Looking Like The Students

Nobody wants to be called a racist, and everybody walks on eggshells when discussing the current situation in the Allentown School District. The recent fad in urban education was that the person who the students see in leadership, should look like them, and that meant black or brown, but not white.

School Boards have hired Superintendents of color, who in turn hired principals of color. There has developed a large demand for a rather smaller pool of qualified candidates, who meet the color test. Here in Allentown, the superintendent we hired was actually paid off to leave a similar position in New England. We in turn have just suspended, with pay, a new principal at Harrison Morton, who kicked out the window in a police cruiser last weekend. 

The core of school directors who adhered to the color test are not running for reelection. By good fortune, we have a pool of new candidates, who are very qualified to improve the district.

One Term Mackenzie

On Wednesday's post, a commenter asked me how I claim to be a conservative, when I don't endorse Trump's Americanism. I wouldn't call Trump's agenda American values, and Mackenzie's sycophantic behavior may well be a bad bet on his part. His reported answers on the WFMZ Iannelli interview were way too safe for me. 

The most independent that he could be was to agree with Iannelli that certain behaviors were wrong, such as going after political enemies, but he stopped way short of calling Trump out on them. Closing the border is a horse that can be ridden only so far. 

When science research against cancer is defunded, and a president babbles on against Tylenol, people with a grade 12 education wince. When enough people wince, over one misstep or another, that party suffers in the midterms. The WFMZ interview was an opportunity for Mackenzie to present himself as his own man...he failed to do that.

In terms of being independent and your own man, this blog (me) has moved more to the center. As a conservative independent, many of my readers are Republican. Many people cannot understand that there are independents like myself, who really do not adhere to one party or another. Likewise, they may not understand that this blog is not written for monetary compensation. I express my opinion, readers are welcome to come and go.

This isn't my first post critical of Mackenzie. It is my hope that he comes to assert himself when Trump introduces a flawed policy, and I can vote for him in 2026.

Morning Call Malarkey

The Morning Call headline stated that an Iron Chef is making a bet on Allentown. Anybody who has a paid subscription to the paper knows better than that. We've seen Reilly's City Center RE subsidize one new restaurant after another, since Shula's opened on the Arts Walk in 2015. 

We old timer subscribers have seen one Morning Call Reporter, after another, present a news release as news. 

I watched Josh Shapiro on Meet The Press this past Sunday. As a possible Democrat for 2028, he'll  have to present Allentown as a feather in his cap. When the press comes to the Queen City in 2028, I doubt that they'll be able to eat at Jose Garces' Okatshe Japanese Restaurant. For Hamilton Street, three years is an eternity.

No False Modesty For Trump At UN

Nobody will ever accuse Donald Trump of false modesty. In his typical kingly fashion, he let the United Nations know about all the wars he stopped. He was subdued about the wars he would supposedly end on day one, Gaza and Ukraine. There, he has emboldened Netanyahu and Putin to ratchet things up.

While he and MAGA continue their self congratulator interplay, the rest of the world is forced to be silent and polite. After all, the United States remains the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, even if our current leadership is very quirky.

While we have had issues with the UN for decades, previous presidents had met the situation with attempts to gain better value for our investment, as opposed to Trump's dismissive and disruptive posturing.

Better Grades For School Board

The upcoming election for Allentown School Board has five grade A candidates. Among them are two veterans of previous boards, again volunteering their experience.

Bob Smith Jr. is a well known activist in Allentown, with several previous school board terms on his resumé. The same applies to David Zimmerman, who also again is offering his experience to the troubled district.

The current board and administration has been very preoccupied with racial identity. While that is an important consideration in a system with a minority majority, education and leadership will always be the most valuable attributes for student success. With that in mind, I make the following recommendations.

Two Year Opening

Bob Smith Jr. for two year term. Smith is also on the ballot for a four year spot, but my vote will go for the two year slot, that way we can get five great board members.

Four Year Openings

1. Evette D'Amore- Evette has two sons at Dieruff, and is very active in the school system.

2. David Zimmerman- Dave is experienced on school matters and willing to serve again.

3. Tom Houck- retired city policeman and activist

4. Dianne Michels- Special Ed teacher with Masters in Education.

Trump As Biff In Back To The Future

We're in a dangerous time. We have a bully in the White House, who isn't anywhere near bright as he thinks. Back from England, he said of broadcast media,"They're 97 percent against(me); they give me only bad press. I mean, they're getting a license...I would think maybe their license should be taken away." 

Ted Cruz was critical of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's statement to networks "We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way", but not exactly for the right reason. Cruz is afraid that such heavy handedness by the FCC will hurt conservatives when the Democrats come back into power. 

After eight months of Trumpism, it's encouraging when somebody even suggests that the emperor has no clothes. There will be more of Cruz speaking up, because Trump will say something about the Texas senator being out of line...Trump can't help himself. Because Trump's mouth runneth over, eventually, more Republicans will put on their big boy pants...hopefully in time to repair some of the damage.

While late night comedy thrived on making fun of Biff/Trump, Trump did Jimmy Kimmel a favor. Kimmel will emerge somewhere as the official spokesman against the naked emperor. Who knows, he might even run for congress.

In the meantime, the Trump machine had a revival yesterday at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. Vance was front and center, hoping to be the heir apparent for 2028.

First Amendment Issues In Lehigh Valley

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has made its way into the Lehigh Valley... Last week Kelly Keegan in Northampton County, and this week in Lehigh County with Josh Siegel. Both have been accused of making insensitive comments concerning Mr. Kirk's life and death. Although Siegel's comments were more measured, they still garnered backlash.

Additionally, two late night hosts have lost their slots, and the Trump administration is expanding the previous parameters of hate speech.

