Many readers of this blog know that I also administer the Facebook group Allentown Chronicles. Occasionally, I place a blog post on the group, if it is within the group's guidelines. Today's post actually originated on the group, and was placed there by someone else.
The newly announced Latino Festival will occur on Hamilton Street May 18th. Called Fiesta On Hamilton, it is being sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Valley Health Partners, MEGA 101.7, (Spanish radio station), along with the City of Allentown. The Chamber calls it a celebration of our culture. Although Latinos are now a majority in Allentown per se, I don't think that any one "culture" should be represented as "our" culture. In addition to this new Latino festival, we also have a Puerto Rican parade and a Dominican day.
I've criticized Matt Tuerk for conducting too many flag raising days. I wonder how much Tuerk and politics is behind this new festival? Perhaps we could truly respect our diversity better by not putting certain ones in the more public spotlight than others.
Maybe it would be better to call it "Latino American Day" The idea was always absorption into the American culture.
ReplyDeleteWell at least there will be people downtown. I was in "The Beating Heart of the Lehigh Valley" on Saturday at 9:30 am and it looked like it was on life support. Between the new Nowhere Coffee/Dunkin Donuts (both on N 9th Street) and Johnny's Bagels (6th & Linden) there was a grand combined total of 1 customer. Nowhere Coffee, the most successful coffee shop in the Lehigh Valley (Tilghman Street & Cedar Crest) may soon be sorry they abandoned their Upper Macungie site in a huff over a minor use determination disagreement with the Township.
ReplyDeletePromotion for the Fiesta states that the event is FREE to the public. Can't imagine how they could implement otherwise, even if they wanted.
ReplyDeleteWho the heck is Valley Health Partners?
ReplyDeleteOne can never be too cynical of anything that springs from city hall here in Allentown. Take nothing at face value, assume ulterior motives. Top of the list this year city wide elections and Matt's at the top of the ticket.
ReplyDeleteAnother opportunity for Tuerk to attempt to convince the Latino community that he supports someone other than himself. At least he will be able to show off his newest sneakers and turn another city event into a campaign rally for his reelection. #tataTuerk
ReplyDeleteSince we’re always being lectured about “diversity” and “inclusion”, why not a festival for everyone?
ReplyDeletey’all are reading too much into this, they just rebranded taco fest as fiesta on hamilton.
ReplyDeleteHermano Tuerk is young,hip, LatinX, and delightfully woke. the average commentor here is old, square, white than sour cream and worships #DJT.
ReplyDeleteFiesta will be Fuego,haterz gonna hate
"hate" is a pretty strong word you are using there. Many residents of Allentown (like me - an old square white guy ) live here because we want to live in a diverse urban community as opposed to moving out to the dreadful monotony of the an all white/Asian-Indian suburbs. I didn't see a single comment above that sounded "hateful", except yours.
Deleteanon@10:56: anon 9:27 is tongue in cheek/ satire. Your comment is no less offensive. Hateful comments are not printed.
DeleteThis festival is scheduled for TWO days before the primary election!! Geez, this almost seems like a political event disguised as a festival.
ReplyDeleteThen why not call it what it is, Matt's primary festival?
DeleteThe guy never stopped campaigning. That would be fine if he got a little more done along the way.
DeleteThe lottery will be out soon. The person who guesses the correct number of shots fired and people hit this year will get a month's supply of free tacos at Taco Bell. Winner can not be a victim.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you 2 empenadas and a plate of mofongo that there's no shots fired at Matt's free Primary Fiesta Campaign Party
DeleteThis is simply a festival for Tuerk to use city funds to promote himself. Too touch on some comments. Why can't it be a free festival that has a label like Allentown marti gras or something. Have all types of food etc. Tuerk got a tattoo of the city seal on his chest the other day. I wont stress how uncool that actually is but it's his Mr. Burns body. And yes there is a good chance some type of violence will happen at the event despite crime apparently being "down."
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a Seal of Allentown tatoo isn’t original to Matt. I have it from a very well placed source that former Mayor Ed Pawlowski recently got a quality City Without Limits piece done on his right forearm by the camps best artist in return for some drum lessons.
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