EASTON, Pa. — Mayoral candidates Sal Panto Jr. and Peter Melan met at Lafayette College on Monday night for a heated debate on affordable housing, parking issues and what the future of the city will look like.
Moderated by Lafayette Professor John Kincaid, director of the Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government, Panto and Melan were provided questions submitted from citizens both online and in the crowd.
While the pews of Colton Chapel were far from filled, plenty of community members, college students and council candidates attended just a week before the May 16 primary election.
- Lafayette College hosted the debate at Colton Chapel
- Incumbent Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Councilman Peter Melan are on the Democratic ticket in the May 16 primary
- Topics included affordable housing, parking and increased economic development in neighborhoods besides Downtown
Both Panto, the incumbent mayor, and Melan, a city councilman, are on the Democratic ticket; there is no Republican on the primary ballot.
Melan described himself as an “active proponent for change,” and Panto championed his previous success stories of reduced crime and economic prosperity via Downtown development.
They repeated many of the talking points they had previously touched upon in their campaign materials.
"I think parking is always going to be a problem. We talked about it almost incessantly at City Hall, and whenever we get on the ‘P word’ — we call it the ‘P word’ — we know we're going to be there for hours just trying to figure it out. That's why we hired Walker Associates to help us through this process. Parking is always going to be a problem for city that was laid out in 1752 by William Parsons."Sal Panto Jr.
Panto is seeking an unprecedented seventh term as mayor, and fifth consecutive one. Melan is in the final year of his second term on council.
"When you offer developers some kind of incentive to build a certain portion of their apartment buildings, or houses, as an allotment of affordable housing, I mean, I think that's the first step. But again, I'm not the expert, I would rely on the experts and consultants to kind of help me guide and develop a strategy on how we can increase our affordable housing stock."Peter Melan
Parking
They were asked about parking, their stance on the delay of opening the new North Fourth Street garage and the decision to tear down the Pine Street garage.
“I think parking is always going to be a problem. We talked about it almost incessantly at City Hall, and whenever we get on the ‘P word’ – we call it the ‘P word’ – we know we're going to be there for hours just trying to figure it out,” Panto said. “That's why we hired Walker Associates to help us through this process. Parking is always going to be a problem for city that was laid out in 1752 by William Parsons.”
Melan, who voted against the North Fourth Street garage, detailed why he opted to do so, noting it would house about 540 spaces.
“I personally think that not having a garage for public consumption will create many challenges for us in the future. And quite honestly, that garage, just to reiterate to everybody in this room, that garage at minimum for public consumption should have been 750 parking spaces."
The neighborhoods
On the subject of equal development and attention in the West Ward, South Side and College Hill, Panto expressed numerous projects were underway in those neighborhoods, including a $1 million grant obtained to clean a South Side brownfield, which now contains affordable housing.
However, Panto noted expectations and preferences have changed over the years, and citizens desire “big box stores” more than the mom-and-pop operations of the past, adding an effort to make those neighborhoods more safe and desirable as motivating factors for further development.
“They say they want a supermarket. They want a 100,000-square-foot supermarket with 150 car parking spaces,” Panto said. “Where are you going to put it? There's no place to put it. So I think we really need to concentrate on making them safe and clean.”
Melan countered by emphasizing a priority to engage with the citizens of the neighborhoods and find what they want and need.
“The South Side, West Ward, even College Hill, we're all missing something," Melan said. "And again, until I talk to more people and hear what they want to say – I'm never the one to say ‘We should do this or that,’ I just tend to listen, to do more and develop more of a strategy on how we can accommodate what these requests are.”
Affordable housing
When it came to affordable housing, Melan noted he is no expert, though he believes creating better relationships with developers to be an integral step in making the city accessible to all.
“When you offer developers some kind of incentive to build a certain portion of their apartment buildings, or houses, as an allotment of affordable housing, I mean, I think that's the first step. But again, I'm not the expert, I would rely on the experts and consultants to kind of help me guide and develop a strategy on how we can increase our affordable housing stock,” Melan said.
