Bomb Threats In Allentown Schools

On Monday, as I passed 17th and Hamilton, I saw the Allen students lined up from the bomb threat. Most did not have coats on, but were outside for over an hour. I don't know the procedure, perhaps for safety sake they're not allowed to go to their lockers, but must vacate the building immediately. Considering the number of such threats, perhaps the students should have to keep their coats with them?

I'm not here to be polite or popular

A Better Mission For USS Gerald R. Ford

I would suppose that the infirmary on the aircraft carrier must almost be a small hospital. Rather than continue using that carrier task force to attack suspected drug smugglers, they should be diverted to provide aid to the devastation in Jamaica. News reports indicate that the smaller hospitals in the western part of the island have been destroyed.

Restoring electric and other infrastructure on Jamaica will be a monumental task. Although disaster aid is not a normal mission of the US Navy, neither is attacking civilian boats. 

Trump is a showman. Let him redirect his show to where it is most needed. Maybe it will even help with his quest for medals and ribbons.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 17, 2025:Conservatives, either independent or feeling distance from current Republican marching orders, are welcome to comment on this weekday blog.

Sidewalks To Nowhere For Nobody

To enter Rt. 309 from Tilghman Street, you needed to be able to turn your head like an owl. For the last decade I had to stop on the entrance ramp well before the actual stop sign, and wait until I could see nothing coming, and then gun it. I was glad to hear that PennDot was going to improve the entrance, but didn't know about the improvements to Tilghman Street. 

The Morning Call reports that these improvements have practically put the Tilghman Street merchants out of business...From driving by, I don't question that claim. The real kicker is that they're building sidewalks along Tilghman. Who do they think is going to be walking there and why? 

Truth be told, the bureaucracies don't think, they just blindly follow guidelines. Improving the button hook entrances to 309 was long overdue. Adding curbing and sidewalks to that section of Tilghman Street was superfluous. Hurting the merchants so badly was totally unnecessary.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

postcard of former Tilghman Street icon, before curbs and sidewalks

How You Were Cheated

At the end of 2000, despite the majority of neighbors in opposition, The West Park Historic District was enacted. The City Administration, City Council and The Morning Call all cooperated in ignoring the true sentiments of the property owners and the State guidelines to implement what they felt was the public good. The presented documents were mailed to the opposers in a final report, return address: How You Were Cheated. My intention is to show how we must guard and fight against this sort of assumption by our elected leaders. I mean no offense to my friends who were on the other side of this issue.
click on documents to enlarge

above reprinted from February 5, 2008 

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 28, 2025:The three Allentown historic districts have just been surveyed and digitalized. It is not the intention of this post to delegitimize the West Park District. Over twenty-five years have passed since the above cheating took place, many owners have come and gone. The message, however, is that historic districts, and even history, isn't always what you read. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

War In The Caribbean

As the USS Gerald Ford and its support ships position off Central and South America, Trump claims he fighting a drug war. In reality, he may well be waging regime change in Venezuela under a false flag. Never known as a moral giant, he's depreciating the Navy, especially those following the orders to blow up civilian boats. 

Although I won't mention the Captain's name, I can assume after reading his previous commands and missions,  he's not sailing to this assignment with the same pride. Of course, previously, he did not receive his orders from a former Fox News host.

My dwindling readership will take heart that my stats keep going down. It is a small price to pay for some integrity, which is more than we're getting from our local representatives in Washington. Trump, still mad about the Reagan tape on tariffs, has imposed another 10% on Canada. Not a peep from Mackenzie and McCormick. Meanwhile, both Hess Brothers and Horlacher are threatening to cancel their ads on this blog. I refuse to ask for donations, as is the fashion with other digital sites.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Crassness In The White House

The only word I can think of to describe the demolition of the East Wing at the White House is crass. What Trump has done to the Oval Office was bad enough. I haven't seen that much gold gild and bad taste since Zsa Zsa Gabor. 

I have been receiving comments that I have TDS. I don't agree with that diagnosis. Although I didn't vote for the top of the ticket in 2024, I expected Trump to be no worse than in his first term. Trump never knew anything about history. While the gild will be able to be removed by the next president, who knows what a monstrosity the new ballroom will be?

Eventually, and hopefully sooner than later, he will push enough buttons to wake up the other branches of government, to assert themselves against his breaches of convention. Those breaches extend far beyond bad taste, into questionable uses of our military and law enforcement, both in the Caribbean and in our cities.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

MAGA Man Arrested

A MAGA man was arrested at the Wilkes-Barre No Kings Rally for brandishing a handgun at protesters. MAGA man spent the night in jail. On my post about the rally in Allentown, I referred to hundreds of protesters. I knew from the media coverage that there were thousands, but thought I could spare the dialogue a number counting debate. Regardless, someone sent in multiple comments that there should be permits, and that Cedar Crest Blvd. is too dangerous of a location. I suspect that for a pro Trump rally, they would find it to be safe enough.

I expect today to receive comments that my MAGA Man characterization is derogatory. Truth be told, I find current administration supporters to be in one of two camps. Either they are a MAGA Trump cultist, or a partisan, happy that they are in charge. I'm afraid for the Republicans that the cultists didn't vote before, and won't again. They voted for Trump, not the party.

