A Bus To The Left

Long term subscribers to this blog have noticed a shift toward the center, I still have difficulty saying a shift to the left. Truth be told, both Trump and Netanyahu are to blame for my migration. 

As an independent, besides for taking Trump and his unqualified cabinet to task, my shift has been mostly quiet. I have been most audible concerning the 7th Congressional, where I'm supporting Ryan Crosswell. While I won't be casting a primary vote, I'm hoping that he's on the ticket for November.

Up to the aftermath of  October 7th (2023), I was a supporter of Netanyahu. With that horrendous October attack the Palestinians undermined most of the support for a two state solution, both in Israel and Washington. I understand that reaction, but cannot accept the domicide in Gaza, and the settler aggression in the West Bank.

A two state solution remains the only long term alternative for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I find myself looking for a group to support which still adheres to that principle. Although most have some language still too progressive for my self image, I'll have to hitch a ride on some such bus.

Tomb of Aaron, Jordan

Molovinsky World Report

Saudi Arabia pushed back against Trump's Project Freedom, closing its airspace until Trump postponed the plan. We have also strained relations with former European allies going back to WW2.  Who could have imagined with such experienced diplomats as Trump, Witkoff and Kushner, that anything could have gone wrong?

With Israel still attacking in Lebanon and allowing the settlers to run amok in the West Bank, aspirations of the Abraham accords are no longer. Just as Trump disrupted NATO, Trump and Netanyahu have hurt Israel's long term future status with Washington, after this administration passes.

Although Republican diehards were encouraged by the primary in Indiana, the general in November will be telling. The coming Blue Wave may well make Trump's juvenile decisions harder to implement.

ADDENDUM: Later Thursday the Saudis regranted airspace, and Trump resumed Project (Operation) Freedom.

Molovinsky On Allentown will be opening its international bureau in Canakkale. Türkiye continues to position itself as the safe place for investment in the Middle East.

The Martinez Factor

Yesterday I introduced you to Victor Martinez, Spanish radio entrepreneur.  With Hispanics being a majority in Allentown, he is an influential man. As a supporter of Ryan Crosswell for the 7th District, I questioned Martinez about his support for Carol Obando. He insisted that it wasn't because Obando was Latina, but because the other candidates ignored the demographic, even though they are a substantial portion of the population.

With Martinez's support of Ana Tiburcio, I again reached out for comment. Victor this time complained that Ce-Ce Gerlach is too much of a Socialist for mainstream Democrats like himself. He insists that Tiburcio being Latina is a bonus for him, but not the reason for his support.

The meme shown above is from Martinez's Facebook page. Although he maintains that ethnicity is not the basis of his support, if I ever run for office again, I will change my name to Miguel.

Spanish Radio In The Lehigh Valley

Victor Martinez has an amplified voice in the Valley, it actually comes over the radio! Martinez is owner and host of MEGA 101.7FM Spanish Radio. I tuned in to Victor recently over his support for Carol Obando for the 7th Congressional District.

Martinez is now behind Ana Tiburcio for the 22nd state district. While being Latino scores some points with him, he finds Ce-Ce too far to the left.

Ce-Ce is a tough candidate, who knocks on many more doors than any of her competitors. However, Tiburcio having Martinez's voice behind her is BIG. I believe it will be a contest.

ADDENDUM: News broke Tuesday afternoon that the Voter Registration office sent out incorrect mail ballots for the primary. With tightly contested races in the 7th and 22nd, we now have another wrinkle!

Allentown's Orange Car

While the Orange Car, on Union St. near the Lehigh River, went out of business over twenty years ago, the building sat there vacant, fading away.  Although recently demolished, there's a story behind the slow demise.

When the Lehigh Valley Railroad went bankrupt in 1976, its rolling stock and track went to Conrail. However its other assets, such as real estate, were tied up in bankruptcy.  The Orange Car building was owned by LVRR.  Many years ago there was a small six track rail yard between the Orange Car and the meat packing business to its east.  Carloads of fresh citrus fruit would arrive weekly from Florida. After the rail service ended, the lessee continued operating the fruit stand for another twenty years. 

I labeled this post Allentown's Orange Car, because there was an identical looking sister store in Reading.  That location also had a major event in 1976,  a flood from which it never recovered. 

photocredit:molovinsky

above reprinted from April of 2021

No Apple For The Teachers Union

Like Queen For A Day, Ana Tiburcio has been a state representative for ten minutes. When Josh Siegel moved from rep to county executive, Ms. Tiburcio ended up representing District 22, only after Julian Guridy had to drop out because he really didn't live in the district. Sound confusing, it is, but then our teachers union state mothership sends a card implying that she is tried and true?

I don't blame Tiburcio, but the union. They are so potty trained to support party endorsed candidates, that they will put their name to a misrepresentation. In the real nitty gritty, Tiburcio is running against Ce-Ce Gerlach in the primary. While Tiburcio is currently on the school board, Ce-Ce served previously. 

If I was a teacher at Allen, I would likely be in trouble speaking out against the union's deception. Come to think of it, when I was at Allen one hundred years ago, I was always in trouble. No wonder I ended up being a local blogger.

