photocredit:Denise Sanchez |
MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN
****INFORMED COMMENTARY
Mar 29, 2024
Whose Parks Are They?
Mar 28, 2024
Allentown's Prime 'time
Mar 27, 2024
The Sign Of Delusion
Mar 26, 2024
New Park Ranger
Mar 25, 2024
Doing It His Way
He was Frank Sinatra's favorite fighter. Tami Mauriello started fighting professionally when he was 17 years old, as a light heavyweight. After two loses to Gus Lesnevich for that title, he moved up to the heavyweight division. In 1943, Sinatra paid $10,000 to buy an interest in his fellow Italian American. Sinatra sang the National Anthem before one of his fights. Eleven straight wins set up his title shot with Louis on September 18, 1946, in Yankee Stadium. This incredible photo shows the first round knockout. Mauriello ended his career with an 82 - 13 record. He later appeared in the movie classic, On The Waterfront, with fellow heavyweights Tony Galento and Abe Simon.
DECEMBER OF 2012 IS FIGHT MONTH, WITH 29 JOE LOUIS ERA FIGHT POSTS
Mar 22, 2024
2nd and Hamilton
Up to the mid 1960's, before Allentown started tinkering with urban redevelopment, lower Hamilton Street still teemed with businesses. The City had grown from the river west, and lower Hamilton Street was a vibrant area. Two train stations and several rail lines crossed the busy thoroughfare. Front, Ridge and Second were major streets in the first half of the twentieth century. My grandparents settled on the 600 block of 2nd Street in 1895, along with other Jewish immigrants from Russia and Lithuania. As a boy, I worked at my father's meat market on Union Street. I would have lunch at a diner, just out of view in the photo above. The diner was across from the A&P, set back from the people shown on the corner. A&P featured bags of ground to order 8 O'Clock coffee, the Starbucks of its day.
Mar 21, 2024
A Field Trip To 7th & Hamilton
The LVH building(at the arena) is a joke. As an employee, I wasn't allowed to park in that lovely enclosed parking lot underneath the actual building while going through EPIC training-- I had to park BLOCKS away-- It seems that all of the peons of LVH have to park quite a distance away as well from what I could see. While attempting to try to park in that "special" lot under the building, I had some nasty parking lot gestapo make me turn around since I didn't have the correct magical permit affixed to my rear view mirror. Undoubtably that lot is somehow restricted to "special people" . Honestly, they would have to hire a fleet of security officers to escort each and every one of us. I just walked quickly with my keys sticking out between my knuckles. When I work at the Bethlehem site, I wind up parking at the dead mall next door and spend fifteen minutes just walking to the desk where I work, so it made no difference to me. Taking a peak at the restaurants near the entrance, I find it hard to imagine most employees having lunches long enough to dine there, let alone being able to afford to eat there. Granted, I could afford a soft pretzel... As far as the gyn is concerned, I would rather pull out my hair one by one than deal with the traffic to go there in the morning before or after work. I highly doubt any potential patient would want to deal with driving there for a doctor's appointment, unless they live a very short distance away and are very familiar with the area. After driving through the decrepit outlying area filled with blighted/condemned houses and finally parking, the first thought that came to mind as I saw the newly developed area was, "I smell a rat".It's apparent to me that virtually free rent may not be enough to keep these restaurants afloat. Reilly might have to consider actually paying them to stay open.
Mar 20, 2024
The Morning Call Editorial Stable
There is a stable of editorial writers at the Morning Call who head our local development agencies. What they seem to have in common is the ability to write decently, and no real business experience. Under that disguise of expertise, the real movers and shakers of the area find them useful tools...Don Cunningham is the prime example.
