Feb 7, 2025

A Flash From Allentown's Past

In a 1997 Allentown of long ago, a controversial councilwoman lost a primary election for mayor by one vote. The councilwoman, Emma Tropiano, actually became more controversial after she passed away. She was branded as a racist by a newspaper at the time quick to judge. Years later, I heard the accusation/slur repeated by people who actually never knew her. But this post isn't about her, but about the person who beat her by one vote, Marty Velazquez. 

Velazquez was also a councilperson, and the first person with a Spanish name to serve in that position.  On Wednesday night, we learned that Marty is once again going to serve the city of Allentown, this time as the city's new HR director. 

Marty's hire is welcome by everybody, even this blogger! After last serving on council over twenty years ago, he re-enters a city hall mired in allegations of discrimination.  He has both the background and institutional knowledge to make a positive difference.

Feb 6, 2025

Trump Endangers Hostages


As Trump addressed Gaza at this press conference Tuesday night, I feared for the remaining hostages in Gaza. Trump was leaving nothing on the table for the Palestinians, much less Hamas, in whose hands the fate of the hostages lay.

As an independent, I could not bring myself to vote for the top of the ticket this past November. Both Republicans and Democrats complained that my decision was a vote for the other side. I mention this again, because after Tuesday night my non-vote decision was reaffirmed.

I was disappointed on Wednesday to read that Marco Rubio said...  As @POTUS shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again.. Although never thought of as a diplomat, his appointment as Secretary of State seemed less far out than some other cabinet picks.  Although all secretaries serve at the pleasure of the President, Rubio didn't have to parrot Trump's real estate banter.

Needless to say, Trump's plan won't play well in the Arab world. It won't even play well anywhere else in the world. Hopefully he'll start walking it back sooner than later.

Feb 5, 2025

Ce-Ce And Me


Ce-Ce Gerlach rocked South 16th Street this afternoon with a block party to raise funds for school uniforms. The block was packed with people enjoying several carnival attractions, music and food. From all reports, the new Allentown school uniform policy seems to have gotten off to a good start, but one issue is the cost of the  clothes.  With a large, low income student body, this can become a family hardship.  I'm sure Ce-Ce's organizing abilities  will help with this problem.  I've had a couple of conversations with Ce-Ce this past month, and I believe she will be a factor in Allentown's future.

above reprinted from September 7, 2013

UPDATE January 30,2018: Last evening I attended an early kickoff for Ce-Ce's campaign for Allentown City Council in 2019.  I've known Ce-Ce for years, and am glad to see her again offering her time and energy to Allentown.  In this sorry time we need people with her sincerity and integrity.

In regards to this sorry time,  it's my understanding that the prosecution against Pawlowski had a strong showing in court yesterday. Numerous witnesses, including former city employees, described bid rigging and a pay to play culture. Supposedly, the defense attorney seemed exasperated, and Pawlowski himself somewhat forlorn.

ADDENDUM MAY 30, 2023: This post harks back to 2013. Over the last ten years I have posted often about Ce-Ce. While she was trying to raise money for student uniforms back then, they have just become optional. While her progressive politics didn't earn my endorsement for the recent primary, come November Ce-Ce will certainly retain her City Council seat. 

Show above is the street party she organized in 2013. She is speaking with a member of the Buffalo Soldiers, a Black motorcycle club which visited the event.

ADDENDUM FEBRUARY 5, 2025: Someone recently assumed that I didn't like Ce-Ce. On the contrary, I like her a lot. However, I couldn't be more opposed to some of her recent politics. One such initiative of hers is coming to vote tonight at city council....The Welcoming City Designation. At a time when gang members from Venezuela are being located and arrested, this would be a designation that Allentown surely doesn't need.

Feb 4, 2025

No Liberal Fix For The Carnage In Allentown

A shooting outside of an after hours club on Union Blvd. kept the emergency room busy. While one victim died, the other three survived. The newspaper tells us that this is the first homicide of 2025, after a recent low number in 2024.  What we're not told about last year is the total number of shootings, and bullets fired.  To this observer, those are the numbers that count.

The shooting isn't what brings us today's post, but rather the quote from Josh Siegel. “After-hour clubs like BKK Lounge undermine Allentown’s quality of life and our goal of building a safer city,... I believe in a vibrant and thriving nightlife, but not at the expense of safety and security"

Josh Siegel is the state rep from Allentown center city and aspiring to be county executive. If the current  Morning Call reporters had more institutional memory, they would remember when not that many years ago Josh marched up Hamilton Street with the Defund The Police crowd. I'll spare Josh some of the chants shouted that day, but they surely will not appear in his campaign literature. If the APD had more boots on the ground, perhaps cars could be assigned to the clubs' parking lots. It's not the first shooting outside one of these places.

Feb 3, 2025

Prostitutes and Rape in Allentown

A former Allentown police officer is charged with rape. News headlines tell us that someone can be sentenced to life in prison for certain rapes.  A street walker gets into a car voluntarily, discovers the driver is a cop, and then complains that she performed a sex act under duress, is that rape?  If an officer coerces someone he pulled over in a traffic stop for a sex act, that is rape. If a cop pulls a young girl into his car, that is rape. I understand that my feminist readers will take offense with this post. Many of my posts offend someone.

Supposedly these indiscretions were alleged before, and the previous DA declined to prosecute. There appears to be new allegations that the charged officer withheld confiscated drug money from the department. The illegality of that charge would be indisputable. Apologies, but I find rape too strong of a word against a prostitute who got into a car to perform a sex act.

Regardless of my outlook on the situation, Mayor Tuerk has a conundrum to straighten out before the upcoming election. He has stood behind police chief Roca since being elected. Will Tuerk continue that support, or will Roca find himself under a Lanta bus?

Jan 31, 2025

Allentown Investigation Goes International

Allentown City Council traded a former FBI agent familiar with the city (He investigated the Pawlowski administration), for an international law firm, with offices in United States, United Kingdom and Asia. While we must still pay the former investigator, Scott Curtis, the time clock will soon start ticking with Duane Morris law firm, at over $1200 an hour.

