The Devil Of Ocean Paradise

The resort town's boardwalk is partially open during the cold winter months for the hardy of spirit.  The stores that remain open were purchased mostly by middle eastern immigrants, who overpaid for their piece of the American dream in the dying resort.  Their mortgage demands every nickel they can muster,  and their large families are eager to practice their broken English on the few customers willing to brave the boardwalk's cold winter wind.

All their stores sell the same things...  brightly colored candy, souvenirs and small toys designed to make children nag and beg.  Along with the stores there is a strip of game stands, where during the warm summer breezes,  fathers and boyfriends hope to win a stuffed animal.  During the winter, the steel garage doors are closed on all these stands, except for one.  The immigrants with their broken English cannot lure in players, but the Devil can.

Oversized brightly colored stuffed animals adorn the stand. Music from the 70's pulses from one loud speaker,  while the Devil commands the occasional passing man to "show her that you care by winning a bear."  Please don't misunderstand me, he is not Satan himself, but a minor devil.  He can give you a cold, or ruin a first date,  but he has no power over life and death.  Even those he afflicts can purchase redemption.... Inside the stores there are chocolate wafers for sale,  covered with white candy sprinkles.  For a mere $26 a pound, the bad omen can be eaten away.

This minor devil came from Coney Island a decade ago.  Brooklyn's Brighton Beach area started gentrifying in the late 90's, and the dress up spread to adjoining Coney.  Doc, the minor devil, thrived on hearty spirits, but not heady minds.  His move to Ocean Paradise was a win-win.  While the owning immigrant gets to keep almost all the money the stand takes in,  Doc gets to dispense a headache or two each weekend.  He has a room at a nearby old motel owned by the same family, and enjoys the middle eastern food that he has eaten since time immemorial.

If you walk on the boardwalk during the winter, you better dress warm, and not be tempted to show her that you care.

reprinted from November of 2018

The Coal Yards Of Sumner Avenue

Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. 

Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. 

Many of those boilers and furnaces were converted to gas and oil. The coal bins were used as storage rooms. Over the years the heating units were replaced with more modern ones, designed for the fuel now being used. Coal is now a memory restricted to aging historical bloggers.

A Reflection On Christmas Lights

When I was a child, when it came to Christmas lights, more seemed better. I recall my father taking us to see a house out on Union Street, beyond Union Terrace, which decorated lawn, house and roof. The home owner continued that tradition for many years, until he became too old to perform that labor of love. 

When I became older and more visual, I found less decorations more tasteful. Not only was I drawn to less, but also older. Over the years my camera would turn to the retro decorations, especially those faded and shopworn. The film elmusion has held up better than my memory...I can only guess where the photo above was taken. 

Today's inflatables are not, in my opinion, camera worthy.

reprinted from previous years

Molovinsky Christmas Tour

Recently I posted about Bill White's recommended Christmas Light tours.  I hope that caravans of  new SUV's are taking White's tours, because he publishes his recommendations every year.  Bill, after all these years,  has his job down almost on autopilot;  Christmas light tours,  Eating his way through Musikfest,  Cake contest at fair, Grammar columns,  Hall of Shame, Worst sentence writer. etc., etc.

Anyway, I recommend that nobody take my light tour,  it's in the hood in center city Allentown. Actually, the block shown has had its share of crime in recent years. The alley is narrow,  so there is no passing another car.  The double parkers get very annoyed if you beep your horn.  Best to stick with White's tours out in suburbia, with the inflated decorations that are flaccid during the day.  Personally,  I prefer the center city house decorations.  There is something so much more inspiring about decorating a low income house, many of which are rentals.  It makes me feel better and more hopeful about downtown.

reprinted from December of 2017

This blog has been published every weekday, including holidays, since 2007.

Bill White Pitches Pawlowski Pardon

Bill White was persuaded to write a pitch for a Pawlowski pardon (commute of sentence) by a mutual friend of theirs. White pleads that Pawlowski didn't take money for himself, but only for his campaign for Congress, (where he could really enrich himself.) What Bill omits is that every city contract rewarded was based on those contributions to his campaigns, not on value to the city. White omits that in essence Pawlowski stole repeatedly from the city and taxpayers. 

White complains that the judge threw the book at Pawlowski with a sentence near the top of the guidelines. At this point Pawlowski has served a little less than half the sentence, so a pardon now would be at the bottom of the guidelines. 

The worse part of White's whitewash is his claim of what a wonderful mayor Pawlowski was. Prior to the indictment and trial there certainly was no criticism of Pawlowski from either White or the Morning Call. While the government proved Pawlowski's guilt on almost fifty counts, perhaps Bill should wonder why he still thinks that Pawlowski was a good mayor?

Allentown, Not Much For History

Once you go a mile west beyond Bethlehem, there's not much interest in history.  There's also not much interest in art or architecture.  Boast as you will about Allentown's new NIZ buildings, but there won't be any awards given there for architecture.  The new waterfront NIZ district will remove the historic LVRR rail tracks.  The local historical society concentrates on shows about Abraham Lincoln, with no interest in local topics. The Allentown park department actually encourages the disregard to its original plans and structures.  We're being led by people who seemed more concerned with their own future, be it in real estate or politics.

For years my efforts have concentrated on trying to save those historical structures unique to our area.  Although I may occasionally still succumb to that compulsion in the future,  hopefully, most of my protest will now be limited to posts on this blog.  I pleaded to no avail with too many commissions with predetermined agendas.  Let the less disillusioned plead to the deaf ears behind those dais.

