Stepchildren Of Allentown's Corruption

Back in the day before the FBI raid on Allentown City Hall,  those interested in corruption in Allentown were pretty much limited to myself and O'Hare.  Missing in action was the Morning Call.  Although they would occasionally use this blog as an unattributed source, they avoided my most controversial exposés.  Among them was my revelations about the Neuweiler Brewery.

Although the FBI and  Justice Department decided to prosecute Pawlowski and Company on nine deals,  I suspect that the menu actually had many more choices.  Among them may have been the current Neuweiler Brewery deal.  When Ruckus Brewing was introduced as an applicant for the Neuweiler Brewery, I wrote about it here, way back in 2013.  My research revealed that Ruckus had no experience at the time in either actual beer brewing or real estate.  What they did have was a business consultant very connected to the administration in Allentown, Mike Fleck.

Although Pawlowski and Fleck were indicted and convicted,  the Allentown Commercial Industrial Development Authority proceeded with handing over the brewery to Ruckus.  Ruckus received numerous deadline extensions on their application, and represented the brewery as a done deal to raise cash. All these irregularities were previously reported on this blog, and ignored by the local press. They are currently permitted to rent out space as is, in a building in which the previous owner was arrested and jailed for not correcting code violations.

When shenanigans occur in Allentown,  this blog is often the first source to chronicle the questionable activity.

For the full story on the Neuweiler Brewery, please follow the links provided below. 

Post on Neuweiler Brewery from May 29, 2008

Post on Neuweiler Brewery July 11, 2012

Sequel to July 11, Post (July 16, 2012)

Post on Neuweiler Brewery May 2, 2013

Post on Neuweiler Brewery Jan. 31, 2013

The Neuweiler Brewery, A Pawlowski/Fleck Shenanigan, July 8, 2015

Morning Call Catches Up To Molovinsky On Neuweiler Sept. 30, 2015

reprinted from March of 2018

Reality Check At Strata Lofts

This blog has long claimed that the occupancy rate for Strata Lofts is not as rosy as J.B. Reilly and the Morning Call claim. In the past I have accused the paper of writing virtual promotions for Reilly, resembling press releases, rather than news reports. My assessment was based on dark apartments, empty streets and the failure of upscale merchants.

Reilly has now announced that the number of additional upscale apartments will be cut back, while the lower rent units at the former Holiday Inn will proceed as planned.

When the guidelines for the NIZ were first announced, the incentive was supposed to be applied only to commercial development, not residential. I suspect that someway, his residential projects are also being financed through our state taxes. There appears to be no real scrutiny  by the ANIZDA, which was to provide oversight.

At a candidates night, I found it interesting that Ray O'Connell defended the NIZ so vigorously. He and others claim that downtown Allentown is much better off than before the zone. My readers may be surprised to see me not dispute his claim. I suppose that by suburban standards it has been sanitized, but it certainly hasn't been really revitalized.

This blog started in 2007, with the insight that Pawlowski and city hall could stand some examination. When the city started sending straw buyers to intimidate the former Hamilton Street merchants, this blog reported on the deception being used. When the Morning Call started promoting, instead of reporting, this blog spoke out. Along the way I have been accused of being a naysayer. To that I say, Thank you, you're welcome. You can find plenty of positive vibes elsewhere, but there's also  a need for some reality checks.

None of the merchants featured in the photo above are still in business. 

Allentown Memorabilia

The time and market for Allentown memorabilia has come and gone. With a changing population, and the graying of the older town folks, objects of our history are destined for the landfill. Even the local historic society concentrates on shows of general interest, such as Abraham Lincoln. In addition to having been a retail mecca, Allentown manufactured a large assortment of products. Allentown was stamped on tools, knifes, and metal products of all kinds, distributed nationwide. A local regional food product was the hard pretzel, a variation of the traditional German soft pretzel. Allentown had several pretzel companies. Miller's operated out of their factory at 732 Tilghman Street, between 1944 and 1978. In the coming months this blog will profile some of these Made In Allentown products, before litter and meaningless slogans became our legacy.

reprinted from July of 2013

Politics And Musical Chair Police Chiefs

The Morning Call reported yesterday afternoon that interim Police Chief Alsleben has resigned, effective September 6, and that he is the fourth resignation in four years. They also reported that community activists had a issue with him. I believe that both those points need some examination.

The first resignation they mentioned was Chief Joel Fitzgerald. They omit mentioning that his son was arrested for pointing a gun at county detectives, and then subsequently sued the county for racial profiling, after he was acquitted. Never mind that Fitzgerald was the product of a national search by the Pawlowski regime, presumably to help avoid racial tension. Fitzgerald went on to Fort Worth, Texas, where he has since been fired, for overstating his accomplishments in Allentown. Before being let go by Fort Worth, he unsuccessfully applied for the chief job in Baltimore. In regard to Alseleben's resignation, former chief and current council president Roger MacLean recommended that Allentown not resort to another national search. By the way,  the paint job on the police car shown above was the brainchild of Chief Kuhn, result of another national search,... He was imported from Chicago.