Taxpayers can thank Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Candida Affa and Santo Napoli for treating our taxes like money is no object.  The $64K dollar question, or I should say the $640K question, is what was Matt Tuerk afraid of Scott Curtis disclosing?

The original purpose of examining city hall had to do with discrimination.  With the obstacles placed in the way of the Curtis investigation by Tuerk, I think a second investigation of Tuerk's motives would not be inappropriate.

Jan 30, 2025

The Day Non-Profits Stood Still


The local non-profits were wringing their hands over Trump's grant fund disruption. Needless to say also the local elected Democrats were expressing their disapproval over such an insensitive measure. Bethlehem mayor Reynolds whined that the Trump funding freeze is ‘an existential threat’ to city’s 78,000 residents.

The dilemma even challenged the newly elected Republicans. Arnaud Armstrong, spokesman for Ryan McKenzie, had to show concern for the unfounded fears of local constituents, but at the same time not be critical of the Trump administration. Of course former Congresswoman Susan Wild would not have been under such constraints.

Although the Trump administration had made it clear that it was a temporary freeze which didn't affect normal disability or rent subsidies, etc., by late yesterday afternoon they had to rescind the hold on funding. I expect that next time the administration will issue more targeted holds. I also suspect that some of these more nebulous non-profits will have to disguise themselves to have more legitimate purpose.

Jan 29, 2025

A Noose, A City Council And A School Board In Allentown


The plot has thickened in the Allentown City Hall noose case. The alleged victim, LaTarsha Brown, refused to volunteer a DNA sample to the FBI. Public speculation is trending toward the victim having fabricated the incident.

The current situation caught the attention of councilwoman Candida Affa, who is accused of racism by a deputy city clerk. Affa commented publicly about the Brown case on social media: "I’m thinking of those poor employees ..managers ….The Director.. who had to go through interviews and possibly DNA testing….Not one refused I repeat NOT ONE refused to cooperate. These are the workers we should be concerned about not one person is claiming to be victim."

All the above might be the good news.  The bad news might be that LaTarsha is also a school board member. It seems to this observer that the school board has been more concerned with racial identity issues than education.

shown above protest at city hall over noose

Jan 28, 2025

French Hill




French Hill went straight up from the old mill along the Nashua River, in Nashua, New Hampshire. It was always a poor neighborhood, housing mill workers and immigrants going back over a hundred years. Almost all the buildings on the narrow streets were wood, except the churches. The name came from the many French Canadians drawn there to work. I lived on the Hill during the early 1970's, on the top floor of a triplex.



The old wooden three unit was heated by gas space heaters and the whole building would rumble and shake when a vehicle came down the street. In the morning I would walk down the hill, through the mill property and over a pedestrian bridge to the old main street, where I worked in a photography store. A google search tells me that the neighborhood now houses street gangs. Nashua is right over the border from Massachusetts, yet I would have never imagined such urban problems reaching so far north.


The above post is a reprint from 2010.  Years ago I also never imagined Allentown having gangs,  nor the shootings and stabbings which are now occurring.

Jan 27, 2025

Allentown's Buffet Of Legal Cases

The Morning Call's Lindsay Weber did a good job of presenting the smorgasbord of legal cases currently involving the city of Allentown. She appropriately peppered her article with alleged and supposedly. Myself, not being a trained journalist, but rather an abrasive blogger, will add some speculations to her piece. Unfortunately, as you can see from the screen grab above, the Morning Call article is for subscribers only. The wisdom of that policy is above my pay-grade. I'm such an amateur that this blog is not monetized in any way. If you need reference to the MC article, you'll either have to buy a subscription, or find/buy  a copy of Sunday's paper.

The Tuerk administration's refusal to honor council's Scott Curtis investigation was flimsy. Bids and proposals are brought into compliance all the time. Council's reversal on the Curtis investigation is political, with Tuerk  holding sway with a council majority against Zucal's primary challenge. The motives for the Duane Morris replacement investigation, in this blogger's opinion, should itself be investigated.

I believe that one thing the paper and blog concur on is that the city government is as conflicted as ever. However, I believe that the only thing worse than such government conflict, is totally smooth sailing. That's when the real shenanigans occur, as during the Pawlowski administration.

Jan 24, 2025

Blue Light Special From Lehigh County

I suspect that even from Harrisburg, Josh Shapiro can see the blue beams projected into the sky from Allentown. Those beams come from both City Hall and the Lehigh County building. 

Last week County Commissioner Jon Irons pitched totally blue Allentown City Council on becoming a Welcoming City. The mostly blue county is contributing $650k to the affordable housing project on Walnut Street. When all said and done from various levels of government, that feel-good will cost the taxpayers over $20mil.  

The county does have a moral obligation to make sure that the  historic Cedarbrook remain in good operation. Started over a  hundred years ago as the county poor home, it evolved into a nursing home for low income seniors. A decade ago, Cedarbrook's future was in doubt... County nursing homes became unfashionable. Fortunately, both Lehigh and Northampton continue to meet that commitment.

Outside of the city boundaries, local Republicans were encouraged by a few wins, likely helped with Trump's coattails. The midterms in 2026 will be competitive and expensive.

Jan 23, 2025

Pawlowski Supporters Hard Of Hearing

T J Rooney, former long time Harrisburg incumbent, is now a lobbyist who tried to get a Pawlowski commutation onto Biden's desk. Alan Jennings, former patron saint of poverty, has championed for Ed Pawlowski since they led the former mayor out of the courthouse. Jennings bent a lot of arms as head of Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley, and even sent at least one person to jail himself.

Now that the Joe Biden pardon window has closed, Rooney will look for some influence with the Trump administration. I have recounted to Jennings, and other Pawlowski disciples, some of the mistreatment Pawlowski inflicted on various people. As a blogger willing to take the Pawlowski administration to task, some of those he injured came to me with their tales of woe. Pawlowski assaulted most of them with the code department. When I conveyed some of the stories to Pawlowski's disciples, they fell on deaf ears.

What most of them have in common is that they benefitted from Pawlowski, especially when he cobbled together his last election while already indicted.