Turkiye Thanks Trump

Istanbul is teeming.  Construction and people are everywhere, working, shopping and enjoying a surge at the expense of Dubai and other Gulf States, impacted by the United States & Israeli war with Iran. All day and night long the Bosphorus is plied by freighters and tankers, unaffected by blockades and threats.

Turkiye is looking to position itself as the safe place for investment in the Moslem world, relatively free of the threats impacting the eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, as Trump uses blockades and sanctions in the Middle East, his extended family is using their influence and connection to profit from real estate development there. Conflict of interest is a term unknown to the Trump family.

Hurricane Diane, 1955

Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in August of 1955. Living in Little Lehigh Manor, I remember huddling in the house, while the metal garbage cans of the era flew around the neighborhood. My father, whose meat market was on Union Street by the Lehigh River, worked throughout the night. Fortunately for him, his market had an second floor backup cooler, and a small freight elevator. While the retail business district on Hamilton Street is elevated enough to be unaffected from flooding, center city Easton was devastated by the Delaware. The next morning was rather surreal for a nine year old boy. A large willow tree on the corner of Lehigh Parkway South and Catalina Ave. was lying on its side. Although the Little Lehigh receded quickly, the park road and basin had been flooded. Diane remains a record in flooding and damage. Let us hope it remains that way.

photo from August 1955. Lehigh River rising by former A&B Meats. The row of houses shown were demolished to make way for a new bridge approach several years later.

reprinted from August of 2011

OLD ALLENTOWN AND CULTURE WARS

Old Allentown has been involved in two culture wars. First when it began, Emma Tropiano and others were opposed to the gentrification of the neighborhood. After it got established, I felt that the district was too large for its own good, spreading out like minded people too far. The District runs from 7th to 12th, Linden to Liberty.

With the changes in Allentown, especially concerning cultural norms about litter and noise, living center city can be challenging. Affordability is the. new hot button issue, and gentrification is becoming a dirtier term. Even Reilly's NIZ gave a nod to affordability at the former Morning Call parcel

I suspect that those still invested in the District will have to assume a Fort Apache attitude, not only in regard to neighbors, but with the progressive city administration.

Tag Teaming The Pope

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal thought that the spat between Trump and Leo didn't hurt the Republicans too bad, that such disagreements were expected now and then. I disagree with the article's conclusion, but with Vance then jumping in, perhaps the author would also disagree.

In a more tempered administration, perhaps the VP would have gone out of his way to be the good cop. But there is no moderation in Trump's White House. The Trump apologists will comment that they're just more honest than I'm used to, but in reality, the Office of Diplomacy must have been in the torn down East Wing.

So you offend 20% of the population. You break alliances going back to WW2. You take a chainsaw to government services, and schedule cage matches at the White House. All that's fine if you care more about winning than quality of everyone's life. However, as some commenters tell me, Trump isn't running again. My question for them is will MAGA come out for 2028?

ADDENDUM: There were assorted opinions about how Trump would behave at the Correspondents' Dinner. Although it was abruptly interrupted, we're grateful that there were no casualties. How the incident will affect the rescheduled dinner remains to be seen. Trump doesn't seem to be treating the press any more reverently since the dinner, telling a 60 Minute host that she is a disgrace.

Taking Tuerk To Task

Between my issues with Trump, and my weariness of having patrolled Allentown for decades, Mayor Tuerk has mostly escaped my scrutiny. Understand that when the FBI came to Allentown about Pawlowski, this blogger wasn't surprised, I had been on his case for years. Likewise, I have become conditioned to the litter and noise now part of Allentown's fabric.

There is NOTHING that Tuerk could have learned in a conference in Madrid, Spain that justified his trip. Junket should refer to a milk based dessert, not a trip. Truth be told, there are too many potholes and loud dirt bikes that need tamping down here in Allentown.

While speaking Spanish helped Tuerk get elected, learning Pennsylvania Dutch might help him clean up the city. He should spend Saturday mornings at the Fairground Farmers Market, and ask the patrons what they would like to see improved in their neighborhoods.

Nagy Novelty Company

In Downtown Allentown's commercial years, stores extended 3 blocks out from Hamilton Street. The only remaining remnant of that era is the parking meters, which apparently haven't noticed that the stores have been gone now for over 30 years.

On 8th Street, also a couple blocks off Hamilton, was the Nagy Novelty Company. The dictionary defines novelty as a small, often cheap, cleverly made article, usually for amusement. The Nagys' had thousands of them, floor to ceiling. There were little jokes and gags, sometimes risque, passed around parties in the 40's and 50's. When you pulled " Miss Lola, The Snappy Bubble Dancer" leg's out, your finger got snapped. 

The Nagys', an ancient father, son and dog, stayed open till around 1980. I was never sure which one was the son. To me, as an aficionado of the old and curious, the store was a shrine. Items which they sold for a few cents, now sell on ebay for many dollars. They manufactured their own greeting cards. Shown here is the front and inside of an embossed card probably dating back to the 1920's.

Reprinted from Dec. 23, 2008

Hamilton Street's Golden Era

By the early 1950's, our major department stores were operated by the second generation owners. Max Hess Jr. become a merchandizer of national reputation. His store windows presented displays as sophisticated as any major city. One holiday novelty exists to this day, Pip The Mouse, and can be seen at Zion Church. The fourth floor toy department had eye popping, life sized, automated stuffed animals from Germany. Needless to say, Santa Claus was on duty at Hess's.

