Allentown's Dignity On The Line

In the last several months I have often referred to my irate women facebook friends, who cannot let go of their rage against Donald Trump.  I have also mentioned that prior to this past national election, I have seen little political interest expressed by most of them.  However, today's revelation is the most disturbing to me.  Despite non-stop Trump criticism, not one of these local women have written one word about the upcoming mayoral election. They are apparently more consumed with this past November than the future.  They are apparently more concerned about things that will probably not affect them, than their own backyard.

As I have previously posted, Pawlowski is courting certain segments of the minority communities with favors and promises.  With such a crowded field, that could well be a winning strategy.  I realize that this is a controversial statement,  but anyone who knowingly votes for a candidate tainted by corruption, in return for a few more city entitlements, gets no respect from me.

If the local women, so distressed by Trump in Washington, would devote a few minutes of their time for an alternative mayoral candidate,  Allentown could emerge from the primary with some dignity.

Ev Bickford Not Running

Yesterday, the Morning Call had a conventional article on the conventional candidates for Allentown City Council.  This post is unconventional.

There was almost another Democratic candidate for mayor;  Everett/ Erika Bickford. Bickford is a unique grassroots person, who has been politically active in Allentown for decades. She has been particularly active in issues of social justice. Yesterday, she told me that she has decided not to run for mayor, because the field is already overcrowded. Ev was born Everett Bickford, but in recent years has presented herself as a woman more often than not. I will not elaborate on her gender identity, for I have no grasp of such subject matter. I will tell you that she is very knowledgeable on the workings and problems of Allentown. She has appeared at city council often, and is certainly a courageous person. We share a common opinion that the crowded field plays to Pawlowski's advantage. Please limit any comments to only political issues in Allentown.

Flash From Past

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

reprinted from April of 2014

Pawlowski's Hole

Allentown doesn't have much of a political memory. The Morning Call changes out its reporters about every 6 months, and most political activists eventually have lobotomies out of frustration. Never the less, some of you may remember Heydt's hole. After he torn down Hess's, the hole sat there for 18 months while a group of investors failed to find financing for a amateur hockey arena. (The one built later in Bethlehem folded and now is for sale) Now, eight years later, Pawlowski has a hole. Announced with great fanfare, a local developer would build the Cosmopolitan on the site of Sal's Spaghetti House. It makes me nervous when they name a restaurant before they built it. Anyway, Pawlowski bought Sal's, and the city paid for the demolition.(Through one of its Authorities) Then the city gave the Cosmopolitan a $50,000 restaurant grant. Yes, we gave a brick-less name $50,000. I think some of the city puff bloggers were even making reservations for dinner. Back to the hole; as a sidewalk supervisor I was surprised to see the excavators dig under the adjoining Sovereign Building and pour pylons under its footers. Perhaps they were mining, mining for grants. Those pylons have enabled the developer to remove his equipment. and let that hole sit there now for over two months, with no danger to the adjoining building. I'd say about $50,000 worth of work has been done. Last month the city applied for a low cost Liquor License for the Cosmopolitan. Last week, after the Pawlowski Administration had an embarrassing "no comment" in regard to Johnny Manana's, a backhoe was moved back to outside the Cosmopolitan site. Is that backhoe a Pawlowski Prop? Does the developer sense the time is ripe for renewed grants? Does Pawlowski need a new ribbon to cut? *

* There could be legitimate reasons why construction has halted on the Cosmopolitan. However, last month the developer's attorney declined to comment on an explanation.

reprinted from August of 2008 

UPDATE: The developer(s) would go on to build the high end restaurant with their own capital. It was built pre-NIZ, and represented more faith in Allentown than many others shared at that time, including this blogger.

Signs Of The Time

As Allentown eagerly awaits the opening of the Cosmopolitan Restaurant and banquet facility on 6th Street, lets go back in time. Before the former Sal's Spaghetti House was demolished on that parcel, preservationists from Bucks County saved the historic sign. Had the couple been somewhat more familiar with Allentown's history, they may have realized that the sign was neither very historic or iconic.

Before Hamilton Street was bi-sected architecturally by the now gone canopy, the street was lined with large neon signs, many of which were much more elaborate than Sal's; That sign became historic by default. Interestingly, the Sal's sign for most of it's


business days, said Pat's. Pat's and the sign go back to the mid 1950's. In the late 70's, the business was taken over by Sal, and the P and T were simply changed to an S and L. But time goes on; Sal's family is now in the sauce business and have a most interesting website. Congratulations to Mayor Pawlowski and Myron Haydt for bringing the Cosmopolitan to 6th Street; May they have the success that both Pat's and Sal's enjoyed.

1963 Pat's advertisement courtesy of Larry P
Hamilton Steet watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler

reprinted from July of 2010

White Supremacist Arrested

White supremacist Juan Thompson has been arrested for threats against various Jewish institutions. Early press releases indicate that his hatred of Jews was fanned by his devotion to Donald Trump.

Molovinsky, The Morning Call and News

The article about Hooks Seafood restaurant closing states that this type of failure isn't unusual in an urban renewal area, according to experts. So says the Morning Call.  The article also states that The $6 million renovation of the long-closed Sal's Spaghetti House included a crystal chandelier from Hess's department store.... As you can see from my photograph above, Sal's wasn't renovated. The long closed former spaghetti house was demolished, and a new building was constructed in its place.  Now, I can understand the paper not knowing this, after all, the building is over a quarter block away from the newspaper building.  Assuming that people at the Morning Call read the paper, apparently nobody caught the error, twice. This was the second time in about a week that this misinformation was printed. However, this post is about the important part of the story, not covered by the paper.