Jan 22, 2025

Tuerk's Missed Opportunity

Tuerk states that he is Allentown's first Hispanic/Latino mayor. He makes this claim because his grandmother was Cuban, and he hopes that the Allentown Spanish speaking community buys it. Although he is fluent in Spanish, some Puerto Ricans I know don't buy his contention. But this post is about something else...

Tuerk missed the opportunity to promote Allentown to arguably one the most influential Cuban-Americans in our country, Marco Rubio. When Rubio came to the Allentown Trump rally, he was a Senator. He now is Secretary Of State. When Rubio was taking Spanish in the Allentown Arena, Tuerk was protesting at 7th and Linden. 

It would have been nice if Tuerk, as mayor, decided on October 29th to represent Allentown, instead of the protesters. He could send Marco a congratulatory note from Allentown, but now Tuerk's name won't ring a bell with Rubio.

shown above Marco Rubio in Allentown's PPL Arena with young supporter

Jan 21, 2025

The Little Bridge That Could

When I was a boy growing up on the south side, going to the doctor near the current YMCA, meant going over Schreiber's Bridge. Being built in 1828, the bridge even back then was over a hundred years old. When the 15th Street (Ward Street) Bridge opened in 1954, who would imagine that it would come and go, while the stone arch bridge continued providing passage over the creek. The Little Bridge That Could took quite a beating during the last couple of years, while constructing the new 15th Street Bridge. Trucks smashed the northern entrance walls no less than three times, turning on to Martin Luther King Drive. Although it is understandable that the City will wait until this Spring to repair the walls, there exists a more urgent matter. From the extensive use caused by the detour, and this harsh winter, the roadbed is badly cracked over the bridge's arch. These openings allow water to enter and seep down into the stone arch. Perhaps the city administration could give the historic bridge some special attention yet this winter, it certainly has earned some consideration.

reprinted from February of 2014

Jan 20, 2025

DEI On Steroids In Allentown

On Friday, in the shadow of the noose incident the previous Friday, Allentown held workshops for its employees... but two workshops, one for whites and another for people of color.

Kumari Ghafoor-Davis, the city's new People and Culture Specialist, previously the Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, explained that the separation was so that the people of color felt more comfortable expressing themselves.  How such dual meetings promote racial harmony isn't clear to me, but then again, I'm not a People Specialist. I received a copy of the workshop notice Friday morning from someone who thought that it ironically fostered separation. By Friday afternoon, WFMZ also picked up the story.

If my low-key, write-in campaign for mayor* is successful, Allentown will be going back to just an HR director. The public is currently invited to various workshops, so that they might  determine what the policy should be in parks and other city departments. In my Allentown, the public would be encouraged to follow long established policies. The Tuerk administration is obsessed with DEI, to the point where they even removed safety gates in the parks, because they might symbolize that the city wasn't welcoming. While such inclusion contortions may have political dividends, they do not make the city any safer, better nor improve quality of life for the residents.

The flooded car shown above belonged to an elderly couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately, the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.

*molovinsky for mayor is not a political campaign, rather a manual for a better Allentown. In the upcoming primary, I support Ed Zucal for mayor.

Jan 17, 2025

Catch 22 On Allentown's Route 22

It may be Matt Tuerk's first foray into politics, but apparently there's experience in the backroom dugout. Take for instance the double talk on the discrimination issue. Scott Curtis, former head of Allentown's FBI during the Pawlowski Show, couldn't comply with the city's RFP, because he is an investigator, and the forms were for law firms. 

Move ahead to the noose incident last Friday, and we learn that the Philadelphia law firm Duane Morris will be hired, but they are not required to comply with the RFP requirement that Curtis wasn't qualified to submit. If you find that confusing, the current Allentown FBI will be investigating the noose incident.

Shown above is 8th and Hamilton in 1953.  Allentown is like a box of assorted chocolates from Loft Candy. You never know which ordinance applies.

Jan 16, 2025

Watching Paint Dry At City Council

There was a time when I was a regular at city council meetings.  In more recent years I have been only an occasional visitor. Last night I tuned in electronically, expecting an animated public, and some sparring on the dais. 

The only sign of life came from bar owner Don Ringer, who asked why Tuerk wasn't there to face the music, and suggested it was time for both the mayor and police chief to move on.

The DNC would be proud to know that in addition to making Juneteenth a paid holiday, Allentown will be adding both both Latino and African American Advisory Panels. We will also be forming a Welcoming City Ordinance, to shelter immigrants from ICE and other Trump gestapo.

On January 29th, Council will decide whether to hire a Philadelphia law firm to investigate discrimination and possible racism at city hall. It took some woman from the public to ask whether that firm was chosen using an RFP, and what happened to the taxpayer investment in Scott Curtis? Neither the woman (nor myself) received answers to her good questions.

Jan 15, 2025

Allentown's West End Train

The Lehigh Valley Railroad operated a train branch line which served Allentown's commercial west end. It ran along Sumner Avenue servicing the scrap metal yards, warehouses and numerous coal dealers located there. The line then crossed Tilghman Street on a diagonal at 17th, before looping back east by Liberty Street at the Fairgrounds. The line ended at a rail yard now housing the small shopping center at 12th and Liberty. Although many of former commercial buildings still exist, all now house more retail type businesses. The B'nai Brith Apartments occupy the site of the former Trexler Lumber Yard. These historical shorts are difficult to write. Most current residents have no frame of reference to our former commercial past. True historians, such as the local railroad buffs, cringe at the lack of detail and specific location of the tracks. Suffice to say, that once upon a time, the mid-section of Allentown had much more commerce.

photo of train crossing Tilghman at 17th Street taken by Kermit E. Geary in 1974, from the Mark Rabenold Collection.

reprinted from December 2012

Jan 14, 2025

The Politics Of Racism In Allentown


Residents may remember that last year, after accusations of discrimination in city hall, Ed Zucal proposed hiring former FBI agent Scott Curtis to investigate. Mayor Tuerk claimed that the Curtis contract did not go through normal channels, and that the city would balk at paying the costs. Then last month council changed its mind (majority of votes changed) and suspended the Curtis contract.

Move ahead a month, and last week there was a new accusation of racism. A city worker found a noose like object on her desk. Now council president Cynthia Mota is heading an effort to hire a lawyer to investigate the culture at city hall. She states  "We remain committed to ensuring this process is free from political entanglements and focused on meaningful change."  She also claims that they will save money.

