During Allentown's prime time, it prospered as an enlightened oligarchy. Allentown's leaders would meet for lunch at the Livingston Club on S. 7th Street, and decide what this town needed to do to remain
The All-American City. John Leh, Donald Miller and Harvey Farr owned the
Park&Shop, and made sure that there was adequate parking for all the merchants. Additionally, an eccentric outsider, Max Hess Jr. did more than his share for Hamilton Street. Not only did Hamilton Street prosper, but so did everyone else, living and working on the side streets leading to Hamilton. Although the oligarchy died off, and the Livingston was torn down, democracy doesn't seem to have served Allentown as well. We now have a strong arm-mayor and a subservient City Council. If the current project, with no cost limits, transforms Allentown remains to be seen. I remain doubtful that any benefits will spread down the side streets.
above reprinted from July of 2012
ADDENDUM MARCH 28, 2024: It seems as if my doubts were correct in 2012. Although the NIZ has benefited a couple of men immensely, it has done little to nothing for the side streets and beyond. Analysis of this irony has been limited mostly to this blog.
Allentown has two new populations. One is poor and not concerned with Allentown's past, but their own present. Another demographic, in the growing medical industry, is likewise not concerned with Allentown history. Neither group cares how state wide taxpayers feel about their diverted state taxes going to Hamilton 'Street.
As administrator of a large facebook group comprised of many former Allentonians, I know that group is nostalgia orientated, with some curiosity, but little concern about present day Allentown.
Longer term Lehigh Valley residents are ignoring Allentown City for the most part. They know it really has nothing to offer that can’t be found outside that municipality.
ReplyDeleteWe see Allentown’s unkempt appearance every time passing through. We read about its careless, often unruly, young people. We see the continuous decline of housing stock, the narrow streets overpacked with parked vehicles, the regular traffic violations all throughout the day that are mostly ignored.
We know enough about how government is supposed to work and what it should care most about. Allentown’s government seems focused on all the wrong things and has made itself dysfunctional in our eyes.
We reject all these images and want no part of it. So, we discount needing that place for our needs, wants, and happiness. The fate of Allentown lies solely within its own boundaries, on the people who live there. The priorities of these individuals, not me, determines the path that city takes. Moved away 25 years ago, not going back.
“As administrator of a large facebook group comprised of many former Allentonians, I know that group is nostalgia orientated, with some curiosity, but little concern about present day Allentown.”
ReplyDeleteI’m not on Facebook, so I don’t know anything about the group you mentioned. But if those people still live in the Lehigh Valley (or still have friends or family in the Valley) they should be concerned about present day Allentown.
Bad policy in present day Allentown draws in poverty from out of state and spreads it to the suburbs. Those policies displace city residents and cause transiency in suburban school districts.
So while some might see themselves escaping to the suburbs, they’ve really only bought themselves a little time. What Allentown is today will be the suburb’s future unless things change in the city. And as the city’s problems grow, it won’t just be the NIZ that suburban residents are paying for in Allentown.
Exactly what can anyone do from the outside to save a city that won't save itself? Many have tried from the inside and failed repeatedly. One bright note, the valley has in the meantime experienced rapid growth, this is bringing a new demographic into Allentown. These people may actually want a responsible government that works for the greater good of the residents. It may be too late for us but in time intelligent life could return to city hall.
DeleteMike, Allentown has been destroying itself since Afflerbach beat Bob Lovett in 2001. It's been downhill ever since and in every nearly every area. Even the few glimmers of hope, such as the West Park neighborhood are under assault by well financed, smug, woke do gooder non profits who think it's the perfect spot for a homeless shelter. If that happens, throw this neighborhood in the dust bin as well, and after 30 years we may finally be forced out to join the other Allentown exiles in the burbs.
ReplyDeleteHaving not grown up in this region, imagine my total shock when watching a an old Newlyweds Game re-run from the 1970s and seeing the lucky couple win a trip to Allentown, PA with a stay at what used to be a nice Hotel across Hamilton Street from the Police Department/City Hall and free weekly passes to the Great Allentown Fair!
ReplyDeleteThe poverty in Allentown is overwhelming. Illegal boarding houses call them “apartments.” So many illegal cars. Beautiful stately houses not maintained and trashed. And guns. I was shocked to see how even the nicer neighborhoods like Pennsylvania Ave are run down. I don’t know if there is any hope. The YMCA has become the stepchild of the valley Ys. It hasn’t been open to members for over a year. I think Allentown is headed to become Detroit.
