Walkers' Paradise

Today, The Morning Call features a story about how great our downtown's are for walking*. The feature shows a photograph of a most interesting couple and concludes all three main cities in the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown, are a "Walkers' Paradise." By 6:30 AM, two comments appeared questioning the story, especially the safety of walking in Allentown. A third commentator, Matthew Tuerk, then stated how safe Allentown was and how much he enjoyed walking to work in center city. Matt even mentioned he buys his groceries at the downtown Farmers Market on Wednesdays. Matt forgot to mention he works for Allentown Economic Development Corporation which sponsors that little market and promotes the downtown. Why can't people disclose their self aggrandizing? At least the article showed a really nice couple.

photocredit:harry fisher, morning call

*http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_5walkscore.6454554jun13,0,6323733.story

The Cards You're Dealt

According to Morning Call, the Administration plans to hire part time police officers to supplement the force. Currently the taxpayers paid for nine more full time police officers than are currently employed. Although the mayor offers the excuse that it takes 19 months to train an officer, he's known about the shortfall for over three years. The Morning Call also reports that it will probably be reporting less news than it currently does. When one considers the rising crime and decreased police presence, less news may be a blessing in disguise.

photocredit: molovinsky

Molovinsky Post goes Poof

Last evening I joined the ranks of poof blogs, and deleted a posting from earlier in the day. Certain aspects of that posting had deeply offended a third party. I made a decision to put that person's feelings ahead of my desire to pontificate on a certain subject. Although deleting a post is nothing to take lightly, it happened. In this current exercise of rationalization, it seems to me there are worst offenses; plagiarizing, lying and misrepresenting. Considering how much of the blogosphere is anonymous, to whom am I apologizing? Although I will not let any comment stand referring back to the original content of the deleted post, feel free to comment on the concept of deletion.

Pawlowski's Dog and Pony Show

Although I have my reservations about Pawlowski as a mayor, there is no doubt about him being a first rate performer. As Director of Community Development in 2002 under Afflerbach, they instituted the federal program Weed and Seed as their plan to address Allentown's problems. In addition to a large budget, staff, separate office, professional web site* and even a documentary video, the program has everything except perhaps measurable results. Never the less, Weed and Seed was the pony pawlowski rode during the mayoral campaign of 2005. He would say "Weed and Seed, blah, blah, blah." When I called it a slogan and money pit, he bristled, "At least it's a strategy". I think what he meant was at least it's something to produce a power point presentation about and sell as a solution.

Pawlowski is now making the circuit with a new show. Just as Afflerbach hyped the hot shot police chief theory, Pawlowski has his own Kuhn, hired consultant George Kelling, of "Broken Window" fame, a fading fad in police theory**. According to Pam Varkony***, Kelling tells Pawlowski's supporters in five years "Children will be playing on the sidewalks while their parents converse with friends and neighbors from their front porches". Let's see, five years, that would take us into Pawlowski's second term?

*http://www.allentownweedandseed.org/
**http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4520866
*** http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/anotherview/all-varkony6-1.6431595jun01,0,4235803.column

Candy For The Spirit

Chen-Arts Group

Saturday 6:30 PM

House of Chen

Sponsored by:
Mrs. Dottie



photocredit:
molovinsky

No Investors Need Apply

Mayor Pawlowski can't stand private investors, if he didn't give you a grant, your not worth crap. In the early 70's the City and Redevelopment Authority gave control of the Neuweiler Brewery to a friend. Under the City's watch, windows were removed and exterior walls broken through to remove the brewing tanks and piping for scrap. All metal, wires and any object of value were crudely ripped out in an orgy of demolition. With a large opening in the back wall smashed out, the basement was used as a free landfill by a roofer. Still the building remained iconic, because of it's rich industrial architecture. In 2003 a New Jersey investor bought the building for over $200,000 in the condition shown in the photograph. The building has been in that condition since the late 70's. HIs hope was at some point the City would appreciate the landmark and cooperate in its revival. He must have found the building citations from the Pawlowski administration mind-numbing; can you image being held responsible for carnage committed by a previous owner under the City's watch. Also this week the City punished the owners of the Livingston Apartments for their stubbornness about keeping magnificent heavy metal doors not listed in their Home Depot code book. Mayor Pawlowski, afraid someone might want to invest private money in Allentown and pay real estate taxes, had the Neuweiler owner jailed when he came to Allentown this week to discuss the property. Our new Mayor, along with our new Director of Codes, and our new Redevelopment Director plan to steal, excuse me, i mean seize the brewery.

Pawlowski's Magic Show

Last night Mayor Pawlowski looked forward to a good nights sleep after a long day of campaigning. He took his traveling illusion show, entitled Community Policing, to two locations. Stage hands included Police Brass and a "consultant". Although he knows the shine is off his apple, and hard questions have replaced previous blind enthusiasm, he still has a supportive editorial board at the newspaper, and more democrats registered than ever. We are installing surveillance camera's, blah, blah, blah. We are installing shot spotter sound systems, blah, blah, blah. We are involving the local Church Congregations, blah, blah, blah. The mostly somewhat skeptical audiences respond in a polite nod. Here and there an apologist leads a cheer:

"The mayor has a real mess to deal with and personally I feel that he is doing a decent job. It is a shame that many of the people ..... think that they can do it better. " Adam, a Morning Call forum cheerleader.

The mayor didn't get his good night's sleep. The shooting victim lying on his sidewalk required attention from the police and ambulance. Adam, cheerleader from the Morning Call forum also says;

" Seriously if you are that smart run for mayor and figure out how to fix the major problems that previous administrations have caused."

Well, I ran for mayor, and here's my suggestions.

1. Stop attracting more and more problematic people by funding social agencies which stake anybody to move to Allentown.

2. Stop hiring more and more bureaucrats and consultants and hire more police. Although the police shortfall was caused by the retirement incentive, we knew it was coming since 2005.

Greg Weaver Tribute

I had made arrangements to use the Hotel Grand, they have an old bar from the turn of century. I also arranged to borrow a super 8 bolex camera. Greg's girlfriend(Fran) was to be the flirt. The camera owner, the Grand owner and Fran all changed their minds. I shot behind Greg's studio on 10th St. using a kodak brownie movie camera and a woman friend of mine. Greg is the shooter. John Lotte is the victim.