Rewarding Good Ideas

Last evening, City Councilman Michael Schlossberg voted to give Allentown's non-union managers a raise, for their good ideas. Michael also voted against the amended lower tax increase, favoring a higher increase by default. I didn't attend the meeting last night, but over the years I've met a few of the managers.* Where do I start, and how do I maintain my usual decorum of politeness? Lets start by asking if their jobs are necessary, considering nobody knows what they do? Lets say they don't work hard, but hardly work at all. Lets say they had their last idea in 1989, and it wasn't that good. Since they don't have to pick up a shovel, push a broom or change a lightbulb, are they not supposed to even have ideas? Is this raise for being slightly less than totally brain dead? Was I polite enough?

*I'm certain that there are indeed some city managers who work hard, and have good ideas. However, in this recession environment, I agree with Jeanette Eichenwald that now is not the time for a raise.

Business (Still) Doesn't Matter

Business still doesn't matter to Tony Iannelli, never did. Here's an excerpt from installment one on Jan. 25, 2010.

The local Chamber has indeed been a curious hybrid, business/public wise, for many years. Iannelli's weekly show on WFMZ, Business Doesn't Matter, seldom deals with business. Iannelli teamed up with Pawlowski in 2006 giving Lou Belleterri the famous Mystery Job. Like Lanta, they have had no dialogue with the majority of local merchants for many years, while remaining closely aligned with the Parking Authority. Both the Asian and Hispanic merchants have formed their own groups. Many of the Chamber's personnel have been active with the more progressive elements of the local Democratic Party. Although I have never attended one of his network meetings, I must assume Tony throws a good mixer.

Tony has now announced that The Chamber will not oppose Pawlowski's earned income increase, despite the objections from PPL, center city's largest employer (by very far). You can accuse Tony of whatever you wish, but you could never say he's pro-business.

The World of Mirth

Allentown at one time had two very productive railroad branch lines; The West End, and the Barber Quarry. The Barber Quarry, for the most part, ran along the Little Lehigh Creek. It serviced the Mack Truck plants on South 10th, and continued west until it turned north along Union Terrace, ending at Wenz's tombstone at 20th and Hamilton Streets. The West End, for the most part, ran along Sumner Avenue, turning south and looping past 17th and Liberty Streets.

The Allentown Economic and Development Corporation has received a $1.8 million grant, toward a $4 million dollar project, to restore a portion of the Barber Quarry branch to service it's industrial building on South 10th Street. This building housed Traylor Engineering, which was a giant back in the day. Recently it housed a fabricator who President Obama visited on his Allentown photo opportunity mission. The business has since closed, but let's not have that reality stand in the way of grants. Last summer, I fought against Allentown's Trail Network Plan, which catered to the spandex cyclist crowd. The new trail was to be built on the Barber Quarry track line. Not only didn't the AEDC oppose the plan, it's director was an advocate. Now they will be funded to develop that which they wanted to destroy. Where do I begin in Allentown's World of Mirth?

The wonderful photograph above shows the World of Mirth train at 17th and Liberty. World of Mirth was the midway operator at the Allentown Fair during the 40's and 50's. In the background is Trexler Lumber Yard, which burnt down in the early 1970's. The B'nai B'rith Apartment houses now occupy the location.

Defending The Wall

The Western Wall was built in 19 BC by Herod the Great, almost 600 years before the birth of Mohammed. Herod built the current wall to expand the Mount of the Second Temple, built in 516 BC, after the Jews returned from the Babylonian Exile. The Second Temple would stand until destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Over 600 year later, in 691 AD, Muslims would build the Dome of The Rock, on top of the Mount where the Temple had stood. Today, there are 17 stone courses of the wall below the current street level. Although Jews have been praying at the Wall for over a thousand years, last week the Palestinian Authority issued a report stating that the wall is not Jewish, but part of the Dome. This report, although contradicted by Bible, history, archeology and even photography, is never the less disturbing; It plants another seed of revisionism against the history of the Jewish people. Recently, UNESCO declared that Rachel's Tomb is actually a Mosque, ignoring the thousands of years of Jewish reverence.

photograph shows Jews praying at The Wall in 1895

Black Friday

Once a upon a time, Allentown didn't have the benefit of current regulations. City Hall didn't have the vision it does now; they just let the merchants put up large neon signs without extensive guidelines and approval procedures. We didn't have the benefit of a Parking Authority; Allentown Park and Shop, one of the first in the nation, irresponsibly gave free parking just to encourage business. We didn't have the benefit of a remote Lanta Terminal; shoppers and buses clogged the street and sidewalks. Prosperity is over-rated, appreciate today's vision in The City Without Limits; Bon Appetit.
watercolor by Karoline Schaub-Peeler

Moving on Up

Allentown moved up the Most Dangerous City List, with an impressive 16 point jump, from 86th to 70th. The apologists will say that although rape is up, murders are down! What the apologists have in common, is that most of them are either young or transplants, with no knowledge of Allentown past. We old Dutchmen ( a figure of speech) are appalled. We used to be on list for the cleanest city; We were the All-American City. After Pawlowski's first election victory, he invited 100 people to give advise on his transition team. Apparently, he should have invited 101. Bon Appetit at the couple new restaurants, it's all this Administration has to show.

cityscape by Mark Beyer