St. Luke tops St. Paul

Rev. Richard Baumann, from St. Paul's Church on Walnut Street at 8th, is upset because he and his neighbors must replace sidewalks uplifted from city planted, fast growing trees. In fairness to Mayor Pawlowski, he was living in his hometown of Chicago, and never heard of Allentown when those trees were planted. We cannot ask Neal Kern, longtime director of public works and an Allentownian, because Pawlowski got rid of him; even his replacement is gone. Let up hope the good Reverend doesn't learn about 7th Street and St. Luke's Church; the sidewalks and trees there, were replaced at city expense for the same reason.

Verizon Workers Get Poor Reception

Townhouses on the former lots used for safe, convenient parking by the Verizon workers is a done deal. Officially, as reported on the Queen City Blog*, no decision will be made until March 19, but it is a done deal. Authority Director Tamara Weller and Mayor Pawlowski recently met with Verizon workers, and none appeared at the meeting; had they appeared, the ducks were lined up. Redevelopment Director Karen Pooley "happen" to be there with an alternative parking scenario for Verizon worker. The owner of the Dime Bank, "may" buy the parcel across the street from the phone building, and then "might" make it available for Verizon use. Although the official explanation for not closing the deal yesterday is to allow a few small frys an opportunity for review (they also stated they favor the project), Larry Hilliard, City Financial Director, wanted the extra time to negate future charges of a rushed deal. Board member Malcolm Gross wants the actual negotiation done under executive session, that is behind closed doors. By my calculations, the parcel price will be less than ten thousand per townhouse, a gift at our expense, including water and sewage in place. Under the Parking Authority operating charter**, it is unclear to me how they became a real estate developer, but then again I cannot see the big picture like Mayor Ed,

* http://blogs.mcall.com/allentown/2008/02/parking-authori.html

** http://204.186.114.89/about.htm


UPDATE: These lots are being sold for less than they cost in 1991 dollars. Although the Authority only declared the lots "excess" on Jan. 14, and only after then supposedly sent out requests for proposals, by Feb.27 we are told nobody besides Zawarski is interested, and he has a detailed proposal complete with architectural renderings. One hundred and twenty four paid parkers are being displaced, to build townhouses with store fronts which are not needed, which may well retard the viability of the existing buildings in that block. These lots were paid for on the backs of many Allentownians paying tickets and fine for many years. If this current Board of Directors is entitled is sell off assets at the Mayor's bidding, should be subject to scrutiny by a larger segment of the public.

Fish, Fishing pole, Fish Market

In the Lehigh Valley we don't believe in giving someone just a fish, or even a fishing pole, we give them a fish market. Alan Jennings Community Action Development Corp. makes people instant business owners. I know of no less than three of his start ups that have failed. At today's Allentown Parking Authority Board Meeting, another Jennings recipient expressed support for a questionable development plan. It is difficult for me to accept housing agencies making homeowners from those who do not qualify for conventional mortgages, especially during the last five years. I would have thought nothing down and bad credit was easy enough. But imagine the stretch to make someone a business owner. Surely poverty has become the growth industry in the Lehigh Valley.

Frankenstein Fails Polygraph

The monster, aka Allentown Parking Authority would be hard pressed to pass a polygraph test. In 2005, the former and current director of the Authority, testified in front of City Council that the majority of the merchants wanted the meter rate increased. They lied*. The Authority has always functioned for the betterment of the BIG BOYS on the backs of the smallest among us. In 1991 the Authority purchased the 13 parking lots owned by the declining Park N Shop for well over market price. Profiting from the buyout was Morning Call owner Donald Miller, Department store heir John Leh the 35th, Harvey Farr, and a few other good old boys. Keep in mind Hess's and Leh's department stores had their own parking decks, and the meters penalized the small merchants. Today the monster feeds on Allentown's poorest residents. Meters still extend out to 10th and Chew, 5 blocks well beyond the closest store. Over 100,000 tickets a year are issued to Allentown's poorest, mostly the intercity tenants. Now, 15 years after serving the needs of the BIG BOYS, the Authority again schemes for the connected. Now they give away the lots so that developers can have free to cheap KOZ opportunities. The new housing at 8th and Walnut was at the expense of the existing homeowners who used those lots as off street parking. The protest which came from a neighborhood group out of St. Pauls Church was labeled as naysayers to moving Allentown forward. Years ago the Authority paid millions for the lots, paid for them by aggressively ticketing the poor, and now are giving them back to the rich. The current plan is to "sell" a lot at 7th and Linden, used by the Verizon employees, so a developer can make a few bucks on unneeded townhouses.
Easton is beginning to realize their Parking Authority needs scrutiny. If they thought about it more, they may wonder why a town that size even needs an Authority at all. Please join me this wednesday Feb. 27, 4:00 pm at the Monsters house, 10th and Hamilton Sts., to support the Verizon workers attempt to retain their safe and convenient parking.

