The Beatles Concert at Convention Hall

In the summer of 1964, when I was 17, I took a bus from the old terminal on S. 6th Street, to California. I had a letter from the manager of Trexler Orchards, asking his associate in Oxnard, California, to give me a job in the lemon orchard. That manager also owned a carwash, and gave me a job there instead.  I rented a small cabin at the end of a backyard, they were built during the war to provide extra housing for the G.I's. After two months at the carwash, I was rescued by a former Allentonian. His father had moved the family years earlier, to work at the Western Electric plant in Hawthorne. Kenneth was about five years older than me, and he and his friends prided themselves on gate-crashing. In my few weeks there we crashed several concerts and Disneyland. I returned at the end of summer, in time for the Beatles concert in Atlantic City. Putting my new delinquent skill to work, I vaulted over the turnstile and ran into the seating section. If the Beatles sang or not, I couldn't tell you, the screaming made it impossible to know.  Kenneth became an accomplished celebrity photographer, among other things. He passed away several years ago, and his family returned to Allentown to spread his ashes in Lehigh Parkway.

The Little Bridge That Could

When I was a boy growing up on the south side, going to the doctor near the current YMCA, meant going over Schreiber's Bridge. Being built in 1828, the bridge even back then was over a hundred years old. When the 15th Street (Ward Street) Bridge opened in 1954, who would imagine that it would come and go, while the stone arch bridge continued providing passage over the creek. The Little Bridge That Could took quite a beating during the last couple of years, while constructing the new 15th Street Bridge. Trucks smashed the northern entrance walls no less than three times, turning on to Martin Luther King Drive. Although it is understandable that the City will wait until this Spring to repair the walls, there exists a more urgent matter. From the extensive use caused by the detour, and this harsh winter, the roadbed is badly cracked over the bridge's arch. These openings allow water to enter and seep down into the stone arch. Perhaps the city administration could give the historic bridge some special attention yet this winter, it certainly has earned some consideration.

Rich Fegley and the DTE Contract

To say that Rich Fegley is upset about the Delta Thermo Energy Contract is an understatement. This arrangement, already approved by city council about two years ago, allows DTE to mix our trash and sewage into some concoction that they will burn to make energy. This precise process has not been done before anywhere in the country. Rich doesn't think that we're innovators, he thinks that we're chumps. He believes that Mayor Pawlowski and DTE outright mislead city council on the projections to continue conventional trash collection.

On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 Rich Fegley  wrote: Members of City Council, At the last three Allentown City Council meetings I brought something to your attention that I feel  is very important. As I have stated three times before, the contract that the City signed with Delta Thermo Energy  was based on false and misleading information. Here are excerpts from the PWIA 12-12-2013 letter (attached) to PA Department of  Environmental Protection: Delta Thermo made a number of materially false statements to the public regarding  their proposed project and the waste disposal industry as a whole. Delta Thermo's continued use of false environmental marketing claims Delta Thermo's representatives claimed that landfill tipping fees have increased  7% a year over each of the last ten years. This is false........... The PWIA in this letter continues to point out further FALSE and MISLEADING information  that Delta Thermo Energy and ultimately Mayor Ed Pawlowski and PMF (Scott Shearer)  provided to City Council and the Public. I am stating that we were told information that was fabricated and false. At the last Council meeting I asked Council to look into what research was done by PFM and Mayor Pawlowski on LANDFILL COSTS in the Lehigh Valley. How did PFM and Pawlowski come up with this $90.48/ton cost? This new analysis show that the City will lose $113,000,000. This is a real number based on the "real" numbers that PFM and Mayor Pawlowski presented to City Council and the public. I hope that we can discuss this at City Council this Wednesday. Thank you for your attention, Rich Fegley I wish Fegley well on his endeavor. Approval of the Delta Thermo Contract was a circus, complete with trade union members from out of town packing the council chamber. New council member Cynthia Mota voted no, and then changed her vote, after being taken on a field trip by Delta Thermo. I would think that negating the contract at this point would be more complicated, requiring more motivation, than this council has ever displayed.

Pawlowski's Back, First Snow Emergency

Residents on Tilghman Street learned the expensive way that Pawlowski is back to mayoring in Allentown. Whether you're towed during a snow emergency, or ticketed at a meter, center city residents are the ones who are fined and inconvenienced by the traffic regulations. Community activist Ce Ce Gerlach wonders on Facebook, This is like the 5th snow of the season and now, all of a sudden we are in a "snow emergency". Hundreds of residents were towed, including mine. A city of poor and working class people now have to pay at least $250 to get our cars back. Perhaps Mike Fleck could have hired some canvassers to knock on doors and give the residents some heads up on the towing, like Pawlowski did to get votes back in November.

UPDATE: Mayor Ed Pawlowski claims that 89 cars were towed during the snow emergency  Monday morning, which was instituted with a three hour warning. Police used sirens and loudspeakers to notify residents on both Chew and Tilghman Streets, but the notice given to Walnut Street residents has not been verified.

Time, Money and Cheap Locals Keep Pawlowski Here

Unless Rob McCord becomes Governor, Allentown is probably stuck with Pawlowski for at least the next four years. Seems as if his pesky city responsibilities helped keep Ed from devoting enough time to fund raising.."Every time I sat down to make fundraising calls, another issue would come up that would require my attention," he said...Stepping down will allow me to focus all of my energy on the job that I really love: being the mayor of Allentown,"I didn't know that anybody twisted his arm to run for governor. Also the locals contributors here seem to lack the vision necessary to properly fund one of their own. McCord traveled here in the snow to receive Ed's endorsement. I'm not sure which part of Pawlowski's announcement today should offend Allentonians more, but one thing is clear, his heart clearly isn't here. I did not attend the news conference, this analysis is based on local news sources.

