Stealing Allentown's Treasures

                                                   click photograph to enlarge

The merchants who built Hamilton Street counted on architecture to attract shoppers into their emporiums. Large neon signs wouldn't appear for another fifty years. The soffit and fascia shown above, halfway between 7th and 8th on Hamilton, is the most elaborate facade in Allentown. One thing you can say about Allentown City Hall, they never let culture, art, or history get into the way of their plans. As successful cities come to value and profit from their history more and more, Allentown keeps using the standard catalog of proven failures. I know from other projects on Hamilton Street that Pawlowski isn't big on history. The Cityline Building in the 800 Block was permitted to stucco over beautiful brickwork. Sad that the puppies, who are directors at the Art Museum and Historical Society, remain silent on the planned destruction. It's hard to describe the magnificence of the skylight shown below, also in the targeted block. It's very large in three sections, in pristine condition. Should be quite a snack for Pawlowski's bulldozer.

A Video on Israel's Survival

At another blog, a comment stated that Netanyahu chided Obama in order to appeal to his political base at home, and undermine Obama's re-election effort. In truth, Netanyahu was forced to speak out against Obama dictating which concessions Israel must make, before beginning negotiations.

UPDATE: A second video for those who seek the truth

Exaggerating the Arena

I spent yesterday in Wyomissing, PA at a restaurant client of mine. Wyomissing is just outside of Reading and I happened to ask my client’s banker about Reading’s arena and if that’s doing anything for Reading’s downtown.
The banker said the arena has done very little, if anything, for Reading’s downtown. He noted that there was a recent article in the Reading Eagle which put the annual attendance at the Sovereign Center at only about 500,000, with about half coming from the hockey team.
I thought that was significant since it is well below Mayor Pawlowski’s projections of 1.5 million for the Allentown arena. The Allentown arena will hold 8,500 for hockey and 10,000 for concerts, so it is slightly larger than the Sovereign Center (7,200 hockey/8,900 concerts). Still, it does make Pawlowski’s estimates seem highly inflated. Also, the relatively small figure for non-hockey events was startling, since these types of events would have to cover the lion’s share of Pawlowski’s estimate (I figure there are only about 40 home hockey games in a season).
The banker also mentioned several bank clients who opened restaurants near the Reading arena (hoping for spinoff business from the arena crowd). These were successful restaurateurs who were enticed to open a downtown location by Reading’s City Hall (sound familiar?). The spinoff has not happened, and those restaurants are struggling.
Mike Schware
Allentown

