Category: Budget

What Allentown did with police budgeting

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

Gadfly always keeping an eye open to what’s going on around us.

Looks like Allentown backed off on “large-scale reallocation” of the police budget but approved a policing program with Cedar Crest including research into “alternative policing programs launched in other cities across the nation”; provided the financial flex to look into “developing a crisis assistance program that tasks mental health providers with responding first to certain emergency calls”; joined in Georgetown University’s new “active bystandership” training.

Selections from Andrew Wagaman, “As Allentown City Council squeezes more spending initiatives into budget, controller says revenue estimates are too optimistic.” Morning Call, November 30, 2020.

City Council on Monday night considered about a dozen proposed amendments to the 2021 budget — and approved most of them. The initiatives ranged from a new $100,000 line item to address homelessness issues to a $40,000 proposal that would jump-start a community policing program with Cedar Crest College.

Rather than proposing a large-scale reallocation of the police budget to various social services, progressive council members Ce-Ce Gerlach and Joshua Siegel worked to build coalitions supporting more targeted reforms.

Gerlach, Siegel and Mota backed Vice President Julio Guridy’s proposal to earmark $100,000 to address issues facing the homeless population. The funding matches a similar $100,000 earmark in Lehigh County’s budget.

Gerlach hopes the city money can support projects recommended by the Commission on Homelessness she spearheaded this year, in conjunction with the Regional Homeless Advisory Board. A number of council members expressed hope that the funding represents real momentum after years of talk.

Council passed the spending proposal by a 7-0 vote.

Mota, Siegel and Gerlach also proposed setting aside another $100,000 to help arts and culture organizations financially battered by the pandemic.

In a joint letter, nine organizations including the Allentown Art Museum, the Allentown Symphony Association and Discover Lehigh Valley said they need help remaining afloat until programs can resume at pre-pandemic levels.

The financial commitment, the letter said, will also “send a message to private funders” that the organizations need all the help they can get.

“Arts and culture organizations enhance and enrich the lives of so many in our city,” the letter said. “The City budget should ensure that we have the resources to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic so we can continue our important cultural work for years to come.”

Added Mota, whose husband is an artist: “Beauty creates hope. … This is a commitment by our city to create a sense of hope in the community.”

After much discussion, council voted unanimously to provide $75,000.

Council’s various factions also came together to support a $100,000 increase to its own budget. The additional money gives council flexibility to tap consultants for help implementing priority-based budgeting and other recommendations of a 2019 independent financial audit. It could also look into developing a crisis assistance program that tasks mental health providers with responding first to certain emergency calls — a proposal of Siegel’s.

In yet another unanimous vote, Council added $40,000 to the police department’s budget to kick off its Community Engagement Center collaboration with Cedar Crest College.

The police department and Cedar Crest will use the funds to help establish a community policing program. In addition to talking to residents about what they want out of such a program, they will also research the feasibility of implementing various types of community policing or alternative policing programs launched in other cities across the nation.

“This is a giant step forward,” Councilwoman Candida Affa said.

Siegel, who has expressed skepticism about community policing’s benefits, said he was confident the research conducted over the next few years will “reflect there are better ways to address certain societal issues that have little to no police dynamic” and “yield an environment I’ve been advocating for.”

Selections from Andrew Wagaman, “What you need to know about Allentown’s final 2021 budget and its long-term financial outlook.” Morning Call, December 2, 2020.

The Allentown Police Department’s $41 million budget includes enhanced crisis intervention training and resources. The force will also be one of the first in the nation to participate in Georgetown University’s new “active bystandership” training,” which provides officers with tactics to intervene and prevent misconduct by their peers.

The police department will also replace outdated street surveillance cameras, finish a renovation of its headquarters, and implement a new record management system to better track, analyze and share crime data. And on Monday, city council gave the police department another $40,000 to begin working with Cedar Crest College experts on establishing a community policing program.

Council earmarked another $100,000 to address issues related to homelessness. The city’s new Commission on Homelessness is slated to deliver a strategic plan in the spring.

Among other initiatives, council also appropriated $75,000 to support various arts and culture organizations struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

APD Joins National ABLE Project

The Allentown Police Department has been accepted into the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, Georgetown University Law Center’s national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm.

By demonstrating agency commitment to transformational reform with support from local community groups and elected leaders, the Allentown Police Department joins a select group of 30 other law enforcement agencies and statewide and regional training academies chosen to participate in the ABLE Project’s national rollout. To date, hundreds of agencies across the country have expressed interest in participating.

Backed by prominent civil rights and law enforcement leaders, the evidence-based, field-tested ABLE Project was developed by Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program in collaboration with global law firm Sheppard Mullin LLP to provide practical active bystandership strategies and tactics to law enforcement officers to prevent misconduct, reduce officer mistakes, and promote health and wellness.
ABLE gives officers the tools they need to overcome the innate and powerful inhibitors individuals face when called upon to intervene in actions taken by their peers.

“We might need to get back to the basics of what the City’s core mission is”

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

Here’s another caller to Council Tuesday night not on the police topic that Gadfly doesn’t want to get lost in the shuffle, or the kerfuffle.

For the topic — the budget — is timely.

The last budget hearing is tonight at 6PM, and the final vote on the budget will take place December 15.

Gadfly always asks that you go to the primary source and listen for yourself.

The text is not a transcription, but what there is, is directly quoted.

If the audio is unsatisfactory, go to the video for better quality.

———-

Bud Hackett (7 mins.) (min. 12:05):

  • There’s a story this morning in the Morning Call . . . a story about the Allentown budget process . . . and there’s a comment from the City Controller, a fellow named Jeff Glazier . . . “It would be my recommendation that Council proceed with very light feet in how they take money from various funds within the city.”
  • The Mayor’s budget seems to be a reasonable continuation of last year’s budget, but it includes a significant increase in taxes.
  • I’ve watched a lot of these meeting since June or July, and City Council has spent much of the past 6 months listening to and being pressured by a number of different people . . . .
  • The essence of what I heard is that those people want city programs and operations changed . . . reallocate funds within the city to more social programs.
  • There’s no shortage of important issues . . . homelessness, affordable housing, drug abuse, gangs, mental issues . . . pedestrian bridges.
  • There’s just more and more and more demands for Council’s activity.
  • We might need to get back to the basics of what the City’s core mission is.
  • In business you see a lot of mission creep, taking on more and more activities.
  • In my mind, the mission is all about public works, public safety, maybe addressing some but not all of the quality of life issues.
  • It’s not the City’s role, in my opinion, to solve all the problems of the world or our community.
  • I know there will be votes for elected officials who are [?] pandering is probably too strong a word to all the vocal groups [?] change, and I do respect people’s right to speak out.
  • But here’s the cold, hard facts, we don’t have all the money to do all the things the special interest groups are demanding.
  • [info on Allentown which became an attractive place for low income people to move to. Even worse in Reading. Higher taxes drove people out of the city and that created more demand for social programs.]
  • The city found itself with staggering social problems and the cost of correcting those needs
  • 2020 has been a devastating year for so many of us.
  • It’s time for Bethlehem to stop thinking about how it can spend more money.
  • At least for this year.
  • There will be a lot of support for elected officials who begin to think about how Bethlehem can become more balanced in its approach to government and spending.

Labeling all people willing to speak out for transparency and discussion “Marxists” is shameful

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

ref: The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance also in full-court press as budget vote nears

Thank you for curating, Gadfly. Debate is missing, in spite of  your effort.

Obviously two sides so opposed – like our federal political parties – could only benefit from committing to listening to each other’s scientifically supported view points with a promise to listen and act based on democratic norms.

That is a hard thing to hear for those suffering under the legacy of 400 YEARS of racial, social, cultural, economic and medical oppression. This is a fact that can not be denied, though it is ignored and challenged and belittled.