To this blogger, this new hire is actually completely politically entangled. If it wasn't, council would be proceeding with the previous investigation, which was already started. Are we taxpayers to assume that two investigations will cost less than one? Are we to assume that a lawyer will do a better job of investigating than a renowned former FBI agent? Hopefully, Affa and/or Hendricks will realize that the taxpayers are already invested in the Curtis investigation, and that it is the one that should proceed.

Companion post on O'Hare's Ramblings

Jan 13, 2025

Junkyard Train

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

reprinted from March of 2011

ADDENDUM JANUARY 13, 2025:That track was never restored, nor an industry secured that would ever need a rail-siding. It was wishful thinking that could only be entertained by bureaucrats working in a municipal authority, using tax dollars. The park garage on Linden Street succumbed to neglect. The former Mack plant on S. 10th Street is now an indoor garbage sorting dump.

Jan 10, 2025

The Train Of Union Terrace


The Conrail engine backs across Walnut Street in 1979, as it delivers a flatcar of large granite slaps and blocks to the Wentz Memorial Company, by 20th and Hamilton Streets. The Union Terrace track was next to the former ice skating pond, behind the WPA Amphitheater Stage Mound. The train locomotive, and it's boxcar of granite, weighing untold tons, passed over a simple trestle with 8" inch beams. The pedestrian bridge which Cunningham and Solt claim is inadequate, has 24 inch steel beams. The industrial era of Union Terrace has passed. Even the Wentz property is now for sale. Please join me tomorrow evening, Wednesday March 14th, and help save the Stone Arch Bridge at Union Terrace. The Commissioner Meeting is at 7:30pm. For those unable to attend at that hour, your presence would be appreciated at the committee meeting on destroying the bridge at 5:45. Ice Skating is no longer permitted on the pond. The Amphitheater is falling apart. Let us assert ourselves, and save something of Allentown's history.
Train 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.
click train photo to enlarge

above reprinted from March 13, 2012

ADDENDUM JANUARY 10, 2025: I did manage with the help of some commissioners to save the historic Walnut Street stone bridge. The amphitheater is in the final stages of restoration. However, in addition to the former train trestle being removed, so was the nearby little walk bridge into the park from the Walnut Street side. The return of that walkway remains on my list for Union Terrace.

Jan 9, 2025

A Bridge Still Stands


Last night, Glenn Solt, project manager for Lehigh County, came to the county committee meeting prepared with a twelve page report, and the engineer who wrote it. They testified that the condition of the Reading Road Bridge has deteriorated, the cost of repairing it has increased, but that the cost of replacing it has gone down. Solt is determined to rid Union Terrace of that old stone arch bridge. Never mind that it was completely rehabilitated in 1980, 156 years after it was built in 1824. Never mind that Hamilton Street Bridge is a quarter block north, and a new Union Street Bridge is being built a half block south.
Michael Molovinsky, an Allentown blogger who has previously written about the bridge, accused the county of exaggerating the condition of the bridge and the cost for rehabilitating it rather than replacing it. Molovinsky said the bridge's historic value is irreplaceable, "Let me be frank: Mr. Solt has no feel for history whatsoever," Molovinsky said. "... This bridge cannot be replaced. It's that simple." Colin McEvoy/The Express Times/June28,2012
This was the first bridge built west of Allentown, crossing Cedar Creek, on the route west to Reading, and one of the last remaining stone arch bridges. Although I would like to see a stake driven through the project, technical legalese demands that I periodically appear and defend our history and culture. The bridge replacement funds were approved years ago, and the matter at hand is a small contract for engineering studies.

reprinted from 2012

ADDENDUM: I'm happy to report that I would continue campaigning for the bridge, and eventually convinced the County Commissioners to save the structure.

UPDATE JULY 9, 2020: During his time as County Executive, Don Cunningham and his project manager Glenn Solt, managed to demolish several historical stone bridges. Worse, these losses were misrepresented as progress. When Allentown replaced the 15th Street bridge (Ward Street) traffic was detoured over Schreiber's Stone Arch Bridge, built in 1828.

ADDENDUM JANUARY 9, 2025:With the enthusiasm of then county commissioners Michael Schware, Lisa Scheller and Brad Osborn, I was able to save the bridge. Currently, the Union Terrace amphitheater is in the final stages of restoration. A former small pedestrian bridge over the pond run needs to be replaced, to reconnect access from Walnut Street to the park.

Jan 8, 2025

FOP Endorses Ed Zucal For Mayor

The Allentown Fraternal Order Of Police has endorsed Ed Zucal for mayor. 

Ed  Zucal press release

Zucal Endorsed by Allentown FOP (Allentown, PA) On Tuesday evening, Allentown City Councilman Ed Zucal, Democratic candidate for Mayor of Allentown, received the endorsement of the Allentown Fraternal Order of Police. 

 “I’m enormously proud to have received the support of the men and women who work to keep our city safe,” said Zucal. “As police and residents continue to face persistent crime and quality of life issues, they’re ready for a new direction. Sadly, the lack of leadership and often embarrassing behavior from Mayor Matt Tuerk has hurt the reputation of the city and destroyed the trust of the people who serve it. I’m running to change that.

 “As a former police officer in the city of Allentown, I know what it takes to deliver safer streets and higher quality of life for the people of Allentown. With the help of our law enforcement, we’ll work to protect and serve the people of Allentown, and bring respect and leadership back to the city we love.”

The Train Of Lehigh Parkway


This holiday season, as people drive over Schreibers stone arch bridge to get in line for Lights in the Parkway, few will be aware of the industrial past surrounding them. The Barber Quarry railroad branch line crossed the road, just beyond the bridge. On the left was the Union Carbine's Linde plant, the concrete loading dock is still visible. Although the last train ran in the early 1980's, the wooden railroad trestle is still there, to the west and south of the bridge. The area is now used as part of the disc golf course. The photograph was taken by Dave Latshaw in 1976, and is part of the Mark Rabenold Collection.

above reprinted from December 3, 2010 

ADDENDUM JANUARY 8, 2025: Although the former Union Carbine loading dock was visible for many decades, it now has been replaced by new apartment buildings on the parcel.  Also different is the intersection just uphill from the bridge, the long standing triangle island is no longer there.

