Bloated Bureaucracy

This week Allentown City Council will decide if the new Managing Director must live in Allentown; a better question would be if Allentown needs a managing director. This new position was created by Mayor Pawlowski in 2006 to help him manage the city. Depending upon who you ask, anywhere from 30 to 44 new white collar positions have been created by this Administration, while at the same time police officers are retiring in mass, and the streets are strewn with litter. One of the positions the Manager would overseer is the Special Events Manager. Yesterday Hamilton Street was closed for CELEBRATE ALLENTOWN, nobody came.* Nobody coming was the good news, the bad news was what the street closure cost the merchants. This was the third saturday that Hamilton Street was recently closed to traffic. Matthew Tuerk told the reporter covering the event he was having a great time. Matt once again forgot to mention he's acting director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation. In July a private promoter, Alfonso Todd, produced UPWARD BOUND, a Multi-Cultural Celebration on the 600 block of Hamilton Street. That event was reasonably well attended at no cost to the taxpayers. It required no full time director with benefits and pension to manage a full time coordinator with benefits and pension. I suspect the taxpayers could have sent the few people who attended on Saturday to DisneyWorld, for a week, and still saved money.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-5celebrate.6588187sep14,0,3351563.story

Liberal Dilemma

Those of you who honor this blog with an occasional glance or two, will recognize this posting as my first foray outside of Lehigh Valley Politics. However, my motivation was local, today's Op Ed piece, entitled "Time will erode impact of Palin's rhetoric." * The piece was written by Nichola Gutgold, a local professor who is author of "Paving the Way for Madam President". Apparently when Ms. Gutgold wrote "Paving the Way..." she never had in mind a conservative, pro life, gun toting moose hunter. When Hillary Clinton spoke several weeks ago about cracking the glass ceiling, she didn't imagine a Sarah Palin. It seems democratic liberal women are more suited to govern than their conservative counterparts, who should apparently concentrate on motherhood. Nearby, democratic women had no problem electing Marjorie Margolies Mezvinsky to Congress with eleven children. I must give credit to Geraldine Ferraro. She acknowledges the accomplishments of Ms. Palin and warns Joe Biden not to underestimate her.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-a.6584620sep12,0,3379296.story

CastleRock

CastleRock took place in the cavernous Dorney Park dance-hall, Castle Garden. The "Garden" was built in the early 20's and hosted all the famous big bands of that era. By the late fifties it was call CastleRock. The Philadelphia recording stars, such as Frankie Avalon and Freddy Cannon would routinely perform. By my teenage era, in the early mid 60's, it was mostly disc jockeys. The Park was free, no admission. Pay to park, and maybe a buck or so for the dance-hall. By then the nightclub tables shown in the photograph were gone, and sitting was around the sides. There were no shootings, and rowdiness was restricted to sneaking on a ride without buying a ticket. The dance-hall overlooked the lake, it was destroyed by a fire on Thanksgiving in 1985.

Sad Sack City

Those wanting a cup of brew this weekend in Allentown's 19th Street Theater District were out of luck. Seems that Hava Java thought they could just close for a few hours and do some maintenance without a permit, not in Pawlowski's cash strapped, power hungry code regulated Allentown. Those familiar with the Theater District know the only constant over the years have been the theater and the coffee shop. Those familiar with the coffee shop, know they prepare no food there whatsoever, beside making coffee, there are no public safety issues. A lost weekend for a small business owner wanting to improve his space. $1.5 million of public money scheduled to be spent promoting the street. An administration short on common sense.

UPDATE: The Stop Work Order was NOT responsible for keeping the coffee shop closed. see elaboration in comment section.

MattressGate

In today's Morning Call WatchDog feature, we learn the delayed mattresses from a local department store have finally arrived, subject of last weeks feature. Time to put that story to rest. I would like to know where the pea is under Pawlowski's budget shell game. I'd like to know where our grant money is really going. I'd like to know if those flashing blue lights are really reducing crime, which appears to be Lehigh Valley's growth industry.

Queen City Daily

QUEEN CITY DAILY IS A BLOG DEDICATED TO NEWS FROM THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN. WE'LL UPDATE EVERY WEEKDAY WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM YOUR FRONT STOOP ALL THE WAY TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FROM THE STAFF OF THE MORNING CALL*
There's one thing nobody can accuse the Queen City Daily of being, and that's a daily. Today's the eighth day without a new posting. Can't really blame the recent shake up at the paper, it's been more of a weekly since the get-go. Perhaps a new name is in order.

* http://blogs.mcall.com/allentown/

Pawlowski-Schweyer Crack Down

Last Fall, at a community meeting I organized about Lanta, an elderly citizen told how Mayor Pawlowski raged against her for having frequent sidewalk sales. As a mugging victim, she couldn't understand how he was more concerned with her sales than the attack against her. I later learned a gentleman was mugged on the way to the meeting. Last night Allentown provided a solution, not against the muggers, but against the sidewalk sales.* Councilman Peter Schweyer, also a member of the Lanta Board, introduced this landmark legislation. Unfortunately, the Hamilton Street merchants didn't fare well against Lanta. Several have left Hamilton Street, including the only drug store. It's tough being old in downtown Allentown.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b6_5council.6574508sep04,0,5114129.story

Blog HighJacking

Any reader to my last posting, Return of the Golem, knows that my comment section was highjacked. This particular pirate is very persistent, he saturates comment boards with his obsessions, but not his own blog. When his comments are deleted, he keeps reposting them, over and over. Although he and his wife have their own blog, there, they refrain from such behavior. Actually, pirate is too romantic of an image. He also sends endless emails, chock full of threats. At the heading of their blog, it says people should be able to disagree without being disagreeable. It is my hope they will assume the manners they purport, and I will once again be able to resume the open comment feature.