UPDATE:Pennsylvania Senate Passes Eminent Domain Reform

 The Pennsylvania Senate on December 7 passed eminent domain reform legislation significantly curtailing the ability of state and local government to condemn private property for non-public uses. The bill, S.B. 881, the Property Rights Protection Act, responds to the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of New London and the widespread abuse of eminent domain throughout the state. Limits 'Blight' Designations S.B. 881, introduced by state Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin/Northern York) and approved by the Senate in a unanimous vote, prohibits the use of eminent domain for commercial development and considerably tightens the definition of blight. Tightening that definition was particularly important because defining a property as blighted is a prerequisite for condemning it and transferring it to another private party. Exceptions were inserted to exclude from the bill's reach property in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Delaware County that has already been designated as blighted. The exceptions, however, will expire after seven years. Explaining the need for his bill, Piccola said the Kelo ruling "made people sit up and take notice and start to realize that in the face of activist courts and local government, private property rights might very well be threatened," according to the November 14, 2005 Greenwire. Limited to Public Uses "For too long, some local governments have threatened property owners in Pennsylvania with eminent domain for private profit," Piccola said in a December 7 news release. "My legislation will help end these abuses but not touch local governments' ability to acquire property to build everything traditionally considered a public use, such as roads, bridges, schools, and courthouses. "The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by the government and turned over to another citizen for non-governmental use is simply an outrageous proposition and something that was never intended by our founding fathers. The Property Rights Protection Act makes certain that home and small business owners in Pennsylvania know that they can keep what they have worked so hard to own," Piccola added. Far-Reaching Effects "Pennsylvania law was in dire need of reform," said Dana Berliner, a senior attorney at the Washington, DC-based Institute for Justice. "It allowed government condemnation of property merely for being 'economically or socially undesirable.' This definition put literally all property at risk. "This bill places unprecedented limits on eminent domain abuse," Berliner added. "The one glaring shortcoming is the temporary exceptions for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but even that does not dampen the near total victory this bill provides." "The Pennsylvania senate bill is the most comprehensive legislation in the country," said Steven Anderson, coordinator of the grassroots Castle Coalition. "It slams the door on runaway eminent domain abuse and completely redefines the overly permissive definition of 'blight' that has been repeatedly used as an excuse to take property from one private citizen and give it to another private citizen." Bipartisanship Noted "The bipartisan nature of this legislation is especially encouraging," Anderson added. "All around the country, Democrats and Republicans are uniting to put an end to eminent domain abuses. Of course, with poll after poll showing that upwards of 90 percent of the American public disagrees with the Kelo decision and feels that government should not take away a person's property merely to give it to another person for economic development, it shouldn't be a surprise that legislators from both parties are responding to the overwhelming will of the voters." "Take away the exceptions for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and S.B. 881 stands as a model for other states looking to prohibit eminent domain for the benefit of private businesses and developers," added Institute for Justice staff attorney Bert Gall in a December 7 news release. "Both cities have abused eminent domain in the past and certainly need no exception now, particularly since citizens that live in the excepted areas receive much less protection than everyone else. Fortunately, the exceptions will expire in seven years and all cities will then play by the same rules." Broad Coalition for Reform The bill received support from a broad range of organizations, including the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Farm Bureau, and the National Federation of Independent Business. The bill now heads to the state's House of Representatives, which overwhelmingly passed a similar and slightly more stringent eminent domain reform bill in November 2005 and is expected to approve the Senate bill. "The unanimous nature of the Senate vote speaks volumes to the bipartisan support for property rights and eminent domain reform," said Scott Bullock, another senior attorney for the Institute for Justice. Republicans and Democrats should both be applauded for passing this bill. "As the Pennsylvania legislature illustrates, the tide is turning against state and local governments that engage in eminent domain abuse," Bullock added.

End of a Legend

When Joe Louis retired as Heavyweight Champion in 1949, he had beat all challengers for a dozen years. Before winning the title, he had avenged the only loss in his career by knocking out Germany's Max Schmeling, in one of the most famous fights in ring history. The only man he feared was the tax man, who wouldn't let Joe rest. On October 26, 1951, he climbed back into the ring to fight a young, undefeated Rocky Marciano, who had won 31 out of 36 fights by knockout. In the eighth round, the aging legend was knocked through the ropes, down and out, in what would be his last fight.

An Eminent Domain Failure

During the early 1970's, Allentown demolished the entire neighborhood between Union and Lawrence Streets. It was, in a large part, home to the black community. How ironic that we destroyed the cohesion of a neighborhood, but renamed Lawrence Street after Martin Luther King. The only remnant of the neighborhood is the St. James A.M.E. Church. Going up the hill today we now have a vacant bank call center on the east, and the Housing Authority Project on the west. A whole neighborhood existed in from both sides of Lehigh Street, including black owned shops. The houses were old and humble, but people owned them, many for generations. Some blacks at the time wondered if the project was Urban Renewal or Negro Removal?
above reprinted from January 24, 2011 (then titled Downhill on Lehigh Street)

You don't have to go far from Hamilton Street to see an eminent domain failure; Only several blocks and 40 years. Fortunately, for our imported leaders, memory of this debacle has faded. Allentown now wants to discard the most historic mercantile block of Hamilton Street, so that an out of state developer can force feed hotdogs to people from Catasauqua, at minor league hockey games.

A Promise Kept

Irena Sendler was 30 in 1940, when the 400,000 Jews of Warsaw were herded into the ghetto and sealed off in the first step of the plan to exterminate them. In late 1942, after 280,000 had been deported to the death camp Treblinka, Sendler and others formed Zegota, a Polish underground council to aid the Jews. Sendler's heart-rending mission, was to explain to a Jewish mother, that the only possible way to save her child was to give the boy or girl over to her. She promised that after the war she would try to reunite the families. The children were secreted in convents, orphanages and with Polish families. Captured by the Nazi's and tortured, she was freed by the underground on her way to be executed. She had put the name of each child on a slip of paper, and buried them in a jar for safekeeping. After the war she did attempt to reunite the families, but almost all the parents had perished. Irena Sendler's remarkable courage has become widely known because of ninth grade school project in Kansas, Life in a Jar.

