Mayor Tuerk:
Good morning from Ponce
, Puerto Rico! I’m here to develop a better understanding of a culture that significantly influences the City of Allentown. My hope is that through understanding, I will be able to build the trust required to increase the likelihood of success in policy interventions designed to improve outcomes for the stakeholders invested in our city. Basically, I want to gain more credibility so that people will follow my lead.
Just over a month ago, the US Economic Development Administration released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for something called the Recompete Pilot Program. It says that in some parts of the country, people between the age of 25 and 54 are disproportionately unemployed or out of the labor market and asks applicants to produce plans to address the Prime Age Employment Gap in those communities. In the Lehigh Valley, the only eligible community is Allentown.
The first question requested for the project narrative is “Why?”
I need your help to answer that question. I’ve pasted the exact text from the NOFO below, but the question breaks down to a trio of possibilities.
- Are people unemployed because there are no “good jobs” available in the market? OR
- Are people unemployed because there are barriers keeping people from getting “good jobs”? OR
- Is it both?
Take your pick of the above but tell me how you think we got here.
Say as much or as little as you want. I’m collecting input from a lot of different people and our project team will put it all together as we consider our project narrative. All I ask is that you respond in some way. This is important for our region.
Understanding of regional conditions and needs – Recompete Plans should reflect a deep understanding of the region and its needs, including the conditions that led to a high prime-age employment gap among the region’s prime-age residents. They should be specific in detailing the contributing local conditions, employment barriers for different targeted populations, job quality, and geographic considerations. Beyond the PAEG, applicants are encouraged to provide qualitative and quantitative data that supports the region’s needs, including demonstrating persistent economic distress, and justifies potential investments
41 comments:
Stop the nonsense. The jobs are out there begging to be filled. Too much elf-entitlement. Free stuff and off the book's money. If you are in that age group and unemployed, it is because you don't want a job, or you have some sort of criminal record.
Teaching young people to not make babies out of wedlock or without a high school diploma will cure most of our problems. Dads are great at teaching to fish. Sperm donors don't do that. Yeah, I know. Dads are a sign of privilege and patriarchy and are out of fashion. No shit.
Are Puerto Ricans in the specified age range more likely than other ethnic groups to be unemployed? By how much?
I remember when Captain of the welfare industry Julio Guridy said years ago that the solution to Allentown's poverty was, "Jobs, jobs, and more jobs!" Then, during the height of the Trump prosperity when we had just that, he had other excuses.
It would seem this exercise will be more about finding excuses than reasons.
We live in the country Obama left us. Just as Reagan's influence went on for more than a decade, here we are in Barack's world. These kids are supposed to become artists and writers and influencers who needn't toil for a living. Hard work is overrated. How's that working out? More stimulus and "shovel ready" jobs anyone? How about another few trillion in debt to fix the problem? The funniest part is that this gets worse and worse for future generations as our debt service requirements crush our budgets. It's an historic dine and dash and we're leaving increasingly stupid young people with the bill. It's sad. But it's also really funny for those who won't be around for the consequences.
Why marry the cow when you are already getting the milk.
There was a time when being unemployed was a embarrassment. To beg was shameful. Soooo the do gooders in government came up with programs to help those individuals. Welfare, not only in the form of food for the hungry, but also cash for not working. Why work when you can get all you want by sitting on your lazy ass at home. McDonalds and Burger King are hiring with starting wages at $15.00 per hour. No reason to be unemployed. Too many people have figured out how to scam the system. It's not being overly simplistic by implementing a program that demands you work for any government check you receive. Pick up garbage along our filthy highways.
The real problems begin at home. Parents who have no parental skills. Your kids will learn by example. You scam the system, what do you think your kids are going to do. It all starts at home and the values you are taught when you are in your learning years. It doesn't matter if you are white, black, brown or any ethnic background. It's no longer an embarrassment to be on welfare. In America its an entitlement.
He’s trying to answer the wrong question. Instead of “the trio of possibilities” that Tuerk cites, he should be asking why Allentown is the only eligible community in the Lehigh Valley.
I would argue that Allentown has spent decades chasing every government funding opportunity that’s been offered by the federal and state government. Not surprisingly, this has drawn a disproportionate share of people who would benefit from such programs.
