Look at my voting predictions.

 

So how does Tuerk get his 4 votes to pass his budget that he so desperately needs because of his over spending , raises and hiring unnecessary people.

Lets look

Santo Napoli- Yes

Basically a rubber stamp. He does whatever the mayor wants.  Very weird, but what interest is everything the mayor does in it for him? Wait for his famous line" thats the cost of doing business." And his "I just think"  No you don't, cause if you did you wouldn't vote for everything Tuerk wants.

Candida Affa- Yes

She sometimes votes against the Mayor but like Santo she is very loyal.  She has no vested interest in the city anymore since she sold her Bar.  Tho she will tell you she does. She will definitely try to justify her vote.

Natalie Santos-No

Santos has always voted in lock step with Gerlach. Don’t know much about her but am willing to bet she will vote in line with CC

Zucal-No

There is no way Zucal votes for this.  Not because he lost to Tuerk but he realizes the financial mismanagement Tuerk is doing with the city finances.  Zucal doesn’t believe the taxpayers should cover Tuerks excessive spending and as well as given his cabinet members huge raises.

Gerlach- No

She is going to want something for her vote.  She already said she wanted money to help the homeless, and that wasnt in the mayors budget proposal. Oddly, now the city wants to impose a 0.5% housing tax which is supposed to go to affortable housing and help renters.  Is this a coincidence or is this the design of a quid pro quo by the mayor to get Gerlachs vote??? Either way Gerlach should vote know to help the people she helps the most.  The poor.

Hendricks- No

Hendricks has always been fiscally conservative. That’s why I was surprised when LV news reported he is a yes vote. I assume he said that to the reporter because mayor made him some cushiony deal. I was glad to see he cosponsored the bill asking the administration to rein it in. So he’s a no on that tax increase. 

Mota-No

Mota publicly proclaimed she would vote against any tax increase. If she votes yes, she will never amount to more than a Councilwoman.  Plus the shit she is going to get for changing her vote.  Her credibility will be gone.

So I have a 5-2 Not in favor of a tax increase.

There is still time for dirty back door empty promises and bribes and whatever else goes on behind doors.  However, the mayor has until 6pm to change peoples minds.  But I think my picks are solid.

Oh this just in too.

 Copy and paste to view chart

https://allentownpa.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14960332&GUID=AF056C9B-E144-4B20-B3B8-79979F411865

Didnt the mayor say that there are no new positions or upgrades, so what happened lying Tuerk? Oh wait, your assistant has an upgrade. That is right.

I am not sure how council can vote down a tax increase but approve raises and new positions.  Why is a background analyst needed in H.R? 2 positions and THEY ARE PART TIME POSITIONS!!!  And for $91k a year!!! Doesn't the police do background checks?  And look at the raises.  Really?  All the raises and new positions are going to cost $386,000. So how is the city going to pay for that if their is no tax increase??

Please show up at council tomorrow and express your disgust with this greedy mayor.  Just keep giving your people raises.  Big ones too.  The rest of us can struggle.

****Memes are AI generated and do not reflect actual known events. They are for entertainment purposes only***

Even the school buses take your money in Allentown

 A newer money maker has been implemented to make money for the city of Allentown. Probably some of you have been caught already.  The good ole school bus arm.  Buspatrol LLC has been implemented on the city school buses for a few years now. Basically its a camera system that takes photos/videos of people who drive past a school bus when its arm is out. Then a citation is mailed to them. Best part is You really cant really fight it.

Opps wait.  Your going to be found guilty. Or are you? There is alot of critics that claim this system isnt accurate.  Mostly violators that got caught, fought it, and the video showed they didn't break the law. But of the half of people who actually pay the fine, very few plead not guilty.  

Direct from LehighValleyNews.com 

"From September 2024 to October 2025, Allentown police approved 8,598 citations, or 96% of all alleged school bus camera violations they reviewed — a proportion far greater than those in other Lehigh Valley school districts, according to data from numerous school bus camera programs"

I want to know which officer at the Allentown Police Department reviewed 8598 violations lol.  Gimme a break.  There is no one that did that. There are 180 school days a year.  That means roughly someone reviewed 47 violations a day. Yea okay.  Or if buspatrol doesnt send videos everyday and maybe once a week, your talking 250 videos.  