I'm getting more and more comments about commenting. Either I don't print enough and I'm censoring, or I'm not enforcing previously stated comment guidelines. I confess to having an inconsistent policy, and being affected by the amount of sugar in my breakfast that morning.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

On The West Bank

Israel's far right government has cooperated with settlers destroying thousands of olive trees on the West Bank. This is olive picking season, and the pickers have been under attack by the settlers. Olive trees take years to start producing their fruit.

Recognition of Palestine by many EU countries has only emboldened the settlers, who had become more aggressive since the Hamas attack in 2023. The settler block and their agenda hold important posts in Netanyahu's coalition government. To the fundamentalist settlers, the West Bank is biblical Judea and Samaria, and should belong to Israel.

While 3th country(s) mediators may be coming to Gaza, to be between the IDF and Hamas, the West Bank Palestinians, in both land and person, are on their own.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Allentown And Palestine

There was always a large Jewish presence in Jerusalem and other towns in Palestine. Although the Jewish population jumped with survivors of the Holocaust, Jews were there since biblical times. After the UN Partition of 1947/1948, Jews also came from Arab lands. Some came under their own volition, many others were forced out of their Arab homelands, by hostility to the creation of Israel.

Shown above is a $5 donation in 1932 by Schaffer and Max, to a Jewish institution in Jerusalem. They were located on 3th Street, the current Liberty Recycling. During the Depression, $5 was a lot more than it is now. Many Jewish families in Allentown put their spare change in a charity box for Palestine, and then Israel.

October 7th 2023 was a horror for Israel. However, I'm likewise distressed by the Netanyahu government response. Indisputable domicide in Gaza. Many others, with no attachment to Israel, are referring to genocide.

I'm not here to be polite

Standing Up To Trump

Alvin Holsey, the Naval Admiral at the top of the command chain involved in attacking the supposed smuggler boats off Venezuela, has resigned his post. He supposedly said “I cannot, in good conscience, authorize or execute orders that risk innocent lives and compromise the principles I swore to uphold.”

Hegseth has responded by moving the assignment from the Navy to the Marines.

Meanwhile, back here in Allentown, hundreds of people lined Cedar Crest Blvd. for the No Kings Day protest. Ryan Mackenzie's office has become ground zero for locals expressing themselves against the Trump administration. I believe that others from different segments across the government will start coming forward in resignation and protest. Hegseth and the administration only has so many fingers to plug the leaks.

I'm not here to be polite

Trump In Israel

Trump's efforts were certainly appreciated by a large segment of Israel's population, I hope enough of a majority to put Netanyahu out to pasture, but that remains to be seen.

It is disappointing, but not surprising, to see Israel and Hamas at odds again right away. Israel is slowing aid, wanting more bodies back, and Hamas is executing their competition for power in the enclave.

Although Trump rightly gets credit for the return of the living hostages, the EU's recognition of Palestine will have a greater impact on the future. While a two-state solution isn't in the near future, the Palestinians may end up with more autonomy. Unfortunately, the domicide in Gaza will take decades to rebuild.

I'm not here to be polite

Park Barn Gets Groomed

Students of this blog know that I have been on the park department's case about the barn at the park department office. They allowed vines to cover three sides, up to the gutters and beyond. Recently, I reported that some shingles were starting to fall off.

Last Thursday and Friday, that structure got a new roof, and the vines were cut at the foundation. The roofers pulled the vines off the gutters and roof edges. While I'm relieved to see the new roof, it would have been better workmanship had the city removed the vines earlier in the summer.

Pulling the vines back revealed that the top of the barn brick is fluted, a nice architectural feature hidden by the previous neglect. I'm hoping that after the vines die back, they will be removed. I'm hoping that they won't be allowed to grow back.  

I'm not here to be polite

Culture And Establishment Ties That Bind

 In a recent Facebook post, The Allentown Parknership said....Allentown park fact: The Arts Park connects the Allentown Art Museum, Baum School of Art and Symphony Hall along the Arts Walk. The pocket park is an oasis of green space downtown for nearby residents, visitors and office workers alike. Well actually, not for much longer.

Allentown NIZ Czar J.B. Reilly is moving the art museum up to his own new arts district at 10th and Hamilton. This move will nullify the 5th Street area as the art district. The board of Baum School has said nothing. Our blue bloods go along to get along. The museum, the Baum School, and Trexler Trust are inter-related.

 I expect the current museum to become a charter school or home to a non-profit. If they really cared about art in the city they would stay there on 5th, and purchase and preserve the post office, an art deco masterpiece.

I'm not here to be polite

Theater On Hamilton Street

In the screen grab above,  Matt Tuerk and Pat Browne are unveiling a replica of a statue that was in the former, long gone Rialto Theater, to enhance Reilly's new theater/art district. Browne designed the NIZ for Reilly, and there has been no constraints on the use of our tax dollars to create and expand it. 

