tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post442093314835732274..comments2024-03-28T11:55:43.326-04:00Comments on MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN: Price of Press Conferencemichael molovinskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-6537329865794853832009-02-19T14:03:00.000-05:002009-02-19T14:03:00.000-05:00Sometimes I think economic development in Allentow...Sometimes I think economic development in Allentown City is like putting an extra thick layering of rich and tasty icing on a cardboard cake.<BR/><BR/>Looks good, but is there anything of substance beyond the surface?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-13036783477321365642009-02-19T10:32:00.000-05:002009-02-19T10:32:00.000-05:00kathy, i suspect it was the pawlowski's idea first...kathy, i suspect it was the pawlowski's idea first before the salon owner, and he's (owner) sharp enough to take advantage of the politics. i'm sorry you had a bad hair experience, hope you didn't make your significant other suffer too much because of it. (just projecting personal experiences with women who don't like their haircut)michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-80917789644880962282009-02-19T10:13:00.000-05:002009-02-19T10:13:00.000-05:00Ahhh...Technicolor. That's where I got the WORST ...Ahhh...Technicolor. That's where I got the WORST haircut of my life (at their Tilghman location) AND the worst manicure of my life (at their Bethlehem location). I'll spare you all the details of these mini-personal-disasters, but the bottom line is, this salon is VERY overpriced, and filled with incompetent stylists.<BR/><BR/>I just don't understand how competition to existing businesses can be financed by the state, while NOTHING goes to the businesses already existing who have stuck it out, day after day.<BR/><BR/>Maybe I'm just bitter because I loved the Shanty. But, I don't see Technicolor improving 19th street, and I certainly don't understand why tax dollars are required for this opening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-84119305118294293612009-02-18T23:11:00.000-05:002009-02-18T23:11:00.000-05:00Mamabo's had no customers because they didn't adve...Mamabo's had no customers because they didn't advertise. If you don't advertise, you won't have customers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-57044075019385265342009-02-18T13:07:00.000-05:002009-02-18T13:07:00.000-05:00Mike, My wife was in the T.C.Salon about 5 years a...Mike, My wife was in the T.C.Salon about 5 years ago for a cut and brow wax.She says it put her back about$125.00 with tip.She did not tell me the cost at the time(wonder why)Today I told her about about tax-payers paying for the T.C. Salon.My wife being a life-long Democrat was outraged.She says it was very over-priced and haughty.I say the customer can pay what they like but I should not have to have to pay for itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-23285126106131228242009-02-18T10:13:00.000-05:002009-02-18T10:13:00.000-05:00neutral, he is all over the place, there, here, ra...neutral, he is all over the place, there, here, rambling, donovan's and i'm sure many more. he impersonates, distorts, implies things he knows are not true, etc. etc. and even fishes for comments back channel. at the end of the day, he demeans mostly himself.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-77941613222867598712009-02-18T09:42:00.000-05:002009-02-18T09:42:00.000-05:00MM - I wandered over to "Lehigh Valley Nobody" for...MM - I wandered over to "Lehigh Valley Nobody" for grins. <BR/><BR/>Wow - could not believe what I saw and read. That is some real sick sadistic stuff.<BR/><BR/>I wonder if he is on something or has split with reality. <BR/><BR/>Personally I would urge caution in dealing with this wacko. Being that obsessed is not right.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-31178679436009073162009-02-17T15:44:00.000-05:002009-02-17T15:44:00.000-05:00I admired Bill Heydt for his willingness to run ag...I admired Bill Heydt for his willingness to run against Pawlowski. <BR/><BR/>Whether he deserved it or not, he got kicked around pretty good when he was in office - and he took it, it comes with the office of Mayor. I believe He ran again because he wanted to help Allentown any way he could.<BR/><BR/>Like him or not, agree with him or not, that's fine - but respect the man for his willingness to step up AGAIN. He's given more back to the city than 99.9% of its citizens.