The Morning Call Slow Pitches To Mike Fleck

In today's profile on Mike Fleck, The Morning Call says that the political consultant  plays hardball, indeed he does. Although Fleck may play hard, the paper treated him with kid gloves. In the recent City Council race, Fleck had hired a local attorney to intimidate a candidate into withdrawing. The court ruled the action violated the election code, and the candidate, Kim Velez, was reinstated on the ballot. Not a word of that shenanigan appears in the article, although at the time, the incident was covered by the same reporters. The slowest t-ball pitch in the article concerns the notion that there is a firewall between Fleck's business consulting and his political consulting, here in Pawlowskiville? Although they mention the teenage marketing company Ruckus, they omit the fact that they secured yet another extension from the ACIDA on their Neuweiler option, even though they have resorted to now trying to solicit investors from the internet.

UPDATE: In the comment section a reader suggests,  "Let the city R's pay their volunteers if necessary to get the job done and get out the vote."  Is this the direction Allentown should go in?

Tom Muller's Conversion Complete

It was suggested this past November that Muller was a Republican at heart, but had converted to the Democratic Party only to save the county from the radical inclinations of Scott Ott. The other day Lisa Scheller had an excellent letter in The Morning Call. In it she argued that the county pension contribution should be lowered from 5.5% because CD'S haven't paid that much in years. She also opposes the conflict of interest on the pension board, where most of it's members will receive the pension on which they are setting the rate. According to published reports, I didn't attend the meeting, Muller resorted to dragging Scheller's personal wealth into the debate; "I seriously doubt Commissioner Scheller has any of her wealth in CDs, or much of her wealth in CDs," Apparently, between being elected in November, and starting office in January, Muller must have been sent to Chicago for a workshop on class politics and divisive rhetoric. Although only a few months ago Muller's campaign literature featured him as a conservative businessman, yesterday he seemed like a union boss, while attempting to vilify Scheller in front of a room packed with county employees. Muller knows only too well that CD's are an analogy for conservative investments, and that insolvency caused by public pensions is the crisis of the decade. Muller won the pension board vote yesterday, but it was Scheller who had the taxpayer's back.

Do Local Zombies Read The News

When AOL expanded the Patch local news websites a number of years ago, I couldn't comprehend the business plan. Although it provided employment to a number of laid-off former Morning Call reporters, how could the Lehigh Valley support 12 local news sites, when it could barely support the two remaining newspapers? Did Upper and Lower Saucon really justify a site, much less two separate ones? This past summer AOL cut back the number of local editors to five. Yesterday, The Morning Call reported another massive layoff at Patch, which AOL has spun off to Hale Global, a turn around specialist. Although the Morning Call reports only one surviving editor, two others are still listed on the local sites. When AOL purchased The Huffington Post, more than one experienced national blogger questioned the price. The web makes it easy for anybody to produce a newsletter. Getting people to read it is another story. Getting them to monetize it by clicking on advertisements, is a third story.

In Her Blood

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 villages of Amar and Zweitina. They were members of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, a Christian 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.

click on photo to enlarge

UPDATE: While announcing Kim Makoul's appointment as Public Defender, County Executive Tom Muller said that it's in her blood. I grew up in the era when George Joseph was district attorney. He inspired Kim's dad, Richard Makoul, to attend law school, and become one of the valley's most successful defense attorneys.

This post is reprinted, using a different title

State of The City Called Allentown

When Mayor Pawlowski gives the State Of The City speech on Friday at the Hilton at 9th and Hamilton, will he say next year when I speak at the new hotel, this place will be a flop house? Speaking of flop houses, lately the local news has been dominated by the poor and the homeless. What a juxtaposition these new buildings make with Allentown's walking poor. While community activists demand that some of the new jobs in the Arena Zone  go to the local underemployed, and many public dollars will be spent on administering such training programs, the actual hired employees wouldn't be able to fill a closet at the new hotel. Nobody need worry about those realities at the speech on Friday. Nobody need worry about the difficulties facing the already challenged Allentown School District. Friday's speech, which will be limited to figures, numbers, and graphs about the new buildings and the promise of Transformation, will be applauded by the cheerleaders, and reported by the media.

The Return of Governor Pawlowski

Last year when cities all over Pennsylvania were clamoring for the type of development occurring in Allentown, and with Governor Corbett's dismal polling numbers, a Pawlowski run made sense, at least to Ed Pawlowski. With campaign contribution reports due at the end of the month, this blog believes that Governor Pawlowski will return to being a mayor. Unless a number of very deep pockets came forward, Ed's viability as a candidate will have waned. His campaign manager, Mike Fleck, has given no indication to the contrary in a recent local television show. Although the imported office jobs will increase the lunch traffic for downtown eateries, the sought after dinner crowd will not materialize. Despite Obama's speeches, the economy remains impaired. Locations which do not have Allentown's perceived grime and crime, such as the Promenade Mall, could not support more than a couple upscale restaurants. Much hype has gone into the Transformation of center city. The suburban middle class people populating the artist renderings will not turn into real people on the street. Let's hope for the sake of  Pawlowski's career plans that he finds another ticket to ride out of town, before the new arena becomes a white elephant.

