Confusion In Blogosphere

Today's local blogosphere has some confusion and misinformation. Since I have recently been referred to as Mr. Misinformation and a naysayer, who better to bring some clarity to this clouded crystal ball?

Bernie O'Hare has used two recent posts from Scott Armstrong, and Jeff Pooley takes exception with one. In the first instance, Scott accuses Ernie Atiyeh, newly elected President of the neighborhood associations, of not being a fair broker for that position. Long time neighborhood leaders see the problem not in the politics, but in the election process itself. Apparently the rules were suspended, and they feel the election was highjacked by attendees with a scant history of attendance.

The second piece of red meat thrown out for the anonymous commentators to chew on, is that the annual rental inspection fee was raised from $16 to $75 dollars. So what, serves those absentee slumlords right, raise it to $1000! Well, it's not the inspection fee, it is the annual City Rental Unit Registration/License Fee, which was authorized by the Rental Inspection Program. The 2009 fee for apartments, which had been previously inspected, was $11. The previous fee for uninspected units was $16. At this point in time, all units in Allentown have been inspected at least once; so in practicality, the fee rose from $11 to $75. In 2009 City Council agreed to raise the fee to $30, then agreed again to increase the increase to $75 before the first increase went into effect. The fee is paid annually, independent of actual inspections, which are projected on a five year schedule. It is my understanding that some of the larger projects with fixed income seniors, such as Episcopal House, are impaired by this increase.

In response to The Morning Call's request for information from the City of Allentown, under the Freedom of Information Act, the City has sued The Morning Call. Here in the blogosphere we give you information and misinformation, if you want it or not, absolutely free.

Disclaimer: I do not believe that any person mentioned intentionally disseminates misinformation.

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 called 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.

Reprinted from Sept. 10, 2008

Business Doesn't Matter

Tony Iannelli, Director of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, would like a share of the local hotel tax. Hotel taxes are a scheme local municipalities came up with about 20 years ago to penalize visitors to the region. Tony wants a share to fund his own version of a Main Street Program. Scott Armstrong, writing on the Lehigh Valley Conservative Voice, responds;

Has the chamber raised the white flag on the notion that commerce is their business and taxing and spending is the state’s? Or is it that the leadership of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce sees their organization as just another development bureaucracy deserving of tax payer support? Either way the idea that the “voice for business” now wants your tax dollars speaks to an unsettling reliance on public funding rather than private initiative for economic development. Hasn’t the chamber just undercut their own raison d’être with this request? Aren’t they supposed to be the voice and engine of the private business sector? Can they deny the obvious, that by their own action they appear to be merely another redundant and useless government development entity?

Scott Armstrong


The local Chamber has indeed been a curious hybrid, business/public wise, for many years. Iannelli's weekly show on WFMZ, Business Doesn't Matter, seldom deals with business. Iannelli teamed up with Pawlowski in 2006 giving Lou Belleterri the famous Mystery Job. Like Lanta, they have had no dialogue with the majority of local merchants for many years, while remaining closely aligned with the Parking Authority. Both the Asian and Hispanic merchants have formed their own groups. Many of the Chamber's personnel have been active with the more progressive elements of the local Democratic Party. Although I have never attended one of his network meetings, I must assume Tony throws a good mixer.

King Levinsky

In 1964, a young Cassius Clay trained in south Miami Beach for his first fight against Sonny Liston. At that time, this section of the city was home to mostly retired Jews on fixed income. The hotels, decades after their prime, became pension rooming houses. Decades later, these same buildings would be restored to their art deco splendor, creating today's South Beach. As Clay trained, a middle aged punch drunk necktie peddler told him, "After Liston punches your head, you'll be selling ties with me." The street peddler was a fixture in Miami Beach. He didn't ask, he told people they were going to buy a tie. The future champ probably didn't realize that the heckler was none other than King Levinsky, legend of the 1930's, and veteran of over 118 heavyweight fights. Levinsky was born Harris Krakow in Chicago, and worked at his parent's fish market on Maxwell Street, the Jewish section during the roaring twenties. Although he never got a title shot, and weighed only 185, he fought all the leading heavyweights of his time, including the 265lb. giant, Primo Carnera. Managed by his sister Lena, he was known never to turn down a fight, including those against Max Baer.

Reprinted from Feb. 22, 2009

Pawlowski's Bunnyhop

In the late 50's there was a song and dance called the bunnyhop. You essentially took one step backwards, and two forward, slow progress for sure.

