Jan 31, 2014

Tom Muller's Conversion Complete

It was suggested this past November that Muller was a Republican at heart, but had converted to the Democratic Party only to save the county from the radical inclinations of Scott Ott. The other day Lisa Scheller had an excellent letter in The Morning Call. In it she argued that the county pension contribution should be lowered from 5.5% because CD'S haven't paid that much in years. She also opposes the conflict of interest on the pension board, where most of it's members will receive the pension on which they are setting the rate. According to published reports, I didn't attend the meeting, Muller resorted to dragging Scheller's personal wealth into the debate; "I seriously doubt Commissioner Scheller has any of her wealth in CDs, or much of her wealth in CDs," Apparently, between being elected in November, and starting office in January, Muller must have been sent to Chicago for a workshop on class politics and divisive rhetoric. Although only a few months ago Muller's campaign literature featured him as a conservative businessman, yesterday he seemed like a union boss, while attempting to vilify Scheller in front of a room packed with county employees. Muller knows only too well that CD's are an analogy for conservative investments, and that insolvency caused by public pensions is the crisis of the decade. Muller won the pension board vote yesterday, but it was Scheller who had the taxpayer's back.

Jan 30, 2014

Do Local Zombies Read The News

When AOL expanded the Patch local news websites a number of years ago, I couldn't comprehend the business plan. Although it provided employment to a number of laid-off former Morning Call reporters, how could the Lehigh Valley support 12 local news sites, when it could barely support the two remaining newspapers? Did Upper and Lower Saucon really justify a site, much less two separate ones? This past summer AOL cut back the number of local editors to five. Yesterday, The Morning Call reported another massive layoff at Patch, which AOL has spun off to Hale Global, a turn around specialist. Although the Morning Call reports only one surviving editor, two others are still listed on the local sites. When AOL purchased The Huffington Post, more than one experienced national blogger questioned the price. The web makes it easy for anybody to produce a newsletter. Getting people to read it is another story. Getting them to monetize it by clicking on advertisements, is a third story.

Jan 29, 2014

In Her Blood


When my grandfather first arrived in Allentown, he lived in the Ward, on 2nd. Street. It was around 1895 and the neighborhood was full of immigrants. Some groups came from the same area in the old country, most noticeably the Syrians, from the villages of Amar and Zweitina. They were members of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, a Christian minority in a Muslim country. The congregation of St. George's Church on Catasauqua Ave., largely is descended from those immigrants. Well known names in Allentown, such as Atiyeh, Haddad, Hanna, Makoul, Koury and Joseph are among their members. They were among one of the first groups to organize, and those organizations still exist. The photo above was organized by the Syrian American Organization in 1944. Note that Jewish, on the left, is treated as a nationality.

click on photo to enlarge

UPDATE: While announcing Kim Makoul's appointment as Public Defender, County Executive Tom Muller said that it's in her blood. I grew up in the era when George Joseph was district attorney. He inspired Kim's dad, Richard Makoul, to attend law school, and become one of the valley's most successful defense attorneys.

This post is reprinted, using a different title

Jan 28, 2014

State of The City Called Allentown

When Mayor Pawlowski gives the State Of The City speech on Friday at the Hilton at 9th and Hamilton, will he say next year when I speak at the new hotel, this place will be a flop house? Speaking of flop houses, lately the local news has been dominated by the poor and the homeless. What a juxtaposition these new buildings make with Allentown's walking poor. While community activists demand that some of the new jobs in the Arena Zone  go to the local underemployed, and many public dollars will be spent on administering such training programs, the actual hired employees wouldn't be able to fill a closet at the new hotel. Nobody need worry about those realities at the speech on Friday. Nobody need worry about the difficulties facing the already challenged Allentown School District. Friday's speech, which will be limited to figures, numbers, and graphs about the new buildings and the promise of Transformation, will be applauded by the cheerleaders, and reported by the media.

