CACLV Claims Lack of H2O For Children in Park Programs

I'm unsure exactly how much CACLV is involved in local summer park programs. In Allentown, for example, this eight-week program has been run by the City for the past 106 years, long before Alan Jennings was a community organizer. Other Lehigh Valley communities do the same thing. Yet it is CACLV, and not any of these municipalities, that yesterday issued a press release implying that children in these programs have only limited access to water.

The release, entitled "Drinking Water Access across Valley Summer Meal and Recreation Programs Becomes Concerning," asserts "children at outdoor summer meal and community recreation programs within Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton do not have full access to drinking water." It goes on to claim that many parks have no drinking water, and then pats itself on the back because Costco and Nestle donated bottled water.

I find it very hard to believe that local municipalities would schedule summer playground programs without giving children access to drinking water. That would be criminal.

So what I find "concerning" is the CACLV "news" release.

CACLV Takes Steps To Improve Facade Program

Around this time last year, I chronicled the plight of two West Coast transplants to Allentown named Shelby Brown. They brought their Little Drill marketing business to Hamilton Street. They applied for a facade grant with Upside Allentown, a branch of CACLV. That's when the fun began. Their grant was initially rejected when they refused to paint their building battleship grey. I actually went to the home of CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings to tell him in person about possible insider dealing, but mostly to complain about the color. Battleship grey? Is there an uglier color? Turns out the inside of Jennings home is painted battleship grey.

After the past year, I'd have to say that battleship grey or even camo would be an appropriate color. That's because Whitney and Edwards have been pretty much at war with Jennings, CACLV board members, Main Street Manager Peter Lewnes and various City Council members. Jennings told me he'd not only conduct his own investigation, but would ask the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to do so as well.

CACLV now reports nothing was wrong with the facade grant program. But at the same time, seven recommendations have been made to stop the insider dealing and conflicts of interest that clearly occurred.

Interestingly, there is no report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. That state agency has confirmed it does no investigations.

Upside Allentown Facade Grant Program Is Upside Down

Lewnes gets $2,000 from Huertas, she gets at least two grants

CACLV's website proudly proclaims, "We take care of our neighbors." That's true, especially if you're connected. Upside Allentown operates under the CACLV umbrella. Last week, I published an audit of their  facade grant program  It shows clear favoritism towards insiders like Miriam Huertas, Rebecca Torres, Christian Brown and CACLV's very own Main Street Manager Peter Lewnes. It also shows grants to absentee landlords. I was appalled by how Jennings reacted when Allentown residents Shelby Edwards and James Whitney, who prepared this audit, presented him with a summary.

"Feel free to shout your findings from the rooftops," he taunted. He accused them of blackmail. They were seeking their own facade grant for Little Drill, their nifty photography and marketing business at 1122 Hamilton. Main Street manager Pete Lewnes refused to approve it unless they agreed to paint it one of the ugliest colors in existence - battleship grey. His refusal is what prompted their research, but Jennings accused them of a "selfish insistence that you are more worthy than the many others who have gone before you."

Battleship grey. Jennings loves it. 

Those who have gone before them include Lewnes (two possible grants), Torres (four grants), Huertas (at least two grants) and Christian Brown. All insiders.

To his credit, Jennings on Friday asked the state Department of Community and Economic Development to do an independent audit of these facade grants. He also said a meeting concerning this property with the "Physical Design Committee" was imminent, and it is. Turns out it's tonight.

Jennings invited me to his house on Sunday. That way I could tell him in person what a piece of shit he is. When I got there, I also blasted the ugly battleship grey color. Turn out that's what color he painted the inside of his house.

1122 W Hamilton

He admitted he can get arrogant, but added that he sometimes gets frustrated in his losing war on poverty. His approach is different. Most human service agencies will help those who are impoverished, but in condescending ways. Their goal is to get people out of the ghetto where the incentive to fail is strong. Jennings wants those who can leave a blighted neighborhood to stay and improve it.

With respect to Allentown's 7th Street Gateway, where Lewnes is Main Street Manager, Jennings tells me that there was a 25% vacancy rate on 7th Street vacancy rate when Lewnes started working there. Now there are none.

But just as the good things that former Allentown Mayor Edwin "Fed Ed" Pawlowski did is no excuse for his criminal conduct, the success of the facade grant program is no excuse for abuses in which insiders are getting what really is public money. It is no justification for ignoring their own guidelines.

Upside Allentown is actually the name being used for some reason by The Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown (CADCA). It is funded by eight companies. BBT, TD Bank, and PPL kick in $100,000 per year.In addition, Alvin H. Butz, Inc., City Center Lehigh Valley, Susquehanna Bank, Lafayette Ambassador Bank and Wells Fargo donate $50,000 per year. Because they get tax credits in exchange for their donations, this is really public money. According to an Allentown news release, it is also funded by the City’s Community Development Block Grant and Home Program.

Upside Allentown facade grant guidelines have no standards in place to protect contributing companies and the public from insiders seeking to enrich themselves. Torres is a CADCA Board member. Huertas is a LV Chamber VP who handed a grant to Lewnes. Christian Brown is a member of the Physical Improvements Sub-Committee that supposedly approves these facade grants.

This needs to change to prevent insiders from benefiting.

Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.