Panto said affordable housing is a complex issue, and though he believes in the concept of a free market, he did believe the state should step in to help with rent control – noting that a more hands-on approach is “not my job. My job is to run the city, and it’s very difficult.
“Listen, affordable housing is a law of supply and demand. We are very fortunate. People want to live in Easton. So what happens when there's only so much supply, and the demand is up here? What happens? The price goes up. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. I think it's ridiculous. But let me tell you, it's a state issue,” Panto said after pointing out a few examples of affordable housing projects underway, including the resuscitation of blighted properties.
The future of Easton
When posed a question on what the city would look like after either candidate would serve the next term, Panto again said the economic wheels turning now would lead to future success. Money derived from the Downtown area could continue to help fund programs like the open space recreation fund, further improving the neighborhoods, Panto said.
“First thing is that we would have a better financial footing than when I took office. There's no doubt about that. Our finances are doing extremely well. I expected in four years it will be cheaper to live in Easton than it is today,” Panto said.
Melan again cited the use of data as an integral part of the solution to ongoing city issues, stating that using available information would lead to a “more business-friendly, more resident-friendly” Easton.
“How do we encourage entrepreneurship? How do we encourage people to want to invest our cities? What are the incentives? What are the benefits? Where can we do things?" Melan said. "And to me, I think we are very close-minded on data. And again, once we start showing how much data we have, and showing people where you can go, and simplifying processes to want to encourage growth, to me is how we can really invest into our neighborhoods.”
Walkability and other topics
Other topics of interest included the connection of walking and riding trails in the city – both candidates seemed to support the idea, but noted it would be a complicated issue; addressing the homeless encampments by the Lehigh River in a respectful manner; and, in an interesting turn, their stance on backyard chickens – again, a subject both candidates seemed open to discuss with the public.
At the conclusion of the debate, each candidate was offered a chance to question their opponent.
Panto accused Melan of inactivity on council, saying he had plenty of opportunities to address several issues introduced at the debate, and asked what ordinances Melan would change in his next bill.
Melan countered, saying he had no bills lined up for the next two meetings, though he was focused on strengthening ordinances related to government ethics.
Melan challenged Panto to explain how he could make all parts of Easton livable for residents, calling him out on a statement in which he noted the poverty of the area and a need to attract more wealthy residents.
Panto countered by saying a higher-income tax base could provide further help to the impoverished citizens of the city, and promising he was not in favor of gentrification, which would force those citizens to leave Easton.
When offered an opportunity for a closing statement, Melan focused again on the idea of change, and introducing fresh ideas in local government — all the while recognizing the progress Panto spearheaded during his terms.
“Having different ideas, having a difference of opinion, you know, separating the mayor from council, having term limits, it's going to allow us to be more creative, and allow us to really grow and mature,” Melan said.
Meanwhile, Panto again emphasized his previous success, adding that the relationships fostered during his time in office would propel Easton even further if he were elected for another term – his last, he promised.
“As I said, I believe very strongly, that change for change’s sake is not good. Change for change’s sake just because you think you need to change. When was the last time you changed your family doctor?” Panto said.
The candidates’ analyses
Following the debate, Panto said he questioned Melan’s ability and desire to complete a four-year term as mayor, citing Melan had left a position as Macungie borough manager because he said it “wasn't what he expected.”
“Well, I don't know what you expect. It's a lot harder to be mayor of a city of Easton than it is to be a borough manager,” Panto said.
Melan said he thought he performed well in the 90-minute forum, addressing his key issues and stressing his stance on using data and input from the public to improve the city.
“From my perspective, I think I did very well. I was articulate and I think I provided my constituents with the best responses,” he said, adding he found Panto’s responses “lacked overall substance,” and instead relied on buzzwords and political lingo.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16.
