Harassed Homeowner

Years ago, I would occasionally blog about some property owner who was being victimized by Pawlowski's City Hall. Unfortunately, there appears to still be some abuse possible, especially if you're a feisty homeowner who talks back.

The east side woman on Hanover Avenue told me that she was being bullied by a neighboring business owner, who has some apparent connections at city hall. Although I generally stopped attending meetings and making such field trips, I stopped over to see her house. Everything she complained about was totally evident. The neighboring properties were in a distressed shape, yet she is getting the citations. One issue is her rear deck, which is in excellent condition, and could structurally support a herd of elephants. Another issue, that the neighbor's new front construction encroaches on her property, is also obvious.

She's facing a fine(s) that should be rescinded. After talking with her for an hour, I can appreciate that she didn't show the deference that the inspectors are used to. However, she's a taxpayer, maintaining her house in a condition greatly exceeding her neighbors, and deserves the city's cooperation, not harassment.

Weighing In On 1948

1948 was a good year for Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. Mack Trucks, Lehigh Structural Steel, General Electric and almost all factories were going full steam. President Truman stopped by to give a speech. The Allentown Cardinals played the first game in their new ballpark, Breadon Field. The baby boom was going full tilt:



The school district unveiled Lehigh Parkway and Midway Manor Elementary Schools and the new professional style football stadium. Donald Hock was Mayor, and although the last beer was being brewed on Lawrence Street at Daeufer Brewery, the Paddock joined many new restaurants opening that year. Photo's from Dorney Park in 1948.

reprinted from May of 2016


ADDENDUM: Assuming a photograph on the Morning Call website is color balanced correctly, the wooden coaster at Dorney is no longer Dorney Coaster Yellow. Painting the coaster the same shade of yellow was an important tradition at the park, even when ownership changed hands. They don't make Lehigh Valley traditions like they used to.

Around The Corner

Yesterday's post about the zoning hearing for Rite-Aid, out on North 7th Street, showed a classic 1950 black and white photograph of Hamilton Street. Today, we go right around the corner, on South 7th Street. Being the oldest blogger in the valley, and being an aficionado of old photographs, you will be submitted to these excursions. Before we begin, a few notes about yesterday's image. Notice that there are many more shoppers on the north side of Hamilton, than the south. This phenomenon always existed. Were the better stores on the north side? Real estate prices and rents were always higher on the Hess's side. OK, lets go around the corner. The Suburban Line Bus is getting ready to head west, the county poor home being the last stop; Today it is known as Cedarbrook. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company had their main stop a block west, on S. 8th Street. The bus is parked in front of the YMCA, which housed a market at street level. If the photograph was extended on the right side, you would see the monument. Across Hamilton Street is Whelan Drug Store, that location currently occupied by a bank. The billboard above, then advertising local Neuweiler Beer, was a prime sign location. Behind the drug store stands the Dime Bank, which will remain as part of the new transformational Arena Complex. Glad you could join me, now get off the bus, and back into 2011.

reprinted from November of 2011

American Jewish Opposition

Jewish enemies of Trump were handed a paradoxical gift last week when Netanyahu switched course on Omar and Tlaib.  First, let's establish that most Jews are Democrats, and that Democrats dislike Trump, like no other president in memory.  Many of these DemJews only tolerated Netanyahu because of their love of Israel.  They would prefer a more liberal leader in Israel, even if Israel is in a constant state of seige.  The apparent rapport between the despised, and barely tolerated, farther antagonized them.

When Trump tweeted that Omar and Tliab hate Israel, and that no goodwill visit would ever change their attitudes,  nobody, including the most pollyanna,  could dispute that assessment.  On social media, one non-Jewish liberal after another, started commenting how they always supported Israel, but that this decision changed their mind. One second later, they were already complaining that Isreal should be more respectful to our congress, because of all the foreign aid that they receive.  Seems like it didn't take much to erode that support.

Some Jewish periodicals, mostly liberal by definition,  exclaimed Netanyahu's fake strength, bending under Trump's thumb.

Israel survives in a hostile neighborhood by realizing that the few offers of truce that come their way, usually serve the purpose of their enemies. Who would have thought that in the 21st century, that they would also have to contend with American Jewish opposition.

image above is screengrab from Tablet

Stepchildren Of Allentown's Corruption

Back in the day before the FBI raid on Allentown City Hall,  those interested in corruption in Allentown were pretty much limited to myself and O'Hare.  Missing in action was the Morning Call.  Although they would occasionally use this blog as an unattributed source, they avoided my most controversial exposés.  Among them was my revelations about the Neuweiler Brewery.

Although the FBI and  Justice Department decided to prosecute Pawlowski and Company on nine deals,  I suspect that the menu actually had many more choices.  Among them may have been the current Neuweiler Brewery deal.  When Ruckus Brewing was introduced as an applicant for the Neuweiler Brewery, I wrote about it here, way back in 2013.  My research revealed that Ruckus had no experience at the time in either actual beer brewing or real estate.  What they did have was a business consultant very connected to the administration in Allentown, Mike Fleck.