Jan 7, 2025

Tuerk Pitches Tuerk


On Saturday the Morning Call gave Matt Tuerk a platform to promote himself for a second term.

Among the gems he tried to sell is that our city has grown by over 17% since 2000, and we’ve seen over $1 billion of investment in the past 10 years. He omits the fact that the $Billion is our states taxes being used to build one man an empire. Besides that NIZ nonsense, there has been very little investment in center city until the recent PPL residential conversions.

Another delusion peddled by Tuerk is that crime is going down to record lows. Credit great ER work at the hospitals and poor aim, because there has been no shortage of shootings. Perhaps some non-profit can build a shooting range, marksmanship shouldn't be a privilege limited to the middle class.

In fairness to Tuerk there was no reason, especially during an election year, that he shouldn't take advantage of the paper's offer for a column. Likewise, there's no reason that a local blogger shouldn't chime in with a review of it.

Jan 6, 2025

Where's The Creek?

The young man seemed proud to be at the Old Fashioned Garden with his wife and child. I got the feeling that it was a rite of passage that he had enjoyed years earlier with his parents. He approached me with a quizzical look and asked Where's the creek? I assured him that it was still here, but hidden behind all that underbrush. When he asked me why they did that, I just shrugged my shoulders and walked away. I don't think he really wanted to hear a rant.

The Wildlands Conservancy had no resistance convincing the past two park directors to stop cutting the creek banks and call it a riparian buffer. Both directors were from out of town, trained in recreation at Penn State, and had no feeling or knowledge of the park's history and traditions. To add absurdity to the situation, the storm sewer systems in Allentown are piped directly into the streams, bypassing the buffers, making them useless to their stated purpose. To add further irony to the absurdity, the park department must now spray insecticide on the underbrush to control the invasive species. Worse than blocking access and view of the streams, the recent director endorsed the Conservancy demolishing two small historic dams, after being here only six weeks, and never actually having seen the dams himself.

Why do I dwell on water over the dam? The Wildlands Conservancy is now pitching the dam demolition and riparian buffer agenda to South Whitehall Township. If they get their way, the beautiful picnic vista overlooking Wehr's Dam will be replaced with a wall of weeds. I'm on a mission to make sure that beauty and history survive at Covered Bridge Park. 

above reprinted from September 9, 2014

ADDENDUM JANUARY 6, 2025: While I did, with the help of others,  save Wehr's Dam, I have had no such success with the creek banks in the Allentown parks. On the contrary, this season yet another new park director didn't even do the once annual invasive species mow down. 

Although I am a long time known advocate for the WPA, I was denied a seat at the new Parknership table.  I did manage to place a letter to the Morning Call that appeared yesterday, and I will continue to speak out in defense of the traditional park system.

Jan 3, 2025

Allentown City Hall For Sale

I should clarify that I'm not talking about Allentown's current City Hall, some people think that it already has been bought and sold. I'm talking about the canopy over the main  entrance on Linden Street, and the  CITY HALL sign,  shown in the photograph above. Stored all this time, these Allentown artifacts are now available for the first time in over half a century. Send serious inquires as a confidential comment to this post.

Click on photograph to enlarge image.

reprinted from February 26, 2015

ADDENDUM JANUARY 3, 2024:Among those who thought city hall was for sale back then was the FBI.There is a current push to have Biden commute the sentence of former mayor Ed Pawlowski. I served as a contact between the former owner of the former city hall sign and the current owner. I doubt that there will be a third owner.  We with any institutional knowledge and interest are a dwindling commodity.

Jan 2, 2025

The Dam Video

Not too many campaign promises are kept, especially by a candidate who lost the election. Although I'm delighted that the dam was saved, in the upcoming posts I will divulge the money wasted and the lies told, in the attempt to demolish the dam.

reposted from March 19, 2015

ADDENDUM JANUARY 2, 2025:Although I lost the election, with the help of others I did manage to save the dam. The last article about the dam's fate by the Morning Call managed to omit my part in that effort, but that's the price of independent blogging.

Jan 1, 2025

The Culverts Of Constitution Drive

As an advocate and student of the WPA, I'm often asked about the stone walls on Constitution Drive. None of the walls there invokes as much curiosity as the one I'm shown photographing. Locals refer to this structure as The Spring. Notice that there is a small short wall in front. This stone barrier protects vehicles from driving into the pit, designed to drain water through a pipe under the gravel roadway. Culverts and other practical structures were common WPA projects. Constitution Drive has several WPA culverts, but none of the other retaining walls are as elaborate as the one seen in the photograph above. Although Lehigh County designated funds several years ago to repair this wall, the work was never done. Such neglect is also the case in Allentown. The top wall of the double stairwell descending into Union Terrace is in dire jeopardy. This blog will soon once again document the condition of that structure. While our history and legacy crumble, this community and its leadership is preoccupied with the arena and Philadelphia cheesesteaks.
photograph by K Mary Hess

reprinted from November 25, 2014 

ADDENDUM JANUARY 1, 2025:Union Terrace did receive some repair in 2015, and is currently undergoing a complete restoration. K Mary Hess is a renowned landscape photographer who can be followed on Facebook, Photos of Lehigh Valley.