Families had their favorite department store. While my mother patronized Hess's, others were loyal to Leh's and Zollingers. Although I'm sure that their Christmas displays were also top notch, I have no personal memories. While we now charge citizens to drive through a park with lights, downtowns used to compete with attractive displays. Allentown was famous for the Bell Lights on our iconic light posts, which would rock back and forth, as if ringing. Although times have changed, this blog will remind those few who remember.

reprinted from December of 2012

Humiliation vs. Diplomacy

Trump's problem with the Trump War with Iran is that ending it takes at least grade school diplomacy, not schoolyard bullying. Threats to bomb them back into the Stone Age, or destroy their civilization, only appeal to the pickup truck MAGA and Republican partisans too afraid to speak out. Apparently diplomatically, the best Trump can do is threaten to destroy their bridges and power plants.

Everyone in the world knows that he is unfit for the mess he got us into, except the Ryan Mackenzies, hoping that only the MAGA remnants show up in November. He(they) are wrong about that. On the contrary, Johnny pickup with the flag will stay home, and the rest of the country will be out in force.

Post Trump there will be two problems, among others. One will be for Republicans, and another for Israel... both will suffer consequences. For Israel, the Trump MAGA will be gone, and traditional Democratic support has been challenged by Netanyuhu's aggression.  For Republicans, Trump's ballroom alone will piss people off for a decade.

Tenderizing Mackenzie

Although I'm registered independent, and although the Democrats are a month away from even choosing their candidate, the anti-Mackenzie mailing are increasing in both frequency and size. As someone long offended by the volume of such mailings, the size increase is another irritant.. Are they thought to be more noticeable in the short trip from mailbox to garbage pail?

The current batch are 8.5"x13", and printed in both English and Spanish. Once the Democrats pick their candidate, it will take a forest to provide paper for the cards mailed up to November's election.

Our 7th District is believed to be one of the most competitive in the country for the coming midterms...Competitive meaning expensive. I think that the votes swayed by the money spent are very few. Divide that money by those few swayed votes, and you have an enormous misappropriation of resources.

Canal Park Intervention Needed

Students of this blog know that I have been a long time critic of the park department's disregard of the infrastructure within the parks. While most of my criticism has been in regard to the WPA structures, they are just part of an overall pattern of neglect.

Recently, I was distressed about the replacement of the wooden pavilions in Cedar Park with wall-less metal sheds. Worse for my mental health, in between that decision and its implementation, they allowed the paint to peel away and the wood to rot for a decade.

As poor of a decision as that was, it pales in comparison to what's happening in Canal Park. In Canal, the incredible unique buttress wood supports are beyond peeling, into rotting. While the pavilions in Cedar Park were charming, the pavilion in Canal is irreplaceable. Although it is a shame, actually a crime, that it got to this point, there is a solution. Wood epoxy is available, which can be filled into the rotten crevices, preventing further decay. The uniqueness of this structure justifies such a restoration.

12th Street Church Of the Four Corners

As you approach 12th and Hamilton, although much money was spent on the Arc of Reilly, the corner is dominated by homemade tinfoil signs. The signs are religious in nature, and quite prevalent...They are what grabs your eye, not Reilly's arch.

Although I remain an outlander, I do occasionally communicate with the establishment. While the city is not happy about the display, it is like pesky bloggers protected by law. I also had a short chat with the pastor, who is steadfast about his mission.

Although much of my blog audience is distressed about my recent concentration on national issues, I do still patrol Allentown. Understand that as this blog approaches its 19th year, and I approach my cankerous 8th decade, I offer no apologies in regard to my blog topics.

The Arc de Trump

Trump's proposed arch is another example of mixing his pathological ego with bad taste. The arch at 250 feet tall would dwarf other structures in Washington, and have assorted gold gilded stuff on top. One hoped that destroying the East Wing with a giant replacement would have been enough for him, but with him it's never enough.

Trump has a model on his desk and said "... And this one is going to blow them all away. The one that people know mostly is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. And we're going to top it by I think a lot."

I noticed Republican partisans circling the wagons and referring to the Nixon era mad man theory. They might want to remember that things didn't end well for Nixon, nor did the next election for the Republicans.

We Have The Might, But Not The Leadership

Saudi Arabia is worried about Trump's blockade of the Straits of Hormuz. Their fear is that the Houthis in Yemen might constraint the Bab a-Mandeb Strait out of the Red Sea, where much of their oil is now shipping.

While we certainly have the most powerful military in the world, the leadership at the top is erratic at best. I couldn't imagine Trump and Hegseth navigating WW2 or any major conflict since. Neither one takes advice well, and neither one has the experience to lead.

In Trump 1, aka 45, the advisors had a short shelf life, but they were qualified. In current Trump-O-Mania, expertise was never sought, only blind ring kissing. The only constraints on the Trump show seems to be the stock market and the price of oil. Let us hope that we can muddle through until 2029.

The Gospel According To Saint Trump

I'm somewhat weak on my knowledge of the Bible, and refrain from evaluating Popes. President Trump on the other hand is apparently a biblical scholar, and wants Pope Leo fired. In Trump's post cage match sermon, he proclaimed that Leo isn't doing a very good job, and that Leo is a very liberal person.

