Spin:There are some neat businesses downtown that aren't hurting, and they don't necessarily cater to the elitist. How about the pizza place across the street from the community college? Great pizza, great sandwiches, always busy? Mish Mash seems to be surviving. Freeman's endures. Spooner's is great. The Loop did a great business until its owner stopped paying his bills. Solomon's is still worth the visit.
What do these businesses have in common? They work at it. They don't whine. And people come to them.
Truth:
I interviewed the shop owner-manager [at the pizza shop] and they are hurting.
Today, upon noticing the meeting flyer [at Mish Mash], I inquired as to her opinion. She, as all merchants have been severely impacted by these bus stop changes. Bus riders, the working poor, conducted their shopping on Hamilton Street; not only are the merchants losing their customer base, the passengers have lost their shopping choices.
While spinmeisters pretend all is well except for a few crybabies, Allentown blogger Michael Molovinsky reports that Allentown and/or LANTA officials have removed the covered bus stops just off of Hamilton St., on both north and south 8th St.
21 comments:
Bernie,
I'm a journalist living in the Lehigh Valley, so I appreciate your candor in addressing issues in the area that we live--I've been a regular visitor to this blog for some time now. However, I am a bit concerned with your latest series of posts.
I no longer live in Allentown, but I know that the city is crawling with many other problems other than the relocation of bus stops. My fear is that you are using this influential space unwisely when you focus on, in my opinion, less-than-pressing issues. You obviously feel that the bus stop relocation is a big deal, and I do respect that, but enough is enough. Surely there are other things to talk about, no?
I completely respect your right to keep talking about this issue, that is, as long as you respect my right to tune you out. I say this in earnest--when you harp on an issue for extended periods of time, it tends to grow old quickly. And I'm sorry to say that I think I'm at that point. Tell me something new, Bernie. Please. Can you somehow bridge the gap between the relocation of bus stops and Allentown's increased gang activity? That would be fantastic. Can you show how these neglected businesses in Allentown could transform Hamilton into a burgeoning shopping district if given the chance? I would love nothing more than to read that. But instead, this blog is slowly growing into an unfriendly, complaint-filled site that depicts the negative attitude of many Valley residents and keeps non-residents and potential visitors away.
In closing, I respect your ability to sustain a high-traffic blog pertaining to esoteric issues that only Valley residents would understand. However, I question your respect for the people that support your site when you run off on tangents--long, long LONG tangents--about issues that, in my opinion, are rather petty and meaningless in the grand scheme of all that's gone wrong.
Kind regards,
--Ty
ty, i'm sure your even more tried of me than you are of bernie. so your a journalist who also doesn't sign his name, were you paid to write articles anonymously? i believe less people on hamilton street will end in more crime, there's safety in numbers. a gang expert, michael adams, correctly predicted that the last big drug bust would result in a spat of violence, unfortunately he was correct. this recent bust might well have the same consequences. the bus stops being removed in itself is not the problem, its the effect that it has had on a relatively thriving business block, not an upscale district, but viable never the less. so the bus stop removals are related to vitality and also crime abatement in allentown. in conclusion i think o'hare is probably more concerned with the blatant discrimination involved, than maintaining blog hits at the expense of his conscience.
Ty,
As a journalist who lives in the LV, perhaps you could do us all a services and write about these other issues, too. I have to write about what hits me.
It is not the relocation of bus stops that makes this a big story. What makes this a big story are the following:
1) the detrimental impact this has had on many struggling merchants;
2) the reality that many of these merchants are minorities;
3) the detrimental impact this has had on many elderly bus riders, most of whom are low-income and poor;
4) the complete unwillingness of Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski to do anything to help some of the businesses in his own city;
5) the unwillingness of LANTA to even respond to inquiries from me and tohers;
6) the simultaneous willingness by city officials to cater to publicly funded businesses like the ABW.
7) The attempts by Allentown sycophants to deny the harsh reality or to spin the truth.
This has been a series of stories about the casualties of gentrification, and it is going on right under your eyes. It is because of my respect for my fellow man that I choose to tell this story. I do not consider it "petty" or "meaningless." I think it paints a pretty clear picture of a community in which "progressives" join the business elite in shoving the less desirables out of the way. I believe it might be the most important series of stories I've written since I've begun to blog.
I have harped on issues and communities before. It is part of the way I blog. Once I get interested in a story, I tend to dig and write and will continue. This is the same approach I've used in Northampton County, Nazareth and Easton for similar types of issues.
