The Honest Broker, Missing From The Lehigh Valley

In a previous post, I told how South Whitehall's Christina Morgan would be coming forward suggesting a referendum on Wehr's Dam. Last night, as if on cue, she made her backdoor suggestion, hoping to help the Wildlands still demolish the icon. Also in a previous post, I mentioned that the Allentown Parking Authority presents contrived surveys, to justify their rate hikes. Also on cue, that claim was made last night, to justify doubling the meter rate in Allentown. We were also told that tickets are only reluctantly given, to enforce rules which benefit everybody. As one who has often seen street sweeping tickets give out en masse, with no meaningful sweeping, I know better than that. We live in an area where bureaucrats can say and do as they please, with no scrutiny from the press. The bureaucrats are imbued with arrogance, thinking they know best, certainly much better than the dirty masses. The press is nine to five, satisfied to report what is said, with no need to know the real motives. The public, for the most part, is content with this diet of abridged news. On the national level, they're so conditioned to spin and attitude, that facts no longer count. Who cares if you have to pay $2 an hour to park on empty Hamilton Street on a Tuesday afternoon? 

above reprinted from April 16, 2015 

ADDENDUM APRIL 27, 2022:Although seven years have passed, I'm afraid reform is just an empty word used by some new faces in local governments. The Wildlands Conservancy still runs South Whitehall township. Allentown has a new administration on city hall's top floor, but the city is still run by the same Pawlowski entrenched goons on the lower floors. The Morning Call no longer has any floors, and uses the same opiners from yesteryear, rewriting their old insights. The city is populated by a shifting tide of immigrants from the New(s), that be Jersey and York...to them it does seem new, exciting and reformed.

Abuse Of Power At The Monument Building

The building had begun its life as the 1st National Bank. The second owner renamed it Corporate Center. The third owner renamed it Monument Building.

One morning in early July of 2008, code enforcement descended upon the Monument Building like a swat team.  Every officer, in every department , entered the building at the same time, and spread out looking for every possible violation. Under the previous owner, the same conditions, with the same tenants, were lauded as a rebirth.

Whatever motivated Pawlowski to pull the plug on the new owner, the tenants were lightweights, of no consequence to him. At that time, myself and few other malcontents, like Lou Hershman, would gather early in the morning for coffee at Jerry's Cafe, located on the first floor.

Jerry's was not one of the upstart businesses blessed with a Pawlowski grant at the time. He had to pay for everything, and everything had been inspected, inside and out. His plans had been approved, his electric and plumbing had been approved,  and his expensive grill and hood system had been approved.  While all the tenants were put out of business that day,  Jerry was also financially ruined. 

During this sorry Pawlowski era, he used the code department as a weapon.  Although Pawlowski is gone, some of that same mentality apparently still lurks with some of the code officers.  I wrote about Pawlowski's tactics back then in 2008, and I will continue to defend those currently victimized by such abuse.

The Monument Building would be torn down years later by J.B. Reilly, and replaced by one of his Corporate Towers.

I photographed the code cars that morning lined up for the raid   

reprinted from previous years

ADDENDUM APRIL 26, 2022: In 2008, when the above abuse was occuring, this blogger was there documenting the incident. I documented numerous incidents in that period. As Pawlowski became bolder in his aggression and attracted the attention of the FBI, they used this and O'Hare's blog as a source for tips. Unfortunately those Pawlowski storm troopers are still at city hall. Some have ascended into positions of power. Just two years ago I documented on this blog a homeowner being harassed, as a personal favor to a friend of a code director. I have slowed down with such direct involvement, that was the last court hearing I attended. Thirty years of fighting city hall takes its toll. I can tell you that Pawlowski supporters thought that he could walk on water, he couldn't...that should be a lesson for current supporters of current politicans.

Bill White's Confusion

I had to shake my head reading Bill White's column yesterday. While I often criticize Bill for wasting his bully pulpit on grammar and his reoccurring themes, it's actually better than the revisionism he bestowed upon the Morning Call yesterday.  He wrote, "The Morning Call has focused attention over the years on practices that hinted at pay to play, but those revelations never generated enough heat to trigger legislation or internal reforms." That's news to me Bill, although I realize that the paper has now ended its eight year  honeymoon with Pawlowski, that only occurred after the recent FBI raid.  By my scorecard, you would have to cite examples of these revelations about pay to play you claim the paper made. Up to recent events, the paper took everything from the Pawlowski Administration at face value.  In reality, the paper, and pardon me for saying, you in particular, were cheerleaders, especially for the NIZ.  You even called me misguided for suggesting that the NIZ was a plan based on layers of inequity: Inequitable to most of the existing businesses in the valley, and segregating against the residents of center city. Although you now write that "Time is running out for politics as usual,"  most of the few local political mavericks have ended up in your Hall Of Shame.  If your memory lapses continue,  you might want to see your physician.

above reprinted from August 28, 2015 

ADDENDUM APRIL 25, 2022:Over the years numerous personnel at the Morning Call took a buyout, including Bill White. About a year ago, he persuaded the editor/publisher(Mike Miorelli) to give him back two columns a month. Although he's still certainly no Bernstein/Woodward, he has recently written a couple of pieces beyond his previous MO of chocolate cake contests and Christmas lights. Perhaps my insults inspired him. However, I still will allow no former Morning Call reporter to claim that the newspaper ever broke anything critical of any level of local government. On the contrary, they still turn their back on controversy.

Pawlowski And The Little People

Lately, I noticed on facebook, that Ed Pawlowski has started attending littier events, such as a small hispanic church picnic. Understand that if Mayor Ed had his choice, he still would be a candidate for the United States Senate, and not the object of an FBI investigation. He still might had,  under the prior scenario, attended a mega congregation picnic, but previously he didn't have interest in the small fry stuff. Why now is Ed showing up at the munchkin events? Does he want to say he got religion as part of his future defense? Naw, he always had big church religion. Beyond the obvious, that his personal cache has depreciated, he might be trying to cultivate a Marion Barry constituency. When the Washington mayor got popped for cocaine, his followers still elected him. I think that the taint from the Raid On City Hall has made bigger office, or big appointments, on the state or federal level, a goal no longer attainable. Perhaps Ed sees being Mayor For Life now as his best shot, supported by the little people, more tolerant of legal scrapes.

above reprinted from September 7, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL 22, 2022: My hunch above about Pawlowski turned out to be correct, as did many of my previous hunches about him.  He did cobble together enough different minority votes to win a fourth term after being convicted. He favorite vehicle of ascension was the Human Relations Council. One of his anointed stayed in Grace until last week, when her husband misspoke in their Foundation office.  Unfortunately for Allentown, those Councils* tend to still be used for the same purpose. Worse for Allentown, many of Pawlowski's lackeys remained in City Hall, with some actually being promoted.