The facade grant guidelines that are in place are being ignored. These grants are supposed to exist for locally owned properties, not absentee landlords. Why on earth what someone want to encourage investors looking to flip a property?

The Physical Improvements Committee that supposedly approves these grants will meet tonight to review this grant application. This group consists of Pat Jackson, Lewnes, Brown, Joe Calhoun, Dan Bosket, Deb Rubinski and possibly Geoff Brace. Bosket, the Executive Director of CADCA and Peter Lewnes' boss, told Edwards and Whitney that yours truly is unwelcome. "No, we will not be having Bernie O'Hare at the Meeting," he said.

So much for transparency.

I've been kicked out of much nicer places. I know why I'm unwelcome. I learned just this evening that the greed extends beyond the actual grant recipients. Deb Rabinski, who reviews and approves these grants, is actually getting paid $500 for a "design consult." It is entirely inappropriate for her to be sitting on the committee that approves or rejects facade grants. If she's involved in just 10 grants a year, that's $5,000 in her pocket. Some "volunteer." Get this. Lewnes has discretion to award up to $1,000 in design fees, which might explain why he has so many pals. The people who do these designs should have no say in approving these grants.

Pigs get fat. Hogs get slaughtered.

On top of everything else, there's a $300 fee for each grant application.

This program is being abused by insiders. There are no guidelines to prevent this greed, and what guidelines are in place are being ignored.

Should Upside Allentown refuse to address this situation, the corporations who contribute should be asked to stop. Moreover, Allentown should spend no CDBG money on a program that just promotes a culture of corruption.

Previous stories:

Upside Allentown Facade Grant Program Being Abused

Allentown Facade Grant Abuse Details

This Old House: History of 1122 Hamilton St

Jennings Defends Wealth Disparity Forum

If pioneers were still wearing coonskin caps, Alan Jennings would have one. As the Executive Director of the CACLV, he has spent decades fighting a war he knows he will lose - the war against poverty. He was one of the leading proponents of Friday's wealth disparity forum, which I pretty much panned as itself a racist exercise. Alan has a different view, and it should be heard.

Each time I've posted something here, someone tells me not to "feed the trolls." Most of the folks on this thread seem to be thoughtful, not mean-spirited and hateful, so I'll ignore their advice.

I'd like to clarify a few points:

First, the $3.4 million grant paid for only about $10,000 of the "Justice For All" portion of the over-all planning effort. Frankly, I would argue that the most valuable and desirable purpose of government is to attempt to guarantee equal access to opportunity. If you believe in the free market, then you should believe in it being a fair market. We are simply raising questions about
whether the free market is, indeed, fair. I don't think anyone in the group suggested that all of us white folks are racists. But we'd be lying to ourselves to suggest racism isn't a factor in market distortion.

Second, the task force was formed to enable people of color to voice their concerns; that freedom of speech is one of those pesky little rights enumerated in that most American of documents, the Bill of Rights. CACLV provided the staff support to facilitate that voice.

And that voice did a damn good job, as those present at the 2-hour forum included two school superintendents, a college president, three foundation directors, community and economic development officials, bankers, CEO's of two well-regarded local companies, the United Way, and others. To a person, we heard high praise for the forum.

Third, there is barely a hint of asking the rich to give up a penny. This, as the report said, was about opportunity, not entitlement.

Fourth, Bernie, with all due respect, we have been doing homeownership counseling for 20 years and, yes, we are especially focused on helping lower-income and minority homebuyers. And HUD has been funding it, along with those Commie bankers, for most of that time.

Folks, read the report. It's not radical, really. And we think it can make progress on the uncivilized level of disparity in our world. What's so bad about that?

What is bad about that report, which I have not seen anywhere online, is that it starts off by playing the race card. It attempts to argue that wealth disparity exists because of racism.

Anyone who did read the report would realize it does call for more funding to urban school districts, that quality pre-kindergarten be provided to low-income families. Local colleges are told they must offer 50 scholarships per year to children of color. Employers are called on to provide subsidies. A living wage, not a mere minimum wage, is advocated. Large purchasers are expected to buy from under-represented groups. Some of these are good ideas, and I agree with most of them. But they do require the rich to give. They do call for wealth redistribution.

I am sure the forum was popular to the invited participants.But it was a simplistic and jingoistic approach to a nuanced problem that extends beyond race. Whether Alan knows it or not, there are poor white people, too. I'm one of them.

As for the task force, it lacked the very diversity complained about in the report. Not one token whitie. Doesn't the pesky First Amendment apply to us, too?

Alan's homeownership counseling program is open to one and all. The program advocated in the report is one "marketed to homeowners of color." That's discriminatory and violates the Fair Housing Act.

Finally, I agree that the $3.4 million HUD grant funded other projects, including the Envision LV report. I agree a free market needs to be fair, and believe that Congressman Charlie Dent had some ideas about fairness that were mysteriously absent in the one-sided report.

CACLV to Conduct Mobile Food Vending Seminar

You might know this Zen joke.

A Buddhist says to the hot dog vendor, "Make me one with everything," and hands a $5 for a $1.25 dog.

The vendor gives him the dog, but no change.

"Change must come from within," he says

How would you like to be the wise guy making the Buddhist one with everything? Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley is offering a two-part seminar on mobile food vending, whether it's wieners or something more exotic, like Vietnamese spring rolls.

