City Hall Insults The Neighborhood

This is a post which I spend a week trying not to write. It is a story of favoritism and abuse of power. About four years ago a homeowner, in a quiet south side neighborhood, moved out and rented the house to his brother. Under Allentown regulations this property hence became a rental property, and subject to license and inspection procedures. As it turns out, these brothers are childhood friends with an Allentown inspector. The second brother, the tenant, has been disruptive in the neighborhood by every criterion relevant to code enforcement. The property became unkempt and subject of numerous police calls, including the SWAT team. All calls for relief from surrounding properties seemed to end up with the family's inspector friend, and brought no relief from the problems. Allentown has been very pro-active with problem properties. In the first eight months of 2010, 342 properties received orange tags, forcing the property to be vacated. Most tags were issued for problems significantly more minor than those occurring in the subject of this post. This past October, the bank foreclosed on the property. The tenant legally became a squatter. A neighbor's complaint resulted in another inspector discovering that the bank owned property was an unregistered rental, and he issued a 30 day to vacate tag for illegal occupancy. It appeared that finally the neighbors would get relief from the trash, noise and police calls. The childhood friend inspector intervened, and the 30 day notice was never enforced. My efforts with the inspector on behalf of the other property owners (including myself) were to no avail. I have spent the week documenting the problem up the chain of command, right to the Mayor's office. Although the property is in gross violation of code, the illegal tenant is allowed to remain. Although in the last eight months police have surrounded the property several times in complete violation of the disruptive tenant ordinance, the occupant remains. In typical City Hall fashion, they have circled the wagons around the inspector, around their own. They are now actually trying to work with the bank and make him the homeowner. The top photo is the back yard on May 9, 2011, with years worth of garbage. You will be happy to know that a city contractor has now been hired to clean the property and cut the grass, at your expense. The City's course of action is a total insult to the neighbors. I did see some inspectors today, they were walking around my property.

UPDATE: I understand that the occupant is a disabled US Veteran so that may have played into the equation. City Official June 16, 2:02pm

Mr. XXXX, I understand that he is a disabled veteran. I don't know if you have received all my emails, first to the inspector, then XXXX, then XXXX. Two years ago I had to treat his unattended green swimming pool with bleach, (because the city complaint was repressed) last year I had to paint his totally peeled porch.... He has no legal basis in that house whatsoever..... Frankly, the situation is an outrage. You may want to check the police reports. Twice police have surrounded the house in the last 8 months alone... Is this social work or code enforcement? Michael Molovinsky
p.s.. he is not physically disabled, and I don't know if his mental health issues are military related, nor is it relevant to code
enforcement. I do know that he is family friends with an inspector who has put myself and other neighbors off for years. He is the same inspector who has issued hundreds of orange tags to other properties in the same period for much less problems.

Being a disabled veteran is not the reason for this favoritism, but the excuse now being used. I have no doubt that at least some of the hundreds and hundreds of units vacated by the same inspector, also housed a few disabled veterans.

Step Right Up, Prize Every Time

Years ago, a popular feature at carnivals and fairs was the weight guesser. For a mere few quarters he would guess your weight within a few pounds. His success didn't matter so much, because the prize cost less than they charged to play the game. The Administration has offered up phenomenal numbers of expected arena attendance. Although Pawlowski once said 2.5 million, for the City Council Eminent Domain vote, he used 1.5 million. To achieve that number, the hockey team would have to play 365 home games a year, to over 4,000 people each night. Yesterday, another shill for the arena boosters wrote another opinion piece. This gentleman used the figure of one million. The hockey team will play forty home games, and even if they achieve 5,000 viewers each game, the arena must still draw 2,500 people each remaining night of the year to reach the one million mark. The Sovereign Center in Reading works very hard to reach their declared yearly total attendance of 500,000. I suppose this arena is like the old weight game; The advocates are not using their own money. How far the guess is off has no consequence to them, they still win.

The weight and age booth at Dorney Park in 1948

Resetting the Demographic

The bill and resolution for another grant to the BrewWorks has become routine at Allentown City Council Meetings. Since Pawlowski was Director of Community Development, that location, 812-814, has received over $6 million dollars in grants and loans. How much of that must be repaid, or will be forgiven, is a subject for forensic accounting. Last night's request ($360,000) was small potatoes in comparison. What was interesting were the crib notes given to council.
Priority status/Deadlines, if any
Immediate. Please arrange to have this resolution reviewed and voted on in the same night.
Why should Council unanimously support this bill?
Council should unanimously support this bill because it promotes development in the central business district, moves a KOZ project forward, and offers opportunity for new office space on Hamilton.

The approval came one meeting after endorsing the forced expulsion of the merchants in the 700 block. I suppose it was considered better form to separate the victims from the benefactors. There appears to be no limit on what the Administration will do or spend to reset the demographic. They keep thinking success is just one more project away.

Asians Offered Rickshaw Concession

The Asian merchants being displaced by Allentown's new arena, have been offered the rickshaw concession on Hamilton Street. Mayor Pawlowski said that when fans exit the games and events, there will be an enormous opportunity to ferry them to and from the many restaurants planned for Hamilton Street. I first learned of this plan on Jon Geeting's blog, Lehigh Valley Independent. Jon, although he's only 26 and lives in New York City, knows everything about Allentown. In a comment on his post taking me to task for using the G word, he stated " Nobody is saying that the Hamilton St merchants' businesses are unwanted in general - just not on Hamilton Street." So, I asked Pawlowski if there was any way that this set of hardworking merchants could remain on Hamilton Street, and he suggested the rickshaws. The rickshaws would be inspected and regulated by the Allentown Arena Authority. Applications are currently available at the Allentown Parking Authority. Jon Geeting contributed to this post.

TC Salon Clips Allentown

Channel 69, WFMZ reports that Technicolor Salon on 19th Street is closing today. Mayor Pawlowski hyped this business about two years ago, and we invested at least a quarter $million.

BILL6TC SALON.DOC
Refer to CEDC

Amending the 2009 General Fund to provide for a supplemental
appropriation of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand ($250,000) Dollars; to
provide for the grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and
Economic Development to rehabilitate 617 N. 19th Street to become TC Salon

Although the small beauty parlors in the neighborhood had to fight the subsidized giant, they continue on, paying their own way. Wasting taxpayer money on grants is a lesson this Administration refuses to learn.