I find all of this disturbing, especially as a blogger, who scrutinizes local government. More disturbing is corporate America being intimidated by the government, against their employees and talent. Expect less jokes on your late night television.

Siegel's Canned Speech

After Iannelli recorded the Business Matters debate between Josh Siegel and Roger MacLean, there was some buzz about how acrimonious the show was. I also saw some recent comment about how Siegel washed the studio up with MacLean. As a local political blogger I felt compelled to watch it, although it was more painful than I feared. It wasn't MacLean beat up, but rather Siegel beating himself up, with canned platitudes.

Siegel thinks that he can beat MacLean by attaching him to Trump and MAGA. Although he did mention federal budget cuts that could challenge the county, his persistence with that line became quickly tiring. Siegel is a smooth talker, but too smooth, sounding like a door to door encyclopedia salesman.

In reality, the reports you hear about this debate are more relevant than the debate itself. No offense to Tony, but only about a dozen people ever watch the show.

Democrats Rally at Cedar Park

The new pavilion at Cedar Park had a full house for the Lehigh County Democratic Committee picnic. I understand their enthusiasm, with the Trump administration being so divisive. While Trump certainly did seal the border, the deportation portion is over the top to all but the diehard partisans.

Although the midterm is over a year away, the Mackenzie postcards have already started arriving. The Democrats don't yet even have a name to push, but their mailers are also already flowing.

If money doesn't sway too much, the County Executive seat is in play come this November. While Siegel's war-chest is huge, the Board of Commissioners is so far left, suburban voters may push back toward the center with MacLean.

photocredit:Mike Schlossberg

The Weekly Loop

When I was in high school we would drive the circuit. The circuit was from the Ritz at the fairgrounds down Hamilton Street to 6th Street, and back up Linden Street back to the fairgrounds. 

Now that I'm a senior citizen, operating an adult day care blog, I drive the loop. On the high school circuit we looked for girls, on the senior loop I look for signs of civility. The loop is down Tilghman Street from Ott to 2nd, and across and back up Linden, back to Ott St. Going down Tilghman I encountered a young man doing a wheelie on his motorcycle in the 900 block. Farther down in the 500 block a pickup truck double parked, tying up traffic in both directions. Going east on 2nd, I was passed by a scholar on the left. The scholar stayed in the left, against the oncoming lane for several blocks. He was very pleased with himself.

Back in high school on the circuit, I was never very good at meeting girls. Now as a senior citizen, I'm not very good at finding quality of life in center city Allentown.

On the quality of life topic, last week the city celebrated the renovation of the amphitheater at Joseph Daddona Park. While I usually insist on using the traditional names of our historic venues (Union Terrace), I'm using the Daddona name because his house has just been approved as a two-unit by the zoning board. That house has a lot of history, starting out as a trolley office, to a favorite mayor's pride and joy. I hope the zoning application received the proper scrutiny.

Lehigh County Blues

A Lehigh County Commissioner is blaming his arrest on the man. The commissioner, Cole-Borghi, claims that the charges and disclosure of such are political, emphasizing that he is a black man. Worse for us county taxpayers, another commissioner, Jon Irons, seconds Borghi's contentions. 

Last time I checked, two law enforcement entities were under the commissioner's purview, the Sheriff Department and the District Attorney's Office. While Borghi may be innocent of the drug charge, he is guilty of using politics and race as an excuse. Even the Lehigh County Democrats have distanced themselves from the contention that Borghi's race was a factor in his indictment.

If not for Borghi and Irons, I would probably not be making a County Executive recommendation. But, in light of how far off center the Commission has become, my vote will be going to Roger MacLean.

Morning Call Gatekeeper

Before I started this blog in 2007, I was a letter writer to the Morning Call. My letters were not well received, more often I heard back nothing. When pressed, the opinion page editor, Robert Orenstein, would usually respond that my submission was either too long or too short. While Orenstein allowed an open door for the establishment, independent voices like myself had to fight tooth and nail for some column space. 

In 2014, the then South Whitehall Commissioners tried to green light demolishing Wehr's Dam for the Wildlands Conservancy. I managed to get it postponed for public comment. Their next tactic was a disingenuous referendum, where they tried tying preserving the dam to a tax increase. When I fought against that conspiracy, Orenstein claimed that my letter was just my opinion. Imagine, sending an opinion to the opinion page?

Orenstein and some others at the Call ended up taking an early buyout offer from the Tribune. They now produce a newsletter that you can subscribe to. While they promote themselves now as journalists, they don't tell you how their gatekeeping helped keep a corrupt mayor in power, and promoted a still ongoing real estate scheme.

The Boat Landing Revisited

In 2009 and 2010, myself and half a dozen volunteers dug out the Boat Landing, buried in the 1980's by a then long standing park director. The buried stonework was in excellent condition. We dug out the steps and part of the landing at the base.

 Last week I returned to see how the structure was holding up. While the steps remain clear, several inches of silt has built up on the landing. Silt has also built up on the island, bringing it closer and closer to the landing. 

Those interested in visiting the structure can park in the small lot at the end of the parkway. That lot is just beyond the concrete bridge, above the stone arch Schreiber's Bridge. Those wanting some excerise can park at Robin Hood, and take the path to the end. You will see the top of the steps to your right.

Birthday Doodle Distraction

The amount of news coverage and analysis of a doodle from one womanizer to another is distressing. With all the disruption of government service in the name of efficiency, how can the doodle matter, and if Trump drew and sent it or not? Talk about fiddling while the city burns!

On the topic of burning cities, it's distressing to see ICE recruiting from our undermanned local police forces. An adult administration would be working toward more police officers for our communities, not offering them sign on bonuses to arrest workers at car plants and outside Home Depot.

This is not an adult administration. It has reduced previously respectful institutions to divining nonsense, because substance is no longer on the table. We'll get past it, and there will even be a presidential library, but with comic books and doodles.

