Lehigh Valley Railroad

The Lehigh Valley Railroad began as an carrier of anthracite coal in 1846. At it's peak, it stretched from the docks of New York harbor to Lake Erie. Although mostly a freight carrier serving the hearths of Bethlehem Steel, it operated a well known passenger line from New York City to Buffalo, The Black Diamond. As a child in the 1950's, I would sit in the car with my father waiting for the long freight trains to cross Union Street. A train watch tower stood over the busy crossing. By 1976, remnants of the railroad were absorbed by Conrail. Shown above, from the late 1930's, is the streamlined engine of the Black Diamond.

reprinted from January 2011

School Board Considers Cutting Off A Funding Hand

Over the years I attended alot of schools, but certainly not because I was a good student. I always marvel at the persistance of alumni organizations. Never contributing doesn't slow down the mailings. I suppose maybe they figure the alumni, or in my case the brief attendee or more accurately the brief non-attendee, might become senile and make a large contribution...And it almost happened! 

This week I received for the first time an issue of the Allentown School District Foundation's annual appeal and report. I was impressed about the good work of the foundation. Since its inception the foundation has raised $8.8 million dollars for the school district. This year $68,000 went to help seventy graduates with their college tuition. Numerous teachers were also given grants to enable special programming.

Lehigh Valley News reports that the foundation has learned through the grapevine that the administration/board is considering cutting ties with the foundation; without, as of yet, providing an explanation... Talk about shutting the stable door on a gift horse. 

There apparently will be some changes in the Foundation's leadership. Perhaps the changes would be more beneficial for the school system if they occurred within the board and administration.

City Council Cancels Christmas

In Allentown's Budget Bout, being fought between Mayor Matt Tuerk and City Council, we learn that both Christmas and July 4th are on the line.

Ortega said if City Council opts to override Tuerk’s veto, the city would be forced to cancel popular city events like Lights in the Parkway and 4th of July fireworks. The city would prioritize “essential city services” if council opts to not increase taxes, she said.

While Tuerk started out asking for a 6.9% tax increase, he is now down to asking for a 2% hike.

As both a local commentator and advocate of the traditional park system,  I know that the park department is always the victim of these skirmishes. 

A local Republican,  a tribe which has almost completely died out in Allentown, complains that Allentown is the victim of a one party system. While all our elected officials might be from the same party, they are not all on the same page.

Although I chose this old coal ad for the post's illustration, there is also a meme circulating with Tuerk as the Grinch stealing Christmas.  Regardless of the budget, I suspect that Lights In The Parkway will be lit once again this year.  What Tuerk and Council have in common is that nobody wants to be the Grinch who downgrades Christmas.

Protest Against Promise Neighborhoods

Hasshan Batts and his Promise Neighborhoods has become the recipient of the establishment's gesture toward mitigating violence in the community.  Hasshan promotes his group as Black led.  The premise is that his trained mentors, themselves previous members of gang life, know how and when to interrupt the violence cycle.

Hasshan's picture has appeared on billboards throughout Allentown, and currently is featured at ABE Airport.  The establishment always looks for a convenient place to throw some money and feel good about the effort... they think it shows that they care💝.  Both Governor Shapiro and Congresswoman Susan Wild brought Batts over a $million each.

However, not everyone is as fond of Batts' show as our elected officials. Local people, also involved in trying to better street life, find Promise a phony.  In their opinion not only doesn't Promise deliver on their mission, but they actually act as a bully themselves against their detractors.

IS ALLENTOWN HUMPTY DUMPTY?

When I read about Billy's Diner replacing Sangria at the Butz Building, my thoughts turned to Humpty. I also thought about the Diner at 9th and Linden. Years ago I posted about all the grants going to the new restaurants, and nada for the existing meat and potato crowd, that has been staying the course, and paying the taxes. I do believe that Billy's has a shot. Is he or Butz getting a little grant incentive, only a forensic accountant could tell. For Butz, going from Sangria to Billy's is a lesson in humility, that normally you have to attend church to learn. Now if some of the clientele from 9th and Linden ends up at 9th and Hamilton, that will be another bible lesson.

reprinted from July 31, 2013 

ADDENDUM NOVEMBER 8, 2023:The above post is over ten years old. When Reilly's NIZed Arts Walk came on line he showed Butz what musical chairs really is. Reilly started out with Shula's Steak House, and now a dozen uses later, I don't even know who the current tenant is. I remember back when they arrested a street person for singing on the Arts Walk, thinking that he was degrading the ambience. One would think with the thousand plus Strata apartments there now, that finally there would be some atmosphere... $One Billion Tax $Dollars later spent on Allentown, if you want that called atmosphere, you still have to drive to Bethlehem or Easton.

GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE

Colored Voters Association was the predecessor to the Bethlehem NAACP. The matchbook dates to the mid 1940's. 

reprinted from August of 2013