WFMZ is running a series of articles on Ed Pawlowski, where he maintains his innocence. He was convicted because the FBI proved over and over that city contracts were given out not on their benefit to the city, but rather the vendor's contributions to Pawlowski.
One of the reasons that Pawlowski was able to get away with his crimes for so long was his ability to play the local media... They were more interested in sound bites and access than investigative journalism.
For a few years this blog provided the only scrutiny that the Pawlowski administration received. Fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare then partnered with me for a few more years, until the FBI arrived.
Most of Pawlowski's political career in Allentown was covered and boosted by one reporter at the Morning Call. When Pawlowski bagman Mike Fleck was arrested, that former reporter was in Fleck's employ, writing copy for Pawlowski's senate campaign.
Pawlowski came from Chicago and was a master of gifting. Small people of possible future use were appointed to boards and commissions. Larger people were given grants or possibly even contracts. This skill enabled him to be elected four times, the last time even after being indicted.
The reporter from WFMZ television spent over eight hours driving to and from to interview Pawlowski, and she couldn't even film or tape him. He and his previous beneficiaries apparently can still cast a good line and hook.
In the second installment of WFMZ's Pawlowski Song, his supporters lament that his sentence was too long, and that it should be commuted. Even blogger O'Hare joins in the mercy plea, originally started by Alan Jennings. Over the years I saw lots of people of no use to Pawlowski abused by him. None of them will be signing that clemency petition.
Pawlowski got what he deserved. The Feds wanted him to name the next person up the chain. I suspect that person was a union official from Philadelphia. He took the sentence rather than playing ball with the Feds. Personally I feel he should have received more time in jail.
ReplyDeletePawlowski was most likely done in by his own party, who was not bothered by the corruption, but by Pawlowski thinking he was more powerful than he really was. He was a good example to other dems, do as you are told and you can do well, get over your head or go against the party and you will be destroyed. We can witness the results of that policy today in the federal government.
ReplyDeleteAlthough not convicted for it I think back how he crushed people through his control over building inspections. This impacted their lives far longer then his sentence will be. Because of him dozens of business were tossed aside for the arena. Not to mention the almost lost Americus and the actual loss of the Colonial theater. Plus the loss to tenants in the former 1st National building at 7th & Hamilton. Although I'd be tempted to go along with reducing his sentence it is for those reasons I cannot accept his early release.
ReplyDeleteAND for one of the biggest reasons why not... he had no remorse for years till his sentence put him in a bind. Yes I do feel empathy for him but I cannot help feel had he not received this long a sentence he might have been sitting right there back in the mayor's office today. History proves Allentown voters tend to not make wise choices.
Not even one year per felony conviction. Of course the Dems want Ed out of jail.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to political matters, The Morning Call is VERY selective of what information it chooses to highlight. Accuracy and truthfulness are generally missing. There some nasty people behind the scenes at that rag. This, from someone who is still a 7 day subscriber. Until the next big price increase coming soon!
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely disgusted by the WFMZ reporting on this.
ReplyDeletePawlowski politicized every department, board and organization in this city for his own political gain, from zoning to neighborhood groups. If you supported him politically, you got what you wanted. If you opposed him, no matter how insignificantly, you felt the full wrath of city government or his goon squad.
Career employees were fired or forced into retirement if they didn't go along with his schemes. Honest business owners and developers were denied opportunities because they refused to play ball. People speaking out at public meetings were ridiculed, often by Pawlowski himself, chilling public participation in city government.
I laugh that those arguing for him to be released who focus on the length of his sentence. He wasn't convicted on just one count of corrupt activities. He was convicted on over 30 counts by my recollection, and I'm certain that the number could have been higher if the FBI had chosen anything other than the most egregious examples of his corruption or looked at instances in his earlier terms. Like others posting here, I believe he got off too lightly.
He never admitted his wrongdoing, even after it was clearly proven in court, and continues to deny it to this day. He has no remorse, and I'm certain that whenever he is released he plans to rebuild his network of lackeys and insert himself into city politics again.
Instead of puff pieces on his delusional quest for early release, WFMZ should do a series on the real crimes that Pawlowski committed. I can assure you that in many ways little has changed in City Hall since Pawlowski went to prison, as the many employees who he put in place to further his schemes still remain in their jobs.
Shame on WFMZ and shame on Jaccii Farris for promoting Pawlowski's cause. I thought they were better than this. I was wrong.
Well said. Ed destroyed the city, he was a selfish, vindictive, con man. Those who support his early release are being conned again. Keep their gullibility in mind when they choose to speak again on any subject.
DeleteBy the way, Jackie has always been a D first and a reporter second.
DeleteWhile I can't help feeling bad for him and his family for getting such a long sentence, I did appreciate the comments in the article made by the prosecutors. This sentencing ought to serve as notice to other crooked public servants. Think of the hundreds of honest hard working local employees who value their employer and refuse to accept so much as a pen or paper clip. I can recall stories about Pawlowski scoring free comp meals at Johnny Mananas and getting his basement Man Cave built by a contractor getting City bids (no doubt for free) without permits. I have to believe his greed and arrogance got the better of him. I still think he should have plead guilty on day 1 and ran a full page ad in his beloved Morning Call (I'm sure they would have comped him a free ad) apologizing for his conduct. He might have been out in 24 months.
ReplyDeleteHis wrath was felt by many citizens just for speaking the truth. WFMZ as well as the morning rag are just more paid employees of Allentown's farce being sold as a positive when fact remains the negatives are exponentially the calculation citizens have felt for years.
ReplyDeleteEd only had to say the word, and the local press would obediently personly impugn any and all of his critics. They are as guilty as Ed in the destruction of Allentown,and they are guilty still of continuing the same behavior.
DeleteIn her attempt to support him in the article, Candida actually provided a prime factor of why he’s still, and should be, locked up. Her comment that had he plead guilty he would have only received a third of the sentence, actually does more harm to his cause than good. In actuality he should have been offered some leniency had he shown accountability rather than make the Feds run a whole trial. But that’s not him. Don’t forget he actually used the line “I wasn’t exactly telling the truth”‘during his trial. Does that sound like he took any accountability? He attempted to carefully craft a positive spin to explain how he lied. He accepted no responsibility and therefore deserves no leniency.
ReplyDelete