Oct 30, 2007

Shopping on Hamilton Street


When I was born, my parents lived on 17th Street near Queen City Airport. The streets in our neighborhood — Liberator, Coronado and Catalina — were named for some of the World War II planes built there at the Vultee factory. I vaguely remember taking the trolley over the 8th St. bridge for our saturday shopping trips on Hamilton St; I clearly remember taking the bus. The transit station was on south 8th Street, 75 feet from Hamilton. I can't imagine what Max Hess and John Leh would have said had Lanta moved the terminal and customers to 6th and Linden Street, but then again who cares now about a few Asian merchants.

Oct 29, 2007

Queen City Daily

The Queen City Daily, the Morning Call's reporter blog(which is more like a weekly) today asks the city council candidates three questions; one of which is their opinion on the Lanta changes. Three candidates supported the merchants, two of which did so before the meeting, as reported earlier on this blog. I would especially like to compliment Jeanette Eichenwald for her unequivocal statement. I appreciate the fact that she and Michael Donovan are willing to go against the Mayor's position on this issue.(Bob Smith is the third supporter, while Peter Schweyer and Dave Bausch defend Lanta.) The survey was conducted by Paul Muschick. Below is a second email between myself and Michael Donovan which I have not previously released;



Yes, I would favor restoration of some stops...I would strongly favor is more like it! Please stress that I also feel that light sequence is important, also.

On the gentrification issue, I just don't know enough to comment. I wasn't in the meetings to hear opinions. However, I will stand by my comment that I do not think that all relevant parties were involved in the decision. As will be my battle cry for the next four years ... who are the appropriate parties that should be at the table for any public decision.

Best regards, and thanks again.

Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: MMolovinsky@aol.com
To: Michael@DonovanforAllentown.org
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: meeting on lanta

Michael,
thanks for your reply. as you may know there are those who feel political considerations involving gentrification of hamilton street were behind lanta decisions. would you care to comment on that topic, and would it be fair to summarize, "yes" that you would favor the restoration of at least some stops on hamilton st.

Oct 27, 2007

Panderlvania


As the Associated Press prepares to reveal Rendell's generosity at taxpayer expense, players of this billion and half dollar sham gathered at the local shrine of grants, the Allentown Brew Pub; there the Secretary of Economic Development "radiated confidence" and said by every measure Pennsylvania is doing well. The truth is the only growth industry in Pennsylvania is poverty and the only thing we produce is votes; Hershey Chocolate moving most of their production to Mexico says it all. As our elected officials build toll booths on what were free roads and investigate new casino owners after the fact, the middle class is burped for their few remaining dollars.

Oct 24, 2007

All Candidates want more Police


If Mayor Pawlowski paid attention to the debate between Allentown City Council Candidates this week, there was only one nail which stood up. Only one candidate questioned the unnecessary bond refinancing; Robert Smith, Jr.. Bob Smith, current School Board member, has also been the taxpayers best friend in that capacity; he single-handedly prevented a tax increase in the past. The mayor has enough rubber stamps, a vote for Bob Smith will help make the administration more accountable. The cityscape is by Mark Beyer.

Oct 20, 2007

Silence of the Lanta


Hannibal Lecter has been offered parole on the condition he restrict his diet to Hamilton Street bus riders. Once a month he will be permitted an Asian merchant; on thanksgiving he may have a preselected blogger. Mr. Lector will be micro-chipped and given a new Hamilton Street loft apartment. He will be monitored by the new surveillance cameras. Mayor Pawlowski and Armand Greco will provide more details at a press conference early next week at the new Lanta Terminal.

Oct 19, 2007

Silent on Lanta

As the organizer of the forum at Faith Baptist Church on Lanta, I would like to make some speculations on what was not said at the meeting. First and foremost, the meeting was not covered by The Morning Call. I sent the press release to two reporters,plus the local editor. I'd like to note the "Paper" is a "partner" in the new Lanta Terminal. It was built on land they sold to the Parking Authority and they receive free parking at the new deck; Their publisher attended the dedication with the three amigo's.(scroll down to earlier posting). All four democratic candidates for county commissioner were no shows, although one of the candidates, Kevin Easterling, expressed solidarity over the phone; but Kevin was recently hired by Ed Pawlowski as our new Recreation Director. My attempts to connect with Lehigh Carbon Community College in regard to the effect on their students at the Hamilton Street annex were unanswered. I would like to thank all the candidates who did attend, Ellen Millard-Kern from Senator Browne's office and Bernie O'Hare for his detailed report on http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/

UPDATE: As a result of a inquiry by Ellen Kern, I did finally receive a call from a dean at the Community College. They approve of the bus stop being removed from in front of their facility because it has "reduced the litter". I inquired about the inconvenience for their students who now must walk to the Lanta terminal; they have received "no complaints". As one who tried to contact a dean myself and received no replies, I must question whether that comment has much value. As winter weather approaches, common sense would indicate a bus stop moved from in front of the building to two blocks away, is not student friendly.

