Allentown, What a Revolting Development

The guy across the top of the post is William Bendix, who played Chester Riley on The Life of Riley. He ended each episode by saying, What a revolting development this turned out to be. That was a television series in the 1950's, but the phrase is appropriate to Allentown today. molovinsky on allentown spends much of it's space on the past, because it was so much better than the present. The Pawlowski Administration and The Morning Call are so focused on the future, because they hope that it's so much better than the present. On Monday afternoon, two teens were apprehended near the high school, waiting for trouble with machetes. Elsewhere, a suspect punched a cop. Our new police chief is driving around getting to know Allentown. Our mayor wanted to use hopeful expectations for this new arena as his ticket out of town. In Chester Riley's world he worked in a booming factory, and his commotions had to do with a neighbor not inviting him to a Sunday picnic. In Allentown, we have never employed people,  smashing your door in. Although this blog shies away from crime stories, we will not sugar coat the revolting development that has become Allentown.

The Second Louis-Simon Fight

$12.50 was pricey in 1942, but it got you ringside at Madison Square Garden for the Heavyweight Championship. Louis was defending his title against Simon, who had gone 13 rounds with the Bomber a year earlier in Detroit. It was the hot ticket that night in New York City.

The Great White Hope

Seventy two years ago this Thursday evening, March 27, 1942, Abe Simon got his rematch with Joe Louis for The Heavyweight Championship of the World. In 1942 that was a big sporting event, on par with the World Series. Millions of people across the country would be listening to the fight on the radio. Jack Johnson was the first black man to hold the World Heavyweight Championship, in an era which did not celebrate such an accomplishment. A former champ, James Jefferies, was induced by $100,000 in 1910 to come out of retirement to challenge Johnson. Jefferies was called The Great White Hope. The story became a movie in 1970, starring James Earl Jones. By the time Joe Louis became champion three decades later, although the resentment was gone, he was still referred to as the Negro Champion and the Brown Bomber. A promo for Abe Simon's first Louis fight even refers to Simon as The White Heavyweight. Simon certainly was no bigot, his trainer for the fight was none other than the great Jack Johnson himself.

reprinted from July 2012

A Lesser Prescription

When the arena office building was first announced about 18 months ago, Lehigh Valley Health Network was going to be opening a Sports Medicine Center in the arena complex. A recent article in the Morning Call now states that the hospital will operate a fitness center and training facilities for their computer network, utilized by the hospital on various campuses. Although the Morning Call reporters have been on board selling the Transformation, they didn't write one sentence on the shift in the hospital's commitment. It's no surprise that they decided against using the 7th and Hamilton location for patients, that would be adding pain to the injury. Although St. Lukes and Lehigh Valley go toe to toe, and side by side, in locations throughout the valley, St. Lukes has decided to let Lehigh Valley have the 7th and Hamilton location without their competition. That was an easy decision.

molovinsky Blog Posts, A Work in Progress

An associate spends hours writing his blog posts. When he's done he has produced an edited, finished piece. Not here at molovinsky on allentown; The posts are usually written very quickly, very early in the morning. Although they have been described as succinct, sometimes the conciseness leads to misinterpretation. Readers who revisit the post later in the day often find slight word changes, and additions, that clarify the meaning. Likewise, our daytime editor may alter the original photograph chosen to illustrate the post. It's with great pride that we announce that we have hired Beatrice to coordinate all aspects of the production. As always, your readership is appreciated.

An UPDATE on the post about updates: With the hiring of Beatrice, nobody will accuse molovinsky on allentown of age discrimination. Beatrice will handle all comment moderation. Although she retires very early in the evening, be assured that your comment will receive every consideration the following morning.

De Eagles, De Eagles

Like our height challenged friend seeing the plane approach Fantasy Island, our local newspaper couldn't contain themselves about the Eagles playing the arena's first date. Let's discuss what this choice was really all about. Michael Donovan, who garnered 40% of the mayoral vote this past November against would be Governor Pawlowski, speculated that it was a strategic choice to attract an older, upscale patron to Allentown. He is correct, that demographic needs to be reintroduced to center city, where they haven't been in decades, if the center city Transformation is to be the success touted by the administration and newspaper. The Eagle audience fits their bill,  it is mostly white and over fifty. Almost all the tickets will sell for over $175 each. Pawlowski and Company are hoping that these suburban ticket buyers have a good first experience in Allentown's new center city. Although they won't enjoy convenient line of sight parking, and for the Little Apple, there will be some traffic congestion after the concert, the hope is that the experience will be positive enough for a return visit. East and south-siders needing police assistance that evening will experience a delay; Every policeman in Allentown will be on display near the arena.

A Voice and Style is Silenced

Patrice Sidoione passed away suddenly earlier this week. When Allentown began the property acquisition program several years ago for the arena, the methods were not nice. Straw buyers were sent into the properties, making offers with threats of eminent domain to those who would not cooperate. Although these tactics were ignored by The Morning Call, this blog reported the process, threat by threat. Patrice, who owned a hair salon on 8th Street, keep me updated on this process and invited me, as did other merchants, to attend their meetings with city officials. Although the administration was hoping that the merchants would go quietly, they didn't know Patrice Sidoione. She championed for her rights, and encouraged the other merchants to stand up for theirs. Those who knew her are saddened by her untimely death. An obituary notice appears in today's paper.

photo of Patrice by Ramy Song

Pre-fight Hype

In the early 40's, during the War, boxing was a big sport. Pre-Television, fans would rather around the radio, and hear blow by blow commentary. Visuals were mostly restricted to newspaper photographs the following day. Not unlike the hype for the SuperBowl, the papers would also run photos prior to a big fight. Shown here are photos of contender Abe Simon, who was challenging Joe Louis for the Heavyweight Championship on March 27, 1942, at Madison Square Garden. These AP syndicated photos appeared in newspapers across the country on March 6th. Above, shows Abe and his wife in their kitchen. Below, he squares off with a neighborhood boy.