* I conducted a survey at that time, 40 out of the 47 merchants were opposed to the meter increase.(figures corrected since posted earlier today- actual survey will be posted in near future)

UPDATE: A small metered lot on 9th St., right off of Hamilton was given to Butz, another small lot on 8th was given to Brew
Works. These assets, intended to benefit the entire shopping district, are being given out by the Administration,
through the Authority, almost as party favors.

The Truth is Black or White

The truth is usually black or white, without a lot of gray in between. In the blogosphere, the gray scale is not disclosed. Some bloggers pretend to be reporters, and even cite journalist type ethics. Others clearly are less pretentious, but often more honest. Black or white, orange or pineapple, it's only what it tastes like!
Photo credit: molovinsky

Scotty and Mikey Agree

Click on image to enlarge
Scott Armstrong and I have been on the opposite side of most issues for years, but we both agree that the Home Sale Inspection Law is bad for Allentown. Scott feels " If this administration abuses the Sweep Ordinance and gives tickets to the elderly for putting their garbage out two hours early, how could you enable them with so much power over your home?" The apologists for the city claim the law will help control rental properties, while in fact the Rental Inspection Law of 1998 requires all new owners to notify the city for re-inspection. City Hall must concentrate on providing safe, clean streets, and keep their hands out of the homeowner's pocket and house. Scott and I will work together and bring this issue to a public ballot question.
Note that in the above clipping, the bureaucrat states home values increase more downtown in the historic districts, they never let reality interfere with their agenda.

Peter Schweyer Resign Lanta

Mr. Schweyer, congratulations on being elected to the Allentown City Council. If the truth be known, your not the first council member to belong to a board of directors whose activity effects Allentown. I suppose if a blatant conflict of interest arises, you could always abstain from voting on one panel or another. Certainly, belonging to two or more important panels is impressive politically, but I was hoping this council aspires to be more proactive than your predecessors. You know, Lanta may not always act in the best interest of Allentown. There are some of us who feel the recent Lanta changes have unnecessarily hurt the merchants of Hamilton Street, and the better interests of Allentown. Although your appointment to Lanta was an honor, your election to Council was a sacred trust; Mr. Schweyer, serve Allentown, resign from Lanta.

The Rose Garden

Last night at the City Council meeting, the consequence of having a mayor from out of town, with a staff from out of town, was painfully illustrated. Our new Parks Director presented plans to hire a consultant to remodel the rose and old fashioned gardens. There is a good chance that the consultant, sometime in his past, studied the Allentown Gardens, nationally renowned for their beauty and design. There is an old saying, don't fix that which is not broken. Mr. Mayor, stay OUT of the our gardens.
photo credit: Donald Lawson

Don't Get Cheated Again

Mayor Pawlowski told The Morning Call that those opposed to the Home Sale Inspection Law had ample opportunity to speak out against it. In reality most homeowners had no idea such an ordinance was in the works. City Council passed it on December 19th, their last meeting of the year. That evening the main agenda was the dismissal of the police officer and the raise for the mayor's position. Also that evening, when I questioned adding new responsibilities for code enforcement when they still had not hired a Director of Community Development, the administration replied an announcement was forthcoming. Since then, the newly announced director resigned because of his own code deficiencies. Last week the administration urged our community leaders to report their neighbors who are selling their house by owner. I believe such an intrusive law should not be based on such misrepresentations. Home owners should defend their property rights. I believe our ethics as a seller, and our diligence as a buyer have been, and are sufficient. I urge all citizens to call city council and ask that ordinance Home Inspection 109-2007 be repealed.

UPDATE: At the beginning of the meeting, City Council declined my request to consider repeal. I believe the citizens of Allentown deserve better than legislation through misrepresentation. I will endeavor to bring this issue to voter referendum.
UPDATE 2: After I left the meeting, Councilman Donovan proposed, and council accepted, a motion to restudy the issue, while the ordinance stays in effect. Although this course of action is less than satisfactory to me, I do appreciate his intervention.

How You Were Cheated

At the end of 2000, despite the majority of neighbors in opposition, The West Park Historic District was enacted. The City Administration, City Council and The Morning Call all cooperated in ignoring the true sentiments of the property owners and the State guidelines to implement what they felt was the public good. The presented documents were mailed to the opposers in a final report, return address: How You Were Cheated. My intention is to show how we must guard and fight against this sort of assumption by our elected leaders. I mean no offense to my friends who were on the other side of this issue.
click on documents to enlarge

Monster eats Handicapped

The Monster, also known as Allentown Parking Authority, having it's fill of bus riders and poor merchants, now has a yen for the disabled. The Allentown Department of Corporate Welfare, has decided to sell it's "North" lot near the Verizon Building, to develop another tax break, for surely there is no market for these projects in the real(estate) world. Although the disabled workers of Verizon are welcome to plea before the Authority Board and City Council, in reality they will just be a sneak preview of the "Monsters" menu. Until which time the public unites and organizes against the ParkingAuthority/Lanta/CityAdministration machination, our long term assets will be determined by only three or four people.

