Emily Opilo of The Morning Call interviewed Scott Curtis, the FBI agent whose investigation convicted Pawlowski. She ended the article by asking Curtis... So is Allentown a better place after a tumultuous multi-year investigation and the ensuing convictions?
“I don’t think so,” Curtis said. “Anywhere you severely disrupt a crime threat or a criminal enterprise … it’s going to create a vacuum where now you’re going to have competing elements vying for control,” he said. “No matter how successful you think you are,” he said, “rarely are you going to totally dismantle a crime threat in your area.”Because of this very question and answer, some people felt that City Hall needed a complete cleaning with a new broom. That would have precluded Ray O'Connell of city council, and many of the current department heads. I have argued against that approach, defending the institutional knowledge necessary to keep the city running. I know Ray O'Connell, and feel that he sees his new mayoral position as his legacy. He doesn't have political ambitions beyond doing a good job. Over the years I've become familiar with many people who drive city hall, and believe that they also want to give honest service to the city. For those few who may not be so honorable, I think the recent trial succeeded in putting enough fear in them to keep on the straight and narrow.
I am realistic enough to know that the Pawlowski administration created a culture of heavy handedness, and that it endured for over 12 years. Although, such behavior patterns tend to persist, I only see improvement coming.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteWanting things to get better and seeing sincerity in leaders does not make them good leaders. You notion of preserving "institutional knowledge" would be worth considering if their was anyone in city hall with any. There isn't. With just a few exceptions, those who populate of offices and run the bureaus were put their by Pawlowski. Their institutional knowledge is not worth preserving.
Ed is gone but the wreckage remains and a wave of debt and fiscal crisis looms over both the city and its school district. City council is a mess and the school board even worse. These are the folks the voters elected, Voila, a three legged stole stole of rotted, entrenched stupidity.
Frankly, with the situation what it is, there is no room for nice anymore. There is no room for hope unless new leadership all around is put into office. I don't see that happening. And before you label a partisan again Mike because I am demanding new leadership, understand this, Bethlehem is all Democrat but they manage to elect good people with abilities, vision and ethics into office. That's all Allentown needs, good, capable,honest, Democrats. I do believe they will need to be imported.
Forgive the errors and misspellings.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Ray O'Connell leaves the Pawlowski appointees in their positions the opportunity of corruption remains in Allentown. That is the only way these puppets know how to function and Pawlowski can still pull their strings as long as he is free to roam the streets of Allentown on bail.
ReplyDeleteI think the lesson is the same as from the "Music Man": beware of people who both promise how great the future will be while packing their bags at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of work to run anything as complicated as a city. And as Scott Armstrong points out, it needs ethics and transparency with the public. That hasn't been a habit in Allentown.
Both ethics and removal of the hacks and the corrupt will come shortly. Then our city fathers and mothers have to see where we stand. The vacuum is the real problem, as groups with not always pure motives are waiting in the wings ready to pounce.
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