Panto's Attempt to Muzzle LVR Backfires

As my teachers used to tell me, I'm special. Some people can fly. Others can climb walls, Me, I have an uncanny ability to really piss people off. It's my superpower. Most recently, I got to Easton Mayor Sal Panto. He's running unopposed, but is blowin' oil so badly that someone should throw him up on a lift and fix the leaks. He spent his Friday night penning a ten-paragraph screed excoriating me on Facebook.  Accusing me of "vicious lies and half-truths, he claims no one should really pay much attention to me because I'm disbarred. He forgot to mention that I'm an alkie, too. His post generated 447 likes at last count, along with 191 comments. Part of the reason for that is because he's the Mayor and has a lot of cronies and sycophants. Of course, another part of the reason is that I really am an asshole. Not only do my Super Powers give me an ungodly ability to piss people off, but I'm completely unfazed by what others think about me. I'm not running for anything. My role as a bottom-feeding blogger is to tell the truth as I see it. And the truth, as I see it, is that Easton is infested by favoritism and cronyism.

The Nowroski hire

What really rankled Panto was my Friday post about incoming Codes Director Stephen Nowroski. The City refused to identify him, but had Council rubber-stamp a significant pay hike for the position to a starting salary of $87,000, with absolutely no disclosure of who was getting the job. When I blew the whistle and identified Nowroski as someone who had been investigated twice -  once for using code as a retaliatory measure and once for issuing permits without inspections -  Panto went beserk.

These are the unvarnished facts. They are not pretty, and the City should have been up front and transparent about what it wanted to do. Panto attempted to muzzle me, but now The Express Times has published the story as well, and in a way that reflects poorly on the new hire that Panto wanted so badly to keep under wraps. Now he can explain what he's doing to people who are outside his circle of cronies and sycophants. This pretty much blew up in his face.

It could very well be that Nowroski will prove to be a great addition to Easton. But he starts with a strike against him, not because of me, but because Panto refused to be transparent.

Easton has always played favorites. 

To some extent, there's cronyism and favoritism everywhere. But it's embedded in Easton. You need look no further than people like the Vulcanos. On the school board and city council, they both have abused their positions  One even used his influence to get his daughter a teaching job for which she was unqualified.

City Council members are paid an ungodly $9,371 salary, plus health benefits. That's about 50% more than in Allentown.

Don't forget, this is a City where the The Holy Cross Society deposed some poor high school junior as the Queen of some goofy Summer festival and gave her crown to a Panto niece.

Favoritism in business

The favoritism extends into businesses, too.  In 2013, Easton rushed an assessment reduction for developer Mark Mulligan at the Wolf Building, even though the building was subsequently granted KOZ status and is essentially exempt from all but federal income taxes. Permit fees for a trendy Cheeburger Cheeburger restaurant at one of Mulligan's properties were reduced. This developer and an Easton Redevelopment employee who also acts as a realtor for Mulligan nearly got away with the escrow money for two burned properties. They were stopped only because I blew the whistle.

While playing favorites for some, others are treated like second class citizens. Developer Abe Atiyeh, for example, was denied an assessment appeal on the same day that Easton pitched one for Mulligan. He also has claimed, and in a federal lawsuit, that he was targeted by Easton code enforcement officials.

So what does Panto do? Hire someone who was investigated for using code enforcement to retaliate against people outside his inner circle. Brilliant.

Favoritism in Parking Tickets

This favoritism even extends into Panto's extrajudicial parking enforcement. People outside his inner circle are being denied due process by a greedy Mayor who counts on those tickets as an extra source of revenue. Even on Sundays. He might as well send one of his goons around with the collection basket. I know people who won't go downtown at night any more, not for fear of the criminals, but the Panto Parking Police. This situation is made worse by the "who you know" culture of favoritism that exists. As a result of several Right-to-Know requests, I was able to establish, pretty conclusively, that many had large numbers of tickets avoided.

Despite the plain evidence of Easton's own data, which show that a privileged few are getting parking ticket breaks, he attacks me because I have failed to provide "one example of a ticket that I fixed or voided."

That's pretty hard to do when Easton has destroyed all records of the names of the those whose tickets were expunged..

He then goes on to say that criticisms of  "city employees are off limits." He adds that his new codes director underwent an intensive background check in which it was discovered that another employee was the culprit playing favorites.

Of course, that's bullshit. Sal is just repeating what this guy said in his interview, No municipality, with the possible exception of Easton, would be so stupid as to release an intenal investigation.

Who are Sal's Sycophants? 

Many rallied to Sal's war cry on Friday night. Without question, some are true believers who believe Easton is a better place now than it was when Panto took office. And it is. But there are just as many who want me silenced because my Super Powers piss them off.

Here's a few.

