Allentown's Apartment Myths

Recently, an antagonist erroneously wrote on facebook that I hate Allentown, and that I profit from chopped up houses.

People often attribute Allentown's problems to center city houses being converted into apartments, as if this occurred recently. Many will be surprised to know that almost all the converted apartments existed for over 60 years. When the GI's returned from WW2, the trend was for small single family houses with small lawns, i.e. Levittowns. Most conversion of the row houses took place in the late 40's and early 50's, and more less stopped by the early 60's.  Because of them, Hamilton Street remained viable for twenty years beyond the main street in Bethlehem, Easton and Reading. Allentown was chosen during this era as the All American City. During those 50 years, 1940 to 1990, nobody complained about the apartments or the tenants.

What has changed is the demographics, so there is at best a classist, or at worst, a racist element to the current complaints about center city apartments.

The existing converted houses are not going away, unless Allentown wants to compensate the owners for their property rights. What can only be contemplated, at this point, is the future consequences of new housing, in both converted industrial buildings, and new apartment buildings in the NIZ.  Is Allentown helping itself, in the long run, by creating additional housing stock?

Shown above is the converted mansion from the Mary Tyler Moore Show.  Mary lived on the second floor, while her friend Rhoda had the third floor apartment.

molovinsky on allentown is published early morning every weekday.

Double Down(Towns)

People often speculate as to why Bethlehem now is a destination, while, too often, Allentown is considered a place to avoid. The long answer will not fit within this short post, but here may be a few reasons. Bethlehem had two downtowns, on both sides of the river. While downtown Allentown certainly was the premier shopping area for the Lehigh Valley prior to the malls, it may have become a victim to over-planning. In the late 60's, early 70's, Allentown attempted to compete with the suburban malls by building a canopy on Hamilton Street. The viability of Hamilton Street was extended for a few years, but the magnetism of Hess's could well have been the reason. Bethlehem also built a pedestrian mall on Broad Street, but the historical quaintness of Main Street remained. Although the commerce in its southside business district languished, the architecture remained. By the time Allentown removed the canopies in the late 90's, the architecture of its buildings had long been bisected and altered. As historical became chic, Bethlehem profited from having done less in the past.

Its southside business district is a time capsule, architecturally unchanged since the turn of the last century. It now is becoming a mix of boutiques and bistros in a fashionable historic setting. Last, but not least, Bethlehem benefited from consistency of developmental leadership. While Allentown has had a succession of Economic Directors, Tony Hanna, with benefit of his institutional memory, has led Bethlehem for many years.

Shown at the top is pop up photo matches from the 1930's, promoting Julian Goldman's Fine Clothes For The Family on the South Side, East Third Street. Also shown is Tony Hanna, along side of the former Goodman Furniture Store.

above reprinted from July of 2012

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 28, 2018: Allentown lost most its historical mercantile district with the arena, and new NIZ office towers. They are without architectural merit.

Stacking The Deck

When Donny Cunningham appointed Ed Pawlowski to the Lehigh Valley Airport Authority, he stacked the deck against Queen City Airport. Pawlowski has advocated selling Queen City for development since before he was mayor. The fact that this city needs no more commercial or residential space is lost on him. South Mall, once home to three large department stores, now has one. The property has underperformed for decades. Needless to say, the last thing the school district needs is more housing and students. The distance between Queen City and Lehigh Valley Airport provides a safety margin between commercial planes and small aircraft. The Airport Authority is a case-study in poor decision making. They took land for runway expansion they never used, now owing the original owners ten times the price in penalty and interest. (LVIA is under court order to pay $26million) They expanded their departure terminal to a size they never needed. They constantly remodel the under used facility. They fired their director with no succession plans in place. Cunningham appointing Pawlowski, with a predetermined agenda, is the last person that board needed.
In an article today in The Morning Call, it states that the sale and development of Queen City could create "thousands of jobs." That is ridiculous.

above reprinted from December of 2011

ADDENDUM: Since I printed the above post in 2011, Queen City managed to stay on as an auxiliary airport. With the demise of Bon-Ton, things have only gotten worse for South Mall. LVIA continues to make unnecessary improvements, and there are still painfully few destinations on their departure board.  Ed Pawlowski is now residing at a federal detention center in Connecticut.