Trump even released an illustration of himself laying his healing hands on a wounded man. As I've written before, I don't know what kind of psychiatric department Walter Reed has, but they might need to gear it up.

Susan Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, certainly is earning her pay, as is Karoline Leavitt. Explaining away Trump is no easy job. The apologists are sounding sillier every day. Imagine being a Catholic Republican incumbent running for re-election in November, and not speaking up?

ADDENDUM: By early Monday afternoon, Trump removed the image, explaining that it was meant to portray him as a doctor, and that he does make people "feel better". Unfortunately, I don't think that his explanation made anybody feel better about him.

Trump Tries To Buy Hungarian Election With Our Money

Either Donald Trump doesn't understand the concepts of democracy and diplomacy, or he thinks that as President he's above them. His wholesale attempt to influence the Hungarian election with his tweets should embarrass the Republicans, but they have become tone deaf to this administration.

A Trump tweet on his Truth Social, “My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy, as we have done for our Great Allies in the past, if Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian People ever need it,” Before Sunday's vote Trump tweeted, “We are excited to invest in the future Prosperity that will be generated by Orbán’s continued Leadership!” 

Orban lost the election bigly, even after Trump's tweets and Vance's visit. That of course is the good news for the Republicans, come November the bad news.

shown above Bela Lugosi, who migrated to America in 1920 from Hungary.

Trump's Quagmire, Netanyahu

Trump's ceasefire with Iran has multiple stumbling blocks, but none as unmanageable as Bibi. Netanyahu's negotiations with Lebanon about disarming Hezbollah, but continuing attacking them in the meantime, does the Lebanese civilians no good. If the Lebanese government had such capability, it would have done so already.

With both Iran and Trump wanting an exit ramp, the Lebanese may become the victim of the contrived truce. If Trump exerts himself enough, he has the cards to restrain Israel. 

Netanyahu had been waiting decades to see Iran's capacities degraded. Trump's compliance with Netanyahu's agenda will be costly for the Republicans, but it wasn't Trump's first or last compulsive decision.

2028 Presidential Election

I saw mention by non-MAGA Republicans that they hope their party can come up with a viable candidate for 2028, assuming that anyone currently associated with Trump wouldn't fit the viable definition. Likewise, I hear Democrats complain that their party never fails to sabotage itself.

I can believe that those associated with Trump, like Vance and Rubio, will be contaminated beyond electability. However, the lesson of MAGA for Democrats is going more to the center, away from the progressive agenda. 

As an independent, I hope such a choice presents itself in 2028, but I'm doubtful. The primary/convention system, although good on paper, often elevates those candidates with the least universal appeal. Furthermore, after 2.5 more years of 47, everyone may need a break from drama.

Mr. Vance Goes To Budapest

More and more, I refrain from commenting on my own posts. The Trumpers get more and more defensive, and accuse me of being a communist for opposing their leader. How would they explain both Trump and Putin supporting the same candidate in the Hungarian elections?

Vance traveled to Budapest to endorse Orban, who has ruled Hungary since 2016. While the European Union is hoping his opponent wins, the Trump administration supports Putin's man, Viktor Orban. 

It wasn't that long ago that American Presidents said, at least publicly, that outsiders should not interfere in  the democratic elections of other countries. We were concerned about Russian inference in our own  elections. We now have an authoritarian regime in our country, and support them elsewhere.  I remember when Hungarians revolted in 1956. I suspect that they too will remember when they vote on Sunday. Likewise, I think Americans had enough of Trump, and will vote accordingly against his sycophants come November.

Trump and Hegseth As War Criminals

Although too many Republicans, sycophants and cultists don't want to admit it, more and more of the world is viewing Trump and Hegseth as war criminals. Trump's statements have long been unpresidential, but now they are becoming downright uncivilized.

So the world knows that Trump is unqualified as a president, but when does our congress stand up? Yesterday he babbled to the world that if he destroys the power plants and bridges in Iran, the people are willing to suffer for a new government there. Of course he also called them animals, and encouraged them to protest last month, because he had their backs.

I notice on the blogs that he is defended by the anonymous. I can understand them not wanting to sign their name to such comments.

Allentown Chronicles Going Private

Several years ago, I started a new local Facebook group titled Allentown Chronicles.  My goal was for a group somewhat more historically oriented than the existing nostalgia groups, where members keep asking which shop had the best pizza or chili sauce. There's nothing wrong with nostalgia, and those groups are very popular, but there was no need for an additional one.

As administrator I have rejected countless people, from mostly the third world, who would like to sell the members a sweatshirt with Allentown printed on it.  While this was burdensome, I preferred  keeping the group public so that any current or former Allentonian had easy access.  The ever changing Facebook is now changing the guidelines, and anybody can join a public group without approval. 

On November 8th the group will become private. If you have been visiting the page but haven't yet joined, you may want to do so in the next few days. 

