Abuse Of Power At The Monument Building

The building had begun its life as the 1st National Bank. The second owner renamed it Corporate Center. The third owner renamed it Monument Building.

One morning in early July of 2008, code enforcement descended upon the Monument Building like a swat team.  Every officer, in every department , entered the building at the same time, and spread out looking for every possible violation. Under the previous owner, the same conditions, with the same tenants, were lauded as a rebirth.

Whatever motivated Pawlowski to pull the plug on the new owner, the tenants were lightweights, of no consequence to him. At that time, myself and few other malcontents, like Lou Hershman, would gather early in the morning for coffee at Jerry's Cafe, located on the first floor.

Jerry's was not one of the upstart businesses blessed with a Pawlowski grant at the time. He had to pay for everything, and everything had been inspected, inside and out. His plans had been approved, his electric and plumbing had been approved,  and his expensive grill and hood system had been approved.  While all the tenants were put out of business that day,  Jerry was also financially ruined. 

During this sorry Pawlowski era, he used the code department as a weapon.  Although Pawlowski is gone, some of that same mentality apparently still lurks with some of the code officers.  I wrote about Pawlowski's tactics back then in 2008, and I will continue to defend those currently victimized by such abuse.

The Monument Building would be torn down years later by J.B. Reilly, and replaced by one of his Corporate Towers.

I photographed the code cars that morning lined up for the raid   

reprinted from previous years

The Slandering Of Louis Hershman

Years ago, in a building that no longer exists,  an assorted group of early risers would meet for coffee.  By 6:30, most of us had arrived at Jerry's for the early morning sessions.  Included in this group of civil critics was Lou Hershman.  Lou's rants were almost exclusively centered on the city budget,  year after year, rant after rant.

What takes me back to that coffee shop is a current post on facebook.  A local Black Lives Matter advocate is supporting a local gays rights advocate, who is offended by the adoration being given Lou Hershman, who passed away last week. She claims that Lou was a bigot against gays.  In all the years and all the conversations that I had with Lou, he never once mentioned gays.  As for the young BLM activist,  I'm sure that he never met Lou, and probably never even heard of him before last week.

Back then, fifteen years ago, when I would drive to the coffee shop at 7th and Hamilton at six in the morning, I would always think about how calm town seemed at that time of day.  I knew that as the day progressed, so would the commotion.  Unfortunately,  the streets are considerably more violent now than they were then.  Allentown would be better off if the young BLM leader concerned himself with making the streets safer.  In fifty years, if he contributes as much as Lou Hershman did to Allentown, let's hope nobody slanders his good deeds.  

photocredit: Bernie O'Hare 

The Carnival Of Enid's Candidacy

In addition to this blog, I also administer a Facebook page titled Allentown Chronicles.  Recently, when I announced my current write-in campaign for the 183rd State House District, I also posted the announcement on the Facebook page. Because the page is defined as both local history and politics, I felt it was not inappropriate, and not too terribly self-serving.  Recently, a member had submitted several promotions for Enid Santiago's write-in campaign.  Two of them I removed, because other members objected to the solicitation of names, apparently to be contacted by her campaign. The third piece remains,  a youtube of a parade by Santiago and her supporters.  While in fairness I felt compelled to allow her campaign to be represented in the group,  I must confess to finding the parade beyond tasteless. 

Gender bender Eric/Erica Bickford is being charged with election crimes by DA Martin.  If ever there was a political victim, it is Bickford.  While Bickford admits he darkened some ovals so that the scanner could read them, nobody thinks or accuses him of changing even one vote.  Even though Enid Santiago won the district administered by Bickford, she initiated the charges he now faces. Bickford is low-hanging fruit to prosecute...  He doesn't make himself up very well as a woman.

I've known Eric/Erica for well over a decade.  Long before the current Stevens Park became fashionable, Bickford was there, advocating for it.  He has been a spokesman for the most underrepresented people in this city...the people in the back alleys, with no voice or connections to City Hall.

While I realize that Bickford seems bizarre to some, what I really find distasteful is people running for office beeping their car horns and hanging out windows.

As I write this piece Patrick Palmer and others are hyping Enid Santiago.  They must equate loud noise with leadership.  Justin Simmons says that if DA Martin is filing charges,  they must be proper. They may be proper by the book, but hopefully, a jury or judge will realize the innocence involved with the crime.

A more savvy candidate than me would be leaving this whole topic well enough alone, much less defending a rather eccentric election judge, and criticizing a minority candidate.   

As both a blogger and a candidate myself,  I only have one mission, and that is to simply always side with the truth, as I see it.

The Political Party Machines Of lehigh Valley

As an independent waging a write-in campaign for the 183rd State House District,  the party machines never cease to amaze me.  The mediocracy of your state government is no accident.  Their sole objective is to get elected, and then remain an incumbent.

In the 183rd, the Democratic challenger charges the Republican incumbent with a poor attendance record because of his duty as a reservist.  The incumbent in turn sends out an expensive mailer, claiming that he fights for his constituents both at home and abroad.

My motivation in running is to provide quality representation for a term or two, not support a party platform, or perpetuate a career.   There are numerous bills pending in the house.  While many are just expansions of a definition or terms,  some are of more significance.

