Pity The Cyclists In Allentown

Making Allentown bicycle friendly is what lawyers call an attractive nuisance. Pity the poor suburbanite with his helmet and spandex who peddles to 4th and Turner. He might as well have Mug Me embossed on his jersey.  I know the mayor is a cyclist, and takes some riders with him on group excursions; but alone, they are just bait for trouble. 

Readers know that I have been working lately from my Washington office. There's a new blog in town which makes my Tuerk-centric posts about the mayor seem like Hallmark cards. He has actually taken to say hello when he jogs past me in a park. This new blogger has almost made me appear gentlemanly. 

So Matt, as one gentleman to another, Allentown realistically is no place to encourage cyclists. The other day I saw a car going in reverse for a block near 15th St.. The police need to write 5000 more traffic tickets before we start inviting cyclists downtown.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

shown above Mr. T, known for his catch phrase,"Pity the fool"

The Onerous Job Of Defending Trump

Some of the hardest working people in the country today are those defending Donald Trump's inconsistent, perhaps irrational, proclamations. One moment he is condoning double tap attacks on civilian boats; the next, pardoning a former Honduran Drug President.

From Karoline Leavitt in the press room, to partisans commenting on this blog, it's not easy to triple talk. For Karoline, it is her career; for the partisans, it's the Alamo. They know if they slightly concede that Trump is irrational, as everyone else in the world knows, the Republicans will be reduced to proverbial dog catchers in the upcoming elections.

I'm afraid for them, that reduction of power is coming, and the only thing left to save is their credibility. I'm expecting the disconnect with Trump to come very soon, in time for the midterms. I'm hoping that the elected Republicans who represent me here in Kentuckylvania have that much sense.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Trump Shoots Then Aims

Donald Trump wants a trophy for fixing the things that he broke. He's now looking at extending the Affordable Care Act, after our country suffered its longest shutdown in history. We're bonusing Air Traffic Controllers, after Musk decimated the system with DOGE. We're relaxing tariffs on foodstuffs from South America, after their flow was hampered by his wily nilly tariffs.

He tore down the East Wing, and now even his architect is becoming less than proud of the plans. Here on this blog, the partisans continue to defend the policies more, and the man less. They read the polls, and see the writing on the wall.

In this last local election, they got Charlie Dent to endorse Roger MacLean on their last mailing. It wasn't that many years ago that they were calling Dent a RINO, for not thinking that Trump could walk on water. Don't expect Ryan Mackenzie to seek Trump's endorsement by the 2026 midterms.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Mackenzie Getting Nervous

Subscribers to this blog remember that I took Mayor Matt Tuerk to task for his trip to the Dominican Republic. Although there are many Dominicans in Allentown, the pandering quotient was blatant. However, now local US Congressman Mackenzie has made the same trip, and to me it's apparent that he's hoping for some Latino votes come November. 

Sorry Ryan, but your Commander and Chief has cooked that goose, but good. Your explanation for the trip, about trade and security, are a giggle. Don't expect a big Dominican turnout come midterms.

I can appreciate that you're beginning to find this blog annoying. If you're really intent on Latino votes, you would have to speak out against Trump's ICE Capades, which would injure you with the MAGA base. Good luck with your juggling.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM: This blog is published every weekday, holidays included.

Ruminations From An Old Blog(ger)

I don't purport to be nice, that's a trait that never reached me. While this blog is in its eighteenth year, only recently have I broken out of Allentown, toward Washington... Trump does move people. I voted for him in 2016, but couldn't do so again in 2020 (or 2024), when I voted for an independent. After Jan. 6, I find his current complaint against Mark Kelly very ironic. 

As an independent conservative, local Republicans comprised a large part of my readership. Their partisanship is causing them to proclaim intense disappointment in me. Life has disappointments. I was caught of guard by Majorie Green's announced resignation. I recently posted that she is joining a small but growing group pushing back against the King. There are trip words in this political world, and King is one of them. I will receive comments that now I should go stand with the other blue haired boomers protesting at the local congressman's office.

