Pinsley Sees Another Opportunity For Publicity

Mark Pinsley is suing the local Republican Committee for defamation because they sent out a brochure supposedly describing him as pro-Hamas. As an independent, I did not see the flyer, but I certainly noticed the Morning Call picture of Pinsley at the Gaza rally. 

I remember when Pinsley stood with protestors against the South Whitehall Police Department, after the shooting at Dorney Park, when a man was terrifying drivers on Hamilton Blvd. He was jumping on car roofs and pounding on the windshields of women drivers. The reason I remember the incident so well was that Pinsley was then only recently elected as a South Whitehall Commissioner, and accordingly I thought he was on the wrong side of that line. 

Pinsley claims that the flyer makes him look like a "self hating" Jewish man.  Maybe he could sue himself for being there?

You can always count on Pinsley running for higher office and conducting publicity stunts.

photo/The Morning Call

An Inadvertent Art Dealer

With the untimely passing of Jessica Lenard in 2016, I inadvertently became an art dealer.  Jessica created art for over forty years, both paintings and print making.  While shown locally at Muhlenberg College, most of the shows were in NYC.  Her work is known for its raw and naked emotion. 

Those interested in acquiring a piece can send me a comment with their contact information. Such comments will not be seen by anyone other than myself.  Proceeds are donated to the Shriner's Hospital for Children.

NIZ Money Shuffling

Save for this blog, nobody until recently concerned themselves with the shuffling of our diverted state taxes to the NIZ oligarchy. New State Senator Jarrett Coleman campaigned on scrutinizing the NIZ, but has been stymied by the NIZ shield of privacy rules. While this post is based on a recent Morning Call article,  the paper has unfortunately performed more like a partner in the NIZ, instead of a watchdog.  They actually were dealt into the hand, with their former building being included in the NIZ district map, despite being on the wrong side of the road, or in this case Linden Street.

The latest $75mil bond deal involves, as usual, Reilly's City Center.  While his two Hamilton Street projects will be fronted $33.5mil in construction loans, the remaining major portion, $41.5mil, will go to associated expenses. Those expenses include refinancing existing debt, reserve funds and cost of issuance. I'm no finance man, but it's hard to understand the refinancing of (recent) existing debt. We left a 2% environment and are now three times higher.  Are we providing seed money for projects outside of the NIZ, such as the former State Hospital parcel?

Besides Reilly, what all these transactions have in common are ANIZDA board leaders signing off with their permission. Chairman Seymour Traub is quoted as saying that the two projects will provide "thousands" of construction jobs.  I know that there will be dozens of workers, maybe even a hundred... but can you imagine thousands of workers on a couple three story projects?

I have serious doubts that Jarrett Coleman will be able to shine any light on the NIZ. However, if he even sincerely continues to try, he'll keep my support.

Allentown Flood Of 1936

In 1936, northeast United States was decimated by extensive flooding. While Johnstown, Pa. and Nashua, N.H. made national news, Allentown certainly wasn't spared. While locally flooding of the Lehigh and Delaware received the most attention, the Jordan and Little Lehigh Creeks also caused widespread damage. Shown above is Lehigh Street, in the vicinity of the Acorn Hotel, south of the Little Lehigh. The building on the far left would become the Sherman Hotel, which operated for about twenty years, from 1942 to 1961. None of the buildings pictured still stand.

The low lying areas between the Jordan Creek and Lehigh River were flooded.  Numerous people were rescued by rowboat from porch roofs. At that time there was still many houses on the lower section of Hamilton and nearby Streets.

photo courtesy of the Schoenk family.

reprinted from April of 2020

Defending The Parks

This evening at 6:00 p.m., City Council's Park and Recreation Committee will hold a discussion on the dams in Lehigh Parkway. I will be there to defend the dam at the Robin Hood Bridge. Wildlands Conservancy and assorted environmental types will be there to promote their agendas. The magnificent park has been vandalized by special interests for several decades. Three WPA structures have been buried rather than maintained. Christmas lights have been strung to monetize the park during the holiday season. The steel bridge was allowed to rust away, ending 70 years of a beautiful ride through the park. Because of the park's abundantly designed beauty, it still manages to bestow tranquility onto its visitors, but it deserves more respect than now being a workshop for assorted special interests.

