"He's our father. He's the father of our house. He's supposed to take care of us. If he doesn't take care of his children, who can he take care of?"
Those are the words used Friday night by Bibi Hazra, who operates the Loco Dollar Store in downtown Allentown. Her words were directed at Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. He won't lift a finger to help minority-owned businesses, yet fawns all over chain restaurants. Bibi has been in Allentown the last seven years, and speaks with pride about the nominations her store has received for three years running, as one of the best stores in Allentown.
Bibi is one of many local businesses that are suffering, thanks to the decision to remove bus service along Hamilton Street, between 7th and 10th. About seven of these Hamilton Street businesses made their concerns known last Friday at a meeting of Congregations United for Neighborhood Action (CUNA), conducted at nearby St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Most of these entrepreneurs have been in Allentown for the past fifteen to thirty years. Business losses vary. One sneaker store owner told me his sales had dropped thirty per cent, while the owner of a ladies' wear boutique tells me that losses are at sixty-five percent. Businesses have also been forced to lay people off. Some are looking for second jobs.
LANTA's refusal to stop anywhere between 7th and 10th is actually the third strike against these merchants. First, parking meter rates were doubled in 2005. Second, a public parking lot near these businesses was made exclusive to Allentown Brew Works' patrons. Now that buses don't stop between 7th and 10th, that section of Hamilton Street has become empty. Only a few can park there, and pedestrian traffic has been eliminated.
In addition to these merchants, the LANTA changes have affected elderly riders on fixed incomes, who simply cannot carry the large bags from their many small purchases. BiBi spoke of many of her elderly customers, who will make many small purchases one day every month at her store. Now they can't carry their bags of toothpaste and soap to the bus.
As bad as things are, what is worse is that bus passengers and merchants alike were blind-sided. Many stood at stops waiting for buses that never came. Many of the thirty-eight complaining small businesses knew nothing until benches at bus stops were being removed.
Although no notice of these changes was given to the people most drastically affected, Allentown is telling everyone about its "Dancing in the Streets" celebration this Friday on the 800 block of Hamilton. "We are celebrating to welcome the Allentown Brew Works, PennDOT and all the other new businesses that are in downtown Allentown." Guess what? There will be free parking for everyone after 5 PM.
Whoopee!
German and ethnic foods and booze will be supplied by Allentown Brew Works, Franklin Hill Vineyard, Spooner’s, Zion United Church of Christ and many other Allentown restaurants. But festgoers won't be served any ethnic foods from the House of Chen. Although only a half block away, they were snubbed.
A minority owner of a nearby store started to complain on Friday night, "The rich get richer and the poor -," and then he suddenly stopped mid sentence, as if sadly realizing for the first time that he is now referring to himself.
Mike Schware, Allentown controller candidate, quietly listened to everyone, but eventually had to speak out. "These are viable businesses. These are the people who stuck it out over the tough years and now they're being thrown under the bus."
Pastor Dick Bauman, who facilitated the meeting, noted that "we're experiencing the very opposite of what people are expecting with the rebuilding of Allentown. . . . This is working against the dream of a better community."
The next meeting to discuss what only can be called a discriminatory gentrification will be held on Thursday, October 18, 7 PM, at Faith Baptist Church, 219 N. 12 St.(between Turner and Chew Sts.) City and county council candidates are being invited, and will be asked what they can do to help.
26 comments:
Can we give it a fucking break, already? Let's put the dollar stores and tat parlors and pawn shops in downtown Nazareth and see your reaction, then. Man, talk about elitist: You take the cake. What was the last thing you bought from the dollar store or Indian boutique or the Chinese restaurant on the mall? Allentown is finally trying to improve its downtown and all it gets is heat from people who haven't shopped in any of those stores in decades. It's two freaking blocks. Walk, for Christ's sake, if its that damn important to get to the business you allegedly support.
I'm serious. Allentown can't get a fucking break, no matter what it does. Sorry for the language, but I've had it with the Allentown-bashing by people who are motivated by only politics or blog hits.
I'm just starting to work up a head of steam on this issue. What really bothers you is that what I'm writing about is all too true.
