Misdirected Director?

The Managing Director has been in the position now for four months. I still cant help but pose the question: What exactly are we getting for $135k/yr? I see even less from the city administration than before his appointment. For that salary we should expect tangible results. All I see is more wasteful spending and tap dancing. The mayor now has even more of an excuse to attend “conferences” out of town now that Frank is running the city. 

Tuerk boasted at the confirmation hearing that the Managing Director was vacant for four years and he wanted to get it right. Still hasn't got it right. He even said for the past four years he considered many candidates and listened to many opinions but through it all Frank Kane was always in the back of his head. Yea okay.  If we had a competent mayor that would actually mean something.

Instead we have a flunky social media influencer for a mayor who is more absent than present. He only shows up when there is a chance for a short video to post of himself on the platforms.  

It is no secret - and so many at Lehigh County will probably easily confirm - that Frank was never around during his time as CED Director at Lehigh County. His poor performance and absence led to the new County Executive to not include him in his new cabinet. He was pushed to a basement in the county offices and hung around doing even less as part of a separation agreement. 

Then his savior, Matt Tuerk felt sorry for him not having a job and offered him his choice of positions in the city. Always know that Matt Tuerk will find new ways to waste taxpayer dollars and take in a poor performer into his administration.  

4 months in and where are any results?  

Audit of Mayor’s travels? Frank handed over a piece of paper with numbers in crayon with no receipts or documentation and it was good enough for council. Give up the numbers!!!  

Homeless Legislation? Let’s face it- NOTHING will ever be done to address the homeless crisis. If it is resolved, what will Lehigh Valley politicians run on and promise to solve? It is a can that will be kicked down the street forever and into the river with the other trash.

Spending? More employee promotions, larger contracts, and wasteful spending is a basic tenet of this administration. Just wait until the budget presentation. Or wait until my budget post. I'll spill the tea on whats to come. 

If there is no tax increase this next year, be sure Patel is cooking the books and misrepresenting the fiscal health of the city with a lot of help. Stormwater tax, new APD station, temp police rental, Fire Station, promotions, DROP, buyback, out of control overtime, new positions, to name a few.

Data Centers? Oh boy they are coming to Allentown.  The confusion that surrounded the Curative Amendment was created and exploited by the administrations legal department. Isn’t it funny that Reading, Hazle Township, Lancaster Township, Doylestown Township and Smithfield Township have all exercises a 180-day pause on data center development through a curative amendment, but Allentown played a deceptive shell game that confused everyone involved—-paving the way for data centers. 

Safer Streets? That is an even bigger joke. The streets have been less safe during these last 4 years and our APD are unable to enforce the city laws. Not because they don’t want to, the mayor will not allow them.  

Frank was hired to “ensure that City departments operate efficiently and that the policies of the Mayor and legislation adopted by City Council are implemented effectively.”  

What are the policies of the mayor? Are the departments working together or against each other? I hear city hall is extremely siloed and mistrust and discord are running rampant. From what I hear Frank has mostly been a charlatan most of his career. Not surprising, he has learned in record time how to put in a minimum effort and keep cashing checks while hobnobbing with the local elites. He and Matt are in a neck and neck competition to see who comes to the office later and who can stay out of city hall more. Although you can always find Frank at one of the Hamilton eateries during business hours for breakfast and lunch with mystery guests that aren’t city employees. I mean, yuck! At least he spends his money in Allentown. Matt spends your money in other states and global destinations.  

How does this mediocrity continue to flourish in Allentown? A lot of blame is correctly placed on the administration and the city directors, however the Council is also to blame. We have had very weak leadership on council for years. Individuals who have not listened to the people of Allentown.  

How many times has Councilwoman Mota sat at council and said she heard the cries of the community but then voted opposite? 

Remember the days of Hendricks shutting down public comments? How about the piss poor current President, Santo Napoli? He may be the worst of all. He is a servant to Matt Tuerk and will ensure Tuerk’s wasteful and misaligned agenda are pushed forward.  

Is Allentown destined go be a community where government mediocrity thrives, accountability is weak, and both the Tuerk administration and Council contribute to ongoing dysfunction? Sadly I feel this our new normal for at least the next 3 years and 5 months.