Pawlowski Contract Position Understandable

I do not have a problem with Pawlowski hiring professional negotiators for the contract talks with the police union, and not revealing details and costs, here's why; As all can agree, the last negotiation with the police union was a disaster for the taxpayers. The city has hired outside consultants for many mundane reasons, so why not for the most important issue in our city and the biggest item in our budget? If any agent can lower the bottom line in any transaction, it's worth the cost. If you believe pawlowski should have hired outside negotiators or not, since he has, why not wait to see what these pro's can produce? I understand the concept of right to know, and usually support it, but perhaps in this exceptional case, it's better to hold the cards close to the vest.

UPDATE: I have changed the title of this posting, from Pawlowski Police Position Proper to Pawlowski Contract Position Understandable

No Firewater For Indians

If you're a suburbanite being induced to come downtown to drink and eat, chances are your destination was heavily subsidized by Mayor Pawlowski. Take your pick, Allentown Brew Works, or Johnny Manana's, millions were given, including special city approved low cost liquor licenses. If you're a low income white, black or Hispanic, chances are you're a nuisance person drinking in a nuisance bar. On Friday the City of Allentown closed Trinkle's Cafe, 533 Turner St., because a shooting victim walked into the bar for help. There has been a taproom in that location ever since I can remember. My uncle lived in the 400 block many years ago. The current bar owner, Lauren Markowitcz, correctly states she is a victim of the neighborhood*; She is also a victim of the Administration. Rather than confront and deal with policies which continue to make Allentown a poverty and crime magnet, Pawlowski instead installs surveillance camera's, passes gun laws, and denies a livelihood to struggling business owner in a decaying neighborhood. Like the soup nazi in Seinfield, Pawlowski says no grant for Markowitcz.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b3_5trinkles.6617869oct06,0,4527803.story

Now I Gotta Fight With Bill White

Bill White, columnist for the Morning Call, has a fan club. I know this because three of the "Whities" just bashed me for taking Bill to task about his film and food blogs. But the reason I'm writing, is because he wrote three blogs marginalizing Sarah Palin. Seems because she did better than a "deer in the headlights" he gives her some credit. Although I haven't heard much about it from the pundits, Palin handled Biden well on several subjects . In one interesting exchange, Palin started out with an ultra-conservative, against same sex marriage statement. Biden started out with a very liberal, respecting same sex rights in couple situations. Before the exchange ended, Biden had to admit their position on gays was actually the same. My guess is that Joe Biden is glad today there's only one VP debate. I did see White at the fair stuffing himself on chocolate cake, hope I never have to take a film history course from him at Muhlenberg College.

Feel-Good Law and Hypocrisy

As Allentown is racked with shootings and police standoffs, City Council passed a silly, feel-good lost-gun law that won't help fight rising crime. Mayor Pawlowski said, "This bill can help close a loophole which is allowing illegal guns to flow onto our streets." Law abiding citizens have always reported lost and stolen guns. The notion that "straw purchasers" will comply with the law is absurd. District Attorney James Martin opposed the ordinance because gun laws are under the jurisdiction of State law. The mayor said we must go over the head of state law, to find solutions to our problems, even if the legislation gets overturned. Last year, the same mayor opposed illegal-alien laws, because he claimed they were under federal jurisdiction.

Morning Call/Muhlenberg College Manipulation

The Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, under the direction of Chris Borick, in cooperation with The Morning Call, today reported results of its current poll; Obama 50%, McCain 41%, with a margin error of +/- 4%. Manipulation is a strong word, but I'm just a local blogger with an ax to grind. I don't think it's a stretch to suppose a liberal college professor and a liberal newspaper would give the benefit of the doubt to Obama, but back to my ax. The Morning Call justified excluding me from the mayoral debate in 2005 because of a survey by Borick. For that election the "Institute" had William Heydt beating Edward Pawlowski by 7 points. Ed won the election by 20 points, the poll was off by 27%, slightly more than 4% margin of error! I'd like to see a survey of the accuracy of results by Morning Call/Muhlenberg polls over the years. But who would conduct it, the newspaper or college?

Style vs. Substance

Last night's Presidential Debate was clearly a case of style vs. substance. While Obama articulated theory about the world, McCain spoke from experience. While Obama danced around his comments about negotiating with Ahmadinejad, McCain clearly stated principles do count. While Obama strutted he would follow Bin Laden into Pakistan, POW survivor McCain reminded Barack to measure his words. Last week, commentators were scrambling to find undecided voters to evaluate the debate. There are no undecided voters whose opinion could possibly count, perhaps undeclared, but not undecided; the experience and philosophies of the two candidates are night and day. In 2004, the voters re-elected, arguably, the worst public speaker in history. Americans seem to look beyond style when filling the desk in the Oval Office.

The Hutch

Up to the mid 60's, students at Allen High could leave the building for lunch. Scattered in alley's around the the school, garages had been converted into lunch shops and hangouts. The Hutch was in the alley between 17th and West Streets, in the unit block between Hamilton and Linden. Suzy's was behind the Nurse's Dormitory, between Chew and Turner. Another was across Linden from the Annex. They all had the same basic decor, a few pinball machines, a few tables and a small lunch counter. Most of the business was during lunch period, and before and after school. It's my understanding that occasionally a kid or two would skip school and hangout all day. Today these garages, turned into luncheonettes, have long ago reverted back to garages. Most of the current residents of West Park probably don't even know about this commercial history right behind their houses. I missed photo day at Allen for my yearbook, but if anybody has a picture of the gang from the Hutch, I'd appreciate a copy.

Rendell, A Reluctant Jew

When Ed Rendell ran for Mayor of Philadelphia, he couldn't make himself an African American, but he sure wasn't a Jew. When Rendell ran for Governor, he was a city saving mayor and sportscaster, who downplayed the significance of his heritage on his outlooks. As a supporter of presumptive candidate Hillary Clinton, he did not have to be Jewish. Only now, with Barack as candidate with a background associated with known anti-Semites, has Ed Rendell become a Jew, who supports Obama.