In 1934 Perry Minich and his bride opened a jewelry store on the side of the elegant Americus Hotel. The post depression years weren't that easy for a merchant in luxury goods, but they had faith in Allentown. They were rewarded by Allentown's boom years during the 50's . In 1981 a robber entered the store, pushed Mrs. Minich to the floor, then shot and killed her. The Minich family carried on with their Allentown business. Their nephew, who witnessed the tragedy, took over the store. One by one, in Scranton, Easton, and Wilkes-Barre, hotels of the Americus vintage, closed and were boarded up. The Americus, a white elephant, although a dollar short and a day late, stayed open. Enter new Mayor Ed Pawlowski, self-designated real estate expert. In early 2008 He erected a scaffold around the building, declared it unsafe, and ordered the existing merchants to vacate because he was going to have the electricity shut off.

For those really familiar with the situation, the irony abounds. One week after the scaffold was erected at the Americus, a window fell out the Schoen building, which is across and up the street. Owned by the city for many years, the falling window narrowly missed several pedestrians. The three merchants of the Americus received no compensation. Besides Minich, Kerrigan's Shoe Repair had operated for many years. Pawlowski ended what had endured over seventy years, through good and bad times, including tragedy.

The electricity never was cut off. Minich, Kerrigan and a clothing store were put out of business for nothing, but now it's going to cost us. This past Wednesday, City Council approved submitting a grant application to Harrisburg for $1.5 million to help the new hotel owner remodel and rent the storefronts. Total grants required for the Americus Project are estimated to run from $10 to $25million dollars. We will never again attract a merchant of Minich's caliber, or a craftsman like Kerrigan. Its seems with Pawlowski's bunnyhop, it cost many $millions for every step forward.

Portions of this post reprinted from April 21,2008
Related Posts: A Boutique Hotel and Clueless In Allentown

My Grandfather's Horse

My grandfather lived on the corner of Chew and Jordan Streets. He butchered in a barn behind the house. For the sake of the vegans I'll spare the details, but suffice to say it wasn't for sissies. The house is still there, 301 Jordan, the barn is gone. He would deliver the meat with a horse and wagon. On the weekends, when the family wanted to visit friends, the horse insisted on doing the meat market route first. Only after he stopped in front of the last market on the route, would he permit my grandfather to direct him.
I managed rental properties between 4th and 12th Streets. Collecting rents or throwing people out is not for sissies. I developed a route between the buildings, utilizing many alleys because of the one way streets. While on my route, I got to know many people living in Allentown, and the circumstances of the different neighborhoods. I would often take pictures of people and things I considered photographic. Although I no longer have the managing job, like my grandfather's horse, I continue on the route. But things have changed, I now keep my car door locked. Not only don't I take photographs anymore, even making eye contact is uncomfortable. The streets are mean and the people are hard. Don't blame me, as an agent I always put the neighbor's comfort ahead of finding tenants. Don't blame me, as a citizen I ran for office and bluntly said what needed to be done.

reprinted from May 13, 2008

City Without Limits

Yesterday, somebody called me a naysayer on this blog. My critic said we need administrators to promote Hamilton Street. Yesterday at Symphony Hall, Mayor Pawlowski presented our new slogan and marketing plan to the bureaucrats who earn a living implementing such promotions. Everybody there in attendance earns their living, directly or indirectly, keeping the hot air in the inflatable woman. Years ago such machinations were not necessary. We really were designated the All American City, and it took not one bureaucrat to achieve that, much less a hall full.

The reputation and economic engine of our city was provided by entrepreneurs and conscientious citizens. City Hall administered the public services; police, fire, street and parks. We were known as the city of Mack Truck and Hess Brothers.

Promoting ourselves with paid slogans I believe will have little return on investment. Years ago the advertisement said the public wanted tuna that tasted good, not dressed well.




Will the public buy a slogan when a different reality stares them in the face? I suppose that's why I'm a naysayer.



Photogallery: The Morning Call/Harry Fisher

Target Market

The other week, when I was writing about the success of 7th Street, I said that Walmart and Brooks Brothers were not looking for the same market segment. All successful shopping centers know their target market. 7th Street has evolved into a successful low income Hispanic business district. The Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley is a successful high end purveyor.

Unfortunately, for Allentown's traditional Hamilton Street, its market has been manipulated away. The market share there was the bus transferees in the 700 Block. Twenty merchants, with well stocked stores, provided a shopping venue for the twenty or thirty minutes between buses. The Administration, The Parking Authority and Lanta, to harvest a grant for a parking deck, killed that goose.

In the 900 block, a few remnants of Allentown's better days hung on. Last year Freeman Jewelry finally closed. Although unsaid, they had more chance of being robbed than selling something. Tucker Yarn, an institution profiled on this blog, continues on, despite being constantly agitated by city policy and a Parking Authority that preys on his customers. A successful fitness center, also on that block, was forced out of business by the Parking Authority's hunger. About ten years ago, a very attractive eye care center also opened on this block. First a tenant, now the building owner, this couple gambled their time, energy and resources on Hamilton Street. Their current frustrations can be read on Bernie O'Hare's Ramblings.

