ALLENTOWN, Pa. — As Allentown City Council approved next year's budget on Wednesday night, councilmembers debated a slew of amendments.
Though, none was more passionately fought for than a proposed allocation of $1.5 million to fund a gun violence prevention effort.
But there was significant confusion over how, when—and if—the money might be delivered to the program, known as Certified Credible Messengers.
- Allentown City Council made adjustments to the city's proposed budget Wednesday, cutting some spending
- Council added an initiative to provide $1.5 million to gun violence prevention efforts
- Funds for those initiatives wouldn't be available until next year, which led to confusion during the meeting
Council voted to remove funds for a number of initiatives, including removing nearly $126,000 by taking the empty chief operating officer position from the city.
The plan to fund Certified Credible Messengers was supported and initially proposed to be funded through unappropriated funds in the city’s general fund.
But that was changed to be funded through the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds next year.
That left a room full of supporters of the gun violence prevention effort wondering whether they would need to wait for funding.
“Violence prevention is real," Jeani Garcia of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley said. "We have to stop. ‘Let's talk about it later. Where’s the money gonna come from?’ ”
Garcia, who lost a son to gun violence in 2012, told council it’s time to stop pushing back gun-violence prevention initiatives such as the credible messenger program.
“We’ve been fighting for this for three years,” she said.
She said credible messengers work with victims’ families and they sit at hospital beds of individuals recovering from shootings, hearing stories from victims and families who worry about retaliation.
“We are the boots in the ground," she said. "Give us that credibility. Give us that validation. Let us do our work. Allocate this money and then, let’s move forward."
The money wouldn't go to any specific organization, Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach said, explaining that several local nonprofits offer credible messenger programs including the Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley.
“I don’t have a specific org in mind,” Gerlach said.
Council voted to make the funding part of the city’s ARPA funds and promised it would address it again in January.
“We are the boots in the ground. Give us that credibility. Give us that validation. Let us do our work. Allocate this money and then, let’s move forward."Jeani Garcia, an gun violence prevention advocate in calling for funding support.
However, Councilwoman Candida Affa assured those in the room that council supports the effort—and council voted unanimously to provide ARPA funds to certified credible messengers next year.
“We got a gift with this ARPA fund and we want to use it wisely," Affa told Garcia. "And one of the things we want to use it for is exactly what you want.”
Later in the evening, council debated a plan that would provide $1 million in this year's ARPA funds for the revitalization of the Allentown Metal Works.
Councilwoman Gerlach said she was hesitant to support that plan, as she wanted assurances that Allentown residents would get the jobs the facility would offer once it’s up and running.
“I don’t think it’s wise yet,” she said, as she made a motion to remove the funds.
But other council members disagreed.
“We’re talking about manufacturing jobs, which are not easy to retain, let alone start anew here in this location," Councilmember Daryl Hendricks said. “I think the benefits far outweigh any need to wait on this.”
In the end, council supported the proposal and will provide the funds to the Allentown Metal Works project.