Since I have been blogging, I have been highly crtiticial of officials and communities who demonstrate no accountability. And this is a prime example of that. If thios means I lose readers, so be it.
It's really goofy. Just a few days ago, someone complained I am writing these stories to grandstand and attract readers. You claim these stories cost me readers. Actually, I don't really care. I have to write about what I think is important.
Does Allentown have other problems? Yes. But in my opinion, its biggest problem is not its crime problem or its drugs or gangs or disfunctional city council. Its biggest problem is a very large segment of people who are unwilling to give Allentown the same scrutiny that any other community gets. They hide their heads in the sand, unwilling to face the truth.
And as a journalist, you know that Allentown is handicapped even more because there is only one paper covering it. In other communities, where the ET and MC can duke it out, the reporting is always much better. In Allentown and much of Lehigh County, governments get a free pass. That's how you end up with Lower and Upper Macungie messes. The MC reporters will admit this themselves. They are better if they have some competition. And the paper's resources seem to be sent to areas wherre there is competition.
Incidentally, this blog does not exist as a site to attract tourists to the LV. It is not here to lure potential visitors. You will note I have no local advertisers. I'm trying my best to tell the truth. Before you can come up with answers, you have to face the truth.
And I think that's what bothers you. We live in a sacrifice-free society, a goofy artificial world in which taxes are cut even though there is a war, and the only notion of sacrifice that people feel is an obligation to buy one of those yellow ribbon magnets from time to time. We like to think of ourselves as progressives and don't want to know that most of our clothing is made by children who are treated poorly and paid pennies. We certainly don't want to talk about Allentown's own poor, or the businesses that struggle to serve them. And we really resent it when a spotlight is cast on our own insensitivity.
Perhaps that is what annoys you.
Thanks for your useful criticism. I appreciate it. But I'll see this through.
That's our Bernie! Never wrong. And always long-winded. Ty, I'm joining you and tuning LV Ramblings out as well ...
berney when did you corner the market on "the truth?"
So how are all of Allentown's ongoing efforts to revitalize 7th St shunning the poor?
No big wigs or elitists involved in that effort. All neighborhood business owners, residents, and their elected officials. Should we halt those efforts because they involve public decisions and subsidies?
Is it possible that one of the aspects that made this terminal deal attractive was the fact that it will help the 7th St initiatives.
What is wrong with spreading the wealth a bit to areas that need it. 7th Street is certainly in more need of pedestrian traffic than Hamilton St.
I think the merchants in the 700 block of Hamilton are acting a bit snooty for my liking.
Bernie,
I have not (yet) had time to all read your reports on the bus stop relocations in Allentown but I can assure everyone that it is much more important an issue than the non-transit-using public undestands. The urban planning consequnces are just as dire but no time to delve into that here. I live in Easton and various schemes by the last two mayors to relocate transfer stations and bus stops here have been met with rider revolt. Easton's latest fiasco is the incorporation of a new "bus transfer facility" into a proposed parking garage at Arcadia Development's Riverwalk project-a 147 unit condo/retail nightmare along the Delaware Riverfront. If you want to see an example of mismanagement, political patronage, secret deals and total disregard for the welfare of Easton's citizens this would be it. The city, county, Easton parking authority (a puppet organization of the mayor) and LANTA (with assistance from toll bridge commission, state and federal funding) have written a textbook case of how to completely cave in to corporate interests, violate their own ordinances and totally ignore the pedestrian design requirements of a transit facility while moving it to a location that will serve fewer riders and do it less effectively. As of now LANTA has been told by FTA that they can not expend another dime of the $4 million of funding reserved for the lease of this facility because they were less than forthcoming on their application for a categorical exclusion from doing an environmental impact statement for this project. It was originally approved by FTA but then repealed due to information revealed in a law suit by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (an org. that protects the river from improper development) not the least of which was the proposal to build in the flood plain without alternate site evaluation! This roadblock to "redevelopment" is only due to a group of Easton citizen activists since our own regulatory commissions and city council members dropped the ball completely in their duty to protect us from hair brain schemes like this. Hopefully, if time allows and you move on to other things, I would be glad to update you on this further example of LANTA's arrogance and ineptitude here in Easton. Keep up the good work.
Dennis
hispanic merchants have created a thriving district in the 500 and 600 block of 7th st. with no help from city. on the other hand, since 1994 the city has spend millions on the first 4 blocks of 7th st. to no avail. the unit block, where the new lanta terminal is, has never looked worse. both taxpayers and merchants have historically done better without the city's involvement. since 1994 i have attended 4 meetings at st. lukes church, with the same city employees, always acting like their stale idea's are brand new. fortunately for them, this city has a short memory. those of you who have been criticizing this effort to help the affected merchants should go speak to them, i think their plight will also move you.