Return Of The Golem

The golem is the original "super hero" of Judaism. Kabalists believe that life was created through G-d speaking words, and thus, if your beliefs are pure and you are a master of kabala, then you too can create life from nothing. Rabbis over the century were said to have created Golems to protect Jewish settlements in times of anti-Semitic strife. The symbols on which the golem lies are one of the main pillars of Kabala, known in English as the Tree of Life.*

Upset over a recent comment about my motives in regard to Fairview Cemetery, I had the Golem imported from its hiding place in Poland. The following apology did appear on the blogosphere for several minutes today;**/ 1
".... Michael and I had a lengthy phone conversation yesterday and I trust that things are OK again between us. I admitted and apologized to Michael for having posted several anonymous "snarks" at him recently that called into question his motives regarding Fairview Cemetery,......" Bill Villa

Although the Golem remains secure in its box, I will postpone returning it to Poland for the time being.

* this incredible drawing of the golem, and it's explanation is by Juliet Howland http://www.elfwood.com/art/j/u/julieth/golem3jpg.jpg.html

**the apology was first posted onto Bernie O'Hares Blog, deleted and sent to Villa's Blog(Mrs. Dottie) where it was again deleted

1. confession of a blogger. I used the apology as a vehicle to utilize this fascinating drawing. I don't need a golem to handle my critics, besides, it would be a full time job defending me and others in the local blogosphere. This posting is not intended as a springboard for tension between any specific bloggers, nor will such comments be accepted.

Midway Matters

I've been going to the fair for a long time. In the late 50's, my father operated a food stand there near the beer gardens. He then built Flaggs on Hamilton Blvd., today it is known as Ice Cream World. There was no water park back then, and Dorney Park was still family owned. In the early 60's, while still in high school, for a couple of years, a friend and myself operated a tee shirt stand at both the Allentown and Kutztown Fairs. Back then, the midway operator was Goodin's Million Dollar Midway. Then, as today, the sides of the fairground were rented out to individuals, while the large middle, in front of grandstand and farmers market, was rented to the carnival company. Over the years the carnival operator changed, from Goodin through a few others, to S & W. This year there is a new operator and a new walking pattern. For the first time, there is no midway along the grandstand. Fair goers are steered to a new first midway, 75 feet north of the grandstand, and then back down again, at the other end. We Dutchmen, being used as an affectionate term for all older locals, don't like it. We don't do well with change.

photocredit: molovinsky

Vision or Delusion

Over sixty eager beavers met Monday at the center-city Holiday Inn, shown in the background, for the final "Visioning" meeting.*
With help from a grant for $10,000, the following profound statement resulted; ''We envision the Hamilton Street District as the commercial and cultural heart of the Lehigh Valley, an attractive, welcoming community, filled with activity and energy, offering employment, dining, arts, entertainment, shopping, and residential opportunities, supported by culturally diverse and architecturally attractive neighborhoods.'' Mayor Pawlowski said "This whole process.... has been good for galvanizing folks..." Although I used the word "delusion" in the title, actually the process was more of an illusion; a trick making the participants think they have input to the decision making process. When one considers the decision was already made to remove the Lanta bus stops which supported the pre-existing merchants, and all future grant funds of any consequence have already been pre-spent on a couple favored projects, what decisions remain for the beavers? Maybe they can design a new street banner or rearrange a parking meter or two. The fellow in the foreground was not the consultant, but he thought the meeting was silly, so do I.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b5_5vision.6561907aug26,0,6655927.story

Can You Say Loft?

Allentown has a schizophrenic attitude towards apartments. While we are spending millions of dollars to de-convert a few row house in center city, we are also spending millions to subsidize the creation of loft apartments in formerly commercial buildings. Now, lets define we. We may be direct grants from the city; city directed HUD grants, grants through the Redevelopment Authority or the Economic Development Corporation, or State Grants secured by the Administration. It's all we, it's all our tax money, and it's all being promoted by Ed Pawlowski. When Mr. Ed was Community Development Director under Afflerbach he promoted the Farr Loft project. As a mayoral candidate he repeatedly claimed it was private money and proof positive yuppies were clamoring for Hamilton Street life. A few months after Mayor Ed's coronation, the Farr Loft partnership received half a million from the state.* Upfront money, backdoor money, it's all our taxes. Back to this apartment problem, the defenders refer to gentrification. A mom with three children, burdening the school system, is being replaced by a single beamer with disposable income. Here's the rub, we are legitimizing these additional apartments with a hope and prayer for a certain demographic. Time will tell who we get, and how long he will stay. Will the second or third tenant be that mom again with her three children?

* Allentown's Farr building brings home $500,000 in aid ** Help from state tagged for downtown apartment project.
Scott Kraus Of The Morning Call; Morning Call; Jun 19, 2006; pg. B.3;

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Jews have been buried in a small section of Fairview Cemetery, called Mt. Sinai for over 138 years. Although the markings on several stones have worn away, Hannah Dreifuss was buried there in 1868. Morris Wolf, who served with the local regiment in the Civil War, lived to be 98. He lies next to his wife Julia, who died thirty years earlier in 1907. While many of the 82 graves date back to the early 1900's, burials continued through 20's, 30's, 40's, and later. In July of 2006, thirty years after the last previous burial in 1976, Joseph Levine was laid to rest at the age of 103.

Friends of Fairview

There will be a meeting for "Friends of Fairview" at Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12 St. (between Chew and Turner) on Thursday, Aug. 21, at 6:00p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to explore ways in which the public can assist in improving the cemetery.