When: August 11 and 18, 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

Where: Basement, 702 Hamilton St Bldg, Allentown, Pa. (Park in Wells Fargo lot)

What: Information for those interested in running a mobile food business, with presentations by the City of Allentown, the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association, the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund and CADCA. The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund is offering a special financing program specifically for mobile food vendors.

Register:

DJ Kormanik
Business Development Director
Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown
443 N. 7th Street
Allentown, PA 18102
610-433-5703 x3102
dkormanik@caclv.org

CACLV Requests Bidding on Food Assistance Contract

Lamont McClure

You don't see this every day. Most County vendors are delighted when they discover they are considered sole service providers. It means they have the work if they want it. But Alan Jennings wants to be able to bid on a Northampton County contract to provide food assistance to those in need.

The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley(CACLV), led by Alan Jennings, has its genesis in LBJ's 1964 War on Poverty.  It is a community action program designed to empower the poor in low-income communities. Jennings will be the first to admit he's losing the war. He keeps on fighting, but he now has an unlikely enemy - Northampton County Council.

His problem with Northampton County Council started when he decided to hire Ross Marcus last September. At that time, Marcus was County Director of Human Services. This hire was a technical breach of contractual language preventing Jennings from hiring a County employee for a year after he leaves government.

Northampton County has what is called a "revolving door ordinance." It's designed to prevent County employees from negotiating big contracts with a major vendor, and then going to work for it. It has happened. Many years ago, a fiscal officer convinced the County to switch pension advisers, after which he went to work for the selected firm. Similarly, a former public works director resigned for a job with an engineering firm that he recommended repeatedly for County work. The danger here is that the public employee will subordinate the best interests of the County to his own pecuniary interest.

But in the case of CACLV, the area's major poverty fighting organization, contracts for County services existed long before Marcus worked there.So Executive John Stoffa characterized the breach as "technical". He reasoned that the evil at which the ordinance is aimed, did not exist. To be safe, he and CACLV's Alan Jennings executed amendments to county contracts under which CACLV agreed that Marcus, its new hire, would perform no role in the negotiation or execution of any county contracts for a period of one year.

That wasn't enough to satisfy County Council. They enacted changes to the Administrative Code that would prohibit any County employee from serving on boards of any organization that does business with the County. This directly impacted CACLV, whose board included two County employees. Council member Lamont McClure told Jennings, "[Y]ou understood what the law in Northampton County was, but due to your leverage, you chose to hire Mr. Marcus anyway."

Jennings just received a new proposal to provide food assistance to the needy in Northampton County. He is asking that the service be bid., and made his intentions known in a January 2 email to Executive John Stoffa.

"In light of Council’s vociferous objections to CACLV hiring former human services director Ross Marcus, including vocal, public criticism of the agency that questioned my integrity and that of the agency, I would respectfully decline to execute the contract without a formal bidding process."

Lamont McClure Shows His Mean Streak

Lamont McClure and Ken Kraft have been telling everyone that their amendment to Northampton County's revolving door ordinance (see my story here) really has no application to county employees who serve on the boards of nonprofits like CACLV, which receive county funds. They deny it is an attempt to punish CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings or the two County employees who serve on his board. They claim this ordinance only applies to entities that do business or provide paid services with the County.

But let me clue them in. CACLV does business with the County. It does provide paid services. Their attempt to pretend it has no application to nonprofits is completely contrary to the plain language of the ordinance as well as the Council discussion on Thursday night. Moreover, it is completely contrary to what McClure himself said to Jennings in an email exchange on Friday.

I filed a RTK request with Jennings, figuring he would ask McClure what was going on. Sure enough, he did.

Below is Jennings' email to McClure, followed by McClure's insincere reply, in which he demonstrates pretty clearly that he is punishing Jennings over the Marcus hire and is kicking around two County workers who look out for our money on his board while the Controller does union organizing.

Jennings to McClure:

Hi, Lamont –

I had no idea that Council was considering the ordinance it adopted last night regarding County employees’ service on boards of directors. I was away on vacation when the first reading occurred and never learned of the proposal until someone told me about the post on Bernie's blog this morning.

I didn't realize how much our hiring of Ross Marcus disturbed Council members. I sent President Cusick an apology but got no response.

The federal law that authorizes the existence of Community Action Agencies like ours requires us to include elected officials or their appointed representatives on our boards. In fact, at least one-third of our board must represent that public sector.

For more than 40 years, we have had designated seats for representatives of the two counties and the three cities. For 30 years we have also included representatives of the communities with the next highest poverty rates; that means the Slatington area, Fountain Hill, and the Slate Belt, particularly Bangor.

The concept behind the federal law is that anti-poverty work should grow out of collaborative discussion involving all sectors of the community, which means the public sector, the private sector and low-income people themselves. I believe that process has served this region very well. You know from your own experience, for example, that it was CACLV that stepped up to take on the foreclosure crisis. I hope you know that we have many, many other examples of CACLV agility in taking on new community challenges.

It would be very unfortunate if Northampton County removed itself from that process. For that reason I will be encouraging the County executive to veto the ordinance.

As an aside, I had no idea that you had such disdain for this agency or me. If there is anything I can do to heal that relationship I hope you will give me that opportunity.