* this post is not intended to disparage any current member of any council or commission

Morning Call Catches Up To Molovinsky On Neuweiler

On Sunday, The Morning Call had an article that Ruckus Brewing was much less than previously presented, but they didn't mention their previous puffing.  Over two years ago, I reported that they were in reality a couple of young guys, with a rented office in NYC, who had purchased the former Reading Brewery Label, and contracted out the limited beer production. Recently, columnist Bill White defended the paper's reporting, and tried to marginalize this blog by not even referring to it by name. Although Ruckus had no actual brewing experience, and no real estate experience, they were given the option on the Neuweiler property, and a $34 million dollar plan in taxpayer NIZ funding,  to renovate the parcel. Although they had no experience,  they did have a local business agent named Mike Fleck. The paper previously gushed about the coming brewery and pub, regurgitating press releases like they were news. Recently, I reprinted one of my Ruckus/Neuweiler posts, and low and behold, The Morning Call now had a Sunday feature. But even fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare said,  But they had more details.  I reported two months ago that in fact they were  mickey mouse, with only a single distributor in Pennsylvania.  Bernie was impressed because the Morning Call printed the name of the distributor, which I had chose not to.  In reality, there wasn't one more pertinent detail in the paper's story than mine, written two months earlier.

I'll leave the regurgitated press releases to the paper.  I'll leave Bernie worshipping those details which pad out articles into longer features.  I will continue to distill reality from promotion in Allentown, and give the news in small shots, to discriminating readers. Comments will remain moderated, restricted to additional insights.  molovinsky on allentown will remain a craft blog,  in an ever more crass environment. 

above reprinted from September 30, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL 21, 2022: I have a knack for pissing off many people at the same time. Unfortunately, that hurts many of my causes, such as the WPA in Allentown...This is one of those posts.  

The brewery has been neglected for so long that it isn't worthwhile restoring. However, because the work on the now privately owned building will be financed with diverted state taxes, nobody feels the pain directly, and nobody cares. The previous owner was actually arrested for not improving space now allowed to be rented in the same as is condition, by the new approved owners. Because the building is now connected to the existing power structure in Allentown,  the revitalization will continue. Influence in both the ANIZDA and AEDC overlap. That overlapping now extends into the city's new administration. Back to my piss off abilities. I'm a seasoned veteran of such conflict. There's little point in me pecking away at this typewriter this early in the morning if I'm going to be acquiescing to the newspaper, city hall or even popular opinion.

General Trexler's Bridge

The 8th Street Bridge is one of the marvels of Allentown.  It was built to facilitate the Liberty Trolley run, from 8th and Hamilton to Philadelphia.  I posted about it before, with its impressive statistics. At the time it was the largest concrete bridge in the world.  It involved two business interests of Harry Trexler,  both the transit company and the local cement industry.

Harrisburg and The Morning Call have been braying about the bridges scheduled for improvement and replacement in the area.  Although, I virtually stopped attending municipal meetings,  I still partake in field trips to the local construction sites.  I don't announce myself, and try to be quick and quiet on these unauthorized inspections.  I would prefer not to vanish like Jimmy Hoffa.  I want to inspect the bridge, not end up in the bridge.

On first glance the work on the bridge looks very impressive. The bridge walls have been replaced with new concrete walls, almost identical to the original, even including the lighting pillars. My question is that the roadbed has been raised about 18 inches, but is still supported by the same arches. Eighteen inches of additional concrete on the roadbed and sidewalk is an enormous additional weight load. Furthermore, I have learned that there was bonding issues between the older base and new concrete. Only the approaches, on both ends of the bridge, have been replaced.  This was done because they are the lowest part of the bridge, and the most feasible parts to replace.  However, they were replaced with pre-stressed concrete beams, and the new arches are only decorative panels.  The original approach bases were massive constructions, which probably would have stood another 1000 years.

Only now is the part of the project which I knew to be necessary beginning.  The massive bridge arches has been showing spalling damage over the last decades.  That is the process where old concrete lets loose from the steel re-bar used as the construction frame.

When the project is completed, I do not expect to be invited to the ribbon cutting. 

reprinted from July of 2016

ADDENDUM: The second iconic concrete bridge, the Tilghman Street Bridge, is now undergoing a similar reconstruction process. That project is considerably behind schedule, penalizing both residents and businesses on Union Blvd. Although I have done some photo recon, I have not interviewed workers as I did on the 8th Street project. 

The reason for this reprint is my doubts about the huge Infrastructure Spending Bill that our local politicans are patting themselves on the back about. In slower times the taxpayer money is seldom put to the best use. With all this money there is no project to widen Rt. 22, sorely needed now for two decades. Instead, our portion will build a new road along the Lehigh, only duplicating Front Street a block parallel. Another ribbon cutting I won't be invited to.

Bridge reopening now scheduled for May,  extending the closure for 52 months.

Allentown's WPA Watchman

Being a self appointed watchman over Allentown's WPA structures is an act in frustration. Since I started posting about the neglect of the structures in 2008, I have seen nothing of substance done. Actually, besides the steps at Irving Park being rebuilt, I have seen nothing done at all. While rebuilding that small staircase was positive, many negatives occurred in the meantime. The meantime has been over seven years. Also in the meantime, another set of steps were removed from Irving Park. The staircase at Union Terrace is deteriorating to the point where that structure is in jeopardy. The repair to a remaining staircase at Irving was done with a $25,000 grant from the Trexler Trust. In the last seven years, the park department's budget has been over $25 million dollars. The playground at Cedar Beach cost $1 million. Pawlowski has rejected my offer to be a liaison on behalf of the WPA structures. I'm pictured above standing over the former WPA wall, after it collapsed this summer, closing Lehigh Parkway's classic entrance. This city's history and future are tied to our park system and other quality of life issues, not just some private/public new buildings. I know there's no big money or national attention to be gained in fixing an old wall, but we have a responsibility to the things which made this city unique.

photo courtesy of Michael Adams
 

above reprinted from October of 2015

UPDATE APRIL 19, 2022: In the photo above, I'm standing over the collapsed entrance wall in Lehigh Parkway, after spending the previous seven years urging the city to repair it. The O'Connell administration likewise declined my offer to be a liaison for the WPA. I have yet to hear from the Tuerk administration on my offer to conduct a WPA tour, if the city repairs the landing on the Parkway staircase, and removes the rubble despoiling the Robin Hood bridge piers.

