Will Lehigh County Save Wehr's Dam?

On Wednesday evening I asked Lehigh County to value our history, and save Wehr's Dam.  The South Whitehall commissioners, in a disingenuous maneuver, decided to put the issue to referendum.  The dam is in overall good condition.  That's exactly how it was described in the inspection report by the state in 2012.  In 2014, the Wildlands Conservancy set their sights on it's destruction.  They used $259,000 of state tax money on a study designed to find the dam deficient.  Their engineer for hire, reported that it would cost $1.5 million to repair the dam.  Previously, before the Wildlands desired it's destruction,  township workers themselves would repair any issues noted on state inspections.   Myself, and several other people including descendants of the Wehr family,  managed enough public outcry in 2014 to halt it's destruction at that time.

Although, the South Whitehall Commissioners were supposed to hire a masonry contractor to estimate the true work, they instead bowed to the Wildlands connections,  and instituted another engineering study,  this time coming up with a $600,000 cost.  This figure was high enough that they could justify a referendum,  asking the taxpayers if they mind paying more taxes to repair the dam.  Referendums which cost the taxpayer money are almost always rejected. In the last referendum,  township taxpayers declined a new library for that very reason.  In 2014,  6,700 signatures of support were gathered at the dam itself.  The dam has been a destination for over 100 years.

One South Whitehall commissioner, David Bond, incredibly stated that he now favors a referendum, because he doesn't know how many of those signatures were from residents of South Whitehall.  I don't know either, but do know that most were residents of Lehigh County.  I have asked the County to intervene, because  of conflicts at the township level.  The Wildlands is the major park consultant for the township, and the township's park director is the son of a Wildlands director.  Beyond being a county destination for over a century, the former mill and remaining dam were part of our agricultural history. We seek to preserve thousands of acres of farmland, for which there are no farmers or agricultural demand. Let us resolve to save one more third of an acre.  Nowhere else can county residents see water flow over a dam and under a covered bridge.  I'm sick of history being destroyed by greed and cronyism,  and call upon County Executive Muller and the commissioners to save this beautiful part of our history called Wehr's Dam.

photocredit:Michael Kubel / The Morning Call

Adventure Allentown Omission

The Adventure Allentown magazine for Spring/Summer 2016 is being circulated throughout Allentown. In the front pages, Mayor Pawlowski takes credit for many things that he wasn't involved in. Pardon my ego, but one of the things the city takes credit for is the fruit of my labor.  Improvement to the steps at Fountain Park began with a post on this blog in 2008, entitled Stairway To Shame. Subsequently, I created public interest by writing numerous pieces about the WPA, and holding several meetings at the Allentown Library. Paul Carpenter joined me on an inspection of the steps, and wrote a column about the needed repairs. During this period I invited Karen El-Chaar, Director of Allentown Friends Of The Parks, for a private tour of Allentown's WPA structures. El-Chaar secured a grant from Trexler Trust, which was used to replace missing steps and repoint at Fountain. During those repairs last year, I prevailed upon Linday Taylor, Allentown Park Director, to allow the stone masons to also seal the the open top of the Union Terrace stairwell wall. While I wouldn't expect that Pawlowski would mention my name, that photograph in the city magazine represents over seven years of my work.

 Although, I'm not mentioned, The Wildlands Conservancy is featured on a full page. That organization, with no regard to the uniqueness of our parks, has been dictating the park policy throughout Lehigh Valley. Our iconic structures are allowed to crumble, and in some cases are intentionally demolished, to accommodate their agenda, for which they harvest state grants. Tonight, I will make a presentation on behalf of our history.

Allentown, Revitalized or Devastated?

Driving down the arena block of Allentown, one would hardly know that behind all the buildings on the other side of the street,  there is nothing.  An entire square block of buildings has been leveled in preparation for the NIZ baron's mega-project.  The baron, J.B. Reilly, has put those plans on mothballs, and now is going to build an office condo at 6th and Hamilton.  Although the Morning Call has been promoting that smaller, alternative project, they haven't shown one photograph of the devastation two blocks away.

Before anything was built in the NIZ, it was reported that National Penn loaned J.B.Reilly $16 million for site acquisitions.  In the last two years over $30 million a year of state tax money has gone for Reilly's debt service. Did the taxpayers of Pennsylvania pay to create this devastation?  Rather than cutting ribbons for Mr. Reilly,  our state representatives, Michael Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer, would better serve their constituents by getting answers to the questions asked on this blog.

What sort of town allows one person to displace hundreds of residents, and level dozens of buildings with no public input?   Between an ambitious mayor and an agenda driven newspaper,  we now have a wasteland in the heart of Allentown.

Allentown's Future

Contemplating Allentown's future seems somewhat bleak, certainly compared to its past. The All American City of the Mack and Western Electric era resulted in a large middle class,  which  supported three large urban department stores.  Now, we deem some office workers, poached from the suburbs, as a measure of success. The second NIZ, at the waterfront, will now poach their anchor tenant, Talen Energy, from the Hamilton Street PPL Plaza.  Our current leadership is under a cloud of alleged corruption.  Even our newspaper has been for sale for the last decade.

Before Mayor Pawlowski started working for his predecessor, Roy Afflerbach, he headed the Alliance For Building Communities. When he covered the front of their historic brick building in dryvit, I knew that he had no sense of history or aesthetics. He then gave City Line Construction a grant to smear the stuff on their building. Even our historical society, rather than featuring our history,  has shows on Abraham Lincoln. This week I will attempt to garner some interest in preserving the iconic Wehr's Dam, which has been a destination for over 100 years. The dam is again under threat by the South Whitehall Commissioners, who are likewise clueless about history.

We who care about such things as ethics, beauty and history,  face a difficult challenge.  We must stand fast,  despite the indifference of the elected officials,  and the preoccupation of a public which is struggling just to get by.  

