Political Blogging In Allentown

Blogging in Allentown isn't as easy as it may seem. It requires rising early and usually having the post ready by 5:00AM. In the case of this blog, it is fueled by caffeine. molovinsky on allentown is a non-monetized political blog, also featuring local history and advocacy for the iconic park system. Although the suburban turnout was large because of the presidential primary, the election reveals that locals are not so interested in state politics.  Someone with no experience or knowledge of state government can win a state rep nomination by sending out four mailers. The candidate doesn't even have to know about the issues mentioned on his own mailers. While one candidate for United States Senator can literally walk across the state to meet and listen to the voters, someone else can win by simply having ads on television a few days before the election.  In the city itself, Pawlowski could still influence an election.  I suppose I should be grateful that at least I don't have to print this on paper, and deliver it to houses in the morning.

above reprinted from April of 2016

UPDATE MAY 11, 2018: I'm certainly getting a lot of mileage out of Frankenstein's monster. First I use him to personify the Parking Authority, now myself. One of the regrets of being a registered independent is that I did not receive campaign mailers for the primary next week. I did see a few of them, and know that they would have brought welcome entertainment to my kitchen table.

The Allentown Parking Authority

The Allentown Parking Authority Officer shown here is by far the most productive person they have, he may well be the most productive city worker period. I estimate he easily writes over a $half million dollars a year by himself. He spends the day hopping from one fertile hot zone to another. You can see him everyday, several times working Chew Street, between 16th and West. That block, because of the hospital, has time restricted parking. He's like a fisherman, a very good one, who knows the good spots. For those less familiar with this blog, please use the search engine on the upper right; type in parking authority. Along with taking them to task numerous times, I documented fictitious data they provided to City Council to justify doubling the meter rate and fine structure. I also 

"They're acting like a vampire sucking the blood out of downtown," Molovinsky said of the authority.

conducted a news conference, covered by Channel 69, on unnecessary parking meters as far out as 10th and Chew. Those meters were finally removed, only this year. Some comments on the previous post suggest that there is justification for the Authority and their policies. As a student of this bureaucracy for years, I can tell you that it has actually had a negative affect on center city commerce. It's simply a back door tax, mostly on those who can least afford it. The cars shown are being ticketed for not moving for street sweeping, despite the snow.*

*photographs from 2007, Parking Authority supposedly no longer gives "sweep tickets" during snow storms.

This is a reprint from September of 2010 and March of 2014.   I was told by the former Authority director that although the regulations haven't changed, they now use discretion concerning enforcement during snow hardships.

Allentown's Frankenstein, The Parking Authority

The monster, aka Allentown Parking Authority would be hard pressed to pass a polygraph test. In 2005, the former and current director of the Authority, testified in front of City Council that the majority of the merchants wanted the meter rate increased. They lied*. The Authority has always functioned for the betterment of the BIG BOYS on the backs of the smallest among us. In 1991 the Authority purchased the 13 parking lots owned by the declining Park N Shop for well over market price. Profiting from the buyout was Morning Call owner Donald Miller, Department store heir John Leh the 35th, Harvey Farr, and a few other good old boys. Keep in mind Hess's and Leh's department stores had their own parking decks, and the meters penalized the small merchants. Today the monster feeds on Allentown's poorest residents. Meters still extend out to 10th and Chew, 5 blocks well beyond the closest store. Over 100,000 tickets a year are issued to Allentown's poorest, mostly the intercity tenants. Now, 15 years after serving the needs of the BIG BOYS, the Authority again schemes for the connected. Now they give away the lots so that developers can have free to cheap KOZ opportunities. The new housing at 8th and Walnut was at the expense of the existing homeowners who used those lots as off street parking. The protest which came from a neighborhood group out of St. Pauls Church was labeled as naysayers to moving Allentown forward. Years ago the Authority paid millions for the lots, paid for them by aggressively ticketing the poor, and now are giving them back to the rich. The current plan is to "sell" a lot at 7th and Linden, used by the Verizon employees, so a developer can make a few bucks on unneeded townhouses.
Easton is beginning to realize their Parking Authority needs scrutiny. If they thought about it more, they may wonder why a town that size even needs an Authority at all. Please join me this wednesday Feb. 27, 4:00 pm at the Monsters house, 10th and Hamilton Sts., to support the Verizon workers attempt to retain their safe and convenient parking.

* I conducted a survey at that time, 40 out of the 47 merchants were opposed to the meter increase.

reprinted from February of 2008

The Morning Call/Muhlenberg Poll

The Morning Call/Muhlenberg Poll is like a broken clock, but it might be right in the race for the new 7th Congressional District.  The poll has Morganelli besting Wild and Edwards,  with a  good chance of winning in November. In the Republican Primary, it has Nothstein prevailing over Browning.