Another bottling company is on its way to the giant aquifer west of Allentown. Don has been welcoming this type of industry for over twenty years. While they suck our most precious commodity dry, they provide few jobs. The Lehigh Valley has become mecca for both bottling and warehousing under Cunningham's tenure in various public positions. He is the king of congestion and low paying jobs. Along Don's climb up his career mountain, he was Secretary of General Services under Ed Rendell. During the recent controversy, when J.B.Reilly landed the large state hospital parcel in a non-competitive handoff, Donny, although a former insider to Harrisburg shenanigans, didn't have one word to say.
If he is the king, Becky Bradley is the queen. Like Donny, she rose up the through the non-profit business agency sector. Years ago, right of ways were acquired to widen the highly congested Rt. 22. While those funds were instead diverted to create another exit for a warehouse baron, Becky recently suggested that grant money be used to plant pretty bushes and trees along the right-of-way. This way drivers have better scenery while they sit in line during rush hours. Never mind that it will increase expense cutting the grass around these new plantings.
You can read about development in the valley, written by the king and queen, on a regular basis in the Morning Call. I was hoping that with some recent personnel changes at the Morning Call, their Opinion Page would be more open to less-establishment type submitters....That has not happened.
Mar 19, 2024
Boxing's Giant Era
In California these days, everybody walks around with a yoga mat strapped to their back. That certainly wasn't the case in the 1930's, when heavyweight contender Lou Nova studied yoga. Nova was the World Amateur Heavyweight Champion and a proponent of clean living. He won his first twenty two fights as a professional. His promoters said he perfected the Cosmic Punch. Only 6'2", he fought in the era of giants. He handed giant Abe Simon his first defeat after thirteen victories, eleven by knockout. Nova knocked out 6'4'' Max Baer twice. The 1939 knockout is one second away, in the above photograph. Baer himself had won the championship by knocking out Primo Carnera, the Italian giant who was 6'6" and weighed 284 lbs. Baer lost the championship to the Cinderella Man, Jim Braddock. Joe Louis took the belt from Braddock and held it for twelve years, being arguably the best fighter in history. Clean living didn't serve Lou Nova so well with the notorious dirty fighter Two Ton Tony Galento. Galento almost gouged his eye out, putting him in the hospital for weeks. Nova got his shot with Louis on September 29, 1941, but fell in six. Nova would go on to act in movies and even was a write-in candidate for President of the United States. He dropped out of the campaign because his mother was afraid he would catch a cold shaking so many hands. She wasn't afraid of him being in the ring with some of the toughest men in the world.
reprinted from December of 2012
Mar 18, 2024
Chuck Schumer Was Never On The Subway
Chuck Schumer, United States Senator forever, thinks that Bibi Netanyahu must go as Israeli Prime Minister. If you were a recent crime victim in NYC, especially in the subway, you might think that it's time for Chuck to leave.
In a recent piece. I stated that you don't have to be anti-semitic to be an anti-zionist, but it helps. Schumer certainly isn't anti-semitic, but he is a liberal progressive from the heartland of that persuasion. There are those who would find the majority leader of the United States Senate saying that the democratically elected prime minister of an ally must go totally inappropriate. I'm sure he made his proclamation only after profound moral indignation over the Gaza conflict. He probably even thinks that his statement took courage on his part.
I'm sure that Chuck was never on the subway in New York at 10:00 at night, hoping to get to his stop unaccosted. I'm sure Chuck never had to walk up the platform steps to the street hoping to get to his apartment unaccosted.
I'm sure Chuck never had to fear being butchered while he slept near the border with New Jersey, or have his daughter kidnapped and dragged through the streets of Jersey City naked, before she was raped to death.