I would support all the bills pertaining to financial aid for small businesses suffering from the consequences of the Covid-19 restrictions.  Pennsylvania certainly failed to provide adequate safeguards for our nursing home residents at the beginning of the pandemic.While a 23 year old feels immortal, a 73 year old feels vulnerable. At this point in time,  masks should be mandatory for indoor public venues. Small businesses should be able to operate with reasonable precautions, and customer discretion. 

photocredit: Richard C. Wolfe

The Mad Men Of Allentown

Back in the day, the titans of Allentown would fill the five barberchairs of the Colonial Barbershop, 538 Hamilton Street. That was when the town had three department stores. That was when Wetherhold and Metzger had two shoe stores on Hamilton Street. That was when Harvey Farr would meet Donald Miller and John Leh at the Livingston Club for lunch, and discuss acquiring more lots for Park & Shop. By 1995 all that was gone, but Frank Gallucci, 82, would still give some old timers a trim. The Colonial Barbershop property, closed for many years, has been purchased by J.B. Reilly. It is my pleasure to present this previously unseen portrait of Gallucci, toward the end of his career.

photocredit:molovinsky

reprinted from previous years

A Better Choice In The 183rd State House District

The voters of the 183rd State House District now have three choices. Two of those choices are the standard party fare.  Zach Mako,  the Republican incumbent, succeeded Julie Harhart's eleven terms. He's operating out of her former offices, using her former formula.  They send out a lot of birthday cards and certificates. He receives the usual NRA recommendation, and other perks in the Republican party basket.

Jason Ruff is the Democratic candidate.  Although neither he nor Mako emphasize their party connection, it's apparent from his endorsements. Ruff has been promoting his endorsement from the Teacher's Union and other unions.

I have now offered the voters a third choice,  a true independent, unaffiliated with either party. It's fair to wonder where my political philosophy generally lies, and that would be slightly right of center.  Needless to say, I won't have any party connected endorsements to tout, but my long term advocacy on numerous issues is a matter of record. 

My campaign really is grassroots,  confined in this covid-era to social media.  Along the way of advocating for one issue or another, I have taken the Morning Call to task so often, I don't expect even acknowledgement of my candidacy. Those who realize that the State House is void from inside scrutiny should take the effort to write me in. Hopefully those familiar with me, but not living in the 183rd, will recommend me to their friends that do live in the district.

photocredit:Slatington At Dusk by K Mary Hess

A Different Kind Of Candidate

Fellow blogger Bernie O'Hare recently did a post on my candidacy.  He attended the debate in 2014 when I took on long term incumbent Julie Harhart and the Democratic candidate.  Even the Morning Call at the time had to concede that Molovinsky had little trouble standing out in a three-way candidate debate....

On O'Hare's post an anonymous commenter, while acknowledging my expertise on South Whitehall issues,  questions my sincerity in running for State Representative, as a recently announced write-in. 

Over the decades I have become very familiar with the interplay between local municipalities and those the voters sent to Harrisburg to represent them.  The system is designed to get all incumbents re-elected, that is their primary objective. They can present themselves as white knights, with more money for their local school system, or a grant for a new playground.  More often than not our representatives are either fresh out of college,  or hand picked by a long term incumbent,  who is finally retiring. 

As an independent, my votes in Harrisburg would be based on the best outcome for taxpayers,  not a party platform.  Although I would not serve more than two terms,  in that period I will change the expectations for local representation. 

I do promise to be unpopular with my fellow elected officials. I think that there are far too many of them, getting too many benefits.  Such public service should be a dedicated mission, not just a career path.

A Problem In South Whitehall Township

South Whitehall Township stayed silent while the Wildlands Conservancy maligned the condition of Wehr's Dam with the state DEP.  That inappropriate  communication between the Wildlands and the state was intended to made the dam repair exceed the amount authorized by the voter's referendum.  The former, and some current commissioners, were  aligned with this conspiracy against the voter's wishes.

While the commissioners recently reassigned those funds previously set aside for dam repairs, the township has moved forward seeking a $half million dollars in grants for another park project. There has been three major park projects in Covered Bridge Park, costing $millions of dollars, while Wehr's Dam languishes away, despite the referendum to preserve it in 2016.  In addition to the grants to South Whitehall for projects other than Wehr's Dam,  the Wildlands recently received $half a million dollars for additional land on their South Mountain Preserve. Of course those grants are actually our tax dollars, which are being redirected away from projects voted on by the citizens, to finance pet projects by the Conservancy and their minions in South Whitehall.

Those of us who worked so hard to save the dam five years ago, are frustrated by the arrogance of several of the current commissioners, and the complicity of the Morning Call. 

As separate news items they sound nice: a new park in South Whitehall, and additional land added to a preserve on South Mountain. However, when you connect the dots, the problem becomes apparent. There is a nexus of connections between the Wildlands and several departments in Harrisburg, to redirect our taxes to their agenda.

My current write-in campaign as an independent for State House District 183 partially stems from this betrayal of the public trust.  When government isn't even responsive to such a placid citizenry as in South Whitehall, it's time to write-in somebody else for Harrisburg.

photocredit: Tami Quigley