Weeping For The Allentown Park System

When Harry Trexler commissioned Frank Meehan of Philadelphia to design the Allentown parks, Meehan was considered the leading landscape architect in America.  It was because of Meehan that Allentown was shovel ready when the WPA started in the mid 1930's.  It was because of Meehan that our park system became the envy of cities everywhere.  

Throughout the park system he planted Weeping Willows thirty feet apart along the creeks. Their shallow, spreading root system provided the Little Lehigh, Cedar and Jordan Creeks erosion protection for almost a century. It provided both fish and fisherman beauty and shade along the creek banks.

Move ahead seventy five years, and in 2006 the from out of town new mayor Pawlowski combined the park and recreation departments, and hired a recreation major for department head. The new director turned over many park management decisions to the Wildlands Conservancy. The Wildlands introduced riparian buffers, even though the storm sewer system is piped directly into the creeks. As the Willows neared their lifespan and started dying out, they were not replaced. Rather, other trees were planted, back from the creeks, doubling down on the buffer concept.

We now realize that the creek banks are eroding, and that the buffers are incubators for invasive species. It is now the department's intention to seek outside consultants for recommendations. Rather than go outside again for advice, they should go back in history...Weeping Willows should be again planted along the banks. HOWEVER, the department REJECTS this suggestion, because willows are not indigenous. 

When I was a boy I lived above Lehigh Parkway in Little Lehigh Manor. My father's uncle worked for the park department cutting the grass along the creek. I'm saddened by the state of the overgrown creek banks, and the stubbornness of the city to not see the best solution.

Many of the original Willow trees have died, and the remaining ones are on their last legs.

above reprinted from May of 2022

A Persistent Park Advocate

The other day I had a rather candid exchange with the mayor. I told him I wanted to be included on the new Parknership to protect the WPA and other aspects of the traditional park system. He told me he suspected that they might consider me too outspoken.

While I had his ear, I told him that a park masterplan commissioned in 2005 concluded that the parks, especially Cedar Park, was being overused. He told me that he was an officer of the new Parknership, and that they would be commissioning a new masterplan. 

The new Parknership will be mostly funded by the Trexler Trust. While the Trust recognizes that the city and park system must change with the times, I believe that the word Trust implies an appreciation of the traditions associated with the founder's concepts. To that end, in addition to all the innovations of current times, the parks should also continue to reflect the tranquility so appreciated by Harry Trexler.

I believe that Harry Trexler would appreciate a voice and memory of the traditional park system on the new Parknership board.

A Rude Visit

When Irene stormed through Cedar Park, she knocked down and broke a number of the old willow trees. The sight of these magnificent trees along the creek banks, is the view-shed cherished by us proponents of the historical park system. As a boy in 1955, I remember the same damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Diane. Many of the remaining willows are now about 75 years old. Although they held the creek banks together for three generations, they have lost favor to riparian buffers.


It's nice to sit by the bank under a willow tree and watch the ducks swim by. Hopefully, somewhere along the banks of the Little Lehigh and Cedar Creek, there is still some open space for a few new weeping willows.
please click on photos to enlarge

photos by molovinsky

reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM AUGUST 13, 2024:The bench shown above has been removed many years ago. Today the creek bank is so overgrown, it would provide no view anyway. While I might have a reputation for forthrightness not sought by the Parknership, I will continue my campaign for inclusion on their board. While I don't need the item on my resumé, there is a need for a traditional park system advocate. The Parknership is financed by Harry Trexler's vision almost a hundred years ago. That vision hired Meehan Associates (Landscape Architects) in 1928 to design our park system. More should remain of that vision of the parks than just a statue at the top of Trexler Park.

Works Progress Administration Meeting

Tonight is the meeting on Allentown's iconic WPA structures. When I first began this project three years ago, the steps leading from Union Street to Spring Garden were overgrown with weeds and saplings. My persistent, annoying blogging on the subject caught the attention of then opinion page editor Glenn Kranzley and columnist Paul Carpenter. The publicity they generated resulted in the city cleaning up those steps. My next target was what I called the boat landing. As a boy I had often played at that site. Long buried, it was now the step to nowhere.
Readers of this blog, on two separate weekends, succeeded in digging out the steps and the portion of the landing at the bottom on the steps. Blogger Chris Casey provided the lion's share of manpower in this accomplishment. The remainder of the landing was lost to large trees which grew over a period of forty years. There has been some speculation that my independent demeanor and blunt writing has alienated people, both at City Hall and The Morning Call. Although probably true, the merits of the projects stand on their own.
I managed to get the miniature bridge and spring pond cleared by appealing directly to Mike Gilbert, who is in charge of the watershed for the Park Department. I have been in communication with Park Director Greg Weitzel about tonight's meeting. Yesterday, I received a phone call from a women in her late 80's, whose father worked on the Lawrence Street steps. I believe a worthwhile future project would be to chronicle about those who did the labor; However, it's first necessary to insure that the fruits of that labor are preserved. Please join me this evening, so that I may prevail upon City Hall that a large number of our citizens hold these structures invaluable.

The meeting is at 7:00PM this evening in the lower level of the Allentown Library

above reprinted from September of 2011 

ADDENDUM AUGUST 12, 2024:Among others attracted to that meeting at the Library was Karen El-Chaar, then from Friends Of The Allentown Parks. She in turn secured a grant from the Trexler Trust to restore the steps at Fountain Park. I spent many years advocating for the WPA structures.  While the new Parknership would benefit from my experience and knowledge, my inquiries remain unanswered.