I don't stand with protesters, but I will be speaking out here on the blog. Speaking out was what this blog was about since day one. If it's a mayor in Allentown, a governor in Harrisburg, or a president in Washington, I'll speak my mind. If I lose or gain a few readers, it won't affect my lunch.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM: Another change coming to this blog is advertisements. This is an experiment of sorts...there will be different ad densities (number of ads) and different ad placements. It will be third party provided, without control on my part concerning placement or products advertised.

Trump vs Kelly

Mark Kelly and others reminded Trump last week that the military is not obliged to follow illegal orders in violation of the Constitution. Trump initial response was that Kelly and company could be executed for treason. Trump apparently was convinced to tamper down that threat, but he can't completely restrain himself. This weekend he reduced his death threat to jail.

The real threat to America is Trump's inability to measure his words in a presidential fashion. Despite previously being president, he thinks he can say and tweet whatever pops into his head, with no deliberation.

Attacking Kelly was like his profoundly ignorant remark about John McCain in 2015. Although Kelly did not spend six years in a North Vietnam prison camp like McCain, he did fly 39 combat missions over Iraq before becoming an astronaut. Yes, Trump is Commander and Chief, but that title comes with a responsibility which is lost on him.

Trump sycophant Defense Secretary Hegseth has the Pentagon reviewing if court martial charges should be brought against Kelly. I don't know if Mark Kelly has any presidential ambitions for 2028, but if he does, Hegseth just gave Kelly a gift.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

MAGA Not Invited

When the Trump family sat down with the royal family of Saudi Arabia last week, the MAGA red hats were not invited. While the disciples ate hamburger at home, Trump's guests dined on rack of lamb. While the MAGA crowd grumbled about the upcoming half time show, the Trump juniors were accepting investments in their Saudi projects. Before dinner, Trump had F35's fly over the White House, to remind the royals what was at stake.

However, even before the dinner, I believe MAGA was already losing their appetite. Maybe they are not quite ready to admit it, but despite any high school football concussions, they know a slight when they see one. VP Vance told them, “As much progress as we’ve made, it’s going to take a little bit of time for every American to feel that economic boom, which we really do believe is coming. We believe that we’re on the front end of it,”  Vance may have to eat those words if he runs in 2028.

Trump's threats of sponsoring a primary opponent against any defectors this spring is ringing hollow, except perhaps to Marjorie Green. However, the coming battles in the general election are feared, and rightfully so. The incumbents, especially freshman, are running out of time to exert their independence from their Trump Trance.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Homeless Camp Fire On Kline's Island

I know a little about Kline's Island, enough to know that the LCA and the city had to know about the camp being there. I had no issue with the city removing the camps from Jordan Meadows. That area was a new addition to our park system, and was causing a hardship to adjoining properties.

I was somewhat surprised when the city administration removed the camp just south of Union Street. That camp adjoined no residential real estate. I was told on good source, that eviction resulted from a complaint from Promise Neighborhoods.

Homeless camps are nothing new to any city. While traditionally, most of the occupants had social issues, in these times, high rents are another cause. No city administration is going to solve the problem and eliminate camps. Hopefully, the unfortunate occupants will find another location which doesn't result in municipal interference.

photocredit/The Morning Call: Shown above former city councilwoman Emma Tropiano, camping near Kline's Island in her 1989 campaign for mayor.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Trump First, USA Second

The Intelligence agencies must have been wincing when Trump defended the prince against the reporter's question.  Likewise, normally the State Department would be scrambling about the F35's being fully loaded. But this is Trump, and the various departments have been top-offed with sycophants. not chosen for their qualifications about the department's mission, but their loyalty to Trump.

We seem to be in new territory with Trump basing our national policy on his whims. If that offends anybody, there are many credible people who would say that policy is  actually based on Trump's financial interests. I'll give him the benefit of that doubt, and just chalk it up to his overly inflated faith in himself.