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

UPDATE: The above post is reprinted from March of 2010. I have repeated the post several times since over the years, and have written other posts concerning Allentown's historic Syrian Community as well. Although I didn't grow up in the Ward, I grew up with their children, who had by then also lived in other sections of town. Throughout the 1950's and 60's, the organized Syrian community wielded considerable strength in local Democratic politics. I assure you that Pawlowski went hat in hand to their leadership even in 2005. This week at least a portion of the community came to City Council, hat in hand; Pawlowski had denied their request for a Syrian Flag ceremony at City Hall. The Syrian political influence in Allentown has been somewhat weakened by a large migration of that community to Whitehall. I will also concede on Pawlowski's part that the current politics of Syria is indeed very complicated. That reality aside, the large local Syrian community deserves some public recognition of its historic role and roots.

UPDATE APRIL 18, 2022: On Saturday, the Syrian community observed Syria's independence with a flag raising at City Hall.

Behind Allentown's Protest

Yesterday, among the protestors outside of the Ortiz Ark Foundation on 9th Street, was MsPhoebe Harris. Harris and other protestors were offended when a video emerged showing the Ark's Oscar Ortiz disparaging Blacks. Ark was started by Oscar's wife Jessica, who was in a damage control mode yesterday.

Jessica Ortiz and MsPhoebe Harris know each other well. Both were empowered by Ed Pawlowski, when he cobbled together his fourth and last election victory in 2017. Pawlowski appointed members of the minority communities to various boards, to gain their support for that year's crowded primary.

Although I remain a persona non-grata at the Morning Call, readers may rely on this blog for institutional knowledge and background, no longer available from the newspaper.

shown above Jessica Ortiz and MsPhoebe Harris sharing coffee and political aspirations

Enid Santiago Again Cries Victim

The court, the Morning Call and hers truly continue to portray Enid Santiago a victim of the Man. The Morning  Call's reporter insists on using the adverb only, when referring to her previous primary loss by only 55 votes. 

Although she admittedly submitted 239 bad signatures on her current petition, the victim will nevertheless be on the ballot.

In 2014, as an independent candidate, this blogger collected the 300 required signatures by myself, with a few more by a couple of volunteers.

As a Pennsylvanian, I hope that she again complains about her loss after the upcoming primary...A victory celebration would be much worse for the commonwealth's good.

the above photo is of my billboard in 2014, as an independent candidate for the state house.

The Business Of Cedar Park

As an advocate for the traditional park system, I find commercial companies leasing Cedar Park a complete exploitation of the park.  On Saturday, the park lent itself to the second for profit company this year, The Color Run. (The first was Slide The City) These companies donate a small portion of the proceeds to a local cause, creating the misconception of community benefit, while the traveling shows are actually for their own profit.  Slide The City was really ironic, considering that Cedar Beach Pool was closed because of neglect.  After a long season of one scheduled event after another, one would think that the Rose Garden neighborhood deserved a respite, but not in this administration's commercial mind. I cannot tell you exactly from where the music was being broadcast early Saturday morning, but you could hear it from Cedar Crest Blvd. to 17th Street. These commercial add on events may be fine for a park system with no scheduled recreation, but that's not the case in Allentown, especially Cedar Park.

I don't write much about Pawlowski's trouble with the FBI, that's above my paygrade, but I can tell you I consider him a park criminal. His main crime against the parks is the neglect of the WPA structures, resulting in the collapse of the Lehigh Parkway wall.  Allowing the Wildlands Conservancy to demolish the Robin Hood Dam, to garner a grant, was another crime.  While the park system infrastructure crumbles, Pawlowski brags about people paying to be sprayed with colored powders.

above reprinted from October 26, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL 13, 2022: The Morning Call reports that two former Pawlowski supporters/activists have been arrested and convicted in an attempt to shake down a non-profit foundation.  The consequences of the Pawlowski regime, and those he empowered for political support,  unfortunately retain influence in Allentown.  This blog takes pride in having noted the improprieties, whenever they occurred, since 2007.

WPA Labor Bears Fruit

I can't exactly tell you how long I have been advocating for Allentown's WPA structures, probably at least a decade. I can't tell you how many blog posts I've written, many dozen, or letters to the editor, dozens also. I have conducted meetings at the library, given tours of the structures, and excavated structures buried in the 1980's. I have lobbied several city councils and am currently tormenting a third park director. I'm now pleased to announce that for the first time in many years, some work is occurring on these irreplaceable icons of our park system. The stone steps have been reset and re-pointed in Irving Park. Currently, the missing steps at Fountain Park are being replaced, and by next week, I believe that the Union Terrace staircase wall will be repaired. I'm not known for praising, but next week I will try to properly thank the people authorizing these repairs.

photo is reprinted from The Morning Call, May of 2009

above post from October 13, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL,12,2022:The Morning Call recently reported that the skateboarders are complaining about their new skatepark at Jordan Park, because there's currently no lighting for night skateboarding. At Union Terrace, the stream is eating away at the stone pillar on the north end of the amphitheater stage built by the WPA in 1939.

AnonymousApril 8, 2022 at 2:27 PM              Sorry I'm late on posting this, but they need to send the masons back to Union Terrace. The large main stairwell has stones falling out, and it is getting vandalized on a routine basis, as evidenced by broken beer bottles and pieces of slate thrown down from the steps towards the creek. In addition, the smaller steps across the amphitheater are increasingly being removed; the left side of the stage area has a gaping hole in it; and the left tower in front of the stage is dangerously close to the creek from storm erosion. I don't know if City Hall and the Parks Department believe they have time to wait, analyze and study what needs to be done, but they don't. They need to act quickly or there won't be anything left that's financially feasible to save.                       Above a comment submitted to a previous blog post 

Apparently, back in 2015, I was patting myself on the back prematurely. Although I've fallen from grace with the Morning Call, this blog will continue pointing out how the city is neglecting the iconic WPA structures, which made our park system famous. History and beauty seem to mean less and less to this city every year.

Dinner With Allentown's Write-Ins

I don't go out much at night. Between usually writing this blog around 4:30AM, and the family bakery, I have the schedule of a three year old. Truth be told, the bakery closed 35 years ago, but it's my normal excuse for going to sleep at 8:00PM. With the election on Tuesday, and Rich Fegley and Shane Fillman running as write-ins, I'll try to catch up with them tonight in the little apple. Between my rosacea and shiny nose, I usually have my butler powder my face before I go out.

ADDENDUM: I invite any candidate for Tuesday's election to join me this evening, 6pm, at the Hamilton Street BreWWork

above reprinted from October 30, 2015 

ADDENDUM APRIL 11, 2022: The above post was written almost seven years ago. Neither Fegley or Fillman made it as write-ins. My makeup man has passed away, and I seldom venture out at night anymore.  Although I still produce this blog and a sister page on facebook (Allentown Chronicles), I have become less active about Allentown's political scene. Back in 2015, when this post and I were fresher, I had three posts that day promoting certain candidates for the primary... Nowadays I limit my election recommendations. However, I do continue to advocate for Allentown's iconic WPA structures, unfortunately in various stages of neglect throughout our park system. If Mayor Tuerk and park director El-Chaar manage to repair the landings on the Parkway's double stairway, I'll venture out to conduct another park tour.