The restaurant was built pre-NIZ. Save for a $50,000 city grant, the entire cost was borne by the owner. It happens that the owner and his wife were retired from a very lucrative business, and always wanted to own a high end restaurant. Opened as the Cosmopolitan, it was high end indeed.  When that failed to attract enough well heeled, it was transformed into the more price friendly Hook Seafood. However, with the NIZ and Reilly's hospitality group of eateries, the market was now over-saturated.

The owner of the restaurant when asked about lack of foot traffic downtown stated, "I'm not going to get judgmental or say anything negative." Those are traits that nobody accuses this blogger of having.

photocredit:molovinsky- site of the former Sal's Spaghetti House being prepared for new foundation

Shine Off Allentown

Only a couple years ago City Center was claiming that there was a waiting list for it's storefronts. There was no need to promote, the Morning Call was doing that for them. Now, we see the NIZ's prime developer looking for merchants. Truth to be told, some of their remaining merchants are on life support. A $Billion dollars of taxpayer money later, Hamilton Street has less foot traffic than before the NIZ, certainly in the previously busy 700 block.

Nothing about this change of commercial fortune surprises me. Beyond eating lunch, the office workers have no time for shopping. After work their only interest is exiting Dodge as fast as they can. Although, too many vacancies have occurred to still claim store or restaurant demand, the apartment myth is still being sung by Reilly and his Morning Call. Unless they learned how to clone millennials, the reality of that situation will also be apparent soon enough.

Despite my on going critical analysis, I have become a supporter of the NIZ and other such incentives, provided that they used in an equitable fashion.   The marketplace has imposed its own restrictions on City Center LLC.  The massive twin tower projects are on hold. Besides the City Center portfolio,  my concern rests with the existing prior building owners. The NIZ will not succeed surrounded by idle buildings.  I would hope that after the current new projects are completed,  City Center and the other vested interests work on rising the tide for all owners.

Antisemitism In The Trump Era

A facebook friend wrote; There has always been antisemitism in the US, but I've never seen this level in my lifetime until Trump was elected. Trump himself is no antisemite, but it's clear enough that his election has emboldened the antisemites to crawl out from under the rocks.

It is not at all "clear enough" to me. I read about the "resistance" and other absurdities of the disappointed left. I think that it's plausible that some of the acts are being orchestrated to make Trump look guilty by contrived association.  I think that the connection between Trump and the neo-nazi types was fabricated nonsense. Although, it's easier to fabricate such a connection between conservatives and right wing fringe groups, it doesn't make it so. I also likewise believe that Steve Bannon was wrongly smeared by such accusation.  I saw no such concern about Obama's affiliation with Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan.  Whatever the authenticity of these hate acts, associating them to Trump is just part of the hysteria by those so distressed by Trump's win.

Growing Up Parkway

I'm a baby boomer. I was born in December of 1946. As soon as my mother climbed out of the hospital bed, another woman climbed in. I grew up in the neighborhood now called Little Lehigh Manor, wedged between Lehigh Street and the top of the ravine above Lehigh Parkway. That's me on our lawn at the intersection of Catalina and Liberator Avenues, named after airplanes made by Vultee Corporation for the War. We had our own elementary school, our own grocery store, and the park to play in. On Saturdays, older kids would take us along on the trolley, and later the bus, over the 8TH Street Bridge to Hamilton Street. There were far too many stores to see everything. After a matinee of cartoons or Flash Gordon, and a banana split at one of the five and dimes, we would take the bus back over the bridge to Lehigh Street.




Not that many people know where Lehigh Parkway Elementary School is. It's tucked up at the back of the development of twin homes on a dead end street, but I won't say exactly where. I do want to talk about the photograph. It's May Day, around 1952-53. May Day was big then, so were the unions; Most of the fathers worked at the Steel, Mack, Black and Decker, and a hundred other factories going full tilt after the war. The houses were about 8 years old, and there were no fences yet. Hundreds of kids would migrate from one yard to another, and every mother would assume some responsibility for the herd when it was in her yard. Laundry was hung out to dry. If you notice, most of the "audience" are mothers, dads mostly were at work. I'm at the front, right of center, with a light shirt and long belt tail. Don't remember the girl, but see the boy in front of me with the big head? His father had the whole basement setup year round with a huge model train layout. There were so many kid's, the school only went up to second grade. We would then be bused to Jefferson School for third through sixth grade. The neighborhood had its own Halloween Parade and Easter egg hunt. We all walked to school, no one being more than four blocks away. Years ago when I met my significant other, she told me she taught at an elementary school on the south side, but that I would have no idea where it was.

reprinted from January of 2013

Lehigh Valley of Denial

According to Michael Siegel, who knows about such things, the Little Lehigh is in dire trouble.  Meanwhile, back in the land of government and sacred cows,  the LCA,  like Sergeant Schultz on Hogan's Hero, knows and says nothing.  Nestlé and the other bottlers keep sucking out our water like they're making a profit on it.☺☺

Mr. Siegel better get used to frustration.  Here, in our one paper valley, the sacred cows roam free.  Save but for a few bloggers,  no worries here. But even in the blogosphere, the topics of choice involve personal attacks combined with anonymous comments.

