tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post1418193002566200298..comments2024-03-28T10:18:30.801-04:00Comments on MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN: Crimes of Pizzamichael molovinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-86967900553454515512009-04-23T18:04:00.000-04:002009-04-23T18:04:00.000-04:00retired asd, we both have explained this reality ...retired asd, we both have explained this reality several times. these repetitive comments come either from apologists for this absurd ordinance, or from frustrated residents of the neighborhood looking for a scapegoat.. i don't see an ordinance being officially overturned by council, but the police should not enforce it, even if pestered by a persistent neighbormichael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-51946927492168287502009-04-23T16:30:00.000-04:002009-04-23T16:30:00.000-04:00Retired ASD teacher here.
Stop this nonsense!
We...Retired ASD teacher here.<br /><br />Stop this nonsense!<br /><br />We simply CANNOT hold individual shopkeepers responsible for the validity of their "youthful-looking" patrons.<br /><br />First of all, if they are Allen High School students, it's not that easy. MANY of today's high school students appear to be 30-35 years old, due to physical size, beards, mature behavior, yet they are 16-18.<br /><br />Secondly, as Michael pointed out, there are MANY legitimate reasons why current "students" might be out and about during regular school hours.<br /><br />Many of today's kids QUIT at age 16.<br /><br />ASD has in-service days (no kids in certain buildings)that include some schools and not others. <br /><br />ASD has a massive problem of transciency. Scores of new kids enroll/disenroll EVERY day.<br /><br />ASD has MANY kids with discipline problems that involve out-of-school suspensions of one kind or another. Such suspensions DO NOT include any requirement for such students to stay home and hide in their bedrooms.<br /><br />To hold any local business person responsible for determining "who is who" within their establishment is ABSURD. If there is such a requirement, it needs to be removed NOW!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-23228932848513211032009-04-23T15:25:00.000-04:002009-04-23T15:25:00.000-04:00there are many kids every day who have early dismi...there are many kids every day who have early dismissal for one reason or another. do you think this pizza guy is responsible for the truancy problems at allen? do you think only one merchant in allentown should receive citations for this social issue? do you know any way in which he could be sure who is who without denying service to everyone? i have explained repeatedly that most kids are out of school legitimately for one reason or another, i will not post this pov again.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-44101980776449067472009-04-23T15:09:00.000-04:002009-04-23T15:09:00.000-04:00Michael,
Maybe you aren't aware of the truancy pr...Michael,<br /><br />Maybe you aren't aware of the truancy problems in the ASD!<br /><br />The kids should be home or at a doctor's appointment, or in school, not hanging out in a pizza shop!<br /><br />There are many things the pizza shop owner could do to keep himself out of trouble.<br /><br />I for one don't feel sorry for him. He should just pay his fine and adjust his store policy. The city policy should NOT change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-68885854230920923872009-04-23T08:53:00.000-04:002009-04-23T08:53:00.000-04:00anon 8:41, your premise is wrong. as stated in t...anon 8:41, your premise is wrong. as stated in the text of this post, there are many kids who are legally out of school on any given day, at any given hour.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-53840534007675144122009-04-23T08:41:00.000-04:002009-04-23T08:41:00.000-04:00Where is the common sense here? If a kid is hangi...Where is the common sense here? If a kid is hanging out in your business anytime between Sept. & May, Mon.-Fri., unless it's a holiday, most likely, the kid should be in school. If it were me, even without the ordinance, I would have told the kid to get to school, and if he argued, I would have said, I don't care were you go, just get out of here! However, if you are one of those people who has trouble saying "NO" to children, you could always pick up the phone and make a call to the school or district and find out if school is in session! DUH!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-90775929914679111832009-04-22T20:59:00.000-04:002009-04-22T20:59:00.000-04:00It's Bernard III, damn it. Have fun waking up in B...It's Bernard III, damn it. Have fun waking up in Bucky Boyle Park tomorrow.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-33864008520985264582009-04-22T13:10:00.000-04:002009-04-22T13:10:00.000-04:00your holiness pope bernard VIII, your mission of ...your holiness pope bernard VIII, your mission of inter-blog peace keeping is well known. btw, burke is not mentioned in my new post, but i will do so if you insist. the point of view presented here cannot be found on the other local blogs. interesting how news travels so fast, this thread contains comments from both those who are never, and those who are seldom heard here. the point of view which i refer to is not inclined to attend meetings or blog, but they consider their home their castle and appreciate their property rights being defended.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-85395263897192881062009-04-22T12:49:00.000-04:002009-04-22T12:49:00.000-04:00Reading thru the comments here, I thought I was re...Reading thru the comments here, I thought I was reading my own blog. <br /><br />People are tossing around terms like arrogance and liar with reckless abandon, except they're not throwing thewm at me. People are accused of having vested interests. Scott & Geoff both speak with disdain about MM and MM actually posts a new blog that continues to deride Pam Varkony, Scott & Tom Burke. <br /><br />MM raises two interesting topics: (1) citation of a pizza shop owner foir violating a daytime curfew, which is timely; and (2) West End zoning changes, which is ancient history but relevant to what happened to the pizza dude. <br /><br />You are all passionate and all care, but I don't think any of you are furthering your cause by yelling at each other. <br /><br />I wish you could all be more civil like me. <br /><br />I will say this. MM is a person of great integrity who would not lie under any circumstances. Retired ASD Teacher was merely stating his empirical observations, Trent, and was not trashing the entire student body. I know he loves those kids. LVCI, MM has no financial interest in this area. Scott Armstrong has been complimented many times by MM for his volunteerism and he deserves that praise. Geoff, MM does look at you with a little more skepticism and should because you come from the world of politics and are headed in that direction. But I know you are no elitist and are actually one of the least arrogant people I've ever met. <br /><br />If you all don't knock this off, I'm going to drug you all and you'll wake up in a Northampton County Council meeting or at Bucky Boyle Park in the middle of a go cart rally.