Shown above is the former LVRR railroad station on Hamilton Street, which was demolished in the early 1960's.  The existing train station was the New Jersey Central.  Allentown never met a unique older building that it couldn't wait to tear down.

reprinted from July 1, 2015

The Fountain Of My Youth

Just west of the Robin Hood Bridge is a fountain which quenched the thirst of my summer days. Built during the WPA era, it overlooked the creek. Although the water was turned off years ago, so now is the view. The weeds and assorted invasives growing are not a riparian buffer. Science says that a buffer has to be 25feet wide to be of any value. A reader described this thin strip of wild growth as neglect, masquerading as conservation. All it does is block both the view and access to the waterway. It denies our current citizens the beauty and experience for which the parks were designed. Although the Wildland's Conservancy would like you to believe that the Allentown Parks are there to be wildlands, in reality they were designed by landscape architects, to provide the citizens of Allentown with what Harry Trexler called serenity. He did also appreciate conservation, but for that he created the Trexler Game Preserve, north of Allentown. There are places in the parks which can accommodate the riparian buffer zones, without compromising the intended public experience of waterway view and access. Riparians could be created and maintained in the western side of Lehigh Parkway, between the pedestrian bridge and Bogerts Bridge. In Cedar Park, the riparian section could be in western side, between the last walking bridge and Cedar Crest Blvd. It's time that the parks were given back to the citizens of Allentown. They are not funded, or intended by our tax dollars and the Trexler Trust,  just to be a venue for the Wildland's Conservancy to harvest grants.  Let a child again giggle by the creek's edge. Let us get back our intended park experience.

above originally posted in 2013

ADDENDUM JULY 1, 2022: When the above post was first written, Pawlowski's recreation trained park directors farmed many actual park decisions out to the Wildlands.  Although their influence has waned somewhat in recent years, these faux buffers remain a negative legacy. The buffers are faux because Allentown's storm system is piped directly into the streams, under the buffer weed wall. Those weed walls in turn have become hotbeds of invasive species, such as Poison Hemlock.  Now, as the downside of those invasives has become obvious, the department is cutting the grass back toward the streams, but still leaving the creek edge overgrown, hiding view and blocking access.  To further complicate the situation, in the last several years all new tree plantings were done away from the creek, at the outer edge of the then wide buffer...The end result is now cutting the grass is more difficult, with all the new trees in the path of the mowers.

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 19, 2024: In recent years the park department has only cut down the faux fake excuse buffers only once or twice a season. Those cutting were necessary, so that the invasives would not take deep root. This year the invasives, in most places, were not cut at all!

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. 

 reprinted from October 6, 2015 

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 18, 2024:Since the above was written in 2015, the Trexler Trust  came through with some grants and repairs. The fallen Parkway entrance wall was rebuilt with concrete, and faced with the original stones. The double stairwell was repointed, along with the remaining wall leading to the Robin Hood Bridge. The steps at Fountain Park were repointed and the Union Terrace stage area was just completed. I lobbied for most of these projects with Karen El-Chaar, and she lobbied for the funding with the Trust. Repairing the landings on the Parkway's stairwell should be the next project, they're compromising the steps and structure.

Although I'm hoping that the new Parknership might continue work on the WPA structures, I've been formally excluded. The photograph of me above at the fallen wall was taken by Michael Adams, former caretaker of the Log & Stone house. He also, after years of devotion to the park system, was unceremoniously dumped.

Saving The Spring Pond

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





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


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







I will attempt to organize a group and contributions for this most worthy cause. Between the Spring Pond and The Boat Landing there was once a bridge to the island. Wouldn't it be nice if a small boy could go exploring.

above reprinted from 2010

UPDATE August 2013Mike Gilbert has retired, and the Park Department has a new director. Although grass and sod are starting to again cover the remaining stones that surround the pond, the miniature bridge is still visible. I will make it my mission to again pitch the new personnel.

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

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

UPDATE May 1, 2018:  This past weekend the pond, miniature bridge and spring channel to the creek were once again cleared.  The work was done by volunteers from Faith Church, Asbury Church, Igesia De Fe and Salem Bible Church,  through Karen El-Chaar, director of Friends Of The Parks. Although the park department provided assistance in the two clean ups over the past several years,  they have  not provided ongoing maintenance to the site.  Understand that in the past few years they have constructed the exercise area at Jordan Park, the cement disc golf pads in the parkway and other recreational features. It is long overdue that the WPA structures be returned to the regular park budget and schedule.

UPDATE JANUARY 14, 2020:  Karen El-Chaar is now Director Of Parks. Hopefully she will have a soft spot for this particular WPA structure. I continue trying through this blog and facebook to keep these structures on the public agenda.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2023: There's a new park director, Mandy Tolino. I haven't met Tolino, but I suspect that this blog might appear on her radar.  Those who visit the pond this spring will discover that the sod has once again overgrown the surrounding stonework. It is my understanding that Tolino has a background with the Delaware&Lehigh Trails, and hopefully will develop an appreciation of our unique WPA structures.

UPDATE DECEMBER 17, 2024: I hope that down the line I will have to write a retraction, but at this point in time I believe that the spring pond, as a recognizable WPA construction, is to be no more. As it turned out, Mandy Tolino has little regard for the structures. Worse, such matters do not appear to be a pressing issue for the new Parknership. At some point in the future, perhaps I can organize a volunteer crew to periodically keep the miniature bridge uncovered.