The suffering in Gaza has been immense. There were no cameras or media as Hamas killed away in southern Israel on October 7. Israel and Netanyahu were forced into a war that they didn't start or want. Scrutiny of Israel's counter attack has been relentless. Only now are Israelis starting to return to those communities which were slaughtered by Hamas in October. When the truce comes, peace may be too ambitious of a word, Palestinians will reconsider Hamas, and Israel will reconsider Netanyahu. Those decisions will be made by the victims on both sides, not Chuck Schumer.
photo of Gaza City before Jew killing rampage Oct. 7, 2023
Mar 15, 2024
Weekly Reader
When I was growing up my parents would receive both The Morning Call and The Evening Chronicle.* This was their main source of news. Television in the late 40's and early 50's had national and world news, but there was no local programing in Allentown. The antenna on our roof would receive the three network (ABC, NBC, and CBS) stations from Philadelphia, and that was it. The morning and evening papers provided the local news, in addition to national and world stories. Hess Brothers and Leh's would compete with multiple full page Ads. We children also had our own little paper, Weekly Reader, handed out in the classroom every Friday. I think of it when I get the thin Morning Call on Mondays.
* The Morning Call and Evening Chronicle were both published by same company, Call-Chronicle Newspapers.
reprinted from March, 2010
Mar 14, 2024
The Radiation Mystery, Wetherhold & Metzger
Needless to say, eventually these shoe fluoroscopes were banned, but for many years one stood in the lower level of 719 Hamilton Street. Many a child, including myself, saw our foot bones in our new Buster Browns. Wetherhold & Metzger also had an uptown store in the 900 block of Hamilton Street.
Mar 13, 2024
A Church Of Contention
Ripple Community Inc., a non-profit, wants to turn the church at 16th and Chew into very affordable apartments, and also have recovery rooms there, where essentially homeless people could recover from illness or injury.
While I'm not involved in the current zoning board dilemma concerning these proposals, I do have a lot of background in that neighborhood. I lived across the street from the church for many years.
Years ago, the then very strong West Park Civic Association would be out in force officially opposing this conversion. I remember when they even opposed another congregation selling the church at 15th and Turner to a less funded congregation. They complained that the maintenance on the church might suffer.
I also remember many years ago when a wealthy member of the congregation at 16th & Chew left money in his will to have the church dressed out. Although the structure was in very good condition, they repointed all the stonework anyway, and remodeled the bell tower. In more recent times when the congregation felt financial strain and put the church up for sale, I thought that if only they hadn't done those superfluous upgrades, that money might have enabled them to keep the church going.
Even Alan Jennings, who drips liberalism, thinks that the 16th Street church is the wrong place for Ripple's new plans.
photocredit:Jason Addy/LehighValleyNews.comMar 12, 2024
King Levinsky
In 1964, a young Cassius Clay trained in south Miami Beach for his first fight against Sonny Liston. At that time, this section of the city was home to mostly retired Jews on fixed income. The hotels, decades after their prime, became pension rooming houses. Decades later, these same buildings would be restored to their art deco splendor, creating today's South Beach. As Clay trained, a middle aged punch drunk necktie peddler told him, "After Liston punches your head, you'll be selling ties with me." The street peddler was a fixture in Miami Beach. He didn't ask, he told people they were going to buy a tie. The future champ probably didn't realize that the heckler was none other than King Levinsky, legend of the 1930's, and veteran of over 118 heavyweight fights. Levinsky was born Harris Krakow in Chicago, and worked at his parent's fish market on Maxwell Street, the Jewish section during the roaring twenties. Although he never got a title shot, and weighed only 185, he fought all the leading heavyweights of his time, including the 265lb. giant, Primo Carnera. Managed by his sister Lena, he was known never to turn down a fight, including those against Max Baer.
Mar 11, 2024
Molovinsky Scales Back New Radio Division
Molovinsky Publishing, after just announcing a daily radio show last week, has cancelled its studio buildout and subleased the space. Michael Molovinsky, President and CFO, expressed fears that the studio would be shut down by the city. After J.B. Reilly's City Center RE declined to rent us space, we ended up in a older building. I saw what happen to the tenants in another non-Reilly older building,
Although Radio Molovinsky will not be a daily, Molovinsky himself will produce an occasional broadcast from a commercial studio in Radio City Music Hall. I don't relish traveling to NYC, and will be looking for a closer sound studio.Mar 8, 2024
You Don't Have To Be Antisemitic To Be anti-Zionist, But It Helps
Mar 7, 2024
Housing Court For Allentown
The Morning Call picked up on a woke premise that perhaps Allentown should have a special tenant court, which would provide or steer tenants facing evictions to legal council. With such council, tenants have statistically staved off eviction longer.