Since the bus people were not high end enough for this Administration, and millions of public dollars have gone into a couple of restaurants designed to attract deeper pockets, this Mayor better resolve to provide the proper police protection. This past Wednesday evening, the City claimed that the police department supports the expanded Trailnet Plan in and between the parks. Is this the same police department that fails to instill confidence in the merchants? I don't think those spandex bike suits have a pocket for a wallet. We need a Hamilton Street where fat, middle age people with wallets, can park automobiles and shop, safe from the Parking Authority and predators.

Kids of The Parkway

There were hundreds of us, we were the baby boomers. The neighborhood was built for returning GI's, and the streets were named after the planes of WW2; Liberator, Catalina, and Coronado. The twin homes were wedged between Jefferson Street and the southern ridge above Lehigh Parkway. Now called Little Lehigh Manor, we knew it simply as Lehigh Parkway, and we had our own school.

Historical Fact:
The original part of the school building contained four classrooms, a teacher's room, and a health room. It replaced the Catalina Avenue School which existed in a home near the present site. Lehigh Parkway received national publicity because it was being build as a result of the new neighborhood. Thus, the "Neighborhood School Concept" was born.








Because of the school and the park, the neighborhood was really self contained. The Lehigh SuperMarket on Lehigh Street was within walking distance. Soon, FoodFair would build their first large Supermarket, also on Lehigh Street, which was even closer. Today it has developed into The Parkway Shopping Center. We kids enjoyed our own Halloween Parade and Easter Egg hunt.






Because there were so many of us, Parkway Elementary only went through 2nd. grade. We would take the bus to Jefferson Elementary for grades 3 through 6.

Historical Fact:
Jefferson Elementary used to be a high school, and for years, it had separate girls' and boys' entrances. These entrances were turned into windows at some point, but the exterior of the building still has the two entrances marked.

These were some of my friends from 3th grade. They all lived in the Parkway. Not only were they all boys, only yesterday, 56 years later, I learned the name of the girl I'm holding hands with in the May Day picture above.

Historical Facts from Allentown School District Website

ADDENDUM: other Parkway Neighborhood Posts,
Time Capsule
Allentown On My Mind

The $6Million Dollar Caulk Job

When President Obama was in town last month he visited a real business. The metal fabricator in the old Mack Plant produces large scale machined pieces. The owner talked about the difficulty of obtaining loans for expansion and to remain competitive. Obama talked about weatherization at the community college, as if caulking row houses was an industry. Well, you will pleased to know that although the banks are still not extending credit, The Community Action Committee of Lehigh Valley received $6 mil to make mini insulation contractors, although there are dozens of such real contractors in the Yellow Pages. Grant money can be used for "handholding for the participant...assessing,..training..even help with such personal-life obstacles as childcare and transportation." Transportation is an entitlement speak for buying them a car.

Although I support the SmileTrain, I'm not much for the PovertyTrain. I don't believe in buying people fish markets instead of giving them a fishing pole. We have a public educational system which includes vocational-technical training. If the bailout money was being used as expedited loans to established businesses, we would be investing in a real recovery and be creating lasting jobs.

So far, one house in the Lehigh Valley has been insulated.

Flight To NoWhere

If you want a good laugh, go to the Lehigh Valley International Airport and watch the expression on the first time Continental passengers as they are loaded on a bus to Newark; this is after they check in at the flight counter! Today the constantly expanding and remodeling airport has less destinations than ever, about nine, including Philadelphia and Newark. Years ago, the Authority members hired what they mistook as a hot shot, George Doughty, to make the new terminal and airport something to match its new name. The old ABE Airport terminal was built as a WPA project, and like the rest of the valley back then, teemed at its seams. About ten years ago the hotshot talked the Authority members into expanding the departure terminal. Looking for a large under used space for arena football, I think I know a place. Recently, a judge awarded an adjacent landowner many more millions than he ever wanted, for land the airport took for its never needed, never built new runway. Rendell has designated $3.5 million in modernization grants to help the airport keep up with its declining use? Although there are not many places one can fly directly to from the airport, parking fee's are big city. There is a recorded tape loop which keeps reminding the few passengers that unattended cars will be towed for security reasons, i'd prefer water-boarding at Guantanamo.

The postcard depicts the first hanger and terminal, before the former one built by the WPA. The hanger still exists, as does the lettering on it's roof.



