Tonight we hear fr the candidates in the only televised forum for those seeking to lead the city of Bethlehem.

It's the 2021 Democratic primary mayoral debate.

Here's our co moderator Jan Redhill.

Good evening and welcome P9 and 91.3 WLVT are proud to present this primary season debate in partnership with Lehigh Valley Live and our marketing partner, Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valle.

We're coming to you live fm the publicedia Center in ethlehem.

I'm General news director t WLVT.

I'll be moderating the debe together with Curt Press, e veteran journalist Lehigh Valley live tonight.

We're joined in person by e two Democratic candidates g for the chance to be the nt mayor of Bethlehem.

The city boasts attractions like Music Fest, the SteelStacks and historic Mn Street.

All symbols of Bethlehem vibrancy and rebirth.

But like cities across the country, Bethlehem faces bg challenges, especially in e wake of a global pandemic.

The Pennsylvania primary election is Tuesday, just e days away.

Let's the candidates on the Democratic ballot.

Former city administrator a Grubb.

He's a professional photographer who worked fo7 years in city hall in commy development.

City Council member William Reynolds.

He's a high school history teacher who served on counl since 2008.

Now, as I mentioned, this a primary election.

Voters who are registered Democrats will select one f the two candidates.

With us tonight, current Mr Bob Donchez.

His term limited and cannon again.

The winner on Tuesday wille the lone Republican runninr mayor John Kachmar.

He has no opponent in the primary.

So for tonight, we're focud on the Democrats closer to November will invite Mr Kortchmar and his new challenger back quickly.

Here's tonight's forum.

We'll go after opening statements.

We'll begin with a lightnig round.

Each candidate answering questions specific to themo questions each.

They'll have one minuteo answer after that curtain.

I will open the next roundf questions to both candidats and they'll each have a mie to reply rebuttals are permitted in this part of e debate.

Just raise your hand to sil us as we near the end of te debate, the candidates will also have a chance to ask h other some questions just o then we'll wrap up with clg statements.

Journalists from PBS39, WLT and Lehigh Valley Live wroe questions for this debate.

The candidates have not sen them.

So let's get to it.

Mr Grubb, you before the debate, you won the coin ts so you'll kick us off withr opening statement.

Thank you, John.

Good evening, everyone, and thank you, PBS39 Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley Lehigh Valley live for sponsorings mayoral foreman.

I am a lifetime Bethlehem resident and have been a registered Democrat for my entire voting life.

A graduate of Liberty High School, I earned a degree n political science at Moravn College.

I'm running for mayor witha platform of rerm, innovatin and common sense that comes from listening to residentd small business owns and frm my own personal experiencer 27 years I serve the resids of Bethlehem as a city official.

A number of roles within te Department of Community and Economic Development.

This gives me a distinct advantage.

I know how to get things de in City Hall, having worked with every department and multiple agencies at the county, state and federal levels of government.

My most noteworthy accomplishment while with s city was negotiating tax increment financing with Bethlehem steel wn you vist SteelStacks the ArtsQuest Center the Hoover Mason Tressell PBS39 the South Bethlehem Greenway, all tht was made possible because f the funding generated as a result of my role in these negotiations with nearly 17 years as a small business r and 15 years involvement wh the nonprofit Housing Opportunity Movement, I am uniquely qualified to suppt small business developmenty creating a small business concierge position and addressing neighborhood iss such as the need for safe, affordable housing.

I will restore a service ft mentality to city governmeo ensure that you receive the best services at the most reasonable cost.

I am experienced, qualified independent from outside influence and not part of e inside politics and I'm rey to lead Bethlehem to a wing future.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

Mr Reynolds, your opening statement.

Thank you.

The story oBethlehem resurgence over the past 25 years is a remarkable one.

When Bethlehem steel shut , we cld have followed the ph of cities throughout Ameri.

We didn't and we didn't fow that path because of our commitment to economic revitalization.

Our communities never need optimism and the resiliencf our community as we emergem the pandemic.

We have an opportunity to e even stronger city.

Over the past four months e have walked door to door sharing our vision for howe think we can make that hap.

Job creation, investment in neighborhoods, creating moe sustainable city and abovel else, creating a city that workfor everybody.

Nobody wins unless everyboy wins.

Bethlehem has always gotten through their struggles.

We've always found ways We've always found waysthro become more we don't get sd of challenges.

We stand up and as we lookt what we can become in the future, we need to think b.

We need to be creative ande need to lean into the factt our future is our brightest days.

I know why you're watching tonight.

You're here to see if you t to believe if you want to believe that we can emergem the pandemic even stronger.

If you want to believe thae have ideas that can contine our revitalization and more than anying, else, you want to know if you can believet our best days are in frontf us.

I'm here to tell you that y I'm here to tell you that f the progress we've made asa city over the past ten yeas when it comes to job creatn and sustainability in neighborhoods.

And I'm looking forward to sharing all of the ideas wh you about how we can move s forward in the future.