So the cycle goes: Allentown gets more funding and attracts more lower income people; the government program fails to teach the people “to fish”; the city seeks more funding for more government programs.
While the cycle repeats itself, those who can afford it move from Allentown. The transiency this creates negatively impacts neighborhoods, public safety and schools (three things that are very important for a city to thrive).
My suggestion would be that instead of following in the footsteps of decades of failed city governments, help Allentown to be something more than the equivalent of the local welfare office. Stop chasing more government funding for low income residents. Stop approving new low income (“affordable”, “work force”) housing, especially next to areas that can become more. You attract what you fund and approve, and the city already has too many low income residents.
Aspire to something greater, and ruthlessly reject anything that doesn’t fit that goal.
wait a minute. Biden claims the economy is great and Bidenomics is working. If so why are these people not working? Why did our credit get downgraded? Why has credit card debt hit an all time high per CNN? You love the New York Times so I have reference of them below. Why is the mayor of Allentown lying to us ?? The middle class is booming per Whitehouse.gov. All references below.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/08/economy/us-household-credit-card-debt/index.html
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/28/bidenomics-is-working-the-presidents-plan-grows-the-economy-from-the-middle-out-and-bottom-up-not-the-top-down/
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/07/podcasts/biden-economy-inflation-recession.html
I often use term "Cultural Incompatibility" to describe the dynamic in Allentown between Puerto Ricans/Dominicans and white race Allentown residents. As an Allentown resident who sincerely wants to live in a diverse community, I often find myself struggling to understand Latino culture. On one hand I admire their passion for music, fun, family, excitement, living for the moment and many of the colorful aspects of their cultures that are missing from the daily lives of many white people in Allentown. The bottom line for me though, is that it is unrealistic to expect people of Caribbean ethnicity (mixed Spanish, African & Indigenous races) to come to Allentown and simply start acting and living like white people. In my opinion the typical social problems that plague many (not all) Latinos in Allentown (mistreatment of animals, poverty, health issues/obesity, violent crime, under-employment, teen births out of wedlock, dangerous lifestyles, high drop out rates, drug use, lawlessness, disrespect for authority etc.) are rooted in ethnic/cultural differences. So to answer the question, its my opinion that many Latinos in Allentown are simply not "wired" to live like white people and will continue to struggle avoiding the pitfalls mentioned above even if the ever well-intentioned Matt Tuerk feels bad about it and tries to create change.
Some males will do anything NOT to work. Here’s a biggie.
Impregnate a woman, never marry her. She collects all the benefits of a single mother with child, or with several children. The male then visits often, even sleeps overnight. He never formally establishes residence with the family he created. Whatever funds and resources the mother receives due to her predicament, while relatively small, are more than enough for all of them (including the father) to keep warm, get fed, etc. Geez, maybe Daddy can score a few government benefits, too!
According To The Bureau of - Labor Statistics the unemployment rate in PR for June was 6.1%. The Allentown, PA Unemployment Rate is at 5.40%, compared to 5.00% last month and 6.00% last year.
So it seems to me traveling to PR searching for answers is a waste of time (statically speaking). They have nothing special to offer The solutions must be found in our own back yard. The culture in Puerto Rico is different from those who chose to leave there.
I think the real problem in Allentown is Matt Tuerk and Susan Wild that pretend to care. Matt Tuerk has no clue what the issue is and what he is doing. Matt and his staff can help the situation by resigning and moving to the Allentown in Illinois.
He conveniently "forgot" a couple answers, and turning a blind eye to the questions below, will result in more non-truths as to how to fix it.
4. Are people just lazy and looking for government freebies?
5. Has the government rewarded those that choose not to work?
P.S. Did Allentown pay for this trip, to PR, conveniently in the summertime?
The most disturbing thing to me is how he chose to frame his question. I agree with most comments here, which I think can be summarized by saying that too many people in that age group are either unwilling to work or simply don't know how to work. I suppose that could be encompassed within the "barriers" context, but I basically read his message as "How can we get more government funding to throw at this problem."
Can government funding be used to force parents to be better parents or to force people to make better personal decisions? The historical record is not encouraging.
This is one of those unfortunate situations where the worse you do the more you get. No matter how well intended federal and state monies are showered on cities and schools that continuously fail The worse they fail the greater the rewards. This seems to run throughout almost everything in Allentown. The schools, housing, development, citizens themselves and city government operations. Damned if I have an answer but I do know this has been ongoing for years and there seems no end in sight.