Simon's Record

reprinted from December 2012

The School District, Politics and Media

Readers to yesterday's Morning Call were treated to Paul Carpenter's column on the reduction of school librarians. Although many of my blog posts offend the writers at the Call, Paul won't be offended because he doesn't read the blogs, or much on the web at all, for that matter. So, although the paper had a quarter page for Paul's opinion, it couldn't find room for a letter by an actual school director on the same subject. Here's Scott Armstrong's unpublished letter.

To the editor, Sunday’s front page (March 16th) gave to Allentown with one hand then took away with the other. The paper proclaimed above the fold a “New Attitude” about the future of the city due to a controversial arena project, then underneath gave the back of its hand to the financially strapped Allentown School District because our libraries are “understaffed and underused”. Curious that the lengthy report neither mentioned the cause of the shortage of staff nor that the shortage is due to financial factors beyond the district or board’s ability to control. Thus, readers might conclude from this reporting that mismanagement, callousness, or indifference to the importance of libraries led to the current situation. How opposite is the truth, and The Morning Call and its reporter know better. That article did a disservice to quality journalism, the readers, and the Allentown School District. Scott Armstrong

Meanwhile, back in today's world of Facebook, school policy is often unofficially discussed by school directors, and the directors identified as Republican or conservative become irrational targets. A proposed resolution by Ce Ce Gerlach will be discussed at this evening's school board meeting. It seeks to involve the County Commissioners with the drop out rate at Dieruff and William Allen. Gerlach's proposal was reported by the Express Times, but The Morning Call, by policy, only has room for done deals. As an informed citizen, I think that the drop out rate is a reflection of the poverty culture dominating center city Allentown, more than a failure of the school district, and certainly isn't a reflection on the school board. Enter political operatives like Ed DeGrace, who writes, Identify the obstructionists and ask the voting community to hold them accountable and vote them all out! In reality we're fortunate to have a school board representing both the interests of the teachers and taxpayers. I believe that all the members put the interests of the children first.

UPDATE: The board voted 6-2 to table Cece's resolution requesting the County Commissioners to institute a task force on drop-outs. Although Cece expressed some bewilderment of that decision on Facebook, this blog obtained a note by member D. Zimmerman expressing his and the majority opinion; I think the administration has been working to address this issue over the past number of years and has made progress. The job is not over and it remains , I believe, a top priority of everyone involved with ASD. If some folks feel that progress is not sufficient, that is an issue they need to address separately. There is not one single solution to this problem. It is a multifaceted one and so necessarily is any solution to it. I fail to see how a county investigation will add anything to this mix or of what benefit it will be other than to reaffirm the obvious. I will not be supporting this resolution however I will strongly support any efforts by ASD to lower the dropout rates of our students.

Allentown's West End Train

The Lehigh Valley Railroad operated a train branch line which served Allentown's commercial west end. It ran along Sumner Avenue servicing the scrap metal yards, warehouses and numerous coal dealers located there. The line then crossed Tilghman Street on a diagonal at 17th, before looping back east by Liberty Street at the Fairgrounds. The line ended at a rail yard now housing the small shopping center at 12th and Liberty. Although many of former commercial buildings still exist, all now house more retail type businesses. The B'nai Brith Apartments occupy the site of the former Trexler Lumber Yard. These historical shorts are difficult to write. Most current residents have no frame of reference to our former commercial past. True historians, such as the local railroad buffs, cringe at the lack of detail and specific location of the tracks. Suffice to say, that once upon a time, the mid-section of Allentown had much more commerce.

photo of train crossing Tilghman at 17th Street taken by Kermit E. Geary in 1974, from the Mark Rabenold Collection.

reprinted from December 2012

Simon Gets Brother's Verdict

Louis F. Simon(Right) tell his heavyweight brother that he is proud that he lasted into the thirteenth round of his fight with Joe Louis last night. Mike Jacobs announced after the bout that the two would be rematched in New York on May 16th.

Blogger's Notes: The above is an Associated Press "Wirephoto" that appeared in newspapers across the country on March 22, 1941. The title and caption is the actual Associated Press copy. Mike Jacobs was Joe Louis's manager. Abe Simon actually ended up fighting four more opponents and waiting over a year before the rematch; they met for second time and the title in Madison Square Garden on March 27, 1942. Simon was knocked out in the 6th round, he never fought again. His career record was 36 wins, 25 by knockout, 10 loses, 1 draw.

reprinted from December 2012

Simon Fearless Against Bomber

The 1941 June edition of Ring Magazine featured the Abe Simon vs Joe Louis fight in March. Editor-writer Nat Fleischer was in awe of Simon's courage against the unbeatable Brown Bomber. Fleischer wrote "They (fans) saw Abe Simon give the Bomber the greatest battle he has had since he won the crown..." Although Simon Lost by TKO in the 13th, this image of Simon grinning at Louis while taking the 8 count in round 7, is one of my favorite photographs of that fight.

reprinted from December 2012

On this evening 73 years ago, March 17, 1941, Abe Simon got in the ring with Joe Louis in Detroit, for the Heavyweight Championship. Louis was in his prime, with the finesse of Muhammad Ali and the punching power of Mike Tyson. When it was revealed several days later that Simon had fought with a broken right hand, a rematch was guaranteed.

