If the witnesses who haven't pleaded guilty seem to hem and haw about what expectations they had for their contributions or services to Pawlowski, understand that they do not want to openly admit that they participated in a pay to play scheme. Although they may be offered immunity from prosecution, they still have their careers to consider. Some may be attorneys, and others may even have their own political plans. Their objective is to get into and out of the federal courthouse with as little damage to their own reputation as possible. If their evasive answers result in Pawlowski being acquitted, in their mind that's better than sacrificing their own future.
A problem for Allentown going forward is the people who supported him this last November. Although most of them are not policy makers, some have their own ambitions for elected office. Imagine the ethics they would bring to the table?
photocredit: The Morning Call
You mean like almost everyone serving in city government including Ray O'Connell? These people have at minimum acquiesced to Ed's corruption and by doing so failed to live up to their oversight responsibilities.
ReplyDeletethat said, I expect nothing to change when Ed is removed, he was only part of the problem.
The place is crawling with the sort of people you describe.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, few people rise to Chicago Eddy's level of actual criminality, but certainly folks like Tom Muller and Sue Wild share Eddy's, shall we say, *casual* attitude toward playing by the rules. Like him too, they also seem to have no concept whatsoever that they are cashing pay checks paid for by tax dollars from taxpayers.
It's time we remind them...
While Tom Muller seemed to be a straight shooter as the finance director(I believe that was his position) of Lehigh County he certainly folded effortlessly into the corrupt mess that is the Lehigh County Democratic Party and now has become part of Ed's cabinet. People may judge others by the company they keep. With so many people of dubious integrity populating nearly every appointed and elected position of city hall one could question why anyone with honest intentions would care to keep such company.
ReplyDeletejeffery and scott, while your comments are always welcome, both your comments have a back channel motivation.
ReplyDeletemuller was Lehigh county executive, and did a good job by my reckoning. his appointment as city managing director is an attempt at redemption by pawlowski, who is beyond that act. i'm sure that muller will be taking no questionable directions from pawlowski, and i'd bet that pawlowski at this point in time will be issuing none.
I very respectfully but very strongly disagree, Mike.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Muller, he clearly and unquestionably destroyed a public document for his personal benefit, did not produce it for an RTK request as required by law, and did not own up to his actions until a second RTK request had it retrieved from County archives and he was caught red-handed.
The guy does not respect the law and he does not respect taxpayers. There is no motivation for my commenting on that other than, given his underhanded behavior while in a position of public trust, I don't want to see him in another position of authority-- and I think many voters/taxpayers to whom I've spoken quite rightly feel the same way.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteWhat are my "back channel motivations"? What cause or person am I subjecting my commentary to at the expense of my own? Love to know. I have always fought for good government in the city and for reforms I felt were in Allentown's best interests.
George,
ReplyDeleteNot exactly sure what your criticism of Mike is but he has always called a spade a spade and was a Pawlowski critic, for good reason, from the start. He perhaps believes my strong dislike of Allentown's Democratic leaders stems from my affiliation with the Republican Party. We can disagree on that politely and with vigor. Won't be the first time. But understand this, he is one of the good guys.
By appointing Tom Mueller to the Managing Director and Dan McCarthy to the City Solicitor positions, Pawlowski is trying to show he is still in charge of the city. Neither man is part of the city government yet! They have to be approved by City Council and that is not a slam dunk as was proven during Ray O'Connell's time as Council President. If he still was, this confirmation hearing would not even take place. But "Do Nothing" MacLean is now Council President, with "Pawlowski loyalist" Candida Affa, and "Jenn Mann stooge", Courtney Robinson on council. Pawlowski supported MacLean for the Council President position. There should not even be a confirmation hearing at this time with the trial occurring. Any confirmation hearing should be delayed until the trial is over.
ReplyDeleteTom Mueller choses not to run for LC exec because he will be moving to Florida in a year. He is not a city resident as the position was amended to require. Coincidentally is the time he has to move into the city to maintain the Managing Director position. This is Pawlowski helping a friend. Tom Mueller and Candida Affa were also part of Pawlowski's PAC that saw them elected to their positions. Tom Mueller's campaign strategist was the same as Pawlowski, non other than Mike Fleck.
A year ago, Candida Affa and Roger MacLean were part of a unanimous vote calling for Pawlowski's resignation. It seems like that was a "smoke screen" concealing their true loyalties. It is known that these three are ready to nominate another Pawlowski loyalist to be Mayor when Pawlowski is convicted- Charlie Thiel. He also was part of the Pawlowski PAC that got him elected to the Allentown School Board. Who ran the that PAC- Mike Fleck!
This is the swamp of Allentown government!
If this truly is the way they do things in politics, I'm hopeful that the FBI is just beginning to expose the corruption in the Lehigh Valley. Not just the politicians but all of the others that choose to "work" with these politicians. It is these politicians that have control of millions of dollars of taxpayer money and these same politicians also seem control who gets this taxpayer money in the form of "projects" and "contracts".
ReplyDeletegeorge schaller, please do not comment on this blog.
ReplyDelete