I've been the critic since before the first building appeared. As a blogger, the displaced former merchants turned to me in desperation. They were being bullied out their lives, for Reilly's sake. While this blog has documented many of the transgressions, the damage continues. The former Allentown arts district has been compromised to enhance another Reilly position.

I'm purposefully using Sylvester Stallone's movie ad with the picture of the sculpture. Stallone is not really a tough guy, and the theater we built for Reilly really isn't an arts district.

 I'm not here to be polite

ADDENDUM:Although I penned this early Sunday morning, the new blog on the block also posted on the statue Sunday evening. This will happen in Dodge with multiple blogs...It's for the good!

Gift For Mackenzie

The Morning Call bestowed a gift upon Ryan Mackenzie...The headline stated that Mackenzie DID NOT kick illegal immigrants off of Medicaid. The article goes on to explain that illegals don't get Medicaid in the first place. 

The key words in this post are goes on to explain. Most people don't go on, they don't get pass the headline. The Democratic war cry against the Republicans, including Mackenzie, is that the Big Beautiful Bill will cut Medicaid to millions of people. I honestly don't know the ramificatins of the bill, but neither does the public, or most of the legislators who voted for or against it. What matters more for the upcoming elections is the headlines!

In this era of reduced newspaper reading, those digitial headlines are one of the coins of the realm. The other big currency is the mailings. Each election the mailers become more prolific and more deceptive.

I'm not here to be polite

Back To Basics

Mayoral candidate Ed Zucal sent out a mailing this week with a back to basics theme. I'm one resident with whom that message resonates. One thing positive about the NIZ -- nobody has to pitch development in Allentown, we haven't even caught up with all the new buildings yet.

Instead, Zucal is pitching public safety, which certainly needs a major upgrade. Tuerk's recent press conference on improved crime stats convinced nobody. The suburban preception of center city has not improved during his term. 

Tuerk is a populist, raising every and any flag, and sponsoring one festival after another. But there are thousands of city residents who remember calmer times, and yearn for the tranquility of yesteryear. Zucal is offering them that chance.

Allentown's First Black Bar

In a neighborhood that no longer exists, Allentown's first legal Black liquor establishment had a short tortured run.

McLaughlin's Cafe was on the corner of Wire and Lehigh, at the bottom of the hill. Wire was the street that ran along the Wire Mill, another long forgotten part of Allentown's industrial history. By the mid 1950's, things were getting rough in the old bar. Police became a regular referee as fights and prostitution frequented the establishment. Finally the state liquor board decided to pull their license. 

The neighborhood had two complexions. There were the white descendants of the factory workers, and it also was the center of Allentown's small Black population.

Hamp Webb was a popular figure in the Black community. Just outside the straight and narrow, he was courted by the white officials for his influence with his community. Hamp operated unlicensed speakeasies with some success.

In the final days of McLaughlin's, they featured black entertainers from Philadelphia, and even referred to it as the Black & White Club. As McLaughlin's license was being revoked, he negotiated a sale to Hamp Webb.

The Morning Call reported that he fought to secure a license to provide a drinking establishment for his fellow Negroes, where they could congregate without being molested. After a court hearing, he was finally given the license in 1957, and Ham Webb Bar&Grill opened.

Hamp Webb was killed the following year in an automobile accident. While operation of the bar was taken over by his sons, they apparently didn't have local connections to deflect legal citations that came with operating a rough bar in a tough neighborhood. The property and license were liquidated at a tax sale in 1960.

reprinted from April of 2020

Accepting Fewer Comments

Most bloggers crave comments, but not me lately. I have begun accepting less and less comments. I'm not trying to get a seat at any table, those invitations haven't been in the mail for many years. With this blog being in its eighteenth year, I don't think that there is a former, current or future official I haven't offended. 

I don't fret about offending people, but I'm beginning to fret about anonymous commenters taking cheap shots. To make myself even less viable, sometimes now even a signature isn't enough for me to publish. This doesn't mean that I'm turning into Mr. Rogers. I will continue to speak out when appropriate, but resist piling it on. I will also apply the same standard to those that comment. Comments that raise an important point, regardless if offensive, will still appear. 

Needless to say, everyone who sends in a comment thinks it is worthwhile, and consequently is offended when it is not published. Don't despair, you can always phone or email the official with your complaint.

The Allentown Rose Garden

While I have been a long time advocate for the traditional park system and the WPA structures within, I had not given much study to the Rose and Old Fashion Gardens in Cedar Park. They were in the very capable hands of Paul Pozzi, who retired last year after many years of devotion to the gardens. His  replacement, Nick Hutte, is likewise doing an excellent job.

In 2010, I did question the rebuilding of the ponds. The contractor cut under the walls when dredging. Although the dirt was replaced, I questioned how compacted it was. I'm sorry to report that the pond walls are fairing very poorly, after only fifteen years. I question if the proper mortar was used?

The rose garden dates back to 1930-1931, predating the WPA work and structures in the park system. At the time the garden was built, the trolley still ran along the creek to Dorney Park and beyond, and Parkway Blvd. was still called Linden Street.