Another Morning Call Infomercial

For the second weekend in a row, The Morning Call has featured an advertisement posing as news. This week's infomercial heralds that there is a new attitude about the downtown revival. They commissioned Muhlenberg's Chris Borick to conduct another one of his polls, showing that 10% more people feel more positive about Allentown. It just goes to show you what you can do with a $billion dollars of state taxes. I won't discuss the reporters; If their employer is satisfied with two seasoned reporters wasting a week or more on these puff pieces, all the power to them. I do have a call in to Chris Borick, wondering how a political science professor can justify his participation in these soft news stories. His reply, if and when received, will appear as an update on this post. Should there be a firewall between news and advertising? Should the Morning Call disclose that they were added to NIZ, even though their property is an arbitrary tangent to the district? Why are they treating the success of the arena as a fait accompli?

UPDATE:  To his credit, Borick returned my call, even after reading this post and the comments.  He considers the poll he conducted as part of an on going quality of life survey that he conducts in the Lehigh Valley, in conjunction with the paper.  He feels that this point in time will be a valid benchmark to compare with public opinion after the arena is up and running.  I explained my objection to the article, especially referring to the previous activity on the 700 block as a dead zone.  In reality there was  a lot of business done on that block,  even if it involved a low income clientele. It was one of the most successful Family Dollar stores in the country.  Although he considers himself an optimist about the changes in center city and the NIZ, he finds the questions raised by this blog legitimate.

$100 A Week

In 1935, a Jewish boy earning $35 a week carrying 300 pound blocks of ice, was offered three times more to fight; win, lose or draw. For one hundred dollars a week, Jock Whitney, British aristocrat and sportsman, owned Abe Simon. Abe won his first 14 fights, 12 by knockout. On his climb to fight Louis in 1941 he would knock out 27 opponents, including Jersey Joe Walcott.
reprinted from December 2012 

This blog has produced numerous posts chronicling the Joe Louis boxing era, many featuring Abe Simon, a Jewish heavyweight of the era; Simon and my mother were cousins. Lately, Allentown political shenanigans have allowed me little time and space to visit Madison Square Garden in the early 1940's. During the next couple of weeks I will reprint some of the Simon posts, while still assigning staff to City Hall. One of my attractions to the boxing world is the black and white photography produced during that era. The public would listen to the fights on the radio, and then see the photographs in the newspapers the following day.  I refer fight fans to December of 2012,  which can be found on the archive list on the right sidebar. 

Parkway Spared Another Indignation, For Now

With the decision by Health Network Laboratories to relocate to Hanover Township, Lehigh Parkway has been spared another indignation, for now. Mayor Pawlowski had planned on moving the fire training facility into the park, next to the current police facility and shooting range. This would have created a public safety campus, and significantly increased the traffic into the park. The facility would have been available to outside fire departments and their large equipment. Although Pawlowski was motivated to retain the Lab's 400 jobs on Lehigh Street, he has no feel for the park's grander and history. Shown above is the Robin Hood Bridge. The former adjoining small dam was demolished last fall, and it's rubble piled around the stone piers, turning a former beautiful vista into visual garbage. Although I was asked to conduct another park tour this summer, I declined in protest to this desecration. I have since reconsidered, and the time and place will be announced later this spring by Allentown Friends of the Parks.

Destruction of the beautiful dam, shown in the previous post, and the desecration of the bridge piers shown above, was done by The Wildlands Conservancy, with permission from Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

Wildlands Conservancy Duped Public With Farr Road Purchase

For several months readers of the Morning Call have read articles and have been submitted to advertisements soliciting funds to purchase for preservation acreage "adjacent" to the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary. In reality this effort is an disingenuous attempt by several influential people to maintain the view from their houses. The land in question does not abut the Sanctuary or the Little Lehigh Creek, but is separated and isolated by Farr Road, from both these entities. The land in question fronts on Cedar Crest Blvd., and is an island created by Farr Road both entering and exiting Cedar Crest in two spots about 1/2 mile apart, about two miles south of the hospital. The fakers claim "This land is a high-priority conservation area due to its location as part of the Little Lehigh corridor,its proximity to a high-quality cold-water fishery....." Ironically, the big-shots who have organized this effort, do live on the creek and adjoin the Sanctuary, perhaps they should protect the sensitive area and tear down their houses. Shame on both the newspaper and the Wildlands Conservancy for promoting this myth. reprinted from 2007 

UPDATE:   I have learned since I wrote the above piece in 2007 that the Wildlands Conservancy has no shame and few principles.   If the beautiful Robin Hood Dam had been located upstream, behind these properties, it would have been preserved.

Photograph by molovinsky of the former Robin Hood Dam, demolished by The Wildland's Conservancy

Bernie and Wayne

Bernie O'Hare is running a story that says that Wayne Woodman pushed Wanda Mercado-Arroyo off the bus to the Republican State Committee, to give the seat to his wife, Lisa Scheller. Although Bernie writes that he isn't calling Woodman a bigot, he points out a couple times that Mercado-Arroyo is Hispanic, and questions how inclusive Woodman really is toward that group? That story was pitched to this blog several weeks ago, and I rejected it. It came from somebody who doesn't have much use for Wayne Woodman. When it landed on Bernie's desk, it found fertile ground. Although Bernie will argue differently, and cite facts, certain people are consistently treated well by him, and others, not so well; Me, I don't like anybody.

While we're on the subject on Hispanics, I like to announce that Steven Ramos collected the required amount of signatures in his run for Allentown's new 22nd State House District, mandated because of the surge in the Hispanic population. His candidacy is supported by Wayne Woodman, who had hired Steven several years ago to direct the local party office.