"P.S. Did Allentown pay for this trip, to PR, conveniently in the summertime?"
He paid his own way.
Bernie in my humble opinion this whole thing is just one big farce. The monies being reaped from the yet another grant will never make it to help this public need. Than there is the administrative costs that will be paid to friends of the administrator acting as if they are accomplishing the set goal. Than there will be the statistics firm that will be paid to verify that there was a positive from this funding. The circle of constant decline continues and multiplys exponentially equalling more grants for these do nothings!
Bernie 9:47 - there are numerous way to receive a cash deposit into one’s bank account from some other person. Or, maybe he and Wild will give a 15 minute address to a luncheon group with cash moving from palm to palm.
Bernie 9:47
Did he pay himself or did private donors? If that's the case, one can't help but be concerned about subsequent quid pro quo...
LVCI (9:14 am) said: “So it seems to me traveling to PR searching for answers is a waste of time (statically speaking). They have nothing special to offer”
You mean nothing to offer than nice beaches for politicians to lounge on, right?
Seems as though most of the "comments/opinions" are AI generated after being fed "news" feeds from fox, OAN, and "news" max.... basically russian misinformation full of hate and ignorance.
I find it heroic that politicians like Wild and Tuerk are even willing to travel to the tiny island of Puerto Rico, given that climate change is raising the sea levels the way it is or that a super-hurricane could easily throw their planes into the sea.
Wait, maybe they shouldn’t have been flying at all, given the carbon emissions! This is so confusing!
Perhaps they could do a fact finding trip on why they apparently don’t have Zoom in Puerto Rico. Or is that going to be the reason for next year’s trip?
Is Tuerk insinuating that the reason he’s on this trip is to find a way to get those lazy Puerto Ricans living in Allentown to do some work?
Maybe he’s the one with the “xenophobic or racist views”, and not the people reading this blog and commenting.
Tough to acquire a job with a criminal record.
America is still the land of opportunity, but you must first want to work and take advantage of said opportunity. The issue of unemployment isn’t unique to Puerto Ricans, as I have seen many with a strong work ethic (just as I have seen Whites sucking on the welfare teat). What has failed to happen, and this is largely in the Puerto Rican community, is a desire to assimilate, namely learning English. Is this a xenophobic/racist view? I think not; Bernie and others may disagree. Too many times I have had to call families of children and been met with silence due to a language barrier. This doesn’t happen, at least not routinely, in families who come from South America or other countries. Unfortunately, the political pandering to one demographic in the Lehigh Valley has proved costly.
A disproportionate number of the demographic receives SSI. That figure is not reflected in unemployment.
I know Tuerk has good intentions, but its laughable that he intends to become enlightened by understanding issues regarding Allentown's Puerto Rican population on a soul searching sojourn to the island. I think he is making a fool of himself. He should be in City Hall overseeing the delivery of services to tax paying residents. I hope he has delivered some kind of message to City residents in and around Midway Manor who are recovering from an EF 1 tornado.
7.40
"It's not being overly simplistic by implementing a program that demands you work for any government check you receive. Pick up garbage along our filthy highways."
So i guess them seniors are on the highway trash crew?
Social Security is not called an entitlement program for nothing
After all they get healthcare too.
Seems seniors are getting quite a lot of fish being handed to them
8.18
"will do anything NOT to work. Here’s a biggie.
Impregnate a woman, never marry her. She collects all the benefits of a single mother with child, or with several children. The male then visits often, even sleeps overnight."
Well let us start with all those unwed mothers in Utah who are into polygamy.
Crack down on those Mormons who are taking advantage of everyone else.
8.15
" are rooted in ethnic/cultural differences."
From your list of Latino problems--for example Boise has a higher crime rate than Allentown.
Sarah Palin's hometown was known as the meth capitol of Alaska.
obesity and unwed mothers several southern states hold that title.
under employment West Virginia comes to mind.
All of those lack a Latino connection so ethnic differences are not the root cause.
Also" simply not "wired" to live like white people "--so they do not aspire to be like the "white people" in Boise for example?
Or any of the others mentioned.
2.54
" and this is largely in the Puerto Rican community, is a desire to assimilate, namely learning English. Is this a xenophobic/racist view? I think not.
