opportunity. She stated that she supports that vision. She stated that they
did. She stated that she is asking tonight how were they making sure
implementation reflects what families are experiencing right now because
workforce development and violence prevention are connected. Economic
mobility and public safety are connected. If you do not feel safe in their
neighborhoods participating in programs, getting jobs, getting to jobs and
simply being young, then workforce outcomes become harder to achieve.
At Promised Neighborhoods through the Department of Labor and
workforce development investment, they have graduated three cohorts and
what made that work was transformational and believing in incredible
messengers and violence interrupters, but with people with lived
experience, people who reflect our neighborhoods, people who build trust
because representation matters. Restorative practice matters and
long-term impact matters and as implementation of this five year
investment continues, many of us are still asking where is the violence
prevention strategy that was promised. How are the community organizers
being engaged. How are the youth helping shape implementation. She
stated that she also want to acknowledge something really important
tonight. The city of Allentown has reported meaningful reduction in violent
crime and recorded four homicides in 2024. The lowest homicide total in
decades and the lowest since 1989. That progress deserves recognition,
but progress does not mean the work is finished because for families who
have lost someone, numbers do not tell the whole story. For them, it is an
empty chair, a missed graduation, a birthday that never comes, and this
weekend reminded us that our work is not done here. She stated that she
understands and supports making sure officers have a safe and functional
facility, but funding decisions reflect values and when millions are invested
into buildings we should ask. What are we investing into the people asking
can they invest into facilities and prevention. Can we invest in youth
workforce pathways and mentoring incredible messengers, restore the
practices, and community organizations doing this work every single day.
Because prevention is infrastructure too. Relationships save lives.
Opportunities save lives. She stated tonight, she wants to say something
personal. She stated that she has not sat before City Council in a very long
time. Not because she did not have concerns , not because she did not
have anything to say, but too often their problems and more importantly
their solutions have been tabled, delayed or worse, falling on deaths ears,
but she is here tonight because she still believes and she still believes the
city can lead. She stated that she believes in government and community
can work together so her ask tonight is simple, review the incent of the
ReCompete investment, honor the collaborative work that brought this
opportunity to Allentown, bring community organizations, youth and families
back to the table, create and communicate a violence prevention strategy
that compliments economic investment and make funding decisions with
the community not just for the community stating we all time out more than
condolences. We all are children in action. Thank you.
Mr. Jose Rivera, 219 N 9th Street, stated hello, hello and good afternoon.