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-38977722461588150592009-04-22T11:50:00.000-04:002009-04-22T11:50:00.000-04:00geoff, thanks for commenting. you may have notice...geoff, thanks for commenting. you may have noticed that within this comment thread i thank scott for his work for west park, which i often do. but, on the other hand, he describes my work as lies and fear, this wasn't necessary, and not true. it is ironic that so many ordinances compromising property rights have been advocated by otherwise conservatives. but, when it comes to their own block, they seem to know what's best for everybody. geoff, i must also remind you that my activity is not limited to criticizing people on the blog. those people opposed to the historic district appreciated my efforts, as did those opposed to meter increases, the west park historic district expansion, lanta bus changes, pre-sale home inspections, and several other issues over the years. so, just because i'm on the other side of an issue, doesn't mean i'm not in the "trenches" or fighting "for a neighborhood". <br />so far both you and scott imply this is not a blog which should expect comments from you in the future. those who are offended by my use of the word "arrogant" should consider other property owners are equally entitled to their point of view on all those issues.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-35606786715757480282009-04-22T11:08:00.000-04:002009-04-22T11:08:00.000-04:00any time a community volunteer feels their work is...any time a community volunteer feels their work isn't appreciated and is instead under attack is a truly sad day. Scott and Trent aren't the first volunteers to get raked across the coals. I've been called arrogant and elitist on this blog. it's why I don't engage in the commentary often.<br /><br />Not sure if Scott and Trent will read this, but guys, please don't give up the good fight. We are often the only things that stand in front of the collapse of a neighborhood. After reading the many of the comments, I think my decision to keep city politics and volunteerism seperate is a wise decision. There are points were we do advocacy work, but it's best to the leave the political commentary to the people who don't step into the trenches and fight for a neighborhood. <br /><br />As always, never hesitate to contact me if you need assistance (gsbrace@hotmail.com)<br /><br />GeoffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-15991375780031338282009-04-22T07:36:00.000-04:002009-04-22T07:36:00.000-04:00I still defend that.
Did the pizza shop owner sh...I still defend that. <br /><br />Did the pizza shop owner show some evidence of effort not to serve these students?<br /><br />Perhaps this is just a cost of doing business in this area of town.Politically Neutralnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-80281778450499557362009-04-22T07:29:00.000-04:002009-04-22T07:29:00.000-04:00political, i agree that there is no connection, bu...political, i agree that there is no connection, but we may be on different trends of thought. yesterday you defended the citation against the pizza owner, which only accommodates the frustration of the neighbors who live near the school. truancy is also a big problem for the kid's future, but nobody is skipping school because of the pizza parlor.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-34485702950687773272009-04-22T07:17:00.000-04:002009-04-22T07:17:00.000-04:00I am really trying to see the connection between t...I am really trying to see the connection between truancy, the pizza shop citation issue and the historical designation. I just don't<br /><br />Truancy is a huge issue at the school. The ripple effect is profound throughout the community and throughout the lives of the offending students.<br /><br />Truancy, in many cases, is the first step in what can be a lifelong process of offense, incarceration, re-entry, re-offense and re incarceration all in Allentown. All over and over again.<br /><br />If you are at Allen and are very smart or an athlete you can get along well. But that is not the majority of students. Most are in the mainstream of the school.<br /><br />These are the students who really suffer when they are in class, want to learn and all they hear from their fellow students is F*** Y** b***** and "I'm not doing that"<br /><br />Maybe these decent students are constantly threatened or bullied throughout their whole high school career.<br /><br />Now that is a great education isn't it? Administrators, teachers, parents and other non related community members fail to see how we get sucked into supporting this dysfunction.<br /><br />Many of use seem to get lost in our own perspective and fail to see the broader perspective to be inclusive of others. Many refer to this as agreeing to disagree.<br /><br />But is that simply an easy out? You say what you say and I say what I say and no one questions their own opinions.<br /><br />Do we really try to see how our perspective relates to that of others and where they both are in the context of the priorities of the total community?<br /><br />I stretch to see the perspective of the property owner, the landlord, the historic preservationist,the business shop owner, school administration, the police and the students.<br /><br />I keeping coming back to what is important for the students, not the errant students, but those who want to get an education, complete high school and become a part of the community.Politically Neutralnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-85116558717590206282009-04-21T20:48:00.000-04:002009-04-21T20:48:00.000-04:00scott, i'm amazed how easily you feel your agen...scott, i'm amazed how easily you feel your agenda's transcend truth. i must be quite an organizer if i managed to influence the neighborhood after the civic association spent a year on the project. also sorry i spilled the beans on harassing the pizza guy.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-79953082242938946312009-04-21T20:09:00.000-04:002009-04-21T20:09:00.000-04:00Mike,
This is my last post on your blog.
