Rose Colored Glasses

Before I became the politically correct blogger you read here, I had a darker site known as www.molovinskyformayor.com
I still keep that site up for those who prefer not to wear rose colored glasses. At the bottom of it's home page there are several links; Problem of the Month, Insights and New Approaches (also campaign 2005). I no longer add to the site, but think of it as a internet archive. (At the bottom of this page there is a hyperlink to the site) Essentially, it outlines undesirable consequences of good intentions. Last week Alan Jennings announced that KNBT and PPL have contributed 1.5 million dollars to be doled out by a newly formed Alliance of Grantmasters. I suppose that will require another director of handouts. The parent banks and electrical utility know Alan well. Nobody is better at bending their arm than him. How many branches will you open up in center city? How many months of free electric will you provide before pulling the meter?

School Board Does Homework

I give the Allentown School Board an A for electing Bob Smith Jr. as their new president.* Bob served on the board since 2003 and is also head of the Allentown Republican Committee. Allentown has been blessed over the years by the dedication of numerous citizens. Many of them never seek or achieve high profile positions, but clearly are the workhorses from which we all benefit. In addition to serving the interests of his east side neighborhood, Bob attends most City Council meetings. There is no position for which he would not receive my support.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b9-5asd.6697620dec07,0,2095825.story

WaterWar

Long ago a once prosperous city had a huge water demand to meet the need of its various industries. These industries varied from basic goods first designed in the 1800's, to high tech inventions servicing the world. Today, a minor league baseball stadium occupies the space that was needed for parking by thousands of workers making the first transistors; and then the first silicon chips needed for the electronic revolution. The production of these chips required millions of gallons of clean water, and Allentown met that demand. Today the industry is gone, and we are led by people with no memory of that era, or even why the water capacity was created. Although the industrial demand for water never returned, the growth of the surrounding municipalities has created a need for our over-capacity. For the last two years, the City and County have squabbled over who would pay for a pumping station. With the county threatening to drill additional well's and avoid buying more water from Allentown, the two jurisdictions seem to have finally overcome their differences. Allentown City Council has declined, at this point, to approve a request by the Administration for a water rate increase. Allentown taxpayers should not have to pay more for something we already have too much of.

City Hall Bloat

City Council prevailed on Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski to hire four more police officers than the four submitted in his proposed 2009 budget. According to freelance reporter Sarah Fulton, Jeanette Eichenwald convinced the Mayor this increase was warranted. We in the local blogosphere know Michael Donovan also supported the additional manpower. Considering how many officers may retire this year to benefit themselves by the infamous "PensionGate", a true wild card, will we really reach a force of 214? Considering Pawlowski gave a press conference last spring saying he would concentrate on public safety, why didn't the proposed budget include at least eight more officers? Although City Council questioned the necessity of the Mayor's professional service fund, they have yet to question all the additional administrative positions added by this mayor.

A Blogger and Historian

The third time I came across the same site,
searching three different subjects; Bethlehem Steel, my mother's maiden name and the Fairview Cemetery, I realized Mr. Berghold was a remarkable person. A couple years ago he quickly returned my inquiry concerning Hungarian Jews during the war. Jerry Berghold was born here in Allentown in 1930, and passed away this past August in Virginia. You can enter his many enduring websites from this address;
http://www.burgenland-bunch.org/homepage.htm

UPDATE: The Burgenland refers to Eastern Austria and Western Hungary. Although Mr. Berghold started as a genealogist researching the multi-ethnic heritage of the immigrants to our area from that region, he became a humanist who grew a few emails into a worldwide, 1500 member interaction.

Merry Pawlowski

Last night, as I went to sleep concerned about the impropriety of The Morning Call featuring Pawlowski's picture on the city map, little did I know I would awake to another full page picture of the mayor on the cover of the Entertainment Section. It's time for me to get with the program. I wish you a Happy Pawlowski Day, and next month, when it beginning to look a lot like Pawlowski, may you have a Merry Pawlowski and Happy Pawlowski Year!