Morning Call Reporter Greatly Offended

Let's start an office pool on when Morning Call reporters become paid PR flacks for JB or the NIZ. Not one mention in this story that the building was rushed ahead because of the failure of the Walnut Street project to materialize. And exactly who are these Philadelphia companies forming the line to move to Allentown? Are there no questions asked?  Comment on Morning Call story about Reilly's New Office Condos

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 I take great offense to the PR crack. No one has followed the NIZ -- from its warts and damage to the state tax payer to its benefits to Allentown -- more than us. We did print an entire story saying exactly that yesterday. Here's the link.   Reply by Matt Assad on Morning Call comment section

Mr. Assad, actually you had written three stories within two days on Reilly's new project.   Understand that every project, or even tenant, of  Reilly's is treated like news, which is then repeated, again and  again.  Understand that everyone else has to pay to promote or advertise their real estate, and pay dearly.  I snickered yesterday about the dining review of Vince's Cheesesteaks.  After numerous articles about their opening,  the paper now does a dining review on them,  on a cheesesteak?  You may take offense,  but we're also offended, at the wholesale promotion of Reilly's NIZ.  To my knowledge, except in your comment above,  you or the paper had never previously linked the words NIZ and damage.

I understand that you're offended.  I can also believe that the Morning Call genuinely believes that the NIZ's  benefits to Allentown deserve special treatment.  I suggest that it has gotten enough special treatment. By the way, someone has chronicled the NIZ's warts and damage more than the Morning Call.

NIZ Injuries To Allentown

The NIZ has fostered various injuries on the city and it's citizens.  Reilly's dashed hopes for a mega project, encompassing an entire block, 7th to 8th and Hamilton to Walnut, resulted in the displacement of numerous  businesses and residents.  Furthermore, we lost rich history, such as the Elks Club.  Yesterday afternoon the paper ran it's second story of the day promoting Reilly's much smaller, substituted office condo project. The article is called  Five Things To Know about the new project.  There's actually six, and the sixth is that the paper never stops promoting Reilly's interests. This morning the paper continues with it's third piece on the new building, within two days.  Putting aside this endless cheerleading by The Morning Call,  the NIZ has surely peaked. Although a number of tenants were poached from different locations,  there was no net gain for the region.  A responsible Harrisburg would be analyzing  the consequences inflicted on the area.  However,  responsibility and Harrisburg have never been acquainted.

As I commented yesterday, Talen workers will be isolated down at the river, almost punished, if you  will.  The surrounding 6th Ward certainly doesn't provide much ambience.  Expect our local and state taxes to be expended there, to embellish Jaindl's position. The tearing out of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Old Main tracks through that parcel is another history victim of the NIZ.

photo of former Elks Club on S. 8th St., prepared for demolition, to make way for now cancelled mega-project by J.B. Reilly

Subsidizing Pawlowski's Water Deal

Readers of this blog may take the municipal news reports at face value, but I don't.  One of the reasons I write this blog is because I discovered, over my years of gadflying, is that the public is on a need to know basis.  Reports yesterday indicated that the Lehigh County Water Authority has to raise it's suburban rates because of aging infrastructure.  Some of their pipes are now 50 years old.  Actually, for a water system, they're a youngin.  Furthermore, most of their system is much newer.  What you will be actually doing is subsidizing the ill advised water lease from Allentown.

The water lease was a bad deal for both sides.  Bad for most of the Authority's customers for the reason stated above.  Bad for Allentown because that payoff by the Authority will be squandered, as opposed to being applied to Afflerbach's bad police pension deal.

So, we now have new bad deals to cope with old bad deals. What a surprise!

Reilly's NIZ Party Ending

J.B. Reilly is starting to turn off the lights, the party is ending. The plans for the mega-project with towers at 7th and Walnut and 8th and Hamilton, with an internal park connecting them, is on hold. Instead, he's developing a condo office project at 6th and Hamilton. Although his reporter at the Morning Call spun it as positively as he could, there's no way to hide the downsizing of the plans. Selling condo offices means that in spite of beating the bushes, the supply of commercial rental tenants is drying up.

It must be discouraging for Jaindl's waterfront plans, and I can't see Harrisburg sweetening the pot.

I do give his apartment tenants in the Strata Lofts credit for energy conservation. I never see any lights when I drive by.

Weighing In On 1948

1948 was a good year for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. Mack Trucks, Lehigh Structural Steel, General Electric and almost all factories were going full steam. President Truman stopped by to give a speech. The Allentown Cardinals played the first game in their new ballpark, Breadon Field. The baby boom was going full tilt:



The school district unveiled Lehigh Parkway and Midway Manor Elementary Schools and the new professional style football stadium. Donald Hock was Mayor, and although the last beer was being brewed on Lawrence Street at Daeufer Brewery, the Paddock joined many new restaurants opening that year. Photo's from Dorney Park in 1948.

reprinted from 2009


ADDENDUM: Assuming a photograph on the Morning Call website is color balanced correctly, the wooden coaster at Dorney is no longer Dorney Coaster Yellow. Painting the coaster the same shade of yellow was an important tradition at the park, even when ownership changed hands. They don't make Lehigh Valley traditions like they used to.

Pawlowski's Taste Of The Arena

People ask me all the time about the corruption in Allentown. On Sunday, the Morning Call had an excellent exposé by Emily Opilo on contributions to Pawlowski, being investigated by the FBI. A consultant on parking matters from Philadelphia contributed $26 thousand dollars to Pawlowski, while making proposals for private management, regarding the arena garage.While details can be found in the Morning Call's article, allow me to present a Readers Digest version of Pawlowski's legal problems. 

While Mayor Ed sat in his office at 5th and Hamilton, he saw a $Billion dollars worth of development two blocks north. While Ed wasn't directly in the Arena/NIZ loop, opportunity may have presented itself, especially in the currency of campaign contributions. Although Ed isn't shy in his own right, mix in his aggressive campaign manager, and you can imagine a Soprano style collection agency.

Ed's Philadelphia criminal lawyer insists that he did nothing illegal. That burden of proof will apparently fall to the FBI. What concerns me, as a small town political blogger, is our government by default. People want to limit their involvement to a vote once a year. Then, they're willing to base that vote on mailers and robo calls.

