MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN
****INFORMED COMMENTARY
Aug 22, 2025
Hurricane Diane, 1955
Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in August of 1955. Living in Little Lehigh Manor, I remember huddling in the house, while the metal garbage cans of the era flew around the neighborhood. My father, whose meat market was on Union Street by the Lehigh River, worked throughout the night. Fortunately for him, his market had an second floor backup cooler, and a small freight elevator. While the retail business district on Hamilton Street is elevated enough to be unaffected from flooding, center city Easton was devastated by the Delaware. The next morning was rather surreal for a nine year old boy. A large willow tree on the corner of Lehigh Parkway South and Catalina Ave. was lying on its side. Although the Little Lehigh receded quickly, the park road and basin had been flooded. Diane remains a record in flooding and damage. Let us hope it remains that way.
photo from August 1955. Lehigh River rising by former A&B Meats. The row of houses shown were demolished to make way for a new bridge approach several years later.
reprinted from August of 2011
Aug 21, 2025
Beyond Disillusioned With Netanyahu
Aug 20, 2025
Mike Schlossberg's Self-Flagellation
You have to give Mike Schlossberg credit, he's not afraid to confront mental illness, in himself or his constituents. Recently, to atone for any and all misguided votes over the years, he suggested voters dunk him. For three consecutive days, Mike allowed voter after voter, regardless of political affiliation, to throw balls at the target. He was dunked no less than three hundred times.
Asked if this will be a yearly ritual, he's hesitant to commit. He doesn't doubt that his future votes will deserve public punishment, but confused by the enthusiasm of the participants.
Some ball throwers in the long line exhibited anger far beyond any decision made in Harrisburg. His aides had to monitor against people wanting a second and third time in line, despite the long wait. His intent was to reduce mental illness, not contribute to it.
Aug 19, 2025
Archer Music Hall
I'm sure I don't know as much as I think I do about most things I write about, but with today's post, I know nothing. Dr. Google has been helping me out here with band schedules and reviews. If I was fifty years younger, maybe I would have heard of some of these groups, but I wasn't very hip back then either.
The reviews suggest that the venue is doing well. People complain about the wait to get in, but that suggests the shows are successful. My big question is about spin off business after the shows? I know they have their own bar, but are the other restaurants benefiting before or after the performances? Another question is about the Allentown Parking Authority. Are they preying on the concert goers?
J.B. Reilly seems intent on injecting some life into his Potemkin Village. Considering how many of our state tax dollars have been invested into his empire, we must wish him well on that.
Aug 18, 2025
Open Question For Bill White
In 2012, I appeared on a Business Matters show about the upcoming arena and NIZ. I and Steve Thode from Lehigh spoke against it, while several people were chosen to champion it, including Mike Fleck and Sy Traub.
I had been helping out the former merchants, and attended a couple meetings at City Hall with them. They were being threatened with eminent domain if they refused to sell. Although they were compensated fairly for the real estate, they got nothing for their businesses. While one of them relocated to 7th Street, all the others went out of business. In all cases it was more than their livelihood, it was also their past and future.
Bill White wrote a column about the debate, and referred to me as dour and misguided. Not one business from anywhere on Hamilton Street prior to the NIZ remains. No businesses, including restaurants, had any lasting success. Nobody still considers Hamilton Street a business district, it is now an urban office park. Mr. Fleck got indicted along with Pawlowski. Sy Traub remains on the NIZ board.
I hoping Bill White responds to this post. Was I as misguided as you thought? BTW, I'll accept the dour label, especially when it comes to the NIZ.
Aug 15, 2025
Move Over Alan Jennings
Yes, I know that Jennings retired from Community Action, but there's a new sheriff in Dodge anyway. Gregory Edwards has grown his church into a multi-faceted program. A couple of years ago his organization was gifted the historic Zion Church, where the Liberty Bell was hidden during the Revolutionary War. But, the Allentown of 2025 isn't much for history.
Resurrected Community Development Corp., an arm of Resurrected Life Community Church, will renovate and build an addition to its Children’s Academy at 916 W. Turner St. The $7mil project is mostly funded by federal tax credits funneled to the corporation by Finanta. Finanta appears to be the king of community non-profits. It was started with a $90mil grant, and has developed into a credit union and statewide lender.
If I was a nicer and smarter man, this blog would be a 501c. It's truly non-profit, I don't even get a salary. I do, however, get a lot of dirty looks...
photocredit:Economidis/TheMorningCall
Aug 14, 2025
Growth Industry In Allentown

Yesterday I went to the Social Security Office, across from the prison, to discuss my retirement options. I was given number 199. In addition to retirement, Social Security also dispenses money for disability. I would say from the gray hair, there were about three of us contemplating retirement, all the others were for disability. A few middle age men were carrying their fake canes. The canes aren't fake, it's the disabilities. I saw one such gentleman walk in from the parking lot, clearly the cane bore no weight, and was merely a prop. Most of the people waiting were quite young, in their twenties. Disability has now been expanded to include mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, additive personality and anger management. I will say many of them did look angry to me. It was hard finding a parking space. Business also looked good at the prison. If Johnny Manana's had gotten these crowds....
reprinted from Nov. 18, 2008
Aug 13, 2025
Mackenzie's Two Way Bet
Every time I hear Ryan Mackenzie say One Big Beautiful Bill, I cringe. Before its passage, he was astute enough to say that his support would be conditional on maintaining certain benefits and safety nets. Since his yes vote, he has decided to bet it all on Trump. He has been touring local businesses, owning his vote on it.
