Homeless Moving To Allentown Rose Garden

Nat Hyman filed a legal action against the city in regard to the homeless encampment by one of his buildings. I do not find his action inappropriate.  The city then asked Hyman if he would take in some of the homeless....That request I do find inappropriate. They would not have asked Reilly to put up the homeless in a Strata building.

Years ago, Pawlowski took a local developer off the hook,  purchasing two parcels we did not need for parks. One on Basin St., and the other the old fertilizer plant on Martin Luther King. We didn't need them then and we don't need them now. 

Although I'm a self-proclaimed park expert, I must admit I have not been to the Jordan Meadows parkway along the Jordan Creek. I will refrain from opining if the park was advisable, but since we created it, we must maintain it. Comments on yesterday's post on the homeless maintain that the city has adopted a too woke attitude tolerating homelessness.  Rather than rehash that discussion, let's say that all sections of the city deserve the same treatment. Would that encampment be tolerated in the Rose Garden?

The Homeless of Allentown

Homelessness in Allentown, or any other city, is nothing new... That's why the Rescue Mission has been in business for over 100 years, and I mean in business, but more on that later. 

Before having a winter weather shelter at the Y, we used the former pool house at Fountain Park. The Salvation Army has facilities for women and children. Back during Pawlowski's reign, his wife was in charge of the homeless situation.

We always have had homeless encampments. They're usually displaced because of some commercial reason. In recent years, they were under the 8th St. Bridge, by the former incinerator plant, and now in the news, along the Jordan Creek. There have always been the lone wolf homeless. Whether in Lehigh Parkway or even by the Giant shopping center.

When the siren goes off every few years, people form committees and fork over money. About twenty years ago, the Rescue Mission was so flush that they operated an apartment house on 8th Street. When I reported that they were evicting people for non-payment of rent, my disclosure was resented. There has always been lone wolf homeless, and lone wolf bloggers.

While people are blaming current high rents, of course mental health is the long term reason for homelessness. Needless to say, I have no solution. However, I have observed that outreach workers hooking up the homeless with whatever assistance they're willing to accept, has been useful.

The Singer And The Steakhouse

Yesterday, the infamous Shula's Steakhouse singer was in district court on charges unrelated to the Arts Walk incident.  He claims that the Allentown Police have a vendetta against him.  Maybe they do,  their boss's boss is known for his vendettas.  The Hunsicker family, long associated with baseball on the south side,  made the same accusation about Pawlowski last week at city council.  But, this post is about the real crime last August by the steakhouse.

In the molovinsky on allentown hall of justice,  J.B. Reilly, Pat Browne,  Sy Traub, etc. would have been in court yesterday, not the singer.  They, and the others that are responsible for using public money to bring Shula's to the Strata Building (which is filled up no matter what Molovinsky says).  They are responsible for the vendors who got stuck holding the bag for pennies on the dollar, when Shula's went bankrupt.

Elsewhere, in the upside down NIZ world, the parolee center is closing after 35 years, so that Reilly can build his City Center Tower Number 6.  Some of the parolees will be transfered to Scranton and Wernersville, now, that shouldn't disrupt their lives.  Hey,  if you're a singer or a parolee, move along, it's Reilly Time.

above reprinted from May 25, 2016

ADDENDUM APRIL 4, 2025: For many the above post is ancient history.  But allow me to refresh your memory. Some hapless soul was arrested on the Arts Walk for singing about ten years ago. They claimed that he was degrading the atmosphere. I can't tell you what restaurant is there now, so many have come and folded. Yesterday it was announced that they were closing the Marketplace. How many poor vendors wasted their time and money there?  Don't blame the Morning Call for these NIZ failures, they never stopped promoting the scam/scheme that uses your diverted state taxes.  About the only place people ever read the truth about it was here, on this blog.

Mackenzie Breaks Ranks On Proxy Voting

Ryan Mackenzie joined eight other  Republicans supporting twelve week proxy voting for new parents. While this accommodation seems reasonable, it apparently contrasted with Trump's back to the office preference. His robot, house speaker Johnson, will now try another way to keep the bill from going to the full house. 

The bill was co-sponsored by Anna Luna R-Fla and Brittany Pettersen D-Colo.  Pettersen voted with both baby and burp cloth on her shoulder. Mackenzie was involved with new parent legislation while serving as a Pa. state rep..

While the proposal itself only pertains to those members who are new parents, it's revealing how important being in lockstep is to this administration. However, being in the company of eight other Republicans should shield Mackenzie from White House retribution.

Pettersen D-Colo voting

The Wagon Trail

Most of Lehigh Parkway lies in a deep ravine. The slope up to Lehigh Parkway South, across the creek from Robin Hood, is very steep, about 60 degrees. Unknown to many people, there is a diagonal trail on part of the slope, which comes out halfway up the hill behind the Stone and Log House.

We kids who grew up in the Parkway called it the Wagon Trail. I believe it was part of the Kemmerer Farm (Stone and Log House), which dates back to the late 1770's. In the 1950's, the foundation of a small kiln was still visible on the trail. The subsequent years had not been kind to the old trail,  and it is no longer maintained by the Park Department. About halfway between its entrance and exit on the hill, the trail has been blocked by a large fallen tree. People had dumped debris on the trail, and it remained there for years.

In April of 2010, I organized a cleanup.  The park director at the time cooperated on the project. I agreed that no power tools would be used, and he arranged for the city to pick up the rubbish.

It is my hope that the new administration will realize that our parks are more than just space to cram more recreational gimmicks.  They are steeped in history, and places where children can explore.

reprinted from April of 2010

Allentown Saturday Night Fever

Once a week I go on the same loop and occasionally report on the state of the city's civility. Sorry to say that there is no improvement, but one sign of hope. 

The loop starts at Ott and Tilghman. A little west of Ott, the city is once again preparing to dig up Tilghman street. As residents all over the city can attest, there has been no coordination between UGI and the water department. The streets are in a constant state of being dug up. Once upon a time, such activity was managed by the city.

I assumed the car in front of me at 9th and Tilghman had a very loud sound system. But when he turned off on 7th Street, the sound continued, even getter louder? Finally, the gentleman passed me going west at 6th and Tilghman. I started hearing him back at 10th, and I'm getting hard of hearing! 

2nd Street was surprising void of the usual double parkers, but I did pass a patrol car in the 200 block. 7th and Linden was devoid of life, but then again, it was only a Saturday night at dinner time :) Apparently, there isn't enough of our tax money to restore vitality to center city, but only to expand one man's real estate portfolio. 

Back to that sign of hope. Ed Zucal has a campaign banner at 7th and Tilghman. Unless loud car stereos and litter are your values, you better support him in the upcoming primary election.

molovinsky:7th & Turner