Apr 10, 2012

Forsaking the Children

Long time readers of this blog know that on several occasions I have identified Alan Jennings with hypocrisy. I generally stand alone with this accusation; Most people do not have my combination of institutional memory, independence and total lack of political correctness. Jennings' enterprises concern the poor and minorities, sacred cows among the diplomatic. I don't suffer self delusion well; On that note, CUNA (Congregations United for Neighborhood Action) is going to meet with Pawlowski* about the benefits and housing that the arena's NIZ can bring to low income residents of center city. What doesn't CUNA understand? The intention of the arena is to push that demographic away from 8th and Hamilton. City Center Investment Corporation speaks only of upscale apartments in phase 2. CUNA is an naive Johnny Come Lately, asking to be told lies. Enough of this sweet talk, back to Jennings. He published a commentary in the Easton Express, urging the suburbs to support the arena project. Jennings is a member of the NIZ Board. As such, I would think he should concern himself with it's just implementation, and leave the defending and promoting to the paid professionals. Previously, I took Jennings to task about using government money to train minority entrepreneurs, while standing silently by, while 34 minority businesses were displaced for the Palace of Sport. He now ignores the fact that J.B. Riley will be using over $7 million in cigarette tax to fund his speculative office buildings. Those millions would normally be going to fund CHIP, providing health insurance for low income children. I understand that Jennings is motivated to use his prestige to curry favor with grantmeisters, such as Pawlowski and Browne; But, when he promotes a program which has forsaken the poor, especially the children, he's putting his organization's budget ahead of it's mission.

*by Devon Lash/The Morning Call/April 8, 2012

10 comments:

  1. Just one more in the list of people pretending to be bastions of our society while living off the public teat themselves.

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  2. Jennings issue for those been around 20 years and more is...how are the poor doing today? He's really made a career out of the "poor" business.
    Why not let someone new try? No one else in the world could do as good a job?

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  3. a portion of the property tax revenue from the development (w/ the exception of the arena) will go to fund education in Allentown and will hopefully make up for some of the Governor's severe cuts. A worthy use?

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  4. "a portion of the property tax revenue from the development"
    Does anybody REALLY believe this?

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  5. I do!

    FURTURE DOWNTOWN ARENA DOOFUS

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  6. "a portion of the property tax revenue from the development"
    Does anybody REALLY believe this?"

    The real estate taxes from the new buildings in the NIZ will go to the city and the school district just as any other non-KOZ property in the city does. It does not matter what you want to believe.

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  7. I thought it read a little differently the first time I read it.

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  8. key word: "portion"

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  9. i believe the property tax situation is very unclear on the arena block proper. although the upper office floors may be privately owned, along with the hotel, the remainder of the construction would be authority owned and free of property taxes. on the other hand, 34 properties were taken off the property tax rolls. i doubt if the school system, city and county will ever regain their former tax base from that parcel. they are apparently making up the rules as they go along, free from any scrutiny.

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  10. Interesting... But I believe this is one of those situations that if you have to ASK if you are a part of the inner circle/plan, than more than likely, you are not....


    Alfonso Todd

    www.alfonsotodd.com

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