Aug 12, 2025
Discrimination Allentown Style
Likewise, she is allowed to remain on the school board, because after all she is not running for re-election. I would think that she should have the intuition to resign from the board, sorta of a right vs wrong example for the students... of course I live in another world from another time.
photocredit:April Gamiz/MorningCall
Aug 11, 2025
As Tuerk Spins
No sooner than I announced last week that this blog was becoming a semiweekly, I had to bring out a special edition to break the story that Tuerk was pulling the plug on the Jordan Creek encampment. The city was facing a strong lawsuit from developer Nat Hyman, who ironically donated some of the land for the Jordan Meadows park walk. I also broke the story that Hyman won't stand down, unless additional conditions are met. Tuerk's turnaround on the encampment created some flak from his most progressive supporters, and the camper's claim that he broke a promise. While the non-profits are gnashing their teeth about the displacement, not a tear was shed or word said when the previous homeless encampment was unceremoniously removed from the Basin Street area, opposite the Parkettes. That eviction was to accommodate a commercial developer, and the city built him a bridge to boot. While we're dressing up all the remaining private buildings near Reilly's NIZ holdings, we dumped the homeless at Hyman's doorstep.
Also on Tuerk's list of problems is another black eye for the police department. Another officer is accused of misconduct, for pistol whipping a denizen after a police chase. Chief Roca being Hispanic fills Tuerk's diversity agenda, but his leadership abilities are coming more and more into question.
Shown above is not Musikfest, nor even an event hip enough for Mayor Matt, but rather the Allentown Band playing in West Park. The Allentown Band started in 1828, and is the oldest band in the United States. Molovinsky On Allentown started in 2007, and is the oldest continuous blog in Allentown. Although I just announced last week that I was reverting to a semiweekly schedule, my only sponsor, Hess's Department Store, demands that I remain in publication every weekday.
photocredit:Jeff Wetherhold
Aug 7, 2025
Frustration Over The Trexler Trust
Besides the Trust, those who identify with the local establishment will take offense at this post, but I wasn't on their Christmas list since never. Although they may take offense, they hear me, and let me remind them of a time not that long ago.
Every Saturday morning Pawlowski would meet with his Kitchen Cabinet in the back room of the Hamilton Family Diner. The Cabinet had no less than two sitting Trust members and a local judge. The Cabinet met for about a decade, until the FBI indictment, then it disbanded faster than Pawlowski could ask what happen?
So what's the message of my post? The Trust remains political, endorsing the interests of an administration, rather than that of the park system. Even the new Parknership, mostly financed by the Trust, is directing their resources to the park system's existing agenda. That agenda is replacement oriented, as opposed to maintenance conscious. Over the years we have lost numerous park features we could never afford to replace. They range from a magnificent greenhouse in Trexler Park, to a small, simple wooden bridge to a now neglected island in Lehigh Parkway.
Shown above is the retaining wall by the parking lot at the park office. It's small potatoes, but about a decade ago I mentioned to the park department that the wall needed some patching. I have mentioned it at least every couple years since. Perhaps their plan, if they have one, is to wait until it crumbles, then replace it. They're not much for a stitch in time saves nine.
Some of the older readers may know who was in the kitchen cabinet mentioned above. Please refrain from mentioning any names in any comments, that's not my point, nor will I print them.Aug 6, 2025
SPECIAL EDITION Homeless Moving To Allentown Rose Gardens SPECIAL EDITION
Nat Hyman filed a legal action against the city in regard to the homeless encampment by one of his buildings. I do not find his action inappropriate. The city then asked Hyman if he would take in some of the homeless....That request I do find inappropriate. They would not have asked Reilly to put up the homeless in a Strata building.
Years ago, Pawlowski took a local developer off the hook, purchasing two parcels we did not need for parks. One on Basin St., and the other the old fertilizer plant on Martin Luther King. We didn't need them then and we don't need them now.
Although I'm a self-proclaimed park expert, I must admit I have not been to the Jordan Meadows parkway along the Jordan Creek. I will refrain from opining if the park was advisable, but since we created it, we must maintain it. Comments on yesterday's post on the homeless maintain that the city has adopted a too woke attitude tolerating homelessness. Rather than rehash that discussion, let's say that all sections of the city deserve the same treatment. Would that encampment be tolerated in the Rose Garden?
above reprinted from April 8, 2025
AUGUST 6, 2025: SPECIAL EDITION **AN OUTSIDER RUMOR CLAIMS THAT THE CITY WILL MOVE THE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT BY AUGUST 25TH, TO AN AS OF YET UNDETERMINED LOCATION.**(IT WON'T BE THE ROSE GARDENS :) )
UPDATE 2:15PM: Homeless camp posted that they must vacate by August 25th because they're in a flood plain.
