Michael Donovan Remembered

I mussed last night's Allentown City Council meeting because I was watching Central Catholic High School's Varsity Boys' basketball team clinch a league playoff berth with a much-needed win over Northampton. But I watched the video, and was moved by the kind words spoken about Michael Donovan, who passed away on Wednesday.

Alan Jennings recently called people who are spending the public's money "heroic," but if anyone really deserves that title, it is Donovan. City Council President Ray O'Connell had some very heartfelt words. And Rich Fegley, who is usually locking horns with Council, was having trouble staying composed as he read the remarks of Michael's son, Ned Donovan, into the record.

Allentown City Council President Ray O'Connell: "Mr. Donovan passed away this morning after a courageous battle with cancer. I served on Council with Michael when i first started Council. Michael was an extremely passionate man, a very caring man. I would say Michael was ahead of his times on many items and many thoughts.

"I had a few ... cokes ... pepsis ... [laughter] with Mike over the years, and I learned a lot from Michael. Michael did not have a mean bone in his body. Michael was not mean-spirited at all. Michael looked out for the little guy out there. He really did. Today, we truly lost one of the good guys. May his family be at peace and may Michael Donovan rest in peace."

Rich Fegley (with statement from Michael's son, Ned): "Earlier today, as you've no doubt heard by now, my father, former Councilman William Michael Donovan, passed away after a long battle with cancer. I wanted to extend my thanks and the thanks of my family to this institution. My father always wanted to get involved in politics, and this body allowed him to truly find his voice as a politician. Serving on this Council was one of the highlights of my father's life, something he spoke of with great pride, as I am sure you all feel.

"I'm aware that there are many challenges facing Allentown, and that this group of men and women will make many decisions regarding those issues. I hope that in honor of my father's memory, you will remember his priorities as you look at these issues.

"My father stressed the community over the individual, and he made sure to treat the janitor the same as the CEO. He was adamant that the rights of the little guy must be protected in order to better society. When there are two options, take the one towards love and compassion. And always strive for a more inclusive, respectful and caring community.

"There are no groups more important than any other, and to solve the problems facing a city, engaging the entire community is important. But especially the under-represented and unappreciated voices. I thank you for all your service to the City, as my father served in the past. I hope to meet all of you one day."

Michael Donovan, RIP

Former Allentown City Council member W Michael Donovan passed away this morning after a lengthy illness. He was a champion of transparency and is one of the few elected officials I know who himself was an active blogger. More importantly, he was a good man, one of the best I've ever met. He is the person who first spoke of an urban growth regime in the Lehigh Valley. He always fought the good fight.

Michael Donovan: The Loser Who Won

In Allentown, independent Michael Donovan ran against Edwin Pawlowski, a well-funded two-term incumbent who had captured both the Republican and Democratic nominations. Donovan spent much of his Summer in the Ukraine, where I don't think he picked up many votes. But it appears that Pawlowski's decisions concerning the water lease, the NIZ and trash-to-cash are beginning to catch up with him.

Pawlowski scored a resounding 62% victory, which might sound good statewide. But he won it against an underfunded independent with no money.

Pawkowski raised $142,578.26 to Donovan's $13,140. Thus, Kind Edwin spent $24 per vote to Donovan's $3.

In 2005, Bill Heydt took 38%, the same percentage as Dionovan, with 6539 votes. He raised approximately $73,000, and spent $11 per vote.

In 2009, Republican Tony Phillips's percentage was just 26% with 2873 votes. He raised approximately $53,000, and spent $18 per vote.

It's safe to say that the luster is gone from King Edwin's crown.

Donovan's run also created a buzz in Allentown, and probably helped elect Tom Muller as Lehigh County Executive.

Donovan Sign Thief Caught on Candid Camera!

Though Allentown King Edwin has nothing to fear from Independent Mayoral candidate Michael Donovan, Pawlowski Pursuivants must be nervous. On October 26, in the dead of night, Pawlowski Prius Pursuivants plucked a Donovan sign from Attorney Rick Orloski's Cedar Crest Avenue office. You can see a slender, dark-haired woman steal a Michael Donovan sign.

Anybody know who this person is?

At least they are environmentally friendly thieves.