Postcard of former terminal built by WPA, added Jan. 16, 2010 for this reprinted version

Reprinted from Feb. 12, 2009. In less than a year, this has become a hot topic for County Executive Cunningham, and Mayor Pawlowski has just been appointed to their Board. I rejected a comment the other day claiming this was a negative blog, and I should look at things in a more positive light. This is a reality based blog, which often points things out before our officials are ready to concede that there is a problem.


A SEARCH ENGINE FOR THIS BLOG HAS BEEN ADDED ON THE SIDEBAR

Allentown Post Office 1934

In the 1930's, the "New Deal" was good to Allentown. As I noted on earlier posts, our park system was enriched by monumental stone construction under the WPA. We also received one of the architectural gems of our area, the magnificent art deco post office. Constructed during 1933-34, no detail was spared in making the lobby an ageless classic. The floor is adorned with handmade Mercer tiles from Doylestown. Muralist Gifford Reynolds Beal worked thru 1939 portraying the Valley's cultural and industrial history. This incredible 74 year old photograph is the contractor's documentation of the project's progress. The back of the photo states; Taken Sept 1 - 34 showing lobby, floor, screens, desks, completed & fixtures hung

Reprinted from Oct. 25, 2008

Trail Network Meeting

The BikePath Meeting this evening was a packed room of pigeons who mostly bought the shammy. The pathways will encourage walking and fight childhood obesity, as if there is no place to walk now. The pathways will connect the inter city with the parks, while the plan doesn't even recognize the decaying WPA Fountain Park steps which actually do make that connection. This past summer the Mayor and Park Director, while ignoring our maintenance starved parks, announced that they would build the biggest playground on Earth. This evening, while real repairs are still deferred, the paid pitchmen referred to creating a World Class Trailway. Our precious park system is suffering from the perfect storm. A Mayor and Park Director with no institutional memory of our incredible park system. A desire to built big new projects which will enhance their rèsumes, and a Trexler Trust which has become so politicalized, that it funds those ambitions over upkeeping our treasured parks.

Spread The Word

From the current BikeAllentown Blog;

This is a wonderful opportunity for all of our organization's and our community, and we
would like to see everyone involved. Please inform your organization's members and
see how many would be interested in attending. All BikeAllentown members will be in
attendance that evening as well as providing refreshments for the event.

Your presence and support is also needed as we expect representation from factions who
are opposed to this plan.

Sort of reminds me of this past summer, Mrs. Pawlowski's letter to get supporters to City Council to support their Cedar Park Plans. Two full church congregations, totally ignorant of the issues, showed up in response. Outside pickets held signs against Racism and For Inclusion.

I must assume that many respondents to the Greenway survey were members of various Bike Clubs, networking from perhaps even out of state. I can tell you that most Allentonians know nothing of this plan. Some were informed in the last two days by the Morning Call letters by both Mr. Walker and myself. My assumption that most people saw the newsletter in their water bill was incorrect. Several had told me they never received such notice, others threw it away unread.

I think it's safe to say that this plan would be expensive to implement, have no economic benefit to the City and cater to a very small group of people. Although this has been the definition of most plans in Allentown, the time has come to end this absurdity. This plan has reached the point of being an insult to the legacy of the Allentown Park System.


Please join me this evening in wishing the Greenway Consultants a safe return to North Carolina, they have been well paid for their time.

The photo chosen here is courtesy of Send In The Clowns Blog, who also opines on this subject

Speak No Evil

The newsletter for the Trail Network Study, distributed with Allentown water bills, invited the public to provide input this Wednesday evening at the library. The insert says that we can talk with neighbors and project staff. An updated announcement in Sunday's paper says that the public will be able to view displays, hear a presentation and fill out comment forms. Todays paper features an editorial letter by Fritz Walker, founder of BikeAllentown, promoting the plan. Fritz claims that by paving all the existing trails, and adding 18 miles of more paved trails, we will; Improve life in Allentown, stimulate tourism and help restore economic vitality.

He writes, "Critics complain the city has spent money developing this plan. They would have us do nothing to invest in one of the city's greatest resources. If we listen to those voices, the result inevitable- the sluggish, dreary, unremitting decline of this city."

Fritz thinks that our park system is the foundation from which something truly special can be built.

Fritz, our park system is something truly special. We need to invest in maintaining those irreplaceable features, such as the WPA structures and the lakes, ponds and waterways. The last thing we need is more paved trails. Our park system was intended as a natural retreat for its citizens, not as an extended path for your bike.