I want to thank everybody r tuning in tonight.

I think it's going to a grt night.

Thank you, Mr Reynolds.

And now we move to the lightning round.

You'll have up to a minuteo respond.

Kurt, start us off.

Thank you, Jen.

Mr Biennials, this first question is for you You lost the 2013 mayoral primary against Bob Donchey fewer than 300 votes.

Now you have his endorseme, the backing of other party leaders, 13 years of expere on city council.

Do you see yourself as ther apparent in this race?

One of the things that I'mt proud of is the support I e from our community and othr elected officials.

I think one thing you hear within the Democratic Parts we really agree on what the solutions are.

What differentiates us is r ability to get things doned the fact that I have endorsements from my colles on city council from all ps of the Democratic Party a state representatives and r congressmen Susan Wild reft the fact that we have an opportunity in front of uso to get things done we've nr done before.

And I think during my recon city council, I appreciatey relationship with Mayor Donchez.

And you're right after we d that bitter primary in 201I think a lot of people exped us not to get along.

But one of the things thate did was he sat down and sa, Mr Reynolds, I believe youe got great ideas and I wanto help make them happen.

And we've done that.

If you look at my record ar as climate action as far as neighborhood revitalizatio, our Northside 2027 plan asr as expanding opportunitiesr the city of Bethlehem and l of our residents, that wout have been possible withoutr Donchez cooperation.

So I'm proud of endorsemen.

I'm proud the progress that we've made and I'm looking forward to continuing our h history as the next mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr Grubb, you were a long e city employee, but your departure from government s abrupt.

You were given an ultimatum retire or be fired after yu got in a fistfight with a colleague in City Hall.

Now, that was a long time o in 2004.

How do you answer voters concerned abo your temperament for the job no?

Well, I think the first thI do is, as I elained what te circumstances were surroun, what happened.

We had an employee who hadn accused of taking bribes.

I reported it immediately o human resources and to thew bureau.

And over time, I think resentment developed and oe day our paths crossed.

And unfortunately, it becae physical.

He got my face.

I tried to move him back ae swung and fractured my nos.

We grappled for 15, 20 sec.

It was over with very quic.

I never hit him and we were both held accountable and n an accountability kind of y I can live with that we mae mistakes in life and we moe on.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

Mr Reynolds, your campaignt out a mailer comparing Mr b to Donald Trump.

Why go on the attack this ?

We were running a positive campaign for four months wh nothing but positivity.

And about a week and a half before we sent out that ma, my opponentent out a mailer attacking my record and attacking the record of progress for the city of Bethlehem.

I feel and I still feel thy opponent's history of worke violence is something the people of Bethlehem need to understand.

And I think we've talked at about that over the past ce of months.

And I would encourage anyby and you might not believe e because I'm just a candidae here to do your own researh the Express Times, The Morg Call, the police reports, e court reports.

And I think the evidence yu would find in all those articles are easy to find a very different story than e one that Mr Grubb tells.

I think thatn hindsight, making any nobody wants toe Donald Trump in their mailx any more.

And I think that that's something that we've obvioy learned.

And, you know, putting Dond Trump on one side of it wat something that probably wae best way for us to respondo Mr Grubb attacks.

Or to talk about his histof workplace violence.

Mr Grubb, you've been out f government since 2000 for a city, the world is a lot different today.

Facing challenges on many fronts and all amid a publc health crisis.

What makes you think you cn lead the city after so lon?

Aren't you out of the lo?

Actually, I'm not out of te loop.

I freelance for a local I'a photojournalist and I freee for a lol newspaper.

So I'm constantly reportinn the news locally.

I travel a lot.

I stay engaged and I attend council meetings, althoughe haven't been able to do thn person of late.

I do it via zom.

So I stay abreast, I stay informed and I feel that le any good citizen, that's te best way to stay engaged ad address the issues that you ed to face when you're an elected official in a locay like Bethlehem.

Thank you.

Thank you both.

That's the end of the lighg round.

Let's move on to some local issues and you'll both hava minute to answer these questions.

If you want to rebut or add something, you can, but ony after you've both responde.

Kurt, why don't you start s off with the first questio.

Thank you again, Mr Jenna Ellis.

We'll begin with you.

Bethlehem is in line to ree more than 34 million from e American Rescue Plan four d relief.

Specifically, how should te city use this money Gamma e need to start by making sue that our most vulnerable residents and small busines are taken care of.

And we also got to make sue that as many people are vaccinated as we possibly n get to.

I think we've done a fantac job as a health bureau of making sure that people han opportunity to be vaccinat.

I know a lot of people are happy about that.

Beyond that, we need to fid ways to invest into our community.

One of the things that I've suggested is the creation a community recovery fund.

We have a whole bunch of as organizations, cultural organizations and little leagues that couldn't opere for a whole year.

And as they come back, thee really what makes Bethlehem what it is.