UPDATE: This post was written in reaction to a story in today's Morning Call by Paul Muschick. Paul wrote " Verizon employees are fighting plans by the Allentown Parking Authority to sell a N. Seventh Street parking lot, saying the sale would put them a risk and would burden the disabled because they would have to walk farther." A petition by the employee's says "If we were parking even a block or two away and had to walk the streets and alleys during these hours, the chance of becoming another crime statistic would greatly increase."

Tamara Weller, director of frankenstein, would consider adding disabled spaces near the Verizon Building(723 Linden). This is bureaucratic speak for "we will not change our agenda, but will give you a peanut if you squeal enough"; much as Lanta provided the merchants with a holiday shuttle bus between Hamilton Street and their TERMINAL

The article by Muschick entitled WORKERS FEAR LOSING ALLENTOWN PARKING LOT apparently is not included in today's mcall.com

UPDATE: Although not listed in the mcall content page, the staff from Queen City arranged an address to Muschick's article
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/all-b3_5parking-2.6253253feb01,0,1429145.story

Mistake of Parking Authority/Lanta

At the Allentown Speak Out forum, Zee, an elderly neighborhood woman, referred to the new Lanta Terminal as Port Authority. She has a point, did Allentown need a Port Authority? In reality the mission of both the Parking Authority and Lanta has become political and distorted, to the detriment of those whom they were intended to serve. I have referred to the Parking Authority in previous posts as a Frankenstein monster who preys on Allentown's poorest residents. Its appetite has recently expanded to include poorer merchants. If it wasn't enough for Lanta to remove the transfer stations from the historical stops near Hamilton Street, the Parking Authority now provides eating and shopping venues for their captured bus riders at the "Terminal". Once upon a time, in Allentown's heyday, the parking meters were monitored by two meter maids in golf carts, employed by the police department. The original mission of the Parking Authority was to facilitate parking for the merchants' behalf. Lanta was suppose to provide the public with transportation to those destinations which enhanced the economic well being of both the riders and the community. The new Allentown Transportation Center fails to serve both the merchants and the riders, conversely, it serves itself by being a mini-mall with virtual prisoners. Allentown City Council now has a member who is on the Lanta Board. The previous Council had a member on the Parking Authority. All the merchants are suffering on Hamilton Street, and already three are closing their doors; City Line Creamery, Hamilton Perk Cafe, and Mish Mash Boutique. The Terminal, new or not, should be closed, and the transfer stops on Hamilton Street should be restored. The public interest is better served by the survival of the Hamilton merchants, than the utilization of the parking deck's adjacent Lanta Terminal.

Mayor has it Backwards

The Mayor thinks the city should be involved in the sale of your home, and you should help fight crime. Here's an idea, instead of hiring more inspectors to intrude on our property rights, hire more police and protect the homeowners. Speak out saturday at noon, Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12th St.

SPEAK OUT FOR THE ELDERLY

Some of the people most affected by the Lanta changes and the Home Inspection Ordinance are the elderly. They enjoyed shopping on Hamilton Street the most. Over the years they became on a first name basis with the managers and owners who served them. Two long term business's are shutting their doors as a result of Lanta; Mish Mash Boutique and the Hamilton Perk Cafe. Drive by the new Lanta Transportation Center and see the elderly sitting on cold metal benches waiting for the bus, not too stimulating. Imagine being an 83 year old widow, struggling with the need to sell your house and move into assisted living. Your reward for being a long-term conscientious taxpayer is now the city mandates upgrades you never enjoyed or could really afford, all the years you lived there. Speak out this Saturday, 12 noon, Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12 St., Allentown
photo credit molovinsky

ALLENTOWN SPEAK OUT

Speak out about issues in Allentown that affect our quality of life. Speak out about the new Home Inspection Law that most homeowners do not know about. Speak out about the Parking Authority and Lanta. Speak out about crime being under reported. Are you concerned about rising school taxes? Are you frustrated by zoning that negatively impacts our school system? Are you tired of City Hall and The Morning Call framing the issues. It's our house, it's our garden, it's our future. Please join us next saturday, Jan. 26, 12 noon, at the Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12th St. (between Turner and Chew) and speak out!