Readers may have noticed that as I speak out against the administration and its silent enablers, comments here get more hostile... They should see the ones I don't print! They didn't say I sounded like a "lemming for the left" when I was criticizing Democratic mayors for the last two decades. I didn't criticize them because they were Democrats, and I'm not criticizing anybody now because they're a Republican. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Mackenzie Ad Transparent Deception

Seems as if freshman congressman Ryan Mackenzie wants a ribbon for voting along with all the other Republicans, save one, for opening the Epstein files. Although it's true he did say this summer that he would vote to open the file, he said so when there was no vote, and seemingly no chance of one. At that time, his mentor and chief, White House gold plater Donald Trump, was against the files going public. When the opportunity for real courage presented itself, he refused to sign the petition requesting a vote.

I'm frankly surprised that he would put out such a deceptive promotion at this point in time. He's crowing about something he was silent about when it counted. The promotion tells me that he counts on low information voters, and he seemingly is correct about that.

As I said before, I have no real issue with Mackenzie. Come midterms, he may still get my vote. In the meantime, when he says something needing scrutiny, I'll be here,

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Switch And Bait United States Healthcare

My rerun TV channels are full of Medicare ads. We're told that it's open season on enrollment, and call one of their licensed agents now with your zip code. Call now with your zip code. I called, and am now trying to recover from the call.

I was told by the licensed agent that my application probably would not be accepted, because I answered yes to taking blood pressure medication. Although I answered no to the other 719 questions, my yes to BP meds will do me in. To get medicare you have to be 65, I'm pushing toward 80. I only know one person my era who doesn't take any meds, and he never went to a doctor. Perplexed by her warning, I consulted Dr. Google. He told me that this major health insurer, along with their competition, were reeling under the cost of medical care and the aging demographic. That I can understand, but then why all the advertising? I would like to move to the zip code where the elderly live in perfect health, with no medication. 

Thank you John Fetterman for being a front man to end the shutdown. I know that the Democrats wanted to extend the health subsidies, but the consequences of the shutdown were outweighing their good intentions. As a blogger, I'm submitted to irrational partisans who put winning above everything else. They create so much tension that we need a national prescription for political centrists.

I'm not here to be polite or popular 

Share The Shame

If I was a Republican congressman, I would be offended by the President saying that We Have Nothing To Hide.  Unless I was an associate of Epstein, and entertained by his harem of girls, why would I have something to hide?

Trump is trying to make his shame theirs. He is not going to share his hotels and golf courses with congress, but will let them be part of the scandal.

Why shouldn't Trump try to play the Republicans in congress? They have been a cooperative chorus of sycophants, hoping the free ride will take them into 2029. For many, it will not take them into 2027.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

A Transactional Presidency

Never in the history of the country has there been a more transactional presidency. Combine that flaw with an unqualified cabinet, and we have one dangerous situation. However, we learned from his first term that a more qualified cabinet would have a very short shelf life.

Marjorie Taylor Greene joined the My Way Or The Highway Club this weekend, and Trump will support a primary opponent in the spring. Trump's problem with Greene will snowball this winter. Between $35 steaks, Epstein and the coming cold, his support is already waning. His tariff waffling has only created economic uncertainty.

Taylor Green might emerge a political maverick, like John Fetterman. Trump already coined one of his immature nicknames for her, Wacky Marjorie. When the public turns against him, it is going to turn fast and hard. Trump's messages have no consistency, because he has no plans, only reactions. MAGA knows the new ballroom isn't for them. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

ADDENDUM: Green has announced her resignation from Congress effective January 5, 2026.

Trump And Epstein

As my readers know, I'm no fan of Trump, but I have no concerns about his past with Epstein. Years before Trump ran the first time, there were photos of him and Ivanka in the back seat of his limo. At the time, he said something like if she wasn't his daughter, he would want to date her. He was also filmed saying that because he's famous, he can grab woman. I assumed everyone knew that he was a womanizer, or younger, and that it was baked into the election.

