Oct 31, 2012

Storm Disrupts Mission

Mission Molovinsky, to shine a bright light on the dark corners of our city government, has been adjusted to compensate for a disruption in the power source. Although new posts will not appear until the reactor is repaired, our reporters continue to gather the news. Stay tuned, we will return to warp speed.

Oct 29, 2012

An Exclusive Bombshell

molovinsky on allentown has learned that the Pawlowski Administration is trying to put obstacles and roadblocks in the way of the Water Lease Referendum group. Julio Guridy requested an opinion from City Solicitor Jerry Snyder, concerning who can collect signatures for the referendum. In what is a convoluted stretch of the City Charter, Snyder concludes that all petition circulators must be pre-registered  at City Hall, with City Clerk Mike Hanlon, just like the Committee members of the referendum. In reality, there was a precedent, the Rental Inspection Referendum of 1999. As documented in the previous post, over 80 circulators were involved in that previous petition, without pre-certification by Hanlon. It appears as if citizen rights under the charter are being repressed.

Allentown's Referendum History

Dan Poresky announces referendum
In 1998, the Neighborhood Community Groups, under the leadership of Tom Burke, organized the first referendum under the new City Charter of 1996. The ballot question asked the voters in the following 1999 May primary if they supported a rental licensing law, rejected that previous fall by City Council. This coming May, voters for the second time in our charter history may be asked a question. The new referendum effort is being headed by citizen activist Dan Poresky, and is designed to stop Pawlowski's effort to privatize the water system. As reported in The Morning Call on November 26, 1998.
The petitions were collected by more than 80 volunteers beginning in earnest at Allentown polling stations on Election Day. Burke said 10 or 15 of the volunteers still have not turned in their petition forms, so the actual number of signatures collected might be even greater than the 2,700 names turned over to City Clerk Michael C. Hanlon.
While Burke and the neighborhood groups were organizing to put the issue directly to the voters, property managers were also organizing against the licensing law, and conducted a large meeting, with over 150 landlords.
Among those who received an invitation and attended the meeting was Edward Pawlowski, executive director of the Alliance for Building Communities, a nonprofit organization that works to return apartment buildings to single-family, owner-occupied homes. "The thing that impressed me most was how many people turned out," said Pawlowski. "It was a packed house."
In 1998, Tom Burke said that he wasn't heading a special interest group with money, and that they had to speak directly to the voters.  Likewise, in 2012,  Dan Poresky is facing the well financed private water industry,  and wants  the homeowners to decide the fate of their water system.

photocredit:Colin McEvoy/The Express Times

This blogger was part of the landlord group opposed to the rental inspection law in 1998

Oct 28, 2012

Guridy's Selective Memory

Julio Guridy is the only sitting member of City Council who actually voted for the police pension plan, which is now supposedly crippling the city. He now is advocating for the mayor's 50 year water lease plan. Before starting their referendum petition drive, Dan Poresky, founder of Dan's Camera City, and other members of the citizen committee, offered to work with council and find alternatives to the lease plan. That offer is still on the table.  Guridy rejected their help, because residents of the city would not have as much inside knowledge about the city's financial problems as members of council do. He told Colin McEvoy of the Easton Express Times; "Throwing this issue out to the public would be a big mistake..That's why we're here. We know the ins and the outs. We're more aware of the issues because we're working on it every day." Needless to say, the taxpayers would be much better off with Poresky's business acumen, than Guridy's political considerations. Pawlowski, and his wannabe, Guridy, are working against the referendum, claiming representative democracy knows best. I suppose that depends on who your representatives are. Clearly, some members of this council are not up to a decision that affects rate payers for fifty years.  Looking back at the police pension, I'll take Poresky and the referendum any day.

Oct 26, 2012

A Citizen Mission

Yesterday, the citizen group opposed to the privatization of Allentown's water held a press conference at City Hall. There is excellent coverage of the event by reporter Emily Opilo in today's Morning Call. The organizers of this effort are a diverse, impressive group, mostly former supporters of the Mayor's initiatives. They include Dan Poresky from the Mayor's Environmental Advisory Committee and Bill Hoffman, former city controller. Also involved are Richard Fegley from the Brew Works, and the Hunsicker family, icons of southside little league baseball. Below is a condensed version of their statement.