Oddly Canada seems to get by with two languages.
Oh, the last couple comments are from the Lib police. All the comments are spot on. People are afraid to tell it like it is. Did Turek want to christen the new direct Allentown to Puerto
Rico flights? Now he can push for more of his constituency to easily come to Allentown and keep him in office forever.
Anyone had a job if they want to. Time to cut the cord. And to th smart ass who complained about seniors' entitlements. That is from WORING your entire life the money comes out of your PAYCHECK. Some of you don't understand that. Our educational system sucks so it is understandable.
Seems like you're an idiot bent on maintaining the Democrat status quo.
No more is going to come of this little boondoggle with Pawlowski crony Suzy Wild than came of Tuerk recently cavorting in the Dominican Republic with felon dope dealer Convict Hasshan Batts.
8:15 I think you’re on to something. The key to earlier immigrants’ success has been assimilation and the melting pot concept. Latino culture doesn’t value that. Learning English is an example. It is to the immigrants advantage to learn the dominant language, but that happening here. About jobs- the jobs may be there, but the skills needed to get the jobs aren’t. Culture must promote learning skills in order to be employable and a high school diploma isn’t enough, and generations of uneducated and unemployed people can’t instill these values on their children. Matt needs to look at William Allen and Dieruff high schools, not Puerto Rico. Even our state rep moved his kids to Parkland school district.
10:03, Of course that comment is imbued with fear of the other. And that is very much a part of the problem and reason why people are unemployed. Who would want to work for someone who has such a low opinion of you?
I agree language barriers are a problem but that is by no means unique to the Latin culture. Around July 4, I was looking in National archives at Pa accounts of Gettysburg. There were three newspapers from Allentown I wanted to check. All were German. It usually takes time to assimilate and these cultures enrich our own. We are like the Borg that way. Resistance is futile.
INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE is what everyone should know. It is how we will work and live together in harmony.
As Bernie went to the National archives to see similarities in Civil war times as compared to 2023, not much difference except the population would not let a grifter become president. How did this ever happen?
BernieOHare to 5:54, I viewed these newspapers online. I was not physically at national archives. They have a great collection online. Included three Allentown newspapers, all of which were German.
Glad Tuerk took this trip, he's an extraordinarily energetic mayor, good vision, and bringing Puerto Rican officials into supportive alignment is a good idea. Now, we do have some real problems: some of the immigrants/migrants do need to show more consistent career-focused energy. Now, the commenter on Aug 10, 8:15am shows an appalling & ridiculous level of racist eugenic thought. Perhaps he's not acquainted, as I am, with what our Morning Call was saying about Eastern & Southern European immigrants around 1905-1910 (racially inferior, out-of-control, unassimilable, etc.) or with what Calvin Coolidge had to say about these same immigrants around 1916: "biological laws tell us that certain divergent people will not mix or blend. The Nordics (northern Europeans) propagate themselves successfully. With other races, the results show deterioration on both sides."
No wonder you are unemployable. Most bosses see their employ6ees as a statistic on a balance sheet. Whaa!!! My boss doesn't like me, or he has a low opinion of me, Whaaaa!! Take you check and shut the hell up. What fairy land did you grow up in?
That is life in America, do your job, get paid and go home. Many including you are looking for love. What a maroon. No wonder there is so many unemployed. Grow up.
4.30
" Most bosses see their employ6ees as a statistic on a balance sheet"
And today's generation not only know this but will act upon it.
Why would anyone want to work say like McDonalds software driven scheduling.
The franchise owner expects people to make themselves available whenever market traffic requires them --so for that glorious min wage you can sit around and maybe you work or not.
When you do not work well tough but if you are not available when called well out the door you go.
Oddly that's not popular and folks will find other work.
Fast food places are not paying higher wages out of the kindness of their heart.
They are forced to pay higher wages (whining all the time about it) due to their treatment of employees.
When you are disposable you have no incentive to work any harder, have any loyalty to the company at all and you base your decisions on what is best for you.
That is the American way.
Why play a crappy game that you are going to lose--you just stop playing that game.
Ever notice a small business with a couple of employees who bust their butt and work for someone when they could probably make more elsewhere?--they do that because they are treated like a human being not a statistic. that does not make them "maroon's".
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