<BR/><BR/>The BankerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-82322626215564990392009-02-17T11:29:00.001-05:002009-02-17T11:29:00.001-05:00For the sake of argument, would any supposed Bill ...For the sake of argument, would any supposed Bill Heydt mayoral mistakes mitigate in any way the gross transgressions of the past two mayors? <BR/><BR/>That being said what shall we blame Bill Heydt for? Eight years of balanced budgets, no tax increases, and a first class bond rating. Or maybe we could blame him for a well run home ownership program that removed many multi-units from the downtown and returned them to their original intended use as single family homes. Was he to blame for not expecting community organization to operate at his command but instead empowered them to become an independent force for neighborhood improvement in the city?<BR/> Bill Heydt was a leader with a strong personality, he told everyone exactly what he thought, good and bad, and he took the same in return. He respected those who disagreed with him and didn’t make city disputes personal. I remember yelling at him one day then talking to him the next on other issues. He didn’t expect people to obey him.<BR/> Rather than govern in a fashion that made the city work for a privileged few Bill Heydt did what he felt was in the city’s best interests. This made him some real powerful enemies. They in turn threw their support to Pawlowski in the last election because they understood Ed would deliver.<BR/> That is the new Democrat Administration, bet you’re proud of that. By the way, unlike the last two Democrat mayors Bill Heydt never used the city for the promotion of partisan causes and careers. <BR/> Democrats have nothing to be proud of here in Allentown, in fact they should be ashamed of what they have done to the city.<BR/><BR/><BR/> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-53627454763129882452009-02-17T11:29:00.000-05:002009-02-17T11:29:00.000-05:00"2. the comments critical of the angie villa and t...<EM>"2. the comments critical of the angie villa and the chen art group were not made by me, i have always supported the art group"</EM><BR/><BR/>Those comments were made by me and I meant every word.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-28624646726951422712009-02-17T08:29:00.000-05:002009-02-17T08:29:00.000-05:00Dear Scott Armstrong, just once I would like you t...Dear Scott Armstrong, just once I would like you to admit the complicity of Bill Heydt's 8 years of incompetency as Mayor in causing our problems. I think Dadonna started it. Lets put the blame equally where it belongs, shall we?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-29294932513424192102009-02-17T07:42:00.000-05:002009-02-17T07:42:00.000-05:00Yeah that was a smart move to close the big restur...Yeah that was a smart move to close the big resturant on Allen Street and relocate as a pizza shop in Allentown's theatre district on 19th St.<BR/><BR/>I think I have it, can I be one of the feel good posters now to?<BR/><BR/><BR/> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-22580826177197698792009-02-17T07:11:00.000-05:002009-02-17T07:11:00.000-05:00oh okay even my copy and paste didn't work, sorry!...oh okay even my copy and paste didn't work, sorry! you can find the agenda on the city council site at www.allentownpa.gov<BR/><BR/>As for Ruffinos moving back to their original location, I personally could not be happier. Pizza is their core competency, and for a wide array of reasons they never had full success as a full-menu/full-service restaurant. It is not a wild claim (as some suggest) that the current economic climate is affecting this decision - restaurants all over the lehigh valley are closing or barely hanging on as people stop spending their money going out to dinner. It IS a smart move for Ruffinos to let go of an only halfway successful full-service restaurant and move back in to their former location (they own both locations) in this economy. Probably in a good economy they could have continued to get by with the "grille" but there are few businesses more profitable than pizza parlors, and in a downturned economy you do not want to be operating a business that is "getting by."Look Out Lehigh Valleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625057040587861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-47801292596979884382009-02-16T22:31:00.000-05:002009-02-16T22:31:00.000-05:00Leave it to the Allentown booster above to speak o...Leave it to the Allentown booster above to speak of the wonders of closing a larger restaurant and moving into a pizza parlor. Oy vey!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-36023158380764143362009-02-16T19:51:00.000-05:002009-02-16T19:51:00.000-05:00dear "ANON 7:30", on my "moderated" blog the comm...dear "ANON 7:30", on my "moderated" blog the comments critical of chen and angie were posted by a clearly identifiable person posting under his own name (bernie o'hare). o'hare or anyone is entitled to be critical of an art group or individual, the comments were perhaps offensive to angie, but they were decent and not obscene. on the other hand, on villa's blog, the comments come from dubious identities, such as sasha, and foo foo. you refer to a "careful look" about the comments linked to me. thats why i used the term "implied accusations". for villa to "carefully" imply i said things which he knows i didn't, is just another example of being dishonest. anon "7:30", lets say you have represented mr. villa here, so, good night and good bye, no returns permitted.