Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon— you know the guy who literally makes more money in a minute than 90% of the world —has donated 4million dollars to Allentown. The money is supposed to be used to transform the empty lot at Franklin Park back into a park.
1. A new place for kids to fight after school.
2. New graffiti grounds.
3. New spot for a gang to call home.
4. A good location to meet and sell drugs.
My question is will someone actually watch how the $4 million is spent? Will some be dumped into the general fund? Because Im sure that never happened before.
Are there any strings attached to this money? It is very interesting to see the administration is welcoming this money from a company that has a culture shaped by a long trail of worker complaints, federal investigations, mistreatment of employees leading to a toxic culture , poor working conditions, and a pattern of repeated retaliation.
Yet the administration is rolling out the red carpet for Bezos’s money — no hesitation, no scrutiny, no public conversation about what it means to partner with a company known for these issues.
Does this seem like an organization that matches the messaging of the Tuerk administration? Is it possible that Amazon leadership and the administration have more in common behind the polished and highly crafted persona of the mayor’s office and his cabinet?
It’s a question worth asking, the city residents and employees alike are vocal about feeling unheard, overworked, or overlooked.
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23 comments:
Thanks to the Allentown non-profit Parknership for their diligence in securing this donation from the Amazon/Bezos fund. The real work was not done by the city administration. This is the hard work of Parknership Executive Director Ruffian Tittmann and her staff. Job well done!
I believe this is the payoff for data centers. Follow the money people!!! Isn’t it suspicious that after the city allows data center development, Amazon kicks back $4million??? Look at the other 8 cities, they recently allowed data centers as well in the past year. How “transparent”. This is what modern day pay to play looks like
Im surprised a data center isnt going there. That would be the total icing on the cake. Now as Abe said it will be the new fight area for Allen kids when they get out of school. Build a boxing ring.
have you seen Bezos’ new wife? he’s a tit man too!
Read the comments on WFMZ and Morning Call. The community knows when something isn't right. Tuerk is pushing hard for the approval of the data center on Lehigh St from what I have been told.
Interesting that all 8 cities that received money from Bezos fund were at the conference of mayors where Amazon Web Services (AWS) was also in attendance.and sponsored the events. AWS is the data center/storage arm of Amazon. 🤔
The original Franklin Park Association was formed to demand the city remove basket ball hoops from the paved park behind St Steven's Church at Fulton and Turner. The hoops attracted a bad element of teenagers and young adults who created disturbances at all hours, littered, and engaged in drug use. That was in the nineties. The city removed the hoops, replaced them with a playground for youngsters and relative quiet returned. I took my children there years ago. With that problem solved the Franklin Association eventual dissolved around 2105. Now it appears the city is poised to repeat a mistake of the past by building a park that will serve as a magnet not just for young children and toddlers but teenagers and young adults in this same area. It's my guess in time those who live in the areas will demand this new park be removed or modified for the same reasons. There is no institutional knowledge left in city hall or city government. Those people were carefully weeded out by Afflerbach and Pawlowski.
I will not buy anything off of Amazon even if it cost me 3 times the price. I recalled the articles that were written by the Morning Call back in 2011 with discriptions of the treatment of workers, including keeping workers out in 20 deg. weather during a fire alarm for hours without coats, including a pregnant woman, and not letting them go to their cars to keep warm under threat of termination. Amazon's reason was that someone might be stealing something and they all must be checked out, so...freeze or lose your job. I needed some short term work between jobs so I decided to find out if the horrendous working conditions were true. I quickly found out that workers were treated like shit and the comp;any's time was everything and the worker's time, nothing. I did my time (until laid-off, which they did on the regular so they wouldn't have to give the slaves lawful benefits) and swore never to buy anything off of Amazon. Morals over money, tough choice for some, not so much for others. Just ask Bezoz.
A 1.1-acre park is receiving $4 million? That is absurd. The city can't seem to address the homeless issue, but they can find money for a park no one really cares about?
I am sure the normal vendors are lining up to get their share of the money.
Of course, after the administration hires a new employee to manage the project at $100,000/yr and the mayor and his assistant take 12 conference trips to other cities and countries with parks to get ideas.
Amazon in Upper Macungie Twp has been fully staffed since its inception by hiring struggling non-English speaking immigrants as well as those having English as a second language with many of those folks living a distance away from the Lehigh Valley. Very nice people whom I get to meet at the Fogelsville WaWa.
Tuerk definitely has a job at Amazon after his term is up.
Sherry Binder who is married to Councilman Jeremy Binder is the President of that Association. Just like that park got the monetary award for the Block Grant. Follow the money .
Sherri is not the president of the association. She has nothing to do with the Allentown Parknership
This blog is authored by an individual who has a following of uninformed, reactive posters who make unsubstantiated comment. Monkey see, monkey do. Anyone reading comments on this blog should research the comments.
Also, I think honest Abe has a companion helping him write. Let's call him Handy Andy for Mr. Lincoln's VP. There is a noticeable difference in the grammar, punctuation and structure as well as the orientation. Honest Abe is looking shady.
928 pm it's ai that has been watching and listening tell the TRUTH that's why it calls itself HONEST ABE. They all better get burner phones like the Polanski administration had yet ABE will still be listening.
Abe couldn't score an invite to the RumPus room if he had 2 foot long kielbasas, he's a total dud
I do believe that promise neighborhoods be watch'n Abe all day and night.
Abe clearly has his critics, but if his blog is really as irrelevant and misinformed as some claim, why does it keep pulling you in? Even if it’s only the “few” you mentioned, he still has you reading — and responding. You are the “few”.
ABE do you allow the professor grammar police to insult your intelligence!)$? Than also the gapping toolZ are an insult to all!)$?
It’s so obvious that money is a payoff. Let’s pray the FBI investigates Tjerk and administration.
Scott the church was at Franklin and Turner. It's a shame... when I was a kid (late 1970's-early 1980's) Franklin Street was one of the great summer playground courts in the entire Valley. Semler, Ward, Wolf, Donmoyer, Reitnauer, etc. The Central Catholic kids played, Whitehall kids. All of us played there, and just about every day. It was fantastic. Then as you cited, it was gone. Damn shame.
Anyone employed in Lehigh County Administration more than 15 years is a Retiree Wannabe and hopefully before the FBI steps in.
PS: Are Reilly and Browne still Pa residents? I know hashaan is still hanging in .
Looks like Matt finally went to the dentist to address the missing tooth in the front of his mouth!
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