Ignorance of its importance is being made known, especially recently by the young who perhaps don’t have the material wealth and social power to fear losing. But what is RIGHT?

We had been a country that prided itself on standing up against bullies, or so we’d been taught. I (a 54 year old) – like so many – agree that now is the time to use our voices on behalf of all. This must include those oppressed with the hope of righting our nation’s egregious wrongs, as much as possible.

BLM protests – joined by all creeds – have been largely non-violent – 93% (according to the report by US Crisis Monitor cited by Time, USA Today, Washington Post, and others) – in spite of the unquantifiable violence done on their ancestors their CONTEMPORARIES, and themselves.

If one thinks this is inaccurate, the democratic, civilized, educated norm is that one cites sources AND DEBATES; one does NOT write or yell “fake news” with any integrity.

Yes, corporate media must be checked, just like the powers and branches of government that can be bought much more easily as a result of the 2010 Citizens United ruling that allowed unlimited corporate funding of elections leading to undocumented “dark money”. (1) Fair and reasonable political influence? Phooey. Three Americans have more wealth than the least wealthy 50%. (2) Good at what they do? Certainly. Good FOR what they do? Much less so.

But that sweeping “fake news” cry is not only dishonest, it is lazy, undemocratic, ill-intentioned, and inhumane considering the suffering that has created the need to demand justice.

State your position HONESTLY, not in a partisan (one-sided) vacuum outside of society. Labeling all people willing to speak out for transparency and discussion “Marxists” is fascist oppression of free speech and McCarthy-esque, shameful (and likely libelous* and slanderous*).

*Where would this stand legally considering the recent Gunther Walsh radio bit and the online posters that have been shared?

To BE better, we have to DEMAND better, and then ACT better.

(1) https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained

(2) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/11/09/the-3-richest-americans-hold-more-wealth-than-bottom-50-of-country-study-finds/amp/

Greg Zahm

President Waldron: no will on Council to defund or eliminate the police department

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

President Waldron began last night’s City Council meeting with a brief announcement that, despite rumor (think Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance), there is “no will among Council members to defund or eliminate the police department.”

President Waldron asked Council members to submit amendments to the budget for discussion at the Thursday budget meeting by Monday, and none were received relating to the police (sounds like there is something coming related to the Fire Department, however).

Even before going to a longish list of callers in the comment space of the meeting, President Waldron wanted to “assure” the public that Council “will not be amending or making any changes” to the police department budget for 2021.

“It is our intention,” he said, “as Bethlehem City Council to continue to support all of the employees of the City of Bethlehem, including the police department.”

The police department budget, President Waldron said, is, in fact, larger than last year mostly because of a 3% salary increase, like all of the 600+ City employees.

The salary of elected officials remains the same, no increase.

President Waldron’s announcement took some of the drama away from the subsequent string of pro-police callers, for the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance was in a kind of blitz mode during the previous 36 hours or so, including the appearance on the Bobby Gunther Walsh radio show and including the skewering of Councilwoman Van Wirt in the image Gadfly posted for you yesterday right before the meeting.

The meeting was robust both at the beginning from callers (overwhelmingly against “defunding” but powerful voices on the other side too) and at the end (the spirited interaction among the Council people).

Given some time, Gadfly will provide details and audio clips as usual, but, of course, in the meantime, you can go to the video (begin min. 1:46:00 with Councilwoman Crampsie Smith’s passion and eloquence for the Council interplay at the end).

Also, in the meantime, Gadfly suggests that you go to the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance Facebook page to see their reaction to the meeting.

Yes, go there. Whew!

Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance at full throttle for the Council meeting tonight!

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance is racing on all cylinders for tonight’s meeting.

Go to their Facebook page, Gadfly encourages you!

An image like this (sorry, Gadfly can’t get a print-readable image — sigh), you’ll find.

And video.

And probably more since last Gadfly looked.

Promises to rock tonight at the meeting.

Gadfly models quality conversation

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

ref: The need for quality conversation

from the LVGNA facebook page:

A lead post following this image:
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
The next Bethlehem City Council meeting is Tuesday December 1st at 7pm. Please call in during the public comment section of this meeting to speak directly to council about your public safety concerns surrounding the current push by radical activists to defund the Bethlehem Police Department.
Among the responses are these two:
Jose L. Garcia
Done, it is disturbing that our local government has even thought about it.
Deborah Snyder
Done. This is absolutely disgraceful that they would even consider this.
LVGNA responds to Debra:
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
Deborah Snyder
We agree. Equally disgraceful is the way they repeatedly use the police whenever they want or need them. We’re learned that this council uses police to delivery their meeting minutes / packets directly to their homes. They want to defund the police but they want them to be their personal servants as well. Shameless hypocrites.
———-
A more community-based response suggested by Gadfly:
Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance
Jose and Debra
We know you are incredulous, but let me tell you that several of our fellow residents have made their cases to Council.
For instance, neighbor1 and neighbor2  pointed out such and such and such and such.
You can hear them on the video of the November 17 Council meeting at such and such.
But we don’t agree with their cases and here’s why: ___________________.
What do you think?

“Where is the willingness to discuss, rather than to name-call and inflame?”

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

ref: The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance gets air time to seek followers and rouse action

Gadfly:

No responses?

Silence compels questions: are we self absorbed, overwhelmed, fatigued of divisiveness, hopeless, angry? Where is the willingness to discuss, rather than to name-call and inflame? There is a cause for everything, usually multiple.

But “Marxists”, “Master Plan”, “Infiltrating the government”, “Far Left”, “Ring Leader” and “Power Grab”? Are we divided so thoroughly that we revert to what is arguably slanderous and libelous rhetoric rather than embrace free speech – so long as it is morally and scientifically defensible –  and the differences that allow us to evolve?

Where is the city effort to bring us together? Where are those digital message boards to inform our neighbors how to attend council meetings? We have an idea that many more would attend with appropriate, more capable publication.

It is an incredibly tough time, but this is obviously important and we managed one (?) virtual meeting. It is perverted somewhat not standing face to face, but aren’t we capable of taking responsibility for those ill chosen words and actions, the risks of dialogue and being human, without forever hating? We must believe we are.

I believe in our community. There is so much good taking place.

If we commit to asking each other what we need to know, listening and challenging and supporting and respecting honest answers. Not shouting down or bullying. Those are American, democratic values – however arguably unequally enjoyed and defended – that unite us.

Who’s willing to work?

Greg Zahm

The need for quality public conversation

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Quality public policy starts with quality public conversation.
Glen Ragni, July 21

ref: “We encourage Council not to proceed recklessly”
ref: The Bethlehem conversations on defunding the police (7): Greg
ref: The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance gets air time to seek followers and rouse action

Yesterday Glen and Carrie of the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance were on the Bobby Gunther Walsh radio show to alert local residents of possible action related to the Bethlehem police in the current budget hearings, encouraging people concerned about “defunding” the police to make their voices heard at tonight’s City Council meeting and Thursday’s last budget hearing.

Gadfly loves good discussion, good argument, good conversation.

And he has complimented Glen for his comments to that effect July 21 and August 11.

“Quality public policy starts with quality public conversation” has common sense bumper-sticker clarity and concision.

Gadfly is not sure when the Good Neighbors group was formed — perhaps after August 11? — but he has been disappointed in the rhetoric lately coming out under the aegis of LVGNA.

And he was disappointed in yesterday’s conversation with Gunther and wonders what call-in comment from LVGNA supporters tonight and Thursday will be like as a result.

First, there was a failure during the show segment to recognize and communicate to others that “defunding the police” simply means reducing police department budgets and redistributing those funds towards essential social services that are often underfunded, such as housing, education, employment, mental health care, and youth services.