The Second Battle For Wehr's Dam

Regular readers of this blog know that two years ago I started a prolonged battle to save Wehr's Dam. Joined by several energized people, including the descendants of Wehr's Mill, we prevailed on the South Whitehall Commissioners to halt plans by the Wildlands Conservancy to demolish the iconic dam. Unfortunately, that turned out to be only a reprieve. The Wildlands and Commissioners have now conspired to put the dam issue to referendum, linking preserving the dam with approving higher taxes. Time has marched on, and some of the veterans of the last battle are now dealing with issues of aging. I will not allow the referendum go forward without noting its devious intent. I will not permit the beauty and magic of that place to be destroyed, without identifying the true motives in play. Those interested in saving this icon of our past can stroll down to my recent posts on the dam. For more background, use the search engine on the right sidebar with Wehr's Dam.

photocredit: K Mary Hess

Morning Coffee With Molovinsky and Pawlowski

In my post yesterday, I showed this selfie with my early morning coffee. A reader noticed that I have lost weight; Thank you for that, but the picture is flattering. What really amazes me in the morning is Pawlowski's facebook posts. Here is a man who marches forward, despite those damn indictments. Talk about cherry picking, every piece of good news about Allentown is shared on his page,  even including pictures of actual  cherry blossoms.  Someone, from out of town, reading his feed would have no idea about the cloud hanging over him, and subsequently Allentown. Yesterday, he had about ten postings, including one by the Urban Land Institute, praising Allentown as a success for it's innovative private/public use of funds for development. Considering that over $70 million of state taxes went for that private/public debt service last year,  it's certainly a success for J.B. Reilly's portfolio.  Apparently, these urban planning bureaucrats, delusional as Pawlowski, don't know the difference between real development,  fairy dust and tax dollars.

Political Blogging In Allentown

Blogging in Allentown isn't as easy as it may seem. It requires rising early and usually having the post ready by 5:00AM. In the case of this blog, it is fueled by caffeine. molovinsky on allentown is a non-monetized political blog, also featuring local history and advocacy for the iconic park system. Although, the suburban turnout was large because of the presidential primary, the election reveals that locals are not so interested in state politics.  Someone with no experience or knowledge of state government can win a state rep nomination, by sending out four mailers. The candidate doesn't even have to know about the issues mentioned on his own mailers. While one candidate for United States Senator can literally walk across the state to meet and listen to the voters, someone else can win by simply having ads on television,  a few days before the election.  In the city itself, Pawlowski could still influence an election.  I suppose I should be grateful that at least I don't have to print this on paper, and deliver it to houses in the morning.

Julie Harhart's Revenge

When Julie Harhart decided to act out on her resentment toward Cindy Miller running for the 183rd, the only place to put her support and money was on Zach Mako. Marc Grammes had been put off the ballot for not properly filing a document, and I had decided not to circulate a petition as a Republican.*    What Mako lacked in knowledge of issues pertinent to the job, he made up for in campaign money from Harhart. I have never seen a primary candidate spend so much. He sent out four full size mailers, and seven robo calls, including one at 4:30 pm on election day. When you overlay Harhart's promotion with the candidate's unpreparedness, she should be ashamed of herself.  Let us hope that in the coming months Mako can learn about the issues referred to on his mailers. Although, not very accomplished for 22 years in Harrisburg, Harhart should have ended her career on a higher note.
*Allowing me the option to still run as an independent

                                    Another Post On Bad Government Below

Masonic Temple Plight, West Park Pain

Shocker! Last night the dupes on the Allentown Zoning Hearing Board allowed the Masonic Temple an “exception” to become a "halfway home". Officially it will only be for outpatientservices for pre adjudicated youth, but the designation is a giant red flag to the twenty one local residents who showed up to express their concern and asked for a continuance so they could have more details and perhaps even seek council. These legitimate concerns were brushed aside by Unger, MacCarthy, and Salinger. They even denied standing for a West Park objector because he lives too far away for the property in question. A plea from the president of West Part Civic Association to allow him to testify as part of the objector effort was denied, so was the appeal for a continuance.The good people of the WPCA were told they could appeal the apparently pre-ordained decision to the county. So this is how Allentown'sbetters/Pawlowski hacks, treat its good citizens and this exemplary community group. I tried to warn them before hand; they were believers, afterwards they said I was correct. It is no victory for me to have won that bet, now they too will think the worst of their local government, and they will do so based on experience. Just another day in the Queen City that is rotten to the core. 
                                                                                     Scott Armstrong 

Editorial by Molovinsky: Scott, this zoning board, as previous boards, is composed of people with a deep involvement in Allentown politics, as always has been the case. Nobody has ever accused an Allentown Zoning Board of being honest brokers. However, allow me to remind you that for a while in the past, the  zoning board did the bidding of the West Park Association. For years, one small business after another was denied a non-conforming use, back in the day when your group had influence. Putting aside that history lesson, lets not discount the influence of the Masons. Although such organizations are now dinosaurs, many of those dinosaurs still have connections. The group owns three large significant parcels, and is hard pressed for income to maintain the buildings, since the NIZ stole their primary tenant.

South Whitehall Conspiring To Steal Our History

You can enlarge the last Pa. State report above by clicking on the image. As you can see, there wasn't anything about the dam that was very problematic for the state. They concluded that it was "overall in good condition." What happen since, besides politics and greed? The Wildlands Conservancy approached South Whitehall with a plan to demolish the dam, with their usual patter about stream health and happy fish. The commissioners, with no sense of history or esthetics, were ready to give their OK, and then entered Molovinsky. Because of my initial defense of the dam and the writeup in the paper, the Wehr descendants become aware of the threat, and joined the battle. The Wildlands then commissioned a study which approached the dam as if it was Hoover Dam, endangering a community below. In reality, all through the years, the township workers themselves filled in cracks as noted by the state in prior inspections. The Wildlands quarter million $dollar study suggested  that they demolish the dam, at no cost to the township, or the township would have to spend $1.5 million to completely rebuild the dam.  After the commissioners yielded to public pressure and voted to not allow the dam's destruction, they supposedly were going to get bids from an actual contractor to do necessary repairs.

Now, two years later, and continuing pressure from the Wildlands and their minions within the township, they instead commissioned another study with a pre-set agenda;  Make the price high enough so that we can justify calling for a referendum.  So now, we hear the new engineer saying things like "To do it correctly", we must replace the middle third.  Actually not,  as they well know, it doesn't matter how much or how little water goes over or through the dam.  It's a thing of history and beauty, not a working mill dam.  No where else can the public see water going over a dam and then under a covered bridge, at one place.  For this reason and the beauty, the public has been coming to Wehr's Dam for over a hundred years. I may not succeed in saving the dam, but there will be at least one place where the truth will be told.

The Deception About Wehr's Dam

Back in March of 2014, when the South Whitehall Commissioners voted to keep Wehr's Dam, I knew that it wasn't the end of the issue. I told the Wehr family descendants then, that the only real way to keep the dam was having it placed on the township's new historical list. Although, the Wildlands Conservancy President Chris Kocher had said that if the commissioners voted to keep the dam, that his organization would stand down,  I knew that they really wouldn't.  The damage had already been done. It's a complicated story, mired in influence, if not outright corruption.

