A message from Bryan Callahan:
Today, I am proud to announce that I am seeking re-election to Bethlehem City Council. Four Years ago, I chose to run on a simple platform; Keep our City growing, Keep our neighborhoods clean and safe and Keep our taxes low. While we have made great strides in each of these areas, I believe there is more work to do. “I am passionate about Bethlehem. I look forward to working for the residents of Bethlehem and keeping Bethlehem a great place to live, work and visit.”
Throughout my first term on City Council, I am proud of my work in the area of the City finances. I was the lone no vote for a property tax increase in 2016. In 2017, I fought for a tax decrease. I supported additional transparency efforts on the way we spend your tax dollars and ways to reduce and streamline our city government. These efforts helped the City’s Bond rating rise from BBB+ to AAA- with a positive outlook. I will continue my efforts to ensure that we spend your money appropriately and look for ways to reduce costs.
Another way to keep our taxes low is to grow our tax base. Economic development will remain a priority for me in my next term because new growth is critically important to ensure a strong future. I was proud to cast a vote for the new parking garage in South Bethlehem to support our existing businesses and spur a new office building at the corner of Third and New Street. This development is an estimated investment of 38 million dollars with Lehigh University and St. Luke’s as major tenants. I am confident that continued private investment in South Bethlehem will follow once the garage is complete.
We need to do more of this throughout the City. West Bethlehem, North Bethlehem and South Bethlehem all need to grow to ensure that our City remains the gem of the Lehigh Valley. I will continue to push for the redevelopment of the old Bethlehem Steel property, the Martin Tower site and infill development throughout our City. By growing our tax base, we all win.
Our neighborhoods are the backbone of our City. Throughout my term on council I supported a number of efforts to protect our neighborhoods. I voted to strengthen our blighted property ordinance because nothing harms a neighborhood more than a blighted, vacant property. I supported efforts to strengthen our anti-graffiti ordinances and support the start of zoned trash hauling, to reduce the number of days garbage is collected on our streets. Our neighborhoods will determine the success of our City and I remain committed to finding ways to strengthen and reinvest in them in my next term.
Finally, on a personal note, I was most proud to spearhead the effort to create an Italian Festival as a tribute to my late wife. The inaugural festival took place in our historic downtown this past summer and was a great success. I look forward to working with the Chamber and the Downtown businesses to help the festival thrive in the coming years.
Raised in West Bethlehem, I moved back to downtown Bethlehem with my two children after the passing of my wife. Living in the heart of the downtown has allowed me to experience the vibrancy of our City from a unique point of view. Bethlehem really is a special place. Our Main Street is bustling and is the envy of many. We have a great City but we cannot afford to become complacent.
I am proud to serve as a member of City Council. I look forward to working hard to earn another term on City Council because as special as Bethlehem is today, I believe we are capable of so much more.
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