LVGNA has recently called attention to the fact that the police answer c. 60,000 calls a year. If the number of calls were reduced to 55,000 or 50,000 by siphoning off some mental health and other type non-criminal calls without compromising public safety, would some reduction in the police budget be unreasonable? That’s the kind of thing mainstream “defunders” are talking about.

Next, Marxism gets mentioned a half-dozen times on the Gunther show.

What has Marxism got to do with moving funds to social workers or the Health Bureau?

To Gadfly the repeated references to Marxism on the show seem an odd throwback to the Cold War. What Gadfly hears is echoes of the 1950s hysteria: there’s a Communist cell (“a small noisy, vocal group”) in Bethlehem pushing a Stalinist 5-year plan (“they have a master plan for us”) involving brain-washing (“Dr. Roy is indoctrinating your kids”), with the idea of “infiltrating” (ha! when is this word ever used except in relation to Communists) our government — we’re in an epic battle between the forces of GOOD and EVIL right here in our “home town” — a struggle to the death “to repel a Marxist crusade to destroy our quality of life.”

Gladfly had a flashback while listening to the radio show to standing out in front of the Drexel Hill Furniture Co. in the early 1950s watching the McCarthy Hearings on one of the few televisions in town set up in the showroom window.

Moreover, can’t we dispense with incendiary labels like leftist, activist, radical activist and, instead, refer to our fellow residents who don’t share our views by name — as individuals — and show we respect their views by understanding them?

And do we need ad hominem slurs like “she’s a doctor, as if I give a blank”? Or “self-proclaimed expert”?

How, Gadfly wants to know, is what Gunther’s listeners heard yesterday fostering the “quality public conversation” that develops “quality public policy”?

“I am hopeful . . . the citizens of Bethlehem have had enough of . . . inflammatory rhetoric”

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Michele Downing is a Social Worker and RN, a grandmother of two, interested in social and environmental justice, a resident of the Lehigh Valley for fifteen years, the last six years a resident of West Bethlehem.

ref: The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance gets air time to seek followers and rouse action

Gadfly:

Well, that is 10 minutes of my life I will never get back.

However, in all seriousness, I am hopeful the country, and even the citizens of Bethlehem, have had enough of that type of inflammatory rhetoric being cloaked in the word “new.”

No, Lehigh University is not a “hot bed of liberal marxists who have been lying to your children.”

NO . . . Dr Roy is not “in on the Marxist conspiracy.”

Paige Van Wirt is not “their leader.”

The people I have listened to calling in to Bethlehem City Council meetings have offered research and data, not rhetoric and fear mongering.

And I believe that will continue to be the case in spite of the best efforts of the “Good Neighbors Alliance” to divert attention from what is really important.

In full transparency, I have called in and will continue to do so, and I am definitely not a confused Marxist child as my good neighbors would imply.

Michele

The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance gets air time to seek followers and rouse action

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Greg and Carrie, co-founders of Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance, had a conversation with Bobby Gunther Walsh on his radio program today at approx 9:50AM, alerting the public about a concerted Marxist effort to defund the Bethlehem Police department and the need for the “silent majority” to make their views known at the City Council meetings this week.

Gadfly always recommends going to the primary source, so he urges you to listen to the show segment (11 mins.)

But his text are direct quotes.

  • . . . leftists trying to totally trying to transform the city of Bethlehem, a small noisy, vocal group that are changing everything for all the citizens — wake up and smell the coffee because there is a Seattle brewing in our home town.
  • Bethlehem is being targeted, and the Bethlehem police department is under siege by a group of radical Marxists who are hell-bent on not only defunding but dismantling and entirely abolishing the Bethlehem police department, as absurd as that might sound.
  • In the words of their leaders, their self-proclaimed leaders, “I am 100% in favor of defunding and abolishing the police. They are not necessary, and their only purpose is to protect private property. I am not safer because some white guy with a gun is driving around my neighborhood.”
  • One of their self-proclaimed policing experts, who is a far-left Lehigh professor, and sadly Lehigh has become a hot-bed of this leftist, odd-ball Marxism, said, “the voters have told you . . . we do not want institutions who have not reconciled with their racist past to get more funding. We expect this Council to invest in anti-racism.”
  • So somehow this self-proclaimed policing expert also has the psychic ability to divine what the voters of Bethlehem want even though they haven’t voted on anything yet.
  • We are urging people who are concerned about public safety or losing the incredible public safety we have in Bethlehem [to contact City Council].
  • People in the Lehigh Valley who realize this concerted effort by Marxists that is happening all across the country . . . skyrocketing crime rate. It just doesn’t happen in those major cities, it is happening in the Christmas City.
  • It’s happening in our home town, and we have to fight against it.
  • At the last City Council meeting, one Bethlehem business person spoke against, he was outnumbered 10-1 by these Marxists who call in to every City Council meeting.
  • They started this summer, but now they are really pushing because this is budget season.
  • This is when City Council either approves or defunds the Mayor’s policing budget.
  • Here’s one of the ringleaders . . . I also had conversations with this woman, this Van Wirt . . . she’s a doctor, as if I give a blank, she did not like the news that I sent her, then lied to me about something that I already knew was a lie, she is one of the ringleaders.
  • They’ve indoctrinated your kids, colleges, schools, indoctrinated your kids to hate America, and they are this minority  . . . that is steering the whole City Council.
  • Tell Council something from a point of view they don’t want to hear but that they desperately need to hear from the silent majority, but if we are silent for too much longer, we’re going to be forever silent.
  • Dr. Roy, at the Bethlehem Area School District, is indoctrinating, using your tax money, indoctrinating your children, and we can see the logical result of this when you listen to these meetings because it’s the young people who are calling in, some of them admit that they have mental health issues, and these are the very people who are being manipulated by a well organized, very well financed PAC . . . using young people to lobby Council on a consistent basis and to infiltrate our government.
  • And one of the City Council members, Grace Crampsie Smith, who’s up for re-election next November, came right out and said we’re giving radical activists a mechanism to make changes to our police department and address systemic racism.
  • Activists are the ones who are going to navigate the process in all areas, including education, housing, economic disparities . . .
  • They have a master plan for us, and if we don’t get off our butts, and do something about it, well, then, you are going to be led by the nose.
  • A lot of people don’t even know this is going on.
  • That’s the way they want it. City Council passed a resolution without even hearing from any dissenting voice.
  • So most of the City Council or all of them are in the tank with these leftists?
  • All except one . . . except Bryan Callahan, who is the only one who had the guts to call out his other Council members.
  • For they are denying they are for defunding.
  • But we’ve traced highly placed sources who have told us that’s exactly what’s going on.
  • So most of the people on City Council are in the tank for it except Bryan Callahan.
  • Folks, you need to speak up.
  • Amendments will defund the police if we don’t speak up now.
  • This is our last chance.
  • Join our voices to repel this Marxist crusade to destroy the quality of life we enjoy in our home town.

The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance also in full-court press as budget vote nears

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

“The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance is a community of civic-minded individuals
who raise awareness about important local issues and coordinate
effective community action.”

Let it not be said that there is only one full-court press going on as the budget process heads to the goal.

Gadfly has reported on the full-court press being applied by Lehigh Valley Stands Up on City Council for modifications in policing and reallocation of the police budget.

The Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance is employing a counter-insurgent full-court press, as evidenced by their petition, their appearance on local radio today (in 40 minutes from the publication of this post), and their call for public comment at upcoming City Council meetings.




 

City budget doin’s this week

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

Mayor Robert Donchez 2021 Budget Address

View the Mayor’s 2021 Proposed Budget

There’s  a regular City Council meeting tomorrow night Tuesday December 1, and Thursday night December 3 is the final (#4) budget hearing.

