Allentown's New Building and Old Graves

Thanks to Allentown resident Lee Ann Thomas Smith, we learned this past November that the Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery on Railroad Street was being desecrated by the construction of a new apartment house. Smith contacted WFMZ, who reported on the outrage. Allentown Mayor Tuerk said that he would arrange a meeting between the developer and church, I suppose to dress up bad planning and make some amends. Hopefully, they will plant a row of hedges between the tombstones and the new building. I assume a cemetery doesn't require a setback, as with another building.

Already years ago, I reported on what I called the Plywood Plaza. In essence, it seems that Allentown has not been providing much oversight on these new construction projects. It may well be that the city does not have the expertise to do so, but then such inspections should be farmed out to an engineering firm.

As for as the approval process, that has been compromised for years. Planning and zoning are compliant puppies, waiting to be petted. The neighborhood, otherwise essentially poor at the richest, will have its scarce parking further reduced.

BUT, there will be a grand ribbon cutting, and we'll learn that the neighborhood is being revitalized under inspired leadership.

photocredit:Lee Ann Thomas Smith

Ce-Ce and Me Part 2

Recently, I had a post about my long history with Ce-Ce. I first met Ce-Ce campaigning outside of the gate at the Allentown fair. Her goal at that time, in 2011, was the Allentown School Board.  A couple years later we met for coffee at the Hamilton Family Diner. Her sincerity reminded me of my old friend Emma Tropiano. 

When Ce-Ce first ran for City Council, I attended her fund raiser at the Brew Works. I think by then the distance in our politics was already apparent. Ce-Ce is so left of me now, that my old eyes can barely see that far. However, she's in synch with much of current Allentown. I hope she realizes that I also care about humanity, even if I don't subscribe to DEI as an operational priority.

For the upcoming Democratic primary, I'm supporting Ed Zucal for mayor. Although he's also somewhat to my left, he has institutional knowledge of what was once a safer Allentown.

Easton Says No Thanks To Welcome Mat

Easton's police chief and mayor for life are not eager to put Allentown's Welcoming City status on their door stoop. They also don't have or want Allentown's shooting and homicide schedule. 

While Venezuelan gang members were killing someone in the Poconos,  Allentown was proposing to become a Welcoming City. Easton's top cop senses that the Welcome City designation can only be a beacon for unnecessary commotion. 

Allentown city council, confronted and intimidated by a chamber full of Welcome supporters, adapted the ordinance. It's easy in our polarized society to be construed as anti-immigrant, or worse, even as a racist. Mayor Panto felt compelled to emphasize his appreciation of law abiding immigrants on social media the next day. I was disappointed to see the ordinance in Allentown pass unanimously.

Shown above Easton center square, 1948

Depot At Overlook Park

Old timers have noticed that the contractor's building on Hanover Avenue transformed into a community center for Overlook Park. But only the oldest, or train buffs, realized that the building was the freight depot and office for the Lehigh & New England Railroad. Lehigh & New England was formed in 1895, primarily as a coal carrier. The line ran from Allentown to Maybrook, New York.

In 1904 it was acquired by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. The line ceased operation in 1961. Among it's infrastructure were impressive bridges across both the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers, both of which were dismantled. Ironic that a remnant of our industrial era is being utilized by the successor of a public housing project.

reprinted from February 17, 2011

photographs of Lehigh New England Railroad

Judge and Jury Alan Jennings

Alan Jennings was recently ranting on his facebook page about Trump/Musk shutting down the Consumer Finance Protection bureau. He wrote:

"Some of you may remember that my agency, now called Community Action Lehigh Valley, busted a mortgage fraud conspiracy that preyed on low-income Hispanics in downtown Allentown. We put a few guys in jail."

The targets of Jennings' campaign at the time supposedly participated in what was called predatory lending. Certain mortgage companies were giving mortgages to people with poor credit at a higher rate. I believe that it remains standard procedure for car loans and credit cards. Our enlightened, like Jennings, now focus on affordable housing, making low-income permanent tenants.

Jennings take great pride in jailing those mortgage brokers.  One of the people he sent to jail was married to a Hispanic woman, and was well appreciated for his work at a local mission.  Meanwhile, Jennings continues to campaign for Ed Pawlowski's release, whose criminal behavior cost every Allentown taxpayer more money on every contract he rigged during his reign.

Hunting For Non-Partisan In The Lehigh Valley

I owe Robert Orenstein for a snicker* when I read that his blog, Armchair Lehigh Valley, is non-partisan. He was the gatekeeper for the Morning Call opinion page. Almost all my submissions were rejected by him, because they were either too long for a letter, or too short for Another View. Lengthening or shortening them didn't help me get pass the gate :). Once, he actually told me that my piece only represented my opinion.  Imagine, sending an opinion to the Opinion Page?

His newsletter articles are now being printed by the Morning Call, and they in turn are promoting the newsletter. The newsletter is free, but he does have his hand out for donations.  It was under Orenstein's tenure that the three amigos were installed on the Another View page as regulars...Jennings, Cunningham and Iannelli. They're still there.

Those pieces of mine which did appear resulted from my annoying persistence. Several times I had to go over his head to be published. I do agree with him that there is a need for a local non-partisan outlet for local political news. I like to think that you're reading it here.

* a silent laugh