Allentown's Future

Mayor Daddona's plan to save Allentown was the canopy built in front of the stores on Hamilton Street. Mayor Heydt's plan was tearing down the canopy in front of the stores. Mayor Pawlowski's plan is to tear down the stores and build an entertainment complex. Pawlowski's plan will eventually take three square blocks off the tax rolls. Already the first $100 million block has grown into a second block and another $100 million. Because of a rainy week, Steel Stack's Jeff Parks is walking around with a tin cup asking for donations. The Sands Corporation will be able to finance its new entertainment complex with a money machine called a casino. When it rains on Pawlowski's white elephant, which it must from all the local competition alone, the short fall will come from our pockets. I'm not sure where Pawlowski will be then, but we're going to be up the creek, without a paddle, paying for huge, underused tax free buildings. There should have been a law, or a vote, or a City Council.

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM AUGUST 9, 2024:Who knew that 13 years later Musikfest would again be having another rainy week. Allentown's arena turned out to be an underused pretext for a real estate scheme called the NIZ, which has profited essentially one man. Pawlowski ended up in federal prison, and this blog is still taking the bad actors to task.

Not Easy Blogging In Allentown

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

reprinted from April of 2016 

ADDENDUM AUGUST 8, 2024:Although another eight years have passed, can't say that the powers that be think anymore of me, actually less. A few of years ago the Morning Call did a story on Wehr's Dam and didn't mention me. Without my campaign to save the dam, it would have been quickly demolished in 2014, before any public input. Likewise, my current exclusion from the Parknership, at least in its first round so far of sought input, is a statement on Tuerk's low regard for me. Regardless of such slights, this blog celebrated its 17th birthday this past May.

Growth Industry In Allentown

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

reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008

Allentown, The Grant Sinkhole

Although the state of Pennsylvania has spent $500 million of your state taxes paying down the mortgage on J.B. Reilly's privately owned Hamilton Street empire, we learn that the fed is giving us $20million because we're a distressed area?!?  If it's a grant from Washington, or a grant from Harrisburg, both ways it's our money.

This grant will target the unemployed, who are actually the unmotivated.  Although we have new terms added to the lexicon all the time, unmotivated isn't among them. There was a press conference with our elected officials accepting the grant, and telling us what wonderful things will be done with it, and how it will change the dynamics of our community. In Pinocchio's time they would all be leaving that press conference with a long nose.

Hasshan Batts and his unfulfilled Promise was front and center at the trough.The Morning Call sought out his comments..." It’s crucial that we continue to collaborate and ensure that those most impacted have a voice and benefit directly from these funds.” I suppose working for Promise Neighborhoods is considered gainful employment by Mayor Tuerk, who reportedly already promised them a cut.

Rumble In Allentown's Police Force

Two police officers have filed a lawsuit against the department and city alleging misconduct.  While the suit itself didn't attract my attention, one of the plaintiffs is officer David Howells III.  Not only is David the third Howells, both his father and grandfather were on the force. 

This is turning out to be a lucrative year for municipal lawyering. There are now at least two lawsuits against the city alleging the dirty D, discrimination, among other charges.

I've been informed on good source that involvement with prostitutes is nothing new to Allentown administrations. The allegation involves a former mayor.

On the note of police and lawyers, I have a confession to make. I justify showing off my photograph above because it shows Chief Roca, a defendant in the police case, trying among others to restrain an enthusiastic citizen at council's courtesy of the floor. Mayor Tuerk can be seen in far right side trying to ignore the commotion. Also shown, among others, are school board member Ms. Phoebe Harris and Jessica Lee Ortiz from the non-profit sector.

click on photo to enlarge

The Island Of Lehigh Parkway

The scene above shows the island in the Little Lehigh, with the boatlanding in the background. Please note the bridge leading to the island. The island, bridge and landing were created by the WPA. Although the island still remains, as does it's stone piers, the bridge is long gone. The boatlanding, although buried, was partially recovered last year by myself and a number of volunteers. The island, as remaining, has lost it's shape and has been enlarged from deposits carried by the Little Lehigh. The island was created by the WPA in the mid 1930's, by excavating a channel on it's south side. It is the intention of the park department to eventually allow mother nature to fill in the channel. Park philosophy has changed from manicured to al natural. It is my hope that the excavated portion of the boatlanding will be retained. In regard to yesterday's post on Irving Park, I have confirmed that one of the WPA stone stairwells was indeed removed this year by the city. I hope that is not their version of a fix. It clearly indicates the need for the WPA Support Group. Click photo to enlarge.

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM AUGUST 2, 2024: Although the Parknership has been in formation for a number of years, and hundreds of people have been contacted for input,  no one has reached out to me. The Parknership is a cooperation between the city administration and the Trexler Trust. Considering my known advocacy for the parks and WPA structures, my exclusion is obviously intentional.

Tuerk's Bloated Administration

Allentown has just announced hiring a new DEI coordinator.

“She will help us build a more inclusive workplace, inviting lots of different folks into the life of public service," Tuerk said in the release.

Although this hire may well be in response to the discrimination probe instigated by city council, I'm against both the hire and investigation. In my retro mind, unless the position existed in the Daddona administration, Allentown doesn't need it. I make a case for less is more in the mayor's office not because I'm stuck in 1970, but because Allentown's priority should be more boots on the ground, not think tanks on the 5th floor of city hall. 

Our littered streets are falling apart. Our police department is understaffed. Our park department is understaffed. 

If we were a larger city, perhaps we could afford to indulge in the social engineering positions popular in today's culture. However, things being as they are, we need to concentrate on basics. Fulfilling those basics will serve our residents far better than city hall being more inviting. 

