Allentown Memories

Guest Post By Dennis Pearson During the Steel strike of 1959 my dad took a job as a groundskeeper for the Allentown Red Sox. Those were the days when it rained, they were allowed to burn the field to dry it off.

My dad was allowed to bring my friends and myself to the park. Those were carefree days for me and we wondered around the park which was located where JC Penny now is located in the Lehigh Valley Mall.

Breadon Field was renamed Max Hess Stadium when he was allowed to take control of the park for $1. Memory fades as whether Max Hess himself sold the premises or his successors , but I boycotted JC Penny's for many years for locating its business where the park was.

One of the personalities that played at the park was Tracy Stallard who achieved some sort of notorious fame as the pitcher who served up Roger Maris' sixty first homer.

Another personality that played there was Curt Simmons, a native of Egypt PA, who in his later years pitched at Max Hess Stadium in a rehab assignment. The presence of Curt Simmons filled up the house.

Another personality that played there was myself. Playing for the East Side Rams City Midget team against the West End Youth Center in a pre-game exhibition game, I went one for two. My hit was a double,

I am indeed delighted that professional baseball is back in the Lehigh Valley and that it is located in East Allentown. As President of the East Allentown Rittersville Neighborhood Association I went before the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners approving the then ongoing efforts to bring baseball back.

I applied for the recent vacancy on the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners. It would have been very nice to have been appointed County Commissioner as baseball returned. Unfortunately that did not happen to my disappointment.

I trust that my advocacy for the return of baseball is not lost on the Commissioners and the Ironpigs themselves.

Dennis Pearson

GUEST POST; Dennis, a lifelong Allentownian played little league as a boy, and coached as an adult. I also remember Breadon field, but only as a spectator

Try Transit Day

I love that Lanta television commerical when the yuppie puts his $900 carbon frame bicycle on the bike rack at the front of the bus. That yuppie is Steve Schmitt and today is "Try Transit Day". Once a month The Coalition for Appropriate Transportation and Lanta try to induce the middle class to be green and take public transportation. You many recall several months ago we saw photographs and footage of Mayor Ed taking the bus to promote this farce. I've spent considerable time at the new Lanta Detention Center and I can tell you most of the prisoners are not there for environmental reasons. Most of them cannot afford a car and the associated expenses, especially now. Schmitt, a biking enthusiast, was on Lanta for eight years and is responsible for Lanta outfitting their buses with bike racks. Steve now heads the Coalition (Cat) and organized today's protest against Wegman's. He wants "to illustrate how difficult it is bus riders to reach businesses that do not have Lanta stops on or near their property." While on the Lanta Board Schmitt defended the relocation of the bus stops off of Hamilton Street to the Terminal several blocks away. He stated Hamilton merchants were looking for something to complain about, and he would have to see their accounting books before believing business was down. Steve, thanks for the bike racks, and reducing revenue 40% on Hamilton street, keep up the good work.

Pawlowski Prostitutes Parking Authority

The Parking Authority should be horrified that Mayor Pawlowski is prevailing upon them to compromise their mission; provide parking and enforcement for the betterment of Allentown. What would Allentown be willing to offer a national employer bringing over two hundred jobs to downtown Allentown? Bringing those jobs to no less than the 700 block of Linden Street, truly a depressed area. Rendell, Cunningham and Pawlowski would be waving large cardboard checks, offering KOZ, Hud loans and grants. Smaller employers with many fewer jobs have received much more. But here in Pawlowskiville, we have a national employer who receives no incentives and has been providing jobs and paying taxes for decades. The only amenity this asset enjoys is a adjacent parking lot providing convenient and safe parking for their employees. Yesterday, at the Parking Authority Meeting, one such woman employee found out her fellow workers would have to walk a block and half at 10:30 in the evening to another lot, because the Authority is selling the lot to Nic Zawarski Construction to build townhouses. The Authority was ready to sell last month, but board member Larry Hilliard suggested they wait to yesterday so "we're not accused on rushing into it". Larry is upset with me for previously writing he delayed the sale for appearance sake. He claims he meant to say for "due diligence". If they really performed due diligence they would not sell the lot; it is over 60% occupied with 120 rent paying parkers, not a bad exchange for having an taxpaying employer providing over 200 jobs. The Authority postponed their vote again because only 3 of the 5 members were present, they want to spread their guilt out for this poor decision to the full board.