There is a good chance that there will be significant public comment about the budget both Tuesday and Thursday.

Gadfly is not sure how much budget discussion by and among the Council members will take place Tuesday night, but Thursday is the time Council traditionally focuses on horse-trading, making amendments, and attempting to finalize the budget. There should be much discussion Thursday night. Gadfly urges you to join in.

Gadfly encourages you to “attend” the Thursday budget session for sure. You can expect to see all Council members in action. And that’s what we live for on Gadfly.

The final vote on the 2021 budget takes place at the City Council meeting December 15, and Gadfly supposes that there could be more discussion and amendment-making then too.

Gadfly reminds you that City Council has ultimate budget power.

What we will be seeing in the next two weeks is Council exercising its highest responsibility.

It is our responsibility to be paying attention.

———–

What are the visible budget issues so far?

Let’s face it — tough year financially. The Mayor called it a gut-punching year, the worst he’s faced in his two terms. Thank you pandemic.

Beside general belt-tightening, the Mayor is proposing to cut 4 firefighters, 2 Service Centerers, and raise taxes 5% ($46 for the average home owner).

Gadfly has not heard a dollar figure put on the personnel cuts, but he will guess the proposed saving is in the $500,000 range. He would welcome more authoritative figures.

The City’s financial rating has been excellent, and there seems general consensus that personnel-wise the City runs a lean ship.

So far, Councilman Callahan is the only one floating specific counter-proposals to the Mayor’s budget.

Cutting staff is always nasty, but it’s even more so now because the firefighters are on the front line of public safety. Will the cuts make us less safe?

Councilman Callahan has talked vigorously about the necessity to save the personnel cuts, most particularly the firefighters.

He has floated a plan to cut building inspectors in the Department of Community and Economic Development, though no dollar figures were attached to this proposal either, so Gadfly can’t be sure how far, if enacted, that plan would go toward saving firefighters.

Councilman Callahan also has taken aim at $40,000 matching funds to a state and county collaboration to fund a feasibility study for a pedestrian/bike bridge across the Lehigh — calling it a “luxury” and bad optics when families and businesses are struggling to survive in these hard pandemic times.

The police budget is a wild card in Gadfly’s mind.

There has been a steady drumbeat of pressure to reimagine the nature and duties of the police department, especially in the last several meetings by members of and supporters of Lehigh Valley Stands Up.

In early post-GeorgeFloyd meetings, some Council members seemed inclined to consider changes in the nature and duties of the department, though two said without equivocation they would not defund.

The police department itself is instituting a pilot program aimed at addressing some of the goals of the “reimaginers,” and, though generally deemed inadequate by those “reimaginers,” Gadfly’s sense is that Council generally sees that program as a positive step. The police initiative might take the steam out of other plans for change.

Thus, in regard to the police department Council has, to public view, so far kept its powder dry.

However, the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance — a Back the Blue group — has said it has heard from two highly placed sources that a Council defunding plot is afoot, and LVGNA is mobilizing members and the general public to resist it. Their petition to “defend” the police department has 7,000+ signatures.

And, hence, as Gadfly just posted, their appearance on the WAEB Bobby Gunther Walsh radio program (790AM) at 9:40 this morning.

But, as indicated already, all Gadfly can say is that he has seen no definite visible signs of such a Council plan in regard to the police.

An interesting and important week ahead, my followers.

Lehigh Valley Stands Up applies full-court press as budget vote nears

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

City Council, November 17, 2020 video
begin min. 14:40

Lehigh Valley Stands Up members or residents supporting them dominated the public comment period at the November 17 City Council meeting, criticizing the budget plan to insulate the police department from cuts and calling for reallocation of resources to Health areas.

Such arguments were generally based on needs generated by the pandemic, and, for the first time, we see such specific proposals as a hiring freeze in the police department, elimination of school resource officers, and cutting — 16% — a specific amount that would double the Health Department budget.

Interesting.

One caller — the final caller — Bruce Haines provided the “other side,” indicating that the police department has been understaffed, that social trip media indicates Bethlehem is not a safe city, and that therefore the police are very important to the business community and others. He also suggested that he has no argument with mental health as a need but that the defunders should explore other options rather than the police department for the necessary funds.

As always, Gadfly points out that his text is paraphrase and incomplete and that he hopes you will take a little time to listen to the voices of your fellow residents as they make their cases.

Public participation. Democracy in action.

Always good.

There are two more meetings where the budget will be discussed, amended, and voted on.

What are you thinking about the issues raised here by community members?

 Jon Irons (4 mins.) (min. 14:40)

Lot of needs in the City: pandemic, economic crisis. The Mayor’s budget is planning for this but leave the police department budget untouched. If there are cuts in personnel anywhere, there should be cuts in police. It’s the biggest slice of the budget and the primary driver of the pension costs. How to cut? School resources officers might be cut. Also a hiring freeze. Hopes in future years for serious divestment in the police department. Health Bureau, for instance, has a lot of needs. Could expand the new social worker program immediately. More public accountability in regard to discipline hearings and firings. Any new training should be within existing budget not new funds or new grants.

W. Market St. lady (2 mins.) (min. 18:35)

Increasing evidence that policing is not working in the way we expect it to. Think strategically and creatively about ways in which we can keep our community safe and healthy.

Michele Downing (3 mins.) (min. 20:20)

Short time to address the impending catastrophes. Mortgages, evictions, housing crisis, student loans, covid, food insecurity, child care, online learning = our social worker program is inadequate. We are not looking at all at what the needs of the City are going to be. We all need to tighten our belts and redistribute as necessary. Videos of cars in line at food banks, and we’re not removed from that. Need discussions of where resources actually belong.

Glenn Nelson (3 mins.) (min. 23:38)

Immediate hiring freeze, and future defunding of police. Reallocation of 16% of police budget would double the Health Department budget, which seems reasonable in the middle of a pandemic. A common sense move when you realize how underfunded the Health bureau has been. It makes sense is a pandemic and financial crisis to see where money is really critically needed. Police department budget has gone up every year a bit, leading to large amount over decades. Unjustifiable in financial crisis not to look at the Police budget, plus we know it’s not working. Putting issues with people of color and with mental issues at higher risk. Hoping for cuts in police officers and addition of mental health personnel.

Cherokee St. lady (3 mins.) (min. 26:25)

Mental health crisis long before covid, now made worse. Worrying about your talk of increased police presence on Southside because knows from personal experience because police re not going to help here, and she is not alone in this belief. These crises in mental health, substance abuse, and covid have shown how deep inequalities are. We need sacrifices everywhere, and the police department is the obvious place to look. Police are not what we need. Part-time social worker and bias training will not help.

Patricia (3 mins.) (min. 28:53)

Supports calls for increased health services in the midst of a pandemic. Affordable public health services have been incredibly helpful to her. Calling 911 for mental health issues — cf. Walter Wallace — is not the answer. Police not trained to deal with such things. I ca sleep easier because of the Bethlehem Health Department but not because of the police. Need to put funds where they help people. People are really concerned as second wave of covid comes in, evictions, student loan payments. Not easy working with budget but keeping things as is will not be a benefit.

Anthony Downing (4 mins.) (min. 32:01)

Concerns of the disabled. Wants to remind people of a time when they were united in regard to caring about health because now cutting fire and other place as well as putting a 5% tax on is going in opposite direction. We should be spending this money in the midst of a global pandemic to bolster our public health, and more police or not cutting police but cutting elsewhere is going in opposite direction. You’ve done the right things before and hope you will be cutting money from police in favor of mental health services now.