Donovan to Discuss Allentown Public Safety

On Tuesday, October 29, at 3pm, on the second floor of Allentown Brewworks, Independent Allentown Mayoral candidate Michael Donovan will present his expectations for the future of the Allentown Police Department and the neighborhoods they protect. "You will hear the qualities of the person I would like to see as the new Police Chief, and you will hear my vision of revitalized neighborhoods throughout the city," he says.

The public is welcome.

Donovan Invades Pawlowski Fundraiser

Mayor Edwin Pawlowski's 5th Annual Latino Recognition Night took place this evening at the Allentown Holiday Inn. According to the flyer, it was a free event, and one that I would think is open to one and all. I would think it is a night dedicated to recognizing Latinos, not politics.

Independent Mayoral candidate Michael Donovan must have thought so as well. I guess he likes to see Latinos recognized, too.

But he was tossed.

That's because the event, which drew over 500 people, was a "purely political event," according to Pawlowski campaign manager Mike Fleck. He told me it is both a fundraiser and an appeal to drive up voter turnout among Allentown's very large Latino population. He indicates that Donovan displayed "a complete lack of respect" by attending the event, festooned in his own political buttons.

"He's having his own event tomorrow night," Fleck tells me.

"You going?"

"Of course not. I doubt he'll get 500 people."

Donovan's account of the event, and his ejection, is below:

The Mayor has advertised for sometime on Facebook a public event celebrating Latinos. So, I thought I might attend knowing that it was the Mayor’s sponsored event, but also reading that it was open to the public. The Mayor does represent the entire city, I thought.

I arrive with a political sticker on my lapel. Asked to take it off, I agree. I am asked, “what if the Mayor came to one of your events?” I respond, “he would be welcomed, and that is how he and I obviously differ.”

I wander into the reception area, and begin a conversation with two acquaintances. A few moments later, I am approached by the Mayor’s consultants again. ”You should leave, quietly.” I chuckle a bit, and say that it is advertised as a public event. After all, the Mayor has held this several times over the last few years when he is not running for the office.

“You should leave,” she said.

I do, but make a note to myself. What is the Mayor afraid of? He has the money. He has the incumbency. He has the contacts. He has the trophy projects to which he can point. He is running for governor. What can he be afraid of?

He does not want to debate me in a sufficiently long, public forum. He can avoid me all he wants.

But he does not want me around him and voters. I wonder why?

His consultant told me a few weeks ago, when I explained that Muhlenberg College Democrats had invited the Mayor and me to a debate function, “we do not like Muhlenberg.” Well some of you know I turned down a 24 minute Business Matters, taped show. I said to the consultant, in that case I’ll go to where I do not like if the Mayor will go to where he does not like.

Nope, he said.

So, I’ll ask again. What is the Mayor afraid of.

We will here more about this and the culture that it represents in Allentown.

Best regards,

Michael

Updated Noon: While this was a political event, it was billed as a "free to the public" event at The Morning Call's Valley 610 blog.

Donovan Won't Take King Edwin's BM

In a 700-page news release replete with the Royal "We," Allentown Mayoral Council candidate Michael Donovan says thanks, but no thanks, to a BM with incumbent Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Edwin Pawlowski. Donovan claims to have lots of respect for Business Matters, a local TV show hosted by Tony Iannelli. But he insists the debate must be more open to everyone.

I'm sure that can be arranged, Michael. But that's not the real problem. What's really wrong with this idea is that Tony Iannelli is in the tank for King Edwin. There's no frickin' way that Donovan would get a fair shot. TI regularly contributes to Pawlowski's campaign and even washes his car once a week. Tony would ask hard-hitting questions like, "Why can't you run for four or five offices simultaneously?" or "Have you ever considered Hollywood?"

The reality is that Hizzoner doesn't really want to debate Donovan. And why should he? The only people who count in Allentown are investors like J.B. Reilly, and he doesn't even live there.

King Edwin Would Like to BM Donovan

King Edwin, who is running for Pennsylvania Governor and Allentown Mayor simultaneously, has no time for something so trifling as democracy. Used to buying his elections, it's understandable that he'd be reluctant to debate Independent Mayoral candidate Michael Donovan. According to The Morning Call, King Edwin has agreed to only one debate. It's one that would be moderated by one of his biggest supporters and a regular campaign contributor.

