When you write a blog for eighteen years, sometimes you struggle for topics....Today was a gift from Mayor Matt Tuerk. His letter in the Morning Call yesterday was prime political baloney. He writes that last year the federal government was on his side improving Allentown, but not this year. As an example, he mentioned non-profits helping combat gun violence, and current funding cuts affecting such organizations. He mentioned investments in recreation and affordable housing being cut back.
Matt, glad you enjoyed your junket to Tampa, but please stop blowing that cigar smoke. Biden or Trump, Promise Neighborhood grants or not, enlarged skatepark or new full basketball court, you gotta get back to basics.
Older taxpaying homeowners resent the stadium being closed to watch the fireworks. Not everyone wants to join you at another one of your Inclusion Festivals. Tell your police chief to start checking out those cars double parked, they are not delivering Meals On Wheels.
While Mayor Matt talked about how only he and his fellow mayors across the country can improve the communities they serve, he blames Trump for not giving them money to enact their own woke programs. Is he high? Does our mayor get drug tested? It is not the role of the federal government to prop up and save failing or failed cities. If you run your city right, provide a safe and attractive community for people and investors, and control spending the communitY will flourish.
ReplyDeleteThe problem here is that Matt Tuerk and his team are driving this once great city further into a place that attracts no one. Matt needs to stop whining about Trump and the lack of money coming his way. He needs to stop standing in the federal welfare line and crying when the Federal government is stopping the funding of failing communities. Matt Tuerk is failing this city and taking it down with him.
We can still change it this November, although Ed Zucal seems to have disappeared, probably moved out of Allentown.
Mayor Matt,”The Turk”, Tuerk is a performer. His thing is Performance Art. His act is largely built around his bold choice of footwear and the ink. Sneakers are to him what the sweat shorts and hoodies are to Fetterman’s routine. He’s back from a national shindig and trying out some new material. Okay, it’s a little weak but let’s not overthink this.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, don’t forget his background in the business incubator industry. His specialty is Show Business.
Forward.
When he was first elected, I hoped Tuerk would be better than this. Over time, he’s proved that he’s not.
ReplyDeleteHe obviously knows little about what local government is supposed to do (what I call the basics), and tries to cover it with stunts and pandering.
He is just the latest in a string of terrible Allentown mayors.
Another tax payer funded junket/road performance for Tuerk and another opportunity to brag about being a minority majority City. I wish he would stick to City Hall and focus on quality service delivery and public safety.
ReplyDeleteI’ve come to the conclusion Allentown City is already a lost cause in the struggle for stability, high quality of life, decency, and attractiveness to visitors.
ReplyDeleteAllentown city government has lost control. Now, a growing poverty magnet brought about by misguided Democrat/Socialist ideologies, that city and its news media have entered a “look the other way, and blame someone else for your OWN self-induced troubles” era.
In general,, the Lehigh Valley remains an attractive place to live and do business. Suburban life is solidly the best option, however.
Allentown City is in continuous decline. Just look how it presents itself through neglected, unkempt public spaces and reckless neighborhoods. First impressions could be much better. Maybe, start there.
Good point about suburban life. You will find numerous examples of outstanding local government in the suburban Townships of Lehigh Valley. Low local property tax, high quality service delivery, competent and qualified professional staffs with high morale with no tax payer funded junkets. Instead of a junket to Florida, Tuerk should drive his luxury tax payer funded car out to some local Townships to see how its done.
Delete@7:30 AM/Anon
DeleteSuburban living?
Downtown Bethlehem and a revitalized and vibrant downtown Easton are among the most attractive places to live in the Lehigh Valley area. South Bethlehem remains a center for music, culture and entertainment as well as a community that attracts and supports young people to the area.
Downtown Allentown is a waste land.
Not sure the region is a model community when the greatest prospects for employment, outside of healthcare, are at local warehouses or Home Depot. The suburbs are showing their age. I would not advise any young person with a college degree to remain here or relocate to the Lehigh Valley.