Alexander Fisher (3 mins.) (min. 35:52)

Supports cutting police budget and reallocating to mental health services. Not safe calling police for mental health issues. Police department very overfunded. No empirical evidence that shows more policing leads to less crime. Myth that without big police force we would have an unfit society. Not hatred for police but growing move to reimagine the police and their function. Reallocation would make people of color and women feel a lot safer.

———-

Bruce Haines (3 mins.) (min. 39:26)

LV Stands Up has one agenda, to cut the police budget, and using the idea of a national agenda to do that. But that is not a majority position, rather a minority position. Agrees that the police are not meeting needs of the community but reason is that they are understaffed. Department only now fully staffed which gives business community a sense of safety about bringing tourists to Bethlehem. See Trip Advisor — we are considered an unsafe community. Police are critical in Bethlehem putting its best foot forward. No issue with concern for mental health but need to refocus on other options to funding mental health instead of taking money from police. Our police problem is not excessive. We don’t have a major police problem. LV Stands Up tries to make it a problem. I’m here to defend the police and funding for the police and speak for a whole lot of people who haven’t called in because the Mayor’s budget did not cut the police. Speaking for the other side and the safety of our community.

Callahan not bursting the bridge’s balloon, just blowing it up slower

Latest in a series of posts on the pedestrian bridge

Bruce Haines is a Lehigh graduate who returned to Bethlehem after a 35-year career at USSteel. He put together a 12-member Partnership to rescue the Hotel Bethlehem from bankruptcy in 1998 and lives in the historic district.

Gadfly:

I think Councilman Callahan made a valid point about the timing of funding this [pedestrian/bicycle bridge] project.

He was clear that he generally supported this project, but at this point there were likely more urgent needs for the $40,000.

He also pointed out that the matching funds would likely still be there next year as well so that this project could be funded when times are better.

Businesses are deferring expenditures & reallocating scarce funding during this period.

Government should also be doing the same thing.

In this particular case, I think Mr. Callahan was not being unreasonable.

He was not bursting the balloon for the bridge but only blowing it up a little slower than originally planned to address more critical needs.

I don’t think he got a fair hearing quite frankly from his fellow council members.

Bruce

Pedestrian bridge politics

Latest in a series of posts on the pedestrian bridge

Bud Hackett is a Bethlehem resident who raised 4 kids in the City. He recently became very interested in quality of life issues in the city and hopes to offer a balance to the approach City Council is taking.

ref: The budget dance (3): the pedestrian/bicycle bridge

Gadfly:

It is all about who is pandering to which constituency.

It would appear that Mr. Reynolds is looking for votes from the liberal democrats that want the City to give them a free $4-5 million bike and walk bridge across the river.

Who doesn’t want a “free bridge”?

Just look at the list of people and organizations sending letters of support for the project. A treasure trove of progressive voters.

Mr. Callahan seems to want to distinguish himself as a democrat from Mr. Reynolds and seems to be more aligned with “working class” moderate Dems that may feel the bridge is more for tourists and a benefit for the Southside at the expense of the taxpayers north of the river.

Politics is not about doing what’s best,

it’s about doing what best for the politicians.

Yes, we all want “free stuff” paid for by others.

We are currently in crises financially.

Aren’t we taxed enough already?

No need to be dreaming up new ways to spend the taxpayer’s money.

Bud

Bridge process: a model of democratic citizen engagement plus an equally vigorous response from city government

Latest in a series of posts on the pedestrian bridge

Doug Roysdon is a member of the Bethlehem Pedestrian-Biking Bridge Committee.

Dear Gadfly :

There has been some unfortunate controversy raised over the proposed feasibility study of the pedestrian/biking bridge. After a resounding 6-1 affirmation of the proposal last week, it seems that this decision is still being tested.

So, perhaps it’s time to put the bridge aside for a moment . . .

Let’s address a subject quite unrelated to economic, transportational, and social issues. That is, the remarkable, possibly unprecedented, democratic process that yielded the feasibility study in the first place.  The public record of that citizen-lead process stands on its own:

Six public meetings at the IceHouse and City Hall.

A citizen financed Vision Statement facilitated by national consultancy firm Neighbours Inc.

A twenty-five page report documenting our community conversation on the bridge.

Two Lehigh University architecture courses exploring the design of the bridge.

Thirty endorsements including the City Health Bureau, The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, ArtsQuest, and Discover Lehigh Valley.

These citizen-initiated actions were met with an exemplary response by Bethlehem city government and the Mayor. The city’s contribution to the study includes voting almost unanimously two times in support of the feasibility study, generously following and supporting the process by the City Planning Department, and engaging in four interviews with nationally recognized design firms.

In short, a model of democratic citizen engagement was met with an equally vigorous response from city government. Together, this dual response to a possible pedestrian/biking bridge marks a progressive means of addressing new ideas and public decision-making. In many ways, this is more important than the bridge itself!

Thanks, Doug

The debate over the pedestrian/bicycle bridge

Latest in a series of posts on the pedestrian bridge

City Council, November 17, 2020 video
begin min. 2:06:01

Budget Hearing, November 19, 2020 video
begin min. 36:40

Pedestrian/bicycle bridge feasibility study
Funding sources: DCNR grant $40,000; Northampton County grant $60,000; City funds $40,000 = $140,000

ref: The budget dance (3): the pedestrian/bicycle bridge

As promised, here is the back and forth between Councilman Callahan and Councilman Reynolds.

At City Council the debate opens with longish comments by both parties, then 3 instances of sparring.

At the Budget Hearing, Councilman Callahan probes Mr. Alkhal for items that the City is behind on, and 6-7 minutes in to the conversation he hits on ADA ramps which look like will be the subject of his budget amendment transferring the $40,000 from the pedestrian bridge line item.

The clips are longish but worth listening to.

We can learn a lot about each Councilman.

The narrative is like a short story developing.

Gadfly likes to lay these things out for you first.

What are you thinking?

ADA ramps (be sure to listen to Mr. Alkhal’s description) or a pedestrian bridge study?

City Council, November 17

Callahan 1 (7 mins.)

Reynolds 1 (7 Mins.)

 

Callahan 2 (3 mins.)

Reynolds 2 (3 mins.)

 

Callahan 3 (6 mins.)

Reynolds 3 (1 min.)

 

Callahan 4 (2 mins.)

Reynolds 4 (4 mins.)

 

Budget Hearing November 19

Callahan 5 (13 mins.)

The budget dance (3): the pedestrian/bicycle bridge

Latest in a series of posts on the pedestrian bridge

City Council, November 17, 2020 video
begin min. 2:06:01

Budget Hearing, November 19, 2020 video
begin min. 36:40

Pedestrian/bicycle bridge feasibility study
Funding sources: DCNR grant $40,000; Northampton County grant $60,000; City funds $40,000 = $140,000

The third element in the budget dance so far this year is $40,000 to fund a feasibility study for a pedestrian/bicycle bridge across the Lehigh River. (Click “pedestrian bridge” under Topics on the sidebar)

The idea for this pedestrian/bicycle bridge germinated several years ago and the process marked a key moment a year or two ago when $40,000 of City money was approved to join with state and county grants as indicated above to fund a feasibility study.

The City’s $40,000 was approved by Council in last year’s budget, and it came before Council last Tuesday night November 17 in what normally would be a routine approval of a contract with the firm selected by a City committee to do the study.

However, Councilman Callahan strongly objected to approving these funds, which led to as vigorous a Council interchange as Gadfly has witnessed in recent months between especially Councilman Callahan and Councilman Reynolds.

In brief, Councilman Callahan — reminding us that he was for the bridge project and voted for the study in better financial times — argued that this “bridge to nowhere” was a “luxury” when we already had ample and, in fact, underused pedestrian/bicycle access across the river, when we are in the midst of a pandemic, when businesses are suffering, when citizens are scrambling financially, when City revenue is down, when the City faces increased pension contributions, when we couldn’t afford the cost of a bridge anyway, and, perhaps most significantly, when we are cutting crucial City personnel (e.g., firefighters) and when we are raising taxes.