Tony Iannelli, who hosts WFMZ-TV69's Business Matters, puts on a great show. As a debate moderator, things can get wild in races in which Tony has no real interest. He actually encourages the crowd to boo and cheer. Not having a mean bone in his body, he pitches mostly softballs. He waits for his guests to go after each other. And they do. I've done it.  Ron Angle has done it. And so has Pawlowski campaign manager Mike Fleck, in a televised debate about the NIZ.   

But there's no way that Tony Iannelli can fairly moderate a Mayoral debate involving incumbent Ed Pawlowski. He even carries a laminated picture of Pawloski in his wallet.   

WFMZ-TV69 has an excellent news staff. Why not ask one of them to moderate?  

Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky has noted that Pawlowski's high-handed sale of water assets, along with a goofy trash to energy plant, might have energized some citizens to look for a Mayor who at least listens to them. But he questions whether the media will give Donovan a fair shot. 

A BM debate is not a fair shot. It's just a BM. 

Is Pawlowski Running For Mayor ... Or Governor?

That's a question independent Allentown Mayoral candidate Michael Donovan would like answered. Incumbent Mayor Edwin Pawlowski will make his intentions known Monday, but has formed an exploratory committee.

"Mayor Ed Pawlowski is abandoning the city of Allentown,” Donovan bluntly states. "Mayor Pawlowski has proven time and again that his administration was run not as a City Without Limits, but as a City Without Choice. He pushed the water lease through without choice, he pushed the incinerator deal through without choice, and when the people tried to speak against his decisions he shut them down and gave them no choice. He has ignored requests for input on the NIZ development. It is not just my prerogative as a candidate to give that choice back, but my obligation to this city and its people.”

Donovan, a former City Council member, is a professor of business and economics at Cedar Crest College and a former city councilman where he served as Vice President for 2 years and chaired the Budget and Finance Committee. He has almost 40 years of experience in urban affairs through his work in business, education, and public policy.

He'd have good chance of winning if Allentown were a democracy. But it's not. It's an urban growth regime that eats up good people like Donovan.

Blogger Michael Molovinsky broke this story at 5:53 AM, well before the mainstream.

Donovan: Do You Wish To Lose Control Over Your Most Precious Asset?

Michael Donovan is usually quiet and unassuming, but not at yesterday's news conference. At yesterday's news conference concerning Allentown's proposed water privatization, this Cedar Crest professor and independent candidate for Mayor took the Socratic approach to Allentown's proposed water lease.

"Do you wish to lose control of your most precious asset?

"Do you wish that your government gives away this extremely important asset?

"Do you wish to have an opportunity to say No, because if you do not even have an opportunity to say No, you've been shut out?

"Do you wish to have the opportunity to give your reasons why you wish to say No?

"Some will say that the LCA [Lehigh County Authority] arrangement is the best option. It may be financially, and a you know, I have a great experience in finance. But I ask, what is the cost of giving up control?

"What is the cost of politicians covering their poor decisions over a decade?

"And what is the cost of giving up and shutting down dissent?

Donovan to Challenge Pawlowski ... As Independent

Former Allentown City council member Michael Donovan will challenge Mayor Edwin Pawlowski this Fall. Instead of running as a Democrat, he is seeking ballot access as an Independent.

Donovan is a professor at Cedar Crest, and is one of very few elected officials who was willing to engage people in the blogosphere.

His campaign announcement is scheduled for Tuesday April 9, Noon, at City Hall.

I'll have more to say then. For now, I'll just say, THANK GOD!

Michael Donovan Now Disgusted By NIZ

Former Allentown City Council member Michael Donovan is disgusted. A one-time supporter of Allentown's NIZ, he's had a change of heart. "I am ashamed that I encouraged AEDC to move forward with this project by spending money for research, only to have it co-opted by the financial interests of a few, selfish players."

Best Wishes for A-town's Michael Donovan

Allentown City Council starts every meeting with a prayer. They're gonna' need more than that. I'm talking human sacrifices.

Last night, Julio Guridy led everyone in the invocation, speaking in four or five different languages. He thanked the Lord for fixing the BP oil spill. Then he prayed for City Council VP Michael Donovan, who is undergoing surgery for prostate cancer today. That was a nice gesture, and one that I'm sure was appreciated. Allentown watchdog Lou Hershman, who has frequently clashed with Donovan over budgetary maters, also expressed his best wishes. Very classy.