The garden was conceived by then Mayor Gross, and designed by Claude C. Yost. Dedication took place on Saturday June 20th, 1931. The garden was an enormous success, and attracted thousands of visitors. Although we now also have an Old Fashion Garden with a series of connecting ponds, in 1931, the garden had one lagoon.

shown above Rose Garden construction 1930

Art In The Rose Garden

A statue in the Rose Garden has been removed to be refurbished. The sculpture honestly wasn't on my radar until Friday, when I noticed some large equipment for its removal. That equipment included an engine type lift, and a very large truck crane. On Saturday, I noticed that the bronze statue apparently lifted right off the base, perhaps making the heavy equipment unnecessary.

Allow me to expand my confession to admit that I didn't realize that the sculpture was also sort of a water feature, a bird bath. The Smithsonian notes that it was created by George Thomas Brewster in 1925. It was commissioned by Harold S. MacLaine in memory of his wife, and originally placed in the park by Trout Hall. The rose garden was began in 1930-31, so the sculpture had been moved from its original location.

Shown above is an early morning view of the sculpture by Lehigh Valley photographer Jason Fink.

photocredit:Jason Fink

Burnout Rally For Burnt-Out City

The other day a Burnout Rally took place on Union Blvd., by the former Western Electric. It was obviously organized and publicized, with a large turnout. A video circulating on social media caught an Allentown Police car driving by.

Yesterday, around 5:00PM, I witnessed a car back up and park on the corner of 7th and Linden. Not near the corner, but on the corner. The driver locked the car and strolled away. Across the street an Allentown Police officer was directing traffic out of the parking garage, and ignored the illegal parking. Meanwhile, a three wheel motorcycle blaring a stereo loud enough to be heard for blocks was also ignored by the officer.

I now realize that my excursion, annoying as it was, could have been much worse. Thirty minutes later, there was a shooting at 8th & Linden. The decline seems fast and steep.

Insult At Quantico

My military experience is limited to having ridden past Quantico a few times on the train. However, the President addressing all the assembled generals has no more experience than me. He didn't even understand why they didn't laugh at his jokes. He doesn't understand that they are supposed to be apolitical. When he suggests that they practice warfare on civilians in our cities, he demonstrates a dangerous kindergarten comprehension of our government.

I doubt that even many Republican veterans could appreciate the reason for the conclave assembled at Quantico. It could not have been more ill advised from any viewpoint.

Fortunately for us, we have a very disciplined military. I expect the fallout will be limited to eye rolling. They knew Trump is a moron, and now they know the same about Hegseth. Hegseth said that generals who do not agree with his agenda should resign. Most of those generals earned their stripes the hard, long way, and know that the constitution will hopefully improve the current situation in another three and a half years.

Witnessing History

On Monday afternoon, President Trump said I got to witness the greatest accomplishment in civilization. Well maybe, if Hamas accepts the deal, it is an accomplishment. Greatest in history? That statement is one for psychology, not history. 

Netanyahu said that if they didn't do it the easy way, they would have to do it the hard way. What was hard was watching them say so little, with so much pomp. I hope that for the hostages and the Palestinians, Hamas accepts the proposal, but my regard for both Trump and Netanyahu won't improve.

I think that Trump should say nothing without a teleprompter, not even hello or goodbye.

Tenderizing MacKenzie

I grew up working in a meat market. People often would buy a round steak, and ask the clerk to tenderize it. You ran it through a machine with steel teeth on opposing rollers. Those thousand perforations made the lower cost tough steak tender. 

Multiple ads in the Morning Call have been tenderizing Mackenzie for next year's election. They don't really expect Mackenzie to vote against the administration's budget, but the purpose is to suggest to the voters that he's voting against their interests.

Although the Democrats won't be deciding on Mackenzie's opponent until next May, expect to receive many mailers and see many ads in the meantime. Money is no object when they attempt to turn a tough cut into hamburger.

Looking Like The Students

Nobody wants to be called a racist, and everybody walks on eggshells when discussing the current situation in the Allentown School District. The recent fad in urban education was that the person who the students see in leadership, should look like them, and that meant black or brown, but not white.

School Boards have hired Superintendents of color, who in turn hired principals of color. There has developed a large demand for a rather smaller pool of qualified candidates, who meet the color test. Here in Allentown, the superintendent we hired was actually paid off to leave a similar position in New England. We in turn have just suspended, with pay, a new principal at Harrison Morton, who kicked out the window in a police cruiser last weekend. 

The core of school directors who adhered to the color test are not running for reelection. By good fortune, we have a pool of new candidates, who are very qualified to improve the district.

One Term Mackenzie

On Wednesday's post, a commenter asked me how I claim to be a conservative, when I don't endorse Trump's Americanism. I wouldn't call Trump's agenda American values, and Mackenzie's sycophantic behavior may well be a bad bet on his part. His reported answers on the WFMZ Iannelli interview were way too safe for me. 

The most independent that he could be was to agree with Iannelli that certain behaviors were wrong, such as going after political enemies, but he stopped way short of calling Trump out on them. Closing the border is a horse that can be ridden only so far. 