Other Councilpersons but especially Councilman Reynolds argued, among other things, that the bridge is an economic engine, that this is a different vision for the city, something to make us special, another brand for the City, one like others in which functionality is not the key element, something that has been in process for years, something in which a large number of residents have been creatively proactive and whose dedication needs to be affirmed, a project that has attracted state and county support, that has generated huge support from private citizens, City organizations, and the business community itself, a project, which if pursued after the feasibility study would not be paid for with City funds, a project whose funding was in the Capital part of the budget not the General fund, so that the money could not be used for salaries to save positions as Councilman Callahan would want.

Councilwoman Crampsie Smith — liking the project but feeling the pain of the pandemic — made a motion to table the proposal, but that failed 5-2.

Councilmen Callahan and Reynolds went back and forth, like two rams with locked horns.

It got testy. Councilman Callahan asking how often Councilman Reynolds voted to raise taxes. Councilman Reynolds asking that the record show that he was laughing at Councilman Callahan.

Councilman Callahan climactically turning, in effect, to the audience asking all who supported his view to send their comments to the City Clerk.

Council eventually voted 6-1 to approve the contract for the feasibility study.

Councilman Callahan was not deterred, however.

Learning that the $40,000 could be transferred to other uses in the Capital budget, at the November 19 budget hearing he quizzed Public Works director Alkhal about other possible uses for the money, seeming to settle on the fact that $40,000 would pay for ADA disability ramps at two intersections.

And will propose an amendment to that effect at the final budget deliberations.

That’s where we stand right now.

Followers will remember that one of the goals of the Gadfly project is to help you know your elected officials as well as possible so that you can make the most informed choices possible next time you vote.

Councilman Callahan is up for Council again in the May primary. And ’tis said that both Councilmen Callahan and Reynolds may run for Mayor.

So Gadfly is putting together some audio clips for you to hear. In the meantime, there are links to the meeting videos at the top of the page.

The budget dance (2): the police department

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Budget Hearing November 9 video
public comment, begin min. 3:53:49

“When I was in [a depressed state], the presence of law enforcement . . . made my anxiety spiral out of control.”

“You must make meaningful cuts to the police budget.”

“Implicit bias training and one part-time social worker — it’s insulting, seriously.”

“My ask tonight would be to make a cut to the police department personnel and to put that money to the Health Bureau for mental health services and crisis response and community health services.”

———–

ref: “Defunders” criticize the proposed police budget

Gadfly finishing off what he started a week ago.

Capturing the voices of those who called in at the tail end of the 4+ hour first budget hearing on November 9 to comment on the police budget.

In all, there were 8 comments, all asking for cuts in the police budget and reallocation of those funds elsewhere in the mental health area.

Gadfly captured 4 of those “defunder” voices in the previous post, now the final 4.

There were no “defender” voices at that meeting.

Once you use a metaphor, it’s hard to shake.

So Gadfly continues describing to you what he calls the “budget dance.”

These dancers are not responding so much to the economic issues triggered by the pandemic but to the moral issues set on fire by the murder of George Floyd.

And it’s not clear yet whether these dancers have any partners on Council.

They may be dancing alone.

At least two Council members have said that they would not “defund” the police, but several have spoken as if they would.

No specific plans to do so have been floated by Council members.

And, as a wise Gadfly follower has noted, that’s a problem.

It is one thing to say “defund,” but it does not seem at all likely to even get a hearing unless someone has a very detailed plan of where diverted funds would go and for what purpose.

And, in addition, that it was made very clear and that there was consensus about how fears of diminished community safety because of reduction of police funding were addressed.

It is hard for Gadfly to see that such a complex idea can be presented at this late date with any chance of approval.

In addition, the City/Police Department has advanced a pilot program involving a social worker without “defunding” and at no additional cost, though callers are not satisfied with that program.

Early on Councilman Reynolds foresaw that discussions about any change in public safety would need to start early on if any major changes in the police budget for 2021 would have a chance.

That’s one reason why Gadfly has been so impatient over the past weeks.

But maybe some ideas by Councilfolk are percolating but not yet visible to Gadfly.

In any event, Gadfly encourages you to listen to the voices of your fellows in order to understand the “defunding” impulse. The text here is just quick and dirty highlights.

If you find Gadfly’s audio muffled, follow the link to the meeting video.

Glenn Nelson (3 mins.) (4:13:59)

In Philadelphia Walter Wallace was shot within one minute of police arrival, and he was shot in front of his mother, leaving a wife and unborn child. That is what we want to stop happening here, and mental stress is in no short supply. There seems to be a willingness to allow mental health to languish. As a depressed person, I make up one of five in the population. I have been lucky enough to find voluntary treatment. When I was in that state the presence of law enforcement was not helpful to me. It made my anxiety spiral out of control. The answer to mental health, you can’t have that being a cop. We don’t need a mental health cop that is on the police force. We need other services that already exist. The police aren’t trained for that job, and they shouldn’t be. It is not fiscally responsible to have other departments on skeleton crews. A budget shows what a city values.

Jackie (2 mins.) (4:17:18)

Residents are facing simultaneous public health and economic crises. Police budget could be better directed to help. Lack of comparable cuts to other departments is frankly unacceptable. Council members previously promised LV Stands Up members cuts to the police. If we have 154 members of the police department next year, we have failed. I will not mince my words, your police budget by your own words is a failure. You must make meaningful cuts to the police budget. Free up funds to put back in the community to help manage the crises. It is the city’s responsibility to be proactive to protect citizens in the months ahead. Cops won’t protect us against the virus, joblessness, etc. Investment in other things will. Make the difficult but necessary cuts to the police budget in order to give the residents a fighting chance in the year ahead.

Cherokee St. resident (5 mins.) (4:19:35)

I live in the low to moderate income area. We don’t want more police here, whether they are on horseback, bicycles, etc. Policing does not make our community safer. Our demands have been to defund . . . abolish. Chief, you’re giving us inches when we are asking for miles. Clearly you are listening, you know we want social workers to respond. You clearly recognize that there’s a problem with racism. But you need to take it 500 steps further. There’s no amount of training, or reform, or money that you can throw at the problem of police brutality. Murder of black and brown. Don’t act as if that is not a problem here. Police brutality is a serious issue here. Can’t be glossed over. Won’t just go away. Wallace was murdered by police. We need to be accurate. It is a living, breathing problem in the corrupt institution of policing in our country. Everywhere in America. Budgets are moral documents. We saw Chief DiLuzio spew his morals on Facebook. The residents have clearly spoken. I implore you to listen and do better. Implicit bias training and one part-time social worker — it’s insulting, seriously. Police departments are not equipped to handle the problem of police brutality. Need 3rd party. You need someone else’s viewpoint. The community that I live in do not want you. Safety is not police– we’ve told you over and over again.

Southside resident (3 mins.) (4:24:30)

Very concerned about the budget proposed tonight. We’ve already expressed what we want very clearly. We want fewer police officers. We don’t want or need community engagement. We don’t want community policing. We have asked to divest money from the police into the community, and what we are offered instead is cuts to other departments. Once again, we’re not being listened to. My ask tonight would be to make a cut to the police department personnel. We don’t want armed police officers responding to a mental health crisis. We’ve seen people like Walter Wallace being murdered. More community engagement will not solve this. Social workers not going out on calls won’t solve this. Training won’t solve this. Only divesting funds into mental health services will solve this. This isn’t meant to be a punishment. This is meant to be a helping hand to the community.

