Being one of the last warm days of the year, I thought we would visit Easton. I thought perhaps it would be more interesting to do the trip circa 1948. Lehigh Valley Transit had a trolley that went from 8th and Hamilton, through Bethlehem, to the circle in Easton. In the photo above, we're coming down Northampton Street, just entering the Circle. The Transit Company was using both trolleys and buses, until they discontinued trolleys completely, in 1953. At this time, Hamilton, Broad and Northampton Streets were the shopping malls of the era, and public transportation serviced the customers. The Transit Company, now Lanta, currently serves the Allentown population from a prison like facility at 6th and Linden Streets; It just needs a fence. Easton mayor Sal Panto is now also abandoning the merchants for a remote transportation/correction facility, which will entertain the inmates with the Al Bundy High School Dropout Museum. Hope you enjoyed the trip.
above reprinted from November of 2011
ADDENDUM JUNE 14, 2024:At the time this was written in 2011, Sal Panto was trying to build a National Museum of High School Sports, thus my cracks about Al Bundy from the Married With Children TV show. But, what is truly amazing is that he is still mayor, 900 years later. Is he that good, or is Easton that politically indifferent?
I don’t know that Panto’s that good, but some of the alternatives scare me.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile in Allentown, another of what I call a “Promise Shooting”. This time a young boy was shot in the head (in broad daylight) but fortunately he will survive.
It could have been worse: Many other kids were playing nearby when the broad-daylight shooting occurred. Yesterday’s shooting comes on the heels of another fatal shooting a couple of weeks ago, and parents are quoted as saying they are afraid to live in the city.
Not surprisingly, it seems that City Hall’s payments to Promise Neighborhoods have been wasted. That money should have been spent on more police officers, not those who oppose the police. It seems the criminals understood the signal that was being sent.
The WFMZ report on the shooting cites and quotes Promise Neighborhood reactions and plans, instead of the police. I agree it is totally inappropriate and counter-productive. That's the good news, the bad is that the city is going to be handing out $millions more in grants.
DeleteRegarding yesterday's shooting, do not worry...the City intends to "address the systems that allow violence to occur" and the City is going to "promote positive social engagement". Maybe more police are not needed. I suspect the shootings will stop once these initiatives roll out.
DeleteWhen did it become acceptable for City Hall to treat minorities in poor neighborhoods like second-class citizens?
ReplyDeleteIf you live in the West End, you can call the police directly and get your problem solved.
But if you’re a minority living in a bad section of town, you get to go through a third party (Peomise
Wait... it gets better... call in a problem and get the brush off "we're too busy right now" or "we have BIGGER problems right now"... such a crock!!! This city should be ashamed of itself!!!
DeleteSo the solution to the problem you’ve brought up would be more police. I’m sure during the shooting yesterday many people received the “we have bigger problems right now” answer, because they did.
DeleteYou couldn't be more wrong in your stereotyping of West End residents. I see a police car in our neighborhood maybe 3 or 4 times a year. There's virtually no law enforcement whatsoever in the West End. I've given up trying to call the Police. I will call the Muhlenberg College Police occasionally as they are very professional and responsive.
DeletePromise Neighborhood was always a “talk like we’re doing something and we’ll get grants and donations” group. Another 501c3 little kingdom, with its own little king. Did they show up yesterday? Did they express their “active relationship to the community?” How about more actively engaged cops, that can stop and search people who break laws no matter what color they are? Gangs and thugs are running the streets in Allentown. And the cops are playing catch-up. I hate having to come into the city and the cops just don’t seem to see anything.
ReplyDeleteI hate having anyone being inserted between the police and the people they serve.
ReplyDeleteWhile Promise Neighborhoods claims to have a relationship with the neighborhood, do people trust them to keep their information confidential if they make a complaint? Not in all cases, I’m sure.
Even if people trusted Promise Neighborhoods 100%, who knows how long Promise Neighborhoods will be around?
These are the inroads that the police need to be making (and maintaining), and the trust they need to be building.
That’s being blocked right now by a third-party (Promise Neighborhoods) that has a financial interest in keeping those inroads and that trust from being built.
What the hell was City Council and the Mayor thinking?
I'm waiting for some ridiculous statement from the Mayor about this incident. Something similar to the quotes above, maybe: "we are addressing those social problems that cause youngsters to resort to resolving disputes with violence" Perhaps he was too busy staging a media event to brag that "even Mayors get parking tickets". I never saw a person so giddy and excited about getting a parking ticket.
ReplyDeleteWith the APA about to increase fines and expand the meter district, he's trying to potty train the public.
