Shootings In Allentown

Over the weekend there was another shooting in Allentown. Funny thing about these shootings, in most of the cases, nobody knows nothing. Nobody hears, sees or says anything to help the police solve these crimes. However, let someone get pushed down by a police officer, then we have videos and testimony against police brutality.

The recent shooting was on 4th Street, but don't expect to see any advocacy groups protesting the violence, or the public's lack of cooperation.

molovinsky on allentown is published weekdays Monday thru Friday.  You will find a perspective and candor here not found anywhere else in the valley. Comments are accepted using your name or by establishing a pseudonym. Pseudonym identities remain unknown to both myself and other readers. Your readership is appreciated. 

reprinted from September of 2018

UPDATE NOVEMBER 10, 2020: Although the above post is over two years old, in regard to this past weekend's shooting, it could be a new post.  Once again, the advocates against police brutality, who have been louder than ever in this past summer, are silent about the shootings this weekend. Some of these advocates have been hyped as leaders by the Morning Call, and now are candidates for mayor. 

Reflections On The Election

To me, politics has always been local.  The Scheller/Wild contest certainly mirrored this election, with  early, in person returns being red, and later, tabulated mail-ins being blue.

I was somewhat perplexed and disappointed by Wild's endorsement of Enid Santiago's write-in campaign in the 22nd. There was no basis to Santiago's charges against the primary results. Three separate inquiries failed to turn up one vote that was changed or repressed. Peter Schweyer was the party's legitimate candidate. Santiago was attempting to redo her primary loss,  first in court, and then by write-in.  Other than Santiago being a minority woman popular in the Hispanic community, there was no apparent reason for Wild to become involved.  If Wild wanted to be so woke, she should have been sensitive to Everett/Erica Bickford, who was viciously thrown under the bus in the process. It was conclusively proven that no voter's intention was changed by his/her actions.  

I have always given Wild credit for her availability and access to the community, and I'm comfortable enough with her continuing to represent the Lehigh Valley.  

Likewise, I have no distress about Biden having won.  As a proponent of independents and third parties, my vote, on principle, went to Jo Jorgensen,  although that ticket certainly didn't have the gravitas of Johnson/Weld in 2016.  I credit Trump with some historic accomplishments in foreign policy and trade.

I again want to applaud the Pa. state house for doing away with the mindless straight party voting option this year. 

In his recent speech, Biden wished healing for the country...That would be a good thing, that certainly is now needed.

photocredit:Brown and White/Lehigh

Grammes Metal Stamping

As a local historian, one place on my to do list has been L.F. Grammes & Sons Metal Stamping.  I've always been waiting for a photograph of the large plant from the Union Street prospective. The front of the plant angled to conform to the turning road, as it approached the Jordan Creek. Recently, I did see a photo card from the Jordan Creek side of the plant, facing north.

Grammes made a large assortment of metal objects, both utilitarian and decorative, for almost a hundred years. They were mostly stamped out of metal, and many were then enameled.  

In addition to decorative items such as small boxes, and their made to order items, such as badges, they also produced items promoting their business. Shown above is a promotional small measuring scoop.  

ADDENDUM: This post is replicated on Allentown Chronicles where additional Grammes photos will be on display.

Big Rock On South Mountain

This past summer,  I walked in off the E. Rock Road to visit Big Rock, on the crest of South Mountain, east of S. 4th Street, or old Rt. 309.  The rock formation, aka Bauer Rock, is covered in graffiti, and the path to it is neglected.  While designated a 77 acre county park, the administration is obviously more concerned with its tenants,  two communication companies taking advantage of the location for their transmission towers, than it is with safe access for the citizens.  It was my intention to investigate the leases, as to their return and value to the taxpayers. There have been decisions made by previous administrations, which I believe were not in the best interests of the citizens.   While I have yet to work on that self assignment, recently I came across this old card.

In 1910, a German company produced a line of postcards featuring what they considered interesting visuals of this area, in the period.  I do not know how popular the cards were at the time, but I certainly find them interesting now, 110 years later.