  The public will be asked whether or not the city must come to the voters before it can sell or lease any property or asset worth ten million or more dollars. The mayor's analysis is clearly designed to favor privatization. The mayor is disingenuous in his claims that the only option other than privatizing the water is to have a crippling tax increase. The mayor has said repeatedly that he would prefer not to privatize Allentown's water and sewer operations. But, he says there are no other viable options. Working from the information included in the Mayor's presentations plus our own research, it can be shown that the pension obligation can be met without privatizing our water or having major tax increases. We have petitioned council to give us a chance to work with them and the administration to find the best solution and we were rejected. Our referendum for a ballot question in May doesn't mean we have don't want to work with council now. Our request and our offer to help is still on the table.

Fighting City Hall and putting a referendum on the ballot requires a lot of work. Show above is one of many meetings they will hold to accomplish their mission. They are looking for volunteers to collect signatures on election day. If you support their effort and want to help, call Dan Poresky at 610 434-1396, or other members through their website.

Oct 25, 2012

Planet Pawlowski

The front page of yesterday's Morning Call featured a story about how the residents of the Pennrose Senior Housing were coping with the constant noise of the arena construction. The Pennrose highrise sits on 7th Street, adjoining the bank being demolished, and directly across from the arena. The construction projects are scheduled to continue through 2014. The Pennrose building is income restricted housing for senior citizens. Interviewed were Romaine Smith, 69, and Carmen Hernandez, who is 71. Also interviewed was Mayor Pawlowski, whose quote about the inconvenience and noise subtitled the article.
"It's a small price to pay for the new neighborhood they are going to have."
I could write something cute, like I'm not sure how many hockey games Romaine and Carmen will attend, but there's nothing cute about Pawlowski's disconnected answer. What the senior residents of Pennrose lost was their neighborhood and quality of life. Around the corner, among the buildings demolished, was a small grocery store, a pizza parlor, a Family Dollar store, and a pharmacy. Across Hamilton Street, and now closed, was a bargain Chinese restaurant. The senior residents, in the sixty three fixed income Pennrose apartments, have no use for the sports bar or high end bistro's replacing those stores,  which served the necessities of their lives. The Morning Call gave Pawlowski a pass on his insensitivity to these people's reality, I do not.

photocredit: Harry Fisher/The Morning Call/October 24,2012

Oct 24, 2012

Ballot Referendum News Conference

The ballot referendum committee will be holding a news conference tomorrow afternoon. Although molovinsky on allentown has received an advanced copy, I will leave reporting of this most important event to our local MSM. Tomorrow evening, at 7:00PM, the committee will be holding a public meeting on the second floor of the Brew Works. Come learn the plans to keep this most important asset in procession of the citizens. Volunteers are needed to gather signatures on election day. Pictured above is the water works in 1901, referred to at that time as Crystal Spring.

Regular or Premium

I would like to apologize for some staff problems at molovinsky on allentown. Yesterday, our aging photographer bulked at the demolition dust downtown, and only snapped a few pictures. Last night, one of our senior reporters misplaced his notes. Since this blog is published at 4:30 am, it's not possible to check sources before press time. This incomplete report has to do with the quality of water. Allentown water currently is comprised from both spring and creek sources. When demand requires that the supply be supplemented by more creek water, more chemicals, specifically chlorine, is necessary. A private water company will be allowed to increase selling water to the bottling companies in Macungie. They in turn will demand the premium spring water; Allentonians will get the regular grade, from the Little Lehigh; Except during heavy rains, when because of sewer runoff, the Lehigh River will be used. Bon Appetit.

Those who prefer to keep getting the premium grade through their Allentown faucets might want to attend the Citizen's Water Meeting tomorrow evening, October 25, on the second floor of the Allentown Brew Works. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm.

Oct 23, 2012

Zooming In On Allentown's Past

Today, I assigned our aging staff photographer to document the demolition of the 1st. National Bank building. He only took two photographs, complaining that there was no water spray to control the dust. For a building supposedly encumbered with asbestos, one would think that the pedestrians of Allentown deserved better treatment, but of course the upscale people has yet to arrive. Regular readers have been hearing about Lehigh Structural Steel on this blog. If you click on and enlarge this lower closeup, you can clearly see Lehigh
Structural Steel Allentown stenciled on this main beam. Imagine a time when an Allentown centered bank used steel beams made in Allentown for it's headquarters in center square. We will be lucky if the beams used in the new building are made in the U.S.A.
UPDATE: A Morning Call video shows water being sprayed during the demolition. The spray person may have been on lunch break yesterday when I visited the site.