Best –

Alan

McClure's Reply to Jennings:

Frank Flisser [Council Clerk] forwarded your email to me. It’s always unfortunate, when people personalize an issue. Indeed, while the genesis for this Ordinance was the Ross Marcus hiring, this issue has little, to nothing to do with CACLV, in my mind. I don’t have any personal disdain for you or your organization. As you correctly noted, I’ve worked successfully with your CACLV in the past to help folks threatened by foreclosure. As you may remember, I was the author of the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program in Northampton County and I fought to get it passed. I will work with CACLV again when it is in the best interests of the people of Northampton County.

With respect to the substance of the issues you raise in your email, Northampton County law was violated when you hired Ross Marcus. That violation of the law will not be addressed in the short term as CACLV is essentially a sole source provider for certain of the human services that it provides to the County. I understood you to have said that you had no fear of the contracts being put out to bid as you would mostly likely be the only bidder or the lowest bidder. That tells me you understood what the law in Northampton County was, but due to your leverage, you chose to hire Mr. Marcus anyway.

As for the provision that was passed last night, it is your right to advocate for a veto. In many ways, after the issues Mr. Stoffa raised last night, and that you reiterated today in your email, I look forward to the opportunity to attempt to override the veto as I don’t believe the manner in which Mr. Marcus came to be employed at CACLV in violation of Northampton County law, has been adequately vetted. Heretofore, the role, in the hiring of Mr. Marcus, of the board members who are also employees of Northampton County, has not been thoroughly explored.

We have also recently just passed through a situation where the County Controller was forced to resign a teaching position at the Community College. I certainly think teaching the leaders of tomorrow at a community college is a public good. However, the classes were during the regular work day, and while the Controller did not violate any law, he wisely chose to give up the post. In the override fight, it would probably also be important to review how much time Northampton County employees spend on CACLV business during regular county working hours.

While this Ordinance, was not meant to be personalized, you and Mr. Stoffa have done so, which is very unfortunate. This Ordinance was inspired by your actions in breach of your contracts with the county, but what it is meant to do is prevent county employees from serving two competing interests. The intent of the law is to ensure that county employees have the taxpayers best interests in mind at all times. I also believe you are technically mistaken regarding one point. Elected officials are not impacted by this Ordinance. Therefore, the County Executive, any of the 9 members of County Council, the Controller or even the DA could sit on CACLV’s board. Therefore, Northampton County will not disengage from the process.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to call.

Marcus Hire: De Minimis Breach of Administrative Code

In order to prevent the revolving door we see so often between government officials and vendors who have contracts with them, Northampton County's Administrative Code bars vendors from hiring County employees who have had some say in the contract. There's a one-year waiting period. Human Services Director Ross Marcus had plenty of say over multiple County contracts with CACLV, a nonprofit agency whose hopeless mission is to eradicate poverty. But that's where he's heading, putting his new employer in breach of several contracts.

Though nobody disputes that this is a clear breach of contract, just about everyone agrees that the revolving door policy is aimed at something more nefarious, such as when a County employee snags a multimillion deal for some big vendor and then is hired away as a payoff. CACLV, in contrast, is the Lehigh Valley's only real poverty fighter. There's just no one else out there willing to do what this organization does for so little. And Marcus is leaving for this organization, not to enrich himself, but to help others. It's like going to the frickin' seminary.

Controller Steve Barron is no friend to Ross Marcus or the Stoffa Administration. He told Council's Finance Committee yesterday that they could pull the plug on funding for different CACLV operations, like the regional food bank. But even he warned that "The damage that would be done to Second Harvest would be catastrophic to those in need."

Barron suggested that some of CACLV's services to the County be bid out to serve as a "compensating control", a move that CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings has suggested himself. I think the net result would be a lot of proposals with just one bid.

Anonymously, there have been off topic comments attacking Ross Marcus. Not so anonymously, the Fake Rev has stated that Marcus should try for a job at McDonald's. Perennial candidate Ron Shegda, whose mentally challenged sister was taken from him by Human Services, has incorrectly accused Stoffa employees of orchestrating the job, and is demanding Council to condemn it. These guys have an agenda, and 'tain't good government.

Those who are actually governing, instead of pursuing vendettas, seem unwilling to sanction Alan Jennings' CACLV.

Noting that CACLV "does so much good for the community," Council member Scott Parsons said "it's time to turn your head and walk away."

"We have better things to do," remarked Council member Bob Werner.

Council member Peg Ferraro stated that "something about it does not feel right," but seems unwilling to suggest any form of sanction. Prez John Cusick, whose approach to governance can be anal at times, is stuck on competitive bidding. But who is going to bid against CACLV, John?

The evil this provision of the Administrative Code was designed to prevent simply does not exist in this case. De minimis non curat lex. Translated, that means the law does not deal with bullshit.

CACLV's Alan Jennings: We Are a Nation Divided

Alan Jennings

When his lecture was over, Alan Jennings expressed some surprise that nobody had tried to kill him. He needn't have worried. A few conservative thinkers like Hotel Bethlehem managing partner Bruce Haines and activist Al Bernotas delivered gentle jabs. But most of the seventy or so people who attended the first of the South Side Initiative 2012-12 Town Hall Lecture Series on September 24 were very supportive. Liberals trend to attract other liberals and conservatives tend to attract conservatives. But this increasing polarization was the whole point of Jennings' lecture - we are a nation divided.