UPDATE: The Morning Call today reports that the business also received a $907,000 loan from the LVEDC. Although the report says that renovations including a crystal chandelier from Hess's Allentown department store were made, that chandelier was there from the previous business, the Shanty Restaurant. Readers may find my post about this grant over two years ago interesting, especially the comments at that time.

Molovinsky Launches New Blog

This weekend I launched a new blog, The Morning Chronicle. The Chronicle will concentrate on topics beyond the Lehigh Valley. The initial post deals with a growing problem; newspapers helping themselves to idea's harvested from the blogosphere. Information from this blog has been the basis for several stories in The Morning Call, with no attribution given. Although local reporters seemingly cannot type Molovinsky, in the future their names will be noted here. The Chronicle will host some of the articles which appeared here, such as Shrines in the Middle East, and boxing's golden era.
Bernie O'Hare will be an occasional contributor.
sputnik takes off, October 4, 1957

Molovinsky Plays Race Card

Mike, your moving the gooks remark is not cool and uncalled for. Not sure how you can justify when anyone and I mean everyone is being recruited for clustering businesses on 7th. I'm not saying there is wisdom in the current effort to develop hamilton street, but feel your drawing the race card is not right.
A comment received on Moving the Gooks post.

The comment suggests that because some second tier merchants, many Hispanic, have been given grants for 7th Street, that Allentown isn't racist. I do not accuse Allentown of racism, I accuse them of classism. He doesn't really mean everybody; the City has not recruited Butz or Fegley to 7th Street, but apparently a Koreatown would be welcome. A Koreatown on 7th Street would leave valuable space on Hamilton, for the coming wave of mixed income retail, which they fantasize will follow the arena.

UPDATE: Provided by David Zimmerman
Curious over recent discussions of classism (bias based on social or economic class.) I undertook a small project to understand exactly who the customers of the Hamilton St shopping area (The Market Area) are.
Using software and data provided by ScanUSA I calculated a variety of demographic data based on what I assumed to be The Market Area.
Specifically, given a moderate walk rate of 3 miles / hour, a fifteen minute walking time would extend about 3/4 of a mile in this area. I looked to the census designation of block groups, in this area, to gather this data.
The total population is estimated to be 26,146 individuals; 59.8% white, 20.7% black, Other - multiracial 16%. This differs significantly from Allentown ("All of Allentown") with an estimated 2010 population of 110,456 individuals; 73.8% white, 12.6% black, Other - multiracial 9.5%. Significant differences.

With respect to the Hispanic population The Market Area is 69.6% while "All of Allentown" is 40.6%, another significant difference. Subtract The Market Area from the rest of Allentown and the percentage of Hispanics living outside of The Market Area drops to 31.6%.
Relative to income; per capita in The Market Area is $15,591 and "All of Allentown" is$21,207. Median family income is a similar proportion with The Market Area at $33,206 and "All of Allentown" at $45,056. Family size in The Market Area is 3.60 while that in "All of Allentown" is 3.28 about 9% less.
More profound is the aggregate income of The Market Area; $377 million. "All of Allentown" is $2.246 Billion. The Market Area represents 23.7% of the population of "All of Allentown" while the aggregate income of $377 million represents only 16.8% of "All of Allentown", proportionately less But then the unemployment rate in The Market Area is estimated to be 12.5% with "All of Allentown" at 8.6%
Another interesting variable is housing; 51.3% of "All of Allentown" is either rental or vacant. In The Market Area this rate is 68.7%. In The Market Areas 31.2% of housing units are owner occupied. In "All of Allentown" this jumps to 48.7%.

So is there bias on social or economic class? You decide. I'd say there are significant differences that could easily be classified with this term.
David Zimmerman

Molovinsky Takes Aim

Moving the Gooks

I support the downtown location of the proposed hockey arena. ...While I could care less about hockey, I have several reasons for supporting the downtown location:
•The investment and financial risk involve private investors who are typically wiser than government figures in assessing parking, traffic routes and ticket demand.
•Downtown needs a large footprint anchor to reset the Hamilton Street demographic. The arena will draw mixed-income, retail customers downtown and is our best bet for a downtown revival.
•We will get new faces downtown with continued growth in our restaurant and night spot usage.
•The arena has the potential to expand demand for true mixed-income rentals and home ownership in the city.
... I attended the first baseball game of my adult life at Coca-Cola Park; likewise, I hope to attend my first hockey game a short walk from my front door.
Charles Versaggi letter in today's Morning Call

Just when I was complaining about Old Allentown being silent on the hockey arena, long time cheerleader Charlie Versaggi chimes in. Seems like the vanguard of Old Allentown sees this as their last hope for mixed income. Charlie, in the future, drop that private investor line, it makes Ed Pawlowski's eminent domain plans illegal. That fascism is suppose to be used for public projects and public good. Well, I suppose moving those gooks and their brown customers off Hamilton Street is for the public good. I don't know if you're going to get those new stores and white faces, excuse me, mixed income faces, but good luck with that. Enjoy your first hockey game!

The Idea Man

...Allentown School District is introducing the concept of a Newcomer Academy which will be housed at the Midway Manor building and will serve as a first-year high school experience for students new to the United States. Newcomer Academies have been successful in cities throughout the U.S., but the ASD program will be the first comprehensive academic program for immigrant students in the Lehigh Valley...
Our new framework, Pathways to Success, aims to increase the achievement of all of our students...Kindergarten students will be assigned to other buildings ... Newcomer students will take a bus to the Academy and back to their home high school each day... Courses will be taught by experienced and innovative ASD teachers.

As the school year winds down, my wallet and I were hoping that The Idea Man would give us a vacation from his national harvest of educational ideas. Not to be. Zahorchak has introduced yet another program. In this age of $4 gasoline, we will bus new immigrant students back and forth from Dieruff and Allen every day to another new academy. We will also disperse the current kindergarden kids to other elementary schools to accommodate the new academy. What's with this guy and academies? He wanted to bus the honor students to a special academy at 4th and Allen. Here's my innovative ideas. Why not teach the newcomers English at Dieruff and Allen and save both the time and gas? Why doesn't the School Board tell Zahorchak to sit down, shut up and just run the school system.

A Tailor from North Street

The Allentown Housing and Development Corp. recently purchased a home at 421 North St. That block of North Street was destroyed by fire, and the agency has built a block of new houses on the street's south side; it will next develop the other side of the street. The deed transfer caught my attention because Morris Wolf lived in the house in 1903. Wolf signed up with the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry on July 18, 1861, in Philadelphia, when he was 22 years old. He was a private in Company A, of the 3rd Cavalry. This unit was also known as the 60th Regiment and was later called Young's Kentucky Light Cavalry.It defended Washington, D.C., until March 1862, then participated in many of the war's most famous battles: Williamsburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Wolf had signed up for three years and was mustered out Aug. 24,1864.