On Vocation

My agenda for the meeting at Faith Baptist Church on Saturday, Jan. 26, at 12 noon, is to question Allentown's moral authority to step between a taxpaying homeowner and his buyer. City Council will be invited to the meeting. I welcome all to come, and expand the agenda to your concerns.
I took the above photograph, so we are not the couple shown.

UPDATE: Apparently, The Parking Authority and Lanta, in addition to the Dunkin Donuts, will have a convenience store. In
addition to my concerns about the Home Inspection Ordinance 109, I will expand the meeting to again rally against
the arrogance of Lanta and the Parking Authority in their disregard of the Hamilton Street merchants.

Who will Watch the Inspector

The departure of Mr. Banuelos, because of the revelation of his own code violations, illustrates on what shaky authority Community and Economic Development will begin inspecting private houses for sale next month. Perhaps it would be more appropriate for Allentown to concentrate on providing homeowners clean, safe streets. Perhaps it would be better for the city to not expand its menu of operations until which time a proven chain of command has been established. A realtor who endorsed the ordinance stated he liked having his liability lessened by the city inspection; will debt ridden Allentown have to be liable for any inspection oversights? Should an exiting City Council, have passed an ordinance which will sooner or later effect every homeowners rights and wallet, with such little deliberation during the last meeting of the year?

A Peak Inside the New City Council

According to today's Morning Call, Michael D'Amore and Tony Phillips became president and vice president respectively, with no opposition. Hardly, in truth, it is the first crack in the Pawlowski facade. The opposition, my term, otherwise referred to by the administration and its sycophants on the blogosphere as nay-sayers, whiners, crybabies, nutz and emotionally unstable, managed to wedge D"Amore's ambition to be president with the election of Phillips. Although the new council are all democrats, I'm encouraged that more due diligence will be exhibited.

A Peak Inside the Art Scene

In the late 1970's I operated Allentown Photographic, a custom darkroom, at 12 N. 8th St., in the old Strand Movie Theatre Lobby. As mentioned in an earlier post, Greg Weaver routinely hosted large gatherings and showings at his studio. Larry Fink was an up and coming photographer and Jett Ulaner Sarachek was taking her first photo's. Barnaby Ruhe began doing portrait marathons while Gary Hasey encouraged the jazz scene. There was no art park, no art district banners.
The above image is from a series a photographs I took for Channel 39 for a program entitled "Accent on Aging".

A Personal Journey

I was at a party where the host recently acquired a lawn sculpture. Unknown to him, it was essentially comprised of an old Jewish tombstone of a wife and mother who died at the age of 25 in 1918. It's a beautiful carving of a branchless tree trunk, symbolizing a life ended prematurely. I became concerned as to where this stone had come from. Who would know if their great-grandmothers stone was taken?
I had no idea where my great-grandmother was buried. I searched for this young woman's grave. Finally, Rabbi Juda directed me to the old Agudath Achim Cemetery in Fountain Hill. There I found the woman, M. Azrilian, with a new grave marker. Next to her lies Jeannie Molovinsky, my great-grandmother. Now I know!
My thanks to Rabbi Juda and M. Azrilian (1893-1918)

I wrote the above piece on July 18, 1997. In my search for M. Azrilian, I discovered Mt. Sinai Cemetery inside Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh St., subject of one my early posts. The photograph above is the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem.

Defend Your Home Jan. 26

Rally against Allentown's new law inspecting all private homes for sale. Let the city first make the streets clean and safe, before intruding on private property rights. Say no to mandatory inspection fee's. Meeting at Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12th St. (between Turner and Chew Sts.) at 12 noon on Sat. Jan. 26.

BrewPub Owner Serves Himself

Today's Morning Call contains an incredibly self serving letter by the owner of the Allentown BrewPub; http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/letters/all-fegley.6198304dec30,0,1003821.story
Mr. Fegley is not happy that the newspaper reports some of the crime in center city, which in turn could scare some clientele away. He refers to a set of new enterprises and their owners as visionary, but neglects to mention that without exception, they were all highly subsidized by the taxpayers and abated of both local income and real estate taxes. He shows no awareness of the plight of the original merchants, and lauds the new Lanta Terminal, which displaced their customer base; He thinks Hamilton Street is there only for these new "visionaries." In a final confirmation of his entitlement to customized news coverage, he actually "lives" in town near the peasants.