Obviously, there is a need to protect students, and people drive right passed the school buses every day.  People need to be aware of buses and should be fined if they dont stop. I am in total agreement with this.

However...The big thing with this camera system is the revenue it makes for Buspatrol and the Allentown school district.

BusPatrol is becoming rich off of drivers.  The city PD barely benefits from this system.  Of course BusPatrol and the school district didnt want anyone to know how much they benefit from this program.  Curious why? Maybe they dont want to share?

Here is the split 

Each $300 ticket includes two fixed surcharges: $25 to the state’s School Bus Safety Grant Fund and $25 to the local police department. The remaining $250 goes toward the shared arrangement between the school district and BusPatrol. The split of the $250 is a 60/40 split the 60 going to BusPatrol.

I really think the school board uses this as a money maker with safety being 2nd. They are raking in 100s of thousands a year, yet its a big secret.

The police department hasn't faired well over the past 13months with what they get totalling $53,212 in surcharges.

This isnt shocking 

Allentown police approved 96% of citations over 13 months, other local departments were far more selective.

Salisbury police approved only 42% of those they reviewed. Bethlehem approved 58%; Easton, 76%; and Wilson, 72%, according to data from the respective school bus camera programs.

The reason everyone is probably guilty in Allentown is because no officer is actually reviewing the violations. lmao.

That makes me laugh that in Allentown you are 96% guilty vs the neighboring areas.  Thats ridiculous.   Great job APD. 

BusPatrol said enforcement and the decision to issue a citation rests entirely with police. Of course it does. They just want their cut. They dont care if violations actually occured.

Please stop at school buses.  Just think the last thing you want to do is give ASD or APD two greedy organizations any more money.

One way problems into two way problems

Allentown officials never seem to let me down with their dumb ideas. Their newest that they are seriously looking to implement is changing some one way streets into two.  

Linden St and 7th street are the seriously being looked at for this conversion. Oh I cant wait for 7th St. to be 2 way.  

The mayor has a plan called Safe Streets that he is implementing. Under this plan the mayor thinks by 2030 there will be no fatal accidents in the city. Maybe by then Allentown will be like the Jetsons.  

No fatal accidents by 2030??? There will be fatal accidents till the year 3000.

City officials believe by changing one way roads into 2 way will decrease accidents and make people more aware of pedestrians. I really dont see how that works. I feel much safer on a one way road than 2 way.  

“Instead of downtown serving as a place to travel through, these types of strategies will substantially support downtown as a place that people go to.”

-Allentown's Downtown Development and Urban Design Plan

The Safe Streets plan says two-way traffic streets slow down traffic, which would reduce the number and severity of crashes. Not in Allentown it wont. Allentonians drive like assholes.  

Wait for double parkers and Amazon trucks on Linden St. Traffic will be stopped. Then people will pass over the double yellow. But this wont cause accidents right?

Officials also claim this will improve mobility for drivers and cyclists, while reducing street crossings and walking distances, and helps boost foot traffic and visibility for businesses. What??? 

The city’s Downtown Development and Urban Design Plan —also wants to create bike lanes. Why? Where the hell are all the bikers? Bike lanes become passing lanes. Especially in Allentown.

“Investing in this study positions the city to make informed, cost-effective safety improvements that benefit residents, businesses and visitors alike." -Allentown mayor's administration memo to city council

City officials also are weighing roundabouts at some troublesome intersections. 

A consultant on the Safe Streets initiative this spring presented renderings of roundabouts on Hamilton Street between Ott and 19th streets; and at the intersection of Union Boulevard, Airport Road and Irving Street.

Well this consultant isnt smart. Could you imagine a roundabout at Union Blvd/Irving St.? There would be accidents left and right. I guess the mayor doesnt care about more accidents, he just wants to reduce fatals.  

But specifically this plan is all about stupid bike lanes for Mayor Tuerk. Plan and simple. 

If you want to lower accident fatalities put in speed bumps.  There aren't crazy expensive. Put them mid block between traffic lights.  That will slow everyone down.  Linden St, 7th St, Susquehanna St, American Parkway, Hanover Ave, Tilghman St. and wherever you think the biggest safety concerns are.  