Allentown Parknership Endorses Status Quo

After seven months, the Parknership finally announced their board of directors. With Tuerk and his park director taking two of the nine seats, there will be no change in current park philosophy. Worse, the weed walls have gained a couple more enthusiasts on the board. In addition to the Trexler Trust, the Rider-Pool Foundation has stepped forward as a major Parknership backer. That foundation is closely affiliated with the Wildlands Conservancy, promoter of the weed walls.

While the board has the expected diversity, there is no advocate for the WPA, or the traditional park system. The Trexler people on the board, Janet Roth and Donald Bernhard, do have institutional knowledge of the park system, and the Trust has financed any work done on WPA structures in the last decade. I'm grateful for that!

My input will continue to be limited to this blog. Eventually, my WPA suggestions are implemented, with credit given elsewhere. I have even less hope for the creek banks under this administration and the new organization. I was hoping that this new Parknership might steer the park system back toward its classic design and values, but instead it seems to reinforce the new agenda.

Double Whammy For Taxpayers In Allentown

Some of our local state elected officials met at the Baum Art School with a hired consultant to solicit input and build support for a downtown revitalization initiative. After these same officials condone the NIZ spending of a $Billion of taxpayer money for revitalization, don't they realize how meager the return on public value has been from the NIZ? Don't they realize the irony of their new initiative? 

In the Morning Call's report on the meeting, the reporter writes that the NIZ has transformed the formerly empty neighborhood into a cosmopolitan region. She wouldn't know from the paper's archives that actually Hamilton Street was not empty, and that it is not cosmopolitan now. In reality, Hamilton Street was much, much busier back then. The former Family Dollar store was the busiest in their chain. Rite-Aid was busy, as were most of the stores in the 700 block of Hamilton. Because the Morning Call acted as a press agent for the NIZ, their archives are very distorted. 

While I do agree with the consultant that Allentown is a dead zone, apparently Tuerk, Schlossberg and Miller think that vitality is a small $million more away. Nick Miller said “Speaking from the state’s perspective, we’ve invested a lot in buildings and we now need to invest in people,”  Tuerk wants his former employer, Allentown Economic Development, involved. Promise Neighborhoods' input was invited. It was suggested that nearby residents be set up in businesses.

As a taxpayer in Pennsylvania, I would pay the consultant off for his time, and hope that all the recommendations are ignored and forgotten. I do believe that Reilly's latest project, the Archer music venue, will bring some more foot traffic downtown, as will the new apartments and condos in the former PPL buildings. I ask our above mentioned politicians to stop thinking that spending more of our money is always the solution.

The Livingston Club, Allentown's Benevolent Oligarchy

Back in the day, when the town had three department stores, the major decisions affecting Allentown's future were made at the Livingston Club. Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. The bank officers of First National and Merchants Bank would discuss loans with the highly successful merchants, many of whom had stores in all three major Lehigh Valley cities. As the heydays winded down, likewise the exit plans were made there. The City of Allentown acquired the Park & Shop lots, becoming the Allentown Parking Authority. Leh's became the Lehigh County Government Center.

The new oligarchy consists of much fewer men, they could all met at a small table in Shula's, and be entertained by watching street people  arrested. The former 1st National Bank location is now a new Reilly building. The former Livingston Club building is now a parking lot, and future site to another Reilly building. Shula's is also a Reilly building.... 

reprinted from August 19, 2015

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 12, 2024:I can't say where the current oligarchy can meet, because the restaurants now have a short shelf life. But, they don't need a large table, just big enough for Reilly and a couple Jaindls'. Perhaps they would also invite Sy Traub, he's been at the table since the NIZ began, as consigliere. I suspect that if the ghosts of Farr, Miller and Leh looked at all the new privately owned buildings, which are paid for with public tax money, they would feel pretty small compared to the new players.

WPA, A Work In Progress

On Labor Day in 2011, The Morning Call ran a story about my efforts in regard to the neglected WPA structures, and announced my upcoming meeting at the Allentown Library. Among those in attendance at that meeting was Karen El-Chaar, director of Friends Of The Allentown Parks. Later that year, I took El-Chaar on a tour of the WPA structures throughout the park system. In 2013, I conducted my first tour of the WPA in Lehigh Parkway, in conjunction with Friends Of The Parks. This year, El-Chaar successfully secured a grant from The Trexler Trust, which is currently being used to restore the steps at Fountain Park. The grant is being supervised by Lindsay Taylor, Allentown Park Director. The work is being done by Dietrich Stonemasonry, and managed by parks supervisor, Rick Holtzman.

Although much work remains to be done, it's my sense that all the decision makers mentioned above, are developing a greater appreciation of the unique gift that the WPA bestowed upon the Allentown park system.  I'm hoping that both that interest and work continues this coming spring and summer, especially in preserving the remaining portion of the wall in Lehigh Parkway. 

 reprinted from October 19, 2015

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 11, 2024:The Allentown park system is getting a large hand up from the new Parknership, funded by both Trexler Trust and Rider- Pool Foundation. Although if truth be told, the work done on the WPA structures has resulted from my advocacy, I have been excluded from the new organization. It is my hope that work continues on the structures, it is long overdue.

Jarrett Coleman"s Pressure Returns Bucks To State

What a coincidence that Jarrett Coleman has been pushing for audits of the NIZ, and that the NIZ found some extra moola to give back to Pa.  Understand that besides Coleman, there is no pressure on NIZ board, whatsoever.  On the contrary, Reilly keeps building and the board keeps approving. 

