When I read Mayor Tuerk's New Year message in the Morning Call last Thursday, I thought that a citizen's reply was in order, and that I was just the citizen to make it. As a long time activist and blogger, I think even our best elected officials benefit from a critique now and then.
Tuerk is hopeful that Allentown will receive a large grant for retraining people for employment. Allentown has no shortage of new buildings in center city, on the contrary. They are very unique, because they are publicly funded, but privately owned, and mostly by one man. When the legislation enabling this unique situation was slid through Harrisburg, the promise was that this windfall tide would raise everybody's ship. As it is turning out, the taxpayers got no relief, and we're hoping to retrain the jobless? In the real world, where politicians never dwell, those jobs in those new buildings require college degrees, and our jobless are apparently not interested in blue collar jobs, because industry can't find enough workers.
While the mayor wrote about firefighting, more personnel and equipment, he didn't say much about crimefighting. This oversight came on the heels of a very bloody weekend, with six shootings. While Tuerk probably wrote the editorial before the weekend, public safety has been on everybody's mind for a long time. Many believe that there is generally a lack of police enforcement, characterized by loud cars double parking. We keep seeing reference to some supposed non-profits fighting violence. I can assure the mayor that citizens want the police doing that job. While those references to non-profits may pay good political dividends, they don't make improved public safety.
Mayor Tuerk devoted considerable column space to trees and the environment, but not one word about our schools. While the schools are separate from City Hall, their quality goes hand in hand with quality of life in Allentown. Quality of life goes hand in hand with the perception of civility. Civility is perceived by clean quiet streets.
Tuerk's column was preaching to the wrong choir. Those of us who still subscribe to our local newspaper don't care about grants and their usually false promise of a better life. From City Hall we want a better life in more simpler ways, like cleaner streets with more police cars.
photo of Tuerk at city council/molovinsky
Allow me to add one additional item from MY wish list.
ReplyDeleteSince I’ve owned my current home (over 20 years), I’ve been subjected to weekly street cleaning - and ticketing. While there is often little to clean on my block, I accept that not every neighborhood takes care of their litter as well as mine does and there is a need to do the cleaning on a regular basis to get a cleaner city.
With that in mind, how about in the winter months when the snow begins to fall, instead of canceling street cleaning still have the cars move from their spots? But instead of sending a street sweeper down the road, send a plow to take away the snow piles that are left behind when people shovel their cars out. Most times, this is the snow that the plows have previously thrown against the parked cars as they plow the streets.
Plowing the parking areas would make me feel like the city actually cares about improving residents’ quality of life instead of just seeing us as a revenue source for the parking authority.
Dream on. One must elect leaders who actually care about middle class homeowners for anything like what you desire done.
DeleteNEWSFLASH, 5:54!!!! What you describe... plowing instead of sweeping after a snow event... THAT was one of the reasons for year round street sweeping AND TICKETING... A MONEY GRAB in the end, IMHO.
DeleteDo you know how many times they have implemented that scenario??? ZERO TIMES!!! I'll give them credit for canceling street sweeping and NOT ticketing during those snow events.
In the 30 plus years I have lived here, we were stranded twice by the snow plowed everywhere and left with one lane on a two lane street... However, when the SHTF, they force everyone to move and then plow at their $%^&*(^% leisure while residents are forced to park their cars where the sun doesn't shine!!! Sure, they open up the decks and you can walk your legs off, but that really isn't the answer. Posting no parking for days till they "get around" to it STINKS!!! And they think they deserve more tax revenues??? Me thinks maybe when they stop crapping on us!!!.... maybe...
Tuerk is too busy with juvenile humor on Facebook to worry about your critique. Perhaps you can catch his attention with a post about snowplowing someone's mom and he'll find time to respond.