The township now claims that it will cost $600,000 to repair the dam, and will put it to the voters in a referendum, come November.  The South Whitehall Park and Recreation Director is the son of a Wildlands official, and wants the dam demolished.  The township and commissioners know that for $50,000 they could repair the dam, and meet the current state requirements. They and the Conservancy also know that when voters are given a choice between lower or higher taxes, they always vote their wallet. This disingenuous choice is contrived, just like picking a card from a magician. In 2012, before the Wildlands set their sites on demolishing the dam, the state inspection stated that the dam was essentially in good shape. Understand that the dam, although 18 inches wide at the top, is shaped like a wedge, with the bottom 6 feet wide. If that wasn't enough structural integrity, that massive wedge sits on an enormous concrete platform. It was the most substantial concrete dam of its era, and untouched, will stand there another 200 years.

The Wildlands Conservancy is tied to a grant faucet in the bed of corruption that we call Harrisburg and state government. They used a $259,000 grant on an engineering study, which had the objective of finding the dam deficient. The current study by the Commissioners parrots those findings. Going back to the 2012 state inspection, prior to the politics and influence getting involved, the state classifies it as a low hazard dam. That means that being located at the beginning of a very long public park, the dam poses no danger to people or property, regardless of its condition. Without the politics, the dam would need $50,000 dollars of patching to meet current state standards. However, with the Wildlands engineering firm tied to previous dealing with the DEP and other state agencies,  the new engineers know where their future bread is buttered.

The group hoping to save the dam will have their work cut out for them. They were gullible and allowed the South Whitehall Commissioners to stack the deck against them and the township's history. Once again,  elected officials are willing to allow the Wildlands Conservancy  to steal local history.  The Wildlands Conservancy is allowed to use 15 percent of state dam demolition grants toward their salaries.  Unfortunately, there hasn't been a contested election in South Whitehall for many years. What was once a bucolic place to live, has succumbed to the prevalent culture of influence and deception.

The Corruption of The Lehigh Valley

When I debated Mike Fleck on Business Matters, he called me a naysayer and spoke much louder than me, but perhaps with less integrity. 


The Lehigh Valley is becoming corrupt. It's not always the outright crime as now being investigated in Allentown by the FBI, sometimes it's simply misdirecting the voters, as is occurring in South Whitehall Township, in regard to Wehr's Dam. Either way, the citizens are being short changed.  Sometimes, that deception enriches the officials,  other times the public is simply cheated out of their history.  In some ways the voters are responsible for their own victimization.  If they insist on always voting one party, as in Allentown,  eventually there is no longer any checks and balance.  If not enough people are motivated to serve, as in South Whitehall, eventually the uncontested elections result in arrogance.  While the story of Mike Fleck and Allentown will dominate the main stream and alternative media this weekend,  my next post will outline the upcoming crime against the people in South Whitehall.

Sign Of The Times In Allentown

Yesterday, Mayor In Limbo put a picture of the new Jordan Park sign on his facebook page. I have an issue with these signs, allow me to explain. When I unsuccessfully tried to save the quaint little WPA Robin Hood Dam, the park director at the time offered to erect a sign explaining where the dam had been. I suggested instead that we keep the picturesque dam, with no signage. Signage is the rage with the recreationally trained, and all the park directors since Mr. In Limbo's first election, have that same background. By the park office in Cedar Park, I have been advocating for the patching of the old parking lot retaining wall, along the path. Rather than patch the wall, they have installed decorative wooden railing, poured a concrete planter area, and painted parking space lines. While the new CVS type parking lot really added nothing necessary, the retaining wall continues to deteriorate. While the parks get new signs, the Cedar Beach pool project remains dead, without water.  What should be done in the park system is quite simple;  Maintain those wonderful things that still remain, because we have already lost so many treasures. Once there was a beautiful tropical greenhouse in Trexler Park, torn down to plant native bushes along the Little Cedar Creek. Three years ago those bushes were cut down, so now neither feature remains, but we have some nice signs.  I'm still hoping that City Council will appoint me as a citizen liaison on park issues, but I suppose I won't be getting Julio's vote.

                         BONUS PARK PHOTOGRAPH BELOW

Bogert's Bridge, Lehigh Parkway

The Photography of K Mary Hess

Not Easy Blogging In Allentown

Yesterday, somebody called me an attention seeking blowhard. Someone else, commented on a very old post,.Molovinsky's twist of the facts. On facebook, Mayor In Limbo put a picture of the Lehigh Parkway wall being repointed. Truth is his neglect caused part of the wall to collapse, and my advocacy resulted in repairs being made at Fountain Park and Union Terrace. I've been called a naysayer by the best of them. I suppose their hubris makes those I scrutinize so outraged at my observations. Their outbursts toward me are personal, venomous and much more offensive than anything I write about their business or voting. I normally don't directly address those insults, and usually allow them the last word.  Probably being self-depreciating is an asset for me, in this endeavor that I call molovinsky on allentown. Perhaps, in the All American City of my youth, I would be a naysayer. However, in this era of self serving politicians, opportunists, and a newspaper which doesn't know if it wants to be journalistic or an advertising agency, I believe that I serve a public good, even if it's not universally appreciated.

Reilly Gain, Masonic Pain

The Masonic Temple is perhaps the remaining architectural wonder of Allentown. The five story Classic Revival building took over two years to construct, opening in 1926. The large ritual meeting rooms are adorned with murals. General Harry Trexler was a Mason, and largely responsible for Allentown's Temple, which is on the list of significant historic buildings. Unfortunately, after almost ninety years, it's future is in jeopardy. It is essentially supported by one large commercial tenant, an accounting firm which rents the office space on the first floor for $10,000 a month. The accountant will be moving into J.B. Reilly's new office tower when completed. The Masons are hoping to find ten smaller tenants for $1000 each to fill the void, or perhaps twelve at $800. The only certain thing is that their good fortune with a large dependable tenant appears to be over. When Pawlowski cuts the ribbon for Reilly's new tenant, he'll be actually pulling the plug on an important part of west Allentown's history. He'll give mouth service that his department of Musical Chairs will help find them a tenant.

reprinted from April 15, 2013

ADDENDUM 2016

Special Use for Halfway House for up to 30 youths, ages of 12-18 years.