See you this Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7:00pm, Allentown Public Library

Allentown's Business Barrio

I believe I attended my first Gateway meeting at St. Lukes Church in 1990. I know I was there in 1994, because I dragged someone along, and she has yet to forgive me. Gateway was a slogan Allentown City Planners gave 7th St. I must say in the early 90's, it certainly could use a coat of lipstick. I can't tell you how many $millions the City spent. First they put in new sidewalks, then tore them up to make part of the sidewalk brick. Then they tore that out and reconfigured the brick and cement. They planted and replanted numerous types of tree's. They commissioned architectural renderings, showing block by block, how the Gateway should look from Hamilton to Liberty Street. When I attended in 2005, the meeting was still identical to the previous ones, even moderated by the same city personnel.

Meanwhile, totally unconnected to this planning and spending, a Hispanic business district started developing further out in the 500, 600, and 700 blocks of Seventh Street. This occurred because rents were more reasonable, and parking more available than on Hamilton Street. Despite the 15 year planning failure by the City, the succeeding dynamic in place was the growing Hispanic Community, cultivating their own merchants. The City Planners were now anxious to "help" this area, which had helped itself. Fortunately, instead they started a Main Street Program and eventually hired the right person.



Peter Lewnes has been doing an excellent job of filling in the gaps on 7th Street, and applying facade grants in a seemingly appropriate way. On Saturdays one is hard pressed to find a parking space. I believe that his enthusiasm, and a growing community's ambition, has finally awakened 7th Street from a long sleep.

Reality In Short Supply

A new blog, Allentown Afterthoughts, reports that three more businesses have closed. I'm familiar with all three, having written about them before when Lanta stopped the transfer stops on Hamilton Street. En Vogue was a small women's store on 8th. They were double victims of City Hall and Lanta policy. A small public meter lot next to their business was taken away and given to the Allentown Brew Works for its private use; The Lanta transfer bus stop across from their store was closed. The closure of Quiznos and City Line Coffee are especially ironic. Both were housed in the CityLine Building, given both KOZ and outright grants and subsidies by Allentown. Apparently all of Pawlowski's men couldn't keep Humpty Dumpty together. Afterthoughts reports that an art gallery opened, but fails to disclose it's a temporary rent free donation by the landlord of a vacant storefront.

It will be easy forAllentown Afterthoughts to become just another city puff blog, of which there are now a dozen or so. But its owner, Jeff Pooley, a communications professor at Muhlenberg, who lives in center city, may decide to break that mold. He does disclose that his wife is Director of the Allentown Redevelopment Authority. A recent article in The Morning Call states that Emmaus has become a refuge for shops fleeing Allentown. It mentions that the customers of a Cuisine store, formally on 9th st. in Allentown, were afraid to come downtown, hence the move to Emmaus. The article then mentions the success of Main Street Program on Allentown's 7th Street. A viable Hispanic Business District has evolved there, but it's totally unrealistic to think that the Emmaus clientele would shop there. It's important to recognize that the previous statement is not intended to be classist or racist. Walmart and Brooks Brothers understand that they have different clientele. The manager of 7th St., Pete Lewnes, who is doing an excellent job, is quoted as saying that Hamilton Street needs a Main Street Program. In reality it simply needs its former customer base which Lanta took away when it removed the bus transfer stops. The Brew Works and CityLine, both on Hamilton Street, received much more money than any Main Street Program would provide.

I understand that public officials will never look to this blog for lessons on optimism, but until which time they inject their goals with some realism, the grants from our tax money will not receive much return on investment.

Velcome to Vendig and Allentown Photographic

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 last uncle, who as a boy lived above the hotel, had 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.

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.

posts combined and reprinted from July 2008

Lehigh Parkway Heritage Trail

On Sunday August 8, 1982, Ted Mellin, Senior Editor of Call Chronicle (The Morning Call), proudly wrote that Lehigh Parkway bridle path was designated Trail No. 689, a National Heritage Trail by the U.S. Department of Interior and the National Park Service. It was approved by the United States Congress and signed by the President of the United States March 28, 1982. Among the criterion which qualified the park and trail was the planning by General Trexler beginning in 1924. The area was developed and landscaped as a Parkway during the thirties as a W.P.A. project. J. Franklin Meehan of Philadelphia was the landscape architect for the project.

It should be an honor for any Park Director just to protect and maintain the nationally recognized treasures scattered throughout our diverse park system. Let us come together, at the Allentown Library on Wednesday January 13 at 7:00 p.m., and make sure our heritage is preserved, and not ignored at the expense of new fads and projects.