As you can tell from the illustration chosen for this post, I'm not much for political correctness. If you can't get frankness from a local blog, where are you going to find it? 

above photo from Drew Carey Show

Beauty And The Beast Along Cedar Creek

The above scene is from Cedar Creek along the rose garden.  The creek banks have not been cut once this season. As an advocate for the traditional park system, the only solace I got from that situation was that the ducklings were spared from the usual spring massacre.

I did find the purple flowers pretty, and did feel a twitch of hypocrisy while taking the photo. Former park expert Michael Adams did inform me about my photograph....Purple Loosestrife, a beautiful but dreadful invasive... Michael is still an expert, but he was removed from the Parkway's Log and Stone house for political impurity by Pawlowski.

The new park director's background is in plant science.  She should wonder why both an opponent and a proponent of riparian buffers are upset by the condition of our creek banks.

A Failure By Dieruff High

This week I decided to go back to school, at least to hang outside of Dieruff. Upon re-evaluation, I must give my previous report on the WPA steps at Irving Park a failing grade. Besides myself, also failing would be Mayor Pawlowski, Park Director Weitzel and City Council President Michael D'Amore. Any lessons given about the WPA Steps at Irving Park better be given in the next couple years; after that they will be gone. We are soon approaching the point where the City will declare the cost of repair is cost prohibitive; Unless that is their current plan! As reported in the previous post's comments, one set of steps has already been removed by the City. All the remaining steps are in a state of disrepair. Shown above are the steps on Washington Street, between Jerome and Irving Streets. WPA Support Group member Mark Thomas prepared comprehensive documentation on the remaining masonry structures at Irving Park.
UPDATE: Mark Thomas raises the question as to whether these steps are indeed WPA. They appear to be the same vintage and colorization of the pool bathhouse, dated 1941. In any regard, the steps are clearly historic, and this group will campaign for their preservation.
please click on photo 

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM JULY 30, 2024:The first repost on this topic appeared on July 18, and I apologize for the delay on this follow-up. In my bid to be included on the new Parknership board, I was being softer and trying to be diplomatic with my park posts. However, after reading reports of weekend chaos at Canal Park and elsewhere in our park system, I resorted back to this blog's mission...report on that grit too harsh for our other polite media. Last week I outlined a number of innovations taken by the current administration which have come back to bite us. We apparentaly are now providing recreation for New Jersey in our parks. The Jersey shore was designed for tourists, the Allentown park system was meant for residents. Back in my day there was a designated park system police officer. It is becoming apparent that we need more police coverage in our parks. While that need may be seasonal, we need an enlarged force all year, for overall safety and quality of life issues throughout Allentown.

Trump's Shorthand Costly

When Trump told Christians that they won't have to vote in four years, I knew what he meant. He meant that the country will be so fixed by then if he is elected this November, that they won't have the compulsion to run to the polls in 2028 as they do this year. 

Needless to say that quote will come back to haunt Trump. His opponents already claimed that he is a threat to democracy, and he's now saying you won't have to vote anymore. His shorthand phrases would drive a campaign strategist crazy, if he had one. Imagine always having to explain what he meant.

While Trump added nothing to his ticket with Vance as VP, Harris may choose Kelly, which will significantly enlarge her tent. While the polls have tightened to a draw, Harris can only go up from here, while Trump goes down. If Trump hopes to win, he might start talking in full sentences, pre-vetted bigly.

Weed Wall Hiding Cedar Creek

If you want to see the creek in Cedar Park, the window is fast closing.   The weed wall, as encouraged by the Wildlands Conservancy, is already 5 ft. tall.  Although only the beginning of June,  with two small exceptions,  the creek is only visible from the bridge crossings.

One of the exceptions is a creek side bench by the park office, at 30th and Parkway Blvd.  Although I did lobby the park department to install a second bench at that spot, so far there has been no response.
The other exception is about six feet of open bank by the small wood bridge, just west of the Rose Garden.

Although I still yearn for the traditional park system designed for Allentown by Harry Trexler's landscape architect,  those days seem to be over.  Years ago, when the Wildlands Conservancy prevailed upon a former park director to stop mowing by the creeks,  the little work reduction corresponded with less park employees. Worse yet for park beauty, it also coincided with more park budget going for recreation.  So while we now cannot see or enjoy the creeks, we have a prison style outside workout station in Jordan Park, and a new skate park coming on board.

Although I recognize these new realities, I will give the park department or city hall administration no relief from my advocating for the traditional park values, which graced the picture postcards of Allentown's past. 

above reprinted from June of 2019

ADDENDUM JULY 26, 2024:In previous years the traditional park format got a break in early spring. The weed wall was temporarily cut down to prevent the invasive species from taking firm root, such as Poison Hemlock. I would complain that in the process the ducklings were turned into paste. Well, the ducklings fared better this year, there has been no cutting. The solution for both the ducklings and park goers is to mow the grass to the creek's edge, as planned by General Trexler's landscape architect. The ducks will find safe places to build nests.

Picnic Pavilion Blues

For the last decade the picnic pavilions below Cedar Crest College have been in a state of benign neglect. The park department stubbornly wants to replace these older pavilions with their lightning-friendly metal expensive replacements. 

Common sense would say why not just reshingle the older ones, and give them a fresh coat of paint. They have served the city well for eighty years, and still are eager to serve. However, the metal replacements have been put into the schedule years ago, and the bureaucratic way is to let the older ones decay until they're replaced with the scheduled new ones. 

Somehow I suspect that the replacements, when they finally do appear, will not last a fraction as long.