A Better Arena Site

As a boy growing up three blocks from the Mack assembly plant, I was always fascinated by the giant doors at the S. 12th and Lehigh Street end. Only recently did I learn that Catalina Flying Boats were assembled there during the War (Second World). What I did see everyday was endless Mack trucks, in every color, filling the huge yard next to the plant. They would be driven away, piggyback, to destinations all over the country. That plant has been gone now about fifty years, with only the footprint still visible in the above photo. Since that time, Route 78 now intersects with Lehigh Street, 1.5 miles away. Imagine a public arena fronting on a major road, with easy access to a main highway. Ed Pawlowski probably doesn't know about the old Mack parcel, but he's welcome to use the idea. It sure beats destroying center city with an illegal arena. I do think it's illegal; At Wednesday's meeting, City Council indicated it had full knowledge of the arena plans. This secret knowledge allowed them to approve the location, and permit eminent domain with no due diligence between the first reading of the resolution and the passing of the vote. Although public comment was permitted, there was no public input or discussion. In an unusual move, the City Solicitor was there, instead of an assistant. Despite Attorney Snyder's presence, there appears to be multiple violations of the Sunshine Act of 1976.

UPDATE: Councilman Michael Donovan elaborates on Arena

Sign electronic petition against eminent domain

Pawlowski Muscles Redevelopment Authority

Although Pawlowski effectively gutted the Redevelopment Authority earlier this year by de-funding it's director, that agency is still fighting for survival. Here we see a City Solicitor dress down an attorney for the Agency, at the apparent amusement of City Council. Despite the solicitor's overbearing, the assessment record does show the Redevelopment Authority as owner. I have added two more short video's by Grounzero's Imantrek at the bottom of Pawlowski's Sham, two posts ago. Apparently, citizens of Allentown don't deserve much in the way of democracy.

Our School Taxes for Hockey Arena

Guest Post by David Fehr Zimmerman
Sports Arena Financing through the NIZ (Neighborhood Improvement Zone)
An article on the WFMZ web site, perhaps, provides some insight into this issue(March 3, 2011 - Jocelyn Moes).
It refers to the establishment of a Neighborhood Improvement Zone empowered inHB 1614 THE FISCAL CODE - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS Act of Oct. 9, 2009, P.L.537, No. 50 Cl. 72 Session of 2009 No. 2009-50 ARTICLE XVI-B as a financing mechanism for this project.The articles states:"A majority of the project will be paid for by the creation of a 130-acre Neighborhood Improvement Zone, or NIZ.""It essentially is a self-financing part of the project because what you will use are future tax receipts that the project generates to pay for the debt service for the project's existence," said Mann, who added that sales and use taxes, state income taxes, and property taxes could all be used as long as they're generated within the130 acres."That could include not only the arena, but surrounding homes and businesses."Mann said people in the NIZ zone wouldn't be paying any more taxes than they normally pay. The money would just be going directly to pay off the project." Instead of being collected and going to their normal coffers, those taxes generated from the facility will be redirected towards debt service on the facility," said Mann.From my review of the legislation it is unclear as to exactly what tax revenues will be included relative to real estate. I am waiting to hear from Pat Browne's legal staff on this issue. It is critical to consider Mann indicating the list of taxes that "could be used as long as they are generated within the 130 acres".Within a 409 meter radius of the center of the block proposed for development,approximately the same area as 130 acres, there are approximately 708 structureand/or land parcels with an assessed value of approximately $88,823,000.If property taxes are included the property tax liability to the school district could beapproximately $4,049,618. The city is $1,533,874 and the county is $1,056,994 A sizable sum given the current financial condition of the state, county, city and school district of Allentown. If the property taxes are ear marked for diversion the school district may need tocome up with another $4,000,000 to balance the budget as declared by the new authority? This year or next? I question if we could end up trading education for economic development? I hope the reference by Ms Mann to property taxes in the WFMZ article is a misstatement. It seems to me the enactment of this bill and the development of this project could result in the diversion of tax dollars to pay the debt services on the financing of a development for entertainment based services without any real regard for the state of the other entities and the economy. Could this really happen?
Channel 69 Article
Google Map-130 Acre Area
List of NIZ properties and tax liability calculations
Act 50-2009
title and photograph added by molovinsky

Pawlowski's Sham

Chester is a city plagued by high levels of poverty and crime rates. Elected officials promise that a soccer stadium, financed heavily by taxpayer dollars, will be part of solving Chester's economic woes. Governor Rendell said, "I believe this guarantees that Chester will be one of the first-class cities in Pennsylvania."