Code Blue Warming Center

The Lehigh Valley Council of Churches has decided to open a code blue warming center in Alliance Hall, at 6th and Chew Streets. That's wonderful, but their email blast announcing the service is very disturbing

You have most likely seen press coverage concerning the plight of the homeless during this recent spell of dangerously cold weather. We have chosen not to participate in public debates about how "others" should solve this problem, particularly since the Conference has for the past decade been doing the heavy lifting when it comes to stabilizing the lives of "the least of these, my brothers and sisters" without the need for shining a media spotlight on that work. Instead of being divisive and derisive, we joined with partners who are problem solvers. Our initial plan is to open the Alliance Hall gym only when needed for emergency Code Blue weather conditions. Funding for this initiative is not guaranteed. Staffing details have not been determined.

 If they had been lifting as much as they think, such a center  would already exist. It's particularly offensive to refer to those who illuminated the problem as divisive and derisive. I keep thinking of Diane Teti's comment that nobody owns the homeless. Apparently, the established charitable institutions think that only they should be credited with good deeds.

The Homeless and The Odd Couple

Yesterday, I praised those advocates campaigning for the homeless. In eight days their efforts resulted in another shelter venue for the homeless, the YMCA, opening it's doors. More importingly, they motivated some elected officials, from both the city and county, to visit Safe Haven at St. Pauls. I also noted the about face taken by the city, which has been slow poking on this issue for eight years. The ink had barely dryed on the memo about adequate shelter space already being available, when Pawlowski announced that the YMCA would be joining the shelter options. But this post is about the man who joined Pawlowski, Tom Muller. When the advocates for the homeless pleaded with City Council last week, Muller sat quietly in the back of the room, studying the situation. This Wednesday evening one of the advocates, Rich Fegley, found County Commissioner Scott Ott sitting on the floor in St. Paul's basement, conversing with a homeless man. Ott has a background in lay ministry. Tom Muller apparently has a heart. Although these two men opposed each other this past November for County Executive, and see the mission of the county much differently, their mutual concern could have a positive result for the homeless.

The Homeless Get Another Shelter

It's not too often that activists prevail in Allentown, I can attest to that. The community owes a debt of gratitude to Diane Teti, Dale Smith, Chris Cocca, Rich Fegley, Reverend Richard Baumann and others for making Pawlowski see the error of his ways. Only yesterday City Hall said that the shelter situation was under control, but by today we learn that the YMCA will be providing shelter on weekdays, during code blue weather. What changed Pawlowski's mind?

UPDATE: Rich Fegley gave an impassioned speech to the County Commmissioners about Safe Haven and the homeless Wednesday evening. He was rewarded later that evening when he learned that three of the commissioners, Ott, Scheller and Mazziotti went to the shelter themselves, after the meeting.

Soups On At St. Pauls

In conjunction with The Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches, lunch is served three times a week at St. Pauls. According to Reverend Richard Baumann, We treat them as people, not just simply give them food. In some sense, this is a place where people can get something to eat and are also treated with some degree of respect. Baumann arranges for some of the nurses in the parish to attend the lunches, which gives the lunch guests an opportunity to ask some health related questions. Recently, Pastor Baumann has been in the news for providing basic shelter from the cold for the homeless. Over the years I've know Baumann as an advocate for the neighborhood. About ten years ago he spoke up for the neighbors who were concerned about losing the neighborhood parking lot, to the Zawarski townhouse project. He also advocated for the merchants and residents who were displaced by the arena. Although the church may be one of the oldest in the city, Baumann makes sure that it's mission stays relevant to the times.

ADDENDUM: On Tuesday evening Julio Guridy visited Safe Haven, which is the basement of St. Pauls, and The Rescue Mission, which has a $multi-million dollar budget. He was shocked at the lack of facilities at the church, but impressed with the Mission. What he doesn't seem to understand is that although the Mission may have room for a few guests from St. Paul, it cannot, and will not accommodate all of them. In this sub-zero weather there is nothing more important than being inside, even if it's on the floor of a church basement.

Allentown Locks Out The Homeless

One week after an emotional presentation to City Council about the life and death situation facing the homeless, Allentown has released an official reply. In regard to the Rescue Mission requirement of needing a police voucher, the city supported that policy; We cannot support and will not support totally unregulated environments... The official city letter also stated that St. Paul's Church is attracting out of the area homeless by their lax rules. It's strange how the Pawlowski administration can support no identification needed to vote, and the rights of immigrants, but believe that only Allentonians with proper ID are entitled not to freeze to death. Furthermore, the letter states the adequacy of existing programs and it's Commission to handle the situation. Last year the city distributed $185,000 in CDBG to organizations that work with longterm solutions to homelessness, but failed to provide an open door shelter from the cold. Advocates for the homeless, including Diane Teti, Dale Smith and Reverend Richard Baumann appealed to Council only because the existing agencies were failing to solve the problem. The City's reply, We cannot support a competing interest group at odds with the methods of the Commission. They went on to say, The idea is not just to get people out of the cold, it is to get them on a path to permanent housing, which requires case management from experienced professionals.  We veteran students of the bureaucracy are not surprised, even if the homeless advocates are dumbstruck. A week has passed, all local media reported the story, and nothing has changed. As I type this report the snow is falling, the wind is howling and the wind chill is expected to dip below zero tonight.

