Last week on this blog I wrote that it's time to raise the flag for homelessness, since flag raising seems to be a big part of this administration. Here I am less than a week later correcting myself...IT'S TIME TO RAISE THE FLAG ON PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT IS AGAINST SHOOTINGS AND STABBINGS. I don't literally need to see such a flag flying, but let's not delude ourselves anymore that hope and promise organizations are any solution. WE NEED MORE POLICING. We need to protect life and limb.
Instead of the police car passing the double parker, let's start by checking them out. We already know that such citizens don't have much regard for public safety, and probably not much for laws either. Don't worry about culture or offending anybody. If Charles Roca is not up to the task, a new chief may be in order. If Matt Tuerk isn't up to the mission, maybe a new mayor will also be necessary.
illustration by Mark Beyer
I don't think I've ever seen a group of elected officials in Allentown City Hall more out of touch with the reality of what's going on the city, and that's saying something. While they delude themselves that all is ok, a real estate company just ranked the city as the seventh highest that people want to LEAVE.
ReplyDeleteMind you, that's not seventh highest in the state, but the seventh highest nationally.
Yet what will we get from those in City Hall? Certainly not policy improvements or a focus on real solutions like the hiring more police officers (as you note). Instead, all we'll hear will be cheerleading about how the ranking is wrong and Allentown is on the right path.
No amount of flags, or flag raisings, can cure stupid.
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/allentown-ranks-no-7-among-cities-people-may-want-to-leave-coldwell-banker-real-estate/article_c22f487a-5ca9-11ee-a4cf-b7c629ed46cd.html
In all fairness, when these reports are generated they typically refer to the entire region as “Allentown”. If you travel more than 30 miles few people know what the Lehigh Valley is. That said, your point is still valid. Allentown is the principal city of our region and it would be much more positive if we were on the list of cities people were interested in moving to.
DeleteDon't blame the police, blame the well funded and until recently, widely popular Defund the Police movement. Then blame the media that fanned the anti police message. Then blame the mayor and city council for tying the hands of the police in order to appease the anti-police radicals. No more traffic stops, no traffic enforcement, far less enforcement of nuisance crimes, looking the other way on rampant truancy, drug use, the public intoxication of the increasing numbers homeless... this approach has created a contempt for authority among the young and those who choose not to follow the law. In light of all this, I am shocked anyone would step forward to be a police officer. I'm sure they would like to return to the days, not so long ago, when they could do their job as they know best. With the full confidence the politicians and the public have their backs. Until that happens our urban areas will be what they are, and frankly, outside of the lawbreakers, who want to be part of that?
ReplyDeleteYes, more police are needed and not just police in cars, but police on the streets. Cops need to be free to act on everyday lawlessness. The state needs to crack down on tinted car windows that violate state law. And we need a new mayor. The current baby-face mayor takes a lot of selfies but he’s not tough enough to handle the real problems of the state’s third largest city. City Council needs a clean out too, but who wants to do what needs to be done? And unfortunately the Allentown School District needs to raise the white flag and surrender to state control since they can no longer manage themselves. The new superintendent has managed to alienate staff and create more chaos in her short time here. The school uniform helped create order, now that’s gone. The School Board, who hired the superintendent, is a another joke. Allentown can’t be trusted to manage itself anymore, and capable administrators go elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteLook at Allentown in 1975, and look at Allentown in 2023, nearly a half-century in time...
ReplyDeleteIs it the sea change in demographics ?
Is it the shift from multiple political parties holding public offices to a uniparty municipal government?
Is it the loss of the middle class, who relied on good paying manufacturing jobs that existed then but no longer do?
Is it the loss of much of Allentown's retail and banking sectors?
Is it the emergence of a gang problem that didn't exist in 1975?
Is it the collapse of public education in Allentown? Today, the students can't read at the grade level they are in, and are lacking in knowledge in other areas of their education.
All this has one result.. Crime, and more crime. Lack of knowlege, work skills, drugs flooding the city, and also, a lack of hope.
All law enforcement seems to be doing is apprehending suspects of crime after the crime has taken place. Is the APD proactive in known high crime areas to prevent its occurrence?
Off topic, but thought it was interesting. Nearly all food and drink businesses in the NIZ are now closed until 4:00 pm. Long time success stories like Bell Hall, Allentown Brew Works, Tacos y Tequila and PA Rye Company can't generate enough foot traffic to serve lunch. 2:45 pm on a weekday and the 600-1000 blocks of Hamilton Street are virtually devoid of people.
ReplyDeleteAlso a bit off topic... the alleys in town are loaded with people doing a bang up drug business and walking (when they do walk) like zombies... looks like a horror movie... and zero police presence... but park behind your garage to load/unload and you'll be ticketed or rousted!!! What's wrong with this picture???
ReplyDeleteBroken window theory sums it up. Little enforcement of loud music, smoking marijuana in public, or numerous other annoyances occurring regularly. Of course this sends a message that these people are above the law. Police don’t live here so apparently they don’t care very much.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness to the congress person that gave Batts all this monies, what has it accomplished a few new vehicles and rent paid to a uninhabitable land holding property management company. That shall remain anonymous until the time is right for rentable blight until a sale that states annual income earned.
ReplyDelete