Sheftel & Malenovsky

In 1920, two brother- in-laws, bought a truck and started dealing in cloth scraps from the many sewing factories in the Lehigh Valley. By 1950 the firm was called A. Sheftel and Sons, but scattered throughout the valley, were still buildings with the older Sheftel and Malenovsky banner painted on the side. Other families also traded in the by-products from the large local needle trade industry, mainly the Levine's and Pearlman's. Although the factories declined locally, the Sheftel sons' grew the business nationally, and today it is operated by the third generation. In the minds of old timers, the Sheftels and Malenovskys are still linked. By coincidence, less than 24 hours after a previous posting concerning my maternal grandfathers citizenship paper, I received a call from the Sheftel family. They had no real knowledge of me, much less my blog. They had discovered, that in their possession, was a copy of my paternal grandfathers citizenship paper, Aaron Moloviensky. My family, in the 1930's had attempted to "Americanize" our name, by changing it from Moloviensky to Molovinsky, it didn't work. Apparently, at sometime in the past, after a local Jewish History exhibit, someone had placed the Moloviensky document in the Sheftel-Malenovsky folder.

Morning Call as Magician

In a clumsy act of distraction, today's Morning Call editorial, tries to shift the blame for firing the police officer from the mayor to city council. In reality, magic aside, Allentown City Council has NEVER voted against the mayor's preference on any issue since his election. Council's function as a rubber stamp is a matter of public record, making today's column nothing more than damage control for the mayor, in regard to a very unpopular decision with the general public. Blind support of the mayor is bad enough, using others as a scapegoat is worse.

King of the Gypsies

According to my mother, a Gypsy king was buried in Allentown in around 1960, she knew about such things. She was born in Galgo, Hungary, an area of Transylvania, now part of Romania, near present day Gilgau. In Galgo, the Jews and Gypsies lived on the edge of town. In the early 20's, my grandparents, along with their Gypsy neighbors, came to Bethlehem to work at the Steel. On weekends, to make extra money, my grandparents would open their house and show Hungarian movies. None of their relatives, Jew or Gypsy, save one cousin, survived the nazi's; even the cemeteries were desecrated. As you can see from the document above, my grandfather earned his citizenship the hard way.

King of the Castle

All homes sold will now be inspected by the City of Allentown. They want to protect new residents from deficient properties. Who will protect Allentown from deficient new residents? There is no need for the inspection program, no less than 19 contractors are in the yellow pages offering the service to those that want or need it. When your showing someone your house for sale, the last thing you need is Mayor Pawlowski sitting on your toilet, and Allentown City Council in your bathtub. For most of us our home is our main asset, I think the Morning Call should inform the homeowners that they are no longer king of their castle.

Sold Down The River

Last night Allentown homeowners got sold down the river by both the city and county elected officials. The county commissioners voted to give 1.5 million dollars to several organizations to make "middle class" homeowners. Those of us familiar with these groups realize the real middle class doesn't need such assistance, and we are again just financing the poverty magnet. Allentown City Council approved a new law mandating that every property must be inspected by the city before it can be sold. Three realtors, portraying themselves as representing the realtors association, endorsed this proposal. After the meeting, in the hallway, they conceded the realtors were never polled on this issue, and as officers of the association they took that decision upon themselves to make. Also in the hallway, the mayor thanked them for their cooperation in this matter. Allentown would be better off, if both the city and county officials, recognized we need self-sufficient home-buyers; The long term taxpaying homeowners, should have the right to sell their house, without the city getting between them and their buyer.

Pawlowski's Patronage Positions

During the mayoral campaign of 2005 I was aghast at Pawlowski's blatant acts of pandering. He would point out to the audience and say "There's a man who will work at city hall if I'm elected"., "That woman will be at city hall if you elect me"; even the person who carried his briefcase during the campaign now works at city hall. Although I will not reveal the names or positions of these individuals, let me assure you their jobs are by no means necessary, and we would all be better off with a few more police officers. This brings me to an article in today's Morning Call, that Louie Belletieri is resigning his unnecessary job, because he couldn't handle the frustration with City Hall's slow pace and bureaucracy. Fortunately for Pawlowski, the reporter doesn't realize that as Director of Community Development under Afflerbach, Pawlowski implemented and spend $3 million dollars remodeling city Hall to make it efficient and business friendly. Although this past October, Pawlowski hired a second coordinator to help people through the city permit process, and Louie said "it's not like the real world," the mayor hopes to refill the "position" as soon as possible. It's not the real world.

Pawlowski's Poor Excuse

Someone once told me the difference between Parkland and Allen is that the Parkland kids can buy better drugs from nicer dealers. There's probably a lot of truth to that statement, and I think truth goes a long way in problem solving. I didn't take much consolation in Mayor Pawlowski's statement that he spent his first two years reviving Allentown financially, and now will focus on crime; those words are almost enough to make me go out and buy a bullet proof vest. All the solutions offered, such as the Route222 anti-gang task force, surveillance camera system, yearlong study of police force, Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and the anonymous tip line, ignore the politically incorrect reality that there is a correlation between poverty and crime. Although the administration wants to make Hamilton Street appear more affluent, by relocating the bus riders to sabotage the existing merchants, elsewhere Allentown remains a publicly financed poverty magnet. The mayor of Hazleton, although offering no solutions to the national dilemma of immigration, sought to avoid its consequences in his community. Allentown can ill afford to lead the nation in a solution to poverty, drug abuse and crime.

