Here's a story you will not read about on any official City of Allentown website. It's a story of private gumption, instead of the usual public subsidy. It's the late 1990's, and I stop in and visit infamous Allentown landlord Joe Clark. He's sitting at a desk in the middle of a large empty storefront at 7th and Turner, surrounded by landlord supplies and building materials. The phone rings and it's Mayor William Heydt. Heydt just learned that Clark purchased the vacant Eastern Light Building on Hamilton Street, and wants to know Clark's intentions. Clark tells him he's going to build the best nightclub Allentown has ever seen. Heydt doesn't offer any help, but tells him that he'll be under close scrutiny. Clark does go on to build the club, without a nickel of help from Allentown. Years later, when the BrewWorks would open with unlimited city subsidy, a public parking lot on 8th Street was given exclusively to the BrewWorks. A few weeks ago Clark asked if he could rent the Parking Authority lot behind the nightclub; Request Denied. This week, based on ticket sales, Crocodile Rock was rated the 60th most successful nightclub in the world for 2011. The midgets at City Hall pay for consultants, when there's a genius half a block away.above reprinted from January of 2012
ADDENDUM February 8, 2023:What brings this decade old plus post back today is the news that J.B. Reilly's CityCenter Real Estate will build a band venue within their new projects in the 900 block of Hamilton Street. The Morning Call doesn't mention that Reilly purchased the old Croc Rock building and virtually all of Hamilton Street, except for a few holdouts who wouldn't sell. The Morning Call also doesn't mention that Croc Rock was run by Joe Clark, less, but still infamous. I can't tell you how much the current Call article amused me, but Joe got to laugh all the way to the bank.
ADDENDUM MAY 13, 2025: Joe Clark passed away last week. Recently in Allentown homelessness and affordable housing have been news items. I can tell you that there would have been considerably more homeless in Allentown without Clark...He took chances renting to tenants that other landlords wouldn't touch. Bill Heydt also recently passed away...He was the last Republican mayor in Allentown.
I knew both Joe and Bill well. Lots of stories there. Different cast of characters running the show today, or should I say freak show. Zucal's Republican write in mailer that was reproduced, by the Morning Call online has a lovely, un-photoshopped picture of Matt for all the world to see. What is the rest of the valley to make of such people who would elect that guy to be mayor? Yes, it's a freak show.
ReplyDeletescott@7:54: I thought that Tuerk's press conference yesterday was totally inappropriate. As an independent, I don't see Zucal's request to also get write-in votes in the Republican primary as lacking integrity.... I see it as a legitimate strategy used routinely by school board and judge candidates. Zucal has served both as a policeman and council member, it is improper to claim that he lacks integrity.
DeleteI understand that Pennsylvania has a closed primary system. That means that only registered party members may vote in either Democratic primaries or Republican primaries, depending on your registered affiliation.
DeleteA Democrtic canidate can not solicit anyone other than registered Democratic voters in a closed primary. That means that Zucal cannot solicit votes from Republicans nor Independents.
In other words, Zucal is asking people to break the law to support him. That goes along with his reluctance to deport Illegal Ailens. He may be a former APD officer, but asking people to break the law to vote for him would disqualify him here. Pennsylvania I don't know, but that questions the legitimacy of the primary process.
Mayor Tuerk is the Queen Cities first Latino/Hispanic mayor, and he went to college in Boulder Colorado.Yes, he’s hip and woke and rides a bicycle but he’s also a nationally recognized Democratic Party leader. It goes without saying that Allentown is a majority/minority city. I believe this Mayor deserves respect for the many talents and accomplishments that he brings to the city and the region. He has earned a place in the national spotlight. He is building on the accomplishments of great city leaders, including those mentioned in this post, who have gone before him.
DeleteOne day soon he will be a great Congressman.
Allentown is great again.
Honestly, I doubt more than a dozen people know who Matt Turek is outside of the Allentown area. His friends and his family would..
DeleteI'm sure Pennsylvania Deocrat party leaders do but no, Turek is not a "Nationally recognized Democratic Party leader"
I've travelled around the United States a great deal in the past 50+ years since I graduated from William Allen. Many people know of Allentown, and that is mostly due to Billy Joel and Muhlenburg College which has many successful graduates.
