Bethlehem City Council Set to Vote Tonight on Replacing Tech With Unaffordable Housing

Bethlehem City Council will vote tonight on rezoning the former Bethlehem Technology Center, located on the city's south side, from industrial to central business district. This spot zoning will replace a technology center containing a rare cleanroom with unaffordable housing. Yesterday, I told you that Bethlehem's former Mayor, Don Cunningham has reservations about rezoning this tract, at least at this time. Cunningham's view is echoed by ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, who helped transform the Christmas City from steelmaker to cultural center. 

Parks notes that, with enactment of the CHIPS Act, the feds will be spending $52.7 billion in subsidies for American chip-makers and another $25 billion in tax credits. It would be foolhardy to walk away from that money to build an apartment complex that only the upper echelons could afford. 

In the 20th century, Bethlehem's steel built the warships that defeated the Axis powers. In the 21st, Bethlehem could be making the microchips we desperately need as a bulwark against foreign powers. We should be seizing this opportunity, not creating artificial villages that will end up consuming more city resources than it contributes.

With Don Cunningham and Jeff Parks on the same page on this Bethlehem issue, City Council's best bet would be to table this ordinance.    

NorCo Council Puts Brakes on $500,000 SkatePlaze Grant

After visiting Bethlehem's popular SkatePlaza earlier this year, Council members John Cusick and Scott Parsons were blown away by all the Godzilla Flips and Ollies at what really is a sport. So they decided to kick in $500,000 of hotel tax from the same pile of money that is already funding two separate $1 million grants for ArtsQuest and PBS. They'd still get their money, but not as quickly. Last night, by a 6-1 vote, Cusick and Parsons were two of the majority who decided to table the matter. The single No vote came from Peg Ferraro, who wanted to kill it.

Council members Lamont McClure and Tom Dietrich were absent.

As it developed, nobody in Bethlehem had even asked for this money. Mayor John Callahan told Cusick that the City is currently doing a feasibility study for a convention center, and the money might be better spent for something like that,down the road.

Disgusted, Peg Ferraro reminded Council members they have an obligation to fund ArtsQuest and PBS first. "We made a commitment and we're going back on our word," she argued.

While pretending to have no interest in this policy decision, Controller Steve Barron took advantage of this proposed grant to cast aspersions at ArtsQuests' Executive Director Jeff Parks. Like he did last year. Apparently, Parks had told Council, in a letter, that he and PBS are relying on that money to honor commitments, and noted that the revenue is either flat or waning.

Not true, claimed Barron, who claimed hotel tax revenues have increased from $1.2 million in 2008 to $1.9 million last year.

But Council member Brice Gilbert pointed out that these increases have been more than offset by overhead, leading to an actual decline in "purchasing power." Barron began to quarrel, demonstrating that he really was injecting himself into a policy consideration after all. Then he remembered and shut up.

About this time last year, Barron was trashing ArtsQuest and Parks over the exempt status of two properties, claiming to be an expert who would give assessors an "independent" opinion. You see, Barron knows lots of people are jealous of Parks' salary or have some pet peeve with Musikfest. Von Footinmouth hopes that an appeal to our worst instincts will translate into votes for him.

But they won't. As an artsy fartsy, Parks is an alien in what is essentially still a blue collar community whose idea of culture is a night at the Carmike with caramel popcorn. So that makes him an easy target for a bottom-feeding bloggers like me. And I have picked on him from time to time because I appeal to your worst instincts, too. It's what I do.

But people like Jeff Parks appeal to our better selves. His vision has led to SteelStack, with hundreds of free concerts each year. It has led to kids' programming like the Ps and Qs program at SteelStacks. When he steps down soon, he will be missed.

The only persons who will miss Barron von Footinmouth are public sector union bosses.

SteelStacks: The First Eight Months

In 2007, Northampton County Council pledged $1 million in hotel taxes for the Artsquest Center at Steelstacks, located by the blast furnace on Bethlehem's South Side. On January 19, Artsquest Executive Director Jeff Parks updated Council on what just what they've received for the $320,000 they've invested in a $32 million project that has only been in business for the past eight months. From its economic to cultural impact, Parks told Council that the Artsquest Center has exceeded expectations.

At the time it was designed, it was hoped the project would create 100 jobs, both direct and spin off. In eight months, there are now 142 jobs, and the Center is on target for an annual, $39 million economic impact.

But Parks is proudest of the cultural impact that ArtsQuest has on the Lehigh Valley, especially during hard economic times. He pointed to 219 live free concerts at the TD Bank Community Stage, 44 free concerts at the Levitt Pavilion, 36 Peas & Qs free children series shows, four sculptures, 44 nonprofits that can use the SteelStacks at no cost and family programming that reaches over 25,000 children annually.

Council President John Cusick asked Parks how he can afford to put on so many free shows. "Eighty per cent of the people we serve pay no fee," Parks proudly stated. He added that ArtsQuest's main source of operating revenue is not the public trough, but ticket sales, food and beverage sales and private sponsorships.

As a result of two weekends of rain during Musikfest last year, Parks told Council that ArtsQuest will report a $700,000 operating loss for 2011, which is 5% of its $14 million budget. As a result, it has entered into payment arrangements with Bethlehem and other creditors. But he added that the silver lining to the storm clouds that came with Musikfest was a record audience of 63,436 people at Chriskindlmarkt, as well as a 30% increase in holiday tours over 2010.

"We're not broke," he stated.

Council member Bob Werner told Parks that his many volunteers are "the backbone of AertsQuest." Parks agreed, adding that only the Lehigh Valley would have so many people who take an interest.

Parks is hopeful that the ArtsQuest Center will attract what he calls the "creative class."

What I call artsy-fartsies.

Gee, I wonder if bottom-feeding bloggers are part of the creative class.

I'll go get a beret.

Parks: Musikfest Has No Plans to Abandon Bethlehem's North Side

Although ArtsQuest Executive Director Jeff Parks was before Northampton County Council, at their January 19 meeting, to update them about the new Artsquest Center at SteelStacks, he stopped in the middle of his presentation to make another point.

"There are no plans now or in the future to abandon the north side of Bethlehem," declared Parks, responding to rumors that Musikfest will soon be operating solely on Bethlehem's re-energized South Side. This idea has never even been discussed, according to Parks. The Musikfest mastermind added there's "simply not enough space to move Musikfest to SteelStacks. We can't do it. It's physically impossible."

In response to questions from Lamont McClure, Parks confirmed what he's already stated publicly. He plans to give up the reins at ArtQuest in January 2015, but expects to remain active.

"I'm not moving to Florida," he joked.

His successor will be chosen by the ArtsQuest Board, which will begin their search next year.