CheeseSteak Blowhards

Last Thursday Rendell was in town giving Cunningham and Pawlowski millions of our dollars for projects in Allentown that will probably not produce one job. (new street lights on 19th St., infrastructure for the river-front) Today we learn Mack Trucks will relocate it's headquarters, with hundreds of jobs, to North Carolina. None of Three Amigo's knew anything about it. Mayor Pawlowski said it was an opportunity for us to attract a new business.

Allentown Gets Poorer

FROM SEPT.9, 2005 NEWSCAST
Molovinsky Wants to Reallocate Grants
Story posted on 2005-09-29 18:23:00
THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF ALLENTOWN SAYS HE WANTS TO MAKE THE CITY UNATTRACTIVE TO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS. MICHAEL MOLOVINSKY HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE A HOME ON WEST LIBERTY STREET TODAY.
MOLOVINSKY SAYS ONE OF THE LARGEST PROBLEMS IN ALLENTOWN IS THE POVERTY RATE. CHANNEL 69 NEWS. SEPT. 9. 2005*


Allentown learned today that it's population became poorer between 1999 and 2005.** That's the good news, I know we became even poorer between 2005 and now. When Pawlowski, as a member of the Allentown Housing Authority, endorsed building the newest public housing project in United States, what's the message there? When Pawlowski, first as Community Development Director under Afflerbach, now as Mayor, uses the Community Block Grants to seed organizations which depend of a flow of new poor people, what's the result? Being an advocate for the poor is morally commendable, but it is no criterion on which any city can sustain itself.

* http://wfmz.com/cgi-bin/tt.cgi?action=viewstory&storyid=9223#
** http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5poverty.6544000aug14,0,7590706.story

New Graveside Tears

Today the Morning Call printed an excellent story about conditions at Fairview Cemetery.* On July 31, I met reporter Brian Callaway and photographer Denise Sanchez at Fairview. We were joined by a family, which had commented on this blog about their negative experiences with the cemetery operator. I was hoping after waiting over a week, the story would have appeared yesterday, in the widely read Sunday paper. After lobbying the paper for 15 months to write a story, I would have preferred a day with more than monday's small circulation. This is a problem which needs publicity. The cemetery owner admitted he increased care after several public complaints last summer. In the article the owner says "If Molovinsky's offer of money is genuine, the cemetery will accept it." My offer was always genuine, but in the last year I learned of people who paid for care which was not performed. An organization is being created to "adopt" and maintain the Jewish section, I hope the owner will agree to this arrangement.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5cemetery.6523914aug11,0,7499886.story

Bikes and Trains

Paul Marin, an activist on transportation issues, hopes to see train service restored between Allentown and New York City, absent over fifty years. It's a big dream, and I wish him success with it. You can read more about his mission in The Morning Call.* What caught my eye in the article, was a proposal to restore rail service between Lansdale and Quakertown. Long ago, back in high school, I recall taking the train from Bethlehem to Philadelphia. As memory serves me, and it doesn't, it was a one car trolley like vehicle, that was remotely operated. By that, I mean in my memory, there was no engineer. Also I was the only one in the car, perhaps I should lay down and tell a psychiatrist about this? Anyway, here comes my point; recently there was an article about turning the track between Bethlehem and Quakertown into a bike or jogging path. These conversions are quite popular now. Millions are spent tearing the track up to make a path for spandex yuppies. Can't these fitness buffs jog and bike someplace else?. How many countless millions would it cost to replace that rail bed and tracks? I know the old tracks may not be suited for high speed trains, but perhaps in the future they could be replaced or used for a tourist trolley. Lets not destroy irreplaceable infrastructure for a StarBuck moment.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_4rails.6536472aug09,0,5730325.story

8th Street Bridge

When opened for traffic on November 17, 1913, with seventeen spans, the Albertus L. Meyers Bridge, then known as the Eighth Street Bridge, was the longest and highest reinforced concrete arch bridge in the world.
The Lehigh Valley Transit Company organized the Allentown Bridge Company in 1911 for the sole purpose of building the bridge. The bridge was designed by the engineering firm of B.H. Davis and built by McArthur Brothers of New York City. Costing in excess of $500,000, construction of the bridge required 29,500 cubic yards (22,600 m³) of concrete and 1.1 million pounds of metal reinforcing rods.
The structure operated as a toll bridge from its November 17, 1913 opening until the 1950s, at which time the toll was five cents for an automobile. The concrete standards that once supported the trolley wire are still standing on the bridge to this day.*
This iconic bridge is a monument to our industrial history; epicenter of both the coment and steel industries. Unfortunately, under the current Pawlowski Administration, which has no knowledge of local history, and no experienced technical personnel, the bridge is suffering. Weeds and undergrowth are being allowed to penetrate the roadbed. Spalling concrete is not being replaced, submitting the reinforcing rods to rust.
UPDATE: Harry C. Trexler, founding member of the Transit Company and Lehigh Portland Cement Co., was a principle player in the construction of this bridge. General Trexler's gravesite, in Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, affords unique views of the bridge and center city Allentown.