In 2013. I knew that the Masonic Temple would never again have such a quality tenant as Buckno and Lisicky. However, to go from the most prestigious accountant in the valley, to a halfway house for delinquents, is indeed a sorry consequence of the NIZ. The beautiful murals and decor of that building will not survive the new tenants.

Smoking News From The Morning Yawn

Yesterday's Morning Call tells the story of a wonderful smoked-on-site barbecue venue coming to the former Shula's. Beyond the spin by J.B. Reilly and the Morning Call, there are many factors to digest. We learned that while Lafayette Ambassador bank will be made mostly whole from the Shula bankruptcy, the other creditors will be getting peanuts. We understand that because the deal will include the former restaurant equipment and liquor license, the new operator will be going in virtually for nothing. But, there is more to this story, which you will not learn anywhere else.

Years ago, I told the story of Jerry's coffee house,  cooking an occasional egg on a George Foreman grill. The city made that poor little immigrant install a $40K exhaust system. Readers of this blog know that I refer to Strata Lofts as the plywood palace, because they allowed J.B. Reilly to build using plywood, under the thin fake brick facade. We learn now that below this palace for millennials, they will allow the new barbecue pit to operate a smoke house. If that's not enough of a hazard, there will be an open fire pit outside, between the Strata Lofts and the PennRose apartments. If that was the little immigrant Jerry's plan, they would imprison him for even mentioning a fire pit.

ADDENDUM: The Morning Call followed through today with yet another article on the coming barbeque restaurant, this time featuring their plans, including a robust take-out service.  I can see where 7th and Linden would be a convenient location for takeout, especially for the suburbanites.  I expect the Call to outdo themselves promoting Reilly's latest offering.           

A Blog and a Cemetery

About ten years ago, I began searching for the grave of a young Jewish woman, who died around 1900. Among several Jewish cemeteries no longer in use, I searched Mt. Sinai, a small section of the sprawling Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, just west of the 8th Street Bridge. The cemetery is the history of Allentown past, including the graves of Harry Trexler, John Leh, and Jack Mack. As one proceeded deeper into the cemetery, away from sight on Lehigh Street, conditions worsened. As is the case with many old cemeteries, fees paid for perpetual care, 100 years ago, were long gone. Complicating the situation, the current private operator wasn't particularly assessable. In addition to extended family members upset about conditions, the situation was compounded by his refusal, with few exceptions, to allow private upkeep. My early posts on the situation drew response and phone calls from people with no interest in local political blogs; They were just exasperated relatives, with a family member buried long ago at Fairview. After beginning a series of posts, and letters to the editor, I prevailed upon The Morning Call to write a story one year later. The Call's story appeared on August 11, 2008. Within two weeks, the cemetery operator agreed to a public meeting I had organized at a local church. Arrangements were made between the operator and several parties. As with several of Allentown's older cemeteries, the issue of maintenance will be ongoing. This would be a worthwhile project for City Hall.

Mt.Sinai In Fairview Cemetery

Jews have been buried in a small section of Fairview Cemetery, called Mt. Sinai, for over 138 years. Although the markings on several stones have worn away, Hannah Dreifuss was buried there in 1868. The September 10th Chronicle in 1875 reported that two members of the Jewish faith, prominent Hamilton Street merchants, Joshua Schnurman and Simon Feldman, purchased a section from Fairview Cemetery and applied for a charter for Mt. Sinai Cemetery, thus creating the first Jewish Institution in Allentown.
Fairview Cemetery itself was not formally laid-out until 1870, when the renowned architectural firm Lathan of Buffalo was hired to create the premiere resting place in the Lehigh Valley. The giants of Allentown would be buried there, among them Harry Trexler, the Leh's, and the Mack's of truck fame.
The History Lehigh County, published in 1914, notes Mt. Sinai contained 29 graves. Among them was Julia Wolf, who died in 1907. Her husband Morris served with the local regiment in the Civil War, and lived to be 98 years old. Feldman and Schnurman were among the earliest Jews in Allentown, immigrants from Germany who practiced the modern "Reformed" Judaism. These gentlemen and their extended family members would go on to form the "Young Ladies and Men's Hebrew Society" in 1883, a predecessor to the Keneseth Israel Congregation organized in 1903. Mt. Sinai remained the resting place for Reformed Jews till 1928, when Keneseth Israel established its own cemetery. Burials continued at Mt. Sinai through the 1940's as spouses and passing family members joined those previously departed in family plots. Today there are 78 graves. In July of 2006, thirty years after the previous burial in 1976, Joseph Levine was laid to rest at the age of 103.

Blogger's Note: Mt. Sinai Cemetery is unaffiliated with any synagogue, and with few exceptions, has been unused for 60 years.

reprinted 

There Never Was Suppose To Be A Managing Director In Allentown

Allentown news is buzzing with the resignation of Fran Dougherty, Allentown's managing director. Since Allentown historical perspective is limited mostly to this blog, allow me to address the position itself; I leave speculation as to why Dougherty is resigning to the speculators. In around 1996 Allentown decided to redo it's city charter, and at that time decided if it wanted to stay with a strong mayor, or go with the managing director system. The charter committee decided to stay with the strong mayor system, and the second most important position was always the Community Development Director, to whom the department heads reported. When Pawlowski was elected and began his first term, he was the first mayor in Allentown's history to hire a managing director. At the time I stated that we were in essence paying two people for one person's job.

If our mayor wasn't in legal limbo, I would say that we shouldn't replace Dougherty, let Pawlowski do the job for which he is being paid. HOWEVER, with an indictment coming, perhaps sooner than later, we best replace Dougherty, and quickly at that.

ADDENDUM:  Ray O'Connell, president of City Council told the Morning Call "We are losing the heart and soul of the city," O'Connell said. "The mayor is the mayor, and the mayor does what he has to do, but Fran does the day to day operations."  Apparently, the current council doesn't even know that there wasn't even supposed to be a managing director.  

Pretty Boys and Politics

George Clooney had a celebrity fund raiser at his house, and the beautiful people raised $millions for Hillary. Hollywood fawning over Democrats is nothing new, but Clooney's public explanation was ridiculous. George admits that the amount of money raised at his dinner party was "obscene", but claimed that his intent is to elect downticket Democrats, who can then legislatively do away with such contribution excesses. Either George is a moron, or thinks that his fans are gullible. Either way, I think that pretty boys should stick to acting, they come off much better that way.