Although no authorization in the original legislation, the board now allots itself close to $800K for operating expenses. In any state except Pennsylvania, the Revenue Department might be keeping tabs, but here the NIZ architect himself is the Revenue Director!?!

The recent dividend from Coleman's tenacity about NIZ audits hopefully is just the beginning. The fact that other state legislators from outside the Lehigh Valley aren't leading this effort is testament to how broken Harrisburg has become. That Josh Shapiro is a party hero, doesn't speak well for the depth of their bench.

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.

click on photo to enlarge

UPDATE APRIL 12, 2023: 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. On Sunday Allentown recognizes the Syrian community with a flag raising at city hall.

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 9, 2024: This was a dramatic weekend for the Allentown Syrian community mentioned above. The Assad regime, both father and recent son, had provided protection for the Christian minority in Syria, and were generally well regarded by the local community here in Allentown. The local Syrians, here since about 1900, came because of religious persecution in their homeland. Although the new rebel leader has indicated tolerance toward minorities in Syria, the Christians and other minorities are understandably nervous.

As Allentown Turns / December 6, 2024

As Allentown turns, it was not a great week for Ed Zucal. With legal action perhaps intimidating Candida Affa, she voted with Tuerk ally Santo Napoli to suspend the lawsuit against the Tuerk administration. Fortunately for Zucal, the shift in council dynamics came after his announcement about running for mayor.

I also had a setback this week. As I was interviewed for membership on the Parknership board, I could hear interest in me waning as I explained that the current administration's public park meetings are a political dog and pony show, based on inclusion, rather than real park excellence. I  can understand that many people, as relative newcomers to Allentown, don't have my frames of reference. However, they should know that for older residents the parks have seen better days. 

This city and administration has enough sycophants. As a park advocate, board membership or not, my mission stays the same.

In those better park days there were numerous picture postcards of the Allentown park system. Shown above is a postcard of Trexler Park.

The Boat Landing

Getting to the Boat Landing, for six year old boys who lived above the park in 1953, was quite an adventure. There were three other wonderful WPA structures to navigate on the journey. Unfortunately,  poor foresight by a previous park director has erased some of the WPA's monuments in Lehigh Parkway. As the postcard from the mid-50's above shows, the Boat Landing (my name for the structure) was a source of pride for the city and park system. It is located at the end of the park,  near Regency Apartments. I use the present tense because remnants of this edifice still exist,  buried under dirt and debris. Other attractions lost in that section of the park include the Spring Pond near the Robin Hood parking lot, and the bridge to the "Island", plus the mosaic inlaid benches which were on the island. ( Island halfway between parking lot and boat landing). Neither the Mayor or the Park Director knows that these centerpieces ever existed. These are irreplaceable architectural treasures well worth restoring.

UPDATE: The above post was written in May of 2009. Later that year I organized a small group of volunteers, and we unearthed a portion of the boat landing. The next year I prevailed on the Allentown Water Shed Foreman, Michael Gilbert, to expose the remaining stones around the Spring Pond and remove the growth hiding the Miniature Bridge.

Trexler Smiles, Landing Revealed

I believe that today, for the first time in decades, General Trexler had something to smile about. Most people never understood why three steps were near the lower entrance of Lehigh Parkway; they seemed to lead nowhere. This morning eight people joined a grass root effort to unveil, for the first time in decades, the structure I called the Boat Landing.

Buried under the dirt and grass were several more steps leading to a landing. Chris Casey was the first to arrive and cleared these steps and the first landing himself. A second set of steps led from the landing to the main landing on the creek. These second steps had a foot or so of ground and plants.

The quality and condition of the stonework is excellent, as was all our WPA icons. I will be polite and say only that it was a crime to have let this neglect occur. On the main landing the accumulated earth was two and half feet thick. The crew dug out the curving retaining wall several yards in each direction, and cleared off the top of the wall.

Eight people working four hours managed to reveal about one third of the landing at the bottom of the steps. It was a thrill to realize we were standing at creek's edge as the WPA architects had envisioned. I stood there often as a boy. There still remains a large portion of dirt to remove at the steps base, but you can now experience the Boat Landing. 

The retaining wall and the landing continue for fifty feet or so in both directions. Unfortunately a huge tree has grown on the landing to the right, but the left appears reclaimable.

We who worked there today, hope to return and clear off the remainder of the dirt at the bottom of the steps.

Perhaps others will be motivated to clear off the remaining portion of the landing to the left. Now that might even be an idea for the City; imagine restoring an irreplaceable icon instead of buying something from a catalogue. I'm most grateful to all those who helped today, and will reveal their names with their permission.

ADDENDUM:

Michael M,

I just wanted to thank you for organizing today’s cleanup at the “Boat Landing” in the Lehigh Parkway. It’s not often that one gets to help unearth a treasure while barely leaving home, but that’s exactly what happened today.

It was truly impressive what big difference a small group of people can make. I can’t even estimate the amount of dirt that was moved with nothing more than a few shovels and a lot of hard work.

We can only hope that the City and the Trexler Trust will become aware of this location and start giving all the great structures in the Parkway the care they deserve.

However, the best part of the story for me came after we all left. I got home and my daughter Lucy (age 7) wanted to know how things went. We hopped in the car and soon we were walking up to the stairs leading to the landing. The sun was shining, and the sunlight trickled through the trees and onto the freshly-exposed stairway.

