The Press
Watch
By DON P.
HURLEY
Contributing
Editor
HarryHurley.com
An Examination of Bob
Levy's 10-Point Plan For Ethics in Government
First I would
have asked Bob Levy, "Why have you never championed ethical practices in
all of the years that you were a functionary in the Whelan Administration, which
was one of the most unethical administrations in the history of Atlantic City"?
These ethical lapses are evidenced in the millions of dollars in
unnecessary law suits created by the Whelan and Levy
administration.
And, "Why did you begin
your announcement by declaring that you were on a "Vacation Day", and,
"how many such "Vacation Days" have you utilized through the years versus
the one's you plan to "cash-in on for a premium some
day"?
But, now I will get to the
supposed "Bob Levy 10-Point Plan for Ethics in
Government:
1. Creating the city's 1st
Ethics Committee.
Levy served at the side of one
of the most documented and unethical Mayors in Atlantic City history, (Jim
Whelan). Why would anyone believe that, only now, Levy has discovered a
new-found sense of ethics in governmental practices. (Who wrote this speech for
Levy, any way?)
2. Banning all "Pay to
Play".
Why didn't Bob Levy ever
propose banning Jim Whelan's "Paying and Playing" practices? (Because he was
busy playing , too). And, since Levy has made contracts and contributions an
issue in this campaign, will he come clean with who is financing his campaign?
And, will he reveal who is really paying for his television commercials,
where Levy is observed utilizing city property, city
employees and city equipment for his own political
interests?
3. Cutting the city bidding
threshold in half.
Bob Levy never
once objected , to Jim Whelan's no-bid contracts and systematic pattern of
"Change-Orders", which countless times rewarded the supposed "low bidder to
eventually become the highest bidder in reality.
4. Protecting Whistle blowing
Employees.
What did Bob Levy do to protect
former AC Beach Patrol Lt. Gail Mancuso. Lt. Mancuso was awarded hundreds
of thousands of dollars by a Federal Jury, who awarded her damages relating to a
pervasive pattern of sexual harassment upon her, that all occurred under
the leadership of Bob Levy, (who now says he is the one to protect
Whistle blowers?) And, now Levy is posing himself as a "Whistle blower, after
his history with the Whelan Administration and it's well-documented treatment of
city employees. (I thought The Press said you can't sue the city and run
for Mayor of Atlantic City? Isn't that what Bob Levy is doing right
now?)
5. Take away the Pensions of
corrupt City Officials.
Firstly, no municipal entity
has the legal authority to regulate the receipt of Pensions, which are governed
by State and Federal Statutes. Secondly, a Federal Jury determined a
pattern of questionable actions in the administration of the Beach Patrol,
relating to Lt. Mancuso and the systematic harassment upon her. Did Levy accept
any responsibility in the victimization of Mancuso? Is Levy now proposing
to take away his own Pension?
6. Ending Contracts for Outside
Law Firms.
Aren't these many of the
special political interests that are propping up Levy in his "put-up" candidacy
for Mayor in the first place? The career political network in this area, (most
from outside of Atlantic City) are challenging Mayor Langford in this
unseemly power grab, because Langford has already ended the "old-boy" network of
contracts in Atlantic City, and they want Bob Levy to give them
back.
7. Bringing More People to
the Budget Process
When Mayor Langford brought the
most qualified expert in Atlantic City history with regard to the city budget,
Arthur Bunting, to help balance the fiscal crisis created by Jim Whelan and Bob
Levy, Whelan and Levy fired Bunting without good cause. This was in order that
they could continue to their scheme of borrowing and spending. (This would be a
good time to refer to the Mitchell/Titus Review, which documented that the
Langford Administration "inherited" a 25 million dollar financial crisis
of instability from Whelan and Levy). A crisis which Langford has brought to a situation
of complete stability as further evidenced by the Mitchell/Titus Review,
Standard and Poor's, Moody's, the NYC Stock Exchange and any other
financial institution willing to be honest about the remarkable accomplishments
of Mayor Langford and his effective handling of the city budget process.
Just imagine what Langford's administration could have done without the
obstructive tactics of Bob Levy and Craig Callaway?
8. Banning Tax-Payer
Mailings Prior to Elections.
Will Bob Levy promise to never,
ever negotiate any more contracts, such as the horrible "deals"
he made for Cellular Telephone and Emergency Radio Systems, to name a few?
(All which have required scrapping).
9. Requiring All Directors to
Live in Atlantic City.
Does Bob Levy, or anyone else,
really believe that George Penn, Andy Mair, BJ Jones, Warren Steelman, George D.
"Bob" Pugh or many other of the Whelan and Levy Directors ever lived in
Atlantic City? The true facts are indisputable in this matter. Whelan and
Levy always discovered Atlantic City's solutions in San Diego, Camden or
anywhere else other than Atlantic City. One of the proudest accomplishments of
the Langford Administration, is reflected in a full and complete Cabinet of
"home-grown, Atlantic City Talent". Wall Street is one concerned outsider,
however, that agrees with Langford and their obviously proven results in
leadership of the city.
10. Giving Mandatory Ethics
Training to Officials.
What ethical treatment did Bob
Levy exhibit toward his subordinate, Lt. Mancuso? And, after being a
functionary participant in one of the most unethical administrations in
Atlantic City's history, (The 12 Whelan Years pattern of abuse toward
employees), is Bob Levy really the one to be raising the issue of Ethics in
Government?
Respectfully,
Don