The King Has Abdicated

In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you cannot sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the Hot Dog King. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.

REPRINTED FROM AUG.28, 2007

UPDATE 2016: Yocco's has announced that they have closed their original location in the 600 block of Liberty Street. 

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER 9, 2025:As I push toward eighty, I often write about things which very few of my readers remember. While we all remember and know the fair, few will remember Louis Kane's restaurant. Mr. Kane mostly operated his traveling restaurant at the fairs in the south. However, being from this area, he would also set up at the Allentown Fair, at least up to the early 1960's.

Kane's restaurant had a glass and stainless steel front, complete with glass doors. Tables were set with table cloths and silverware. Service was by waiters.  He set up across from the side entrance of the Farmers Market, on the west side of the fairgrounds. Although very successful in the south, here in Allentown the locals stayed loyal to their church and civic association tents, which were on the eastern side of the grounds.

Allentown's Department Of Neglect

Trump wants to rename the Department of Defense, the Department of War. Likewise, Allentown's Park Department should be the Department of Neglect. Bogert's Bridge has to be the classic example. Rather than just keeping it painted, it is getting a $2.7mil overhaul. It's grant money mind you, but it's the system which needs the overhaul, not the bridge. 

For the pedestrians and the occasional horse, it has plenty of structural integrity. It had seen its last motor vehicle many decades ago. Although technically a sag in the span, two concrete piers were added to the middle back in the traffic days. 

When the metal bridge in the parkway was damaged by a storm, it was replaced with a pedestrian bridge, bisecting the park to vehicle traffic. That was the time and place to spend money, and keep the park as designed. We essentially now have two parks, both depriving citizens the pleasure of driving through. The Department of Neglect has suffered from the lack of strategic planning for the last three decades.

The Strange State Of Florida

In the last few years I revealed that I have been exploring Florida. Last year, I mentioned my low-rent office, inland from Cape Canaveral. While near the marsh, I can still see Musk's endless rockets taking off, crowding space with satellites.

Florida is governed by Trump wannabe Ron DeSantis. His Nigerian born Surgeon General wants to ban childhood vaccine mandates, like Measles and Smallpox. Yesterday, he compared those vaccines to slavery. I would think that in reality, slave children were denied the medical advances of their era.

Last year, I posted about the Death Train, which speeds through sleepy towns, killing slow reacting seniors. I am of course now one of those seniors. My friends of the liberal persuasion should restrict themselves to the blue enclaves when here. Otherwise, you might find the alligators friendlier than my neighbors.

Hootchy NIghts At The Allentown Fair

Morning Call columnist Bill White had a piece earlier in the week where he lamented that  Bobo the dunking clown was no longer at the fair. Although that's about as funky as it got for Bill in his era,  we older Allentonians remember much hotter nights at the fairgrounds. Up to the late sixties the fair had girly shows. I'm going back to the era of Gooding's Million Dollar Midway and Benny's Bingo. I'm going back to three midways packed between the Farmer's Market and Chew Street. I'm going back to when the fair only started after Labor Day.

I mentioned in one of my previous fair posts that Fred Schoenk and I made and sold printed t-shirts at the fairs during high School. At the Kutztown Fair we were hired by the burlesque show owner to letter a new banner for his show tent...as high school boys we would have paid him for the experience.

reprinted from September of 2018

photocredit:molovinsky...Black rock and roll review with strippers, 1969 Allentown Fair

A Complaining Blogger and The Rose Garden Ponds

In 2008, when the Rose Garden Ponds were being rebuilt, there was an annoying blogger complaining that the pond walls were undermined when the ponds were dredged. Although they did replace that ground, he then complained about it not being compacted enough. Seventeen years later, I'm back with a bigger complaint. 

The pond walls seem to be falling apart, and quickly. Although built in the mid 1930's, they were in better shape before the restoration in 2008, than now. Perhaps they used the wrong mortar mix. Although they stood for 75 years before being restored the first time, the next restoration will have to be much, much sooner than that.

Worse for the ponds, this park administration doesn't appear to have much interest in maintaining park infrastructure. Recently, I complained about the vines destroying the park barn at 30th and Parkway Blvd.. Shingles are now starting to fall off the barn roof. The parking lot retaining wall continues to crumble. I will continue to complain.

The Good Trouble Of Eddie Aviles

The other Sunday when Eddie Aviles put on a tie and canvassed with and for the local Republicans, I told someone that it could come back to bite the Republicans. That come back didn't take long! Although Eddie was recently arrested for protesting on behalf of the homeless, the card features an old issue. Old is the keyword here. The incident referenced goes back over a decade, to 2013.

It occurs to me that the effort to defame Aviles might well backfire on Siegel and the Democrats. Eddie now gets into what John Lewis used to call good trouble. Standing up for the homeless won't lose votes with most people.

Eddie is certainly his own man. Between now and November, he could be involved in several commotions. I've always related to freelance activists, and one man bands.

Mrs. Smith Goes To 7th & Hamilton

The title above is a play on words, and actually refers to Jackie Rivera, who will probably become a County Commissioner an easier way than she expected. Her opponent, the incumbent Zachary Cole-Borghi, has been arrested and charged as part of a large marijuana ring. The Smith refers to her maiden name, being the daughter of Bob Smith Jr., local Republican and Allentown School Board candidate.

People charged with crimes have won elections before, including Allentown's mayor Pawlowski. Borghi is not charged with processing a couple joints of pot, but rather being part of an organized ring, involving large quantities and lots of money.

How the local Democratic Party will react remains to be seen. Although people are legally innocent until proven guilty, hopefully the party will at least show some integrity and shun him.

