Nov 30, 2007

Hotel Traylor Press Conference


When you conduct a dog and pony show, there is always the danger you will step in the animal excrement.

Nov 24, 2007

ALLENTOWN ON MY MIND


When Billy Joel sang "Allentown" in 1982, then Mayor Daddona invited the singer to come and see what a vibrant city we still were. He was afraid the negativity of the lyrics would hurt the city. Today there are many people who yearn for the good old days of the early 80's. Likewise, I'm sure there are people in Camden who would be offended by anyone thinking of their city as a metaphor for being distressed. My concern is Allentown's reality. I believe perception, is just an impression, by people, of a place they don't go to anyway.

Nov 22, 2007

Camden On The Lehigh

Last evening when I entered City Council Chambers, as is my custom, I scanned the document table for the agenda and specific ordinances under consideration. There on the table, printed, fastened and disguised as an official document complete with charts, was an attack piece against one of the nay-sayers or reactionaries who challenge the administration. The victim was Robert Romancheck, who served on the zoning board for 12 years, and is a neighborhood leader in the Raub Middle School area. The fabrication stated Romancheck mismanaged Perkasie, resulting in a tax increase. Coincidentally, todays' Morning Call has an article on Perkasie which features that boroughs financial stability. The victim or misinformation to me is irrelevant, the fact that it was on the document table was outrageous. Between the committee meeting and the regular Council Meeting, I approached our elected, appointed and hired officials with this document and my discontent about it. Their reaction, to the man, ranged from amusement to indifference. I contribute this cavalier attitude to the one party sweep this past election. I believe Mayor Pawlowski, although a misguided micro-manager, has integrity and is free from corruption; however, an arrogance has taken over city hall, and we know where that will lead us in the coming years.

Nov 20, 2007

Chinese Execution

In China bureaucrats who under perform are executed, here in the Lehigh Valley they are submitted to me. Yesterday the public was invited to participate in the transportation study by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission; I was the public. Because Lanta is one component of the Valley's transportation, I chose to address my concerns with that organization. After being told I was off topic, since I was the extent of the public, I decided to ignore their request and continued speaking. Although I never have revealed this before, even for the mayoral campaign, I have a degree in communications from Emerson College. I challenge all readers to go the Commissions' site and figure out the proper topic of yesterdays hearing. (they control millions of your tax dollars) Not one member of the board (at least 15 people) said one word to me after I spoke; so much for public participation, the thousands of our money they spent advertising in obscure legal journals, their legal requirement was met.

Nov 18, 2007

Fly In The Soup


If I saw a shrink for my frustration about Allentown, I would have to be in therapy all day. If I took sedatives, I wouldn't be able to stand up, instead I run for office and blog. Pawlowski announced his plan to restore the city on Friday; continuously inspect every inanimate object in Allentown. This professional advise came from a former Philadelphia housing guru, of course a fly in the soup is that Philadelphia is the corruption and murder capital of the world. Allentown's Rental Inspection Law failed to upgrade the city; while you end up legitimizing slumlords with certificates of occupation, you cannot legislate pride of ownership. Many local conscientious owners sold out rather than submit to the bureaucracy, increasing the frequency of inspections will again backfire. Although Pawlowski (and Cunningham) campaigned about their grand plans and communication skills, neither even knew the Allentown School System was going to demand reassessment; It's time for the taxpayers and citizens to reassess who they elected.

UPDATE: The current Rental Inspection Law, started in 1998, calls for an inspection every 5 years. This administration(and Pawlowski was in charge in the last one) has yet to inspect every rental in the city since the program started(over 20,000). The new plan calls for inspection once a year, do the math, we would need more inspectors than we have police officers. How do you spell much bigger city hall and taxes.

Nov 16, 2007

Bureaucrap

In a move of arrogance Lanta announced they will operate a shuttle between their Transportation Center and Hamilton Mall. Hamilton's merchants were adversely affected by the removal of three transfer stations. The bus riders, while waiting for a bus, would patronize the stores, always having the option of conveniently taking the next bus. Will they make a trip from the Transportation Center to the mall and then back to the Center? Although running the shuttle will be an extra expense to Lanta and not help the merchants nearly as much as returning one transfer station, it allows the bureaucrat to appear responsive.

Afterthought: My fellow blogger, Bernie O'Hare, who is more diplomatic than I am, gives Pawlowski and Lanta some credit for finally feeling the merchants pain. It took 9 weeks and simultaneous reports from the Morning Call and WFMZ-TV to stimulate this empathy.

Nov 15, 2007

Ex Recreation Chief No Fun

Today the Morning Call reported that former head of recreation, Tom Smith, is suing Pawlowski over the loss of his job. The reporter states it's not unusual (great Tom Jones song) for top administrators to leave a new government; I disagree, for four top people to leave a city government is very unusual. Three of the four were employed in the 30 year range, through 7 administrations of both parties. Two of the four were the most respected people at city hall. What is unusual is this lawsuit. Most seasoned people adhere to the code of silence, burn no bridges, and take advantage of their contacts to gain employment with another bureaucracy. The apologists for the administration keep referring to dead wood, they ignore the fact that under Afflerbach, Community Development Director Pawlowski praised and promoted these same people.

Nov 10, 2007

BILL NO. 109-2007

An ordinance requiring the city inspection all residential properties sold in Allentown has started winding its way through city council. According to its sponsor, Julio Guridy on behalf of Mayor Pawlowski, its purpose is to protect new residents from deficient properties. I wonder who will protect properties and Allentown from new deficient residents, but I digress. The problem with this proposal is that there is absolutely no need for it and the timing couldn't be worse. The majority of mortgage companies require an inspection, and no less than 19 outfits advertise the service in the yellow pages. Almost all real estate agents recommend the service to buyers. The 83 year old widow who has lived her lifetime in a modest rowhouse with 60 amp. service and original windows will be forced to upgrade for a new owner,( or compensate new owner for upgrades) with no return on that expenditure. Let me clarify that all rental property, or property bought to rent, is already inspected under an existing ordinance. As the real estate market enters a down turn, Allentown finds another nuisance tax(inspection fee $200); never mind that the director of the dept. has not been replaced since his "departure" last spring, and his supervisor has not been replaced since her "departure" this summer.

Nov 6, 2007

Pawlowski Podium Position


Although there has been no news about replacements for Building and Code Enforcement, or Community Development, Pawlowski is expected to announce early next week a position for press conference podium placement. Sources for this blog report probably the position will be filled with someone from Philadelphia.

Battling Lanta


On Tuesday Nov. 13, at 12 noon, bus riders, merchants and citizens will meet at Lanta Headquarters at 1060 Lehigh Street to address the consequences of removing stops off of Hamilton Street. The historic covenant to provide public transportation to our city shopping district has been compromised. Please come and support this congregation of concerned citizens.

Nov 5, 2007

Thoughts on the Election

Michael Schware(R) for Allentown City Controller if you believe counting your change or balancing your checkbook is not an insult to your clerk or bank.

Bob Smith Jr.(R) for Allentown City Council if you believe reading a contract before you sign is not an insult to your contractor.

Dean Browning(R) for County Commissioner if your not positive Don Cunningham can walk on water.

Todd Larmer(D) for Allentown School Board if you believe financial knowledge is helpful for a $220 million bond.