When science research against cancer is defunded, and a president babbles on against Tylenol, people with a grade 12 education wince. When enough people wince, over one misstep or another, that party suffers in the midterms. The WFMZ interview was an opportunity for Mackenzie to present himself as his own man...he failed to do that.

In terms of being independent and your own man, this blog (me) has moved more to the center. As a conservative independent, many of my readers are Republican. Many people cannot understand that there are independents like myself, who really do not adhere to one party or another. Likewise, they may not understand that this blog is not written for monetary compensation. I express my opinion, readers are welcome to come and go.

This isn't my first post critical of Mackenzie. It is my hope that he comes to assert himself when Trump introduces a flawed policy, and I can vote for him in 2026.

Morning Call Malarkey

The Morning Call headline stated that an Iron Chef is making a bet on Allentown. Anybody who has a paid subscription to the paper knows better than that. We've seen Reilly's City Center RE subsidize one new restaurant after another, since Shula's opened on the Arts Walk in 2015. 

We old timer subscribers have seen one Morning Call Reporter, after another, present a news release as news. 

I watched Josh Shapiro on Meet The Press this past Sunday. As a possible Democrat for 2028, he'll  have to present Allentown as a feather in his cap. When the press comes to the Queen City in 2028, I doubt that they'll be able to eat at Jose Garces' Okatshe Japanese Restaurant. For Hamilton Street, three years is an eternity.

No False Modesty For Trump At UN

Nobody will ever accuse Donald Trump of false modesty. In his typical kingly fashion, he let the United Nations know about all the wars he stopped. He was subdued about the wars he would supposedly end on day one, Gaza and Ukraine. There, he has emboldened Netanyahu and Putin to ratchet things up.

While he and MAGA continue their self congratulator interplay, the rest of the world is forced to be silent and polite. After all, the United States remains the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, even if our current leadership is very quirky.

While we have had issues with the UN for decades, previous presidents had met the situation with attempts to gain better value for our investment, as opposed to Trump's dismissive and disruptive posturing.

Better Grades For School Board

The upcoming election for Allentown School Board has five grade A candidates. Among them are two veterans of previous boards, again volunteering their experience.

Bob Smith Jr. is a well known activist in Allentown, with several previous school board terms on his resumé. The same applies to David Zimmerman, who also again is offering his experience to the troubled district.

The current board and administration has been very preoccupied with racial identity. While that is an important consideration in a system with a minority majority, education and leadership will always be the most valuable attributes for student success. With that in mind, I make the following recommendations.

Two Year Opening

Bob Smith Jr. for two year term. Smith is also on the ballot for a four year spot, but my vote will go for the two year slot, that way we can get five great board members.

Four Year Openings

1. Evette D'Amore- Evette has two sons at Dieruff, and is very active in the school system.

2. David Zimmerman- Dave is experienced on school matters and willing to serve again.

3. Tom Houck- retired city policeman and activist

4. Dianne Michels- Special Ed teacher with Masters in Education.

Trump As Biff In Back To The Future

We're in a dangerous time. We have a bully in the White House, who isn't anywhere near bright as he thinks. Back from England, he said of broadcast media,"They're 97 percent against(me); they give me only bad press. I mean, they're getting a license...I would think maybe their license should be taken away." 

Ted Cruz was critical of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's statement to networks "We can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way", but not exactly for the right reason. Cruz is afraid that such heavy handedness by the FCC will hurt conservatives when the Democrats come back into power. 

After eight months of Trumpism, it's encouraging when somebody even suggests that the emperor has no clothes. There will be more of Cruz speaking up, because Trump will say something about the Texas senator being out of line...Trump can't help himself. Because Trump's mouth runneth over, eventually, more Republicans will put on their big boy pants...hopefully in time to repair some of the damage.

While late night comedy thrived on making fun of Biff/Trump, Trump did Jimmy Kimmel a favor. Kimmel will emerge somewhere as the official spokesman against the naked emperor. Who knows, he might even run for congress.

In the meantime, the Trump machine had a revival yesterday at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. Vance was front and center, hoping to be the heir apparent for 2028.

First Amendment Issues In Lehigh Valley

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has made its way into the Lehigh Valley... Last week Kelly Keegan in Northampton County, and this week in Lehigh County with Josh Siegel. Both have been accused of making insensitive comments concerning Mr. Kirk's life and death. Although Siegel's comments were more measured, they still garnered backlash.

Additionally, two late night hosts have lost their slots, and the Trump administration is expanding the previous parameters of hate speech.

I find all of this disturbing, especially as a blogger, who scrutinizes local government. More disturbing is corporate America being intimidated by the government, against their employees and talent. Expect less jokes on your late night television.

Siegel's Canned Speech

After Iannelli recorded the Business Matters debate between Josh Siegel and Roger MacLean, there was some buzz about how acrimonious the show was. I also saw some recent comment about how Siegel washed the studio up with MacLean. As a local political blogger I felt compelled to watch it, although it was more painful than I feared. It wasn't MacLean beat up, but rather Siegel beating himself up, with canned platitudes.