UPDATE: I used to attend the CDBG meeting in council chambers to watch the various non-profits clamor like baby birds for worms. The City would weigh their application, decide who's been good or bad, and make allocations. I have written before about the Rescue Mission, not my favorite organization. Recently, I had an opportunity to speak with Reverend Baumann about shelter being provided by St. Paul's Church. Baumann and St. Paul's have only reluctantly joined the homeless business. It's not a $3.5 million dollar enterprise like the Rescue Mission. It's not a CDBG funded organization with paid employees. It's a man, a church floor and a shoestring budget. This is what the City refers to as a competing interest? Diane Teti once said that nobody owns the homeless, but apparently the City thinks that it does.

Bernie O'Hare also reports on Allentown's reply

City Council's Ugly Present

I suppose the thought was that with Hamilton Street getting $800 million dollars worth of new development, and the mayor being able to use that development as a backdrop for his governor race, City Council should be thrown a crumb or two. Although the city web page touts the renovation as a much needed upgrade, it is horrendous in every facet of it's concept. The architect, W2A, should be embarrassed. The previous straight dais is now a large horseshoe shaped monstrosity, intruding into the chamber, resulting in less seating for the public. While speakers previously stood off to the side where both the council and public could see them, now only their behinds faces the public. Wooden and upholstery theater seats have been replaced with metal chairs, clipped together with plastic connectors. Prior to the meeting last week I told Julio Guridy what I thought of the remodeling. He told me that I was the first person to complain out of about 2000 compliments he received. Not less than 15 seconds later, another person told Julio that the new chamber was horrible. What a consequence.

Further Than The Farr Lot

I rented a storefront from Harvey Farr in the late 1970's. During the earlier heydays of Hamilton Street,  Farr, along with The Morning Call's Donald Miller and John Leh, controlled downtown and owned Park & Shop, a series of surface lots serving the parking needs of their customers. They built the first parking deck in America, now the police station at 10th and Hamilton. As the end of Allentown's dominance as a shopping mecca became apparent, they sold the lots to the newly formed Allentown Parking Authority. This is a story of pulling strings and having connections, which only molovinsky brings you in Allentown; You will not read these unvarnished truths in The Morning Call.

The parking situation in Allentown was well managed by two or three meter maids who worked for the police department, patrolling the meter zone with golf carts. Farr, Miller and Leh prevailed upon then mayor for life Joe Daddona to bale them out of the parking business, and thus The Allentown Parking Authority was created. At first the Authority serviced the meters, but soon purchased the surface lots as originally pre-planned.

The Parking Authority continues as a political entity. It's board of directors are appointed by the current mayor for life, Ed Pawlowski, and are among his biggest cheerleaders. A recent article in The Morning Call states that Lee Butz and company was the only bidder for the Farr surface lot, which stretches from 8th Street to the east side of the PPL Plaza. It doesn't reveal that Butz actually initiated the sale by approaching the Authority with a request. As residents of Allentown wonder how the arena patrons will cope with both perceived parking and traffic problems, the Authority will be selling the last surface lot adjoining the new arena. Existing businesses, such as the Farr Loft Apartments and The BreWWorks depend on this lot for convenient parking. Just as The Parking Authority was formed 35 years ago by pulled strings, today it still accommodates those with connections.

For Whom The Development Tolls

Myself, and other skeptics, have long maintained that the main beneficiaries of Allentown's NIZ are the few millionaires who will become billionaires. I do recognize that besides the few chosen developers and Pawlowski, there are citizens of good will who welcome what the mayor calls the transformation. However, some recent announcements seem to have little to no public benefit, but will cost the public in lost state taxes. The arena complex includes a new hotel facing 7th Street. The Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton will also be remodeled with zone tax funds. Business at that hotel has been marginal for years, and it has housed a series of taxpayer subsidized restaurants. Can minor league hockey fans support two hotels, can they support one? The Americus property at 6th and Hamilton also is seeking a $13 million dollar Authority loan for renovation. A new Butz proposal for the Farr Lot on 8th Street will soon push the Arena Authority loan portfolio close to the $Billion dollar mark. Contrary to Corbett's claim that there are no new taxes, we at the gasoline pump know better. Despite the cheerleaders for this development, all state residents will be paying for it, one way or another.

In a Town Without Pity

A few years ago Donald was living under the 8th Street Bridge, until he graduated to sleeping on the floor at St. Pauls Church. Last night he implored Allentown City Council to do something about the homeless crisis, so that he and others can survive, besides from the good will of a few angels. A couple of those angels were also at Council last evening. Donald thanked Diane Teti for her help in the last year. Councilwoman Eichenwald called her one the righteous, a compliment of biblical proportion. Speaker after speaker told council that the time and weather has come for the Administration to address the issue. Council President Guridy and City Administration Manager Dougherty suggested a Lehigh County committee, until Teti assured them that the committee was part of the problem, not the solution. Teti wants them to open City Hall on freezing nights, to provide shelter to those who can not find shelter elsewhere. Council, which was to meet about this problem on February 12th, did agree to meet sooner because of the cold weather. I have seen them in the past suspend the rules, and vote on a spontaneous resolution, but that didn't occur last night.

