The Press and Allentown

Today's editorial in The Morning Call, supporting Pawlowski's Hall of Shame, is inexplicable. Simply put, the program ignores a system of ordinances and legal remedies, and resorts to ridicule, not unlike the stockade in Puritan New England. The first inductees were certainly soft targets, young brothers from New Jersey. Are their records and violations any worse than several well known local landlords, not at all. Not that many years ago, the newspaper survived a hugh slander lawsuit involving another targeted "slumlord". To this day, whenever using his name, reporters must first get clearance from their editors, who in turn consult with their legal department. I find it curious that the paper would again go down this road, but what's really amazing is that every proposal ever made by this mayor, has been endorsed on the Editorial Page.

Allentown Post Office 1934

In the 1930's, the "New Deal" was good to Allentown. As I noted on earlier posts, our park system was enriched by monumental stone construction under the WPA. We also received one of the architectural gems of our area, the magnificent art deco post office. Constructed during 1933-34, no detail was spared in making the lobby an ageless classic. The floor is adorned with handmade Mercer tiles from Doylestown. Muralist Gifford Reynolds Beal worked thru 1939 portraying the Valley's cultural and industrial history. This incredible 74 year old photograph is the contractor's documentation of the project's progress. The back of the photo states; Taken Sept 1 - 34 showing lobby, floor, screens, desks, completed & fixtures hung

Historic Opportunity

During the Republican National Convention, I was struck by the comments of several young black delegates; btw, black republicans, as with gay republicans, do not require a large convention center when they meet. Back to the point, these three young republicans all stated they would be voting for Obama come November. They clearly pointed out as blacks, Obama's chance of becoming President, was too hugh of an historic opportunity for them not to support. I was also struck by the terms Colin Powell used to justify his endorsement of Obama; transformational and generational. They seem odd words for an experienced soldier and diplomat. Although I would not hesitate to vote for Colin Powell or even Condoleezza Rice, I will not vote for a inexperienced freshman senator, who has not demonstrated any comprehension of world issues or even the economic principles of capitalism, upon which this country has thrived. Perhaps in time, Obama can mature into a viable candidate, not just an historic opportunity.

Hall of Shame

Today's Morning Call features a hugh photograph of city code enforcers hanging a large sign identifying the owner of a building with code violations. The offender, Adam Thor, is Allentown's first inductee in the Allentown Landlord Hall of Shame, which is also being featured on the city website. Mr. Thor owns two buildings in the 300 block of 9th Street. Interestingly, about one year ago, an article identified this block as targeted by the Redevelopment Authority for multiple acquisitions and de-conversions. I bet Mr. Thor is ready to negotiate now! Unless Mr. Thor is the person who shot the driver on 7th Street earlier this week in front of the victim's children, he is just a scapegoat and distraction for Pawlowski's inability to deal with Allentown's real problems.

Morning Call Missed Story

Clearly, one of the national lead stories yesterday was the fraudulent voter registrations by the Acorn Organization, publicly pro Obama. The media has been hyping Barack for a year, repeatedly citing the new registrations as proof positive of America's enthusiasm for the agent of change. Acorn itself, was harder to find yesterday than a flimflam contractor. Obama himself, had worked for Acorn years ago, and as a candidate paid them 800 thousand dollars to register new voters. Not only did the Morning Call not write one word about this corruption of the basis of our democracy, but it headlined a story meant to downplay the success of the local McCain/Palin rally on Wednesday. At the best, today's paper was old news with a twist, at the worst, it was an attempt at reader manipulation.

Pawlowski Contract Position Understandable

I do not have a problem with Pawlowski hiring professional negotiators for the contract talks with the police union, and not revealing details and costs, here's why; As all can agree, the last negotiation with the police union was a disaster for the taxpayers. The city has hired outside consultants for many mundane reasons, so why not for the most important issue in our city and the biggest item in our budget? If any agent can lower the bottom line in any transaction, it's worth the cost. If you believe pawlowski should have hired outside negotiators or not, since he has, why not wait to see what these pro's can produce? I understand the concept of right to know, and usually support it, but perhaps in this exceptional case, it's better to hold the cards close to the vest.

UPDATE: I have changed the title of this posting, from Pawlowski Police Position Proper to Pawlowski Contract Position Understandable

No Firewater For Indians

If you're a suburbanite being induced to come downtown to drink and eat, chances are your destination was heavily subsidized by Mayor Pawlowski. Take your pick, Allentown Brew Works, or Johnny Manana's, millions were given, including special city approved low cost liquor licenses. If you're a low income white, black or Hispanic, chances are you're a nuisance person drinking in a nuisance bar. On Friday the City of Allentown closed Trinkle's Cafe, 533 Turner St., because a shooting victim walked into the bar for help. There has been a taproom in that location ever since I can remember. My uncle lived in the 400 block many years ago. The current bar owner, Lauren Markowitcz, correctly states she is a victim of the neighborhood*; She is also a victim of the Administration. Rather than confront and deal with policies which continue to make Allentown a poverty and crime magnet, Pawlowski instead installs surveillance camera's, passes gun laws, and denies a livelihood to struggling business owner in a decaying neighborhood. Like the soup nazi in Seinfield, Pawlowski says no grant for Markowitcz.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_5trinkles.6617869oct06,0,4527803.story

Now I Gotta Fight With Bill White

Bill White, columnist for the Morning Call, has a fan club. I know this because three of the "Whities" just bashed me for taking Bill to task about his film and food blogs. But the reason I'm writing, is because he wrote three blogs marginalizing Sarah Palin. Seems because she did better than a "deer in the headlights" he gives her some credit. Although I haven't heard much about it from the pundits, Palin handled Biden well on several subjects . In one interesting exchange, Palin started out with an ultra-conservative, against same sex marriage statement. Biden started out with a very liberal, respecting same sex rights in couple situations. Before the exchange ended, Biden had to admit their position on gays was actually the same. My guess is that Joe Biden is glad today there's only one VP debate. I did see White at the fair stuffing himself on chocolate cake, hope I never have to take a film history course from him at Muhlenberg College.

Feel-Good Law and Hypocrisy

As Allentown is racked with shootings and police standoffs, City Council passed a silly, feel-good lost-gun law that won't help fight rising crime. Mayor Pawlowski said, "This bill can help close a loophole which is allowing illegal guns to flow onto our streets." Law abiding citizens have always reported lost and stolen guns. The notion that "straw purchasers" will comply with the law is absurd. District Attorney James Martin opposed the ordinance because gun laws are under the jurisdiction of State law. The mayor said we must go over the head of state law, to find solutions to our problems, even if the legislation gets overturned. Last year, the same mayor opposed illegal-alien laws, because he claimed they were under federal jurisdiction.

Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Manipulation

The Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, under the direction of Chris Borick, in cooperation with The Morning Call, today reported results of its current poll; Obama 50%, McCain 41%, with a margin error of +/- 4%. Manipulation is a strong word, but I'm just a local blogger with an ax to grind. I don't think it's a stretch to suppose a liberal college professor and a liberal newspaper would give the benefit of the doubt to Obama, but back to my ax. The Morning Call justified excluding me from the mayoral debate in 2005 because of a survey by Borick. For that election the "Institute" had William Heydt beating Edward Pawlowski by 7 points. Ed won the election by 20 points, the poll was off by 27%, slightly more than 4% margin of error! I'd like to see a survey of the accuracy of results by Morning Call/Muhlenberg polls over the years. But who would conduct it, the newspaper or college?