At Least It's A Strategy

In 2005 I had a heated exchange with then candidate Pawlowski about Weed and Seed. After he would drone on and on about the benefits Allentown will derive, I called it a crab grass program. He thundered, "At least it's a strategy!" Politicians, and other merchants of the abstract, love presentations, strategies and proposals; they are the inventory of self-promotion. Last night, in regard to Michael Donovan's misfortune, Pam Varkony wrote, "If there is any upside to this, it is perhaps the extra police attention that will now be paid to Bucky Boyle Park and the surrounding neighborhood, which has been going down hill for a long time." I don't think so Pam, because the headquarters of our long term crime fighting strategy, Weed and Seed, is in that park. Allentown is long on motivational speakers, and short on solutions based on current realities. I don't think it will be much consolation to Michael or Pam, but lately a police car has been tucked up in the stadium property, near Muhlenberg Lake, waiting for speeders on Linden Street. I suppose we need income to pay the Weed and Seed Administrators.

Rainy Day Blues

The current owner of the New York Floral Company, in the current Holiday Inn at Ninth and Hamilton, after 22 years, is closing the shop. Scott Kraus, mincing no words, tells the depressing story at Mcall this evening. The owner candidly states that the "downtown business environment foundered" and that "Downtown has become a place to avoid." Despite this man's experience, Pawlowski insists that downtown is coming back and cites a new eatery on 9th St., the Cave, which is taking over the Loop, which took over the Hoop, which took over the Boop. Here's what Pawlowski doesn't know. The New York Floral Company was at Ninth and Hamilton before the Hotel, which started as a Hilton. It was the premiere florist in Allentown, although the crowds of shoppers on Hamilton Street made it difficult to access. Husbands and boyfriends would park where they could, and there wasn't even a Parking Authority. Denial is a river in Egypt.

photocredit: molovinsky

Time Capsule

Long time readers of this blog realize I occasionally revisit the streets of my youth, which seem idyllic in retrospect, although probably not at the time (certainly my shenanigans were not idyllic for my parents). My neighborhood was called Little Lehigh Parkway, and it was wedged between the southern top of the Parkway and Jefferson Street. Realtors now refer to this area as Little Lehigh Manor, but I have no recollection of that designation. The self-contained neighborhood even had it's own elementary school, where nursery rhymes of the time adorned the brick (they're still there)

As a little boy growing up, Spanky and Our Gang was a TV program, not an urban problem. When boys divided up to play cowboys and indians, being Hopalong was a coveted role. Our fathers experienced working in one of the most prosperous times in American history, post WW2. Children of Mack and Steel workers could well afford college if they so chose. Mothers could afford to stay home and watch their children grow and play.

Time has been most kind to my old neighborhood. A local leader told me that she is well satisfied with the current city government. The post war subdivisions, such as Midway Manor, remain oasis from the changes in central Allentown.

Hopalong Cassidy

Yesterday I went to the beauty parlor. About five years ago my downtown barber retired, and I was forced to go to a unisex shop. She assured me she also cuts men's hair, but I have yet to see another one there, but I don't go that often. I'm not sure what she calls her shop or herself, but I use the terms I remember from my childhood; My mother would go to the hairdresser at the beauty parlor. My mother would also take me to the Halloween Parade on Hamilton Street. Parades started at the fairgrounds and ran down Hamilton Street. The Street would be lined with people all the way downtown watching the parade, and hawkers would sell balloons and treats. One of last ones I remember featured Hopalong Cassidy, movie cowboy star of the 1930's. They featured his movies on a weekly TV show in the 50's, so I was very surprised about how old he looked in person. Years later, I heard that they had to tie him to the saddle, so he wouldn't fall off his horse during the parade. In recent years they had Sally Star in a parade down Hamilton Street, also long past her prime, but the people who remember her were afraid to go downtown. Last year organizers of the St. Patrick's day parade started a new tradition in Allentown, taking the parade west, away from downtown. My hairdresser noted that parade would go by her old shop on the way to downtown, and now by her new shop, to get away from downtown. Last month I got into trouble with some Union people over my photo from the movie "On The Waterfront", I said some relative was in the photograph. I don't want to say the same about a Klan photo. I know there is nothing racist about the organizers or the parade, but there might be something classist about the new parade route.

School Board Teaches Mayor

Those of us tired of municipal shenanigans and special considerations, owe the Easton School Board a salute; Last night they told Retread Mayor Panto they wouldn't approve his new KOZ designations.* Panto, in a typical mayor 101 retort, accused them of being suburbanites not supporting the inner city. The board wisely observed that tax abatement passes on the cost to the other tax payers, even though the Retread had referred to his proposal as crucial to the economic viability of Easton. Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia has proposed a 19% tax increase in the city of brotherly love. In these tough times, as homeowners must tighten their belts and go without, why should they have to subsidize a mayor's field of dreams? Now there's a thought for Allentown's new panel of 17 experts.

