Alan Jennings Gives Taxpayer Bath

Alan Jennings may well be the most influential person in the Lehigh Valley; I don't think The Morning Call quotes anybody as often. Last week, in a panel discussion about newspapers, he acknowledged that he bends the arms of the powerful and that nobody wants to be on his wrong side. He is praised by democrats and republican, liberals and conservatives alike. If all that wasn't enough influence, the week before he received the national award from Jesse Jackson, for making capital available to the low income.

Shaking my head, I felt like Justice Alito reading that Jennings had lost only 40 thousand dollars helping over 70 startup businesses. He must mean money belonging to his organization, and not the taxpayers. This post is about a bath he gave the taxpayers, and how Abe Atiyeh came out of it smelling like a rose.

Jennings gets a thrill out taking people on welfare and making them instant business owners; I call it giving them a fish market instead of a fishing pole. In 1996 he set up Rose and Miguel Rodriquez in a paint recycling business called Angel's Touch Paints, in a rented space on N. Franklin Street.* In 1997 Lehigh County would pay them $7,000 to recycle it's paint leftovers, and then buy back rebatched paint at $5.00 a gallon. The operation only required the space of about a three car garage. Also, about this time, Abe Atiyeh purchased the sprawling, contaminated Allentown Paint Manufacturing Plant on East Allen Street. Long and behold the influence; The DEP spent $755,000 cleaning up the old paint factory and gave Angel Touch $165,000 more, for equipment and lease expense to relocate there, in a space 100 times larger than they needed. **

Angel Touch and the Rodriquez's are long gone. Abe has a clean building and the existing multiple tenants never even heard of Angel Touch. Actually, the building is so large that they could still be there, lost somewhere inside, like the $920,000 of our money.

*Dan Hartzell, The Morning Call,April 28, 1997:pg. B.04

**Dave Levinthal, The Morning Call, June 4, 1999: pg. B.12

The 6th Ward

When my grandfather first arrived in Allentown, he lived in the Ward, on 2nd. Street. It was around 1895 and the neighborhood was full of immigrants. Some groups came from the same area in the old country, most noticeably the Syrians, from the village of Amar*. They were Greek Orthodox, a minority in a Muslim country. The congregation of St. George's Church on Catasauqua Ave., largely is descended from those immigrants. Well known names in Allentown, such as Atiyeh, Haddad, Hanna, Makoul, Koury and Joseph are among their members. They were among one of the first groups to organize, and those organizations still exist. The photo above was organized by the Syrian American Organization in 1944. Note that Jewish, on the left, is treated as a nationality.

* hopefully my Syrian friends will correct any historical errors I have made.

click on photo to enlarge

The Sunday Drive

My family wasn't much for recreation. My father worked six days a week, from early morning until early evening. We did go for a long car ride on Sundays. Back then gasoline was cheap, and having no destination wasn't thought of as wasteful. Children were more content to sit in back seat and look out the window, now they want a video screen in the vehicle.

Even children's play then involved more imagination and interaction. Howdy Doody was just a puppet on strings, who spent most of his time talking to an adult, Buffalo Bob, can you imagine?

 Sitting in that back seat in the mid fifties, I might well had

my "coonskin" hat with me. Fess Parker was a genuine American hero. It mattered little if he played both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, both were king of the wild frontier. The ride probably lasted for two hours and then we would go to a restaurant to eat dinner. Compared to now, there were very few restaurants.

My mother would cook all the other meals that week, and we probably ate out more than most. Supermarkets were the new rage in food shopping, but the butcher, baker and candle stick maker were still going strong. If my father headed west or south, chances are we ended up at Shankweiler's Hotel, famous for chicken and waffles. They were at the intersection of Old 22 and Route 100. The building still exists and currently is a bank. The family also owned another hotel on Route 309. Both locations also operated adjoining Drive-In movies.

If my father headed north or east, we would end up at Walp's, which was on the corner of Union Blvd. and Airport Road. Walp's was a much more urban place. While Shankweiler's was an old country inn, Walp's was built as a modern restaurant. I enjoyed those rides, they were a learning experience.

Over The Top

I don't think blogger Rolf Oeler would argue with me describing him as over the top.      His blog,

LV Ironpigs, pulls no punches; I like that. It certainly has gotten Rolf in some trouble with the local blogging Pope, Bernie O'Hare. Rolf is barred from LV Ramblings. Truth is, I also reject some of Rolf's comments, he can be brutally frank and relentless. In this local blogosphere, dominated by both left leaning and puff blogs, there should be a place for his viewpoint.

Babblesphere RoundUp

This week, as often is the case, the real meat of the blogosphere is found in the comments. Too often my speed reading friends miss these morsels, so, for their benefit;

I made the following comments on Andrew Kleiner's Remember Post about planting a rain garden.

andrew, i support you on the rain garden project, and there is no reason why weitzel won't either.(rain garden is the planting of absorbing plants in storm water basins and outlets) but i also advocate more response to the current event. although i agree perhaps nothing can be done about cedar park at this point, there is a lesson to be learned. cedar park demonstrates that constructing paths in an environmentally friendly way is not a criterion of this park administration. the trail network plan is nothing more than allowing more path makeovers and new paths in our parks and between them. despite the hopes of council to have more oversight on this plan than the previous approval, i would rather urge them to vote NO. only a no vote will provide the time and resources to address your concerns about invasive species, jordan pond stagnation, and other pressing needs that you have illustrated on this blog. A no vote will not stop the trail network plan. the vote is mostly symbolic, because currently the only grant deals with signs and outside of park street markings. that grant could be approved independent of the trail network plan.

