Yesterday morning activist/blogger Michael Molovinsky briefly took over Mayor Matt Tuerk's 5th fl. office in Allentown City Hall. He reportedly was distressed about the city's plan to redesign center square.
Molovinsky agreed to surrender to Police Chief Roca if WFMZ would televise a brief statement by the septuagenarian. Molovinsky's proclamation was rather rambling and incoherent. He was arraigned before District Justice Michael D'Amore and committed to Lehigh County Prison, in lieu of $200 bail.
At this time it is unknown whether or not he remains incarcerated.
posted by the staff of molovinsky on allentown
ADDENDUM3:51AM:I was released at 3:30AM, gratitude to A-Town Bail&Bond. I've been informed that the mayor has invited city residents to 7th and Hamilton today for their input on redesigning the square. I know that the former merchants of Hamilton, Linden, 7th and 8th Sts. had no input when their property, business and dreams were taken. I know that residents of hazardous intersections were always told that stoplight placement was a state issue. Disappointing that Tuerk would stoop to the old public input dog and pony show to change the town square. After recent history, if they give the contracts out honestly, that's all we can ask for.UPDATE JUNE 30: The main elements of the square redesign is funneling Hamilton's two lanes around the statue into one, and 7th Street's three lanes into two lanes. This merging, combined with Allentown's inconsiderate drivers and chronic double parking, will create induced congestion on both streets. The solution finds a problem!
So if it’s just city residents that can have input, does that mean that the Baron of Bland (JB Reilly) will have none as well?
ReplyDeleteMayor Turek says he is concerned about pedestrians crossing center square in traffic.
ReplyDeleteIf that is the case, then just have two lanes of Hamilton Street pass south of the monument, and two lanes of 7th Street on the east side of the monument. That will reduce the traffic to a simple intersection for people to cross with walk and traffic lights. The rest of the square can then be utilized for festivals and such on raised sidewalk, free of traffic.
Mike, I was alerted to this by a West Park email that had the communique from city hall. Reading it I was rightly filled with dread on what would result. That would of course be something very bad. Why wouldn't this proposal be any less destructive to the city that those of the past two decades? Here in the former Queen City one should expect the worst as that is surely what will transpire. There is nothing to be done about it but grieve.
ReplyDeleteSo... what about the dam monument... the cause of all the pedestrian problems...??? Why not move it to one of the parks??? (sarcasm!!!) Let us not forget we just paid to refurbish that same monument... or should we just shove more moohlah down yet another dead hole???
ReplyDeleteThis city needs to get back to basic issues like noise, traffic and reining in the idiots that cause it all so the people that pay the freight (ah, I think that's the taxpayers....) can get back to (re)enjoying our once great city!!!
I find it interesting that both “meetings” are being held outdoors on the same day. What about people who can’t make it today? They’re just out of luck I guess.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, no provision was made for bad weather (or bad air quality).
To me, they’re not even doing a dog and pony show very well. They used to at least TRY to make it look like the public was actually being consulted.
At this rate, why not just claim that people shouted their suggestions from their vehicles as they drove past Center Square? Or maybe they could claim that ALL residents sent in their ideas…telepathically?
If this plan even hints at moving the monument, it’s time for the county to step in and stop such discussion early.
ReplyDeleteThe monument is the county’s, and it should stay right where it’s at in the middle of Hamilton Street.
Will our county executive and commissioners do the right thing and stand up for our history? Or have they also been bought off by wealthy developers in the city?
I’m sure there are many “wokesters” in Allentown that would rather have the monument be unseen altogether. There’s a patriotic/military aspect to the design, after all. Can’t have that!
DeleteMy expectation is, they will want to move it all off Hamilton Street. Maybe to another park. Maybe to the Riverfront acreage. I don’t think that whole thing will fill out as originally planned.
If the Mayor is concerned about pedestrian safety at Center Square, why not have the police sit back a few blocks on both Seventh Street and on Hamilton Street and start ticketing the speeders, red light runners and other unsafe drivers before they get to Center Square?
ReplyDeleteThat would also improve pedestrian safety at more than just this one intersection.
The problem isn’t the monument or design of Center Square. It’s the direct result of city politicians not demanding the enforcement of the most basic laws in the city.
One more comment about the monument, and the possibility that some will suggest that it be moved:
ReplyDeleteThis is nothing new and the Morning Call has a history of trying to get the monument moved.
Unfortunately for the Call, the issue was settled in November of 1962 when the public was able to weigh in.
Voters overwhelmingly supported keeping the monument where it is, by almost a 20,000 vote margin!
The will of the people should be honored, and today’s small-minded politicians should remember that.
Now I'm sure the mayor (who wasn't around in those days) couldn't possibly imagine the number of people who use to crisscross that intersection back in the 50's and 60's.. Michael has a picture that shows the drugstore and the crowds of shoppers around that intersection Maybe he could post that here. They had to dodge trolleys, buses and cars. Everything was just fine. So what is this really about?
ReplyDeleteWithout going too far into the weeds, the “will of the people” in America today doesn’t carry a whole lot of weight. I’m thinking the decision to remove it from its present location has already been made.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, let’s think about something! Center Square sits at the intersection of State Highway Route 145 and State Highway 222. This could involve a state traffic study which could determine if the city can do anything at all at Center Square. “Quick somebody dial up Ron Young on the phone!”
ReplyDeleteNobody is talking about moving the monument. The Mayor has said directly, "nobody's moving the monument."
ReplyDelete6:13: Please stop gaslighting people as if moving the monument isn’t (or wasn’t) being considered.
Delete——————————
From the Morning Call: A city spokesperson said before Thursday’s meeting that moving the monument elsewhere in the city was not on the “radar,” but is a possibility if enough residents were in support.
——————————
I was happy to hear the Mayor later say that the monument is staying (likely after getting an earful from concerned residents) but that comment above should remind everyone why they need to continue to be vigilant.
I suspect the city spokesperson also got an earful for going off script. I really do not think moving the monument was ever part of this discussion. I think it's just our impulse to automatically distrust anything that comes out of city hall. I think the proposal looks interesting and possibly very cool. It depends on traffic and parking, entirely.
Delete