Painting of Bridge: by John E. Berninger, 1933, a contemporary of Walter Baum.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albertus_L._Meyers_Bridge

Pawlowski's Hole

Allentown doesn't have much of a political memory. The Morning Call changes out its reporters about every 6 months, and most political activists eventually have lobotomies out of frustration. Never the less, some of you may remember Heydt's hole. After he torn down Hess's, the hole sat there for 18 months while a group of investors failed to find financing for a amateur hockey arena. (The one built later in Bethlehem folded and now is for sale) Now, eight years later, Pawlowski has a hole. Announced with great fanfare, a local developer would build the Cosmopolitan on the site of Sal's Spaghetti House. It makes me nervous when they name a restaurant before they built it. Anyway, Pawlowski bought Sal's, and the city paid for the demolition.(Through one of its Authorities) Then the city gave the Cosmopolitan a $50,000 restaurant grant. Yes, we gave a brick-less name $50,000. I think some of the city puff bloggers were even making reservations for dinner. Back to the hole; as a sidewalk supervisor I was surprised to see the excavators dig under the adjoining Sovereign Building and pour pylons under its footers. Perhaps they were mining, mining for grants. Those pylons have enabled the developer to remove his equipment. and let that hole sit there now for over two months, with no danger to the adjoining building. I'd say about $50,000 worth of work has been done. Last month the city applied for a low cost Liquor License for the Cosmopolitan. Last week, after the Pawlowski Administration had an embarrassing "no comment" in regard to Johnny Manana's, a backhoe was moved back to outside the Cosmopolitan site. Is that backhoe a Pawlowski Prop? Does the developer sense the time is ripe for renewed grants? Does Pawlowski need a new ribbon to cut? *

* There could be legitimate reasons why construction has halted on the Cosmopolitan. However, last month the developer's attorney declined to comment on an explanation.

Plaza Growers' Market

Wednesdays 3:30-6:30 pm

PPL Plaza, Hamilton at 9th

photocredit: molovinsky

Figment Of My Imagination

Dear Mayor Pawlowski,
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm very disappointed in the changes made to my town. After my wife passed away, I moved to the senior high-rise at 8th and Union St. I can see the old Mack Transmission Plant from my window, I worked there for 40 years. I understand now it's a indoor go-cart track, I find that a bitter pill. Actually pills are why I'm writing. I used to walk to the Rite-Aid on Hamilton Street. With that closing, I don't think I can walk out 7th St. to the old Sears. Forgive me Mayor, that's before your time in Allentown. The other Rite-Aid used to be Levines Fabrics, they bought it from Sears. The Army Navy store was across the parking lot. Anyway, back to my problem. Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty. What have you done to me? My neighbor, a nice widow, tells me you gave that Mexican Restaurant lots of our money and they don't even pay their bills? Never ate there, what were you thinking? Anyway, sorry to bother you, I know you're a busy man, but I don't know where I will get my medicine from, and I'm upset. Sorry.

PhotoCredit: molovinsky

The Consequences of Denial

Last year when observers of local government pointed out that City Hall was gutted of it's most respected administrators, the apologists said those gone were just dead wood. Never mind that they have been replaced by people with virtually no experience. When long term private investment has left Hamilton Street, despite massive grants to a couple chosen venues, the apologists refer to transitional growing pains. When a report states crime is down, despite a recent horrendous murder and general fear, the Mayor credits his spending on technology, such as surveillance camera's and shot spotter microphones. Someone should remind the Mayor about the grassy knoll in Dallas. Despite media camera's and microphones from around the world, to this day, we still do not know how many shots were fired or where they came from. The apologists will apologize; the Mayor will rationalize, the editorials will endorse, the reports will verify, but middle class homeowners see the truth, and put up "for sale" signs.

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Unknown to most people, contained within the sprawling Fairview Cemetery, is a small section with the oldest Jewish Burials in Lehigh Valley, called Mount Sinai. Fairview, along Lehigh St, is Allentown's most famous and now neglected cemetery. Among the notables buried there, is no less than Harry Trexler, whose largeness keeps bailing Allentown out, even 70 years after his death. Using diplomacy, not my forte, I have been trying to urge more upkeep for Mt. Sinai. Today, a letter to the editor laments the condition of the whole cemetery; perhaps this approach will be more successful. I urge everybody to take a stroll(OR DRIVE) through history, the views of Allentown are among some of the best you can find.

UPDATE: I have reason to believe the Morning Call may shed some light on this problem. Perhaps, considering the enormity of the cemetery, certain area's may have to be" adopted" by interested parties for care. It seems that as old cemeteries fill up, and the descendants move away or die off, the perpetual care becomes problematic. This is certainly an historic, significant site for Allentown, hopefully the Community can respond.

THIS IS A REPEAT OF POSTING DONE LAST AUGUST. NO LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CEMETERY. THE MORNING CALL HAS YET TO REPORT ON THIS OUTRAGE. THE CEMETERY OPERATOR HAS REFUSED ASSISTANCE FROM SEVERAL SOURCES. PLEASE CONSIDER ASKING YOUR CLERGY TO ADVOCATE ON THIS COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Diversity Celebration Not Needed

Apparently official Allentown doesn't have much use for a multi-cultural celebration. If the City Administration promoted the Upward Bound Festival through it's public relations firm aka The Morning Call, I missed it. Alfonso Todd. promoter, did a remarkable job, especially considering the City had evicted him and four other minority owned businesses last week from their production facilities at 645 Hamilton Street. I started at the corner of 7th and Hamilton at the Latino's for Obama, and worked my way down pass about 20 vendors and organizations to the end of the block, where the Lehigh Valley Republican Party had a booth. I note that the Grower's Market, outgrowth of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, is promoted by the newspaper every wednesday. The Development Corporation staff cost the taxpayers about half a million a year to bring us four vendors with a few heads of lettuce. Alfonso cost us nothing, and did more than the bureaucrats could in years. Thank you.

Open Mike

This posting is intended to provide an opportunity to comment on any topic, or on an earlier posting.