Here in the valley the sacred cows herd together.  The Wildlands Conservancy never criticizes the LCA,  and invites Nestlé Water to conduct children's workshops.

Shown above is the former Robin Hood Dam on the Little Lehigh.  It was demolished by The Wildlands Conservancy in order to harvest a state grant.

photocredit; molovinsky

GrassRoots Politics In Allentown

If you're a student of grassroots politics in Allentown, chances are that you know Robert Trotner. This political and community activist has been encouraging political newcomers for a number of years, through both an internet radio show and coffee house gatherings. His recent meetings at the Coffee House Without Limits has attracted new candidates for mayor, city council and the school board. While their names are mostly new to the general public, all of them are involved in the process already, attending meetings and studying Allentown's problems.

I have been a supporter of local outsider politics for decades. These are the people you see at the meetings, week after week. They are the ones that fight the battle for everyone else.  They are the ones who speak out for the many who remain silent.  While a few get elected and become mainstream, most remain unelected, and unrecognized for their commitment.  Reporting their accomplishments has always been an honor for this blog.

Shown sitting with Trotner is City Council candidate Jessica Lee Ortiz and School Board candidate Phoebe Harris.

ADDENDUM: Political outsider and police officer Luiz D. Garcia has announced his candidacy as a Republican for mayor.  I had reached out to Garcia last fall, and we finally connected at a police event at Sacred Heart Hospital earlier this winter.  He is Allentown's first Hispanic Mayoral candidate.

Lehigh Commissioners Fail Cedarbrook

At Tom Muller's kickdown event,  he announced that although not running for another term,  he would champion for the county's Cedarbrook nursing home.  That most important facility has been stonewalled by the county commissioners.  During the last few years I appealed to the commissioners at least twice that Cedarbrook is their most meaningful obligation.  Not only haven't they funded any renovation there, they have been disingenuous in not doing so. They have commissioned study after study, stalling any real commitment.  By now, the proposed modernized wing would have been half amortized.  It's not as if the commissioners are bound by conservative principle, they funded the useless, but politically correct farmland preservation.  They should at least treat our elderly as well as excessive acreage, used mostly for Jaindl turkey corn.

Although, I have been labeled as a radical Republican choir,  I supported Muller on his Cedarbrook efforts.  I supported Democrat Dan Hartzell, because he voiced support for Cedarbrook.  My support for Cedarbrook will continue, as well as my outspokenness against hypocrisy,  without regard to political party.

ADDENDUM:  An article in the Morning Call suggests that commissioner Marty Nothstein might be more sympathetic to Cedarbrook than his Republican predecessors, time will tell.

photocredit: K Mary Hess

The Trump Effect

Yesterday, a valued reader thought that my observation of women losing it over Trump was perhaps an aberration, caused by a small sampling on my behalf. Between the demonstrations and facebook, I don't know why she thinks that. Another reader suggested that the mental illness resides within me, for not fully understanding their outrage.

I do believe that we are experiencing a unique psychological phenomena, which will eventually be officially  recognized and titled.  To say that the vast majority of women I personally know are offended by Trump is an understatement.

As a political blogger I look forward to seeing how Republican incumbents play the Trump card come the midterms in 2018.  Here locally in Pennsylvania that already is a challenge for Dent and Toomey.

Trump and Mental Illness

No,  this post isn't about Trump being mentally ill, it's about him making women nuts.  If it seems as if I'm dwelling on Trump and women's reaction to him, it's because of their obsession, not mine.  I'm a student of politics, and this visceral reaction to him by women is unprecedented.

I know a woman who has a large presence on facebook.  In all the years of being facebook friends, she has always avoided politics.  Currently, she can't stop posting about Trump.  Furthermore, her comments are becoming more and more vulgar, which is also out of character for her.  I can only conclude that Trump has made millions of women mentality ill.

Recently,  I heard of a psychiatrist who is also very upset about Trump. Who will be left to treat these people with this new condition?

The Business Of Anti-Trump

With the country having been so split in the last election, the losers constitute a large market share. Furthermore,  that segment is passionate in their dislike of Trump, and has disposable income.  Witness both Starbucks and Nordstroms cashing in on that sentiment.  Expect to see more businesses copying the strategy.  While Trump may have been a brand name prior to his campaign,  Anti-Trump  now has purchase appeal.

I recently have been accused of running a choir for Trump supporters.  I was not a Trump supporter prior to the election.  Since he prevailed and now is president,  I have evolved into a Trump defender of sorts, although he doesn't make that task easy.  I am revolted by the animosity coming his way.  There is more vitriol toward Trump than I have ever witnessed in politics.  At that intensity,  there can be nothing productive about it. I do believe that Trump will become the issue in the upcoming mid-term elections.  How sad that a congressman will run on his position on a person, rather than on the issues.

Hot Nights In The South

I am making available monoprints from the fabulous South Beach Series by Jessica Lenard(1950-2016) works in the series are 8"x10" contact off line only

Waiting On A Morning Call Promise

I was told by the top hierarchy of the Morning Call that although they wouldn't print  either my editorial or letter about Wehr's Dam,  that they would investigate and report on my documented assertions. I'm concerned about the township commissioners having allowed The Wildlands Conservancy to cast doubts about the dam's condition with Harrisburg. They attempted to poison the water about the dam behind the public's back. The state in turn sought clarification from the township about the claims by the Wildlands. I provided both quotes and dates from those memos. Two weeks have passed, and this week  they reported on South Whitehall's plans to utilize the house owned by the former mill operator, but ignored the dam issue.  The mill itself was torn down decades ago, and the dam is the only remnant left of this important part of the township's agricultural history.

