<p>chellybelly - D just skyped me to tell me about the robbery. She said it happened at one of the residential homes on a street that borders campus. But as we were talking, she got the all-clear message. Frankly, I was impressed with all the phone calls that were going on amongst friends to make sure everyone was OK. </p>
<p>Back to the topic - D1 went to Syracuse, and although it is surrounded by a very blighted area, there are bars, restaurants, shopping you can walk to easily from campus and feel safe. When we looked at Muhlenberg and I noticed it did not have the same sort of options, I kind of worried. But anothermom and chellybelly have it right. The kids find so much to do on campus that you rarely hear anyone complaining about not having opportunities within walking distance. And because so many kids are from within a two-three hour drive from home, many of them have cars, so when they do want to go somewhere (dinner, movie, etc.), it’s never a problem to make it happen. H and I have not only been downtown on weekends (have to eat at Brew Works when we’re there) and have felt safe, but we have found some unique places to eat.</p>
<p>Is theater the largest major at Muhlenberg? I’ve found very little discussion about any of the other majors except for maybe pre-med. How strong are the humanities and social sciences??</p>
<p>That’s hysterical. Allentown was hurt by REAGAN? That’s ridiculous. I lived in Allentown most of my life up until about 20 years ago. Allentown became a haven for gangs, and it had nothing to do with Reagan. It’s a shame. It was once a pretty nice place.</p>
<p>Here’s the real story about Allentown.</p>
<p>In the 1990s, anti-gang initiatives in New York City and elsewhere resulted in an increased population of gang members in Allentown, particularly in the city’s center city area.[52] Gangs including 18th Street, Black Dragons, Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Los Solidos, Mexican Mafia, MS-13 have been discovered in the region.[52] More than 75% of the homicides in Allentown during 2007 were drug or gang-related killings.[51] In 2008, a multimillion dollar methamphetamine ring operating in Allentown and the surrounding region, with ties to the Crips organization, was broken up by narcotics agents.[53] The city has undertaken various initiatives, including participation in the federally-funded “Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative” and the reorganization of the city police department, in an attempt to combat the problem.[54][55] Additionally, the city’s Weed and Seed program has been effective at reducing both violent and non-violent crime in the downtown neighborhoods it serves.[56]</p>
<p>When I referred to Reagan, it had to with the federal tax money that came back to the City (it dried up). I know this as a relative worked in City government back then. As for the gangs, we have had problems but the police are doing a good job. I still live here and it’s a nice town not perfect but then what is?</p>
<p>Well, hopefully, we’re about to dry up federal money again. Federal money is highly overrated. I know lots of people still in Allentown who see this as more of a lack of government enforcement of immigration law…and the fact that the gangs left areas of the country that were tougher on crime (and more expensive)…like New York under Guilianni. The other problem was that Allentown’s downtown suffered enormously when Hess’s left it. Hess’s had spread out to outlying malls. Always a problem in small towns.
Still miss Brass Rail steak sandwiches, though.</p>
<p>I have a friend who’s a native New Yorker who swears that when Giuliani was mayor all the troublemakers left and came to Allentown. I really think there’s some truth to that. The other problem is it’s a lot cheaper to live in Allentown and similar cities than it is in New York. Actually, the former Hess’s lot is now a PPL building with a new office building across the street. So that part of downtown looks good. And yes, I understand why you would miss Brass Rail steak sandwiches, they’re the best. My question is do you miss Yocco’s?</p>