Weed and Seedy

In the 2005 Mayoral Campaign, as I listened to Edwin Pawlowski elaborate on how he would energize the local Weed and Seed initiative, although he never mentioned involuntary home inspections, I called it a crab grass program. Apparently I was wrong, it may well be a crass grab program. Today I interacted with the National Weed and Seed headquarters, they are not familiar with any mandatory homeowner participation, which is exactly what Allentown's systematic inspections constitute. I call upon Phyllis Alexander, Coordinator for Allentown's Weed and Seed, to explain this unique interpretation of a national program and justify the imposition upon our homeowners.

In Jarrett Renshaw We Trust?

So far I'm impressed with Renshaw's (Morning Call reporter) coverage of Mayor Pawlowski. Assuming he will cover the election, which will be slightly longer than the recent shelf life of city beat reporter, I'm hopeful for fair coverage. The coverage in the 2005 election was not fair. Although I do have an axe to grind with the reporter at that time, Daryl Nerl, I think my assertion is not unwarranted. Pawlowski for that election hired Bob Whittman, Nerl's former city beat partner, as his press secretary. Pawlowski's Republican opponent, former Mayor William Heydt, struggled for equal coverage. My campaign was ignored and suppressed. Nerl confessed to me he thought my idea's would resonate with the public, but he refused to print them. On the other hand, Whittman handed Nerl ready to publish stories. For this election Pawlowski had hired former Morning Call reporter Joe McDermott. Let us hope that McDermott has less clout with Renshaw.

Two Robberies

In addition to the FirstTrust Bank at 7th and Hamilton being robbed Monday, the citizens and taxpayers of Allentown have been robbed of a realistic business plan for Hamilton Street. On Monday, close to noon, the bank robber actually walked down an empty Hamilton Street after robbing the center square bank. Had the Lanta bus stop, across the street, still been in operation, there would have been far too many witnesses for such boldness. Of course had the bus stop still been there, Rite-Aid Drugs, Hamilton Perk and MishMash Boutique would also still be open. Mayor Pawlowski again today illustrated his lack of business comprehension by stating he would look for grants to reopen the upscale Freeman Jewelers. Pawlowski, the suburban customers you want aren't coming, and you chased away the ones that were there! In the last decade a dynamic Hispanic business community developed on 7th Street without the city planning and $millions$ we wasted on Hamilton. These emerging proprietors match their service with the existing clientele. Recently an urban manager, Pete Lewnes, has been employed and is appropriately distributing facade grants. His success there, on limited funding, demonstrates how little is needed when reality is one of the criterion.

Photo shows former bus stop, at square, across from bank, after it was closed. Sign directs passengers and customers away from Hamilton Street to the Allentown Transportation Center

State Of Distress

Yesterday, Mayor Ed Pawlowski gave the State of the City Address to the Rotary Club, in essence his kickoff speech for the 2009 November election. By default, I'm one of the existing experts on the difference between what Pawlowski promises, and what he delivers. Daryl Nerl, The Morning Call reporter who covered the 2005 election is no longer with the paper. William Heydt, Pawlowski's main opponent, with the exception of defending his legacy, remains silent. In 2005 I took Pawlowski to task for his penchant for slogans, especially Weed and Seed. Annoyed, he would defend it by saying at least it's a strategy. Yesterday, not surprisingly, Pawlowski didn't concede Weed and Seed wasn't the crime stopper he promised. His new panacea for public safety is Community Policing. Interestingly, he now touts improving customer service in City Hall. There is little mention of his previous plan, as Afflerbach's Community Development Director, of One Stop Service. Despite spending 3 million dollars, that slogan never materialized into a reality. The rental inspection program has moved to the Bridgework Building, and there is less centralization than ever. Although he didn't credit himself, Pawlowski has done an excellent job distributing grants and favors to different constituencies necessary for re-election. According to Jarrett Renshaw, who covered the speech for The Morning Call, apparently nobody snickered when Pawlowski described borrowed money as a budget surplus. Renshaw, new to the city beat, has been doing an excellent job providing a frame of reference for all claims made.