The article reports that the house will become the township park office,  and be in the important Jordan Greenway project.  It doesn't reveal that the project was formulated, and is being administrated by the Wildlands Conservancy, which still wants to see the dam demolished.  Bill White, their remaining columnist, and closest thing they have to an editorial by the paper,  had previously publicly sided with the Wildlands in calling for its destruction.

Wehr's Dam was sanctified by the voters last November by special referendum. Although sanctify is usually used in the religious sense,  understand that the voters were willing to endure a tax increase to keep their cherished dam.  It has been a destination for generations.

The dam is still standing mostly from my efforts.  To stifle my current concerns about its future from the public, reflects a continuing bias on the paper's behalf.

photocredit: K Mary Hess

Raining Mayoral Candidates In Allentown

Allentown's Mayoral fountain runneth over.  There are no less than seven candidates on the Democratic side.  This post will limit itself to the four forerunners.  After the last election, and before the FBI investigation,  this blog already reported that both Sam Bennett and Charlie Thiel sought to be our next mayor. Both then claimed that they would openly oppose Pawlowski.  The current investigation has certainly made that decision less awkward.  Added to the mix is now Ray O'Connell.

As I've written before, with such a crowded field, it will not take many votes to win.  Pawlowski has been courting the small minority groups,  hoping to cobble together enough votes.  He is in a position to dispense favors, and promise more.  I believe that his name recognition and remaining power makes him the lead candidate.

Sam Bennett started early, and is an experienced organizer.  This is a Democratic town, and being a woman in this Hillary era, can only help her. She will certainly draw a substantial number of votes.

Charlie Thiel likewise has been on the scene for years.  He is a school board member who has the support of Jennifer Mann.  He has long standing ties with both the business and religious communities.

Ray O'Connell, in addition to currently being president of City Council, was an Allentown school principal.  He has been concentrating on the west end vote, which always has the highest turnout.

My preference would be anyone but Pawlowski.  The three others mentioned above bring a lot of talent to the race. Even among the three not mentioned, there are many qualifications.

Saving The Spring Pond

As a small boy growing up in the twin homes above Lehigh Parkway, I would go down the steep wooded ravine and cross the Robin Hood Bridge. The stone lined spring pond and miniature bridge was just the first in a series of wonderful WPA constructions to explore. Last year, when I organized the reclamation of the Boat Landing, my memory turned to the pond. Although overgrown with several inches of sod, I knew the treasure was still savable.





In the spring of 2010 I met Mike Gilbert of the Park Department, and pitched the idea of a partial restoration. On May 26th, I posted A Modest Proposal, which outlined my hopes for the pond. By July, Gilbert had the Park Department clear off the remaining stones, and clean up around the miniature bridge.


Park Director Greg Weitzel  indicated to me that the pond features uncovered will be maintained. Any further clearing would be at the discretion of Mike Gilbert. In our conversation he also stated that there are virtually no funds available for the preservation of the WPA icons.







I will attempt to organize a group and contributions for this most worthy cause. Between the Spring Pond and The Boat Landing there was once a bridge to the island. Wouldn't it be nice if a small boy could go exploring.
reprinted from previous posts
UPDATE August 2013Mike Gilbert has retired, and the Park Department has a new director. Although grass and sod are starting to again cover the remaining stones that surround the pond, the miniature bridge is still visible. I will make it my mission to again pitch the new personnel.

UPDATE June 18, 2014. The grass and sod has reclaimed the stones that surround the pond. Only the very top of the miniature bridge is still visible to those who know that it's there. Unless there is an immediate intervention, it's days are numbered.
HISTORY IS FRAGILE

UPDATE February 2017:In 2015, in cooperation with Friends of Allentown Parks, I supervised college volunteers to clear the new sod off the pond stones, and the new bush off the miniature bridge. Allentown is on its third park director since this post was first written, and has acquired two large parcels to create new parks. To be planning additional parks, when our existing park features are left to abandonment, is incredibility poor management.

Trump Haters Take No Rest

Nordstroms is having a boom because they dropped Ivanka Trump's clothing line. In their hatred of Trump, women are flocking there to patronize the store. It's hard to think of anything less supportive of women, than rewarding a merchant, because they don't like a woman's father. In this time of issues, such as North Korea's aggressiveness, liberal women are still obsessed with the results of November's election.

Here in the local arena, blogger Bernie O'Hare wrote; Locally, an assortment if bigots and xenophobes at Molovinsky Tabernacle Choir has been trying its best to justify just about everything Trump does, even when he's dead wrong. That's pretty much what has been happening nationally, too. Bernie was supposedly giving Trump the benefit of the doubt, until he used the phrase so called judge, two weeks into the administration. To Bernie, Trump is now a so called President.

In truth, I am not a Trump supporter, but a defender of our democracy. The country knowingly elected an outspoken, political outsider.  Although, I understand the entertainment industry seizing upon his unpopularity, women and liberals should consider, whether if at this point, they're just being obstructionists. Furthermore,  whether if this obstructionism is marginalizing their own country.

photo: Although, liberals have been over regarding SNL as news for years, now even the press is treating it that way, with reports on Sunday morning.

