Figment Of My Imagination

Dear Mayor Pawlowski,
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm very disappointed in the changes made to my town. After my wife passed away, I moved to the senior high-rise at 8th and Union St. I can see the old Mack Transmission Plant from my window, I worked there for 40 years. I understand now it's a indoor go-cart track, I find that a bitter pill. Actually pills are why I'm writing. I used to walk to the Rite-Aid on Hamilton Street. With that closing, I don't think I can walk out 7th St. to the old Sears. Forgive me Mayor, that's before your time in Allentown. The other Rite-Aid used to be Levines Fabrics, they bought it from Sears. The Army Navy store was across the parking lot. Anyway, back to my problem. Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty. What have you done to me? My neighbor, a nice widow, tells me you gave that Mexican Restaurant lots of our money and they don't even pay their bills? Never ate there, what were you thinking? Anyway, sorry to bother you, I know you're a busy man, but I don't know where I will get my medicine from, and I'm upset. Sorry.

PhotoCredit: molovinsky

The Consequences of Denial

Last year when observers of local government pointed out that City Hall was gutted of it's most respected administrators, the apologists said those gone were just dead wood. Never mind that they have been replaced by people with virtually no experience. When long term private investment has left Hamilton Street, despite massive grants to a couple chosen venues, the apologists refer to transitional growing pains. When a report states crime is down, despite a recent horrendous murder and general fear, the Mayor credits his spending on technology, such as surveillance camera's and shot spotter microphones. Someone should remind the Mayor about the grassy knoll in Dallas. Despite media camera's and microphones from around the world, to this day, we still do not know how many shots were fired or where they came from. The apologists will apologize; the Mayor will rationalize, the editorials will endorse, the reports will verify, but middle class homeowners see the truth, and put up "for sale" signs.

Mt. Sinai Cemetery

Unknown to most people, contained within the sprawling Fairview Cemetery, is a small section with the oldest Jewish Burials in Lehigh Valley, called Mount Sinai. Fairview, along Lehigh St, is Allentown's most famous and now neglected cemetery. Among the notables buried there, is no less than Harry Trexler, whose largeness keeps bailing Allentown out, even 70 years after his death. Using diplomacy, not my forte, I have been trying to urge more upkeep for Mt. Sinai. Today, a letter to the editor laments the condition of the whole cemetery; perhaps this approach will be more successful. I urge everybody to take a stroll(OR DRIVE) through history, the views of Allentown are among some of the best you can find.

UPDATE: I have reason to believe the Morning Call may shed some light on this problem. Perhaps, considering the enormity of the cemetery, certain area's may have to be" adopted" by interested parties for care. It seems that as old cemeteries fill up, and the descendants move away or die off, the perpetual care becomes problematic. This is certainly an historic, significant site for Allentown, hopefully the Community can respond.

THIS IS A REPEAT OF POSTING DONE LAST AUGUST. NO LONG TERM IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CEMETERY. THE MORNING CALL HAS YET TO REPORT ON THIS OUTRAGE. THE CEMETERY OPERATOR HAS REFUSED ASSISTANCE FROM SEVERAL SOURCES. PLEASE CONSIDER ASKING YOUR CLERGY TO ADVOCATE ON THIS COMMUNITY PROBLEM

Diversity Celebration Not Needed

Apparently official Allentown doesn't have much use for a multi-cultural celebration. If the City Administration promoted the Upward Bound Festival through it's public relations firm aka The Morning Call, I missed it. Alfonso Todd. promoter, did a remarkable job, especially considering the City had evicted him and four other minority owned businesses last week from their production facilities at 645 Hamilton Street. I started at the corner of 7th and Hamilton at the Latino's for Obama, and worked my way down pass about 20 vendors and organizations to the end of the block, where the Lehigh Valley Republican Party had a booth. I note that the Grower's Market, outgrowth of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation, is promoted by the newspaper every wednesday. The Development Corporation staff cost the taxpayers about half a million a year to bring us four vendors with a few heads of lettuce. Alfonso cost us nothing, and did more than the bureaucrats could in years. Thank you.

Open Mike

This posting is intended to provide an opportunity to comment on any topic, or on an earlier posting.

Jewish Cemetery Desecrated

Within the sprawling Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, is the oldest Jewish Burials in the Lehigh Valley. The small Jewish section, called Mt. Sinai, predates all the existing Congregations, which have their own cemeteries. Graves here date back to the Civil War, and the descendants are long gone. The graves are being desecrated not by vandals, but by neglect. The cemetery is maintained, or not, by Boyko Funeral Services. My offer to pay for the restoration of the Jewish section has been ignored, I repeat the offer publicly. My calls, and calls from others, to The Morning Call, for exposure on this problem have likewise produced no results. Other large sections of the cemetery are in similar distress. Behind the grave marker of this Jewish child, the marker of a second child, has slid down into an enormous groundhog hole.

It All Depends

While the sheriffs were starting to round up the corrupt in Harrisburg, Rendell was hiding out in Allentown, having a press conference with Pawlowski. They were unveiling a new Keystone Opportunity Zone act, which extends and expands the current version. The KOZ for politicians is the gift that keeps on giving; unlimited press conferences about development and contributions from the few chosen developers. For the taxpayer, it's really a leech. While the chosen pay no taxes, it creates an unfair playing field and hardship for the real investors, the ones who pay taxes. The new version of the KOZ apparently has less accountability than ever. In addition to the location, our executives can now openly choose and pick which developers get the golden ring. Pawlowski said "It depends on the plan and on the developer." The Neuweiler Brewery can be included, considering Pawlowski had the current owner jailed, I doubt he'll make the KOZ grade. The photo shows "for lease signs" from two hapless owners competing for tenants in downtown Allentown, competing against new buildings which are tax abated under KOZ.

City Truth Challenged

I'm sure it was with great pride that Lehigh Valley Latino Magazine, headquartered at 645 Hamilton Street, featured the letter from Mayor Pawlowski praising them for their long time contributions to the city and Latino Community. In today's Morning Call, "city officials said they found only two businesses operating in the upper floors... neither company had secured the proper business licenses from the city, officials said."

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