Why I was impressed with Allentown’s new mayor
New Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk’s first big public address was a home run Wednesday because of his honesty.
I’ve attended several “State of the City” speeches over the years. They’ve all been pep rallies.
Previous mayors Ray O’Connell and Ed Pawlowski touted accomplishments under their watch, spouted off endless statistics and painted a rosy picture of the future for the friendly crowd.
Tuerk also is proud and optimistic. He touted what deserved to be touted Wednesday — increasing tax revenue, downtown and riverfront redevelopment, hardworking city employees, rising income among residents, a robust park system and a Health Bureau that has heroically fought COVID-19.
But Tuerk also dared to talk about the city’s warts.
“I’m going to be open and honest with you, always. So this is going to be an honest look at where we are right now, and where we’re going,” Tuerk said. The Democrat and Allentown’s first Latino mayor spoke at a Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce lunch at the Renaissance Hotel.
He cited a police force that’s smaller, by 80 to 85 officers, than standard for a city the size of Allentown. He said the city’s “arcane software” makes it difficult to analyze budgets and accept digital payments.
“What is the state of housing in Allentown right now? Frankly, it’s a struggle,” Tuerk said.
People want to move to Allentown, he said. But the city and broader Lehigh Valley have not been able to keep up with the demand. So housing costs have risen.
Much of the housing is old, and the city isn’t keeping up with required inspections of rental units.
Tuerk noted residents’ concerns about illegal dumping and litter, and “a seeming, and I stress seeming, lack of interest on behalf of the city in dealing with that issue.”
The filth in parts of Center City has infuriated me for years. I don’t understand how people can be such pigs. Correcting that will not be easy. It’s not something government can solve alone.
While there are hundreds of new residents on Hamilton Street, part of it still “needs some love,” Tuerk said.
“There are still vacant storefronts, deteriorated facades and a sometimes feeling of lack of safety on the street.”
Allentown can do better in attracting new businesses, Tuerk said, citing declining data about new business licenses.
It also has to provide more parking. Barely any has been added in the past 50 years, he said, while the number of vehicles in the city has risen from about 41,000 to more than 55,000.
“What is the state of our residents’ health in Allentown? Good question,” Tuerk lamented. “The fact of the matter is, the state of the health of our residents is largely unknown, and that’s totally unacceptable.”
Antiquated state data systems don’t offer reliable information about health in localized areas, he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted routine health care. Nine hundred children are behind on standard immunizations. People are not getting mammograms and other screenings that can catch cancer early, when it’s more treatable. The suspension of sexually transmitted disease clinics has resulted in an increase in those diseases.
It took courage for Tuerk to raise such a list of shortcomings and challenges before a crowd consisting largely of business leaders who want to see their city portrayed positively.
But Tuerk left them with a lot of reason for hope, too.
New software will allow housing inspectors to work more efficiently. A new pool is planned. City police will be doing more training to improve their interactions with residents.
The former Allentown State Hospital is on track to be redeveloped. It will be the largest redevelopment in the city in a long, long time.
Tuerk said the school system, while beyond the city’s control, is struggling but represents great opportunity.
It’s in good hands with “bright, thoughtful and enthusiastic” new Superintendent John Stanford. The city’s state legislators — Sen. Pat
Browne, Rep. Mike Schlossberg and
Rep. Peter Schweyer — continue to fight for the district in Harrisburg.
Tuerk closed his address by recognizing reality — that he needs help as mayor to make Allentown better. He called on business owners to get involved. That call applies to residents, too.
“Your success is our success. And our success is your success,” Tuerk said.
He told the audience they’d be hearing from him again, at the same time next year when his next State of the City address is due.
“And it’s going to be better. It’s going to be a different story then,” he said.
Regardless of what happens over the next year, I hope it’s another honest story, too.