And without a year of not t fundraising but also that community building, we neeo support them in every way t we can.

We also need to focus on wt failed us during the pande.

If you take a look at issus like affordable housing and homelessness, we need to me those priorities.

We need to do things that previous governments havent done before.

A pandemic made things obvs to people in America that Democrats knew for a long e we need to be more involven creating these community solutions and I would focun both affordable housing and making sure that we have a permanent permanent homeles shelter.

Mr Grubb, where should thet of your money plan?

Rescue plan money go?

Well, first and foremost, I thinke've got to ensure tht all Bethlehem residents hae been vaccinated once we've undertaken that effort, I k the next step is to look al the small businesses and tr employees and provide whatr support we can provide for them.

Third, I think we need to k at the nonprofits that have provided as much of the services they could duringe pandemic but have also sufd as a result of not having e resources available to the.

I think, fourth, we need to look at affordable housing.

I think that's a huge issun the Bethlehem area.

And I would like to set ase some of the Covid stimulus money to create an affordae housing trust fund.

I think we also need to lot public infrastructure and hopefully we'll get a litte bit more into detail with e of the plans I have.

But I think our streets, or parks, our playgrounds, the types of areas need some emphasis.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

Bethlehem is the site of numerous marches and protes last year after the police killing of George Floyd ane city's prior police chief stepped down after postinga racist meme.

What steps would you take e in this city to address systemic racism and policee of force?

I actually covered some of those marches with the Bethlehem Cressona newspap.

I think the first thing the first step was for the chio step down.

I wouldn't have waited sevl days.

He would have stepped down immediately with the post t he made on Facebook.

I think in the meantime, aw chief has been appointed.

I'm very pleased at e individual who's been sele.

I think she's taken a numbf steps moving the community policing concept.

But I think we have to go further.

I think the training obvioy is important, but I think e provision of support servis where they may be needed, children and youth, drug ad alcohol, mental health, I k some sort of a relationship with both counties would ga long way to assisting poli.

And in the communi policing vein, I think establishinge communication with the community and developing te ust is very, very importan.

Mr Reynolds, your responsen Bethlehem police reform and systemic racism Gamma I thk it's going to take longer n a minute to talk about sysc racism in America.

And I think that's where we start this conversation by saying systemic racism is .

And when people are afraido say Black Lives Matter, the afraid to say systemic racm is real.

It's because they don't wao admit that even in 2021 yor race in this count influens and affects your experienc.

And if there's one thing tt 20-20 taught us between the pandic, between George Flo, between the marches is thas still true.

And I think that we need to take more of a leadership e as a city.

When you take a look at the Bethlehem, your school district, you can't go anywhere, anywhere without seeing that they're an anti-racist city.

Dr Roy talks about that ale time.

That's something that we nd to be as a city as well.

And people need to look at that.

One of the things that I dd last year with my colleagu, Councilman Grace Ramsey Smh was launched the Community Engagement Initiative.

And the idea was, is that r community and the citizensn our community have an opportunity and should absolutely have the abilito interact with our police officers and city hall and nonconfrontational ways.

And I think that as a community, just like as a country, we have failed in understanding the effects t systemic racism has have on populations throughout they of Bethlehem.

That's absolutely got to ba priority for us going forw.

I'm just going to do a quik follow up here because I tk this is a really important issue for our country right now.

Some of the folks who are marching and activists cald for defunding the police ad using that funding for socl services.

Yes or no, 10 second answe.

Do you think that we should defund the police?

defund the police?Mr Grubb?

No, Mr Reynolds, no.

Does that would anybody lio elaborate?

I would follow up on what u said before.

And the analogy I use is, s that we count on to ten and when you call the police at ten, but what this societys done for a long time is not understand how important el education funding is or how important it is to connectr police department to mental health services or how important is for the city f important is for the city h liaisons.

So I think that like a lotf conversations, it's not an answer that you can answer intensive and it's an explanation and itoes along with the fact a lot of peoe are afraid to have a conversation because it's g to go down a road that they that they're not completely comfortable on.

But that's the only road we going to go down if we're g to make any progress.

Mr Grubb, do you have a fow up?

The only thing I wanted tod was I think a lot of the rhetoric that took place at that time was misunderstoo.

And I think the term defund frightened a lot of people because they understand the value of law enforcement.

The you want your police department to be the best police department it can b.

But I think a lot of people there was a reaction to the of the term and a lot of rhetoric from both directis took place.

And I don't think that was particularly productive.

Thank you both, Mr Jenna Es ArtsQuest.

As for you, 2018 Bethlehem decriminalize small amountf marijuana.

City police using this optn to your knowledge and you support visitation versus r powers, police still have r low level marijuana crimes.

I helped to lead the creatn ofhis ordinance back in 208 and then we actually follod up as a city council.

I think it's actually one f our prouder moments where a year, a year and a half lar we looked at where the citations were being offerd and where police were choog offense versus a misdemeanr offense and it wasn't equie and it was something that everybody on city council d up and said, this is wrong.