Siegel thinks that he can beat MacLean by attaching him to Trump and MAGA. Although he did mention federal budget cuts that could challenge the county, his persistence with that line became quickly tiring. Siegel is a smooth talker, but too smooth, sounding like a door to door encyclopedia salesman.

In reality, the reports you hear about this debate are more relevant than the debate itself. No offense to Tony, but only about a dozen people ever watch the show.

Democrats Rally at Cedar Park

The new pavilion at Cedar Park had a full house for the Lehigh County Democratic Committee picnic. I understand their enthusiasm, with the Trump administration being so divisive. While Trump certainly did seal the border, the deportation portion is over the top to all but the diehard partisans.

Although the midterm is over a year away, the Mackenzie postcards have already started arriving. The Democrats don't yet even have a name to push, but their mailers are also already flowing.

If money doesn't sway too much, the County Executive seat is in play come this November. While Siegel's war-chest is huge, the Board of Commissioners is so far left, suburban voters may push back toward the center with MacLean.

photocredit:Mike Schlossberg

The Weekly Loop

When I was in high school we would drive the circuit. The circuit was from the Ritz at the fairgrounds down Hamilton Street to 6th Street, and back up Linden Street back to the fairgrounds. 

Now that I'm a senior citizen, operating an adult day care blog, I drive the loop. On the high school circuit we looked for girls, on the senior loop I look for signs of civility. The loop is down Tilghman Street from Ott to 2nd, and across and back up Linden, back to Ott St. Going down Tilghman I encountered a young man doing a wheelie on his motorcycle in the 900 block. Farther down in the 500 block a pickup truck double parked, tying up traffic in both directions. Going east on 2nd, I was passed by a scholar on the left. The scholar stayed in the left, against the oncoming lane for several blocks. He was very pleased with himself.

Back in high school on the circuit, I was never very good at meeting girls. Now as a senior citizen, I'm not very good at finding quality of life in center city Allentown.

On the quality of life topic, last week the city celebrated the renovation of the amphitheater at Joseph Daddona Park. While I usually insist on using the traditional names of our historic venues (Union Terrace), I'm using the Daddona name because his house has just been approved as a two-unit by the zoning board. That house has a lot of history, starting out as a trolley office, to a favorite mayor's pride and joy. I hope the zoning application received the proper scrutiny.

Lehigh County Blues

A Lehigh County Commissioner is blaming his arrest on the man. The commissioner, Cole-Borghi, claims that the charges and disclosure of such are political, emphasizing that he is a black man. Worse for us county taxpayers, another commissioner, Jon Irons, seconds Borghi's contentions. 

Last time I checked, two law enforcement entities were under the commissioner's purview, the Sheriff Department and the District Attorney's Office. While Borghi may be innocent of the drug charge, he is guilty of using politics and race as an excuse. Even the Lehigh County Democrats have distanced themselves from the contention that Borghi's race was a factor in his indictment.

If not for Borghi and Irons, I would probably not be making a County Executive recommendation. But, in light of how far off center the Commission has become, my vote will be going to Roger MacLean.

Morning Call Gatekeeper

Before I started this blog in 2007, I was a letter writer to the Morning Call. My letters were not well received, more often I heard back nothing. When pressed, the opinion page editor, Robert Orenstein, would usually respond that my submission was either too long or too short. While Orenstein allowed an open door for the establishment, independent voices like myself had to fight tooth and nail for some column space. 

In 2014, the then South Whitehall Commissioners tried to green light demolishing Wehr's Dam for the Wildlands Conservancy. I managed to get it postponed for public comment. Their next tactic was a disingenuous referendum, where they tried tying preserving the dam to a tax increase. When I fought against that conspiracy, Orenstein claimed that my letter was just my opinion. Imagine, sending an opinion to the opinion page?

Orenstein and some others at the Call ended up taking an early buyout offer from the Tribune. They now produce a newsletter that you can subscribe to. While they promote themselves now as journalists, they don't tell you how their gatekeeping helped keep a corrupt mayor in power, and promoted a still ongoing real estate scheme.

The Boat Landing Revisited

In 2009 and 2010, myself and half a dozen volunteers dug out the Boat Landing, buried in the 1980's by a then long standing park director. The buried stonework was in excellent condition. We dug out the steps and part of the landing at the base.

 Last week I returned to see how the structure was holding up. While the steps remain clear, several inches of silt has built up on the landing. Silt has also built up on the island, bringing it closer and closer to the landing. 

Those interested in visiting the structure can park in the small lot at the end of the parkway. That lot is just beyond the concrete bridge, above the stone arch Schreiber's Bridge. Those wanting some excerise can park at Robin Hood, and take the path to the end. You will see the top of the steps to your right.

Birthday Doodle Distraction

The amount of news coverage and analysis of a doodle from one womanizer to another is distressing. With all the disruption of government service in the name of efficiency, how can the doodle matter, and if Trump drew and sent it or not? Talk about fiddling while the city burns!

On the topic of burning cities, it's distressing to see ICE recruiting from our undermanned local police forces. An adult administration would be working toward more police officers for our communities, not offering them sign on bonuses to arrest workers at car plants and outside Home Depot.