When Mack Was Allentown

I grew up around the corner from Mack's famous 5C plant, on the corner of Lehigh and S. 12th Streets. In the early 1950's, the brightly colored truck tractors would cover the lot next to the old assembly plant. All day long, a new tractor would leave for delivery somewhere, with two more piggy back on the coupling hitches. Over the years I have written a lot of posts about Mack, especially how their workers would use the Fountain Park WPA steps,  walking to their jobs on S. 10th Street.  Mack made all their own truck parts there, except the tires. Built Like A Mack Truck, was a result of the local craftsmanship.

In Saturday's Morning Call article about Mack investing in the Macungie plant, the vice president is quoted as saying that Mack was here to stay. By Saturday evening, that vice president was no longer with the company, according to WFMZ. I remember when the larger share of production was moved to South Carolina in 1987. Shortly before that plant closed in 2002, they handed out sunglasses to symbolize their bright future there. I remember when the World Headquarters on Mack Boulevard moved to North Carolina. I don't know about Mack's long term future in the valley, but I do know that the ties that bind have long since been broken.

Jack Mack, one of Mack Truck's founding brothers, was killed in an auto accident in 1924.  He is buried in Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street. This week I will be revisiting my work and posts about that cemetery.                                                                                                                                                               

Urban Shopper

Pandering Politicians In NYC

I thought that John Kasich was pretty sharp, until I saw him trying to pander to the ultra Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn. He asked some Yeshiva students if they knew the story of Joseph?  Worse yet, he then proceeded to tell them what the story meant. Understand that these young  men have been studying the Bible, related commentaries and teachings their whole life, from sunrise to sunset. Ted Cruz was equally ridiculous in Brooklyn, he helped make matzah for Passover.

A Trip Around Allentown

The other day on a trip around town,  I drove past the current house on 2nd Street where my grandfather first lived when he came to Allentown in 1895.  A couple minutes later,  I drove by my grandparents house that I remember, near Sacred Heart Hospital.  It's the house where my father and his four siblings grew up.  Earlier that morning I was on the south side, where my parents lived when I grew up.  Allentown is a small place, I even drove past a couple of houses that I lived in as an adult.

In the course of writing the political aspect of this blog, I sometimes clash with the millennials and X'ers,  who think that my observations are so historically based that they're no longer relevant.  Perhaps they think that I'm frozen in time,  still eating strawberry pie at the Patio restaurant in Hess's.  It is true that I remember an Allentown very different than the current one,  but I was here and present, for the transition.

Yesterday, we learned that one NIZ baron got $28 million,  out of a total of $29 million, of state tax money toward his portfolio of buildings.  Years ago, there were so many business leaders in Allentown that they had a special club for lunch, named the Livingston.  In today's Allentown, the barons could all met at one table for four, and there would still be empty seats.

photo:  I'm on the front lawn in Little Lehigh Manor, around 1949.  Never imagined that I would have to defend the park 60 years later.
                                                                
                                                   BONUS ART BELOW

                                                     FREE ADMISSION
                                                       HIGH CULTURE

Kitchen Friends

Rite-Aids Return, Figment Of My Imagination

Dear Mayor Pawlowski,
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm very disappointed in the changes made to my town. After my wife passed away, I moved to the senior high-rise at 8th and Union St. I can see the old Mack Transmission Plant from my window, I worked there for 40 years. I understand now it's a indoor go-cart track, I find that a bitter pill. Actually pills are why I'm writing. I used to walk to the Rite-Aid on Hamilton Street. With that closing, I don't think I can walk out 7th St. to the old Sears. Forgive me Mayor, that's before your time in Allentown. The other Rite-Aid used to be Levines Fabrics, they bought it from Sears. The Army Navy store was across the parking lot. Anyway, back to my problem. Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty. What have you done to me? My neighbor, a nice widow, tells me you gave that Mexican Restaurant lots of our money and they don't even pay their bills? Never ate there, what were you thinking? Anyway, sorry to bother you, I know you're a busy man, but I don't know where I will get my medicine from, and I'm upset. Sorry.

PhotoCredit: molovinsky

Reprinted from July of 2008, to commemorate the return of Rite-Aid.  Isn't it wonderful that J. B  Reilly will finally get a tenant who will do enough business to actually pay rent.

Molovinsky Opposes Dog Park

I'm opposed to Allentown creating a Dog Park. As someone who visits one Allentown park or another every day, I can tell you that every park is a dog park. At least half the people in any given park are there with their dog(s). So, while there is no reason for a separate dog park, there are reasons why we shouldn't create one. Pawlowski has already suggested that it be placed in one of the two unneeded parcels that he purchased, to help justify that controversial deal, which may be under investigation. Instead, both those parcels should be sold, because the current park system is underfunded.

Now, as far as the park system being currently short funded; The Cedar Beach Pool project is dead in the water, or I should say, without water. Since our Mayor In Limbo announced the project on his facebook page, no work has occurred.  Although the bottom of the pool was removed,  the project has come to a standstill.  Apparently, it is yet another project that has no budget led way or time frame, which is becoming an Allentown tradition.

Although City Council Park Committee Chair Cynthia Mota knows nothing about the parks, Council still has never responded to my offer to be a citizen liaison on park matters.

molovinsky on allentown would like to concentrate on historical posts this spring. Let us hope that the administration's shenanigans slow down,  permitting time for some history lessons.

photo: I'm explaining the spring pond and its neglect, while giving a tour of the WPA structures in Lehigh Parkway.

When 6th Street Was West Allentown

In 1903, the 600 block of 2nd Street housed one Russian Jewish family after another. They built a small synagogue there, which was kept open until about twenty years ago. My grandfather, who then worked at a cigar factory, had just saved enough to bring his parents over from the old country. They lived in an old house at 617 N. 2nd. The current house at that location was built in 1920. By the time my father was born in 1917, the youngest of five children, they had moved to the suburbs just across the Jordan Creek.