This is not fair to people.

It's not being enforced eqy throughout the city of Bethlehem.

It shouldn't have taken a council meeting for us to o that.

It shouldn't have taken uso be able to have a you knowk for those reports.

And that's something that absolutely proud that we d. I think we need to you pusr push for that across the se of Pennsylvania.

But it also hits at a biggr issue that if you don't ase right questions, you're not going to get the answers tt actually reflect or accuray reflect what's going on inr community.

Mr Grubb show people with marijuana be charged.

It depends.

It depends on the amount tt they're carrying.

I believe that the law hasn applied unequally and I thk that speaks to the bigger e in today's society.

I think that all laws shoue applied equally and not jut the marijuana law.

I think in Bethlehem and I thank City Council for steg up to the plate on that bee I think it needed to be mae public.

I think as a result of tha, that will hopefully be appd equally.

But I think it just speakso the broader issue of the application of laws acrosss country and how they're apd to people of color versus w they're applied to people t a white skin.

So I think that I think ciy council did the right thino bring a spotlight onto that particular issue.

Let's shift gears and takea look at climate change.

Both of you have climate ce proposals as part of your mayoral platforms.

Mr Grubb, you've called foe city fleet to be convertedo alterative fuel or possibe and for more electric charg stations at warehouses for trucks to prevent truck id.

How would you pay for those projects?

Well, in terms of th city fleet, we would pay for tht the way we normally pay foe city vehicles.

Most of them are either purchased through the genel fund or through bond issue.

So I would just substituted I don't think of all vehics in the city fleet should be converted.

But I think the vehicles fr inspectors, for example, pe who are out in the field qe a bit, I think all of those could be switched over.

I think that when a project comes into the city that as parking requirements, I tna percentage of those parking spaces that are required oy development shoul be set ae for electric hookup.

I think on the developmentt takes place, for example, n warehouse development, I'do like to see solar heat on e solar panels up on the roo.

And what I'd like to see hn is that all of those diesel trucks that come into those facilities have an opportuy to plug in, shut down the diesel and stop the air pollution.

Thank u, Mr Reynolds.

You helped craft the city'w climate action plan and its big energy reduction goalsd mitigation strategies for vulnerable communities.

Same question to you.

What's your plan to pay fo?

If you take a look at the climate action plan, it's t even about paying for it.

It's a how do we get people together to understand that climate action is a priori?

And one of the things thate did after I first proposede idea of a climate action pn four years ago was bring together as many people as possible.

We had over 700 residents participate in the planning process.

We had almost 50 instituti, every major institution, te city of Bethlehem environml organizations, and they cae togeer around the idea abot not just how can we stand p and take climate action asa priority in the city of Bethlehem.

But also how can we build a more sustainable city?

A lot of the things that pe love about Bethlehem walkae neighborhoods, parks, livae downtowns come down to thea of smart development.

And what we really have dos we brought together a grouf people and what's going tow be a permanent structure tt are going to be able to be mobilized to take care of l of these different issues.

Yes, there are energy redun goals.

There are trsportation goa.

There are walkability goal.

But the biggest thing is, s that people in the city Bethlehem are energized tother and they have a structure by which we are e to implement that plan in e coming years.

Mr Grubb Bethlehem has a diverse population, 30% Hispanic, more than 8% bla.

Yet this diversity isn't as reflected on boards, commissions or the city workforce.

Why is that?

What's your plan to ensure people of color are represd in your administration and across city government?

There are a number of steps that I want to take first d foremost, I want a bilingul mayor's office.

I think that's key with particularly with a 30% Hispanic population.

But across the board with t only the authorities, boars and commissions, I think cy employees.

And so I will institute an aggressive recruitment stry not just for employment wih the city, but also in termf finding qualified appointeo our authorities, boards and commissions.

I think we need to represet the community that we work.

But I also think that havia very diverse city governmes kind of a role model for te community and gives other people hope that they may otherwise not have.

So I think it's very import that city hall, city government, the authoritie, boards and commissions do reflect the community aroud them.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Reynolds.

Well, your administration e more in line with the citys makeup?

Yeah, I think the first thg that we need to do is we nd to be clear that just likee identity of America is changing, the identity of Bethlehem is changing a new grou of people want seats t the table, want to be able determine agendas and we absolutely need to do that.

For too long, Bethlehem has failed.

So absolutely we need to diversify city hall, but we also need to take a look at what is the what are the priorities of our city Gama How do we necessarily bring more people in?

I'll give you one example.

A couple of years ago, as t along with my climate actin plan, I launched Bethlehem7 was a series of progressive initiatives that I thoughte going to that was going toh Bethlehem for.

One of the things we did wa communication study in they Bethlehem 1500 people responded, four of them fid out that svey in Spanish.

Yet 20% of our population k Spanish is the first langue at home that is a flure of the city of Bethlehem, nott in our communication chann, but how do we make sure tht people are getting the levf service throughout the city that they deserve.