Anon 4:42,
I stand corrected. I haven't cornered the market on the truth. What I am saying is that what I have been telling you is factually accurate and what others have been spinning is not.
correction, the lanta terminal and the block that has never looked worse is the 100 block, although the unit block is also no beauty.
Dennis,
Fortunately, Easton has residents like you, Terrance & Mike. And there are two newspapers, which makes a big difference. My point, quite simply, is that what has happened has hurt many low-income residents and small merchants. I've spoken to them, which is more than Allentowen's mayor or LANTA can say. And, contrary to the concerted spin being attempted in these comments, merchants are hurting and are not just whiners or crybabies. They've been shoved into oblivion by a city throwing money and tax subsidies at campaign contributors and party committeemen. When someone complains about it, they try to shout him down.
Well, this blog is posting about it. So is Molovinsky. So is LVPoliblog.
So lemme get this straight -- only Bernie O'Hare tells the truth? Everyone who disagrees or anyone who points out a positive is nothing but a spinmeister? Or is it only people who bash Allentown, like O'Hare and Molovinsky, who have the corner on the truth because they know best? Gee, that's an interesting outlook.
Um, Bernie, Mike, is ANYTHING good happening in Allentown? I'd really like to read your response, because it will go a long way to establishing your credibility on other issues. No politics, Molovinsky -- I don't want to read about anti-Pawlowski sentiments, because you have an ax to grind there. I want to see business-related details.
Honestly, I don't think either of you can take an objective look at the city, and objectivity is the key to credibility. Frankly, I see a mayor and an administration trying a lot of imaginative and effective tools to revive the downtown and reduce crime, and all I see here are a couple of whiners. Balance your coverage, and I'll give more credence to what you write. Ditto for Easton.
To demonstrate, I will concede that some other bloggers focus too much on the positives without addressing the negatives. Cities, particularly in our times, have both strengths and weaknesses. Allentown does have a crime problem, no doubt, but it is trying to address it. The Great Barber Shop Take-Down is an example of that, as are the new cameras. But it also has strengths, and the popular new Brew Works -- yes, popular -- and some of the great ethnic restaurants and shops spread across the city are examples there.
So c'mon, boys, ante up. I'm calling your cards here. Are you simply here to bash Allentown or to make a legitimate point? Frankly, I think I'm looking at a pair of jokers.
Curmudgeon,
One of the jokers here! I believe I've already answered the statement made regarding the truth when I said that I stand corrected on that point.
I've just spent the past few days correcting people who say things that just aren't so.
1) I was told the private parking lot by ABS did not exist, and had to go and take pictures.
2) I was told it has not been public for years when the truth is that the public was parking there earlier this year.
3) I've been told most Hamilton St merchants just love what is happening and those that don't are just crybabies. In fact, 38 merchants have signed that petition. Some of the merchants who were claimed to be doing well were interviewed and in fact have lost business.
It's pretty clear to me that there is a segment in A-town that refuses to look at the city as it really is. You ask, is anything good happening in Allentown. Of course, and the best thing about Allentown are the people who live there. In your request, you claim you want "no politics" but do want "business-related details." That says something about you. You apparently define Allentown's success by business. I define it by the quality of its people.
I have written about Allentown's people before. I like them. I've seen them at Wall2Wall and at East Side and at some of the churches. There a lively diversity, and I enjoy it.
Because I care about people more than I do about business, it bothered me when I started hearing about what was happening. It bothered me more when people like you brushed off the consequences of what was happening to the people of Allentown.
Because I actually research before I write, I decided to check it out. And I've met about ten of the merchants who are suffering. These are not whiners or crybabies. They've asked the mayor for help and he's ignored them. Same with LANTA. Just as the mayor will meet the folks at ABW, he has an obligation to respond to his poorer citizens, too. Last time I checked, they had rights, too.
Assuming that everything that has happened was done with the noblest of intentions, and that's a big assumption, I believe Allentown government has an obligation to be responsive to its citizens.
Allentown and many other Lehigh Communities just don't get the scrutiny they deserve. And it appears that a criticism of an Allentown decision is construed by people like you as Allentown-bashing. But in my opinion, the real damage is done when people like you wear blinders and refuse to see the city as it is.