Oct 18, 2007

Faith Baptist Church

This evening I had the honor to hold our Lanta Victim's Meeting at Faith Baptist Church on north 12th street. It's a small, plain but dignified sanctuary. Many of the candidates attended, below are comments from two who could not make the meeting.


from Michael Donovan, City Council Candidate;
In my early career, I gained knowledge of public transportation as a result of studies and exposure to professionals in the field. I am not an expert, but I have some experience with these issues.

While I do not have all the information that went into the Hamilton Street decision, I am extremely disappointed that bus routes were taken off the city's major urban street without adequate consideration of the various populations that would be affected. I applaud the creation of an indoor/covered switching center, but do not believe that also warranted wholesale changes in routes and/or stops. Two things come to mind if the major consideration was that congestion, indeed, was one of the problems to be solved: Change the sequence and timing of the lights. The design is not consistent with sound traffic flow. Only a few seconds are allowed for cars to pass west to east. I do not propose allowing high speeds along Hamilton -- just the ability to let traffic flow smoothly, say at 20-25 miles per hour. Second, spreading the stops a bit wider along Hamilton would help a bit, too. Walking one block on the same street is far different than many blocks.

In brief, my sense of the decision is that LANTA did not involve enough people to make a holistic, sensible decisions that provided for a new central location while maintaining excellent service along critical routes. I believe that if you bring the appropriate people to the table where ideas and concerns are expressed honestly and without censorship, we will create sound, productive decisions for the community. This has been true in other public challenges of this type where I have been involved. When the appropriate parties are not involved, we have disappointment, lack of trust, and a loss of community."

Michael Donovan

From Robert Smith Jr. City Council Candidate;

DEAR MERCHANTS, I am shocked of the poor planning by the Lanta board AND THE TOTAL DISREGARD FOR MERCHANTS,SENIOR CITIZENS,AND Students that use Lanta transportation. Despite what the mayor says that this is not a city issue,any time a transportation change,and elimination of bus stops that affect Allentown businesses,Allentown residents, this is a city issue .I ROBERT E SMITH JR. A CANDIDATE FOR Allentown city council, and current elected school board member demand these bus stops be restored,and city council should have a member on Lanta board,because current members are out of touch with the people of Allentown or just do not care about the merchants on Hamilton street or people that are poor and are middle class. We as a nation must conserve our oil supplies,we tell people not to drive,take buses when you can,and this city lets Lanta eliminate bus stops.We need leadership that represents all the people not just politicians and wealthy elitists who want to keep those people off Hamilton street. I THANK THE MERCHANTS FOR STICKING IT OUT DOWNTOWN,AND THANK you mike for organizing this event .I am at a school board meeting tonight and sorry I could not be here .I WILL HELP ANY WAY I CAN, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Robert e. smith Jr.

Oct 16, 2007

Irony at the BrewPub


Tomorrow as the merchants in the 700 block of Hamilton Street struggle for another day under the new handicap inflicted upon them, the movers and shakers of the Lehigh Valley will gather at the Brewpub to honor Alan Jennings and The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. Air Products and Chemicals is sponsoring the luncheon, which will include testimonials on the wide spectrum of CACLV, including The Community Action Development Corp. of Allentown, 443 N 7th St., which endeavors to assist start-up business from low-income and minority populations. I invite Mr. Jennings and the Air Product executives to attend a meeting at 7:00pm thursday evening at Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12th St., to honor small business owners, from mostly an minority population, who want or need nothing more than a bus stop.

Oct 11, 2007

Abuse of Corpse

In a defiant, unnecessary act of aggression, Lanta and/or The City of Allentown has removed the covered bus stops just off of Hamilton St., on both north and south 8th St. I'm proud to say almost every independent merchant on the 700 block has the signs posted announcing the meeting Oct.18th. They plan to close the stores early and attend en masse. Obviously the accelerated removal of the small canopies was a statement. I now consider the board of Lanta unfit and will address that shortcoming in the future.
UPDATE:" LANTA might be able to shift some routes to the Eighth and Ninth streets stops,(Armando) Greco said, but that possibility was about as good as it got for disgruntled merchants"-Morning Call, Oct.3
apparently if any stop is returned, as punishment the riders will have to stand in the weather, as opposed to sit under cover.

