Hola. Welcome to South Side Script. Here you will be able to have a glimpse into my somewhat complex mind. I will write on many issues pertinent to the Lehigh Valley from a perspective not heard enough in our quaint little town, that of a young professional who happens to be Puerto Rican.
I grew up in Bethlehem, mainly on the South Side of the tracks, in the shadow of Bethlehem Steel. I am the grandson, son and nephew of steel workers and have a strong connection to the former steel producing giant and the town who's name it bore. I remember the "banging and booming" that Richy Check so eloquently recalled in the LV PBS documentary on the steel. I remember the smell, the dust, and piles of grey "dirt" that were easily found in the corners of many South Side locations, like Yosco Park, St Cyril's playground, my 20ft x 20ft back yard, The Boys Club, and St John's lot where I spent many days playing as a member of Boy Scout troop 344. I remember being stuck in traffic as "the train" made it's way through the South Side. I remember the day we were rushed onto the school bus because the air was orange from an accident at the plant.
I remember the first time I realized that not everyone eats rice and beans 90% of the week, I was in high school.
I remember the feeling I had when people looked at me funny in stores outside my neighborhood, or when I was followed and watched, although I was never into shoplifting. I remember the feeling of anger as I waited for at least a half an hour at the perfume counter to buy my Greek girlfriend a bottle of Escape. I remember hiding in the car every time we dropped that same girlfriend off at her house. I remember being instructed by my next girlfriend to say my name was Bob if her Shakespeare Road parents ever answered the phone.
I still live in South Bethlehem and am fully aware that the times have changed. My part of town is now struggling with it's identity, and is at a crossroads that will affect the future of this vibrant and diverse area. Crime, disillusionment, segregation and feelings of inadequacy are rampant right now amongst many of the Latinos living here. In contrast, feelings of "coolness", urban chicness, money making opportunities and nostalgia are prevalent amongst the new "urbanites" moving into developments such as Riverport and those who party at Starters, McGrady's and Loopers.
My main concern is what do we do about this? Do we give up on areas like Mechanic street? Will Latinos ever get out and vote in order to have proper representation in City Hall? Will the casino pay a decent wage and do it's part to help turn the community around? Will a mayoral candidate (or any candidate) ever walk the streets of the South Side, or South terrace asking for votes?
These are just a few of the topics that I will be discussing here on South Side Script. Please feel free to agree or disagree, those of you who know me, know that I love a good argument!
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A South Bethlehem perspective on Lehigh Valley happenings
11 comments:
Welcome to the Blogosphere! as you will find, the wild west was tame compared to this place!
I have my six shooter ready at the hip!! Thanks for the greetings.
the issues you raise are so important to all of us in the lehigh valley. having segregated communities helps no one - the lehigh valley establishment has a long way to go in terms of embracing the hispanic community in our cities. To my opinion, it is one of the great barriers to the ultimate success of revitalization. Instead of focusing all development on new "cool urban" projects that through all the old socio-economic paths disclude minorities from the community, new development should find ways to bring people and neighborhoods together.
Glad to see you posting on here, I'm brand new to the blogging world myself, but so far I am finding it a great way to start discourse - looking forward to future posts!
look out - Great points and thanks for the feedback. I do think that the city needs to step in and show the Latino community that they care, but the community also needs to show city hall that it cares, it's the whole chicken before the egg scenario. People need to take more of the responsibility of policing their own neighborhoods. Use the Check Mate program, clean up their immediate area etc. I would guess that many people feel that the city doesn't care.
welcome. Good to have a bethlehem perspective. We now have the major cities represented (Theater District/Old Allentown/Old Fairgrounds in Allentown, Easton Undressed, and now the South Side... hopefully we can find a north and west bethlehem blogger)
Enjoy the circus. Shit gets crazy round here!
LV Latino, It's really nice to see your blog and I enjoyed your first post immensely. I worry about the gentrification of South Bethlehem, and know that a report expressing those concerns was suppressed by the CALV several years ago. As a man of PR hertitage whose roots are in south side, I think we'll get some perspective. Thanks for jumping into the fray.
Thanks all, I'm looking forward to learning from all of you while hopefully adding to the "crazy shit".
Welcome to the blogosphere. I am happy to see another self-identified young professional entering the fray. You may be interested in another blog I write for "The Afterwork Chronicles" which is written by young professionals for young professionals. Glad to hear your perspective and look forward to future posts.
It's always what can everyone do for the Latinos---never the other way around.
whywhywicki - The Latino community does need help from the more well off right now, but I do not think that someone needs to sweep in with a big bag of money and solve all of the communities problems, Latinos must do the MAJORITY of the work. A small gesture like the Mayor reaching out publicly or showing up at events from time to time would be nice. The community does not feel engaged as much as I believe they should be, but why should any political leaders engage us, we don't vote!
Since time immemorial--or at least since the Moravians sold their South Side lands for industry and the peoples of the world poured in to live and work--South Side residents have had one thing in common: lots of other people have regarded them as human pond scum. Being, myself, of a "pond scum" background (my family were railroaders, mostly, I started the South Bethlehem Historical Society to help counter that unhealthy idea. My new blog, "Wrong Side Of The Tracks," also is designed to view Bethlehem from a South Side, working class perspective. It's at http://joancampion.livejournal.com.(I had a blog once called The Bethlehem Blog Times, but as far as I know the host for that no longer exists. Correct me if I'm wrong.)
Anyway, it seems that all of the South Side's people--50 plus ethnic groups--have in common the experience of being thought inferior. And thank you, LV Latino, for acknowledging the perception that Latinos are intent on taking rather than giving. That perception DOES exist among many, though I know people of whom the perception clearly is not true. You yourself clearly are one of them. Maybe we can help work it all out, here in the blogosphere.
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