Chump Change in Allentown

Recently, Mayor Ed Pawlowski said that the community would share in the benefits of Allentown's transformation, and that he was directing $2.5million towards that end. As the riverfront and the Neuweiler Brewery projects come on line, we are fast approaching the $1 billion dollar mark with the NIZ state tax rape. Advocates for community benefit should not despair that their share is less than one quarter of one percent, because the mayor has indicated that more may come their way, if they behave themselves.

When Neon Was King

During the glory days of Hamilton Street, when it came to neon, bigger was better. No store had a bigger sign than Hess's, and that was appropriate. When the city planners decided to built the canopy, that was the end of the great neon age for Allentown. That structure bisected the building's facades, and the vertical signs had to go. Since then we have progressed into sign regulations. Shopping is not a primary part of the new Hamilton Street transformation. Let's move this discussion around the corner to Allentown's new Hispanic shopping district on 7th Street. Hispanic Shopping District is my designation, not the city's. I call it that, because that's what it is. The street is being managed by Peter Lewnes, who is doing a good job. He's giving facade grants and sign guidance. The buildings end up with a historic look, and a professional hand lettered sign. Although it's neat, clean and presentable, it's not too exciting. Of course the City Fathers don't want too much excitement, as the people from Catasauqua drive in to the new arena. These new subsidized merchants are on a short leash. City inspectors remind them that besides for OPEN signs, no neon is permitted, and it must be inside the store. Now I know that I'm not a paid consultant,  and there's no grant involved with this idea, but how about letting our new merchants put up some neon?How about letting them pursue the same dreams as the merchants once did on Hamilton Street. How about lengthening that leash?

The Morning Call's Unbashful Cheerleading

The special section in this weekend's Morning Call is called Great Expectations, The Story of Allentown's Renaissance. In this 36-page special section, The Morning Call will take a closer look at the urban renaissance underway in Allentown, the projects that will bring thousands of workers and hundreds of new residents to the city's downtown... Less than 48 hours ago this blogger wrote that molovinsky on allentown was turning the corner on the arena, but I didn't mean that I would condone unfettered cheerleading by the press. In the first of four sections each Morning Call reporter writes an essay referencing Allentown's past, although none of them have any actual memory or experience of that era, beyond the paper's archives. The second section promotes the new businesses arriving and refers to center city as a boomtown. The article omits the reality that taxpayers across the state are subsidizing Allentown's transformation. Section C is about The People Behind the Transformation. Although the paper writes that they are the engine of change, it can also be said that they are the private beneficiaries of public money. The last section may be the worst. It is supposedly essays by civic leaders. Some of them are bystanders, and some of them had absolutely nothing to do with any of it. All four sections are packed with paid advertisements, with the biggest ads coming from those benefitting the most. Yesterday, I reached out to several current and former members of our political establishment, for their opinion of the paper's special edition. They all agreed that it ranged from unbalanced to outright promotion, dressed up as journalism.

Turning Allentown's Blight Into Success

The recent article about Allentown in the New York Times used the B word. Aided by tax dollars that would otherwise go to state or local general funds, developers should be able to offer attractive rents to companies that bring in new workers — who in turn might move into or buy new apartments and support new shops and restaurants in what had been a blighted urban landscape. The writer of the Times piece is from New York City. We know that, because even J.B.Reilly, who hopes to rent apartments to the new office workers, isn't building condo's to sell in center city Allentown, or as he says, city center Allentown. While that writer is from NYC, this writer is from Allentown, and will now tell you how to change blight into success; You simply move it around the corner and up three blocks. The merchants and shoppers previously referred to as blight on Hamilton Street, are now being touted as the success of 7th Street. On Hamilton Street they had to compete with both the memory and expectation of better days. On 7th Street, thing have been so dire for so long, the same shops and people now look like success. We could debate the sociology of my observation. We could become offended or defensive, but taking the show around the corner did change the perception. Talking of turning the corner, readers may soon notice a change in this blog. Although molovinsky on allentown will continue to write the unspoken, there are  few too vestiges of the old commerce and valves to reference. While nobody will identify me as an advocate of the Arena and Neighborhood Improvement Zone, reporting will shift more to the future.

photocredit:The Urban Shopper/michael molovinsky

The Backside of Allentown's Development

Yesterday was a big day for J.B. Reilly and his City Center Development. The New York Times featured a story on Allentown's unique development bonanza, and Reilly was rubber stamped by the Arena Authority to build two more buildings. There were a couple of items in the Times puff article which demand a reality check. Aided by tax dollars that would otherwise go to state or local general funds, developers should be able to offer attractive rents to companies that bring in new workers — who in turn might move into or buy new apartments and support new shops and restaurants in what had been a blighted urban landscape. Although I know that the lunch business will increase tenfold, I can yet to believe that the new workers will choose to live downtown. Another concern of mine is the quote by the hospital administrator. Dr. Ronald Swinfard, chief executive of the nonprofit, said it would benefit by paying less rent per square foot than it does in its current suburban location — where it will retain some operations — but that it was mainly attracted to the new building because it will add to facilities for the community medicine that the group already offers elsewhere in Allentown. My worry is that their presence in the new building on Hamilton Street will lessen their commitment to the facility at 17th and Chew Streets. Any reduction in that commitment would be very detrimental to greater Allentown.