You're not sorry for the bad language, or you wouldn't use it repeatedly. That is always the last refuge of someone who has no argument. It's the equivalent of shouting someone down, and a stupid way to argue.
You obviously don't know Nazareth. It has a tattoo parlor in its downtown district and two dollar stores at the edge of town. Given the number of very pretty young ladies I see with tattoos, I question your objection to tattoo parlors. And yes, I shop at dollar stores and eat at the small Chinese restaurant right here in Nazareth. No one is trying to force them out of town.
As far as being motivated by politics, I have no interest in A-town politics. My interest is good government. A mayor ignores the plight of existing and viable businesses that have operated as long as thirty years. At the same time, he gives chain businesses KOZ classifications and special licenses. He even takes a parking lot away from existing businesses to help out the ABW. Something is wrong with that picture. That's bad government, and I don;t care whether it's coming from a Dem or an R.
As far as being motivated by blog hits, that's a ridiculous argument. If I was interested in blog hits, I wouldn't be writing about local matters. I don't make a living doing this. I write about what I think is important. And this is an issue of social justice.
You confuse bashing A-town with bashing the folks who are making the mess. It is within their power to set things right.
It is not two blocks. For many elderly people, it is over a half-mile walk one way. For business, this is the third strike that A-town officials have hurled at them.
In the meantime, LANTA officials have been untruthful. Board member Schmitt claims downtown merchants are just looking for something to complain about, when the reality is they are laying people off and going under. Board member Schweyer falsely claims business elsewhere has picked up.
What do affected bus riders and downtown merchants have in common? They're mostly poor and mostly minority. And people like you want to shove them out of the way. perhaps they can sleep under the 8th Street bridge, like hundreds of other Queen City residents.
Quite obviously, these folks are the victims of discriminatory gentrification, and you want to silence people who speak the truth. That's no way to fix a problem.
Bernie -
I'm glad you mention the long walks the elderly have to battle with. I think many people are forgetting about the hills in Allentown, and how that puts more stress on already terrible matters.
This isn't just a business issue, it's a citizen issue as well. The Allentown government has chosen to ignore both.
AJ,
On Friday evening, one of those attending the meeting was a beautiful and well-spoken 83 year-old woman who frequently rides LANTA. She claims that, in addition to the changes made at Hamilton, a bus stop was removed from a high rise on Walnut Street in which seniors reside. Also, a stop was removed from Good Shepherd, so that people have to walk up (or down) the hill to get there. I am checking this out.
I have been to ABW several times. I do not know of any parking lot that is exclusive for this establishment, aside from a tiny lot on the ABW property. There is a large public parking lot across the street; I have used it many times when doing business downtown, there was no indication that this lot is for ABW at all.
Bernie, I really think you need to spend some quality time in Allentown to understand the great things that are happening there.
Two merchants who have been affected by the parking lot told me about it on Friday evening. I did not physically look at it. But I'll be in A-town tonight and I'll take a picture of it.
That tiny lot may be the one the store owners meant. In addition, two metered parking spots were removed in front of the ABW so that people can drop their wives off. That's two parking spots that are now unavailable for local business. In addition, there is free parking at the old Hess' parking garage for patrons. No such similar concession is made for other A-town businesses. ABW is obviously getting preferential treatment.
I had lunch there yesterday, had no problem finding a metered spot on Hamilton. My lunch companion parked at the former Hess's parking lot and had their parking voucher validated by the Brewworks, I imagine the merchant will be billed for their parking and this an option for other businesses.
These businesses need to adapt to compete in a changing world. Change hurts sometimes, but it can really be a good thing too.
As far as the 2 spots in front of the restaurant goes, this eliminates the need for a customer to double park on a busy road. Plus, with the public transportation stops moved off of Hamilton there should be less parking problems caused by idling buses.
Why don't you just take the buses of Hamiolton street altogether. Have them drive down the sidewalks mowing over what few pedestrians are left. Then in a couple of weeks, dismantle Lanta and let the poor walk everywhere. Let them pool their money and buy rickshaws and old vw beetles, and start their own transportation service, if they need it that bad.
