Victor Martinez has a Spanish radio station, that's his business model. Matt Tuerk has bi-lingual city reports, that's his business model. However, as the mayor it isn't really a courtesy, it's more of a real world disservice. Those who cannot understand English don't have much chance of a good future in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Besides for announcing where to take English as a second language class, there is no productive reason for his bi-lingual posts. If Matt could only speak Spanish he wouldn't be mayor.
But worse than the language babel, is the traffic babel. I cannot shake the feeling that the lax enforcement of traffic laws is another cultural accommodation. We certainly know that there is no enforcement of noise and litter ordinances.
Unfortunately for everyone living in the city, the slippery slope of lax enforcement is coming home to roost. Apparently, Tuerk hasn't really learned much on all his out of town and out of country conferences. Maybe if one of those guns being pointed more and more at people was pointed at him, he would realize that either he must untie police chief Roca's hands, and/or replace him.
Traffic has changed in the past 2 years. I hate driving in Allentown, I try to avoid it. Passing through stop signs and lights, left turn from the right lane, blaring speakers. Where are the cops?
ReplyDeleteThe cops are having tea with the mayor and learning Spanish.
Deleteanon@9:25: The police see and hear it, but obviously are instructed to stand down. It hurts business in center city, as it has become a place for suburbanites to avoid.
ReplyDeleteWorse of course is the increasing accidents and fatalities. I used the photo above to suggest that perhaps it is time for the state police to take over from the APD.
Michael, i agree there is no quality if life crack downs in Allentown with this Cuban born clown we have as Mayor.
DeleteAll he cares about is hiring more subborinates to do work he should be doing with the cost of tax payers money.
He is traveling the world on Allentown tax payers monies! We need law enfocement sweeps with SP like they did 20 -25 years ago . If the Sp will not do it then send ICE in! Don't mis understand me I do not support ICE
general tatics but when city quality if life issues are not address it may be the last option available.
Traffic is bad to the point that you have to look both ways when going through a GREEN light or any intersection, since people run the lights and blow through the stop signs so often.
ReplyDeleteThe speed bumps are a farce, as I have seen several near misses at the Rose Garden. People see the cars slowing up, but they aren’t looking for the motorcycles, e-bikes, and regular bikes passing between the slowed/almost stopped cars and the parked cars along the curb.
The problem with the speed bumps is that they’ve set up a situation where traffic flow is neither steady nor predicable. Some drive over the speed bumps at full speed. Others try to swerve to only hit one, and others almost come to a stop. Some pedestrians believe the vehicles are slowing for them to cross, while the drivers of the vehicles are only focused on maneuvering around the speed bumps.
Safety would be better served with either full removal of the bumps or a stop sign so that everyone knows traffic should be coming to a full stop. Both could be augmented with pedestrian-controlled crossing lights at designated intersections.
Knowing City Hall, it will likely take someone getting killed or seriously injured because of the speed bumps for them to be removed. Meanwhile, it’s just another reason on an ever-growing list for those in the suburbs to avoid driving into Allentown.
No one who I know, and having lived here for over 60 years I know a lot of people, goes to shop or dine in Allentown to dine or shop. People drive to Easton or Bethlehem for a pleasant urban experience or they go to LMtp.
ReplyDeleteNo one I know who has a choice sends their kids to an ASD school.
Things have changed 180 degrees since the days of Hess Brothers and not for the better.
Yes perhaps if a family is fleeing the Bronx or Newark the former All American City is a wonderful place.
Got That Right not the city we grew up in
DeleteI’m old enough to remember driving south on 7th street from Washington to Hamilton at 35 mph, one could go nonstop while hitting green lights continuously.
ReplyDeleteIn order to not create the “Brooklyn 500”, stoplights are now timed so one must stop at every red light, for speed control purposes.
I enjoy driving on 7th Street lok at facades. I think the city needs to put the hammer down on all properties to make sure they are responsible for the cleanliness of their sidewalks and gutter. Why should we invest taxpayer dollars on 7th street if residents and businesses do not care. I hate ask, but is the acceptance of litter a culture thing or generation thing? We all can do better respecting our neighborhoods and streets.
ReplyDeleteI don’t see how anyone can blame the Police Chief. Seems that he can only be held responsible for one major shortcoming, an honorable professional would resign.
ReplyDeleteI pity the poor people who live in Allentown who actually follow the law, act like good citizens and do the right things.
ReplyDeleteIt’s important not to paint everyone with the same brush.
All in all the situation is quite distressing.
This is the outcome of voting for him.....we are also a sanctuary City.... never in my 53yrs of living in Allentown have I seen such chaos, lack of control, lack of morals and disregard for law abiding residents and the law....
ReplyDeleteI was at City Council meeting when the Sanctuary City thing came up.
DeleteRabbi Warnock made an impassioned case for the amendment.
It seemed like a reasonable idea at that moment.
I kid you not.
mj adams
I seldom drive into Allentown but when I do it’s very carefully and defensive.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last 20+ years the democrat party acquired all political power in Allentown. What you are writing about is the result.
ReplyDeleteAllentown is a sanctuary city. It's a sanctuary that is a magnet for criminal disregard to the laws that make things nice. Let ICE perform their LAWFUL duty and you will see quality of life increase. It's the lawbreakers stupid.
ReplyDeleteanons1:35&7:28: Allentown's biggest demographic is Puerto Rican, who are U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, those living on the Island cannot collect SSI payments staying there. While I don't think ICE would find many illegals here, I wish people who wish to make SSI a career could do so staying on the island.
ReplyDelete