EASTON, Pa. — While crime has escalated a bit, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. suggested Easton is on the right track with a light at the end of the tunnel during his State of the City address Tuesday evening.
Hearkening back to the early aughts, Panto noted the city has come a long way since the time of gang violence: the downtown is thriving, pedestrian traffic has increased, families are returning, businesses are growing, the tax base is expanding and accolades are coming in left and right.
Beyond that, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission recently recognized the city as a Community of Distinction, the public and farmers’ markets received national recognition, and Lafayette College was selected as the host for the upcoming vice-presidential debates.
The mayor intends to keep the momentum going through his last term with his favorite thing: other people’s money, including state and federal grants programs, which will go a long way toward helping his administration execute a variety of lofty goals.
Though crime has increased, with Panto noting a 3.3% rise from 1,291 incidents in 2022 to 1,334 incidents in 2023. There was also a 6.6% jump in Uniform Crime Reporting Part 1 offenses across that same period, which includes violent crimes.
However, the mayor noted one of the largest driving factors for the bump was catalytic converter theft. Panto made a point to note motor vehicle theft was included in the Part 1 offenses list.
On the other hand, Part 2 crimes had largely decreased, except for increases in fraud and vandalism.
Panto also called attention to a rise in bigotry across the country, noting Easton police would not tolerate such activity.
“We must put a stop to the white supremacy that is ruining our nation by becoming the nation where all are treated equally. Hate has no place in Easton. Our police officers are committed to protecting every community,” Panto said.
Accolades for the local fire departments were plentiful, with the mayor noting their record response time, an average of two minutes and four seconds.
“The fire department is truly an all-hazards department because they respond to more than just fire. Matter of fact, last year, we only had 57 building fires. Most of them occurred on Memorial Day. But last year, they responded to 2,016 calls for service,” Panto said.
The city also expects the delivery of a new pumper in April and a new ladder truck in 2025, with a combined cost of $3.2 million.
As far as finances go, Easton has been upgraded from their previous Standard & Poor’s A- rating to an A stable rating, a bump the mayor celebrated.
Within the realm of public works, Panto noted “we’ve paved more streets than we’ve ever paved before, and we’ve had more underground piping that has been replaced or realigned.”
Road improvements are also underway and intended to be completed within the next year.
“Spreading over two years, there were two major street projects that started in ‘24 that will end in ‘25. And that's Cattell Street in partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Lafayette College and Wood Avenue,” Panto said.
Environmental goals, which have been a priority of the Environmental Advisory Council alongside the city administrators, are rolling in: the filtration gardens in Centre Square have vastly improved stormwater discharges, and more than 200 trees were planted in the previous year. Beyond that, a wastewater treatment plan is in the design phase, with plans to utilize methane gas to provide electricity.
Large construction projects are also in progress or just on the cusp of the future, with The Marquis on South Third Street underway, and The Confluence looking at a potential summer groundbreaking. In addition, Valley Health Partners, a healthcare provider, is set to open soon on Easton’s South Side near the Dollar General Market.
“We will always promote change that helps us today, but at the same time, we are mindful that we always want to maintain our walkable small city charm with beautiful architecture and great quality of life,” Panto said before diving into a series of goals for his fifth term.
Affordable housing is a top priority, the mayor said, as “Increasing sale prices and rising rental rates are keeping our children from owning and renting in the Lehigh Valley.”
Providing some tender love and care to the neglected historical Hooper House at 5th and Northampton Streets by putting it under the city’s control is another target.
“So to sum up the state of the city of Easton very succinctly: we are the little city that could, and did.”Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr.
A West Ward Community Center which could serve as both a senior and community center, along with a 10,000 square foot skate park — a project which drew plenty of community support during a council session last year — are also in the not-too-distant future, the mayor said.
And then there’s the dreaded “P-word.”
“I've convened that parking summit; we met internally. Now we're going to meet with residents and businesses in the downtown and we're going to come up with a comprehensive parking strategy to make it better — not perfect,” Panto said.
Thanking his administration, including City Administrator Luis Campos and numerous other workers, the mayor closed out his remarks by reiterating the progress made in the past as an indicator of the future he aims for in his final term.
“Pride is back, and 16 years ago it wasn't, and we're back now,” Panto said. “So to sum up the state of the city of Easton very succinctly: we are the little city that could, and did.”