(Satire alert!)
Soon enough, they will all move to Reading or back to Philly or NY, and Allentown will be just like it was in 1950! A perfect, all-american, lily white city!
You have to admit, making people walk addresses the obesity problem of the poor, don'tcha think?! (sic!)
I didn't realize LANTAs priority was economic development. I thought it was to provide effective mass transportation and strive to provide it within a budget.
Further, it's the free market. You respond to a changing environment or you don't.
Further, it's the free market. You respond to a changing environment or you don't.
What a croc! There is no even playing field here. Allentown is bending over backwards to make ABW a success and is simultaneously trying to drive other viable businesses away. That's not a free market. That's governmental interference of the worst kind.
Even if ABW is reimbursing Allentown Parking Authority for the parking, it is doinf so thanks to massive infusions of public money.
LANTA does exist to provide mass transportation, and stops all along Hamilton St except in those three blocks. It is depriving people in the city's downtown.
by writing over 100 thousand tickets a year the parking authority grew from serving the merchants, into a developer of real estate and partner in city planning. 95% of the tickets issued are to our poorest citizens, another tax on their misfortune. the ticket validation is only for the brew works. a small metered lot was also eliminated for the butz building.
Mr. Molovinsky,
If your claims were true you should be happy. Haven't you constantly spoken of Allentown as a "poverty magnet"?
You are nothing but ab opportunist political hack. I think it is shameful the way you and Mr. O'Hare are misrepresenting the progress that Allentown is trying hard to establish.
"I thought it was to provide effective mass transportation and strive to provide it within a budget."
And eliminating bus routes/stops year after year is providing effective mass transportation how? Wake up!
(The following may offend those who can't face reality.)
Let's face it – a majority of LANTA users include the elderly, the local minorities, and those who can't afford to drive. Sadly, a good portion of the Valley is included in two, or all three, of those categories.
The Lehigh Valley over the past few years, and Allentown more recently, has been all about up-scaling the area. Now LANTA is involved.
What seems to have gone without notice here is how LANTA is now participating in the elimination of their own business. The last time I checked, eliminating your business is not striving towards a successful budget.
They can take service away from the elderly, the minorities, and the poor, and it's only going to hurt LANTA financially. Pretty soon, the Valley will have no public transportation except for those lame over-priced taxi services that are usually only seen at the airport.
If anyone thinks what I wrote is just plain silly, try and think back to the last time you saw someone who can afford a $300,000 house take the bus (to a place other than Musikfest.)
Bernie is absolutely right in saying there is nothing free market about this situation. Friedman and Rothbard are rolling over in their graves right now. I don’t believe the government has any place in creating a so called level playing field(that’s socialism and it doesn’t work), but they also have no place in creating advantages for the businesses of their choice. If certain businesses (House of Chen, Dollar Store, etc) are pushed out over time in an open, free market system then I can accept the “growing pains” argument. They obviously have lost their viability at that point. But what is occurring right now is a systematic push by a government entity to remove business(people too) that they feel may hinder growth and revitalization. I for one do not trust the government of Allentown to guide development initiatives. I'm certain that they will show to be fully incapable of such a task.
To William Allen,
It's quite revealing that you choose to use that nom de plume. Allen was a rich business type not above making a few bucks thru the use of privateers. He supplied the muskets with which LV residents first rid themselves of native Americans. I guess you can call that our first gentrification. He also remained a Tory to the end, preferring English rule to the rabble known as democracy.
And yes, Allentown is named after this wonderful pioneer.
Now you choose to argue by calling people names and just make a general statement that I am misrepresenting "the progress that Allentown is trying hard to establish." Mr. Allen, that name really suits you. You don't make progress by stepping all over people, be they native Americans or minority-owned businesses. You don't make progress by having one set of rules for the haves, who just live the ABW, and another set of rules for the have nots.
Mr. O'Hare,
I don't think I could be accused of calling anyone names at all. I referred to Mr. Molovisky as an "opportunist political hack." That is more or less his occupation, and some would say it is your hobby.