Recently, to commemorate Memorial Day, the local veterans group placed more than 500 flags at Fairview Cemetery. If that wasn't enough of a good deed, the group also set upright more than 300 toppled grave markers. Visiting Fairview recently, I saw they had not overlooked the graves of either Mr. Wolf, or another veteran, Joseph Levine. I have concerned myself with Allentown's Fairview Cemetery for the last few years. I first became interested in the small Jewish section, called Mt. Sinai. This was the first organized Jewish cemetery in Allentown. Currently, all the synagogues have their own cemeteries, and Mt. Sinai has been mostly unused for many decades.

Mr. Wolf lies next to his wife, Julia, who died in 1907. Morris would live on for 30 more years, passing away in 1937, at age 98.
Mr. Levine, a World War II veteran, and his wife, Ethel, were the first and last people to be buried there after almost 25 years of inactivity. When Ethel died at age 93 in 2000, it was the first burial at Mt. Sinai since 1976. Joseph was 103 years old when he passed away in 2006.

The Housing and Development Corp. and North Street are now part of Allentown's new neighborhood initiative called Jordan Heights.Although soon there will be a new house at 421 North St., there is a history that will remain with the parcel. Once a tailor lived there who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg.

reprinted from July 4, 2010

Syrian Commotion

This weekend there was a disruption in the Syrian community. When the protests first began in Syria, there was a demonstration of support for Assad and the Syrian government here in Allentown. Allentown's Syrian community dates back to the 1900 era, when many families migrated from Amar, in the valley of the Christians. The Syrians, Jews and other ethnic groups lived and worked together in the 6th Ward. Second Street was almost exclusively home to the Jews and Syrians. In 1903 practically every house in the 600 block was Jewish, including my grandparents. Although the Jews migrated up town to 6th Street, there still is a Syrian presence in the Ward. Hafez Assad, father of the current president, supposedly had a Christian nanny, and an affinity for the minority. Ties between Second Street and the homeland have existed for many decades, including Syrian Ambassadors speaking at local events. In more recent years, newer immigrants have a more personal experience with the realities of the current regime. Tensions between the two groups, newer immigrants and the community here for a hundred years, erupted at a protest this weekend in center city. I invite my friends of Syrian descent to elaborate on this post.

Open Letter to Lee Butz

In today's Morning Call there were seven letters against the arena, and one for it. The seven against, all stated well thought out reasons, while the eighth, by Lee Butz, was more smiles and giggles.

On the morning of May 24, I had the pleasure of attending a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game at Coca-Cola Park. It was attended by thousands of school kids, and seeing (and hearing) them was a real delight. I couldn't help but think of how it would look and sound when those kids attend an event in the new hockey arena in downtown Allentown. We have something very exciting to look forward to.
Lee Butz

Lee, I wished you had attended the recent City Council meeting, there was another sight; Grown men and women, the merchants facing eminent domain, actually sobbing. Sorry you missed that, but it's not too late. Walk down to the next block, and stop in a few stores. Ask for the owner.
Michael Molovinsky

Klavan on the Culture

The Landed Gentry

One of the popular misconceptions in our granola society is that our open space is threatened. Consequently, in addition to welfare and corporate welfare, we now have landed gentry welfare. We purchase land, at almost market value, and even allow the owner to keep it. Although there is a deed restriction prohibiting development, who can guarantee it will be enforced in future generations? In every case I'm personally familiar with, the owner never had any intention of development; In one instance, the owners were compensated over $1million.

In some cases the owners are working farmers, in many, just gentlemen farmers with country homes. An article in Sunday's Morning Call laments the reduction in the farmland preservation funds. Nothing in the land preservation compensation really guarantees continued farming, that would be somewhere between indentured servitude and slavery. In 2006, Pennsylvania spent $102 million in Growing Greener handouts. Although the program has been cut back in recent years, there is a long list of applicants hoping to get some of this handout. The granola eaters should drive across Pennsylvania. There is a lot of open space even in this heavily populated state, over 8 million farm acres. While we close mental hospitals and sell nursing homes, we pay yuppies playing weekend farmer, development rights on land they never intended on subdividing anyway.

reprinted from August 9, 2010

Pathways To Success

Imagine being an education major at a Pennsylvania State University; that's a bright future! I think that it would be best to stay on and get a Masters in Administration, or perhaps get out the old hockey stick. Yesterday, Allentown School District sent out pink slips to teachers. When all the budget dust settles, it is expected that 247 teaching positions will be eliminated. Although this program may be a Pathway to Success for Zahorchak, it certainly is not for either our teachers or students.

Ripping Out Downtown's Heart

Eminent domain would rip out downtown Allentown's heart
Years ago I appealed a zoning decision to Allentown City Council. Council told me at the time that if I wanted to be assured the right to operate a business, I should locate into the downtown business district.
Our merchants on Hamilton Street thought they had that same assurance, after investing both their time and assets for many years.
Although Hamilton Street has been our mercantile district for more than a century, our current mayor envisions an arena. Straight out of the catalog for unimaginative administrators, he hopes this one will succeed, although many have failed.
The 700 block of Hamilton Street certainly is not the neon success of the 1950s. Nevertheless, it still supports much more commerce than many people realize. Two national chains, Family Dollar and Rite Aid, succeed there along with numerous independents. Family Dollar is the modern equivalent of the 5 and 10 that anchored that block during its heyday. The senior citizens, at the two high-rises on Walnut Street, depend on Rite Aid's pharmacy.
Anecdotal evidence from other cities Allentown's size indicates that an arena/event center will not create spinoff business for nearby restaurants. It may well discourage existing patrons who now enjoy convenient parking.
Allentown's one-way streets would ensure unnecessary traffic congestion when patrons leave the arena. Most people feel that if an arena is built, it should either be along the Lehigh River or at Coca-Cola Park. I would prefer the former Mack 5C location at S. 12th and Lehigh streets. Lehigh is a major street that intersects with Interstate 78, less than two miles away.

My best recommendation for Mayor Pawlowski would be to concentrate on quality-of-life issues and throw away that catalog of distracting projects. I have seen mayors build a canopy, take down a canopy, reconfigure the parking, build parking decks, create a parking authority — and all the while ignore the things that really count.

