before these new milennial-tageted towers become Section 8 Housing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-87655899774445000392015-07-09T18:29:38.651-04:002015-07-09T18:29:38.651-04:00Does Obama know his FBI just raided his Chicago bu...Does Obama know his FBI just raided his Chicago buddy? As bad as this might be it can't be as bad as the IRS violation of conservative groups rights, the Clinton Foundation nonsense and other Holder-ignored fiascos. <br />JoshLCowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04629261668065446844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64978489277728449292015-07-09T17:08:49.256-04:002015-07-09T17:08:49.256-04:00Yeah. Dennis is just crazy!
Sincerely,
The Mirac...Yeah. Dennis is just crazy!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />The Miracle That Is Reading's Hockey RevivalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41208673596475601842015-07-09T17:06:42.946-04:002015-07-09T17:06:42.946-04:00@4:38
Is that all you've got?@4:38<br />Is that all you've got?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-57651502288944652452015-07-09T16:38:08.291-04:002015-07-09T16:38:08.291-04:00No wonder that Lieb guy was rejected. You are wast...No wonder that Lieb guy was rejected. You are wasting air with your diatribes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-13158550263699483022015-07-09T16:00:28.053-04:002015-07-09T16:00:28.053-04:00With great respect, Dennis, I think you're wro...With great respect, Dennis, I think you're wrong about the success of large footprint, over-scaled buildings.<br /><br />Warmest regards,<br /><br />Martin TowerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-3701903858559396812015-07-09T14:52:28.838-04:002015-07-09T14:52:28.838-04:00Alan had been a major supporter, enabler and apolo...Alan had been a major supporter, enabler and apologist for this train wreck since day one.<br />He is WAY too bright to claim deniability.<br />As for Mike Fleck, he's a bit play.<br />There's much bigger fish about to fry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-78916930440040759072015-07-09T14:00:26.693-04:002015-07-09T14:00:26.693-04:00I think i saw trish hitchhiking or practicing a ma...I think i saw trish hitchhiking or practicing a massage on the sife of the road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-64938696209694229922015-07-09T13:58:13.814-04:002015-07-09T13:58:13.814-04:00Well said, Dennis.Well said, Dennis.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-86082834576777977322015-07-09T13:57:30.168-04:002015-07-09T13:57:30.168-04:00Let's talk about the ppl building thats going ...Let's talk about the ppl building thats going to turn into a ghost building because of the niz. You can't compete with the niz. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-47990143361378686832015-07-09T13:53:28.144-04:002015-07-09T13:53:28.144-04:00Financed by endless taxpayer dollars is not succes...Financed by endless taxpayer dollars is not successful. I could build dog houses for a living if the taxpayers would fund me win or loseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-48725143082055887982015-07-09T13:52:17.010-04:002015-07-09T13:52:17.010-04:00Two points,
First; the long range success of the ...<br />Two points,<br /><br />First; the long range success of the Arena and associated development are far from secure. Empirical knowledge shows that a well integrated multiplicity of many buildings, owners and business venues are the historic signs of successful downtowns. <br /><br />There should be sidewalk access to storefronts and other commercial and residential venues at no more than 25'-35' spacing along streets for lively and safe, pedestrian-oriented daily street-life. Not out-of-town vehicles pouring out of parking garages en-mass before and after isolated events. Large footprint towers, over-scaled for the size of the city, are problematic for more reasons than time allows to discuss.<br /><br />This civic design knowledge has all been thrown in the dumpster - along with the architectural history of the commercial corridor - for a big bang project and monolithic architecture.<br /><br />A short primer on such things can be accessed here: http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/dan-zack/21681/strategies-good-urban-retail<br /><br />One must remember a few things: minor league hockey franchises come and go. What assurance does the success of this mega-building have if the franchise leaves? What financial barrel will the city be held over in replacing it? <br /><br />Also, redundancy and resiliency are keys to commercial district success - by that I mean many different things going on at the same time so that a few failures can be replaced as they happen with new opportunities and not have your downtown dependent on the success or failure of one or a handful of huge buildings. <br /><br />Allentown may be gaining office and residential rental units but their future rests on filling the needs for all the missing products and services that working people need without having to leave the walkable city to get them.<br /><br />Second; in the past Alan Jennings has taken full credit for the NIZ idea. I know this because as a former employee of CACLV he bragged about it in multiple tours of Allentown I was included in. He actually asked us the question of how many Pa. cities qualified for the NIZ designation. No one in the group except me had that answer, which at the time was of course one: Allentown.<br /><br />He seemed to take pleasure in that fact - as if he'd pulled a fast one on the state. I on the other hand looked at it as a fiasco waiting to happen, which began with the suburban revolt against the funding structure and has now seemingly ballooned into who-knows-what with this FBI probe of Pawlowski.<br /><br />I don't hear Alan bragging much anymore about the NIZ. It should be a lesson to other cities: their is no panacea for success just because you can fund something with other people's money. It still takes nuts and bolts understanding of how local economies work and a rigorous evaluation of municipal return on investment. <br /><br />I for one have no idea if either of these aspects have been fully understood.<br />Dennis R. Liebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-21343602981192352332015-07-09T13:50:24.722-04:002015-07-09T13:50:24.722-04:00Is that why everything cost 2x to build?Is that why everything cost 2x to build?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-83294462682773275682015-07-09T12:46:13.962-04:002015-07-09T12:46:13.962-04:00@ 12:12 PM You are a delusional, histrionic troll....@ 12:12 PM You are a delusional, histrionic troll. No more, no less. <br /><br />Any more cliches you want to wear out to death? <br /><br />Idiot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-51165828399685707322015-07-09T12:16:17.787-04:002015-07-09T12:16:17.787-04:00This "success" is about to be exposed, e...This "success" is about to be exposed, even without any local newspaper or TV coverage to speak of.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41070947912919188852015-07-09T12:12:53.087-04:002015-07-09T12:12:53.087-04:00You are jealous of the arena and how successful a ...You are jealous of the arena and how successful a project has been. You are jealous of anything successful since you own life has been such a failure. Sour grapes, no more, no less.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-76315173199808061402015-07-09T11:19:03.668-04:002015-07-09T11:19:03.668-04:008:04, The fact that three liens are filed is not t...8:04, The fact that three liens are filed is not the point. The lack of a performance bind, lack of bidding and poor oversight create an atmosphere that leads to these liens. And no, this is not common in a public works project, but seems to be the norm in Allentown. Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-37305530766737644532015-07-09T10:02:45.900-04:002015-07-09T10:02:45.900-04:00What was in the contracts for the NIZ Arena? Who m...What was in the contracts for the NIZ Arena? Who makes these decisions? Who picked the decision makers?<br /><br />http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-arena-cost-overrun-20150507-story.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16689614615334224597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-41604297934500017402015-07-09T09:59:30.175-04:002015-07-09T09:59:30.175-04:00'Hahn is my rep''Hahn is my rep'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-53685960225738620152015-07-09T09:58:40.071-04:002015-07-09T09:58:40.071-04:00Hahn is my report and is focused on the gun nuts a...Hahn is my report and is focused on the gun nuts and fisherman and pushed out the state party agenda via email. Nothing original coming out of her little brain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-62579508636974446142015-07-09T09:35:58.287-04:002015-07-09T09:35:58.287-04:00Did Marcia Hahn and her buddy Joe Emrick vote for ...Did Marcia Hahn and her buddy Joe Emrick vote for this NIZ?<br />The 2 stooges of local state reps. If you rub them together and sprinkle moon-dust, you might come up with ONE good idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com