The Villa's highjacked the Chen Arts Group Blog and prevented my comment in tribute to Barba-Del Campbell. He then proceeds to delete my protests on their post about group shows.

angie villa prevented my comment in memory to the passing of barba-del campbell from appearing on the chen art blog...
moderation is now off at that site, and i have submitted another comment. we will see how long it remains. not allowing a friend of barba-del's to express his sympathy is but another example of their disregard for anyone other than themselves. i condemn the members of the chen art group for passively endorsing this hatred by turning a blind eye; art should be more than two or three dimensions.

Bill Villa babbles about Bernie O'Hare, admitting that he deleted my comments.

Molovinsky: your original comment on Barba-Del was published (and you know that) but just barely. It drew a warning from a blog administrator because it came clearly looking for trouble, considering that you have a history at your blog of allowing comments from O'Hare that bash the Chen Arts Group, Joe Skrapits, and the Villa family. Your Barba-Del comment at the Chen Arts Group blog was deleted, along with your 2 additional comments, because you kept "upping the ante" of your provocations against the Villas in your subsequent comments which you were warned about after your first comment. In closing, you are wrong about "having no doubt" that your comments were deleted by Angie Villa. They weren't deleted by Angie Villa. I deleted them.

My original comment on Barba-Del was not published, and Villa knows that. More important, so do members of the Chen Arts Group. How they feel about Villa using both the group and it's blog for his personal compulsions, remains to be seen.

Flash From Past

Occasionally, some of the older boys in Lehigh Parkway would get saddled with taking me along to a Saturday matinee in downtown Allentown. We would get the trolley, in later years a bus, from in front of the basement church on Jefferson Street. It would take that congregation many years to afford completing the church building there today. The trolley or bus would go across the 8th Street Bridge, which was built to accommodate the trolleys operated by Lehigh Valley Transit Company. Downtown then sported no less than five movie theaters at any one time. Particularly matinee friendly was the Midway, in the 600 Block of Hamilton. Three cartoons and episode or two of Flash Gordon entertained our entourage, which ranged in age from five to eleven years old. We younger kids, although delighted by the likes of Bugs Bunny, were confused how the Clay People would emerge from the walls in the caves on Mars to capture Captain Gordon, but our chaperones couldn't wait till the next week to learn Flash's fate. Next on the itinerary was usually a banana split at Woolworth's. Hamilton Street had three 5 and 10's, with a million things for boys to marvel at. The price of the sundae was a game of chance, with the customer picking a balloon. Inside the balloon was your price, anywhere from a penny to the full price of fifty cents. The store had a full selection of Allentown souvenirs. Pictures of West Park on a plate, the Center Square Monument on a glass, pennants to hang on your wall, and picture postcards of all the attractions. Hamilton Street was mobbed, and even the side streets were crowded with busy stores. Taking younger kids along was a responsibility for the older brothers, the streets and stores were crowded, but predators were limited to the Clay People on the silver screen.

reprinted from April 13, 2009

Greg Weaver Tribute

I had made arrangements to use the Hotel Grand, they have an old bar from the turn of century. I also arranged to borrow a super 8 bolex camera. Greg's girlfriend(Fran) was to be the flirt. The camera owner, the Grand owner and Fran all changed their minds. I shot behind Greg's studio on 10th St. using a kodak brownie movie camera and a woman friend of mine. Greg is the shooter. John Lotte is the victim.

reprinted from May 23, 2008

A Runaway Train

Back in 2007, I would have coffee early in the morning, around 6:30, at a coffee shop at 7th and Hamilton. The shop is now closed, so is the building; that's another story which was told on this blog two years ago. Anyway, during this time I met Fran Dougherty, who would also frequent the shop. Fran was then the city manager, imported by Pawlowski from Philadelphia. Fran in turn interviewed Greg Weiztel, from Lewistown, for the Park Department job. Dougherty was impressed with a giant playground Weitzel had built, Weitzel's background is in recreation. But lets go back even further, back to Afflerbach. It appears Roy had dipped into Trexler Trust funding for routine maintenance and the Trust went to court to stop the misuse of their funds. They then commissioned a Philadelphia landscape firm to recommend the sort of projects which would be appropriate with the General's money. A report called the master plan would be produced which suggested some park projects for Allentown's future. WHO COULD HAVE IMAGINED THAT AFFLERBACH'S MANY MISTAKES , WOULD JUSTIFY PAWLOWSKI HIRING A CITY MANAGER (DOUGHERTY), WHO WOULD HIRE WEITZEL, WHO WOULD THINK EVERYTHING IN THAT REPORT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BUILT WITHIN 3 YEARS.

All these changes have been rough on the parks, especially Cedar Park. Although the "improvements" are not complete from the Cedar Park Plan, Weitzel is now working on the Trail Network Plan. Poor Cedar Park has so many paths being dug it looks like Venice when it rains. This picture of the flooded path ditch was taken by Andrew Kleiner, who has been doing an excellent job of documenting our park system. He has concluded that the paths are adversely affecting the streams, which are in desperate need of remedial attention, not more adjoining paths.

On April 7, City Council is to vote on the new Trail Network Plan. I request that Council members visit Cedar Park before the vote and see first hand how all the construction is overtaxing the park. Perhaps it's time to slow down the runaway train and put off approving any more plans. The parks themselves are in peril. One wouldn't expect the danger to come from the Park Department, but never the less, City Council must now save the pride and joys of Allentown from any more improvement.