I happen to know quite a bit about this. For 35 years I operated a number of apartments in center city. In all those years I never received one building code violation, or had one complaint by a tenant. However, I did have to file evictions.
Allentown became a poorer city quite rapidly. Competing social agencies handed out money for rent and security deposit. As news of these giveaways spread to New Jersey and New York, low income people flocked to Allentown.
Allentown now has a large core of low income people. Unfortunately, some of these people are also low-discipline. While they could afford their apartment, paying rent isn't a priority for them. At the same time real estate prices have risen dramatically. Recent landlords need a steady rent flow to meet their debt service.
What would be worse for Allentown than evicted tenants, much worse, would be abandoned buildings.
Mar 6, 2024
The Shadow Returns
In 2009, I presented a series of posts as the Shadow Mayor. I contended that I donned a janitor outfit and worked undetected in City Hall, where I was able to ascertain secrets and shenanigans concerning the Pawlowski Administration. Whether that disguise was real or fictional, this blog's disclosures, along with those of blogger Bernie O'Hare, became of interest to the FBI years later, in their investigation of Allentown.
The Shadow retired during Ray O'Connell's time in the fifth floor, but now is coming back, to monitor Matthew Tuerk. I must clarify that I suspect no shenanigans or illegality from Tuerk, whatsoever, but rather think that his policies need surveillance.
I have been told that he has run out of flags to raise from the Caribbean, Central and South America, and now is looking to Africa for sister cities. He also supposedly wants to make Genderfluid Identity Support a cabinet position.
I apologize for being a dinosaur, and thinking that Mayor Tuerk is too concerned with things beyond the proper scope of city government. Although I will not reveal my new disguise, I will admit that I have dyed my hair. Although Tuerk wants to protect every possible type of personal choice, I heard that regard for the elderly isn't high on his priority list. In Tuerk's younger and younger City Hall, my gray hair would have given me away.
above reprinted from November of 2022Meanwhile, outside of Reillyville in Realityville, there was another shooting this past weekend on the east side. We learned that the victims are not cooperating with the police...Apparently, there were no innocents involved.
As Shadow Mayor, I would be excited to take non-cooperating shooting victims and roust them out of town!
Mar 5, 2024
RADIO MOLOVINSKY
Speaking Nonsense In Allentown
Mar 4, 2024
A Jewish Sport
Jewish fighters dominated boxing between the World Wars. In around 1930, a third of all fighters were Jewish, by far the largest ethnic group. Some fighters even purported to be Jewish when they were not, such as the Baer brothers. Jews ruled the light and welterweight divisions, with long time champions Benny Leonard and Barney Ross. Ten world championships were fought with both men in the ring being Jewish. Boxing has long been an economic ladder for immigrant and minority groups.
photo of Jewish heavyweights King Levinsky and Art Lasky, 1934
reprinted from February 2011
Mar 1, 2024
Jostling With Windmills
Feb 29, 2024
The Engines Of Allentown
photograph from the Mark Rabenold Collection
Feb 28, 2024
Soft Spots And Easy Marks
UPDATE:The Rescue Mission has the city contract to sweep the sidewalk on Hamilton street, and refers to it as their work program. Yesterday, they announced that they would be discontinuing their drug addiction program. So in total, they seem to being doing less with more, and being subsidized by Allentown taxpayers to boot.
Feb 27, 2024
Allentown's New Public Housing
Feb 26, 2024
Two Ton Galento
In an era of tough men, Tony "Two Ton" Galento was a standout. Although he would never win a Mr. America contest, his left hook could knock down any man, including the legendary Joe Louis. Tony owned a bar in Orange, New Jersey, didn't train, drank beer and ate large meals before he fought. Between 1928 and 1944 he fought 110 times, knocking out 56 of his opponents.
