Allentown · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Allentown public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Council legal defense in FOP lawsuit
The police union has sued City Council, and Council will vote on hiring Cozen O'Connor to represent it. Legal costs and the underlying dispute could affect city finances and labor relations.
School zone flasher upgrades at 26 locations
A $1.9 million TASA grant would fund upgraded school zone flashers across the city, improving safety for kids walking to school. The ordinance is being introduced and referred to committee.
EMS staffing crisis and mandated overtime
EMS runs with 44 full-timers, mandated overtime has doubled, and ambulances are browned out twice as often as last year. The budget adds two paramedics, but the chief says seven more are really needed.
Public Safety and Departmental Personnel Review
Council members are examining proposed personnel summaries and budget allocations for police, fire, and emergency medical services. This review ensures public safety departments have the necessary staffing and resources for the upcoming year.
Climate Action Plan Implementation
The council is reviewing implementation of Allentown's Climate Action Plan, alongside an upcoming public draft of the Urban Forestry Master Plan to expand the city's tree canopy.
Residential Conversion of Vacant Hamilton Street Office Building
Two appeals sought to turn dead commercial space into apartments. The Walnut Street conversion passed easily; the Linden Street two-unit conversion failed on density and minimum-relief grounds, with a neighbor citing brutal street parking.
High-Density Rooming House Proposal at 501-503 N 4th St
Two cases tested how far the board will go for low-cost rooming housing. A 33-room SRO at N. Fourth St won approval as an adaptive reuse of a hard-to-develop building, but smaller-scale rooming units at N. Sixth St were denied over hardship and management concerns.
Penn State Ground-Floor Business Training Use on Hamilton Street
Penn State is leasing 9,000 square feet of long-vacant ground-floor space at 829-845 W. Hamilton St for a business accelerator, AI innovation lab and veterans business outreach center — right at the street, a variance the board granted to revive a stubbornly empty building.
Pass-Through Grant Appropriations for Community Construction Projects
Several bills allocate state and federal grant money for traffic signals, trail construction, streetscapes, and environmental remediation.
Police Pension Fund Board Designees
City officials are updating municipal code to allow the mayor, finance director, and city controller to appoint staff members to represent them on the police pension board. The change prevents quorum issues following recent staff vacancies.
Municipal Facility Condition Assessment
AMGG completed an assessment of 76 city-owned buildings to give Allentown a clear 30-year plan for maintenance, repairs, and capital spending.
Direct Property Sale to Allentown Art Museum
The Allentown Art Museum requested permission to demolish the vacant former police station on Hamilton Street to build a modern facility. The board found the building lacked architectural significance and that the public benefit of the museum outweighed the loss.
Property Tax Increase
Allentown's mayor wants to bump property taxes up by 3.81% in the 2027 budget. To balance things out, the city is also planning to cut spending on police staff, public works fuel, and various studies.
Lead Pipe Replacement
Allentown just secured a massive $15.44 million state grant to rip out about 1,000 toxic lead pipes and upgrade the local water system. This means cleaner, safer drinking water straight from your tap without you having to foot the bill.
Budget and Taxes
Allentown is proposing a 3.81% property tax bump and a 10% budget slash across all departments to close a funding gap. Mayor Matt Tuerk defends the move, saying the extra couple of bucks a month per household is vital to keep police, fire, and EMS running smoothly.
Professional Services Procurement and Maintenance RFPs
The Redevelopment Authority scheduled reviews of properties in its inventory and updates on active RFPs for sites like 540 Hamilton Street, 725 N. 10th Street, 802 Walnut Street, and 332 Front Street.
Public Works Salt Shed Replacement and Expansion
The city is investing $600,000 to replace its aging salt shed and double storage capacity to 6,000 tons. This upgrade aims to prevent winter supply shortages, avoid emergency price surges, and keep roads safe during heavy snowstorms.
Bridgeview Academy School Expansion
The Allentown School District is expanding Bridgeview Academy to include middle school grades, bringing more students, buses, and parent traffic to Lehigh Street. Commissioners focused heavily on making sure drop-off lanes, bike paths, and pedestrian crossings are safe and well-designed.
Volunteer Snow Removal Pilot Program
City leaders and community organizers discussed bringing back the Snow Angels volunteer program to pair high school students and community volunteers with seniors and vulnerable residents needing sidewalk snow removal.
Dirt Bike and Traffic Enforcement
A long-time resident of South 10th Street raised alarms about chronic speeding, illegal dirt bikes, and blind spots caused by parked cars at intersections.
2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
The city closed 2025 with strong general fund revenues and better-than-expected savings across several municipal funds. Officials also implemented a clearer accounting method for Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) liabilities to improve public transparency.
Surveillance Technology Review and Flock Safety LPR Oversight
Council approved a $10,000 contract with IPVM to independently review the city's automated license plate reader and surveillance systems. The move comes amid public privacy concerns and national reports regarding camera vulnerabilities.
Beauty Salon Zoning Variance at 440 N 10th St
A new beauty salon requested a parking variance because the historic commercial building lacks standard off-street parking. The board approved the shop after hearing that the operator reduced the number of chairs and that two garage spaces are available in the rear.
Police Promotional Testing and Scoring Rubrics
The Civil Service Board evaluated the effectiveness of scoring systems used for police sergeant and lieutenant promotional exams to ensure fair and accurate evaluations.
Assistant Police Chief Examination Preparation
The board reviewed examination questions for the high-level Assistant Police Chief promotional test.
Cedar Beach to Trexler Park Trail Connector
Local business owners want to bring back the weekly Thursday evening live music and vendor gatherings in the Artswalk Pocket Park. The project aims to boost downtown foot traffic and connect the arts community with local retailers, though organizers must navigate city special event permits and property coordination.
IT Infrastructure and Data Storage Expansion
The city is working to build out server redundancy at the 1304 building, but council members want to make sure we aren't buying more storage than necessary, especially given police video retention policies and shifting facility plans.
Municipal Website Accessibility and Content Management
Residents frequently encounter outdated information, broken event calendars, and stale elected official listings on Allentown's website because responsibilities are fragmented across departments. The administration promised to staff up its communications team and centralize website oversight to fix these problems.
Garage Conversion to Commercial Business at 436 N. 2nd St.
City zoning officials halted a hair salon application at 436 N. 2nd St. after discovering unverified auto repair, vehicle storage, and graphic design activities occurring on site without proper permits.
Urban Forestry and Street Tree Maintenance
The city is expanding tree work along Ridge Avenue and Second Street using federal grant funds, adding hazard tree removals and plantings.
Promise Neighborhoods Funding Dispute
Representatives from Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley testified that their grant proposal for Allentown Works was unfairly rejected because it included participant stipends, while other funded groups were allegedly given a chance to revise their budgets. They requested an independent review and direct meetings with leadership.
Hamilton Streetscape Final Phase Improvements
The Downtown Allentown Alliance presented its progress in improving downtown vibrancy, safety perceptions, and retail activity. Council and community members discussed the need for better communication about events, public restrooms, and ensuring that downtown spaces feel welcoming to all local residents.
Elected Official Travel Oversight and Transparency
Council members want more visibility and reporting on the mayor's official travel and conferences to ensure accountability and community benefit. Administration officials agreed to provide advance travel schedules and updates.
Mixed-Use Redevelopment at 300 Hamilton Street
A developer is turning a long-vacant 190-year-old office building into 10 new apartments, helping revitalize downtown while keeping historic architectural features intact.
Police and Fire Department Civil Service Lists
The Civil Service Board oversees promotional and eligibility lists for the Allentown Police and Fire Departments to ensure fair and merit-based advancement.
Police Conduct and Accountability Allegations
Residents spoke out during public comment demanding transparency and disciplinary records regarding a recent police misconduct investigation.
Municipal Noise Ordinance Updates
Council updated the city noise ordinance to set strict sound level limits for 24/7 continuous operations, addressing low-frequency infrasound and heavy industrial equipment.
Supermarket Loading Dock Expansion & Traffic Safety
A local supermarket needed a rear setback variance to build a modern loading dock so delivery trucks wouldn't block busy 7th Street. Neighbors raised concerns about large trucks hitting parked cars on narrow Silk Street, leading the board to require trucks to use 7th Street instead.
Police Pension Prior Service Credit Buyback
The committee reviewed a proposal allowing police officers to purchase pension service credit for prior service with other police departments, impacting retirement benefits and municipal pension obligations.
14th Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements
A $15,000 AARP grant will fund a new flashing crosswalk warning sign on 14th Street between Allen and Tilghman streets, protecting seniors and students crossing near Gross Towers and Lewis Ramos Elementary School.
West Residences Mixed-Use Development at 2 Allen Street
A developer is building a large 210-unit apartment complex with retail space along North Front Street, aiming to enhance the waterfront area with housing and commercial options.
Roberto Clemente Charter School Relocation
The charter school is moving its elementary students to a larger 2.2-acre site on South 12th Street to get more space and better off-street bus and parent drop-off areas.
Expanded Summer Youth Programs and Water Safety
Allentown is actively recruiting local students and residents for summer positions like lifeguards, playground leaders, and park maintenance workers.
South 10th Street and MLK Jr. Drive Pedestrian Safety Upgrades
City officials and school leaders are working on upgrading school zones, installing speed cushions, and improving walking routes to protect students traveling to and from school.
Group Child Care Establishment on Highland Street
A resident wants to open a group child care home for up to 12 children at her Highland Street house. Neighbors expressed worries about morning traffic, noise, and safety, but the board approved it with a sidewalk condition.
PFAS Water Remediation Settlement Allocation
Allentown is putting nearly $650,000 from chemical settlement payouts into upgrading its water treatment plant to tackle "forever chemicals." With more money coming in through 2033, the city is using legal settlements rather than local taxpayer dollars to pay for mandatory state and federal cleanup systems.
Establishment of Group Child Care Home at 767 E. Washington St.
An application was scheduled to establish a group childcare facility, addressing community needs for childcare while evaluating potential impacts from limited drop-off zones and parking.
Residential Density and Conversion at 827 N. 5th St.
The board was scheduled to review a proposal to turn a single-family home into three apartments, which raises questions about neighborhood density and parking availability in the N2 district.
Trexler Fund Springwood Budget Supplemental Appropriation
The city is allocating over $13,000 in unappropriated Springwood Trust funds to be used specifically for improvements and upkeep at Trexler Park.
Mayor's Travel Expenses and Transparency
Council members reviewed a newly provided report detailing the mayor's office travel and public advocacy expenses, which total about 12 cents per resident. Officials discussed establishing clearer, standardized travel approval policies for both staff and elected leaders.