Melissa Miller, who writes, "He is a bully and everyone knows it," is one of the most extreme members of the Republican Action Team, aka Tea Party, and is NorCo Council member Seth Vaughn's significant other. I have been critical of her vulgarities and her husband on Council.

Lisa Pawlowski, Allentown's very own Lady MacBeth, tells Facebook readers I get "paid every time someone opens his blog. So every click is a win for him. Controversy means more money for him. So folks, if you support your mayor, don't ever read Bernie's blog. Make a statement by cutting into his income." Lisa must think I'm as money hungry as she and her husband. I don't make a dime blogging.

Jon Geeting is a failed Lehigh Valley blogger who claims that reading my blog "always makes me feel like being in a dirty gas station bathroom" He is jealous, and needs to grow up.

Billy Kounoupis of Billy's Downtown Diner fame calls me an ass, which is a step up from what I'm usually called. He waves the pom poms, but doesn't bother telling anyone that he's working on a deal right now for a third Billy's Downtown Diner in Easton, at the new LANTA terminal. When this guy was appointed to the Bethlehem Parking Authority, the first thing he did was attempt to have a ticket fixed. He'll be right at home in Panto Paradise.

Joseph H Capozzolo, Bangor's Mayor after winning by one vote, writes, "Consider the source." That source exposed him as an opportunist when he ran for the state senate seat, taking just enough votes away from Scott Parsons to guarantee a Scavello victory. I also criticized Joe for defacing someone's campaign signs, which is a pretty low thing to do.

Thomas Lutes came out in support of Hizzoner. He should because he had five parking tickets voided in 2014.

Heidi Stecker Markow  refers to me as an "evil blogger" and chastised me for using a sentence containing the word Jesus. As a victim rights advocate, she went overboard and was calling news conferences to complain about the DA and judges, and I took her to task as a nut job.

I stand by every word I've written about Panto and his Posse. They better head over to The Express Times comment board because the people commenting there are less understanding.

My Concern

Panto was unsuccessful in muzzling me because The Express Times covered my story. But what happens in a few years when there are no dailies. I criticize them incessantly, but without them, our democracy dies. It will be too easy for someone in power to marginalize and muzzle contrary voices.

Despite Layoffs, Cronyism Alive and Well in Pawlowski's Allentown

His wife is a practicing attorney, but Chicago-area native Dale R. Wiles has avoided courtrooms during his time in the Lehigh Valley. He's preferred to make his money searching titles, mostly in Northampton County.

During this time, he and his wife have been soldiers for the local Democratic party. They've made campaign contributions to Democrats seeking local and state office. They also gave to Sam Bennett's disastrous Congressional race against Charlie Dent. Dale and his daughter even participated in one of Bennett's TV ads. "Children's Health Care? Over-rated," he snarks, dressed in a faux Dent T-shirt. Of course, he's a Democratic committeeman, too, and a district boss to boot.

Now that the real estate market is in the tank and his title searching income is down, Dale has played on his political connections for a job an Assistant City Solicitor in Allentown. Wiles is filling the vacancy created when long-time Assistant Solicitor Martin Danks decided to trade in his legal pad for a fireman's uniform. Heaven forbid that Pawlowski would consider leaving the position vacant and save the City some money.

Wiles has absolutely no experience as a lawyer. That may actually be a plus in that office, which seems to spend most of its time denying Right-to-Know-Law requests. What Wiles lacks in experience is made up for by knowing the right people.

One of them is wife, Gladys. She just happens to be City Solicitor Jerry Snyder's partner in private practice.

Last year, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski laid off thirty-nine union workers. Rising pension costs could fuel additional layoffs, as well as a tax hike, next year.

But King Edwin's men are apparently safe.

The Other Callahan Brother-in-Law

Do you think the comment below, posted by someone calling himself "John," is John Callahan? I'm guessing No.

"hey bernie,You really need to look into why the retired Captain Mill was instructed to stay home from the wreck that night and why the Mayor called the then Commissioner Miller out to handle the issue???

"As far [Captain] Kravatz You really need to take a hard look at how much You believe from Him..Yes the reports go in a bin however isnt it funny that this particular report was put out after the media was in for the day and it was removed before the next day!"

It's pretty likely this comment was posted by a Bethlehem police officer offended at the favoritism shown to Callahan brother-in-law Dino Cantelmi. Three years ago, Cantelmi injured a police officer in an accident involving alcohol, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and Super Bowl Sunday. The story was never covered by either daily newspaper.

Believe it or not, there's yet another Callahan brother-in-law who's had his own run-ins with the law. In 2004, Callahan brother-in-law Vito Jeffrey Villani threatened cops after being picked up for an incident of road rage, in which he assaulted a Bethlehem resident.

"The mayor is my brother-in-law," bragged Vito. "You can't do anything to me. I'm a Villani."