Logging South Mountain

Rich Fegley doesn't know what to worry about next. In addition to the water lease, the trash and sewage to energy plant, the homeless, now he's discovered that they're logging South Mountain. In a furry of emails today between Fegley and Chris Kocher of the Wildland's Conservancy, Fegley was assured that the logging is occurring on privately owned land. Not to throw gasoline on the fire, but Fegley should know that this blog disclosed several years ago that Allentown had plans, and even a contract, to log the mountain. The Morning Call picked up on my scoop, and the ensuing story embarrassed Pawlowski into backing off the plan. At that time neither the Conservancy, the Allentown Environmental Advisory Council, or the local college science professors expressed any objection. Today, Fegley copied all the above parties and media with his concerns. From my recent experience with the Conservancy and the environmentalists mentioned, concerning the dam at Robin Hood, I wouldn't take their word on anything.
in the picture above the light green wooded area is under supervision of The Wildland's Conservancy

The Conservancy, with the support of the "environmentists", demolished the dam and piled the broken dam rubble around the stone bridge piers, depreciating a place of beauty since 1941.

No Room At The Inn

Although it's campaigns took in over $2 million dollars in contributions last year, WFMZ reported that the Allentown Rescue Mission rejected some homeless during last week's record cold,  despite having empty beds. The Rescue Mission, with a $3 million dollar annual budget, has become very administrative, just hiring a Development Director, and seeking a new CEO. Meanwhile, Reverend Baumann at St. Pauls Lutheran Church on South 8th Street, has actually been giving the homeless shelter from the cold, with a $6 thousand dollar budget. With that modest amount of money he served the homeless over 300 times last year. Community activists Diane Teti and Rich Fegley have also lent their energy to this homeless crisis. They intend to bring the problem to the attention of City Council Wednesday evening. A town spending $600 million on new development should be able to provide some warmth to their unfortunate.

The Pioneers of Israel

When the Syrian tank entered the gates of Degania Alef, in the early morning hours of May 20, 1948, it was greeted with molotov cocktails: It hasn't moved since. Started by Russian immigrants who arrived in 1909, sitting on the southern end of the Sea of Galilee, it's the oldest Kibbutz in Israel. When Moshe Dyan was born there in 1915, they were still under Ottoman rule. He was named after the first defender killed, in 1913.
reprinted from November 2010

A Force of Israel

When the combined Arab armies attacked newly declared Israel in 1948, Ariel Sharon was then only twenty years old, but already a force that they would have to face in battle over the next 34 years. Israel's great general was born in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine, in 1928. In 1973 he turned the tide in Israel's favor against the surprise Yom Kippur attack, by leading his armored column across the Suez Canal, getting behind the Egyptian forces. The warrior died yesterday.

The History Mission of molovinsky on allentown

Since it's inception, molovinsky on allentown has published local history along with political commentary. Allentown has become a city of immigrants; Whether it's our from out of town mayor and his from out of town staff, or our new population demographics, it's difficult to find someone who has lived here for more than twenty years. Redevelopment is nothing new to Allentown. Entire neighborhoods and portions of Hamilton Street have disappeared in the past. There has never been a shortage of new bridges or political ambition. This blog, unencumbered by considerations of political correctness or business promotion, posts these short historical markers, as reference points for the curious.

When opened 1913, 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 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. 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 grave-site, in Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, affords unique views of the bridge and center city Allentown.

The Movies of N. 8th Street

Two movie theaters were on the unit block of N. 8th Street, separated by one building. The Earle was demolished in 1961 to create another Park & Shop lot. The other theater, the Cinema, ceased operation in 1953, becoming a warehouse for the Farr shoe chain. The theater was built in 1917 as The Strand, but changed ownership and name in 1930. The lobby portion of the former Strand/Cinema still stands today, now being used as a tax service business. In the late 1970's, I operated a photographic darkroom business in part of the space.

A Box of Chocolate in 1953

As a boy being dragged along on a shopping trip, I was sometimes rewarded with a box of chocolate from Loft's. After waiting for my mother as she looked through endless racks of clothing at Hess's, we would take the escalator to the fifth floor and have the parking ticket validated. Before walking back to the modern parking deck at 10th street, we would detour to 8th, and buy the candy.

The Promise of Daryl Hendricks

The mayor and city council were sworn in last night. According to The Morning Call, Pawlowski patted himself on the back with vigor, then told a white lie. He said that he will work with members of his administration to weave respect and accomplishment. Pawlowski is known as an autocrat, he may work with people, but not people below him. But this post isn't about Pawlowski, or Lehigh Parkway's Robin Hood Bridge pictured above, it's about the promise of Daryl Hendricks. Hendricks just retired as a captain from the police department, and is the only new face on council. Last night he said,"I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious of a matter to be left to the politicians,...I will do my best to fulfill those duties you have afforded me and bestowed upon me." City Council had an opportunity to exert themselves this past fall and prevent a parkway gem from being despoiled, as shown above. Except for Jeanette Eichenwald, exerting themselves has never been a forte of this council. Hendricks has a needed institutional memory and knowledge of Allentown. Regardless his political ambitions, he could fulfill them as an independent voice on council.

Pawlowski's Facebook Responses

Having a problem with Allentown city government, you might want to try Facebook instead of City Hall. Early this morning,  Mayor Ed Pawlowski used Facebook to assure Joanne Bauer that he would have the new police chief investigate her complaints. Joanne had her car stolen, and that was only the beginning of her ordeal. She wasn't happy with the way the Allentown Police responded, or didn't, along each stage of the crime. Bernie O'Hare will report on Joanne's full story tomorrow.  The mayor regularly answers questions on his Facebook page, but also reaches out to concerns posted on other pages.

