Recently, I took Mayor Tuerk to task for his junket to Madrid, Spain. Since then, he went on one to Los Angelos, and now is in Tangier, Morocco*. Although he posted on Facebook about the Front Street fire, and mentioned how exhausted the firefighters were, residents just assumed that he was on the scene...They assumed wrong.
With the mayor being limited to two terms, he has started his lame duckness almost immediately after being elected. I don't know how to say that he's screwing the voters in Spanish, but they appreciate that he can.
I don't know what, if any recourse the voters and city council have against this early pattern of abuse, but I hope that they assert themselves.
*UCLG World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders: Held in Tangier from June 23–26. This event is gathering local and regional government leaders to discuss sustainable development, education, and international urban management.
He probably sees himself as a rising star of the Democrat Party.
ReplyDeleteHe already put in half his career at LVEDC. That’s a popular place for former mayors to park for a few years. Maybe he can return?
ReplyDeleteIf LVEDC was smart they wouldn’t take Matt back!
DeleteHe was demoted while there-they aren’t taking him back
Delete“I don't know what, if any recourse the voters and city council have against this early pattern of abuse, but I hope that they assert themselves.”
ReplyDeleteCity Council could shut this down in a minute. All they have to do is amend the amount in the current budget for the Mayor’s travel to ZERO. Then follow suit in the upcoming and subsequent budgets. Problem solved.
Will they do it?
Of course not!
Half of council have aspirations to be Mayor (or other higher office) and get those same perks for themselves in the future. The remainder have all been backed by the Mayor and their allegiance is to him, not the people of Allentown.
Residents need to change their voting habits, or accept being screwed, in every language on earth.
It’s not quite that simple. Truth is, very few qualified people are interested in the job. It pays less than 100k and there really isn’t much opportunity for advancement or to grow your income. People, naturally, need to look out for their family first.
DeleteAbove IS the ‘bottom line’ answer! The City of Allentown is in a death spiral and no one in position to do anything about it is willing to stand up. Residents need to either move out or continue to enjoy the stink in silence.
DeleteI think there is something to be said about the comment regarding the low pay and political advancement as Mayor of Allentown. This is why we have a criminal, and old man, and a communist serving as the last three mayors. Allentown isn’t an attractive place to serve as mayor and this is exactly why we get lower percentile people willing to serve as mayor.
DeleteIt's not just his FB page that mislead. The Morning Call article about the fire this morning quoted him as if the "reporter" had directly spoken with him. Not a word of where he actually was. The media continue to see their role as gate-keeping, and don't appear to be aware that people can get information elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteMayor Lamedickness is overseas fiddling while his town is burning down. Very Nero-ic !
ReplyDeleteI can’t believe that Allentown could send a more appropriate ambassador to the N.Africa Arab Berber world than our very own Mayor Tuerk. Besides Tangiers has always attracted hipsters and it’s only a few miles across the Straits of Gibraltar to Spain.
ReplyDeleteThis is a win/win people.
anon@9:55: Although I printed your comment, generally comments using a nickname for someone will not appear.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:50 - Just a few years ago, we had a millionaire businessman run for Mayor who likely could have solved the city’s problems in one term.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the political insiders circled the wagons and made sure that the businessman lost.
The problem isn’t the Mayor’s salary, it’s that the voter’s continue to elect the worst possible candidates in Allentown.
Can the next Mamdani be far behind? Northeast cities are ruled by the 'takers', not the 'makers.'
ReplyDeleteA very large segment of Allentown’s population is made up of people who are recipients of many different kinds of government assistance. They have settled into an OK life without having to actually get a real job.
DeleteWhen you allow your cities to become a magnet for welfare takers to this majority level, that voting block wants to keep everything just the way it is and not risk anyone new coming in with requirements that will lead to greater responsibility on the individual who gains without contributing.
The Democrat Party has made itself into the party of FREE STUFF all across this nation and it’s still growing. Average, hardworking taxpayers, and others who actually own property, and traditional retirees, are having their bones picked away to support the laziness of other Allentown citizens.
Reversing Allentown’s decline will take a generation of better parenting and policing to make that place a more desirable place to live for responsible, respectable people. Avoid Allentown is the best advice. Oh, yes. Stop voting Democrat no matter where you live.
Allentown won’t hit bottom in the lifetime of anyone reading this thread.
ReplyDeleteSuppose it depends on how one defines the word bottom.
DeleteUse the ASD as the metric.
DeleteThe City had a two week period of seeking applicants for the Interim City Controller position that became vacant due to the passing of Jeff Glazier. On the Council agenda for July 1 is to appoint the Interim Controller. Apparently there are only two people listed, both of them totally unqualified for the position.
ReplyDeleteToo bad they weren't discussing adopting Data Center provisions BEFORE a developer submits plans for one. This is where the City always lags behind the suburbs. While Tuerk is touring the World and taxpayers pay his $20,000 to $30,000 membership fee to US Council of Mayors, the suburban municipalities are busy at work delivering essential services at lower tax rates.
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