Allentown Reborn, Bullsh*t On Steroids

I'm seeing the New York Times story on Allentown's rebirth shared on Facebook by all the local cheerleaders. Although the article mentions a tax-incentive, who could comprehend that all the new construction is being financed by diverted state taxes, and that it is owned by one man? Who could conceive that the new buildings are publicly paid for, but privately owned? They do mention the man as the main developer, but don't elaborate on his windfall. In fairness to the reporter, even most locals don't understand the realities of the NIZ. 

Of course if some NYC couple decides to relocate to the reborn Allentown, they will be in for quite a surprise come dinner time. They will find that the restaurants are only open for a few nights a week. They will find that the coffee shops close at 6:00PM. They will find that the stores mentioned are the only stores there are. They will find that they have moved to a Potemkin Village.

The cheerleaders I referred to in the first paragraph all have some things in common. Either they have a business, or they're a newcomer with no frame of reference, or both. Some others are former Allentonians, also in the dark about the realities. Although this blog is in its eighteenth year, I have only resorted to off color language in this last week. Like Popeye, I could only take so much for so long.

The Mighty Atom

Years ago at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck uphill with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.
In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually since 2007

The Great Allentown Fair

The Morning Call website is hosting an archive of Fair Pictures from over the years. Being a fan both of fair pictures and black and white photography, looking at the 111 photos presented was a treat.

The photo shown above, which I will get back to, reminded me of one of my unique fair experiences. In previous posts, I have discussed that both my father and myself had stands at the fair. While my father learned that you couldn't sell hotdogs near Yocco's, I learned that drunks leaving the beer garden loved to buy printed T-shirts.

But today's post has to with George Kistler, long time City Clerk during the 1950's and 60's. George loved the fair, and loved sharing his fascination with a large group of people. I was fortunate enough to be invited several times. The routine was always the same; Dinner at a local stand on the eastern side of the fairgrounds, followed by the wrestling show. I remember photographing Andre The Giant.

The Morning Call fair picture above is none other than Jim "Super Fly" Snuka, who was recently back in Allentown, for a most regrettable reason.

reprinted from September of 2016

Beating The Crap Out Of Cedar Beach Park

As if there isn't enough events at Cedar Beach Park, the Park Department is now renting the park out to private promoters for even more events. On Saturday evening the park was mobbed for the Water Lantern Festival, operated by a private promoter. 

According to their website, tickets for the event cost $35. I don't know what kind of gate security they  had, or how many people actually paid the full freight, or what the city's take was. but I do know that the park is terribly overused and abused.

A Tuerk sycophant asked me what I thought of the city's public meetings to formulate ideas for a new park masterplan. I told him they were nonsense, and that the parks weren't meant to be a venue for every popular fad. They also were not intended to be pimped out to promotion companies.

please excuse my frank language in this post

Coffee With Emma and Ce-Ce

This blog did not take any overt positions on the recent primary election. Instead of profiling any candidate, I reprinted my piece on Emma Tropiano, 

The People's Candidate. I believe that Emma has a kindred spirit in Ce-Ce Gerlach. Now, I understand that a lot of people will take exception to my comparison, maybe even Ce-Ce herself.

Because of inaccurate media reports, Emma was falsely portrayed as bigoted. Her memory now unjustly bears that misconception. Most people today who repeat that slander never knew her. Emma was immensely popular, and easily won reelection to city council, election after election. Ce-Ce Gerlach was the top vote getter this primary, receiving almost double the votes of her fellow candidates.

As someone who knew both women, there are many similarities... Both being extremely accessible, down to earth, and making people comfortable.

Emma was energized to work hard for Allentown, as is Ce-Ce. Emma was passionate about the issues she championed, so is Ce-Ce.

I sat in diners having coffee with both of them, many years apart. I think that they would have understood and liked each other.

reprinted from 2019 with new photo

ADDENDUM AUGUST 26, 2025:I've known Ce-Ce a long time, my first post about her was in 2013. What is behind today's reprint is that Ce-Ce has announced that she will run for State Representative. She is running for the 22nd district, currently occupied by Josh Siegel, who is running for County Executive. If you check my archives, I have about a dozen different posts about Ce-Ce. I chose this one because Emma also ran for State Representative, losing to then newcomer Jennifer Mann. While Mann retired from the state house years ago, and Mike Schlossberg inherited the seat, she remains the quiet kingmaker in Allentown.

Weaponizing The White House

Over the years John Bolton has been called many things, mostly a hawk, but never disloyal to the country. He did however write and say that Trump was incredibly uninformed and unqualified as President. No good deed goes unpunished, and the FBI gave him a good housecleaning on Friday. Trump's response to news of the search... “He’s not a smart guy. But he could be a very unpatriotic guy and we’re going to find out".

I don't expect anybody in the cabinet to speak out, they're sycophants who are there for their loyalty, not their expertise or integrity. But I must wonder about the long term workers and agents assigned with such distasteful tasks. They know that they're harassing or firing or penalizing people who deserve better.

As I have written before, I think that Republicans are going to have a hard sell come mid-terms. I don't think that they need to worry about Trump promoting a primary challenger, but rather being ousted in the general for their compliance to him.  J.D. Vance apparently thinks that he is the heir apparent of the newly gilded Oval Office, parroting Trump's Blame Biden Blatter. After the Democrats retake the White House in 28, Vance can always write another book. For the former MAGA non-readers, he can record some podcasts.