Update: Despite being a long term critic of various policies of the Parking Authority, Tamara Weller, Executive Director, has
consistently been courteous toward me and my rights as an opposer. I mention this, because too many of our elected and appointed officials show contempt toward those who dare disagree.

O'Hare goes Hollywood

This evening, viewers of WFMZ-TV Business Matters, learned that the Express Times of Easton is negotiating with Bernie O'Hare, Pope of the local blogosphere. Rumor has it, that recently Bernie has been seen in sun glasses and Don Johnson style sport coats. Joe Owens, editor and blog enthusiast, revealed his paper wouldn't mind "owning" Bernie's blog. I tried to reach Bernie earlier for comment, and was told by his secretary that I should submit my questions in writing during normal business hours.

Pawlowski Strangles Boards

Pawlowski continues to increase his strangle hold over the various Boards and Authorities in Allentown. Last week Jeff Pooley and Geoffrey Brace, from Old Allentown Preservation Association, sought to pressure the Zoning Board into forcing the new owner of Cannons into either reopening the bar or converting the property back into a single family house, after being a two unit for over 60 years. Also last month Karen Beck Pooley, Jeff's wife and new Director of the Redevelopment Authority, told Linda Rosenfeld of the Parking Authority, that she might be able to help find alternative parking for Verizon workers when the Parking Authority gives away the parking lot to a Pawlowski favorite. This week Geoffrey Brace and Michael Rosenfeld, former Director of the Redevelopment Authority and husband of Linda Rosenfeld, were appointed to the Zoning Board. Confusing, hard to track? As Mayor Pawlowski said when Lanta moved the bus stops off of Hamilton Street to the terminal at the Parking Authority Deck, "I had nothing to do with it."

Rev. Wright not Wrong

I'm not bothered by Rev. Wright's sermons. As Obama explained, he's from a previous generation who experienced much more overt racism. He is a black preacher, preaching to a black congregation in a black church. I feel they are entitled to console and bond in any manner which provides comfort. To my knowledge his preaching has not incited racial violence. I think in respecting various ethnicities we must realize our perspectives are not homogenized and pasteurized like a quart of milk. Jews speak of "never again," that is not exactly the concept of forgiveness taught by Jesus, but their collective memory is understandable. Obama need not explain his church affiliation to me. (just most of his other policies)

I first expressed the above opinion on a comment section of LVPoliblog

The photograph is of Jewish heavyweight Abe Simon knocking out Al Hart in 1938. Simon would wear the Star of David on his boxing trunks when fighting in NYC, it wasn't racist, it was target select promotion and ethnic pride.

Chicken or Egg

The Allentown Parking Authority appears to be involved in an impropriety. The Authority professes it had "excess" lots which it is selling to Nic Zawarski through proper procedures. It appears the mayor wants the parcel for his "moving ahead" plan and the Parking Authority is accommodating his agenda. The Authority Board is a who's who of Pawlowski supporters; Malcolm Gross, chairman of Pawlowski's mayoral campaign. Lawrence Hilliard, Pawlowski's finance director at city hall. Democrat Michael Donovan, endorsed by Pawlowski for city council. On January 19, the Board in full agreement declared the lots in "excess", despite the fact that there are more than 124 contracted parkers, using about 60% of the lots capacity. This lot adjoins the hugh Verizon Building and provides safe convenient parking, especially for the night sift women. By January XX *, a complex Request for Proposals was completed and sent out to whom? Is January XX the same as January 20, or is it XX as in who cares anyway. The deadline for proposals was Feb. 15. By the February 27th meeting, Zawarski had complete plans and architectural drawings. Although the Board was ready to approve the deal, Larry Hilliard suggested they wait till next week to avoid the appearance of rushing. Although no price has been officially negotiated, the 1990 tax appraisal was mentioned as the basis. In today's era of sub-prime scandals, using the 1990 tax assessment could quality an appriser for a jail-term. The property should be appraised in 2008 dollars with current comps. The bidding should be competitive with proposals send to a verified list of developers, who would have an appropriate amount of time to response. Most importantly, is there a market for $200,000 plus townhouses at 7th and Linden Streets, and would such a project serve the public interest more than providing safe parking for a large, long time employer? The Authority claims "Within a block to a block and a half radius there are......parking spaces." That's a long distance for a woman to walk at 1:00am., shame on the Authority. I maintain the Mayor's desire for the property came first, and the designation of excess, the request for proposals etc. is a ruse to accommodate him. My problem with the plan is the real victims, the Verizon workers losing their parking for very speculative townhouses. Chicken or Egg, impropriety or shenanigans, excess or coveted, something seems very wrong.