UPDATE 2:25PM: Hyman has informed MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN that he will NOT withdraw the lawsuit unless
1. They will not allow the homeless to return
2. They will clean up all the mess left behind
3. They create a landscape equal to other parks
4. There will be ongoing policing of that area
Aug 4, 2025
Grassroots Politics In Allentown
I have been a supporter of local outsider politics for decades. These are the people you see at the meetings, week after week. They are the ones that fight the battle for everyone else. They are the ones who speak out for the many who remain silent. While a few get elected and become mainstream, most remain unelected, and unrecognized for their commitment. Reporting their accomplishments has always been an honor for this blog.
Shown sitting with Trotner is City Council candidate Jessica Lee Ortiz and School Board candidate Phoebe Harris.
reprinted from February of 2017
Aug 1, 2025
Trump Price Is Wrong
Trump will be costly, very bigly, very soonly. He misthinks that he can weaponize tariffs to control the foreign policy of our allies, as in regard to Palestinian recognition. His pal in arrogance, Netanyahu, has undone years of good will building by Israel, by weaponizing food in Gaza.
The monetary price for Trump's vacillations will be borne by USA consumers. What he accomplishes on a Monday, he squanders by Thursday. The political price, while slower to show up, will be coming. Biden didn't become incompetent until the end of his term, Trump's already showing his shortcomings.
When Republicans will stand up and speak out remains to be seen. Only partisans can still accept the silence... support from independents has already been lost. I don't see Trump really caring about the Republican Party and reining himself in. Incumbents will have to distance themselves from His Highness to secure their political future.
I'm a fan of the old Drew Carey Show reruns, it is difficult for me to accept that he became a game show host.
Jul 31, 2025
The Dinosaurs Of Sumner Avenue
Up to the early 1950's, Allentown was heated by coal, and much of it came from Sumner Avenue. Sumner was a unique street, because it was served by the West End Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. The spur route ran along Sumner, until it crossed Tilghman at 17th Street, and then looped back East along Liberty Street, ending at 12th. Coal trucks would elevate up, and the coal would be pushed down chutes into the basement coal bins, usually under the front porches of the row houses. Several times a day coal would need to be shoveled into the boiler or furnace. By the early 1970's, although most of the coal yards were closed for over a decade, the machines of that industry still stood on Sumner Avenue. Eventually, they took a short trip to one of the scrap yards, which are still on the same avenue, but not before I photographed them.
reprinted from 2011
Jul 30, 2025
Breaking Ground On Allentown's Future Demise
Yesterday, J.B. Reilly broke ground on another residential building. Back in 2011, this blog wondered why the Morning Call parcel was included in the NIZ map, when it stood across from Linden Street by itself...I suppose now we know the answer.
This 15th Strata is called the Standard, and Reilly pledges to make some of its studio apartments affordable. That status will be down the road anyway. Because his new residential buildings have failed to gentrify downtown, they can't even support a food court, they will become the future's tenements soon enough. No less than four of our elected representatives were there to help Reilly celebrate his prosperity, it's certainly not ours!
In addition to our clueless officials, the Morning Call ran a 16 to 26 photo spread on the charade, depending on which version you see. Does the paper's new staff even know that this parcel were their former offices, when they had offices, before working from home? If my posts seem shorter, it's because my confidence in Allentown's relevance is becoming dimmer.
photocredit/AprilGamiz/TheMorningCall
Jul 29, 2025
As Allentown Turned Last Week
Last week I reported that the Morning Call was taking back their story about the immigrant deported to Guatemala by ICE, bit by bit. They started doing this after a national columnist, who the Call themselves have used in the past, reported that the story was fake. The columnist, Jonathan Turley, wrote that newspapers can't resist overlooking usual verification when the subject matter is ICE, or other social justice issues...It's called advocacy journalism. In the current MC article, the paper simply states, The Morning Call has since unpublished those stories based on additional information that has come to light. While the original story was signed by reporter names, the current article is signed Morning Call staff.
Jul 28, 2025
The 37th Sport, Grass Parking
Jul 25, 2025
Allentown's Council Of Disappointment
Allentown City Council never fails to disappoint. On Wednesday evening they voted to fund another non-profit to promote business on Hamilton Street. Although J.B. Reilly essentially now owns Hamilton Street, the taxpayers are once again providing a service to enrich him...we're also dressing up the buildings he doesn't own, to make the streetscape better for him. Council was told "a thriving downtown is the heartbeat of a city, and that success would permeate throughout the entire city."
Ce-Ce Gerlach wanted to know what color the people working for the new non-profit will be? In our Allentown, color is more important than actual qualifications. Cynthia Mota said "With this initiative, I'm excited that the wealth will be trickling down.”