ReplyDeleteThis IS a parallel with the declining fate of Allentown and the obvious destructive path our leaders in federal government have set for us. It’s not necessary to go into details, and I won’t do that here.
ReplyDeleteSuffice to say, everyone must hold up their OWN weight. Government operatives have different agendas and work to those ends, not yours. I was raised to believe I was responsible for my own well being. Welfare states simply don’t work (truly) !
Scott @ 8:40 am said:
ReplyDelete"Exactly what can anyone do from the outside to save a city that won't save itself? Many have tried from the inside and failed repeatedly."
Scott -
I would urge them to:
1) Make sure any friends and family that are still in Allentown are registered to vote, and are voting against the status quo.
2) Stop supporting the politicians that are helping in Allentown's destruction. This includes not only politicians at the city and county levels, but also the state and national levels. Their funding is making Allentown's decline possible.
3) Stop supporting organizations that have covered and continue to cover for the politicians that are destroying Allentown, like the Morning Call.
4) Stop supporting organizations like the YMCA, who have turned their community health facility into a magnet for the homeless. They are not helping the neighborhood, and have sold their souls for the almighty dollar.
5) Stop supporting organizations (like CACLV) that continue the poverty industry in Allentown. The are not there to solve the poverty problem, they are there to keep it going and make money off of it.
6) Stop supporting organizations that support the destruction and degradation of the city's parks, such as the Wildlands Conservancy.
7) Stop supporting organizations (like LVH and others) that are supporting these other organizations with their funding.
I could go on but you get the idea. You'd be surprised at how much these organizations rely on support from outside the city. That funding needs to stop.
Let all these types of organizations know why you won't be supporting them anymore. Many have boards, and I would urge people to let the board members know as well. Attend board meetings of these organizations and apply for the seats when open.
Allentown is being sucked dry by leeches who are living off the government, and I'm not talking about the people drawn here by these groups (they are just pawns in this money-making/vote-buying scam).
But guess what? Sucking Allentown dry is no longer enough! These organizations are already spreading their tentacles into the suburbs to "help" there as well. Take a picture of Allentown today. It's what many of the suburbs will look like in a few years unless things change.
You think all of this and more has not been tried? I have been involved civically and politically for 30 years here. Among other activities I started a Yahoo Group site that uncovered several stories the Call ignored, I now manage a Facebook page dedicated to issues related to the ASD, I spent hundreds of evenings at council, zoning, and planning meetings, I served on the ASD board. The local Dems organized against me because of the threat I posed by speaking the truth. As a result I came in dead last despite supporters spending thousands of dollars to get me back in. I have canvassed the west end, even the few Republicans out there seem to believe things are fine and refuse to support Republican candidates running for city office. It is impossible to recruit good people of either party to run for any public office in the city. It is that bad, watch the ASD board on zoom, see for yourself why intelligent people want no part of that. Finally, you have to realize the first thing the controlling party does to anyone who dares speak out is to personally attack them, often viciously, and often by making things up. The media either joins in or ignores it. Imagine the impact of such attacks on spouses and family members. This is Allentown, this explains everything. Thanks for your advice but trust me, been there, done that.
DeleteI will add to 10:10’s excellent reply.
ReplyDeleteDO NOT vote for any State or Federal candidate who believes America’s wide open, no accountability, situation at our northern and southern borders is acceptable at this level. Speak out against those already in office who have done nothing to stop this madness.
Anon 12:22: Good for you. I believe the situation at the border will cost Biden the election. Just imagine Trump running videos of the 600 illegals who violently barged into the United States at El Paso the other day, brazenly disobeying, disrespecting and nearly injuring border patrol officers. That video should scare all Americans.
DeleteUnfortunately as an Allentown voter we can only do so much. We can only vote for those willing to put themselves on the ballot. I can certainly understand why the best and brightest wouldn't want the job. Can't say I blame them.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem is not having a say who gets hired for superintendent of the ASD. We are left out of that process completely.
Allowing people to vote on non binding referendums issues would be huge improvement. Those running city hall take it upon themselves to pick and chose with activist screamers who show up at meetings. They only make up a fraction of the number of voters who never get a chance to vote on such issues. No one had a say on how or where the NIZ was going then or now. That too could have been a ballot referendum question. If people are pissed off it's because voters where never consulted They say the only polls that count are the election outcomes. Also true if non binding referendums were offered. Seems to me it would make politicians lives a lot easier if they had something to fall back on as well.
