Click below for Mike's plan of action on the below issues.
Crime, Public Safety, Quality of Life
There is no more important issue to Allentown than controlling crime and enhancing the quality of life in our city. Crime affects everything from taxes and economic development to housing prices and the quality of education our students receive. Thankfully, Allentown is making progress on this front, but much more needs to be done. If elected to Allentown City Council, I will fight for the following:
- More police officers, making sure to utilize every available state, local and private funding option.
- Increase police presence on our streets and in our neighborhoods. Nothing helps create the perception of a safe city like presence, and it is vital that we ensure our police officers are out of their cars and walking the streets in order to let both citizens and criminals know that Allentown is a city that will not tolerate crime. Specifically, I support our new community policing model and believe that it will continue to be successful over time.
- Battle quality of life crimes, such as graffiti, broken windows and code violations. We must engage our existing neighborhood and civic groups to be the eyes and ears on the streets. The links between these organizations and city hall must be enhanced in order to determine where problems exist and how to fix them.
- Improve communications between city hall and city residents. It is vital that a communication method be developed to better inform residents of the crimes in their area and the resources that are available to them. This can be done largely via the internet. We must work within already existing structures, such as the Lehigh County Council of Governments, to ensure that information on crime trends and best practices was being shared among governments.
- Hire a coordinator to assist with neighborhood crime and block-watch groups efforts. This will greatly assist these groups in becoming stronger and making a better impact in the community.
- Buy more garbage cans, particular for areas that have litter problems. Coordinate street-sweeping with garbage pick-ups to maximize their impact.
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Businesses and the Economy
The shrinking economy will obviously have negative effects on Allentown’s businesses. It is incredibly important for government to create an atmosphere where we can attract new businesses that create family-sustaining jobs for Allentown residents. As an employee of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and an Urban Revitalization Specialist that works closely with state and county economic development officials, I believe that I am uniquely suited to assist the city in its ongoing redevelopment efforts. I will fight for the following as a member of City Council:
- Fight for new economic development incentives.
- Continue to support the Keystone Opportunity Zone that brings in new businesses and properties to the city by encouraging tax-free development. Also examine other economic development programs, such as LERTA zones.
- Reduce government red tape.
- Create a master checklist and permit application process that will speed the formation of new businesses and the beginning of new construction in the city.
- Support the expansion of tax abatement zones in targeted areas.
- Allentown is blessed with numerous commercial corridors, and we must work to bring businesses to them whenever possible.
- Fight for a hockey arena in downtown Allentown, which will serve as an engine of economic development and help improve one of the most vital and blighted neighborhoods of our city.
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City Finances
Thankfully, our city finances are in better shape than they have been in years. That being said, given the current condition of the economy, Allentown is facing shrinking revenues and rising expenses. Now more than ever, we must watch every single dollar of tax-payer money and ensure that it is being spent in the most efficient way possible. As a fiscal conservative, I will support the following as a member of City Council:
- Working with local governments to eliminate duplication and unnecessary spending. Through purchasing services and other joint agreements, I believe that the City can save thousands in unnecessary spending.
- Continue to utilize every state and federal financial resource available. We must make sure that Allentown is applying for every grant and loan program possible in order to bring in desperately needed funding.
- Conduct targeted performance reviews, designed towards saving money by finding large and small ways to cut costs.
- Control energy costs by only purchasing energy efficient items. The city can literally save millions in long-term spending by only purchasing energy-efficient items.
- Work with our State Representatives for pension reform. We must find ways to reduce the impact of our declining pension fund. To not do so will leave Allentown in a potentially catastrophic financial position.
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Engaging Allentown
A government that does not engage its citizens simply cannot function. It cannot fight crime, it cannot bring in new businesses or create new jobs and it cannot control taxes. The City of Allentown must make sure that it always remembers the principal that is most critical to the creation of a healthy democracy: the people rule the government, the government does not rule the people.
That being said, I firmly believe that Allentown must do the following in order to continue to engage our community:
- Enhance neighborhood crime-watch groups by giving them more resources, staff assistance and helping them acquire funding for their programs.
- Create a better website that has more than just contact information. We should put forms and online bill-pay options on Allentown’s website. This will make it easier for residents to pay their bills and learn more about their government.
- Put City Council and Committee meetings online. This can encourage more government participation and increase civic awareness.
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Housing
Given the current mortgage crises and its dramatic negative affects on city neighborhoods and governments, I think that it is incredibly important that we protect our housing stock and improve it wherever possible. I support the following:
- Encourage the reconversions of apartments to homes and discourage the reverse.
- Constant engagement with already existing resources, like Lehigh County and the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), to ensure that Allentown is doing everything it can to limit home foreclosures and assist in home ownership programs wherever possible.
- Support CACLV efforts for mediation to save foreclosed homes.
- Create incentives for property owners to beautify their homes.
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