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-73799433505872711692009-02-16T19:30:00.001-05:002009-02-16T19:30:00.001-05:00Someone asked earlier for a link to this info, whi...Someone asked earlier for a link to this info, which was taken off the agenda for Wednesday's CEDC/City Council Meeting. <BR/><BR/>Here is the site where the whole agenda can be viewed:<BR/>http://www.allentownpa.gov/Government/CityCouncil/tabid/59/ctl/Detail/mid/751/xmid/366/xmfid/9/Default.aspx<BR/><BR/>I don't think links work in the comment section, but you can copy and paste that into your browser.Look Out Lehigh Valleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12625057040587861114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-37005780682715880062009-02-16T19:30:00.000-05:002009-02-16T19:30:00.000-05:00MM, with all due respect and courtesy, you implici...MM, with all due respect and courtesy, you implicitly endorsed the troll blog by saying you "understood" its reason for existing. Do you also "understand" hatred & bigotry? Also, you published on your moderated blog some real crummy stuff about Chen and vicious personal attacks against Mrs. Villa. By allowing its publication, again, you implicitly endorse this stuff. Now you attempt to deny what Villa has posted. But a careful look at Villa's comments do not reveal any inaccuracies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-51794331291718090162009-02-16T16:39:00.000-05:002009-02-16T16:39:00.000-05:00OFF TOPIC, MY FAME ON THE VILLA BLOGsome of you ma...OFF TOPIC, MY FAME ON THE VILLA BLOG<BR/>some of you may know i'm certainly the subject of a posting on the villa blog. i would like to briefly reply to a few untrue implied accusations.<BR/>1. i am NOT a member of the troll blog, i stated i understood why it was created because of villa's highjackings (before he forced everybody into comment moderation) but never have endorsed it. although there are over 600 comments on the troll blog, most by villa himself under his own name, only 9 are from me.<BR/>2. the comments critical of the angie villa and the chen art group were not made by me, i have always supported the art group<BR/>3. the accusation that i have targeted grieving parents, or any legal recourse in-regard to their loss, is both totally untrue and distastefulmichael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-73351896971937935012009-02-16T16:14:00.000-05:002009-02-16T16:14:00.000-05:00anon 2:17, by chance many of our local bloggers l...anon 2:17, by chance many of our local bloggers live in that neighborhood and in the last year's praised both mambo's and pawlowski. ward election results also indicate pawlowski did well there. as one who drove by an empty mambo's every evening, i'm not surprised to see them not renew. i'll speculate that had a successful tenant been willing to release, ruffino would stay in the larger space.michael molovinskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12581039755319742687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-28225051239651913852009-02-16T14:17:00.000-05:002009-02-16T14:17:00.000-05:00"the neighborhood pawlowskietes praised the divers..."the neighborhood pawlowskietes praised the diversity of the place, they never patronized it."<BR/><BR/><BR/>In addition to being psychic, do you also do tarot cards and palm reading? Only kidding.<BR/><BR/>Just had to point out that it's hard to believe that you could know that everyone in the area who voted for Mayor Ed never ate there. You just can't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-72340572482234707372009-02-16T09:36:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:36:00.000-05:00The focus should remain on the larger question, wh...The focus should remain on the larger question, which is why should the government (in this case the city using state funds) be subsidizing any business. <BR/><BR/>Direct government funding only helps keep the inefficient establishments in business and punishes those that are run well. <BR/><BR/>If City Hall wants to help attract business to the city, why not eliminate or reduce the Business Privilege Tax? Doing so would help all businesses equally. Of course, you can't expect political favors in return when you treat everyone equally.<BR/><BR/>A business plan should be able to stand on its own. If it needs government support (in this case to the tune of $250,000) it should send up a red flag to taxpayers. <BR/><BR/>I know Pawlowski thinks that state grants don't cost us anything, but I would differ and ask him to look at the current mess of Pennsylvania's budget. Someone's going to pay to balance it, and we see that person every day when we look in the mirror.