Shown above was a father promoting the Easter Egg Hunt in Little Lehigh Manor in the 1950's. Allentown has changed a lot since then, and the group-- through posts and personal anecdotes-- tries to provide a place for these recollections. 

photo courtesy of the Williams' family

above reprinted from November 5, 2021 

ADDENDUM APRIL 6, 2026: The Chronicles has continued to grow, and is pushing toward 11k members. While my posts there still reflect my personal experiences, more posts by others are becoming Wikipedia based. I have relaxed the guidelines somewhat, but try and keep the group unique. 

Here on Molovinsky, things have become somewhat more chaotic. My disillusionment with the Trump administration has alienated some of my readers. My unwillingness to continually beat up Tuerk has alienated some others. Allentown is a very different city than the one I grew up in. I still take the city, and especially the park department to task, but for 2020 standards, not those from 1955. And I still appreciate your readership.

Coincidence or Harassment?

Yesterday afternoon, after my post about the Kid Rock flyby, I got quite a surprise. A loud whirling noise awoke me from my prescribed afternoon nap. Outside my window, two large BlackHawk helicopters were circling my property, and one landed in my backyard. Before the soldiers got to my door, I photographed the copter still airborne.

I decided to open the door, rather than have them break it down. They grabbed my camera and took the film out. Unknown to them, I had also taken a photo with my cellphone. I called my congressman, Ryan Mackenzie, to complain, but nobody from his office returned my message.

I also called the office of the Attorney General, but apparently Pam Bondi is having her own issues. When a small town pizza blogger gets harassed, who is safe?  I guess you are, commenting anonymously, but I'd rather...

ADDENDUM: Secretary of War Hegseth removed the Chief of Staff yesterday, General Randy George. Fortunately, at this time, we're not involved in any military operations, which could be compromised by such a change.

ADDENDUM 10:00AM: Today Hegseth changed a long standing policy, and servicemen will be able to carry personal weapons on military bases. He brayed that he was honoring their 2nd Amendment rights. I know that there are military police and guards who are armed.  If Hegseth has the institutional military knowledge to make such a major change, I sincerely doubt. One wonders if the timing indicated that General George wasn't on board with the plan.

photocredit:molovinsky/vicinityofPatrickAF/SpaceForceBase

Flyby For Kid Rock

Army helicopters gave Kid Rock a private airshow. The White House musical favorite posted pictures on social media, causing some pushback. The base commandeer (101st), disciplined the pilots, but Secretary of War Hegseth overruled the suspensions.

When you have politics mixing in with military discipline, what could go wrong. It's not like we're in a war, rather just some conflict that President Trump sees ending soon.

He's going to address the nation Wednesday evening (It is 5:00 PM Wednesday as I pen this). Hopefully the public won't be distracted by the first moon launch in 53 years, and save their attention for President Trump. He's mad at NATO because they haven't come to our defense, but that's because we weren't attacked.

ADDENDUM 9:20PM: A delusional speech by a blowhard. If you're a Republican incumbent, such as our Ryan Mackenzie, and you don't open your mouth now, happy trails to you.

Trumps On Trump

Yesterday, Eric Trump was presenting plans of the proposed library for his father. DeSantis was renaming the Palm Beach airport for Trump. The library would be the tallest building in Miami, perhaps 47 stories tall. I seriously doubt that Trump ever read 47 books.

While my economy cable package does not provide the American standards like CNN or Fox, I do get the European stations. Let's just say that there is nobody in the world envious of our leadership. Between the East Wing ballroom and the proposed Arc, the self admiration is unprecedented. If we weren't bombing Iran, and if gasoline wasn't over $4 a gallon, it might be more amusing, but as things stand, it is just pathological.

The narcissism is one thing, the war is another. Trump can change his mind three times a day, or fifteen times a week, but those suffering loses in Tehran will have long memories, generational memories. Trump didn't understand why he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize last year. I don't think he is going to get it next year either.

Lilly Of The Valley

 I had to snicker when I read about the new Rt. 78 exit to accommodate the coming Lilly Plant. I snickered again when the article mentioned Don Cunningham. If there was any institutional knowledge about the valley, these developments wouldn't be heralded as such positives.

If you want to see a crime against the valley, drive on Rt. 22 before dawn or close to sunset. Although PennDOT planned to widen 22 over a decade ago, former influential state senator Pat Browne had that plan put on hold, so that the funding could be redirected to benefit the Jaindl holdings west of Allentown. Lo and behold, on Saturday the Morning Call reported that Lilly chose the area because of the new planned entrance/exit ramp.

So, while thousands of people sit bumper to bumper, day in and day out, on a road designed in the 1950's through Allentown and Bethlehem, we are told by Donny Cunningham that we won the brass ring?

Allentown Bails Out Real Estate Speculator, Again

When the Allentown Park system purchased two distressed brown fields from Abe Atiyeh, this park advocate complained. I know both the parcels well. The land down by Basin and Union Streets had no market value in the real world. In an old industrial area, where no industry remains, it also has no residential appeal. The other parcel, the old fertilizer rendering plant, also in a flood plain, also had no market. When the price got low enough, speculator Abe Atiyeh purchased them. Who knew that Ed Pawlowski, who always put himself ahead of the city, would buy them to expand and connect the park system. In my informed opinion, they can't properly take care of the existing system.

