The exchange between Alan Jennings and Alvin Blount had an element of tenseness. The Arena Authority announced that as part of the $600 million development plan,
$107,000 would go toward starting a job training program for center city residents. Blount, a member of the local NAACP said,
"So, at the end of the day, we're saying this ship could sail without any benefit to the community," Ironically, defending the Authority was Alan Jennings.
More likely than not, the program will be run by part of the Jennings' organization. $107,000 translates to hiring one program director and an assistant. In truth, beyond cleaning the arena bathrooms, neither the arena or the NIZ will bring jobs suitable for such a training program. Companies induced to relocate in the zone have professional employees; Lehigh Valley Healthcare Sports Medicine, National Penn Bank Center, and a large accountant. And don't except the crack in the facade of opportunity to spread too far; The local NAACP is headed by Dan Bosket, who works for Alan Jennings.
Ironically, the best preparation for any job is excellent schooling. As Allentown's public schools continue their demise, the arena and surrounding development continues to suck city resources from actual residents.
ReplyDeleteLast weekend, the husband and I traveled south on 7th street - all the way from La-Z-Boy on MacArthur to Tilghman street to head west. Highway 22 was not backed up, but MacArthur/7th Street was a NIGHTMARE. Traffic flowing southbound barely moved. It took us about 30 minutes (no lie) to get from La-Z-Boy to Tilghman! And this was due to no accident, no unusual traffic flow problems…just apparently the normal flow of traffic. Arena engineers tell us this is the path towards downtown for arena events? Ya right - nobody is going to do that more than once, I can guarantee it. Crime problems aside, the traffic problems in the area are so ridiculous - I feel for the folks who live around the arena. How will they travel around the area on event night????
This is why the road to nowere is going to get a bridge accross the lehigh¿ Will it work or not is one of the many issues facing this large scale project¿ As the quility of life is being sucked from the lifelong residents of allentown were blight and crime takes over the city and goes unaddressed by the blind eyes of all officials¿
ReplyDeleteREDD
I heard a school board director was advocating for low income housing to be included in the zone at the last NIZ meeting. Does this make sense?
ReplyDeleteSunday Morning Downtown Drive,
ReplyDeleteThere may be a crack in the facade but there's garbage on downtown sidewalks and streets this Sunday morning.
Stop picking on Mr. Jennings. He is the man of the people.
ReplyDelete@12:04, it is not my motive to pick on mr. jennings. he is a player in the NIZ, and has made himself part of the story. although the morning call doesn't scrutinize the NIZ, this blog does.
ReplyDelete"Bill White's Unguarded Palace of Sport, Part Two"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.goironpigs.com
Because SOMEBODY has to have the guts to go into the corners and stand up to the Progressive Bullies and their Wealth Redistribution schemes revolving around the "transformative" Palace of Sport.
(PS --- I noticed The Morning Call reporting that the Allentown School District might need to axe 160 teachers, etc ... I wonder if Jennings and White saw that article, too, and have begun to see Limited Government in a new light?)
this blog does not print comments with the mayor's, or anybody's name bastardized.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't me this time MM, but when want prints local athurities names the public cannot help but write the truth about most of these local pos. Not everyone wants to blog so elequintly as you¿
DeleteREDD
redd, the rejected comment, submitted anonymously, made some good points, however, the writer felt it necessary to also intentionally misspell the mayor's name, in a derogatory way. although this blog is a forum for scrutiny and criticism of local government, a level of accuracy and decorum is necessary to maintain credibility.
ReplyDeleteWhen the publics voice is overruled by behavior of a bully, I think the public has the right to call that bully out¿ Name calling has been started by this administration using the word CANCER publicly to decribe people that are and will the only true tranformation of Allentown pa. The town bullies cheerleaders even go as far as to call humans mongrols¿ How is this political correctness exceptable and delt with in todays political atmosphere¿
DeleteREDD
redd, to some people this blog is a forum to comment, either anonymously or with a pen name. to me, it's a newsletter to effect changes that i believe in. you and others must start, or find, other venues for name calling, it won't be here.
ReplyDeleteMayor Pawlowski is an ineffective leader and in my opinion highly dishonest. The prevailing sociopolitical philosophy expelled by Allentown's current "ruling party" along with all it's despotic profit and non-profit allies reminds me of where Germany was in the 30's and we all know what that led to. The Latinos and economically disenfranchised should exercise vigilance on this point.
ReplyDeleteMany of Allentown's here-to-fore leaders are too old, weary, or incapable of thinking outside the box. Their time has come and gone, their wisdom more a product of economic opportunity than cognitive ability. They cone to manipulate the system not to get done what they need to get done but because that is the only way they know how to do anything.
Economic Armageddon is coming to Allentown. Rest assured. Rest assured. Mayor Pawlowski will be long gone as it rapes the very soul out of this city.
MM, when one has desicrated its own body publicly they are always the last ones to know¿ Just like a town drunk is the last on too know they are an alcoholic¿ You of all people should know about the chatter behind this poor souls inequity is not always nice words¿ One in the same¿
ReplyDeleteREDD
@12:32, i take exception with the phrase dishonest. i believe that his polices are often not in allentown's best interest, and i believe that developers are profiting at the expense of taxpayers, both local and statewide, however, that doesn't constitute dishonesty. i suspect you would not be using the term, or perhaps not even commenting at all, if it required your name. furthermore, call pawlowski what you will, but don't call him ineffective. he has succeeded with everyone of his initiatives since arriving in allentown.
ReplyDelete"Highway 22 was not backed up, but MacArthur/7th Street was a NIGHTMARE. Traffic flowing southbound barely"
ReplyDeleteIt is about time the Commonwealth widen that section. In PennDOT's current design combines the ramps at MacArthur Road while reduces capacity of those ramps. PennDOT's solution is to trip the traffic lights more frequenly.
While the American Parkway bridge has merit, it will have insignificant effect on the ever increasing capacity on Route 22 as 7th Street is still an easier route to center city.
Envision LV should study the adverse economic/health impact Route 22. How many accidents and fatalities will it take?
Route 22 should be the focus of Every Lehigh Valley Legislator.