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 Executive 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 be 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.

reprinted from July 9. 2008

The Chen Arts Group

I had a little to do with the background of the Chen Arts Group. My posts about the art scene in the 70's, started by Greg Weaver, got Angie Villa thinking perhaps she could start a group. It started at the House of Chen, because at that time I had joined forces with the owner to fight the Lanta bus changes. I promoted the first few Chen meetings on this blog. To turn that first meeting into the group which it is today, took a lot of work, which I had nothing to do with. All that work was done by Angie and others. I provide this short history for the benefit of Pancho. Who is Pancho? I don't know, currently he is the moderator of the Chen Art Blog, last week it was Angie Villa.

Back in Lanta battle days, I met Barba-Del Campbell. She helped Jenni, from the House of Chen, gather petitions at the then new Lanta terminal. Barba-Del came to rock, wearing the protest regalia from the 60's. I would pick her up in front of her apartment on 4th Street to drive her to the various meetings. Last week I thought it fitting to add my comment, in her memory, to those already on the Chen Art Blog. It never appeared, I should have known better. Ironically, the last time I submitted a comment there was in memory of Fran Weaver, Greg's wife. Angie Villa, at that time, turned that comment into a lewd insult. When I noticed that the Chen Blog had turned moderation off this week, I submitted a comment under the post on Barba-Del

my comment in tribute to barba-del was blocked from this site, prior to moderation being suspended. barba-del had many friends who will not attend on saturday, but never the less, will miss her.

Moderation was turned off to facilitate a discussion about a new group show for the group. The Villa's, around the time of the Lanta protests, started a then, normal enough blog, LV Somebody. Later they would confess to me that their blog was always intended to become a vehicle against their perceived enemies. That list has grown to include dozens of members of the community, myself included. Their blog is now recognized as a hate blog; in addition to venom, there are continuous implied threats of violence.
I don't know if the art group was started as another vehicle for them, but it providing legitimacy for their agenda. At their Museum show last year, Bill Villa followed Alfonso Todd out into the street and harassed him for not joining the Villa crusade. You're either with Villa, or you're his enemy. Todd is now portrayed as an uncle tom and whore. Many people who normally would attend art shows now shy away because of the Villa's. I thought this reality should be part of the group's discussion. Here's my first comment.

what you should be discussing; my comment last week to the previous post was prevented from appearing. ironically, the dynamic responsible for that happening also prevents more patronage of your shows and events. you, members of the chen art group, have been passively endorsing a source of increasing hostility by turning a blind eye; art should be more than two or three dimensions.

Pancho replied that my comment was off topic and future comments would be deleted. My reply:

pancho, at the museum show alfonso todd was followed out and harassed. others, including myself, were threatened if we appear at your shows. if you don't find this information relevant to the topic of group shows, perhaps it was the nile you crossed, not the rio grande (Pancho mentions that he crossed the rio grande in his blogger profile)

Pancho did delete my reply. It's ironic that the Chen Arts Blog is moderated. Prior to Bill Villa spamming every blog with his compulsive comments, moderation was not needed on the local blogosphere. I do not believe that worthwhile art can be produced without a conscience. Art is more than the ability to draw, Hitler could draw. Should the Chen art shows be a venue for Villa's to glare and intimidate viewers and patrons on their ever increasing hate list? Should the Chen Arts Blog be a place where they can pose as acceptable after spewing poison on their blog? Can the members of Chen really be artists if they cast a blind eye to all that?

ADDENDUM: BOTH MY COMMENTS AT THE CHEN ARTS BLOG HAVE NOW BEEN DELETED, INCLUDING MY COMMENT IN THE BARBA-DEL TRIBUTE

ADDENDUM 2: BILL VILLA EXPLAINS WHY HE DELETED MY COMMENTS

Open Mike

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

A Woman of Letters

Barba-Del Campbell was in the hallway at the overflow Council meeting this past July on Cedar Creek Park. She handed me a handwritten letter which I put into my pocket. I met Barba-Del a few years earlier at the first meeting for the Lanta merchants. There were at least two passions in her life, activism and art; Apparently, she had a long relationship with both. This past summer, The Morning Call had a feature story about her role in commemorating Paul Robeson with a postage stamp.

I typed and printed Barba-Del's letter and faxed it along with my own to the Morning Call. Both our editorials appeared side by side in the paper. My effort resulted in a handwritten thank you note. Barba-Del didn't have a computer. I would print out pieces I wrote on the merchants or on the parks, and leave them at her "office", that would be the first table to the left at The House of Chen.

There will be a gathering this Saturday in her memory at the restaurant. Barba-Del is on the far right in photo above, which was taken after that Lanta meeting by participant Bernie O'Hare. Ann Elizabeth Schlegel and Heather Sincavage also remember this remarkable woman.