The Cheesesteak Reality

The photo and caption above is from the Morning Call.  I did not read the story.  I saw the meme on facebook, where I also did not read the post or comments.  Only the native Allentonian nostalgia types ponder which institution has better cheesesteaks.  Before Vince's, the spot was outfitted for Tony Luke's,  a Philadelphia cheesesteak king.  The successive failures aren't related to the  cheesesteaks, but to the changing demographics.  Cheesesteaks aren't a staple in Puerto Rico.  Cheesesteaks are not a staple to the younger office workers, who can't get out of Dodge fast enough,  come five o'clock.

We aging dinosaurs remember when Hamilton Street was the place, and Brass Rail cheesesteaks were king.  The demand was so great, that the establishment, in addition to the dining room, had walkup spots in both front and back.  That business wisely moved its operation out of center city to Lehigh Street.

Until which time the newspaper understands that it is cheesy to write about the sandwich, and ignore the demographic realities,  this blog will continue to serve the truth, both here and to take out.

A Snowy Morning In Jerusalem

Snow is a rare occurrence in Jerusalem, but on January 10th (2013) it snowed 6 inches, the biggest storm since 1992.  Although this blog concentrates on local political commentary, I do indulge in a few distractions. Among those are local history, boxing from the Joe Louis era, and stories from the Holy Land.  With all topics, the quality of the visual image presented here is paramount to me.

reprinted from February of 2013

The Resignation Of James Mattis

Jim Mattis was a hybrid general...part Mad Dog, part intellectual. Between his military retirement  and his appointment as Defense Secretary,  he was the Annenberg Fellow at the Sanford's Hoover think tank. He was equally at home reading Paul Linebarger's classic 1948 Psychological Warfare, or sleeping in a foxhole in Afghanistan.  As Commander of the Joint Forces, and then NATO,  his commitment to allies was bedrock.  When Donald Trump announced our withdrawal from Syria,  Mattis could no longer in good conscience serve as our 26th Secretary of Defense.

That decision by Trump also cost us the service of Brett McGurk, who was the leading envoy in the war against ISIS.  It is my hope that John Bolton remains as National Security Advisor, and that Mike Pompeo stays on as Secretary of State.  The country needs Trump receiving good advice, even if he fails to listen.


Mattis arriving in Afghanistan in 2001 to take command

A Family Story

This post is unusually personal for this blog.  My grandfather came to Allentown from Russian Lithuania  in 1891.  In the next few years he was joined by his parents, and five siblings.   The family settled on 2nd Street, along with many other Jewish immigrants of that period.  He worked in various jobs, including a cigar factory, until he could establish himself as a butcher, as in the old country.  Because we were here for over a hundred years,  I consider myself somewhat of a local historian.

As a boy growing up in Little Lehigh Manor, on the ridge above Lehigh Parkway, I explored the WPA structures when they were still comparatively new.  Because of that background, I was able to uncover the Boat Landing, and advocate for our  traditional park system.  One of my father's uncles worked for the park system, caring for Lehigh Parkway.

What brought me to this post is my great grandmother's tombstone in Fountain Hill, which I recently visited.  She is buried in an old Jewish cemetery that is no longer in use. Although, her tombstone is very old, it replaced an even older one , that then laid behind the former Wentz's tombstone factory at 20th and Hamilton, for many decades.  I am the last Molovinsky in Allentown.

photo taken behind Wentz's before recent demolition of that facility.

reprinted from December of 2016

Leaving Syria

The Kurds are a stateless ethnic minority that live in parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey. They had provided the only security afforded to Christians and other minorities in Iraq.  They have been on the front line fighting against our common enemies in both Iraq and Syria. 

Kurdish forces in Syria are considered a nationalistic threat by Turkey, which has announced intentions to attack them. Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw ground forces from Syria seems to clear the way for such actions.

The Kurds once again will be left to their own devices for survival. If we have returned any favor for their help against Isis, it is not apparent.

Likewise, Israel will be defending against Iran in Syria by itself. With John Bolton being part of the administration, I had hopes for more engaged resolve.