Jennings is the Executive Director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), an organization that combats poverty in local communities. His career has spanned 32 years. South Side Initiative's Seth Moglen, who introduced Jennings at Bethlehem's town hall, called him an "enormous force for good" and "untiring advocate for social justice." His critics, however, deride him as a "poverty pimp" and "Price of the Poor."

According to Jennings, who just became a grandfather this weekend, we've become a nation of confused, frustrated and cynical people.

"We are polarized along geographic lines, political lines, racial lines, class lines, cultural, ethnic, religious, generational and gender lines," he posited.

"I'm sure that if someone claimed the Sun rises in the East, his or her antagonist along any of those dividing lines would strenuously argue otherwise, and the argument would include a mean-spirited, personal attack."

The problem, as he sees it, is a "small but virulent and loud industry of radicals whose sense of how the world should work is mired in the nineteenth century's social Darwinism." He includes the tea party in this group, although he later conceded there are radicals on the other side of the spectrum, too.

To those who espouse less government, his retort is that "well-financed radicals" have been very effective at "depriving government of the necessary resources" that would make it work, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Using welfare as an example, Jennings calls it the "tried and true default wedge issue dug up by those who hate government." But he points out that, of the 647,232 people who live in the Lehigh Valley, only 7,000 of them (1%) receive any form of cash assistance. A family of three will get just $403 per month. There's been no increase in that amount since 1985. But there have been three recessions.

Jennings conceded that there are times when he feels like a failure, especially since the poverty rate has gone up in his 32-year battle against it. "But while I do let the bastards get me down, anger has been the fuel of my hell-bent, frenzied drive to fight back," he said.

"I just can't give up."

How would Jennings solve this increasing polarization? That, he admitted is where he falls short. He made a few suggestions like increased civic engagement, publicly funded campaigns, permitting people to own guns but not ammo.

"People call it a nanny state, but maybe we need to do a better job of being nannies," he said.

Roger Hudak and Alan Jennings

In response to questions about the gentrification occurring in South Bethlehem and predicted in downtown Allentown, Jennings states he's seen no evidence of displacement. He did suggest a change to the Municipal Planning Code that would require all municipalities, both cities and suburbs, to zone some areas for affordable housing.

When the lecture was over, South Side Task Force Manager Roger Hudak proudly showed Jennings his Democratic T-shirt, claiming that is the answer. As Jennings is a tireless advocate for the poor, Hudak is a tireless advocate for Bethlehem's South Side. But unwittingly, Hudak proved Jennings' point.

The next Town Hall lecture, on October 30 at 7 PM, will feature James Peterson, Lehigh University's Director of the Africana Studies Program.

CACLV Whistleblower Backed By LC Controller

Back in June, as reported in The Morning Call, a former homeless shelter employee, Elisa Castillo, sued Community Action Center of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV). She contends her termination is a retaliation for reporting that Allentown's Sixth Street Shelter was padding the caseworker hours for one of its supervisors. What I've just discovered is that Castillo has an unlikely ally, the Lehigh County Controller.

Before Castillo's lawsuit was filed, Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart audited the Sixth Street Shelter to see if it had, in fact, inflated caseworker hours charged to Lehigh County in 2011. (You can find the audit here under General Reports for 2012, #12-03). Using four different tests, the Controller concludes that the caseworker hours submitted are "inconsistent" with the actual documented client contact.

That's a polite way of saying that Sixth Street Shelter, an arm of the CACLV, was padding its hours.

Eckhart's audit includes a strident response from the Sixth Street Shelter's Director, Marsha Eichelberger. She claims the County was actually under-billed, so there. She also takes a shot at Castillo, referring to her as a "disgruntled former employee who was terminated for just cause." She never bothers to address the finding that caseworker hours were submitted for one employee that were not actually worked.

Where I come from, that's called stealing.

Alan Jennings, CACLV's Executive Director, was a lot more conciliatory. "It's embarrassing," he told me. "I'll be the first to say it." Jennings added that his administrative costs are only 8% of CACLV's entire budget. He also offered to compensate Lehigh County.

Allentown's Controller passed on auditing the Sixth Street Shelter, by the way.

Jennings is obviously unable to discuss the lawsuit filed by Castillo, but questioned whether one had really been filed. "I haven't seen it," he told me, noting that CACLV has yet to be served.

The lawsuit, which has been filed, is below.
Whistleblower Complaint v. CACLV

Wanna' Buy a Home Cheap?

(Courtesy of CACLV) – Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust (LVCLT) will announce the sale of its first homes and introduce its first homebuyer during a press conference at noon on March 30 at 512 Cherokee St. in Bethlehem. The very first homebuyer, Jessica McGinley, recently purchased a home with help from LVCLT. Tours of the completed Cherokee Street home as well as a home slated for renovation next door will be available.

LVCLT purchases properties, renovates the homes, and sells them to income-qualified applicants. A qualified homebuyer purchases a home with as little as $1,800 down and monthly mortgage payments comparable to local fair market rents.

“I never thought I would own a home this early in life,” McGinley said. “I love my house.  We can’t allow this to be a secret anymore!”

Unlike conventional models of homeownership, LVCLT ensures that homes remain affordable to future generations of homebuyers.  LVCLT also provides support to existing homebuyers before and after the home purchase.

Founded in 2009, LVCLT has renovated six homes and sold three.  Over the next year, LVCLT will be selling at least six additional homes in the Lehigh Valley.  