ADDENDUM:  I STOPPED INTO THE HOUSE OF CHEN TRIBUTE TO BARBA-DEL TO PAY MY RESPECTS,  THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
Heather Sincavage reflects on the memorial service

The Bicycles of Allentown

produced by Gary Ledebur, East Coast Studio #3, Philadelphia
contains adult content


Click Here to see actual Fox Segment on Allentown, courtesy of O'Hare's Ramblings

reproduced from March 10, 2010

Timber, Blogs and MSM

Today in The Morning Call, Tim Darragh reports that the Pawlowski Administration is fighting reporter Jarrett Renshaw's request for information on the timbering plans for South Mountain. Pawlowski and Weitzel claim that they're only concerned about the health of plant and animal life, and it's premature to release information from the timber harvest report by CC Forestry, which cost the taxpayers $7,500. What has been lost in the forest, is that the newspaper learned of this contract FROM THIS BLOG. I first posted about the timber shenanigan on July 2, 2009. I have no doubt that when the reporter first made his inquiry for the Morning Call story on July 12th*, my allegations were dismissed as misinformation by a naysayer. Assistant City Solicitor Frances Fruhwirth is now arguing against the Right To Know request by stating "the tree inventory is not finished yet..."

This blog now hears rumors that contracts have already been issued for the tree harvest.

Another article in today's Morning Call speaks about the economic benefit Allentown can obtain from visitors by promoting it's beautiful park system. The beauty only remains, because for decades the parks have been spared from those arrogant enough to think that they can improve upon it. I am proud to be a naysayer.

* story in Morning Call archives, however, address too long for hyperlink (search CC Forestry)

The Fox News Interview

Two women reporters came to Allentown recently, and interviewed both myself and Bob Romancheck. It is my understanding that these short clips will appear this evening as part of Sean Hannity's Special, Waste 102. The program airs at 9:00 p.m.

Paving Paradise

Dig deep, Sweet Bulldozer
Coming to take my park away
Dig deep, Sweet Bulldozer
Coming to take my park away
I looked over Cedar
and what did I see
Coming to take my park away
A band of City Officials
Coming to take my park away

Park Director Weitzel, to gain support for the Trail Network Plan, has told various people, including some City Council members, that plans for the additional paths in Cedar Park have been tabled. Although the existing path is being both widened and blacktopped to accommodate cyclists, he would forgo the remaining planned paths which would have broken up the open green space into very small sections. This week the Bulldozer proves otherwise; A north/south path is being paved through the middle of the green. Ironically, the Council vote to approve the Trail resolution was cancelled last week because Mr. Weitzel was not available to give a presentation. Will the Council, after being misled about the paths in Cedar Park, finally have the courage for a no vote?

I would be amiss, if I did not once again remind Friends of the Parks and The Environmental Advisory Council, that they are nothing but pawns, who should be ashamed of themselves.

The Mohican Markets

Once, before the malls, there were three thriving cities in the Lehigh Valley, and some merchants would have a store in each of the downtowns. Some of the buildings still exist, and have been reused; the Allentown Farr (shoe) Building is now loft apartments. Two of three Mohican Market buildings, famous for baked goods, no longer exist. The Easton location, on S. 4th St., was victim to fire. The Allentown store now is the parking lot behind the new Butz office building. The Mohican Markets were owned and operated by Bernard Molovinsky. Below is the Mohican recipe for chocolate chip brownies, revealed for the first time in 35 years.(you may want to make less brownies)
Chocolate Chip Brownies
#1 Yield (2) Pans.
5lbs. Sugar
2lbs. M.F.B
2oz. Salt
8oz. Glucose
2oz. Milk Powder
2lbs. Egg Whites(1qt.)
8oz. Water(1/2 pt.)
3lbs. 8oz. Cake flour
-----------------------
#2
2lbs. Chocolate Chips
------------------------
#3
4lbs. Dough
4oz. Sugar
4oz.Cocoa
8oz. Water(1/2 pt.)

Place no.1 in small machine bowl and mix smooth. add no.2 to no.1 and mix until chips are well incorporated.
Remove 4 lbs. of dough and mix with the sugar, cocoa and water
Deposit into Baking sheets with no.3 on top to make marble effect.
Bake - 375 degrees

reprinted from September 25, 2007

ADDENDUM: My family also owned a meat market across the street from the Easton Mohican called Melbern Meats. On my way to lunch in the square every day, I would visit a friend who worked at the Iannelli chicken and cold cut stand in the 5&10 on Northampton Street.

The People's Candidate

In the late 1970's, neighbors would gather in the market on 9th Street to complain and receive consolation from the woman behind the cash register. Emma was a neighborhood institution. A native Allentonian, she had gone through school with mayor for life Joe Dadonna, and knew everybody at City Hall. More important, she wasn't shy about speaking out. What concerned the long time neighbors back then was a plan to create a Historical District, by a few newcomers.

What concerned Emma wasn't so much the concept, but the proposed size of the district, sixteen square blocks. The planners unfortunately all wanted their homes included, and they lived in an area spread out from Hall Street to 12th, Linden to Liberty.* Shoving property restrictions down the throats of thousands of people who lived in the neighborhood for generations didn't seem right to Emma. As the battle to establish the district became more pitched, Emma began referring to it as the Hysterical District.
Emma eventually lost the battle, but won the hearts of thousands of Allentonians. Emma Tropiano would be elected to City Council beginning in 1986, and would serve four terms. In 1993 she lost the Democratic Primary for Mayor by ONE (1) vote.

Her common sense votes and positions became easy fodder for ridicule. Bashed for opposing fluoridation, our clean water advocates now question the wisdom of that additive. Although every founding member of the Historical District moved away over the years, Emma continued to live on 9th Street, one block up from the store. In the mid 1990's, disgusted by the deterioration of the streetscape, she proposed banning household furniture from front porches. Her proposal was labeled as racist against those who could not afford proper lawn furniture. Today, SWEEP officers issue tickets for sofas on the porch.