Grooming and Litter

Years ago in downtown Allentown there were about a dozen barbershops and virtually no litter. Today, with the same population, there are about 60 shops and tons of litter. Apparently there is no longer a correlation between nice appearance and good manners. In the past men would wait their turn. Many of the new shops seemingly have an express system. A doorman with a walkie talkie informs the "barber" who is coming, and the patron can receive his service in less than a minute. Over the years I photographed most of the shops now gone. Although I'm sure many of the new proprietors are hardworking honest people who would not tolerate any criminal behavior, the days of taking my camera into barbershops has passed.

photocredit: molovinsky

Pondering Pawlowski

Without a doubt, Pawlowski is the most political mayor Allentown has ever had. Although even his own controller, Bill Hoffman, stated there is no uncertainty that taxpayers will have to augment shortfalls in the pension funds, Pawlowski says no one knows for sure that the stock market will not sufficiently rebound. Knowing that the investment market has punished the pension funds by almost 50%, there is no question that Pawlowski is being political in this election year; he has proposed no tax increase or cut backs for 2009. Pawlowski, and his finance director Larry Hilliard, have their fingers crossed that the state will provide aid and also allow municipalities to reimburse the pension shortfall over a longer period of time. On another pension issue, I do support his deferred retirement option plan, which would allow experienced officers to qualify for the lucrative pension under the expiring contract, yet continue working. After losing over 80 officers because of Afflerbach's contract, we must try to retain the senior officers. Although this plan will cost the taxpayers an additional premium, it's value for the money, something not often seen recently in Allentown.

Welcome to Allentown

Joanne is a long time caregiver in Easton, but she chose to buy a house in Allentown. It's a house you will not see on a house tour, but she is rightfully proud of it. It's on a busy street, in a poor section of town. Her house, the only one decorated for Christmas, is the gem of the block. This holiday season she was rewarded for her efforts by receiving an inspection notice from the City of Allentown. She knew that in recent past, her house had been bought and sold for double the money, by one of the city's non-profit housing agencies, so all the safety issues had been addressed. She knows it's not a rental, under that inspection program, or up for sale, under that inspection program, so why the inspection? Seems that Mayor Ed started the home sale inspection program at the wrong end of the curve, and we hired more new inspectors than new police. Allentown has rolled out its old "systematic" inspection program for a few lucky sections in center city. You who live in Midway Manor, or the south side, and certainly the west end, need not worry. Worry is what this post is about. Joanne is really upset, she feels this unwarranted inspection is an intrusion upon her privacy and time. She received no consolation from her call to City Hall, on the contrary, she was told about administrative search warrants, and that somebody better open the door at the designed time. Her anxiety resulted in a coworker contacting Bernie O'Hare, who in turn contacted me. Bernie and I will keep you informed about how Allentown treats this woman; so far, not well.

The Greed of Grants

Easton Mayor Sal Panto finally pulled his support of the Riverwalk Project, publicly admitting it was a useless project, yet he still wants to utilize the grant in a new location he deems less useless? Now instead of building a parking garage and Lanta terminal four blocks from the shopping district, he will duplicate Allentown, and build it only one block from the stores. Never mind there is no shortage of parking on Northampton Street, Sal can't stand the idea of losing a grant from the Joint River Bridge Authority. In Allentown we couldn't stand losing a grant from the Federal Transportation Department, never mind it destroyed the viability of the Hamilton Street merchants. Lanta officials and city officials in both cities talked of reducing congestion on the main streets, never mind that there was no congestion. Like a consumer with a coupon for something he doesn't need, our elected officials cannot comprehend that there are grants we would be better off not receiving. Greenwich, Connecticut, a beautiful community north of NYC, has a unusual community development policy; they do not accept HUD grants, not much future for bureaucrats there! The Hispanic business community on Allentown's 7th Street suffered a unnecessary disruption of parking and business this fall, as the city once again dug up the sidewalks to install new wiring for improved street lights, courtesy of a "grant". The merchants are rightfully wondering why the new lights ended up identical to the old ones. When grants are utilized, and at the end of the project there is no benefit, but on the contrary, unintended consequences, what's the point? We have become the victims of over planning, to use unnecessary grants, squandering our money, so our elected officials can blabber about progress.