photocredit:molovinsky 

above reprinted from August of  2013

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 27, 2023: I lost the battle to save the dam, and the Wildlands demolished it within two days of Council's approval. The salt in the wound was them piling the broken dam debris around the stone bridge piers, despoiling a formerly beautiful vista. Mayor Tuerk has ignored my offer to give a public park tour if the debris is removed. I'm a veteran of being disliked by city administrations, but regardless continue my advocacy for the parks.

Minority Opportunities In The NIZ

When Allentown started acquiring properties for the Arena, I suggested that the displaced Asian merchants could end up with the rickshaw concession on Hamilton Street. Recently, I suggested that as a Community Benefit Agreement, our downtrodden be allowed to sell peanuts at the Arena. Lo and behold, our inspirational leaders did make room outside the new hotel for the underclass, they can operate food carts. "There's a lot of exciting opportunities right now," said Shannon Calluori, operations manager for the city's Department of Community and Economic Development. "Food vending is one of many." Julio Guridy, City Council President added, "It could also be a good opportunity for minority-owned businesses." Who knows, perhaps leather shoes will make a comeback, and the community college could provide training in shoe shining. 

above reprinted from September of 2013

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 26, 2023:Ten years have passed since my politically incorrect post above. Hasshan Batts has learned how to turn his prison past into lemonade -- m-e-n-t-o-r-i-n-g! Mentoring has become the growth industry in Allentown. Mayor Tuerk is looking at how to expand a youth boxing program. Perhaps minor minority gladiators could fight in the underused arena?

The Jews Of Iran

In 539 BC, when the Persian King Cyrus defeated Babylon, the Israelites were free to return to Jerusalem. Many instead ended up in that part of Persia which constitutes modern day Iran. Despite the current political climate between Iran and Israel, over 25,000 Jews still live in Iran. It has remained the largest Jewish population in a Muslim country since the creation of Israel in 1948, and among the most ancient of Jewish communities. Although certainly a minority in what could be perceived as an awkward situation, the community takes great pride in their Iranian history. Shown above is the Tomb of the Prophet Daniel, revered by both Jews and Muslims, in Susa, Iran.

reprinted from March 2011

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 24, 2023:It is now estimated that about 8,300 Jews remain in Iran. Turkey now has the largest remaining Jewish population in the Muslim world, over 14,000.

Allentown On A Tightrope

Forty three years ago Philippe Petit walked above Hamilton Street on a tightrope. Two weeks earlier he had walked between the Twin  World Trade Towers above Manhattan. Back then, you could count on Allentown's retail titan Max Hess to bring the best to town.

Flash ahead over four decades, and now Allentown itself is on the tightrope. Our mayor, who has been alleged corrupt by the FBI, will likely be re-elected by a coalition of minority voters. Aiding in that election result is a city councilman, who will most likely divide the anti-corruption vote, hoping to enter the office through the back door early next year.

The public is distracted by some new buildings which poach tenants from elsewhere in the valley, and the local newspaper was incentivized to under-report that reality by the same real estate deal.

Those who still seek unbiased commentary may well be limited to this blog.

photocredit: The Morning Call/August 1974 

reprinted from September of 2017

ADDENDUM OCTOBER 24, 2023:Six years have passed since the above post. Pawlowski was elected, and then convicted,and is still serving his sentence. Some of the minority/majority people Pawlowski empowered in his last campaign, such as Phoebe Harris, have been the topic of some recent posts. We now have a self proclaimed Latino as mayor. The new construction, fueled by diverted state taxes, has continued at a pace unrelated to any real estate market reality. That real estate deal now even owns the former newspaper building. Those interested in current political analysis of these changes in Allentown are still mostly limited to this blog.