Jan 27, 2014

The Return of Governor Pawlowski

Last year when cities all over Pennsylvania were clamoring for the type of development occurring in Allentown, and with Governor Corbett's dismal polling numbers, a Pawlowski run made sense, at least to Ed Pawlowski. With campaign contribution reports due at the end of the month, this blog believes that Governor Pawlowski will return to being a mayor. Unless a number of very deep pockets came forward, Ed's viability as a candidate will have waned. His campaign manager, Mike Fleck, has given no indication to the contrary in a recent local television show. Although the imported office jobs will increase the lunch traffic for downtown eateries, the sought after dinner crowd will not materialize. Despite Obama's speeches, the economy remains impaired. Locations which do not have Allentown's perceived grime and crime, such as the Promenade Mall, could not support more than a couple upscale restaurants. Much hype has gone into the Transformation of center city. The suburban middle class people populating the artist renderings will not turn into real people on the street. Let's hope for the sake of  Pawlowski's career plans that he finds another ticket to ride out of town, before the new arena becomes a white elephant.

Jan 24, 2014

Code Blue Warming Center

The Lehigh Valley Council of Churches has decided to open a code blue warming center in Alliance Hall, at 6th and Chew Streets. That's wonderful, but their email blast announcing the service is very disturbing
You have most likely seen press coverage concerning the plight of the homeless during this recent spell of dangerously cold weather. We have chosen not to participate in public debates about how "others" should solve this problem, particularly since the Conference has for the past decade been doing the heavy lifting when it comes to stabilizing the lives of "the least of these, my brothers and sisters" without the need for shining a media spotlight on that work. Instead of being divisive and derisive, we joined with partners who are problem solvers. Our initial plan is to open the Alliance Hall gym only when needed for emergency Code Blue weather conditions. Funding for this initiative is not guaranteed. Staffing details have not been determined.
 If they had been lifting as much as they think, such a center  would already exist. It's particularly offensive to refer to those who illuminated the problem as divisive and derisive. I keep thinking of Diane Teti's comment that nobody owns the homeless. Apparently, the established charitable institutions think that only they should be credited with good deeds.

The Homeless and The Odd Couple

Yesterday, I praised those advocates campaigning for the homeless. In eight days their efforts resulted in another shelter venue for the homeless, the YMCA, opening it's doors. More importingly, they motivated some elected officials, from both the city and county, to visit Safe Haven at St. Pauls. I also noted the about face taken by the city, which has been slow poking on this issue for eight years. The ink had barely dryed on the memo about adequate shelter space already being available, when Pawlowski announced that the YMCA would be joining the shelter options. But this post is about the man who joined Pawlowski, Tom Muller. When the advocates for the homeless pleaded with City Council last week, Muller sat quietly in the back of the room, studying the situation. This Wednesday evening one of the advocates, Rich Fegley, found County Commissioner Scott Ott sitting on the floor in St. Paul's basement, conversing with a homeless man. Ott has a background in lay ministry. Tom Muller apparently has a heart. Although these two men opposed each other this past November for County Executive, and see the mission of the county much differently, their mutual concern could have a positive result for the homeless.

Jan 23, 2014

The Homeless Get Another Shelter

It's not too often that activists prevail in Allentown, I can attest to that. The community owes a debt of gratitude to Diane Teti, Dale Smith, Chris Cocca, Rich Fegley, Reverend Richard Baumann and others for making Pawlowski see the error of his ways. Only yesterday City Hall said that the shelter situation was under control, but by today we learn that the YMCA will be providing shelter on weekdays, during code blue weather. What changed Pawlowski's mind?

UPDATE: Rich Fegley gave an impassioned speech to the County Commmissioners about Safe Haven and the homeless Wednesday evening. He was rewarded later that evening when he learned that three of the commissioners, Ott, Scheller and Mazziotti went to the shelter themselves, after the meeting.

