The Promised Playground

Creating a playground as a destination for children with special needs is an enormous responsibility. In different posts on this blog I have mentioned some of the issues. I had also privately contacted several members of City Council with these concerns in more detail. That debate is over, but there is one danger which by conscience I must discuss. The City is encouraging cycling on the paths and roads. Fast moving bicycles near that playground is not a good idea. Last night Weitzel mentioned that the path in Trexler Park is wider than the one to be paved in Cedar Park. Actually, Allentownians of memory know that the "path" in Trexler Park was a one way road. About 20 years ago there was a tragic collision between a bike and a walker. The path in Cedar Park will only be 6 to 8 ft. wide, yet it will include a bike lane; I'm afraid that's an accident waiting to happen. I know of no reason to pave the path other than to facilitate cycling. Praying that they won't propose widening the path, and knowing that current conservation guidelines recommend against paving, perhaps we can save the gavel and keep the path safe for walkers.

Now that I'm older, by 12 hours, let me be somewhat conciliatory toward City Council. Michael D'Amore headed the effort to use the park grants throughout the park system, instead of concentrating all the Tupperware in Cedar Park. Jeanette Eichenwald persisted on the citizen's right to speak at the previous Council Meeting. Michael Donovan publicly conceded that Council should have done better with the Park Plan and has introduced legislation for future guidelines.

Last night as I approached the podium, I considered introducing myself as Michael MisInformation. It's sad that Allentown has been reduced to labeling those of us who ask questions as obstacles to moving forward. Although a Councilperson or two thought the crowd was a positive sign of participation and democracy, over half in attendance had no familiarity what so ever with the issues. When Weitzel said the "improvements" will enhance pride in the park, and result in less litter and need for maintenance, there was audible laughter. Pawlowski may have thought it was a good night for them, I don't think it was.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

Last night, outside the jammed City Council Chamber, I could hear the fat lady singing from her secret location. Upon arriving I had navigated my way past the protesters against segregation, discrimination and for inclusion. Being the opposition poster boy, their stares lowered my body temperature 3 degrees. Inside there were 70 critics of the plan, 25 supporters, and 100 shills summoned by Pawlowski. Included in the audience were at least two members of the Trexler Mistrust. Council started out by emphasizing that at this point in the game, there was nothing they could do about the plan proceeding. As the night progressed, it was revealed that each had received a ride in a golf cart with Park Director Weitzel, and a lollipop. Weitzel brought the playground plan with him from his previous job in Lewisburg, population 5,560. Seems that there were critics there also, but after completion, the two critics agreed with the three supporters that the playground and the new Dunking Donuts finally put the borough on the map.

As a veteran of City Council's pomposity and Pawlowski's condescending demeanor, I had no surprises. It's not hard to understand why the citizen advocates for the playground, mostly mothers of children with disabilities, fought so hard. It would be better for the city if the playground was much smaller, and didn't create expectations which are probably beyond our capacity to meet. It would be better for the city if this mayor and park director were more familiar with the park system and it's long time traditions. It would be better for the city if City Council wasn't a rubber stamp and the Trexler Trust didn't start fulfilling political agenda's.

Paulette Hunter, tireless advocate for the playground, held my place in the speaker's line when I left the chamber for a minute. Allentown will go on, it's just too bad that those who would question and/or oppose policy, are characterized as disseminating misinformation.

Going To The Well

As the citizens trudge to the well for the fourth time, still looking for relief from this ill-advised park plan, they carry the extra burden of today's article in The Morning Call. The article is a time line which gives the mistaken impression that the opponents are late, very late, to the fray. The Administration, like the article, claims the park plans were submitted to intensive public input. Obviously this isn't the case, if it were, there would be no meeting this evening. Last night a Council Committee discussed grants for a new restaurant, how many citizens know about that? Legal notices and sparsely attended meetings may create a time-line for research, but do not make an informed public. In reality, most citizens learned about these plans in mid June, from an article written by the same reporter. Let me digress a minute. This reporter, Jarrett Renshaw, is one of the best ever to cover the city beat at The Morning Call. Despite new graphics and a new website, the paper is incredibly understaffed and overworked. Renshaw, manages to not only report, but he investigates. What the article does question is where did this playground come from? The Master Plan of 2006, commissioned by The Trexler Trust for the entire park system calls Cedar Park overused and has no mention of such a playground. Apparently the Park Director, from Lewisburg, brought the plan with him from his previous job.