Dr. Lee County

With Lehigh County moving forward with a possible health agency, I hope they remember the Hippocratic oath to do no harm. As a baby boomer I have been concerned with reports of fluoride contributing to brittle bones. It's my understanding that fluoride only helps the teeth of young children, and can be effectively applied topically, and enhanced through toothpaste and mouth wash. The current director of the Allentown Health Bureau can foresee dental programs as a component of a regional department, perhaps that would be a more appropriate venue to provide fluoridation to children. Although my demographic might benefit from valium or viagra in the water supply, I think pure water should be the regional goal.

Lanta Lacks Manners

Although not reported today in the Morning Call, merchants and bus riders attended the Lanta meeting yesterday. Apparently a pattern is emerging, while the board does not respond or ask questions during public input, after the speakers leave the room, their comments are dismissed under the nay-sayer category. According to report today in the Express Times, board members wonder where the complainers where during the seven years of public planning. I, as a public meeting junkie, never heard of the project until which time it was announced. If not for the Allentown Parking Authority building the deck and needing some more state money, there would be no Lanta transfer station. Will Lanta build a station on their own without the Riverwalk project in Easton? Has Lanta been holding public meetings on the Easton project for the last seven years?

Monster as Landlord

Can anyone explain why the Allentown Parking Authority should be a landlord? It is apparently not to make money, because the rent is far below the cost to construct the square footage. It is not to serve a local neighborhood need or the need of the bus riders, few of them purchase private vineyard wine or natural fiber designer clothes. Here's the answer; because Linda Kauffman, former director of the Allentown Parking Authority, thought it was a good idea. She also wanted stores in the new deck at 4th and Hamilton, but City Council decided not to compete with local investors. So now we have a parking deck which is mostly empty, a Lanta Transfer Station which is putting the Hamilton Street merchants out of business, and a new subsidized yuppie who will fail anyway because she is in the wrong location for her product. Ms. Kauffman retired and moved to the Maryland beach.

Hark The Herald

The holiday season is not an easy time to question a faith-based initiative, but it is sure an opportune time to announce one. Last week in Mayor Pawlowski's weekly press conference he announced his Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, to be run by one of his special assistants. Today, in the Morning Call's monthly endorsement of Mayor Ed, the "office" was heralded as an imaginative way to improve the city through the mayor's "moral leadership". One must wonder what the members of The Council of Churches, Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding, and CUNA (Congregations United for Neighborhood Action) feel they have been doing for the last twenty years?

Once Upon a Time

This image heralds back to once upon a time, when traffic, buses and shoppers on Hamilton Street were desired, much less called congestion. Although Lanta's circulator bus has only attracted 12 riders a day, their new concessions, which do not start until Feb.11, only add stops on 7th and 8th streets to the northwest and south sides. No concessions will be made for the Hanover Ave. and east side passengers. Lanta has clearly put the justification of their new transfer station over the survival of our merchants. I ask you to join me, merchants and bus riders on Tuesday Dec. 11, at 12 noon at the Lanta Headquarters, 1060 Lehigh Street, to let them know their still doing too little, too late.
The image is part of a watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler

Lanta gives Coal

Despite the media attention yesterday, I'm afraid Lanta gave the merchants a piece of gift-wrapped coal for Christmas. The main concentration of stores on Hamilton Street are between 7th and 8th. These merchants were dependent upon the transfer stops located there and around the corner. The bus riders would shop while waiting for their connecting bus, and could always take the next, if they missed the first. The circulator bus failed, because it was not convenient to ride from the Lanta Transfer Station to Hamilton Street, and then back again to the station, to purchase an item or two. A Lanta board member stated he is not sure its Lanta's responsibility to appease the merchants. I would think it is Lanta's mission to care about the riders, and Hamilton Street provided them with a convenient, affordable shopping venue. The new announced Lanta bus stops on 7th and 8th streets are not transfer stations; more troubling, they do NOT include the routes which provided the most shoppers for the affected merchants, the routes which go to the east side, A, E and G. I do not relish appearing ungrateful for accommodations being made by Lanta, but I believe the survival of the Hamilton Street merchants is more important for the community than the fullest utilization of the Lanta Transfer Station.

Monster is generous

Resident Allentown Monster Frankenstein, aka, Allentown Parking Authority, will share its spoils in the form of an annual wage increase of 7% for the next three years. In return workers will have to pay something toward health insurance if they choose the premium policy option. This creature writes over 100,000 tickets at year and still has meters as far out as 10th and Chew, five blocks beyond the closest store. The "Authority" is a blatant nuisance tax against Allentown's poorest residents.