My grandfather lived on the corner of Chew and Jordan Streets. He butchered in a barn behind the house. The house is still there, 301 Jordan, the barn is gone. He would deliver the meat with a horse and wagon. On the weekends, when the family wanted to visit friends, the horse insisted on doing the meat market route first. Only after he stopped in front of the last market on the route, would he permit my grandfather to direct him. excerpt from My grandfather's Horse, May 13, 2008

Allentown has just designated the neighborhood west of the Jordan to 7th Street, and between Linden and Tilghman Streets, as Jordan Heights. The area encompasses the Old Fairgrounds Historic District. Allentown's old fairground, in the years between 1852-1888, was in the vicinity of 6th and Liberty. It was an open space, as is the current fairground at 17th and Chew Streets. When my grandparents moved to Jordan Street it was a modern house, just built in 1895. Many of the Jewish families moved to the suburbs between Jordan and 7th. The Jewish Community Center was built on the corner of 6th and Chew, today known as Alliance Hall.
I wish the Jordan Heights initiative well. There's a lot of history in those 24 square blocks, and hopefully much future.

reprinted and retitled from 2014

photo: Opening of Jewish Community Center, 1928, 6th and Chew Streets.  Now Alliance Hall

Vince's Cheesy Opening

Yesterday, Vince's Cheesesteak Shop opened in the same space as the now gone Tony Luke's Cheesesteaks. The Morning Call gave that former cheesesteak business so much press that I blogged about it several times. Although, I wish the Cocca family and Vince's nothing but success, I'm so cheesed off about another fuss at the same spot, that I used the Tony Luke's photo for Vince's. Talking about cheesy, I think that Peter Schweyer was at both openings. I'll be sure to patronize Vince's, along with Zandy's and the Brass Rail.

Julio Guridy On Julio

First, I congratulate Mr. Molovinsky for maintaining his blog. I would had preferred that he would had contacted me to get the true and correct story of what he wrote about me. However, I will try to set the records straight and address some of Mr. Molovinsky's pedantic, condescending and accusatory statements. Here are the facts: In the 14 plus years I have been serving the public in Allentown City Council, I have been chosen by my colleagues in council as their president for 3 years, and vice president for 5 years (4 years in early 2000s and in 2015). In 2009, I was again nominated by the late Councilman Michael Donovan (may he RIP) and seconded for VP of Council and I declined it as a good gesture to give the position to newly appointed Tony Phillips, the first African American councilman who unsuccessfully ran for mayor as the Republican candidate against Mayor Pawlowsky.

Mr. Molovinsky, please know that before being appointed by Gov. Rendell to the DRJTBC position as director of Compact Authorized Investment (now I am Director of Contract Compliance), I was Vice President of Bank of America. I started banking as a Management Trainee for First Valley Bank and rose to become Assistant Branch Manager to an Assistant Vice President and from there to Vice President and worked in the Community and Economic Development Department in Summit Bank, Fleet Bank and Bank of America. I worked in the banking industry for over 11 years. Simultaneously, I opened a Travel Agency with my wife which we had for 13 years and employed 3 full-time and 4 part-timers people. During the same time, in 2001, I ran for City Council and with the support of the great voters of Allentown (Republicans, Democrats and Independents) I won and have been reelected ever since.
 I am always mindful that God has blessed me as I came to the this beautiful country at the age of 15 years old not speaking a word in English and have been fortunate enough to be elected as a councilman to serve ALL people. In my tenure in council, I have sponsored and supported hundreds of legislations to make Allentown a better place for ALL.
 Mr. Molovisky, I am sure you can remember that since the early 1980s decades there were hardly any new economic development projects in Allentown coupled with an immense amount of corporate flights from the city as well a significant number of homeowners moving out of Allentown to the suburbs. As you can see, now there has been over 1 billion dollars of investment in the city and a great number of middle class and upper class coming back, as well as millenniums buying and renting properties in Allentown. I don’t think you would deny that thousands of people are coming to Allentown’s restaurants, stores, and entertainments at the PPL Center, AAM, AOWM, and others venues! For more information please go to www.allentownpa.gov. Yes, I understand that we still have a lot to do and we are trying to make the city a better place for all citizens. I know there are a lot more good people in our city than bad ones. Hence, many of us will continue volunteering our time to make our city a better place to live for all of us.
 Lastly, please speak with me and I will gladly share with you what we do at the DRJTBC. I wish you the best and hope that we can productively work together for the benefit of our citizens. I know that some tend to feebly fall into the abysmal of negative criticism of those whom they don’t like or agree with, but it is a lot more fruitful if we all work together for the benefit of our city, state, country and the world, regardless of the populists demagogue harangued by a few. I believe that we the people who truly care will continue working to make our city a better place for all. God bless you, and God bless our city.

The above was submitted as a comment by Mr. Guridy to the post, Julio Guridy's Confession.  Because the post goes back to January 22, 2016, I know that very few people saw Julio's reply, submitted on March 18th.    Julio writes that he would had preferred that he would had contacted me to get the true and correct story of what he wrote about me.  This is something that I tend not to do, I prefer not to be spun. On the other hand, I have known Julio since he was elected the first time,  and have observed him at countless council meetings.  I bill this blog as informed commentary, and that certainly pertains in the case with Julio.  I will not analyze Julio's comment line by line, but do take exception with his statement about a great number of middle class and upper class coming back.  I think that the actual public return on a $billion dollars has been very small.  We couldn't afford too many programs like this one.  I'm glad to host Julio's reply,  and will always do so for anybody mentioned in a blog post.

Allentown Tenant Association

The Tenant Association was started and is run by two well intentioned young men, Julian Kern and Ken Heffentrager. They believe that there are far too many problem landlords in Allentown, and that the city is lax in dealing with the situation. They routinely display photographs of buildings they consider deficient on their facebook page. They have become regulars at Allentown City Council, where they present their documentation. They are now asking the city to establish a tenant/landlord court, because they believe that the district court system is too lenient on landlords.

Before I was a blogger, and before I was an advocate for the Park System and WPA, I was a landlord. A couple of years ago I explained to Julian and Ken that I don't believe that anybody buys a building with the intention of depreciating their asset. Generally speaking, the current available tenant pool in center city isn't an easy one to deal with. Although, I'm not known to shy away from controversy, I have remained somewhere between neutral and supportive of their efforts. However, I believe now something needs to be addressed, and that is simply that overstated blight designations can actually cause more blight.

Looking at the map above, who would want to invest in that neighborhood? A tenant moves out, leaves an apartment full of furniture and trash. The landlord can't really clean and paint without putting it somewhere, usually outside. The city garbage carrier will only take away a few bags at a time, and only a couple pieces of furniture on a designated night. It's easy to take an unflattering photograph of a property, but is it indicative of its normal condition?

Despite the paint commercials on television, I can tell you that paint now a days starts to fade and peel about ten minutes after it's applied. Nothing in this post is meant to imply that there is no basis to the good work that Julian and Ken are doing. There are certainly deficient landlords and properties, however, there's far too many flags on that map to be in the city's best interest.

