Move ahead a month, and last week there was a new accusation of racism. A city worker found a noose like object on her desk. Now council president Cynthia Mota is heading an effort to hire a lawyer to investigate the culture at city hall. She states "We remain committed to ensuring this process is free from political entanglements and focused on meaningful change." She also claims that they will save money.
To this blogger, this new hire is actually completely politically entangled. If it wasn't, council would be proceeding with the previous investigation, which was already started. Are we taxpayers to assume that two investigations will cost less than one? Are we to assume that a lawyer will do a better job of investigating than a renowned former FBI agent? Hopefully, Affa and/or Hendricks will realize that the taxpayers are already invested in the Curtis investigation, and that it is the one that should proceed.
Both Affa, a Pawlowski dead ender, and Hendrix, a professional “nice guy” type from waaay back, are prime examples of self serving, posturing, politicians. Both must go out to pasture before Allentown has any chance of moving forward. Having said that they are not the worst of the bunch.
ReplyDeleteIt needs to be said that this escalation in hate should not be a surprise to anyone. The cries of the public to investigate the issues in City Hall have fallen on deaf ears, with the exception of Councilpersons Zucal, Gerlach, and Natalie Santos. Why? Some say that the others along with the Mayor are afraid of what may be uncovered in their own closets. shame on the councils President and Vice President for working overtime to stop the investigation in the first place. Yet today they released a statement to the press that they are committed to an investigation by the end of January? Where was that commitment to the community and employees a month ago when they worked so hard to stop the investigation?
ReplyDeleteanon@7:22: They do not want to resume the previous investigation with retired FBI agent Scott Curtis, but rather a new one, with a lawyer. A lawyer would be bound to confidentiality, and certainly no findings would be revealed before the election.
ReplyDeleteSo basically they want to be able to SAY the support an investigation, as long as nobody knows what is found and it doesn’t hurt anyone politically.
DeleteYup, that sounds like nothing has changed in Allentown City Hall. What a transparent group!
Zucal's push to hire an FBI agent smelled from the get-go, at so many levels. Napoli proposed starting over, with proper procedures, a long time back. Anyone with clear judgement would know there are law firms that specialize with the alleged nuances of racism.
Deleteanon@8:29: The lack of proper procedure excuse is an insult to taxpayers.
DeleteNot following procurement procedures is a theft to taxpayers. Tell me without saying so, that someone who was "invited to apply," (as reported in the news), then selected from a want ad in the newspaper, and who happens to have a newly established firm, and happens to be former fbi who previously developed a criminal case (not an investigation) was "proper." That is what an insult to intelligence is.
Deleteanon@10:36: Before Curtis came to Allentown he was a head at NYC FBI, and well known for his work against the mafia.
DeleteMike, expect the least sensible path the be followed here. It would be funny if it wasn't our own city hall clown show.
ReplyDeleteWasn’t Mota the one who changed her vote and ended up stopping the investigation by former FBI agent Scott Curtis? Isn’t she currently running for Mayor?
ReplyDeleteCould it be that she has been getting some political pushback for stopping the investigation? Wouldn’t starting a separate investigation, this time by a lawyer instead of a retired FBI agent, make it less likely that the noose-leaver would actually be discovered?
I wonder if Mota has a particular lawyer in mind? If so, I wonder if that lawyer is approved by her employer, Promise Neighborhoods?
I realize that’s a lot of questions, but the idea of hiring a different person, a lawyer, for this makes no sense. Since many are now calling for the FBI to investigate, why not hire the ex-FBI agent that’s already started, who is familiar with City Hall, and who knows what the FBI would look for?
Also, I would hope that council would commit to the immediate termination of whoever is responsible for the noose, even if a hoax and if placed for reasons other than racial hatred. Making false claims about race is just as bad as racial intimidation. I would also ask that Council commits to seeking reimbursement for the investigation from whoever left the noose.
I won't speak for the rest of Council but I personally will demand they be terminated and arrested. 100 % restitution be paid full upon conviction.
DeleteI'm so sick of Mota and Napoli. Mota with her "my people and the people are hurting". Napoli, "I'm a businessman and I care about the taxpayers". We the employees in City Hall see right through your B.S. Both of you are phonies! What you did by stopping the real investigation is crap on every city employee who's ever been affected by this administration. You know what you can do with your press release. If I hear Hendricks at Council say one more time, I was a police officer for 100 years I'm gonna throw up. Don't even start me on Affa. SHAME on every single one of you
ReplyDeleteYou literally took my jokes about Hendricks being a cop for 100 years, Napoli and I'm a businessman, Mota, People are struggling and I care about the people. And Affa is just way too old and disgruntled to be up there anymore. YOU FOUR DONT CARE!! Besides Napoli the other three were named in the lawsuit of this innocent black woman. Mota flips her vote to not have Scott Curtis investigate and instead thinks some attorney will do a better job. Your a phony. Tuerk has something on her. Uses her whenever he can. Now black woman are afraid to go to work at City Hall. Then add the corrupt Cops. Roca must go. Guy worked in vice when these cops were there, but yet didn't know anything. Then I hear about this "JuanFund" investigation in other comments. What is that? Some other investigation that Roca has covered up?? I feel sorry for the good cops at APD. Even when they go get their donuts they probably feel people are looking at them like they are scum. Quit hiding the truth. It is all going to come out.
DeleteWhatever does Promise Neighborhoods actually accomplish? Besides identifying so-called racism around every corner, that is.
ReplyDeleteSo tedious, so boring in what is today’s Allentown City population demographic.
Give a look at blogger Bernie Lehigh Valley Ramblings post POV intimating this as a staged event to cripple Tuerk's reelection bid.
ReplyDeleteStaged? What kind of sick F would do something like that? It is disgraceful that people would even allude to this being a setup without concrete evidence. Sit down.
DeleteGod bless Allentown with this cast of characters acting as leadership.
ReplyDeleteGiven his background and experience, it may be time to get Hasshan Batts and the Boyz in the Neighborhood involved in the Goings On at City Hall.
ReplyDeleteNobody has to do anything to sabotage Tuerk’s reelection efforts. He's doing a good enough job of that on his own. I don't understand why this isn't solved if it involves swipe cards. Every single employee and Council have them. Very easy to prove or disprove Bernie OHare's story.
ReplyDeleteThose of us who have been around for awhile will remember another “noose” allegation, this one in the APD along with something described as a small burnt doll.
ReplyDeleteOne Lt. allegedly involved left the department for the ministry.
Of course almost no one with institutional memory remains.
Forward, into the past!
I read Matt-The-Game-Show-Mayor’s statement on the BO’H site. Matt needs a primer in punctuation and some serious assistance with his crisis PR management.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a three ring circus down at City Hall.
Can’t Matt follow someone on the 5th floor to proof read his stuff?
DeleteThere is never anyone on the 5th floor to hand over documents to proofread. The mayors staff all “work” from home under the direction of a Dunkin' Donuts barista.
Delete