The Debate Performance

As a supporter of Mitt Romney, I'm pleased with my candidate this morning after last night's debate. I listened to the post event pundits declare Obama the evening's winner; And a fine recital it was. Although the Fact Checkers will argue if Obama's Middle East visit in 09 was an Apology Tour, he never did reach Israel. Has the perception of the United States improved in the last four years? This past weekend Egyptian President Morsi attended services in Cairo, where the cleric prayed that the Jews and their supporters are destroyed. When the words of both candidates last evening are analyzed, separated from the performance, charm and oratory tone, there's a different result. As a country, vision and leadership will serve us better than acting and public speaking.

Oct 22, 2012

Allentown's New Public Housing

The announcement was for two hundred upscale apartments at 7th and Linden Streets in Allentown. If ever there were two phrases that don't go together, it is upscale and 7th and Linden. The apartments are to attract new residents into downtown, not the existing demographic. The existing demographic would be presumedly priced out, at $1,200 monthly rent. It wasn't that many years ago that The Morning Call prohibited property managers from using words such as luxury and executive in their advertising. We were told then that such adjectives were exclusionary, and promoted discrimination. Reilly, now tells us "This is the next piece in transforming downtown Allentown into a place where people really can live, work and play." I suppose that those who currently live, work and play there aren't really people, at least not the upscale kind. I'm not an opponent of gentrification, or what the young urbanists call mixed income neighborhoods. I know that Reilly could rent two of these units immediately. I know that over the course of a year that he could rent twenty such units, but two hundred? Until this Neighborhood Improvement Zone(NIZ) was created for Allentown's transformation, public housing was  taxpayers subsidizing the tenant, it's now taxpayers subsidizing the landlord.

Oct 19, 2012

Soft Spots and Easy Marks

My mother was a tough cookie. My grandparents came over from Eastern Europe when she was little, and my grandfather worked at Bethlehem Steel, until a boiler blew up. Although he survived the explosion, he was badly injured, didn't speak much English, and it was the Depression to boot. Both my mother's parents died young, during the 1940's. My mother did have a few soft spots, one of them being that card sent every year by Father Flanagan. You wouldn't want to get in her way when she was headed to the mailbox with her contribution. I suppose the scandal broke in the late 1950's. Apparently,  my mother wasn't the only one with a soft spot for the boy carrying his brother. Turns out Father Flanagan received so many envelopes he couldn't even open them all. He had rooms full of money. Last year, the Allentown Rescue Mission had revenues of $3.5 million dollars. Their Father Flanagan, Gary Millspaugh, is searching for a COO, chief operating officer, to hire. Alan Jennings announced yesterday that Lehigh Valley Community Action will expand their operations into the Slate Belt. Soliciting to our soft spots has become big business.

UPDATE:The Rescue Mission has the city contract to sweep the sidewalk on Hamilton street, and refers to it as their work program. Yesterday, they announced that they would be discontinuing their drug addiction program. So in total, they seem to being doing less with more, and being subsidized by Allentown taxpayers to boot.

Oct 18, 2012

Pawlowski's Water Sham

Yesterday, Mayor Pawlowski gave a press conference in which he said that water rate increases would be capped to inflation, plus a moderate factor. Other pass alongs, which would increase fees, are any capital projects which exceed $2 million dollars. Practically any on going work will exceed $2 million dollars. The current project to replace water meters, which are only ten years old, cost $8,612,681.00. The current project to reline the water main under Union Terrace, and up Reading Road, cost almost half a million dollars a block. Currently, such system maintenance is financed by a state agency through loans amortized over 20 years. Under Pawlowski's five thousand page plan, homeowners will be paying up front as a private company deals with our aging water infrastructure.
UPDATE:Currently, Allentown utilizes all it's departments on a water main leak; Engineering, water, and street. A private company will bill the taxpayers for every private contractor involved in the same repair, and have an incentive to make every job contribute to the threshold necessary to pass the cost along to rate payers. For a City creative enough to form the NIZ to Transform Allentown, they should be able to meet the pension obligation without selling an asset operated by the city since before 1900.