Atiyeh also purchased the nearby former quarry parcel, which later functioned as a cement mixing plant. The Allentown School system is purchasing that parcel from Atiyeh for future expansion of the Union Terrace Elementary School. Last time I checked, the Atiyeh parcel was across Union Street, and behind and beyond the sports fields.

The Allentown School District is distressed, not only in the classrooms, but on the board and in the administration.

Taking One Too Many For The Family

The fight magazines described Abe Simon as the giant from New York. He and my mother were cousins, and that connection sparked my interest in the Joe Louis era of boxing. Abe wanted to go to college, he had a scholarship, but his mother wanted him to fight... that's how tough times were in the late 1930's. Abe won his first thirteen fights, even knocking out Jersey Joe Walcott. 

In the fight shown above, Simon went toe to toe with Louis for thirteen rounds. That toughness earned him another title shot at Madison Square Garden in 1942. The first overhead strobe ring photo was of that fight. Another interest of mine remains B&W photography, and that era of boxing produced some classic shots. Those interested in the Joe Louis era might enjoy my December 2012 archive, which contains many of my boxing posts.

That 1942 title fight with Louis was the last of 47 bouts for Abe, although he had good offers to continue boxing. He had small parts in several films, including On The Waterfront and Requiem For A Heavyweight. He worked as a referee and for a Long Island police department. In his last years, he worked in several capacities at the Roosevelt Racetrack.

Stalingrad In The Ward

The number of new apartments being built in the ward is pretty amazing. While most of the development is greatly benefitting from the NIZ, the building wedged between Immaculate Conception Cemetery and narrow Railroad St. is conventional financing. My snipey headline derives from the location and its current appearance, without the final facade finish. On a Facebook post last fall, some people were upset about its imposition on the cemetery, but that judgement is beyond my pay-grade. 

The Neuweiler apartment project is enormous. All totaled, there will be hundreds of new apartments in that area. While our politicians talk about affordable housing and the need for more units, I have some doubts about the effect on the city. The Hamilton NIZ failed to gentrify that district. Will the new tenants have more effect in the Ward?

Slow Steps To Beauty

It took a long time, but the main steps down to Rose Gardens look beautiful. I speculate that the holdup was the mason waiting for the black slate like tread material. While the steps both here at the garden and Union Terrace were stone, I find the new treads both attractive and more durable.

While I'm complimenting the park system, allow me to confess a previous bad call on my part. When the Parknership announced that their first project would be the basketball court at Stevens Park, I took exception to that plan. I thought that the court would be underused and/or attract a nuisance crowd. I be wrong...every time I go by it is being utilized as they envisioned.

My current wish list for the park system involves Lehigh Parkway. The steps and landings on the Double Stairwell need to be restored. The water seeping through the landings is undermining both sets of steps. The previous dam debris piled around the stone piers of the Robin Hood Bridge needs to be removed. The concrete pieces should be lifted away by hand, so as not to damage the piers. The stairwell and bridge are objects of beauty which would be unaffordable to build in today's dollars, but we can afford to maintain them.

When Tariffs Were Trump's Big Fumble

The tariffs were Trump's first fumble, but nothing compared to the war with Iran. When Colorado Congressman Jeff Hurd voted against the tariffs, Trump supported a primary opponent against him. Now that the midterms are looking more precarious for the White House, he has bribed the opponent off, and is supporting Hurd.

Who could have foreseen that beating up our allies with tariffs could have consequences:) Who could have foreseen that attacking Iran could end up affecting world energy prices:) When a president has surrounded himself with such experienced, seasoned advisors, and is open to push back, what could go wrong:)

Although I believe that the Republicans will lose bigly in the midterms, it doesn't matter that much. Not having had 10cents worth of institutional knowledge in the Trump White House, will cost this country for at least the next decade.

Local Allentown Blogger Goes Underground

Michael Molovinsky was last seen early Friday making his usual morning rounds of the Allentown park system, Speculation is that upon arriving back home, he saw the article about the Russian blogger who criticized Putin, and immediately went into hiding.

Molovinsky has been accused of TDS, and worse, by his readers now for several months. He knows that Trump admires Putin, and has used the FCC and other government agencies to silence critics. 

                                                                     Joanne Silver, copy editor, molovinsky media

ADDENDUM: Mr. Molovinsky will remain underground, but has made provisions to resume posting himself, starting Tuesday morning. js/mm

Trump Tries To Control The Damage He Caused

How Netanyahu sold Trump on attacking Iran isn't completely known, although I suspect flattery played the main part. Trump must now restrain Netanyahu from bombing Iranian oil and gas infrastructure, to stave off Iranian retaliation against infrastructure throughout the Gulf. Trump is also scared of $5 a gallon gasoline before the midterms.

Another sector severely impacted by Trump's decisions is international travel to United States. Las Vegas and Disney parks are hurting, along with all the associated businesses and their employees. Yesterday, when I mentioned Vegas in a comment, a Trump supporter replied, yes, open the borders. The tourist industry has nothing to do with border security or boys in girl's sports, but with the world's perception of America under Trump.

A local Republican wrote on Facebook that opposition to the war is really just opposition to anything Donald Trump. Considering that the National Counterterrorism Director resigned because he felt Iran was no threat to us, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that support for the war is just support for Donald Trump. I fear the reality is even more disturbing. That the support for Donald Trump is really pure partisan politics, wanting a party to stay in power, regardless of policy.

