Nov 14, 2011

Public Arena Meetings


In the words of Councilperson Jeanette Eichenwald, the upcoming public meetings about the arena project are "too little, too late." They will be workshop type meetings, where citizens can sit down with "the very people who are planning and building the arena." If the timing of the meetings, after all the decisions have been made, isn't insulting enough, you get to pay for them. They are being conducted by a public relations firm, hired by the city to blow smoke up ...... Not everyone sees this affront they way I do; Councilman Michael Donovan is "pleased the administration has hired someone to help it do a better job with public relation." Let me translate; Donovan hopes that after the meetings the public will find the project "transformational", as both he and the mayor do. I see at least two obstacles to Donovan's departing legacy; The first is that these meetings will be sparsely attended, except by city workers ordered to attend by their supervisors, after the administrations reads this. Secondly, apparently reporters Lash and Assad of The Morning Call, also found the cart ahead of the horse, in their article about the meetings. In the final disrespect inflicted upon the merchants and their customers of Hamilton Street, demolition and construction will begin during the traditional shopping season. Merry Christmas in downtown Allentown.

19 comments:

  1. Eichenwald hit the nail on the head.

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  2. The scam and fleecing continue.
    Pulpudski and his ilk are proceeding to suck this city and its residents dry.

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  3. anon 3:25, although i will not be invited to pawlowski's home for the holidays, in the future, i will not accept comments that bastardize his (or anybody's) name spelling.

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  4. What the city can't support its own arena? How much is this costing taxpayers?

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  5. Michael M, IF city wants to sell the aena project, why not a booth for the Authority that is overseeing the arena for the Mayor to explain to the ALlentown taxpayers their cost. This seems to be the best kept secret in Allentown, other than if Mayor is running for reelection in two years.

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  6. M.M., You mention the project begins around the Xmas Holidays, was there not a lawsuit filed that might delay the project.

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  7. anon 6:00, i do not know the fee paid to the public relations firm. if the arena fails to pay for itself through sales tax and earned income, real estate taxes can be used in the NIZ district, which would have to be offset by higher tax rates on all of us.

    anon 6:19, i believe that is a nuisance lawsuit, which will be settled, rather than delay the transformation of center city.

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  8. Glad to see bernie on board ofering comment on the arena, maybe you two guys can get answers as to wht Mayor chose A.C.I.D.A. over A.R.A for this project. Did it begin with A.R.A. oppossing Mayor as to taking properties for a taxpayers financed sports arena. Looking forward to you two guys updating the true facts on what happening in the CITY WITHOUT LIMITS.

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  9. Bringing in a private company to conduct and control public hearings is a ploy to disassociate a mayor's office from the fray. Police are
    called and it's not the mayor's fault. Speaking time are controlled and it's not the mayor's fault. Folks are escorted from the room...

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  10. If you want to attend, here are the dates and locations:

    -Tuesday, Nov. 29: Allentown Central Catholic High School Auditorium, 301 N. Fourth St., 6-8 p.m.

    -Wednesday, Nov. 30: Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1533 Hamilton St., (Moulson Room), 6-8 p.m.

    -Thursday, Dec. 1: Dieruff High School (cafeteria), 815 N. Irving St., 6-8 p.m.

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  11. For the life of me I have no idea why Donovan rolled over for the Mayor on this project. He spent several years complaining about decisions being made in back rooms, then participated in this whopper.

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  12. anon 8:32, i do not want to speak for donovan, but i did have some conversations with him about the arena project. i believe he essentially thought it would be a good project for allentown. he indicated to the reporters he would have liked to see some earlier public input; but i don't believe he meant from the get go. city council was briefed on the project much earlier than the public disclosure. however, the only vote they had was in regard to authorizing the city to use eminent domain if necessary. only eichenwald voted against that. donovan is most welcome to place a comment here.

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  13. Exactly what will be the point of these exercises by the expensive out-of-town paid consultants hired by Chairman Pawlowski his Rubber Stamp Council of Apparatchiks, again?

    To sell me on a Palace of Sport I already have been forced to buy?

    CONFUSED CITIZEN
    PEOPLE's DEMOCRATIC CITY OF ALLENTOWN

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  14. I'm with Lou Hershman and that basically is.. will the "Studies" be made available? I've been insisting all along, show me the studies!"

    While it doesn't really matter at this point, those studies should be posted on the city's website by now. With the continued suppression of these, one can't help but to remain dubious.

    Even if representatives (at these open houses) were to verbally describe what's in them and miscommunicate, there's little accountability if they should so. So I will repeat for one last time.. "SHOW ME THE STUDIES".

    I chose not to post regarding these meetings because unless there some sort of written documentation of the studies provided I see little value other then curiosity for going to one of these. Besides when the arenas done I can take a look at what actually ends up being brick and mortar. Then in a year after opening I will either apologize for my doubts or declare an "I told you so".

    In either case the arena is a done deal, so what's the point?
    I've already expressed my numerous frustrations over the lack of public input just like all the rest you. All I can say is, this better work out. Either my apologies to the mayor (if it works) or there's hell to pay by the end of 2013 if it doesn't. It's all his.. he owns it either way it comes out. My main concern at this point is that the taxpayers don't get burnt. Till 2013 I will withhold further judgment.

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  15. Retired ASD teacher.

    I find fault with the Morning Call for enabling a project of this size to be pushed through without adequate scrutiny. Years ago, a local community could rely upon its newspaper to ask all the tough questions and ensure a greater measure of accountability than we see here.

    After the fact, the Morning Call will now make a token effort to challenge some of the assumptions already made secretly. It's a little late.

    I'm afraid, our own Fourth Estate has been in foreclosure for several years.

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  16. Mr. Molovinsky,

    If the Palace of Sport fails to produce the attendance figures as touted publically previously by Chariman Pawlowski ...

    ... do you think the local Government will then require citizens of the People's Democratic City of Allentown to buy hockey tickets ...

    ... much in the same way the Federal Government has passed a law (referred to by some as Obamacare) requiring citizens to buy health insurance?

    VIKTOR TIKHONOV

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  17. The Morning Call should question the project? Are you kidding? My guess is they'll be first in line to 'sponsor' the friggn scoreboard and paint their logo on the ice.

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  18. These meetings remind me of "closing the barn door after the horses escape."

    Despite the fact that comparing this to Coca Cola Park is "Apples to oranges", the downtown boosters choose only to see the success of the IronPigs project. They are assuming that the arean will be successful in drawing fans, year round. The major difference is that Coke Park is a destination and no one realistically expects it to transform an area. The arean id anticipated to create spin off business development including restaurants, hotels and other businesses. It is assumed that people who here to fore avoid Allentown will be compelled to specifically came to the city, and perhaps stay after the event (s).

    Wishful thinking, at nest.


    VOR

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  19. Excuse my spelling. Big fingers, small keyboard.

    VOR

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