Donovan, of course, had lots to say about issues facing Allentown, including Permitgate. But instead of writing about that, I just want to wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

I have my own selfish reasons. He's one of the few elected officials who will talk to me.

Did Villa's Lawyer Flip Off Donovan?

Bill Villa may have lost his ethics complaint against Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan on Wednesday, but there's always me. He has sued me for a gazillion dollars, and a few weeks ago, I was summoned to a status conference before Judge Reibman in majestic Courtroom 1A of the old Lehigh County Courthouse. It is impossible to sit in a place like that without being impressed by the gravity of a judicial proceeding.

Unless you're Villa.

Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan was kind enough to attend and give me some moral support. He sat quietly in the back of this venerable Courtroom, while I was closer to the well, pondering how many people had been sentenced to death there. Eventually, Judge Reibman called us forward, and I moved into the well with Villa's lawyer, rubbing my neck. As I did so, Villa turned around from where he was sitting and, in open Court, gave Donovan the finger. He later admitted this on his blog. I guess he must be proud.

I mention this because of something strange in one of the videos I shot of the Ethics meeting involving Donovan on Wednesday. When Villa attempted to monopolize the meeting and was told to sit down, his lawyer was sitting right by him. He lifts his middle finger along the side of his face and turns to face Donovan while he is doing it.

He could just be doing something with his hand, or could be giving Donovan the old highway salute.

I sent him this email: "One of my readers noticed that, towards the end of yesterday's meeting, you look right at Donovan and appear to both leer at him while briefly giving him the finger. Would you care to explain what you were doing?"

I got this response: "You really are nuts."

That may very well be true, but what was he doing?

A-town's Ethics Board Lets the Sun Shine

High noon yesterday. Hot as hell outside. People getting nasty on the roads. And of course, they're shooting each other in Allentown again. I was there. Nobody plugged me, even though I was inside City Hall. It was pretty cool despite all the hot air regularly generated by a government building. I stopped by to offer words of encouragement in the gunfight between Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan and hate blogger Bill Villa.

Villa had Donovan up before the Ethics Board on some pretty serious charges. I'll tell you about them in a bit. Villa brought his lawyer, who must live with him, and confidently strutted around, snapping pictures of everyone in the hallway.

Donovan had to be encouraged to see some people rally to his banner in the middle of a workday. Dr. Bob Romanchek, Allentown's GOP chair, was there to support a Democrat. So was LVPoliblogger Chris Casey and downtown activist Alfonso Todd. Even my best friend from grade school, who shall remain nameless, was there. He met Donovan a few years ago and was impressed. Morning Call mini-celeb Bill White, sniffing a possible column, dropped by as well.

Of course they'll all pay a price. Villa snapped pictures of every one of them. He's already referred to Dr. Romancheck as a "spooky GOP RightWingNut," Alfonso as a "shameless blog publicity whore and community disorganizer", and columnist White as an "O'Hare shit-lover."

Donovan sat quietly, by himself, at the end of a very long conference table. He looked forlorn, almost bewildered. He's from Maine. People must be nicer there after eating all those damn lobsters. But he really has done a horrible thing. It's far worse than shooting someone.

Here's his dirty little secret. He's a God-damn blogger.

Nobody likes bloggers.

Let's face it, we're all bottom feeders who thrive on the misery of others. We actually make reporters look good. They used to be called bottom feeders who thrive on the misery of others, but now they're getting laid off, so everyone feels sorry for them and dumps on us. Shit rolls downhill, they say.

Donovan has something else going against him, too.

He's a God-damn politician.

Nobody likes politicians, even if they are college professors with tenure.

So hate blogger Bill Villa decided to bring Donovan up on ethics charges because of his blog. He regularly hijacked Michael's older blog to post derogatory remarks, taunts and links back to his own blog. Typical troll stuff. You've seen it here, although I delete it. No matter what the topic, Donovan was regularly ridiculed, although I was the usual target. Villa even took shots at Donovan's wife and son. When Donovan posted a heartfelt entry about the untimely passing of his own little girl, Villa sneered. Donovan rarely deleted the hate.