Jewish Cemetery Desecrated

Within the sprawling Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, is the oldest Jewish Burials in the Lehigh Valley. The small Jewish section, called Mt. Sinai, predates all the existing Congregations, which have their own cemeteries. Graves here date back to the Civil War, and the descendants are long gone. The graves are being desecrated not by vandals, but by neglect. The cemetery is maintained, or not, by Boyko Funeral Services. My offer to pay for the restoration of the Jewish section has been ignored, I repeat the offer publicly. My calls, and calls from others, to The Morning Call, for exposure on this problem have likewise produced no results. Other large sections of the cemetery are in similar distress. Behind the grave marker of this Jewish child, the marker of a second child, has slid down into an enormous groundhog hole.

It All Depends

While the sheriffs were starting to round up the corrupt in Harrisburg, Rendell was hiding out in Allentown, having a press conference with Pawlowski. They were unveiling a new Keystone Opportunity Zone act, which extends and expands the current version. The KOZ for politicians is the gift that keeps on giving; unlimited press conferences about development and contributions from the few chosen developers. For the taxpayer, it's really a leech. While the chosen pay no taxes, it creates an unfair playing field and hardship for the real investors, the ones who pay taxes. The new version of the KOZ apparently has less accountability than ever. In addition to the location, our executives can now openly choose and pick which developers get the golden ring. Pawlowski said "It depends on the plan and on the developer." The Neuweiler Brewery can be included, considering Pawlowski had the current owner jailed, I doubt he'll make the KOZ grade. The photo shows "for lease signs" from two hapless owners competing for tenants in downtown Allentown, competing against new buildings which are tax abated under KOZ.

City Truth Challenged

I'm sure it was with great pride that Lehigh Valley Latino Magazine, headquartered at 645 Hamilton Street, featured the letter from Mayor Pawlowski praising them for their long time contributions to the city and Latino Community. In today's Morning Call, "city officials said they found only two businesses operating in the upper floors... neither company had secured the proper business licenses from the city, officials said."

click on photo to learn more from your mayor

Latino's, Vamos

The current issue of Lehigh Valley Latino Magazine contains greetings and congratulations from Mayor Ed Pawlowski, complete with his official photograph and the City Seal. The Magazine, along with 5 other minority businesses are being forced out of 645 Hamilton Street, with the city now telling the Morning Call their just unlicensed nobody's. In April, Pawlowski wrote "I want to thank Valley Latino TV Show and Magazine for keeping the Latino community informed. Your dedicated effort shows a deep commitment...congratulations... I wish you great success!" This week the mobile cords from the Latino TV Show stage lighting were misrepresented as extension cords by the city. Along with the magazine and television studio, a graphic art designer, a festival promoter, and a security company were displaced. You won't hear them complain, their being assisted and relocated by city hall.

Unsafe or Rising Star

A couple years ago the website for the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation described 645 Hamilton St. as "a monument to growth."* Today's edition of The Morning Call, reporting on violations from the City of Allentown, describes the building as unsafe.** It's the same building, with the same tenants, in the same condition. Unlike the city inspectors, or the well meaning reporter, I'm there every day for coffee at Jerry's Cafe. Jerry's was not one of the upstart businesses blessed with a grant. He had to pay for everything, and everything had to be inspected inside out. His plans had to be approved, his electric and plumbing had to be approved, his grill and hood system had to be approved. City inspectors in and out of the building during this process included no less than plumbing, electrical and health. Although the recent violation report issued to the building in general, lists extension cords, it fails to note those cords are attached to a movable lighting grid for the Latino Television production studio and are cords by design. Although the city citation reports cites unlicensed businesses, it omits the fact that the lower level was occupied by Sassi which performs drug testing for the Lehigh County, and the City's action recently caused Melendez Reality and Madison Mortgage to vacate. Unfortunately for this current hapless owner, the City was looking for violations. Last month Pawlowski promoted a building across the street which has not been occupied or improved in decades, although there is no running water there, breakfast was served to invited realtors. It's easy to beat the drums against the greedy absentee landlords, and surely the apologists will applaud Pawlowski for enforcing codes, but private money is running from this town. There is no work currently being done on any project on Hamilton Street without a grant. It's good politics, but bad business.

* http://www.lehighvalley.org/page.cfm?pag=58&new=132

** http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_5code-r.6496980jul10,0,1594649.story

Allentown Memories

click on photo to enlarge
From low income sections of center city, to expensive suburbs, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley is becoming home to more and more outsiders. I'm afraid the time will soon come when local memorabilia will have little appeal. Fortunately, for those interested, some impressive collections still exist. This past year Robert Bungerz published Allentown Remembered, documenting his outstanding collection of historical postcards and other objects. David Bausch, former County Executor and authority on Automobile Art, is also a expert on things Allentown. Then there are the many small collections, home of the hidden treasures. Above is an early aerial photograph of the Allentown Fair. Those interested in the recent commotion concerning the 19TH Street Theater District may find the upper right of the photograph interesting. There is no theater, there are no houses on Saint George Street and most of the buildings seem to to garages and automobile in nature (don't tell Auto-Zone). This gem is probably from the late teens or early 20's, and comes from the Thomas Reed Collection. Thomas is aka Z1pyro, long time expert shooter for Zambelli Firework Company. He retired several years ago, and we who appreciate fireworks, notice his departure.

