Nat Hyman filed a legal action against the city in regard to the homeless encampment by one of his buildings. I do not find his action inappropriate. The city then asked Hyman if he would take in some of the homeless....That request I do find inappropriate. They would not have asked Reilly to put up the homeless in a Strata building.
Years ago, Pawlowski took a local developer off the hook, purchasing two parcels we did not need for parks. One on Basin St., and the other the old fertilizer plant on Martin Luther King. We didn't need them then and we don't need them now.
Although I'm a self-proclaimed park expert, I must admit I have not been to the Jordan Meadows parkway along the Jordan Creek. I will refrain from opining if the park was advisable, but since we created it, we must maintain it. Comments on yesterday's post on the homeless maintain that the city has adopted a too woke attitude tolerating homelessness. Rather than rehash that discussion, let's say that all sections of the city deserve the same treatment. Would that encampment be tolerated in the Rose Garden?
It’s my understanding that the Strata Building is at, or near, full rental capacity.
ReplyDeleteDo the homeless, or the unhoused, have their own flag? A flag raising ceremony by Mayor Matt - he has a flair for the ceremonial - could shine a positive spotlight on the issue and possibly launch a fund raising effort. One would think the Right Rev. Edwards would jump on board such a campaign. His leadership is always an inspiration. Such an event would seem like a natural vehicle for Council Members Hendricks given his understanding of the situation and his many years of service in this Allentown P.D. and their experience with the ins and outs regarding related issues. No doubt other prominent citizens would support the effort much like the coalition Lisa Pawlowski brought together when she served as the First Lady of Allentown. Perhaps Mrs. Pawlowski would even consider serving in a leadership position. The time to act is now.
ReplyDeleteMr. Hyman is 100% correct! I live a few blocks from the Jordan Park Greenway and it is down right scary! Not to mention the garbage is everywhere ! Mayor Tuerk should be ashamed to have that area look like that. Thanks to Mr. Hyman for standing up to the city for all of us in the neighborhood .
ReplyDeleteHomeless people throughout the region and beyond are congregating in Allentown and taking advantage of our city. The mayor’s comments will certainly make matters worse.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor will be silent on this because he likes to hide his head in the sand. The most you’re going to get out of him is a chart and graph and maybe a Tone-deaf ChatGPT generated flyer on what his administration is Planning on doing .
DeleteHey Mike nice meeting you yesterday 😀. I totally agree with you. Why should Hyman have to tolerate this and worse yet be asked to move these people in. How about we move all these homeless people over to Pee Wee Tuerks residence or even Chief Roca's since neither one of them seem too care except for their own self preservation. City is embarrassing that someone needs to sue the city to get homeless people off his property!!!!
ReplyDeleteHyman for Mayor! Clean up Allentown!
ReplyDeleteYes after Zucal term!!! Polls don't look so good Pee Wee
DeleteTuerk is absolutely making the situation worse ! Now that homeless people know they will not be removed if they set up camp in Allentown, I expect this problem to grow and Allentown to start looking like San Francisco. I know you’re joking when you say they should go to the rose gardens, but why wouldn’t they? Tuerk has made it clear he won’t move them if they do. Good for Hyman for taking a stand on this issue.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great move for the homeless, move into an area that will get them attention. The mayor would deploy everything in his arsenal to get them out. Maybe then the administration would actually pay attention to the need to address housing the homeless?
ReplyDeleteI would prefer homeless housing in the Rose Garden to the Tuerk in the mayor’s office any day.
This is a classic example of the difference between a hardworking businessman and a do nothing politician. Nat sees a problem and wants to resolve it so he takes action. Tuerk sees a problem, takes no action and has no real answers.
ReplyDeleteJust like all the investigations into City Hall and the Police Department. Tuerk does nothing. Let's raise a flag. Or help a non profit that does nothing.
DeleteKudos to Mr. Hyman for bringing this issue to the forefront. I am hearing and reading a lot about the homeless issue in the Lehigh Valley since he filed his lawsuit. Hopefully, this will be the impetus to address this problem, get these people the help they need, and get them out of the public right of ways. I support Mr. Hyman and all he has done for the Lehigh Valley by taking blighted buildings and renovating them into affordable housing. There is no reason why he or his tenants should have to contend with garbage and homeless people on his properties.
ReplyDeleteThis problem and all the garbage in the streets will never be resolved while Tuerk is Mayor. He is just too damn weak. We need a strong person to be Mayor who is willing to tackle issues head on
ReplyDeleteOver the years I have seen a number of encampments displaced, some by overly enthusiastic do-gooders, others for practical reasons of commerce. In this case of commerce, Mr. Hyman is more than justified to protect his property and tenants.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the nature of many of the homeless is to resist intervention. If the next encampment is in an out of the way place, not infringing on anybody's property rights, perhaps the do-gooders should stay away.
I've been on the Jordan Park Greenway on my street bike several times and its a short, but very nice ride. You can enter at the Turner Street stub and ride along the stream up to the Green Street stub. While its quite scenic, I'll admit that it feels a little sketchy with the trash and encampments. I'm hoping the City cleans it up and I'm real excited about the prospect of it possibly connecting to the trail along Martin Luther King near the confluence of the Jordan Creek and Little Lehigh.