Blogger's Note: You can see a listing of homes for sale in Wilson Borough and Easton 

CACLV To Train Merchants Who Will Never Qualify For NIZ

Just the other day, CACLV's Alan Jennings defended his appointment to the NIZ Board. "There is a fine line between challenging the system and getting things done and challenging the system and getting ignored," he says. He's right, you know. He has good experience with the former while miserable bastards like me are used to being slapped around.

I kinda' like it.

To his credit, Alan has often been the sole advocate for those who would otherwise have no voice. Back in 2009, when a young family that included a 3-year old girl, were locked out of their apartment at the old Linden Bar Hotel in the dead of Winter, an infuriated Jennings went there with a sledge hammer, fully intending to break into the place and risk arrest. Fortunately, a passerby had a key.

After retrieving their belongings, he found them a place.

The world is a better place with Alan Jennings in it.

But I was still blown away today when CACLV announced its 28th “Start Your Business” program, which starts on Monday, February 6, 2012.

It's a comprehensive, 20-week program is held on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. It's d for people of low- to moderate-income who are thinking about starting a business or expanding their current business in the neighborhoods of center city Allentown. The course begins with a three-week preparatory segment called ‘Getting Ready for Business’, in which participants will have the opportunity to assess their entrepreneurial skills, the soundness of their business idea, and their readiness to start a business within six months to one year after completing the program. There is a $99 enrollment fee, payable the third week.

Why would this blow me away?

It's at 702 Hamilton Street, where State Senator Pat Browne, his lobbyist wife, NIZ tenant Joe Topper are all located, a building owned by NIZ Overlord J. B. Reilly.

Blogger Michael Molovinsky picked up on this right away, noting that the entrepreneurs Allan will be training are the very people shoved out of the way for the NIZ project. "You have been appointed to serve on the new NIZ Authority, and you're conducting your class in J. B. Reilly's building; The biggest private beneficiary of the NIZ, who intends to apply for even more loans. Ain't that rich!"

This is where I think Alan is tone deaf.

CACLV Gets $10,000 From Cash-Strapped Northampton County For Foreclosure Mitigation Program

Alan Jennings had a sinus infection. He couldn't hear what Council members were saying, so he mostly stood up at the dais and smiled. After the state cut funding to CACLV's foreclosure mitigation program, designed to help people in danger of losing their homes, he came to Northampton County Council. His program has saved 252 homes, and he asked for $10,000 to keep it going until other funding can be obtained.

Angle was ready for a fight, but Jennings couldn't really hear him. Angle told Jennings he'd give him $10,000 for the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter because, unlike the foreclosure program, that helps human suffering.

Jennings smiled.

Peg Ferraro noted that when someone loses his home as a result of a foreclosure, that's human suffering, too.

Jennings smiled.

Lamont McClure, whose re-election campaign is already in full swing, used this issue as a hammer to attack Angle, deriding his "apparent lack of concern for human suffering."

Jennings smiled.

Under normal circumstances, Jennings would be rolling around in the halls with Angle by now, but he was as happy as a salamander on Kitatinny Ridge.

I don't know what drug the doctor gave him for his sinus infection, but I want some of it.

In relatively short order, Jennings got his $10,000 with only Angle and Barb Thierry dissenting.

On his way out, I told him he should be deaf more often.

CACLV First Time Home Buying in Spanish

CACLV will host first-time home buying seminars for Spanish-speaking people on three Saturdays this June (June 4, 11 & 18). These informational sessions will take place between 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Allentown's Casa Guadalupe (143 Linden Street).

As you can see, a Spanish home just might save your life.

Free refreshments will be provided! If you'd like to register or want more information, contact the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley at 610-691-5620

A-town's Sixth Street Shelter To Open Family Resource Center

Allentown's Sixth Street Shelter, in partnership with EZ-Micro Solutions, will open a new Family Resource Center, this Wednesday at 3:30 PM, according to a statement released by CACLV.

This addition to the shelter, located at 213 N 6th Street, will give residents access to six new computers and a widescreen TV. Access to computers and the Internet is becoming indispensable to successful job searches and educational pursuits.

The center will also offer resident child care.

The Sixth Street Shelter, a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, provides the opportunity and direction for all people to become self-sufficient, productive members of the community. Their guiding principle is to help families set and reach their goals through intensive and effective case management, in-house programming, and referrals to appropriate services.

This Wednesday's opening ceremony will star Mayor Edwin Pawlowski and Senator Pat Browne, as well as light refreshments. All are welcome. For more information, please contact the Sixth Street Shelter at 610-435-1490.

Small Business Assistance Program Saves 82 Jobs, Creates 12

From the CACLV. - During the darkest days of the recession, the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) partnered with Lehigh Valley SCORE to create the Small Business Assistance Program. This joint effort was designed to provide free technical assistance and a range of professional services to local small businesses to help them survive the worst recession in decades. A recent survey of participating business owners found that the program resulted in 83 saved jobs and the creation of 12 others. Many assisted businesses anticipate the need to hire additional employees in the coming year. All have remained in business.

The program was funded by a one-time grant awarded to CACLV under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Out of 172 program applicants, 50 qualifying small businesses received vouchers for professional services in amounts up to $5,000. A total of $124,070 in professional service vouchers was distributed. The professional services were provided by other local small businesses, further stimulating the local economy. Every applicant, including those who did not receive vouchers, was offered technical assistance from trained staff and volunteers.