Being blunt in the era of political correctness cost Emma. Although a tireless advocate for thousands of Allentown residents of all color, many people who never knew her, now read that she was a bigot. They don't know who called on her for help. They don't know who knocked on her door everyday for assistance. They don't know who approached her at diners and luncheonettes all over Allentown for decades. We who knew her remember, and we remember the truth about a caring woman.

* Because the designated Historical District was too large, it has failed, to this day, to create the atmosphere envisioned by the long gone founders. Perhaps had they listened to, instead of ridiculing, the plain spoken shopkeeper, they would have created a smaller critical mass of like thinking homeowners, who then could have expanded the area.

The Night They Shot Emma Down

There was a time in Allentown's past, during the Heydt Administrations, when neighborhood groups had great influence. Special parochial interests prevailed; the neighbors of Muhlenberg College got the city to past special restrictive zoning against student renting(unconstitutional,shame on the college for laying down), Rental Inspections Law, in effect creating two classes of property owners, West Park Historic District, against the majority of homeowners wishes, etc... yes it was an effective machine which even resulted in the election of two members to city council, Pam Varkony and Tom Burke., everyone was happy, the mayor got support and the neighborhood associations got special considerations., There was only one fly in the ointment, the one and the only EMMA TROPIANO. She always voted for the "people" and what she considered fair. She delayed the passage of these measures, and was punished on Oct. 16, 2001. Invited to a candidate's night, she was confronted with special "yes or no" questions designed to specifically humiliate her. She refused to acknowledge that she was delinquent in taxes and had a building declared unfit (two recent developments from property she inherited) The Morning Call reporter was more than glad to answer for her in the next morning's paper. That was the end of Emma's career. It was also the end of decency in Allentown's political arena. She served 16 years on City Council, aided thousands of citizens, and earned my lasting respect.

reprinted from June 2, 2007

ADDENDUM: BILLY GIVENS RECOGNIZES EMMA

Sal Panto Says

Sal Panto and I have been having words on the blogosphere, both here and on Bernie's O'Hare's site. Panto, Easton's Mayor, doesn't like what I'm saying about his Lanta Plans. Before I go too far explaining the story, I should make a couple of confessions. I have referred to Sal as a retread; Easton tends to recycle it's mayors. I have referred to the coming High School Sports Museum as the Al Bundy Hall of Fame.

Sal Panto says:
Oh one other thing, you will be eating your Al Bundy comment about the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in a month or so when some exciting announcements will be made. Just another example of you being confused by the facts (in this case you don't even have the facts becasue all of them haven't been released yet.)

In Easton, Lanta is to build a transfer terminal several blocks away from the square and Northampton Street, as Allentown did at Sixth and Linden. Easton, like Allentown, has no destination stores in it's downtown. However, when people have to wait for their transfer bus, they will shop if the store is right there, and they're waiting anyway. When the transfer stops were removed from Hamilton Street, business there declined 40%. Although buses still stop on Hamilton and adjoining corners, the riders will not make an additional stop to shop in the stores; They will not interrupt their ride to the transfer point. There is a big difference, commerce wise, between a bus stop and transfer stops. Panto doesn't understand this difference. He keeps repeating that the buses will still stop on Northampton Street.

Sal Panto says:
Again the facts -- there will still be bus stops on Northampton Street. Transfers will be at the new transportation center.

Sal says that I criticize him, but do not take him up on his offer to come to Easton and hear his patter in person. More important, I suggested that Sal come to Allentown, and speak to a few merchants on Hamilton Street; In twenty miles and twenty minutes, he could learn what will happen to the Easton dollar stores, which now depend on the current bus transfer stops.

I hope when they bring Sal out of mothballs for the third time, he will invite me again.

No Dutchmen Need Apply

Mildred and Milton are upset. They lived and worked their entire lives in Allentown. They both started working in sewing factories after high school and spend their working lives there. During the late 60's they owned their only car, and always lived in apartments. They never sought any help from the government, their culture taught them to make it do, use it up, wear it out and do without. When they heard about these new apartments overlooking the Lehigh, they thought that would be a nice reward for a life of hard work. They were told it would take years,years they don't have, to get on the list. Its hard for them to understand how brandnew comers to the area, who don't even speak English, go to the head of the line. They don't know about the poverty pimps, the social organizations, funded by grants; The professional advocates who know what buttons to push, who make a career out of political correctness. Maybe we need a Pennsylvania Dutch American Organization.

reprinted from June 26, 2007

A Vanishing History

Most of you know it as the Phoenix Building, a sprawling old factory building on Race Street, between Hamilton and Linden. When in opened in 1881 as the Adelaide Silk Mill, it was the largest in the world. By 1928 Allentown had over 140 textile factories; it was the second largest industry and employer in the region, only behind assorted metal fabricators.

There is an interesting editorial* in today's Morning Call. As efforts continue to brand the area Lehigh Valley, Josh Friebolin ponders the loss of local history and culture. Josh may share my frustration with the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. Last year I reported that Frank Whelan, a local historian who was formally with the Morning Call, was laid off by the Museum. The current director, not from the area, is an expert on Abraham Lincoln. The show on the famous President, although not a local topic, was understandable. The Museum now has a show on reducing electricity consumption, based on it's experience. I can understand the topic for the Da Vinci Science Center, but our local Historical Society?

I would like to see a show on the local needle trade industry. The last remaining factories have closed. Thousands of people in this area worked in the sewing factories. The remaining testimony and artifacts are quickly disappearing. What will future researchers be able to uncover, when our Historical Society is too cosmopolitan to document our own past?