Jan 22, 2014

Soups On At St. Pauls

In conjunction with The Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches, lunch is served three times a week at St. Pauls. According to Reverend Richard Baumann, We treat them as people, not just simply give them food. In some sense, this is a place where people can get something to eat and are also treated with some degree of respect. Baumann arranges for some of the nurses in the parish to attend the lunches, which gives the lunch guests an opportunity to ask some health related questions. Recently, Pastor Baumann has been in the news for providing basic shelter from the cold for the homeless. Over the years I've know Baumann as an advocate for the neighborhood. About ten years ago he spoke up for the neighbors who were concerned about losing the neighborhood parking lot, to the Zawarski townhouse project. He also advocated for the merchants and residents who were displaced by the arena. Although the church may be one of the oldest in the city, Baumann makes sure that it's mission stays relevant to the times.

ADDENDUM: On Tuesday evening Julio Guridy visited Safe Haven, which is the basement of St. Pauls, and The Rescue Mission, which has a $multi-million dollar budget. He was shocked at the lack of facilities at the church, but impressed with the Mission. What he doesn't seem to understand is that although the Mission may have room for a few guests from St. Paul, it cannot, and will not accommodate all of them. In this sub-zero weather there is nothing more important than being inside, even if it's on the floor of a church basement.

Jan 21, 2014

Allentown Locks Out The Homeless

One week after an emotional presentation to City Council about the life and death situation facing the homeless, Allentown has released an official reply. In regard to the Rescue Mission requirement of needing a police voucher, the city supported that policy; We cannot support and will not support totally unregulated environments... The official city letter also stated that St. Paul's Church is attracting out of the area homeless by their lax rules. It's strange how the Pawlowski administration can support no identification needed to vote, and the rights of immigrants, but believe that only Allentonians with proper ID are entitled not to freeze to death. Furthermore, the letter states the adequacy of existing programs and it's Commission to handle the situation. Last year the city distributed $185,000 in CDBG to organizations that work with longterm solutions to homelessness, but failed to provide an open door shelter from the cold. Advocates for the homeless, including Diane Teti, Dale Smith and Reverend Richard Baumann appealed to Council only because the existing agencies were failing to solve the problem. The City's reply, We cannot support a competing interest group at odds with the methods of the Commission. They went on to say, The idea is not just to get people out of the cold, it is to get them on a path to permanent housing, which requires case management from experienced professionals.  We veteran students of the bureaucracy are not surprised, even if the homeless advocates are dumbstruck. A week has passed, all local media reported the story, and nothing has changed. As I type this report the snow is falling, the wind is howling and the wind chill is expected to dip below zero tonight.

UPDATE: I used to attend the CDBG meeting in council chambers to watch the various non-profits clamor like baby birds for worms. The City would weigh their application, decide who's been good or bad, and make allocations. I have written before about the Rescue Mission, not my favorite organization. Recently, I had an opportunity to speak with Reverend Baumann about shelter being provided by St. Paul's Church. Baumann and St. Paul's have only reluctantly joined the homeless business. It's not a $3.5 million dollar enterprise like the Rescue Mission. It's not a CDBG funded organization with paid employees. It's a man, a church floor and a shoestring budget. This is what the City refers to as a competing interest? Diane Teti once said that nobody owns the homeless, but apparently the City thinks that it does.

Bernie O'Hare also reports on Allentown's reply

Jan 20, 2014

City Council's Ugly Present

I suppose the thought was that with Hamilton Street getting $800 million dollars worth of new development, and the mayor being able to use that development as a backdrop for his governor race, City Council should be thrown a crumb or two. Although the city web page touts the renovation as a much needed upgrade, it is horrendous in every facet of it's concept. The architect, W2A, should be embarrassed. The previous straight dais is now a large horseshoe shaped monstrosity, intruding into the chamber, resulting in less seating for the public. While speakers previously stood off to the side where both the council and public could see them, now only their behinds faces the public. Wooden and upholstery theater seats have been replaced with metal chairs, clipped together with plastic connectors. Prior to the meeting last week I told Julio Guridy what I thought of the remodeling. He told me that I was the first person to complain out of about 2000 compliments he received. Not less than 15 seconds later, another person told Julio that the new chamber was horrible. What a consequence.

