"We're a medium-size city
with big-city crime."-Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown
For those of us who grew up in Allentown, we always considered ourselves a medium-sized city with a small town feel. We were literally designated the All American City. One of the most amazing aspects of this transformation, is that our total population has essentially stayed the same since 1928, when we first achieved 100,000 people. Twenty years ago we lamented the loss of Hess Brothers and other symbols of our prosperity, now we mourn the loss of basic civility and safety.
above reprinted from May 12, 2010
ADDENDUM JUNE 5, 2023:Although thirteen years have passed since I wrote the above missive, and the mercantile district on Hamilton Street has been replaced with a new urban office park, there have been no improvements in regard to basic civility and safety. Instead, those problems are now the status quo, and we who still lament losing those values of time past are considered dinosaurs or worse.
I'd actually be happy with the status quo from 2010.
ReplyDeleteShootings in the city are at an all-time high in 2023.
Our elected officials seem to be happy that homicides are down.
I worry about what happens when the marksmanship of criminals gets better.
When too much bad behavior goes without meaningful, and unwanted consequences for the offenders . . . . you get even MORE bad behavior.
ReplyDeleteOur nation’s cities are in a steady state of moral and functional decline due to failed government decisions and a heavy dose of ‘looking the other way’ for convenience.
Just saw on the MC website: 1 Dead, one injured from shooting on Saturday.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it seems like their aim might be getting better.
Give the kids a t-shirt and the goal of becoming a juvinile institutional drug dealer and this is what we get. No real life skills is the modern social issue facing all of America today. With this get rich quick kiting of credit cards that never have to be paid back because of a LLC or a LLP.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry I am from the govment and I am her to help with a grant for that?