Villa got a taste of his own medicine when Donovan posted a blog entitled, A Tale of Two Cities, suggesting that Bethlehem and Allentown cooperate, instead of compete, against each other. Villa immediately began hijacking Donovan's blog with his usual impersonations and hateful attacks. In one of them, using the pseudonym "Freedom Fighter," he states, "Let's empty both barrels," containing a link to Allentown City Council.

That actually brought police to City Council's March 17th meeting. Villa stayed away from that one. Some bloggers, including me, challenged the taunts being made by Villa, teasing and chiding him. One anonymous comment was over the top, and was quickly deleted by Donovan.

Tired of the constant hijacking, Donovan finally started a new blog, giving himself greater control over the comments being posted.

That drove Villa, who just lost an outlet for all his hate, over the edge. He responded with a 3,000-page ethics complaint against Donovan, killing a forest or two to claim that Donovan was somehow using his city council position, on his blog, to enhance his prestige or for personal benefit. Of course, that's nonsense. Donovan uses his blog to promote transparency and accountability, but no good deed goes unpunished.

Board members quickly dismissed Villa's complaint yesterday. But before doing so, they entertained public comment.

That's when Villa's mouthpiece, who at one time was a bottom-feeding reporter and now is a bottom-feeding lawyer, objected to any comments from anyone who live outside the limits of the City Without Limits. He was trying to silence Chris Casey and yours truly. We both intended to speak on Donovan's behalf.

Nobody likes lawyers, especially lawyers who were at one time bottom-feeding reporters. They might even be as bad as bloggers.

This legal eagle read a portion of the Sunshine Act, which gives residents an absolute right to speak at most public meetings. But he only read a portion, or disingenuously misrepresented the law, take your pick.

Chuck Fonzone, the Solicitor for the Board, correctly told this divorce lawyer that nothing in the Sunshine Act bars nonresidents from public comment. And more importantly, the Sunshine Act extends the right of public comment to "taxpayers" as well. And let's face it, we're all paying for Allentown. All I have to do is plug a nickel in a meter and I'm paying a form of tax. So I was preparing to make a legal argument of my own when the Board unanimously decided to listen to anyone who wanted to speak. Three-minute limit. The only person they did not want to hear from was Donovan. Villa spoke, incidentally, and rambled on for six minutes, twice the allotted time.

Even the guys and gals in the land of midnight payraises recognize that "secrecy in public affairs undermines the faith of the public in government and the public's effectiveness in fulfilling its role in a democratic society."

That's why the Ethics Board made the right call in allowing the public to speak. They also made the right decision to dismiss the Complaint in a public meeting, instead of behind closed doors. It makes Villa look even more ridiculous when he claims the Board "hisses, then slithers away."

The only hissing and slithering I saw came from him and his mouthpiece. His lawyer tried, and failed, to stop Casey and Moi from speaking. Villa, as you've seen yourself in a video posted here, shouted at Donovan when he tried to speak. Finally, Villa actually claimed he had "back channel" discussions with the Board. I know he even threatened to come to their home, uninvited and unannounced, over the last holiday weekend. He's all for back room, ex parte, conversations.

Maybe it's time for Villa to write his memoirs.

He's done.

Donovan's Answer to Villa's Ethics Complaint

Below is the answer Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan filed with the Ethics Board, on May 13th, answering hate-blogger Bill Villa's claim that Donovan had somehow violated the City's Code of Ethics on his blog:

I have received your letter advising me that Bill Villa, a resident of Allentown, has alleged that I acted in an unethical manner.

Attached to your letter are hundreds of pages of Internet blog entries.

I wish to respond briefly to these charges. If the Board of Ethics orders a hearing, then I shall gladly attend. I can also supply copies of material that were not included in the complaint, but do help illustrate the complaint’s irrelevance.

1. Mr. Villa repeatedly, loudly and inappropriately has attacked numerous individuals throughout the Lehigh Valley because of a tragic event he experienced in the summer of 2006.

2. In the early fall of 2007, while campaigning for Allentown City Council, I met Mr. Villa at his home on N 19th Street. He explained the tragedy, which involved the death of his daughter caused by a horrible car accident. I listened intently because I had experienced the death of a daughter and discovered the daughter’s mother lives across the street from me on N West St. While normally I would spend only a few minutes at the door of a voter, for over an hour, I discussed the details of his anger at the District Attorney and The Morning Call. He claimed that justice was not done, and that a cover-up had occurred.