The Engines Of Allentown

Fifty years ago Allentown was home to heavy industry, which required private engines to push material and finished product around their plants. Shown above is the engine at Structural Steel, located under the Tilghman Street Bridge. The Mack 5C plant, located at Lehigh and S. 12th Streets, had it's own engine. Traylor Engineering, on S. 10th Street, also had an engine. Although the private engines of Allentown are gone, a train whistle still blows, as Norfolk Southern rolls through South Allentown, on the old main line.

photograph from the Mark Rabenold Collection

Oct 17, 2012

A Revisionist Debate

Last night Obama said that he had called the attack terrorism in the rose garden, and the moderator backed him up; The same moderator who allowed him about four minutes more of talk time. Obama's use of the word that day was with a small t, in the most general sense of the word. The murder of anyone, much less four Americans, is terror. The Administration, Susan Rice, and Hilary Clinton in the next week all clarified that the attack was not organized by a Terror Cell, but resulted from spontaneous outrage, sparked by the YouTube video. Since then, that explanation has been discredited. We now know that indeed it was a Terrorist Group. For Candy Crowley to have backed up Obama on that revisionist claim was not only weak moderating, but biased to a fault. Worse, after the debate, she seemed to take pride in being part of the terror distortion.

Oct 16, 2012

Differing With Alan Jennings

A chance encounter several days ago allowed Alan Jennings and myself some face time. Not unlike others I happen to disagree with, he felt any issues I had with his programs could only be based on a lack of information on my part. Although I'm far too polite to tell him that perhaps some of his programs have defects, I did convey that my opinions are based on a long, strong institutional memory of events, places and people. It pains me now, just a few days later, to have to take him to task once again. Worse, he is in the midst of celebrating his annual report with the politically correct movers and shakers. I have been described as dangerous, because I am neither PC, ambitious or nice; But, back to The Morning Call article and Alan's words about National Penn moving to Reillyville.
Early this morning, National Penn Bancshares CEO Scott Fainor announced that the company will move its headquarters to downtown Allentown in 2014. The bank will bring hundreds of employees to the city, occupying several floors in City Center Two. The building will be constructed on the northeast corner of Seventh and Hamilton streets where a building once occupied by First National Bank of Allentown is being demolished The Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley has long worked with the region’s banks to ensure the Lehigh Valley’s lower-income families and their neighborhoods gain access to credit, which is the intent of the Community Reinvestment Act passed by the United States Congress in 1977. According to Alan Jennings, Executive Director of CACLV, CRA is one of the most effective tools for creating economic opportunity in the country. Jennings issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Fainor. “This morning’s announcement by National Penn Bankshares CEO Scott Fainor may be the most important “community reinvestment act” in decades. The decision represents another big victory for the Neighborhood Improvement Zone. The bank’s action shouts out its bullishness on Allentown and the region. In an era when too many people are cynical about the motives behind others decisions, this decision is clearly one in which the bank sees an opportunity to gain a big return on its investment, building its deposit base and expanding its lending. In other words, the bank sees an opportunity to make money. Nothing could be better for Allentown and the region: it will create jobs where they are most needed, strengthen the livelihood of downtown businesses, create wealth that will spill over to the neighborhood, and improve access to credit. The best community development program is called “profit” and we hope that lots of other investors join the effort. “We congratulate the bank for yet another bold investment in downtown Allentown. We thank NIZ pioneer Senator Pat Browne for his creativity, both the senator and Representative Jennifer Mann for their legislative success, Mayor Ed Pawlowski for his perseverance and focus on the city’s needs and City Center principles J.B. Reilly and Joe Topper for their ability to effectively capitalize on an opportunity, even when it means swimming upstream.” Jennings serves on the Board of Directors of the Allentown Neighborhood Investment Zone Development Authority. He stressed that he was not representing ANIZDA in making this statement.
Although it is a positive thing that National Penn is moving into the Reilly and Topper Building, it in no way constitutes an investment in Allentown. On the contrary, the taxpayers are investing in the mortgage and providing a vehicle for the bank to have reduced rent. Jennings fails to acknowledge that the tax money would be utilized by Pennsylvania for reasons other than Reilly's mortgage, such as the CHIP, children's health insurance program. I also fail to see how this building or it's tenants improves the lives of lower income families, or increases their access to credit. J.B.Reilly and Joe Topper did not have to swim upstream; It was more like a shark attack that nobody knew was coming. Alan doesn't mention that Scott Fainor and National Penn loaned J.B. Reilly $20million dollars to buy up Allentown property, before anybody else even knew that NIZ loans would be available for private owners. It was loaned before any criterion were established, and before the NIZ board was even appointed. I agree with Jennings that as long as the Arena Complex and associated buildings are being built, I wish them successful occupancy. But, lets not imagine that the neighborhood poor are going to be invited into National Penn headquarters for a makeover. Lets not blow smoke.

