ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Democratic political leaders across the Lehigh Valley are expressing feelings of optimism after watching the 59th Inauguration on Jan. 20.
Allentown City Council member Cece Gerlach was feeling refreshed after a morning swim, when she saw President Trump leave the White House.
“I want to see how he begins to really unfold and implement his ideas when it comes to the environment and climate change. Obviously the pandemic is crucial,” Gerlach says,“I just keep thinking back to 2008 when I stood on the lawn to watch President Obama be sworn in and the level of hope that I felt.”.
She was pleased to see Kamala Harris sworn in as the nation’s first female Vice President. Gerlach says it’s inspiring for young women.
“Realizing that there is a place for them in this country and that they too can achieve tir dreams and that they too belong at the table. And, in fact, they can run the table,” she says.
State Rep. Mike Schlossberg is also feeling optimistic.
“It’s a return to something so many of us are used to and so desperately miss--the calls for unity and bipartisanship. It’s the fact the Republicans attended church service with the President,” Schlossberg says.
He was moved when firefighter Andrea Hall delivered the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language. He says it was an inclusive moment.
“I hope that under President Biden we can get back to some semblance of shared values that include valuing every person for who they are not what they look like, who they pray to or who they love,” he adds.
Schlossberg and Gerlach say they will be watching President Biden’s first hundred days closely. Especially big issues like COVID-19 and immigration. And his promise to unify the nation.