DeleteLike many. 7:30anon thinks casinos and appletinis is what defines a good place to live. Safety don't seem to matter.
DeleteI loved the recent article in which Allentown was warning the public that the could get ticketed for putting yard wastes out on the wrong day. Mayor Junket has cut yard waste collection services by 50% during the growing season by creating zones for alternate week pickups. This is the same City that refuses to enforce real quality of life and crime violations.
ReplyDelete8:16 - Don’t be so quick to complain about the yard waste collection. I’m sure you’ll appreciate having your yard waste collected in January and February.
DeleteSeriously though, taxpayers got fleeced on that deal. Not only are they paying about 35% more, but the contractor likely won’t even have to send out any trucks for a separate collection during the winter months, further padding their profits.
Perhaps Tuerk learned his negotiating skills from the Mayor’s group as well. Maybe some of what the contractor is saving will be kicked back in the form of campaign contributions or to city-favored nonprofit groups.
The primary reason for the alternate week collection was to have year round collection due to "Climate Change". Now Tuerk can go on even more junkets and brag about how Allentown is responding to climate change. I cant wait to put out some yard wastes in February.
DeleteI only half apologize for all the comments I didn't print this morning. I reject comments talking about Democratic cities, or tattoos and hip mayors, etc.. I prefer 6 new ideas, rather than 60 rehashes.
ReplyDeleteYou disappoint. Go back and reread what he wrote and you can see you did not summarize Tuerk's position but instead skewed his statements to showcase your bias.
DeleteAnd on a different note, I think fireworks at Cedar Beach was a good move. The location was walkable for many thus reducing traffic . People could spread out and enjoy the space. I also would regard that the openness of the setting is safer than being contained in a stadium in case of danger.
9:35 - Some might enjoy Cedar Beach, but others prefer a well-lit, fully paved area to view the fireworks. Add in the fact that it’s never certain what the weather will be like for the fireworks, or how dry the grassy areas of Cedar Beach might be if there was rain earlier in the week, and you have a clearly superior viewing area in the stadium. It also allows things like parachutists, frisbee-catching dogs and other things inside the stadium that can be easily viewed by those attending.
DeleteI know several people from out of town who immediately left this year after finding the stadium closed. These are people the city shouldn’t be losing.
This was another mistake by Tuerk, likely to appease the vendors participating instead of the people who are there to watch the fireworks.
If he wouldn’t be such a newcomer, he’d probably also know that other locations have been tried throughout the years but never get the same crowd as you get at the stadium. It’s similar to how he had to kill the popular (and oldest in America) Halloween parade for a lesser event.
And that’s really the theme of Tuerk’s time in office - we’re paying more and getting less. But such honesty doesn’t work well as a campaign slogan.
I agree with the let down Tuerk has become. He has ridden the im young and "not cool" train long enough. If people wamt to be blinded by the fact he isnt Spanish and only learned it a few years before running for mayor, then be dumb. That he is ruining allentown traditions like the fireworks in the stadium. That he thinks his police chief is doing such a great job. His fakeness is starting to shine with everything he does. And when you blame everyone else for your of ability to do right and lead on your own. Well, your a major problem.
ReplyDeleteMike just one day allow all comments no matter how repetitive they are. Let everyone air out and vent their opinions. Maybe some people who the blog topic are focused towards will realize it isnt just 7 people who feel a certain way. Thanks
City Hall has never been more diverse or inclusive. This is a legitimate accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteAnon 0928. Just because something is inclusive and diversive doesnt mean its effective. I dont care if all blacks, white, or latinos would in city hall. Are they effective? Does they serve the city as they should. That comment js so useless and meaningless. Just cause a pool ball set is all different colors doesnt mean the guy hokdong the pool stick is going to do any better than if all the balls were the same color.