I see the this new non-profit as another job program, like Promise Neighborhoods. Although it won't fulfill the mission that it was created for, it will give some people a paycheck, and make other people feel better about themselves.
staff photo
Jul 24, 2025
The Morning Call and Matt Tuerk Jump In Ice Water
Many people, even a conservative independent like myself, are distressed about immigrants being sent to El Salvador and the new Alligator Alcatraz. While I fully support our beefed up southern border, some due process should be required for the current ICE grabs within the country. It appears as if the Morning Call went with a family's claim that their grandfather was grabbed in Philadelphia and deported to Guatemala. The family then updated their story that he was in a hospital in Guatemala, but didn't want to return to the USA. Guatemala claims that he was never there, in prison or hospital. Earlier in the month, Mayor Matt Tuerk asked a local judge to review ICE activity at the courthouse.
The Morning Call's disputed story on a supposed ICE-nap is featured on Jonathan Turley's column. Although the Call has walked the story back in bits and pieces, Turley thinks that left of center newspapers can't resist overlooking usual verification when the subject matter is ICE or other social justice issues, calling it advocacy journalism.
I initially hesitated about this post... but then I recalled that about a decade ago, when I was championing for Wehr's Dam, the paper was resisting publishing a letter of mine on the Opinion Page. The editor claimed that my letter was just my opinion, not verifiable facts. Imagine sending an opinion to the opinion page!
shown above Kristi Noem and prisoners checking each other out in El Salvador
Jul 23, 2025
The Union Terrace Train

The Conrail engine backs across Walnut Street, as it delivers a flatbed of large granite slaps and blocks to the Wentz Memorial Company, by 20th and Hamilton Streets. Years earlier, the spur route extended across Hamilton Street and terminated at the building across from school district stadium, now occupied by the park department. On its run to Wentz, it went through the auto junkyard, continued on past the now closed Allentown Metal Works, and crossed the trestle in Lehigh Parkway. At Union Terrace the track was next to the former ice skating pond, behind the WPA Amphitheater Stage Mound. This photograph was taken by Dave Latshaw in the 1979, and is part of the Mark Rabenold collection. Rabenold is a local train historian, specializing in Allentown's former branch lines.
reprinted from September 2011
Jul 22, 2025
End Of The Line In Allentown
Shown above is the former Wentz Tombstone shop at 20th and Hamilton Streets. Shown leading up to the workshop were tracks of the former Quarry Barber train spur. Many years earlier, the line crossed Hamilton and served a former soda bottling plant on Linden Street, behind the stadium. That building eventually was taken over by the park department, which allowed it to deteriorate, rather than replace the roof. The park department still believes in neglect, rather than maintenance.
Before the flatcar with granite reached the tombstone plant, it traveled between the stage and pond at Union Terrace. Two small bridges crossed the waterway behind the pond, one for the train and one for pedestrians coming to the park from Walnut Street.
I have been campaigning to get the park department to replace the pedestrian bridge it had removed, rather than repair it about eight years ago. There is nobody in the administration that remembers the bridge, they're all newcomers to town. But I remember, and I don't mind reminding them.
Jul 21, 2025
Allentown Archeological
It's not as easy as it appears providing the only critique of city government in Allentown, and doing it for eighteen years. The established news agencies want to keep their access lines open, and bite their tongues... And I'm only referring to the few reporters with enough institutional knowledge to know the difference between the bull and the reality.
Needless to say I'm not a popular guy, and I'm not even compensated:) There are no ads here, and no begging for donations, I don't even dance for comments. Anywho, I do occasionally need a break from the establishment's admiration for me. Because I take some pride in having something printed here every weekday, my vacations are the archeological pieces.
The photo above is from the former Wentz tombstone company at 20th and Hamilton. My own great grandmother's first marker lay on the grounds there, after it had been replaced many years earlier. A good portion of the new Allentown doesn't even know the place was ever there.
Jul 18, 2025
Money Pit On Hamilton
This new scheme is being pushed by clothing store owner/city councilman Santo Napoli. We taxpayers are already dressing up all the non-NIZ buildings. Now, maybe if you could bring back Max Hess Jr., you might have someone who could bring people downtown.
Here's a suggestion... Instead of another non-profit staff to support, how about free parking, and use that $300k to compensate the Parking Authority for some lost revenue. Nobody wants a $28 ticket to come downtown to buy a shirt.
Jul 17, 2025
The Z Coalition
I bill myself as an independent non-partisan. This November, voters will have their last opportunity to keep Allentown resembling something of its past. By resembling, I mean a re-emphasis on public safety. By public safety I mean a crackdown on double parking, loud stereos, litter and other kinds of rudeness against quality of life in the city.
Ed Zucal will be on the ballot for mayor in the Republican column. Although not a Republican, he gained enough write-in votes from Republicans to secure that spot. I'm hoping that for the sake of Allentown there are enough disillusioned Democrats to join with Republicans and independents to put Zucal in the mayor's office.