Molovinsky's Insulting Blog

In the course of covering the Lehigh Valley's current and historical events,  I offend numerous people. Often these people are our leading developers.  A young man on facebook recently speculated that I am jealous of their accomplishments.  In truth, I admire their business proficiency. However,  I lack the diplomatic and writing skills that would be necessary to present my observations without offense.  My yardstick for this blog is what's best for the overall community.  In that regard, I may find a developer's project counterproductive.  Likewise, I don't refrain from discussing different ethnic communities and their relationship to the greater community.  I'm old enough, and independent enough,  to speak my mind.  Although, I have some sensitivity in regard to people,  I afford no such courtesy to cities, bureaucracies, committees and institutions.

If this blog seems repetitive at times, or that I'm harping on something which doesn't interest many people, it's because I find the subject historically important, or politically compelling.  Understand, that this blog is not monetized in any way. How many people read it is of no consequence to me. Even my comment policy goes against common strategies for increasing readership.

For the record, I would like it be known that I take no pleasure when my posts offend.  Likewise, let me say that although I won't compromise for it, I do value your readership.

A Tale Of Two Bridges

In the mid 50's, it was a big deal to us southsiders when they opened the new 15th Street Bridge. Prior to that, we had to either go over the 8th Street Bridge, or use the old stone arch bridge by the fertilizer plant. The fertilizer plant is long gone, but the old stone bridge is still there. Schreibers Bridge was built in 1828, and rehabilitated in 1920. The new 15th Street bridge was built in 1957, and is now restricted to south bound only, until which time it can be completely replaced. So the new bridge lasted 54 years, while the old stone bridge is still in use, 182 years later.

Recently, I urged Donny Cunningham not to replace the stone arch bridge on Reading Road. His project manager, Glenn Solt, insists that the historic bridge must be replaced. He stated that stone arch bridges look nice on the outside, but inside, they're filled with "crap." Thankfully, Don and Glenn didn't target Schreibers Bridge, because we're really going to need it with the new 15th Street Bridge out of commission. Hopefully, they will reconsider about stealing our history on Reading Road.

reprinted from November 2010 and February of 2012

ADDENDUM: I did manage to save the Reading Road Bridge. I now encourage Allentown to restore the approach walls to Schreibers Bridge, damaged as it served heavy duty while the new 15th Street Bridge was being replaced.

In The Lehigh Valley Of Sacred Cows

If anyone is wondering what the issue was with my letter to the Morning Call about Wehr's Dam, the issue was me.  One of the consequences of having criticized the paper and various sacred cows over the last decade, is that my letters are submitted to a much higher level of scrutiny. Almost all the letters that they print have assumptions and opinions.  It is, after all,  the Opinions Page.  My previous letter on Wehr's Dam, before the referendum, took over a month of negotiations to have printed.  In the end, it was only printed because Bill White declined to make corrections to his piece on Wehr's Dam, and suggested instead that I write an editorial.

One must understand that we live in the valley of sacred cows and denial.  Only here can the township manager of South Whitehall go to work for the townships largest property owner and developer, and not raise eyebrows.  Only here can Allentown's biggest developer actually now own the newspaper building.

For the sake of journalism and access to news,  the Morning Call should be printing this blog as a daily column, instead of repressing my occasional letters.

Trump's Muslim Ban

The thing about Trump's Muslim Ban is that it is not a ban on Muslims, it's a travel ban against countries which for the most part are in a state of anarchy or hostility, and not capable of vetting their own citizens in regard to our security.  How safe do you feel about the current governments of Libya, Somalia or Yemen, checking passengers on their end of a flight?

My readers of liberal persuasion are probably beginning to doubt my claim of being a non-partisan.  The fact is I am bewildered by the misinformation and distortion concerning the Trump administration.  Now, I get that Trump has repulsed you numerous times in the last six months.  You are certainly entitled to your dislike and distrust of him,  but the distortions benefit nobody.

killing Christians on the beach in Libya

Low Information Blacks and Whites

Among the things I find interesting about this post election result, is the classism and hypocrisy of the liberal Democratic establishment. Although, I'm non-partisan and voted for Gary Johnson, I interact with both camps. The shocked Democrats keep referring to low information rednecks, who voted for Trump. However, they had no problem with black voters, some of whom were low information.  Obama and Hillary themselves tried to rally the black vote, not with information, but with free concerts.  An uninformed black vote is apparently more legitimate than one from an uninformed white person.  Perhaps, what they're thinking, but not saying, is that they expect the black voter to be less informed.  Another Democratic concern for blacks is alleged voter repression in the south.  Registering them is enough;  If they vote Democratic, there is little concern about how informed they are on the issues.  Of course those whites, who do not vote Democratic,  are uninformed rednecks.

News In The Trump Era

Although, I thought that the news and media was biased during the presidential campaign of 2016, I haven't seen anything yet. Only President for two weeks, Trump has managed to alienate the press even more than before.  Now, I don't blame Trump, I blame the press. (I use the terms press and media interchangeably, and mean both print, internet, broadcast and cable)  The media knew what they were getting when Trump won.  I suppose that there might have been an expectation of a more presidential demeanor, but there should be no surprise that it didn't materialize.

As someone who looks for news and not attitude, my hunt has become more elusive.  Complicating the  endeavor, is that more and more news sources are being consolidated.  When the public is willing to accept the blurbs on facebook as news,  we are in an era of electronic tabloids.