Lucy asked if she could go down to the landing by the water and next thing I knew we were both there at the waters edge, standing on what had been buried only a few hours earlier and marveling at the beauty of the location.

We spent a few moments there - a father and daughter both enjoying something completely “new” to us (even though the landing is over 70 years old). We talked briefly about what was – and more importantly what could be again.

Thank you for making that moment possible, and I hope many others take the opportunity to visit the landing in the near future.

Mike Schware

P.S. – After visiting the landing, Lucy and I walked further upstream and saw the remnants of the bridge to the island (near the water fountain). The remaining supports of the bridge confirmed what you had told me earlier about the island being much smaller years ago.

I organized the excavation shown above in 2009. We did return and remove the remaining dirt at the bottom of the steps.
reprinted from two separate posts combined

above reprinted from October of 2009

 ADDENDUM DECEMBER 5, 2024: Although I have been actively involved with the parks for decades, I have been passed over for inclusion on the new Parknership.  

A Well Meaning Mistake In The Rose Garden

As an advocate for the traditional park system in Allentown, I was never a fan of Lights In The Parkway. However, after thirty years or so, we now have a second generation being taken on a drive through the park to see the lights. 

Allentown just had its first ever Christmas tree lighting in the Rose Garden. Placed in the middle of the garden path, if a Christmas tree can ever be out of place,  it must be this one. It clashes with the serenity of the winter garden. The tree was sponsored by Rose Garden Neighborhood Association, which claims to support Allentown's historic Malcolm W. Gross Rose Garden.

I wish that the mayor and park director had enough familiarity with our parks and their history to have politely declined the offer by the adjoining neighborhood group.

ADDENDUM: I've been informed that the Allentown Parknership has decided against my inclusion on their board. Today's post probably reaffirms their decision. Apparently, institutional knowledge of the traditional park system and expertise on the WPA structures have less value than I had hoped.

ArtsWalk Eats Another Restaurant

The eatery on the corner of 7th & Artswalk Alley is closing, I believe it may have been called Shula's #5. When Shula's #1 opened back in 2011, the city police arrested some poor soul singing on the walkway for disturbing the ambience. They should pay to bring him back!

The Morning Call cannot get past its DNA to promote all things NIZ and Reilly. Obviously the restaurant wasn't popular, or it wouldn't be closing. No food vendors survive because the Strata apartments, #1through #13, aren't really full. The NIZ is so lucrative for Reilly that he keeps building them anyway...It's our money, not his.

While the Morning Call has been his press agent, only this blog asked the questions until recently. State Senator Jarrett Coleman has began fighting for NIZ audits...Taxpayers across Pennsylvania owe him a debt of gratitude.

Spinning The Crime In Allentown

Last Wednesday two shooters were apprehended immediately after shooting their victim with a shotgun from their car. They were apprehended by a high-tech system which combines gunshot detection with license plate cameras...The system is called Flock Safety, and it costs Allentown $1.5mil for a two year lease.

Police chief Roca bragged on Facebook about the quick arrest. Local political kingmaker Jennifer Mann was the first to respond with "Great work."  She is Tuerk's mentor and this is an election year.

Although I'm glad the shooters were quickly apprehended, I wish that Allentown hadn't degraded to the point that we need the Flock system, and I wish that we didn't have such people cruising our streets with shotguns. Although I realize that the slope was downhill before Tuerk's term, I have little faith in his ability to improve the situation.

artwork by Mark Beyer

The Intersection Of DeSantis And Trump In The Republic Of Florida

Except for a few pockets in the southern part of the state on both coasts, Florida is a deep red state. With Marco Rubio heading the new State Department, Ron DeSantis is charged with appointing a fill in senator. 

Raising her hand for the position is Lara Trump, Donald's daughter-in-law. Some may remember that Ron DeSantis himself had visions of sitting behind the desk in the oval office. For most presidents, recommending their daughter-in-law would be too embarrassing. However, we all know that Trump is not encumbered by modesty. He is not overburdened with humility. 

As governor and former candidate himself, DeSantis has his own list from which to choose an appointee. With Trump now limited to one term, and J.D. Vance having a foot up for 2028,  DeSantis might assert himself early by denying Lara the spot. On the other hand and in Florida, there's always another hurricane on the doorstep... President Trump will be directing FEMA. What's a governor to do?

DeSantis Unleashes Death Train On Trump Supporters

The Brightline private train line has killed 104 Trump supporters since its recent startup. Roaring through sleepy towns at 80 miles an hour, many elderly don't even hear the whistle before they become a roadkill pancake. 

In small towns like Palm Bay Florida, the laidback pedestrians were used to slow moving freight trains. All that changed with Brightline's plan to join Miami and Orlando with a speedy connection. While the line invested $millions in new tracks and bridges capable of handling the speed up to 130mph, the human factor got no attention. On the contrary, complaints about the loud whistles will only increase the carnage. 

Perhaps the next president could control the border problem with a Brightline Train instead of a wall.

The above post supplied by Rainy Morning Chronicle, a sister publication.

above reprinted from December 27, 2023 

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 28, 2024: As the Brightline speeds south from Orlando, and north from Miami, West Palm Beach is becoming the busy stop, gateway to the Winter Whitehouse on Palm Beach. Job seeking pilgrims, hat in hand, cross the waterway hoping for a spot in the new administration. Ironically, the blue blood enclave, once home to the Kennedy Clan, is now overrun with crass ambition, and even hosts the Kennedy outcast. Red hats have replaced Gucci, and other travesties which would have been considered nightmares a decade ago. Among the new carnies of our era, an elderly blogger with his fake press credentials.