Look how the speed bumps work at N. Graham St.  And in front of Dieruff High School.   Also Chapel Ave use to be a raceway.  Not anymore because of the speed bumps.  Isnt this just common sense?  

Downtown Ambassadors for all your needs..Haha

 So now if you dare to go downtown you may see Ambassadors wondering around. These Ambassadors are there to help you park so your car doesnt get stolen, help you find where your going so you dont get robbed at gunpoint and tell you what excitong things are happening that day in other cool cities.

The Downtown Allentown Alliance formed this dumb idea in hopes of bringing people to downtown. 

“Downtown Allentown already has so much to offer. Our ambassadors will help more people experience it by ensuring everyone feels welcome, informed and connected."

Jim Stang, operations manager, Downtown Allentown Ambassador Team

This is ridiculous. What the hell does downtown have to offer? Is this guy even from the area?? 

Or

What else is there to do besides the PPL center that is open maybe 100x a year? The Archer? Eh. I only ever recognized one act there so far that I ever heard of. The restaurants arent that great. Most close before dark anyways. The ones that were great like Billys Diner have left. There is no good retail stores. Like half a dozen cell phone stores. Oh dont forget the pawn shop. There is lots of places to lease or rent. Downtown has nothing to offer.  

The ambassador program will be operated by Block by Block, (aka New Kids on the Block) a nationally recognized leader in downtown place management. Until now. They will fail in Allentown. 

“Block by Block programs are about presence, people and pride,” said Jim Stang, the newly appointed Downtown Allentown Ambassador Team operations manager.

Stang has more than a decade of experience, most recently serving as Block by Block’s operations manager for Camden, New Jersey. We all know what a dump Camden is. 

Our new office and hospitality ambassador team represent major investments in creating a downtown that feels friendly, vibrant and cared for every day.” DAA Acting Director Jill Meyers

Cared for? Vibrant? You forgot fabulous and safe too. Haha. 

There is literally the "Clean Team" that every morning has to clean up all the trash on the streets from the slobs the night before.  Very inviting. They do an awesome job tho.

The DAA received $804,000 in initial funding from the City of Allentown, the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority, the state (secured by state Sen. Nick Miller, D-14th District) and private partners through the DAA Founders Council. Could have guessed that.  Unreal.

Drum roll please

The Founders Council members include Air Products, Alvin H. Butz, Capital Blue Cross, City Center Group, Duggan and Marcon, Dunne Manning, Gross McGinley, Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Morton Brown, North Star Construction Management, PPL and St. Luke’s University Health Network.

So basically all the companies (minus the hospitals and Gross McGinley who the city uses for all the lawsuits against them) that get all the building contracts in the city.

This is all Quid pro quo.  Writeoffs as well for these companies.  

I give this program 1 year or as long as it continues to be funded.  Another waste of money and failure of the city. 

As I said before the perception and reality of downtown will always be its downfall.  It could be the safest and most exciting place in the world but until people actually believe its safe, it doesnt matter what you do there.

Affortable housing for No one

Here we go again council members and city leaders (I hate using word leader) thinking they are businessmen and have the brains to make big financial decisions. 

The Brady Bunch aka Allentown City Council thinks that raising the city's deed transfer tax by 0.5% will generate enough money to fix or even remotely help the affortable housing problem in the city.

The womans clothing entrepreneur Santo Napoli states this ordinance will help "level the playing field" for future home buyers.

Napoli lets look at the real problems

1. Corporations and LLCs bought 44% of properties sold in 2024.

2. Home prices have risen 63% over 5 years

3. And rent magically matched the percentage of properties bought by LLCs or Corporations at a 44% increase. Which basically targeted mostly low income families.

4. Who really wants to live in Allentown anymore. 

The tax increase will bring in a whopping 3million a year.

Big deal. 3 million. 

Then the Community economic development staff made up of scholars will come up with a plan on how to use the money. Im sure nothing significant will come out of their decision. 

Community and Economic Development Director Vicki Kistler said that staff will use Allentown’s comprehensive housing plan, “Welcome Home Allentown." Possible uses of the money include home rehabilitation programs, affordable housing construction, rental assistance or other initiatives, Kistler said.