Hurricane Diane, 1955

Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in August of 1955. Living in Little Lehigh Manor, I remember huddling in the house, while the metal garbage cans of the era flew around the neighborhood. My father, whose meat market was on Union Street by the Lehigh River, worked throughout the night. Fortunately for him, his market had an second floor backup cooler, and a small freight elevator. While the retail business district on Hamilton Street is elevated enough to be unaffected from flooding, center city Easton was devastated by the Delaware. The next morning was rather surreal for a nine year old boy. A large willow tree on the corner of Lehigh Parkway South and Catalina Ave. was lying on its side. Although the Little Lehigh receded quickly, the park road and basin had been flooded. Diane remains a record in flooding and damage. Let us hope it remains that way.

photo from August 1955. Lehigh River rising by former A&B Meats. The row of houses shown were demolished to make way for a new bridge approach several years later.

reprinted from August of 2011

Beyond Disillusioned With Netanyahu

Oct. 7th was atrocious, and Israel of course had the right to defend itself. The attack by Hamas was very low tech and a complete failure of Israeli security. The prolonged counterattack has been very disproportional. 

Between Trump talking about turning Gaza into a resort, and Netanyahu's government looking for other countries to take Palestinians, no wonder G-7 will recognize a Palestinian State this fall. I understand that with planned Jewish construction on the West Bank, such a State will be virtually landless for now, but world attitude favoring a state has turned strongly toward it. Netanyahu and his obsessions have done for the Palestinians what they wouldn't and couldn't do for themselves. 

More consequential is that Israel has squandered its reputation. It has depreciated the Jewish reality of the holocaust. The disservice that Netanyahu and his coalition inflicted on Israel and world Jewry will be a long term burden.

shown above the Tomb of Aaron

Mike Schlossberg's Self-Flagellation

You have to give Mike Schlossberg credit, he's not afraid to confront mental illness, in himself or his constituents. Recently, to atone for any and all misguided votes over the years, he suggested voters dunk him. For three consecutive days, Mike allowed voter after voter, regardless of political affiliation, to throw balls at the target. He was dunked no less than three hundred times.

Asked if this will be a yearly ritual, he's hesitant to commit. He doesn't doubt that his future votes will deserve public punishment, but confused by the enthusiasm of the participants. 

Some ball throwers in the long line exhibited anger far beyond any decision made in Harrisburg. His aides had to monitor against people wanting a second and third time in line, despite the long wait. His intent was to reduce mental illness, not contribute to it.

Archer Music Hall

I'm sure I don't know as much as I think I do about most things I write about, but with today's post, I know nothing. Dr. Google has been helping me out here with band schedules and reviews. If I was fifty years younger, maybe I would have heard of some of these groups, but I wasn't very hip back then either.

The reviews suggest that the venue is doing well. People complain about the wait to get in, but that suggests the shows are successful. My big question is about spin off business after the shows? I know they have their own bar, but are the other restaurants benefiting before or after the performances? Another question is about the Allentown Parking Authority. Are they preying on the concert goers?

J.B. Reilly seems intent on injecting some life into his Potemkin Village. Considering how many of our state tax dollars have been invested into his empire, we must wish him well on that.

Open Question For Bill White

In 2012, I appeared on a Business Matters show about the upcoming arena and NIZ.  I and Steve Thode from Lehigh spoke against it, while several people were chosen to champion it, including Mike Fleck and Sy Traub. 

I had been helping out the former merchants, and attended a couple meetings at City Hall with them. They were being threatened with eminent domain if they refused to sell. Although they were compensated fairly for the real estate, they got nothing for their businesses. While one of them relocated to 7th Street, all the others went out of business. In all cases it was more than their livelihood, it was also their past and future.

Bill White wrote a column about the debate, and referred to me as dour and misguided. Not one business from anywhere on Hamilton Street prior to the NIZ remains. No businesses, including restaurants, had any lasting success. Nobody still considers Hamilton Street a business district, it is now an urban office park. Mr. Fleck got indicted along with Pawlowski. Sy Traub remains on the NIZ board. 

I hoping Bill White responds to this post. Was I as misguided as you thought? BTW, I'll accept the dour label, especially when it comes to the NIZ.

Move Over Alan Jennings

Yes, I know that Jennings retired from Community Action, but there's a new sheriff in Dodge anyway. Gregory Edwards has grown his church into a multi-faceted program. A couple of years ago his organization was gifted the historic Zion Church, where the Liberty Bell was hidden during the Revolutionary War. But, the Allentown of 2025 isn't much for history. 

Resurrected Community Development Corp., an arm of Resurrected Life Community Church, will renovate and build an addition to its Children’s Academy at 916 W. Turner St. The $7mil project is mostly funded by federal tax credits funneled to the corporation by Finanta.  Finanta appears to be the king of community non-profits. It was started with a $90mil grant, and has developed into a credit union and statewide lender.

If I was a nicer and smarter man, this blog would be a 501c. It's truly non-profit, I don't even get a salary. I do, however, get a lot of dirty looks...

photocredit:Economidis/TheMorningCall

Growth Industry In Allentown

Yesterday I went to the Social Security Office, across from the prison, to discuss my retirement options. I was given number 199. In addition to retirement, Social Security also dispenses money for disability. I would say from the gray hair, there were about three of us contemplating retirement, all the others were for disability. A few middle age men were carrying their fake canes. The canes aren't fake, it's the disabilities. I saw one such gentleman walk in from the parking lot, clearly the cane bore no weight, and was merely a prop. Most of the people waiting were quite young, in their twenties. Disability has now been expanded to include mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, additive personality and anger management. I will say many of them did look angry to me. It was hard finding a parking space. Business also looked good at the prison. If Johnny Manana's had gotten these crowds....

reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008

Mackenzie's Two Way Bet

Every time I hear Ryan Mackenzie say One Big Beautiful Bill, I cringe. Before its passage, he was astute enough to say that his support would be conditional on maintaining certain benefits and safety nets. Since his yes vote, he has decided to bet it all on Trump. He has been touring local businesses, owning his vote on it.

