The Good Trouble Of Eddie Aviles

The other Sunday when Eddie Aviles put on a tie and canvassed with and for the local Republicans, I told someone that it could come back to bite the Republicans. That come back didn't take long! Although Eddie was recently arrested for protesting on behalf of the homeless, the card features an old issue. Old is the keyword here. The incident referenced goes back over a decade, to 2013.

It occurs to me that the effort to defame Aviles might well backfire on Siegel and the Democrats. Eddie now gets into what John Lewis used to call good trouble. Standing up for the homeless won't lose votes with most people.

Eddie is certainly his own man. Between now and November, he could be involved in several commotions. I've always related to freelance activists, and one man bands.

Mrs. Smith Goes To 7th & Hamilton

The title above is a play on words, and actually refers to Jackie Rivera, who will probably become a County Commissioner an easier way than she expected. Her opponent, the incumbent Zachary Cole-Borghi, has been arrested and charged as part of a large marijuana ring. The Smith refers to her maiden name, being the daughter of Bob Smith Jr., local Republican and Allentown School Board candidate.

People charged with crimes have won elections before, including Allentown's mayor Pawlowski. Borghi is not charged with processing a couple joints of pot, but rather being part of an organized ring, involving large quantities and lots of money.

How the local Democratic Party will react remains to be seen. Although people are legally innocent until proven guilty, hopefully the party will at least show some integrity and shun him.

Allentown Reborn, Bullsh*t On Steroids

I'm seeing the New York Times story on Allentown's rebirth shared on Facebook by all the local cheerleaders. Although the article mentions a tax-incentive, who could comprehend that all the new construction is being financed by diverted state taxes, and that it is owned by one man? Who could conceive that the new buildings are publicly paid for, but privately owned? They do mention the man as the main developer, but don't elaborate on his windfall. In fairness to the reporter, even most locals don't understand the realities of the NIZ. 

Of course if some NYC couple decides to relocate to the reborn Allentown, they will be in for quite a surprise come dinner time. They will find that the restaurants are only open for a few nights a week. They will find that the coffee shops close at 6:00PM. They will find that the stores mentioned are the only stores there are. They will find that they have moved to a Potemkin Village.

The cheerleaders I referred to in the first paragraph all have some things in common. Either they have a business, or they're a newcomer with no frame of reference, or both. Some others are former Allentonians, also in the dark about the realities. Although this blog is in its eighteenth year, I have only resorted to off color language in this last week. Like Popeye, I could only take so much for so long.

The Mighty Atom

Years ago at the Allentown Fair, as one would push through a sea of carney delusion, tucked back by the 4H animals was an island of reality. There, in an old battered truck, an ancient Jewish strongman performed incredible feats of strength, to sell only homemade kosher soap. Standing on a platform on the rear of his truck, flanked by photographs from his performing youth, he would bent horse shoes and bite through nails. Many years earlier, my mother as a little girl in Bethlehem, saw him pull a truck uphill with his hair. Even as an old man, like a reincarnation of Samson, his grey hair was still long.
In the summers of 1964 and 1965, myself and a friend,(Fred Schoenk, retired Allentown art teacher) made and sold printed tee-shirts at the fair. We had the honor to know Joseph Greenstein(The Mighty Atom) and his wife. For those interested, there are various articles on the Mighty Atom and even at least one book. Enjoy the fair!

reprinted annually since 2007

The Great Allentown Fair

The Morning Call website is hosting an archive of Fair Pictures from over the years. Being a fan both of fair pictures and black and white photography, looking at the 111 photos presented was a treat.

The photo shown above, which I will get back to, reminded me of one of my unique fair experiences. In previous posts, I have discussed that both my father and myself had stands at the fair. While my father learned that you couldn't sell hotdogs near Yocco's, I learned that drunks leaving the beer garden loved to buy printed T-shirts.

But today's post has to with George Kistler, long time City Clerk during the 1950's and 60's. George loved the fair, and loved sharing his fascination with a large group of people. I was fortunate enough to be invited several times. The routine was always the same; Dinner at a local stand on the eastern side of the fairgrounds, followed by the wrestling show. I remember photographing Andre The Giant.

The Morning Call fair picture above is none other than Jim "Super Fly" Snuka, who was recently back in Allentown, for a most regrettable reason.

reprinted from September of 2016

Beating The Crap Out Of Cedar Beach Park

As if there isn't enough events at Cedar Beach Park, the Park Department is now renting the park out to private promoters for even more events. On Saturday evening the park was mobbed for the Water Lantern Festival, operated by a private promoter. 

According to their website, tickets for the event cost $35. I don't know what kind of gate security they  had, or how many people actually paid the full freight, or what the city's take was. but I do know that the park is terribly overused and abused.

A Tuerk sycophant asked me what I thought of the city's public meetings to formulate ideas for a new park masterplan. I told him they were nonsense, and that the parks weren't meant to be a venue for every popular fad. They also were not intended to be pimped out to promotion companies.

please excuse my frank language in this post