Low Class Lanta

Yesterday, Mayor Pawlowski rode the bus. "We have great transportation for a region of this size. Right now, the bus is confined to people who don't have the opportunity to own a car,'' he said, ''but how do we make it attractive for middle-class folks like myself to use it?''
Perhaps have two separate bus lines based on class? Perhaps move the current low class users off Hamilton Street?

Hotel Traylor Press Conference

When you conduct a dog and pony show, there is always the danger you will step in the animal excrement.

ALLENTOWN ON MY MIND

When Billy Joel sang "Allentown" in 1982, then Mayor Daddona invited the singer to come and see what a vibrant city we still were. He was afraid the negativity of the lyrics would hurt the city. Today there are many people who yearn for the good old days of the early 80's. Likewise, I'm sure there are people in Camden who would be offended by anyone thinking of their city as a metaphor for being distressed. My concern is Allentown's reality. I believe perception, is just an impression, by people, of a place they don't go to anyway.

Camden On The Lehigh

Last evening when I entered City Council Chambers, as is my custom, I scanned the document table for the agenda and specific ordinances under consideration. There on the table, printed, fastened and disguised as an official document complete with charts, was an attack piece against one of the nay-sayers or reactionaries who challenge the administration. The victim was Robert Romancheck, who served on the zoning board for 12 years, and is a neighborhood leader in the Raub Middle School area. The fabrication stated Romancheck mismanaged Perkasie, resulting in a tax increase. Coincidentally, todays' Morning Call has an article on Perkasie which features that boroughs financial stability. The victim or misinformation to me is irrelevant, the fact that it was on the document table was outrageous. Between the committee meeting and the regular Council Meeting, I approached our elected, appointed and hired officials with this document and my discontent about it. Their reaction, to the man, ranged from amusement to indifference. I contribute this cavalier attitude to the one party sweep this past election. I believe Mayor Pawlowski, although a misguided micro-manager, has integrity and is free from corruption; however, an arrogance has taken over city hall, and we know where that will lead us in the coming years.

Chinese Execution

In China bureaucrats who under perform are executed, here in the Lehigh Valley they are submitted to me. Yesterday the public was invited to participate in the transportation study by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission; I was the public. Because Lanta is one component of the Valley's transportation, I chose to address my concerns with that organization. After being told I was off topic, since I was the extent of the public, I decided to ignore their request and continued speaking. Although I never have revealed this before, even for the mayoral campaign, I have a degree in communications from Emerson College. I challenge all readers to go the Commissions' site and figure out the proper topic of yesterdays hearing. (they control millions of your tax dollars) Not one member of the board (at least 15 people) said one word to me after I spoke; so much for public participation, the thousands of our money they spent advertising in obscure legal journals, their legal requirement was met.

Fly In The Soup

If I saw a shrink for my frustration about Allentown, I would have to be in therapy all day. If I took sedatives, I wouldn't be able to stand up, instead I run for office and blog. Pawlowski announced his plan to restore the city on Friday; continuously inspect every inanimate object in Allentown. This professional advise came from a former Philadelphia housing guru, of course a fly in the soup is that Philadelphia is the corruption and murder capital of the world. Allentown's Rental Inspection Law failed to upgrade the city; while you end up legitimizing slumlords with certificates of occupation, you cannot legislate pride of ownership. Many local conscientious owners sold out rather than submit to the bureaucracy, increasing the frequency of inspections will again backfire. Although Pawlowski (and Cunningham) campaigned about their grand plans and communication skills, neither even knew the Allentown School System was going to demand reassessment; It's time for the taxpayers and citizens to reassess who they elected.

UPDATE: The current Rental Inspection Law, started in 1998, calls for an inspection every 5 years. This administration(and Pawlowski was in charge in the last one) has yet to inspect every rental in the city since the program started(over 20,000). The new plan calls for inspection once a year, do the math, we would need more inspectors than we have police officers. How do you spell much bigger city hall and taxes.

Bureaucrap

In a move of arrogance Lanta announced they will operate a shuttle between their Transportation Center and Hamilton Mall. Hamilton's merchants were adversely affected by the removal of three transfer stations. The bus riders, while waiting for a bus, would patronize the stores, always having the option of conveniently taking the next bus. Will they make a trip from the Transportation Center to the mall and then back to the Center? Although running the shuttle will be an extra expense to Lanta and not help the merchants nearly as much as returning one transfer station, it allows the bureaucrat to appear responsive.

Afterthought: My fellow blogger, Bernie O'Hare, who is more diplomatic than I am, gives Pawlowski and Lanta some credit for finally feeling the merchants pain. It took 9 weeks and simultaneous reports from the Morning Call and WFMZ-TV to stimulate this empathy.