Brightline Of Florida

While Biden and the new administration are promoting their $Trillion dollar infrastructure program,  and an improved Amtrak would supposedly be a benefit,  the Republic Of Florida has its own program, with no cost to the taxpayers.

The privately owned high speed train has been operating since 2018 between Miami and West Palm Beach.  Richard Branson, who spent this past weekend near outer space, envisioned a high speed Virgin Train brand between Orlando and Miami. While Virgin is no longer involved with the project,  the extension from West Palm Beach to Orlando is being built.  The Brightline extension requires seventeen new bridges and 170 miles of track. The new track is next to the old existing single track, now in use for freight.

The project is not without controversy. While very few towns would have a station or benefit from the high speed line, the train will be speeding through them.  A concern is the danger imposed by such high speed at all the crossings.

The new bridges are a massive undertaking. Shown above is the bridge construction over the Crane Creek in the Space Coast area.  A temporary bridge was constructed to hold the massive equipment necessary to build the new bridges.

Florida was developed a century ago by Henry Flagler and his train company. Private enterprise does still exist.

photocredit/molovinsky 

above reprinted from July 3, 2021 

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 27, 2024:My concern about safety at crossings turned out to be frightfully true. After a century of slow moving freight trains, the ultra speed Brightline (130mph) is taking its toll at the crossings. The train  slows down to 80 miles an hour as it barrels through one town after another on the Space Coast.

Who Knew What and When in Allentown?

The reinstatement of the whistleblower suit by two Allentown police officers raises numerous questions. 

Was the judge too quick to dismiss it previously over a technicality?

Considering the arrest of a former officer over theft, what did Roca know about all these shenanigans referenced in the lawsuit?

Certainly a Hispanic chief is a premium to DEI obsessed mayor Tuerk, but if Tuerk didn't know about the alleged shenanigans before the suit, he certainly knew after it was filed the first time. With an upcoming election will Tuerk still stand behind Roca? Will Roca take an offer and leave Dodge before things hit the fan?

All the above appears to be an early Christmas present for Ed Zucal and Mota, but Tuerk will have five more months for damage control.

shown above old city  hall and police station by Church & Linden Sts.

Molovinsky Rejected By NASA For Seniors In Space Program

My quest to be a senior astronaut is officially over. Although I squeaked through the physical, I didn't do as well on the psychological profile.

Upon then arriving in Tallahassee,  I discovered that Governor Ron pulled the plug on my plan B.

I'm on the bus and should arrive back in Allentown around noon today.  I gave it my best, but I'm resigned to continue being a blogger.

above reprinted from January 25, 2024

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 25, 2024:As alluded to above, I did see some physicians on the Space Coast. This weekend I learned that one of those physicians is on his way back to Washington, this time to be head of CDC under Trump. Dr. Dave Weldon previously served in Congress for fourteen years as the Space Coast's representative. I suppose that with the HIPAA regulations he secured the Cabinet position without even mentioning that I was a patient. With the new Musk/Trump axis, I expect the Space Coast to be humming. There is an older, artsy, lower rent section on the Indian River Lagoon, where I plan to secure a small satellite office to report on the new administration. Whether or not I can obtain access to Mar-a-Lago remains to be seen.

As Allentown Turns

There will be three candidates on the Democratic ballot for mayor this May.                                                              Current mayor Matt Tuerk will be the establishment candidate. All his campaigning will be in front of graffiti posing as murals. His speeches will be in both English and Spanish. Cynthia Mota will be the minority majority candidate. She will campaign from the Dominican Republic, exclusively in Spanish.  Ed Zucal will be the retro Better/Happy Days candidate, speaking in English from the Ritz and fairgrounds.

Allentown Police will not be enforcing double parking from a new headquarters, wedged between their current headquarters and city hall on the former landing. The plans alone will cost $1.5mil. Their new motto, "The shooting was an isolated incident, and no danger to the public", will be inscribed over the entrance.

molovinsky on allentown is looking for a new office in center city.  None of my former haunts, or even the buildings they were in, still exist. I asked J.B. Reilly for space, and he said I should call back after hell freezes over.

postcard from 1962 showing new city hall and police headquarters

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.

reprinted from November 16, 2015

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 21,2024: It took nine years, but this summer/fall masons came back to Union Terrace to repoint the stage area, thanks to the Trexler Trust once again. Karen El-Chaar ended up appointed park director under Ray O'Connell, but has since been replaced under Matt Tuerk. Despite continuing to be outspoken about park issues, I'm lobbying to be included on the new Parknership board.

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.

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 20, 2024: I continue to have issues with the concept of the NIZ legislation, and I'm glad that state senator Jarrett Coleman is on the case concerning audits.  That said, several new developments on Hamilton Street I think will help boost feet on the ground. NIZ King Reilly's new Archer  music venue should liven up the night scene. Apartments and condos at the PPL Tower and former PPL Plaza will bring some residential private owners into the mix.

The Mann Machine

Although Jennifer Mann hasn't served in the State House for eleven years, her vehicle still sports Legislative Plates...That's not inappropriate considering the local power she wields. Ponies in her stable include Matthew Tuerk, Mike Schlossberg and Pete Schweyer.

Her father was a union boss at Mack, and helped put her in the state house in 1999. When she retired in 2013, she put her protege Mike Schlossberg in the seat and started a lobbying firm, having Sacred Heart Hospital among her clients. Schweyer is also an alumnus of Mann's state office.

