On Valentine's Day, state Sen. Nick Miller stops in Bath for coffee date with constituents

BATH, Pa. — Bath Mayor Fiorella Reginelli Mirabito gave voters of state Senate District 14 a Valentine's Day date for coffee with state Sen. Nick Miller at the borough Municipal Building on Wednesday.

Mirabito invited Miller for a heart-to-heart conversation with local constituents, who expressed their views and concerns a variety of issues pertinent to the Lehigh Valley, particularly linked to employment, education and housing.

The senator kicked off the proceedings telling the group of about a dozen attendees that his priorities included education — especially in light of high property taxes in northeastern Pennsylvania — economic development and housing and community safety.

Education was a particularly important topic, with several citizens questioning Miller about public school funding, charters and strengthening trade instruction.

“I think that we have to fully fund our public schools so we don't leave behind our poorest and neediest students," Miller said. "That's the bottom line.

"I'm willing to have the conversation about vouchers, that’s not a question. But until you fully fund our public schools, our neediest families utilize those" public schools.

Miller later said adding infrastructure and supply changes — air conditioning, etc. — can play a significant role in making public schools more palatable for those in needy areas.

Miller later said he will continue to enact the recommendations pointed out in the basic education funding commission report, as they are a necessity for the Lehigh Valley and the state.

Other education priorities included incentivizing teachers to public schools with increased pay, in addition to creating more opportunities to learn trade work through partnerships with Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and other private entities.

Other hot topics

Affordable housing was a hot topic as well, with Eric Miller of Miller’s Manufactured Housing Communities in Bath explaining the need to support small businesses such as his as opposed to large, corporate-owned housing operations.

“Your small businesses are your backbone and your community," Miller said.

"I mean, it's always been like that. They're the ones that help out your local community, your youth sports, that donate their time.

“Corporate really doesn't do that other than send a check, but it's not the same feel. And I know everyone can see that if you grew up with an area where there was a lot of mom-and-pops and all that stuff.

"And it's a whole different atmosphere with corporate, you know, and that's where I think a lot of the younger generations are growing up on that.”

Miller also said he was concerned about locals being priced out of affordable housing by conglomerates. He said he's willing to give the senator the benefit of the doubt, and was happy to have an opportunity to connect with him to express his concerns.

Residents' reactions

Shaddy Younes of Whitehall Township said he found Miller’s engagement “very informative,” and looks forward to seeing what the senator will do with what he heard.

“He’s got a very good line on what the Lehigh Valley is looking for," Younes said. "It's just, how much can actually be done at a government level? How much cooperation are we going to see within the PA State House and State Senate?

"But I think he's got a really good pulse on the Lehigh Valley and you know, what the people in the Lehigh Valley are looking for."

Mirabito said she thought the event went well.

“I’m very happy that the senator made time to come here and do this, and I plan on doing more of these,” she said.

Staying after to engage with attendees one-on-one, