There Never Was Suppose To Be A Managing Director In Allentown

Allentown news is buzzing with the resignation of Fran Dougherty, Allentown's managing director. Since Allentown historical perspective is limited mostly to this blog, allow me to address the position itself; I leave speculation as to why Dougherty is resigning to the speculators. In around 1996 Allentown decided to redo it's city charter, and at that time decided if it wanted to stay with a strong mayor, or go with the managing director system. The charter committee decided to stay with the strong mayor system, and the second most important position was always the Community Development Director, to whom the department heads reported. When Pawlowski was elected and began his first term, he was the first mayor in Allentown's history to hire a managing director. At the time I stated that we were in essence paying two people for one person's job.

If our mayor wasn't in legal limbo, I would say that we shouldn't replace Dougherty, let Pawlowski do the job for which he is being paid. HOWEVER, with an indictment coming, perhaps sooner than later, we best replace Dougherty, and quickly at that.

ADDENDUM:  Ray O'Connell, president of City Council told the Morning Call "We are losing the heart and soul of the city," O'Connell said. "The mayor is the mayor, and the mayor does what he has to do, but Fran does the day to day operations."  Apparently, the current council doesn't even know that there wasn't even supposed to be a managing director.  

Pretty Boys and Politics

George Clooney had a celebrity fund raiser at his house, and the beautiful people raised $millions for Hillary. Hollywood fawning over Democrats is nothing new, but Clooney's public explanation was ridiculous. George admits that the amount of money raised at his dinner party was "obscene", but claimed that his intent is to elect downticket Democrats, who can then legislatively do away with such contribution excesses. Either George is a moron, or thinks that his fans are gullible. Either way, I think that pretty boys should stick to acting, they come off much better that way.

When Mack Was Allentown

I grew up around the corner from Mack's famous 5C plant, on the corner of Lehigh and S. 12th Streets. In the early 1950's, the brightly colored truck tractors would cover the lot next to the old assembly plant. All day long, a new tractor would leave for delivery somewhere, with two more piggy back on the coupling hitches. Over the years I have written a lot of posts about Mack, especially how their workers would use the Fountain Park WPA steps,  walking to their jobs on S. 10th Street.  Mack made all their own truck parts there, except the tires. Built Like A Mack Truck, was a result of the local craftsmanship.

In Saturday's Morning Call article about Mack investing in the Macungie plant, the vice president is quoted as saying that Mack was here to stay. By Saturday evening, that vice president was no longer with the company, according to WFMZ. I remember when the larger share of production was moved to South Carolina in 1987. Shortly before that plant closed in 2002, they handed out sunglasses to symbolize their bright future there. I remember when the World Headquarters on Mack Boulevard moved to North Carolina. I don't know about Mack's long term future in the valley, but I do know that the ties that bind have long since been broken.

Jack Mack, one of Mack Truck's founding brothers, was killed in an auto accident in 1924.  He is buried in Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street. This week I will be revisiting my work and posts about that cemetery.                                                                                                                                                               

Urban Shopper

Pandering Politicians In NYC

I thought that John Kasich was pretty sharp, until I saw him trying to pander to the ultra Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn. He asked some Yeshiva students if they knew the story of Joseph?  Worse yet, he then proceeded to tell them what the story meant. Understand that these young  men have been studying the Bible, related commentaries and teachings their whole life, from sunrise to sunset. Ted Cruz was equally ridiculous in Brooklyn, he helped make matzah for Passover.

A Trip Around Allentown

The other day on a trip around town,  I drove past the current house on 2nd Street where my grandfather first lived when he came to Allentown in 1895.  A couple minutes later,  I drove by my grandparents house that I remember, near Sacred Heart Hospital.  It's the house where my father and his four siblings grew up.  Earlier that morning I was on the south side, where my parents lived when I grew up.  Allentown is a small place, I even drove past a couple of houses that I lived in as an adult.

In the course of writing the political aspect of this blog, I sometimes clash with the millennials and X'ers,  who think that my observations are so historically based that they're no longer relevant.  Perhaps they think that I'm frozen in time,  still eating strawberry pie at the Patio restaurant in Hess's.  It is true that I remember an Allentown very different than the current one,  but I was here and present, for the transition.

Yesterday, we learned that one NIZ baron got $28 million,  out of a total of $29 million, of state tax money toward his portfolio of buildings.  Years ago, there were so many business leaders in Allentown that they had a special club for lunch, named the Livingston.  In today's Allentown, the barons could all met at one table for four, and there would still be empty seats.

photo:  I'm on the front lawn in Little Lehigh Manor, around 1949.  Never imagined that I would have to defend the park 60 years later.
                                                                
                                                   BONUS ART BELOW

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                                                       HIGH CULTURE

Kitchen Friends

Rite-Aids Return, Figment Of My Imagination

Dear Mayor Pawlowski,
Forgive me for saying this, but I'm very disappointed in the changes made to my town. After my wife passed away, I moved to the senior high-rise at 8th and Union St. I can see the old Mack Transmission Plant from my window, I worked there for 40 years. I understand now it's a indoor go-cart track, I find that a bitter pill. Actually pills are why I'm writing. I used to walk to the Rite-Aid on Hamilton Street. With that closing, I don't think I can walk out 7th St. to the old Sears. Forgive me Mayor, that's before your time in Allentown. The other Rite-Aid used to be Levines Fabrics, they bought it from Sears. The Army Navy store was across the parking lot. Anyway, back to my problem. Now I can't even catch the bus on Hamilton anymore to go visit my daughter in Catty. What have you done to me? My neighbor, a nice widow, tells me you gave that Mexican Restaurant lots of our money and they don't even pay their bills? Never ate there, what were you thinking? Anyway, sorry to bother you, I know you're a busy man, but I don't know where I will get my medicine from, and I'm upset. Sorry.

PhotoCredit: molovinsky

Reprinted from July of 2008, to commemorate the return of Rite-Aid.  Isn't it wonderful that J. B  Reilly will finally get a tenant who will do enough business to actually pay rent.