It's simply unconscionable that the mayor would refuse to sit down and talk to some of these merchants. He might find a way to help them. That is, after all, his job.
If standing up for small, low-income and mostly minority business owners makes me a joker or whiner, I'll bear that burden gladly.
But what do we call a person who shoves low-income people aside and who won't even talk to them? What do we call someone like you, who defends this absurd behavior? Frankly, you should be ashamed of yourself.
I am very proud of my Nazareth community. But I see its flaws and regularly point them out. You're willing to hoot and holler at what goes on in NC, but aren't so happy to see the same spotlight cast on Allentown, which has an open and festering sore. Instead of treating it, you pretend it's not there and shout down anyone who points at the sore. Shame on you.
Why is this whole discussion so one-sided? Surely if these injustices that Bernie sees are so obvious, why isn't anyone else seeing/acknowledging them or supporting his (factual) observations?
Callousness on a grand scale? Or is it really a quiet distant prejudice we all have about "those" different downtown merchants?
MM's supportive comments emphasize concerns surrounded with $ signs and economic impacts; only Bernie is expressing the human impact side.
Maybe O'Hare wasn't breast-fed enough or was made to wear bow-ties in grade school. But I don't know why we're fightin' him on the point he's making. Is he making this stuff up?
How many times have I read Moravian's Dr. Hans Wuerth letters to the editor/Opinion Page pieces on the human injustices in Darfur? Like Bernie, he just kept writing & writing about it. I guess if you're the injustee, no amount of writing would be considered too much. (I know, Darfur is a much more serious situation, but it's still about human injustice).
Don't ya'll think it would be nice for someone in power to at least talk with these folks who are not adept at playing the "official" game? THEN you can dismiss them if you want, but at least talk with them and hear them out.
curmudgeon, i have publicly praised pawlowski numerous times for the way he handled the aftermath of the tragic accident this summer involving the police cruisers, i believe he averted a riot. i gave him credit for relocating the penn dot facility to 10th and linden. (although if it had remained on lehigh street close to rt.78 hundreds of people may not have nearly froze to death last winter- hopefully they now have their communications up and running.) although its fair to say i am a critic of the administration, i do not have an axe to grind. please remember i am essentially a one man band, i suppose you would prefer a city of 100,000 plus with no opposition or scrutiny whatsoever.
Only machines are objective.
Bernie, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Indeed, you can write about whatever you feel is relevant and I do respect that. However, as someone that writes for a major publication -- yes, big enough that I need an alias -- I felt I needed to clue you in on my general observation. And I appreciate that you respect that as well.
I see you've touched on some other topics since my last visit, and I think that's a step in the right direction. If the Valley were my area of expertise, I would go to great lengths to demonstrate the depth of my knowledge and not harp on one point alone. I wish you all the best.
And with all due respect to Mr. Molovinsky, how can I possibly take you seriously -- a man that seems to want to be mayor -- when your grammar is so incredibly poor? I thought we learned the difference between "your" and "you're" back in grade school, but perhaps I am mistaken.
ty, i find your comment on grammar interesting. another blogger made the same comment before revealing that she corrects her husbands grammar, who also is a blogger. although you may or may not be a journalist, you will never be a creative writer; you appear to have nothing substantial to say, but perhaps you could be a proof reader.
Ty,
The only time I object to an anonymous or pseudonymous psot is when someone uses it to launch a personal attack. Your comments were consructive criticism, and I appreciate what you say. I have no editor. Perhaps he or she would say the same thing.
In the last week, I have focused a lot on Hamilton Street merchants, but in truth they have only made up about one-third of my posts. As you point out, it's not A-town's biggest problem. But it's the problem I see.
MM, if you're trying to suggest that Ty is not who he claims to be, plese let it drop. Many folks get upset over your/you're and it/it's. I make my own grammatical and spelling errors, too, and am embarrassed when someone points it out.
Fair enough, Bernie. As I said before, you're more than entitled to your choice of topic. I was just making an observation and I respect your cause here.
And MM, I took a shot at you, and you back at me. So we're even. Perhaps if I took myself as seriously as you do, I'd find your comments repulsive. But as it stands, my creative works and accolades speak for themselves, and I have no real ambition to engage in any mudslinging with you. And if the worst you'll say about me is that I'm a good proofreader, then I think your gun is running low on ammo.
ty, to me, you're an apologist for the administration who tried unsuccessfully to flatter bernie off the lanta topic. considering your accolades speak for themselves, i look forward to hearing from them.
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