Who's In Charge of Allentown's Snow Failure

When these winter storms of our discontent started, I visited Mayor Pawlowski's Facebook page. He assured everybody that he was on top of it, and that the streets were in good shape. There are small streets on the east side that have yet to see a plow. There are heavily used streets, such as Liberty, which has yet to be cleared curb to curb, end to end. Reports from the field yesterday indicated that the city was clearing 14th Street. In a lifetime of traveling Allentown, I don't think that I have ever used 14th Street; Who's in charge? Another cost of the water lease was losing the manpower, equipment and experience which helped clear the snow in the winter time. While the Administration and media are fixated on the arena's progress, essential public service is ignored.

Allentown's Snow Removing Failure

Yesterday, I decided to revisit the street shown in the previous post. Although the street once again had snow dugouts, the 600 block of 16th Street now always has too many double parkers to allow safe stopping. The picture shown above, taken yesterday, is the 300 block, between Chew and Gordon Streets. While I was waiting for the drugstore to develop the film, the street sweeper truck sped down the middle of 16th street. Although sweeping tickets are issued by the Allentown Parking Authority, the sweeping trucks are operated by Allentown's Department of Streets. I did not observe any sweeping tickets being issued. Rather than going through the motion of sweeping, I would have rather seen Allentown continue the curb to curb snow removal job, which seems to have been suspended. The parking on many streets and blocks still remain clogged with the snow from the storm weeks ago. Although we have dodged yet another snow storm, the temperatures are forecast to remain very cold. One can only feel sorry for the poor snooks who work for National Penn Bank. They are being forced to move from quaint Boyertown, to the filth of center city Allentown.

The Allentown Parking Authority

The Allentown Parking Authority Officer shown here is by far the most productive person they have, he may well be the most productive city worker period. I estimate he easily writes over a $half million dollars a year by himself. He spends the day hoping from one fertile hot zone to another. You can see him everyday, several times working Chew Street, between 16th and West. That block, because of the hospital, has time restricted parking. He's like a fisherman, a very good one, who knows the good spots. For those less familiar with this blog, please use the search engine on the upper right; type in parking authority. Along with taking them to task numerous times, I documented fictitious data they provided to City Council to justify doubling the meter rate and fine structure. I also 

"They're acting like a vampire sucking the blood out of downtown," Molovinsky said of the authority.

conducted a news conference, covered by Channel 69, on unnecessary parking meters as far out as 10th and Chew. Those meters were finally removed, only this year. Some comments on the previous post suggest that there is justification for the Authority and their policies. As a student of this bureaucracy for years, I can tell you that it has actually had a negative affect on center city commerce. It's simply a back door tax, mostly on those who can least afford it. The cars shown are being ticketed for not moving for street sweeping, despite the snow.*

*photographs from 2007, Parking Authority supposedly no longer gives "sweep tickets" during snow storms.

UPDATE: This is a reprint from September of 2010. My thanks to the reader who sent me the archive date. I was told by the current Authority director that although the regulations haven't changed, they now use discretion concerning enforcement during snow hardships.

Behind The Curtain of Blogging

Recently, a fellow blogger frustrated by the lack of comments submitted to his blog, complained that two blogs seem to dominate the valley. I believe that he was referring to Bernie O'Hare's Lehigh Valley Ramblings, and yours truly. The complaining blogger posts anonymously, on a wide range of topics, assuming that the public should find something interesting about his opinions. The information being transmitted over the airwaves is limitless, and highly competitive. Bernie works the local political scene half the day, and every night; He is a fixture at Northampton County meetings. Although I'm much more reclusive than O'Hare, last week I sat down with a party chairman, a school superintendent, a county judge and a state representative. Please don't get the impression that these distinguished people invited me to lunch, on the contrary. In each case I ambushed them in a public place, and left before they could summon security. In addition to gonzo journalism, I use this blog to publicize causes in which I'm involved, such as the WPA, and preserving the traditional park system. Nobody cares about my opinion on the Oscar nominees, nor should they.

Helping Democracy in Allentown

As a party candidate to run for the state house you need 300 signatures. Today, a State Representative told me how difficult that can be even for an incumbent. Steven Ramos is running as a Republican in the new Allentown 22nd District, which is overwhelmingly Democratic. I ask all registered Republicans in the District to contact Steven and arrange to sign his petition. Regardless of who you support, everybody benefits from more choices. Steven can be reached at 610 335=5247 or steven.ramos@hotmail.com

Republican Party Chairman Blasts County Executive Muller

Yesterday, Democrat Tom Muller gave the state of the union address at Coca Cola Park. The Morning Call today provides good coverage of the speech, with measured rebuttals by Republican Commissioner Mike Schware. Bernie O'Hare, who has made Muller his current pol of choice, posts the speech in it's entirety, as if it were the Gettysburg Address. I only broach the subject to bring you Wayne Woodman's comment from his Facebook page.

The man most responsible for creating a hostile environment blames others. The man who is on the record saying he will resolve our deficit (which he helped create) without hiking taxes is upset that our Commissioners passed a resolution asking him to abide by his promise to voters. Mr Muller is a phony....an ally of the status quo cronies from union bosses to developers looking for a handout. He calls our Reform commissioners terrorists for daring to ask questions and propose solutions. I suppose it's easier to lash out than to actually engage in a deliberate and civil debate. Muller is the poster child for what's wrong and taxpayers will pay his tab.

As Samantha Marcus notes in the Morning Call, it's going to be a combative year at Government Center.