A Historical Coincidence

There's something odd about this photograph, it's from the cover page of the Old Allentown Preservation Association website*. A few day's ago when I suggested association members should have been careful of what they wished for in regard to Cannon's Bar, my observation was received with righteous indignation. One center city blogger may well have deleted a link to this blog because of it. Another prominent member, insisting he has no political agenda, suggested I may be unwittingly driving them towards the mayor with my accusations. Old Allentown exists of over twenty five square blocks. Out of this large area, only one side of three blocks contain porch houses, those houses built with porches. I refer to the unit block of both 11th and 12th Streets, and the 300 block of 9th St. Most of the remaining townhouses had a porch added in the 1920's. Years ago I interacted with the Historical Board when I learned those porches must be removed to receive a facade grant. Built of concrete, usually with a curved overhang shingle roof with curved wooden brackets, I felt they added to the architecture. They also provided a buffer zone between the homeowner and the realities of sidewalk life. The historical purists felt differently, and according to their website over 80 such porches have been removed thus far. It is strange that the Association would choose for their cover photograph one of the few porch houses rows in Allentown, certainly not representative of the district. Stranger still, they picture two the few porch houses which had their porch's altered. The house in the foreground is completely bastardized. The porch was enclosed by brick probably in the 50's. For many years the property was a clock store. The next house also has the porch enclosed with glass panels. This treatment, meant for the winter months. is not uncommon with porch houses further west of the district, but again does not represent the Associations' historical standards. It must be a coincidence, that the house with the glass panels is where Mayor Pawlowski lives, because the Association certainly wouldn't be that political.

*http://www.oldallentown.org/index.html

Allentown Photographic

My experience with Allentown Photographic in the late 70's, at 12 N 8th Street, was not unlike my grandparent's with the Vendig Hotel. Neither were particularly successful, both only lasted a few years, but provided many memories. Now, Bela Lugosi never came into my shop, but my custom darkroom did attract numerous characters. I printed negatives supposedly smuggled out of Russia of the Romanov Family, while my strange anonymous customer watched by the door for KBG agents.(If they were real, I made no copies, nor did I keep the negatives) I once rented the darkroom to the local Porno King for his art directors to produce Puritan Magazine. His former building is now becoming the new Mayflower Condominiums. I snuck into a local high school to photograph an old circus juggler perform his act, one more time, on the stage. This photo gem, of a midget skating between legs, is from the jugglers' memento's.

Rumors and Innuendoes

I have a problem, I want to continue reporting on Pawlowski's war against private property, but I don't want to bring the wrath of the City down on any hapless owners. So, I will begin "Rumors and Innuendoes", in which I present unsubstantiated, second hand stories. I heard the following from a friend of a friend, who is a tenant at Regency Tower. Apparently, code trolled by and noticed the maintenance crew doing routine work on the swimming pool. Demanding to see a permit, they tagged the pool. Fee's will be paid today, and the management expects to have the pool open for the holiday. Let this be a lesson to you backyarders, who think you can just clean and use your pool like you own it.
In other news, Cannon's taproom will re-open. Although the yuppies in the neighborhood opposed it's previous closing, there is some hesitation about endorsing the new incarnation, which will have more of a Latino and African favor. What they would really like, is the old white crew back there, even if the bartender has to take a few more stabs from a screwdriver to protect them.

Velcome To The Vendig

In 1933, with the end of Prohibition, my grandparents(maternal) started operating the Vendig Hotel. They were the working partners, another immigrant family, here longer, were the silent backers. The hotel was directly across from the current Main Street Depot Restaurant in Bethlehem, which was the old New Jersey Line Terminal. With my grandmother cooking, they became well known for crab cakes and other shelled seafood. What wasn't known, was that she was strictly kosher, and never even tasted anything she prepared. As some may recall, my grandparents came from Hungarian Transylvania (now Romania) in the early 20's. Family lore* says Bela Lugosi visited the hotel. Lugosi was born in the same area of then Hungary, and started his acting career playing Jesus in Passion Plays. In 1931, after immigrating to America years earlier, he got his big break playing Dracula. Typecast as a villain, Lugosi was reduced in later years to drug addiction and playing in low budget monster films. He died in the mid 50's and was buried in his Dracula cape.

* My surviving uncle, who as a boy lived above the hotel, has no recollection of Lugosi. The partner families would later merge through marriage and 40 years later come to own the old vaudeville theater in South Bethlehem known as The Globe. It too is gone.

Xertek Throws in Towel

Xertek, the well respected and equipped fitness center at 10th and Hamilton has closed, victim of the Parking Authority. Since the meter increase, he has lost hundreds of members. For most members, the cost of parking and fines exceeded the cost of membership. The meter and fine rate were doubled in 2005 to finance the Parking Deck at 6th and Linden, to support a slogan called the Arts District. The Lanta terminal was added to the deck to help finance the project. The consequences of this project has been devastating to Hamilton Street and the long term interest of the taxpayers. Ironically, next to the vacating gym, the city just gave a new cell phone store owner twenty thousand to open. As a activist and candidate I opposed the meter increase, Pawlowski endorsed it. Although our Mayor keeps referring to a vision of Allentown moving forward, the private money investors are packing up. On my previous posting, concerning Rite Aid, several apologists for the Mayor keep their faith. One claims the 7th St. Eckerd is 6.5 blocks away, not 10. Tell you what my friend, go to the Hamilton Street store, and then walk to the 7th St. store, it's a long way from 8th and Hamilton to 7th and Allen. Xertek will now be located at 15th and Green Streets, with plenty of free parking. The owner invested 9 years and $300,000 on to Hamilton Street, I thanked him for that.

Rite Aid to Close

Hamilton Street's Rite Aid will close it's door July 10th. Although it was against their corporate policy to join me and the merchants protesting the Pawlowski endorsed Lanta Bus changes*, it is also against their corporate policy to tolerate a 40% reduction in revenue. Hamilton Street is on it's knee's. This week three long term businesses announced their closing. Pawlowski was hoping his house of cards would stand until the next mayoral election, it doesn't look like it. All grant money is being funneled into keeping the Brew Pub open. No work has occurred at the former Sal's site for over three weeks. Pawlowski's lack of business experience is beginning to be very costly to Allentown. Many investors, some capable of investing much more, are being abused** by his bureaucracy, while a few select properties are being promoted. These tactics may well result in lawsuits, costing the city even more.

