Does Pawlowski Have Courage

Last week Ed Pawlowski gave the Wildlands Conservancy permission to remove the scenic dam in Lehigh Parkway. Earlier that week I explained to the Park and Recreation Committee that Wildlands, despite their slick presentation and parade of experts, was ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the proposal to remove the dam. While the Wildlands was spouting cookie cutter platitudes about dam removal improving water quality, they were ignoring the over flowing sewer pipe that runs along side the creek. They were ignoring an overriding problem affecting the Little Lehigh, so that they could utilize a grant and demolish the historic dam. Today, the Morning Call ran a feature story about the sewage problem. The EPA had given Allentown and the LCA until 2014 to correct the sewage affecting the creek. If the Wildlands demolishes the dam we will lose the beauty, sound and magic it provides to Lehigh Parkway, but still have a major water quality issue from the sewage. Does Pawlowski have the courage to reverse himself and save a treasure in the park?

photocredit:molovinsky

Buffalo Soldiers Visit Block Party

The Buffalo Soldiers came to support Ce-Ce Gerhart's Fundraiser. The Buffalo Soldiers were black cavalry regiments who gained fame during the Indian Wars, following the Civil War. The units existed until the army ended segregation after WW2. About twenty members of the Pocono Mountain Chapter of The Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club made the ride to Allentown.

photocredit:molovinsky

Ce-Ce Rocks The Block

Ce-Ce Gerlach rocked South 16th Street this afternoon with a block party to raise funds for school uniforms. The block was packed with people enjoying several carnival attractions, music and food. From all reports, the new Allentown school uniform policy seems to have gotten off to a good start, but one issue is the cost of the  clothes.  With a large, low income student body, this can become a family hardship.  I'm sure Ce-Ce's organizing abilities  will help with this problem.  I've had a couple of conservations with Ce-Ce this past month, and I believe she will be a factor in Allentown's future.

To donate to the school uniform fund, make check payable to RCDC, 144 N. 9th St. Allentown, Pa. 18101.   Write Uniforms on memo line.

Gary Olson, Professional Israel Hater

It's possible to be a professional Israel hater, you become a college professor. Gary Olson has done some fellowships in the Muslim world, and has learned their point of view very well. In his latest attack on Israel, he states that the initial pressure* for a response to the nerve gas attack in Syria came  from the pro Israel lobby, and is meant to prolong human suffering. When it comes to Israel bashing, The Morning Call has once again displayed it's double standard. While the defenders of Israel must provide the editors with substantiated facts,  it's critics are given a green light to spew their anti-zionist propaganda.


*AIPAC does now support Obama doing what he said we would do, but they were not a factor in his initial decision.

Notice Is Hereby Given

Pawlowski formally began his march to Harriburg today with the creation of the Pawlowski For Governor PAC. I suspect as a candidate running for his third term as mayor that he will downplay his larger ambition, at least until after the upcoming November election.

UPDATE: This story was picked up off this blog about 11:30 Friday morning.  How did I know before the Morning Call when the legal notice was printed in the Morning Call? Legal notices and classified ads are placed through the Tribune office in Chicago.  The press page layout is computer delivered to the printing presses during the evening, and the paper is printed for early morning delivery.  The legal notices are not included in the digital edition.  Do the local reporters read the hard copy paper at 5:00 a.m., much less the legal notices,  as does this blogger?  By 7:30 Friday morning Pawlowski challenger Michael Donovan thanked me for the post.

The Jews of Iran

In 539 BC, when the Persian King Cyrus defeated Babylon, the Israelites were free to return to Jerusalem. Many instead ended up in that part of Persia which constitutes modern day Iran. Despite the current political climate between Iran and Israel, over 25,000 Jews still live in Iran. It has remained the largest Jewish population in a Muslim country since the creation of Israel in 1948, and among the most ancient of Jewish communities. Although certainly a minority in what could be perceived as an awkward situation, the community takes great pride in their Iranian history. Shown above is the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel, revered by both Jews and Muslims, in Susa, Iran.

reprinted from March 2011

Ezekiel's Tomb

Ezekiel's Tomb is south of Baghdad, in Al Kifl. The tomb dates back to the 6th Century B.C., during the Babylonian exile. Prior to creation of Israel in 1948, 100,000 Jews still remained in Iraq; Today, there are eight.

Last year Hebrew lettering was covered over in fresh plaster, in a process to turn the ancient Jewish shrine into a mosque. Fortunately, word leaked back to Israel and to the Jews of Iraqi descent. That community's history in Iraq spanned 2,700 years, 1,000 years before the birth of Islam. The renovation is now under international scrutiny, and hopefully the Jewish elements will remain. The photo shows Iraqi Jews in front of the tomb in 1932.

Conflicting reports: There are conflicting reports, both about the condition and intentions for the shrine. Here is an article from The Jerusalem Post, dated May 2010, which claims that there has been no damage (recent) to Jewish inscriptions.
NY Times recent article, Oct. 19, 2010

reprinted from November 2010