The Reality of Regionalism

Yesterday, after reading two articles in The Morning Call, I wondered for a moment if there was a wizard behind the curtain. The first article, an editorial by the bureaucrats for regionalism, touted all the benefits; such as water distribution by the Lehigh County Authority, transportation by Lanta, and plans for a bi-county health bureau. The second article, by a reporter, was about the State of Pennsylvania considering whether The Little Lehigh needs some special oversight and protection. That article failed to mention that the biggest threat to the creek was the regional Lehigh Authority sucking out all the water to feed the water bottling industries on route 78. The article does mention that the Authority objects to the creek receiving protected designation. Also mentioned as opposed to oversight was the City of Allentown and Mayor Pawlowski. "The city believes that the department's(DEP) decision will needlessly hinder the economic viability of the city...."

The editorial promoting regional collaboration was written by the Director of Renew Lehigh Valley, Steven Bliss. Among the arrows in his regionalism quiver, it mentions The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. In the creek article, the Planning Commission states it doesn't believe that there is "sufficient scientific justification" for watershed oversight. Bliss cites the quarter million dollar rail study, hawked by Paul Marin to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., as an accomplishment. Close to my heart, he even then goes on to promote bike trails.

Steve, glad you have a job, but if the truth be known, I wish there was a wizard behind the curtain. Years ago people with ties to Allentown, looked after Allentown. People with ties to Easton looked after Easton. Now we have bureaucrats, subscribing to the same national government magazines, seeking grants for the same cookie cutter solutions. It's called mediocrity.

Rob Hamill is a local expert and advocate for The Little Lehigh Creek. He explains the entire situation in an excellent two part article.
PART 1
PART 2

Parkway Plundered

The Allentown Park system has been plundered and neglected for years, by one administration after another. No administration, or park director, has been as clueless as the current crew. Now, for the first time, funds are available (from the Trexler Trust) which could be used to save the important icons, instead of being squandered on recreational schemes. Over the years we have lost so many irreplaceable treasures. Imagine a city which tore down a tropical greenhouse; we did in Trexler Park. Recently, some hard working volunteers helped me dig up the steps leading down to the boat landing. Shown above is the curved portion of the landing which is still covered by earth and trees, and the island. Observe the beauty and tranquility we lost. The stone piers, the difficult and expensive portion for a bridge, are still in place. Imagine a Park Director with the vision to replace that little wooden bridge to the island, instead of spending millions digging up the parks for more bike paths.

Anybody, anytime, can make a macadam path and place an exercise station purchased from a catalog. The little stone bridge, built in 1934 and decaying near the Robin Hood parking lot, can never be duplicated. On January 13th, 7:00 at the Allentown Library, the Park Department is having a public meeting about building more bike paths to connect the parks together. Please join me, and encourage the City to instead preserve our heritage.

photo of landing and island: courtesy of Dan Doyle Collection

The Three Editorials

There is an old saying that no good deed goes unpunished. After having subscripted to The Morning Call for thirty-five years, my penance was to read three editorials, in a row, by our Valley Mayors. In honesty, I only did it for ammunition for this post, I wasn't expecting to learn much from their homilies.

According to Ed Pawlowski, there is a light shining on Allentown. He boasts of no tax increase, but fails to mention that it was only prevented by borrowed money. I wonder if that light refers to those blue surveillance cameras that have failed to provide a sense of security downtown. With the announcement of the Sterling Hotel bar joining its closed neighbors, the vaulted Entertainment District officially died.

John Callahan hawked the development and jobs on the former Steel Property. We all know that the decision on where to place the golden cows, aka Casinos, was a decision far above his pay grade. What he failed to mention, was that Bethlehem's biggest local developer, Lou Pektor, is fighting to keep his company afloat.

Perhaps the most honest assessment was presented by Sal Panto. Although he refers to a promising future, much like the Al Bundy High School Sports Museum he's pitching, he knows their best days are behind them. He admitted that there is not much capital between Easton and Act 47.

In fairness to The Three Amigos, it's their job to put the best possible spin on their respective cities. It's my job to inject some reality.

Before Netflix

There was a time in our center cities when movie theaters dominated the cultural scene. Few of these old theaters still exist, such as the Boyd in Bethlehem. Allentown had no less than six movie houses, either on or directly off Hamilton Street. Several smaller theaters were scattered in different neighborhoods, such as the Allen and Town. On Hamilton Street itself, the Colonial and Rialto dominated. Both large ornate theaters, with balconies.



The elaborate promotion shown above for the movie Grand Hotel dates back to 1932. I have been unable to identify which theater or city is shown. The photograph was taken by a professional photographer named Harris, who worked out of the Farr Building in Easton.

Cheap Tricks By Park Department

You gotta give credit to Greg Weitzel, Director of Recreation(and parks) he knows how to sell tupperware. The newsletter, included with the current City water bill, states;

So far, more than 500 people have participated in this planning process!

