Rumble In Allentown's Police Force

Two police officers have filed a lawsuit against the department and city alleging misconduct.  While the suit itself didn't attract my attention, one of the plaintiffs is officer David Howells III.  Not only is David the third Howells, both his father and grandfather were on the force. 

This is turning out to be a lucrative year for municipal lawyering. There are now at least two lawsuits against the city alleging the dirty D, discrimination, among other charges.

I've been informed on good source that involvement with prostitutes is nothing new to Allentown administrations. The allegation involves a former mayor.

On the note of police and lawyers, I have a confession to make. I justify showing off my photograph above because it shows Chief Roca, a defendant in the police case, trying among others to restrain an enthusiastic citizen at council's courtesy of the floor. Mayor Tuerk can be seen in far right side trying to ignore the commotion. Also shown, among others, are school board member Ms. Phoebe Harris and Jessica Lee Ortiz from the non-profit sector.

click on photo to enlarge

The Island Of Lehigh Parkway

The scene above shows the island in the Little Lehigh, with the boatlanding in the background. Please note the bridge leading to the island. The island, bridge and landing were created by the WPA. Although the island still remains, as does it's stone piers, the bridge is long gone. The boatlanding, although buried, was partially recovered last year by myself and a number of volunteers. The island, as remaining, has lost it's shape and has been enlarged from deposits carried by the Little Lehigh. The island was created by the WPA in the mid 1930's, by excavating a channel on it's south side. It is the intention of the park department to eventually allow mother nature to fill in the channel. Park philosophy has changed from manicured to al natural. It is my hope that the excavated portion of the boatlanding will be retained. In regard to yesterday's post on Irving Park, I have confirmed that one of the WPA stone stairwells was indeed removed this year by the city. I hope that is not their version of a fix. It clearly indicates the need for the WPA Support Group. Click photo to enlarge.

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM AUGUST 2, 2024: Although the Parknership has been in formation for a number of years, and hundreds of people have been contacted for input,  no one has reached out to me. The Parknership is a cooperation between the city administration and the Trexler Trust. Considering my known advocacy for the parks and WPA structures, my exclusion is obviously intentional.

Tuerk's Bloated Administration

Allentown has just announced hiring a new DEI coordinator.

“She will help us build a more inclusive workplace, inviting lots of different folks into the life of public service," Tuerk said in the release.

Although this hire may well be in response to the discrimination probe instigated by city council, I'm against both the hire and investigation. In my retro mind, unless the position existed in the Daddona administration, Allentown doesn't need it. I make a case for less is more in the mayor's office not because I'm stuck in 1970, but because Allentown's priority should be more boots on the ground, not think tanks on the 5th floor of city hall. 

Our littered streets are falling apart. Our police department is understaffed. Our park department is understaffed. 

If we were a larger city, perhaps we could afford to indulge in the social engineering positions popular in today's culture. However, things being as they are, we need to concentrate on basics. Fulfilling those basics will serve our residents far better than city hall being more inviting. 

As you can tell from the illustration chosen for this post, I'm not much for political correctness. If you can't get frankness from a local blog, where are you going to find it? 

above photo from Drew Carey Show

Beauty And The Beast Along Cedar Creek

The above scene is from Cedar Creek along the rose garden.  The creek banks have not been cut once this season. As an advocate for the traditional park system, the only solace I got from that situation was that the ducklings were spared from the usual spring massacre.

I did find the purple flowers pretty, and did feel a twitch of hypocrisy while taking the photo. Former park expert Michael Adams did inform me about my photograph....Purple Loosestrife, a beautiful but dreadful invasive... Michael is still an expert, but he was removed from the Parkway's Log and Stone house for political impurity by Pawlowski.

The new park director's background is in plant science.  She should wonder why both an opponent and a proponent of riparian buffers are upset by the condition of our creek banks.

A Failure By Dieruff High

This week I decided to go back to school, at least to hang outside of Dieruff. Upon re-evaluation, I must give my previous report on the WPA steps at Irving Park a failing grade. Besides myself, also failing would be Mayor Pawlowski, Park Director Weitzel and City Council President Michael D'Amore. Any lessons given about the WPA Steps at Irving Park better be given in the next couple years; after that they will be gone. We are soon approaching the point where the City will declare the cost of repair is cost prohibitive; Unless that is their current plan! As reported in the previous post's comments, one set of steps has already been removed by the City. All the remaining steps are in a state of disrepair. Shown above are the steps on Washington Street, between Jerome and Irving Streets. WPA Support Group member Mark Thomas prepared comprehensive documentation on the remaining masonry structures at Irving Park.
UPDATE: Mark Thomas raises the question as to whether these steps are indeed WPA. They appear to be the same vintage and colorization of the pool bathhouse, dated 1941. In any regard, the steps are clearly historic, and this group will campaign for their preservation.
please click on photo 

above reprinted from September of 2011

ADDENDUM JULY 30, 2024:The first repost on this topic appeared on July 18, and I apologize for the delay on this follow-up. In my bid to be included on the new Parknership board, I was being softer and trying to be diplomatic with my park posts. However, after reading reports of weekend chaos at Canal Park and elsewhere in our park system, I resorted back to this blog's mission...report on that grit too harsh for our other polite media. Last week I outlined a number of innovations taken by the current administration which have come back to bite us. We apparentaly are now providing recreation for New Jersey in our parks. The Jersey shore was designed for tourists, the Allentown park system was meant for residents. Back in my day there was a designated park system police officer. It is becoming apparent that we need more police coverage in our parks. While that need may be seasonal, we need an enlarged force all year, for overall safety and quality of life issues throughout Allentown.

Trump's Shorthand Costly

When Trump told Christians that they won't have to vote in four years, I knew what he meant. He meant that the country will be so fixed by then if he is elected this November, that they won't have the compulsion to run to the polls in 2028 as they do this year. 

Needless to say that quote will come back to haunt Trump. His opponents already claimed that he is a threat to democracy, and he's now saying you won't have to vote anymore. His shorthand phrases would drive a campaign strategist crazy, if he had one. Imagine always having to explain what he meant.

While Trump added nothing to his ticket with Vance as VP, Harris may choose Kelly, which will significantly enlarge her tent. While the polls have tightened to a draw, Harris can only go up from here, while Trump goes down. If Trump hopes to win, he might start talking in full sentences, pre-vetted bigly.