ADDENDUM:  Removing ground troops from Syria will not be unwelcome by most of Allentown's Syrian American population.  Assad's father provided protection to the Christian minority,  which comprised a wave of immigrants to Allentown's 6th Ward in the early part of last century.

pictured above Kurdish female fighters

Grassroots Politics In Allentown

If you're a student of grassroots politics in Allentown, chances are that you know Robert Trotner. This political and community activist has been encouraging political newcomers for a number of years, through both an internet radio show and coffee house gatherings. His recent meetings at the Coffee House Without Limits has attracted new candidates for mayor, city council and the school board. While their names are mostly new to the general public, all of them are involved in the process already, attending meetings and studying Allentown's problems.

I have been a supporter of local outsider politics for decades. These are the people you see at the meetings, week after week. They are the ones that fight the battle for everyone else.  They are the ones who speak out for the many who remain silent.  While a few get elected and become mainstream, most remain unelected, and unrecognized for their commitment.  Reporting their accomplishments has always been an honor for this blog.

Shown sitting with Trotner is City Council candidate Jessica Lee Ortiz and School Board candidate Phoebe Harris.

reprinted from February of 2017

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 19, 2018: Robert Trotner has been taking quite a beating over at Bernie O'Hare's blog.  The assault was started by O'Hare in a comment section, and his anonymous commenters joined in, kicking Robert while he's down. Among other things, O'Hare wrote... "He has done nothing for the cause of good government"  Among the many of us who might disagree with that assessment is Phoebe Harris, who is now president of the Allentown Dems.  Robert provided numerous venues for her and others interested in participating in Allentown government.  The old saying about no good deed goes unpunished certainly applies to Robert.  I hope that the beatings over at O'Hare's does not discourage Trotner, and others, from their grassroots activities.

As On Allentown Turns

Over the weekend I was sparring on facebook with a NIZ cheerleader who contended that he did all his shopping in center city, patronizing the local businesses. I know what businesses are there, knew his assertion was nonsense, and told him so. Another antagonist popped up and commented, the writer if you read any of his blog truly hates Allentown he never has anything nice to say about it. Although,  that also isn't true, let me reply. I bill molovinsky on allentown as the junction of local history and politics. The historical posts don't have an attitude, and the politics for the last decade are nothing to brag about. Needless to say, if I hated Allentown, I would have moved out of the area long ago. I would not have run for local office, nor would I write about it almost daily. That said, those looking for only nice sentiments should buy greeting cards, not read blogs. If you insist on rose colored glasses, stick with just reading the Morning Call.  If you want to read how some politicians can walk on water, while others are deemed snakes in the grass,  there's another local blog which is better suited to you.

Although, I can be as delusional about my life as the next person,  I try and keep this blog in check with reality.  Likewise,  by not allowing anonymous comments, I try to enhance the blog's accountability.

My post yesterday about O'Connell's budget found very few in agreement.  Although my statement about a profile in courage especially rubbed some the wrong way,  not too many politicians would be willing to face the voter's wrath to maintain the current level of city service. Because of my restricted comment policy, many people wrongly equate a lower number of comments with lower readership. I've been told by numerous elected officials that they read the blog, while they don't find it complimentary, they find it fair... for me that is feedback enough.

photocredit: The Morning Call

O'Connell Goes To the Mat

On Saturday night, while most of us were sleeping, Ray O'Connell was going to the mat with Allentown City Council. Ray implemented his proposed budget by vetoing council's reduced alternative version, leaving council no time to enact an override.

Frankly, I was somewhat surprised when I learned the news early Sunday morning. I expected that O'Connell would allow council to prevail, providing everybody a little political cover. After the vote O'Connell told the Morning Call's Emily Opilo...

“I feel in my heart and in my head that what I did was financially responsible for the city of Allentown and its residents,” he said. “If this comes back to bite me and I don’t get re-elected, so be it. I will fight for the residents of Allentown.”

In reality, the alternative budgets treated the taxpayers about the same. O'Connell's budget will increase taxes 27%, while council's version shaved that down to 22%.

