With A Little Help From My Friends

If you are a registered voter, no matter what district you live in, I need some help on Tuesday to get on the ballot as an independent candidate. No matter what your party affilliation, it doesn't matter. If you can spare an hour or two, anytime between 7:00am and 8:00pm on Tuesday, please send me your contact information by comment here. Your message will not be published, and will only be seen by me. Thank you.

Trustworthy Help Still Needed

If you live any District, and are a registered voter, I could use some trustworthy help for a couple of hours next week gathering signatures on my ballot petition. Unlike the Republicans and Democrats, independents such as myself have no organization to help with this chore. Send your contact information as a comment to this post, which will not be published, or visible to anybody besides myself. Thank you.

UPDATE: If you are a registered voter in any district, your help on Tuesday would be appreciated.

A Tale Of Two Cities, #14

It wasn't so long ago that the bus crowd lingered on Hamilton Street, at the transfer point in front of the community college's Allentown branch. While waiting for their bus, they would frequent numerous stores in the 700 block of Hamilton, catering to an urban market. About five years ago our City Father took it upon himself to have those unwashed masses moved around the corner, and down a block. The stores in which they shopped were next to go. Lo and behold, the limited liability corporation City Center has replaced the former center city, and he said That It Was Good. We are less than six months away from cutting the ribbon on this massive gentrification project, made possible by the generous taxpayers of Pennsylvania. As pictured in the architectural renderings, the new streetscape will be peopled by a different demographic, who are generally paler and wealthier than the bus people. It is hoped that these wealthy pale faces will stay on after 5:00pm, and talk stocks and theater with each other, in numerous new bistros.

Meanwhile, the bus people have a new shopping district a few blocks out on 7th Street. City Center LLC is forming a private police force to make sure none of the bus people get confused, and accidently walk the wrong way. Life will be better for them. All their stores have new facades, and a new supermarket will cater to multi-ethnicities. Allentown sure knows how to put the shine on segregation.

Trustworthy Help Needed

If you live in South Whitehall, in the 183rd District, I could use some help for a few hours next week gathering signatures on my ballot petition. Unlike the Republicans and Democrats, independents such as myself have no organization to help with this chore. Send your contact information as a comment, which will not be published, or visible to anybody besides myself. Thank you.

News In The Food Desert

In a recent guest post, public health consultant K Mary Hess pointed out that despite the arena, the NIZ was a food desert by official government standards. Although nothing has changed with that situation in the NIZ, big news is occurring out in the 600 block of 7th Street. The mammoth former Rite-Aid building has been purchased by an urban food store chain from New Jersey. When it rains it pours. Those familiar with the area know that the Little Apple Market is across the parking lot. Informed sources on the street believe that some partnering might occur between the two food companies, freeing up the original Sears and Roebuck department store for other uses. At any rate, work has begun on the building, and busier days are ahead for the merchants and residents in that section of 7th Street.

On the former post, one reader even suggested that the residents of center city take a bus to suburbia to do their shopping. Although those people living in north Allentown will be well served by competing or merging food markets at 7th and Allen Streets, it's a long walk to Linden or Walnut Street, to be carrying groceries. As stated before, a supermarket in that area would be a true community benefit.

photo of N 7th Street between Hamilton and Linden in the late 1940's or early 50's.

Dinner At Darla's And Why?

This Friday evening I'm going to have dinner at Darla's in Slatington. There's an Op-Ed piece in today's Morning Call by the president of the Northampton League of Women Voters, Beverley Hernandez, which takes Julie Harhart to task for not debating her opponents. "How do we determine who is competent if we are allowed only sound bites and bulk mailings close to Election Day? I do not believe the Founding Fathers meant for career politicians to arrogantly gerrymander election district lines to stay in office and then refuse to come out to debate their challengers." Ms. Hernandez does not mention Harhart by name, but does reference Bill White's recent column, which does.

As a candidate for the 183rd I will make myself available throughout the large district on a regular basis. If you couldn't make it last Friday, I'll be there again this Friday, between 6 and 8 pm. Stop by and say hello.

Molovinsky and The Second Amendment

A resident of North Catasauqua recently asked me how I feel about the Second Amendment. New York State is currently running a television campaign to attract new industry. The commercial promises numerous tax incentives for both start up and relocating companies. It does not mention Governor Cuomo's rant last year about pro assault weapon advocates having no place in the state of New York.   Alabama Governor Bentley and House Speaker Mike Hubbard both immediately responded to Cuomo’s comments. "We will protect the Freedoms of individuals and welcome any one or any company to Alabama to discover as so many have, that we are a pro-business state filled with good, hardworking people.” Remington has announced a new factory in Alabama, which will employ 2000 workers. The Remington factory, in Llion, New York, was started in 1816. While New York spends $millions trying to attract new businesses with taxpayer supported incentives, it's losing the benefit of a major company's growth.

While I fully support the Second Amendment, I also fully support every effort to keep existing companies up and running. Both Slatington and Northampton are case studies in lost industry and commerce. This State and it's Representatives have stood on the side lines as one business after another closed, while they have offered one incentive after another, for new companies to the valley. We subsidize a million square foot warehouse that only employs six people, while standing idle while an older business with 100 workers closes.

It's nice that Julie Harhart's staff helps people with their driver's license, and sends people birthday cards, but it's very sad that there's no jobs  for their children. Any representative can send birthday cards and support their Second Amendment rights, but the people of the 183rd deserve more; If they send me to Harrisburg, I'll make their jobs here my top priority.

Citizen Molovinsky's Candidacy

I kicked off my candidacy with a Meet and Greet at Darla's Ice Cream Parlor in Slatington on Friday evening. Although the young man shown above could not sign my ballot petition, his father did. Among those stopping by to meet me were none other than Marc Grammes, another candidate hoping to represent the 183rd District. Marc challenges incumbent Julie Harhart next Tuesday in the Republican primary. Harhart, using a playbook tactic, has chosen to ignore Grammes, and declined a League of Women Voters debate. Harhart will find my candidacy more complex. I don't own a copy of the playbook, nor do I want to. I will be everywhere throughout the district, offering the voters a new concept, putting their interests ahead of those of any political party.
photocredit: K Mary Hess