Allentown's Housing Future

Some people read tea-leafs, I read deed transfers. It would be more accurate to say that I study deed transfer. There has only been two weeks in the last 35 years that I failed to scrutinize the list, and those omissions were failed attempts at relaxation. Recently, I mentioned Kenneth Heffentrager and his Tenant Association of Allentown. Kenneth has become a fixture at City Council meetings, complaining about housing and landlords. Kenneth is going to become a very busy boy. For the last several years the deed transfers have been dominated by landlords buying owner occupied houses. Many of these landlords are new to the business, attracted by $25,000, and even cheaper houses in center city. Landlording is tough for experienced operators, and the learning curve is steep. It will take years for the city to identify all the new landlords, and many will walk away when confronted with the realities of their new venture. Although Allentown has a strategy for Hamilton Street, it needs one for the remainder of center city.

Arena Authority Potty Training Abdouche

According to today's Morning Call, Albert Abdouche must jump through numerous hoops to receive the benefit of NIZ financing for the Americus property. Abdouche proposes a hotel on the lower floors, with apartments on the upper. Although the apartments are feasible, the hotel is not. This blog has previously stated that the new arena hotel will render the Holiday Inn, at 9th Street, to second class status, at best. Who could possibly believe that center city can support three hotels? Apparently, not the NIZ Board, because they have imposed requirements on Abdouche not inflicted upon the other beneficiaries of their financing. While J.B. Reilly was fronted money on his projects, Albert must secure his own financing. It's an enormous building, for which I believe the GodFathers have a plan, but I'm not sure that Abdouche is part of it.

Depot At Overlook Park

Old timers have noticed that the contractor's building on Hanover Avenue transformed into a community center for Overlook Park. But only the oldest, or train buffs, realized that the building was the freight depot and office for the Lehigh & New England Railroad. Lehigh & New England was formed in 1895, primarily as a coal carrier. The line ran from Allentown to Maybrook, New York.

In 1904 it was acquired by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. The line ceased operation in 1961. Among it's infrastructure were impressive bridges across both the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, both of which were dismantled. Ironic that a remnant of our industrial era is being utilized by the successor of a public housing project.

reprinted from May26,2012

The Butchers of Allentown

Those coming here today looking for a story about sloppy civic leadership will be disappointed. This post is literally about butchers, more specifically, some butchers at Allentown Meat Packing Company. A few days ago, while at the Fairground's Farmers Market, I learned that Bobby had passed away. Bobby was the "kid" who worked at my father's meat market on Union Street. Bobby grew up in an orphanage, a hardship which my father respected. One meat cutter that I knew nothing about was Lamont, other than he lived at the WestEnd Hotel. He was a bear of a man, who could carry a beef quarter from the cooler with no effort. I never saw Lamont in the market portion of the shop, he always remained in the back, either in the large cooler or the adjoining cutting room. While my father insisted that people working on the counter change their meat coat and apron several times during the day, no such rule was imposed upon Lamont. Although he would look over the trays of meat before being taken out to the display cases, he never spoke. Last time I spoke to Bobby. he told me that he appreciated that my father had taught him a trade, which he used throughout his life.

The Painterly Eye

Photographer K Mary Hess combines masterful technique with a landscape painter's aesthetics,  to create hauntingly beautiful images of the Lehigh Valley and it's surrounds.

Transformational Politicians

When I first started writing about Donny Cunningham years ago, I referred to him as an Eddie Rendell in training pants. Although I don't know how he progressed with those pants, he has picked up the new pol word of the decade, transformational. Donny is now head of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, where the first thing he did was fillet the experienced business recruiters when he got the position, to steer the organization into the 21st century. Now, Donny says that if the taxpayers up his budget by 15 times, from $2.5 million to $33 million, that he can do a better job. For that kind of money his agency could do transformational things, and he has the consultant's report to prove it. All this can happen by simply raising the valley's sale tax by one cent on the dollar. Those of little faith should know that this plan almost has Tony Iannelli's approval, It's good to see the region's leaders looking to create a grand vision for economic growth...

Street Sweeping Tickets Start March 1

Yesterday, was one of those days when the switchboard at molovinsky on allentown lit up all day. Seems as if the Parking Authority was putting flyers on cars notifying them that street sweeping tickets would resume March 1st in district 2, west of 10th Street. For hapless Allentown residents, some of whom are still parking in the hole they carved out, the Authority's enthusiasm was less than appreciated. Allentown has the knack of punishing the good deed of living there. Let up hope that next winter, with the hockey arena opening, that Allentown doesn't receive any snow.

Steven Ramos Announces His Candidacy For District 22

Steven Ramos announces his candidacy for the newly drawn 22nd State House District.

"I'm running because it's imperative to have a representative that fights for the best interest of our families and our community. My initial priority is focusing on reforming parts of our government that put unnecessary burdens on our families."

Steven attended Trexler Middle School and William Allen High,  before serving 4 years in the Army. He and his wife Josie have been married for eighteen years and have four children. Steven has worked as an Information Technology professional, managing server systems and networks for the past 16 years. He served as Executive Director of the Lehigh County Republican Committee, and has served on various campaigns reaching out to the Hispanic community.  He has continuously helped with the vision of restoring Allentown to a strong vibrant community.

"We have a very unique opportunity to have a new voice fighting for our best interests. I look forward to the campaign ahead and starting to visit our residents in the community to listen to their concerns."

Editor's note: I'm delighted that the new district will have a Republican candidate who happens to be Hispanic, and that Mr. Ramos permitted molovinsky on allentown to make the initial announcement.