United Gas Station, Front & Hamilton Sts. 1950

New Blog In Dodge

I have started a new blog with an old name, The Morning Chronicle.Net. I have alternately used that name with my independent conservative blog, now titled Rainy Morning.

The first post on the new venue concerns the crumbling ponds at the Rose Gardens. While Molovinsky On Allentown hosts a new post every weekday, The Morning will have no routine posting schedule. It will occasionally make note of local cultural and/or political events.

The Lehigh Valley blog scene remains meager. Most of the weight has been carried by Bernie O'Hare and myself for going on twenty years, but Northwestern and Truth have recently joined the fray. Some former Morning Call employees have a page, but with their hands out for donations:) My new blog only allows comments with a Google handle, either a real name or a pseudonym. Don't comment here that you don't want big brother watching you, he's watching you already!

Crime Against Cuba

I consider the blockage of oil to Cuba a crime. Cuba has gone dark, which includes home medical devices and other powered items essential to people's welfare. I'm astonished how malleable Marco Rubio is. Apparently, even being a senator was beyond his actual pay-grade, while as Secretary of State he is embarrassing...Witkoff and Kushner have been assigned to the lifting.

Trump jests that he might install Marco as governor or emperor of Cuba, or some such title. Trump promised no more forever wars, but he never said anything about endless conflicts. He essentially destroyed our alliances going back to WW2.  

Yesterday, a commenter stated that we should pull out of the Middle East and let Europe deal with the problem in the Strait of Hormuz. He may not realize that it is a problem that we created, and that our departure is the solution. Needless to say that the same commenter had no problem with our embargo of Cuba.

Havana in the dark

When The Bully Needs Help

If the schoolyard bully ever needed help, it wasn't given out of appreciation or other good reasons. Trump now must threaten NATO for help with Iran's control of the Straits. I remember the photo in his first term, pushing people out of the way at a G7 conference.

He has done more to alienate our former allies in 15 months than most Trump critics could have feared. His lack of history and diplomacy is stunning, and we're paying the price. The MAGA flags on the pickups will come down as the cost of living rises. 

The sycophants in the administration are being marginalized by their spineless compliance to his lunacy. Marco will never step beyond those oversized shoes he wore out of the Oval Office. The mission now isn't to make American great again, but to make America respected again.

Raging Against Change In Allentown

I know about raging against change in Allentown. When Billy Joel wrote the song, those days were much more old Allentown than today. Maybe a lot of factories were shut down, but the town was otherwise the same. In 1985, an upper middle class family from suburban New Jersey became my neighbors in Hamilton Park, so that their daughter could attend the acclaimed William Allen High. 

The Allentown School system is now more of a default for current residents, who cannot afford an alternative. Affordable housing is now the buzzword for politicians seeking the low income vote, which is a majority in Allentown proper. All the new buildings on Hamilton Street have no connection to the reality one block beyond.

A commenter on Friday's post about the commotion in a city park ended the comment asking "Why not post this comment?".  Apparently, I had passed on several of his comments recently. I pass on quite a few raging against the change in Allentown.  Allentown of 2026 is not the same city as 1975, but fifty years and two generations have passed, While I have increased the font size for myself and my older readers, I prefer not to dwell exclusively in the past.

Rumble In The Park

From what I can piece together from my low cost inland Space Coast office, there was a Fight Club event in Clyde E. Bosket, aka Valania Park. For a couple hundred or more youth to meet up at a designated place and time, it wasn't spontaneous, but promoted and circulated on social media.

The Allentown Police Department states that it was be investigated, and the responsible culprits held accountable. One must wonder if they will have more success with this mission than they're having with the dirt bike issue.

As a long time park advocate, I previously posted that I would be visiting city council with some recommendations. I have since changed my mind. In the past year I have made my suggestions known to several people who have influence with the system. It is their decision if they care to take advantage of my familiarity with the parks.

Trump's MAGA Mantle

The right leaning media wonders who will inherit Trump's blessing for 2028, Vance or Rubio? I believe that before then, it will be a cursing, not a blessing. Having a Trump sign on your pickup was one thing, costing $70 to fill the gas tank is another.

Trump has been promoting both of them, in a wholesale competitive fashion. Although I no longer practice neurology, it seems as if Trump has less and less filters, as they say. 

White House commentary about the war with Iran has been regrettable. Videos equating blowing up buildings with people inside as home runs are disgusting world opinion of United States. While Hegseth can only go back to Fox News after the term, if Vance or Rubio continue in public service, they will have to separate themselves from the current embarrassment of the Trump administration.

Trump Says The Buck Doesn't Stop Here

Toward the end of WW2, Harry Truman was famous for saying that the "the buck stops here"...Meaning that he takes ultimate responsibility for what was happening in his administration. In the Trump world, he only does the best the world has ever seen. The attack in Venezuela was the best the world ever saw, until last week, when the attack on Iran was the best the world has ever seen. This guy makes history every ten minutes.

My ultra conservative readers accuse me of succumbing to TDS. I'm afraid for them, that most of the world has also contracted the condition. I suspect come November, we'll find that the disease has also spread to the USA.