So when we talk about builg a fairer city, we're talkig about looking at the issuef equity and everything thate do in the city of Bethlehe, both with hiring employeesn the city, but also how do e build systems and how do we diversify our priorities, r goals as a city?

Mr Reynolds, following on t answer and the last questin heren Bethlehem, only 8% of more than 31,000 Covid vacs given out by the Health Buu have gone to Latinos knowig that this disease disproportionately affectss group.

What's your plan to get moe shots into arms where theye needed Gamma This is actuay an issue that I hear abouts well at home because my wis a family physician for Lehh Valley Health Network and s something that the health networks are struggling asl there.

It's partly a failure on te city of Bethlehem our commy not to get to build the structures within these neighborhoods that people e going to necessarily belie.

So absolutel We need more clinics.

Absolutely.

We need to find people to t these whether or not they'e churches, whether or notre community groups.

And our Bethlehem Health Bu has done a fantastic job of getting as many shots and s as people that want to get them.

But now we're entering a nw phase and it's part educat.

It's part access and it's t just comes down to how wilg are we to get out into the community and find the peoe that need the shots and dee the shots and deserve them months ago.

But because of the inequits you talked about did not he access to them.

It absolutely is a prioritd as we said before, it's onf the first things that we sd do with any money that we'e getting as far as from the federa government is concerned, Mr Grubb, 8% of vaccines going to a group t makes up a third of the ci.

How are you going to rectiy that?

Probably along similar lin.

I think the Covid money shd be used to promote and enge the community and get the s out there.

I agree.

I think our health bureau s done a fantastic job.

But I think promotion, education and we've got tot the message out.

And it seems to me with the statistics that we haven'tn doing such a good job.

So using the Covid fundingo to not only provide the education and the promotiod the availability, but to he the shots available is thet way to head head head intos and solve the problem.

Mr Reynolds, you have a rebuttal?

Yeah, I just want to add oe thing to that is I think at of people think that we hae gotten to the point where because people they know he the vaccine, that problem s been passed.

And this is symbolic of a t of issues.

We deal with that just bece pele are notn city council, they're not showing up to y hall, doesn't mean that the problem has been solved.

And one thing that the cits not done well traditionalls track data and get to peope that aren't necessarily reaching out to them.

We have the same problems n it comes to all sorts of cy services.

But this is a microcosm oft is just because people just because middle class white people have gotten their vaccines does not mean that this problem has been solv.

And if we don't admit that, then the problem is going o continue.

Mr Reynolds, you said the y could have done more.

I'm wondering if you coulde down a little bit deeper on that for me.

I think traditionally whenu take a look at our city anu take a look at even the ise of systemic racism and youk at where low income housing neighborhoods were built, t were the houses, the houses that were built closest to Bethlehem Steel?

If you look at the low thew African-American population our city, which partly coms down to the fact that Bethm Orefield didn't want to hie African-Americans, which iy we have a higher African-American population Allentown, ANIZDA and all f those things have conseques for decades.

And what they do is they implicitly lead to people t having trust in institutio.

I teach it in high school d I teach it in high school d when I walked into those classrooms is my experiencn America is not the experiee that a lot of my students .

The institutions I trust.

What I just wake up sayingI can trust that.

I can trust that they don't necessarily do that.

And the first thing we neeo understand is why that trut doesn't exist and how we nd to build better systems tht will help to help help to include all of our citizenn our systems going forward.

Moving on.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

12 years ago of the gambles began playing the slots and table games in Bethlehem, e casino has brought jobs, visitors and revenue afar s share of problems, too.

At the end of the day, was allowing the casino Bethlea good bet Gamma I think it .

I think the substitution oe casino revenue for what had been revenue into the city government from Bethlehem l was something that was was needed and the casino was e best deal at the time for e city of Bethlehem.

It certainly doesn't come without a few issues in the community with people who gamble a little too much ad loiter around the communit.

But I think at the end of e day, I think the economic opportunity, the jobs I han to work the casino events center.

So I see a lot of it first-hand.

I think that was a boon foe city and it certainly pluga major hole in the city's cs budget.

I would have liked to haven more money reserved each yr put away in a rainy day fu.

So that future needs coulde been met.

But I think overall the economic benefit has been beneficial for Bethlehem.

Thank you, Mr Mark Knouse.

Was the casino worth Gamma Yeah, my wife and I are not casino goers, but I can tel you that if we didn't havee casino in the city of Bethlehem, there are a whoe lot of decisions we would e had to make in the last 15 years that we never had to make.

Not only did it create job, not only do we get that $10 million host fee which goeo help pay for our personnele majority of which are publc safety police officers, firefighters, paramedics, t also led to SteelStacks.

It led to the building that we're standing in right he.

If we didn't necessarily he the casino, we would not he the cultural center that we have that we have now.

It also has helped to leada level investment in the ciy Bethlehem that we have t sn in this city in decades.