UPDATE: Bernie O'Hare has an excellent post on Joanne's ordeal, and concludes that the Allentown Police Department fails it's citizens, partially because of low man power.  I had similar experiences with the police department 20+ years ago, when manpower wasn't an issue.  In truth, gathering evidence from a stolen car would be a low priority task in the best of times.  While it's a trauma for Joanne, Pawlowski managed to gain some public relations miles from the incident, via Facebook.

Allentown Weather Forecast

Expect chairs in the street and angry neighbors. Smaller streets and alleys will see no service. Center city shoppers should expect no cleared parking spaces, but parking tickets continuing throughout the day.

Auburn Street train tower, 1964

High Culture - Free Admission

Getting Mail by K Mary Hess       Photos of Lehigh Valley                                                      

The $4 million Dollar Question

The Morning Call reported today, in an excellent article by Emily Opilo, that Allentown spent $4 million in legal fees, consultants and public relations to shepherd through it's controversial water lease. An issue not addressed by the article was the failed referendum by the citizen group. The referendum didn't fail with the voters, it failed to get on the ballot, despite containing about 4,000 signatures. It was determined by election officials that the referendum wording put the initiative into the realm of the city charter, and required a different time frame than that used by the petitioners. With the administration spending $4 million on opinion benders, imagine the pressure that might have been applied to those empowered to reject placing the referendum on the ballot.

The Gentle Giant

For a few years Abe Simon was the biggest man in the ring. Because of his size and the family's need for income in the 1930's, Abe got into the ring, and fought the best of them. He was a gentle man and didn't have the usual boxer's temperament. He had a winning record, including knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott. He endured 13 rounds of punishment in his first title fight with Joe Louis, earning him another chance, and another beating by Louis. Those interested in the Louis era can click on December of 2012 in the archive section, on the right sidebar of this blog.

Allentown, All Future No Present

Except for the 800 block of Hamilton Street, the merchants of center city are on their own about snow and litter. After the snow finally melted, the parking spaces and sidewalks were back to the accumulated litter and left over leafs from the fall. Although disruption of service can be expected with so much construction, what we're seeing is total disregard for the existing, taxpaying businesses of downtown. Although their state taxes are being funneled to the beneficiaries of the NIZ, they are not receiving even basic service. Although Pawlowski and Company may think that they can deter service until the arena project is complete, do a cleanup, and people will come, the locals don't roll that way. Perceptions and patterns are made over time, and a few new shiny buildings won't change that.

Allentown Bureaucrats Living The Dream

The Morning Call and assorted Allentown bureaucrats treated each other very well this weekend. One article lauded how the new office space in the NIZ only has upsides, with none of the anticipated losses to existing commercial landlords. They overlooked a few harsh realities previously reported here at molovinsky. The Masonic Temple is losing it's large and substantial tenant, Buckno Lisicky Accounting. Lehigh Valley Health Network will add insult to injury by steering it's patients to the inconvenience of appointments at 7th and Hamilton. Another article in The Morning Cheerleader referred the the business incubation programs by Allentown Economic Development Corporation. They incubated a go-cart track in the former Mack Factory and shared office space in Fountain Park. They're currently working with some marketing teenagers, which have received their 37th option extension on the Neuweiler site.

A Jewish Christmas Card

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

reprinted annually

The Diminishing Tracks of Allentown

I have been intrigued with the trolley freight, although I have no personal memory of the service. This photo from March of 1952 shows the end of that era, with a freight trolley being loaded on a flatbed rail car, for a short run to Bethlehem Steel to be scrapped. Within a year there would be no more trolley service of any kind in Allentown. Within two decades many of the businesses serviced by the trolley freight would be gone. In another decade most of the railroad tracks would also have vanished.

The Allentown Arena and Crime

The recent spate of violence in Allentown begs the question, how will crime effect the success of the Arena project? The damaging factor is the perception of crime, which has it's own lingering consequences. The hockey games will succeed, but the spinoff business will never materialize. The fans will scurry back to their inconvenient parking places, and clog N. 8th street as they flee the city for the safety of Catasauqua. Although the BrewPub may pick up a few customers, Sangria and other high end places will wither. Anybody foolish enough to open an upscale shop will be hard pressed to honor their lease.  Although this post is meant as an opportunity for readers to address the crime question, I will host no comments on any specific crime. They are tragedies, which leave grieving families.

UPDATE: This post is revised from December 2011. Although Sangria has come and gone,  all the new office workers will have a very positive effect on the daytime Hamilton Street  lunch business.

Capernaum By The Sea

Matthew 4:13: And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum,...

Capernaum, the city of Jesus, is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The foundation of the Synagogue of Jesus, is beneath the ornate 4th century synagogue, partially restored by the Franciscans in the early 1900's.

Mark 1:21: he entered into the synagogue and taught

Nearby, the modern Church of St. Peter's House was built by the Franciscans in 1990. It's glass floor reveals the lower walls of the 5th century octagon church, which was built around the walls of St. Peter's House. Also there, shown in the photograph, is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles. It was built in 1931, during the British Mandate period (1917-1948).

reprinted from May 2013

The Train Of Lehigh Parkway

With the 15th Street Bridge closed, as people detour over the  Schreibers stone arch bridge,  few will be aware of the industrial past surrounding them. The Barber Quarry railroad branch line crossed the road, just south of the bridge. On the left was the Union Carbine's Linde plant, the concrete loading dock is still visible. Although the last train ran in the early 1980's, the wooden railroad trestle is still there, to the west and south of the bridge. The area is now used as part of the disc golf course. The photograph was taken by Dave Latshaw in 1976, and is part of the Mark Rabenold Collection.