If O'Connell survives the next Democratic primary his action Saturday night was a profile in courage. You can bet on the fact that his tax increase will be his opponents' campaign theme.

Morning Call file photo


ADDENDUM: Only after I publish a blog post, do I scout around the main and alternative media to see how others may have treated the same topic. O'Connell's budget certainly will be ammunition for his opponents, and those already supporting them. I do not believe that the budget system or charter needs fixing. That charge is always levied when people are unhappy with a result. On the contrary, a budget going down to the wire, or any decision using every charter redress, demonstrates that the system is working.

The Misconception Of Hamilton Street

There's not many mid size cities that can boast having two national chain stores within one center city block, Allentown could. Not too many cities could say that one of those stores was one of the biggest producers in a chain of over 7000 stores, Allentown could. There's not many cities that are ignorant enough to tear down their most successful block, a virtual tax machine, Allentown is. This horrible mistake took a combination of political arrogance and public misconception. The arrogance is well known, so let me concentrate on the misconception. The perception was a few undesirable people, buying cheap things. The reality is Family Dollar sells the same merchandise in their suburban and rural stores. Rite Aid fills the same prescriptions and sells their standard merchandise. The new upscale stores, visioned for the arena front, will never produce the sales tax produced by Family Dollar and Rite Aid. The arena will never have that amount of employees, nor produce that much earned income.* The traffic congestion and lack of parking for arena events will destroy the new restaurants. Welcome to the white elephant, welcome to the ghost town.
Shown above and below is the early morning delivery to Family Dollar, every week of the year.
*sales tax and earned income currently going to city and state will now go to debt service for arena
reprinted from December 5, 2011

ADDENDUM: While The Morning Call promotes Allentown's new NIZ zone, only this blogger documented the reality of the former Hamilton Street. While the Moravian Book Store could have been restocked from a small hand basket once a month, the previous Family Dollar Store needed a full tractor trailer every Sunday.  Retail is virtually destroyed on Hamilton Street. Over seven years later, and the Morning Call is still deceiving about Hamilton Street, and this blog is still delivering the truth.

Fisherman Robbed By Fit Man At Jordan Park

While Mayor Pawlowski and his compliant park director brag about catalog equipment which won't last 3 years, a fisherman was thrown to the ground and robbed at gunpoint early Thursday morning in Jordan Park. While the Allentown Police are too short manned to properly patrol our existing parks, Mayor Pawlowski and his compliant park director are seeking a grant to develop another park, at the former incinerator plant near Basin Street. Who is going to maintain an additional park after the grant runs out in year one? Who is going to provide safety at such an out of the way place? It's time for our park director, Linday Taylor, to seek the counsel of people familiar with Allentown and the parks. For her information, that would not include Ed Pawlowski.

I'm sure that Ms. Taylor saw a recent letter to the paper criticizing the grow zones along our park creeks.  She should realize that the next mayor will most likely have more familiarity with the traditional park system, which does not include weed zones, that block both access and view of the streams.  Allentown parks were created along the streams to add to the park experience, not to be a science experiment for the Wildlands Conservancy.  Although the mayor may praise the new park signs, even they are symbolic of the new superficiality,  which is not appreciated by most Allentonians.  Ms. Taylor would do well to realize that soon  there will be a new mayor, with an appreciation of Allentown's iconic park system.  By that criterion, there will be a lot to mow and repair.

reprinted from June of 2016

ADDENDUM: Since publishing this piece in 2016,  both  Ed Pawlowski and Lindsay Taylor are gone.  While park icons were left to crumble,  we purchased and installed the outdoor prison yard exercise equipment shown above.  Although, it makes the released gang members feel at home in Allentown,  it wasted our scarce park dollars.

The Improprieties Of Ed Pawlowski

Although, Pawlowski was convicted on 47 counts, over the years there were other shenanigans not included in the trial.  Someone recently asked if the city owned any surplus property that could be sold to avoid a tax increase? What comes to mind are the two parcels purchased for the park system.

The Basin Street parcel is in the heart of Allentown's old industrial zone.  I venture to say that most new residents would be hard pressed to find it.  Furthermore,  there are no residences anywhere close to it,  which would benefit from it.  Prior to the city's purchase, there was no market for the land, what- so- ever.

