Outpost Molovinsky

The Molovinsky For State Representative Campaign is one month old. The 183rd District is enormous and geographically diverse, but the problems are essentially the same. The district stretches from west of Slatington to just east of Bath, north from Rt. 22 to the Blue Mountain. This economically depressed area has been represented by the same person for twenty years. Although her staff is apparently good at helping people get their driver's license renewed, she is just a seat warmer in Harrisburg. Yesterday, I visited a huge indoor flea market outside Slatington, in the former Keystone Lamp factory. People now scramble to sell their used possessions in the factory where they once worked, welcome to Julie Harhart country. My campaign has established an outpost in Slatington, and is now scouting for the highground in Northampton. Volunteers are still being sought for action tomorrow, gathering signatures on election day. If you're available for duty, please send a comment with your contact information. The application will not be printed, and will only be seen by me.

With A Little Help From My Friends

If you are a registered voter, no matter what district you live in, I need some help on Tuesday to get on the ballot as an independent candidate. No matter what your party affilliation, it doesn't matter. If you can spare an hour or two, anytime between 7:00am and 8:00pm on Tuesday, please send me your contact information by comment here. Your message will not be published, and will only be seen by me. Thank you.

Trustworthy Help Still Needed

If you live any District, and are a registered voter, I could use some trustworthy help for a couple of hours next week gathering signatures on my ballot petition. Unlike the Republicans and Democrats, independents such as myself have no organization to help with this chore. Send your contact information as a comment to this post, which will not be published, or visible to anybody besides myself. Thank you.

UPDATE: If you are a registered voter in any district, your help on Tuesday would be appreciated.

A Tale Of Two Cities, #14

It wasn't so long ago that the bus crowd lingered on Hamilton Street, at the transfer point in front of the community college's Allentown branch. While waiting for their bus, they would frequent numerous stores in the 700 block of Hamilton, catering to an urban market. About five years ago our City Father took it upon himself to have those unwashed masses moved around the corner, and down a block. The stores in which they shopped were next to go. Lo and behold, the limited liability corporation City Center has replaced the former center city, and he said That It Was Good. We are less than six months away from cutting the ribbon on this massive gentrification project, made possible by the generous taxpayers of Pennsylvania. As pictured in the architectural renderings, the new streetscape will be peopled by a different demographic, who are generally paler and wealthier than the bus people. It is hoped that these wealthy pale faces will stay on after 5:00pm, and talk stocks and theater with each other, in numerous new bistros.

Meanwhile, the bus people have a new shopping district a few blocks out on 7th Street. City Center LLC is forming a private police force to make sure none of the bus people get confused, and accidently walk the wrong way. Life will be better for them. All their stores have new facades, and a new supermarket will cater to multi-ethnicities. Allentown sure knows how to put the shine on segregation.

Trustworthy Help Needed

If you live in South Whitehall, in the 183rd District, I could use some help for a few hours next week gathering signatures on my ballot petition. Unlike the Republicans and Democrats, independents such as myself have no organization to help with this chore. Send your contact information as a comment, which will not be published, or visible to anybody besides myself. Thank you.

News In The Food Desert

In a recent guest post, public health consultant K Mary Hess pointed out that despite the arena, the NIZ was a food desert by official government standards. Although nothing has changed with that situation in the NIZ, big news is occurring out in the 600 block of 7th Street. The mammoth former Rite-Aid building has been purchased by an urban food store chain from New Jersey. When it rains it pours. Those familiar with the area know that the Little Apple Market is across the parking lot. Informed sources on the street believe that some partnering might occur between the two food companies, freeing up the original Sears and Roebuck department store for other uses. At any rate, work has begun on the building, and busier days are ahead for the merchants and residents in that section of 7th Street.

On the former post, one reader even suggested that the residents of center city take a bus to suburbia to do their shopping. Although those people living in north Allentown will be well served by competing or merging food markets at 7th and Allen Streets, it's a long walk to Linden or Walnut Street, to be carrying groceries. As stated before, a supermarket in that area would be a true community benefit.

photo of N 7th Street between Hamilton and Linden in the late 1940's or early 50's.

Dinner At Darla's And Why?

This Friday evening I'm going to have dinner at Darla's in Slatington. There's an Op-Ed piece in today's Morning Call by the president of the Northampton League of Women Voters, Beverley Hernandez, which takes Julie Harhart to task for not debating her opponents. "How do we determine who is competent if we are allowed only sound bites and bulk mailings close to Election Day? I do not believe the Founding Fathers meant for career politicians to arrogantly gerrymander election district lines to stay in office and then refuse to come out to debate their challengers." Ms. Hernandez does not mention Harhart by name, but does reference Bill White's recent column, which does.

As a candidate for the 183rd I will make myself available throughout the large district on a regular basis. If you couldn't make it last Friday, I'll be there again this Friday, between 6 and 8 pm. Stop by and say hello.