Naysaying In Allentown

An apologist, who is in a profession to profit from the current development, wrote these kind words about me recently; Why would they spend 20 million in a new apartment building if the Strata 1 was not filled? Business people make business decisions. Strata 1 is full, don't be fooled by the incessant haters and naysayers... Of course the answer is simple. Because the taxpayers are paying the construction costs and debt service for these privately owned buildings, there are no normal business decisions being made. With nobody currently questioning the bills or figures submitted, or the taxes grabbed, the chosen developers would be stupid to stop building, while this environment remains unregulated.

But lets move away from the lucrative nuts and bolts of the NIZ, and examine me, as a naysayer. I first heard this term applied toward me and this blog by Pawlowski, about eight years ago. His majesty, at the time, wasn't used to any scrutiny. With an adoring press and public, I was writing heresy. At that time, even my fellow blogger from Nazareth condemned my criticism of Allentown's administration.

In recent weeks, Pawlowski's face was used on numerous mailers to personify corruption. I actually take no pleasure in his fall from grace, and wish him a soft landing in his current predicament. This blog's raison d'exister is to cast light on those decisions which unnecessarily depreciate our life. If normal business decisions were being made, or our park treasures were being properly maintained, and citizens questioning local officials were shown appropriate respect, I could write more posts on history, and less about politics.

above reprinted from November 10, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL 8, 2022: In the above post, written in 2015, I'm referring to 2007 when Pawlowski was publicly calling me a naysayer...In subsequent years he would call me worse. Fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare quickly came on board recognizing that Pawlowski was ethically challenged. While the Morning Call supported Pawlowski until his indictment, they never learned to appreciate either O'Hare's or my contribution to the local dialogue. Pawlowski did not have a soft landing. I continue scrutinizing, and in this community consider the label naysayer a badge of honor.

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.

reprinted from 2016

A WPA Monday

A month ago Mondays, I climbed the steps at Fountain Park to speak to the stone masons repairing that iconic structure. The steps were built in 1936, and would soon serve thousands of men walking down from center city to the Mack factory, to produce trucks for the war effort. It took me ten years to get the masons there, but by now I had another pressing objective. In the last couple of years, the top of the wall at the double stairwell at Union Terrace had become open, threatening that structure with potential catastrophic damage. After learning that the masons had no assignment beyond the Fountain Park steps, I drove over to the Park and Recreation Office.

Lindsay Taylor, the new park director, has been fairly cordial to me, considering my reputation as a mauler of city bureaucrats. I explained that the top of the Union Terrace wall was open, and that I had serious doubts about it surviving another winter of freeze and thaw cycles.  I requested that the masons make an emergency repair on top of the wall, while other repairs needed there could be delayed. Taylor agreed to consult her park supervisor, Rick Holtzman, about my request. Later that morning, I spoke with Holtzman, who agreed that it would indeed be appropriate to reassign the masons.  The masons were replacing missing steps and repointing the Fountain Park stairwell,  through a grant from the Trexler Trust. The grant had been written and requested by Karen El-Chaar, from Allentown Friends of the Parks. El-Chaar had attended my meetings years earlier on the WPA structures, and I had since  conducted tours of Lehigh Parkway in conjunction with her organization. Holtzman requested that El-Chaar clear the repair at Union Terrace with the Trexler Trust, since their funds were designated to be spent at Fountain Park. The Trust gave their permission for the masons to be temporally reassigned.

By the weeks end the masons spend a day at the Terrace, and repaired the top of the wall. I'm grateful that Lindsay Taylor and the Trexler Trust responded to stabilize that structure, and optimistic that their commitment to  our WPA history will continue.  I will  in turn  continue on,  when necessary, mauling the bureaucrats.

The photograph above shows the WPA steps being built in Seattle. I'm sure an identical sight could be seen on Lawrence Street in 1936. 

above reprinted from November of 2015

A Tale Of Two Cities

"We're a medium-size city

with big-city crime."    

-Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Allentown

For those of us who grew up in Allentown, we always considered ourselves a medium-sized city with a small town feel. We were literally designated the All American City. One of the most amazing aspects of this transformation, is that our total population has essentially stayed the same since 1928, when we first achieved 100,000 people. Twenty years ago we lamented the loss of Hess Brothers and other symbols of our prosperity, now we mourn the loss of basic civility and safety.

above reprinted from May of 2010

ADDENDUM APRIL 5, 2022: In a discussion on Facebook about the changes that have occurred in Allentown, somebody wrote, "But neither of us can deny there is a strong undertow of racism in many of the comments we read on these Allentown sites."  It is too easy to use the term "racism" to justify bad behavior... It intimidates and shuts people down....that's why we're having seating council members who marched shouting "F--K the Police, Defund the police." and then can even run for higher office.

Allentown's Revitalization And Our Frame Of Reference

I suspect that the millennials are most enthused about the changes in Allentown, while the baby boomers are the least. How you feel about what is new there now, is probably based on your frame of reference.  We who experienced Hamilton Street in it's heyday are not so impressed with current developments.  Although the Whitehall Mall opened in the mid 1960's, Hamilton Street continued on for another 30 years. When the Lehigh Valley Mall opened in the late 1970's, Hamilton Street's decline as a destination was swift. Although the former Hess Brothers store would stay open through Christmas of 1995, most of it's shoppers entered and left via it's own parking deck, never stepping foot on Hamilton Street.

During the next 15 years, the downtown survived by serving the neighboring demographic, which was becoming poorer every year. Five years ago, when I debated about the coming NIZ on Business Matters, one of the NIZ board members actually referred to the stores being displaced and their clientele as a cancer. The same merchants and customers are now considered part of 7th Streets' success, what a difference a few blocks make.

Despite one promotional article after another by The Morning Call, the verdict is still out on the success of the new revitalized center city. Because it is being financed exclusively by public funds, and will be for at least the next 30 years, normal barometers of success cannot be used. I spend a lot of time there, but have yet to feel the buzz.

above reprinted from November 30, 2015

ADDENDUM APRIL 4, 2022: The six plus years since the above was written hasn't changed my assessment of center city...construction proceeds on the new offices and apartments. The new Strata 13 apartment building at 8th and Walnut mystifies me...what would compel anybody to move there? However, these type questions seem limited to this blog, and my frame of reference.