According to Kim Stout, Business Development Coordinator for CACLV, the business owners would have continued to struggle during the economic downturn without the assistance of the program. For example, Sam Radin of Lehigh Valley Auto Sales received $2,000 to help with the marketing of his business and get better results from his accounting system. In the follow-up survey, Radin states that his business has increased as a direct result of the services he received. His accounting system is a better management tool and he learned how to use the internet to grow his business. He has been able to stay open, his business continues to improve, and he is planning to build a garage and hire additional help in the upcoming year.

Pete Reinke, Vice President of Regional Development at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, chaired the committee that established this program. Reinke says that he is proud to have been a part of the program and was encouraged to see that “such a small amount of assistance is what allowed these businesses to survive and move forward. They will now be able to help turn around our economy by expanding their businesses and creating more local jobs.”

Comments from other small businesses who received assistance included similar positive feedback. Many business owners indicated that they will be able to hire new employees in the near future. At least 13 additional jobs will be created as a result of the stimulus grant. Joanna Mancuso, owner of The Wonder Kids, says “[This opportunity] has encouraged me to move forward and expand my business.” The Wonder Kids opened a second location in the Borough of Northampton last October.

Blogger's Note: This all sounds great, but they refused to invest a dime in my candy business, Plopp Enterprises.

Dent Receives Accolade From CACLV's Jennings?

CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings, the LV's defender of those who have no voice, has issued a statement thanking LV Congressman Charlie Dent for his vote on a continuing resolution that only cuts six percent of CDBG funding, instead of the draconian measure originally proposed. CACLV will still lose $50,000, but earlier proposals had Jennings wondering whether the agency could even continue.

Jennings' statement:

“The tens of thousands of people whose lives are made whole, whose neighborhoods are made more viable and whose ability to have hope is boosted by CACLV owe our congressman a round of applause for speaking up on their behalf. While the CR cuts too much funding for low-income programs, Charlie Dent played an important role in protecting those programs from a far worse fate, saving the day for CACLV, Head Start, and other programs for low-income people seeking little more than a level playing field. His new position on the House Appropriations Committee is a vehicle for moderation in the face of extremism and for advancing the needs of the district in the face of cynical attacks on the poor. Charlie, we thank you for your service.”

Congressman Dent, recognizing that governments need to go on a diet, released this statement:

“The Fiscal Year 2012 budget resolution passed by the House today is a responsible approach to reducing our burdensome deficit, controlling excessive government spending, ensuring the longevity of important federal safety net programs and supporting economic growth. For too long, Washington was making promises to the American people without taking the necessary and sometimes politically difficult steps to keep them. In contrast, H.Con.Res. 34 establishes a fact-based budget that addresses our nation’s troubling fiscal situation in an honest and trustworthy manner.

“First and foremost, this budget reduces the growing deficit by $4.4 trillion over the next 10 years by cutting $6.2 trillion in federal spending. Since 2008, federal non-defense discretionary funding has increased by an astounding 80%. Understanding the record-breaking spending levels of the recent past are simply unsustainable, H.Con.Res. 34 freezes discretionary spending below pre-Stimulus levels for the next five years. I recognize the impact of these cuts will be felt across the country, but difficult steps must be taken today to guarantee a prosperous and secure tomorrow.

“This budget also reforms federal safety net programs to ensure promises made to older Americans are kept and coverage is available for the next generation of beneficiaries. Without modernization, there is no doubt these programs would eventually bankrupt the federal government. I am pleased the House has recognized its responsibility to develop solvent and sustainable safety net programs by implementing smart, gradual reforms.

“Rather than raising taxes to solve our budget predicament, as the President recommended in his FY12 budget proposal, H.Con.Res. 34 closes tax loopholes and eliminates special deals to guarantee federal revenue remains consistent and dependable. Washington’s problem is not a lack of revenue, but an insatiable desire to spend. However, reforming our tax code will promote fairness and support greater economic growth.

“I am disappointed President Obama has shown a troubling and prolonged lack of seriousness when discussing our nation’s growing budget problems. Like many Americans, I was hopeful the President would at the very least acknowledge the work of his own bipartisan fiscal commission. Instead, he proposed a budget that raises taxes, perpetuates reckless federal spending and fails to offer any solutions to reform entitlement programs. Earlier this week, the President suggested the creation of yet another fiscal commission, again delegating his responsibility to lead. Unfortunately, the President has done enough punting on budget issues to make Sav Rocca nervous about his job security.”

Rising Tide's Microlending Tops $2 Million

The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund, the small-business lending arm of the CACLV, has now topped $2 million in loans. Altogether, 92 loans have been granted to 80 different businesses, helping create 133 jobs while saving 125 others.

Dale & Georgia Boutique and Barkery, a woman-owned natural pet product business in the heart of Easton, received a $21,000 loan in February for its shop at 403 Northampton Street. 2 Daisies Design, a woman-owned wedding planning business based in Wilson Borough, received $35,000 in March for equipment, inventory and working capital. Windsong Photography, a woman-owned wedding photography business in Mt. Bethel, received a $75,000 in February to refinance a mortgage on the business property.

Each of these loans strengthened the businesses and retained the entrepreneurs’ jobs.