Vito taunted arresting police officers with remarks like "Just wait. I'll take care of you," and "Just wait. In five years when you're not expecting it, I'm gonna be waiting to take care of you."

Villani was charged with all kinds of offenses, like Fleeing or Attempting To Elude Police Officers, Terroristic Threats, Aggravated Assault, Recklessly Endangering and Driving Under Suspension. You can see a record of the charges here, here and here.

At the time, Mayor Callahan piously told the press, "I've done nothing to intervene, nor will I." But guess what? In an incident involving numerous threats to police officers, Vito was given two years probation. Ordinarily, in any case involving a threat to a police officer, the guilty party goes to jail. But not this time. After all, Vito is Callahan's brother-in-law.

In fact, I'm unsure whether this final disposition ever appeared in a newspaper. I've searched Morning Call archives, and am unable to find any indication that this slap on the wrist was ever reported. I am unable to search Express Times archives in that time period. But if this was kept out of both papers, it sure looks like somebody intervened.

Fast forward three years. Vito was arrested again, after sending someone to the hospital in another fight. This time all the King's horses and all the King's men were of no help. District Judge Gay Elwell sent Vito to jail, where he belonged in 2004.

Favoritism in Allentown Golf Course Restaurant Deal Continues

The Fegley family, which owns Allentown Brew Works (ABW), received somewhere around $3.4 million in federal loans when they purchased their popular restaurant from the Allentown Redevelopment Authority for $1.00. Another $500,000 came in the form of an outright grant from Rendell. Located in a KOZ, they are exempt from what would otherwise be an $82 thousand annual real estate tax. They are also exempt from sales tax and pay no state income tax. Allentown kicked in even more money, perhaps $90,000, for facade improvements. According to the Tony Phillips campaign, the Fegley's ABW has received more than $7 million dollars of taxpayer money.

The Fegleys are major Pawlowski supporters, having contributed $750 to his campaign in 2006 & 2007. Last year, Pawlowski gave Mike Fegley, a Democratic state committee member, $100 to help pay for transportation to the Democratic convention. He has also paid Fegley's wife $2,730 for campaign work. Another $1,150 went directly into ABW coffers.

I think I can safely call Fegley a Pawlowski crony.

Late last year, Allentown replaced the Sand Trap Grille with Allentown Brew Works (ABW) at its muni golf course. Both had submitted identical bids, and Sand Trap owner Robert Stanley was actually told he had won the bid. In a riveting statement to Allentown city council (captured on video by Queen City Daily), Stanley explains that when he went to city hall to sign his new contract, he discovered they had something else in mind. "Well, here they're giving me an interview, asking me questions. Greg Wetzell is the only guy that asked me any questions and one other person asked a question. Everybody else just sat there, didn't say a word, I answered my questions and off I went."

Two days before Christmas, Stanley was told he had lost the bid and had three weeks to get his equipment out. "I lost approximately - I'm not even sure - $20,000 in the sales of equipment because I had to get that stuff out of there."

"This was all said and done a long time ago. I was told ... as a matter of fact I was told four years ago that Mayor Pawlowski, when he was with Mayor Afflerbach, wanted me out of that place. He wanted to make something flamboyant there. Well, this is what he got. Everybody knows that him and Mr. Fegley - they're buddy, buddy."

According to one anonymous commenter, the Director of Golf "contacted both PPL and Lehigh Valley Propane in an effort to get the Sand Traps expenses for the year. Obviously, [this was] an attempt to answer questions from the ABW that might affect their bid. These facts are eminently verifiable."

According to its contract with the city, the ABW was supposed to be in business at the golf course by March 1. Instead, there's just "a Coca Cola trailer that looks like it should be at a knee high soccer tournament. Prices? $4.00 for a rubber hamburger, add $1.00 for cheese. Beautiful. Apparently they can do as they please, for example, opening their concession stand when they feel like it. (roughly 10AM to 3PM)."

At last night's council meeting, Jeanette Eichenwald and Tony Phillips wanted to know what the hell is going on. A irritated city administrator, Greg Wentzell, answered them in as few words as possible, like he was guarding some top secret.

Phillips: "Is the restaurant up and running."

Wentzell: "No. It will open May 1."

Phillips: "Are they paying rent yet?"

Wentzell: "No."

Phillips: "Is a fine being levied for every day the restaurant is not open?"

Wentzell: "No fines are being assessed."

Phillips: "Who's selling hot dogs."

Wentzell: "That's a good question."

Phillips: "Who operates the coke trailer? Is it the city or ABW?"

Wentzell: "The Brew Works."

Phillips: "Then they're in business."

At this point, the Solicitor was asked to look into whether the ABW should be paying rent or assessed fines. Donovan, via speakerphone from Chicago, talked about the great progress ABW has made with the kitchen.

Something stinks, and it's not the hot dogs.