Third budget meeting Tuesday 6PM

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

View the Mayor’s 2021 Proposed Budget

Third Budget Meeting

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

6:00 PM

TOPICS:  PAGES IN BUDGET BOOK                                                                                                      

  1. Golf Course Enterprise Fund   253
  2. Administration                         29
  3. Council                                     12
  4. Mayor                                       16
  5. Treasurer                                   24
  6. Controller                                  20
  7. Law Bureau                               26
  8. General Fund Revenue               7
  9. General Expenses                   167
  10. Civic Expenses                        171
  11. Debt Service                           175

DUE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY, TOWN HALL ACCESS IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE PHONE COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE INSTRUCTIONS
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE INSTRUCTIONS. If you would like to speak during this Budget Meeting, please sign up per the instructions below or call into the meeting when the Council President announces he will take public comment calls. If you would like to sign up to speak, email the following information to the Bethlehem City Clerk’s office (cityclerk@bethlehem-pa.gov) no later than 2:00 PM on the date of the meeting (a) name; (b) address; (c) phone number; and (d) topic of comments. If you are signed up to speak, the City Council President will call you from (610) 997-7963. After all signed-up speakers talk, the Council President will ask whether anyone else would like to make public comments. If you want to speak at that time, call the Bethlehem City Council public comment phone line at (610) 997-7963.

NOTES. Calls to the public comment phone number will only be accepted during the designated public comment period with a 5 minute time limit. If you call and the line is busy, please call back when the current speaker is finished. As soon as your call begins, please turn off all speakers, computer speakers, televisions, or radios. At the start of your call, please state your name and address. A five minute time limit will apply to any public comments.

You can watch the City Council Meeting on the following YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRLFG5Y9Ui0jADKaRE1W3xw

The budget dance (1): the Fire Department and the Department of Community and Economic Development

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

Mayor Robert Donchez 2021 Budget Address

View the Mayor’s 2021 Proposed Budget

Let’s think about the budget, all 300 pages and hundreds of line items of it.

City Council members are part-timers. Gadfly still runs in to people who don’t realize that.

They are part-timers with important responsibilities.

The chief of which, arguably, is approving the City budget.

This is a tough budget year, a gut-punching one the Mayor called it.

The Mayor is proposing a total budget $87.4m (it was $80.2m last year) and a 5% tax increase, which translates into an increase to the average homeowner of $46.

The most highly visible budget proposal so far is the Mayor’s proposal to cut 4 firefighter and 2 service center positions.

The Mayor proposes, Council disposes.

Council will hold probably 4 budget hearings altogether, then approve the 2021 budget at the December 15 City Council meeting.

The interplay between Council and Administration that Gadfly witnessed last year was pretty benign, but this year it promises to be much more serious business because of pandemic-induced circumstances affecting revenue and a big jump in pension contributions required by law. (See “budget” under Topics on the sidebar for previous posts.)

Thus, there looks to be this year what Gadfly will call the “budget dance,” which is not only serious business but quite interesting to watch.

Specific budget proposals will not surface till the last budget hearing, but already interesting dancing has gone on, especially involving Councilman Callahan.

Councilman Callahan probed Fire Chief Achey and Business Administrator Evans for almost 8 minutes about specific financial details concerning the proposed personnel cuts in the Fire department. And then he made clear that he is not in favor of those cuts, which means he would look elsewhere in the budget to save some money.

Listen (6 mins.):

So, where elsewhere in the budget would Councilman Callahan look to make cuts? He has a specific proposal in mind regarding the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Councilman Callahan — specifically referencing a desire to save the cuts in the Fire Department — suggests a “no-brainer,” “win-win” plan to enable DCED to cut building inspectors, thus saving taxpayer money, and improving efficiency of inspections by outsourcing inspections to companies the City would choose and the builders would pay for.

Listen (18 mins.), if too long for you, do the last 3-4 mins. as the Councilman wraps up, making his pitch:

The dance between the Councilman and Director Alicia Karner is not a smooth one and gives us the opportunity to see the tension inherent in hard choices.

Now the other Councilfolk will no doubt join the dance in upcoming meetings.

In fact, Councilman Callahan did get them to put on their dancing shoes at the last City Council meeting about funding for the pedestrian/bike bridge feasibility study.

And Gadfly will soon detail that interesting interplay for you as well.

Budget meeting watchers please report!

Latest in a series of posts on the City budget

Gadfly attended the Southside meeting last night instead of the second budget hearing. There were a dozen or so viewers of the budget hearing, he noted. If Gadfly followers among them, would you want to report if there is anything that we should know.

Thanks–

Death and taxes in Bethlehem: the Mayor reports on the virus and the budget

Latest in a series of posts on City Government

Gadfly picking up on reporting about the City Council meeting Tuesday night after losing yesterday to his “other life.”

First things first.

What is in front of us all, death (the virus) and taxes (the budget).

The Mayor read a brief report from Health Bureau Director Wenrich on the virus (1 min.):

No surprise, the “numbers” are going up, especially at work sites and long-term care facilities. Just the facts, no elaboration by the Mayor or the Health Director.

The Mayor read his previously read budget speech. 

No surprise — this is a “gut-punch” year — the Mayor is proposing a 5% increase ($46 increase for the average homeownwer), and, among other things, cutting 4 firefighters and 2 Service Center employees.

Here are some selected passages:

The impact of the pandemic derailed economic activity across the country and Bethlehem was not spared. Our revenues will not meet projections this year. We made a number of adjustments to reduce expenses and limit the deficit. I immediately issued a hiring freeze. Some employees were furloughed. The recycling center and yard waste facility were closed. Pools and parks were closed. Traditional summer programming was cancelled. My financial team met with each department to target specific reductions in line items, and postponed a number of planned projects.

In the midst of this, Standard and Poor’s conducted a credit review in July. They analyzed our financial status and listened to our strategies for the future. They issued a report that re-affirmed our A+ credit rating, with a stable outlook.

Our strong financial position was built by developing and implementing sound financial strategies. I want to take this opportunity to thank my Financial Advisory Committee, members of City Council, and City Controller, George Yasso, for working with my Administration during my tenure to create a successful budgeting process.

2020 has certainly delivered a punch to the gut, but we have responded, and will make it to the end of the year on stable ground.

2021 will present a whole new set of challenges that will need to be met. Even under the best scenario the impact of the pandemic will continue to be with us well into next year.

The financial impact of the pandemic became clear enough by late summer, that we were able to begin running projections for 2021. Our initial budget model revealed a deficit of $4.5 million, primarily driven by two items, the loss of revenue due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, and another increase in pension obligations.

Projections indicate that many of our revenue sources will be significantly reduced in 2021. Earned Income Tax, one of our largest line items, is subject to employment levels, and it falls when unemployment rises.

Another large line item is the casino host fee. Although Wind Creek has continued to make their quarterly base host fee payment of $2 million, the activity inside the casino is limited for safety reasons, and thus the incremental fee that is based on gaming activity will not reach prior levels of nearly $500,000 per quarter. General economic activity requiring permits and inspections, will continue to be affected, as it has been this year.

The other major factor complicating this budget is increased pension obligations. Pensions have often been the topic of concern at budget time in cities across the Commonwealth. Every other year we are faced with adjustments to our Minimum Municipal Obligation, or MMO, which is the City’s required payment into the pension funds.

this summer, when our bi-annual actuarial pension study was completed, it was confirmed that Bethlehem’s pension payments will increase by over one million dollars next year.

In 2021, our police pension MMO alone will increase by $900,000 to $7.2 million. Fire pension MMO will increase by $200,000, to $4.4 million. Total pension expense will rise to $16.2 million in 2021, which represents 18.5% of our overall General Fund budget.