Students of the blog know that years ago I was very critical of Pawlowski and his succession of park directors, which were all of the same mold (Penn State recreation program) and hired by the same city manager. Had the FBI's menu been longer, they might have looked into some of those decisions and contracts.

I actually have a rapport with the current park director, and have not yet totally burned all the bridges with the new mayor. However, it is my avocation to champion for the traditional park system and the WPA. To that end, I will not compromise the mission with polite cordiality here on the blog.

above reprinted from June of 2022

ADDENDUM APRIL 19, 2023: Since the above post was written less than a year ago, there's yet another new park director, but I'm hoping to maintain a channel to that office.  However, as always, my mission remains the parks, not polite cordiality.

While I'm still advocating that the current picnic pavilions be saved, another important park feature has just been discarded.  Before the expensive (10k each) PlayWorld novelty exercise  kiosks were installed, the park had old school exercise stations. A classmate of mine from the mid 1960's would finish his daily walk with pull-ups.  While these time proven exercise stations were in good condition, this park system apparently still prefers gimmicks from catalogs.

Last, but not least, this year's duckling forecast...  You may have noticed very few ducks on the Rose Garden side of the park, but there are a few pairs. Unfortunately, their propagation chances again look slim. The park department did not mow the creek bank on the first cutting, and the poison hemlock is already thriving. If they cut down it before the ducks hatch, as they have for the last four years, once again no ducklings will survive to swim the ponds. The window for the bank cutting has closed, and they must now wait until after the ducklings are hatched and on their own.

ADDENDUM JULY 25, 2024:Another year has passed with benign neglect for the pavilions. On a similar note, vines completely cover the brick front on the barn by the park office, eating heartily into the mortar. Vines are also being allowed to grow on the office itself, which was a farmhouse back long before any of our days. I remain ignored by the mayor, the new park director, and the Parknership seems to be following their lead.

Inclusivity Can Be All Wet

Prior to the current administration, the parking lot along Cedar Creek behind the swimming pool was closed off when flooding was anticipated.  The new administration felt that gates sent a  message of unwelcomeness, and they were ordered removed from various locations throughout the park system.  These gates had been installed over the years to prevent damage from flooding, or to allow for proper snow removal during winter storms. 

When I first learned of their removal last year, I was offended by the waste of infrastructure.  Now I realize that it is actually a public safety issue.

This blog in the past has been critical of the Tuerk Administration's wokeness and obsession with being inclusive.  While I have become less critical about the mayor's agenda,  I will not hesitate to speak out when appropriate. 

The flooded car shown above belonged to a couple who decided to take a long stroll in the rain. Unfortunately the creek rose faster than their return walk, but at least they didn't feel unwelcome.

reprinted from July of 2023 

ADDENDUM JULY 24, 2024:Allentown's parks are being trashed from both in and out of towners. As the city struggles with solutions to this deluge, one suggestion was to erect gates at the parks which could be closed off. Not mentioned in the debate, or the subsequent articles about it in the Morning Call, was that there were gates which were removed. We learn now that new gates will cost $five thousand each. I have been advocating for the parks for the last fifty years, and reporting on such since this blog's creation in 2007.

Carry In/Carry Out Doesn't Work For Allentown

The current national park philosophy, adopted by Allentown, is Carry In/Carry Out.  In our environmentally woke time, the belief is that people will take their trash with them, after they guzzled their sports drink.  Allentown accordingly removed most of the trash containers from the parks, instead installing larger capacity containers, which only have to be emptied once a week.  While previously one man and a pickup truck removed the bags, now a dump truck, two men and crane are used to extract the 8ft. long bags from a pit below the containers. 

It all sounds wonderful, until you drive through downtown Allentown any Monday morning...It looks like there was a parade every weekend.  The litter in Allentown is astounding...Many throw their trash down even if there is a container within several feet.  Parents throw down their trash in front of their children.

Rather than less trash containers in our parks, we should have installed more.  There is nothing Allentown  can learn from national park bureaucrats.  Our traditional park system was second to none.

above reprinted from August of 2021

ADDENDUM JUNE 7, 2022: Early on Monday mornings, a park employee fills large containers gathering all the trash tossed down on both sides of Cedar Park over the weekend.  Although the department did add some containers back since the above post was written last year, littering is a reality in the new Allentown. As the department adds new events and recreational features to our parks, this problem will only increase.

ADDENDUM JULY 26, 2023: Mayor Tuerk, in keeping with both your inclusionary and bi-lingual policies, please don't be bashful about Do Not Litter signs in both English and Spanish, No Bote Basura.

ADDENDUM JULY 23, 2024:Mandy Tolino, the park director, is beginning to see the light, or should I say the litter. She announced that the parks will have more trash containers and that seasonal No Litter signs would be installed in both English and Spanish. Add even a few more containers for good measure, and leave those signs up all year.

Molovinsky July Weigh-In

It appears that many of our elected officials were more concerned with their re-election calculations than acuity in the Oval Office. While the debate may have spilled the beans publicly about Biden, we must assume that many in Congress knew about his condition before we did, but decided that he was the ticket to ride anyway. Now with Biden's withdrawal, they will become Bravehearts.

Our elected are congratulating themselves because Rt. 611 is supposed to finally open in a couple weeks. Its prolonged closure was an assault on the residents, businesses and taxpayers victimized by the inefficiency of every agency and official involved.

 

Visitors to the airport see a larger than life portrait of Hasshan Batts and might wonder what the promise is? Shootings in Allentown have become so commonplace that they are now back-page news. It's time for Mayor Tuerk to concentrate on DUI and public safety, instead of DEI and the next election. The time to save quality of life is running out.