He met the Baer brothers in back to back fights later in his career, losing both bouts, but not before knocking 6'7'' Buddy Baer down. The famous fight with Louis occurred at Yankee Stadium in June of 1939, before Galente beat Lou Nova in the infamous dirty fight. Tony was king of the world in the third round as Louis lay on the canvas, but he got up at the eight count, and knocked Galante out in the next round. Louis would later say that Tony Galante was one of the toughest men he ever fought.
Galento with press after the Lou Nova fight
reprinted from May 2011
Feb 23, 2024
Should Allentown City Council Consider Cease-Fire Resolution
Palestinians and other members of the Arab-American communities in Allentown have asked city council to pass a symbolic cease-fire resolution, The loss of life in Gaza has been enormous. This tragedy is a result of Hamas intentionally embedding their military infrastructure in civilian locations, including schools, Mosques, and hospitals. This strategy of using civilians as shields in Gaza isn't a new development, but in place since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. The construction of those military installations and tunnels was done with the full cooperation and knowledge of the population.
The Hamas attack in Israel on October 7 intentionally slaughtered civilians, that was their objective. There was no call for a resolution from the same community at that time. Other groups also want a cease-fire, including many Israelis and Jews. However, it should not be the purview of city council to resolve on international conflicts.
On a less sensitive note, Mayor Tuerk has expanded the flag raisings of different countries, including two excursions. While we respect and appreciate all our diversity, I think that we should resolve to concentrate on improvements in Allentown Pennsylvania.
Feb 22, 2024
Love Letter To Allentown
Tuesday evening, at the same time the leadership of Promise Neighborhoods was having an event* at 19th and Allen Streets, across the fairgrounds at 18th and Turner Streets several people were being shot.
Among others in attendance and in denial of reality at the Promise event were mayor Matt Tuerk and Dan Bosket from Community Action, along with other assorted virtue signalers.
Hasshan Batts meanwhile has been organizing a new leadership clinic** against white supremacy, on our funding no less.
Although Joe Biden thinks that I'm too young at 77, I have relocated into municipal Allentown as a prerequisite for a mayoral run.
*Love Letters To Allentown
**Leadership Without Limits
Feb 21, 2024
Israel's Dilemma Fighting Martyrdom
Rockets fired from inside Gaza City |
Feb 20, 2024
Culture And Reality In New Allentown
The juxtaposition of the headlines pretty much says it all about the New Allentown. Although I'm low information on the symphony, I'm forced to be more up to date on the shootings. Although we learned that this is first homicide of 2024, we're not informed as to the number of shootings. It is that number, the shootings, that has gutted New Allentown's quality of life.
In my day, before Allentown became what I now will call New Allentown, a man from Alburtis usually meant that his family lived there for multiple generations. Now it may well mean that he moved there three weeks ago.
In the old times we never had or needed a Lehigh Valley Homicide Task Force.
Feb 19, 2024
$100 A Week
Feb 16, 2024
A New Police Station For Allentown
The mayor and police chief are clamoring for a new police station, to replace the aging facility built in 1962. The newest house I ever lived in was built in 1956. My previous houses were built in 1929 and 1905. Most of the row houses in Allentown date from 1895 to 1930. While the police station heating system may indeed needed replacement, that doesn't require a new building.
I think that this mayor and police chief should concentrate more on quality of life issues before being concerned with replacing perfectly serviceable municipal buildings. A new building won't reduce crime, but it will increase taxes.
Shown above is a 1960's era postcard, with a rendering of Allentown's new municipal facilities at that time.
Feb 15, 2024
Republicans Forego Allentown
A local Republican laments that they can't attract good candidates because the local media amplifies smear tactics used against them. Although there may be some truth to that explanation, as a conservative independent, I find the lack of choice in the voter booth unacceptable. I hope an independent comes forward in some of these races.