I started my campaign of awareness on this issue in mid May. At the end of May I conducted a meeting, Allentown Speak Out, which discussed the playground, Rose Garden and other aspects of the plan. Years ago Allentown was known for three things; our booming downtown, our industry and our parks. A City Councilman questions what they can do about these plans at this point in time, but believes the controversy will have political consequences. He has that part right.

painting; Eliezer and Rebecca at the Well, 1648, Nicolas Poussin

Tip For Snooks

The sign in the photo comes from the crybaby immigrant who operated the diner at 9th and Linden. He had heard stories that if he came to America, worked hard and saved his money, this was the land of opportunity. The snook thought when he bought the diner he need only work from early in the morning till late at night to get his share of the pie. Sure, seven day weeks are hard, but the bus stop always provided a new customer or two. Snook didn't know about Pawlowski's plan to move Allentown forward. All those bus stops would be centralized to the Lanta terminal at 6th and Linden, even the Hamilton Street merchants wouldn't be spared.

When Butzy was enticed to build his office building at 9th and Hamilton, it's good to be Butz, the stage was set for the revitalization of Hamilton Street. The riffraff bus people who populated the boatpeople stores would be rafted down to the new Lanta terminal at The Morning Call Square. Last Christmas Lanta even provided a shuttle bus to bring the marginal back to Hamilton Street as a concession to the merchants, but the shopping habits had already changed. Rite Aid is returning, in spite of our poor planning, because of a fluke with their 7th Street building. Back to Butzy, tenants never materialized for his building, and there is less business on Hamilton Street than ever. The Chamber of Commerce, after saying there was no need to be in Allentown and selling their Walnut Street building, "changed" their mind, and opened an office at Butz's. The County moved it's Visitor Bureau there, but there's only so many connections available. The prime first floor space has remained empty since construction in 2006, but that's about to change. Although our state income tax will likely rise, there's a grant coming Butz's way for his tax free KOZ building. With a start up grant of over $350.000, an Easton restauranteur will open an upscale blah blah blah this spring. If you eat there, you have already left a tip.

ADDENDUM: Apparently Pawlowski is willing to pay for everything, even the kitchen sink. In addition to the 350k from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program, listed as 9th and Hamilton, there is another grant application from DCED for the prevention and elimination of blight under section 4 of the Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law on behalf of Alvin H. Butz, this time using the actual street number, 840 Hamilton St. Who would think a new building would qualify for funds under blight elimination? In a few years, not unlike the Brew Works, it will be impossible to trace the subsidies provided.

ADDENDUM 2: A little more sugar; R60 Economic Development Liquor License for 840 West Hamilton Street.

Line In The Sand

It's hard to come out against a playground. A mother who speaks regularly at City Council keeps referring to when children with disabilities were kept locked up in institutions. The Mayor's wife recommended that mothers bring their children and signs to influence the media and City Council. There is absolutely no way Allentown has the expertise, supervision or capacity for maintenance to promote a playground as a destination for children with special needs. I had a short meeting with the Park Director last month, and that is exactly the plan. This destination playground would include a special restroom and a separate changing room. We can buy the equipment, and we can built it, but we could never fulfill the expectations of those whom we would be attracting. I do not believe The City of Allentown should build such a playground anywhere. Such a playground should be built by organizations which specialize with these issues; such as LifePath, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit and the Good Shepherd. That said, I can support a playground at Cedar Beach, and of course it should be handicapped accessible. It should be no larger than 5,000 sq. ft., which can accommodate over 50 children at a time. Any larger playground would force Mayfair to expand across Ott Street just maintain its current size.

There should be an official declaration that Mayfair and the other special events will not be permitted to expand over Ott Street into the currently passive side of the park.

The jogging path at on the west side of Ott Street should not be paved or lighted.

Although the walkways should be completed in the flower gardens to allow for wheelchairs, no additional pavilion should be built in the Rose Garden.

Needless to say, the above guidelines represent only my opinion. Others feel because of the overuse of the park and the flood-plain reality, there should be no additional constructions what so ever. There is consensus, from an expanding group of citizens, that the current plans do not respect the history or tradition of our iconic park system.

Cedar Park and The Shadow Mayor

Yesterday I introduced you to my new alter-ego; Who knows what shenanigans lurk in the corridors of City Hall- The Shadow Mayor knows! My information comes from the blogosphere, back channel sources and until very recently, posing as a janitor at City Hall; the recent layoff of 39 employees has made that disguise problematic. The Shadow comes forward now because of the interplay between my two previous posts. Two days ago I failed our two professor councilmen for giving the citizens the run around. As an anonymous commenter on Bernie O'Hare's Rambling Blog observed; council is so concerned about process and procedure regarding citizen input yet so uncaring about "process' when they approve plans. City Council let the 80 or so citizens go home wednesday evening believing that they have summoned the Mayor and Park Director to the hot seat this coming thursday. Yesterday, Pawlowski's letter began surfacing; in it he indicates the public is invited to come thursday for reeducation and misconception re-mediation. An address to Pawlowski's actual letter is now included with the Shadow's version in yesterday's posting. Is Council summoning the Mayor, or is Council channeling the citizens for the Mayor's benefit? Recently Professor/Councilman Donovan wrote that his research indicates that at 19,750 sq. ft. playground should only accommodate 200 children, not 567, because he found a website recommending 10 sq. ft. per child. More recently he indicated that he could support no playground larger than for 200 children. (which by his formula is still 19,750 sq. ft.) in other-words, it's the same boloney sandwich repackaged with a new wrapper. Apparently our professors have us confused with impressionable 18 year college freshman. Our Mayor thinks if we don't agree with him we must have misunderstood. Let us go to that meeting and give them a lesson.