reprinted from April 2013

Bill Villa

I'm one of the seventy or so people on the Villa victim list. Bill and Angie Villa write Lehigh Valley Somebody, which they use to attack a continuously growing list of people in the valley. When you're on Villa's list, he contacts your employer, and complains that you're sadistically provoking him, even though in truth he's harassing you. If the boss doesn't comply with Villa's demands, then the boss goes on the list, and Villa contacts the boss's superiors, making the same demand. It is in this way that all the local college deans made the list. Also included are ministers, priests and bishops. On one of the posts near the top of his blog he writes his comments. He adds, subtracts and deletes them at will, but they're all written by him, and all contain links to even more insults. I've become one of his most frequent targets, because I'm one of the few to speak out. In retribution, he takes comments from my readers out of context, and attributes them to me.  I receive harassing and insulting comments to my blog every day, sent anonymously,  containing  language identical to that found on his blog.   On Friday, I received an email from him containing several attachments, including an insulting face in the hole picture of myself, Alfonso Todd and a third person.  It turns out that someone sent the Allentown School District a complaint about Angie Villa, and Villa mistakenly speculated that I may have been involved. I decided to forward Villa's email to the school district.

Ms XXXXX, I will be forwarding you two emails I received this morning from Bill Villa. I request that you forward this email, and also the two forthcoming ones, to all board members, and Superintendent Mayo. Apparently, Bill Villa is upset about some letter identifying Angie Villa as a "bully". I have no knowledge of XXXXXXXX, but find these emails harassing and threatening, including an insulting face in the hole photo. Please get a grip on your teachers, and request that they no longer contact me in any way. Thank you, Michael Molovinsky

Although I wasn't involved, Villa didn't hesitate to threatened me with additional email and insinuations. I decided to write the school district a second note.

Ms. XXXXX, Again I request that you forward this email to Dr. Mayo and all members of the school board. As I stated in my previous email, I do not know the person who apparently sent a letter concerning Angie Villa, nor did I have knowledge of, or participate in any letter, in any way. However, the Villa blog, http://www.bloggingdottie.blogspot.com/ is unquestionably a vehicle for bullying. I do not have an opinion if Angie's participation in that blog should effect her employment, but, as a victim of that blog, I resent any excuse on their part that their blog is defensive or investigative; It is pure aggression. Michael Molovinsky

It's a funny thing about Bill Villa,  he attacks dozens and dozens of people in a continuous vicious manner with distortions and lies, but describes himself as a victim if anybody dares to speak back.

UPDATE: How do bullies respond to an allegation of bullying, by more bullying. Bill Villa copied me an email he send to the district. In it he attempts to discredit the woman who he claims sent the original complaint. He also attempts to describe her as on a mission for Alfonso Todd, who he also attempts to discredit. Lastly, he states that I may or may not be involved, motivated to defend Alfonso. While he paints a picture of the Villa accusers as motivated by revenge for his good deeds, he continues to bully and harass them in real time. I have received threats of subpoenas and having my credibility diminished with the school board.  In the letter he attempts to disassociate Angie Villa with their blog, Lehigh Valley Somebody, by signing his name with that blog, and hers with her education blog. Angie is a full partner with the Somebody blog, and all it's aggression. He ends the letter suggesting that if the school district receive another non-credible, and foaming at the mouth lunatic "complaint letter" about The Villas, they should consider ignoring it.

I'm one of the seventy or so people on the Villa victim list. Bill and Angie Villa write Lehigh Valley Somebody, which they use to attack a continuously growing list of people in the valley. When you're on Villa's list, he contacts your employer, and complains that you're sadistically provoking him, even though in truth he's harassing you. If the boss doesn't comply with Villa's demands, then the boss goes on the list, and Villa contacts the boss's superiors, making the same demand. It is in this way that all the local college deans made the list. Also included are ministers, priests and bishops. On one the posts near the top of his blog he writes his comments. He adds, substracts and deletes them at will, but they're all written by him, and all contain links to even more insults. I've become one of his most frequent targets, because I'm one of the few to speak out. In retribution, he takes comments from my readers out of context, and attributes them to me. He sends harassing and insulting comments to my blog every day, thousands of them in the last couple years. On Friday, I received an email from him containing several attachments, including an insulting face in the hole picture of myself and Alfonso Todd and a third person. It turns out that someone sent the Allentown School District a complaint about Angie Villa, and Villa speculated that I may have been involved. Although I wasn't involved, Villa didn't hestitate to threatened me with additional emails and insinuations. I decided to write the school district myself.

Pawlowski's Parade

Today, Mayor Pawlowski will be leading a parade over the new 15th Street Bridge. While in his mind it's a great accomplishment, people of Allentown can only say it's about time. While the arena complex has been progressing with hundreds of workers, even at night and weekends, the bridge was a project in slow motion. Worse yet, Pawlowski owns some of the blame for the prior bridge's demise. As Community Development Director, starting in 2002, he allowed the metal bridge to continue rusting away. The rust continued under his tenure as mayor for two terms. Today's parade will be but one more video opportunity for his governor race, but will not impress the locals, who have been inconvenienced for years.

Did The Pawlowski Administration Lie?