So absolutely, I think thae casino has been a real pose for the city Bethlehem.

I think there are things tI think everybody would likeo see with the previous ownep as far as them develop a ce of more buildings around te casino.

But I'm confident now thats in new hands and that theye new plans along the way.

Now we're going to see the continued redevelopment ofe rest of the site.

Thank you.

I'd like to move to somethg that you have both mentiond this evening.

Affordable housing.

Mr Reynolds, retiring city council member Oa Negron ss the number one issue for Latinos in the city is affordable housing.

d there's a lot of building going on, but mostly luxury apartments which are out of reach for people making, s, $15 an hour in warehouse j.

How will you balance high d property development with e needs of working class families?

It starts by saying that affordable housing is a priority.

And I think that we've even made progress in 2021 becae you have more people sayins now than we're saying at f, six, seven years ago.

There isn't a stigma assocd with talking about affordae housing.

Now that there was like I d several years ago, one of e things that I've worked on during the past couple of s with my colleagues in City council, the administratio, the nonprofit sector is cog up with an affordable housg task force to talk about se of the different things the can do as a city.

One of the things that we'e proposing is creating an affordable housing trust fd by which money is going too partner with nonprofits wih affordable housing provideo increase the amount of the access to affordable housig units in the city of Bethl.

But we also just have to tk about how housing affects everything else.

I go back to my students, t I hear from those studentso have to move and how it ups their life and how it affes other bills and how they he to get a full time job.

It allomes down to the fact that their parents are worg full time jobs and they cat pay for a place to live tht shouldn't go on in America, that shouldn't go on and Bethlehem and going forwar, it's going to be one of thg issues that as a communitye public, the private sectord to work on together to to e Bethlehem a place that everybody can continue to e in.

Mr Grubb, what's your take?

How does the city provide e affordable housing?

Well, I think there are a number of things that can e done.

And it's not it's it goes beyond actually providing affordable housing.

I worked for the city and managed a number of progras that assisted affordable housing.

I worked in housing rehabilitation program whih allowed people to stay in r homes and keep their homese compliant.

There are low interest grat and low loan programs avaie for first time homebuyers.

And the nonprofit that I wk for actually provides a prm like that.

So I think that those are e of the steps that are curry under way.

I agree with the concept of creating affordae housing trust on their already twof them that exist, one in Leh County and one Northampton County.

Unfortunately, they're covd and funded out of transferd real estate has been down.

But I wouldn't mind seeing those filing costs increaso that they could rebuild the affordable housing trust fs at the counties.

But I think using the Covid money to if we can to estah an affordable housing trust fund is an excellent idea.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

For the past year, with may people working from home% Bethlehem full of empty ofe building developers are looking to give new life to this Jill Biden general ofe building just down the road with plans for 600 pple.

Do you see a market for geg these offices filled GammaI sure hope so.

I like the plans for what e seen and seen in the newspr and read.

But I think what's happenis a result of the pandemic ad I'm one of those people whs working a little bit more r my home.

I think we're seeing that e whole work dynamic is goino change somewhat as a resulf the pandemic and I'm not qe sure at thisoint and I'm nt a real estate market analy.

I'm not quite sure what the demand is going to be long term.

I'mopeful for the project plans.

I would love to see that cs developed around the Steal General Office Building.

I think it's key to that particular property, but I think that with the busines and industry have found tha lot of business can be transacted over the internt and I'm not quite so sure t whether the market is goino exist for that because thee are a number of commercial operties that are not being rented and not filled with businesses.

So I'm a little concerned,t I think the project will ba very good project.

Mr Fred Rogers bonce.

Most of those projects dont take off until they have commercial tenants and thaa huge project for that area.

Just a few feet away from e we are.

And this area, the south s, when you take a look at sof the frustration with the redevelopment of the former casino or the casino, the former steel site, the stuo building is a huge part of that.

I think that it is an enors opportunity to get more pee down here to get more feetn the street, more people supporting small business.

And I think that, you know, people that are investing n these properties aren't dog it because they think that they're not going to be abo find tenants.

And I think that that's a t example that and every year that property continues to, it becomes more expensive o redevelop.

It becomes more expensive o revitalize.

And one of the things that happens is that the qualitf the projects sometimes andn order for that to happen is going to need is going to d a higher incentive whetherr not it's remediation or whatever it is.

Last I heard, people couldt even walk into that buildi.

They weren't wearing a hazt suit even for a tour.

That's a problem.

And if we're going to get e properes back on the tax rolls, we need to be aggree about working with the peoe that own them to get them k on the tax rolls which helo fund city services.

Mr Reynolds, speaking of cy taxes, the latest budget approved by City Council Kutztown Services raises ts by 5% and includes a $60 pr household stormwater fee.

And we know council is considering raising water rates.

Now, this is a time when at of familis are struggling economically.

How do you justify this?

I think that Bethlehem didt become Bethlehem by avoidig hard decisions.