Zucal is only the latest Allentown Democrat to ask Republicans to do a write in. Nothing new here, no one is breaking the law.
DeleteNo, registered Republicans in Pennsylvania cannot vote in the Democratic primary.
DeletePennsylvania has a closed primary system, meaning only registered Democrats can vote in the Democratic primary and only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.
In a closed primary, voters can only vote for candidates within their registered party.
If a registered Republican voter wants to vote in the Democratic primary, they would need to change their party affiliation to Democrat before the voter registration deadline, which is typically a few weeks before the primary election.
Just because a law is not enforced, does not mean it is not a crime to break it.
If I were Matt Turek, and knew that Zucal was asking Republicans to vote for him illegally, I would raise a stink about it to the Lehigh County Democratic Committee. Zucal is a cop and should know better. Or ask how many times did he overlook the law as an APD policeman?
DeleteThere is nothing illegal being done. Although Zucal is not on the ballot in the Republican primary, Republicans can write in whom they want for a candidate in the general. If it were illegal, Tuerk would be opposing it legally. No more comments will be hosted on this legality.
DeleteOff topic, but I just saw a campaign ad from “DR.” Cynthia Mota.
ReplyDeleteIs that something new? Did she get her doctorate degree from the same place as her employer, DR. Hassan Batts?
Ms Mota lists a Doctorate on her Linked-In from Logos University in Fort Lauderdale FL. The university does offer Doctorate programs according to its website.
DeleteHasshan Batts also has a PhD. His doctorate is in Global Health from Nova Southeastern University, also in Fort Lauderdale.
Ms Mota's masquerading as a Doctor is an insult to all the real intelligent people who go through 12 years of rigorous research/study culminating in a real doctoral dissertation at legitimate Universities to obtain a PhD. I could never vote for her. If I went to that bogus university, I'd keep it a secret.
DeleteClearly anyone can one. Worthless.
DeleteI’d venture to say that Heydt was the last good Mayor the city had (or either party). Not perfect, but he put the city before himself, looked out for the residents, and put good policies in place.
ReplyDeleteWhile more of a mixed bag, I’d also thank Joe Clark for Croc Rock. While it eventually ran its course, it was a fun place to go to during its heyday. Unfortunately, his other properties were not as well-run or maintained, but I think that Croc Rock showed what he could do when he wanted.
RIP to both.
An interesting little side story regarding Allentown Brew Works in center city Allentown; They are now closed Monday throughThursday and open just 3 days per week while their sister business (Bethlehem Brew Works in center city Bethlehem) is open 7 days a week 11:00 am - 2:00 am. They are essentially the same business except one is located in the hip/cool/trendy/up and coming Center City West section of the Beating Heart of the Lehigh Valley while the other is located in a normal/typical/functional downtown business district.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:04 - I think you meant the “BEATEN Heart of the Lehigh Valley” :)
DeleteMike this story is about Joe Clark's accomplishment not any dinosaur or hip bicycle riding mehoe. The back story is how Allentown housing Athority and all HUD funding sites have become what former mayor's have accused him of being.
ReplyDeleteCouncilperson Dr. Moto is a hero in the community. She is an inspiration. Make no mistake about it, Dr. Moto will be the first Latino woman mayor.
ReplyDeletecomment 10:24AM about Tuerk, and comment 2:46 about Mota, were submitted as satire. Comments responding to those comments will not appear.
ReplyDeleteThis regular reader does not see either of the comments you referenced as satire but rather valid and commonly held positions.
DeleteRegarding Cynthia Mota, it seems entirely reasonable to conclude that she will be the first Latino woman Mayor of Allentown.
Obviously, Tuerk is nervous. Nothing wrong with a write in Republican. Im writing Zucal in. Tuerk will never be a Congressman. No one knows him except for his childish pee wee escapade when Trump was here and Tuerk embarrassed the entire city.
ReplyDeleteRIP Joe. You were a great Allentonian