3. I did not hear again from Mr. Villa until the spring of 2008, when he asked me to arrange an interview with The Morning Call. In April or May, I had two telephone conversations and a meeting with the Editor, who refused to grant Mr. Villa an appointment with him or the editorial board of the newspaper.

4. Following this, I met several times with Mr. Villa and discussed the situation. During these meetings, I was compassionate and empathetic with his obvious anger. I also recommended the importance of counseling because my ex-wife had experienced similar episodes of anger following the death of our daughter.

5. After these meetings, I did not hear from Mr. Villa, except for entries he made on various Internet blogs. In these blogs, he had civil discussion with various writers. Indeed, there were several complementary entries about me at his blog authored by Mr. Villa or his current wife.

6. In August of 2008, The Morning Call chose to publish a blog entry of mine, as well as of another blogger. The editor chose not to ask our permission to do so. On my blog, I raised concern about not informing us and called the editor of the paper. The editor and I spoke, and he agreed that it was wrong to have published the material without having consent. He agreed to contact any blogger from then on to receive authorization.

7. Concurrently, another local blogger took issue with the paper about the lack of effort to gain permission for publication. After conversations between him and the editor, the blogger accepted the paper’s apology, and noted that the issue was resolved.

8. However, Mr. Villa was not happy and vigorously complained that we caved into the newspaper. He began attacking the local blogger, as well as the other writer whom the newspaper had published. The attacks went far beyond the newspaper issue and discussed allegations about which I knew nothing. Both of the attacked bloggers tried to defuse the conflict with no success.

9. Mr. Villa began asking me to denounce the other two men. When I refused because I argued it was not my fight, he began attacking me. Over the next year, he demanded recall from City Council and firing from my professorship at Cedar Crest College. He wrote on his blog the name of the College’s President and indirectly asked her for my dismissal. He attacked my son and my wife both on his blog and my blog.

10. When I discovered his blog was calling for dismissal from Cedar Crest College, I posted an entry on my blog asking him to delete these entries, or I might take legal action.

11. From that time, he has become increasingly vicious. He even threatened violence to me. At the urging of friends and my family, I recently brought these threats to the attention of the Allentown Police Department.

12. Earlier this year, Mr. Villa made entries at my blog that were totally off-topic. Several anonymous writers teased Mr. Villa about is his obsessive attempts to accuse so many people. I did write that I found humorous that the tables were turned on Mr. Villa. One entry was inappropriate and I deleted it. However, I do not have time to police the blog. In general, participants are polite and respectful.

I believe that I have clearly demonstrated that Mr. Villa’s complaint is unfounded and stimulated by a severe tragedy that possibly has affected his reasoning and emotional stability.

Again, if the Board of Ethics believes a hearing is necessary, I shall gladly attend with extensive evidence illustrating the lengths that Mr. Villa has gone to attack not only me, but also an extensive list of people in the Lehigh Valley, many of whom are also concerned for their safety.

Thank you for this opportunity to explain the situation.

The Board did not think a Hearing was necessary.

A-town GOP Chair Defends Democratic City Council VP on Ethics Charge

Is blogging unethical? That's the basic assertion made by the Queen City Lunatic, who filed a complaint with the Queen City's Ethics Board over City Council VP Michael Donovan's blog.

This frivolous complaint was dismissed without a hearing, but not before the City's GOP chair, Dr. Bob Romancheck, rose to speak on behalf of embattled Michael Donovan. "We've had our disagreements and we've had discussions about those disagreements. But never once have I seen where he has been unethical in anything or in any of the dealings that he and I have had with each other."

I will have more about this, and the lame attempt by Villa's mouthpiece to muzzle comments to the Board, in a post tomorrow.

Update: (6:30 PM) Villa Muzzles Donovan During Ethics Board Meeting

During today's Ethics Board, Villa was frantically running from reporter to reporter, trying to ensure that his, and only his, message came through. He cried his best crocodile tears for the report run by Channel 69.

If you'd like to see the real Bill Villa, get a load of this excerpt from his perfomrance in front of the Ethics Board, where he refuses to allow Allentown City Council VP Michael Doovan to rebut him.