When Allentown was the All-American City, we didn't need projects from that catalog. If the city was simply kept clean and safe, it would promote much more business than any boondoggle project.
This project has received no feedback or input from the citizens of Allentown. It is being rushed through various channels to accommodate the schedule of a minor league hockey team. While other cities have prospered from their history, we can't wait to tear down the heart of our downtown — by eminent domain. I say no thank you.
Michael Molovinsky

reprinted from The Morning Call, June 1, 2011

Sign electronic petition against eminent domain

Silence of the Lambs

This blog has never been too complimentary toward the Old Allentown Preservation Association. I don't have much use for people who go along to get along. It seems that the Mayor always gives them a cookie for their good behavior. By that I mean the city buys some problem property, and spends five times more than it's worth deconverting it back into a single family house. Although the taxpayers can't spend enough preserving architecture for them, not a whimper from them about the endangered merchant's architecture. When Cannons closed as a yuppie bar, a few of their guppies claimed on this blog that they would patronize the new mixed demographic bar; apparently not too many or too often, it closed. As one citizen after another testified against the hockey arena at City Council, the Preservation Association was again silent. They have changed their website from a picture of Pawlowski's house, to pictures of Pawlowski himself. Perhaps they should change their name to the Pawlowski Preservation Association. When the arena leaves out and the Catasauquans head back home up 8th Street, the quality of life in Old Allentown will take another hit. Give them a cookie.

Stealing Allentown's Treasures

                                                   click photograph to enlarge

The merchants who built Hamilton Street counted on architecture to attract shoppers into their emporiums. Large neon signs wouldn't appear for another fifty years. The soffit and fascia shown above, halfway between 7th and 8th on Hamilton, is the most elaborate facade in Allentown. One thing you can say about Allentown City Hall, they never let culture, art, or history get into the way of their plans. As successful cities come to value and profit from their history more and more, Allentown keeps using the standard catalog of proven failures. I know from other projects on Hamilton Street that Pawlowski isn't big on history. The Cityline Building in the 800 Block was permitted to stucco over beautiful brickwork. Sad that the puppies, who are directors at the Art Museum and Historical Society, remain silent on the planned destruction. It's hard to describe the magnificence of the skylight shown below, also in the targeted block. It's very large in three sections, in pristine condition. Should be quite a snack for Pawlowski's bulldozer.

Exaggerating the Arena

I spent yesterday in Wyomissing, PA at a restaurant client of mine. Wyomissing is just outside of Reading and I happened to ask my client’s banker about Reading’s arena and if that’s doing anything for Reading’s downtown.
The banker said the arena has done very little, if anything, for Reading’s downtown. He noted that there was a recent article in the Reading Eagle which put the annual attendance at the Sovereign Center at only about 500,000, with about half coming from the hockey team.
I thought that was significant since it is well below Mayor Pawlowski’s projections of 1.5 million for the Allentown arena. The Allentown arena will hold 8,500 for hockey and 10,000 for concerts, so it is slightly larger than the Sovereign Center (7,200 hockey/8,900 concerts). Still, it does make Pawlowski’s estimates seem highly inflated. Also, the relatively small figure for non-hockey events was startling, since these types of events would have to cover the lion’s share of Pawlowski’s estimate (I figure there are only about 40 home hockey games in a season).
The banker also mentioned several bank clients who opened restaurants near the Reading arena (hoping for spinoff business from the arena crowd). These were successful restaurateurs who were enticed to open a downtown location by Reading’s City Hall (sound familiar?). The spinoff has not happened, and those restaurants are struggling.
Mike Schware
Allentown

UPDATE:Pennsylvania Senate Passes Eminent Domain Reform

 The Pennsylvania Senate on December 7 passed eminent domain reform legislation significantly curtailing the ability of state and local government to condemn private property for non-public uses. The bill, S.B. 881, the Property Rights Protection Act, responds to the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of New London and the widespread abuse of eminent domain throughout the state. Limits 'Blight' Designations S.B. 881, introduced by state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/Northern York) and approved by the Senate in a unanimous vote, prohibits the use of eminent domain for commercial development and considerably tightens the definition of blight. Tightening that definition was particularly important because defining a property as blighted is a prerequisite for condemning it and transferring it to another private party. Exceptions were inserted to exclude from the bill's reach property in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Delaware County that has already been designated as blighted. The exceptions, however, will expire after seven years. Explaining the need for his bill, Piccola said the Kelo ruling "made people sit up and take notice and start to realize that in the face of activist courts and local government, private property rights might very well be threatened," according to the November 14, 2005 Greenwire. Limited to Public Uses "For too long, some local governments have threatened property owners in Pennsylvania with eminent domain for private profit," Piccola said in a December 7 news release. "My legislation will help end these abuses but not touch local governments' ability to acquire property to build everything traditionally considered a public use, such as roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses. "The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by the government and turned over to another citizen for non-governmental use is simply an outrageous proposition and something that was never intended by our founding fathers. The Property Rights Protection Act makes certain that home and small business owners in Pennsylvania know that they can keep what they have worked so hard to own," Piccola added. Far-Reaching Effects "Pennsylvania law was in dire need of reform," said Dana Berliner, a senior attorney at the Washington, DC-based Institute for Justice. "It allowed government condemnation of property merely for being 'economically or socially undesirable.' This definition put literally all property at risk. "This bill places unprecedented limits on eminent domain abuse," Berliner added. "The one glaring shortcoming is the temporary exceptions for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but even that does not dampen the near total victory this bill provides." "The Pennsylvania senate bill is the most comprehensive legislation in the country," said Steven Anderson, coordinator of the grassroots Castle Coalition. "It slams the door on runaway eminent domain abuse and completely redefines the overly permissive definition of 'blight' that has been repeatedly used as an excuse to take property from one private citizen and give it to another private citizen." Bipartisanship Noted "The bipartisan nature of this legislation is especially encouraging," Anderson added. "All around the country, Democrats and Republicans are uniting to put an end to eminent domain abuses. Of course, with poll after poll showing that upwards of 90 percent of the American public disagrees with the Kelo decision and feels that government should not take away a person's property merely to give it to another person for economic development, it shouldn't be a surprise that legislators from both parties are responding to the overwhelming will of the voters." "Take away the exceptions for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and S.B. 881 stands as a model for other states looking to prohibit eminent domain for the benefit of private businesses and developers," added Institute for Justice staff attorney Bert Gall in a December 7 news release. "Both cities have abused eminent domain in the past and certainly need no exception now, particularly since citizens that live in the excepted areas receive much less protection than everyone else. Fortunately, the exceptions will expire in seven years and all cities will then play by the same rules." Broad Coalition for Reform The bill received support from a broad range of organizations, including the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Farm Bureau, and the National Federation of Independent Business. The bill now heads to the state's House of Representatives, which overwhelmingly passed a similar and slightly more stringent eminent domain reform bill in November 2005 and is expected to approve the Senate bill. "The unanimous nature of the Senate vote speaks volumes to the bipartisan support for property rights and eminent domain reform," said Scott Bullock, another senior attorney for the Institute for Justice. Republicans and Democrats should both be applauded for passing this bill. "As the Pennsylvania legislature illustrates, the tide is turning against state and local governments that engage in eminent domain abuse," Bullock added.