* this well written piece does not appear on mcall under the opinion section, but is misplaced under sports

ADDENDUM: ALLENTOWN AFTERTHOUGHTS PICKS UP THIS POST, AND RICH FLAGG INFORMS OF A NEW ERA IN THE LOCAL APPAREL INDUSTRY

Addressed To City Council

This evening, you will hear testimony from various people enthusiastic about the cure-all called the Trail Network Plan. My fellow blogger, Andrew Kleiner, believes it is the lighthouse for a new awareness of our environment. Recreation (and park) Director Weitzel sees it saving our children from obesity. The Greeenway Consultant has promised economic recovery for the City.

I am unable to attend the meeting; Please forgive the presumption that some of you may read my opinion here on this blog, and a sincere thank you if you do. Not that many months ago, a huge crowd gathered in the Council Chamber to express their dissatisfaction with the Cedar Park Plans. Mr. Weitzel claimed that the public was missing in action from the planning meetings; they were johnny come lately then. Once again the public input process raises more questions than it answers. Although the third and final meeting was properly publicized in January, few public knew about or attended the previous meetings. The plan seems particularly orientated to bicyclists, raising many concerns to everyone else who enjoys walking, or just strolling on the paths. Although bicycles are now accommodated, does it serve the greater public's interest to have many more cyclists? Safety concerns have been raised about the preference for hard-surface trails, which will encourage even faster cycling.











I was especially upset at the January meeting to see that the grand stairways leading up from Fountain Park to Union Street, and then up to Spring Garden Street, were not included in the planning. The consultants touted how their plan would connect the intercity residents to the park system, while these steps were built and used for that exact purpose. But most disturbing, is that I realize we are building more, while not maintaining what we already have. Will this plan distract both our attention and resources from properly maintaining our existing park features?

Council Members acknowledged that the Cedar Park Plans got ahead of their oversight. I respectfully ask you now to consider not allowing that situation to repeat itself; The commotion from last summer is avoidable. Our park department currently has 17 less workers; we can build more with grants, but can we maintain more? Legitimate concerns have been raised about encouraging faster bicycle use on the paths, and the paving and widening of the paths. Let us slow down and smell the coming spring flowers. You have heard from the Park Department, the paid consultants, the cyclist lobby; give the general public more of an opportunity, it is really their parks.

Growth Industry In Allentown

Yesterday I went to the Social Security Office, across from the prison, to discuss my retirement options. I was given number 199. In addition to retirement, Social Security also dispenses money for disability. I would say from the gray hair, there were about three of us contemplating retirement, all the others were for disability. A few middle age men were carrying their fake canes. The canes aren't fake, it's the disabilities. I saw one such gentleman walk in from the parking lot, clearly the cane bore no weight, and was merely a prop. Most of the people waiting were quite young, in their twenties. Disability has now been expanded to include mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, additive personality and anger management. I will say many of them did look angry to me. It was hard finding a parking space. Business also looked good at the prison. If Johnny Manana's had gotten these crowds....

reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008

Weekly Reader

When I was growing up my parents would receive both The Morning Call and The Evening Chronicle.* This was their main source of news. Television in the late 40's and early 50's had national and world news, but there was no local programing in Allentown. The antenna on our roof would receive the three network (ABC, NBC, and CBS) stations from Philadelphia, and that was it. The morning and evening papers provided the local news, in addition to national and world stories. Hess Brothers and Leh's would compete with multiple full page Ads. We children also had our own little paper, Weekly Reader, handed out in the classroom every Friday. I think of it when I get the thin Morning Call on Mondays.

* The Morning Call and Evening Chronicle were both published by same company, Call-Chronicle Newspapers.

PennSPOT New Director

Governor Spendall has appointed a new Director for PennSPOT Laundry and Highway Department. Satellite imaginary has revealed that snow drifts reported by PennSPOT to be 15 feet high on February 10th, were in fact 15 inches. PennSPOT defended itself with a climate report from Penn State, but Spendall said, "Who can believe them about anything?"

PeeWee will assume leadership of the Department on March 1, 2010. He is known as a innovator who makes do with what is in hand.

The Ultimate Entitlement

Post hosted at Poliblog

No Lassie Service

Al Bundy, serving as honorary Director of Lassie, suspended all bus service as of 8:00 p.m. Thursday.



Speaking at the temporary office of the Jr. High Sports Museum, to be named after him, Bundy said, "Let them walk." It's a long standing policy of Lassie to not allow bus tires to get wet.

Road and Bus Closing

PennSPOT Laundry and Highways and Lassie Bus Service announce all state roads and bus service will be suspended for five (5) days, starting immediately, to assure public inconvenience because of the approaching snow. Both organizations have chosen this site, molovinskyonallentown, for public announcements.

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 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 cement and steel industries. Unfortunately, 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.

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

reprinted from Aug. 6, 2008

The Star Of David

Although Jewish heavyweights in the 1930's occasionally wore the Star of David on their trunks, like Abe Simon, none was more famous than Max Baer, and he wasn't really Jewish. Baer's father was half Jewish, and he was raised as a Catholic. After moving to N.Y.C. to be trained by Jack Demsey, he adopted the Star to fight Max Schmeling, Hitler's boxer of choice. Defeating Schmeling in 1933, set Baer up for a Championship fight with Carnera. Baer, who had a reputation as a party animal, was never the less a notoriously hard hitter.