Truman was fighting a war forced upon us. Trump is fighting wars that he started. Truman was surrounded by the best people he could assemble. Trump only wants ring and rump kissers. When the weather breaks, the streets will be clogged with protesters. The Republican sycophants will claim that the protesters are being paid to be there. Outside my low rent office inland from the Space Coast, which was pure Trump country, the protests have begun.

Trump's Board Of Peace

Trump's Board of Peace is off to a rocky start. The Arab countries on the receiving end of Iranian missiles and drones think that Trump brought this on them to serve Netanyahu....and they are less than happy about it. With the exception of the Netanyahu faction, no country is happy.

Trump's ignorance of foreign policy, and his lack of adult advisors, is coming home to roost, big time. The Republicans will either attempt to reign him in, or go down with him. Staying silent, as they are now, will not sell within a couple more weeks.

Local midterm Republicans who were kissing the ring recently, like Ryan Mackenzie, have no time left to recover. However,  Senator McCormick, with his longer term, still has time to save himself. As Trump alienates the rest of the world and our former allies, like the UK, Republican leadership is needed in Congress, because it surely doesn't exist in the White House.

The Pawlowski Release

Yesterday's municipal players are cheering Ed Pawlowski's early release. Early might be a contested term, because his supporters think that he has already been incarcerated too long. Most ardent among his supporters has been Alan Jennings, who lobbied ceaselessly since Pawlowski was taken away.

Ed remains popular, because he empowered many people for his last election, while already indicted. These people were appointed to various committees for which their objective qualifications were questionable. Nevertheless, they became loyalists, even attending his trial daily.

Only prison loosened his grip on the city, and Matt Tuerk has since garnered the populist crown. Tuerk has likewise empowered people, but in a more qualified less Chicago fashion. A few things remain the same...a now older blogger continues to annoy the establishment with his institutional memory of an Allentown more and more forgotten.

Trump And The Kurds, Again

The Kurds are a resilient, stateless ethnic minority. While their ancestral Kurdistan lies in parts of what is now Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey, all those countries have resisted the Kurds' desire for autonomous regions. While defending themselves over the decades, they have also defended Christians and other minorities. 

Over the years, both Israel and United States have supported them, and benefited from their combat. In 2019, by withdrawing our forces in the way, Trump allowed Turkey to pursue the Kurds in Syria. It was then that I realized how ill equipped Trump was in foreign policy, and he had better advisors in his first term.   

Although Trump threw them under the bus, we now are again encouraging their combat inside Iran, against the Revolutionary Guard. The Kurds will not let a previous betrayal get in the way of their decision, they're used to changing winds. If they see an opportunity for an autonomous zone in Iran, and fair odds on the battlefield, they will fight. The big obstacle then may well be Turkey, which suppresses them on all sides of their border.

Molovinsky Reconsidered For Outer Space

Researchers of this blog know that two years ago I was rejected for a Seniors In Space program for psychological reasons. They thought since I can't get along with people here on earth, I would be particularly annoying in the Space Station. 

However, by chance, my criticisms of Trump got on local Jared Issacman's radar, and in appreciation of his recent appointment to NASA, he decided to have me reevaluated. I returned to Allentown for a few days to arrange placement of some earthly processions, and am now back on the Cape, in isolation. I'm not even on the second team, but rather the third. For me to actually be shot up, quite a few of my fellow seniors will have to drop out, for one reason or another.

In the meantime, I'm allowed to continue blogging between training sessions. However, supposedly for national security reasons, my posts will be reviewed before publication. I submitted a post about the UK Starmer saying Trump is no Winston Churchill... I title it Understatement. Another submitted post criticizes Trump for the new retaliatory tariff against Spain. If my tone toward Trump becomes more accepting, you'll now know why.

Move Over Henry Kissinger

Rubio told the media yesterday morning that Israel was going to attack Iran, and we had to join in to minimize the damage that would come to American bases in retaliation from Iran. Trump had told us on Saturday we were attacking Iran to stop their path to nuclear weapons and other aggressions on their part. By yesterday afternoon, Trump was contradicting Rubio, claiming Iran was ready to attack.

Most analysts give credence to General Caine's briefing, which indicated that it was a planned, coordinated joint effort with Israel. They conclude that Rubio's Israel version is to help Republicans in the midterms with voters upset with the new war.

In a more studied administration, the President and Secretary of State would have the same story. Trump described his negotiators as people doing this their whole lives. I know that Witkoff and Kushner have a background in real estate, it was news to me that they also were experienced diplomats. Move over Henry Kissinger.

Trumper Dilemma

As I often have written, there are two Trump factions...There are the MAGAs, and there are the Republican partisans. Like all couples, occasionally there is tension. The MAGA faction is upset because of the Epstein files. Who could believe that Trump ever chased women or soon to be women? The MAGA is upset because Trump seems to have forgotten about endless wars and regime changes. Who could believe that Trump ever knew or cared what he was talking about?

The partisans are upset because they can't afford to lose any MAGA votes come next November. They are upset because it's tiring to defend someone who changes their mind twice a week.

According to Trump, everything that he does is the best the world has ever seen. If he has a speech writer, that writer must be one of the worst any politician ever had. But then again, Trump was never a politician, but a cult leader, who is getting short in charisma.