Image overhaul

Laptop in hand, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski stands in the back room of a suburban Denny's restaurant, giving a presentation that is meant to impress.

[comment]

If the people in Hanover Township (Lehigh) think Allentown will be good, they should merge then they could have fire, police, water, sewer and other services.

Allentown would have industrial parks and office buildings to expand its tax base and very little impact on schools because less than 4000 people live in that township.

The biggest drawback to Allentown, taxes and murder. When you have the highest taxes in the regiona and highest murders in the region, people and business will stay away.

You may not be able to cut down on murders in the short term, but you can cutdown the budget, number of people working in government and lower the tax rate to induce businesses to start-up in the city, in the short term.

[Mike P]

I was born and raised on the South Side fifty years ago. Back in the mid to late 60's (when Allentown was crowned an "All-American" city), my friend and I would actually walk from the Mountainville area to center city to visit some hobby shops. Now, I wouldn't drive into center city (or Mountainville, for that matter) even if I was legally carrying a concealed weapon. Yes, the good mayor sure does have his work cut out for him. I wish him luck.

[Mitchell]

The mayor has not done one thing to improve the police department. The police officers are a doormat for him.
He hasn't added any officers - He's simply replacing the officers who retired.
He wont allow the police department to apply for grants because Ed doesn't think they need it!
He doesn't care about anyone but those people, and/or businesses that line his pockets.
He's just another typical politician with the local newspaper in his pocket.

[Black Hole Resident]

So Pawloski is trying to dupe more wealthy suburbanites into thinking crime is only a perception in Allentown. These are the type of non-resident suckers who finance his 24/7 political campaigns.

Well Pawlowski sure know how to sling the bull and lie with statistics. Funny how the City was a "Black hole swallowing everything in its path" when he wanted a Casino. I also love how he bites the hand that feeds him. Pawlowski blames the Morning Call for writing too many stories about the violent crime in Allentown. The reality is that the Call hides most violent crime stories and has provided unrelenting political support for Pawlowski.

[lol]

Please...lets hear some good news ...what could it be...i spent a few days at the court house last year for jury duty...sure they are a few nice places to eat and they put a little park by the parking deck...but even in the middle of the day a was afraid to walk the streets..i grew up in the area and as a child in the 60s and 70s even the 80s i vistited allentown without fear...the town is filthy,dangerous and filled with people that dont care...until they get rid of this crap ...no one will ever think of visiting anything in this town

[Mitchell]

Black Hole Resident wrote:

So Pawloski is trying to dupe more wealthy suburbanites into thinking crime is only a perception in Allentown. These are the type of non-resident suckers who finance his 24/7 political campaigns.
Well Pawlowski sure know how to sling the bull and lie with statistics. Funny how the City was a "Black hole swallowing everything in its path" when he wanted a Casino. I also love how he bites the hand that feeds him. Pawlowski blames the Morning Call for writing too many stories about the violent crime in Allentown. The reality is that the Call hides most violent crime stories and has provided unrelenting political support for Pawlowski.

Very well stated

[Joey D]

Lets hope something good will come out of this. "old" cities have been left to die in so many words. In NJ, Jersey City, the New City area now has beautiful highrises and great shops but it is still not safe. Thus the cameras mounted everywhere watching and waiting.
Same as Newark NJ< I went to college years ago and we feared waiting for the bus. Until the trash is put out, in so many words, a city will not come back. But where do you put that trash? another town? The mayor has his hands full but best of luck..
PS I havent been to B'hem in ages and was shocked to hear how "bad" it is there as well :( What a darn shame..

[LVer]

We can bash Mayor E P but politics are politics. He's got the marketing engin started and is trying to transform a very old, dirty, and crime ridden city. Cudos to him, we need to start somewhere and if there is progress year after year, something good will eventuraly happen (may take 10 years).

[hello]

not every one is afraid to be in center city, the place was hopping last night with things going on at Symphony hall, Baum school and croc rock

[Joey D]

Is he kidding wrote:

Allentown is a swamp. The wrong element moved in, brought their culture of crime and violence with them, and simply don't care about the city. I mean, if you're on public assistance and not owner of the property, why would you?
But for the mayor, what else is he supposed to say? I give him credit for trying to put lipstick on a turd. The mayors of Newark, NJ, Cleveland, and Baltimore all did the same thing.
The reality is, cities reach a point of no return. Allentown passed that long before this mayor got into office.

and luring people back to the cities doesnt help. The bad element moves from the suburbs, DOylestown is such a clean charming town but the crime wave going thru it is amazing. It isnt as much violent but big time vandalism and theft. I used to drive with doors unlocked but not now. So, it is not just the cities, it is the country as a whole. Why is crime getting so out of hand?:(

[radical moderate]

Allentown is gradually improving. If these whiny suburbanites want to see real city ghetto they should take a trip to 47 and Market in Philadelphia. Some of these crybabies ahve never traveled anywhere. They have no perspective. To me the downtown is more interesting than it ever was in my lifetime. I have no issues walking down 6th and Turner at anytime of the day. Pawlowski is doing a good job. If the whiny Suburbanites do not like it they can stay home and eat pickles! The people moving here and the enlightened hipsters who do live here will appreciate and embrace the changes to the new Allentown.