The conventional thinking is that Trump wants to distract us from Epstein, but I find the curiosity about Epstein a distraction from the issues that really concern us as a nation. Trump, with questionable advisors at best, is using the military to bully the Western Hemisphere. He used tariffs as a roller coaster, which actually complicated domestic production.

Democrats distracted about Trump's sex life history, are inadvertently giving the Republicans a gift.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

McCormick Should Mind Our P's & Q's

US Senator Dave McCormick(Pa), put out a video suggesting that New Yorkers upset with new mayor Mamdani should move to Pennsylvania. Thanks Dave, but there is enough in Washington and Pennsylvania to improve, that could better occupy your thoughts.

Perhaps you could put out a video explaining why our fleet is sailing to Venezuela. Perhaps you could video the bumper to bumper traffic on Rt. 22 through the Lehigh Valley.

Most important, perhaps the video could explain what you have been doing since you were elected?  Our other senator had been active in encouraging members of his party to end the shutdown. While you're worried aboutt New Yorkers who want to leave their homes because of Mamdani, maybe you should instead concern yourself with Pennsylvanians upset about Trump.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Conservative Looking For A Home

I called myself a conservative looking for a home, after the Republican Party sold itself out to Trump and a win. While there is interest and speculation about who will be the Democratic candidate in 2028, you hear less of that with the Republicans. They're busy wondering what buildings and institutions Trump can put his name on.

I recently read that among the forerunners with the Republicans, besides Vance and Rubio, there is Donald Jr.. If the party goes with another Trump, I might as well be writing about professional wrestling. John Bolton recently told a group at Harvard that the difference between Trump 45 and 47, is that Trump picked only yes men and women for his second round. Bolton's too diplomatic to mention that beside the yes, they have no qualifications.

Considering that winning seems mission number one for both parties, perhaps the combination of diehard partisans, and Red Hat remnants, can pull it off, it's probably their best shot. While I'm still hoping for a principled conservative, I'm afraid that Trump has killed the Republican Party for years to come.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Reagan delivering Tear Down This Wall speech in Berlin

A Mackenzie Postcard

I don't relish repeatedly taking Ryan Mackenzie to task, because come mid-terms, I'm hoping that he is my candidate of choice.

His spokesman was quoted in the Morning Call on Sunday saying, "He (Mackenzie) has been an independent voice in a broken Washington, D.C., who has always and will always stand up for the Lehigh Valley.”  I'm a candidate for hearing aids, but if Mackenzie has been an independent voice or standing up in Washington, I may have issues with my other senses as well.

The Morning Call may have chosen to print this election postcard patter, but as a local blogger I must remind the congressman that Lower Macungie, with a Republican majority, voted for Democratic commissioners for the first time since forever. It won't be enough to say you stand up, but you must actually do it.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Trump Saying Let Them Eat Cake

From the newly gold gilt plated Oval Office, the everyman's president thinks people can pound cake, instead of food. By the time this edition hits the newsstands, I can't predict where the courts will stand. One new ruling supersedes the other as I type. But it certainly appears that food is being weaponized.

On the topic of weapons, there is Admiral and General insecurity at the Pentagon. Hegseth is making those decisions based on salutes and shoeshines. Kennedy tells us that we can use injections to lose weight, but not protect against disease.

Snapping back, even if SNAP payments are tied up in court appeals, his majesty could have read here on MOLOVINSKY that his MAGAs are reduced to hamburger, and that they stayed home for Tuesday's election. This week the meat packers will be pressured to lower prices, even if the USDA inspectors are laid off.

ADDENDUM: Sunday evening seven Democrats and an independent ended the shutdown stalemate in the Senate. It appears as if funding will be restored thru January. 

I'm not here to be polite or popular

At one time, Allentown had no less than five meat packers. Shown above, Molovinsky's packing house on Union Street.