* http://www.allentownedc.com/APA_RFP_200801.pdf

Pearson Survives Hatchet Attack

Dennis Pearson, recovering from a recent hatchet attack on the local blogosphere, was able to attend the County Commissioners meeting Wednesday evening. Pearson, the most qualified applicant for the vacated commissioner seat, suffered hacket wounds inflicted by Bernie O'Hare, on Lehigh Valley Ramblings. While laying wounded, he was kicked several times by Chris Casey, from Lehigh Valley Poliblog. It seems Pearson, an educator with a master's degree, has an interest in the space program. Although good enough for the voters of Ohio who rewarded John Glenn for his enthusiasm, the blogosphere discovered a photo of Pearson in a space suit and the juvenile ridicule began. Although O'Hare and Casey don't realize it yet, they have endorsed Pearson by elimination. This morning Casey said the two applicants who failed to attend Wednesday should not receive serious consideration. Although he didn't mention names, I will. I also attended the meeting, Casey left early, I came late. In attendance were Pearson, Jones and Lutz. Absent were Easterling and Wilt. After the meeting O'Hare and I spoke only briefly with Jones, but we both agreed Mr. Jones was not ready for consideration. O'Hare believes Lutz's convenient conversion from an independent to a democrat violates the intention of the county charter. This leaves Dennis Pearson, minor space exploration hobbyist, and major life long advocate for Allentown's East Side. It is my hope our Commissioners reward thirty years of community involvement with a well earned appointment. Bernie has already publicly confessed his funny bone got the best of him. Casey tries at the end of the day to be fair. I believe these two influential bloggers will come to support the dedication that Dennis has shown to the political process for decades. They, more than most, know the energy and work required to serve the public.

Crippled Lie To Lanta

The crippled have joined the list of those who lie to the Lanta Board of Directors. In the fall, the board dismissed over 1800 signatures from bus riders who protested moving the bus stops off Hamilton Street. Lanta claimed the list would have to be verified before being given any consideration. This winter, the board discounted the complaints of merchants; Lanta would have to inspect the merchants books before believing their claim of reduced business. Yesterday the claims of 60 disabled people about Lanta's Metro Plus* service will have to be looked into. Complaints varied from patients entirely missing therapy sessions to people kept on the van for over two hours and running out of oxygen. Lanta Director Armando Greco said "Part of the difficulty is determining the true extent of the problems in an objective fashion... some users are more tolerant of late arrivals and departures." The concessions made to the Hamilton Street merchants, adding additional stops on 7th and 8th Streets, have not helped restore foot traffic. It is becoming apparent the business community will once again have to appeal to Lanta. (third time) Perhaps Lanta will permit those who speak to testify under oath.

*Metro Plus is contracted out to Easton Coach, but Lanta is responsible for the quality of service.

Community Activist

Since 1973 Dennis Pearson has been the voice of the east side. As President of the Neighborhood Association for decades, and a coach, his tireless efforts are known to several generations. Mr. Pearson has a masters degree in urban and social studies and also substitute teaches. Currently he has offered his vast experience to fill out a term on the County Commission. Anybody familiar with his on going analysis of Allentown's budgets and tax ordinances, knows his experience is an opportunity county residents cannot afford to miss out on. Although he has submitted an official condensed resume to the county, please check out his decades of service on the following site; http://www.pearson4pa133.com/Biography.html
The above photo was taken in 1983, when a younger Dennis attempted to hold Mayor Daddona to a campaign promise.

