I spent a couple hours last week on Hamilton Street. With the square at 7th and Hamilton being reconfigured, both driving and walking were burdensome and dangerous. Of course the real danger is a couple blocks away, in either direction.*
The denizens don't care about the new square. The prized citizens farther west, the ones we're trying lure into center city, also don't care about the new square. They aren't coming, regardless of what building you move where.
On Sunday night I was in Bethlehem. I had to drive blocks beyond my destination to find a parking space. At no time did I feel intimidated by denizens or surroundings. No new construction there, just history and quaintness. Allentown traded its history for the NIZ, and it doubles down with nonsense plans like the new square and moving the art museum.
*Allentown experienced two fatal shootings Tuesday evening. In both cases the suspect was apprehended.
shown above one block beyond the NIZ
CLICK HERE FOR MY BABY BOOMER MEMORIES OF ALLENTOWN AT AMAZON BOOKSTORE.... 36 SELECTED POSTS FROM THIS BLOG.
Of course the real solution is to persuade citizens with good incomes to want to reside in center city, not try to entice outsiders to venture in and hope to get some of their money. Canopies, bricks and other nonsense makes jobs for most likely insider fiends, but will have no real effect.
ReplyDeleteWho in their right minds would ever move into center city? Other than day workers from out of town, it has been deserted for many years now thanks to JB Reilly and Pat Browne along with dozens of others who have been silent but complicit.
DeleteDid Bethlehem experience ths same sea change in residents that Allentown did ?
ReplyDeleteanon@7:26: One factor that contributed to the "sea change" was that Allentown had several social agencies providing "move in" money to unemployed people coming here from NY and NJ.
ReplyDeleteWhich means that Allentown invited crime and poverty into the community while Bethlehem did not. We recieved the shootings and welfare cases while Bethlehem experienced normal population growth
DeleteYes, indeed, the incentives to move into Allentown were great, however, the people that took advantage of it never really bettered themselves and some, not all, became thorns in the side of their neighbors. Ask me how I know...
ReplyDeleteanons@12:00/12:08: Toothpaste doesn't go back into the tube. Yesterday I bumped into a public employee actually optimistic about Allentown. The only thing still on the table in my post is the museum move, which I consider a mistake. Consequently, I will keep mentioning it until which time it is in motion and moot. Likewise, comments about bad decisions or consequences twenty-five years ago, especially submitted anonymously, may well not be published.
ReplyDeleteYes, the museum move was/will be yet another costly mistake in this once great city. I recall all the improvements, addition and landscaping done to the old location... Why we keep shooting the taxpayers in the foot is appalling. Somewhere along the line, I suspect pockets are being lined... always follow the money!
DeleteYou act like the bad decisions noted by 12:00 and 12.08 are one time events and ancient history. If only that were true.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is that the democrats that run Allentown and our other major cities want to return to the open border policies that their party championed only two years ago. These cities still consider themselves to be a sanctuary for those here unlawfully. Naturally, this drives up the cost of housing (along with school taxes and other costs) and results in other countries dumping some of their less desirable residents (like criminals and the mentally ill) who arrive with many others who end up on the public dole.
To those living in the suburbs who think they’re safe, I’d remind you that the democrats/socialists have plans for you as well, since you need to pay for your “privilege”.
My point is that the democrat have learned nothing from what their policies did to Allentown in the past, and now they want to double down on their mistakes. Far from censoring comments that recount what happened 25 years ago, you should post them often as a reminder of what one major party thinks we need more of.
anon@4:25: I think that you "reminded" them well enough. However, the Democrats don't have a monopoly on taking things too far :) Matter of fact, I think that the "excesses" of the last two years will trigger the blue wave next month.
ReplyDeleteI love the excesses of a closed border , of NATO paying their share, of making the tariff situation fair , of cracking down on fraud in Medicaid Medicare , of a safer DC, of big bad ICE doing their job. Tell me what excesses you don’t like please
DeletePeople, please bear in mind the City can and will do whatever it pleases due to the stupid audience that we are....
ReplyDelete