Jan 19, 2014

Further Than The Farr Lot

I rented a storefront from Harvey Farr in the late 1970's. During the earlier heydays of Hamilton Street,  Farr, along with The Morning Call's Donald Miller and John Leh, controlled downtown and owned Park & Shop, a series of surface lots serving the parking needs of their customers. They built the first parking deck in America, now the police station at 10th and Hamilton. As the end of Allentown's dominance as a shopping mecca became apparent, they sold the lots to the newly formed Allentown Parking Authority. This is a story of pulling strings and having connections, which only molovinsky brings you in Allentown; You will not read these unvarnished truths in The Morning Call.

The parking situation in Allentown was well managed by two or three meter maids who worked for the police department, patrolling the meter zone with golf carts. Farr, Miller and Leh prevailed upon then mayor for life Joe Daddona to bale them out of the parking business, and thus The Allentown Parking Authority was created. At first the Authority serviced the meters, but soon purchased the surface lots as originally pre-planned.

The Parking Authority continues as a political entity. It's board of directors are appointed by the current mayor for life, Ed Pawlowski, and are among his biggest cheerleaders. A recent article in The Morning Call states that Lee Butz and company was the only bidder for the Farr surface lot, which stretches from 8th Street to the east side of the PPL Plaza. It doesn't reveal that Butz actually initiated the sale by approaching the Authority with a request. As residents of Allentown wonder how the arena patrons will cope with both perceived parking and traffic problems, the Authority will be selling the last surface lot adjoining the new arena. Existing businesses, such as the Farr Loft Apartments and The BreWWorks depend on this lot for convenient parking. Just as The Parking Authority was formed 35 years ago by pulled strings, today it still accommodates those with connections.

Jan 17, 2014

For Whom The Development Tolls

Myself, and other skeptics, have long maintained that the main beneficiaries of Allentown's NIZ are the few millionaires who will become billionaires. I do recognize that besides the few chosen developers and Pawlowski, there are citizens of good will who welcome what the mayor calls the transformation. However, some recent announcements seem to have little to no public benefit, but will cost the public in lost state taxes. The arena complex includes a new hotel facing 7th Street. The Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton will also be remodeled with zone tax funds. Business at that hotel has been marginal for years, and it has housed a series of taxpayer subsidized restaurants. Can minor league hockey fans support two hotels, can they support one? The Americus property at 6th and Hamilton also is seeking a $13 million dollar Authority loan for renovation. A new Butz proposal for the Farr Lot on 8th Street will soon push the Arena Authority loan portfolio close to the $Billion dollar mark. Contrary to Corbett's claim that there are no new taxes, we at the gasoline pump know better. Despite the cheerleaders for this development, all state residents will be paying for it, one way or another.

Jan 16, 2014

In a Town Without Pity

A few years ago Donald was living under the 8th Street Bridge, until he graduated to sleeping on the floor at St. Pauls Church. Last night he implored Allentown City Council to do something about the homeless crisis, so that he and others can survive, besides from the good will of a few angels. A couple of those angels were also at Council last evening. Donald thanked Diane Teti for her help in the last year. Councilwoman Eichenwald called her one the righteous, a compliment of biblical proportion. Speaker after speaker told council that the time and weather has come for the Administration to address the issue. Council President Guridy and City Administration Manager Dougherty suggested a Lehigh County committee, until Teti assured them that the committee was part of the problem, not the solution. Teti wants them to open City Hall on freezing nights, to provide shelter to those who can not find shelter elsewhere. Council, which was to meet about this problem on February 12th, did agree to meet sooner because of the cold weather. I have seen them in the past suspend the rules, and vote on a spontaneous resolution, but that didn't occur last night.