* At the time of the Lanta protest, I respected Rite Aid's corporate position, and didn't dwell on the fact that a national chain was being driven off of Hamilton Street. The Mayor and Lanta board were too self absorbed with their "vision", to understand they were depriving the merchants of the cash flow necessary to remain in business.

** Apartment owners are having their buildings declared unfit for habitation because of some external peeling paint. Commercial owners are likewise being threatened and bullied with inappropriate demands. I will refrain from citing addresses at this time to spare these hapless owners from more harassment.

UPDATE: Channel 69 news reports that Rite Aid is closing because of it's merger with Eckerd, which has a store"several blocks away on 7th St". The Eckerd is almost 10 blocks away. CVS has a store at 12th and Liberty and another at 16th and Liberty. The Hamilton Street store is closing because they lost the prescription and other business from transferring bus passengers. At some point in the future, we will pay a consultant who will make the recommendation to restore the transfer stops back to Hamilton Street.

Department of Misrepresentation

Pawlowski and his Administration routinely serve half truths on their menu of city services. Last December, when the Home Inspection Law was snuck through City Council at the end of the last meeting of the year, three officers from the Realtors Association endorsed the legislation. What they omitted to say, was that they hadn't surveyed their membership, and that the three took it upon themselves to support the proposal. Earlier this week, The Morning Call was provided with information that homeowners spent an average of $353.47 complying with the inspections. What the City omitted to say, was that this was the cost of materials only, with the presumption the homeowner could do the work himself. Misrepresentations, omissions and presumptions should preclude the City from intervening between a homeowner and his buyer.

AutoZone Political Victim

To any observer of Allentown Government, it was no surprise that the Zoning Board denied AutoZone's request for larger signs. With a room full of opponents, including the Mayor, the Board went through the motions of due process, but a witch in Salem had a better chance. I wasn't looking forward to an autoparts store replacing a charming dining spot, but I am concerned with property rights in Allentown. When zoning rights, or routinely normal variances are compromised to appease public opinion, the slippery slope is justified for more ominous abuses. Should the city building inspection system and permit system also be subject to a political agenda? Sometimes we must tolerate the unpopular and inappropriate, or we give the system a pass to violate everybody's rights.

Bridge Over Denial

Friday's Allentown edition of The Morning Call had two stories which caught my attention. The first*, was an excellent detailed account of the administration's vision for the future, by Jarrett Renshaw, a new reporter to the Allentown beat. My only issue with the vision, is that the components are anywhere from twenty-five to forty years old; it's actually more like a drug induced flashback. Now there are advantages to repackaging old plans. Mayor Pawlowski already has a power point presentation on these "visions" from when he was Director of Community Development under Afflerbach. In reality most these idea's go back to Dadonna's first term, when both the current Director of Planning and the Chief Planner where hired, forty years ago.

The second interesting article was about replacing the 124 year old Linden Street Bridge**. Readers may recall Candidate Don Cunningham campaigning about restoring the bridge. Immediately after being elected, he restricted the bridge to one lane. Now, two and half years later, we learn he will now rebid the project. The bridge in the picture is called Ponte Vecchio, in Florence, it was built in the 1300's. Europe is full of bridges which are hundreds of years old. They employ this high technology called maintenance. Weeds and plants are not allowed to grow on the bridges. The surfaces are kept as waterproof as possible, and bricks and stones are re-pointed as needed. Here in Allentown bushes grow out the 8th Street Bridge, and reinforcing rods are left exposed. The 15th Street Bridge rails were just painted last week, after being allowed to rust for years.

Allentown and Lehigh County would be better off with less planning, less campaigning and more elbow grease.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-b1_5plan.6468433jun20,0,4594474.story

** http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-b1_5linden

Where's the Beef

Yesterday I asked Bill White and John Micek where's the local news? This question, was asked in the same vein, as the elderly lady wondering where the beef was in the hamburger commercial. Bill and John were too busy complimenting each other to answer. This evening I found an explanation buried in the Queen City Blog*:
" Jarrett Renshaw, Atown's new City Hall reporter, who arrived fresh from Easton's City Hall last week, is planning to do more with this in the next few days. Oh, and expect to see Jarrett here at the QCD as soon as he settles in, posting exclusive city news right here."
Hi Jarrett, let me introduce myself. I'm one of the nay-sayers who are responsible for Allentown not moving as far forward as it could because of our criticism. My very words alone, although seldom seen in the Morning Call, produce a negative energy with impedes the good intentions from City Hall from being fully realized. But, more important, let me explain who you are. You are the fourth reporter assigned to this administration since it began. Don't sign a long term apartment lease, because by the time you realize this Mayors' main accomplishment is producing power point presentations on his accomplishments, you will be reassigned to Shamokin to report on parallel vs. perpendicular parking.