Yet economic research finds that athletic stadiums do not result in economic growth. Economist Phillip Miller demonstrated in his empirical study of St. Louis that stadium construction has no net effect on employment. Economics professor Ian Hudson found similar evidence. Other studies, including Dennis Coates and Brad Humphrey's analysis, "The Stadium Gambit and Local Economic Development," are even more pessimistic. Coates and Humphrey go beyond claiming that stadium development has no benefit for local economic development, concluding that projects actually have a negative effect on real per-capita income.

Politicians have a penchant for giving handouts to new facilities. They seem to believe they can hoodwink voters with a façade of progress. Construction offers the illusion of economic progress, and ceremonies to award tax dollars for new projects make elected officials look and feel like they are helping their constituents. But sports stadiums represent more “political development” for lawmakers than economic development for citizens.

The plan sounded great... build a midsize arena, stuff it with sports, music acts and monster trucks and create a centerpiece for the new city center...But trouble started almost from the day the doors of Santa Ana Star Center opened in 2006. Arena in New Mexico

Chester is poised to experience what other communities across the country have learned: athletic parks are no panacea for community revitalization. The benefits of sports stadiums are grossly over-sold by politicians and become extremely costly to taxpayers.

The enthusiasm of elected officials to build a soccer stadium in Chester is misguided, at best. At worst, it represents a waste of taxpayer dollars and an economic sham. It is unfortunate that political calculations are trumping sound public policies that would foster real economic growth and true revitalization in Chester. Reducing the tax and regulatory burdens on job creators would bring more lasting improvements to Chester. Harrisburg’s corporate welfare is a flagrant foul and deserves a “red card” from all taxpayers.

The above article excerpted from The Commonwealth Foundation
Update on Chester Stadium: Portrait of a boondoggle
WATCH RUMBLE AT CITY COUNCIL




video's created by IMANTREK for Grounzero Magazine

Barack and Bibi

In United States, one well read speech at a national convention can put you in the White House four years later. In Israel, the price of admission is much higher. Sabena Flight 571 was hijacked on May 8, 1972. When an elite team of Israeli commandoes burst into the plane, they were led by Ehud Barak. Barak would later become Prime Minister, and currently serves as Defense Minister. One of the commandoes was shot by friendly fire in the close quarter gunbattle. That former commando is in Washington today, to speak with the former speech reader. Although Binyamin Netanyaho would recover from his bullet wound, four years later, his brother was killed leading the raid to free the hostages at Entebbe.

We did not look for wars. They were forced upon us. But when we were attacked, we did not have the right to lose a single time. And when we won we returned to seeking peace. Today, I suggest to those who seek war not to make the same mistake again. Do not disrespect our ability ... we are prepared to physically defend our land and morally defend our heritage.        Shimon Peres, May 9, 2011

photo of Israeli Commando Binyamin Netanyaho

The Night Hamilton Street Died

What was once a thriving block of Hamilton Street will now be turned into a ghost down. Even now, although not the golden age shown above, the block between 7th and 8th does business. Still hosting three chain stores, the block had survived, despite one arrogant mayor after another. The Family Dollar Store is one of their most successful branches. Rainbow (jeans) and Rite Aid also anchor the block, along with successful independents. In a night of shame, one of the most shameful acts was Julio Guridy, interrupting the merchants so that Mayor Pawlowski could educate them. Pawlowski said that the arena could attract up to 1.5 million people a year, and that everyone will benefit, even relocated merchants. Considering that the hockey team only actually attracts 3,000 people to 40 home games, Pawlowski is off by about 1.4 million. In reality, the stores that remain on the south side of the street will now face an empty arena and much less foot traffic. The upscale restaurants, such as Sangria and Cosmopolitan, will suffer, because their patrons will avoid the nighttime traffic congestion. Lou Belletieri told Council that he operated a restaurant across from the Wilkes-Barre Arena, and did no business, what so ever, from it. Councilman Michael Donovan said that although he feels for the merchants, he owes the other 118,000 citizens The Pawlowski Palace of Sport.* He actually owed them the courage to say no to this ill conceived plan.*

*Palace of Sport is a borrowed term coined by a blog reader. Donovan was joined by five other councilmen in his yes vote.