End of a Legend

When Joe Louis retired as Heavyweight Champion in 1949, he had beat all challengers for a dozen years. Before winning the title, he had avenged the only loss in his career by knocking out Germany's Max Schmeling, in one of the most famous fights in ring history. The only man he feared was the tax man, who wouldn't let Joe rest. On October 26, 1951, he climbed back into the ring to fight a young, undefeated Rocky Marciano, who had won 31 out of 36 fights by knockout. In the eighth round, the aging legend was knocked through the ropes, down and out, in what would be his last fight.

An Eminent Domain Failure

During the early 1970's, Allentown demolished the entire neighborhood between Union and Lawrence Streets. It was, in a large part, home to the black community. How ironic that we destroyed the cohesion of a neighborhood, but renamed Lawrence Street after Martin Luther King. The only remnant of the neighborhood is the St. James A.M.E. Church. Going up the hill today we now have a vacant bank call center on the east, and the Housing Authority Project on the west. A whole neighborhood existed in from both sides of Lehigh Street, including black owned shops. The houses were old and humble, but people owned them, many for generations. Some blacks at the time wondered if the project was Urban Renewal or Negro Removal?
above reprinted from January 24, 2011 (then titled Downhill on Lehigh Street)

You don't have to go far from Hamilton Street to see an eminent domain failure; Only several blocks and 40 years. Fortunately, for our imported leaders, memory of this debacle has faded. Allentown now wants to discard the most historic mercantile block of Hamilton Street, so that an out of state developer can force feed hotdogs to people from Catasauqua, at minor league hockey games.

A Promise Kept

Irena Sendler was 30 in 1940, when the 400,000 Jews of Warsaw were herded into the ghetto and sealed off in the first step of the plan to exterminate them. In late 1942, after 280,000 had been deported to the death camp Treblinka, Sendler and others formed Zegota, a Polish underground council to aid the Jews. Sendler's heart-rending mission, was to explain to a Jewish mother, that the only possible way to save her child was to give the boy or girl over to her. She promised that after the war she would try to reunite the families. The children were secreted in convents, orphanages and with Polish families. Captured by the Nazi's and tortured, she was freed by the underground on her way to be executed. She had put the name of each child on a slip of paper, and buried them in a jar for safekeeping. After the war she did attempt to reunite the families, but almost all the parents had perished. Irena Sendler's remarkable courage has become widely known because of ninth grade school project in Kansas, Life in a Jar.

A Better Arena Site

As a boy growing up three blocks from the Mack assembly plant, I was always fascinated by the giant doors at the S. 12th and Lehigh Street end. Only recently did I learn that Catalina Flying Boats were assembled there during the War (Second World). What I did see everyday was endless Mack trucks, in every color, filling the huge yard next to the plant. They would be driven away, piggyback, to destinations all over the country. That plant has been gone now about fifty years, with only the footprint still visible in the above photo. Since that time, Route 78 now intersects with Lehigh Street, 1.5 miles away. Imagine a public arena fronting on a major road, with easy access to a main highway. Ed Pawlowski probably doesn't know about the old Mack parcel, but he's welcome to use the idea. It sure beats destroying center city with an illegal arena. I do think it's illegal; At Wednesday's meeting, City Council indicated it had full knowledge of the arena plans. This secret knowledge allowed them to approve the location, and permit eminent domain with no due diligence between the first reading of the resolution and the passing of the vote. Although public comment was permitted, there was no public input or discussion. In an unusual move, the City Solicitor was there, instead of an assistant. Despite Attorney Snyder's presence, there appears to be multiple violations of the Sunshine Act of 1976.

UPDATE: Councilman Michael Donovan elaborates on Arena

Sign electronic petition against eminent domain

Pawlowski Muscles Redevelopment Authority

Although Pawlowski effectively gutted the Redevelopment Authority earlier this year by de-funding it's director, that agency is still fighting for survival. Here we see a City Solicitor dress down an attorney for the Agency, at the apparent amusement of City Council. Despite the solicitor's overbearing, the assessment record does show the Redevelopment Authority as owner. I have added two more short video's by Grounzero's Imantrek at the bottom of Pawlowski's Sham, two posts ago. Apparently, citizens of Allentown don't deserve much in the way of democracy.

Our School Taxes for Hockey Arena

Guest Post by David Fehr Zimmerman
Sports Arena Financing through the NIZ (Neighborhood Improvement Zone)
An article on the WFMZ web site, perhaps, provides some insight into this issue(March 3, 2011 - Jocelyn Moes).
It refers to the establishment of a Neighborhood Improvement Zone empowered inHB 1614 THE FISCAL CODE - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS Act of Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.537, No. 50 Cl. 72 Session of 2009 No. 2009-50 ARTICLE XVI-B as a financing mechanism for this project.The articles states:"A majority of the project will be paid for by the creation of a 130-acre Neighborhood Improvement Zone, or NIZ.""It essentially is a self-financing part of the project because what you will use are future tax receipts that the project generates to pay for the debt service for the project's existence," said Mann, who added that sales and use taxes, state income taxes, and property taxes could all be used as long as they're generated within the130 acres."That could include not only the arena, but surrounding homes and businesses."Mann said people in the NIZ zone wouldn't be paying any more taxes than they normally pay. The money would just be going directly to pay off the project." Instead of being collected and going to their normal coffers, those taxes generated from the facility will be redirected towards debt service on the facility," said Mann.From my review of the legislation it is unclear as to exactly what tax revenues will be included relative to real estate. I am waiting to hear from Pat Browne's legal staff on this issue. It is critical to consider Mann indicating the list of taxes that "could be used as long as they are generated within the 130 acres".Within a 409 meter radius of the center of the block proposed for development,approximately the same area as 130 acres, there are approximately 708 structureand/or land parcels with an assessed value of approximately $88,823,000.If property taxes are included the property tax liability to the school district could beapproximately $4,049,618. The city is $1,533,874 and the county is $1,056,994 A sizable sum given the current financial condition of the state, county, city and school district of Allentown. If the property taxes are ear marked for diversion the school district may need tocome up with another $4,000,000 to balance the budget as declared by the new authority? This year or next? I question if we could end up trading education for economic development? I hope the reference by Ms Mann to property taxes in the WFMZ article is a misstatement. It seems to me the enactment of this bill and the development of this project could result in the diversion of tax dollars to pay the debt services on the financing of a development for entertainment based services without any real regard for the state of the other entities and the economy. Could this really happen?
Channel 69 Article
Google Map-130 Acre Area
List of NIZ properties and tax liability calculations
Act 50-2009
title and photograph added by molovinsky