This is not an adult administration. It has reduced previously respectful institutions to divining nonsense, because substance is no longer on the table. We'll get past it, and there will even be a presidential library, but with comic books and doodles.

The King Has Abdicated

In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you cannot sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the Hot Dog King. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.

REPRINTED FROM AUG.28, 2007

UPDATE 2016: Yocco's has announced that they have closed their original location in the 600 block of Liberty Street. 

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER 9, 2025:As I push toward eighty, I often write about things which very few of my readers remember. While we all remember and know the fair, few will remember Louis Kane's restaurant. Mr. Kane mostly operated his traveling restaurant at the fairs in the south. However, being from this area, he would also set up at the Allentown Fair, at least up to the early 1960's.

Kane's restaurant had a glass and stainless steel front, complete with glass doors. Tables were set with table cloths and silverware. Service was by waiters.  He set up across from the side entrance of the Farmers Market, on the west side of the fairgrounds. Although very successful in the south, here in Allentown the locals stayed loyal to their church and civic association tents, which were on the eastern side of the grounds.

Allentown's Department Of Neglect

Trump wants to rename the Department of Defense, the Department of War. Likewise, Allentown's Park Department should be the Department of Neglect. Bogert's Bridge has to be the classic example. Rather than just keeping it painted, it is getting a $2.7mil overhaul. It's grant money mind you, but it's the system which needs the overhaul, not the bridge. 

For the pedestrians and the occasional horse, it has plenty of structural integrity. It had seen its last motor vehicle many decades ago. Although technically a sag in the span, two concrete piers were added to the middle back in the traffic days. 

When the metal bridge in the parkway was damaged by a storm, it was replaced with a pedestrian bridge, bisecting the park to vehicle traffic. That was the time and place to spend money, and keep the park as designed. We essentially now have two parks, both depriving citizens the pleasure of driving through. The Department of Neglect has suffered from the lack of strategic planning for the last three decades.

The Strange State Of Florida

In the last few years I revealed that I have been exploring Florida. Last year, I mentioned my low-rent office, inland from Cape Canaveral. While near the marsh, I can still see Musk's endless rockets taking off, crowding space with satellites.

Florida is governed by Trump wannabe Ron DeSantis. His Nigerian born Surgeon General wants to ban childhood vaccine mandates, like Measles and Smallpox. Yesterday, he compared those vaccines to slavery. I would think that in reality, slave children were denied the medical advances of their era.

Last year, I posted about the Death Train, which speeds through sleepy towns, killing slow reacting seniors. I am of course now one of those seniors. My friends of the liberal persuasion should restrict themselves to the blue enclaves when here. Otherwise, you might find the alligators friendlier than my neighbors.

Hootchy NIghts At The Allentown Fair

Morning Call columnist Bill White had a piece earlier in the week where he lamented that  Bobo the dunking clown was no longer at the fair. Although that's about as funky as it got for Bill in his era,  we older Allentonians remember much hotter nights at the fairgrounds. Up to the late sixties the fair had girly shows. I'm going back to the era of Gooding's Million Dollar Midway and Benny's Bingo. I'm going back to three midways packed between the Farmer's Market and Chew Street. I'm going back to when the fair only started after Labor Day.

I mentioned in one of my previous fair posts that Fred Schoenk and I made and sold printed t-shirts at the fairs during high School. At the Kutztown Fair we were hired by the burlesque show owner to letter a new banner for his show tent...as high school boys we would have paid him for the experience.

reprinted from September of 2018

photocredit:molovinsky...Black rock and roll review with strippers, 1969 Allentown Fair

A Complaining Blogger and The Rose Garden Ponds

In 2008, when the Rose Garden Ponds were being rebuilt, there was an annoying blogger complaining that the pond walls were undermined when the ponds were dredged. Although they did replace that ground, he then complained about it not being compacted enough. Seventeen years later, I'm back with a bigger complaint. 

The pond walls seem to be falling apart, and quickly. Although built in the mid 1930's, they were in better shape before the restoration in 2008, than now. Perhaps they used the wrong mortar mix. Although they stood for 75 years before being restored the first time, the next restoration will have to be much, much sooner than that.

Worse for the ponds, this park administration doesn't appear to have much interest in maintaining park infrastructure. Recently, I complained about the vines destroying the park barn at 30th and Parkway Blvd.. Shingles are now starting to fall off the barn roof. The parking lot retaining wall continues to crumble. I will continue to complain.

The Good Trouble Of Eddie Aviles

The other Sunday when Eddie Aviles put on a tie and canvassed with and for the local Republicans, I told someone that it could come back to bite the Republicans. That come back didn't take long! Although Eddie was recently arrested for protesting on behalf of the homeless, the card features an old issue. Old is the keyword here. The incident referenced goes back over a decade, to 2013.

It occurs to me that the effort to defame Aviles might well backfire on Siegel and the Democrats. Eddie now gets into what John Lewis used to call good trouble. Standing up for the homeless won't lose votes with most people.

Eddie is certainly his own man. Between now and November, he could be involved in several commotions. I've always related to freelance activists, and one man bands.