Shown in the ring with the giant Primo Carnera, Demsey stands behind them. Baer would annihilate Carnera and hold the title for one year until the famous fight with the Cinderella man, James Braddock.
Baer's son, Max Jr, would become famous as Jethro Bodine in The Beverly Hillbillies. There's more, Max(Sr.) had a brother, Buddy, who was 6'7".....

links are the fight films

Boxing 1930's, Primo Carnera

When Abe Simon fought Joe Louis in 1942, Abe was the biggest heavyweight* fighting. That wasn't the case when Abe began his career in 1935. Primo Carnera was an Italian strongman on the European circus circuit. He fought his first fight in Paris in 1928. It is pretty well known that he was brought to N.Y.C. by mobsters who arranged and managed his fights. The 6'6" giant upset Jack Sharkey in 1933, and held the title for a year until Max Baer had a go at him.

In 1935 Carnera fought the up and coming Joe Louis, who pulverized him into a bloody mess. Primo would return to Europe. Shown in the ring with him in 1933 is Jean Harlow, promoting her movie classic Bombshell.

* 6'7" Buddy Baer, brother of Max, had retired after a beating from Louis earlier in 1942

The Compromised

The highly respected Guide to Creating Sustainable Parks recommends minimizing impermeable surfaces like paved trails, and considering replacing asphalt and concrete with permeable gravel. Here in Allentown, as a component of the Trail Network Plan, we are doing the opposite, replacing gravel with asphalt to accommodate cyclists. The final report on the Trail Plan, the Executive Summary, shows asphalt or concrete(page 13) right next to the stream buffers. This fall, plantings for the Riparian Buffer were actually paved over in Cedar Creek Park. Although the Steering Committee for the Trail Network Plan is dominated by government types, there are environmentalists included who do know better, yet have remained silent; Michael Adams, Environmental Advisory Council. Tom Gettings and Chris Kocher from the Wildlands Conservancy and most puzzling, Mark Palerino, from the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Mark does work in their recreation division. There are others in this City who also should be included on the Compromiser List, however, I restricted inclusion to members of Steering Committee.

I had no problems sharing the park paths with bicyclists. My objection to the Trail Network Plan is that it will encourage more and faster cycling as the dominant group on the paths, to the detriment of the other users.

Lanta Chronicles

ALLENTOWN CELEBRATES

Allentown's latest Dancing in the Street, Octoberfeast, will have multi-cultural attractions. There will be genuine rickshaw rides, pulled by former Asian merchants who were forced out of business by the City Department of Gentrification. After this weeks party for the Brewpub, the rickshaws will operate on a regular basis between Hamilton Street and our new Lanta Transportation Center.
Reprinted from Oct. 7, 2007

SILENCE OF THE LANTA

Hannibal Lecter has been offered parole on the condition he restrict his diet to Hamilton Street bus riders. Once a month he will be permitted an Asian merchant; on thanksgiving he may have a preselected blogger. Mr. Lector will be micro-chipped and given a new Hamilton Street loft apartment. He will be monitored by the new surveillance cameras. Mayor Pawlowski and Armand Greco will provide more details at a press conference early next week at the new Lanta Terminal.
Reprinted from Oct. 20, 2007

ONCE UPON A TIME

This image heralds back to once upon a time, when traffic, buses and shoppers on Hamilton Street were desired, much less called congestion. Although Lanta's circulator bus has only attracted 12 riders a day, their new concessions, which do not start until Feb.11, only add stops on 7th and 8th streets to the northwest and south sides. No concessions will be made for the Hanover Ave. and east side passengers. Lanta has clearly put the justification of their new transfer station over the survival of our merchants. I ask you to join me, merchants and bus riders on Tuesday Dec. 11, at 12 noon at the Lanta Headquarters, 1060 Lehigh Street, to let them know their still doing too little, too late.
The image is part of a watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler
Reprinted from Dec. 6, 2007


MONSTER AS LANDLORD

Can anyone explain why the Allentown Parking Authority should be a landlord? It is apparently not to make money, because the rent is far below the cost to construct the square footage. It is not to serve a local neighborhood need or the need of the bus riders, few of them purchase private vineyard wine or natural fiber designer clothes. Here's the answer; because Linda Kauffman, former director of the Allentown Parking Authority, thought it was a good idea. She also wanted stores in the new deck at 4th and Hamilton, but City Council decided not to compete with local investors. So now we have a parking deck which is mostly empty, a Lanta Transfer Station which is putting the Hamilton Street merchants out of business, and a new subsidized yuppie who will fail anyway because she is in the wrong location for her product. Ms. Kauffman retired and moved to the Maryland beach.
Reprinted from Dec. 11, 2007
The Parking Authority never did find a tenant, and now is relocating it's office there from 10th and Hamilton, which will become a Police substation- Feb. 20, 2010
As Hannibal would say, this is only a taste of posts concerning Lanta and the Hamilton Street merchants. The full menu may be found in the blog archives between Oct. 2007 and Feb. 2008

Back Of The Bus

Buses have long been a vehicle of discrimination. In the mid 1950's, Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of the bus with the other African Americans. In recent decades the discrimination has evolved from racial to one of class.

Several years ago Allentown decided it wanted to improve it's human streetscape on Hamilton Street. The scheme had two elements; remove the benches and remove the bus people, who for the most part are low income. This gentrification plan was not articulated, nor printed in a brochure, but discussed among officials and urban planners. Resistance was minimal. The merchants, mostly Asian, are not inclined toward outward demonstration.* The Allentown Parking Authority induced Lanta to locate a transfer terminal at the new parking deck at 6th and Linden, and the transfer stops were removed from Hamilton Street. Only after business dropped 40% on Hamilton Street, would the merchants consider speaking out.* After pleading their case, Lanta Board member Steve Schmitt told the merchants that they are just looking for a reason to complain and would have to prove the business decline, by showing their accounting books; as if the empty street was not proof enough.