Jan 14, 2014

Logging South Mountain

Rich Fegley doesn't know what to worry about next. In addition to the water lease, the trash and sewage to energy plant, the homeless, now he's discovered that they're logging South Mountain. In a furry of emails today between Fegley and Chris Kocher of the Wildland's Conservancy, Fegley was assured that the logging is occurring on privately owned land. Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but Fegley should know that this blog disclosed several years ago that Allentown had plans, and even a contract, to log the mountain. The Morning Call picked up on my scoop, and the ensuing story embarrassed Pawlowski into backing off the plan. At that time neither the Conservancy, the Allentown Environmental Advisory Council, or the local college science professors expressed any objection. Today, Fegley copied all the above parties and media with his concerns. From my recent experience with the Conservancy and the environmentalists mentioned, concerning the dam at Robin Hood, I wouldn't take their word on anything.
in the picture above the light green wooded area is under supervision of The Wildland's Conservancy
The Conservancy, with the support of the "environmentists", demolished the dam and piled the broken dam rubble around the stone bridge piers, depreciating a place of beauty since 1941.

Jan 13, 2014

No Room At The Inn

Although it's campaigns took in over $2 million dollars in contributions last year, WFMZ reported that the Allentown Rescue Mission rejected some homeless during last week's record cold,  despite having empty beds. The Rescue Mission, with a $3 million dollar annual budget, has become very administrative, just hiring a Development Director, and seeking a new CEO. Meanwhile, Reverend Baumann at St. Pauls Lutheran Church on South 8th Street, has actually been giving the homeless shelter from the cold, with a $6 thousand dollar budget. With that modest amount of money he served the homeless over 300 times last year. Community activists Diane Teti and Rich Fegley have also lent their energy to this homeless crisis. They intend to bring the problem to the attention of City Council Wednesday evening. A town spending $600 million on new development should be able to provide some warmth to their unfortunate.

The Pioneers of Israel


When the Syrian tank entered the gates of Degania Alef, in the early morning hours of May 20, 1948, it was greeted with molotov cocktails: It hasn't moved since. Started by Russian immigrants who arrived in 1909, sitting on the southern end of the Sea of Galilee, it's the oldest Kibbutz in Israel. When Moshe Dyan was born there in 1915, they were still under Ottoman rule. He was named after the first defender killed, in 1913.
reprinted from November 2010

Jan 11, 2014

A Force of Israel

When the combined Arab armies attacked newly declared Israel in 1948, Ariel Sharon was then only twenty years old, but already a force that they would have to face in battle over the next 34 years. Israel's great general was born in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine, in 1928. In 1973 he turned the tide in Israel's favor against the surprise Yom Kippur attack, by leading his armored column across the Suez Canal, getting behind the Egyptian forces. The warrior died yesterday.

Jan 10, 2014

The History Mission of molovinsky on allentown

Since it's inception, molovinsky on allentown has published local history along with political commentary. Allentown has become a city of immigrants; Whether it's our from out of town mayor and his from out of town staff, or our new population demographics, it's difficult to find someone who has lived here for more than twenty years. Redevelopment is nothing new to Allentown. Entire neighborhoods and portions of Hamilton Street have disappeared in the past. There has never been a shortage of new bridges or political ambition. This blog, unencumbered by considerations of political correctness or business promotion, posts these short historical markers, as reference points for the curious.

When opened 1913, the Eighth Street Bridge was the longest and highest reinforced concrete arch bridge in the world. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company organized the Allentown Bridge Company in 1911 for the sole purpose of building the bridge. The structure operated as a toll bridge from its November 17, 1913 opening until the 1950s, at which time the toll was five cents for an automobile. The concrete standards that once supported the trolley wire are still standing. Harry C. Trexler, founding member of the Transit Company and Lehigh Portland Cement Co., was a principle player in the construction of this bridge. General Trexler's grave-site, in Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, affords unique views of the bridge and center city Allentown.

Jan 9, 2014

The Movies of N. 8th Street

Two movie theaters were on the unit block of N. 8th Street, separated by one building. The Earle was demolished in 1961 to create another Park & Shop lot. The other theater, the Cinema, ceased operation in 1953, becoming a warehouse for the Farr shoe chain. The theater was built in 1917 as The Strand, but changed ownership and name in 1930. The lobby portion of the former Strand/Cinema still stands today, now being used as a tax service business. In the late 1970's, I operated a photographic darkroom business in part of the space.