The...Mike,<br /><br /> This is my last post on your blog.<br /><br /> The West Park Civic Association held public meetings for at least a year before the Historic designation was put before council, we even held a special meeting for landlords. You as memory recalls attended none of the meetings. If there had been real opposition to such a designation expressed at any of these meetings we would not have move forward. <br /> Only when it came before council did you start your campaign of lies and fear. It was disgusting. It was my first taste of the ugly side of community volunteerism.<br /><br /> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-84899210580583787712009-04-21T14:57:00.000-04:002009-04-21T14:57:00.000-04:00Thank You, Michael. Yes, you are correct. City C...Thank You, Michael. Yes, you are correct. City Council didn't pass the legislation and then, I believe it was Ernie Toth that came out to reverse his NAY to a YEAH giveing the legis passage. By that time we began working in putting the referendum process in place, now, not choosing to give what we considered a water down version, but a version that allowed for systematic inspections. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I always knew that this wouldn't be a panacea to all that ails us in the City of Allentown. Personally, I think the legislation has suffered some problems administratively and some not wanting to cause bad feelings. So, without going into specifics, I think there were times it could have done better through no fault of those doing the work. <br />As far as Landlord Hall of Shame - I think it's Ed's way of extracting his pound of flesh. Just my opinion. I don't think that should be the city's job. There are many other things that the city should be focusing on. Again, just my opinion.<br />Kim BeitlerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-72181522435607756212009-04-21T12:37:00.000-04:002009-04-21T12:37:00.000-04:00trent, you write;
'Mike: I totally understand why...trent, you write;<br /><br />'Mike: I totally understand why a guy like you needs to lash out at guys like Scott and I"<br /><br />trent, what exactly is a guy like me? someone who speaks his mind and doesn't comment anonymously, who doesn't fabricate statistics or write ghost letters and doesn't make vague insinuations like you just did?michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-12269944559700286862009-04-21T12:22:00.000-04:002009-04-21T12:22:00.000-04:00kim, thanks for the comment and the opportunity to...kim, thanks for the comment and the opportunity to clarify my feelings. I absolutely appreciate the neighborhood groups and applaud all the good work, the real work, they do. that includes west park civic and scott armstrong. i do not see a contradiction with saying some things were done with shortcuts, i don't see criticism of specific things condemning the whole. the rental inspection passing a referendum was a no brainer, landlord bashing has been human nature for 1000 years. would you believe when you passed it 10 years later you would still be upset with landlords, and be instituting the landlord hall of shame. (maybe tar and feathers) the truth is pride of ownership cannot be legislated, but what would i know about landlording? kim, actually city council did reverse itself and pass the rental inspection law, but your groups went forward with the referendum anyway. but back to the beginning, allentown is a much better place because of the neighborhood groups, and especially your efforts.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-2762117644645003052009-04-21T12:08:00.000-04:002009-04-21T12:08:00.000-04:00Mike: I totally understand why a guy like you nee...Mike: I totally understand why a guy like you needs to lash out at guys like Scott and I. I now regret posting on your blog and causing you to fly off the handle that way. I don’t want a trophy, I was simply expressing my disappointment that even certain representatives of the faculty of ASD fall into the habit of stereotyping the student body in Allentown’s public schools. My family has experienced several very positive situations in the past two years at Trexler Middle School, and I guess it stung a little bit to see even a former teacher condemning the behavior of the entire student body for the actions of some. As for my involvement in West Park, I was simply a member of that community advocating the position I believed was in the best interests of the neighborhood. Shame on me.Trent Searnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-38262543323979761722009-04-21T11:32:00.000-04:002009-04-21T11:32:00.000-04:00Mike,