UPDATE:   Steven Ramos Website

The Transfiguration of Allentown

Pawlowski calls it transformative. I then began referring to it as the transformation. However, that word does not do the expectations justice. After all, Pawlowski thought that he could ride this donkey into Harrisburg. Every city in Pennsylvania now wants a version of the magic tax loophole. Although the results still remain to be seen, careers are changing on the expectations. Both Mann and Browne are retiring to lucrative lobbying positions as a result. While this blog reported last year that we now live in Reillyville, and that his lordship purchased almost the entire square block of Walnut Street, the Morning Call reporters have now done a feature on that story. If they can write themselves a ticket out of here with charts and graphs, like some of their predecessors did helped somewhat from my scoops, remains to be seen. Needless to say, the expectations of the arena will exceed the reality, it always does. The nation is littered with urban failures. The only insurance against a white elephant is leaving before it makes it first big mess.

UPDATE: The graphic map prepared by The Morning Call omitted two major Hamilton Street properties obtained by Reilly's City Center, the former Colonial Theater site near 5th Street, and the Gallery On The Mall, in the 900 block. The Call's feature story also failed to mention that Reilly was fronted $20million dollars by the Arena Authority,  which he used to acquire all the properties.

photocredit:molovinsky

Rumble In The School District

Scott Armstrong, the school director everyone loves to hate, was fouled this morning in a Morning Call ViewPoint, by teacher's union president Debbie Tretter. The paper's editor bent his own rules in allowing Tretter to make personal attacks based on emotionalism, as opposed to facts. It is disappointing when any elected official, let alone a school board director, denigrates those who are less fortunate and votes against housing opportunities. Saying that Armstrong denigrates poor people is simply untrue, and throwing mud against the wall, hoping that some of it sticks. Armstrong voted against bestowing a tax free status upon the Phoenix Mill, in a proposal of turning that commercial space into apartments. There was no claim that the Phoenix Mill would be affordable, on the contrary, it was presented as loft apartments, which would attract very few, if any children. He was joined in that vote by four other school directors, two of whom (Joanne Bauer and CeCe Gerlach) are known as very pro teacher. I believe that it's inappropriate for Tretter to be attacking an elected member of the school board with innuendo, and inconsistent of the newspaper to facilitate it.

UPDATE: The editor defended Tretter's attack on Armstrong by saying that it's "Her opinion."  I have in the past been prevented, by the same editor, from even writing that someone used "propaganda techniques." I was told that such an accusation constitutes a personal attack, which is against their policy. I was to restrict myself to only refuting facts.  It appears that Ms. Tretter was given more more freedom with her opinion.  The editor told me that each piece is evaluated on a case by case basis. He apparently means a person by person basis.  At best, the paper applies it's standards selectively, in an inconsistent manner.

Life After Pawlowski

Siobhan (Sam) Bennett and Charles F. Thiel have a lot in common, although they will probably oppose each other for mayor of Allentown in 2017. Both believe that public safety and public education are the keys to Allentown's future. Although Allentown may be making significant gains in the bricks and mortar of development, the neighborhoods and school district languish. Both future candidates believe that unless these quality of life issues are addressed, the commercial development alone isn't enough to revitalize Allentown. Bennett is returning to town after being President/CEO of the Woman's Campaign Fund and She Should Run for five years. Both are national organizations housed in Washington, D.C. She was cofounder of the William Allen Construction Company and served on the School District Foundation. Charles F. Thiel was recently appointed to the school board and also serves on the District Foundation.

He is general manager of a local communication and technology company. Both Sam and Charlie will be disappointed with this write-up. I conducted the interviews over the phone, and unbeknown to them, I wasn't writing down their articulate views. They will have over three years to present those polished points to more conventional reporters. Although both are currently Democrats, I believe that they will oppose each other in the general election. While Bennett is married to the Democratic Party, Thiel is flexible enough to run as an independent. Either Sam or Charlie could well serve Allentown.

UPDATE: Bennett is literally married to the Democratic Party, her husband heads the Allentown Committee. Both Bennett and Thiel feel that Pawlowski will not be running for a 4th term, nor would they hesitate to challenge him, if he does. Likewise, neither expressed any concern about Julio Guridy, who also might be a candidate.

UPDATING THE UPDATE: Bennett feels that Allen High's alumni, 60,000 strong, is a tremendous untapped resource to revitalize the school district,  which would help the city with one of it's major negative perceptions.

Two Tales of One City

I have lived in the City of Allentown since 1978 and the recent snowfall has reminded me that city services are being more efficiently performed now than at any other time in my memory...not perfect, but better. On those very rare occasions when I bother to go downtown, I am starting to see a profoundly different city. Every other Mayor in my lifetime was just trying to re-capture some glorious past which, take it from me, wasn't all that glorious to start with. I think that when it is all said and done, that Mayor Pawlowski will have had as significant impact on Allentown that Caesar Augustus did on Rome or that Napoleon III had on Paris in that he is changing the face of the City I realize this sounds like sucking up on a grand level and perhaps it is but I am trying to offer a lifetime's perspective on a City which historically has underperformed all our expectations.
Todd Larmer

The roads here are a nightmare. Almost every street in the downtown has been posted posted "No Parking" for so long residents are ignoring the warning. Most streets are reduced to a single lane with cars parked in snow bunkers carved out by the locals. Others are buried and have not been moved in weeks. Yet none of our local media outlets are ready to report what an abysmal job the city administration has done. Can't wait for the arena traffic to add to the joy.
Scott Armstrong

Todd lives in the west end, where most cars are parked in garages. The streets are pre-treated before the snow, and plowed fairly quickly. Scott lives on the fringe of center city, by West Park.