Life Not At Strata

Just when I thought that The Morning Call was through with the Strata Flats infomercials, they doubled down with Life At Strata. Impressive arena, trendy restaurants, and flourishing downtown are the adjectives just from the first two sentences. They profile three tenants; Young professionals who moved from Austin to teach at Muhlenberg, a full time arena director, and an older empty nester couple. The article is a hoot. The happy campers mention the name of their favorite restaurants, some of which have been open now for three whole weeks. Traditions, gotta love traditions. It's good that they love these restaurants, because it's a long way to Wegman's to go grocery shopping. If the reporters writing these articles are offended by my criticism, perhaps they should consider the other 60,000 tenants living downtown, it's called, Life Not At Strata.

above reprinted from November of 2015 

ADDENDUM APRIL 1, 2022: Reilly is now up to Strata #7 or so. While the Morning Call still has the will to promote the NIZ, they no longer have the manpower...they're pressed nowadays just to report the local news. A block out from the NIZ, Allentown remains a hard place, and it will get harder. 

The current national real estate frenzy has even propelled the downtown tenements into astronomical prices. The new investors will discover that the tenant base is not reliable enough to meet their debt service...foreclosures will be rampant. Letters from the code department will go to corporate holding companies, and be ignored...Welcome back to 2008.

Allentown City Council Awoke (For Five Minutes)

On Wednesday evening, City Council, for the first time in six years that Ed Pawlowski has been mayor, didn't approve one of his proposals. The proposal wasn't actually rejected, but the 3 to 3 tie vote doesn't allow his scheme to proceed. Who voted which way, is the topic of this post. Although the Pawlowski promoted Trash to Energy company was going to charge the city twice as much, for twice as long as a competitor, the RubberStamp Trio once again sang the Yes Song. Worse yet, all three singers, Schweyer, Schlossberg, and Guridy, would like to be State Representatives. Rejecting the non- competitive offer was Jeanette Eichenwald, Ray O'Connell and Cynthia Mota. Jeanette has emerged as an independent voice on Council, but until Wednesday, usually stood alone. Many people had expectations when Ray O'Connell was elected, but it took over two years for him to stand on his own. The great surprise of the evening was new councilwoman Cynthia Mota, who asserted herself at only her second council meeting. I did not attend the meeting. This analysis is from the benefit of phone calls, and two excellent 

articles by Devon Lash in The Morning Call.

above reprinted from February of 2012

ADDENDUM December 9, 2015: Within a month of writing the post above in February of 2012, Delta Thermos would wine and dine Cynthia Mota,  she would change her vote, and never again vote against the mayor.  The night of the vote change, the Pawlowski and Groen scheme had the council chamber packed with over 400 union workers, most of them from out of the area. Furthermore, they had bikers outside, trying to intimidate normal citizens from entering. The FBI has requested documents pertaining to this sorry chapter in the Pawlowski story. Schlossberg and Schweyer did go on to become midgets in the State House.  Had Delta built the plant, right now truckloads of New Jersey garbage would be using the new American Parkway Bridge, to deliver additional trash to the plant.

UPDATE MARCH 31, 2022: In the fifteen years since I started this blog, nobody can accuse me of playing up to the local politicians. Cynthia Mota is now president of city council. Schlossberg and Schweyer are established incumbents.  Allentown and the valley tend to get worse politically, not better. I'm hoping that Schweyer prevails in his upcoming primary. With the new map, I'm now in the same district as Schlossberg.  If I were less gray and long in the tooth, I'd love to run against him... but my blogger associate O'Hare tells me that Schlossberg would destroy me.  Maybe so, but from this typewriter I can still take cheap shots at him.

Allentown's Coffee Square

When the staff of molovinsky on allentown recently visited Tim Hortons on a weekend evening, we were the only patrons. Likewise, when we visited Johnny's across the square on a business morning, there was only one other table occupied. Despite that reality, Starbucks will now be occupying the third corner. Although City Center Real Estate Company and the Pawlowski Administration wants people to think that the Starbucks entrance symbolizes something exclusive, the shoppers at Target on Cedar Crest Blvd. know better. The reality is that the existing coffee shops, which are only doing marginally at best, will do even less. Whatever failure or disappointment that visits these businesses, don't blame the Morning Call. They have been promoting the shops in a shameless manner. After multiple articles announcing the opening of a Philadelphia cheesesteak business, this weekend they will review the cheesesteak. How cheesy is that?

above reprinted from January 30, 2015

UPDATE MARCH 30, 2022: Yesterday morning, although I had to cross under a giant crane over Hamilton Street in the 900 block, there was not a person on the street before Government Center at 7th... She was getting coffee to take back to her county job. Seven years later, and nothing has changed on Hamilton. Reilly's City Center continues to tear down our history and build his new taxpayer funded, privately owned empire. The Morning Call continues to put out its Subscriber Exclusives, omissive of the real story downtown.

Jessica Lenard's Fashion Statement

Fashion Statement is a limited edition 8X10 inch etching by Jessica Lenard (1950-2016).  She had commissioned a large scale giclee print of the piece. That giclee is being presented by Alderfer Auctions on April 6th to introduce Lenard to their audience.  The print measures 42X56inches.

On April 14, the auction house will make available All Day Sucker,  an iconic painting featured over the years in several of her shows.

Those interested in learning more about Lenard and her work will find her website revealing.

above photo of All Day Sucker

Lou Barletta For Governor

It is generally not my wont to make political endorsements. However, this year I'm compelled to make an exception. As an independent, I never have a party horse in the race. Because my endorsee is a Republican, and the Republican primary is so competitive, I need to speak up sooner than later.

Come this November, the Republican primary winner will face Josh Shapiro for governor. With such a very crowded Republican field, you need only 20 something percent of the vote to win. However, can that victor beat Shapiro? Shapiro has imposed no real solutions with the law and order chaos in his home-field of Philadelphia... to me that is completely unacceptable.

Of all the Republican candidates, I feel that Lou Barletta would be the strongest against Shapiro in November. With Pennsylvania having been on the wrong track for far too long, I endorse Lou Barletta for governor.

Quality Of Life In Allentown

When I saw the headline about quality of life in Allentown, I was encouraged.  Perhaps Mayor Tuerk was going to crack down on the dirt bikes terrorizing city streets?  I had written about this problem almost three years ago.  As I got deeper into the article and they started quoting Promise Neighborhoods, my enthusiasm waned.  Of course Promise Neighborhood worries about what inequalities in our community  causes the junior gangsters to act out?  I can only hope that Tuerk values Promise's opinions less than the Morning Call does.

The bikes are a difficult problem. The article points out that chasing them by police would create a situation too hazardous to justify.  As an advocate for our traditional park system, a suggestion of turning over a city park to the bikers, to blow off steam, would be a nightmare.