...I presented information to City Council this evening (December 18, 2013) that shows how Allentown now stands to lose more than $113,000,000 over the 35-year Delta Thermo Energy Incinerator contract. I plugged the recent $40.44/ton that Easton's Mayor Panto signed with Chrin into the financial projections that Mayor Pawlowski and PFM presented to City Council and the Public. The original projections from the Mayor and PFM used a starting landfill cost of $92.29/ton. The Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association has told the PA DEP that the public was given false and misleading information regarding tipping fees. Quoted from the PPWIA letter to the PA DEP: "Representatives from Delta Thermo Falsely Exaggerated Landfill Tipping Fees". landfill fees that the Mayor and PFM used were "Falsely Exaggerated" I have warned the Mayor and City Council that the financial projections from PFM were useless. Only Eichenwald and O'Connell voted against this incinerator. A $113,000,000 LOSS after the Mayor claimed a $25,000,000 SAVINGS seems like an issue for the citizens of Allentown. $40.44/ton Landfill cost to Easton from 2014 to 2020. Allentown will pay DTE $119.37/ton in 2020. Almost a $3,000,000 loss in 2020 alone. These numbers are real losses in my book. The Mayor and PFM used the wrong starting assumptions. They were way off. Did they lie? 
Rich Fegley
Blogger's Note: The above is a comment by Rich Fegley submitted to an earlier post on this blog. I also have a copy of the letter from The Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association(PWIA) to the Pa. DEP. Allentown City Council made a decision based on very erroneous information, which should be legally revisited in light of this fact.

Allentown or Zombietown

When I think back to the excitement and pride which was Allentown this time of year, back in the day, I cringe at what we have become. Although there's a little buzz about the arena, when you divide the state taxes diverted by the people who will attend, it's a very expensive ticket. Circumstances have conspired against Allentown; Demographically, center city keeps becoming poorer. We have become a one party town, not benefiting by a meaningful civic discourse. What was once a powerful local newspaper is now in an idle mode, waiting for another consequence of corporate takeover. This blog will continue to write about both history and politics, but will never blend them together into some sort of artificial smoothie.

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

The Church and Theology School in Alexandria was established by the Apostle Mark in 60AD. Most of the early converts were common Egyptians who spoke Coptic. Although Christians became the majority before the Arab invasion in 636, by the 12th century they were the minority. The concept of monasteries in Christianity was started by the Coptics in the deserts of Egypt. Currently, the Coptics are threatened by transitions in Egypt, let us pray for their safety.

photograph of St. Marks Coptic Church in Alexandria, Egypt.

reprinted from December 2012

Doing Less With More In Allentown

While Mayor Pawlowski spent the weekend in New York City auditioning for governor, Allentown got zapped with an ice storm. Previous to the Big Water Sell Off this summer, here in the Little Apple, all departments would help out during a storm or other emergency. With the loss of the water department to the Lehigh County Authority, that system has been disrupted. Although we loss some efficiency, we will not see a corresponding savings. A previous undisclosed expense involved in the water transfer was creating a new department for the storm sewer system. Furthermore, apparently $150 million has been designated for the pension fund, as opposed to an earlier projection of 160. What's $10 million among friends and taxpayers?

photocredit:Tay Ney/The Morning Call/December10,2013

A Park Protester From The Past

`Green' Curtain Blocks Sledding And The View
January 09, 1992|The Morning Call
To the Editor:
Hold your sleds girls and boys! Others, too, on the alert! With the planting of a dense cluster of 60 evergreen trees and the erection of a "No Sledding" sign, creating a veritable iron curtain, the park and watershed people have once again undertaken their repetitive effort of the past 45 years to eliminate a most popular sledding slope in Lehigh Parkway. The motive -- crass self-interest in defiance of public good. The effect -- an impassable barrier and concealment of a magnificent vista of "one of the finest valleys in Eastern Pennsylvania."
Children and adults from the 400 homes with longtime and easy access to the slope and others arriving in cars have enjoyed sledding here after school and into the night and throughout the day and night on weekends. Yet sledding is but one of the attractions of this enduring slope. In summer children and teachers from Lehigh Parkway Elementary School have enjoyed a walk down the slope and into the park for a break from book and blackboard. Birders, joggers, hikers and others on a leisurely stroll engrossed in their particular interest have found the slope irresistible.
For a host of others, this opening into the park after a long stretch of woods presents a charming vista and urge to descend. Interest is immediately evoked by the sight of a mid-19th century log house (now tenanted by a city employee whose privacy is further enhanced by the closure of the slope) and a historic wagon trail leading past the site of a lime kiln to tillable lands of earlier times.
The view takes in an expanse of meadowlands, now groomed, to the Little Lehigh River and up the western slope to Lehigh Parkway North. Indeed, a pleasant view to be esteemed and preserved for generations to come. It was distressing on New Year's Day to see a family and their guests intent upon a walk down the slope suddenly stop in amazement and shock as the closure became evident.
The cost in dollars through the years of the park peoples' fixation on destroying the Parkway slope must be staggering indeed without dwelling on other deliberate depletions. Typically, the placement of the 1991 "No Sledding" sign employed a team of four men with three vehicles -- a backhoe, a panel truck, and a super cab pickup truck, the latter furnishing radio music.
BERT A. LUCKENBACH
ALLENTOWN The Morning Call, January 9, 1992
reprinted from May 25, 2010

I grew up in the same neighborhood and spent my childhood winters sledding on the same hill. Mr. Luckenbach would also be saddened that the historic Wagon Trail is now also blocked off, near it's exit halfway on the hill. I suppose children, mittens and sledding is too passive a recreation for this Administration's taste.

reprinted from January 2012

Christmas Past In Lehigh Valley, 1962

Allentown Is Not The Only Place It Snowed This Weekend