Another Day, Another Battle

Sometimes in democracy there is no rest for the citizens. Last night the citizens of Northampton County won a major battle against what was essentially a two man decision. Despite pre-determined studies and other fabricated data, the voters chose dignity for their elderly. Tonight, Allentown City Council will vote to irrevocably change the nature of our downtown, based on the whims of one man. Like Northampton, he had studies done by the very people who would own the project. The mayor would dump our merchants, thinking that The Pawlowski Sport and Event center will restore prosperity to center city. Most residents can only see traffic and inconvenience coming, and would favor the arena either at the river-front or Coca Cola Park. Please join me this evening at 7:30, to remind City Council that although they and Pawlowski were elected to manage the city, they don't own it.

A Quick Learner

In mid April, Ed Pawlowski told The Morning Call he didn't know anything about the merchants being made offers that they dare not refuse. Several days later, Sarah Hailstone told the merchants that the City was the undisclosed buyer. If you think Ed learned a lot in those three days, that's nothing compared to today. Although I didn't attend this morning's meeting with the Mayor and merchants, I did meet with several of the merchants later in the morning. Once again Pawlowski had pleaded ignorance. He didn't know why the Farr Building was the only property the Arena didn't need, in a square block. Strangely, I know; The Farr Building had received close to a $half million in subsidy from Pawlowski, to create loft apartments for the coming onslaught of young professionals with disposable income. It fits his vision, and it will remain. While Ed knew no details at 8:30 AM this morning, within a couple hours he was prepared to announce the arena to the media. I suppose he's a quick learner.

When a Mayor's eyes are bigger than the taxpayer's wallet: Story of a failed arena

Zeppelin over Jerusalem

The German airship LZ127 Graf Zeppelin was in service from 1928 to 1937. Two of it's 590 flights were over Jerusalem. The first occurred on March 26, 1929. It was a night flight, during which they dropped mail into the German colony at Jaffa. The second flight, pictured above, was from Cairo on April 11, 1931. The ship hovered above the Church of Holy Sepulchre for several minutes.

Hardball for Hockey

The following resolution authorizing eminent domain is being put through City Council by the Administration. The arena will have multiple ramifications for center city Allentown. In addition to altering the historic shopping district, center city residents will experience a sufficient increase in traffic, especially in the evening after events. If such a decision should have been made solely by the Mayor, is a fair question. Although another meeting with the affected merchants is scheduled for Tuesday, their opinion and options are apparently of no significance.
R 28 A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Allentown Authorizing the Preparation and Submission of Declarations of Taking and Related Documentation pursuant to the Eminent Domain Code of 1964, as amended, to Acquire Certain Properties bounded on the east by North 7th Street, on the north by Linden Street, on the west by North 8th Street and on the south by Hamilton Street within the City of Allentown – inclusive of the following properties, in the event any of these properties cannot be acquired by the City amicably before the institution of eminent domain proceedings in the Lehigh County Court:

Property Address
12 N. 7th St, . 22 N. 7th St., 38 N. 7th St., 40 N. 7th St
42-44 N. 7th St, 46 N. 7th St., 48 N. 7th St

21 N. 8th St., 23 to 27 N 8th St, 29 N. 8th St.
31 N. 8th St., 33 N. 8th St., 35 N 8th St.
37 N. 8th St., 39 N 8th St., 41 N. 8th St.
43 N. 8th St.

701-703 W. Hamilton St.,705 W. Hamilton St.
707 W. Hamilton St., 709 W. Hamilton St.
711 W. Hamilton St., 713 W. Hamilton St.
715 W. Hamilton St., 719 W. Hamilton St.
721 W. Hamilton St., 723 W. Hamilton St.
725-727 W. Hamilton St., 729-731 W. Hamilton St.
733-737 W. Hamilton St.

716 -718 W. Linden St., 720 W. Linden St., 728 W. Linden St.