Clinton Falls On The Sword

Although Hilary Clinton has fallen on the sword about responsibility for the deaths in Libya, everybody knows where the buck really stops. Her announcement, one day before the debate, almost looks like a parlor trick from a novelty store. Obama was quick enough to take the credit for  assisting the uprising that toppled Gaddafi. He was quick enough to take  credit for organizing the NATO Coalition air offensive in Libya. I believe that the timing of Hilary's announcement will not be lost on the American public. Although comment moderation remains in place, I have removed the word verification process for this post.

News From The Parkway

With the departure of former park director Greg Weitzel, responsibility for repairing the WPA entrance wall into Lehigh Parkway has been transfered to the City's Department of Engineering and it's street division. The one way traffic barricades are scheduled to be removed. Richard Young, department head, indicates that a hybrid wall of cement with a stone facade will probably be utilized. As the founder of the only group in Allentown concerned with the WPA, I can accept that remedy. Two years ago, rather than repair the stone steps on Jerome Street by Irving Park, the Park Department had them removed. The constructions at Irving Park were not WPA, but of that era and style. Elsewhere along the Little Lehigh, things are not too encouraging. Schreibers Bridge was probably recently hit by a tractor trailer. The 15th Street Bridge closure is resulting in a tremendous amount of traffic over the little stone arch, built in 1828. Although posted with a weight restriction, it is being used by both trucks and buses. The 15th Street replacement is scheduled for 15 months; Let us hope that our historic Schreibers Bridge survives that long.

The photograph above shows a freight run on the former Quarry Barber Branch Line, just west of Schreibers Bridge. Although the track has been removed, the trestle still stands.

Photograph taken in 1976 by Dave Latshaw, The Mark Rabenold Collection

Oct 15, 2012

Allentown's Misguided Train Plans

Up through the 1960's, Allentown's train system remained much in tack. In it's heyday, there were two passenger stations, and three commercial branch lines with dozens of individual business sidings. The WestEnd Branch ran along Sumner Ave, crossed Tilghman Street, headed west till 17th Street, and then looped back east  to 12 St. The Quarry Barber Branch ran along the Little Lehigh Creek, crossing Lehigh Street and running under the 8th Street Bridge. After crossing S. 10th Street, it proceeded west till it reached Hawk Flour Mill, where it turned north heading to Union Terrace. It crossed Hamilton Street by the current Hamilton Family Diner, and ended at the park department building, across from Birney Crum Stadium. Both these branches have been totally removed, not a track nor railroad tie remain. The third branch, which was the Old LVRR main, as opposed to the New Main, ran along the Lehigh River and crossed Front Street on a diagonal at Linden St. This branch line, although unused, still exists. One of it's main customers was Lehigh Structural Steel, under the Tilghman Street Bridge. Lehigh Structural had it's own engine to shuttle material on it's own tracks within their complex.  Although the steel fabricator closed, the parcel still has industrial tenants. Currently in Allentown there are two simultaneous plans which would misuse our railroad assets. The AEDC, headed by Scott Unger, wants to use a government grant to restore the Quarry Barber Branch to an empty building on S. 10th Street. The former plant operator never cited lack of train service as a factor in it's closing. To restore the line would cost untold millions of dollars, and require miles of track.  This is a folly which only seasoned bureaucrats could entertain. On the other hand, there is another plan by another group, to abandon the potential of the last remaining intact former branch line. The NIZ now controls the riverfront and the former Structural Steel property. Their plan is to vacate the industrial tenants, including Air Products, and convert the property into residential and light commercial, such as restaurants and gift shops. All these plans are driven by federal and state grants and tax incentives, which do not factor in Allentown's particular existing assets and long term interests. In a short sighted grab for some quick tax dollars, we would build one track to nothing, while ignoring another track and vacating an existing viable industrial site.

The photograph is from the Mark Rabenold Collection, and shows the Union Street crossing. 

Oct 13, 2012

The Baseball Trolley

Its been over fifty years since the Dodgers left Brooklyn. Ebbets Field opened in 1913, and was home of the Dodgers for 45 seasons. It was there that  Jackie Robinson withstood the tension of being the first black player. He was encouraged by another minority player in Detroit, Hank Greenberg. The stadium was demolished in 1960 and replaced by a cluster of apartment buildings.