With Morganelli being more of centrist, and Dent demonstrating over the years that this political  philosophy resonates in the valley,  he may well win the Democratic primary.  Furthermore, to Morganelli's advantage,  I see the dedicated  progressive vote being split between Wild and Edwards.

While the new district gives the Democrats a slight advantage for November,  enormous sums of money will come into play for that election. Large sums have already come into play for the primary.

The Morning Call's Bill White, while wearing a virtual pink hat against Trump, has remained neutral in the primary.  Here in the local blogosphere I remain neutral, while Bernie O'Hare campaigns for Morganelli by bashing Wild.

The fall campaign will be hyper-charged by the special election to represent us for two months.  I expect the primary winners to also be the appointed candidates for that election.

The above photo of the Edwards/Sanders rally at Symphony Hall was taken by Kim Schaffer

Clean and Green Misunderstood

Leave it to The Morning Call and the local liberal establishment to denigrate a good program and promote a bad one. Recent articles, especially a pictorial essay, gave the impression that Clean and Green provides tax relief to mansion dwellers at the expense of the working homeowner. The legislation actually doesn't pertain to the dwellings, but rather the surrounding land that is actively farmed. Without such a tax break,  farming would be economically unfeasible. Ironically, the same factions opposed to this practical act endorse Farmland Preservation, which really does reward the landed gentry to keep land that they never intended to sell in the first place.

Our county governments have been falling over themselves to provide more and more of our tax dollars to the politically correct and popular Farmland Preservation,  while ignoring such realities as a surplus of farmland and a shortage of farmers.  But since when does reality factor into government?

While the Morning Call examination of Clean and Green was extensive, involving numerous right to know requests and analysis,  they have turned a blind eye to the NIZ in their own backyard.  The Clean and Green tax benefit derived by all the participants in Lehigh and Northampton Counties combined, does not equal the amount of state tax siphoned off and given to J.B. Reilly, the main NIZ beneficiary.

photo by The Morning Call

A Daily Dose Of Truth In Allentown

From deep in a bunker somewhere in the Lehigh Valley, molovinsky on allentown provides a daily  dose of truth. Unlike the local newspaper which is overzealous in its promotion of the NIZ, this blog reports objectively  on that program, which is siphoning off our state tax dollars. Unlike other local blogs, this blog doesn't carry a torch for any candidate, in any race. Unlike the other media in the valley, this blog doesn't cater to any of the sacred cows, which normally receive no scrutiny elsewhere.

The blog is not monetized, directly or indirectly, in any way.  This commentary is produced five days a week.  Reader comments are accountable to their actual name or established pseudonym.

In the course of producing this blog, as outlined above, I have offended numerous people.  This is an unintended consequence, which does give me pause.  However, unless this blog can provide something unique, not otherwise available, there would be no justification for all the time and effort required.

ADDENDUM: While I was sketching out the above post yesterday,  hundreds of people were gathering at 6th and Hamilton for the ribbon cutting of Tower 6.  The paper reports today that J.B. Reilly said...Many employees are expected to live in downtown Allentown.... Despite all the previous new construction and ribbon cuttings, last night center city still appeared deserted. The restaurants were virtually empty.  Although some worry about downtown becoming gentrified and displacing people of lower income, I believe that is a fear that they need not concern themselves with.

UPDATE 7:00p.m: I have made a  revision in the second sentence of this post.  ...in bed with the NIZ has been changed to overzealous about the NIZ.  The former wording unfairly implied a quid pro quo arrangement.

Pawlowski And The NIZ

The Morning Call yesterday reported how a Pawlowski co-conspirator, James Hickey, was sentenced to 18 months.  In the article it states... The verdict (Pawlowski's) prompted Pawlowski to resign, bringing to an end a four-term tenure during which Pawlowski presided over a $1 billion rebirth of Allentown’s downtown. Say what you will about Pawlowski, but don't say that he presided over a rebirth of Allentown. That is the distortion which Pawlowski was hoping to use in his political  runs, first for governor, than senator. Although the NIZ happen during Pawlowski's third term, he had nothing to do with it. He didn't sponsor or promote the legislation. Even the nine contracts investigated by the FBI, not one had anything to do with the NIZ.  The NIZ was always completely above Pawlowski's realm. He was permitted to cut a few ribbons, that was all.

I don't expect The Morning Call to be very forthcoming about the NIZ. They have benefited directly from it. Many of their articles about the new buildings are virtually press releases provided by the developer(s). However, they should at least strive not to provide gross misinformation. Pawlowski's lawyer tried to sell the jury on the misconception that Pawlowski was the father of Allentown's revitalization. Apparently, only a Morning Call reporter believed it.

Not one business represented in the photo above still exists.  Photo, promotion and distortion of the NIZ,  all by The Morning Call