Delete9:28- Who gives a rat's rump about diversity in city hall?????? We want RESULTS that improve the city and livability!!!!!!!! And while they're at it, reducing spending and our taxes...
DeleteIt’s worth recalling that Mayor Matt received a vote of No Confidence from City Council, a remarkable achievement.
ReplyDeleteThat and $7 will get you a Happy Meal at McDonald’s. What changed after that vote of no confidence?
DeleteThe mayor writes all these Morning Call articles about how great he is, but cant write one on how he quieted the Curtis Investigation on all the corruption harassment and unfair treatment of city workers. If dude was a fish he would be a Hagfish. Look it up.
ReplyDeleteAllentown is fast, if not already, becoming a "turd world city", as an old friend of mine routinely lamented. Allentown has a people problem, first and foremost, and secondly, an enforcement problem. If we had BASIC quality of life issues corrected, the city would be ultimately more livable and inviting to investment(s).
ReplyDeleteI will still contend this is the plan and has been for quite some time... as a 40 year resident, I have witnessed the gradual decline in quality of life and the steady increase in taxes so the city can "provide" services we pay for, but still seems incapable no matter the amount of taxes we pay.
Allentown DOES NOT have a tree problem, a lack of parks problem, a lack of "pocket parks" problem or a lack of community gardens problem or ANY OTHER perceived or INVENTED problem... it all boils down to the residents, PERIOD!!! Just like a computer... "garbage in, garbage out".
Last evening I witnessed a police cruiser nearly going sideways as he turned from Allen to go north on 6th street... I couldn't help but wonder what the emergency was to warrant at least 3 cruisers going at breakneck speed in a residential neighborhood... but then the denizens that live here drive like that routinely.... ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT!!! I can't help but to dream of the amount of revenue that could be generated with just a "little" traffic enforcement... could lower taxes, too...
Heaven help this once grand city, since the people that run it are not... Ditto for Reading, Lancaster. Harrisburg and other towns failing for many of the same reasons.
The Mayor lived in Panama for four years, his bio claims, minored in Spanish in university and also speaks French and Portuguese. I understand the criticism that he isn’t an effective administrator and doesn’t qualify as being culturally Latino but try and get your facts straight.
ReplyDeleteHe didn’t learn to speak Spanish a few years ago.
anon@9:11AM: Except for the trolls, and because of whom I must moderate in the first place, I try and allow different people to express themselves. The comments go to google, and google sends them to me for approval...I have no idea who they are from, except for the repetitive use of certain words and themes. I'm sorry, but I don't have the patience for repetitive comments, from the same person or different people. I also don't print very short reply comments such as "I agree", "you're crazy", "you must be joking" etc.
ReplyDeleteanon@9:35: They could have the stadium open, and people could still watch the fireworks from Cedar Park and many other vistas in Allentown. Watching from the stadium was a "tradition" in Allentown, which I don't consider a bad word, but apparently it is not progressive
My guess is the major was trying to avoid possible 'issues' among the attendees who would have been packed in the Stadium. When I moved here decades ago, I was so impressed with the stadium fireworks. It was our Macy's. :)
DeleteI just read the Mcall the mayor posted. Sorry but wtf. This guy has the nerve to blame trump, say law enforcement is weaponized, then say we have to support law enforcement. He is delusional if anyone thinks he cares. Claims mayors are everywhere listening to people and fixing their problems. B.S. when do you see him at 6th/Allen after a shooting? Or helping clear out 300 people swimming and wrecking the parks? He isnt listening. He is flag raising tho. This guy has to go. Zucal needs republican support and he can win. This fairy tale covered in lies is awful for Allentown. Wake up people he isnt doing anything to fix anything. Show us Matt what you have done instead of proclaiming how great the city is and how inclusive it is. You talk about fixing homelessness and housing but you havent in 4 years.
ReplyDelete2:50 - Not only hasn’t he fixed it, he’s making it worse.
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