Oct 8, 2007

Former All American City Now Ghost Town


Today at 2:00pm I was virtually the only person on the sidewalk in the 700 block of Hamilton Street. The once teeming bus stop in front of the Community College is now stripped of its benches, a sign directs passengers to The Lanta Terminal at 6th and Linden. It occurs to me that in spite of the new security camera's, because of the emptiness, Hamilton Street will soon become a very dangerous place for both the merchants and their few customers. On friday our officials and the suburbanites will mingle on the 800 block for the bi-annual Dancing in the Street, admire a few new mostly empty buildings, and return to suburbia oblivious to the plight of the merchants.

Oct 7, 2007

Allentown Celebrates


Allentown's latest Dancing in the Street, Octoberfeast, will have multi-cultural attractions. There will be genuine rickshaw rides, pulled by former Asian merchants who were forced out of business by the City Department of Gentrification. After this weeks party for the Brewpub, the rickshaws will operate on a regular basis between Hamilton Street and our new Lanta Transportation Center.

Oct 6, 2007

Lanta Victims Meeting


Refusing to be quiet sheep led to slaughter, MACC, merchants and citizen coalition, announce their first meeting in opposition to the recent Lanta bus stop changes, which has caused severe hardship to both merchants and passengers. All candidates for city and county office will be invited to attend, and/or submit a position on the Lanta consequences to Hamilton Street. All citizens who empathize with the merchants or passengers are encouraged to attend. There are parallel efforts also being made on the merchants behalf, and I am solely responsible for the choice of words used in this announcement. The meeting will be held at Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12 St.(between Turner and Chew Sts.) at 7:00pm on thursday Oct. 18.

Oct 3, 2007

It's Not Cheap to be Poor in Allentown

Although the shopping district in Allentown has shrunk down to only Hamilton and 7th Streets, the meter district remains as it did during the heydays of the 1950's. The meters extend from Walnut to Chew, from 5th to 10th, well over 1000 meters in 20 sq. blocks. Parking meters extend out to 10th and Chew Sts, three full blocks beyond the closest store. These meters are a defacto penalty for the residents, mostly tenants. In essence, it is a back door tax on Allentown's poorest citizens. The apologists claim the tenants can purchase a resident meter pass, however their friends and visitors cannot. To add insult to injury, in 2005, to help finance a new parking deck for the arts district, the Parking Authority doubled the meter rate and fines. Testimony to City Council permitting the rate increase indicated it was favored by the merchants. At that time I documented to the Council that in fact the merchants were not informed, much less in favor. The vote was 5 to 2, with Hershman and Hoover dissenting. An article in today's Morning Call states the buses will not return to Hamilton Street because of congestion; there is no congestion. Pawlowski states the bus stops are not a city issue, that is simply a pathetic excuse. On September 18, I commented on Peter Schweyers blog that the merchants are being hurt by the new Lanta Terminal, he did not respond; he is unfit as a candidate for city council.

UPDATE: It should be noted that the article in the Morning Call stating the bus stops on Hamilton St. are gone for good was assigned to and written by their transportation writer, as opposed to Paul Muschick, the city beat reporter. This is the Morning Call's way of saying that Pawlowski's position=Morning Call's position=Pawlowski position.

UPDATE: In the Morning Call article Mr. Schweyer states business has improved in the 100 block of 7th St. because of the new terminal. There is only 1 store in that block, one half block away and on the other side, on the far corner of Turner st. That block is the worst in Allentown, 95% vacant. Apparently, Pawlowski and his chosen council candidate, both feel the merchants and public do not even deserve honest answers.

CORRECTION: In the barren landscape of the 100 block I overlooked three businesses. Near the Freedom Grocery Store, which I refer to in the previous update, there is also another small market, Mercadito's Mex. Neither merchant reports an increase, but they hope the new terminal helps them. On the terminal side there is a small hardware store, dressed up, probably from a facade grant(could we see another press conference there soon?) Lastly, and most important, I forget the 7-11. The owner believes he might be selling more coffee in the morning, perhaps his business has improved "1%". I didn't have the heart to tell him about the upcoming subsidized Dunkin Donuts.