Another Junket For Tuerk

Mayor Matt Tuerk spent last week in Germany learning about European urban planning. I'll spare you particulars, except to say that I hope that he spares us the particulars. Here's his summation: "I’m coming back to Allentown with a lot of new partners and ideas to help us create a safe, clean, and healthy environment that promotes the well being of our residents."

On the trip Matt saw some redevelopment that he hopes helps us improve the plans for the former state hospital site. Fine Matt, glad you enjoyed your trip, but I think that J.B. Reilly wasn't counting on your input. Matt also saw some inspiring murals like we're doing in Allentown, and some nice bike paths.

I don't know if Matt is serious about the lessons, or just blowing smoke. I hope just blowing smoke. Matt, since I'm sure that you're appreciating my advice, let me tell you how I really feel... There is too much going on in Allentown. Too many events, especially in the parks.We don't need one jam packed weekend after another. We're a city, not an destination park in Orlando. If you don't want to lay off any of these planners, then give them a garbage bag, there's plenty for them to pick up. 

Anyway, if this trip helps Allentown as much as his trips to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, we should have another good year.

Picture postcard above from a time when mayors didn't have to go on study trips to improve us.

Mother Nature Doesn't Need Every Inch Of Every Park

There are miles and miles of creek bank in Allentown. In addition to the Little Lehigh, we have the Jordan, Little Cedar, Cedar and Trout. For the last twenty years I have been campaigning to restore the traditional park design to select sections of our most iconic parks. In that design the banks were secured against erosion by Weeping Willow trees, planted about every twenty feet. The Willows have a shallow spreading root system, especially suited to fortify against erosion.  The picture postcards of Allentown's glory years feature such park scenes.

Those scenes should be returned to the most famous sections of our park system.  Among the areas begging for former grace are the rose garden section of Cedar Park, and the Robin Hood section of Lehigh Parkway. 

While the environmentalists of convenience complain about changing values, children have always delighted  standing on the creek bank watching and listening to the water rush by.

little girls can no longer fish along the brush lined creeks

Parknership Moves Slowly

When the Trexler Trust funded Parknership was announced in May with much fanfare, I raised my hand immediately. However, it has been moving at a snail's pace. The board, which consisted only of Matt Tuerk and Jamie Musselman, just added their third member and board director, Simon Moore. Moore, like Tuerk, is a cyclist and runner.  With the spandex recreation component well in place, there still is no advocate for the traditional park system, much less someone to speak up for the WPA. While Tuerk seems to be picking the team, I haven't sold him on me yet. He balked and said that I was a reporter. While I replied that I would respect the board's confidentiality, he must decide if he's looking out for the parks, or just looking for more flattery.

In Cedar Park some of the invasives blocking the creek banks have grown into saplings, ten feet tall and an inch in diameter. Shown above is the foot bridge by the Rose Garden. There are miles of unattended creek banks in Allentown,  the creek by the rose garden in Cedar Park need not be one of them.

While I believe the Parknership needs my institutional knowledge of the parks, the parks meanwhile  need me to continue pointing out the neglect masquerading as environmental conservation.

The Night Hamilton Street Died

What was once a thriving block of Hamilton Street will now be turned into a ghost down. Even now, although not the golden age shown above, the block between 7th and 8th does business. Still hosting three chain stores, the block had survived, despite one arrogant mayor after another. The Family Dollar Store is one of their most successful branches. Rainbow (jeans) and Rite Aid also anchor the block, along with successful independents. In a night of shame, one of the most shameful acts was Julio Guridy, interrupting the merchants so that Mayor Pawlowski could educate them. Pawlowski said that the arena could attract up to 1.5 million people a year, and that everyone will benefit, even relocated merchants. Considering that the hockey team only actually attracts 3,000 people to 40 home games, Pawlowski is off by about 1.4 million. In reality, the stores that remain on the south side of the street will now face an empty arena and much less foot traffic. The upscale restaurants, such as Sangria and Cosmopolitan, will suffer, because their patrons will avoid the nighttime traffic congestion. Lou Belletieri told Council that he operated a restaurant across from the Wilkes-Barre Arena, and did no business, what so ever, from it. Councilman Michael Donovan said that although he feels for the merchants, he owes the other 118,000 citizens The Pawlowski Palace of Sport.* He actually owed them the courage to say no to this ill conceived plan.*

*Palace of Sport is a borrowed term coined by a blog reader. Donovan was joined by five other councilmen in his yes vote. 

reprinted from May 19, 2011 

ADDENDUM SEPTEMBER 18, 2024:I drove down Hamilton Street on Monday afternoon at 2:15PM, from 12th to 4th. To say that it was dead is an understatement, maybe I passed three people. For a $Billion dollars worth of new buildings, and a 1000 new apartments, the emptiness almost defies logic. Only because it's usually so dead did I know that people weren't hiding in the buildings because of an escaped lion or killer from the prison. And they refer to this desolation as the revitalization of Allentown?

Trump Shots, self-inflicted And Otherwise

This post was conceived before the recent second attempt to shoot Trump at his Florida golf course.

Dick Cheney may have shot a friend with shotgun pellets, but Trump shoots himself in the foot, over and over. In addition to the Trump team doubling down on the cat and dog story, he tweets that he hates Taylor Swift. 

Years ago a star's manager would forbid she/him from endorsing one candidate over another. In today's world the mega stars are so wealthy that they can afford to express their opinion. Meanwhile, back in my mailbox, I'm getting an endless stream of campaign cards from both candidates. Why would Trump want to antagonize Swift fans farther by hating her? 

I never saw Trump as a disciple of self-control, It appears as if the poll numbers tighten, he becomes more impulse driven. If he takes blood pressure meds, he may want to increase the dose.

With this second attempt on Trump, I'm starting to see some conspiracy type speculations. All that is beyond my pay grade. The FBI and Secret Service will certainly be earning their keep as election day nears.

Allentown Archaeology

When it comes to the history of industrial Allentown, the railroad buffs are among the current experts. Our heavy manufacturing base moved its materials on the tracks of several railroads. The Front Street area was crisscrossed with tracks and sidings. The West End Branch ran along Sumner Avenue, crossed Tilghman Street, looped around 17th Street and ended near 12th and Liberty. The Barber Quarry Branch ran along the Little Lehigh until it then followed Cedar Creek. It crossed Hamilton Street near the current Hamilton Family Restaurant and ended at what is now the Park Department Building. The rail buffs are current day archaeologists, looking for remnants of those glory days. Shown above is a portion of the Barber Quarry pier and track. This is at the bottom of Lehigh Street hill, near the former bank call center, near the former Acorn Hotel, in a former city still called Allentown.
photo courtesy of Mike Huber, Coplay

above reprinted from March of 2011 

ADDENDUM AUGUST 22, 2023:The bridge has just been rebuilt, and the portion of the earlier railroad bridge show above was removed.