DeleteI'm sure Tuerk was relieved to find that rich white guys get parking tickets and that APA isn't selectively picking on poor minorities. Ironically, he's the one being accused of discrimination by City Council.
DeleteWell Tuerk has spoken: the city needs to address Economic Mobility and combat Social Isolation. Sounds like a sure fire plan to stop the urban underclass from shooting each other up.
Deleteso we agree that violence is a problem, how do you propose to solve it?
DeleteThe police academy had a large class, but we only hired six new officers. We should have hired sixteen.Walking beat policemen would go a long way establishing trust. Instead this police department wants to rely on cameras, sound detectors and gadgets.
DeleteI have said it before, Mayor Tuerk seems like a genuine and nice guy. I am not sure there is much more than that to him, and he hues to what he believes is proper. The statement he put out after the park shooting was drivel, and suggests a lack of intellect It was just a regurgitation of liberal talking points. The Allentown electorate gets what it asks for. If only they knew what they really should ask for.
ReplyDeleteEmperor Salami Pinto is an apologist for genocidal Conquistador Cristobal Columbus , he was also outed by the #1 local blogger for using sock puppets on Lehigh Valley Live. he is an angry petulant Muppet who must be dethroned.
ReplyDeleteI credit him for defending both the statue and the dam
ReplyDeleteI saw that State Rep Josh Siegel’s “solution” to the shooting is for the state to fund an Office of Gun Violence Prevention and pass a law for safe storage of firearms. Both are the typical trope of gun control activists and will do nothing to solve the problems in Allentown.
ReplyDeleteI notice that these types of incidents don’t really happen that often in places like Emmaus, South Whitehall, Lower Macungie, etc. - all places that surround Allentown. Even places like Bethlehem and Easton don’t seem to have as much of the violence that Allentown does.
To me, it’s very apparent that the larger problems are in areas that have defunded the police (or redirected their funding) and whose leaders have the misguided opinion that the police are the problem, not the criminals.
Maybe the real solution is for Allentown’s elected officials - including Rep Siegel - to look in the mirror and fund an Office of Failed Political Leadership.
Myaor who? Oh the guy who thinks everyone in Allentown has exactly the same tastes and interests as he does. Political landscape in Allentown is sad and pathetic, what a waste. Nothing even close to scintilatting, just the same old inane BS.
ReplyDeleteAllentown has elected the same leadership for over 20 years and it is now the only type of leadership available to voters. One party political subdivisions don't change things. They've got the power and control they want so they will only continue to perpetuate what they've created.
ReplyDeleteI saw that the city now has a state police helicopter flying overhead.
ReplyDeleteThat’s ironic, since just a couple of weeks ago Mayor Tuerk and State Rep Siegel were telling us how safe the city is.
So is a police helicopter now the new sign of safety? If so, It’s funny that the suburbs haven’t gotten one yet.
Yup, nothing screams “safety” like a town that needs shot-spotter gunfire locator systems, police helicopters, and 24/7 video surveillance.
Hear, hear!!! The eggbeater was quite annoying. I'd like to know what they saw and/or prevented as they squandered big bucks running the eggbeater.... just askin' for a friend....
DeleteI can't help but wonder how many extra officers could be hired and for how long, or how much overtime could have been paid for extra boots on the ground for the cost of the helicopter.... especially if it will be utilized regularly....
DeleteMichael, I have nothing but pity for the few remaining downtown Merchants. With the increased fines for expired meters… that would not entice customers to come to the city.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Just a warning for people that frequent the County Government building on Seventh Street. If you go downtown to pay your taxes, or to conduct any other business at the County Government Center. Warning! Parking is at a premium on 7th Street… till you go through security tend to your business and come back out, the chances are quite good that you’ll have a parting gift of a parking ticket on your car windshield.
Of course, if you’re like the mayor, you will be giddy with excitement… that you received a parking ticket! Perhaps, if you contact 69 news, they will send a film crew and Jacii Farris down to capture your excitement as you pay your over-inflated fine to the parking authority… to help them out of their financial troubles. Just Sayin
Hey Michael, Let’s put a positive spin on the State Police helicopter flying over Downtown.
ReplyDeleteIf the helicopter is hovering at 13th and Hamilton, and the rotors are angled just right, the wash from the rotors could push all the litter and crap that accumulates on Hamilton Street. As the copter flies straight down Hamilton Street to the waiting Allentown recycling trucks stationed at fifth and Hamilton. Just think of the money that would be saved!
Another opportunity to call 69 news and get a film crew and Bo Koltenow Downtown to do a story on “Cleaning Up Crime & Downtown at the Same Time”
Dang!!!! Those reporters are going to be fighting with each other to get these stories!!! Just Sayin!!