Pawlowski's Sham

Chester is a city plagued by high levels of poverty and crime rates. Elected officials promise that a soccer stadium, financed heavily by taxpayer dollars, will be part of solving Chester's economic woes. Governor Rendell said, "I believe this guarantees that Chester will be one of the first-class cities in Pennsylvania."

Yet economic research finds that athletic stadiums do not result in economic growth. Economist Phillip Miller demonstrated in his empirical study of St. Louis that stadium construction has no net effect on employment. Economics professor Ian Hudson found similar evidence. Other studies, including Dennis Coates and Brad Humphrey's analysis, "The Stadium Gambit and Local Economic Development," are even more pessimistic. Coates and Humphrey go beyond claiming that stadium development has no benefit for local economic development, concluding that projects actually have a negative effect on real per-capita income.

Politicians have a penchant for giving handouts to new facilities. They seem to believe they can hoodwink voters with a façade of progress. Construction offers the illusion of economic progress, and ceremonies to award tax dollars for new projects make elected officials look and feel like they are helping their constituents. But sports stadiums represent more “political development” for lawmakers than economic development for citizens.

The plan sounded great... build a midsize arena, stuff it with sports, music acts and monster trucks and create a centerpiece for the new city center...But trouble started almost from the day the doors of Santa Ana Star Center opened in 2006. Arena in New Mexico

Chester is poised to experience what other communities across the country have learned: athletic parks are no panacea for community revitalization. The benefits of sports stadiums are grossly over-sold by politicians and become extremely costly to taxpayers.

The enthusiasm of elected officials to build a soccer stadium in Chester is misguided, at best. At worst, it represents a waste of taxpayer dollars and an economic sham. It is unfortunate that political calculations are trumping sound public policies that would foster real economic growth and true revitalization in Chester. Reducing the tax and regulatory burdens on job creators would bring more lasting improvements to Chester. Harrisburg’s corporate welfare is a flagrant foul and deserves a “red card” from all taxpayers.

The above article excerpted from The Commonwealth Foundation
Update on Chester Stadium: Portrait of a boondoggle
WATCH RUMBLE AT CITY COUNCIL




video's created by IMANTREK for Grounzero Magazine

The Night Hamilton Street Died

What was once a thriving block of Hamilton Street will now be turned into a ghost down. Even now, although not the golden age shown above, the block between 7th and 8th does business. Still hosting three chain stores, the block had survived, despite one arrogant mayor after another. The Family Dollar Store is one of their most successful branches. Rainbow (jeans) and Rite Aid also anchor the block, along with successful independents. In a night of shame, one of the most shameful acts was Julio Guridy, interrupting the merchants so that Mayor Pawlowski could educate them. Pawlowski said that the arena could attract up to 1.5 million people a year, and that everyone will benefit, even relocated merchants. Considering that the hockey team only actually attracts 3,000 people to 40 home games, Pawlowski is off by about 1.4 million. In reality, the stores that remain on the south side of the street will now face an empty arena and much less foot traffic. The upscale restaurants, such as Sangria and Cosmopolitan, will suffer, because their patrons will avoid the nighttime traffic congestion. Lou Belletieri told Council that he operated a restaurant across from the Wilkes-Barre Arena, and did no business, what so ever, from it. Councilman Michael Donovan said that although he feels for the merchants, he owes the other 118,000 citizens The Pawlowski Palace of Sport.* He actually owed them the courage to say no to this ill conceived plan.*

*Palace of Sport is a borrowed term coined by a blog reader. Donovan was joined by five other councilmen in his yes vote.

Another Day, Another Battle

Sometimes in democracy there is no rest for the citizens. Last night the citizens of Northampton County won a major battle against what was essentially a two man decision. Despite pre-determined studies and other fabricated data, the voters chose dignity for their elderly. Tonight, Allentown City Council will vote to irrevocably change the nature of our downtown, based on the whims of one man. Like Northampton, he had studies done by the very people who would own the project. The mayor would dump our merchants, thinking that The Pawlowski Sport and Event center will restore prosperity to center city. Most residents can only see traffic and inconvenience coming, and would favor the arena either at the river-front or Coca Cola Park. Please join me this evening at 7:30, to remind City Council that although they and Pawlowski were elected to manage the city, they don't own it.

A Quick Learner

In mid April, Ed Pawlowski told The Morning Call he didn't know anything about the merchants being made offers that they dare not refuse. Several days later, Sarah Hailstone told the merchants that the City was the undisclosed buyer. If you think Ed learned a lot in those three days, that's nothing compared to today. Although I didn't attend this morning's meeting with the Mayor and merchants, I did meet with several of the merchants later in the morning. Once again Pawlowski had pleaded ignorance. He didn't know why the Farr Building was the only property the Arena didn't need, in a square block. Strangely, I know; The Farr Building had received close to a $half million in subsidy from Pawlowski, to create loft apartments for the coming onslaught of young professionals with disposable income. It fits his vision, and it will remain. While Ed knew no details at 8:30 AM this morning, within a couple hours he was prepared to announce the arena to the media. I suppose he's a quick learner.

When a Mayor's eyes are bigger than the taxpayer's wallet: Story of a failed arena

Zeppelin over Jerusalem

The German airship LZ127 Graf Zeppelin was in service from 1928 to 1937. Two of it's 590 flights were over Jerusalem. The first occurred on March 26, 1929. It was a night flight, during which they dropped mail into the German colony at Jaffa. The second flight, pictured above, was from Cairo on April 11, 1931. The ship hovered above the Church of Holy Sepulchre for several minutes.

