To we who are native Allentonians, the recent announcement of Allentown being nominated as an All American City once again is amusing. Last time we received that designation(in 1975) there were real things to hang that hat on, but now there are just facades embellished by press agents.
The requirement states that To apply, municipalities must show that they include all segments of their population in community decision-making, including diverse ethnic, racial, socio-economic and age groups, according to the National Civic League. The city must also be able to show “demonstrable, significant and measurable” achievements from the last five years. Needless to say the city is offering the rebuilt Hamilton Street (NIZ) as its entry for the contest. I can tell you that the public, and certainly any ethnic public, had no input what- so- ever in the NIZ. I met with the former merchants of Hamilton Street when they were being bullied by strawbuyers to sell their lifetime of work in short order, while being threatened with eminent domain.
Our local politicians are beaming about Allentown again being nominated. They will send a delegation to Denver when the winners are announced in June. I suspect that they won't pick me to represent the city.
It would have been a good April fools that announcement. If I had time I would write a spoof. However, if corruption, incompetence, and and rampant stupidity are "All American" we should win hands down.
ReplyDeleteScott and Mike both of you are so right! Look, I'm a supporter of Allentown who worked for the city, grew up in the city, graduated from William Allen and lived here all my life. Except for the NIZ, that only benefits a few, [not urban dwellers], Allentown has nothing to offer except crime riddled streets, crumbling neighborhoods, rampant gang activity, drugs and urban decay. We have a clueless rotating police administration who has not delivered a comprehensive public safety plan or program to curve the rampant crime, bring the force complement up to budgeted amounts and to reintroduce itself into the neighborhoods. Instead, we have a Chief of Police with little management [street] experience who wants to carry on the legacy of former chiefs Morris and Dorney, who did nothing and ran out of town with big pensions, and thinks Allentown is being policed right. 1975 and the memories are so much cleaner than Allentown today. How can a town be nominated for an award who reelected a corrupt mayor. Beyond me!
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