As I lobbied to be on the Parknership board of directors, I have been restrained in my posts about the parks...that's over! The parks, which were an oasis for generations, are being degraded. I doubt that there is anyone involved with forming the new non-profit that knows more about the parks than I do. Every current problem within the last several years I had predicted. Whether they include me or continue to ignore me, this blog will again start addressing the problems and possible solutions for our iconic park system.

Affordable For Whom?

Allentown's new affordable housing project, announced with fanfare by State Representative Nick Miller, will be given over $16 Million of taxpayer dollars for 38 units. For what the taxpayers our spending, almost $421,000 a unit, we could buy each prospective tenant an ocean condo.  Depending on who ends up living there, buying them an ocean condo in another state might improve the quality of life for those of us remaining here. 

As you can tell, I don't think much of affordable housing. It is a solution to a problem which really doesn't exist. In the first place, if Allentown wasn't comparatively affordable, there would not be so many lower income people here.  In the second place, if they are here and not seeking gainful employment, it would be better for Allentown if they collected their government check somewhere else. Between the Housing Authority, Section 8 vouchers and assorted landlords, the affordable obligation is met. Thirty eight more units, especially with most being one bedroom, won't put a dent in the heart of the bleeding liberals.

Those readers who think that this post lacks compassion might exercise their outrage by picking up litter in center city.

Lesson At Dieruff

A Dieruff High School social studies teacher would not have to take his class very far for a lesson in Allentown's history. Although never elected, East Side activist Dennis Pearson has been complaining for thirty years that the East Side always get short changed in Public Works. Such was the case in the mid 1930's, during the WPA work in Allentown. Roosevelt's New Deal program built the elaborate walls in the south side's Lehigh Parkway. Central Allentown received the magnificent Lawrence Street stairwell. The culturally elite of west Allentown received the Union Terrace Amphitheater, envisioned for Shakespeare. Pearson's east side got a few scattered steps to nowhere. The steps remained, and thirty years later Allentown built Dieruff High School. With expansions and renovations, some of the steps now adjoin the school. Flash ahead to the summers of 2009 and 2010.




I lobbied Allentown City Council members to appropriate some of the $millions of dollars in Cedar Park plans to begin preserving the irreplaceable WPA structures, starting to crumble throughout our park system. East Side elected councilman, Michael D'Amore, assured me that he only signed off on the Administrations plan, with the stipulation that the steps in Irving Park-Dieruff area would be restored at the same time. The work in Cedar Park was completed last year, including $millions of dollars with of recreation equipment from catalogs. The deterioration of the steps around Dieruff continues. Now there's a lesson in government!
photos courtesy of Mark Thomas 

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM JULY 18, 2024:The new Allentown Parknership claims that they will be involved with the WPA structures, among other facets of our park system. For that reason I have applied to be on their board of directors. I know that they will have no other applicants who have been advocating for the WPA for over fifteen years. I will continue the east side step saga in tomorrow's post.

Why I'm Not Voting For Trump

I left Monday's post up for Tuesday, with an added addendum. One comment echoed Trump's reply at the debate, that he would honor the 2024 election result if it was fair.  I cut bait with Trump on Jan.6th, 2021 and  cannot vote for him this cycle because of that debate answer. If this election isn't fair, the Republicans share the blame. If they're not organized enough to have enough pole watchers, that's their bad. I know that they have not caught up with the mail ballot game, which alone may again lose them the election.

There are legal recourses after vote counting. After they are exhausted, it is incumbent upon the candidate to concede the election, especially on the national level. An orderly transition of power is essential for democracy. 

Although I cannot reconsider Trump for 2024 after his debate answer, fortunately for the country's tranquility, Trump is far enough ahead that he probably won't have to again resort to encouraging that the election results not be certified. I realize that this post will annoy many of my readers, who trend Republican. I'm personally an independent conservative, who usually votes Republican. 

I've tried to produce an honest daily blog for the last seventeen years, and ran for office twice myself as an independent. This blog is not monetized, so I don't dance for readership numbers. I don't dance for comments. I'll invest my vote this election with Kennedy, to help fortify the third party concept.

Left Blames Trump For Being Shot

Some derivative of you reap what you sow is turning up on my liberal facebook friends' pages. It took just an  hour or two for them to start blaming MAGA and Trumpism. They're complaining that the right isn't demanding gun control.  They're complaining that the border issues are racist, and they want their guns to keep the brown people out.

Steve Scalise, who was shot in a 2017 congressional baseball game, said on the news shows Sunday that we must dial down the rhetoric, especially the demonization of Trump. I credit Biden for his remarks Saturday evening along the same lines.

An article in the current Time Magazine states that the country isn't as polarized as the media projects. With newspapers being yesterday's news, magazines either have to be last month's news or get controversial with their titles. From my observation we are indeed more polarized than ever. If this tragic shooting tones things down, remains to be seen....My hunch is that it will actually deepen the divide.

photocredit:Gene J. Puskar/AP

ADDENDUM JULY 16, 2024: J.D. Vance choosen as VP.. Biden gives interview with NBC's Lester Holt. Failure or worse by the Secret Service.

The Press As Props

It was upfront that Biden had pre-chosen which reporters were allowed to ask questions during Thursday's Big Boy presser. With that pre-selection he could surmise what the questions would entail. The reporter with the hijab would likely inquire about the situation in Gaza. If Biden called on eleven selected questioners, what were the other 295 reporters beyond production props? Anyway...

Although cherry picking the chosen reporters helps to predict the questions, did the Biden camp go farther, and suggest questions to the few lucky among the many? Anyway...