Hardball for Hockey

The following resolution authorizing eminent domain is being put through City Council by the Administration. The arena will have multiple ramifications for center city Allentown. In addition to altering the historic shopping district, center city residents will experience a sufficient increase in traffic, especially in the evening after events. If such a decision should have been made solely by the Mayor, is a fair question. Although another meeting with the affected merchants is scheduled for Tuesday, their opinion and options are apparently of no significance.
R 28 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Allentown Authorizing the Preparation and Submission of Declarations of Taking and Related Documentation pursuant to the Eminent Domain Code of 1964, as amended, to Acquire Certain Properties bounded on the east by North 7th Street, on the north by Linden Street, on the west by North 8th Street and on the south by Hamilton Street within the City of Allentown – inclusive of the following properties, in the event any of these properties cannot be acquired by the City amicably before the institution of eminent domain proceedings in the Lehigh County Court:

Property Address
12 N. 7th St, . 22 N. 7th St., 38 N. 7th St., 40 N. 7th St
42-44 N. 7th St, 46 N. 7th St., 48 N. 7th St

21 N. 8th St., 23 to 27 N 8th St, 29 N. 8th St.
31 N. 8th St., 33 N. 8th St., 35 N 8th St.
37 N. 8th St., 39 N 8th St., 41 N. 8th St.
43 N. 8th St.

701-703 W. Hamilton St.,705 W. Hamilton St.
707 W. Hamilton St., 709 W. Hamilton St.
711 W. Hamilton St., 713 W. Hamilton St.
715 W. Hamilton St., 719 W. Hamilton St.
721 W. Hamilton St., 723 W. Hamilton St.
725-727 W. Hamilton St., 729-731 W. Hamilton St.
733-737 W. Hamilton St.

716 -718 W. Linden St., 720 W. Linden St., 728 W. Linden St.

UPDATE: City Council has been not given, nor has yet asserted, any role in this huge part of Allentown's future, except now being asked to sign off on legal confiscation.
UPDATE 2: Although I attended the first meeting with the merchants and city, and suggested the meeting for tomorrow (I also requested that Mayor Pawlowski attend), I no longer plan on attending. I have learned that the city just distributed a letter to the merchants outlining the Arena Plan, but predated the letter till early April. Merchants, to their credit, are willing to overlook the lack of good faith, and will be attending. Apparently, City Council is accepting the Administration's claim that many properties have accepted the agreement. I believe that those who have signed the agreements are those which have been long vacant, and see the opportunity for a bailout. I'm not surprised that the Administration once again has City Council under it's control.

The Republican Primary

All candidates for County Commissioner, save one (Norma Cusick), have indicated a readiness to sell Cedarbrook. As an independent I can vote for none of them on Tuesday, otherwise, I could vote for none of them anyway. A large part of my tax dollar goes to the criminal justice system, a County function I aspire to never utilize. Beyond the prison, courts, and Sheriff Department, there are the social services which administer to the dependents who are not yet criminals. Those too, I hope never to need. I don't need their soccer fields or farm preservation programs. Although I also hope to never need Cedarbrook, I have known people who have. Cedarbrook served them at the time of their greatness need. The County Government has grown way beyond the essential needs outlined by our forefathers. One of those needs was a facility of recourse for our elderly. Lets not pencil that away, to provide better recreation for the prison, or more social services for those who make being needy a lifestyle of choice.

Through a technical difficulty, the web host Blogger has lost the previous comments to this post

Slaughter of the Innocents

Much of the dogma, liturgy and shrines of the Coptic Church deal with the Holy Family's stay in Egypt, when they fled the Slaughter of the Innocents. With of the fall of various despots in the middle east, the iron fists which protected religious minorities are no longer there. Particularly affected, is the ancient Coptic Christians of Egypt. Saint Mena Coptic Orthodox Church dates back to the 6th century, and was rebuilt in 725 AD. It was put to the torch by a mob on Saturday, while the army stood by.

Public Money Lovefest

Although everyone present at the train forum conceded that it was absurdly expensive and impractical, they wanted to proceed. The moderator, a professional consultant, preached resolve and grants. Between the $Billion dollar price tag, and the $12Million yearly loss projected, the Paul Marin inspired $250,000 report seemed like a bargain. The report, by the Systra Design Group, essentially said what everyone over 25 years old, or not a professional public money spender, already knew. Of course the sponsors of the event, LV Renew, are in the under 25 category. Most of the speakers were in the public spending group. One of my favorite targets and quotes is from my pal Panto; he sees tourist coming on the train. Imagine, New Yorkers getting on the train at Penn Station, to come to Easton's Al Bundy High School Sports Museum. If the train plan went full steam ahead, it would take to 2030 before we heard the actual whistle. By then, the Renew kids will probably be living in the suburbs, telling their kids to keep away from the city. Panto, and the public money spenders, will be in Depends.

photo explanation; picture is from the future, 2035, The Poverty Express, bringing more needy to the Lehigh Valley

reprinted from April 21, 2010

Layoffs Approved

May 8, 2011, Allentown, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved Allentown School District’s 2011-2012 education program. Submitted to PDE on April 1, 2011, the program outlines refinements from kindergarten through high school course offerings to “alter or curtail” the district’s education program.

At the secondary level, ASD’s revised program of studies is directly aligned with the Pathways to Success framework adopted by the district for the 2011-2012 school year, which provides every student with more structured academic plans that lead to projected higher numbers of graduates with more success in post-secondary education or at jobs paying with higher self-sustaining wages. In order to accomplish this, the 2011-2012 program of studies is designed to increase opportunities for dual enrollment and advanced placement, to encourage more students to take technology studies, and removes some courses and modifies others to eliminate redundancy. Class sizes are planned to be 25 students at the elementary level and 30 at the secondary level. PDE reviewed programming for early childhood and elementary education, general academic secondary education, special education, English language acquisition and student support programs.

“With this approval to change the educational program and the approval of the Allentown School District Board of School Directors, you will continue to be in compliance with the educational mandates of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended, and Chapter 4 of 22 Pa. Code as long as you comply with the requirements of Chapters 4.21, 4.22, and 4.23 to provide planned instruction in those areas,” affirmed Stephen Fisher, Acting Director of the Office of Elementary/Secondary Education School Services Unit at the Pennsylvania Department of Education in a letter to the district dated May 5, 2011.

The above is a news bulletin from the Allentown School District. I added the Z Letter Banner, and also highlighted the layoff justification.