If you go to the website provided www.greenways.com/allentown , cycle around, you discover that 50 people attended their meetings and supposedly 450 responded to the online survey, thus we get 500. So far the City has spend over $144,000 with the consultant Greenways Incorporated. There are also three other consultants under contract. The spandex boys want to be able to ride their bike from Lehigh Parkway to Trexler Park without being inconvenienced by traffic or the reality called Allentown.

There will be another and FINAL public meeting Wednesday January 13th, 7:00 pm at the Allentown Public Library. If you believe as I do, that both the City and Parks have more pressing issues to address, please join me that evening.

Christmas Lights

Best Wishes For The Holiday Season


Photocredit: molovinsky

Nagy Novelty Company

In Downtown Allentown's commercial years, stores extended 3 blocks out from Hamilton Street. The only remaining remnant of that era is the parking meters, which apparently haven't noticed that the stores have been gone now for over 30 years. On 8th Street, also a couple blocks off Hamilton, was the Nagy Novelty Company. The dictionary defines novelty as a small, often cheap, cleverly made article, usually for amusement. The Nagy's had thousands of them, floor to ceiling. There were little jokes and gags, sometimes risque, passed around parties in the 40's and 50's. When you pulled " Miss Lola, The Snappy Bubble Dancer" leg's out, your finger got snapped. The Nagy's, an ancient father, son and dog, stayed open till around 1980. I was never sure which one was the son. To me, as an aficionado of the old and curious, the store was a shrine. Items which they sold for a few cents, now sell on ebay for many dollars. They manufactured their own greeting cards. Shown here is the front and inside of an embossed card probably dating back to the 1920's.

Reprinted from Dec. 23, 2008

Back To The Future

It's the year 2015 and Mayor Guridy has just received the long anticipated study from A&P Associates. Advice from Afflerbach and Pawlowski doesn't come cheap, $475,000, but as City Council President Michael Schlossberg said,"Sometimes it pays to invest in the best.". Some of the recommendations to revive Hamilton Street are nothing less than brilliant. Bus transfer stops are to be placed back on Hamilton Street between 7th and 9th, creating foot traffic and enhancing a sense of security. Meter rates will be reduced, once again accepting quarters and other coins. The old Allentown Brew Pub, closed since the KOZ ended in 012, will be torn down to create a convenient pocket parking lot. The renovations would be implemented by the Butz Company, and as is the policy, no estimates will be provided. Guridy will make the announcement early next week, and a translation in English will be available.

reprinted from March 2008

Jewish Christmas

Most Jews experience some conflict during the Christmas Season. This is essentially a Christian nation, and to totally ignore that reality could be perceived as rude. Although Abe Simon proudly wore the Star of David on his boxing trunks in NYC, he also sent out Christmas cards to his non-Jewish associates. Simon, in 1942, was the last Jew to fight for the Heavyweight Championship of the World.

Governor Cheesesteak's Growth Industry

Back in 2005, I referred to Lehigh County Prison as our growth industry. Unfortunately, our other cities in eastern Pennsylvania were suffering from the same consequences of the poverty magnet. While Governor Cheesesteak sped around the state giving out hundreds of millions in cardboard checks, Pennsylvania remained the State of choice for the problematic crowd. County Governments were mandated to provide service within twelve seconds of claimed residency, and the buses never stopped coming. Today John Micek, Morning Call Harrisburg reporter, informs us that we will be exporting prisoners because our prisons are overflowing. Once upon a time, we used to export manufactured goods, now it's scumbags. We were paid for the goods, which provided good jobs and made us the All American City. Now, we will pay over $60 a day to house our excess scumbags. Our initial shipment will be 2000 inmates to Michigan and Virginia. Rest assure that those states will speedily return them at the expiration of their terms.

Allentown On My Mind

I'm a baby boomer. I was born in December of 1946. As soon as my mother climbed out of the hospital bed, another woman climbed in. I grew up in the neighborhood now called Little Lehigh Manor, wedged between Lehigh Street and the top of the ravine above Lehigh Parkway. 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, are 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, and a banana split at one of the five and dimes, we
would take the bus back over the bridge to Lehigh Street.





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; Most of the fathers worked at the 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 huge model train layout. There were so many kid's, the school only went up to second grade. We would then be bused to Jefferson School for third through sixth 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 that I would have no idea where it was.

compilation of two posts from June 2008

Dept. of Parks and Lies

Allentown's Dept. of Parks and Lies has announced the third public meeting for the Trail Network Plan on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 7:00 at the Allentown Public Library. A newsletter about this meeting has been included with the current water bills. It claims that, so far, more than 500 people have participated in the planning process; quite an amazing claim! The Trail Network is a plan to interconnect all of Allentown's Parks, rather than concentrate on neglected maintenance in each one. Retiring Community Development Director, Joyce Marin, has asserted that this project would be an economic boom for the city. Her other accomplishment in Allentown was continuing the Growers Market at PPL Plaza. Thus far, Allentown has hired four consulting companies for this project; Greenways Incorporated, Stromberg/Garrigan and Associates, Toole Recreation Planning and Mctish, Kunkel and Associates.