I think my question and its answer will become news this weekend. If I was a reporter and had to stand in line in a hallway for 30 minutes just to be a prop, I would be agitated. I'm agitated writing this from the comfort of my kitchen table. Anyway...

ADDENDUM FRIDAY 10:00AM: So far I can find no speculation, beyond my own, that Biden knew what questions the chosen reporters would ask. However, the questions are being described as softball.

Shapiro Disqualifying Himself From National Office

Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro was a rising star in the world of Democratic politics for ten minutes. On Wednesday afternoon he started to disqualify himself, and he didn't even know it.

Shapiro's problem goes back to a seemingly good appointment, Pat Browne to Director of Revenue. Browne, as a former state senator, was the architect of the Neighborhood Improvement District (NIZ), which seemingly revitalized Allentown, the state's third largest city. This transformation was seemingly chronicled by the Morning Call, one of the few remaining newspapers in the state. If I seem to be using seemingly repeatedly, it is because not everything, especially in politics and newspapers, is as it appears.

Allentown's former glory days main shopping street was transformed from a declined mercantile district into a new urban office park. The back story as it was unfolding, which isn't so pretty, was limited to this blog. The former merchants were given the heave-ho with threats of eminent domain. Almost all the parcels and new buildings ended up being owned by one man, who happens to be the childhood friend of Pat Browne. Almost all the new businesses which located into this new urban office park were poached by this chosen developer, at the expense of the surrounding suburban office parks. All the previous state taxes going to Harrisburg now went to this developer's debt service. A billion dollar empire of new, privately owned office and apartments, all owned by one man, being paid for by state taxes. New building by new building was promoted by the newspaper, article after article. Browne had cleverly included the newspaper building in the NIZ zone, and even that was gobbled up by the developer. New governor Shapiro reading those newspaper promotions noticed Browne's talent, and appointed him to be his revenue director. 

Because almost all the NIZ tax revenue information actually pertains to only one man, Browne on the way out the senate door, amended that information to be confidential. Browne certainly succeeded in creating a strong lockbox for his scheme. Shapiro's office issued this statement after Jarrett Coleman issued the subpoena...the Department of Revenue must continue to follow the law and has respectfully declined to provide this confidential information,”  

It is my hope that Shapiro is naive, not complicit. Time will tell.

ADDENDUM: Time ended up telling pretty quickly. I've been informed that the developer made a very large contribution to candidate Shapiro when he was running. It appears that the naive one was me, when I wrote the above post. Perhaps I'm also being naive about Shapiro disqualifying himself from national office because of such questionable contributions, maybe in today's reality he's learning the big boy ropes.

Jarrett Coleman Wins Subpoena For Taxpayers

Under Coleman's leadership, and against prepared opposition,  a senate committee yesterday voted to issue a subpoena to Pat Browne requesting information pertaining to Allentown's NIZ.  The NIZ has diverted over $half a $billion in state tax revenue for the private real estate empire of a couple local developers

.“The department’s arguments about taxpayer confidentiality are a smokescreen, because no data about individual taxpayers has been requested and confidentiality will be maintained” Coleman said. “The secretary is going to extraordinary lengths to hide this information from legislators and the people we represent. When this much effort is put into preventing people from seeing what’s going on, it casts a cloud of suspicion over the program and the people responsible for properly using the half-billion dollars in tax money. Ultimately, the information included in the subpoena is necessary to determine whether the program is a success or an expensive boondoggle.”

Before the committee voted to issue the subpoena,  state senator Christine Tartaglione spoke forcefully against it.  While she claimed that the full body rejected such an effort previously, it was actually not passed because of a tie vote. Also lobbying against it was senator Jay Costa, who complained about violating the tax confidentiality of the NIZ beneficiaries. Coleman assured his colleagues that the information would be keep confidential by the appointed auditors. Tartaglione noted that she has been in the senate for thirty years. I assume that both she and Costa know Browne quite well, and that he appreciated their effort to restrain Coleman's attempt to gain proper disclosure about a questionable legislation cloaked in secrecy.

Although the subpoena asks the information within a certain time period, there may well be quite a struggle between asking and receiving the information. Taxpayers should be grateful to Coleman for his tenacity in regard to this matter.

Jarrett Coleman, A Maverick In Harrisburg

When Jarrett Coleman challenged entrenched state senator Pat Browne two years ago, he never imagined that after defeating Browne two years later he would still be sparring with him. When Jarrett ran he pledged to look into exactly what the NIZ has done for the taxpayers. Although it has been beneficial beyond their dreams for a couple local developers, the benefit to the taxpayers isn't apparent.

The NIZ was the brainchild of Browne, and on the way out of the senate he added an amendment which shields the financial details from scrutiny. Supposedly, revealing that information would infringe on the tax confidentiality of the few fat cats benefiting. As if that roadblock wasn't enough in Coleman's way, after Browne left the state senate, Governor Shapiro appointed him Director of Revenue. So now Jarret must request the info from the very man who schemed to keep it private.

Coleman has appealed directly to Josh Shapiro to order release of the information. Recently Shapiro has been touted as potential presidential material. This would certainly be an opportunity for the governor, who previously was the attorney general, to show that he can rise above usual politics for the taxpayer's benefit.

Jarrett, putting our interests first, is also preparing a lawsuit seeking the information.

Shown above is the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which covered this important development.

Sticking A Fork In Biden

Although I'm reluctant to keep posting the Biden saga everyday, everyday a new twist has unfolded. Yesterday Biden sent a limp letter to the Democratic Congress. In it he cites that he was the voter's choice in the primary, and that he alone can defend democracy from Donald Trump. He didn't address the real elephant in the room, his cognitive condition. His omission of this concern will not make the anxiety of his continued campaign go away, on the contrary. The Democrats in Congress already knew all the election talking points. The letter, if anything, confirmed their suspicions that Biden is out of touch. 

