During the City Council Eminent Domain Hearing, Louie Belletieri came in about halfway during the meeting. I encouraged him to stay and say a few words. Louie stood up at the meeting's end and told City Council that they should pay the shopowners straight up. Although Louie wasn't involved with the issue before, during or after that meeting, his Godfather presentation resonated with the local newspaper reporter. In addition to quoting Louie for the coverage about eminent domain, the paper used it as the Quote Of The Week, in the weekend edition. Fortunately, for the historical record, a local documentary videophotographer was covering the meeting. Sydney "Imantrek" McKenzie captured the soul of the shareowners, the storeowners, whose lives were being bashed by the hockey puck.
In addition to making documentaries, Imantrek also produces music and Grounzero, an internet magazine. He is now lending his talent to the fight to preserve Allentown's WPA icons. Like many true artists before him, he remains an outsider to the newspaper and local art establishment.
No ill towards Louie but he is a huge Call advertiser.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this documentarian took video of a city hall meeting when a public speaker expressed dismay that the city allows children to swim in the Little Lehigh following heavy storm sewer discharge.
ReplyDeletelouie has gravitas and presence, and certainly gave a good 30 second speech. my issue with the reporter featuring him is that many affected merchants poured their heart out, which i thought was the real story. i do not believe louie's advertising was a factor. i also want to clarify that louie came to the meeting intending to speak. i only persuaded him to stay, despite a long line of merchants ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteLouie admitted to me after that meeting he had been retained by the city to do some real estate consulting work. Do not know what that means but FYI.
ReplyDeletefollow the money
ReplyDeleteanon 9:54, i'm only posting this comment as an example of the kinds of comments people should expect NOT to be posted, especially when submitted anonymously. louie meant by straight up that the city should not hold the threat of eminent domain over the merchant's heads, and should pay them what they wanted, being that they're being asked to sacrifice their business for the city's agenda. it certainly was not a sentiment that the city would pay him to make.
ReplyDeletemike,guess your not familiar w/ the band pokerface? their as rabidly anti-Semetic as it gets.they were featured on a recent cover of the groundzero magazine your promoting. israel's weeping....
ReplyDeleteanon 1:28, israel's not weeping over pokerface lyrics, they have more real enemies to defend against. nor would they weep over my compliment to imantrek. btw, i am familiar with that band's reputation from jake townes campaign, and i did see the cover before writing my post. i respect imantrek's work on behalf of the merchants and now the wpa, and don't hold him responsible for other people's words. i printed your comment as another example of the type of comment people should not expect to appear here if submitted.
ReplyDeleteyou have to love these types (Anonymous) weep & opinionate all you want Pokerface while having a message some of may not agree with we live in a society that grants there right to state their opinion unlike you at least they stand behind what they write
ReplyDeleteattacking an indepedent journalist like Trek for covering such a contriversial band and subject like Pokerface (don't shoot the messenger).
I have personally booked Pokerface several times not because I agree with what they are saying and no matter how uncomfortable it may make people like you or I feel they have a right to say it !