UPDATE: Comments on Facebook

   Jean Lambert-  east side of allentown bad

   Michael Hysick-The St. Francis of Assisi neighborhood is real bad

   Benito Cruz Jr.-I could use a run of napalm on my block

   Kenneth Heffentrager- How do you close Green St. 3 days ago to say now to be removed still     

   nothing has been done... Tilghman has been closed to parking for days...

   Bill Stauffer-Several streets are closed in my neighborhood as well...City does not seem to have the

   same level of manpower it had to remove snow that it did prior to the "lease" of our water system
   Michael E. Golden-Where The Hell Are The Snow Plows?? Isn't West Brook Park Part Of Allentown!

                        

photocredit:Emily Robson/The Morning Call/December 8, 2013

Pep Rally at Reillyville

Sometimes the news is more absurd than this distractor could ever fabricate, such was the case Wednesday afternoon. Two hundred invited guests packed into Symphony Hall to the Reilly Institute, to hear a lecture on the future of center city, or I should say City Center. An urbanist author explained how there is a national trend back to living in cities. Although I haven't written a book, nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn, I know Allentown. Reilly can make them work downtown, but he won't be able to make them live there. There is no reason to live there. You can reach center city from anywhere in the suburbs in ten minutes. Allentown is 20 years away from creating any culture that could compensate for the crime and grime. That will take much more than five new buildings.

When Allentown Came To A Standstill

Thirty one years ago, almost to the day, Allentown received a record snow storm of over 25 inches, not counting the drifts. It snowed 5 inches an hour on February 11, 1983. At the time I was living by West Park, and joined in the neighborhood effort to dig out West Street. Despite those efforts, occurring all over the city, there was no place to go, and no place to park. If Allentown still has the neighborhood fabric for such efforts is questionable.

photocredit:The Morning Call

Morning In The Parks

Although I have been profoundly disappointed by the Pawlowski administration and City Council in my efforts to defend our unique park features, I have not allowed that defeat to deprive me of one of the benefits of Allentown, enjoying the beauty of the parks. The winter provides a certain magic in the parks, for those who can cope with the cold. This particular winter requires some discipline, but the rewards are there. Recently, I came within six feet of a Blue Heron, standing still while fishing in a creek.

photocredit:molovinsky

The Winter of My Discontent

With the forecast of another snowstorm coming Wednesday evening, my memory turns to the winter of 1993-94. I was living on a long corner on Union Street, in Hamilton Park. By this time in 1994, the path from my front door to the sidewalk was like a snow tunnel, with walls over three feet high. The busy intersection had a crossing guard, and it was important that I kept the corner clear, constantly digging through the plow curl from two directions.  The reason I remember that winter wasn't because of my house, but at the time I maintained buildings in center city. My days consisted mostly of salting, chopping and shoveling, one property after another, from one snowstorm after another. Driving my station wagon, filled with 50lb. salt bags, up the alleys was like a kiddie ride at Dorney Park, the ruts would steer the car, no hands were necessary. This post and the previous one are somewhat unusual for me. I have for the most part maintained a privacy wall between my business and my blogging. Tomorrow evening, The Tenant Association of Allentown will complain to City Council about slumlords; I thought that in the interest of balance I would give a glimpse into conscientious landlording. Although the meeting might be cancelled once again because of the snow, Allentown's many good landlords will still be out shoveling the sidewalks.

photocredit:The Morning Call/Dumping snow off the former Tilghman Street Bridge into the Jordan Creek

They Shoot Landlords, Don't They?

When I ran as a long-shot independent for mayor in 2005, against Ed Pawlowski and Bill Heydt,  the first thing I did was take The  Morning Call reporter on a tour of the properties that I managed.  As an intercity landlord, operating apartments between 4th and 12th, Walnut and Tilghman Streets,  I knew that the rentals would become  Allentown's biggest problem.  After the WW2,  it became fashionable to live in a twin or small ranch, and Allentown's row houses began being divided into apartments.  Those apartments were mostly occupied by singles or childless couples, and helped keep downtown and Hamilton Street vital, long past many of it's sister cities.  In the 1960's, despite the thousands of converted apartments,  center city was clean, and Allentown was the All American City.  Both the tenants and landlords were hard working and conscientious.  As the urban poor from New York and New Jersey discovered the clean streets of Allentown, and it's moderately priced apartments,  a steady influx of new residents arrived daily.  These changes were not encouraged by the landlords.  Nobody ever purchased a building hoping to replace their conscientious middle class occupants, with a poorer, more problematic tenant base.  Various social agencies staked many of these newcomers to the first month rent and security deposits.  Although politically incorrect, I said at the time that Allentown was creating a poverty magnet.  My phrase and analysis back then is now recognized as an unintended consequence of such programs.  During Heydt's administration, Allentown passed a Rental Inspection Law.  Some viewed  this as the solution to the rental problem, I didn't fully agree;  You cannot legislate pride of ownership. Bad operators could, and easily did, cross the T's and dot the i's.  Pawlowski's solution has been to tag buildings as unfit for habitation, so many,  that the process itself has created blight.  Halls of Shame, either by the city or private groups, only stigmatize both the property and owner, but don't produce a solution.  The programs in place, if applied with more flexibility, can work.  The school district is starting to show concern about the consequences of more apartments and students.  Recent zoning changes allowing the conversion of commercial space by right, rather than by variance, could well add to the problem.  At the end of the day,  all landlords want to see their investment appreciate.  The city must learn to work with that basic incentive as a vehicle for change.

UPDATE: There will be a special public meeting with City Council Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m., concerning the housing problems in Allentown. The flyer below was created by the Tenant Association of Allentown. Although I do not agree with all their methods, this blog supports the concept of advocacy in Allentown, and is glad to publicize their agenda.