Aug 31, 2010

Northampton and Lehigh County Threaten T-Mobile






Steve Barron and Michael D'Amore, identifying themselves as public officials from Northampton and Lehigh County, threaten a T-Mobile executive. Mr. Stoffa and Cunningham, is Barron authorized to use his position in this way? I know that Michael D'Amore exceeded his authority.


As a taxpayer, I appreciate T-Mobile choosing to locate here, providing employment and paying taxes. The unionization of their employee's should be an internal matter between management and workers. It is totally inappropriate for D'Amore to use his city title in such a manner. Barron, in my opinion, should be replaced as controller.

Did Barron speak up for the union workers at Gracedale?

UPDATE: It took less than two hours for the first utube to be removed (this is another edition) It ends with Steve Barron, after being refused entry, giving the T-Mobile security guard a message for T-Mobiles's Vice President visiting the Allentown center
"Please remind him that if he needs anything from Lehigh County, we're going to remember this day."

This post is based on the current post by LVCI, which still has a working version of the utube as of 1:30 pm

The King has Abdicated


In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you can not sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the hot dog king. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.

reprinted from Aug. 28, 2007 and Sept. 1, 2009

Aug 30, 2010

Flight To NoWhere


If you want a good laugh, go to the Lehigh Valley International Airport and watch the expression on the first time Continental passengers as they are loaded on a bus to Newark; this is after they check in at the flight counter! Today the constantly expanding and remodeling airport has less destinations than ever, about nine, including Philadelphia and Newark. Years ago, the Authority members hired what they mistook as a hot shot, George Doughty, to make the new terminal and airport something to match its new name. The old ABE Airport terminal was built as a WPA project, and like the rest of the valley back then, teemed at its seams. About ten years ago the hotshot talked the Authority members into expanding the departure terminal. Looking for a large under used space for arena football, I think I know a place. Recently, a judge awarded an adjacent landowner many more millions than he ever wanted, for land the airport took for its never needed, never built new runway. Rendell has designated $3.5 million in modernization grants to help the airport keep up with its declining use? Although there are not many places one can fly directly to from the airport, parking fee's are big city. There is a recorded tape loop which keeps reminding the few passengers that unattended cars will be towed for security reasons, i'd prefer water-boarding at Guantanamo.

The postcard depicts the first hanger and terminal, before the former one built by the WPA. The hanger still exists, as does the lettering on it's roof.



Postcard of former terminal built by WPA, added Jan. 16, 2010 for this reprinted version

Reprinted from Feb. 12, 2009. In less than a year, this has become a hot topic for County Executive Cunningham, and Mayor Pawlowski has just been appointed to their Board. I rejected a comment the other day claiming this was a negative blog, and I should look at things in a more positive light. This is a reality based blog, which often points things out before our officials are ready to concede that there is a problem.

Doughty loses job as director

reprinted from Feb. 12, 2009 and Jan. 16,
2010


The airport is once again being remodeled (Aug. 2010)

related post on O'Hare's Ramblings

Boat Landing Threatened


Last fall, about a dozen people toiled on two different occasions to uncover the Boat Landing, which had been buried for about 40 years. Although we didn't excavate the entire construction, a significant portion of that WPA structure was returned to the citizens of Allentown. I'm sad to report that the Park Department is allowing nature to once again overgrow this one of a kind icon. There are several dynamics in play. The Park Department is being pressured by the environmentalists to create a Riparian Buffer, a no mow zone along the creek. That program dovetails with the departments reduced manpower situation very well. As well meaning as that effort may be, it is essential that the Boat Landing and other WPA Constructions be exceptions to that program.

One of the reasons that the Allentown Park System became nationally recognized, was because of the magnificent stone structures built by the WPA during the Depression. These constructions, in addition to being architecturally beautiful, are a historic legacy of this city. We must do what ever is necessary to insure their preservation.

Aug 29, 2010

Growth Industry in Allentown


Yesterday I went to the Social Security Office, across from the prison, to discuss my retirement options. I was given number 199. In addition to retirement, Social Security also dispenses money for disability. I would say from the gray hair, there were
about three of us contemplating retirement, all the others were for disability. A few middle age men were carrying their fake canes. The canes aren't fake, it's the disabilities. I saw one such gentleman walk in from the parking lot, clearly the cane bore no weight, and was merely a prop. Most of the people waiting were quite young, in their twenties. Disability has been expanded to include mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, additive personality and anger management. I will say many of them did look angry to me. It was hard finding a parking space. Business also looked good at the prison. If Johnny Manana's had gotten these crowds....

reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008 and March 2, 2010

Aug 27, 2010

A Disingenuous Angle

One component of Ron Angle's excuse to sell Gracedale Nursing Home was it's declining population. Actually population is the exact reason that it should be retained. According to Rand Corporation;
In recent years, the rate of institutionalization among the elderly has been falling. It is predicted that this trend will reverse itself within the next decade, and that we will see substantial increases in the incidence of institutionalization among the elderly.