Although Pawlowski and Fleck were indicted and convicted,  the Allentown Commercial Industrial Development Authority proceeded with handing over the brewery to Ruckus.  Ruckus received numerous deadline extensions on their application, and represented the brewery as a done deal to raise cash. All these irregularities were previously reported on this blog, and ignored by the local press. They are currently permitted to rent out space as is, in a building in which the previous owner was arrested and jailed for not correcting code violations.

When shenanigans occur in Allentown,  this blog is often the first source to chronicle the questionable activity.

For the full story on the Neuweiler Brewery, please follow the links provided below. 

Post on Neuweiler Brewery from May 29, 2008

Post on Neuweiler Brewery July 11, 2012

Sequel to July 11, Post (July 16, 2012)

Post on Neuweiler Brewery May 2, 2013

Post on Neuweiler Brewery Jan. 31, 2013

The Neuweiler Brewery, A Pawlowski/Fleck Shenanigan, July 8, 2015

Morning Call Catches Up To Molovinsky On Neuweiler Sept. 30, 2015

reprinted from March of 2018

Reality Check At Strata Lofts

This blog has long claimed that the occupancy rate for Strata Lofts is not as rosy as J.B. Reilly and the Morning Call claim. In the past I have accused the paper of writing virtual promotions for Reilly, resembling press releases, rather than news reports. My assessment was based on dark apartments, empty streets and the failure of upscale merchants.

Reilly has now announced that the number of additional upscale apartments will be cut back, while the lower rent units at the former Holiday Inn will proceed as planned.

When the guidelines for the NIZ were first announced, the incentive was supposed to be applied only to commercial development, not residential. I suspect that someway, his residential projects are also being financed through our state taxes. There appears to be no real scrutiny  by the ANIZDA, which was to provide oversight.

At a candidates night, I found it interesting that Ray O'Connell defended the NIZ so vigorously. He and others claim that downtown Allentown is much better off than before the zone. My readers may be surprised to see me not dispute his claim. I suppose that by suburban standards it has been sanitized, but it certainly hasn't been really revitalized.

This blog started in 2007, with the insight that Pawlowski and city hall could stand some examination. When the city started sending straw buyers to intimidate the former Hamilton Street merchants, this blog reported on the deception being used. When the Morning Call started promoting, instead of reporting, this blog spoke out. Along the way I have been accused of being a naysayer. To that I say, Thank you, you're welcome. You can find plenty of positive vibes elsewhere, but there's also  a need for some reality checks.

None of the merchants featured in the photo above are still in business. 

Allentown Memorabilia

The time and market for Allentown memorabilia has come and gone. With a changing population, and the graying of the older town folks, objects of our history are destined for the landfill. Even the local historic society concentrates on shows of general interest, such as Abraham Lincoln. In addition to having been a retail mecca, Allentown manufactured a large assortment of products. Allentown was stamped on tools, knifes, and metal products of all kinds, distributed nationwide. A local regional food product was the hard pretzel, a variation of the traditional German soft pretzel. Allentown had several pretzel companies. Miller's operated out of their factory at 732 Tilghman Street, between 1944 and 1978. In the coming months this blog will profile some of these Made In Allentown products, before litter and meaningless slogans became our legacy.

reprinted from July of 2013

Politics And Musical Chair Police Chiefs

The Morning Call reported yesterday afternoon that interim Police Chief Alsleben has resigned, effective September 6, and that he is the fourth resignation in four years. They also reported that community activists had a issue with him. I believe that both those points need some examination.

The first resignation they mentioned was Chief Joel Fitzgerald. They omit mentioning that his son was arrested for pointing a gun at county detectives, and then subsequently sued the county for racial profiling, after he was acquitted. Never mind that Fitzgerald was the product of a national search by the Pawlowski regime, presumably to help avoid racial tension. Fitzgerald went on to Fort Worth, Texas, where he has since been fired, for overstating his accomplishments in Allentown. Before being let go by Fort Worth, he unsuccessfully applied for the chief job in Baltimore. In regard to Alseleben's resignation, former chief and current council president Roger MacLean recommended that Allentown not resort to another national search. By the way,  the paint job on the police car shown above was the brainchild of Chief Kuhn, result of another national search,... He was imported from Chicago.

Also in the Call's article, Milagros Canales, President of the Old Fairgrounds Neighborhood, recently faulted Alsleben for not being more visible out in the community....That was never part of the job description for Allentown police chief. There always have been some politics involved in the department. In that regard, council member Ed Zucal, himself a former officer, has been advocating Captain Glenn Granitz for chief. Granitz has been very visible in the community, often representing the department at community meetings.  Although I'm not certain who the next chief will be,  I'm glad that he or she will likely be chosen from within the department.

photocredit:The Morning Call