When Allentown started acquiring properties for the Arena, I suggested that the displaced Asian merchants could end up with the rickshaw concession on Hamilton Street. Recently, I suggested that as a Community Benefit Agreement, our downtrodden be allowed to sell peanuts at the Arena. Lo and behold, our inspirational leaders did make room outside the new hotel for the underclass, they can operate food carts.
"There's a lot of exciting opportunities right now," said
Shannon Calluori, operations manager for the city's Department of Community and Economic Development. "Food vending is one of many."
Julio Guridy, City Council President added,
"It could also be a good opportunity for minority-owned businesses." Who knows, perhaps leather shoes will make a comeback, and the community college could provide training in shoe shining.
above reprinted from September of 2013
ADDENDUM OCTOBER 26, 2023:Ten years have passed since my politically incorrect post above. Hasshan Batts has learned how to turn his prison past into lemonade -- m-e-n-t-o-r-i-n-g! Mentoring has become the growth industry in Allentown. Mayor Tuerk is looking at how to expand a youth boxing program. Perhaps minor minority gladiators could fight in the underused arena?
Mike, in the past when people actually belonged to the churches that are still ubiquitous throughout the city, these institutions provided after school activities. Many of then had basket ball courts in the basements and stages. I'm sure you have walked through a few of these in your life as they later became meeting places for community groups and activities. Many of these building are now empty or nearly so. The mentoring and activities are also gone, thus the government and NGO's with their own agendas have stepped in. The results are telling aren't they? We are much better off when we don't rely on the government to do what we should be doing ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI still think your idea of food carts, at least during the warm months on Hamilton Street is a good idea. There is a long history of vendors with food carts there, with peanut vendors lining the sidewalks during the early years of the 20th Century.
ReplyDeletePerhaps hot dog cars being sold by attractive women wearing swimsuits? Its been done in other cities. And it would return a sense of commerce to Hamilton Street, which has been turned into a business' office park by Reilly.
7:54 - The problem with food carts is explaining it to the already-struggling restaurants on Hamilton that you’re going to undercut their customer base by allowing someone to set up a food cart outside their doors.
ReplyDeleteNo one likes cheaper competition
DeleteA Reminder: Even though nearly $2B spent on so called revitalization Allentown still plans to raise taxes. So what was the point of it all?
ReplyDeleteIn the era of Thomas Parker, an inventory was taken of all "community programs" serving the ASD. This exercise resulted in a tally of approximately 500 participating individuals/organizations. Why do we need Hassan Bats? I read an article the other day where ASD parents referred to their children/students as "babies." Therein lies the problem. Babies are helpless. Is this how these parents see their children? Perhaps these "babies" enjoy the role of the perpetual victim who basks in the self-absorption of recording the daily drama and chaos that characterizes ASD daily on their cell phones. Their babies feed this trash to social media, bringing chaos, confusion, immaturity, and a depleted learning environment. Their problem is their failure to take responsibility and act more respectfully toward the school, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and students who want to learn. If I were king of the world, I would ball and chain this bastion of mediocrity and perpetual underachievement.
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