Home Rehab programs I would estimate 20-50k a house.

Housing Construction. Um do they realize it costs on average at "Cost" about $200k per row home to build.

Rental assistance may be the best idea, however helping people pay their rent is only going to make the 44% of corporations wealthier.  Not fix the housing problem.

Heres reality:

Do you know the average mortgage on a 200k property? Ita about $1400 a month. Is that really affortable to someone who makes less than 40k a year?

Here is an idea. If the Police Chief, Fire Chief and Ms. Kistler didnt all want top of the line brand new stations/offices the city would have way more money to fix the housing problem.  

Lest not forget Chief Roca's police station is going to cost the tax payers approx. 42million. And the Fire Chief and Kistlers new building another 70million or so. Because there isnt a cheaper location or a cheaper way to build these absolutely needed right now buildings right?  

Fountain park is flat and could house a PD, fire station, and health bureau all in one location. So is the waterfront.  That 130million bond is going to cause major tax increases.  Just wait.  

So before the council vote on things; they should really realize what they are doing and get professional help for things they arent remotely qualified to vote on. 

Some more ideas

Maybe cut 4 girls from the mayors office staff. Thats another 250k. Quit giving raises to all your cabinet. Saves another 100k a year. Get real attorneys vs outsourcing all the bigger cases at 10x the price to outside firms.  

Look at that we are saving money and I barely started. I bet I could easily find 3 million dollars within the city budget the city could save each year.

3 million is a start which but the reality is whatever money the city gets from this proposal will be put into the General Fund and spent on something else.

Someone please help this city. 

Don't hide Cause I'll find you

 

The city or more importantly the mayor in my opinion is out of control with this homeless problem. They are literally following the homeless around and tearing down their tents.

Here is a photo from Lehighvalleylive.com 

Who is ordering someone to follow the homeless around with a bulldozer and tear their tents down? 

What are these tents made out of that we need a machine to tear them down?  Curious does someone check if aanyone is in the tent before they ram it?

Where are all these peoples belongings?  Did the city just trash them?  I mean, cmon guys its 30 degrees outside and your doing this now?  This is really inhumane.

My views on the homeless are this.  Out of sight out of mind.  If people want to be homeless that is their business. If they want help there is resources or should be.  

I do hate the amount of trash around these camps.  It all blows in the river.   I hate the idea of people bathing in the river.  Provide dumpsters and some sort of portable shower for them. The City can regulate the camps then.  Have someone in charge of the camp to make sure the area stays clean and rules are followed.

Here are some comments I found online about the homeless issue:

I could have posted 50 disgrunted comments I found but is their a point?

Matt Tuerk and City Council pushing these people from one place to the next is the DUMBEST IDEA!!!.  He will never fix the problem.  Find a location. Give them resources and keep them together. Why spread your problem throughout the city? The shelters are full and everyday more people are becoming homeless.   Im convinced this man has no plan except to follow these people around with a bulldozer.  Must be nice to rest your head on a nice cozy warm bed at night, without a conscious. 

Happy Veterans Day

 

Thank you to all the Veterans out there that are serving or have served this great country.   I wanted to dedicate this post to them.  Your bravery and unselfishness to put your life in front of others does not go unnoticed. 

It saddens me to have to write or show this photo, but Im sorry this day should not include this flag in in.

To the far right.  Are you serious?  People have died for this country.  People lives have been ruined.  People are scarred.  And this Mayor has the balls to hang the LGBTQ flag on Veterans day in the vicinity of the American flag!!!  I'm sorry if I offend someone but nothing should be flown next the American flag on Veterans day besides the State and City flags.  This is an outright disgrace on the City of Allentown.   

This Mayor allowing this on Veterans day is crossing the line.  

Mayor obviously you could not have served in the military. You dont know what it means to be a Veteran.  Shit you aren't even saluting the flag in any photos I saw. 

What kind of Mayor are you?  Shame on you.

We're not broke, we just financially mysterious

 

Dr. Mota went all in the other day.