Four more years of Matt Tuerk's progressive politics, despite new buildings on Hamilton Street, will make Allentown a Camden on the Lehigh. Those interested in helping the effort may contact Ed Zucal directly, or join a coalition of supporters here through this blog post. If you comment with your contact information, it will NOT be printed.
Michael Molovinsky
Jul 16, 2025
An Allentown Park Primer
I know a little about the Allentown Park System. Actually, compared to the mayor and current park director, I know a lot. I was raised on the south ridge above Lehigh Parkway, in Little Lehigh Manor. The park was my backyard and playground. Changes and neglect in that park are particularly painful to me.
Yesterday, Mayor Tuerk had news conference at Cedar Beach Pool about the New Jersey invaders overrunning our waterways. Although neither the TV station, newspaper or politically correct mayor put it that way, but that's the way it is. The mayor walks on eggshells. The invaders are New Jersey Hispanics, mostly from the Dominican Republic. The mayor claims that he is the first Latino mayor in Allentown, and their representative. He even started off his first term with a fact finding trip to the Dominican Republic. Apparently, he didn't learn enough there to deal with this current invasion of our parks. Yesterday, Tuerk actually said “We want to welcome everybody from places like Queens, The Bronx, Union City, from across the entire commonwealth..." He doesn't have the moxie to say, "stay where you live."
The first elephant in the room is that Allentown closed two major pools, Fountain and Jordan. The second elephant is the lack of gates at strategic places. Canal park only has one entrance and gating it off would be a cinch. Mayor Tuerk feels gates are unwelcoming, and it goes against his inclusionary compulsions, but that's tomorrow's post.
Shown above is the closed Jordan Pool. Fountain Park Pool is likewise closed. Mayor Tuerk said that kids should swim in pools, and not the creeks?!? Blogger Michael says that the city should have maintained its pools, rather than spending half a $mil expanding the skate park.Jul 15, 2025
The Mexican General and Canal Park
In the 1960's, if you snuck into a park at night with a girl and a bottle of beer, you were sure to encounter an officer we called the Mexican General. It didn't matter which park, what time or how remote of a spot you found, he would find you. How he could patrol all the parks at the same time was beyond comprehension.
I do not know his true heritage, except that he resembled the Mexican officer in the 1950's TV series Zorro. On the topic of heritage, the Lehigh Valley Railroad train engine heading into Canal Park above in October of 2020, is four decades beyond its real time. In 2012, Norfolk Southern painted Heritage engines in the colors of the different former lines absorbed into the current east coast carrier.
If the officer mentioned above really was Mexican and Spanish speaking, he would certainly have his hands full today in Allentown parks, especially Canal Park on the weekends. Hundreds of Dominicans from New Jersey have made the park a destination. The time has come for Allentown to close the parks past a certain time of day. An alternative would be to hire 500 more police officers.
Mayor Tuerk has scheduled a news conference today on the parks....Tomorrow I'll tell you what he got wrong.
Jul 14, 2025
Allentown Sanctuary City
I know that Allentown isn't a Sanctuary City, but rather A Welcoming City. While the distinction isn't lost on me, apparently it is lost on the Feds and ICE, they're camping at 5th & Hamilton.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk is upset that ICE is operating in the Lehigh County Courthouse, and has asked a local judge to intervene against the Federal government's right to do so. Although the county courthouse is located in Allentown, the request is clearly politically based, and outside of the mayor's purview. Likewise, County Commissioner Jon Irons is involved with a volunteer group, Lehigh Valley Emergency Response Network, actively intervening on behalf of the immigrants detained.
Allentown City Council Vice President Cynthia Mota has a business to assist immigrants. Ce-Ce and company (Natalie) are also on board with the mission. Although I lean to the right, even I have issues with our detention centers in El Salvador and the Everglades.
Jul 11, 2025
The Kurious Kase Of Ed Zucal
LehighValleyNews.com wrote a piece wondering about Ed Zucal's campaign...They think that he's missing in action. Ed is on the ballot, and not missing. Here are some future appointments to his kabinet.
Kat Kyman will be Director of Kommunity Development. NIZ won't be the only initials in town.
Luke Lolovinsky will be Director of Parks, he's already sourcing Weeping Willows.
The bureau and positions of Inclusion will be cut back, but the Neighborhood Groups will get a seat at the table.
The police department will become less culturally sensitive and start issuing parking tickets for double parking, and will give those violators a good looking over. Car stereos, which can be heard before they are seen, will be ticketed.
Mayor Zucal will not be making fact finding trips to the Caribbean, nor raising flags of every country with a denizen in Allentown.
Allentown may not again become the All American City, but it will be an American city.
Jul 10, 2025
A Gift From Mayor Tuerk
When you write a blog for eighteen years, sometimes you struggle for topics....Today was a gift from Mayor Matt Tuerk. His letter in the Morning Call yesterday was prime political baloney. He writes that last year the federal government was on his side improving Allentown, but not this year. As an example, he mentioned non-profits helping combat gun violence, and current funding cuts affecting such organizations. He mentioned investments in recreation and affordable housing being cut back.
