The Morning Call has been running a series of articles it entitles
Watchdog Report. The latest, on Sunday, rehashes the Atiyeh parcels, purchased by Allentown last year, supposedly for the park system. Associate blogger Bernie O'Hare, reminds us that he connected the dots between the purchase and Atiyeh's billboard company, last week. The Morning Call article also omits the fact that the purchase was first reported here, on
molovinsky on allentown, last year. Although Bernie now notices that the paper is a sales agent for Atiyeh's billboard company, they had revealed that fact before. I also learned, or remembered, something new from the paper's story. Former park director, John Mikowychok, testified to city council that the Basin street parcel would allow the city to connect the envisioned trail network. An alternative title for this post was going to be
Pawlowski's Toolbox, where I discuss the various department directors, and the distortions that they have uttered for their boss. After Mikowychok was here for only a matter of weeks, before he unpacked his suitcase or even seen the entire park system, he testified on the Wildlands Conservancy's behalf, to demolish the two small dams in Lehigh Parkway. He also apparently testified on Atiyeh's behalf, to purchase those parcels. I had, in the previous years, closely monitored the trail network plan, pushed by then park director Greg Weitzel. Although I attended the meetings on that subject, there was never any mention of a Basin street hookup. Now, I can't blame the paper too much for their memory lapses. They change out reporters like underwear, some have moved on even before they learned to hate me. Bernie O'Hare, his memory is probably affected by his radical weight gain/loss cycles. Don't worry about me offending anybody, they'll forget that they even read this.
ADDENDUM: O'Hare's article last week did credit this blog with first reporting the land purchases last year. I have modified the copy above to properly reflect that attribution.
And you wonder why, Mr. Molovinsky, that people are angry at our government.
ReplyDeleteThese types of shenanigans did not happen in ages past. Unfortunately, Allentown is a one-party town and isn't about to change. When Pawlowski leaves, sooner or later, there is no one there to replace him that has any stature. Just a bunch of also-rans that either have their fingers in the pie now, or are just part of the same political machine.
jamie@5:54, i share your doubts, but there has always been better alternatives. if they have the stature, as you say, to get elected, is the issue.
ReplyDeleteAllentown used to be run out of the Livingston Club, don't kid yourself.
ReplyDeleteMy original article DID go to great length to credit you for writing about the sales ehen you did. I gave you a lot of credit at the time. So I am surprised to read your claim now that I made no reference to you. That is just wrong.
ReplyDeletebernie@10:56, your statement is correct, and if my post was longer, perhaps I would have noted that. your first article last week did indeed credit me, as you often have, on other subjects as well. your article last night did not, however, my greater point was meant to be that the morning call didn't credit you. understand that your long posts, always printed 4 hours before mine, often don't leave much meat on the bone.
ReplyDeleteMM, stature = money.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that this is what Jamie meant.
*snark*
PS- too bad you and Bernie made up, I was just starting the popcorn.
Justice@12:21
ReplyDeleteStature = Integrity.
I'm well aware of the smoke filled room of the Livingston Club. Those were the days that Harry Trexler, Charles Schwab, and other men of means that ran the Lehigh Valley. The major difference is that they used their own resources to counsel the various elected politicians, both local as well as in Harrisburg.
Those who pulled the strings inside the Livingston Club did so to the benefit of both the people of Allentown, and yes, to insure those decisions favored their business interests. They were intelligent men who had vision, unlike those today whose intelligence ends at the bank account numbers.
Jamie @ 3:20pm
ReplyDeleteThat was a very astute observation. As both the Livingston and the Lehigh Valley Clubs
held sway on the balance of the economy of Allentown (actually from the private dining rooms, not the back rooms) They were both accounts of mine, and I heard some very interesting conversations while serving them....All for the betterment of Allentown and the Valley as a whole.
The Old Allentown Curmudgeon (PJF)
pjf@5:21, i've done some posts on the livingston club. i will contact both the archivist and the scheduler, and see if perhaps one of them can be reproduced this week.
ReplyDeleteExactly correct on the gentlemen of the Livingston Club. That club was active when Allentown's charter called for a 'weak mayor' form of government. A weak government lead to a strong private sector. Can anybody deny the wonderful nature of Allentown in the post-war years? Lead by the men who fought WWII and not those who learned at the feat of Chicago's Daley political machine.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of integrity and civic mindedness ... why is Ed Pawlowski still Mayor of Allentown?
ReplyDeleteAn important element of the community structure that made places like the Livingston Club power centers in the area economy were the locally based and controlled banks that existed in the past. Local bank presidents and other high executives could approve deals based on personal knowledge of the people and entities seeking financing. They sometimes did so with a lunch time handshake. That part of Lehigh Valley history is particularly ironic given the lead story in Tuesday's Morning Call regarding National Penn.
ReplyDelete