The Road To Harrisburg

While I was at a meeting this week fighting for Wehr's Dam, my Democratic opponent was the guest of honor at a Democratic fundraiser, near the dam. Although her main qualification is that she met Michele Obama once, Democrats are working for her, and contributing to her campaign. The Republican incumbent has sent four mailers in the last two months, paid for by the taxpayers. Although she was unopposed in both the primary and general elections last time, she still spent $40,000 on that campaign. I'm presenting the voters of the 183rd District with an historic opportunity, to be represented by the only Independent in the State House. The District is enormous, stretching from Rt. 22 to the Blue Mountain, from Slatington to just north of Bath. I need contributions to help pay for a mailing and other campaigning. I'm asking all the readers of this blog, regardless of where you live, to help out with my unique campaign. State laws effect all residents, regardless of your address. I have installed a paypal button on the sidebar. You can find a conventional mailing address on the about section of my campaign page, Mr. Molovinsky Goes To Harrisburg. Thank you.

The Battle For Wehr's Dam

At last night's South Whitehall Township Commissioner's meeting, it appeared that Commission President Christina Morgan was marching to the Wildlands Conservancy's drum. Since this past June, when the Conservancy proposed demolishing the dam, a citizen's group has formed to preserve the dam and the township's history. At the previous meeting this month, the Commissioners agreed to sponsor an independent engineering study of the dam. Last night, they indicated that they would rely on the Wildlands' engineering report, hardly an independent evaluation. Ms. Morgan also referred to public hearings on the subject, a suggestion made by the Wildlands back in June, when Ms. Morgan asked them how to handle public opposition to the dam's removal. It's clear that the citizens, after four presentations and over 1,000 signatures, don't want the hearings, they want a decision. The Wildlands has stated that demolishing the dam is their highest priority. They have already demolished nine local dams. They should be invited back in a timely fashion to make their final presentation, and then the Commissioners should vote on the dam's future.  The Wildlands is entitled to their proposal, but they should not be determining the timeline about the fate one of the most historic icons in the township.
photograph by Gregg Obst

Addendum: 1.The Wildlands current study, which the Commissioners are waiting upon, is a bogus, decision delaying tactic. The Wildlands, in their June presentation, already claimed that the dam is past it's expected life (in their opinion) and that it has five cracks. They stated that they would pay for it's demolition at no expense to the Township.

2. At the previous meeting, Ms. Morgan mentioned being "fiscally responsible," alluding to the cost analysis of maintaining the dam, or allowing the Conservancy to demolish it. We concerned with local history, and the widely appreciated ambience of the park, believe that it would be better to be "historically responsible." They are not building any more gist mill dams, especially those that then flow under a Covered Bridge.

3. If the commissioners decide to save the dam, any repair costs are not an immediate concern. The structure will stand "as is" for many years, while grants are solicited to repair this historic structure.

4. At that point the dam should be added to the Historic Overlay District, with adjoining Wehr's Bridge, so residents need not again defend their history.

The Sign Of Hypocrisy

Very early this morning I was amused by the article in The Morning Call speaking of something new coming to downtown Allentown, an electronic billboard. I thought I had put the soon to be demolished Monument Building to rest, but now it features in yet another story of Allentown's double standards. Before the Mayor forced the owner to lock the doors, he had installed the exact type of new billboard coming to Allentown. I apparently was not the only one shaking my head over this story. Before 7:00AM I received the following comment.

  In regards to the future digital billboards: The sad part is that a business man had this same idea and placed a beautiful sign on the side of the 645 Hamilton Street building only to have ut turned off due to City politics.. Everything that is being thought of as new and innovative was proposed and DONE by individuals 6-10 years ago who took it "upon themselves" to make Allentown a better City. Unfortunately, we received no support so many have left or became apathetic... SMH Alfonso Todd

There is actually a proud tradition of signs in center square.  For many years during the golden era a large illuminated Neuweiler Beer sign stood atop the Whelan Drugstore, on the northwest corner.  Back to the hapless Monument owner and his innovative sign.  The sign was up for a number of months and being tolerated by the city, until one faithful day.  As a favor to the coffee shop owner,  the sign company programmed an ad for Lou Hershman running for office, just as Mayor Pawlowski was walking down the street.  The Mayor blew his fuse, and the sign shortly thereafter, when the city threw every sign law on the book at the owner.

 The billboard is actually still mounted to the building, as a testament to this hypocrisy.   Is it the same billboard firm now hired by the city to place billboards on certain streets, including N. 7th?
photocredit:molovinsky

reprinted from August 2012

UPDATE:The post above is from August of 2012. Since that time the building shown, The Monument Building, has been demolished, and a new building is being constructed by J.B. Reilly, using state tax dollars under the NIZ. Last night, Abe Atiyeh challenged the exception clause to the new zoning law, in regard to the new electronic billboard contract with the city.  Although that story is expertly covered by both Bernie O'Hare's Ramblings and The Morning Call,  this blog is uniquely positioned to add some  historical perspective and irony.

reprinted from August 2013

UPDATE August 20, 2014: Move ahead another year, and we now have a new building, with permission for a new digital sign. In obtaining that permission, it was stated that the previous building also had a digital sign. molovinsky on allentown, source of critical analysis and historical record, notes here that in fact that sign was declared illegal at the time, and the plug was pulled.

UDATE August 24: Another source indicates that the previous digital sign was reactivated, and remained so until shortly before demolition of the building.