UPDATE: City Council has been not given, nor has yet asserted, any role in this huge part of Allentown's future, except now being asked to sign off on legal confiscation.
UPDATE 2: Although I attended the first meeting with the merchants and city, and suggested the meeting for tomorrow (I also requested that Mayor Pawlowski attend), I no longer plan on attending. I have learned that the city just distributed a letter to the merchants outlining the Arena Plan, but predated the letter till early April. Merchants, to their credit, are willing to overlook the lack of good faith, and will be attending. Apparently, City Council is accepting the Administration's claim that many properties have accepted the agreement. I believe that those who have signed the agreements are those which have been long vacant, and see the opportunity for a bailout. I'm not surprised that the Administration once again has City Council under it's control.

The Republican Primary

All candidates for County Commissioner, save one (Norma Cusick), have indicated a readiness to sell Cedarbrook. As an independent I can vote for none of them on Tuesday, otherwise, I could vote for none of them anyway. A large part of my tax dollar goes to the criminal justice system, a County function I aspire to never utilize. Beyond the prison, courts, and Sheriff Department, there are the social services which administer to the dependents who are not yet criminals. Those too, I hope never to need. I don't need their soccer fields or farm preservation programs. Although I also hope to never need Cedarbrook, I have known people who have. Cedarbrook served them at the time of their greatness need. The County Government has grown way beyond the essential needs outlined by our forefathers. One of those needs was a facility of recourse for our elderly. Lets not pencil that away, to provide better recreation for the prison, or more social services for those who make being needy a lifestyle of choice.

Through a technical difficulty, the web host Blogger has lost the previous comments to this post

Slaughter of the Innocents

Much of the dogma, liturgy and shrines of the Coptic Church deal with the Holy Family's stay in Egypt, when they fled the Slaughter of the Innocents. With of the fall of various despots in the middle east, the iron fists which protected religious minorities are no longer there. Particularly affected, is the ancient Coptic Christians of Egypt. Saint Mena Coptic Orthodox Church dates back to the 6th century, and was rebuilt in 725 AD. It was put to the torch by a mob on Saturday, while the army stood by.

Public Money Lovefest

Although everyone present at the train forum conceded that it was absurdly expensive and impractical, they wanted to proceed. The moderator, a professional consultant, preached resolve and grants. Between the $Billion dollar price tag, and the $12Million yearly loss projected, the Paul Marin inspired $250,000 report seemed like a bargain. The report, by the Systra Design Group, essentially said what everyone over 25 years old, or not a professional public money spender, already knew. Of course the sponsors of the event, LV Renew, are in the under 25 category. Most of the speakers were in the public spending group. One of my favorite targets and quotes is from my pal Panto; he sees tourist coming on the train. Imagine, New Yorkers getting on the train at Penn Station, to come to Easton's Al Bundy High School Sports Museum. If the train plan went full steam ahead, it would take to 2030 before we heard the actual whistle. By then, the Renew kids will probably be living in the suburbs, telling their kids to keep away from the city. Panto, and the public money spenders, will be in Depends.

photo explanation; picture is from the future, 2035, The Poverty Express, bringing more needy to the Lehigh Valley

reprinted from April 21, 2010

Layoffs Approved

May 8, 2011, Allentown, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved Allentown School District’s 2011-2012 education program. Submitted to PDE on April 1, 2011, the program outlines refinements from kindergarten through high school course offerings to “alter or curtail” the district’s education program.

At the secondary level, ASD’s revised program of studies is directly aligned with the Pathways to Success framework adopted by the district for the 2011-2012 school year, which provides every student with more structured academic plans that lead to projected higher numbers of graduates with more success in post-secondary education or at jobs paying with higher self-sustaining wages. In order to accomplish this, the 2011-2012 program of studies is designed to increase opportunities for dual enrollment and advanced placement, to encourage more students to take technology studies, and removes some courses and modifies others to eliminate redundancy. Class sizes are planned to be 25 students at the elementary level and 30 at the secondary level. PDE reviewed programming for early childhood and elementary education, general academic secondary education, special education, English language acquisition and student support programs.

“With this approval to change the educational program and the approval of the Allentown School District Board of School Directors, you will continue to be in compliance with the educational mandates of the Public School Code of 1949, as amended, and Chapter 4 of 22 Pa. Code as long as you comply with the requirements of Chapters 4.21, 4.22, and 4.23 to provide planned instruction in those areas,” affirmed Stephen Fisher, Acting Director of the Office of Elementary/Secondary Education School Services Unit at the Pennsylvania Department of Education in a letter to the district dated May 5, 2011.

