Although the Progressives, who campaigned against the waste to energy plant and the water lease this year, didn't like Emma Tropiano back in the day, or now, here's a history lesson they may find interesting. Shown above is Emma camping out by the entrance to Kline's Island on October 13, 1989. Her statement to the press.
"The deal with the Lehigh County Authority to open Kline's Island to outside sewage sources has promoted massive development in western Lehigh County, drawing potential commercial and industrial development away from Allentown and resulting in higher taxes for city property owners." She was running against The First Mayor For Life Joe Daddona's fourth term. His reply.
"It's obvious once again that Emma, because of her lack of knowledge and understanding of a problem, is shooting from the hip and hitting herself in the foot." She was also outspoken about the direction the city was heading in: Is Allentown in an ugly decline, with drugs, crime, filth and mismanagement rotting away the core of the Queen City, as challenger Emma D. Tropiano insists? Or is it squarely facing its problems and coming up with sound, creative solutions, as Mayor Joseph S. Daddona says?"
The Morning Call, Nov. 5, 1989.
reprinted from November of 2013
ADDENDUM: On Tuesday Bill White repeated his quote about Emma from 2001;
I like Emma, but she wouldn't know fresh ideas and positive leadership if they were driving down Hamilton Street in a blue Cadillac. Bill has made Emma one of the symbols of his Hall Of Shame. Bill White protests against this designation, coined by yours truly years ago, and cites the philanthropic Cipko Brothers as proof that the Hall isn't limited to shame. However, I remember back when, and the gag about them was their ridiculous toupees, which White featured in photographs. Philanthropic or not, their toupees put them in the Hall, not their charity. Anyway, I digress. Bill White has been wrong about Emma for over 40 years. The problem is that now a whole generation of people disparage her, based on Morning Call distortions.
reprinted from May of 2017
I also was fond of Emma even though she could be very abrasive . She always meant well but you had to know her to love her. Of all the people I had the fortune to meet and chat with was Nathan Kline. He was friends with my father. My father sold life insurance after WW2 and was all over town and knew or knew of all the players. I know how much you love Allentown of the past as I do but there is one story that has yet to be told. And that is How the immigrants in this town got along with the majority Penna. Dutch circa 1900 to 1950. I realize its before our time but growing up heard many many stories from the old timers about how it wasnt so great pre 1950. Frank Whelan chooses not to go there when asked at least publically. My info came from Phil Sorrentino, Bob lang, Michael Iacocca, Joe Daddona and mostly from an Italian and jewish point of view. My father was Slovak and can remember coming down to allentown from northampton on the trolley and his experiences visiting dorney park as a kid. Many stories about living in the 1st and 6th ward. Then moving to the west end south and east side and the spirit in allentown in those days. The history behind Julian Court and Livingston Apts yada yada yada. The story has to be told Mike. Our demographics are changing as we speak and we need to move forward. Who is buying all these real estate sales? Outsiders ? The morning call is tone deaf. You may not qualify for the pulitzer prize but you could start a needed conversation.
ReplyDeleteGuy, interesting comment, and here's an answer I was hesitant to write about before. Frank Whelan currently has a history of the Jewish Community on WFMZ's webpage. This history was written years ago on commission by a group of older Jewish men who have since passed. They were disappointed in the piece, and although they paid Frank, they never used the piece in their archives. They asked me later to consider the assignment, but I prefer writing short pieces at my own convenience. This was no reflection on Whelan, but they then realized that, not being Jewish, he didn't know what events were really significant for their particular community.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, it may take a kinsman to catch the flavor of his ethnicity. Since Whelan wrote that history piece, others have come forward documenting different segments of the Jewish experience in Allentown.
Although I have no basis to write about other ethnic groups, such historical anecdotes would be always welcome on this group.