[citizen]

Black Hole Resident wrote:

So Pawloski is trying to dupe more wealthy suburbanites into thinking crime is only a perception in Allentown. These are the type of non-resident suckers who finance his 24/7 political campaigns.
Well Pawlowski sure know how to sling the bull and lie with statistics. Funny how the City was a "Black hole swallowing everything in its path" when he wanted a Casino. I also love how he bites the hand that feeds him. Pawlowski blames the Morning Call for writing too many stories about the violent crime in Allentown. The reality is that the Call hides most violent crime stories and has provided unrelenting political support for Pawlowski.

I totally agree with you. The mayor blames the media but you are right about the Morning Call. I have a scanner and every night there are gun shots all over the city. The police go crazy sometimes trying to keep up with it. The schools are another drawback. The resource officers and the police are kept so busy after school with fights on every corner, weapons being carried, etc. Allen is a disaster after school. Hear it every day on the scanner. I lived in Allentown my whole life and was raised in inner city. I worked at a school there too and was forced to retire because I was in fear everytime I walked to my car after work. Now I fear even driving anywhere in the downtown area and we want people to come there and shop. Why? There are many neat shops around the area so that we don't have to go to the inner city. I only wish that all of you could have seen Allentown when I was a child. It was beautiful and it was safe and we had loads of immigrants from Germans, Slovaks, Syrians, etc. They all got along and their main focus was on FAMILY and their neighborhoods. The people who come to town now have no pride, drugs are too rampant, parents don't know how to take care of their children but want society to do it all for them. No way can this town be turned around. The Morning Call is no help either because if they printed half of what goes on, people would be up in arms. The mayor should have thought about all of this from day 1.

[Voice of the LV]

What a loser, a legend in his own mind. What city is he living in, Oz?

[Mitchell]

LVer wrote:

We can bash Mayor E P but politics are politics. He's got the marketing engin started and is trying to transform a very old, dirty, and crime ridden city. Cudos to him, we need to start somewhere and if there is progress year after year, something good will eventuraly happen (may take 10 years).

You're right, politics are politics, but this mayor is down right unethical and sleazy.

[Derrrr]

radical moderate wrote:

Allentown is gradually improving. If these whiny suburbanites want to see real city ghetto they should take a trip to 47 and Market in Philadelphia. Some of these crybabies ahve never traveled anywhere. They have no perspective. To me the downtown is more interesting than it ever was in my lifetime. I have no issues walking down 6th and Turner at anytime of the day. Pawlowski is doing a good job. If the whiny Suburbanites do not like it they can stay home and eat pickles! The people moving here and the enlightened hipsters who do live here will appreciate and embrace the changes to the new Allentown.

The reason 'suburbanites" are such "crybabies" is that they see Allentown/Bethlehem etc.etc. becoming one of those "ghettos" and are trying to get the reins on things before they do turn any worse.

Have you lived in our area for long?

[michael molovinsky]

the Morning Call could do no more to booster Pawlowski than they do, and still call themselves a newspaper. in addition to numerous editorials supporting his announced polices, the most violent crimes, including murder, are reduced to the local section.
http://molovinskyonallentown.blogspot.com/

[Say what]

I see the poverty rate is up to 24% in the city. This is probably one of the reasons people are resorting to crime to survive. How do you get rid of them? Most of them wind up in prison where we're paying for them anyway. How do you get people to work when they never had any parent or role model going off to work everyday? They grew up in bad homes with one or no parents and no responsibilities and it continues generation to generation. Where's Reverend Al and his "community" that should be addressing this problem? Where is his outraged at the gang problem that is ruining this nation and wiping out his people? And if you think the crime and poverty is just in center city Allentown, it is starting to spread to Whitehall and Catty and many other areas. Listen to a police scanner and you'll continually hear about the thefts going on at the Malls. So be prepared cause trouble is heading your way too.
On a more positive note, the city has many good things going on, including its beautiful park system, the new stadium, the Art Museum, Symphony Hall, America on Wheels and the Lehigh County Museum.

[More Propraganda]

The reality is most people who actually live in Allentown are afraid to leave their homes a night.
Pawloski has destroyed this city when he was working with Afflerbach and now as Mayor. The economic development projects he points to started under previous administrations.
The Morning Call is a such an apologist for this mayor, I guess they need to proetect their investment.

[lol]

yeh dont let crime stop you from shopping in the city...allentown is not a city...i will shop and visit ..philadelphia and ny...allentown is just a small town ...til they rid themselves of hud housing and drugs..i dont think there is much hope...people with money to spend dont live in allentown nor would we want to go there to do anything at this point in time..and even worse try living there...i know plenty of good people that had to move from allentown..people who lived there a entire lifetime

[Allentown]

I wish I could believe that things are gradually improving, but I'm not seeing it. I bought a house downtown a few years ago with those hopes, but it's certainly an uphill battle. I live in one of the nicer neighborhoods, but two weekend in a row I've heard late night gunshots! Not only that, litter and graffiti are quickly escalating, and gangs of young adults obviously up to no good are increasing. It's just a scary place to live - thankfully I just got an offer on my house. It's really a shame, but I have to consider the safety of my family.