Yesterday I attended the taping of Iannelli's Business Matters Show. He was interviewing former FBI agent Scott Curtis, who had investigated Ed Pawlowski. Last time I saw Iannelli, I was a guest on a panel about the NIZ, arguing with Mike Fleck. Speaking of Mike Fleck, Curtis had some interesting comments about him. He revealed that Fleck was the backbone of the information and case against Pawlowski, and because of that, he felt that Fleck received too long of a sentence. After the interview, he was asked twice if he felt that Fleck was the real mastermind of the shakedowns. Curtis repeatedly made clear that Pawlowski was in charge, and it was him that called the shots. The most revealing aspect of the case that Curtis disclosed was the sluggishness of the prosecution. He had to do a lot of the transcriptions and other work himself, normally done by the prosecutor's office.
For me the saddest question was by someone who identified himself as a member of the city's ethics commission. He wanted to know what could be done to make sure that such corruption never occurs again. Clearly this gentleman doesn't read this blog. I can't imagine the cheery thoughts one must have in their brain to think that city hall is now completely corruption free*.
*By "corruption" I'm not referring to the exchange of money or bribes, but rather a compromise of good ideals. It can be harassment by an inspector, as I have documented recently, or misplaced priorities, as in the park department's neglect of the WPA.
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molovinsky on allentown is produced weekdays, year-round.
Allentown...the voters just re-elected as mayor a man who was one of his yes men. Now they ask what they can do?
ReplyDeleteCongressman Wild certainly escaped prosecution in this case.Her assistant plead guilty to bid rigging .Who was in charge of ethics for the city ?
ReplyDeletewilliam@12:01, although comments only represent the view of the commenter, I must correct misinformation in your comment. The referred to "rigging" occurred BEFORE Wild came on board as solicitor.
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteI disagree.
Wild was selected by Pawlowski to be the City's new Solicitor in late 2014, after the previous solicitor submitted his resignation (to be effective 1/2/2015). She was confirmed by City Council on January 8th 2015. It wasn't until the fourth of July holiday in 2015 that it became public knowledge that the FBI was sniffing around City Hall.
To believe that Wild had no knowledge of what was going on when she was offered the job strains credibility and would make her the most incompetent lawyer in history.
Pawlowski didn't choose as solicitor because of her ethics or to weed out his own corruption. She was chosen to keep things going.
Whether it was because she cooperated after the FBI's investigation became public, or because news of the FBI's investigation short-circuited the prosecution of the cases that occurred during the time period that she was officially in office, she was lucky to escape charges.
In addition, she was well-connected to the corrupt Pawlowski political machine well before that time, even using Mike Fleck as her campaign manager/donation launderer during her 2013 campaign for county commissioner.
All that history apparently made her the perfect choice to be the city's representative in Congress.
unknown@4:58, before answering the sherman insinuation of 12:01, I researched the issue. Wild was determined not to have any involvement by both the first prosecutor and the FBI. My purpose is not to endorse Wild, but to not host insinuations which have been discounted by law enforcement. such further insinuations will be deleted.
ReplyDeleteRay Nemeth, I will not host unsubstantiated accusations. BTW, I could not access the article with the address you provided. Links for blogger comments much contain the html code for links.
ReplyDeleteI will repost the original article in the next week, if you find fault with it please let me know.
ReplyDeleteAre you saying the previous City Solicitor was responsible
ReplyDeleteCurtis made it clear that he wanted to cast the widest net possible, and indeed there were at least 10 indictments. An assistant DA who was on board before Wild was appointed was implicated and plead guilty. I assume that he acted in a rogue capacity, or Snyder would have also been indicted. You may consider Wild "stained" by her later association with Pawlowski, but she was deemed not complicit by both the investigator and prosecutor. Insinuations to the contrary are only political, and I don't host those kinds of smears.
ReplyDelete