By now most of my highly informed readers know that Allentown is to receive $20 mil, intended to increase employment. The $20mil coming Allentown's way is preordained to be wasted. Mayor Tuerk says...This funding is advancing a comprehensive strategy. Tuerk plans to distribute it to forty different non-profits, with the pretense of creating 650 real jobs in the manufacturing sector. Tuerk is entrusting his former employer, Allentown Economic Development Corp., to lead the effort. A sub-organization has been created called  Allentown Works Cohort. Neighborhood captains are being hired. The usual excuses will be offered for the unemployed... they will need computers to learn of the available jobs. They will need cars to get to a job. They will need childcare while they work. The reality of an unmotivated class, satisfied with harvesting various government programs instead of working, is never considered.

In five years if they audit how many new employees were created, and what it cost the taxpayer per job, it will be no surprise if the effort wasn't cost effective, to say the very least and be polite. When questioned if the grant could get eliminated by the Trump administration, we're assured that Congressman Ryan Mackenzie will make sure that doesn't happen. SO, it appears that the congressman is all for the Big Beautiful Bill eliminating waste, except locally, where people vote for him! 

This blog post may well offend everybody... Democrats, Republicans and fellow independent conservatives, but I'm an equal opportunity offender when it comes to stating the obvious.

ADDENDUM 6:00AM: After touting the Big Beautiful Bill for the last two weeks, Mackenzie spent yesterday running around telling local non-profits not to worry about losing funding. Maybe Ryan should have thought about these cuts before he voted yes with the other yes men. He's standing up in Allentown (since yesterday), will he stand up in Washington?

photocredit:GGolter/TheMorningCall

Discrimination Allentown Style

It seems odd to me that someone can fabricate a crime, and then get ARD for only admitting to it after DNA tests ruled out any other suspects. I'm not questioning the legal precedent for it, and I confess that I'm not motivated to research the topic, but it seems the local legal system is buying into the wokeness of the incident... That would be that although she faked the discrimination, certainly enough other people have been discriminated against that the staged act is understandable.

 

The Allentown Police caught heck for describing it as a small noose, and the FBI took over the investigation. We also ended up with a pricy Philadelphia law firm investigating the discrimination. I do not believe that the fabricator deserves incarceration, but isn't ARD for things smaller than attracting national news?

Likewise, she is allowed to remain on the school board, because after all she is not running for re-election. I would think that she should have the intuition to resign from the board, sorta of a right vs wrong example for the students... of course I live in another world from another time.

photocredit:April Gamiz/MorningCall

As Tuerk Spins

No sooner than I announced last week that this blog was becoming a semiweekly, I had to bring out a special edition to break the story that Tuerk was pulling the plug on the Jordan Creek encampment. The city was facing a strong lawsuit from developer Nat Hyman, who ironically donated some of the land for the Jordan Meadows park walk. I also broke the story that Hyman won't stand down, unless additional conditions are met. Tuerk's turnaround on the encampment created some flak from his most progressive supporters, and the camper's claim that he broke a promise. While the non-profits are gnashing their teeth about the displacement, not a tear was shed or word said when the previous homeless encampment was unceremoniously removed from the Basin Street area, opposite the Parkettes. That eviction was to accommodate a commercial developer, and the city built him a bridge to boot. While we're dressing up all the remaining private buildings near Reilly's NIZ holdings, we dumped the homeless at Hyman's doorstep.

Also on Tuerk's list of problems is another black eye for the police department. Another officer is accused of misconduct, for pistol whipping a denizen after a police chase. Chief Roca being Hispanic fills Tuerk's diversity agenda, but his leadership abilities are coming more and more into question.

Shown above is not Musikfest, nor even an event hip enough for Mayor Matt, but rather the Allentown Band playing in West Park. The Allentown Band started in 1828, and is the oldest band in the United States. Molovinsky On Allentown started in 2007, and is the oldest continuous blog in Allentown. Although I just announced last week that I was reverting to a semiweekly schedule, my only sponsor, Hess's Department Store, demands that I remain in publication every weekday.

photocredit:Jeff Wetherhold

Frustration Over The Trexler Trust

Besides the Trust, those who identify with the local establishment will take offense at this post, but I wasn't on their Christmas list since never.  Although they may take offense, they hear me, and let me remind them of a time not that long ago.  

Every Saturday morning Pawlowski would meet with his Kitchen Cabinet in the back room of the Hamilton Family Diner. The Cabinet had no less than two sitting Trust members and a local judge. The Cabinet met for about a decade, until the FBI indictment, then it disbanded faster than Pawlowski could ask what happen?

So what's the message of my post? The Trust remains political, endorsing the interests of an administration, rather than that of the park system. Even the new Parknership, mostly financed by the Trust, is directing their resources to the park system's existing agenda. That agenda is replacement oriented, as opposed to maintenance conscious. Over the years we have lost numerous park features we could never afford to replace. They range from a magnificent greenhouse in Trexler Park, to a small, simple wooden bridge to a now neglected island in Lehigh Parkway.

Shown above is the retaining wall by the parking lot at the park office. It's small potatoes, but about a decade ago I mentioned to the park department that the wall needed some patching. I have mentioned it at least every couple years since. Perhaps their plan, if they have one, is to wait until it crumbles, then replace it. They're not much for a stitch in time saves nine.

Some of the older readers may know who was in the kitchen cabinet mentioned above. Please refrain from mentioning any names in any comments, that's not my point, nor will I print them.

SPECIAL EDITION Homeless Moving To Allentown Rose Gardens SPECIAL EDITION

Nat Hyman filed a legal action against the city in regard to the homeless encampment by one of his buildings. I do not find his action inappropriate.  The city then asked Hyman if he would take in some of the homeless....That request I do find inappropriate. They would not have asked Reilly to put up the homeless in a Strata building.

Years ago, Pawlowski took a local developer off the hook,  purchasing two parcels we did not need for parks. One on Basin St., and the other the old fertilizer plant on Martin Luther King. We didn't need them then and we don't need them now. 