<BR/><BR/>I know every government bureaucrat seems to want to play developer. If that's the case, they should do so with their own money - not ours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-78123072550690529032009-02-16T09:09:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:09:00.000-05:00RE; Alfonso Todd (12:29 AM)- Here's a 'buz...RE; Alfonso Todd (12:29 AM)- Here's a 'buzz word' 'catch phrase', pocket speech that no politician should be without: <BR/><BR/>"Diversity", is not to be confused with "adversity" in-so-much as that would serve to provide political "exclusion" rather then "inclusiveness" in our "urban renewal" efforts as our city "moves forward in the 21st century" through an "urbanization" to a "suburbanized" "societal evolution". So as we seek to accomplish our "objectives" to achieve "diversity", it should not come at the expense of our one "commonality" as a "community". It "takes a village" to become as a "1,000 points of light" shining as "as a beacon of hope" for the "future generations" & throughout our "globalized" "world wide community" as we "invest in our future of tomorrow". By taking this "hands on" approach we can "face the future with greater certainty".<BR/><BR/>Now who could disagree with that?<BR/>:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-70667542622477259202009-02-16T08:52:00.000-05:002009-02-16T08:52:00.000-05:00Alfonso,Allentown is “diverse”, that was one of th...Alfonso,<BR/><BR/>Allentown is “diverse”, that was one of the reasons we(wife, two kids) decided to move here in the early nineties. That said, “Diversity” isn’t this city’s problem, it not even close. Incompetent leadership is what is killing Allentown. It is the elected officials who have saddled this city with its current troubles; Diversity had nothing to do with it. These same elected officials signed Allentown to a disastrous police contract. It was elected officials who rushed through two bad bond bills that have also undermined our fiscal future. It is the current mayor who fired or chased away real talented city employees and replaced them with clueless hacks and /or outsiders. It is the current mayor dropped the ball on de-conversions of multi-units back to single family homes and still thinks he can inspect the downtown neighborhoods back to health.<BR/> Love is not the answer or the solution to this municipality’s problems, good feelings and a positive approach won’t address the nuts and bolts faults that undermine the city’s soundness. Only good leadership can lead the city back from the abyss. In the meantime everyone suffers together. <BR/><BR/> Scott ArmstrongAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-43461709235269121122009-02-16T07:58:00.000-05:002009-02-16T07:58:00.000-05:00Mambo's was poorly run, it is as simple as that.Th...Mambo's was poorly run, it is as simple as that.<BR/><BR/>The food was good but quality service did not exist. On top of that, the guy always tried to steer you to the food already made on the steam tray rather than what you really wanted.<BR/><BR/>The passing of Mambo was nothing but the result of market forces combined by a little push by the owner of the building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-951782330457966647.post-27594835836152288842009-02-16T07:16:00.000-05:002009-02-16T07:16:00.000-05:00Good points in this thread. Ruffinos move back to ...Good points in this thread. Ruffinos move back to their old location is probably a good business decision.<BR/><BR/>I applaud the owner. Takes guts to take a step back. It seems a pizza joint is going to do better than a more upscale restaurant and he is astute enough to understand his market and resilient enough to change<BR/><BR/>It shows what the demographics will support in the area and can be a valuable lesson for others in the community.<BR/><BR/>I agree with AT's comments on "Diversity" and sometimes wonder if the term has not become a curse on us all. Like the old adage it isn't what you say it is what you do.<BR/><BR/>I know many people who are called rather disquieting names because of their comments yet often find they do more to support the total community than those hurling the names about.<BR/><BR/>As for a hair district - I think the new salon will be an island unto itself and a real cash cow for the owners. <BR/><BR/>Will it ad to the traffic of the rest of the merchants. I doubt it but that remains to be seen and I would love to be wrong on this.<BR/><BR/>Will it have an impact on the hair mill business on the corner. I doubt it will hurt and probably will help.<BR/><BR/>I would suggest being judicious on using the term "hair district" as it may give certain politicians and city planners a new idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com