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Learn how the 2021 municipal primary races are shaping up across the Lehigh Valley.

The candidates for Allentown mayor filed their annual finance reports, with two challengers to Ray O'Connell well in the lead when it comes to campaign money.

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.

Your View: When I was first asked to submit an op-ed piece starting with accomplishments for Allentown in 2020, my thought was 2020 cannot end soon enough.

Budgeting in the age of COVID-19: Here is the 2021 spending for Lehigh Valley towns with 10K or more residents Updated Jan 02, 2021; Families and friends have mourned hundreds who have died across the region from the coronavirus, thousands more locally have battled the virus and all of us have had to adjust our daily routines to live with the pandemic. Municipal officials in Lehigh and Northampton counties also have had to contend with the effects of the pandemic -- including drops in revenue, such as through earned income and entertainment taxes, while still keeping neighborhoods patrolled,...