The Hypocrisy Of Donald Cunningham

In his latest Morning Call column, Donny Cunningham laments the loss of yesteryear, especially in regard to the trolleys. Cunningham claims that today's millennials appreciate the same things as their great grandparents, such as farm to table food, and walking paths. Actually Donnie, those paths today were created from former railbeds. You cannot get nostalgic about trolleys while you're ripping out railbeds. When I protested Jaindl recently removing the last tracks in Allentown down by the waterfront, there was no objection voiced by Cunningham.

The sorry truth is that Don Cunningham was responsible for numerous attacks on our history. While Lehigh County Executive, his public works director went on a rampage against stone arch bridges. I did manage to successfully fight Cunningham and his staff to save one bridge, the Reading Road Bridge by Union Terrace.

I also note that Cunningham, as former Secretary Of General Services in Pennsylvania, has said nothing about the planned destruction of the historic architecturally rich state hospital.

Here in the valley of political correctness and revisionism, while the Morning Call will print anything from the establishment, this blog will call fouls for the few who still value truth.

photo: Reading Road Bridge, condemned by Cunningham, saved by blogger

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When Kahane Came To Allentown

He told the Jews gathered in Allentown that their leaders were spineless, that's how the controversial rabbi spoke. When Meir Kahane came to town in the summer of 1990, none of the Jewish institutions would give him space to speak. Before immigrating to Israel, he had formed the Jewish Defense League in NYC in 1968. He lectured that turning the other cheek was a Christian concept, and that the minimum take away from the Holocaust was that American Jews should own a gun, and know how to use it. His views in Israel about nationalism on the West Bank were much more controversial, and he was jailed there for incitement.
His speech in Allentown was one of his last. He was assassinated later that year during a speech in NYC. 

above reprinted from 2014, 2018

ADDENDUM DECEMBER 12,2019: Although it was 50 years ago that Kahane formed the Jewish Defense League in the NYC area, a resurgence of that group would still be needed today.

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FBI Agent On Pawlowski

Yesterday I attended the taping of Iannelli's Business Matters Show. He was interviewing former FBI agent Scott Curtis, who had investigated Ed Pawlowski.  Last time I saw Iannelli, I was a guest on a panel about the NIZ, arguing with Mike Fleck.  Speaking of Mike Fleck, Curtis had some interesting comments about him.  He revealed that Fleck was the backbone of the information and case against Pawlowski, and because of that, he felt that Fleck received too long of a sentence. After the interview, he was asked twice if he felt that Fleck was the real mastermind of the shakedowns. Curtis repeatedly made clear that Pawlowski was in charge, and it was him that called the shots. The most revealing aspect of the case that Curtis disclosed was the sluggishness of the prosecution.  He had to do a lot of the transcriptions and other work himself,  normally done by the prosecutor's office.

For me the saddest question was by someone who identified himself as a member of the city's ethics commission. He wanted to know what could be done to make sure that such corruption never occurs again. Clearly this gentleman doesn't read this blog. I can't imagine the cheery thoughts one must have in their brain to think that city hall is now completely corruption free*.

*By "corruption" I'm not referring to the exchange of money or bribes, but rather a compromise of good ideals.  It can be harassment by an inspector, as I have documented recently,  or misplaced priorities, as in the park department's neglect of the WPA.

photocredit:molovinsky

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Fast Tracking Jaindl Sponsored Interchange

Although Jaindl and two other real estate interests* have only been sponsoring a study for an additional interchange on Rt 78 at Adams Road since 2016, Penn Dot has announced that funds will be shifted to that use,  instead of widening Rt. 22, which has been on the public's wish list for decades.

Jaindl's group has moved their agenda along at warp speed with the help of local state senator Pat Browne, who apparently started lobbying the Penndot secretary from day one.  Although local planners and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission have been advocating for Rt. 22 improvements for well over a decade,  there hasn't been a peep out their director, Becky Bradley, about the Jaindl group's windfall and the public's loss.  Her comments have been limited to praising Browne about the Rt. 78 improvements.

It's wonderful for our local movers and shakers to prosper beyond their dreams here in the valley of apathy. There is no local paper which scrutinizes such dealings, only a couple of blogs.

*National Freight Inc. and Liberty Property Trust

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The Wage Of Fame

As a young man in the mid 1930's, Abe Simon worked summers as a life guard at Coney Island. Girls would pretend to be drowning to meet the 6'5" hunk. The former high school star athlete was recruited to boxing by Jock Whitney, future Ambassador to Britain. Although amassing a winning record, absorbing punches from the likes of Buddy Bear, Jersey Joe Walcott and Joe Louis took their toll on Simon.

Simon's brother congratulates him after going 13 rounds with Louis in Detroit in March of 1941, earning a second shot at the Heavyweight Title.

ADDENDUM: Abe Simon, a heavyweight who fought in the early 1940's, was a cousin of my mother. In December of 2012, I chronicled the Joe Louis boxing era in a series of posts on this blog. I try and reprint a few each December.

Distortion In South Whitehall

“Our vote was transparent and in full compliance with applicable laws, and anyone who suggests otherwise is distorting the truth,” Morgan said in her introductory statement to the packed house. Morgan knows about deception, she has been fooling voters for years.

South Whitehall is the only municipality I know of where voters must wait until the end of a meeting to speak. Commission President Morgan has been playing that trick card for years.

She knows full well that the commissioners were not bound to name a replacement for Mark Pinsley from the same party. Pinsley clearly used his commission seat only as a stepping stone, first running for state senator, and then county controller.

 She has also been cooperating with the Wildlands Conservancy to fulfill their desire to demolish Wehr's Dam, again ignoring the will of the residents.

Starting in the new year South Whitehall will have a new board, save for one holdover. Unfortunately,  the holdover is Morgan. Hopefully the new commissioners will have much more respect for voters than Morgan ever demonstrated.