The Successful Revisionism of Edwin Pawlowski

Last night, City Council took the only option that they and Mayor Ed Pawlowski had to counter bad governance by his predecessor, Roy Afflerbach, so says The Morning Call. Since Ed has been mayor, the paper is on no less than it's sixth reporter, none of which were from the area. This morning, the Call's readers find this; The lease plan is the boldest step taken in Pawlowski's effort to stop Allentown's financial hemorrhaging as a result of several generous pensions for city police and firefighters. Under contracts negotiated under former Mayor Roy Afflerbach.... After taking office, Pawlowski renegotiated contracts with both departments, but the damage was done. Pawlowski did not renegotiate the contracts. They expired, and the new ones negotiated under his watch are supposedly less generous, time will tell. In 2005, Pawlowski the candidate for mayor, had a power point presentation about the future costs of the police pension. He said that if elected, he would make adjustments to meet that cost his number one job. He never said that he would wait 8 years, then propose leasing Allentown's primary asset for 50 years. Last night's lease approval is because of Pawlowski's failure to fulfill his first campaign pledge, and having an actual plan beyond a power point presentation. Eight years and six reporters later, he gets away with this revisionism, but for this post, by a blogger who sat on the podium with him in 2005.

Tonight's Water Vote In Allentown

Earlier this week, Julio Guridy said I'm not sure how I'm going to vote on the water lease. That quote brought a smile to my usually dour face, I'm sure how he's going to vote. Julio should be forgiven for that incredible utterance, it's not easy presiding over civil unrest. I know that, because often I was on the other side of the dais, leading the torches and pitchforks. The circus, called Allentown City Council, never really judges the dog and pony shows on their merit, and in real time. Those decisions are made before hand, by a higher pay grade. Although the fat lady sings tonight, one council member may be allowed to join Eichenwald, and vote against the lease. 6 to 1, or 5 to 2, it won't matter, but could help Ray O'Connell in the primary, after a recent disclosure.

photocredit:The Morning Call

Callahan's Official Blogger

The Callahan Campaign For Northampton Executive has designated Bernie O'Hare as it's official blogger. Callahan told me this afternoon that He's everywhere I go, it's a little unsettling. . The hope is that with the official status, O'Hare will limit himself to campaign events. Callahan's wife and family hope to regain some of their privacy. O'Hare has published 73 posts on Callahan since the campaign began, including 67 photographs of the candidate.

You Sell The Milk, Not The Cow

I attended part of this meeting, held ironically on Earth Day, but left feeling depressed because I could see which way the wind was blowing.. Drinking water is as important as the air we breathe and Allentown is rushing to hand over its best asset to a known violator of DEP standards... As of now, I think they are set to vote 6-1 in favor on Thursday night with only one day to read the report they commissioned! I respect anyone who runs for office and serves the public, however, 3 of our 7 councilpersons were appointed, not elected.... However, this is not just about numbers. It is also about service, control of clean and adequate drinking water, sewage and water main maintenance and repairs, the loss of many good city workers, union bumping, etc. etc.. And lookout- if we get a huge snowstorm- be prepared to wait a much longer time for a snow plow to come down your street because there will be many fewer plow operators. I spent 18 years as a manager for the City of Allentown and I can say that there was no better managed or sophisticated operation than our Water and Sewer departments. I believe that City Council should understand what they are voting on and that there are cheaper and more effective ways to solve Allentown's budget woes. If you lived here in Allentown around 1998-2002 when our trash contractor violated our contract, almost on a daily basis, by not picking up the trash, etc., you might imagine what a nightmare it might be if our water sources become contaminated or diminish or the private companies want to take more of our drinking water to sell or decide to divert the best drinking water elsewhere and leave Allentown drinking Lehigh River water.....As one of our best former Councilman said- 'You sell the milk-NOT the cow'. This deal may look good on paper for 10-20 years but after that, God only knows... With global climate change drinking water is going to be more valuable than oil in some places. Please Ask them to slow down the process, and truly consider the alternatives. I think each councilperson should be asked to explain WHAT IS THE RUSH and WHY THIS DEAL IS THE BEST SOLUTION. And maybe it is. I don't really know but I would rather not break something that is not broken to solve the city budget problems. ... OK I need to get off the soapbox now...
Betsy Morris Levin 

The above comment, which I  condensed, was written by Betsy Morris Levin,  and appeared on an article by Randy Kraft on the WFMZ website.

Slaughter Of The Innocents

Much of the dogma, liturgy and shrines of the Coptic Church deal with the Holy Family's stay in Egypt, when they fled the Slaughter of the Innocents. With of the fall of various despots in the middle east, the iron fists which protected religious minorities are no longer there. Particularly affected, are the ancient Coptic Christians of Egypt. Saint Mena Coptic Orthodox Church dates back to the 6th century, and was rebuilt in 725 AD. It was put to the torch by a mob on Saturday, while the army stood by.
reprinted from May, 2011

UPDATE: There is a saying in the Middle East,  First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people. Close to a million Jews were driven out of Arab lands after 1948. Last week they came for the American people, in the Boston Marathon Massacre. Although it was at least the fourth attack in United States, the politically correct media still asked why?

An Honest Broker

An honest broker should give impartial analysis on a given subject. In the reality of the consulting world, sometimes that information is massaged to justify a wanted conclusion. Last night, Allentown City Council was told by The Pennsylvania Economy League that a new Allentown water authority would cost the ratepayers more than the Lehigh County Authority, which won the bid for the city's system. The League was hired by City Council to assist and justify their upcoming vote. They claim that a new Allentown Authority wouldn't be tax free, because it would be formed to pay for the police pension. They claim that other factors would also cause an Allentown Authority to have higher costs than the LCA. I do know that where there is a will, there is a way. The pension shortfall does not occur until 2015. A non-profit Authority could be currently formed with no connection to the police pension. Only two weeks ago Allentown found a way to accept the LCA bid, even though their charter was not extended for the full term of the lease. Allentonians of memory remember when The Allentown Parking Authority was formed, to assume costs associated with new parking decks. Dan Poresky, a water lease opponent, feels that even if more cost did occur, it would be worth it for the citizens of Allentown to retain ownership of their water system.