Although I'm a self-proclaimed park expert, I must admit I have not been to the Jordan Meadows parkway along the Jordan Creek. I will refrain from opining if the park was advisable, but since we created it, we must maintain it. Comments on yesterday's post on the homeless maintain that the city has adopted a too woke attitude tolerating homelessness.  Rather than rehash that discussion, let's say that all sections of the city deserve the same treatment. Would that encampment be tolerated in the Rose Garden?

above reprinted from April 8, 2025

AUGUST 6, 2025: SPECIAL EDITION  **AN OUTSIDER RUMOR CLAIMS THAT THE CITY WILL MOVE THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT BY AUGUST 25TH, TO AN AS OF YET UNDETERMINED LOCATION.**(IT WON'T BE THE ROSE GARDENS :) )

UPDATE 2:15PM: Homeless camp posted that they must vacate by August 25th because they're in a flood plain.

UPDATE 2:25PM:  Hyman has informed MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN that he will NOT withdraw the lawsuit unless          

1. They will not allow the homeless to return                                             

2.  They will clean up all the mess left behind                                                

3.  They create a landscape equal to other parks                                          

4. There will be ongoing policing of that area

Grassroots Politics In Allentown

If you're a student of grassroots politics in Allentown, chances are that you know Robert Trotner. This political and community activist has been encouraging political newcomers for a number of years, through both an internet radio show and coffee house gatherings. His recent meetings at the Coffee House Without Limits has attracted new candidates for mayor, city council and the school board. While their names are mostly new to the general public, all of them are involved in the process already, attending meetings and studying Allentown's problems.

I have been a supporter of local outsider politics for decades. These are the people you see at the meetings, week after week. They are the ones that fight the battle for everyone else.  They are the ones who speak out for the many who remain silent.  While a few get elected and become mainstream, most remain unelected, and unrecognized for their commitment.  Reporting their accomplishments has always been an honor for this blog.

Shown sitting with Trotner is City Council candidate Jessica Lee Ortiz and School Board candidate Phoebe Harris.

reprinted from February of 2017

ADDENDUM AUGUST 4, 2025:The two gentlemen, Lewis Shupe and Robert Trotner, are both still at it, and at it again. Although they never stopped their activism, they're putting coffee in the cup again at a physical location. You're welcome to join them tomorrow night(August 5) at Starbucks, 645 Hamilton Street at 6:00PM. I recall years ago meeting Josh Siegel at such a meeting, before he ever ran for any office.

Trump Price Is Wrong

Trump will be costly, very bigly, very soonly.  He misthinks that he can weaponize tariffs to control the foreign policy of our allies, as in regard to Palestinian recognition.  His pal in arrogance, Netanyahu, has undone years of good will building by Israel, by weaponizing food in Gaza.

The monetary price for Trump's vacillations will be borne by USA consumers. What he accomplishes on a Monday, he squanders by Thursday. The political price, while slower to show up, will be coming. Biden didn't become incompetent until the end of his term, Trump's already showing his shortcomings.

When Republicans will stand up and speak out remains to be seen. Only partisans can still accept the silence... support from independents has already been lost. I don't see Trump really caring about the Republican Party and reining himself in. Incumbents will have to distance themselves from His Highness to secure their political future.

I'm a fan of the old Drew Carey Show reruns, it is difficult for me to accept that he became a game show host.

The Dinosaurs Of Sumner Avenue

Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. By the early 1970's, although most of the coal yards were closed for over a decade, the machines of that industry still stood on Sumner Avenue. Eventually, they took a short trip to one of the scrap yards, which are still on the same avenue, but not before I photographed them.

reprinted from 2011

photocredit:molovinsky

Breaking Ground On Allentown's Future Demise

Yesterday, J.B. Reilly broke ground on another residential building. Back in 2011, this blog wondered why the Morning Call parcel was included in the NIZ map, when it stood across from Linden Street by itself...I suppose now we know the answer. 

This 15th Strata is called the Standard, and Reilly pledges to make some of its studio apartments affordable. That status will be down the road anyway. Because his new residential buildings have failed to gentrify downtown, they can't even support a food court, they will become the future's tenements soon enough. No less than four of our elected representatives were there to help Reilly celebrate his prosperity, it's certainly not ours! 

In addition to our clueless officials, the Morning Call ran a 16 to 26 photo spread on the charade, depending on which version you see. Does the paper's new staff even know that this parcel were their former offices, when they had offices, before working from home?  If my posts seem shorter, it's because my confidence in Allentown's relevance is becoming dimmer.

photocredit/AprilGamiz/TheMorningCall

As Allentown Turned Last Week

Last week I reported that the Morning Call was taking back their story about the immigrant deported to Guatemala by ICE, bit by bit. They started doing this after a national columnist, who the Call themselves have used in the past, reported that the story was fake. The columnist, Jonathan Turley, wrote that newspapers can't resist overlooking usual verification when the subject matter is ICE, or other social justice issues...It's called advocacy journalism. In the current MC article, the paper simply states,  The Morning Call has since unpublished those stories based on additional information that has come to light. While the original story was signed by reporter names, the current article is signed Morning Call staff.