Dec 31, 2024

A Russian Orthodox Corner In Allentown


While the pulpit section of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox Church is adorned with murals and icons of Mary, parishioners may notice that there is no such imagery on the beautiful stained glass windows. More careful inspection reveals that while there are no graven images in the glass, Stars of David and scrolls can be seen. As the ancestors of the current members came from eastern Europe and the Czarist Russian Empire, so did the building's original congregation. The gothic edifice was built as a synagogue in 1909 by Allentown's Russian Jews. The Orthodox Jewish congregation, Sons Of Israel, utilized the structure for 50 years before it was repurposed by the current American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox congregation.

reprinted from January 23, 2015

Dec 30, 2024

Over The Dam In 2014

For this early morning edition blog, 2014 is under the ice and over the dam. Between fighting to preserve Wehr's Dam, running for office and providing reality checks about downtown Allentown, it's been a busy year. I believe that the unvarnished truth is a commodity in short supply in the Lehigh Valley. From the main stream media, out of town readers would think that Allentown has turned completely around. We who actually plug the meters on Hamilton Street know that although the new buildings are in place, the promised commerce has yet to begin. So far even the arena events can be counted on one hand. Mayor Pawlowski had read so many promotions about the New Allentown in the local paper, he thought that he could ride that bus to Harrisburg. Although the articles about success were premature, I do believe that real change is coming Allentown's way.  molovinsky on allentown will be glad to celebrate that success when it arrives, but in the meantime will tell it like it is.

above reprinted from December 31, 2014

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 30, 2024:Although I lost the election as an independent for state rep, I, along with others, did manage to save Wehr's Dam. Despite all the new buildings and taxpayer money spent for the personal benefit of one developer,  success, a decade later, still hasn't caught up with Hamilton Street... It's still a ghost town.

Dec 27, 2024

The Devil Of Ocean Paradise


The resort town's boardwalk is partially open during the cold winter months for the hardy of spirit.  The stores that remain open were purchased mostly by middle eastern immigrants, who overpaid for their piece of the American dream in the dying resort.  Their mortgage demands every nickel they can muster,  and their large families are eager to practice their broken English on the few customers willing to brave the boardwalk's cold winter wind.

All their stores sell the same things...  brightly colored candy, souvenirs and small toys designed to make children nag and beg.  Along with the stores there is a strip of game stands, where during the warm summer breezes,  fathers and boyfriends hope to win a stuffed animal.  During the winter, the steel garage doors are closed on all these stands, except for one.  The immigrants with their broken English cannot lure in players, but the Devil can.

Oversized brightly colored stuffed animals adorn the stand. Music from the 70's pulses from one loud speaker,  while the Devil commands the occasional passing man to "show her that you care by winning a bear."  Please don't misunderstand me, he is not Satan himself, but a minor devil.  He can give you a cold, or ruin a first date,  but he has no power over life and death.  Even those he afflicts can purchase redemption.... Inside the stores there are chocolate wafers for sale,  covered with white candy sprinkles.  For a mere $26 a pound, the bad omen can be eaten away.

This minor devil came from Coney Island a decade ago.  Brooklyn's Brighton Beach area started gentrifying in the late 90's, and the dress up spread to adjoining Coney.  Doc, the minor devil, thrived on hearty spirits, but not heady minds.  His move to Ocean Paradise was a win-win.  While the owning immigrant gets to keep almost all the money the stand takes in,  Doc gets to dispense a headache or two each weekend.  He has a room at a nearby old motel owned by the same family, and enjoys the middle eastern food that he has eaten since time immemorial.

If you walk on the boardwalk during the winter, you better dress warm, and not be tempted to show her that you care.

reprinted from November of 2018

Dec 26, 2024

The Coal Yards 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. 

Many of those boilers and furnaces were converted to gas and oil. The coal bins were used as storage rooms. Over the years the heating units were replaced with more modern ones, designed for the fuel now being used. Coal is now a memory restricted to aging historical bloggers.

Dec 25, 2024

A Reflection On Christmas Lights

When I was a child, when it came to Christmas lights, more seemed better. I recall my father taking us to see a house out on Union Street, beyond Union Terrace, which decorated lawn, house and roof. The home owner continued that tradition for many years, until he became too old to perform that labor of love. 

When I became older and more visual, I found less decorations more tasteful. Not only was I drawn to less, but also older. Over the years my camera would turn to the retro decorations, especially those faded and shopworn. The film elmusion has held up better than my memory...I can only guess where the photo above was taken. 

Today's inflatables are not, in my opinion, camera worthy.

reprinted from previous years

Dec 24, 2024

Molovinsky Christmas Tour


Recently I posted about Bill White's recommended Christmas Light tours.  I hope that caravans of  new SUV's are taking White's tours, because he publishes his recommendations every year.  Bill, after all these years,  has his job down almost on autopilot;  Christmas light tours,  Eating his way through Musikfest,  Cake contest at fair, Grammar columns,  Hall of Shame, Worst sentence writer. etc., etc.

Anyway, I recommend that nobody take my light tour,  it's in the hood in center city Allentown. Actually, the block shown has had its share of crime in recent years. The alley is narrow,  so there is no passing another car.  The double parkers get very annoyed if you beep your horn.  Best to stick with White's tours out in suburbia, with the inflated decorations that are flaccid during the day.  Personally,  I prefer the center city house decorations.  There is something so much more inspiring about decorating a low income house, many of which are rentals.  It makes me feel better and more hopeful about downtown.

reprinted from December of 2017

This blog has been published every weekday, including holidays, since 2007.

Dec 23, 2024

Bill White Pitches Pawlowski Pardon

Bill White was persuaded to write a pitch for a Pawlowski pardon (commute of sentence) by a mutual friend of theirs. White pleads that Pawlowski didn't take money for himself, but only for his campaign for Congress, (where he could really enrich himself.) What Bill omits is that every city contract rewarded was based on those contributions to his campaigns, not on value to the city. White omits that in essence Pawlowski stole repeatedly from the city and taxpayers. 

White complains that the judge threw the book at Pawlowski with a sentence near the top of the guidelines. At this point Pawlowski has served a little less than half the sentence, so a pardon now would be at the bottom of the guidelines. 

The worse part of White's whitewash is his claim of what a wonderful mayor Pawlowski was. Prior to the indictment and trial there certainly was no criticism of Pawlowski from either White or the Morning Call. While the government proved Pawlowski's guilt on almost fifty counts, perhaps Bill should wonder why he still thinks that Pawlowski was a good mayor?

Dec 20, 2024

Allentown, Not Much For History

Once you go a mile west beyond Bethlehem, there's not much interest in history.  There's also not much interest in art or architecture.  Boast as you will about Allentown's new NIZ buildings, but there won't be any awards given there for architecture.  The new waterfront NIZ district will remove the historic LVRR rail tracks.  The local historical society concentrates on shows about Abraham Lincoln, with no interest in local topics. The Allentown park department actually encourages the disregard to its original plans and structures.  We're being led by people who seemed more concerned with their own future, be it in real estate or politics.