ReplyDeleteWe are doomed as long as Tuerk is Mayor. His only interest is in cutting ribbons and (I hear) running for congress. I hope Ed Zucal beats him, but I doubt it. I wish Nat Hyman had run against Tuerk. He would have killed him.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the mayor is developing a plan of action. This criticism is overblown and unnecessary. I think the nay sayers will be surprised when in a short time, before summer, this situation is resolved across the city.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope our mayor will get an apology.
anon@8:58: I do not relish hosting repetitive comments bashing anyone. However, likewise, I don't like to censor comments, which I occasionally must do.
DeleteAnon 8:58 sounds like Tuerk or one of his trolls wrote this. But the key question is why did it take Hyman’s lawsuit to get our Mayor to clean up the City? Isn’t this one of the core responsibilities of his job? He’s been in the job for 3 years! Also, if you’re saying this is overblown, you clearly have not seen how dirty Allentown and the Jordan Creek are !
DeleteYour mayor will never get an apology. Thanks for the post Karen
DeleteIt is the west end where one sees the highest concentration of liberal yard signs prominently on display in front yards. Black Lives Matter, Love has no place here, and Trump is destroying America are ubiquitous. One would think these lovely folks would not only welcome the homeless into the Rose Garden and Trexler Park, but into their neighborhoods and homes. These fine people, who only want what's best for America would certainly have to room and the means to put up the homeless and perhaps even provide treatment for their mental illness and substance abuse. I say, "be the change you want to see" west end liberals. Imagine the reward of personally helping your fellow man and putting your own philosophy into action to make the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteYes! The homeless wouldn't be living in the streets nor camping in our city parks and woods if Allentown’s liberals would take in just one homeless person per household. Let's not have the homeless in the Rose Garden, Let's give them real homes.
DeleteThe mayor DOES have a comprehensive AND compassionate, detailed policy that City Hall will be announcing this Spring.
ReplyDeleteYou all can apologize then.
Why does he have to wait until the end of his term to bring it out? Cause he doesn't have anything!!!! What has he done for the city except help homeless and raise flags???
DeleteAllentown is on the way back to greatness and we have this energetic young mayor to thank.
ReplyDeleteA new village of Tiny Homes is in the planning stages. We are going to see Allentown in the national news again very soon.
Mayor Matt is not just hip, he’s effective.
GO ALLENTOWN!
A village of tiny homes? That people won't pay taxes on and will ruin them? Yea smart. The word hip hasn't been used since the 90s and wasnt cool then or now. So I guess describing Tuerk using "Hip" is appropriate.
DeleteI hope you were trying to be sarcastic.
DeleteTiny homes will be the death of Allentown. There’s already not enough parking and too many quality of life issues. We need to open up our neighborhoods so people can breathe. Not jam people in like cattle.
BTW, the “tiny house” approach was already tried in Allentown decades ago. It resulted in numerous garage apartments and failed miserably (and predictably).
He who fails to learn from the past is doomed to repeat it. Unfortunately those in City Hall don’t seem to even KNOW their history, let alone learn from it.
Former Mayor Pawlowski city solicitor and ex-Congressman Susan Wild has recently announced that she is seeking an opportunity to take on a volunteer position.
ReplyDeleteLeading a campaign to address the unhoused in Allentown would be a great use of her talents and connections.
He’s been in office 3 years!!!! Why is this just happening now? Election time maybe? Or Mr. Hyman’s legal action maybe ?
ReplyDeleteI saw Nat Hyman on TV a couple nights ago discussing this and today on the front page of MCall. This makes Tuerk look so inept and stupid. Tuerk should have just cleaned up the area. So stupid of him to piss off a guy with Hyman’s notoriety so close to an election.
ReplyDeleteYes, it looks like the Mayor will use the election to announce his big homeless/unhomed initiative, he is a politician after all.
DeleteI think that Tiny Homes is only one piece of the pending project. There is a lot of buzz on the fifth floor.
Besides for comments here, I have seen no announcements from the city about tiny houses or other new plans for the homeless....therefore no more anonymous such comments will be hosted.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike!
DeleteYou may have missed the announcement regarding "alley houses" and "tiny houses" which TPTB feel will go a long way towards eliminating the housing crunch, which, BTW, we DO NOT have IMHO. They went so far as to even relax the square footage requirements, if I remember correctly.
In my neighborhood, there is a carriage house which is rented behind a larger house which is divided into 4 units, so consequently, depending on the class of tenants, we are subjected to noise, screaming, hollering and music from the front and rear, so there is no relief. Yep, I'm all in on that smooth move, Allentown.... NOT!
Alley houses were linked to the supposed affordable. housing situation, not the homeless, but I note your point.
DeleteLetting the homeless inhabit the rose garden is a great idea MM, they can practice open defecation and fertilize the bushes while maintaining the grounds and giving tours. It would also be a great location for the needle exchange and safe injection site children can learn about the horrors of drug abuse while taking in the beauty of a well curated garden!
ReplyDelete