O'Connell's Methodology

In a call yesterday, Ray O'Connell stated that he is employing a methodology to determine if he can win in November.  His team is conducting a poll of registered voters.  If they determine that a plurality of voters will support him, he will proceed waging a write-in campaign.  He expects the survey to be completed by late July.

I don't initiate such conversations; I find them to be somewhat constricting.  If I express any doubt here about everything that I am told,  the caller usually takes even more offense than I normally cause.  Likewise,  although I will occasionally endorse a candidate,  I have no interest in an on-going promotion of any candidate or office holder.  However,  I am always available to hear out anybody.  I never want this blog to misrepresent anybody's position.

I do believe that O'Connell is trying to be scientific about his decision.  If emotion and enthusiasm cloud his data,  we'll know the morning after the election.

The Ray O'Connell Do-Over

A week ago I posted how Ray O'Connell is apparently going to wage a write-in campaign for mayor.   Yesterday, Bill White used much the same material for his Morning Call column.  Both White and Bernie O'Hare think that O'Connell will be the spoiler guaranteeing Pawlowski's victory.  What gives that viewpoint more weight with me is that Scott Armstrong comes to the same conclusion.

However, I think that the outcome could be different.  Hyman will take all the Republican voters, although they are in the minority.  Pawlowski and O'Connell will divide the Democratic vote, perhaps allowing Hyman to still prevail.

Bill White asked O'Connell if he was indeed running as a write-in, and Ray replied,  "I have not made a decision yet."  Although, I'm unsure of the election outcome,  I do take O'Connell's answer as a yes.

Allentown's Anti-Corruption League

While Allentown is beginning it's week on Mondays, The Anti-Corruption League is gathering in a North 4th St. coffee house. It's leader, Robert Trotner, has been supporting idealistic concepts and candidates for years. Of course, when you juxtaposition Trotner's ideals with Allentown's reality, he is about 0/20. Never the less, he forges on. Yesterday he was hoping that somehow, someway write-in candidate Ray O'Connell saves the day for Allentown come November. O'Connell, as of this time, has yet to verify his off ticket write-in candidacy.

Robert Trotner on left, with Eugene McDuffie

Cedar Beach Pool Leaks Integrity

When I was a boy in the early 1950's, Cedar Beach Pool already starting serving the residents of Allentown.  About five years ago then park director Greg Weitzel, under Pawlowski, wanted to build a destination water park,  almost like a commercial amusement park. The plans alone cost $80,000. The idea was so gradiose,  that even Allentown City Council, which was still in it's rubber stamp mode,  balked.  That monstrosity would have extended from the current pool area up to Hamilton Blvd.

Several years ago when the pool supposedly developed a bottom crack, and the city said that it couldn't be fixed, I doubted it.  Last year, when the city said that the old pool walls weren't thick enough,  I doubted it. Now the renovation project has another problem.  The new filter isn't large enough for the pool's volume of water.  The renovated pool actually has less water than the original, because it no longer contains a deep diving area, and there is a large island bisecting the middle. Perhaps they should have just used the old filter.

I don't know when the renovated pool will be finally completed,  but I do know that it won't last anywhere near the sixty five years that the previous one did.

ADDENDUM: Link to Cedar Beach Pool history, courtesy of a reader.

Brown's Bet

While Pat Browne certainly has been good for J.B. Reilly and the Allentown NIZ, he has also directly benefitted the taxpaying citizens. He led the fight for the long overdue Pension Reform legislation, and now is resisting the push to legalize video gambling machines outside of the casinos.

Pennsylvania has a long storied history about gambling. When I was growing up, people were jailed for selling games of chance, or even organizing card games. In the late 1970's, compromising because of the need for additional revenue, they organized the state lottery. That evolved into the state actually promoting that you must Play To Win.

Needless to say, passing the casino bill was the big gambling frontier.  There is now real competition for our gambling dollars.  Browne claims in the above mailer that he is fighting to keep the state's own Lottery Fund viable, to sustain the various programs which it supports.

Stevens Park

My apologies for an earlier post where I acted so haughty about Stevens Park. Ive been sick the past couple weeks. That being said had family over today and bragged about the new park. Took my 2 yr old and a couple other toddlers with parents. Trash everywhere! Dirty needles...I picked up 6 heroin used bags. I was horrified! We left, kids in tears. Me on the verge! I went later with husband and cleaned it up. Ive been so excited for the young neighborhood kids....it will soon just get totally trashed. And Im moving......

The above comment appeared on a community facebook page. I have redacted the writers name. The Morning Call did a pictorial spread on the the renovated park, but of course the women above gives us an actual nitty gritty experience from visiting the park. Despite the reality of who will congregate there after hours, and whatever nefarious activity that may take place, it is important to provide attractive parks within the urban center for children.   However,  the nature of the neighborhood requires that the park receive extra cleanup and surveillance.

As a frequent critic of the  park system, allow me to commend the Parks Department on a renovation well done.

photocredit: The Morning Call/Harry Fisher

Writing In An Allentown Mayor

I recently heard that Ray O'Connell was going to wage a write-in campaign for mayor, and Ce-Ce Gerlach's Facebook post might be a confirmation.  According to Ce-Ce's post, she already has about 2,000 voters interested. If O'Connell will be actively participating in this effort remains to be seen.

Yesterday, I endorsed Nat Hyman, and wrote elsewhere that I believe that the hill is too steep for either an independent or write-in candidate to prevail. While some others might think that the more candidates the better for Pawlowski, as was the case in the primary, in the general I think O'Connell voters will help Hyman. In addition to O'Connell, Luiz Garcia is also being  encouraged to wage a write-in effort. Because O'Connell and Garcia were primary candidates, election law precludes them from now running as independents.

Although still only June, the fall election for mayor has begun in earnest.

Allentown's Fall Election

Although I took no position and made no recommendations in the primary races this past May, that will not be the case for November's election. Yesterday, Nat Hyman's started placing sponsored spots for mayor on facebook. I will be supporting Hyman because it's beyond time for Pawlowski to move on. Hyman has an extensive background in business and also firsthand familiarity with Allentown's housing issues.  He apparently will be playing hardball, which will be necessary to win. The Morning Call has revealed that he did in fact finance the challenges to his primary opponents.  It will not be a gentlemanly contest.

On the county level I will be supporting Bob Smith for Commissioner, and Brad Osborne for Executive. Both of them have appropriate experience for the positions.

Further recommendations may follow in contested races.