ReplyDeleteCan't you be nice Mike? For heaven's sake, isn't that what Allentown needs more of? Niceness? In truth that op-ed was laugh out loud funny, beginning with the incorrect usage of the word "prolific". There are prolific writer who produce many books but those who run do not produce runs do they? Baseball players may, but this is a minor criticism, the real concern is who does Matt think he's talking to? You're not in Colorado anymore Matt, this is a distressed, northeast corrupt urban area with a majority minority population. It's my guess his hope for grants and delight in running are not on the top of their list of concerns. The NIZ are related rent increases are rapidly forcing them to tighten their belts or seek other less desirable places to live. No matter what the police stats say crime is a major problem. The police can only report on crimes reported to them, many downtown residents no longer bother for a variety of reason. Matt's essay must have made the few downtown's residents who read it shake their heads and wonder, what is he thinking? Who is this guy? When this came out friends from outside the city limits called to tell me it was a must read, it was that bad. It was just one more confirmation to them that their departure from the city was a wise move and cemented their opinion that the Queen City is a hopeless mess. Are they wrong to think that or just realistic. I suspect the latter. Matt is a nice guy, he needs to realize nice doesn't make one a good mayor. He needs to start standing up to the thugs and self servers he has befriended and/or funded.
ReplyDeleteSo a couple of months ago I witnessed a herd of juveniles rolling down Turner Street from 17th to 13th on Bikes. Several were popping wheelies ( riding on their back wheels, with their front wheels up in the air). When they approached 13th street, they hung a left on a full RED LIGHT, almost causing an accident with a car going south on 13th. Just so happened to be sitting behind an Allentown Police SUV. Pulled around and next to the officer, asked him what he thought about what just happened. He told me that the orders from the top brass was NOT to engage or go after this type behavior.
ReplyDeleteThese are the future generations of car drivers. As you drive through the streets of Allentown… drive with one hand on your horn and have your head on a swivel.
Can confirm. I observed similar behavior on the east side while I was speaking with a police officer in front of my home and discussing increased crime in the area. The officer observed the riders and said he was not allowed to engage with them or issue citations. They proceeded to cut off traffic at two stop signs. The officer shrugged and said, "Wish I could do something."
DeleteObviously, according to the Allentown drivers Manuel. Red Lights & Stop Signs are only a SUGGESTION!!!
ReplyDeleteAllentown needs Pawlowski back as mayor. This kid doesn't know how to run a city. Its a dreaming leftist more concerned with not offending people and DEI
ReplyDeleteEd was crooked as hell, but the city was safer during his tenure and we didn't have people like Baats sucking up to the mayor and getting his pockets lined with cash. Paying an ex-con to take care of the crime problem seems ludicrous.
Actually Ed did not know how to run the city, he only knew how to run it for his benefit. That was his only skill. As well, I truly doubt the city was any safer then than it is now.
DeleteHey Mike,
ReplyDeleteSpring is right around the corner! ALLENTOWN TAXPAYERS!!!!
Get ready for the unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured, dirt bike, mini-bike, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) Gang to show up in your neighborhood!
Witnessed their daredevil feats and driving skills on South 4th Street and Tilghman Street in our All-American City!
Yeah, wouldn't want to rankle their dispositions by impounding their wheels or throwing in the hoosegow, would we??? BUT, see how quick you get stopped for no turn signal... ask me how I know! Mean while, back at the ranch, we have seeders, red light runners at breakneck speeds and stop signs are just a suggestion in addition to the above. SO, if I comprehend the comments, this is ordered from above or BY DESIGN and the desired result(s)! Why, you ask. Could it be to drive property owners out, which ultimately turns a property into a rental with easy to control inhabitants? That's this writer's opinion... please prove me wrong, Allentownians.
DeleteNot difficult to agree with comments. I count 5 to 10 parking violation in one Block every day on 13 th street and seldom any parking authority. Just ignore or don’t even know regulations seems ok. Try calling it in and they want you to do their job. Make of car location violation, license ? Only consistent is street cleaning ticketing. Parking on sidewalks don’t even get police to stop. Parking is part of the city and complaints get more attention at the regulation by violators.
ReplyDelete