Understanding the size of the projected deficit, all departments were tasked with intense cutting of discretionary line item expenses. In addition, we postponed our borrowing that was planned for 2021. Our 5-year capital plan typically includes a bond borrowing of approximately $5 million in order to complete capital projects and purchases. Bond borrowing will be postponed until 2022 when the economy is hopefully back on firmer footing.

In previous years, that would have been enough to balance the budget. Unfortunately, it will not be enough for 2021, and additional steps will be needed. During my tenure, we have streamlined operations, refinanced debt at lower rates, increased the use of tablets and technology, and leveraged our purchasing power to achieve better deals for energy, banking, and healthcare. Those decisions have made us a stronger organization. It also has made it more difficult to find incremental improvements to address budget deficits.

Due to the pandemic, we anticipate a loss of $1 million dollars in revenue in 2021 in the areas of EIT, casino activity, and economic development. Although it is not desirable to use cash balance to replace recurring revenue, I believe it is appropriate to use $1 million from our cash account towards balancing our budget in 2021. Hopefully, the effects of the pandemic, will begin to improve by the end of next year, and those specific line items will begin to return to previous levels, negating the need for ongoing cash infusions.

The continued increase in pension obligations is more concerning, as it is not a one-time event. Difficult decisions were made in order to implement the corrective action needed to flatten the curve. Police and Fire pensions have continued to increase at rates that are just not sustainable to a budget. Our revenues do not mirror the increase in pension obligations.

To offset the steady growth through the years, there have been personnel cuts across several departments that have reduced staffing to the point, it has become a challenge to complete primary functions and meet daily responsibilities. Continuing to reduce personnel in departments to offset increased costs of other departments creates a fundamental imbalance in an organization. Public Safety is the highest priority, but not the only responsibility of the City.

Pensions that were promised years ago have been earned through loyal public service, but represent a significant burden on the budget of the City, not only by the size, but the rapid rate of growth. The only path to truly slow and contain this growth, without any pension reform from Harrisburg, is to adjust staffing levels. Not taking action will only perpetuate the problem.

Since becoming Fire Chief, Chief Achey has introduced a number of initiatives to improve functions and efficiencies. With the addition of two (and soon to be three) new engines, the Department is more dynamic and flexible than ever before. By reducing one position on each platoon, the Fire Department will reduce staffing, through attrition, from 110 to 106. I have the utmost confidence they will continue to provide the high level of service to the residents of Bethlehem.

Two additional positions will be eliminated from the Bethlehem Service Center. The Service Center has been successful in responding to non-emergency calls, emails, and App submissions from residents and visitors since the creation of the Center in May of 2019. Now that the Center has been in operation for a year, efficiencies have been identified, and the staffing will be reduced from 15 to 13. The Center will still be operational 24/7/365 days a year.

The six personnel reductions between the departments will save $500,000 each year in salary and benefits, and just as importantly help control future pension obligations.

The City’s workforce will drop from a high of 670 in 2010 to 588 during 2021, which will be the lowest in many decades. In order to close the remaining gap and balance the budget, I am proposing a .92 mil (5%) property tax increase for 2021. For a home assessed at $50,000, that would equate to a $46 per year increase.

2020 has been, by far, the most difficult year of my 7-year Administration. I know you join me in that thought and I hope and pray that we will turn the corner in 2021.

A reminder that the second budget hearing is tonight. Tune in.

Second budget meeting Thursday 6PM

Latest in a series of posts on the City Budget

View the Mayor’s 2021 Proposed Budget

Second Budget Meeting

Thursday, November 19, 2020

6:00 PM – Town Hall

TOPICS:  PAGES IN BUDGET BOOK
1. Public Works Department 83
2. Liquid Fuels Fund 261
3. Storm Water Fund 299
4. Non-Utility Capital Fund 267
5. Water Fund Revenue and Expenses 179
6. Water Capital Budget 281
7. Sewer Fund Revenue and Expenses 231
8. Sewer Capital Budget 287

DUE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY, TOWN HALL ACCESS IS CURRENTLY RESTRICTED. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE FOLLOW THE PHONE COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE INSTRUCTIONS
REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT PHONE INSTRUCTIONS. If you would like to speak during this Budget Meeting, please sign up per the instructions below or call into the meeting when the Council President announces he will take public comment calls. If you would like to sign up to speak, email the following information to the Bethlehem City Clerk’s office (cityclerk@bethlehem-pa.gov) no later than 2:00 PM on the date of the meeting (a) name; (b) address; (c) phone number; and (d) topic of comments. If you are signed up to speak, the City Council President will call you from (610) 997-7963. After all signed-up speakers talk, the Council President will ask whether anyone else would like to make public comments. If you want to speak at that time, call the Bethlehem City Council public comment phone line at (610) 997-7963.

NOTES. Calls to the public comment phone number will only be accepted during the designated public comment period with a 5 minute time limit. If you call and the line is busy, please call back when the current speaker is finished. As soon as your call begins, please turn off all speakers, computer speakers, televisions, or radios. At the start of your call, please state your name and address. A five minute time limit will apply to any public comments.

You can watch the City Council Meeting on the following YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRLFG5Y9Ui0jADKaRE1W3xw

“Defunders” criticize the proposed police budget; the “defenders” are absent

Latest in a series of posts about the Bethlehem Police

Budget Hearing November 9 video
public comment, begin min. 3:53:49

“We expect this Council to invest in anti-racism.”

“We are not being listened to.”

“Part-time social worker? A band-aid.”

“Unconscionable to pass a budget without a reduction in the police budget.”

The Budget meetings can be hum-drum. The one November 9 was going into its 5th hour, and Gadfly thought it would sleepily just whimper to close. Who could believe that there would be public comment after all that? But the police were on the agenda, we are in the post-GeorgeFloyd era, and interest was there. So we were all woken up a bit by the ringing phone. 8 people called in. All finding dissatisfaction with the budget. All — in the unfortunate term we are stuck with — “defunders.” Where, O where were the “defenders,” especially right after the November 2 post complaining about not being heard. Strange.

Gadfly encourages you to listen to the voices of your fellows. The text is just quick and dirty highlights.

Horona Ochs (6 mins.) (min.3:53:49)

Police pensions higher than others because of the clout of their collective bargaining units and thus slight others. Increase of police budget at expense of other public servants is moving in the wrong direction. We expect this Council to invest in anti-racism. Cuts to police personnel are difficult but others have done it. Need to invest in things that bring us together not institutions of force. The Chief has good goals but not sure that the money needed for them is best given to the police department. Armed officers not likely to increase a feeling of inclusivity in the community.

John Irons (5 mins.) (min. 3:59:50)

We’re not being listened to. The budget is not responsive to what we’ve been talking about. We don’t need police officers doing things outside of their job descriptions. We need less police officers. We’re taking personnel away from critical services like fire. Police doing things with trees, abandoned cars, etc., that City services should be doing. We would like to see the police department take some of the personnel cuts other departments are. We put you into power, we delivered the 2020 election. We hope that Council will respect the priorities the community has already stated.

Anthony Downing (3 mins.) (min. 4:07:26)

We’ve made our beliefs clear. Police responding to every single call with a gun is not what makes folks feel safe. Police responding to cars is not called for. Council not answering the concerns of the community. Part-time social worker? A band-aid. Continue to deal with drug addiction, homelessness, etc., with people armed with weapons. This budget does not address concerns of the community. Fire department and other social services that help our community should be getting the money. We demand it. Hope that the final budget will include those concerns.

Allison Mickel (3 mins.) (min. 4:10:30)

Massive voter turn-out in recent election. 91% said police violence was an issue. We have shared data with Council. Mandate is there to reduce police violence. Unconscionable to pass a budget without a reduction in the police budget. A moral imperative.