First let me say Mike that I respect you. ...Mike,<br /><br />First let me say Mike that I respect you. I think that your opinions and insight offer Allentown and it's residents a lot of good. But, I must say, don't impugn neighborhood groups, as if we're the source of all that's evil. We're not. We're fighting our butts off trying to "clean up" our city. <br />I know that we disagree on some things and we agree on some things - but I wish, if only for my own selfish needs - that you would admit that neighborhood groups do a lot of good work and consist of a lot of good people. <br />I will disagree with you on the Muhlenberg Overlay district, Historic Districts and Rental Inspections. Please remember that Rental Inspections was not passed by any government entity but by voters in the city of Allentown. Overwhelmingly. I say this not so much for you, because I realize you know the history, but many forget or weren't even here when it passed. City Council failed to support this legislation. They failed to give the residents what they wanted; thus, the voters did what was NEVER done in the city of Allentown. They ran a referendum, got the question on the ballot and voted favorably for it 84-16%. HUGE. I am proud to have been a small part of that. I wasn;t a part of neighborhood groups then but I started soon after that. <br />I would never discredit your work or your concern for the city. I also need you to see the value of mine of which I receive no pay or personal kick-back. I only do it because I want to make a difference for myself, my family, and my friends. I want what I believe you want as well an Allentown we can all be proud to live in. Thanks, Kim BeitlerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-31841588487443710042009-04-21T09:22:00.000-04:002009-04-21T09:22:00.000-04:00i have an issue with both trent and scott, and be...i have an issue with both trent and scott, and being the diplomat i am, here it goes;<br /><br />in 2000 both trent and scott used any means necessary to pass the west park historic district, including misrepresenting neighborhood support. contained within the archives of this blog is the documentation to prove my claim. this misrepresentation was abetted by the heydt administration, city council and the morning call, who all felt it was a worthwhile goal and the ends justified the means. scott occasionally asks why i keep waking this sleeping dog, it's because the same mentality keeps reoccurring. the daytime curfew and the citations against the pizza shop are just another example of some people feeling their property rights are superior to others. although the historic district is a deed restriction forever, trent moved to the muhlenberg overlay district shortly after pushing for the historic district while he lived in west park. now he writes:<br />"For those of us who can afford to leave but have made the difficult decision to stay in Allentown and send our kids to a diverse public school system,"<br />again he wants a trophy for living and staying in allentown. these ordinances which assign a pecking order to property ownership in allentown are popular. it's easy to justify thinking the private homeowner should have more rights than a "landlord", it's easy to justify thinking homeowners should have more rights than college students, it becomes more difficult justifying citing the pizza shop owner, but lets not upset the applecart which serves us and undermine our rationalizations.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-7775263213068478372009-04-21T08:37:00.000-04:002009-04-21T08:37:00.000-04:00Retired ASD teacher here.
Trent,
I am sorry you ...Retired ASD teacher here.<br /><br />Trent,<br /><br />I am sorry you consider what I offered to be a smear against all Allentown students. It's not. The opinion I expressed attempted to describe only those students who choose to break the rules.<br /><br />My greatest admiration is for posters who express their views after having "been there, done that." I appreciate the credibility of their observations.<br /><br />I worked in Allentown for more than 30 years. I was assaulted about a dozen times. I saw evidence of hundreds of weapon confiscations. I had a trusting rapport with many troubled kids. They shared their stories, their beliefs. Many are now incarcerated, others now murdered. Surely NOT the public education experience I had as a youth. <br /><br />I stand by what I wrote in hope it will help us all to better understand the problems we now deal with.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-62109370617296731032009-04-20T22:11:00.000-04:002009-04-20T22:11:00.000-04:00trent, i wouldn't fault the retired teacher for fr...trent, i wouldn't fault the retired teacher for frankness, if you need encouragement to send your child to a certain school, maybe you should look elsewhere.<br />let me impose on you, as a zoning professional who lives in the overlay district, do you agree with anon 9:01 about the futility of zoning challenges, or maybe that position is a hope and prayer that nobody ever does?michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-60445395457966062802009-04-20T21:50:00.000-04:002009-04-20T21:50:00.000-04:00Chris,
Insult is the vehicle of choice for those...Chris,<br /><br /> Insult is the vehicle of choice for those with no substantive argument. Your post is that and nothing more; it is sadly typical of what passes for dialogue on otherwise important issues in the city.<br /><br /> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com