EASTON, Pa. — Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. in his annual State of the City address Thursday described a resilient community on strong footing.
Speaking before a packed house in Lafayette College's Marquis Hall, Panto said the city's crime rate is falling as developers invest millions of dollars in the city's South Side and Downtown neighborhoods.
- Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. delivered his annual State of the City address on the Lafayette College campus Thursday morning
- Panto said the city has proven resilient and is emerging strong from the COVID-19 pandemic
- His administration is pursuing a federal grant to create a West Ward public housing complex and wants to build a community center
And while many cities similar to Easton struggled to balance their budgets during the coronavirus pandemic, Easton maintained its credit rating without needing to raise property taxes, he said.
"Our city is wiser, stronger with positive change, and our city is really on a path and trajectory of doing great things," Panto said.
With the college, local festivals, the State Theatre and the Crayola Experience, Easton's economy is based on tourism, he said.
But most of that shut down during the early stages of the pandemic, resulting in a $10 million loss in revenue, Panto said.
The American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill Congress passed in 2021, originally funneled just $2.7 million to the city. However, Panto said lobbying efforts by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and himself raised that total to $20.7 million, letting the city invest in the community while covering its losses.
Economy to continue to bounce back
Panto expressed confidence that with the COVID-19 situation improving, the local economy will continue to bounce back strong. The city also has aggressively pursued grants, bringing in almost $8 million last year for economic development.
"The difference between Sal when he was in the '80s and Sal now is that he knows how to beg better."Easton Mayor Sal Panto quoting former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell
Panto quoted former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell as saying, "the difference between Sal when he was in the '80s and Sal now is that he knows how to beg better." Panto's first stint as mayor was from 1984 to 1992.
Major developments still are coming to the city, including a recently approved plan for a seven-story hotel overlooking Centre Square and the delayed Confluence, a planned mixed-use apartment and retail space at Third and Washington streets.
Panto recognized that while his administration has drawn criticism for the lack of development outside of the Downtown, he is working to bring improvements to other neighborhoods.
The city, he said, is creating a Neighborhood Advisory Task Force that will consider locations for a potential community center, among other duties.
The center, Panto said, will provide city children with a safe place and build stronger ties within the city.
Public housing
The city also is pursuing a $15 million federal grant that would create a public housing complex in the West Ward similar to the Neston Heights development on the South Side.
Neston Heights is a mix of market rate apartments and units at controlled rates for low-income families; the quality of housing and mixed units removes the stigma traditionally associated with affordable housing, Panto said.
"I can tell you, to have new sidewalks, curbs, streets, trees, lights in addition to brand new housing stock? It was a game changer for the South Side neighborhood," said Panto, who grew up in the housing projects that preceded Neston Heights.
"We want to do the same thing for the West Ward."
The development has come as Easton's crime rate has tumbled. Year-over-year, the crime rate fell 24.9% in 2022, and the benefits are showing in the business community, Panto said.
Getting a table at an Easton restaurant without a reservation can be difficult, and the Townley House Hotel, a new bed and breakfast on Third Street, is seeing 80% occupancy rates, he said.
It's a far cry from when he came back into office in 2008, when drug sales on city streets were common and prostitutes openly roamed Centre Square.
The address, held by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, mirrored Panto's announcement for his re-election campaign last month. Panto, a Democrat, is seeking a record seventh term in office.
He's being opposed by City Councilman Peter Melan, who attended the event.