I cannot take credit for any of the errors Mr. William Allen. What you refer to as my nom de plume is in fact my first and middle name. I was named after my mother's alma mater.
I find it quite amusing how easily you get riled up when anyone disagrees with you. Isn't the whole idea of this blog to share our opinions and discuss them in a rational manner. This is your blog, so you can run by "Bernie's Rules of Order" if you wish; but it all seems rather undemocratic to me.
mr. william allen, if you click on the link about the meter increase in the above article, you will find my name in the city council minutes fighting the parking authority for the meter increase back in 2005. I do believe allentown has more than its share of low-income residents, and i do favor cutting the power to the electric poverty magnet by redirecting the community block funds to infrastructure. that said, i am pragmatic about the downtown. i support the stores which were opened and operate on private capital serving the existing market; taking away their customer base is wasting the money we taxpayers have invested in hamilton street for decades. we paid to put the canopies up, take them down, reconfigure the parking spaces numerous times, etc. the last couple of days there are articles and editorials on a banquet hall for the former sal's on 6th st., read the small print, IF THEY GET GRANTS. above all, i am a realist.
Mr. William Allen,
1) If you're not using your surname, it's a nom de plume because no one can identify you. That's ok. I just don't like anonymous personal attacks.
2) Calling someone an "opportunistic political hack" is needless name-calling. You only succeed in making yourself look bad. If you want to say that to me, that's actually an upgrade from the usual and I don't mind. I gewt themn every day. But you must be respectful to others or I will delete what you say. That point is made clear at the top of the comment box. I don't want to play comment cop and really don't like having to tell you what you should already know.
3) The whole point of this blog is to discuss and share opinions and facts about what is going on. You don't accomplish that with the usual tiresome ad hominems. I encourage debate because I believe in the Socratic method for arriving at truth. But that requires me to be one of those involved in the discussion, defending my position or conceding my errors.
4) I don't take you to task for your opinions, but do take you to task for the personal attack and for just blindly stating that I am "misrepresenting" the progress that Allentown is trying to make without substantiating it in any way.
>But you must be respectful to others...
I seldom read the Religion column in every Saturday's MC, but the title of this past weekend's article "Decency defined down: the coarsening of customary language" caught my attention - and is so appropriate for the blogosphere.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. Proverbs 15:1,2
Bernie / William Allen/ fellow bloggers, take time to read it; it's on page D9. What it has to say can really make this blog thing more worthwhile & enjoyable - and like Bernie says, encourage civil, friendly, informative, and occasionally humorous discourse. Let's not lose sight of that.
(sorry for being a bit off-topic)
Anon 2:51, I appreciate both the comment and the link. It's good advice for all of us, including me.
In this debate, we are all speaking about what we think is best for our community. We are all on the same side.
Bernie-
You're fighting a good, valiant battle, but regardless, Mayor Ed has succumbed to the pressure of politics. Hard to believe that an ordained minister and person with a his background would stoop, but he has. Mr. Butz would never have committed to downtown unless promises were made. # 1 on the list, "Eliminate riff-raff" from Hamilton. I would imaging PPL, Brew Works and Johnny Manana's and who know who else (who have not yet arrived) have been promised something. Atown's decline has to be blamed on someone and the poor folks who just try to scrape by are targeted.
I'd rather see an initiative that gets the city's rent/owner occupied ration from 50/50 to 60/40 over the next ten years. I'd like to see a plan to deconcentrate the row homes, converted into apartments. Take a look at a successful city (Bethlehem?) A nice mix of retail, commercial, residential...with a strong outer ring of solid, mostly owner occupied homes surrounding the downtown. I'd like to see the city get a real handle on crime, because quality of life is tremendously important, if you are trying to draw affluent pepole to either shop, do business or reside within the city.
I'm afraid Atown has it all wrong, and until they get it right, there's more of the same in this once proud American city.
Anon 7:13,
Thanks for the nice words. If Pawlowski has sold out the people to these special interests, he does not belong in office.
I'm doing what I can to persuade him and others to take an interest in the many small buysinesses who hung in when things were tough.
Nice Article.
Good job!
Post a Comment