MAGA HAT IS UNDER THE TRUCK SEAT

The Republicans learned the hard way that those red hats are under the truck seats, gathering dust. They were a Trump cult, not a political asset that would pay continuing dividends. Certainly Trump's Zsa Zsa Gabor life style doesn't fit in with their rifle rack. They have no need for ballrooms.

While Trump made a few $Billion on cryptocurrency in a few months, the former red hats are now eating hamburger, because steak is $34.95 lb..The local partisan party hacks are bewildered, but the still standing elected Republicans know which way to move, and it's toward the center. 

Trump's comment that they lost because he wasn't on the ballot further confirms the red hat meltdown. It also emphasizes that he is a Trump, not a Republican. At this point he could care less how the party fares. Adding to the Republican woe on Tuesday, were independents turning out for the Democrats, and Latinos coming back to the D house.

I'm still politically homeless. I'm hoping for some moderate Republicans to emerge, although I will be skeptical of rebranded, former Trump sycophants.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Defeated By Trump

Trump closed the border on day one, and that was good, but expected. The problem for Republicans has been from day two foreward. Trump is, simply put, an ego maniac, who should be on a couch being treated, not gold plating the Oval Office. Most of us do not relate to the ballroom.

A reader accused me of TDS yesterday. Actually, everyone I vote for lost, but apparently the city, county and state has the condition, bigly. 

Shown above is Bob Smith and his daughter Jackie Rivera handing out Halloween candy. Although the most qualified candidate on the school board ballot, he lost his attempt at both a two and four year term. Jackie lost her bid for commissioner, to someone arrested for drug dealing. I believe they lost because of the R after their names.

If Ryan Mackenzie wants to keep in seat in 2026, he better start standing up today. Those red hats didn't show up yesterday, and they won't show up next November either.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Pa. Congressional MisRepresentative Mackenzie

My Republican associates think I'm on an anti-Republican track, not so. I'm not anti-Mackenzie, but I don't buy into intentional omissions.

Ryan Mackenzie issued a video on Facebook distancing himself from the shutdown. In that tape he blames Senate Democrats for the shutdown, but omits discussing the reason or issue involved. The issue is that the health care subsidies connected to Obama Care were set to expire, and the continuing funding had no provision for such healthcare assistance.

I haven't heard Mackenzie urge compromise between the parties in the senate, as Fetterman has. Instead, he  organized a food drive dog and pony show, in response to the associated SNAP shutdown. Even Trump now recognizes the shutdown as counterproductive. It's time to find compromises, not blame.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Election Day 2025

Today's the day some candidates used to be put out their misery. However, now with mail-in ballots, and subsequent challenges, the day of reckoning for some could be weeks, or even months away.

Putting the new mail order factor beside, it's old school voting day. It's a very long day for the good folks who work at the polls. I won't be making any last minute pitches, except the pitch to get out there and vote.*

If there is a one candidate you favor over the other, and he/she loses, and you didn't vote, it's your bad.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

Mailer by Molovinsky On Allentown Bureau of Politics

*Type a name into search engine on this blog's desktop version, for my musings on various candidates.

War Of The Mailers

Mailer wise, one of the most contested local elections is for Lehigh County Executive, Roger MacLean against Josh Siegel.

The mailers informed us that Democrat Siegel wanted to defund the police as a former Allentown city councilman. Likewise, we are told that MacLean is a MAGA. 

In the Allentown mayoral race,  the mailers tell us the Matt Tuerk prioritized building a strong community, and that Ed Zucal is championing for quality of life and public safety. I did appreciate Zucal's smaller cards, they're less intrusive. Judicial candidate Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen was no slacker with her mailings.

I'm not a fan of the mailer wars, they usually tell us more about the art director than the candidate. However, they have become part and parcel of today's politics. Between them and the advertising flyers in the mailbox, it's hard to find the utility and tax bills.

I'm not here to be polite or popular

mailer by Molovinsky On Allentown Bureau Of Politics

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.