Matt, glad you enjoyed your junket to Tampa, but please stop blowing that cigar smoke. Biden or Trump, Promise Neighborhood grants or not, enlarged skatepark or new full basketball court, you gotta get back to basics.
Older taxpaying homeowners resent the stadium being closed to watch the fireworks. Not everyone wants to join you at another one of your Inclusion Festivals. Tell your police chief to start checking out those cars double parked, they are not delivering Meals On Wheels.
Jul 9, 2025
Move Over Philly
Is it just my perception, or are there more shootings going on? I can't ask the administration, or their statistics will say nope! Can't afford to ask Promise Neighborhoods, or my taxes will go up to give them more grants. Can't ask my Democratic representatives, they all stick together. Can't ask my city Republicans, because there aren't any. If the newspaper still had an office, maybe I could go down there and ask.
For those who share my curiosity about this, you're stuck with my observations. I'm beginning to wonder if there are any denizens out there not armed? I don't see any political/police crackdown on the horizon. I wish the mayor would spend less time jogging and biking, and more time trying to drive down Tilghman Street at 5:00PM. We don't need more basketball courts, we need more police taking violators to district court.
This blog is one place that the city won't get a pass. Years ago Philly had to elect a former tough police chief to clean the place up...I think Allentown needs a Rizzo or Giuliani.
artwork by Mark Beyer
Jul 8, 2025
The Fountain Of My Youth
Jul 7, 2025
The Little Bridge Of Lehigh Parkway
A few years ago, new and young visitors to the park would have no idea that a magnificent miniature bridge crossed a spring run to the Little Lehigh. Certainly, such a stone construction wasn't necessary to cross the 24 inch waterway. It was built in a era of masonry art, fueled by the Great Depression, and funded by Roosevelt's WPA. Over the last decade, budgetary cutbacks and environmentalists demanding riparian zones, justified allowing it to be consumed by brush and saplings. In 2010, I persuaded Mike Gilbert, park department manager, to partially clear around the bridge. Although a tree now blocks its southern approach, the bridge has been given a reprieve on its destruction.
reprinted from 2012
Jul 4, 2025
Podcast Link At High Noon
Jul 3, 2025
The Fairgrounds, An Allentown Tradition
My post last Friday about the Farmers Market drew the nostalgia crowd on Facebook (Allentown Chronicles), and their wishes that the tradition continues. There are however particulars about that institution not widely known. The Fairgrounds Association is mostly owned by a group of aging stock holders, and traditionally no one family held more than a few shares. That group is rapidly aging out, with the average age 110 years old :).
The Farmers Market is rented to one vendor, who in turn subleases the various spots. That vendor is 105 years old :). Now I'm also old, and this information could likewise be dated. However, knowing the institution fairly well, I doubt that much has changed.
Years ago, the fairgrounds was a highly sought after real estate parcel for a shopping center and/or housing. Although that demand may have subsided, there are institutions, such as the LVHN, Muhlenberg College, etc., who might some day have similar designs. Back then, the old stubborn stock owning families resisted, but old is now the key word. Anywho, for now, we still enjoy our fairgrounds.
Jul 2, 2025
No Threat To The Public
Chief Roca is always asking the public for help, does anybody ever come forth? Shouldn't Promise Neighborhoods know something about such things, with all the grants going their way?
Subscribers to this blog on the web version can find Radio Molovinsky on the sidebar. Last year I created a few short podcasts, and learned that air time is not easy to fill by yourself. Recently, I decided to try the medium again, and thought that it would be interesting to discuss Allentown with someone with a different perspective. I've known Alfonso Todd for over twenty years. While I'm an old, third generation white man in Allentown, he's a younger, 1st generation black man in town. Alfonso is an event promoter and occasional DJ. We live in different worlds, but in the same town. I hope to provide a link to the first podcast by Friday afternoon.
Jul 1, 2025
New Jersey Parties On The Lehigh
Just a few years ago, I was often the only one there. Now, after witnessing the invasion myself, I suggest that with only one entrance into the park under the old train trestle, they could close the park until the invaders find another destination. At the least, they could take advantage of the restricted entrance and limit the park to Allentown residents.
This is an administration which removed the flood gates at the picnic grove behind Cedar Beach swimming pool, so that nobody ever feel unwelcome. The parks and taxpayers are paying the price for Tuerk's absurd attitudes about inclusion. We never used to need three police cars for Canal Park.
Jun 30, 2025
Jordan Meadows vs. The Rose Garden
As an advocate for the traditional park system, I have been campaigning against the Riparian Buffers for years. I think that people should be able to see the creek, at least around the Rose Garden in Cedar Park, and the Robin Hood section of Lehigh Parkway. Every park director since 2005 has disagreed with me. When I complained to current director Mandy Tolino about invasives in the weed wall, she replied that there were some natives mixed in. The city maintains that the buffer keeps the waterway cleaner.
