Alan Jennings, former founder and long time head of Community Action of Lehigh Valley, has been actively campaigning to have Ed Pawlowski released early from his prison sentence. On facebook one of Alan's friends writes:
The only thing Ed was guilty of was grandiosity and hubris, thinking an Allentown mayor could become governor? The campaign financing structure whereby you need to hit up millionaires or be a billionaire is also to blame! Politicians need to put their hat out for donations to a ridiculous degree.Of course the above is nonsense. Pawlowski used every city contract as an opportunity to twist arms for campaign contributions. Contracts were not given out based on price or value for the city, but rather donations to Pawlowski. That is the corruption for which he is serving time.
Jennings marginalizes that reality in his campaign for Pawlowski. Jennings himself made a career of twisting arms to get funding for the sacred cow he operated.
One person who knew Pawlowski well was Michael Adams, former long term tenant at the Log & Stone house in Lehigh Parkway. When Adams injected some truthful reality into Jennings' facebook post, Jennings resorted to an ad hominem attack.
Apparently, Mike, you have crawled out of the dark hole into which you were heading when I stopped talking to you. Regarding Ed, you don’t know as much as you think you do about my role. And I’m not going to waste anymore time on you because you have chosen to  take pot shots at those trying to make a difference rather than contribute as you once did. Go back into your hole.The problem with the Jennings and Pawlowskis of the world is that they're holier than thou, especially with other people's money.
Can someone name one contract he awarded where he told the beneficiary he required a campaign donation in exchange? In all the articles I read, I seemed to have missed this.
ReplyDeleteI think Michael Adams suffered Pawlowski's most visible vindictive attack. The Log & Stone House was beautiful from the roadway and Adams poured hours and hundreds and hundreds of dollars into the beautiful gardens that he maintained there. The local public and visiting public commented on how beautiful the place was. When Pawlowski was through with Adams he brought in the big equipment and actually bulldozed the gardens taking them back to barren bare earth, and today it still looks like crap. This was a great example of what can happen when you openly criticize the mayor. I used to donate to one of the charities under the Community Action of Lehigh Valley umbrella organization and it was a good one that I felt confident about supporting the work that they do. Then I found that I could not donate directly to the charity directly- the cancelled check was deposited to Community Action. It was explained to me that donations would now go to CA and from there it might reach the charity. I don't agree with this and as a result stopped donating as I don't agree with other groups that are part of the CA fiefdom. Too many 501c3's in the Lehigh Valley --too many administrators, too little support reaching those in need in spite of the "dashboard" approach that CA promotes their achievements. Jennings and Pawlowski are two of a kind. Careers built on other people's money.
ReplyDeleteUnless something has changed since I left the agency, this anonymous individual didn’t understand how his donation was treated. First, though, I want to thank you for the contributions you made. I can absolutely guarantee you without the qualification that donations went to the part of the agency the donor intended. If you don’t want to believe me for whatever agenda you have, contact any of our auditors over the years and they will tell you we were as clean as it gets.
Deleteanon@9:12: Even Jennings doesn't claim that Pawlowski was innocent, only that his sentence was extensive.
ReplyDeleteanon@9:13: We have become a poor city with many having their hands out. Jennings and Pawlowski,, as dispensers of give outs, are folk heroes. Criticism of this reality is limited to a citizen journalist such as myself, actually in this case, just myself.
I’m not suggesting he is innocent. I would just like to know one concrete example of where the former mayor agreed to award a city contract in exchange for a campaign contribution?
Deleteanon@5:49: with another bite at the same apple, you're clearly trying to cast doubt about his guilt. A lawyer was also convicted of bribery for Pawlowski steering a city legal contract to his firm. Although Pawlowski was convicted on 47 counts, there were other contracts that the FBI didn't even pursue, such as the Cedar Beach Swimming Pool. Instead of trolling here, why don't you request a transcript of the trial?
DeletePerhaps Alans true aim is to restore his own badly tarnished image as a big pal of the man who destroyed Rental Inspections.His silence facilitated the spread of blight, dangerous illegal units, and a marked deterioration of the downtown. In this callous act he showed his true colors. Not the man who selflessly worked to lift the poor, but rather a self promoter, whose main motivation was self aggrandizement. Alan needs Ed redemption to achieve his own. As neither really will admit their sins they reveal their own corrupt nature. Hence, remain unworthy of forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteI don’t know if “Anonymous” is your first or last name, so I’ll just call you “Coward.” Out of respect,
DeleteI will make it “Mr. Coward.”