News as entertainment isn't new, but when that's all there is,  democracy suffers. Previously informed people are reduced to this new diet. The Sunday edition of the Washington Post treats the previous evening's Saturday Night Live parody as news.   CNN has joined the official electronic tabloid club by refusing  to host Kellyanne Conway on their Sunday talking heads program, after being shut out of some access by the White House.  In this vacuum,  I expect that molovinsky on allentown will have to open a Washington bureau. I was hoping to devote more column space to local history.

An Artistic Opportunity

I will make available to a discerning collector or institution an iconic work by Jessica Lenard(1950-2016) Family,1993, mixed media on canvas, 50"x66"
contact off line.

Molovinsky and Morning Call Tumble Over Wehr's Dam

The Morning Call has declined to print the following letter, and a longer version of it.

The basis of the letter in question is centered on assumption of a result not yet known. We are declining to print the letter because it contains at worst faulty logic, at best an assumption. Please include this reasoning when you ‘go public.’   The Morning Call

The South Whitehall Commissioners never expected the voters to approve the referendum this past November to retain Wehr's Dam, especially when they had associated it with a possible tax increase. They thought that they could accommodate the Wildlands Conservancy in demolishing the dam, with no political consequence to themselves. In July of 2014, the Commissioners gave the Conservancy permission to conduct a study of the dam, which was intended to justify its demolition. The engineering firm for the Conservancy then claimed that the dam was leaking under itself, at one small spot. On February 13, 2015, the DEP wrote the township; "The Wildlands Conservancy has recently brought to our attention that there is some confusion relating to the current condition of the Wehr's Dam..." For the Commissioners to have granted the Wildlands Conservancy permission to interface with the state was improper. The dam is the historic property of the township residents, not an outside party. A subsequent study of the dam by another engineering firm could not confirm the above referenced leak. It is now necessary for the Commissioners to put aside their agenda of accommodating the Wildlands Conservancy, and honor the results of the referendum. They must change their Park Master Plan, which still calls for the dam's demolition. They must now advocate for the dam with the state DEP, and correct any misconceptions about its condition.
Michael Molovinsky

ADDENDUM: Although, The Morning Call has declined to print my letter(s), they will now inquire and report on the Township's intention in regard to the dam.

photocredit: K Mary Hess

Molovinsky Rebuilding Staff

As I reported previously, my entire female staff resigned after the Washington march. It wasn't enough to be non-partisan, they insisted that I condemn everything about Trump. One of the things that I complimented Trump on was his pick of Rex Tillerson, for Secretary of State. Here is a man who is giving up a $25million dollar salary to serve his country. Here is a man who was CEO of Exxon/Mobile, one of the biggest companies in the world.  Do you suppose that he just might be as smart and qualified as John Kerry, or Hillary Clinton, for that position.

My hope for my former staff is that they can calm down somewhat, and resume life. Presently, they're just besides themselves about Trump. Although, it's apparent that the man has no notion of diplomacy, he has only been president for less than two weeks. Barack Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize in between being elected and being sworn in, just on the basis of his ability to speak eloquently. He didn't receive another one as president, nor should he have received the first one. This isn't a pro Trump site. He will be readily criticized here, as warranted. Although, additional vetting is prudent, his recent ban on certain countries was poorly implemented.  Shown above is Brigitte,  our new copy editor.

photo of Brigitte Bardot, French actress and activist

The Pawlowski Plan

Readers of this blog know that I have posted previously that Pawlowski is ingratiating himself with the smaller minority congregations and businesses.  It was apparent to me that his strategy was to cobble together enough votes to win, in a very crowded Democratic primary.  I learned on Monday from a hispanic activist, that he is busier at this task than I imagined.  He is attending every event that he hears about, including family birthday parties.  This source told me that for the most part these people are oblivious to the corruption investigation,  but are flattered that the mayor is visiting with them.

Another interesting phenomena is the Pawlowski freelance goons.  I call them freelance, because I have no reason to believe that Pawlowski is behind their actions.  One young man attacks me on facebook as a jealous hate blogger, because I criticize Allentown policy.  Ironically, he feels justified in attacking a person, because that person takes city policy to task.  I didn't know that cities had feelings, or were that sensitive.  Another person has been bullying for Pawlowski since before his first election, in 2005.  Talking of irony, Pawlowski, in addition to putting up photos of the small businesses and congregations, keeps also posting about being kind. Those of us who have taken his city policy to task, have often been personally insulted and smeared by that very advocate of kindness.

Whitehall Inherits Allentown's Syrians

Back in day, when demolition began to build the arena and Reillytown, Whitehall's Ed Hozza was cutting the ribbons with Ed Pawlowski. At the time, I questioned what he was doing there. Hozza's enthusiasm for Allentown's project quickly waned, as he realized truck after truck was dumping the former ground up buildings into  Whitehall's quarry. If that wasn't insult enough for Hozza's support, within two years Pawlowski would be supporting Hozza's current opponent. Although Hozza may have lost Pawlowski's support, there's a new power broker in Whitehall, the former Allentown Syrian community. The Syrians in Allentown developed their political influence back in the days of District Attorney George Joseph. Voting as a block, the Democratic Club in the ward could be counted on in local elections, and numerous Syrians ended up working in various departments of Allentown City government. Through inter-marriage and relationships, many non-Syrian names became part of the base, even including extended members of my family. Although that power base has shifted north in the last 15 years, it took Pawlowski's refusal to raise the Syrian flag to make the move official. In the future, the flags will be raised in Whitehall.

reprinted from April of 2015

UPDATE January 31,2017: While much of the older Syrian Christian community has migrated to Whitehall, many of the newer Muslim immigrants from Syria are moving into the 6th Ward,  a traditional starting spot for many immigrants to our city.  The last two years have made the story of the Syrians complex.  The same can be said for Pawlowski, Allentown and even the country.  The older Syrian community remain staunch Democrats. The newer immigrants will of course be preoccupied with their new surroundings.  According to the paper, the local Syrian population is under 4,000. I was surprised, their influence is much larger.