It is constructive that the city is recognizing the problem as a priority. I would think that fast confiscation of the bikes, and a slow, complicated return of them, would greatly lessen the problem.

Union Terrace Gets Shaft

Timber lined shaft dug to water main in Union Terrace

Allentown City Council recently approved two park items funded by the Trexler Trust; Improvements to both the Franklin Playground and the Fish Hatchery. Both involved payments to vendors repeatedly used by the departed park director. Meanwhile, the iconic WPA structures continue to crumble throughout the park system. Although this blog, through the recently formed Allentown WPA Association, informed the Park Department of the conditions at Union Terrace, nothing has been done or scheduled. This summer, Shakespeare will be performed on the Terrace Stage. Last year, I documented the WPA condition there in a post entitled Tragedy Play At Theater.

Shown above is a project by the city water department. A cast-iron water main runs under the Terrace, feeding the West End from the water plant on Martin Luther King Drive. A private company will reline the existing 30" main, dating back to 1905, with a new plastic liner. The Terrace was built over the main in 1937, and was the last WPA project completed in Allentown. 

above reprinted from June of 2012 

UPDATE MARCH 24, 2022:In a couple months it will be a decade since I wrote the post above, and the WPA is still getting the shaft in Allentown. I still remain its main advocate, and still annoy those in city hall who make decisions affecting the structures. It still remains my hope that this year I can give a tour of Lehigh Parkway with Mayor Tuerk and Park Director Karen El-Chaar, and show new landings on the Stairwell and bridge piers freed of rubble.

Stairway To Shame

In the mid 1930's, Allentown, and especially its park system, was endowed with magnificent stone edifices, courtesy of the WPA; Works Progress Administration. This was a New Deal program designed to provide employment during the aftermath of the depression. Stone masons from all over the country converged on this city and built structures which are irreplaceable. The walls and step structures in Lehigh Parkway, as the Union Terrace amphitheater, are legacies which must be protected. Pictured above is the grand stairway from Lawrence Street (Martin Luther King Drive) up to Junction Street, built in 1936. The steps are in a state of disrepair. They lead to the great Junction/Union Street Retaining Wall, thirty feet high and two blocks long, which was completed in 1937. I call upon the Trexler Trust and Allentonians of memory, to insist these steps are re-pointed and preserved. The current Administration knows little of our past.  It's important to save the things in Allentown that matter.

The City of Allentown is embarking upon a $3.8 million dollar capital plan to change the nature of our parks, funded in large part by the Trexler Trust. Although a number of fads will be accommodated, not one dollar is earmarked to preserve the existing WPA treasures. General Trexler envisioned the parks as a reserve for the passive enjoyment of nature. Among the new Disney-World type plans are a wedding pavilion in the Rose Garden, and the largest playground in eastern Pennsylvania to be built in Cedar Park. The trail through Cedar Creek Park will have lights installed, and the picnic areas will be expanded. Anybody driving past Cedar Beach on a Monday morning sees the trash generated currently by only a few picnic tables. How many more park workers will be required to deal with the consequences of these new plans? The playground is being billed as a "Destination Playground", who will pay to keep that clean? Allentown should build and monitor numerous playgrounds throughout center city, within walking distance for children and parents. The Trexler Trust and The City of Allentown have a responsibility to first repair and maintain these iconic stone edifices which are unique to Allentown.

photo info: the dedication stone is on the Union Street wall. The steps shown in the photo here go through a tunnel in the wall and climb up to Spring Garden Street. They are in total disrepair. This posting is a combination of two previous posts, which appeared on this blog last September.

above reprinted from May of 2009

UPDATE APRIL 10, 2018: My campaign to save the WPA structures has been on going  for over a decade. About 10 years ago, I organized meetings at the library to bring attention to the neglect inflicted upon these structures. In the process I tutored Karen El-Chaar, from Friends Of The Parks, on the issues. She then was able to obtain a grant from the Trexler Trust,  and repoint the Fountain Park Steps. I opposed the more outlandish proposals cited above for Rose Garden area, and plans were scaled back.  I organized efforts to dig out and reveal the WPA Spring Pond and Boat Landing, both of which were discarded decades earlier. Because of the neglect, the Lehigh Parkway wall collapsed, but has since been partially rebuilt, to allow use of the entrance road into the park. In cooperation with Friends Of The Parks,  I conducted tours of Lehigh Parkway, featuring its history and WPA structures. During the Pawlowski regime I offered my advice to City Council on the traditional park system and WPA, but it was rejected.  I again make the same offer to Mayor O'Connell and the new administration.

UPDATE MARCH 3, 2020: Although O'Connell did invite me to a meeting about the parks, I am once again a persona non grata.  Karen El-Chaar is now director of parks.  It is my understanding that the Trexler Trust has commissioned a study of the Parkway Structures,  but declined to share any information with me.  It is my informed opinion that the immediate services of a stone mason are much more needed than that of their consultants. Time is the enemy of these structures.

above reprinted from March 3, 2020 

UPDATE MARCH 23, 2022: Recently, I have been asked by several people if I will be conducing  another tour of the WPA structures in Lehigh Parkway? My current mission is to prevail upon the city to repair the landings on the Parkway's double stairway, and to remove the rubble around the Robin Hood Bridge piers. If the city does these most worthwhile projects, it would be my honor to lead another tour.

History Of Union Terrace

The area now known as Joseph S Daddona Lake and Terrace has a rich history. The stone arch bridge dates back to 1828.  If Lehigh County had its way, the bridge would be gone now. I'm proud to have played a large part in saving it.  The park consists of the former city ice skating pond, and the WPA amphitheater.

This blog previously featured the train of Union Terrace, which was near the end of the former Barber Quarry Branch line... Talking of tracks, shown above is the freight station of the Allentown and Reading Traction Company.  Their trolley would go under the Dorney Park roller coaster on its way to Kutztown.  Many of you would know the freight building many years later, as the store and home of Joe and Ann Daddona.

reprinted from April of 2013

Lehigh Valley As Slow Learner

The Lehigh Valley, and Allentown in particular, could only be described as slow learners. 

Zac Cohen And Company still refuses to accept his loss in the election last November. Although they babble that voters will be disenfranchised if the Election Board certifies his opponent's victory,  the board is disenfranchising the public from a full judicial bench.  It is becoming very apparent that the board is less than non-partisan, while it waits for Zac to find more pebbles to toss.

Allentown complains that not enough contractors bid on improvements to Valania Park, but also wants to further restrict which contractors can bid on projects?  However, that contradiction is fitting for that park, which is being over-improved, considering both the amount, and type of activity that occurs there. 

A victim over the weekend from multiple stab wounds doesn't have any information to give police.....They never do.

The Morning Call keeps featuring letters bashing the Republican candidates...Is that their reader base, or their editor's bias? One would think from a marketing standpoint, that they would want a more balanced opinion page.

