Mayoral Candidates Q&A

Mayoral Candidates Discuss West End Challenges, Future Plans

Allentown will elect a new mayor in just a few months, and the victor is sure to have an impact on life in the West End Theatre District.

The staff of West End Living asked candidates Matt Tuerk and Tim Ramos some relevant questions; their responses appear below. Please note that West End Living does not endorse either candidate; the information presented below is strictly for voters’ benefit. Tim Ramos

What are your top 3 priorities if elected?

My top priorities are public safety, quality of life, and affordability. I will restore community policing, bringing back foot and bike patrols so that our police and neighborhoods can better address the day-today issues our residents are facing. Building off that, I’ll take a proactive approach to dealing with the smaller issues impacting the quality of life of homeowners, ranging from littering to noise. People who litter on our streets, repeatedly create noise issues, or create an unsafe environment must be cited. Finally, I’ll address the mounting property tax burden that is forcing out longtime residents — especially seniors — and discouraging new homeowners from moving in. I will do everything in my power to prevent new tax increases and work to lower rates in the coming years, particularly for retirees and those with disabilities.

Explain how the West End will be part of the Allentown renaissance.

The success of the West End is key to the success of Allentown as a whole. It’s the part of the city where generations of Allentonians have bought homes, raised families, and retired. By living, working, and raising families in Allentown, West End residents have made this neighborhood the rock on which much of the city relies for stability in a rapidly changing Lehigh Valley. Unfortunately, our elected officials have tended to lean too hard on the West End in recent years; West End homeowners have borne the brunt of repeated tax increases from the city and school district. In order to ensure the success of the West End and the city at large, the needs of homeowners must be addressed, starting with affordability and quality of life.

Tim Ramos

Why should West End voters support you? I’ve lived in Allentown since I was two years old. I’ve seen the dramatic changes that have taken place in Allentown over the last few decades, both the good and the bad. When it came time for my wife and me to find a home, we knew we wanted to live in Allentown because of all the history, culture, and opportunity this city offers. Today, we live in the West Park neighborhood where we raise our five kids. It’s my hope that when West End voters go to the polls on November 2nd, they’ll look for a candidate who has the experience that comes with a lifetime spent living, working, and raising a family in the city. I’m running because, more than ever, Allentown needs leaders who will put residents first. That’s what I’ve done for the past decade through non-profit work and bringing community concerns to elected officials, and that’s what I’ll do as mayor.

What is the biggest challenge facing Allentown’s West End, and how do you propose to address it? Housing issues are popping up throughout the country, but they’re getting especially bad in Allentown where prices are rising more than three times faster than the national average. At its core this is a supply and demand issue — there is a high demand for houses and an even higher demand for apartments, but there’s not enough supply to keep up. Businesses which deal in properties know this, so in many cases they’re buying houses for more than normal homebuyers can afford and then renting them out. This is a big problem for neighborhoods like the West End. Already, 62% of housing units in Allentown are rentals and 55% of residents have moved in the last five years according to the Census. For perspective, our ratio of renters to homeowners could be at New York City levels by the end of the decade if things continue at the current rate. That’s unsustainable in a small city like ours.

As mayor, I’ll do two things to address this problem. First, we need more houses that are actually houses, not apartments. That’s why I’ll work with city council to create a five-year tax abatement for any resident who purchases a house that’s been converted to apartments and deconverts it to the single-family home it was intended to be. Second, we need to encourage the development of new, market-rate apartment buildings. Apartment buildings are much better rental options for our neighborhoods than converted houses because they take up less space, require less maintenance, and can more easily supply their own parking. Additionally, it will take pressure off the local housing market and make West End homes more accessible to families interested in owning a home, not renting it. We can do this by rezoning unused and abandoned industrial space in center city and the east side.

Matt Tuerk

Matt Tuerk

What are your top 3 priorities if elected?

First, I’d prioritize public health. I think that public health goes beyond components like vaccination and nutrition—I see it as an extension of neighborhood health. Good physical health, secure homes, and safe communities are all essential components of public health.

Second, I spent the past 13 years in economic development, and I believe that we as a city would benefit from more efficient delivery of city services. We have so much talent and technology available to us, yet some neighborhoods in Allentown don’t get to share in those assets. We must take advantage of the resources available to us to improve communication and services between residents and City Hall.

Third, I want to make sure that all of the decisions we make as a city fall in line with our new branding tagline, “Allentown – All inspiring.” Challenges our city faces, like trash in the streets, poor housing conditions, and bureaucratic roadblocks to starting a small business, all hold us back from being the all-inspiring city we want to be.

Nationally, I think the Lehigh Valley has more name recognition than Allentown itself. I think that by addressing these three priorities, we can continue to build a safe, clean, and inspiring city, and put Allentown on the map nationally.

Explain how the West End will be part of the Allentown renaissance.

My marathon training has allowed me to run through every street in Allentown, which has reconfirmed for me that Allentown is a city of amazing neighborhoods. Every neighborhood has a distinct vibe and brings something different to the table. The West End offers phenomenal restaurants, ever-increasing diversity, and wonderful parks. It is a truly unique and beautiful part of our city.

I think that the West End will be part of the Allentown renaissance by collaborating with other neighborhoods, by both sharing knowledge and learning new tools. The West End could support the entire community by promoting the Rose Garden, Trexler Park, and cultural events throughout the city, or by sharing information about the tree-planting program so other neighborhoods can parallel the scenery of the West End.

Why should West End voters support you?

I’ve lived near West Park for 17 years, which situates me geographically between the West End and Center City. Easily and frequently being able to travel to all corners of Allentown has helped me build strong relationships in all neighborhoods, so I have the opportunity to collaborate between the West End and other neighborhoods.

I think we are facing an important economic moment. We need to take advantage of this moment so Allentown can thrive, and I have a record of working with the city of Allentown and with numerous outside partnerships. We need to bring young, energetic ideas to the mix, and develop the partnerships needed to bring those ideas to life. This is how we will keep the West End thriving and keep its quality of life high as the city modernizes.

What is the biggest challenge facing Allentown’s West End, and how do you propose to address it?

The West End of Allentown has an inviting population and beautiful neighborhoods, but it risks losing some of that vibrancy because relatively few younger people are moving in. I’d like to open the West End to new people and new ideas. It’s a great asset to the city, and many Allentown residents would love to have the same quality-of-life.

I think that we need to use novel ideas to maintain the West End’s vibrancy. Improving the housing stock will be key, as much of it is relatively old, built before 1940. We must also invest in education, as only 15% of city residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, which creates a barrier for young people who wish to invest in their communities and bring their new ideas into reality. We have so many talented and passionate people in our city, and investing in them will elevate the entire city, along the West End.

I’ve explained a few challenges that are threatening to the West End, but I will also offer a new, positive challenge. I challenge the West End to share its knowledge and experience – neighborhood associations, the way the West End Theatre District markets itself, the high level of cooperation among neighbors – with other parts of the city and the Lehigh Valley. These assets make the West End a desirable place to live. Sharing these strengths will help us all advance. n