During her victory speech for city council at El Tipico Mota said;

" I cannot and will not support a tax increase this year." She also said

"If my vote is the deciding vote...let me save you the suspense: No va pa da. Its not happening. "

Mayors current status

I have criticized Dr. Mota pretty hard, most of it out of fun. However, she has a big heart for those struggling.   She can be swayed a little (too) easy for my taste but with some help she could be the 1st Spanish speaking (not Rosetta Stone) hispanic female to be Mayor.  My sources say the Democratic party in Washington D.C. love her. 

With that being said,

I want to say,

Thank You, Councilwoman Mota, for Standing Up for Us

I’ve lived in Allentown a long time. Long enough to see mayors come and go, taxes go up and down, and promises made that never seem to stick. But I’ll tell you — it’s been a while since I’ve felt like somebody at City Hall was really listening to regular folks like me.

That changed a bit this week when I heard Councilwoman Cynthia Mota say loud and clear that she’s not voting for the mayor’s 4% tax hike.
Finally — someone with a little backbone.

While the mayor and his team are sitting around City Hall, the rest of us are out here watching grocery prices climb, gas go up, and our property taxes already high enough as it is.

And now they want more? For what? 

Lehigh Valley News quotes Mota saying this 4% increase is the result of poor financial management, not fiscal necessity.
I couldn’t agree more.

Lately it’s felt like no one at City Hall cares what longtime residents think anymore. It’s all about numbers and press releases — not people.

So when I read that she said, “If my vote is the deciding vote, it’s not happening,” I actually smiled. It felt like someone finally said what we’ve all been thinking.

Now it’s time for the rest of City Council to follow her lead.
Don’t just rubber-stamp another tax increase. Ask the tough questions. Look for cuts. The city can’t keep treating us like an ATM just because Tuerk wants a brand new mustang for each department head, to match his own. 

That said, I’ll admit that I’m a bit worried.

I’ve seen how Tuerk operates. He’s got a way of bullying and pressuring people until he gets his way.

Let’s hope Councilwoman Mota sticks to her guns. She’s got the support of a lot of residents who are counting on her to hold that line.

This means one of my predictions is coming true. That was quick.

If my Allen High School diploma serves me correct that would put the votes on raising taxes at 4-3. Opposing a tax increase.

This means the Budget is totally F'''''D.  Mota knows the financials are awful.  The problem is the public doesnt seem to know it. They dont know all the money being wasted.  Unqualified employees getting raises. Money giving to everything.  Unions milking the city for everything.  I believe the SEIU contract is up next month. They still have nothing. Wonder what they get. SEIU employees always get way less than fire and police. 

Someone should put forth a motion to freeze raises too.  No where to take money except the General Fund. Super bad idea.

Lastly,

Could this be the 1st stand of many for Dr. MOTA against agendas, taxes, and things that don't make sense?

Im Back

 

I am Back.  Im sorry I got locked out of the account and had to speak with Google.  It was a big mess.  Anyways I was posting under "The Allentown Truth" but im back now to stay at "Allentown Truth".  Go to "The Allentown Truth" to catch up before I stop posting to it.

Abe

Lets put an art sculpture on Hamilton.

 

Did you see the new statue placed in the 900blk of Hamilton St?  

"The Abduction of Psyche” was placed outside the Archer Music Hall in downtown Allentown.

The crooked Niz Brothers Pat Browne and J.B Reilly were there to present this statue.

I personally think the statue would look good in a fountain somewhere in Greece.   The 900blk of Hamilton St. tho? 

Wait until Gerlach and Siegel march with the defund the police crowd.  That statue will be destroyed.   

Or some kid will come by and spray paint it.

Of course Tuerk and his shadow Mota were there as well. 

Tuerk proclaimed there is art everywhere in the city, around every corner.  Yes Matt you are correct if you consider trash, graffiti, and homeless people art.

"Thats been our core mission from the beginning, not just to build buildings but to create places that people want to be in. Public art is a really critical part of creating these kinds of places." J.B. Reilly

J.B. I believe your core mission was to become rich and not pay taxes on the buildings you built. Thats how you will be remembered. Not for any art.

The fact is Hamilton St. is a ghost town after 5pm.  There is no reason besides the PPL center to head there.  Statues, bike lanes and whatever else anyone tries to implement or build will never get people to come there. Keep pumping money into your boat. You will never get it to float.