Once a upon a time, Allentown didn't have the benefit of current regulations. City Hall didn't have the vision it does now; they just let the merchants put up large neon signs without extensive guidelines and approval procedures. We didn't have the benefit of a Parking Authority; Allentown Park and Shop, one of the first in the nation, irresponsibly gave free parking just to encourage business. We didn't have the benefit of a remote Lanta Terminal; shoppers and buses clogged the street and sidewalks. Prosperity is over-rated, appreciate today's vision in The City Without Limits; Bon Appetit.
watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler
above reprinted from November 26, 2010
Well, since you mentioned the Parking Authority:
ReplyDeleteI saw the story about the Parking Authority ticketing cars as they were lined up at a food bank! Isn't it funny that those using a Food Bank get tickets, but nobody going to an arena event gets a ticket as traffic is backed up for blocks trying to enter downtown parking garages.
This should be the last straw for anyone who thinks the Parking Authority should remain separate from the City. If after all the bad publicity over the last five months hasn't changed the way the Parking Authority operates, it is irredeemable. You can't re-train their employees to suddenly find common sense, or common decency.
And what you see from front-line employees is a reflection of both the Executive Director and who is on the board. They obviously haven't taken the issues seriously and have done nothing to solve the issue proactively.
The article also quotes the Executive Director as saying that the tickets have been reduced to warnings, so that those ticketed won't have to pay anything. Why should they even have a warning on their records? Presumably, it will remain there and be used against them in the future. The tickets should be totally rescinded. That the Executive Director doesn't get this proves my point above that he (and the Board) needs to go.
Buried at the end of the Morning Call article is that the city, after council approved $20,000 for a "legal and policy analysis" of dismantling the Authority and bringing its functions in-house, will FINALLY be issuing a request for proposals (RFP) on the subject. That it's taking over a month for the Mayor to even issue the RFP should tell you all you need to know about how seriously he takes the issue, as should the fact that nobody on City Council has said a peep about the slow pace.
As usual, the people are being played. The faces in City Hall may have changed, but the game remains the same. THEY ALL NEED TO GO.
Fair points, but at least those going to the arena a contributing to our society, not taking from it. Also, people on food assistance have cars? This is not intended to sound harsh....just ironic.
ReplyDeleteThe majority of people on SNAP have jobs. A car is not a luxury anymore.
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