Mr. Coward, you’re a liar. I publicly criticized the weakening of the apartment inspection program on my radio show with Ed as my guest. I also did so in regular public speaking engagements. If you didn’t happen to hear me do that it doesn’t mean I didn’t do it. I have called you out on this many times. I am left with no other way to respond, except to call you the liar that you are.
"The only thing Ed was guilty of was grandiosity and hubris, thinking an Allentown mayor could become governor?"
ReplyDeleteThis is nonsense and a pathetic attempt to minimize Pawlowski's crimes. Former Governor Tom Ridge was mayor of Erie, a city just 3/4 the size of Allentown. He didn't need to lie and cheat and steal to become governor. Pawlowski knew no other way to behave. Dishonest guys are like that. He still hasn't accepted an ounce of responsibility. He should serve every last second of his sentence.
Tom Ridge was never mayor of Erie.
DeleteMr Molovinsky with those wishing the mayor free in there short sited self servance. There are still questions of what exactly this man jennings still does for his baby. I had thought he was in charge of Allentown redevelopment authority. How exactly does a unfit building get government or reillyville grants?
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mr jennings could explain that on your blog.
I am not in charge of anything, including the city’s redevelopment authority. I am simply one of five members of the board of directors, serving at the will of the mayor. The redevelopment authority, does not issue grants. It exists on grants like other entities that serve the public.
DeleteGrandiosity and hubris are character flaws that may well apply to the criminal,Ed Pawlowski but cruel ,ruthless and mean-sprited are iniquities that describe his treatment of Michael Adams.
ReplyDeleteIt is not my purpose here to further discuss his brutal treatment of Mr.Adams as that is a transgression for which he will have to answer to a higher authority.
Alan Jennings has no idea of who Mike Adams is or what he stands for.Who would ever give credence to his plea for clemency for an unrepentant felon when he himself has the temerity to defame a victim of the disgraced former mayor ?
While I appreciate your comments being made in your name, I am not going to comment further on Mr. Adams personal issues
DeletePawlowski is serving a sentence based upon his deeds committed knowingly. He manipulated the system-one that clearly needs correction-however, the truth is that he maintains his innocence. Based on that, he has learned nothing. A whole trial outlined his misdeeds for him to see in plain sight and he still contends that he’s innocent. Hubris and arrogant-absolutely; manipulative bully-absolutely; misguided and overly ambitious-absolutely; innocent-no. The only crime in this situation not rectified is that Fleck got off with no jail time. I admire Jennings empathy but disagree that the sentence should be shortened or commuted for no compelling reason.
ReplyDeleteJennings needs to re-retire and remain there. He is past his prime for a variety of reasons. His humble life dream to end poverty was simply the smoke and mirrors to his financial schemes. Let Ed continue his ministry in prison. We will all be better off.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed past my prime. As the world knows, I have Parkinson’s. I knew better than anyone that the $30 million organization I built needed an Executive Director who could run on all pistons. And so I stepped down, unlike many who hang on long past their prime.
DeleteBut I’ll be damned if I’m going to stay silent when our world is in such danger, partly because of the lies told by right-wing media outlets like Fox News and the liars who comment anonymously on blogs like this one.
Alan, glad you saw the post and was able to reply. As someone who managed numerous buildings for many years without ever even a complaint or much less a code violation, I was upset when Pawlowski told the Morning Call that I was a "slumlord" when I opposed some measure he favored. He repeated that slander several years later at a city council meeting. He apparently exhibited better character in your presence. As for his guilt, it would be rather astonishing for an "innocent" person to be convicted on 47 counts. Lastly, concerning a "blog like this one," although I do host anonymous comments, I do not publish those comments which seem to lack credibility.
DeleteI agree, Mike.
DeleteFor years, I have weathered attacks in the local blogs, mostly from people who lacked the courage to give their names. I guess it is an occupational hazard if you have the nerve to try to get people to do something for their neighbors. What is really frustrating is that so many of these cowards just make shit up. They have no idea how clean I was and am, how much I sacrificed, how much my family sacrificed or how much I did for other nonprofits.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of my friend, Ed Pawlowski, I am not going to get into the personal relationship; it would be unfair to Ed.
I have no idea whether Ed was guilty or not. I want to believe that he was not, but as I have said many times, dozens of Pennsylvania politicians have gotten themselves in trouble for comparable or even higher crimes and served less time. If there is one thing that has driven me in my life, it is fairness. Maybe it was because I read those Charlie Brown comic strip book. Maybe it was because I was listening in Church. Or maybe it was because my mom taught me the golden rule, but I am obsessed by the desire to bring some fairness to our world. And no matter what you think of Ed, with each new day he wakes up in confinement, it is unfair. I have found very few people who don’t agree with me on that point.