For years my efforts have concentrated on trying to save those historical structures unique to our area.  Although I may occasionally still succumb to that compulsion in the future,  hopefully, most of my protest will now be limited to posts on this blog.  I pleaded to no avail with too many commissions with predetermined agendas.  Let the less disillusioned plead to the deaf ears behind those dais.

Shown above is the former LVRR railroad station on Hamilton Street, which was demolished in the early 1960's.  The existing train station was the New Jersey Central.  Allentown never met a unique older building that it couldn't wait to tear down.

reprinted from July 1, 2015

Dec 19, 2024

The Fountain Of My Youth

Just west of the Robin Hood Bridge is a fountain which quenched the thirst of my summer days. Built during the WPA era, it overlooked the creek. Although the water was turned off years ago, so now is the view. The weeds and assorted invasives growing are not a riparian buffer. Science says that a buffer has to be 25feet wide to be of any value. A reader described this thin strip of wild growth as neglect, masquerading as conservation. All it does is block both the view and access to the waterway. It denies our current citizens the beauty and experience for which the parks were designed. Although the Wildland's Conservancy would like you to believe that the Allentown Parks are there to be wildlands, in reality they were designed by landscape architects, to provide the citizens of Allentown with what Harry Trexler called serenity. He did also appreciate conservation, but for that he created the Trexler Game Preserve, north of Allentown. There are places in the parks which can accommodate the riparian buffer zones, without compromising the intended public experience of waterway view and access. Riparians could be created and maintained in the western side of Lehigh Parkway, between the pedestrian bridge and Bogerts Bridge. In Cedar Park, the riparian section could be in western side, between the last walking bridge and Cedar Crest Blvd. It's time that the parks were given back to the citizens of Allentown. They are not funded, or intended by our tax dollars and the Trexler Trust,  just to be a venue for the Wildland's Conservancy to harvest grants.  Let a child again giggle by the creek's edge. Let us get back our intended park experience.

above originally posted in 2013

ADDENDUM JULY 1, 2022: When the above post was first written, Pawlowski's recreation trained park directors farmed many actual park decisions out to the Wildlands.  Although their influence has waned somewhat in recent years, these faux buffers remain a negative legacy. The buffers are faux because Allentown's storm system is piped directly into the streams, under the buffer weed wall. Those weed walls in turn have become hotbeds of invasive species, such as Poison Hemlock.  Now, as the downside of those invasives has become obvious, the department is cutting the grass back toward the streams, but still leaving the creek edge overgrown, hiding view and blocking access.  To further complicate the situation, in the last several years all new tree plantings were done away from the creek, at the outer edge of the then wide buffer...The end result is now cutting the grass is more difficult, with all the new trees in the path of the mowers.

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 19, 2024: In recent years the park department has only cut down the faux fake excuse buffers only once or twice a season. Those cutting were necessary, so that the invasives would not take deep root. This year the invasives, in most places, were not cut at all!

Dec 18, 2024

Allentown's WPA Watchman

Being a self appointed watchman over Allentown's WPA structures is an act in frustration. Since I started posting about the neglect of the structures in 2008, I have seen nothing of substance done. Actually, besides the steps at Irving Park being rebuilt, I have seen nothing done at all. While rebuilding that small staircase was positive, many negatives occurred in the meantime. The meantime has been over seven years. Also in the meantime, another set of steps were removed from Irving Park. The staircase at Union Terrace is deteriorating to the point where that structure is in jeopardy. The repair to a remaining staircase at Irving was done with a $25,000 grant from the Trexler Trust. In the last seven years, the park department's budget has been over $25 million dollars. The playground at Cedar Beach cost $1 million. Pawlowski has rejected my offer to be a liaison on behalf of the WPA structures. I'm pictured above standing over the former WPA wall, after it collapsed this summer, closing Lehigh Parkway's classic entrance. This city's history and future are tied to our park system and other quality of life issues, not just some private/public new buildings. I know there's no big money or national attention to be gained in fixing an old wall, but we have a responsibility to the things which made this city unique. 

 reprinted from October 6, 2015 

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 18, 2024:Since the above was written in 2015, the Trexler Trust  came through with some grants and repairs. The fallen Parkway entrance wall was rebuilt with concrete, and faced with the original stones. The double stairwell was repointed, along with the remaining wall leading to the Robin Hood Bridge. The steps at Fountain Park were repointed and the Union Terrace stage area was just completed. I lobbied for most of these projects with Karen El-Chaar, and she lobbied for the funding with the Trust. Repairing the landings on the Parkway's stairwell should be the next project, they're compromising the steps and structure.
Although I'm hoping that the new Parknership might continue work on the WPA structures, I've been formally excluded. The photograph of me above at the fallen wall was taken by Michael Adams, former caretaker of the Log & Stone house. He also, after years of devotion to the park system, was unceremoniously dumped.

Dec 17, 2024

Saving The Spring Pond


As a small boy growing up in the twin homes above Lehigh Parkway, I would go down the steep wooded ravine and cross the Robin Hood Bridge. The stone lined spring pond and miniature bridge was just the first in a series of wonderful WPA constructions to explore. Last year, when I organized the reclamation of the Boat Landing, my memory turned to the pond. Although overgrown with several inches of sod, I knew the treasure was still savable.





In the spring of 2010 I met Mike Gilbert of the Park Department, and pitched the idea of a partial restoration. On May 26th, I posted A Modest Proposal, which outlined my hopes for the pond. By July, Gilbert had the Park Department clear off the remaining stones, and clean up around the miniature bridge.


Park Director Greg Weitzel  indicated to me that the pond features uncovered will be maintained. Any further clearing would be at the discretion of Mike Gilbert. In our conversation he also stated that there are virtually no funds available for the preservation of the WPA icons.







I will attempt to organize a group and contributions for this most worthy cause. Between the Spring Pond and The Boat Landing there was once a bridge to the island. Wouldn't it be nice if a small boy could go exploring.

above reprinted from 2010

UPDATE August 2013Mike Gilbert has retired, and the Park Department has a new director. Although grass and sod are starting to again cover the remaining stones that surround the pond, the miniature bridge is still visible. I will make it my mission to again pitch the new personnel.