Oct 12, 2012

Spinning Biden-Ryan

Last night handed the pundits whatever material their preordained point of view wanted. Victory was declared by both sides. Style and Substance is the new lexicon of debate. Was Biden's prolonged smile a positive sign of engagement, or a distracting overcompensation for his boss's previous performance? Did Biden sell the administration as skillfully navigating world events, or did Ryan's contention of dropping the ball ring true? Equally defensible counterpoints were presented regarding the economy and Medicare. The spin doctors were certainly given a full bag of ingredients to make their case. I would think that last night's performance didn't move the needle, but heightens the anticipation for next week's debate.

UPDATE: Scientific Poll: The gentlemen at the diner counter every morning are an economically diverse bunch. Ryan won the debate 8 to 0 because of Biden's smirking.  Scientific enough for me.

Oct 11, 2012

AEDC Junior Achievement

The Morning Call today is featuring a story and video about a young man opening a scrap wire business in east Allentown. I wish him all the success in the world, but have an issue with Pawlowski and Scott Unger loaning him our tax dollars. Unger, director of AEDC should do some research, I suggest a trip to Sumner Ave. Allentown has a half dozen existing scrap yards which buy scrap copper wire. I can assure him none of them were ever granted six figure loans by a city agency. As a matter of fact, many years ago Mr. Aronsky, from Valley Iron and Steel, donated the land which today comprises most of Trout Creek Park. If Unger's Junior Achievement mentality isn't absurd enough, the paper allows this young man to use the video as an virtual advertisement to buy scrap wire.

Junkyard Train

Today, once again we ride a freight train of Allentown's great industrial past. In the early 1970's, the Redevelopment Authority tore down the neighborhood on either side of the Lehigh Street hill. At that time they had persuaded Conrail to move the the Barber's Quarry Branch line exclusively to the southern side of the Little Lehigh. The branch had crossed over and back to service the great Wire Mill. After crossing Lehigh Street, the train would proceed along the creek passing under the 8th Street Bridge. At the 10th Street crossing it would service another great industrial giant, Traylor Engineering.
In 2009 President Obama visited a successor, Allentown Manufacturing, which has since closed. The line would continue along the creek until it turned north along Cedar Creek to Union Terrace. After crossing Hamilton Street by the current Hamilton Family Diner, it would end at the current park department building. Nothing remains of the line, the tracks were removed. The Allentown Economic Development Corporation recently received a grant to rebuild the line to 10th Street, even though the plant Obama visited has closed. The neighboring former Mack Plant now houses a go cart track. How the money will be squandered remains to be seen. The top photograph was taken by local train historian Mark Rabenold in 1989. It shows the later relocated section of the track that was just east of the Lehigh Street crossing.
reprinted from March 2011

UPDATE: The County Commissioners recently denied a request by AEDC to grant KOZ status to the closed Metal Manufacturing building. Although the company never cited lack of rail service or property taxes as the reason for closing, the rail grant is still on the table. $Millions of $Dollars would be needed to lay bed and track from 3th and Union to S. 10th Street, to service an empty building; Truly, The Track To Nothing.

Oct 10, 2012

Obama's Ohio Desperation

As it was being revealed that the State Department refused to provide additional security for our diplomatic personnel in Libya, Obama was in Ohio begging college kids to vote early for him.
“I still believe in you. And I’m asking you to keep believing in me,” Obama said to 15,000 people on the Oval at Ohio State University yesterday — his largest Ohio crowd of the cycle.
What does it mean that he still believes in them? He believes that they can help him win. He believes that his speaking skills can mesmerize them to care more about his future, than their own. Their upper class-men, who graduated last year, are delivering pizza's. Fortunately, for Obama, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, If you're not a liberal when you're young, you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative when you're older, you don't have a brain. Unfortunately for Obama, there's also  a lot of older people.

