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Mayor on the state of Allentown: ’Thank God we made it’ through 2020 Updated Jan 22, 2021; In other years, Allentown’s State of the City is marked by mayors crowing about their administration’s accomplishments over the past year and touching on glowing plans for the future. Friday’s speech, however, had Mayor Ray O’Connell celebrating the fact listeners and the city have survived during a historic pandemic that so far has a 400,000-person death toll, sickened many more, and created a devastating economic toll that still has not been completely realized. “When I look back on 202...

An Allentown City Council hearing Wednesday rehashed old debates over the purpose and governance of the authority overseeing the Neighborhood Improvement Zone — but culminated with a new twist. City Solicitor Matthew Kloiber suggested that the mayor has sole authority to make appointments to the nine-member board of the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority.

Allentown’s new finance director warned of challenging times ahead addressing a structural budget deficit while maintaining municipal services. But Seth O’Neill voiced confidence in his staff’s ability to advise Mayor Ray O’Connell or his potential successor on the best path forward.

Allentown Mayor Ray O’Connell has tapped an internal candidate for the city’s finance director position, which has been vacant for almost a year. Seth O’Neill, operations manager in the city revenue and audit bureau, was formally nominated Friday. City Council will vote on his confirmation 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Allentown officials are largely in agreement: Recruiting social workers to help city police respond to 911 calls involving mental health crises, substance abuse and homelessness issues is, conceptually, a wise move. But some are reluctant to bring in a consultant to offer some pointers until they ensure Lehigh County officials and one of the regional health networks are on board — and prepared to provide funding. Others fear mental health professionals will expropriate, rather than supplement, police resources.