While some of her clients have merged with other bigger entities with their own lobbyists, she remains a kingmaker in Allentown. Save for Molovinsky and O'Hare, that local political influence has remained mostly under the radar.

The Trump Cult

By comment, I told some readers on Friday that if they wore a red hat or shirt, or both, and stood in line for twelve hours to see Trump, that they were in a cult. Some found that label offensive, and referred to that behavior as enthusiasm against Democratic endorsed nonsense for the last four years. I agree with them that the political correctness had morphed into the realm of absurdity, and that it in turn ignited a majority of the populace against it. Kamala Harris also did herself no favor by promising grants to buy houses, open businesses and have babies.

Another contentious issue on Friday was Trump's nominations. If the President elect wanted to annoy his detractors, he could have done no better. This blog maintains a focus group, and the Democratic side was fuming. Although their original reaction to the election contained phrases such as democracy, wait and see, benefit of the doubt, the appointees regressed them back into foaming at the mouth.

Some in areas that are still blue on the map think maybe they weren't far enough to the left!?! It's hard for me to even comprehend such a conclusion. Mike Tyson learned Friday night that it's not easy to go back in time. If Trump's cabinet announcements last week are an indicator, I think Democrats already have a platform for the midterms.

Trump's Loyalty Requirement

On November 5th I did not vote for the top of the ticket. Partisans on both sides said that I should at least vote for the one who I thought would do the least damage...I voted for no damage, for neither.

As Trump began naming his cabinet picks this week, it was apparent that loyalty, rather than expertise, was the criterion. His defenders referred to a President's need for both comfort and confidence in his picks. His pick of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General seems a stretch way too far.

Putting aside any previous accusations against the congressman, his legal background is probably too thin to even get a job with a top law firm. While Trump certainly won a mandate last week, the Senate must still consider their own integrity. It is apparent that Trump doesn't want their advice, but normally he would still need their consent, although he would like them to recess and bypass that check and balance feature of our government. For political cover and electability back home, a recess will probably also be the Senate's preference.

As a conservative independent, perhaps with the exception of Rubio, I do not understand how any Republican can take pride in any of the cabinet nominations.

Trump and Rubio in Allentown, Pa.

Parks Should Not Be Political Popularity Ploy

The City of Allentown is conducting a series of meetings to find out what the public would like to see and do in the parks. I think I have the bonafides as an advocate for the parks, and what I would like to see is the parks better run and maintained! Here are my suggestions.

                   Cut the grass to the creeks' edges in the most iconic sections of the system, including Robin Hood of Lehigh Parkway and the Rose Garden area of Cedar Park. Replace dying out Willow Trees with Willow Trees.

                   Maintain traditional structures such as the wooden picnic shelters at Cedar Park, rather than let them decay until replaced by metal ones. Bogerts Bridge should have been maintained instead of years of neglect.

                   Fully staff remaining pools and traditional recreation programs. 

                   Repair the landings on the WPA double stairwell in Lehigh Parkway and other WPA structures.

                   Remove the debris piled around the Robin Hood Bridge stone piers.

I was informed on good source that some gates and other infrastructure were removed in critical places to make the parks more welcoming and inclusive. The iconic Allentown park system is not a workshop for political correctness. Although advocating for the traditional park system and the WPA structures is a passion of mine, I will not be attending these park meetings. The park department is so far behind on so many basic things, they should not be conducting dog and pony shows.

DISCLAIMER: I was born and grew up above Lehigh Parkway, which was my backyard and playground. My father's uncle worked for the park department cutting the grass.  I wouldn't have an issue with the meetings if the purpose was just to introduce new residents to the park system and what it offers.

PREVIOUS POST ON THIS TOPIC OCTOBER 21                                             

NIZ Board Issues Defense

The Morning Call published a release from the NIZ board telling us how wonderful the scheme has been for Allentown. They inform us that there are audits, even if nobody sees them. While  some information is confidential, we can be assured that everything is in our best interest.

Since the press release was in response to Jarrett Coleman's effort toward NIZ tax information, I questioned the reporter why Coleman's response didn't appear?  He told me that comment from Coleman was requested, and a later edition did contain Coleman's response.

In the early years of the NIZ the Morning Call printed one press release after another for Reilly's City Center RE, and presented it as news. Although this current article also has too much pasted up promotional fluff for my liking, it may be unfair of me to prejudge the current reporter.

Lehigh Parkway Depreciated

 I have been involved with photography since the late 1960's. I started blogging in 2007, for me  a much newer activity. I've been publicly advocating for the parks and WPA since 2009, although privately much longer. It's not often that I get to combine most of my interests in one image, but that's the case shown above.

The Robin Hood section of Lehigh Parkway is arguably the most iconic of our park system. The bridge over the Little Lehigh was the last WPA project, built in 1941, and ties the park together. The weed wall shown, mostly invasive poison hemlock, put simply is a crime against the city's iconic park system.

I'm hoping that the new Parknership has the fairness to include me on their board.

Zucal's Bid For Mayor

Ed Zucal is rolling out his long expected bid for mayor on November 19th at the Allentown Fair Grounds. For the last year there has been no shortage of thorns in Matt Tuerk's side,  with councilman Zucal being perhaps the most pointed behind the dais. 

In the audience in front of the dais, Tuerk's list of critics is much longer, but with less political potential. Zucal is a retired policeman and veteran of what many believe was Allentown's better days. That is what the All American City logo shown above alludes to. 