A Jew At St. George

This weekend I had the pleasure to attend the Heritage Festival at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, and the privilege to met Khouria Minerva Sabbagh, wife of Rev. Fr. Anthony Sabbagh. Khouria is a term of honor, conveying the significant role she plays in the life of the church. The numerous children delighted in the kiddie rides, adding smiles and giggles to their heritage experience. Needless to say, the middle eastern food was lovingly made by doting grandmothers. Although the Syrian community was out in force, the annual festival attracts a large, diverse crowd. During high school, I would occasionally attend midnight mass with a Syrian friend. In the small world of Allentown, one of Khouria Minerva's daughters is now married into that family. Although the festival was  joyous, with current events, we must keep the Syrian community in our thoughts and prayers. 

reprinted from June 2013

UPDATE January31,2017: Today's Morning Call has an article and video in which Rev. Sabbagh supports the concept of Trump's ban, but criticizes the way it was implemented. The article accurately explains that the Syrian Christian community generally supports Assad. Both he and his father defended the Christian minority in Syria. While the article even mentions the tension between Allentown's older Christian community, and the newer Muslim immigrants, it overlooks another fact about the community in Allentown. The older Syrian Christian community referred to in my two posts, were a united Democratic block in this city.

Today at noon I will reprint a post on the large political influence of the small Syrian community. You're welcome to return.

Allentown's Historic Syrian Community

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

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

click on photo to enlarge

reprinted from previous years

Another Park Mistake In Allentown

Mayor Pawlowski is patting himself for having the 100 year old fountain refurbished in West Park. Actually, the fountain is less than 30 years old, and is a reproduction of the original fountain, which was scrapped in the 1950's, for a modern brick monstrosity.

 This is what happens when you have a mayor from out of town, and a park director from out of town; There is no institutional memory, whatsoever, of the park system.  We are paying to refurbish a fountain which is probably still in excellent shape.  Meanwhile,  the WPA structures,  which really do need attention, are allowed to crumble away.  We have a mayor who is more political than ever,  wasting our resources on photo opportunities.  His highness deleted my corrected history off his facebook page in about 30 seconds.


At noon today, this blog will be reprinting a short history of the Syrian community in Allentown. Your return visit is welcome.

High Culture Available

Jessica Lenard, who was an important part of Allentown's art scene in the 70's and 80's, died from an accident in December of 2016. I will make pieces available to discerning collectors and institutions, with proceeds to her memory with her favorite institutions. shown All Day Sucker, oil on canvas, 5'x6'  

Boxing Eggs

When I was a little boy, I would work at my father's meat market, boxing eggs. The job was pretty straightforward. I would take eggs from a big box, and put them in small boxes with folding lids, each of which held a dozen. If I did a whole crate without breaking an egg, I did a good job. The real adventure was the drive to the shop. We lived just off Lehigh Street, and would take it all the way to Union Street. The many landmarks are now gone forever, only remaining in my camera of the past. Shown above in 1952, is the portion of Lehigh Street near the Acorn Hotel, which is not visible in the photograph. Before reaching the Acorn, you drove under The Reading Railroad bridge overpass, which recently has been dismantled and removed. That line served the Mack Plant on S. 10th Street. Just beyond the area pictured, the Quarry Barber railroad spur also crossed Lehigh Street, at the bridge over the Little Lehigh Creek. That line also crossed S. 10th, and served Traylor Engineering, now known as the closed Allentown Metal Works. Just last week Mitt Romney was there, to rebuke Obama's former visit to the site. Mayor Pawlowski is now rebuking Romney, but none of them really know anything about it's past. A half block away, on overgrown steps built by Roosevelt's WPA, a thousand men would climb home everyday, after working at Mack and Traylor. Freight trains, on parallel tracks, from two different railroads, were needed to supply those industrial giants.

After my father rounded the second curve on Lehigh Street, we would head up the steep Lehigh Street hill. It was packed with houses and people. At the top of the hill, we would turn right on to Union Street. Going down Union Street, Grammes Metal was built on the next big curve. Grammes made a large assortment of finished decorative metal products. Beyond Grammes were numerous railroad crossings. The Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks crossed Union, as did the Jersey Central and several spurs, near Basin Street. It was not unusual to wait twenty-five minutes for the endless freight trains to pass. A two plus story tower gave the railroad men view and control of the busy crossing. A few more blocks and we were at the meat market, in time for me to break some eggs.

reprinted from July 2011

A Previous Revitalization In Allentown

Urban renewal projects are nothing new to Allentown. Every couple decades some Mayor thinks he has a brighter idea. In a previous post, I showed the historic Lehigh and Union Street neighborhood, totally destroyed by city planners. Today, an under used Bank calling center sits awkwardly alone on that Lehigh Street hill. The picture above shows another hill of merchants and residents, fed to a mayor's bulldozer. The picture is from 1953, and shows Hamilton Street, from Penn Street down toward the railroad stations. At that time we still had two stations, The Lehigh Valley Railroad and The New Jersey Central. The current closed bar and restaurant occupies the Jersey Central. Everything on Hamilton Street, west of the bridge over the Jordan creek, with the exception of the Post Office, was demolished up to Fifth Street. Government Center would be built on the north side of the street, and a new hotel on the south, to accommodate the many anticipated visitors. Recently we had to remove and replace the facade of the county courthouse, which leaked since it was constructed. The hotel is now a rooming house.