Democrats Default To Distortion

Although the Obama camp Big Bird campaign backfired somewhat, distortion seems to be their play for the remainder of the campaign. Leading the charge with misleading headlines is the Huffington Post. A resort owner's letter stating that if Obama wins, his tax policies will result in cutbacks and layoffs becomes Your Fired If Obama Wins. It pains me* to report that even a local college professor buys the distortion on his blog. College campuses have been the historical bastion of left wing politics, nothing new there. Yesterday, it was revealed that Obama workers were registering high school students in Florida, pretending to be from the county voter registration office. Actually, there was a tremendous lesson for the professors to use in last week's debate. When Obama, the first rate orator, was confronted by a well informed opponent, eloquent speaking and acting alone were not enough to carry the night.

* I consider him a sincere person and a friend.

UPDATE: As the Huffington Post article on the resort owner slipped further down their homepage, they changed their original provocative title. The college professor has made his blog private, at least for the moment. He had linked to a different version of the story on the resort owner.

Oct 9, 2012

Roast Big Bird







The Obama Campaign, realizing that the public is no longer mesmerized just by his empty oratory performances, today insulted the voter's intelligence. In a new commercial featuring Big Bird, Romney is depicted as supporting notorious Wall Street embezzlers, while being against the beloved Sesame Street Character. I believe as the polls narrow, the Obama Campaign will sink to historical lows in negative advertising.

Oct 8, 2012

The Horrors Of Blogging

It seems that blogging may not be for the thin skinned. Few blogs that have started in the Valley remain for the long haul, especially as a regular venue, whether daily or even weekly. Most of the feedback or comments received by bloggers are anonymous. Although people do not want to reveal who they are, they are not bashful with either their questions for the blogger, or slurs about other people. The slurs end up being associated with the blogger. We even have bloggers that are anonymous. Today, the blogger known as LVIC defended his anonymity. He produced a video which claims that the Disciples Matthew and Luke also never revealed their last names, yet, they're read and appreciated. All LVIC wants for Christmas is a comment or two. Me, I keep thinking of Clark Gable; Frankly dear, I don't give a damn.

Allentown's Misplaced Priorities

The photograph above harks back to 1952, when Allentown had it's priorities straight. In 1954, the new East Side Fire Station was completed. Now demolished, the East Side waits for it's replacement, along with other things. Dennis Pearson explains it well.
One year ago the East Side Fire Station closed and we are still counting the days before it is rebuilt but not holding our breath for if we hold our breath too long we would need an undertaker rather then a Paramedic or fireman. How long will it take for us to feel safe... And you know what none of our elected city councilman and woman and appointed councilman and women have ranted and raved over this issue.... Two signs have been placed on fence guarding the empty lot of the former fire station to tell the story. Happy 250th year Allentown but the East Side has an issue that needs to be resolved. And also, there have been road work signs on Hanover Avenue the past two weeks ,,, We ask is the work being performed by ghosts for we certainly see no work being performed. Dennis Pearson
In addition to the East Side being neglected and endangered, the South Side is isolated because of the 15th Street Bridge Project. That work is being done at a casual pace, inappropriate for the hardship it is creating. Schreibers stone arch bridge has been severely damaged once again, from endless two way traffic with no monitoring. While the Transformational Hockey Arena receives most of the Mayor's attention, other problems are given band-aids. Opposition to selling one of our few remaining assets, the water system, rests with a few individuals and a couple of blogs. The share-owners in this city, the taxpaying property owners, need to assert themselves through their neighborhood crime groups. The perpetrator now is City Hall.

Oct 7, 2012

Bill White's Cake Recipes

It's hard for Bill White, Morning Call columnist, to win with me. On one hand, I criticize him for writing about grammar and judging baking contests; On the other hand, I lampoon his occasional forays into the political arena. I suppose I should honestly start with the jealousy disclaimer. Bill gets paid big bucks to produce three columns a week, and uses his bully pulpit to eat his way through Musikfest. I produce six posts a week, and must drive around town wearing a disguise for my reward. Anyway, Bill put down the food yesterday, and wrote about the water lease. He concluded his column by saying that he was against a referendum, because we have a representational democracy, with elected Council members.
I believe a decision this important should be made by elected officials who have devoted their time and expertise to studying all the ramifications, not to a popular vote by people who in the vast majority of cases will be much less informed. This is how a representative democracy is supposed to work.
Had Bill attended more than one council meeting every five years, he would know that we have a rubber stamp, which has never denied this mayor any request. With three of the seven council members being appointed, instead of elected, and a decision with a 50 year consequence, what is he talking about? Bill, stay with the cake recipes.