Park Follies And Misappropriations

Over the years this blog and myself have established credibility and expertise on Allentown's traditional park system and the WPA. I must report what I consider to be a major shenanigan by the mayor. $1.3 million dollars was taken to purchase two heavy industrial areas, to supposedly add to the park system. This $million plus dollars was taken from the water/sewage lease, which is being used as the mayor's discretionary fund, instead of the dedicated pension relief,  promised at the time. $950,000.00 was used to buy the parcel at Union and Basin Streets, near the city sewage plant. This is one of the oldest industrial areas in the city, and certainly not needed for more park land. Allentown has not been able to maintain the existing park land, or the features within it. The Fountain Park Pool has been abandoned, and the WPA structures are crumbling. The other just purchased parcel is the old fertilizer plant location,  along Martin Luther King Dr., west of the crumbling Schreibers Bridge. We have an administration with no memory or knowledge of Allentown's past. Anybody who knew what went on at the fertilizer/rendering plant, would not want their grandchildren playing there. The city's rationale for these purchases is to expand the biking paths and connect the parks. That's the folly, and now the misappropriations. Allentown has supposedly allocated money to engineer the repair of the leaning WPA wall in Lehigh Parkway. I know why the wall leans. Years ago, the stone shoulder between the park entrance and wall was blacktoped. As cars and city trucks drive around the curve, pressure is exerted against the wall. That strip of asphalt needs to be removed, and the stone buffer restored. The problem with the engineering study is that it's the third time it has been appropriated. In the last two budgets money was actually budgeted to repair the wall, now the process begins again. What happen to the previous appropriations? Must molovinsky on allentown now also establish expertise in forensic accounting?

reprinted from June 26, 2014

UPDATE JULY2015. The wall collapsed in Lehigh Parkway, closing the traditional entrance to the park.. Over the past several years I had met with two park directors and the city engineer, to no avail, trying to save the wall. Recently, I have reported a problem to the current park director about the Union Terrace WPA structure, that needs immediate attention. The new parcels, rather than connecting the parks,  are connecting the neglect.

UPDATE MARCH 8, 2018: Local news sources are reporting that Mayor Pawlowski is expected to resign today.  If this welcome news will have a positive effect on the park system remains to be seen. A potential mayoral contender told me that if he were in charge, I'd be working for the park department, planning WPA renovations.  I never asked for a job, nor do I want one.  However, when I did ask City Council to appoint me as a volunteer liaison on WPA matters,  I was met with silence.  A park employee told me that there is significant money in the new budget for WPA repairs.  Again, that is nothing new. How it will be appropriated remains to be seen.  There is one thing for sure;  Whoever the new mayor might be,  whatever the park budget might be,  my advocacy for the WPA structures will continue.

above reprinted from March of 2018

UPDATE MARCH 18, 2022: Four years have passed, and the follies and misappropriations continue. Although there are numerous issues of neglect in the existing park system, Allentown continues with its plan to make the Pawlowski purchases into new parks....They should be sold. Allentown is investing close to a $million dollars into Valania Park,  a nighttime  trouble spot at 6th & Union, but never repaired the stair landings on the WPA double stairwell shown above. Bogert's Bridge still cries for paint. The roadway in Canal Park is still crumbling. Although I remain an outcast with the local press and city government, I continue to speak out.

Duck Paté Once Again At Cedar Park

In yesterday's post, I wrote about the Poison Hemlock and other invasive species taking over the creek banks in the Allentown Park System. This is a result of the ill-advised riparian buffers, promoted by the Wildlands Conservancy.

Yesterday morning the park department started to clear cut the stream banks in Cedar Park, the only way to get rid of the invasives. Removing them by hand would require the labor of the whole department, for the whole summer.

The buffers serve no ecological purpose in Allentown, because the storm water is piped directly into the streams, under the buffers.  However, the Wildlands Conservancy never lets specific realities get in the way of their generalized science.

These faux buffers have numerous victims. Yesterday this year's batch of ducklings were turned into paté  and mulch, when the mower went over their nests. For the rest of the summer, the city will allow the faux buffer to grow,  blocking both view and access to the creek.  It's not a good plan for the ducks or the children.

Allentown should defer to General Trexler's landscape architect, and again allow its citizens to enjoy the parks, as designed.

above reprinted from May of 2020

ADDENDUM MARCH 15, 2021: Hopefully this post can save some ducklings this year. I humbly suggest that the park department change mowing policy for the hatching season. Certain sections of the creek and lake banks could be kept mowed, which would discourage nesting.  Other sections could remain growing, until which time the ducks have left the nests. 

ADDENDUM MARCH 17, 2022: Despite my best efforts, the ducklings were mowed once again last season. As spring surges the ducks are pairing up. Saving them requires more effort from  the park department. Those areas they deem as must be mowed, must first be thoroughly inspected for nests. The best policy would be to suspend mowing from mid-March to mid-June.

Allentown's Quality Of Life Border

A reader recently commented that he lives Allentown, and is sticking it out, as opposed to those who moved out to Parkland.  This is easy to say when you live in Allentown's west end, because the quality of life border isn't at Cedar Crest Blvd., but rather at about 12th Street. 

As the weather gets warmer, the streets get louder and more marred by litter.  Between Front and 7th Streets you're likely to encounter junior motorbike gangs, which ignore both stop lights and one way destinations.

With Tuerk and Roca there's a new sheriff in town, and it's a new town indeed.  We who remember when Dodge was quiet, remember a different Allentown. 

I suspect that in coming years this may seem like the good old days. Despite historically low mortgage rates, the current grossly inflated real estate frenzy will result in buyer's remorse and abandoned properties.

I can appreciate that my predictions will not be used for the city's public relations...For that kind of spin I recommend the Morning Call.

Business As Usual At The Morning Call

This blog promotes itself as a chronicle of local history and politics. Politically, besides for my park and WPA advocacy, my sole recommendation has been for more officers on the police force.  It's not that I don't have a wish list for other changes, but realistically in this one party town, only the police force is critical for the town's survival. 

It was gratifying to see in the Morning Call that both Chief Roca and Mayor Tuerk are pitching to beef up the force.  Interesting that councilman Josh Siegel, now interested in a state rep seat, supports the increase.  Not that long ago he was marching with the Defund crowd. 

The Morning Call's new city beat reporter, Lindsay Weber, included Hasshan Batts in her article, who would be the chief benefactor of the Defund movement.

The paper continues its tradition of its Go To people for quotes, who include Ce-Ce Gerlach, in addition to Batts.  As a long time inner-city landlord, I can tell you what is wrong with the Gerlach/Batts recommendation to fight poverty in order to fight crime. Allentown is very much a transient town. When the shooter just arrived from NYC or New Jersey three weeks ago, we need more police, not more social workers. The shooter had social workers in New York, and they didn't help him much anyway.

