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Bethlehem News

‘Building Bethlehem together’: Mayor's State of the City address underscores harmony of public, private sectors

Bethlehem State of the City
Will Oliver
/
LehighValleyNews.com
With around 400 people at Mayor J. William Reynolds’ State of the City address early Thursday, the showing made for the event’s largest crowd ever. And the mayor said that turnout, in concert with the efforts of previous administrations, represented a broader theme of “building Bethlehem together.”

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — About 400 people attended Mayor J. William Reynolds’ State of the City address Thursday, the event’s largest crowd ever.

Speaking at the Musikfest Cafe at the ArtsQuest Center, the mayor said that turnout, in concert with the efforts of previous and current administrations, represented a broader theme of “building Bethlehem together.”

Reflecting on the past year, Reynolds and a number of other city staff touted support from the area’s public and private sectors that helped make 2024 a success.

City officials said the past four years have seen private-sector investment of $1.1 billion.

They cited Bethlehem’s high quality of life, top-notch workers and talent, economic growth, world-class universities and proper entrepreneurial opportunities at hand.

“In a world where you look around, you look to Washington, you look to other places — there’s so much instability. Here in Bethlehem, we have our act together.”
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds

Bethlehem also is “aggressively” paying $11 million a year toward its debt service and will have it down to $56 million in 2028, officials said.

That’s down from the nearly $118 million figure the city faced a decade ago.

“In a world where you look around, you look to Washington, you look to other places — there’s so much instability,” Reynolds said. “Here in Bethlehem, we have our act together.”

Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Tony Iannelli said, “I think from a chairman’s perspective, we want to keep being the best community for all of you.

"Supporting our cities the best we can and also throw as much love out there, that we all need right now, as possible.”

A busy year

Bethlehem Community and Economic Development Director Laura Collins said of the Christmas City, “There’s nowhere that is quite as comprehensive in this combination of charm, economic opportunity and overall quality of life.”

Here’s part of why officials say that’s the case:

Tour of Dream Boyd Theatre site in Bethlehem
Donna S. Fisher/Donna Fisher Photography, LLC
/
For LehighValleyNews.com
A woman cleans windows at the Dream Boyd Theatre project on West Broad Street in Bethlehem on Tuesday, September 10, 2024. Scenes of the former Boyd Theatre which is being transformed into apartments and other mixed-use purposes.

Public safety

Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott said her department has seen a decrease in both violent and property crimes, which she said was a direct result of proactive policing, community engagement and strategic partnerships with local groups.

The department has replaced its former body-worn cameras, implemented automated license plate readers in key areas of the city and invested in training to equip officers with proper skills to respond to mental health crises, domestic violence or other public-safety scenarios.

“Looking ahead, our focus remains on strengthening partnerships, expanding in the engagement and ensuring the safety and well-being of every member of our great city."
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott

“Looking ahead, our focus remains on strengthening partnerships, expanding in the engagement and ensuring the safety and well-being of every member of our great city,” Kott said.

Her “partner in crime,” Fire Chief Michael Reich, said the city’s fire and EMS departments are “stronger and more efficient than ever.”

Reich said the city’s support of adding four new paramedics to the ranks and the department’s slashing of mutual-aid reliance by 20% have helped crews get response time down by a minute.

Along with that, $1.9 million in city support will go to modernize the department’s fleet, including buying two new ambulances, a rescue engine, an EMS supervisor vehicle (already in service) and a water-rescue boat to be delivered this month.

It’s also the first time in nearly three decades, he said, that the department sent two classes of recruits to the fire academy in one year. The same is planned for next year, he said.

Housing

“Investing in keeping people housed through mediation, rental assistance and legal support prevent costly evictions which displace families and increase costs for small landlords,” Deputy Director of Community Development Sara Satullo said.

Some of the relevant news and services involved include:

Roadway, pedestrian safety

“It’s great to pave roads, but that’s putting a Band-aid on the problem,” Reynolds said. “We need to increase the way that we are able to move around the city.”

Pedestrian and bicycle safety, improved greenspaces and community-gathering areas — here’s what the city has been up to:

Saucon Rail Trail
Will Oliver
/
LehighValleyNews.com
The city bought the last section of the South Bethlehem Greenway that will eventually connect the path with the Saucon Rail Trail.

An international name

Bethlehem has even been on the world stage or a time or two in the past year.

Officials reportedly set the bar high with its World Heritage application for the nation’s newest World Heritage site and the first transnational site in the country, Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem.

“The director of World Heritage recognizes our study as a model for other potential transnational sites worldwide," World Heritage Coordinator Stephanie Augello said.

"Because it stands as a testament to what countries can achieve in cooperation, peace and friendship and honor and culture and community."

Bethlehem also approved its sister-city agreement with Patillas, Puerto Rico — its sixth sister city.