Dear Mayor Pawlowski,
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm very disappointed in the changes made to my town. After my wife passed away, I moved to the senior high-rise at 8th and Union St. I can see the old Mack Transmission Plant from my window, I worked there for 40 years. I understand now it's a indoor go-cart track, I find that a bitter pill. Actually pills are why I'm writing. I used to walk to the Rite-Aid on Hamilton Street. With that closing, I don't think I can walk out 7th St. to the old Sears. Forgive me Mayor, that's before your time in Allentown. The other Rite-Aid used to be Levines Fabrics, they bought it from Sears. The Army Navy store was across the parking lot. Anyway, back to my problem. Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty. What have you done to me? My neighbor, a nice widow, tells me you gave that Mexican Restaurant lots of our money and they don't even pay their bills? Never ate there, what were you thinking? Anyway, sorry to bother you, I know you're a busy man, but I don't know where I will get my medicine from, and I'm upset. Sorry.
PhotoCredit: molovinsky
Nicely done, Michael,
ReplyDeleteKeep up the caliber of your postings, and a mob will form as in the old monster movies and descend upon Frankenstein's mansion with torches and clubs. Allentown will be the better for it.
Nice photo and post. The man's expression says a lot. It's so sad that the immediate needs of the elderly seem to be such a low priority. If the future trend is more people moving into cities and using public transportation, then why not put those bus stops back? And those drug stores?
ReplyDeleteI feel for the old timers, like my grandparents. They've really witnessed the decline. The city was already declining when I was born. The only good thing left at that time (downtown) was Hess's, so I've never really known it as good as it can be. My grandparents tell stories about taking the trolley downtown and getting candy or having a drink at the Hoffbrau (a place I don't think I'd set foot in today).
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the answer is for Allentown. But I do know it would help if we could attract some worthwhile employers, that way there would be a reason for young families to stay.
THis fella lives at 8th and Union. The buses still stop at PPL at 9th and Hamilton. Three short blocks.
ReplyDeleteHey MM,
ReplyDeleteDid TMC ask you permission before they reprinted your blog about the cemetery in today's paper? Just curious.
sarina, i do not share the opinion of some of my fellows bloggers about the morning call needing legal permission to print a post on a blog. it's "out there" on the internet and google. they clearly identified me as the author. in answer to your question, certainly they had in the least my tacit permission; yesterday i was contacted and asked some questions by tmc pertaining to my posting about mt. sinai.
ReplyDeleteIt's cool to know they called you. That only seems appropriate. The issue was just on my mind lately because I read an article a few weeks ago about the AP going after bloggers who were using story content on their blogs. I was hoping this copyright issue would be a 2-way street. Sounds like it is.
ReplyDeleteAs inartfully as it may have been done, I want to give you one big 'Attaboy for finding yourself the very first blog post published by The MC in both print and online. It is a well-deserved honor. It will also draw public attention to an inexcusable situation.
ReplyDeletethen why not put those bus stops back? And those drug stores?
ReplyDeleteAllentown has the ability to force a drug store to do business in a particular location?
THis fella lives at 8th and Union. The buses still stop at PPL at 9th and Hamilton. Three short blocks.
ReplyDeleteShhh. You'll mess up the narrative.
(I wasn't aware Pawlowski was an executive of Mack Trucks. I hear the GoKart place is doing a hell of a business. You can also have medications sent via the US Mail. I used to walk 16 miles to school, uphill, both ways.)
That's one hell of a photo though.
ReplyDeletehayshaker, the hamilton st. rite-aid lost 40% of its volume when lanta relocated the transfer stops off of hamilton to their terminal at 6th and linden. had these lanta changes not be made, that store would still be there. although they now have a venue at 7th and washington through the merger with eckard, those stores are far enough apart that they would have keep both in operation. this lanta terminal was a joint plan of the city, parking authority and the handmaiden lanta. my prediction is that at sometime in the future, allentown will pay a consultant to recommend restoring transfer stops to its shopping district.
ReplyDeleteone apologist writes our elders can walk three blocks to get a bus to go to another drugstore, instead of walking two blocks to the drug store. another writes prescriptions are available by mail, what compassion. more to point, how smart our changes that chase the only national chain store off of hamilton street?
ReplyDeleteAlso, untrue. Had Hayshaker bothered to attend any of the LANTA meetings, instead of making snide and misinformed comments, he would have met several older bus riders who have to walk distances of 6 blocks to catch a bus, over a half mile.
ReplyDeleteBOH, which comments of mine were untrue? Also, I made no comments about any LANTA riders other than the one that MM chose to write about. So get off the high horse.
ReplyDeleteBTW, can someone point me to the source that RiteAid lost 40% of it's business due to the LANTA change? I'd also like to see a source stating that Rite-Aid's decision to leave Allentown's downtown was caused by this downturn in sales.
MM, the "apologist" schtick is getting tired, BTW. I left Allentown for good a decade ago.
ReplyDeletehayshaker, when the merchants complained to lanta that their business was down, a lanta board member replied, "prove it to me, show me your books"
ReplyDeleteit is against rite-aid corporate policy for their employee's to make such public statements, but take my word for it.
If you go to the lanta terminal, and see all the people sitting on benches waiting for buses, those people previously were the foot traffic and patrons of the businesses on hamilton st.
BOH, which comments of mine were untrue? You joined the "three short blocks" mantra, and that's what it is. Had you listened to the bus riders, you might have a different view. But don't let facts get in the way of your opinions.
ReplyDeleteYou joined the "three short blocks" mantra, and that's what it is. Had you listened to the bus riders, you might have a different view. But don't let facts get in the way of your opinions.
ReplyDeleteWhat facts are you talking about? Was Anon 11:17 PM incorrect when he said there is a stop on Hamilton and 9th? The original post said "Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty." So is there a stop or not?
The person also was fine walking to Riteaid so why wouldn't he be fine walking to the bus?
I'm confused by the point not being made.
hayshaker, if there is still a stop on 9th near hamilton, it is no longer a transfer stop, and i would doubt very much it is the bus to catty. also gone are the transfer stops on 8th near hamilton, and the large one on hamilton at the community college. the fact is there are two large senior highrises on union street., and the transfer point(terminal) is now on 6th., between linden and turner.
ReplyDelete