* http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b5_3easd.6825384mar20,0,6888080.story

Dog and Pony Need Veterinarian

If there is any lesson from the last six months, it must be that there are between very few and no financial experts. The brokers who work at the major investment houses are salesman, and our taxes are now being used to bail out the advise they passed on from their esteemed analysts. Those fortunate enough to have had savings, have seen their nest-eggs reduced by 20 to 40%. When Allentown Mayor Pawlowski announced his blue ribbon panel of experts, and our City Council applauded, I snickered. My fellow blogger, Lehigh Valley Clancularius Introspectives*, who also has a post on this topic, links to the city web site, listing the experts. In all due respect to these experts, most are not; many are old dogs who will have a hard time even staying on the pony. We knew Pawlowski was no Bloomberg, but how could anybody not foresee the coming shortfall this past November and December? Likewise, how can he now not take immediate action and count on this panel for solutions? How can a City Council buy a ticket to this third rate show?

* http://lehighvalleyclanculariusintrospective.blogspot.com/

It's Howdy Doody Time

Most of you who follow the local blogosphere know there are tensions fueled by over-inflated ego's. There's even a special word, snark, referring to those written jabs and slights. Chris Casey tried to organize a blogger breakfast, but when everybody was done stating who they wouldn't attend with, Casey couldn't even invite himself. Last week, in a comment section, I revealed that I was miffed at Pam Varkony. Although she never finds my blog comment worthy, it appeared to me that sometimes the topics appeared later on her blog, with never a notation. On March 7th, I published a posting called Odds and Ends, a few thoughts on different subjects. On March 9th, Lehigh Valley Clancularius did the same thing; I was complimented he called the post "Odds and Ends". Pam followed suit on March 11th, renaming this concept The Peanut Gallery, she went too far! As it turns out many of us over 60 grew up thinking Howdy Doody was our brother, and Buffalo Bob was our uncle. Varkony used a picture of Mr. Peanut, how insulting! The Peanut Gallery was a special place where kids got to sit on the show and watch Buffalo Bob and Howdy in person. Those of us at home, sitting at our TV tables, were part of the larger Peanut Gallery. Mothers could get their children to eat anything put on those small tables; we were mesmerized by Uncle Bob.

I've decided to sue Varkony, the problem is which lawyer to hire. I would hire Bernie O'Hare, but Villa keeps repeating that he was disbarred; Besides, Bernie is going to be to tied up with his charges against Villa. There's another lawyer who blogs, but Villa claims he's just a lawyer for now, and I don't know when the case will come up. I thought about Orloski, but he just lost a case against the city. I need a good lawyer, because Pam's much younger than me, and will claim she never heard of Howdy Doody.

Morning Call Spanks Pawlowski

When you grow up in a twin or rowhouse, you can tell whose been good or bad. One neighbor would spank his kids every night when he got home from work, saving his wife from the daily chore of discipline. He wouldn't spank too hard, just enough to cover any possible infractions they may have committed. Several weeks ago Jarrett Renshaw outlined Pawlowski's aggressive campaign funding solicitations. This week, both an editorial and another article, give Pawlowski another little spanking. The editors recommend a state law addressing "Pay to Play" conflicts. In Renshaw's new article he tells us City Council will form yet another Ad-hoc committee, this one to study campaign limits. Who will scrutinize the contributions they receive? D'Amore and Donovan want to fashion the new committee after the one which evaluated the Pre-Sale Home Inspection Law, aka After the Horse left the Barn. D'Amore's election was financed largely by the unions, and he returned the favor last week requiring all clothes dryer vents be union installed.* Donovan noted, that despite a $2000 contribution by the contractor, he voted against the Parking Authority selling the Verizon lot** to townhouse producer Nic Zawarski. Donovan forgets to mention I was sitting behind him with a stick in his back, and that he knew the one no vote wouldn't affect the sale. He did not advocate that his fellow directors vote no. I appreciate that D'Amore and Donovan again wax philosophical about due diligence and policy, but would appreciate them doing it occasionally before the fact.

ADDENDUM: Although I reprimand the Mayor for his solicitation of contributions, I do not believe he partakes in pay to play. Likewise, I do not believe D'Amore or Donovan base their votes upon contributions. D'Amore, Donovan and Hoffman (controller) are to be credited for recognizing a policy shift, in regard to contributions, is in order.

*law pertains to HVAC ductwork
** lot used by second shift women workers at Verizon, 7th and Linden Sts. who need safe parking