It is my assumption that Zucal's challenge will come in the Democratic primary. The conventional wisdom is that Allentown is a one party town, with the primary essentially being the election.

You Got To Play To Win

Allentown's three state representatives, Schlossberg, Siegel and Schweyer, all Democrats, ran unopposed on Tuesday. We keep reading that Trump made big headway with the Hispanic vote this past Tuesday, did Allentown Republicans miss the boat this election cycle? The terms Hispanic and Latino refer to many different groups.

Anybody living in Southern Florida can attest to the ambition of the Cuban population, exiles from Castro's socialism. They have been Republican from the get-go. The older Mexican population, imported to Hellertown in the 1930's by Bethlehem Steel, is an established local community. Allentown's Puerto Rican community is much newer. 

While Allentown currently remains a Democratic stronghold, we learn from Pennyslvania's lottery that You Got To Play To Win. I often heard that Republicans running in Allentown face libel and slander before their ultimate defeat. I can understand that neither Republicans or Puerto Ricans are eager for advice from an old white independent, but you got to run to get elected.

Allentown's Barrio

We were told that the Puerto Rican community was the local key to the election this week, Matthew Tuerk was even featured in New Yorker Magazine.

However, to inject some reality into the Latino influence, the state house district that was created to represent Allentown's Latino population is held by a whitebread kid born and raised in New Jersey, whose Hispanic culture is limited to have eaten at Taco Bell once. Although Tuerk translates everything into Spanish, and the president of City Council facebooks exclusively in Spanish, they failed to educate their Hispanic constituents on the deceptiveness of the transfer tax referendum. These affordable housing advocates just made housing more expensive.

While the Latino political strength is overestimated, there is no disputing Allentown as a Democratic stronghold. All the city Democratic state representatives ran unopposed on Tuesday.

Muhlenberg's Big Week

With Kamala Harris having spoken at Muhlenberg, and its own poll showed her ahead, the college had a big week. Most important, save for this malcontented blogger, the recent shooting there has been forgotten. 

I surmise that the shooting occurred by their football field in a game between charter schools. Surmise is the operative word because neither the college, police, city or newspaper has said or written another word about that incident. The Morning Call/Muhlenberg poll had Harris up by two. I surmise any and all polling calls made were from Muhlenberg, because the paper has no building to call from, and can't even be reached for missing newspapers.

If Kamala wins, I suppose those photos of her in Muhlenberg's Memorial Hall will become wall fixtures elsewhere in the college. If Muhlenberg's neighbors are also to win, more information about that shooting will have to be disclosed.

ADDENDUM 6:00AM:.With the decisiveness of Trump's victory, it appears that Kamala's picture won't end up in the library and administration building after all.

The Redemption Of Matthew Tuerk

The redemption in the Marshall McLuhan sense was Tuerk's photo opt with Candidate Harris, hopefully for him replacing the social media confrontation with the Trump barricade worker. However, the post title is misleading, because the redemption portion of the post is now complete, and fresh criticism follows below.

The screen grab shown above is from the LehighValleyNews.Com coverage of the Rosie Perez stop in Allentown last Friday, campaigning for Kamala. At that event, Tuerk claims that he represents all Allentonians, but he doesn't. He certainly doesn't represent those that are not Democrats. More and more, he is also not representing those who are not Latino. 

When you direct your police chief not to enforce quality of life issues such as double parking, you're catering to a laidback attitude, that less of the city may share than he believes. Tilghman Street is not a backroad on a Caribbean Island, where double parking has little consequence. Between people's political correctness and his sycophants, Tuerk may be overestimating both his popularity and effectiveness as mayor.

Spotlight On Allentown

Who would have thought that Allentown would be visited by both presidential candidates within the week before the election. Such is the case as Kamala Harris is scheduled to visit the Little A today. As a small town pizza blogger, presidential politics are not my usual fare. 

To the outside world, Allentown looks like it's booming. How could you possibly explain the NIZ to anybody? Even here few people understand it. Thanks to state senator Jarrett Coleman there will finally be some light cast on that lucrative scheme. I give myself some credit for scrutinizing it on my pizza blog menu since its get-go. 

The Supreme Court has affirmed that provisional ballots in Pennsylvania must be counted. Meanwhile, the district attorney is investigating a batch of fraudulent voter registrations. I suspect that Pennsylvania's final tally will be quite a controversial calculation.

Mayor Tuerk Acted Inappropriately

The head of the policeman's union has criticized Tuerk for moving protesters closer to Trump supporters than the police wanted.

Tuerk was wearing two hats on Tuesday... One as a leading Democrat in the city, the other as mayor of Allentown. Considering that presidential candidates have been visiting the city since the 1800's, that should not have been that difficult of a situation for him, but apparently it was.

I understand that as a Latino he was riled up about the distasteful comments at Madison Square Garden. However, any solidarity with those protesting against Trump should have been more thoughtfully demonstrated. Instead, Tuerk wore it like a banner, on both news and social media. YouTubes of him wanting to open up center square for voters early Tuesday morning, if a political shenanigan or not, demonstrated poor judgement. Certainly there was no way to accommodate both voters and arena attendees at the same time in the same square. 

Allentown may be majority Hispanic and majority Democratic, but everybody living here pays taxes and is supposed to be represented by city hall. There are some traffic adjustments Tuerk could make. He might instruct his police chief to enforce the law against double parkers, especially on Tilghman and Linden Street.