Center City Reillyville, aka Allentown, will close the streets to accommodate Reilly's restaurants. With only a few exceptions, all the restaurants are owned by Reilly's Hospitality Group, contained in Reilly's buildings, and paid for with our state taxes.
There is a small restaurant on N. 2nd Street that I sometimes patronize. Don't except to see 2nd Street closed to accommodate them. There is a third generation sandwich shop on the south side, which fought for years to get a few limited time parking signs for its customers. Don't expect to see that street closed. Don't expect to see any other restaurant, in any other part of the city accommodated.
When it comes to an equal playing field, Allentown doesn't even own a level.
The Morning Call is promoting the street closings, as they have every new building by Reilly. They never question the occupancy rates of the Strata apartments, despite no lights or people. They never question the state taxes being diverted... They themselves are now Reilly tenants.
Except for some occasional scrutiny by this naysayer blogger, all is well in Reillyville.
All's far from well in Allentown. Everyone I kn ow agrees things are getting worse, far worse. Has anyone seen or heard from anyone in city government?
ReplyDeleteSo the big question is what will happen tomorrow (Saturday)?
ReplyDeleteParts of Hamilton Street are closed for outdoor seating from Noon till 10 pm.
But a local protest is set to begin at 2 pm at the Arts Park.
What will happen if protesters decide to take share their message with a walk up (and down) Hamilton Street?
Will city officials bow to the desires of the protestors to express their message, or will the subsidized businesses of Reillyville take priority?
Can't let our worlds collide now, can we?
Also, out of curiosity:
ReplyDeleteHow many minority-owned businesses are in the NIZ?
How many minority landlords are benefitting from it?
How many A.P.D. officers will be stationed there ?
ReplyDelete