Throughout its ten-year history, only five loans totaling less than $50,000 have been written off as noncollectable, while 40 have been paid in full, leaving an impressive charge-off ratio of just 2.33%.

The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund is a federally-certified community development financial institution that was created to extend credit to entrepreneurs located in communities where resources and opportunities for growth are limited. Funds can be used for equipment, marketing costs, inventory, working capital and lease-hold improvements. Its terms are flexible. Businesses also have access to extensive technical assistance including one-on-one assistance from The Rising Tide and a multi-week entrepreneurial training program provided by the Community Action Development Corporations of Allentown and Bethlehem. The Rising Tide is a subsidiary of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley.

United Way, CACLV, Distribute $185,549 to Blast Survivors

Last Monday's Business Matters program was a look back at the UGI gas explosion that killed five people and wiped out a city block. LV United Way President Susan Gilmore talked about raising money for victims of this disaster, but several people displaced by the explosion stated they were left out in the cold. Literally. The United Way, and its partner agency CACLV, were basically accused of being ineffective.

CACLV's Alan Jennings, not one to shy away from criticism, frankly admits on his blog, "We have no background in disaster relief but were willing to step up." He acknowledged a need to set up an "infrastructure" for this kind of assistance. "We were, as is the United Way, in a thankless position, surely setting ourselves up for attack, as viewers witnessed tonight. But I am confident this was done right."

Persons dispossessed by that explosion claim to have received nothing between February 9, the date of the explosion, and March 23, when this show aired. I would not characterize their complaints as attacks. It is inevitable that some would feel left out.

At a news conference yesterday (I was copied on the news release, but was not personally present), Susan Gilmore reported that the Allentown Family Fund raised a total of $185,549.11, which included $57,000 in donations from UGI and their workforce.

After personal interviews with each of the 35 families directly affected, and the use of a four-tier damage assessment system, payments were made to every family in amounts between $500 and $23,787.

Because volunteers coordinated the effort, and CACLV and the United Way did not charge any of their costs to the project, all of the money donated for direct assistance to the families was used exclusively for that purpose. Some of the original UGI corporate donation was set aside for services to the families. In order to cover the cost of counseling, $16,668 was directed to Family Answers, a private non-profit family counseling organization. There is considerable concern for the longer-term effects of the trauma on the families, so Family Answers has been contracted to conduct follow-up assessments after six and twelve months. The assessments will ensure that every individual who could benefit from counseling services will have access to the help they need, according to William Vogler, Executive Director of Family Answers.

Alan Jennings, Executive Director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, expressed his frustration that an infrastructure was not in place to adequately respond to this type and size of disaster. Jennings, along with the United Way and the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, promises to create a task force to develop that infrastructure so that this region is better prepared for the longer-term services and assistance needed after the immediate emergency responses.

Cordelia Miller, Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, provided a report on the agency’s services beginning on the night of the incident. The Red Cross, in accordance with their policy, was on the scene of the incident within one hour of being notified. The agency provided immediate emergency needs including food, shelter and medical attention for the affected residents. Ongoing services, such as program referrals and rental assistance, are still being provided to the survivors.

The Reverend Tony Sundermeier, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, praised the agencies for their efforts. He said, "When a tragedy occurs, such as the one that took place at 13th and Allen streets, and you have a significant outpouring of generosity, people want to know that the money they donated is going to the people who need it the most. They also want to know that it is being distributed in a fair and just way. CACLV did just that. Stewardship of these resources was the number one priority of Alan Jennings and his organization. Through a ton of volunteer hours, patience, and integrity, CACLV was able to accomplish what I and my congregation hoped for when we donated $10,000.00 to assist in these efforts.”

At the close of the conference, blast survivors William Epler and Jill Arroyo offered comments on their experience and their thanks to the community for the outpouring of support during this difficult time.

CACLV Ready To Help YOU With Tax Returns

The end of tax season is fast approaching and the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley continues to offer the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at locations throughout the Lehigh Valley. CACLV has already helped many families to maximize their tax returns this year, and still has plenty of resources to assist hundreds more. The program will run until the last day of tax season, which has been extended to April 18 this year, in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Mt. Bethel.

Each site will have volunteers, trained by the Internal Revenue Service, to perform tax returns for households with incomes less than $49,000. Eligible families could receive and additional $1,000 and $2,500 from the Child Tax and Education Tax credits, respectively. So far this year, VITA volunteers have prepared 929 tax returns and helped local taxpayers to receive $1,654,595 in federal refunds.

Operating hours vary at the four site locations. The Allentown site, at 824 Hamilton Street, is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1PM – 7PM, and Saturdays from 10AM – 2PM. The Bethlehem VITA site is hosted at CACLV’s Forte building at 1337 E. 5th Street and is open on Mondays from 11AM – 7PM. Easton Area Public Library, at 515 Church Street, hosts the Easton VITA site on Tuesdays from 2PM – 7PM and Saturdays from 10AM – 2PM. The Mt. Bethel site is held at Representative Joe Emrick’s Office at 5 Mt. Bethel Plaza on Thursdays from 12PM – 5PM.

For additional information please visit CACLV’s website at www.caclv.org, contact VITA Project Coordinator Susan Zlotnick at szlotnick@caclv.org or call the tax hotline at 484-893-1040. No appointment is necessary except for the Mt. Bethel location.