Ex Recreation Chief No Fun

Today the Morning Call reported that former head of recreation, Tom Smith, is suing Pawlowski over the loss of his job. The reporter states it's not unusual (great Tom Jones song) for top administrators to leave a new government; I disagree, for four top people to leave a city government is very unusual. Three of the four were employed in the 30 year range, through 7 administrations of both parties. Two of the four were the most respected people at city hall. What is unusual is this lawsuit. Most seasoned people adhere to the code of silence, burn no bridges, and take advantage of their contacts to gain employment with another bureaucracy. The apologists for the administration keep referring to dead wood, they ignore the fact that under Afflerbach, Community Development Director Pawlowski praised and promoted these same people.

BILL NO. 109-2007

An ordinance requiring the city inspection all residential properties sold in Allentown has started winding its way through city council. According to its sponsor, Julio Guridy on behalf of Mayor Pawlowski, its purpose is to protect new residents from deficient properties. I wonder who will protect properties and Allentown from new deficient residents, but I digress. The problem with this proposal is that there is absolutely no need for it and the timing couldn't be worse. The majority of mortgage companies require an inspection, and no less than 19 outfits advertise the service in the yellow pages. Almost all real estate agents recommend the service to buyers. The 83 year old widow who has lived her lifetime in a modest rowhouse with 60 amp. service and original windows will be forced to upgrade for a new owner,( or compensate new owner for upgrades) with no return on that expenditure. Let me clarify that all rental property, or property bought to rent, is already inspected under an existing ordinance. As the real estate market enters a down turn, Allentown finds another nuisance tax(inspection fee $200); never mind that the director of the dept. has not been replaced since his "departure" last spring, and his supervisor has not been replaced since her "departure" this summer.

Pawlowski Podium Position

Although there has been no news about replacements for Building and Code Enforcement, or Community Development, Pawlowski is expected to announce early next week a position for press conference podium placement. Sources for this blog report probably the position will be filled with someone from Philadelphia.

Battling Lanta

On Tuesday Nov. 13, at 12 noon, bus riders, merchants and citizens will meet at Lanta Headquarters at 1060 Lehigh Street to address the consequences of removing stops off of Hamilton Street. The historic covenant to provide public transportation to our city shopping district has been compromised. Please come and support this congregation of concerned citizens.

Thoughts on the Election

Michael Schware(R) for Allentown City Controller if you believe counting your change or balancing your checkbook is not an insult to your clerk or bank.

Bob Smith Jr.(R) for Allentown City Council if you believe reading a contract before you sign is not an insult to your contractor.

Dean Browning(R) for County Commissioner if your not positive Don Cunningham can walk on water.

Todd Larmer(D) for Allentown School Board if you believe financial knowledge is helpful for a $220 million bond.

Shopping on Hamilton Street

When I was born, my parents lived on 17th Street near Queen City Airport. The streets in our neighborhood — Liberator, Coronado and Catalina — were named for some of the World War II planes built there at the Vultee factory. I vaguely remember taking the trolley over the 8th St. bridge for our saturday shopping trips on Hamilton St; I clearly remember taking the bus. The transit station was on south 8th Street, 75 feet from Hamilton. I can't imagine what Max Hess and John Leh would have said had Lanta moved the terminal and customers to 6th and Linden Street, but then again who cares now about a few Asian merchants.

Queen City Daily

The Queen City Daily, the Morning Call's reporter blog(which is more like a weekly) today asks the city council candidates three questions; one of which is their opinion on the Lanta changes. Three candidates supported the merchants, two of which did so before the meeting, as reported earlier on this blog. I would especially like to compliment Jeanette Eichenwald for her unequivocal statement. I appreciate the fact that she and Michael Donovan are willing to go against the Mayor's position on this issue.(Bob Smith is the third supporter, while Peter Schweyer and Dave Bausch defend Lanta.) The survey was conducted by Paul Muschick. Below is a second email between myself and Michael Donovan which I have not previously released;



Yes, I would favor restoration of some stops...I would strongly favor is more like it! Please stress that I also feel that light sequence is important, also.

On the gentrification issue, I just don't know enough to comment. I wasn't in the meetings to hear opinions. However, I will stand by my comment that I do not think that all relevant parties were involved in the decision. As will be my battle cry for the next four years ... who are the appropriate parties that should be at the table for any public decision.

Best regards, and thanks again.

Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: MMolovinsky@aol.com
To: Michael@DonovanforAllentown.org
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: meeting on lanta

Michael,
thanks for your reply. as you may know there are those who feel political considerations involving gentrification of hamilton street were behind lanta decisions. would you care to comment on that topic, and would it be fair to summarize, "yes" that you would favor the restoration of at least some stops on hamilton st.