Pictured above is my billboard from 2014, when I ran as an independent against eleven term powerhouse Julie Harhart from Northampton, and a Democrat. If I was younger and nicer, I would love to run again.
Feb 14, 2024
Lanta Suspends Service Because Of Snow
I haven't been on a Lanta bus since my days at William Allen. However, I've been to Lanta headquarters and other locations for meetings about their service. I first got on their case when they ended bus service to the former merchants of Hamilton Street, steering their passenger victims to their detention center across from the former Morning Call building.
It seems that whenever there is a frisky snow predicted, they're awful quick to suspend service. While I can appreciate that they would like to avoid stuck buses, they seem less concerned about stranded passengers. Do not those who take a bus to work depend on it for their return trip home?
Lanta accounts to nobody. Although there are occasional Dept. of Transportation meetings which allow public comment, it doesn't carry any weight with the decision makers.
Feb 13, 2024
Smelling The Roses In Allentown
Paul Pozzi started working for the department in 1979. In 1985, he joined the small crew at the Rose and Old Fashion Gardens. For the last decade, the gardens have been solely under his magnificent care. We who take solace in that magic place owe him a debt of gratitude.
photo by molovinsky, flowers by Paul Pozzi
Feb 12, 2024
The Legend Begins
On July 4th, 1934 Joe louis made his debut as a professional fighter. Eleven months and nineteen straight victories later, most by knockout, 62,000 fight fans would jam Yankee Stadium to watch the new sensation fight the giant, Primo Carnera.
New York, New York - Primo Carnera, giant Italian boxer and former heavyweight champion of the world, and Joe Louis, hard-hitting negro heavyweight from Detroit, Michigan, weighed-in this afternoon at the offices of the New York State Boxing Commission for their fifteen round bout tonight at the Yankee Stadium. - 6.25.1935
Although badly battered from the first round, Carnera would gamely stay in the fight till it was stopped in round six. The legend of the Brown Bomber was clearly established.
photo of Primo Carnera
This blog has produced 24 posts chronicling the Joe Louis boxing era, many featuring Abe Simon, a Jewish heavyweight of the era; Simon and my mother were cousins. Lately, Allentown political shenanigans have allowed me little time and space to visit Madison Square Garden in the early 1940's. During the next few weeks I will reprint these posts, while still assigning staff to City Hall. One of my attractions to the boxing world is the black and white photography produced during that era. The public would listen to the fights on the radio, and then see the photographs in the newspapers the following day. While reproducing these posts, I may in some instances substitute alternative photographs, all classic images from the age of film and flash bulbs.
Feb 9, 2024
Securing Our Assets
During the World War we secured our assets with armed guards. The private police force at Bethlehem Steel outnumbered the City's police force. Last week, Wayne LaPierce, vice president of the NRA, outraged some liberal elements when he suggested policeman for our schools. The president of the Federation of Teachers, Randi Weingarten, responded: Schools must be safe sanctuaries, not armed fortresses. Anyone who would suggest otherwise doesn’t understand that our public schools must first and foremost be places where teachers can safely educate and nurture our students. An unintended consequence of this debate was the frenzy it created at gun stores across America. Although the figures have not yet been compiled, it may have resulted in the sale of an additional 30 million firearms, especially those of high capacity. Weingarten must consider that even if the sale of firearms were banned tomorrow, there will still be over 200 million guns in the United States. I believe that a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines does not infringe upon the Second Amendment. However, whatever changes are implemented in regard to the sale of firearms, it will take decades to affect the volume of weapons currently in private hands. In the meantime, I don't think that a friendly policeman at a school is a bad role model. We must guard our assets.
reprinted from December 2012
Feb 8, 2024
The Lehigh Valley At War
If you lived in the Lehigh Valley during either World War, you knew that those victories required an enormous amount of equipment. Mack Truck was under control of the War Department during both conflicts, starting in 1915 and then again in 1942. The Queen City Airport on Lehigh Street is a vestige of the second war. Mack Truck and Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft joined forces to produce planes and plane parts. Mack's biggest contribution was its trucks during WW1, establishing their reputation for durability. The naval gun shop at Bethlehem Steel was one of the largest in the world when built. With barrels up to 14 inches, it was capable of providing up to 30 guns a day.