The western parcel,  last used forty years ago by a fertilizer and rendering plant, is in a flood plain and was for sale for decades, also with no interest.

Although, the city could not realize anywhere near what they paid, these two parcels should be sold.  The park department is a case study in deferred maintenance.  The last thing it needs is more park land to maintain. Although, I have been deferential to the new mayor and park director compared to my previous park advocacy, it's time to resume the mission, without such restraint. The city has pursued some grants toward ill advised park plans, and I would rather the city forego the grants, than contribute more to venues it doesn't need.

part of Basin Street parcel shown above

The Political Backside Of Allentown's Budget

It appears that Allentown City Council has produced a compromise budget that Mayor O'Connell can live with...It requires no pink slips. Although, a few proposed jobs will not be funded, and overtime allowances may be a little less than realistic, I expect O'Connell to allow council's budget to go into effect.

While both the mayor and council can claim a victory, there will be no such crowing from the taxpayers. However, the taxpayers already lost last November, when they reelected someone who had his eye on anywhere but Allentown. Pawlowski wanted to ride the NIZ's paper success out of town to a bigger job. When Harrisburg seemed a lost cause, he steered his election bus toward Washington. No tax hike was just another slogan for his political ambitions, but not a sound fiscal policy for the city.

Disclaimer: I did not attend the special session last night, or speak to any elected official. On this point I prefer not speaking directly to our officials. This way when I encounter them in public, they seem less betrayed by this blog's candor.

picture postcard of Allentown's new City Hall in 1962

What's Love Got To Do With It

I suppose that some of my readers were surprised when I congratulated Susan Wild on being our new representative in congress.  Although, I didn't make any endorsement prior to the election, most readers realize that I cant to the right.  However,  I had some issues with Nothstein,  and generally prefer not to make endorsements.

Last week, Wild expressed potential opposition against the proposed new trade pact with Canada and Mexico.  Seems that she went with those members of her party supposedly upset that the new trade treaty may not end up addressing gay and lesbian issues. USMCA’s Chapter 23 on labor requires countries to implement policies that protect workers against employment discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.  There are conservatives senators who feel that such social policy need not be included with international trade agreements.

Now, I'm certainly for respecting the rights of our workers here at home, but I'm also for protecting the rights of all our citizens to have the best possible economy. I'm hoping that Representative Wild will not base her important votes on single issues.

Pawlowski's Coal To O'Connell

Pawlowski, on his way to prison, gave Ray O'Connell a lump of coal for Christmas.  While the former Mayor For Life's exit to the big house made Ray mayor, it also injured him with a necessary tax hike. Pawlowski put his political career ahead of good government by not raising taxes, and instead drained the city reserve fund.  While ten years of a 2% hike would have been politically palatable,  O'Connell must now ask for 27% to keep the city operating.

This same legacy destroyed a county executive years ago... A huge tax hike is a huge present to your political opponents. While City Council has the option of allowing the budget to pass by default with little political consequence to themselves,  O'Connell will shoulder the voter's wrath.  If the proposed budget goes into effect as is,  Ray's reelection bid could be an uphill struggle.

ADDENDUM: City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Monday December 10.  This presents an opportunity for the budget and tax hike to be scaled back.

Defending The Wall

The Western Wall was built in 19 BC by Herod the Great, almost 600 years before the birth of Mohammed. Herod built the current wall to expand the Mount of the Second Temple, built in 516 BC, after the Jews returned from the Babylonian Exile. The Second Temple would stand until destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Over 600 year later, in 691 AD, Muslims would build the Dome of The Rock, on top of the Mount where the Temple had stood. Today, there are 17 stone courses of the wall below the current street level. Although Jews have been praying at the Wall for over a thousand years, last week the Palestinian Authority issued a report stating that the wall is not Jewish, but part of the Dome. This report, although contradicted by Bible, history, archeology and even photography, is never the less disturbing; It plants another seed of revisionism against the history of the Jewish people. Recently, UNESCO declared that Rachel's Tomb is actually a Mosque, ignoring the thousands of years of Jewish reverence.