Lanta is now repeating the process in Easton. The social-economic segregation is more transparent.
On the other hand, some other nearby businesses say they'd be happy to see the bus riders move along. At the Terra Cafe, a coffee shop between Family Dollar and American Dollar, owner Marcel Bedoya said he and some nearby higher-end shops don't get a lot of bus-riding customers -- and in fact the lower-income bus riders tend to scare off some of his clientele.
Bedoya said he feels for the dollar stores, but moving the transfers ''definitely will benefit us, because we will not have that type of crowd hanging around in front of our stores.''

Allentown's hope of shopping gentrification never materialized. The people of the bus never were replaced by people of the wallet. About eight businesses folded on Hamilton Street, and the remainder hang on with reduced revenues. Allentown has a new plan for economic revitalization;
The idea to improve the city's park system by connecting them through bike and pedestrian trails is extremely important. Perhaps it's the most important thing the city can do to foster economic development, improve the health of residents and attract tourists and businesses,'' Schmitt said.
Yes, it's the same Schmitt, but this time proof isn't required. Apparently it's better to get rid of those bus riders who did shop between buses, and count on bicyclists to improve our economy. I didn't even know those spandex outfits have pockets.

* I organized** several meetings on behalf of the merchants, including two at the Lanta Board
** Jenny Lim, from the House of Chen, and Bernie O'Hare were my partners in organizing the merchants
Use search engine at top of page to learn more about Lanta's abuse of the Hamilton Street merchants; Lanta and Merchants

Allentown History Highjacked

CONCLUSION FROM FATAL ACCIDENT IN TREXLER PARK IN 1989
"Last year, a consultant recommended in a study of Trexler Park that cyclists be banned.
Efforts to confine walkers and bicyclists to separate lanes have not been effective, and the cyclists are dangerous to pedestrians, the study, by Andropogon Associates Ltd. of Philadelphia, concluded. "


Allentown's history and our Traditional Park System is being highjacked by carpetbaggers. The Trail Network Plan, to be embraced this evening by City Council, is clearly designed for the Bike Cyclist Coalition, most of whom live out of town. The Executive Summary*, released yesterday, irrefutably shows that this plan is for the cyclists at the expense of everyone else. New park rules will include: Walk no more than two abreast. Keep dogs on a short lead. Beware of surprise actions by dogs and children.

Actually, Allentonians should be aware of surprise actions by this Administration that are changing the nature of our parks; from serene settings of nature to a venue for extended high speed bike use. Park Director Weitzel thinks we need his help to enjoy our parks and city. ''We have to change the culture of the city and make it more pedestrian-friendly, but it's going to take time to reverse that East Coast mentality,'' said Weitzel, who returned recently from a conference in Seattle, where he says pedestrians, not cars, rule the city.**

my reply to the 1st comment
I don't blame the bicyclists for this plan, if allentown is willing to convert the parks into a disneyland for them, why wouldn't they be excited. I blame pawlowski, weitzel, and the trexler trust. they think they have to take every suggestion from an outside consultant in 2005, and implement them immediately. how ironic that we are using outside consultants for one of the most iconic park systems in america. How pathetic that the trexler trust would pay to inflict these scars on our parks. How weak of city council to not intercede.

Illustrating the contempt for our traditions, is that the cheerleaders are spreading an urban myth that General Trexler wanted the parks connected. The Park System was not created till 1928. The General was killed in 1933. At this point, not even the WPA features highlighting our park system were built. Trexler Park was not given to the City until after the death of his widow.
my reply to the 19th comment
the whole plan is simply an insult to the everyone else but the bicyclists

Allentown has serious quality of life issues. Nonsense about people wanting to bicycle downtown to see a play, or that this plan will we an economic boom to the city, doesn't bode well for finding real solutions.

* directions to Executive Summary: go to City Web Site, then Parks and Recreation, find Executive Summary link

**The Morning Call

ADDENDUM: The Bike Lobby has been busy placing comments on yesterday's Morning Call article about the plan and meeting this evening. They have been also contacting Council members. From the last comment submitted (article comments appear in reverse order, last is first) " Plus, it will reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and draw the young people who like these types of amenities to Allentown. A win, win, win situation, if you ask me." Reduce traffic congestion? Improve air quality?

ADDENDUM 2:CONCLUSION FROM FATAL ACCIDENT IN TREXLER PARK IN 1989
"Last year, a consultant recommended in a study of Trexler Park that cyclists be banned.
Efforts to confine walkers and bicyclists to separate lanes have not been effective, and the cyclists are dangerous to pedestrians, the study, by Andropogon Associates Ltd. of Philadelphia, concluded. "

Public Meetings

There are two upcoming public meetings. Wednesday evening, Allentown City Council will approve the Bike Path Plan which will enable the cyclists to whiz through, and between the parks. Pedestrians will have to wear helmets to protect themselves.
The second meeting is in Easton Thursday evening. Lanta will tolerate legally required public input about their plan to destroy business on Northampton Street, by building a Transfer Terminal three blocks away. This Terminal will share space with the Al Bundy High School Sports Museum. I have included no details of when and where the meetings are, because they don't really care what you think anyway.