The irony of the paper reporting on Batts' formula is that none of its paid subscribers subscribe to Batts' nonsense. Send the police first, and protect the bystanders.

Lehigh Parkway Tops Allentown Remembering

Most of you know that in addition to this blog, I also administer a Facebook group, Allentown Chronicles.  Endlessly requesting membership, are people who just joined facebook three hours earlier, and want to sell members Allentown tee-shirts. If such shirts would actually be delivered if ordered, I do not know, I do not accept their membership.

On another local group I noticed the post above, which is actually a promotion.  A quick search revealed that the gentleman is only not from Allentown, he's not even from United States. Nevertheless, hundreds of people "liked" the post, and make suggestions as what should be added.  Many were surprised that certain landmarks were excluded. You must forgive the man, he never heard of Allentown before. He sells these posters to nostalgiacs everywhere.

Being the party pooper I enjoy being, I placed the following comment on the post...Everybody should be aware that this is a commercial company with no connection whatsoever to Allentown, which is harvesting your input to sell you a poster. They do the same everywhere.

You'll be relieved to know that my revelation didn't discourage the nostalgiacs from suggesting more of their favorite places.  The clever merchant puts a "like" after each one, giving the nostalgiacs beloved feedback. 

But allow me to use the scam for my own purpose. Please note that Lehigh Parkway has the dominant spot on the poster. I can only assume that the poster's solicitation for suggestions came up with Lehigh Parkway the most often.

Perhaps those in the current administration might consider that for most Allentonians, Robin Hood is the prime memory of Lehigh Parkway, and removing that rubble from the bridge's piers could only be a feather in their cap.

Walking With The (Then) New Park Director (In 2013)

I had respectfully requested, through the City Clerk, that City Council visit Robin Hood before any decision, to both see and hear the dam. Furthermore, I volunteered to take them, at their convenience, on a quick tour of the park's remaining WPA structures. Several days later, the clerk contacted me to confirm a time for me to show two council members the sites. I was delighted to hear that the (then) new park director, John Mikowychok, would be joining us. Yesterday was the appointment, and John and I were the first to arrive. As we stood on the bridge, John told me that only 90% of the dam was being removed, and the portion near the water monitoring station would remain. I was shocked, I didn't know that the decision to remove the dam had already been determined. He then informed me that the Wildlands Conservancy was coming, and after learning the details from them on Robin Hood, we would proceed to the dams near the fish hatchery, also scheduled to be removed. The Conservancy crew arrived, with plans and documents in hand. Also by then, Council members Cynthia Mota and Jeff Glazier arrived, but my delight was gone. John explained the agenda, that first Wildlands would brief them about Robin Hood, then they would move on to the Fish Hatchery. I reminded the council members that they were there at my invitation, to see the dam, and then tour the WPA sites. To their credit, Glazier and Mota told Mikowychok that before going to the fish hatchery dams, they would take the tour with me. I wanted them to see how many park features previous park directors had arbitrarily destroyed, and perhaps be more inclined to preserve the dam.

I showed park director Mikowychok the abandoned island and the boat landing, things that he never saw before, or even knew existed. I found his indifference to the demise of these wonderful constructions astounding. When I criticized the tall thin weed wall blocking the entire creek view, he replied that a row of single tall weeds was better than none. He actually told Mota that the creek was more enticing when you could only get a glimpse of it here and there. It made me think of an old arcade peep show machine. It's too bad that the city hired another lobbyist for the Wildlands Conservancy as Park Director, instead of a defender of our unique park system, however, it's no surprise.  Both the out of town park directors were hired by the same out of town city manager. All three of them, four including the mayor, have no knowledge or appreciation of the formerly nationally recognized park system, in the former All American City. Wildlands was spouting voodoo science. They actually said that there's no fecal count in the creek, despite my photographs of creek shores filled with toilet paper. In order for them to harvest the current grant they must demolish the dam by the end of September. From the grant they also harvest administrative fees. The dam dates from the early 1940's, and has delighted five generations with its sight and sound. The hard press is on City Council to approve this latest destruction with virtually no deliberation. I ask those who appreciate beauty and ambience to help me save our history.

UPDATE: The post above is reprinted from August 17, 2013.  John Mikowychok, the new park director referred to above,  has resigned.   Less than three months after being hired, Mikowychok recommended to City Council that the Wildlands Conservancy be allowed to destroy two picturesque historic dams on the Little Lehigh.  The Wildlands Conservancy deposited the demolished WPA Robin Hood Dam rubble around the Robin Hood Bridge,  ruining the visual effect of the iconic stone piers.  The demolished Trout Nursery Dam contributed to the recent record fish kill.  We have lost 75 years of history to a person who was here for 15 months.  I will have more to say about park directors with no knowledge of the park system  and the Wildlands Conservancy's self serving agenda in subsequent posts.  Let us hope that South Whitehall has more respect for Wehr's Dam and its history.

above reprinted from September of 2014* 

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2022: As it turned out South Whitehall had no more respect for Wehr's Dam, and it only still stands because of myself, a couple other defenders and the referendum. Because of back channel deception between the Wildlands Conservancy and their connections in Harrisburg, it will now cost their taxpayers over ten times more to repair the dam than necessary.  Although I documented the entire conspiracy to the Morning Call, rather than print the real story, they published a whitewash of the events this past summer.

Shown in the picture above from 2013, the Wildlands Conservancy is scattering the dam's rubble around the Robin Hood Bridge piers. Almost nine years after the destruction of the Robin Hood Dam, let's hope that we can prevail upon the city to remove that rubble from the bridge piers, and at least restore that structure to its intended design. 

We deserve to see that beauty again.

*the posts in 2013 and 2014 did not include the above photo

The Brineing of Allentown

I'm usually somewhat amused when I see the accolades for retiring city personnel.  As a landlord, activist and blogger,  I've seen many inequalities over the decades.  I've seen property owners abused for both revenge and amusement. Pawlowski used code enforcement as a weapon, and his goons are still mostly there in that department.  What brings on this rant was the brine applied to the city streets early Wednesday morning. With predicted temperatures above freezing,  was the application just an overtime fest for city workers and a brineing of the taxpayers, or erring on the side of caution?

When new Mayor Tuerk announced that he was keeping all department heads* in place, my eyebrows raised. If he had said that he was replacing all department heads, my eyebrows would have raised just the same.  An observer wouldn't be able to distinguish between my expressions, nor I between my reactions.

* There is at least one department head that I would retain, but mentioning him/her disrupts the poetry.**

    ** brineing spelled with e, another literary license