All studies and common sense indicate that nursing home populations are about to explode. Although the obvious factor is the aging Baby Boom generation, an increase in childless couples and the increase in life expectancy will also contribute to the demand for care.

One must question why Angle would cite such an erroneous reason. Both he and Stoffa claim repeated offers from the private sector to purchase the facility. Wouldn't they wonder why there is such demand for a declining business?

Now with a comment from Angle's Minister of Propaganda

Aug 26, 2010

Governor Cheesesteak's Growth Industry


Back in 2005, I referred to Lehigh County Prison as our growth industry. Unfortunately, our other cities in eastern Pennsylvania were suffering from the same consequences of the poverty magnet. While Governor Cheesesteak sped around the state giving out hundreds of millions in cardboard checks, Pennsylvania remained the State of choice for the problematic crowd. County Governments were mandated to provide service within twelve seconds of claimed residency, and the buses never stopped coming. Today John Micek, Morning Call Harrisburg reporter, informs us that we will be exporting prisoners because our prisons are overflowing. Once upon a time, we used to export manufactured goods, now it's scumbags. We were paid for the goods, which provided good jobs and made us the All American City. Now, we will pay over $60 a day to house our excess scumbags. Our initial shipment will be 2000 inmates to Michigan and Virginia. Rest assure that those states will speedily return them at the expiration of their terms.

reprinted from Dec. 22, 2009

Aug 21, 2010

Donations Sought


The head of the Old Allentown Preservation Association, Jim Villaume, needs our help. On nights that the Iron Pigs have fireworks, he is forced to rent an out of town hotel room because of the noise. Apparently, gunfire doesn't bother him. The Administration, with City Council urging, has prevailed on the team to cut back the number of displays, even though fireworks are a time honored minor league tradition. Send donations to cover Mr. Villaume's hotel expenses to the Association office. You know that Allentown Fair is really a noise burden on the surrounding neighborhood.........

cityscape by Mark Beyer

Aug 20, 2010

The Legend Begins


On July 4th, 1934 Joe louis made his debut as a professional fighter. Thirteen months and nineteen straight victories later, most by knockout, 62,000 fight fans would jam Yankee Stadium to watch the new sensation fight the giant, Primo Carnera.
New York, New York - Primo Carnera, giant Italian boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world, and Joe Louis, hard-hitting negro heavyweight from Detroit, Michigan, weighed-in this afternoon at the offices of the New York State Boxing Commission for their fifteen round bout tonight at the Yankee Stadium. - 6.25.1939
Although badly battered from the first round, Carnera would gamely stay in the fight till it was stopped in round six. The legend of the Brown Bomber was clearly established.

photo of Primo Carnera

Aug 17, 2010

Starr in Allentown






Brenda Starr is an adventurous newspaper reporter who started her career at the Chicago Tribune, current parent of The Morning Call. The strip was always written by a woman, from it's start in 1940. Rumor has it that Jarrett Renshaw has requested that Brenda be assigned to Allentown, to assist him in his investigation of City Hall.

Brenda was created, illustrated and written by Dale Messick for 43 years.

Aug 14, 2010

The Mayor's Basement

Until now, I have refrained from commenting on the Mayor renovating his basement without a permit. My initial reaction was that Bernie O'Hare crossed the line discussing the Mayor's house, and especially involving his wife. I still feel that way, but now the story has appeared in The Morning Call. Jeff Pooley writes that the mayor should follow the "Good Rules" imposed on everybody else. Richard comments on Pooley's blog that the whole chain of city command should be investigated. It is these reactions, by both Jeff and Richard, to which I now respond.

Richard, are you really surprised that rules are not applied to everyone equally? This inequity is a widespread fact of life; It is the same everywhere, and is certainly not unique to just today's Allentown. Jeff, accepting this fact of life, are you sure that having so many rules is good policy?

I have often written that Allentown has never heard of an ordinance that it doesn't want. It wants to inspect your property when you buy it, if you rent it, if you want to sell it, and next, if it's vacant. I personally don't feel that an investigation of the Mayor's renovation is necessary. I would however, appreciate City Council realizing that we have more than enough ordinances governing private property, and it's time to show our taxpayers some respect.

Aug 13, 2010

Before Musikfest


In 1909, Bethlehem city fathers decided it was time to improve on the Broad Street Trestle Bridge built in 1871. The new concrete arch bridge was a major project, still serving Bethlehem well, 101 years later.