*Queen City Blog about joke call Vision Meetings

Lehigh Parkway Elementary School

Not that many people know where Lehigh Parkway Elementary School is. It's tucked up at the back of the development of twin homes on a dead end street, but I won't say exactly where. I do want to talk about the photograph. It's May Day, around 1952-53. May Day was big then, so were the unions; at Steel, Mack, Black and Decker, and a hundred other factories going full tilt after the war. The houses were about 8 years old, and there were no fences yet. Hundreds of kids would migrate from one yard to another, and every mother would assume some responsibility for the herd when it was in her yard. Laundry was hung out to dry. If you notice most of the "audience" are mothers, dads mostly were at work. I'm at the front, right of center, with a light shirt and long belt tail. Don't remember the girl, but see the boy in front of me with the big head? His father had the whole basement setup year round with a hugh model train layout. There were so many kid's, the school only went up to second grade. The neighborhood had its own Halloween Parade and Easter egg hunt. We all walked to school, no one being more than four blocks away. Years ago when I met my significant other, she told me she taught at an elementary school on the south side, but I would have no idea where it was.

click on photo to enlarge

Allentown on my Mind

I'm a baby boomer. I was born December 21, 1946. As soon as my mother climbed out of the hospital bed, another woman climbed in. I grew up in Lehigh Parkway. Not Lehigh Parkway North where the cyclists were last week, but the other side of the park, where the Mack and Steel workers lived. That's me on our lawn at the intersection of Catalina and Liberator Avenues, named after airplanes made by Vultee Corporation for the War. We had our own elementary school, or own grocery store, and the park to play in. On Saturdays my older brother would take me on the trolley, and later the bus, over the 8TH Street Bridge to Hamilton Street. There were far too many stores to see everything. After a matinee of cartoons or Flash Gordon, a banana split at one of the five and dimes, we would take the bus back over the bridge to Lehigh Street.

As I drive through town at night I'm constantly fearful of a small child darting out between parked cars. Their parents must be constantly afraid of gunshots and random violence. I wish these children, and their parents could enjoy a bit of serenity, they deserve it.

Profile of Pawlowski Sycophant

I first realized Peter had a political future when I saw him ignore the testimony and plight of the Hamilton Street merchants at the Lanta Meeting. As a staff member for a State Representative, he's a trained talking puppet. Now also doing Pawlowski's bidding at City Council, Peter has introduced important legislation*; residents would be limited to conducting four yard sales a year. Michael Hefele pointed out since the city doesn't have inspectors working on weekends, it would be used to target "selected" offenders. Schweyer based his ordinance after a law in Coaldale, violators would face $500 fines. Pawlowski and Schweyer, moving Allentown forward!

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_5yardsale.6458993jun14,0,7163030.story

Morning Call Manipulation

Today I received quite an education. No less than 20 people commented they saw my photograph, at least five of which where total strangers. As a candidate for mayor in 2005, my photograph never appeared in the Morning Call, not even once. The reporter assigned to the election, a Pawlowski fan, went as far as not covering my news conferences or group rallies. Although my photo was accidentally on the front page this morning, it now resides at the end of the Mcall gallery section, an oblivious editorial decision. To be honest, as a third generation Allentownian, I still think it's too good of a city to throw away for the political expediency of a Chicago politician. Don't rule me out for 2009.

Walkers' Paradise

Today, The Morning Call features a story about how great our downtown's are for walking*. The feature shows a photograph of a most interesting couple and concludes all three main cities in the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, are a "Walkers' Paradise." By 6:30 AM, two comments appeared questioning the story, especially the safety of walking in Allentown. A third commentator, Matthew Tuerk, then stated how safe Allentown was and how much he enjoyed walking to work in center city. Matt even mentioned he buys his groceries at the downtown Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Matt forgot to mention he works for Allentown Economic Development Corporation which sponsors that little market and promotes the downtown. Why can't people disclose their self aggrandizing? At least the article showed a really nice couple.

photocredit:harry fisher, morning call

*http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5walkscore.6454554jun13,0,6323733.story

The Cards You're Dealt

According to Morning Call, the Administration plans to hire part time police officers to supplement the force. Currently the taxpayers paid for nine more full time police officers than are currently employed. Although the mayor offers the excuse that it takes 19 months to train an officer, he's known about the shortfall for over three years. The Morning Call also reports that it will probably be reporting less news than it currently does. When one considers the rising crime and decreased police presence, less news may be a blessing in disguise.

photocredit: molovinsky

Molovinsky Post goes Poof

Last evening I joined the ranks of poof blogs, and deleted a posting from earlier in the day. Certain aspects of that posting had deeply offended a third party. I made a decision to put that person's feelings ahead of my desire to pontificate on a certain subject. Although deleting a post is nothing to take lightly, it happened. In this current exercise of rationalization, it seems to me there are worst offenses; plagiarizing, lying and misrepresenting. Considering how much of the blogosphere is anonymous, to whom am I apologizing? Although I will not let any comment stand referring back to the original content of the deleted post, feel free to comment on the concept of deletion.

Pawlowski's Dog and Pony Show

Although I have my reservations about Pawlowski as a mayor, there is no doubt about him being a first rate performer. As Director of Community Development in 2002 under Afflerbach, they instituted the federal program Weed and Seed as their plan to address Allentown's problems. In addition to a large budget, staff, separate office, professional web site* and even a documentary video, the program has everything except perhaps measurable results. Never the less, Weed and Seed was the pony pawlowski rode during the mayoral campaign of 2005. He would say "Weed and Seed, blah, blah, blah." When I called it a slogan and money pit, he bristled, "At least it's a strategy". I think what he meant was at least it's something to produce a power point presentation about and sell as a solution.

Pawlowski is now making the circuit with a new show. Just as Afflerbach hyped the hot shot police chief theory, Pawlowski has his own Kuhn, hired consultant George Kelling, of "Broken Window" fame, a fading fad in police theory**. According to Pam Varkony***, Kelling tells Pawlowski's supporters in five years "Children will be playing on the sidewalks while their parents converse with friends and neighbors from their front porches". Let's see, five years, that would take us into Pawlowski's second term?

*http://www.allentownweedandseed.org/
**http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4520866
*** http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-varkony6-1.6431595jun01,0,4235803.column