Unannounced plans are underway for a new hotel to service anticipated visitors to Pawlowski's Palace of Sports. It will be up to some future blogger to document how that hotel becomes a rooming house.

reprinted from June 2011


UPDATE 2017: The arena hotel, The Renaissance, has been operating for a couple of years. I do not believe that it is doing very well. I imagine that things are even worse for the older hotel at 9th and Hamilton.

Female Blog Staff Resigns

Yesterday, I posted that local reports would resume as soon as the staff returned from the march in Washington. However, my entire female staff has resigned en masse. Although, they recognize that this blog is non-partisan, that neutrality no longer suffices in this new post election world. They can no longer work for a publication that is not openly anti-Trump. Although, I would like to assure my readers that the blog will be back up to speed in short order, I can't honestly do that.  Writing the posts myself will not be easy, I can barely read.

A local cheerleader on facebook said,  in response to another shooting yesterday, that public safety must improve.  Understand that our police department is up to full complement.  Center city has been outfitted with surveillance cameras.  Unfortunately, we are facing the consequences of poor policy for over a decade.  I predicted this result as an independent candidate 2005,  and was criticized at the time for my bluntness.  Welcome to big urban reality in small town America.

pictured above is Kellyanne Conway, who has become a target of women upset by the election.

Alternative Facts and Views

Although, my male liberal friends believe that our new president suffers from a narcissistic personality disorder, and that his supporters are primarily low information people, they are conceding that he processes some skill sets. They believe that he can effectively manage and delegate. They actually approve of dropping out of the Trans- Pacific Partnership. They even realize that there is some talent in the new cabinet.

On the other hand, my female friends offer no quarter. Most, just back from the marches, may not even forgive my postings.

Meanwhile, back here in the little apple,  Mayor For Life faces a battle for the first time in the primary. I only wish that some of this talent challenged him previously.  As soon as all the staff from molovinsky on allentown has returned from Washington, local coverage will resume.

The Women's March

My previous post concerning the Trump inauguration protests generated some heartfelt comments.  One reader was afraid that a loved one would loose her health insurance, without the pre-existing condition coverage provided by the ACA.  Although, I had issues with the protests,  the validity of her concern cannot be underestimated.  Let us hope that any replacement to the Affordable Care Act makes a similar provision.

One reader suggested that such protests define democracy.  Another blogger, Chris Casey, a Democrat, commented,  I firmly believe in the right of Americans to protest against the Government. But would it not have been more appropriate to protest by actually voting on Election day? I can't help but wonder how many of those who are upset over President Trump did not get off their rear ends and participate in the process. We have the Government we deserve, and we have to live with it.... 

Considering that many of the protesters began assembling before Trump was even sworn in, many weren't protesting policy,  they were protesting the results of democracy. I credit Hillary for  attending the inauguration, and saying that she was there to honor our democracy.


Many women that I know and care about attended the Women's March On Washington, or local versions of it. Numerically, the marches were incredibly impressive.  I  believe that sheer volume alone will make their messages politically relevant. I hope that Trump reaches out and offers some reassurance to these concerned citizens. In turn,  I hope they can consider extending some benefit of the doubt.

photocredit:Mario Tama/Getty Images

Allentown's Park Problem

Under Pawlowski, the park and recreation departments were combined,  and all three of the consecutive park directors had the same background in recreation, and were hired by the same person,  Fran Dougherty.

The WPA double stairwell in Lehigh Parkway, shown above, is in dire straights.  The landings are falling apart, allowing water to seep into foundation of the steps.  The park department always has the same answer now for years.  Yes, we're budgeting for it next year.  Yes, it's on our short list. etc. etc.  Meanwhile, last summer a large outdoor  gymnasium was installed at Jordan Park.  Although it would be the envy of any federal prison,  it is nothing they could ever afford.  However,  our recreation obsessed park director found the funds.

I have twice publicly offered city council my time to act as a liaison on park matters.  They approve the park budgets, and have the leverage to modify park priorities.  Meanwhile,  our iconic system, once nationally recognized as among the best,  declines.   Pawlowski's director endorses more parks, and more expensive catalog equipment,  while the important existing features crumble.

Pawlowski's Second String Minorities

The Morning Call announced that Ed Pawlowski has made his try for a fourth term official. As I pointed out previously on this blog, he has been courting minority church congregations since his incrimination with the FBI investigation. His friend and probable supporter Alan Jennings, thinks that because of the Trump era discontent with status quo government, that he might have a chance. Actually, by that yardstick, he's toast. He represents the worst of government as usual. What Pawlowski is going after is the Marion Barry vote. That previous mayor of Washington was re-elected, even after being convicted on drug charges. The idea is that minorities are more sympathetic to trouble with the man. Pawlowski's strategy might work. The Democratic primary will divide up a relatively small number of votes among numerous candidates.

In 2005, when Pawlowski was unencumbered by corruption allegations,  he promised the established minority community leaders more presence in city hall. He delivered on that promise. I can only imagine who and what he is promising now.

The title of this post is based on my observation that Pawlowski is not only courting minority votes, but those smaller congregations and business people, who previously did not warrant his attention.