ADDENDUM: The Tenant Association,  in addition to calling for a Housing Court,  would also like to see Allentown enforce more state statutes on blight. They apparently don't have the historical perspective to realize that in the recent past Allentown has used blight designations as a backdoor to eminent domain.  The designation was used against the 5th Street residents for the benefit of Sacred Heart Hospital's expansion.  It was used to take the Neuweiler Brewery, although the city has done nothing responsible with the property since.  It was also even used against the former property owners of the arena block.  Any expansion of law requires an ethical government for fair implementation.  The current ethics of city hall are too questionable to encourage them with more legalized weapons.

Pawlowski's Magic Hat

Saturday's Morning Call, presented a story* outling a grant program designed "to help people at least give you a second look", according to Mayor Pawlowski. The truth is Pawlowski uses our money as the gift that keeps on giving. Two of the seven are restaurants which have received substantial aid from other city programs. Three are small startups which occupy space which appears to be owned or handled by the same realtor. One recipient, New York Urban, was a successful clothes retailer who opened a second shop. The city claims if the businesses stay open less than five years, they will try to recoup the money through liens; but only one of the seven is not a tenant, so that claim is baseless. Three of the shops have recently had their facade redone in an identical finish. Did we pay to remodel the building with facade grants and then provide tenants with these business grants? Coincidence or shenanigan? Talking of shenanigans, I must mention Pawlowski's peek-a-boo and hide-a-fund system**. One receiver of these new grants is Johnny Manana's. Yes, it's the same place that has been receiving grants since before Pawlowski was mayor. This joke is located in a KOZ and already pays no taxes. It was given a special low cost city sponsored liquor license. It appears this latest grant, $50,000, was virtually blackmail to open up, so our agency leaders could crow about how wonderful are their accomplishments. Another $50,000 went to the Cosmopolitan, not yet built, but named. The owner received the location for one dollar, the previous building was torn down at our expense, and of course he received the customary city discounted liquor license. I could say a few more things,but I will be polite. Some of the small shops, the ones with the redwood fronts, you better visit quickly. When the grant for their rent is up, so will they.
GRANT RECIPIENTS
Vickey's Sweet Spot 621 Hamilton St. $11,190
New York Urban 740 Hamilton St. $19,366
Total Office Solutions 915 Hamilton St. $20,000
Wireless & Beyond 965 Hamilton St. $20,000
Ileanette's Beauty Salon 913 Hamilton St. $20,000
Johnny Manana's 835 Hamilton St. $50,000
Cosmopolitan 18 N. Sixth St. $50,000

UPDATE:" Pawlowski said some of the remaining money ($155,000) could be used to promote existing restaurants"

*http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_5grants-r.6390799may10,0,6273080.story

**Allentown Economic and Development Corporation,Allentown Commercial and Industrial Development Authority, Allentown Redevelopment Authority

reprinted from May 11, 2008

ADDENDUM 2010: Since I wrote this post two years ago, both Vickey's Sweet Spot and Johnny Manana's have gone out of business. The Morning Call now reports that Pawlowski hopes to set up another recipient, a sports bar, in the Manana spot.

ADDENDUM 2016: Photograph and post originally published in 2008, and then reprinted in 2010. Now in 2016, apparently the NIZ isn't enough for Mayor In Limbo Pawlowski, who is still spending tax dollars to provide chosen property owners with commercial tenants, via the Retail Mosaic program.

The Apologists of Allentown

I've been sparring on and off with a young apologist for the administration and the NIZ at facebook. While he's been active in some civic activities for a few months, he actually asked me what I have done for Allentown? Yesterday morning, another facebook friend relayed the tale of an 82 year old woman working at a local dollar store to make ends meet. The young apologist suggested that she should apply for one the small business grants being touted in a shark tank type contest by the administration, called Retail Mosaic. This program is in lieu of meaningful community benefit from the NIZ, but being partially financed by the ones who have profited the most, such as City Center Development and National Penn Bankshares.  It should be called what the sponsors really think of it; Crumbs For The Little Bums, and those involved should be ashamed of themselves.  The Retail Mosaic article mentions ready available  storefronts.  I should trust that they're not going to steer the Little Bums into certain storefronts for the advantage of certain property owners, but there is a basis for such speculation.  In a previous grant program run by the Pawlowski Administration, all the grants seemed to go businesses operating out of storefronts operated by one local real estate partnership.

Other readers informed the young apologist that at 82,  the elderly woman should be at home on a porch, watching her grandchildren play. The apologists are in a rough position. Although they defend the NIZ, they must restrain themselves from demonstrative support of Pawlowski, in order to maintain some credibility. However, at the same time, the Mayor In Limbo continues to wield power and make appointments.

Social Security Disability, Allentown's Growth Industry

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

reprinted from 2008

                                                Post on Emma Tropiano below

Emma Tropiano, The People's Candidate

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

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

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

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

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

reprinted from 2010

Political Correctness and Allentown

Pawlowski helps feed some of the many poor who have moved here under his watch

The Library Of Congress is changing the term illegal alien to unauthorized immigrant,  to be less offensive.  On that note,  those easily offended should not continue reading beyond this point.

In 2005, at a NAACP sponsored event, I introduced the concept that Allentown was becoming a poverty magnet. An officer of that organization, who was also an employee of CACLV, asked me to prove that I wasn't a racist, since so many of the poor people moving to Allentown were of color. In 2005, even mention of a poverty magnet was unacceptable. The Morning Call reporter, assigned to cover the 2005 mayoral election, while generally marginalizing my candidacy as an independent, jumped on the chance to publicize the controversy.  Now, in 2016, the consequences of the poverty magnet is part of city planning. Alan Jennings himself has adopted the phrase in the last few years.  Allentown's trying to induce mixed income housing into center city. Yesterday, the Morning Call had an article about the mass migration to Allentown from Puerto Rico in the last decade. Unfortunately, a disproportionate part of that population limits itself to low income, by making Social Security Disability a career choice. However, that's a taboo subtopic, that is still years away, if ever,  from public discussion.

Despite Elton John coming to perform at a new arena,  Allentown has become a much poorer place in the last ten years.  The streets are strewn with litter, and the middle class avoids the school system.  Social programs that make Allentown an attractive landing spot for transients should be reevaluated for their long term consequences on the city.

I don't believe that Allentown is currently being well served by political correctness.  At any rate, it is not on the menu at this blog.