Mrs. Smith Goes To 7th & Hamilton

The title above is a play on words, and actually refers to Jackie Rivera, who will probably become a County Commissioner an easier way than she expected. Her opponent, the incumbent Zachary Cole-Borghi, has been arrested and charged as part of a large marijuana ring. The Smith refers to her maiden name, being the daughter of Bob Smith Jr., local Republican and Allentown School Board candidate.

People charged with crimes have won elections before, including Allentown's mayor Pawlowski. Borghi is not charged with processing a couple joints of pot, but rather being part of an organized ring, involving large quantities and lots of money.

How the local Democratic Party will react remains to be seen. Although people are legally innocent until proven guilty, hopefully the party will at least show some integrity and shun him.

Allentown Reborn, Bullsh*t On Steroids

I'm seeing the New York Times story on Allentown's rebirth shared on Facebook by all the local cheerleaders. Although the article mentions a tax-incentive, who could comprehend that all the new construction is being financed by diverted state taxes, and that it is owned by one man? Who could conceive that the new buildings are publicly paid for, but privately owned? They do mention the man as the main developer, but don't elaborate on his windfall. In fairness to the reporter, even most locals don't understand the realities of the NIZ. 

Of course if some NYC couple decides to relocate to the reborn Allentown, they will be in for quite a surprise come dinner time. They will find that the restaurants are only open for a few nights a week. They will find that the coffee shops close at 6:00PM. They will find that the stores mentioned are the only stores there are. They will find that they have moved to a Potemkin Village.

The cheerleaders I referred to in the first paragraph all have some things in common. Either they have a business, or they're a newcomer with no frame of reference, or both. Some others are former Allentonians, also in the dark about the realities. Although this blog is in its eighteenth year, I have only resorted to off color language in this last week. Like Popeye, I could only take so much for so long.

The Mighty Atom

Years ago at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck uphill with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.
In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually since 2007

The Great Allentown Fair

The Morning Call website is hosting an archive of Fair Pictures from over the years. Being a fan both of fair pictures and black and white photography, looking at the 111 photos presented was a treat.

The photo shown above, which I will get back to, reminded me of one of my unique fair experiences. In previous posts, I have discussed that both my father and myself had stands at the fair. While my father learned that you couldn't sell hotdogs near Yocco's, I learned that drunks leaving the beer garden loved to buy printed T-shirts.

But today's post has to with George Kistler, long time City Clerk during the 1950's and 60's. George loved the fair, and loved sharing his fascination with a large group of people. I was fortunate enough to be invited several times. The routine was always the same; Dinner at a local stand on the eastern side of the fairgrounds, followed by the wrestling show. I remember photographing Andre The Giant.

The Morning Call fair picture above is none other than Jim "Super Fly" Snuka, who was recently back in Allentown, for a most regrettable reason.

reprinted from September of 2016

Beating The Crap Out Of Cedar Beach Park

As if there isn't enough events at Cedar Beach Park, the Park Department is now renting the park out to private promoters for even more events. On Saturday evening the park was mobbed for the Water Lantern Festival, operated by a private promoter. 

According to their website, tickets for the event cost $35. I don't know what kind of gate security they  had, or how many people actually paid the full freight, or what the city's take was. but I do know that the park is terribly overused and abused.

A Tuerk sycophant asked me what I thought of the city's public meetings to formulate ideas for a new park masterplan. I told him they were nonsense, and that the parks weren't meant to be a venue for every popular fad. They also were not intended to be pimped out to promotion companies.

please excuse my frank language in this post

Coffee With Emma and Ce-Ce

This blog did not take any overt positions on the recent primary election. Instead of profiling any candidate, I reprinted my piece on Emma Tropiano, 

The People's Candidate. I believe that Emma has a kindred spirit in Ce-Ce Gerlach. Now, I understand that a lot of people will take exception to my comparison, maybe even Ce-Ce herself.

Because of inaccurate media reports, Emma was falsely portrayed as bigoted. Her memory now unjustly bears that misconception. Most people today who repeat that slander never knew her. Emma was immensely popular, and easily won reelection to city council, election after election. Ce-Ce Gerlach was the top vote getter this primary, receiving almost double the votes of her fellow candidates.

As someone who knew both women, there are many similarities... Both being extremely accessible, down to earth, and making people comfortable.

Emma was energized to work hard for Allentown, as is Ce-Ce. Emma was passionate about the issues she championed, so is Ce-Ce.

I sat in diners having coffee with both of them, many years apart. I think that they would have understood and liked each other.

reprinted from 2019 with new photo

ADDENDUM AUGUST 26, 2025:I've known Ce-Ce a long time, my first post about her was in 2013. What is behind today's reprint is that Ce-Ce has announced that she will run for State Representative. She is running for the 22nd district, currently occupied by Josh Siegel, who is running for County Executive. If you check my archives, I have about a dozen different posts about Ce-Ce. I chose this one because Emma also ran for State Representative, losing to then newcomer Jennifer Mann. While Mann retired from the state house years ago, and Mike Schlossberg inherited the seat, she remains the quiet kingmaker in Allentown.