Also in the Call's article, Milagros Canales, President of the Old Fairgrounds Neighborhood, recently faulted Alsleben for not being more visible out in the community....That was never part of the job description for Allentown police chief. There always have been some politics involved in the department. In that regard, council member Ed Zucal, himself a former officer, has been advocating Captain Glenn Granitz for chief. Granitz has been very visible in the community, often representing the department at community meetings.  Although I'm not certain who the next chief will be,  I'm glad that he or she will likely be chosen from within the department.

photocredit:The Morning Call

The Little Bridge Of Lehigh Parkway

A few years ago, new and young visitors to the park would have no idea that a magnificent miniature bridge crossed a spring run to the Little Lehigh. Certainly, such a stone construction wasn't necessary to cross the 24 inch waterway. It was built in a era of masonry art, fueled by the Great Depression, and funded by Roosevelt's WPA. Over the last decade, budgetary cutbacks and environmentalists demanding riparian zones, justified allowing it to be consumed by brush and saplings. In 2010, I persuaded Mike Gilbert, park department manager, to partially clear around the bridge. Although a tree now blocks it's southern approach, the bridge has been given a reprieve on it's destruction.

reprinted from previous years

Saving The Spring Pond

As a small boy growing up in the twin homes above Lehigh Parkway, I would go down the steep wooded ravine and cross the Robin Hood Bridge. The stone lined spring pond and miniature bridge was just the first in a series of wonderful WPA constructions to explore. Last year, when I organized the reclamation of the Boat Landing, my memory turned to the pond. Although overgrown with several inches of sod, I knew the treasure was still savable.





In the spring of 2010 I met Mike Gilbert of the Park Department, and pitched the idea of a partial restoration. On May 26th, I posted A Modest Proposal, which outlined my hopes for the pond. By July, Gilbert had the Park Department clear off the remaining stones, and clean up around the miniature bridge.


Park Director Greg Weitzel  indicated to me that the pond features uncovered will be maintained. Any further clearing would be at the discretion of Mike Gilbert. In our conversation he also stated that there are virtually no funds available for the preservation of the WPA icons.







I will attempt to organize a group and contributions for this most worthy cause. Between the Spring Pond and The Boat Landing there was once a bridge to the island. Wouldn't it be nice if a small boy could go exploring.

above reprinted from previous posts

UPDATE August 2013Mike Gilbert has retired, and the Park Department has a new director. Although grass and sod are starting to again cover the remaining stones that surround the pond, the miniature bridge is still visible. I will make it my mission to again pitch the new personnel.

UPDATE June 18, 2014. The grass and sod has reclaimed the stones that surround the pond. Only the very top of the miniature bridge is still visible to those who know that it's there. Unless there is an immediate intervention, it's days are numbered.
HISTORY IS FRAGILE

UPDATE February 2017:In 2015, in cooperation with Friends of Allentown Parks, I supervised college volunteers to clear the new sod off the pond stones, and the new bush off the miniature bridge. Allentown is on its third park director since this post was first written, and has acquired two large parcels to create new parks. To be planning additional parks, when our existing park features are left to abandonment, is incredibility poor management.

UPDATE May 1, 2018:  This past weekend the pond, miniature bridge and spring channel to the creek were once again cleared.  The work was done by volunteers from Faith Church, Asbury Church, Igesia De Fe and Salem Bible Church,  through Karen El-Chaar, director of Friends Of The Parks. Although the park department provided assistance in the two clean ups over the past several years,  they have  not provided ongoing maintenance to the site.  Understand that in the past few years they have constructed the exercise area at Jordan Park, the cement disc golf pads in the parkway and other recreational features. It is long overdue that the WPA structures be returned to the regular park budget and schedule.

Politics In Allentown Police Department

According to our local news sources, a couple members of the public spoke out last night against interim chief Alsleben. While the local police union officially supported him, chatter on social media lately has revealed that he isn't supported unanimously by everyone in the department.

Some in the public gallery have recommended filling the chief spot from within the department, mentioning a captain, and even a detective. Getting back to the public gallery, there isn't much institutional memory there.

In truth, there has always been politics in the department. At least one former chief himself,  years earlier, had been a plaintiff against the department.

There have also been reports that Alsleben may be looking for a spot in another community. Assuming that the interim chief is still a candidate early next month, council will have a difficult decision. The fact that three members of council are themselves former Allentown policemen, is a unique footnote to the equation.