And if you take a look at e progress that we've made compared to any other cityn the state of Pennsylvania,s because we've taken those challenges ahead on budget, about two things.

They're about both deliverg high quality services and keeping promises to your employees when a police ofr and a firefighter and a paramedic signs that contr, we are guaranteeing that we going to take care of their family health care, pensio, salary, and that's what bus are about.

There is no easy way everyr we have to find about $2 million.

It's like a math problem wn you're taking a look at increases in pension incres and health care and increas in salary.

And we need to keep those promises.

And we also need to deliver those services.

So the budget process workg with the administration, working with the department heads, it's about trying to balance out those needs.

And I think as far as the r the last 20 years, if you e a look, the progress that e city has made, you can borw from your fund balance.

You can use one time reven, but that catches up with yu and the citizens get stuckh 2025 percent tax increasese we've seen in other citiesr the selling of assets.

We don't have to make those desions in Bethlehem becaue we have strong leaders whoe willing to make the diffict decisions that might be difficult today, but over e long term they put us in a strong financial position.

Mr Grubb, what do you makef these increases in taxes ad fees in the midst of a pandemic?

Are they necessary right n?

I think it was piling on.

I believe that first of al, four firefighters didn't he to be cut.

I think some of the raisesa were given tcity employees were exorbitant double fige raises.

That's hard to justify when people are struggling financially.

I think the stormwater feet was assessed could have ben deferred another year or to provide some relief.

I had a phone call yesterdy from a retiree in Bethlehes stormwater fee is 12% of hs city tax bill and that's nt including the 5% increase n taxes.

People are struggling financially and I think ciy government did not take tht into consideration.

And I think they piled on o the residents of the city.

I think there were other cs that could have been made n city goverent, other positions.

And I think the tax increae combined with the stormwatr fee was entirely too much r all of those families thate struggling.

I think more people are struggling than a lot of pe realize in this community.

Thank you, Mr Arnold.

Your response?

Yeah, my mom's been a math teacher for 40 years.

And one thing she always sd to us when we were growingp is you got to show your wo.

It's very easy to say we dt want to cut.

It's very easy to walk in e store anday Iant that.

I want that.

I don't want to cut that.

I'm going to avoid doing t. But when it comes down to I would respectfully ask my opponent to add up the dols and try to find how he's gg to get that $2 million bece I think people are sick and ired of politician, oh, how are you going to do these things?

Generically, it's very easo avoid making difficult decisions when you don't he to make them.

And we have ours hours and hours of budget hearings we we're trying to find that 2 million where we're tryingo find ways to keep our prom, keep those pensions come ad keep the health care comind things like that.

So saying we would save a w dollars here, a few dollars here doesn't get to $2 miln and doesn't get to $2 milln year after year.

Mr Grubb, I believe my oppt called the budget season hs favorite time of the year a former city administrator,I can tell you it's one of te most difficult, hard workig times of the year.

And I had about five or six bureaus reporting to me whI was the deputy director of community development.

Those bureau heads would tl you I was the toughest revw that they had come budget .

And I think what you have o is you have to put yourseln the place of the taxpayersn you're wking on that budge.

And we did.

And when we had a cut, we .

So it's it's very difficult process.

It's not a great time of te year to have to deal with .

But I think you've got to k at a budget and decide whau want to deliver, what the t is and go from there.

Thank you both.

Mr Grubb.

City officials say the panc has caused a spike in homelessness.

The city and other organizations have been pug folks in hotels, but that't a permanent solution.

What's your plan to tackle Bethlehem on sheltered cris Gamma I've seen a number of examples of these small mor communities that have been created to deal with homels situations.

And I think that approachig that type of solution is a first step.

I think providing jobs, I k it's a combination of thin.

It's a multifaceted issue.

And I think that the abilio provide some form of housig would provide security fore homeless.

I think we've got to contie toupport the organizations who are currently dealing h it like a new Bethanie Ministries and others in t. And we'veot to provide support.

And I think that's where uf the Covid money would be al advantage or a boon to deag with that.

But we dealt with it when s with the city.

We provided funding to a nr of the shelters and it's ay difficult situation and soe people trying to get them t of of the homeless situatis also a very difficult task because they have other is, whether they're mental heah or whatever.

So thank you, Mr Reynolds.

How will you address the homeless crisis, the pandec exacerbate a crisis that ws already existing?

And I think that the situan as far as the homeless population in Bethlehem ina situation like things the y of Bethlehem doesn't necessarily need to come up with 100% of the answers.

But we need to lead the conversation.

We need to bring the people together.

We need to bring the social service providers togetherd come up, first of all, wita permanent location for a homeless shelter and also k with Allentown in Eastern d regionally on this issue tt is going to become a bigged bigger issue as we go intoe future.

t it's a lot like affordabe housing in some of these or issues we've talked about a long time.

People didn't want to talk about these as if they were priorities.