Last week I got the following comment...Hey Mike if you ever need a break i started my own blog under Allentown Truth. While the blogger is anonymous, he uses the pseudonym Honest Abe. I always need, but never take a break. I have included Allentown Truth on the blog list located on the sidebar of my desktop version.

staff photo

The 37th Sport, Grass Parking

The theme of the SportsFest coverage on Sunday was that 36 different sports were being played at one location, CedarBeach Park. Anybody who drove up either Ott or Hamilton Street knows that records were also broken in Grass Parking. Rented security personnel continued directing vehicles to the meadow just west of the swimming pool, and up to the tree planted area toward Hamilton Street, until every square foot was jam packed. I'm conflicted about parking on the grass. Although MayFair through Sportsfest is certainly rough on the grass, it's only two months of the year, and thousands of people are served by the events. I do find it environmentally hypocritical to park on the grass, but institute a no mow zone denying access and view of the stream. Perhaps the Park Department should conduct a public input meeting on these issues. Could you imagine a meeting with citizens and the Park Department, without paid consultants, and projects which cost $millions? 

above reprinted from July of 2012 

ADDENDUM JULY 28, 2025: AwesomeFest is Sportsfest on steroids, which I suppose is a dirty word in sports competition. Although that former open space toward Hamilton Street is now planted orchard style with trees, the cars park in the park everywhere else, including on the grass along Linden Street. About twenty years ago, the Trexler Trust had a study commissioned which concluded that CedarBeach Park was being overused, and that was with a fraction of the current events held there now. Also, since that time, the Trexler Trust has relinquished any pretext of monitoring the park department for agendas outside of their founder's intent...on the contrary, they have become merely silent sycophants of the park department, with a big wallet.

Allentown's Council Of Disappointment

Allentown City Council never fails to disappoint. On Wednesday evening they voted to fund another non-profit to promote business on Hamilton Street. Although J.B. Reilly essentially now owns Hamilton Street, the taxpayers are once again providing a service to enrich him...we're also dressing up the buildings he doesn't own, to make the streetscape better for him. Council was told  "a thriving downtown is the heartbeat of a city, and that success would permeate throughout the entire city." 

Ce-Ce Gerlach wanted to know what color the people working for the new non-profit will be? In our Allentown, color is more important than actual qualifications. Cynthia Mota said "With this initiative, I'm excited that the wealth will be trickling down.” 

I see the this new non-profit as another job program, like Promise Neighborhoods. Although it won't fulfill the mission that it was created for, it will give some people a paycheck, and make other people feel better about themselves.

staff photo

The Morning Call and Matt Tuerk Jump In Ice Water

Many people, even a conservative independent like myself, are distressed about immigrants being sent to El Salvador and the new Alligator Alcatraz. While I fully support our beefed up southern border, some due process should be required for the current ICE grabs within the country. It appears as if the Morning Call went with a family's claim that their grandfather was grabbed in Philadelphia and deported to Guatemala. The family then updated their story that he was in a hospital in Guatemala, but didn't want to return to the USA. Guatemala claims that he was never there, in prison or hospital. Earlier in the month, Mayor Matt Tuerk asked a local judge to review ICE activity at the courthouse.

The Morning Call's disputed story on a supposed ICE-nap is featured on Jonathan Turley's column. Although the Call has walked the story back in bits and pieces, Turley thinks that left of center newspapers can't resist overlooking usual verification when the subject matter is ICE or other social justice issues, calling it advocacy journalism. 

I initially hesitated about this post... but then I recalled that about a decade ago, when I was championing for Wehr's Dam, the paper was resisting publishing a letter of mine on the Opinion Page. The editor claimed that my letter was just my opinion, not verifiable facts. Imagine sending an opinion to the opinion page!

shown above Kristi Noem and prisoners checking each other out in El Salvador

The Union Terrace Train

The Conrail engine backs across Walnut Street, as it delivers a flatbed of large granite slaps and blocks to the Wentz Memorial Company, by 20th and Hamilton Streets. Years earlier, the spur route extended across Hamilton Street and terminated at the building across from school district stadium, now occupied by the park department. On its run to Wentz, it went through the auto junkyard, continued on past the now closed Allentown Metal Works, and crossed the trestle in Lehigh Parkway. At Union Terrace the track was next to the former ice skating pond, behind the WPA Amphitheater Stage Mound. This photograph was taken by Dave Latshaw in the 1979, and is part of the Mark Rabenold collection. Rabenold is a local train historian, specializing in Allentown's former branch lines.

reprinted from September 2011

ADDENDUM JULY 23, 2025:In addition the little train trestle, there was also a small pedestrian bridge to Union Terrace from Walnut Street. Rather than being repaired, that small walk bridge was removed about a decade ago, isolating the park from Walnut Street. Restoring that bridge should be a priority of the park system.

End Of The Line In Allentown

Shown above is the former Wentz Tombstone shop at 20th and Hamilton Streets. Shown leading up to the workshop were tracks of the former Quarry Barber train spur.  Many years earlier, the line crossed Hamilton and served a former soda bottling plant on Linden Street, behind the stadium.  That building eventually was taken over by the park department, which allowed it to deteriorate, rather than replace the roof. The park department still believes in neglect, rather than maintenance.  

Before the flatcar with granite reached the tombstone plant, it traveled between the stage and pond at Union Terrace. Two small bridges crossed the waterway behind the pond, one for the train and one for pedestrians coming to the park from Walnut Street.

I have been campaigning to get the park department to replace the pedestrian bridge it had removed, rather than repair it about eight years ago. There is nobody in the administration that remembers the bridge, they're all newcomers to town. But I remember, and I don't mind reminding them.

Allentown Archeological

It's not as easy as it appears providing the only critique of city government in Allentown, and doing it for eighteen years. The established news agencies want to keep their access lines open, and bite their tongues... And I'm only referring to the few reporters with enough institutional knowledge to know the difference between the bull and the reality.

Needless to say I'm not a popular guy, and I'm not even compensated:) There are no ads here, and no begging for donations, I don't even dance for comments. Anywho, I do occasionally need a break from the establishment's admiration for me. Because I take some pride in having something printed here every weekday, my vacations are the archeological pieces.

The photo above is from the former Wentz tombstone company at 20th and Hamilton. My own great grandmother's first marker lay on the grounds there, after it had been replaced many years earlier. A good portion of the new Allentown doesn't even know the place was ever there.