The above is a news bulletin from the Allentown School District. I added the Z Letter Banner, and also highlighted the layoff justification.

The Monster's Appetite

A Guest Post
The most recent outrage being perpetrated by the APA in their quest to be ever more profitable:
Citations no longer come with mailing envelopes.
AND:
You will know when it's time to renew your residential parking sticker when you find an over time citation on your wind shield.
There is no way to know that a renewal is in order, you must go to the APA office and ask about the latest ticket.
I was out of town and came home to find two tickets for over time meter parking. I have been a RPP holder for many years.
When I went to the APA office to renew the permit, I was told that I had three parking tickets.
The APA apparently cancelled two of them (or maybe they didn't - I just don't know) and mailed me a citation for $50.00 for the third (?) citation.
The $50.00 fee is (I think) for repetitive over time at a meter?
To make it better, when I re-upped my RPP I was told that I still had to feed the meter for the rest of that day even after the APA took my payment for the year upcoming.
So that is another $8.00 added to the cost of a RPP.
This amounts to charging me $78.00 for my RPP.
Unbelievable.
I am one of the people trying to exist here in center city.
How in hell can anyone attempt to live here when THIS city agency
behaves with total disregard towards the public?
What is wrong with this picture??
If in fact it should exist at all, the Parking Authority should exist to facilitate life in the city.
It should not be a continuous burden to all the people living here - especially those of us living on streets with no (0) businesses.
The Allentown Parking Authority as it exists, needs to be abolished.
Below, link to an excellent site with clear information;
http://www.brokenladders.com/allentown_parking_authority/
A guest post from "Local"
title and photograph added by molovinsky

AEDC's Choo Choo

The Allentown Economic and Development Corporation has received a $1.8 million grant, toward a $4 million dollar project, to restore a portion of the Barber Quarry branch to service an industrial building on South 10th Street. The building once housed Traylor Engineering, which was a giant back in the day. Recently, it housed a smaller fabricator who President Obama visited on his Allentown photo opportunity mission. The business has since closed, but let's not have that reality stand in the way of grants. Last summer, I fought against Allentown's Trail Network Plan, which catered to the spandex cyclist crowd. The new trail was to be built on the Barber Quarry track line. Not only didn't the AEDC oppose the plan, it's director was an advocate. Now they will be funded to develop that which they wanted to destroy. Where do I begin in Allentown's World of Mirth? Only in the unaccountable world of agencies and grants, would $millions of dollars of our money be available for projects which are twenty years too late. The track is long gone. The only industry (Traylor Engineering) which would have need, is long gone. The business reality of South 10th Street is now a go-cart track and the Hive, which is a Junior Achievement type project.

Barber Quarry Branch Line Posts
The Train of Lehigh Parkway
Allentown Archeology
Junkyard Train

Adorable AEDC

At the meeting last month between the City and Hamilton Street merchants, the new Community Development Director, Sarah Hailstone, was a case study in evasion. I asked how come Pawlowski said the previous week that he didn't know anything about the offers to buy the buildings, but now we're sitting there with her and the agent from Summit Reality? Hailstone said that previously it was being handled by AEDC,(Allentown Economic Development Corporation) but now it was in the City's court, and that eventually it would be passed on to a new Authority. The AEDC has always been a handmaiden of convenience for the City. I remember years ago reading an article that they overseer seven empty buildings, had a staff of four, and a budget of $millions. I know plenty of guys who overseer more empty buildings than that, with a used pickup truck and cell phone. During a gathering several years ago, then City Development Director Joyce Marin asked if anybody knew what the inside of the Schoen Building looked like? What struck me was months before Marin was head of AEDC, and the Schoen building was one of the seven she got big money to manage. Joyce was recently hired by the School District to promote before and after school activities by outside agencies. Gotta love the bureaucrats; Oh well, back to the adorable. The AEDC has announced an innovative program at the Bridgework Building on S. 10th and Harrison Streets. They will operate the Hive, where people who normally work at home on the computer, can work together in a common space, with wifi and a coffee machine. Unknown to AEDC, their innovative Hive was done years ago, in two locations on Hamilton Street. Of course on Hamilton Street the participants could actually see other human beings and patronize a lunch spot or store. Did I mention that AEDC also operates a blog called Allentown Good News. Maybe I could operate molovinsky on allentown from the Hive....