So we need to make sure tht it's just as important thae are working on this issue t is the issues that people t to know about that are also important in their neighborhood, whether or nt it's picking up snow or lef collection, it's that we're able to do more than one tg at one time.

And it's about time that te city and the mayor takes ad on the issue of homelessne.

Thank you both.

Mr Grubb Lehigh University footprint keeps getting bir in Arch City Council votedo restri any new student housing to areas abutting campus.

What ideas do you have for maintaining or improving relationships with the colleges?

And universities?

I think that both Lehigh Moravian College.

I think they're wonderful community partners.

But I also think we have te very realistic and I know y contribute a lot to the community, sometimes very quietly.

But I think that first of , a mayor has to develop a personal relationship withe head.

The president of either institution.

But I also I ve a lot of concerns.

I'm concerned about taking property off the tax rollsn they pchase property and increasing the burden on te residents.

I have concerns about the l of contribute that they doe to the community in a recet forum we discussed a contribution that Lafayettd made to the city of Eastond purchased a Pfizer pumper r the city of Easton.

So I think that the univery and Moravian College couldy a much more pronoced role the community and support e of the city functions.

So that the entire communiy would benefit from that.

Mr Jenna Ellis, your ideasn college relationships and Lehigh expansion?

I think that last year we k a big first step as creatig that student overlay distrt in conjunction with the community that was really a community led process by wh they were individuals in te community that were worried about what was happening, e fact that they were seeingf a double selling for 300, , $400000.

So that type of partnershiI think is important with our neighbors.

neighbors.We also do need h Lehigh and make no mistake about it, Lehigh is a great thing for our city.

It brings students or brins vibrancy.

It brings jobs.

And those employees, those students shop at our small businesses.

They get down into a commuy and we need to make sure tt we balance out all of those wonderful things that Lehih brings with some of the ths that go on in our neighbors that absolutely we need tot a stop to or that we need o help to control.

But continuing those conversations with Lehigh t how they want to be involvn the South Side, they've hed to fund the ambassadors, wh have been a wonderful thinr the South Side.

They have helped to fund te South Side Arts District, h has been wonderful.

So it's about just it's abt communication.

It's about working with Leh on their priorities, on our priorities and the priorits of our neighbors.

Mr Reynold's, across the country, states are grapplg with legislation that would dial back LGBTQ and transgr rights.

We're talking about bathrom bills, laws pertaining to o can play sports and accesso health care.

As mayor, what would you do ensure gay and trans peopln Bethlehem feel welcome ande able to wk and thrive in te city Gamma Well, I would st by saying all of those movements throughout the country are ridiculous andy are trying to push us backo a time that we should neveo back to.

I'm proud of my record agat discrimination.

What during my time in city council I helped to craft e creation of the Human Relas Commission about a decade .

And you know, Mr Bristol, n you reference an earlier campaign back before marrie equality was the law of the land, I was the first offil in the state of Pennsylvana say I'm refusing to marry anybody until I can marry everybody.

And the city of Bethlehem s not ready for that.

And it probably cost me soe votes, but I never look ban that and say that wasn't te right thing to do.

We need to strengthen our n Relations Commission.

We need to get the more fug we need to expand their min and we need to work with or LGBTQ community in the citf Bethlehem to expand all ofr protections against discrimination.

And once again, it's like t of issues like when these issues come up, we need to stand against the potential bills we need to stand agat the potential things goingn in Harrisburg that are putg being put forward by people that for some reason have a problem with the changing dynamics and the changing identity of America.

Thank you.

Thank you, Grubb, what's your plan to ensure equityd quality of life for gay and transgender residents?

Well, I agree.

I think it's ridiculous.

And I think as mayor in a y the size of Bethlehem, I wd certainly use the power authority of the position o lobby officials at the stae national level to argue agt these kinds of laws.

I firmly believe love is le and I tnk that everybody should be allowed to live r lives the way they want to.

I that's the way I live myn life.

So I think the power of the voice of a mayor is key on these issues and I think tt if you become aware of laws that are being considered a higher level of government, you've got to weigh in.

But the other flip side oft is I think we want to get people engaged in the commy and it gets back to the whe idea of city government, or authorities, boards and commissions being representative of everybodn the communiy.

So I think you want to find these qualified individualo matter their background and have them become a part of local government.

Thank you, Mr Grubb.

OAN.

It's time to move on.

And now it's your turn to k the questions.

Now taking turns, you'll go ask your opponent two quess and they'll have one minuto respond to each one.

Mr Reynolds, you start.

Yes, Mr Grubb, if you losen Tuesday, there has been discussion that u were goig to support the Republican candidate for mayor in November.

Is this true?

And as a Democrat, can you publicly confirmhat you wil support the Democratic candidate in the general election?

That's news to me.

That rumors out there.

I've been a Democrat my ene life and I will support the Democratic candidate for m. Mr Grubb, what's your first question for Mr Reynolds?

My first question is what emissions reductions measus in city