Family

Jessica Lenard/Mixed Media

Dog Show At Ag Hall, 1993

photocredit:molovinsky

The Allentown School

Facebook

The Diversity of Allentown

If Allentown has become anything in the last twenty years, it's diverse. I'm not just talking about skin color, but social economic status; We have become largely a poor city. Although Julio Guridy and Cythnia Mota ethnically represent a large demographic, their votes are somewhat detached from the condition of Hispanics in Allentown. Although Alfonso Todd is familiar and comfortable with the street culture, he is not a hand out entitlement type person, quite the contrary. Alfonso believes in empowering people with information and fair access. He's a man for Allentown's reality, capable of relating to both poor and affluent. Alfonso would represent all people; Black, brown, and white. He is a self starter, who now wants an opportunity to serve a larger constituency through elected office. Next Thursday, March 7, the public is invited to meet the candidate for City Council in his business offices in the Hamilton Business Center, 1101 Hamilton Street. Alfonso will be available from ten in morning, until eight that evening.

Short Notice, High Culture: A Tribute To Greg Weaver

For about ten years, mid 70's to 80's, Allentown was graced with a one man art machine. Greg Weaver studied at Carnegie Mellon and then returned to the Valley to become artist, promoter and inspiration to dozens of local artists. His large studios, which moved from one low rent location to another over the years, became hubs for innovation and social activity. He was very prolific with his work, and generous with his encouragement. This art "scene" cost the taxpayers nothing, it was done by artists, and it was real. Greg suffered from diabetes, and eventually lost his sight. Although blind. he continued to produce art and inspire people until his death in 1994. Several friends of Greg have collaborated to present a small sample of his work, Friday, March 8, 7-9 pm. The show will be held at the Bessesdotter Verksted, which is located on the third floor of 542 Hamilton Street. That same evening, the Antonio Salemme Foundation will be presenting the work of six women artists, one floor below.

Water War Continues

Although the people's ballot initiative against the water lease is off the table, the water war continues. In order for the Lehigh County Authority, aka LCA, to bid on the Allentown lease, their charter must be extended by the County Commissioners. Yesterday, an editorial by Lisa Scheller, outlined the conservative slate's attitude about the lease. They believe that a private company would best suit the needs of county residents, otherwise, county residents would be subsidizing Allentown's pension dilemma through higher rates. Although her points are well taken. because LCA purchases water and sewage service from allentown, down the long road of a fifty year lease, all citizens of Lehigh County could be at the mercy of a private company. Putting aside Allentown's pension situation, I think that in the long run it would better serve county residents if this asset is under local control. Although a private company would have to honor long term contracts that exist between Allentown and LCA, they will pass along the capital improvements, one way or another.  All LCA water is looped through the filtration plant in Allentown, regardless of where it originates. LCA has not been the perfect steward of water.  Rob Hamill, who has guest posted on this blog, blames them for fostering over development in Lower Macungie, and sewage woes along the Little Lehigh. Never the less, valley residents will have more control and accountability from the local entity LCA, than some multi-national corporate conglomerate headquartered in Europe.

Petition Group Throws In Towel

The citizen group which organized the petition against the water lease has thrown in the towel, with the following release:

Greetings,                                                                                                                                As reported below in the Express-Times, the wording in Allentown's Home Rule Charter regarding referendum initiatives is incorrect for those initiatives that seek to amend the charter. It turns out that referendums specifically seeking to change the charter must follow state rules and not the rules contained in the charter. While the referendum is dead, your efforts were not in vain. Through your efforts, those who collected signatures and those who otherwise worked on this campaign we collected some 4,500 signatures. Combined, we are a major force that can effect change. Five sitting City Council members are running in the Democratic primary May 21-- Cynthia Mota, Ray O'Connell, Julio Guridy, Jeff Glazier, and Joe Davis. All have voted numerous times against our efforts to slow or halt the march toward privatization. There are five challengers wanting their seats. We, you have to let those in office know that we will vote out of office any council member that continues to support privatization.                                                                                  ~Citizens for Allentown Water

The group made a strategic mistake by wording the petition as a charter change, rather than a simple ordinance against the unpopular lease of our water system. They felt that by pursuing the charter change they could save the water system, and prevent the Administration from selling off additional assets in the future. If I had expended the energy that they did on gathering the signatures, I would pursue this rejection by the election board in the courts.  My title, Throws in Towel, might be a bit harsh.  If the group does succeed in making council members more responsive to the wishes of the public,  their efforts were not totally in vain.