A comment on Friday's blog post took Susan Wild to task for hosting Jill Biden last week, and then questioning her husband's capacity over the weekend. Wild was correct in being cordial to Mrs. Biden and not mentioning the controversy on Jill's visit to Allentown.

Also in a comment yesterday, I mentioned that Biden's condition will move no votes to Trump's column, regardless of who ends up as the Democratic candidate. The only candidate who may gain some votes from the Democratic malaise is Bobby Kennedy Jr.. I wouldn't assume that all people looking at Kennedy are from the D column. Given the alternatives, he is appealing more and more to Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Biden and Flying Saucers

Biden's interview with Stephanopoulos didn't bring the anticipated closure to the Biden dilemma. It didn't confirm his spaceyness or put those fears to rest. Appropriately enough, this weekend was also the spaceship convention is Roswell New Mexico. I saw some of the participants, and can tell you they could care less about Biden's fitness for office.

Back here on earth one of my concerns was Stephanopoulos's intentions as the interviewer. My hair is gray enough to remember him dodging for the Clintons. He seemed to firmly ask relevant questions. Of course Biden should have been able to articulate if he's staying in the race, not too many facts and figures needed for that answer. 

If I were a Yellow Dog Democrat I would find the situation distressing. Biden assured nobody that he is up to the task, but was coherent enough to defend against his being replaced. Then again, nobody is actually voting for Joe Biden, they are voting against Donald Trump.

Biden Circling The Wagons

As the governors left the White House Wednesday evening, the best they could say was that Biden was staying in the race, and that they support him. They referred to the battle against the threat of Donald Trump and the path to victory. None of these liars by omission would say that Biden appeared fine, but rather that he was staying in.

By not hearing any words like fit, vigor, fine, alert and so forth, I conclude that they're not  even sure that Biden will remember the meeting with them. 

Pa. senator Casey spent Wednesday in Northampton county, urging Democrat officials to circle the wagons. While he spoke about protecting us against corporate greed, I wonder who will protect us against elected deception.  While I'm not a Republican, and hate carrying water for any political party, these omissions about Biden's condition reflect on the credibility of all the silent elected Democratic officials, down to small town mayors.

Early Morning In Allentown

Sixty years ago the Soldiers Monument stood over 7th and Hamilton, as it still does. While today businesses limit restroom use to patrons, at that time the city provided underground public comfort stations at the square, staffed by full time attendants. The stores attracted so many shoppers, the police needed a tower for crowd overview. While fifty stores lined each block, lawyers, doctors, accountants and tailors occupied the offices above. Times change. If we find that the Monument impedes traffic flow for the new arena, they can move it to a less inconvenient location. 

above reprinted from October of 2011 

ADDENDUM JULY 1, 2024:While the monument remains at 7th & Hamilton, the intersection is being reconfigured to be more pedestrian friendly. The majority of the buildings have been replaced through the NIZ Scheme, transforming Hamilton Street from a merchantile district into an urban office park. So far the only missing ingredient is people, despite over 1,500 new apartments.

Demented And Deranged.

Forgive the hyperbole, I don't really know if Biden is demented, or if Trump is deranged. I do think that Biden is suffering from cognitive decline, and that Trump's approach is too simplistic for today's world.

I believe that if Biden simply had a bad night last Thursday, he would have by now held a press conference, taking real questions from real reporters, whoever that may be.* 

Trump's statements about Ukraine, Gaza and NATO give me no confidence that he is prepared for another presidency. If his behavior January 6th, (2021) is deemed criminal or not, it doesn't meet my definition of presidential. 

* Real questions from real reporters isn't something I still take for granted. Chris Cuomo on NewsNation gave Biden a pass Monday night, by a long winded soliloquy that both candidates are flawed, but that's the hand we voters are getting this November. I believe that Biden will be interviewed, but if the questions are extremely softball and rehearsed, the sham only increases.

Weekend At Biden's

In fairness to the Bidens and the DNC, it has only been a few days since Joe's blank stares. The next day they paraded him out with a short jog for a telepromter speech, which he read with some vigor. The Yellow Dog Democrats ate up those Biden treats. 

But who is to blame for masking his condition for so long? Is it Jill Biden or the Democratic Party? Then again, who is the Party? After all, Lara Trump is now the RNC. If the CNN debate hadn't occurred, would his mental acuity even be an issue?

Those who visit the White House on a regular basis, like Chuck Schumer and members of the cabinet, must have been aware of the President's decline. Biden's family is supposedly mad at his advisors, presumedly for allowing the debate.

The debate turned out to be a revelation, which apparently nobody associated with Biden thought the public needed to know. 

If Biden steps away from the campaign, Gavin Newsom appears to be the most viable candidate to take his place, assuming that they can gracefully push Kamala aside. At best, the attempt to foist a declining president on the public is a blemish on the Democratic party.

You must be at least thirty-five years of age to run for President, perhaps there should also be an exit age.

Denial, A River In Egypt

As an independent, I wasn't happy about the upcoming presidential election before this past Thursday's debate, but things have only gotten worse. Trump demonstrated that he hasn't at all matured in his world view, and Biden is obviously too impacted by health issues.

While the above is a summary of Friday's post, today I'm concerned about the reaction of my Democratic acquaintances...Too many are in denial. They refer to Thursday as a bad night. One even credited him for showing up for work sick. Others cite the next day's teleprompter speech as an indication that he's still fit. How partisanship, from both sides, can so warp thinking is incomprehensible to me.