Molovinsky On Slatington

On Saturday, Slatington celebrated it's 150th Anniversary with a wonderful parade. Although the residents are entitled to be proud of their illustrious past, I have concerns for them. It was convenient that all the empty storefronts provided space for the celebration's temporary souvenir shops and history displays, but that doesn't bode well for their economy. The current State Representative has concerned herself with the past; When I'm elected, I will concentrate on Slatington's present and future.
photography by K Mary Hess

Harhart's Tricks Of The Trade

Julie Harhart is not known for her legislating. One of her many recent mailings describes her last law; If she was more truthful, it would have mentioned that it was her only law, in her long twenty years in office. Although never legislating, she has never stopped campaigning, since being elected in 1995. Perhaps no one in the state house has handed out more certificates than her. She hands out certificates to any business that has survived despite her, and her inability to bring any economic relief to the district.

Allentown's Monopoly Money

When I read about the new theme restaurants coming to downtown Allentown, I think about children playing with monopoly money. Of course in that case it was a board game purchased by their parents. In Allentown's case, it's a fantasyland financed by the taxpayer's of Pennsylvania. What would bring a long retired restauranteur like Saylor back to downtown Allentown, an offer he couldn't refuse. What would make a developer like J.B. Reilly finance and setup these larks, your tax-dollars. Needless to say, Saylor wouldn't invest a nickel of his own money, but neither is Reilly. Last year, before one door was open for business, $33million in state taxes were diverted to the debt service in Allentown's monopoly fanastyland.

The surrounding State Representatives, while smiling at political party picnics, approved this fanastyland, while bringing nothing back to their constituents. In the case of 183rd District, Julie Harhart hands out certificates to long standing businesses, that have survived, in spite of her apathy in Harrisburg. On August 1st, my name was officially added to the candidates for State Representative in the 183rd. This blog is both my campaign office and soap box. Regardless of where you live, if you think that Harrisburg is less than equitable and efficient, please consider a contribution to my campaign. Let change begin with opening some eyes and ears to how your taxes dollars are really spent.

The People's Candidate

In the late 1970's, neighbors would gather in the market on 9th Street to complain and receive consolation from the woman behind the cash register. Emma was a neighborhood institution. A native Allentonian, she had gone through school with mayor for life Joe Dadonna, and knew everybody at City Hall. More important, she wasn't shy about speaking out. What concerned the long time neighbors back then was a plan to create a Historical District, by a few newcomers.

What concerned Emma wasn't so much the concept, but the proposed size of the district, sixteen square blocks. The planners unfortunately all wanted their homes included, and they lived in an area spread out from Hall Street to 12th, Linden to Liberty.* Shoving property restrictions down the throats of thousands of people who lived in the neighborhood for generations didn't seem right to Emma. As the battle to establish the district became more pitched, Emma began referring to it as the Hysterical District.
Emma eventually lost the battle, but won the hearts of thousands of Allentonians. Emma Tropiano would be elected to City Council beginning in 1986, and would serve four terms. In 1993 she lost the Democratic Primary for Mayor by ONE (1) vote.

Her common sense votes and positions became easy fodder for ridicule. Bashed for opposing fluoridation, our clean water advocates now question the wisdom of that additive. Although every founding member of the Historical District moved away over the years, Emma continued to live on 9th Street, one block up from the store. In the mid 1990's, disgusted by the deterioration of the streetscape, she proposed banning household furniture from front porches. Her proposal was labeled as racist against those who could not afford proper lawn furniture. Today, SWEEP officers issue tickets for sofas on the porch.

Being blunt in the era of political correctness cost Emma. Although a tireless advocate for thousands of Allentown residents of all color, many people who never knew her, now read that she was a bigot. They don't know who called on her for help. They don't know who knocked on her door everyday for assistance. They don't know who approached her at diners and luncheonettes all over Allentown for decades. We who knew her remember, and we remember the truth about a caring woman.

* Because the designated Historical District was too large, it has failed, to this day, to create the atmosphere envisioned by the long gone founders. Perhaps had they listened to, instead of ridiculing, the plain spoken shopkeeper, they would have created a smaller critical mass of like thinking homeowners, who then could have expanded the area.


UPDATE: I wrote the post above in 2010, it last appeared in September of 2013.  I helped Emma's campaign in 1998,  when she ran for state representative in the Democratic Primary against Jennifer Mann.

St. Matthew's Monastery

St. Matthew's Monastery in Kurdish Iraq, one of the oldest Christian Institutions in the world, was built by Christians fleeing persecution in 363 AD. Today, 16 centuries later, Christians are once again seeking shelter there. In the last decade it has been estimated that half the Christians have left Iraq. Since the Baghdad Church bombing in October, some Christians are afraid to be seen wearing a cross; Others have fled with little more than the clothes on their back. Pray for them.

St. Matthew's is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church

reprinted from December 2010. Things have only gotten worse for the Christians in Iraq, many more have fled.

reprinted from May 2013.   The situation in Iraq has become even more perilous. Those Christians unable to leave Iraq have mostly taken shelter in north section of the country, under control of the Kurds. 

UPDATE: I started posting about the plight of Christians in Iraq and the greater Middle East in 2010. The next reprint was in May of 2013, and conditions had only gotten worse.  Now, in 2014,  they are outright victims of genocide.  The Monastery is still be used for protection.