LVCI, There is an initiative process by which voters can bypass council and the mayor by getting enough signatures to place the legislation on the ballot. If passed by the voters it becomes law. This was only done once back in 1999. I was part of the process, my good friend Mike was on the other. It was the Rental Inspections Bill. We got it on the ballot. Until Ed became mayor the legislation was followed and thousands of illegal and substandard units were discovered. Ed ignored the legislation, turned it into a cash cow, and ever since council and the mayors have pretended it doesn't exist. So it is possible to bypass our corrupt and dysfunctional city government, but if you succeed you must hope these same people enforce the voters legislation.
DeleteThere was another attempt. People opposed to the water lease attempted to put that issue to referendum. After gathering all the necessary signatures, the Election Board, at the last minute, declared that a T wasn't crossed, and it would NOT appear on the ballot. I found that decision and timing very suspect.
DeleteWasn’t there just another initiative/referendum attempt last year dealing with the way 911 calls should be handled?
DeleteThat too was short-circuited, I believe by the county election board.
I disagreed with that proposal 100%, but I disagree more with politicians and bureaucrats thwarting the process and not letting the people have their vote.
The charter is the city’s constitution, and should be respected as such. Particularly by those who take an oath to uphold it.
Scott @ 12:42 -
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that you’ve “been there and done that”, or that Allentown is a difficult place right now politically. But my comment was directed at those in the suburbs who feel they can ignore what’s going on in Allentown without feeling the effects. They can’t.
Many in the suburbs are oblivious to the detrimental effects the organizations I mentioned have had on the city, and will eventually have in their own communities. Many in the suburbs continue to contribute to those organizations thinking that they - and the organizations - are actually doing something positive. They need to be made aware that they’re part of the problem.
I have also no doubt that the dem party targeted you and organized against you. I think they’ve done the same to MM. I also
don’t believe any of the points I mentioned are earth-shattering or haven’t been tried before. The point is it’s not enough for you or MM or a few others to carry the workload.
The reality is we’ve been collectively outworked by the radical left at every level of government. The “activist screamers”, as LVCI calls them, have been allowed to marginalize good policy, good candidates, and good people. That needs to stop, in Allentown and the suburbs.
Having a Scott Armstrong or MM advocating for good policies at public meetings is laudable but isn’t enough. We need 50 such people showing up at every meeting to counter the other side and win. If that’s not possible in Allentown right now, then it has to start in the suburbs until it spreads back to Allentown. In the meantime, we need to work to cut the funding of the groups that are doing the damage.
I didn’t see an alternative suggestion from you and that’s fine - you served and don’t owe anyone. But without another alternative all I see is an acceptance of defeat, and I can’t support THAT.
Evolution is an ugly thing to watch. especially when stacked against the "Good Ole Days" which goes beyond physical appearance-- its the emotional memories and who and what made who you are in the presence and every day of Allentown and what it instill in you culturally that matters most. A refinement of place (All American City at one point) and everything by definition that meant and we're fortunate to have been a product of that large and small! Thats what's really being lost in all this. A time A place A Nostalgic Morality like no other..in the evolution of man--we experienced the pinnacle of all that in a place called ALLENTOWN > Our Allentown some place special in our hearts and minds--what it gave us. some ting we can never repay!
ReplyDeleteDon't think I've thrown in the towel, but honestly, the combination of public apathy combined with the trepidation of those who would like to serve but won't risk it is difficult to overcome. The other reality is there is no longer any sort of city wide, respected and trusted civic leadership lead by former leaders in industry, business, education, or former elected officials...In other words, this is it. I agree that people in the suburbs should do what they can to defund the non profits that have reeked havoc on Allentown. The NGO's are all merely front groups for political activism. Our tax dollars are in fact helping to fund so called non profits that are supposed to be helping the poor but in fact are focused on furthering what is often a radical political agenda. Have any of these groups ever solved, or had any success in alleviating the problems their mission statements state they are there to address? it's a rhetorical question, for if they did, the further funding would be called into question. Anyway, solving problems was never the priority. Greasing the skids for future funding is their main objective. Do I sound cynical? Living in this town, seeing what Mike and I have seen over the years... one can't paint too bleak a picture of it. We are the few who know too much, way too much to be optimistic. My reduced goal is to be able to age out of the home we have loved since we walked into it in 1993. That is presenting in doubt. The only thing certain in the short term is, that few good things will come from city hall and the city will at best stagnate. One more thing, in the local community of which I have been a part of for 3 decades I am viewed, even though I often say very little, as the cynical old guy, if only they knew what I knew, give them time, they too will learn. I hope I am wrong and they can succeed where I failed. I likely won't be here by that time to know the answer.
ReplyDelete