Mack Trucks for War Department 1918 |
above reprinted from January 2013
UPDATE May 2, 2018: Mack Defense, a division of Mack Truck in Macungie, was just awarded a Defense Department contract for $82 million to produce trucks through 2023.
Feb 7, 2024
Cloning Yuppies For Allentown
Feb 6, 2024
Best By Test
Growing up in Little Lehigh Parkway, now called Little Lehigh Manor by the Realtors, the milkman was an early morning fixture. Almost every house had the insulated aluminum milkbox. The milk trucks were distinctive, and the drivers wore a uniform, indicative of their responsibility. Freeman's milk was the best by test, or so the slogan said. Their trucks were red and immaculate. The dairy building still stands, a quarter block north of 13th and Tilghman Streets. They competed with a giant, Lehigh Valley Co-Operative Farmers. That dairy, on the Allentown/Whitehall border, just north of the Sumner Avenue Bridge on 7th Street, even sported an ice cream parlor. Milk, up to the mid 50's, came in a bottle. The milkman would take the empties away when delivering your fresh order. In addition to white and chocolate, they produced strawberry milk in the summer. About once a week the milkman would knock on the door to settle up; times have changed.
Occasionally the bottle, and later the cartons, would feature themes and advertisements. A picture of Hopalong Cassidy would entertain young boys as they poured milk into their Corn Flakes. Earlier, during the War, (Second World) bottles would encourage customers to do their part; buy a bond or scrap some metal for the war effort.
reprinted from 2009
Feb 5, 2024
The Tracks Of Allentown
Up to the early 1950's, you pretty much drove over tracks wherever you went in Allentown. While the trolleys moved the people, the Lehigh Valley Railroad freight cars moved the materials in and out of our factories. Shown above, the Lehigh Valley Transit trolley moves across the former steel Hamilton Street Bridge. The huge UGI gas tank can be seen on Union Street. While the trolleys gave way to buses by 1953, the freight rail spurs would tarry on for two more decades.
Feb 2, 2024
Retiring In Allentown
U.S. News and World Report tells us that Allentown is the fifth best place to retire in the United States. Expect local real estate to explode as herds of gray haired migrate from Florida and Arizona to the Strata complexes in culturally rich center city.
Local political genius County Executive Phillips Armstrong cited our metrics, like transportation. Expect to see more cappuccino and croissants at the Lanta Detention Center.
I can only hope that the magazine's news is more accurate than their retirement recommendations. However, if you disagree with me and find their retirement survey valid, there is great news. The best rated place in the country to retire isn't far away, Harrisburg! Please take Phil Armstrong with you.
Feb 1, 2024
Shapiro As Deaf, Dumb and Blind
First off, allow me to clarify that when I refer to dumb, I'm not referencing the inability to speak, but rather not being blessed with intelligence. I first made that observation when he appointed Pat Browne as Revenue Director. Browne's NIZ is an unlimited private subsidy on the back of taxpayers. For Shapiro to cite Lehigh Valley as a showcase of success, testifies as to his cluelessness.
Shapiro's team handed out little gift bags with slogans printed on them. Assorted useless bureaucrats praised his plans, which supposedly will not raise taxes :)
Meanwhile, back at the pump, Pennsylvanians enjoy one of the highest gasoline taxes in the country. I wonder if the Governor noticed that Rt. 22 has never been widened through the valley, thanks to his Pat Browne instead wanting a new exit for a developer's warehouse park.
I'd like Josh to prove me wrong, but in the meantime I'm not hopeful.