ADDENDUM: In fairness to Michael Donovan, it must be pointed out that he is being somewhat punished for his accessibility.
He alone, as a Council-person, has a blog,(donovanforallentown.blogspot.com) where he discusses his opinions
and interacts with the citizens.

Letter From The Shadow Mayor

Dear neighbors of Cedar Creek Park,
Since of the quality of your life and the value of your property is about to take a serious hit, I would like to blame all of your anxiety on misinformation. I can assure you that these plans had intensive input, just because you never checked what was taped on the wall inside City Hall is no fault of the Administration. We have justified these plans with the Master Plan of 2006, even though that document recommends less use of the park.

Among the improvements will be new restrooms, and although we never keep the old ones very clean, perhaps you can help. We will be building new attractions,but no new parking lots. In case the plan to create more spaces by creative striping on the existing lots doesn't completely fulfill the need, please consider letting visitors use your driveways and perhaps your bathrooms.

On the pool side of the park we will build a destination playground on the only area with no tree's. Although Mayfair and the other special events will have to expand over into the Rose Garden side to even maintain their current size, we have made suitable plans to accommodate that inevitability. The current jogging path will be paved and lighted, not unlike a fair midway.

A wedding pavilion will be built in the Rose Garden to encourage overuse of that jewel. All the above construction costs will be paid for by the Trexler Trust. You will pay for the intensive maintenance costs thereafter. Although 39 city workers have been laid off, the new attractions will be so appreciated that the visitors will leave less trash and litter.

You will soon be receiving a similar, but different letter from Mayor Pawlowski. He encourages you to attend a special meeting Aug. 13, to learn the error of your recent ways. I also urge you to attend, to convince City Council that they must assert themselves with a cease and desist order against the Park Department.

The Shadow Mayor,
Michael Molovinsky


ADDENDUM: Web address for Pawlowski's letter; http://www.allentownpa.gov/Portals/0/files/Parks_Recreation/cedar-creek-renovations/CC%20MASTER%20PLANV4w.pdf

The Two Professors Fail

There are two college professors on City Council, and last night they both failed the public. I intended on addressing a posting about Michael D'Amore, Council President, in a few days. Both our professors are Michael's, so I will be using last names. D'Amore, through procedural shenanigans, was attempting to stop the public from speaking, but wouldn't admit it, even when his intentions were repeatedly questioned. The other professor, Michael Donovan, supported D'Amore's position; that all 80 plus citizens should wait till Aug. 13th for discussion. Even though guilty of the same crime, I was prepared to give Donovan some slack, after all, those of us opposed to these constructions on our park system need his support. Donovan however, has written a defense of his position on his blog, called Inclusion*. One of his rationalizations was to give adequate time for excellent notification. I have been attending Council Meetings for Decades. Last nights meeting had more publicity than any in recent memory. Wednesday morning The Morning Call had a rather large story, by recent standards, about the meeting. Donovan himself is quoted in enlarged type in a special box; "I want to force an appropriate discussion to get this thing right. I think it's clear to me that there has not been enough widespread discussion...." In addition to the newspaper story we have learned that the Mayor's wife sent out an email encouraging proponents to attend. The meeting was also mentioned on local radio several times.

For this posting I'm not even dwelling on the fact that the City Charter demands Citizen Discussion through the Petition Submitted. D'Amore teaches Political Science

Donovan, on his blog, goes on to note the important parties were not present, Mayor Pawlowski and Park Director Weitzel.

Mr. Donovan, the petition requested that implementation of the Park Plan be suspended because of lack of information and public input. You and Mr. D'Amore repeatedly conceded that the Administration was less than forthright with the plans. Both Pawlowski and Weitzel have repeatedly avoided the Council Chamber when the public sought information for the last three meetings. Last night several citizens testified that Weitzel wouldn't provide information when asked. The public has come to the well three time in the last month, and you and D'Amore can only say try again next week.

*Mr. Donovan's explanation can be found at www.donovanforallentown.blogspot.com/

Mr. Donovan, I will be happy to cut and paste a similar size (to this post) reply from you here.