The William Penn School

An argument at the Allentown School Board meeting made today's paper; Board member Scott Armtrong suggested keeping the building's historical name, William Penn, for the new alternative school. The controversy surfaced when he further mentioned that perhaps because it's a school for the trouble makers, new name sakes would not be flattered. Joanne Jackson took offense, defending the educational potential of the under achievers. I know Scott and Joanne, and fully support both of them as board members. I think all taxpayers should be glad that we have a highly qualified board, willing to go toe to toe on any issue. Although Scott and Joanne both have a point, let me add my taxpayer dime. There was an element of political correctness with the Louis Ramos naming. Although I'm sure that Ramos was dedicated, being involved with the school system was part of his job at PPL. His choice appeared to be a homage to a new demographic. Similarly, naming an alternative school could conceivably offend sensibilities, creating a somewhat contrived pool of names. Considering the historical significance of William Penn, it certainly would be appropriate to keep that name. Perhaps the suggestion by board member Julie Ambrose to step back from the emotions of the evening was best.
 UPDATE: In addition to the commotion Thursday evening about naming the alternative school, Armstrong presented the following statement to the record.
  Future ASD Budgets cannot Be Balanced on the Backs of Taxpayers
 In light of the projected 300% increase in cost of the defined benefit pension plan of ASD employees this board must begin to consider how it will bridge the resulting 40 million dollar deficit gap. One thing seems clear; the burden cannot be placed solely on the backs of the taxpayer. To do so would be to ask those with less to subsidize those with more. Can this board look the taxpayers in the eye and explain to them why they should accept annually escalating school taxes to finance a pension plan that is far more generous than their own? That solution is neither fair nor reasonable. Clearly the burden must be shared equally, therefore unless relief is provided from the district’s defined benefit pension plan this board must act to control the cost by commencing staff reductions. Of course these cuts will reduce the quality of education and those who lose their positions will experience real hardships in these tough economic times. Higher taxes, reduced staffing, less opportunities, and lower outcomes will be the fruit of a refusal to work out a sustainable fixed contribution pension plan.

Armstrong also expressed this sentiment in a letter to The Morning Call which appeared on June 20th.

A Grumpy Old Man

At 3:53 this morning, the following comment was sent to Arena Shenanigan Continues, the previous post.

I know you will never allow this to post. But I know you will read it. You are a grumpy old man that doesn't even live in the city of Allentown. And hates everything that is new a growing I am sure you did not attend the party tonight. There were over 500 people who showed up. Write a post about that. Allentown is progressing while you attempt to drag it down. I hope that everything in South Whitehall was comfortable for you. Asshole!

For a hockey arena which wants to attract people from out of town, and wanted to also tax them for it's construction, don't squander your remaining brain cells worrying about where I live. I do not attempt to drag allentown down, but rather have it spend it's resources in the most productive way. The arena will certainly not Transform Allentown; Neither will it produce the spinoff benefit subscribed to it. Pawlowski is simply making the same mistake as his predecessors, but on a much more expensive scale. Daddona built the canopies at a huge expense. Heydt torn them down, and continuously reconfigured the parking, at a huge expense. While this concentration of resources was centered on Hamilton Street, the rest of Allentown suffered from neglect. The notion that Hamilton Street is the center of Allentown, and that Allentown is the center of Lehigh Valley, is a slogan, not a fact. While we obsess on building a new American Parkway bridge to bring people to center city, we allowed our other bridges to decay. While you danced on top of a parking deck, this Administration wants to close two neighborhood pools. In addition to an Arena Authority, and at least one administrative position, this project will kept Allentown myopically focused on center city for decades to come. That current hole will soon become a money pit of epic proportion. In a city of over 100,000 people, vocal opposition to any $220 million dollar project should center on more than a couple of bloggers, who are insulted in the middle of the night for their efforts.

Arena Shenanigan Continues

The State House will amend the NIZ legislation to address the complaints in the lawsuits, and arena construction will resume. Although there may be a few hockey fans gladdened by this news, I have yet to met anyone who believes that the project will Transform Allentown. I have yet to meet anyone who believes that fans will remain in town after the games, to patronize the local establishments. Justin Simmons, boy representative from the 131st District, summed up the current thinking,"You can't have a hole in the middle of Allentown." If Justin knew more Allentown and it's history, he might well conclude that a hole is better for the town than the arena. In conjunction with the arena, J.B. Reilly is building a hotel. This new hotel will render the older hotel at 9th and Hamilton Streets into flophouse status. Over the years, one administration after another, had kept that place viable with financial assistance. Although Mayor Heydt had torn down Hess Brothers, and likewise created a hole for a hockey arena, eventually, Liberty Trust built the Plaza for PPL. Pawlowski's expensive hole has some potential of attracting viable users, while the arena condemns Allentown to failure. Currently, we have the south side of Allentown virtually isolated because this administration allowed the 15th Street Bridge to rust away. We have a swimming pool closed because this Administration wouldn't spend $160,000 on repairs. We have a dirty, crime ridden city which will now be preoccupied with propping up a quarter billion $dollar hockey arena for the next 30 years. I'll take the hole any-day.

current hotel and future flophouse at 9th and Hamilton Street

Sal Panto's King

This blogger has taken a number of shots at Sal Panto, especially concerning his Al Bundy Museum of High School Sports. For a wise-guy like me, Panto is the gift that keeps on giving. Last week Sal announced that an African King would be visiting Easton. Panto said that he's "very royal" and that he could go anywhere, but chose Easton. Turns out the kingdom is pretty much limited to inside the guy's head. In the past, Panto has invited me to Easton to discuss, face to face, those things which I criticize, such as the Lanta Terminal. If he's willing to give me the royal treatment, I will come.

Party On The Deck

Tomorrow, from 5 to 8PM Allentown will have it's annual Party On Top of the Former Hess's Parking Deck. The party will alternatively be known as Melt Your Cheerleading Ass as the temperature hovers around 100 degrees. Regular readers on this blog know that such language is not my norm, but neither is the delusion and distortion brought to Allentown by this Administration.

A Road Runs Through It

Once, there was a time when gasoline was twenty five cents a gallon, there was no internet, and a family would go for a drive on Sunday. There was no traffic congestion or road rage. The cars were large, and they all came from Detroit. You could drive through a park, even an amusement park. There was no rush to get back to the television; It was very small, with only a few channels. Life now seems to revolve around small silicon chips, I preferred when it was large engines.

photograph shows the road through Dorney Park
reprinted from December 2010