Allentown has made an exception to their park policy in the Jordan Meadows. There, anything and everything goes, and goes into the creek. The growing homeless camp has a population of about a hundred people. The adjoining property owner, Nat Hyman, has noticed the contradiction, and made arrangements for a pending lawsuit. However, he is first giving the city another opportunity to address the homeless encampment, and has even offered to help fund a proper shelter.
Needless to say the encampment would not be tolerated along Cedar Creek by the Rose Garden. Last year one denizen and his tent got a quick boot.
related post at O'Hare's Ramblings
Jun 27, 2025
Fairground Farmers Market
If you grew up in or near Allentown, chances are that you been to the Farmers Market. The market has been in operation since 1953, all year except during Fair Week.
While those visiting downtown Allentown will recognize very little from the past, the Farmers Market is frozen in time. Some of the purveyors have been there for near 60 years.
When I was a boy, my father operated a meat concession at the market for a year or so. He gave it up because he recognized so many of the customers from his market on Union Street, and realized that he had doubled his overhead to serve the same clients.
For those of us who find change not always for the best, the Market remains a comfort.
reprinted from August of 2023
Jun 26, 2025
Freight Trolleys and Shenanigans
enlarge freight trolley by clicking on image
above reprinted from May of 2010
UPDATE July 4, 2019: Attempting to save the ballpark, I organized a meeting at a center city church. Attending the meeting were two city council members and families involved with Bicentennial Park. Pawlowski and Lanta finally backed off, and the ballpark remains. Some people who attended that meeting became interested in Allentown politics, and attend council meetings to this day. Pawlowski's shenanigans have since caught up with him.
Jun 25, 2025
Festival de Estacionamiento Doble
Join Mayor Tuerk on Saturday July 19, as 2nd Street is turned into a meandering Caribbean lane. The Double Parking Festival will run from Tilghman to Hamilton. Enjoy authentic food, free from permit, licensing and inspection restrictions by the man.
The event is being coordinated by Xana, he/she/they, Allentown's new director of Above and Far Beyond. This new position was created because the People & Culture Specialist, Kumari Ghafoor-Davis, limits herself to DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Acceptance, and Belonging)
This new annual event will be the fourth Latino vote pandering festival on the city calendar. A car stereo contest will be based on volume and bass vibration. The only ICE present will be in your drink cups. Security by Promise Neighborhoods. Park where and how you like.
artwork by Fred Schoenk
Jun 24, 2025
Promise Neighborhoods Gets An Easy Pass
Last week the Morning Call gave Promise Neighborhoods another Easy Pass. Two paid employees conducted a survey on neighborhood violence. Only five men participated, and they were paid with gift cards to fill out the forms.
It is painful that our tax dollars are being used to provide grants for such things. It is painful that our local paper found it news worthy enough to have fourteen photos about it. The men were photographed from the left, then the right, collectively and then individually. One photo showed just a man's hands with a pencil.
This blog gives no easy passes. The only stories about Promise Neighborhoods that are interesting is that there was another shooting this past weekend, and that Hasshan Batts is stepping down with little explanation. Now, that might be a back story worth a paper's time!
photocredit:The Morning Call
Jun 23, 2025
Pennsylvania's Odd Couple
Both were elected by partisan purists at the time, but world events have brought them closer together than foreseen. Granted, the D is a very odd duck from the beginning. John Fetterman's support of Israel, while a traditional Democratic position, has stood out because of Netanyahu's extremism.
On Saturday night, both Pa. senators, Fetterman and McCormick, praised Trump's military action against Iran. while most Democrats were complaining about lack of congressional approval. Those congressional approvals might take some of the S out of any surprise.
I'm wondering if Fetterman will become his party's whipping boy, he already wasn't their favorite. I'm hoping that with BiBi's existential threat reduced, he will take the stranglehold off Gaza. If the bombing ends up a one off, as Trump claims it was, or an entrapment as feared by many, remains to be seen.
Jun 20, 2025
Ed Zucal Breaks Out Of Pack
On Wednesday evening, Ed Zucal broke ranks with the Democratic City Council and voted against Bill 16. That bill essentially changed zoning to allow homeless shelters anywhere in the city, by striking the phrase seniors only concerning certain community center kitchens. While we all have compassion for the homeless, having a homeless encampment, inside or outside, across from your home can be trying.
Such a shelter was a controversy for the West Park Civic Association at the former church at 16th and Chew. That strong neighborhood has successfully maintained itself, despite dealing with discipline issues outside of the high school.
City Council voted 6 to Zucal for the new ordinance. While Ed lost the Democratic primary, he did secure the Republican write-in vote, and now will be on the ballot for November. As an independent, I appreciate that there is now an alternative to what I consider an administration preoccupied with a social agenda. Yesterday, as I navigated through double parked cars and blasting car stereos, I longed for a less tolerant Allentown.