Perhaps Biden will voluntarily drop out and the D party can still be competitive in November.  If he doesn't, they're probably forfeiting the next eight years.

If Biden is replaced, I'm personally hoping for someone right enough of center, that I might vote for.

Taking The Car Keys Away From Grandpa

There's not much to be encouraged about this coming November.  The candidates on the stage made independent Kennedy look better by default in his commercial. 

Beyond his usual talking points, Trump had no reply to any of the questions asked. Biden could address the questions, but only for about thirty seconds, before his mind wandered, and he wondered where he was. 

I think voters will have to vote for party platforms this election, as opposed to a person.

Trump couldn't even answer if he will accept the election results.

It's hard to imagine that Biden will know who he is in a few years.

Trust Non-Profits, Don't Verify

If my blog title seems a little cynical, at least it's not costing you anything. That's more than Hasshan Batts and Karla Walker can say, they're raking it in and asking for more.  Karla doesn't even want you to ask any questions

If you're going to fund us, trust us. Trust that we know what we’re doing. Don't make us jump through hoops for your money.

Hasshan's Promise Neighborhoods now has a $3million dollar budget. Despite Allentown being on track for record number of shootings, including children, he claims that without his services we would have even more (75% more) victims. Walker's program is in Boston.

I think that without their services we would have the same number of shootings, but with more budget available for police. Fortunately for Hasshan and Karla we have no shortage of virtue signalers, unfortunately, those signalers include elected officials. Batts' organization and budget is now the largest gun violence prevention program in the state. 

My sense is that the public is growing weary of their claims. 

photocredit:Jason Addy/LehighValleyNews.com

Tuerk Cries Politics

Mayor Tuerk claims that in addition to the Discrimination Investigation not properly applying for the funding required, it is politically motivated. In a previous post I stated that personally I felt that discrimination was a questionable rap against the Tuerk administration, but his denying funding on a technicality was a flawed decision. Now complaining about political motivation is even weaker on his behalf. 

The junkets to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico were nothing but politics. Lavishing grants on some of the non-profits is nothing but politics. Rising the flag of twenty countries is politics. We have a very diversfied city, too much so to spend resources learning about their culture back in the old country, or establishing sister cities there. Obviously we need to concentrate on making Allentown a safer, more desirable place for those already living here. 

Councilman Zucal maintains that because council is investigating the administration, the normal appropriation method can be bypassed. Council will vote this evening on hiring an attorney to represent them in this matter.

My photo above from last September shows Karen Ocasio walking back to her seat pass Tuerk, after telling city council that as an employee she was discriminated against... Two months later she was fired.

I'm Still Pitching For The WPA

In 2012, over a decade ago, I took our current park director, Karen El-Chaar, on a tour of the Allentown WPA structures. At that time, she was director of Friends of the Allentown Parks.  El-Chaar, a native daughter of the area, seemed to share my interest in seeing these irreplaceable icons preserved. She subsequently secured a grant from the Trexler Trust to repair the stairs by Fountain Park. 

In following years she organized volunteers to clear the overgrown spring pond by Robin Hood. In conjunction with the Friends group, I conducted a couple of tours of the WPA structures in Lehigh Parkway.

When El-Chaar was appointed Park Director by Ray O'Connell, I thought that finally, after so many years, I would have an ally about the WPA in the administration.

As it turns out El-Chaar does care about the WPA, but she hasn't made it a line item priority in the budget. The lower entrance wall of Lehigh Parkway is being repointed, but that is a continuation of the upper wall's replacement, after it collapsed from years of neglect, before El-Chaar's time.

I'm still lobbying to have the landings repaired on the Parkway Double Stairwell. Three years ago, she told me that the Trexler Trust wanted an expert opinion on how the flagstone should be relaid.  She is still waiting for the Trexler Trust to consult an expert, and only then might they issue a grant for that project. I would have preferred that it was already done, within the regular park budget.  Recreation items, such as the skate park, are directly in the city park budget. 

Above is a 1948 photograph of the bridge that went to the WPA man-made island in Lehigh Parkway.  In the 1980's the bridge was removed, and the island allowed to grow wild. When I gave El-Chaar that tour so many years ago, she commented that it would be nice to replace the bridge and restore the island. I replied that I would be satisfied if the remaining WPA structures are maintained....I'm still hoping and waiting for that to happen.

Since I started advocating for the WPA, El-Chaar has been more receptive than the previous directors. However, like the island, once a park feature is gone, we will never get it back. My mission remains to make sure the WPA structures get the timely attention our park history deserves.

photo courtesy of the Price family

above reprinted from September of 2022

ADDENDUM JUNE 25, 2024: The landings on the double stairwell have indeed began to concave from water damage. No expert consultant needed, but a competent concrete person to level the landings, and relay the flagstone. During the Depression hundreds of WPA projects were built throughout the country with the unemployed....They need maintenance, not consultants! The new city administration and another new park director have not responded to any of my entreaties.  I continue to be assertive about obtaining a seat on the new Parknership.  Both the WPA structures and myself are too old for diplomacy.

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 directed the unemployed in 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.

ADDENDUM JUNE24,2024: Although the Trust paid for a consultant and stone mason to repoint the vertical wall of the Parkway's double stairwell, they did not repair the surface of the landings, and they have begun to cave and sink, as I warned. Truth be told, the structures don't need experts, they need upkeep by a stone mason. As I wrote over four years ago, time is the enemy. Although the Trust and City has started a Parknership which will supposedly address WPA structure issues, I have not been offered a seat at the table.