UPDATE June 18, 2014. The grass and sod has reclaimed the stones that surround the pond. Only the very top of the miniature bridge is still visible to those who know that it's there. Unless there is an immediate intervention, it's days are numbered.
HISTORY IS FRAGILE

UPDATE February 2017:In 2015, in cooperation with Friends of Allentown Parks, I supervised college volunteers to clear the new sod off the pond stones, and the new bush off the miniature bridge. Allentown is on its third park director since this post was first written, and has acquired two large parcels to create new parks. To be planning additional parks, when our existing park features are left to abandonment, is incredibility poor management.

UPDATE May 1, 2018:  This past weekend the pond, miniature bridge and spring channel to the creek were once again cleared.  The work was done by volunteers from Faith Church, Asbury Church, Igesia De Fe and Salem Bible Church,  through Karen El-Chaar, director of Friends Of The Parks. Although the park department provided assistance in the two clean ups over the past several years,  they have  not provided ongoing maintenance to the site.  Understand that in the past few years they have constructed the exercise area at Jordan Park, the cement disc golf pads in the parkway and other recreational features. It is long overdue that the WPA structures be returned to the regular park budget and schedule.

UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2020:  Karen El-Chaar is now Director Of Parks. Hopefully she will have a soft spot for this particular WPA structure. I continue trying through this blog and facebook to keep these structures on the public agenda.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2023: There's a new park director, Mandy Tolino. I haven't met Tolino, but I suspect that this blog might appear on her radar.  Those who visit the pond this spring will discover that the sod has once again overgrown the surrounding stonework. It is my understanding that Tolino has a background with the Delaware&Lehigh Trails, and hopefully will develop an appreciation of our unique WPA structures.

UPDATE DECEMBER 17, 2024: I hope that down the line I will have to write a retraction, but at this point in time I believe that the spring pond, as a recognizable WPA construction, is to be no more. As it turned out, Mandy Tolino has little regard for the structures. Worse, such matters do not appear to be a pressing issue for the new Parknership. At some point in the future, perhaps I can organize a volunteer crew to periodically keep the miniature bridge uncovered.

Dec 16, 2024

Allentown Parknership Endorses Status Quo

After seven months, the Parknership finally announced their board of directors. With Tuerk and his park director taking two of the nine seats, there will be no change in current park philosophy. Worse, the weed walls have gained a couple more enthusiasts on the board. In addition to the Trexler Trust, the Rider-Pool Foundation has stepped forward as a major Parknership backer. That foundation is closely affiliated with the Wildlands Conservancy, promoter of the weed walls.

While the board has the expected diversity, there is no advocate for the WPA, or the traditional park system. The Trexler people on the board, Janet Roth and Donald Bernhard, do have institutional knowledge of the park system, and the Trust has financed any work done on WPA structures in the last decade. I'm grateful for that!

My input will continue to be limited to this blog. Eventually, my WPA suggestions are implemented, with credit given elsewhere. I have even less hope for the creek banks under this administration and the new organization. I was hoping that this new Parknership might steer the park system back toward its classic design and values, but instead it seems to reinforce the new agenda.

Dec 13, 2024

Double Whammy For Taxpayers In Allentown


Some of our local state elected officials met at the Baum Art School with a hired consultant to solicit input and build support for a downtown revitalization initiative. After these same officials condone the NIZ spending of a $Billion of taxpayer money for revitalization, don't they realize how meager the return on public value has been from the NIZ? Don't they realize the irony of their new initiative? 

In the Morning Call's report on the meeting, the reporter writes that the NIZ has transformed the formerly empty neighborhood into a cosmopolitan region. She wouldn't know from the paper's archives that actually Hamilton Street was not empty, and that it is not cosmopolitan now. In reality, Hamilton Street was much, much busier back then. The former Family Dollar store was the busiest in their chain. Rite-Aid was busy, as were most of the stores in the 700 block of Hamilton. Because the Morning Call acted as a press agent for the NIZ, their archives are very distorted. 

While I do agree with the consultant that Allentown is a dead zone, apparently Tuerk, Schlossberg and Miller think that vitality is a small $million more away. Nick Miller said “Speaking from the state’s perspective, we’ve invested a lot in buildings and we now need to invest in people,”  Tuerk wants his former employer, Allentown Economic Development, involved. Promise Neighborhoods' input was invited. It was suggested that nearby residents be set up in businesses.

As a taxpayer in Pennsylvania, I would pay the consultant off for his time, and hope that all the recommendations are ignored and forgotten. I do believe that Reilly's latest project, the Archer music venue, will bring some more foot traffic downtown, as will the new apartments and condos in the former PPL buildings. I ask our above mentioned politicians to stop thinking that spending more of our money is always the solution.

Dec 12, 2024

The Livingston Club, Allentown's Benevolent Oligarchy

Back in the day, when the town had three department stores, the major decisions affecting Allentown's future were made at the Livingston Club. Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. The bank officers of First National and Merchants Bank would discuss loans with the highly successful merchants, many of whom had stores in all three major Lehigh Valley cities. As the heydays winded down, likewise the exit plans were made there. The City of Allentown acquired the Park & Shop lots, becoming the Allentown Parking Authority. Leh's became the Lehigh County Government Center.

The new oligarchy consists of much fewer men, they could all met at a small table in Shula's, and be entertained by watching street people  arrested. The former 1st National Bank location is now a new Reilly building. The former Livingston Club building is now a parking lot, and future site to another Reilly building. Shula's is also a Reilly building.... 

reprinted from August 19, 2015

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 12, 2024:I can't say where the current oligarchy can meet, because the restaurants now have a short shelf life. But, they don't need a large table, just big enough for Reilly and a couple Jaindls'. Perhaps they would also invite Sy Traub, he's been at the table since the NIZ began, as consigliere. I suspect that if the ghosts of Farr, Miller and Leh looked at all the new privately owned buildings, which are paid for with public tax money, they would feel pretty small compared to the new players.