Back To The Future With Emma

Although the Progressives, who campaigned against the waste to energy plant and the water lease this year, didn't like Emma Tropiano back in the day, or now, here's a history lesson they may find interesting. Shown above is Emma camping out by the entrance to Kline's Island on October 13, 1989. Her statement to the press. "The deal with the Lehigh County Authority to open Kline's Island to outside sewage sources has promoted massive development in western Lehigh County, drawing potential commercial and industrial development away from Allentown and resulting in higher taxes for city property owners." She was running against The First Mayor For Life Joe Daddona's fourth term. His reply. "It's obvious once again that Emma, because of her lack of knowledge and understanding of a problem, is shooting from the hip and hitting herself in the foot." She was also outspoken about the direction the city was heading in: Is Allentown in an ugly decline, with drugs, crime, filth and mismanagement rotting away the core of the Queen City, as challenger Emma D. Tropiano insists? Or is it squarely facing its problems and coming up with sound, creative solutions, as Mayor Joseph S. Daddona says?" The Morning Call, Nov. 5, 1989.

reprinted from November of 2013

ADDENDUM: On Tuesday Bill White repeated his quote about Emma from 2001; I like Emma, but she wouldn't know fresh ideas and positive leadership if they were driving down Hamilton Street in a blue Cadillac. Bill has made Emma one of the symbols of his Hall Of Shame. Bill White protests against this designation, coined by yours truly years ago, and cites the philanthropic Cipko Brothers as proof that the Hall isn't limited to shame. However, I remember back when, and the gag about them was their ridiculous toupees, which White featured in photographs. Philanthropic or not, their toupees put them in the Hall, not their charity. Anyway, I digress. Bill White has been wrong about Emma for over 40 years.  The problem is that now a whole generation of people disparage her, based on  Morning Call distortions.

reprinted from May of 2017

A Thank You For Your Consideration

Today winds up about the most contentious election in memory.  Voters are certainly energized, both for and against Trump.  In this sort of environment, the coattails will likely affect the local congressional election. I'm hoping that by the time voters consider their choices for State Representative, their partisanship will turn to their own best interests.

For their own best interest, my candidacy offers unique advantages.  I've been preoccupied with local issues and needs for decades, ready to make informed decisions from day one.  I have no interest besides the best service for local constituents.  I'm an independent, free from any party platforms or constraints. I'm not looking for a political career or a pension,  just the opportunity to bring you more value from Harrisburg. 

My name is not printed on the ballot, you must write-in Michael Molovinsky for State Representative in the 183rd District.  Thank you for your consideration.

A Write-In Campaign During A Mail-In Election

While this blog is normally published each weekday,  I started my pre-election wrap up posting yesterday. So this week, Sunday is the new Monday.  Since the post pertained to my write-in candidacy, and so many ballots are being cast by mail, I thought it better to speak out sooner than later. 

The post pertained to my issues with the Morning Call.  While my issue is my candidacy not having any mention,  your issue is the paper protecting various local sacred cows.  It is in this type of atmosphere  that corruption thrives. 

Right now the paper is headed by an in-house editor by default, who is out of his league. Hopefully, the Tribune will decide to send in a professional, or better yet, the paper will change ownership.

The Morning Call's Steep Price

On Saturday, the Morning Call featured a story about Enid Santiago's challenge to the primary election, mentioned that she is now a write-in candidate, and linked to the voter's guide they published the day before. The paper's pre-election coverage now included every candidacy, except mine.

Ironically, the article documented that there was no basis for Santiago's charges alleging ballot irregularities.  The newspaper cheerfully cooperated with her to gain maximum publicity for a write-in campaign, after losing a primary election. 

I have paid a steep price for scrutinizing local government, and calling out the newspaper for not doing the same.  However,  my activism, and subsequently this blog, wasn't motivated because all was well in the Lehigh Valley.  Between ineptitude and corruption, watchmen are always needed.  The Morning Call went from good old boy local ownership, to outside corporate indifference, with neither entity motivated to upset the local status quo. 

Years ago a critic such as myself was limited to an occasional letter to the editor, or a soapbox on the corner. Things have changed with the internet. Myself and other bloggers can present information previously kept from the public.  Somebody researching former Mayor Pawlowski will find questions about his integrity here on this blog, more than a decade before the Morning Call broached the topic.  On many other topics, such as the Parking Authority and the NIZ, which I have scrutinized,  the paper has yet to take its head out of the sand.  

In regard to the NIZ,  this blog documented that the city, through straw buyers, was using strong arm tactics to dislodge the former merchants of the arena block.  The Morning Call was not only compliant, but complicit in that scheme.  They were the only private entity included in the NIZ map, on the north side of Linden Street. 

Although my criticism of the paper has cost me any coverage in regard to my campaign for Harrisburg, it's a price I'd rather pay, than joining their endorsement of status quo mediocrity in our community.