The Monster's Appetite

A Guest Post
The most recent outrage being perpetrated by the APA in their quest to be ever more profitable:
Citations no longer come with mailing envelopes.
AND:
You will know when it's time to renew your residential parking sticker when you find an over time citation on your wind shield.
There is no way to know that a renewal is in order, you must go to the APA office and ask about the latest ticket.
I was out of town and came home to find two tickets for over time meter parking. I have been a RPP holder for many years.
When I went to the APA office to renew the permit, I was told that I had three parking tickets.
The APA apparently cancelled two of them (or maybe they didn't - I just don't know) and mailed me a citation for $50.00 for the third (?) citation.
The $50.00 fee is (I think) for repetitive over time at a meter?
To make it better, when I re-upped my RPP I was told that I still had to feed the meter for the rest of that day even after the APA took my payment for the year upcoming.
So that is another $8.00 added to the cost of a RPP.
This amounts to charging me $78.00 for my RPP.
Unbelievable.
I am one of the people trying to exist here in center city.
How in hell can anyone attempt to live here when THIS city agency
behaves with total disregard towards the public?
What is wrong with this picture??
If in fact it should exist at all, the Parking Authority should exist to facilitate life in the city.
It should not be a continuous burden to all the people living here - especially those of us living on streets with no (0) businesses.
The Allentown Parking Authority as it exists, needs to be abolished.
Below, link to an excellent site with clear information;
http://www.brokenladders.com/allentown_parking_authority/
A guest post from "Local"
title and photograph added by molovinsky

AEDC's Choo Choo

The Allentown Economic and Development Corporation has received a $1.8 million grant, toward a $4 million dollar project, to restore a portion of the Barber Quarry branch to service an industrial building on South 10th Street. The building once housed Traylor Engineering, which was a giant back in the day. Recently, it housed a smaller fabricator who President Obama visited on his Allentown photo opportunity mission. The business has since closed, but let's not have that reality stand in the way of grants. Last summer, I fought against Allentown's Trail Network Plan, which catered to the spandex cyclist crowd. The new trail was to be built on the Barber Quarry track line. Not only didn't the AEDC oppose the plan, it's director was an advocate. Now they will be funded to develop that which they wanted to destroy. Where do I begin in Allentown's World of Mirth? Only in the unaccountable world of agencies and grants, would $millions of dollars of our money be available for projects which are twenty years too late. The track is long gone. The only industry (Traylor Engineering) which would have need, is long gone. The business reality of South 10th Street is now a go-cart track and the Hive, which is a Junior Achievement type project.

Barber Quarry Branch Line Posts
The Train of Lehigh Parkway
Allentown Archeology
Junkyard Train

Adorable AEDC

At the meeting last month between the City and Hamilton Street merchants, the new Community Development Director, Sarah Hailstone, was a case study in evasion. I asked how come Pawlowski said the previous week that he didn't know anything about the offers to buy the buildings, but now we're sitting there with her and the agent from Summit Reality? Hailstone said that previously it was being handled by AEDC,(Allentown Economic Development Corporation) but now it was in the City's court, and that eventually it would be passed on to a new Authority. The AEDC has always been a handmaiden of convenience for the City. I remember years ago reading an article that they overseer seven empty buildings, had a staff of four, and a budget of $millions. I know plenty of guys who overseer more empty buildings than that, with a used pickup truck and cell phone. During a gathering several years ago, then City Development Director Joyce Marin asked if anybody knew what the inside of the Schoen Building looked like? What struck me was months before Marin was head of AEDC, and the Schoen building was one of the seven she got big money to manage. Joyce was recently hired by the School District to promote before and after school activities by outside agencies. Gotta love the bureaucrats; Oh well, back to the adorable. The AEDC has announced an innovative program at the Bridgework Building on S. 10th and Harrison Streets. They will operate the Hive, where people who normally work at home on the computer, can work together in a common space, with wifi and a coffee machine. Unknown to AEDC, their innovative Hive was done years ago, in two locations on Hamilton Street. Of course on Hamilton Street the participants could actually see other human beings and patronize a lunch spot or store. Did I mention that AEDC also operates a blog called Allentown Good News. Maybe I could operate molovinsky on allentown from the Hive....

School District on Front Burner

Although six days have passed, comments are still being sent to Zimmerman Speaks Out. I have decided to put our troubled school system back on the front burner. Today Steve Esack, at The Morning Call, reported on the bloated district administration. This past Wednesday, I received some comments doubting whether newspaper reporters harvest idea's from blogs and the value of board members speaking out here. Actually, a comment placed previously on this blog revealed that administrative titles were being changed to affect funding. Both the reporter and editor confirmed that this blog was the genesis for their earlier Joyce Marin article. The school administration has warned teachers about publicly criticizing the district; This blog provides an opportunity to speak out.

As a teacher at WAHS, I welcome Mr Zimmerman's attempt to understand the safety issues at the high school.There are many assaults on teachers which bring about minimum consequences to students. Very few suspensions, needed approval by the district office, and failure to follow most points of the code of conduct have led to chaos in the high school.Until there is discipline and control in the high school, test scores will not go up. (comment on Zimmerman Speaks Out, received April 30.)

Along with looming teacher layoffs, we have an administration which seems to cater to administrators. We have an attempt to suppress the right of teachers to speak out, and we have discipline issues being swept under the rug.
UPDATE: Click on letter to enlarge

You have selected a very important profession at a time when great teachers in America are needed now more than ever. In the Allentown School District, opportunities continue for all who are reaching higher to improve our system and who share with us the practices, values and beliefs that make a real difference........Gerald Zahorchak

Dr. Zahorchak, If I was a teacher facing layoff, I would find this letter very ironic. I see a pattern of disconnect between your constant stream of Z Letters and the realities facing teachers, students and parents.

Prince William's Great Grandmother

Long before Prince William walked down the aisle yesterday in Westminister Abbey, his great grandmother, Princess Alice (Princess Andrew of Greece), walked there during the wedding of her son Phillip, to Princess Elizabeth. Princess(Alice) Andrew, later at the Coronation of Elizabeth, wore the habit of a nun. An extraordinary woman, she had founded a nurses order composed of nuns in Greece. She modeled the order after one started by her aunt and mentor in Russia, whom she had visited many years earlier. Born Princess Alice of Battenberg, she married Prince Andrew of Greece in 1903, assuming her new title.
During the Second World War, she hid a Jewish widow and her children in Athens, saving their lives. In accordance to her wish, she is buried in Jerusalem, next to her cherished aunt Duchess Fyodorovna, in the Russian Orthodox Church of Maria Magdalene.