Aug 11, 2010

Internationale de Futbol














Have Blog, Will Travel


In the television series from the late 50's, you could hire a sophisticated gunslinger named Paladin, provided you were on the righteous side of an issue. Here in the valley blogosphere, Bernie O'Hare is the bodyguard of choice. In the last week he has taken John Callahan to task six times to promote Charles Dent, and defended the Stoffa/Angle Gracedale Nursing Home sellout five times. Ramblings sort of sounds like a western.

Aug 9, 2010

The Landed Gentry











One of the popular misconceptions in our granola society is that our open space is threatened. Consequently, in addition to welfare and corporate welfare, we now have landed gentry welfare. We purchase land, at almost market value, and even allow the owner to keep it. Although there is a deed restriction prohibiting development, who can guarantee it will be enforced in future generations? In every case I'm personally familiar with, the owner never had any intention of development; In one instance, the owners were compensated over $1million.

In some cases the owners are working farmers, in many, just gentlemen farmers with country homes. An article in Sunday's Morning Call laments the reduction in the farmland preservation funds. Nothing in the land preservation compensation really guarantees continued farming, that would be somewhere between indentured servitude and slavery. In 2006, Pennsylvania spent $102 million in Growing Greener handouts. Although the program has been cut back in recent years, there is a long list of applicants hoping to get some of this handout. The granola eaters should drive across Pennsylvania. There is a lot of open space even in this heavily populated state, over 8 million farm acres. While we close mental hospitals and sell nursing homes, we pay yuppies playing weekend farmer, development rights on land they never intended on subdividing anyway.

Aug 8, 2010

One more Purse


In August of 1951, thirteen years after energizing the country's morale by knocking out Germany's Max Schmeling, an aging Joe Louis was fighting again to pay back taxes. The Brown Bomber had first retired as undefeated champion in 1949, after winning 61 fights starting in 1934. In two more months, on October 26, 1951, Rocky Marciano would knock him out and threw the robes. It would be the last time Joe Louis would fight.

Photo: fighting Cesar Brion, Louis wins in 10 round decision.

Aug 5, 2010

Saving the Spring Pond


As a small boy growing up in the twin homes above Lehigh Parkway, I would go down the steep wooded ravine and cross the Robin Hood Bridge. The stone lined spring pond and miniature bridge was just the first in a series of wonderful WPA constructions to explore. Last year, when I organized the reclamation of the Boat Landing, my memory turned to the pond. Although overgrown with several inches of sod, I knew the treasure was still savable.

On May 23, Andrew Kleiner conducted a tour of Lehigh Parkway, there I met Mike Gilbert of the Park Department and pitched the idea of a partial restoration. On May 26th, I posted A Modest Proposal, which outlined my hopes for the pond. On July 24, Kleiner posted Lehigh Parkway:Molovinsky gets his wish. I had no idea my modest proposal was implemented.

Park Director Greg Weitzel has indicated to me that the pond features uncovered will be maintained. Any further clearing will be at the discretion of Mike Gilbert. In our conversation he also stated that there are virtually no funds available for the preservation of the WPA icons.







I will attempt to organize a group and contributions for this most worthy cause. Between the Spring Pond and The Boat Landing there was once a bridge to the island. Wouldn't it be nice if a small boy could go exploring.

Aug 3, 2010

The Disgrace of Gracedale

Northampton County Executive Stoffa, and Council President Angle, are advocating that Northampton County exit the nursing home business as soon as possible. They cite the benefit and legacy cost of the employee's as the unaffordable factor, yet claim they will protect both the employee's and patients in any sale or lease; perhaps they will include the tolls from the Brooklyn Bridge with the deal.

Lehigh County isn't far behind Northampton in this dereliction of duty. Donny Cunningham's first act as County Executive in 2006 was to unionize Cedarbrook nursing home.

I've known people who have ended up in the County Nursing Home. It was never something they planned, but they were provided with good care when they needed it the most, but could afford it the least. It is a service that we as residents of these Counties could take pride in.

Both Easton and Allentown plan on fining private property owners for vacant real estate. Both Northampton and Lehigh County have handed out tax incentives, at our expense, to certain favored businesses. Our bureaucrats seem to know how we should run our business, yet cannot maintain the historical institutions with which they were entrusted.

Aug 1, 2010

Grooming and Litter


Years ago in downtown Allentown there were about a dozen barbershops and virtually no litter. Today, with the same population, there are about 60 shops and tons of litter. Apparently there is no longer a correlation between nice appearance and good manners. In the past men would wait their turn. Many of the new shops seemingly have an express system. A doorman with a walkie talkie informs the "barber" who is coming, and the patron can receive his service in less than a minute. Over the years I photographed most of the shops now gone. Although I'm sure many of the new proprietors are hardworking honest people who would not tolerate any criminal behavior, the days of taking my camera into barbershops has passed.

photocredit: molovinsky

Today's Morning Call has a feature story on the barbershops of Allentown; I thought it might be an appropriate time to republish this post from Jan. 7, 2009.