photograph shows Jews praying at The Wall in 1895

reprinted from November of 2010

Blogging And Friendship

I set off Bernie O'Hare's hostility on Monday by stating that all too often your loyalty to your "friends" guides your pen. Although, it is apparent to his readers how he fawns over some politicians, he prefers to think that he's fooling people.  He lashed out by writing that my criticism of a black official proves that I operate a hate blog. When I pointed out that someone should be able to criticize a black public official without being labeled a racist, he deleted my comment, and stated that he is not going to host a defense of my racism. Accusations of racism seems to be his latest weapon of choice against  his critics. This skirmish took place on O'Hare's post about Bill White retiring, and there is a tie-in...In his hostile reply comment, Bernie wrote that he and Bill White were not friends. That may not tell the whole story. In a column in February of 2008, Bill White described himself as a fan of Bernie's blog. Also on Monday, Bernie called White a bastard for including him in his Hall Of Fame. Again, in both cases, I happen to know that Bernie appreciated that the exposure increased his readership.

The Bill White column from 2008 was about Bernie starting to notice Pawlowski's abuses of power. When White asked Pawlowski for a reply...

The mayor noted that O'Hare has become friendly with Michael Molovinsky, a former mayoral candidate and persistently outspoken critic of the administration. Molovinsky's own blog is virulently anti-Pawlowski.

Actually, White's take on my blog is aligned with O'Hare's apparent philosophy...friendship or enemy first, then the story. Maybe that's why they're friends, despite their disclaimers.

I didn't dislike Pawlowski, just some aspects of his governing. This blog isn't based on people's personality or friendships. Likewise, this blog isn't influenced by political correctness, or political party.  All I ever want is the best possible government for Allentown.

Bill White And Donald Trump

Like blogger Bernie O'Hare,  I wanted to post about Bill White's departure yesterday.  However,  it is my format to place one post a day, and last night there was a city budget hearing.  As a supporter of the traditional park system,  I felt compelled to advocate, in a timely fashion, for a particular item in the park budget. Although, I also had prepared a post about Bill White,  I abandon it now, to instead address a line in O'Hare's post....Some of you, especially those among you who are Trump supporters, will trash White because he detested the guy...

I think that O'Hare and many others are so polarized about Trump, that they assume the same level of emotional intensity must reside in everybody.  On facebook people write that if you don't despise Trump,  unfriend me...  You're either with me on this or against me. I'm actually surprised that both O'Hare and White, as political pundits, are so animated about Trump. Many of us, while not supporters, are much more dispassionate about him. When I playfully posted a picture of myself in front of a Trump poster and wrote,  Make Allentown Great Again,  although it wasn't meant as an endorsement of Trump, but of Allentown,  I lost some readers.

The Trump divide has been very detrimental to both journalism and personal relationships. Donald Trump probably will be president for at least two more years.  After his term, the country goes on, and  hopefully some objectivity and civility will be restored.

Keystone Of The Parkway

When the wall along the entrance road to Lehigh Parkway collapsed, the entrance had to be closed, until they could construct a new wall. The closure wasn't because of the missing upper portion acting as a guard rail, it was because of the lower portion, which was a retaining wall holding up the roadway itself. In the mid 1930's, the road was built by the WPA, by cutting into the side of a steep ravine leading down to the Little Lehigh Creek. It was essential to shore up the exposed side of the road with a wall.

Halfway down the road is the centerpiece we call the Double Stairway. Steps from two sides lead down from the road, to the bridle path and creek below. Although very architectural, it too is an elaborate retaining structure for the road. This architectural masterpiece is in structure jeopardy. Although the vertical walls are in decent shape, the problem is the landings, both at the top and down each set of stairs. These flats surfaces have degraded, and water is seeping down into the steps below, undermining the structure from within.

The Double Stairway was designed in 1928 by one of the leading landscape architects in the United States. He was commissioned to design this masterpiece by General Harry Trexler. The stock crash of 1929 and the Great Depression put off the construction until Roosevelt's New Deal in 1935, when the WPA utilized the blueprints.

Allentown could never afford to create such an icon now, nor can we afford to lose it from neglect.

photocredit:molovinsky