UPDATE: I received an offline message exploiting Dennis's interest in space exploration. Although I do not share that passion, I find it refreshing to have a candidate for appointment with a wide palette of interests. Here is a man of the neighborhood groups, of the crime watches, straight forward, sincere and devoid of the plastic phoniness of cookie-cutter politicians.

Heavyweight Championship of the World

On March 21, 1941, my mother's cousin Abe Simon, son a of Jewish egg and butter salesman, fought Joe Louis for the title in Detroit. Lasting 13 rounds, he earned another title shot against the Brown Bomber a year later in Madison Square Garden. After retiring he acted in several movies, including On The Waterfront and Requiem For A Heavyweight.

A Wedding Day

One would hope, after all the discussion, expense and subsidizes given to create an arts district, lofts and studios, something will be named after Greg Weaver; he inspired a generation of local artists.

I took this photo of Greg and Fran the morning of their wedding

Back To The Future

It's the year 2015 and Mayor Guridy has just received the long anticipated study from A&P Associates. Advice from Afflerbach and Pawlowski doesn't come cheap, $475,000, but as City Council President Peter Lewnes said,"Sometimes it pays to invest in the best.". Some of the recommendations to revive Hamilton Street are nothing less than brilliant. Bus transfer stops are to be placed on Hamilton Street between 7th and 9th, creating foot traffic and enhancing a sense of security. Meter rates will be reduced, once again accepting quarters and other coins. The old Allentown Brew Pub, closed since the KOZ ended in 012, will be torn down to create a convenient pocket parking lot. The renovations would be implemented by the Butz Company, and as is the policy, no estimates will be provided. Guridy will make the announcement early next week, and a translation in English will be available.

Open Mike

This posting is intended to provide an opportunity to comment on any topic, or on an earlier posting.

Arrogant Heights

Mayor Ed Pawlowski, in his second State of the City address this year, proclaimed he will rename the center city subsidized district "Renaissance Square." Although some feel "Pawlowski's Pay and Playville" would be most appropriate, the new name should be "Arrogant Heights." At the Allentown Parking Authority board meeting on Feb. 26, the declining revenue of existing merchants on Hamilton Street was accepted as a factual consequence of the new Lanta Transportation Center. This matter of fact comment occurred during a discussion about building new townhouses at 7th and Linden, which they should call "Moron Manor." It is the height of arrogance, to think that any revitalization plan, justifies compromising the survival of long term, taxpaying businesses.

City Council Out of Line

According to an article in the Morning Call*, Mayor Pawlowski and Council President Michael D'Amore met about council's acting up; council did not pass an ordinance charging brides a fee to use the rose gardens for photographs. One must understand that this is the first time Allentown City Council has denied a request by the mayor**. After rubber stamping a new 10 million dollar bond, and refinancing 22 million more in bonds**, the mayor does not expect city council to act as an equal branch of city government. He refers to the recent insubordination as a bump in the road, expecting council to henceforth comply with the will of the people. Apparently Mr. Pawlowski feels his initiatives are the will of the people.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-b1_5council.6291797mar04,0,5537319.story

** current city council has three new members

A Boutique Hotel

Recently I had a conversation with someone familiar with Mayor Pawlowski's vision. The person commented that hopefully the Mayor's plan for the Americus as a boutique hotel comes to fruition. I also had a conversation with a Hamilton Street business woman, who after thirty years, is now reduced to working a second job to supplement her building costs. La Belle Cuisine is moving to Emmaus. Lanta buses ignore the new stops on 8th street, causing riders to walk back two blocks to Hamilton. Verizon workers are losing their safe parking to build townhouses at 7th and Linden. Having a vision for Allentown is fine, but sacrificing existing merchants and inconveniencing long-term employers is morally wrong, and most likely a poor bet.