Oct 5, 2012

He Did Build That Business

Water War

I believe that if the Administration and it's well trained City Council decide to sell Allentown's water system, there will be a political price to pay. However, if their arrogance prevails, let them consider the following; When the Arena eminent domain vote was put before City Council two years ago, the cost was projected at $80-million dollars. Last week, the NIZ Authority sold $244 million in bonds. The project supposedly will now cost $272-million, close to 400% more than when approved by City Council. If Council approves the water lease at $150-million, how do we know that the Mayor will not actually sell it for 300% less, or $50-million? If there is one lesson that Council should have learned from the arena, it's that you don't sign a blank check, or a blank withdraw slip.   If Pawlowski will not agree to second vote, where Council gets to approve the actual lease agreement, it's incumbent upon them to vote no on the first vote.

Oct 4, 2012

Romney's Game Changer

I believe that Romney did more than hit a home run last night, he changed the game. Prior to the debate, it was thought that because of Obama's oratory skills, if Romney held his own, it would be a job well done. Romney did much more than hold his own, he dominated the debate, even while allowing Obama more speaking time. More precious than the actual debate, was the pundit reaction afterwards. Progressive Rachel Maddow felt that Obama should have used the 47% weapon. Others described Obama as tired and lackluster. Million dollar contributor Bill Maher tweeted that apparently Obama needs the teleprompter. Needless to say, the conservatives were dancing in their underpants. The next debate on foreign policy doesn't bode well for Obama, United States appeared unprepared for the consequences of the Arab Spring. It will be a long month for the candidates, world events is a wild card beyond their control.

Oct 3, 2012

Allentown's Tycoon

When I spoke at City Council several meetings ago, behind me in line was J.B. Reilly. He told the Council that the water deal was good for Allentown, and that we better take the deal, while the taking was good. I thought of the old E.F. Hutton commercial, when everyone in the dining room goes quiet, to hear the oracle. Of course what he was saying was not true, time is not of the essence with any water offer; But, he is a genuine tycoon. Council President Guridy should have been offended that Pawlowski would send Reilly to lecture them, but both he and The Morning Call were impressed. It's not cheap to hire Reilly for the evening. The City just sold $224 million of municipal bonds to finance Reilly's projects. Two weeks ago, Reilly closed on the former 1st National Bank on the northeast corner of the square. The building is being prepped for demolition. Although the City just approved several more parcels for the NIZ, don't expect them to float more bonds for the junior varsity.

Oct 1, 2012

Channel Molovinsky

Recently, the editorial staff at molovinsky on allentown was speculating on Lights In The Parkway, and the bottle neck created by the closing of the 15th Street Bridge. Traffic, for the most part, is now being handled by the 188 year old Schreibers Bridge. Normally, during the Lights season, traffic backs up on the historic stone arch. Before we proceed with this story, two points must be made. I consider the rusting away of the 15th Street bridge negligence by Mayor Pawlowski, considering that he was Community Development Director under Afflerbach, before being Mayor. South Side Allentown is being avoided, and economically adversely affected because of the isolation. Schreibers Bridge is being submitted to repetitive damage because of excessive traffic. A molovinsky field reporter has discovered that the City will handle the dilemma by reversing the traffic flow through the Parkway during the Lights season. Traffic will enter through Vultee Street by Queen City Airport, and exit on to S. 15th Street. She also wants you to remember that you heard it first, here on Channel Molovinsky, although actual broadcasting will not begin until May of 2013.

The Bicentennial 1962

I suppose the kindest thing I can say about this weekend's 250th celebration is nothing. Mercifully, Billy Joel's iconic tune drowned out the inane lyrics to Ed Pawlowski's new Allentown song.
So we're living well in Allentown Cause it's hard to keep a good city down Oh, some darker days are now behind And the restlessness has settled down There's a million reasons now to stay Well we're thriving here in Allentown It's the jewel in Pennsylvania's crown And we've got it all in Allentown And it's feeling like a brand new day Oh it's so much easier to stay
In 1962 there was no need for a revisionist song, the city was full of hope. Downtown was still thriving, and all the famous industries of Allentown were still in production. I suppose the seeds of our demise were already planted. The Whitehall Mall may have already been in the planning stages. The union legacy costs were starting to be calculated at Bethlehem Steel. Discount stores were beginning to sale cheaper clothing made off shore. In 1962 Billy Joel's song was still twenty years away. For those who prefer delusion with their morning coffee, you may prefer The Morning Call report on this weekend's 250th celebration.