Jan 8, 2014

A Box of Chocolate in 1953

As a boy being dragged along on a shopping trip, I was sometimes rewarded with a box of chocolate from Loft's. After waiting for my mother as she looked through endless racks of clothing at Hess's, we would take the escalator to the fifth floor and have the parking ticket validated. Before walking back to the modern parking deck at 10th street, we would detour to 8th, and buy the candy.

Jan 7, 2014

The Promise of Daryl Hendricks

The mayor and city council were sworn in last night. According to The Morning Call, Pawlowski patted himself on the back with vigor, then told a white lie. He said that he will work with members of his administration to weave respect and accomplishment. Pawlowski is known as an autocrat, he may work with people, but not people below him. But this post isn't about Pawlowski, or Lehigh Parkway's Robin Hood Bridge pictured above, it's about the promise of Daryl Hendricks. Hendricks just retired as a captain from the police department, and is the only new face on council. Last night he said,"I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious of a matter to be left to the politicians,...I will do my best to fulfill those duties you have afforded me and bestowed upon me." City Council had an opportunity to exert themselves this past fall and prevent a parkway gem from being despoiled, as shown above. Except for Jeanette Eichenwald, exerting themselves has never been a forte of this council. Hendricks has a needed institutional memory and knowledge of Allentown. Regardless his political ambitions, he could fulfill them as an independent voice on council.

Jan 5, 2014

Pawlowski's Facebook Responses

Having a problem with Allentown city government, you might want to try Facebook instead of City Hall. Early this morning,  Mayor Ed Pawlowski used Facebook to assure Joanne Bauer that he would have the new police chief investigate her complaints. Joanne had her car stolen, and that was only the beginning of her ordeal. She wasn't happy with the way the Allentown Police responded, or didn't, along each stage of the crime. Bernie O'Hare will report on Joanne's full story tomorrow.  The mayor regularly answers questions on his Facebook page, but also reaches out to concerns posted on other pages.

UPDATE: Bernie O'Hare has an excellent post on Joanne's ordeal, and concludes that the Allentown Police Department fails it's citizens, partially because of low man power.  I had similar experiences with the police department 20+ years ago, when manpower wasn't an issue.  In truth, gathering evidence from a stolen car would be a low priority task in the best of times.  While it's a trauma for Joanne, Pawlowski managed to gain some public relations miles from the incident, via Facebook.

Jan 3, 2014

Allentown Weather Forecast

Expect chairs in the street and angry neighbors. Smaller streets and alleys will see no service. Center city shoppers should expect no cleared parking spaces, but parking tickets continuing throughout the day.

Auburn Street train tower, 1964

High Culture - Free Admission

Getting Mail by K Mary Hess       Photos of Lehigh Valley                                                      

Jan 2, 2014

The $4 million Dollar Question

The Morning Call reported today, in an excellent article by Emily Opilo, that Allentown spent $4 million in legal fees, consultants and public relations to shepherd through it's controversial water lease. An issue not addressed by the article was the failed referendum by the citizen group. The referendum didn't fail with the voters, it failed to get on the ballot, despite containing about 4,000 signatures. It was determined by election officials that the referendum wording put the initiative into the realm of the city charter, and required a different time frame than that used by the petitioners. With the administration spending $4 million on opinion benders, imagine the pressure that might have been applied to those empowered to reject placing the referendum on the ballot.

Jan 1, 2014

The Gentle Giant

For a few years Abe Simon was the biggest man in the ring. Because of his size and the family's need for income in the 1930's, Abe got into the ring, and fought the best of them. He was a gentle man and didn't have the usual boxer's temperament. He had a winning record, including knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott. He endured 13 rounds of punishment in his first title fight with Joe Louis, earning him another chance, and another beating by Louis. Those interested in the Louis era can click on December of 2012 in the archive section, on the right sidebar of this blog.