Update: (7:00 PM) Villa Told to Sit Down After Offering to Go One on One Against Donovan


Villa Snaps Pictures of Those Attending Hearing

Pawlowski at Iron Pigs Trough During City Council Meeting

Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan is steamed that Mayor Edwin Pawlowski is usually MIA for City Council meetings. Last night was no exception.

From his blog, Donovan takes Pawlowski to task with some pretty strong language.

"I am tired at seeing how cowardly you are not to come to Council meetings. I have great respect for Mr. Bennington. I feel sorry that he has to take the heat that is directed at you. The charter says the following:

K. Be present or represented at all regular City council meetings. The Mayor may participate in all regular City Council discussions but shall have no vote.

If I were Mayor, I would have the GUTS to occasionally come to council to answer questions and cooperatively discuss city strategy. Want to know why I am calling you out? Because you do not do this.

If I felt a recall was possible, I would pursue that. You do not impress me as a leader, and when you DO try to recruit people to run against me — yes I know you have — that makes me realize even more how paranoid you are."

Well, Michael, I can tell you where Hizzoner was last night. Instead of making a guest appearance at City Hall and answering a few questions, he and campaign manager Mike Fleck were feeding at the Iron Pigs trough, guests of some engineering outfit.

I've been critical of Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who is running against Charlie Dent for Congress. He was invited to the very same shindig, but guess where he was? That's right. He attended his City Council meeting instead of networking with possible campaign contributors.

Donovan: People Who Live in the 'Burbs are Selfish

Allentown City Council VP Michael Donovan has condemned Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, the classiest person I've ever met, for expressing an opinion that "Allentown is not safe."

"Mr. Stoffa’s statement just might be the most unprofessional statement I have heard from an elected official, and I have heard a lot of them," keens Donovan.

Perhaps Donovan should listen to himself more often.

"I DO NOT run away to the suburbs and enjoy a selfish life."

That's a statement he made, on this very blog, just yesterday. In his world, it it very unprofessional to claim Allentown is unsafe, but perfectly appropriate to suggest people in the 'burbs are selfish and ran from urban life. One of my readers said it better than I ever could.

"The arrogance and elitism in that one sentence is startling.

"So everyone who moves to or lives in the suburbs is selfish? How asinine!

"How about recognizing that the individuals who have CHOSEN to move to or live in the suburbs have made a decision that they believe is best for themselves and/or their families? Choosing where one wants to live is still (at least for now) the right of every American in this country.

"I, like Mr. Donovan, have chosen to live in the city. Others have chosen differently, for a multitude of reasons that could only be known (and should only be known) to those individuals.

"I don't expect someone to assign motives to ANYONE's personal decision about where to live. That the statement comes from an elected official is even more appalling.

"Also revealing is the assumption in the statement that moving to the suburbs is selfish. This seems to be an admission that things outside the city are better than in the city. We can argue that all day, but isn't Donovan contradicting his own statements about the superiority of the conditions in Allentown?"

Michael Donovan Awarded Tenure at Cedar Crest

Greetings!

That's the way Michael Donovan starts most essays on his Inclusion blog. That's just not going to work for me. I'm a miserable bastard.

I knew Michael back when he was just one of the little people, a mere mortal. Yes, he's the VP of Allentown City Council, but I've been to their meetings, and that's no honor. He's been complaining about Allentown's finances since he's been there, but is routinely ignored.

At Cedar Crest College, it's a different story. He's just been elevated to the rarefied atmosphere of academic luminaries, having been granted tenure there late last week.

Did you know Michael has served as executive director of the Greater Portland Economic Development Council and with AT&T Communications, Data General Corporation and the Valcom Business Center? Did you know he was an international investment officer and municipal finance consultant for the Bank of Boston?

I've met with Michael a few times over the years, and he's never mentioned his work in the private sector, except in the most general way. I only know about his checkered past with Big Finance because of a news release from Cedar Crest College, which you can read here.

Michael began teaching at Cedar Crest in 2004. His course load includes business ethics, international business, principles of finance and a cpublic policy coursec for business studecnts. He's also the author of a study guide, and actually has two MBAs.

For reasons that elude me, the news release fails to mention Donovan's most significant accomplishment of all - he's a blogger.

You see that? Not all of us are idiots. We've got MBAs and everything.

Congrats, Mike! Well deserved.