Jun 19, 2025
Revive Fairview Cemetery
About twelve years ago, I began searching for the grave of a young Jewish woman, who died around 1900. Among several Jewish cemeteries no longer in use, I searched Mt. Sinai, a small section of the sprawling Fairview Cemetery on Lehigh Street, just west of the 8th Street Bridge. The cemetery is the history of Allentown's past, including the graves of Harry Trexler, John Leh, and Jack Mack. As one proceeded deeper into the cemetery, away from sight on Lehigh Street, conditions worsened. As is the case with many old cemeteries, fees paid for perpetual care, 100 years ago, were long gone. Complicating the situation, the current private operator wasn't particularly assessable. In addition to extended family members upset about conditions, the situation was compounded by his refusal, with few exceptions, to allow private upkeep. My early posts on the situation drew response and phone calls from people with no interest in local political blogs; They were just exasperated relatives, with a family member buried long ago at Fairview. After beginning a series of posts, and letters to the editor, I prevailed upon The Morning Call to write a story one year later. The Call's story appeared on August 11, 2008. Within two weeks, the cemetery operator agreed to a public meeting I had organized at a local church. Arrangements were made between the operator and several parties. As with several of Allentown's older cemeteries, the issue of maintenance would be ongoing.
The current operator of Fairview, in addition to operating an on-site crematorium, is actively having new burials in the cemetery. It appears as if some of these new burials might be on old large family plots, which haven't been used or even visited in decades. In other cases, they appear to be along the internal roadways, which were previously not considered proper burial places.
Because of my longtime blogging on Fairview, periodically I would be contacted by someone with a family member buried at the cemetery. They were always frustrated by conditions at the cemetery, and asked where or to whom they could turn. The photo shown above was taken by a frustrated family member. It occurred to me that a facebook group page could be a common meeting ground for such families. Recently, after I started the Allentown Chronicles facebook group, local resident Tyler Fatzinger demonstrated strong concern for conditions at Fairview. I suggested that he moderate a new group dedicated to the cemetery. He agreed, and started Revive Fairview Cemetery.
reprinted from June of 2019
UPDATE AUGUST 26, 2020: Tyler Fatzinger has turned out to be a tireless advocate for Fairview, volunteering his free time working and clearing at the cemetery.
ADDENDUM JUNE 19, 2025: Eventually, Tyler would receive a no trespassing notice from Fairview Cemetery, and conditions there remain unsatisfactory. The current city administration, as previous ones, has not intervened in regard to the poor upkeep.
Jun 18, 2025
Courtesy Of The Floor
I consider myself a local gonzo type journalist. This blog is in its eighteenth year, and during that time I have immersed myself in numerous issues and have irritated numerous members of the local establishment. Most of these so called accomplishments are self-proclaimed here on the blog, because the local institutions I've offended include the Morning Call.
I am also my staff photographer. Shown above, Eddie Aviles is being restrained by MsPhoebe Harris, Jessica Lee Ortiz, and Chief Charles Roca. Although I don't recall what irritated Eddie that evening, he has been quite vocal recently. I also won't go into the current issues...Those disclosures are better left to him.
However, as a gonzo I follow the stories, and came across his self-proclaimed involvement in the water crisis issue after the hurricane in Puerto Rico. In a fine documentary on water, especially in Flint, Michigan, Aviles is heralded for his activism in Puerto Rico.
Jun 17, 2025
Alan Jennings To Train Sharecroppers
Those of you who listened to the podcast of my interview with Alan Jennings know that toward the end of the interview I confessed to snickering about his organization's plan ( Community Action Committer of Lehigh Valley) to take over the farmer training at the Lehigh County owned Seed Farm. Those who follow this blog know that I oppose Farmland Preservation, because it is a ridiculous disconnect with the reality of food production in 2018. It is however politically correct for urban liberals to think that if as much farmland as possible stays available, there will be an endless banquet of environmental bliss, with organic food no less. Alan sees it as an extension of food for the poor, sort of another ladder step in the food pantry mission. Low income food issues are because of money, not food production shortfalls. These liberals of course are ignorant of the long hours and hard work which goes into farming. They are also ignorant of the economic reality of competing with large scale agriculture.
Now, unless Alan wants to gift each of his graduates with a farm at our expense, they will either be a farm hand, or at best a sharecropper. What is really scary about Alan's plan is that it has the endorsement of the Republican controlled Lehigh County Commission. They are apparently so vote craven, that they go along with such nonsense.
The only practical program assisting farming is Clean And Green. Unfortunately, the Morning Call ran an expose on the program featuring photographs of large expensive houses, surrounded by farmland. While the program limits tax reduction to only the land actively farmed, the photographs give the impression that the tax breaks are going to people who don't need it. I suppose the liberal paper thinks that those involved in agriculture are supposed to live in shacks. Worse yet, the paper thinks that their story is a masterpiece, has has been running it on their website for months.
photocredit: Dorothea Lange, Son of Sharecropper, 1937