Although I will not be charging the City, please join Molovinsky and Associates that evening to provide the City with some more feedback.

ADDENDUM: Andrew Kleiner, author of the blog Remember, which concentrates on our parks, has endorsed this plan. Andrew studies environmental science at Muhlenberg College. I have submitted the following comment to his blog:
andrew, as i read the link you provided, it indicates that jan. 13th is the END of the public input, in other words, another done deal, as was cedar parkway. you have previously asserted on this blog that the process was more in the beginning stages. as one who identified numerous problems in our parks, (jordan, canal, trout) it's disappointing that you don't see this as a distraction, especially financially, from providing solutions to the real problems. the contention, especially about surveys, that over 500 people favor this proposal is a blatant sham. apparently we will built more blacktop paths connecting neglected parks. this will have NO economic spinoff for allentown, and is strictly a recreational plan, at the expense of environmental concerns.

Allentown As Landlord

Over the years I have known quite a few professional rehabbers. Not all rehabbers are created equal. Some put out a nice product, while others give the house a lick, a promise, and a coat of paint. Never the less, all these entrepreneurs cost the taxpayer nothing. While the house is being repaired and sold, real estate taxes are paid.

On the other hand, the bureaucracies also dabble in real estate. While the private investor is a one man band with a pickup truck and cell phone, usually the bureaucracy has a staff and overhead, at tax payer expense. The properties they acquire tend to remain dormant for many years, and dilapidate in the process. Witness the fenced houses across from the Verizon Building on Linden Street. Witness the Schoen Furniture building on Hamilton Street. Much of this real estate was acquired during Bill Heydt's first term, some even earlier. The bureaucrats would reply that they're keeping these properties out of the "wrong hands", or that they're placing them with responsible owners. The transiency of center city, both residential and commercial, would seem to dispute those assertions. Although Mayor Pawlowski now seeks to sell some city real estate as a tax band-aid, none of these acquired properties have attracted buyers. I've been in few, time has rendered them beyond repair. Instead, now he must resort to sell important long term city assets, such as Bicentennial Park and the Park Department maintenance building across from the stadium.

But it's a newish mayor, with new bureaucrats in the agencies, so guess what? Here's a list more houses we are now in the process of acquiring;

Properties to be Acquired by Eminent Domain by the Redevelopment Authority

914 N 4th Street
615 N 6th Street
616 N 6th Street
906 1/2 N 6th Street
735 N 7th Street
121 N 9th Street
112 N 10th Street
112 N 11th Street
318 N 13th Street
902 N 18th Street
377 1/2 - 379 Allen Street
393 Allen Street
536 Allen Street
511 Chew Street
1112 Chew Street
1002 - 1006 Club Avenue
320 N Fountain Street
369 Liberty Street
533 Liberty Street
392 Pratt Street
1202 Union Street

These will join the list of 62 other properties, which the City has owned since as far back as September, 1996

Pa. Legalizes Prostitution

see post at Poliblog

Allentown Saved By A Cheeseburger

This past week at the Job Forum in Washington, President Obama made it clear that he will use stimulus money to prevent state and local governments from adding to the unemployment figures. How Allentown got to lead off the President's Recovery Tour is a matter of speculation. Some contributed our selection to being an important swing area politically; personally, I thank Billy Joel. Although Allentown truly fit the definition of the rust belt at the time, so did fifty other cities, such as Buffalo. Living here in Allentown has a ring to it which I think will finally pay off for us, twenty seven years later. I can only assume that during the time it took Obama to eat that cheeseburger, he and Pawlowski bonded enough for one of those local bailouts; Pawlowski has never been shy about sticking his hand out.

photocredit:Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call

Obama Here In Allentown

We who live Billy Joel's song, know that living here, and visiting here, are two different things. Obama's visit here yesterday cast Allentown in a favorable light. Mayor Ed Pawlowski did a good job representing the city, especially the previous evening on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. Obama's charisma heartened his supporters and students at the local community college.

As a person of the fifties, especially from Allentown, I was disappointed at his resigned surrender of our manufacturing future. In a town where Western Electric, General Electric and Black and Decker manufactured products, it's hard to get excited about caulking rowhouses. No tangible plan was presented to encourage loans to remaining manufactures. I know he came to listen, I assume he heard what they said, but did he understand what they meant?

photocredit:Don Fisher/The Morning Call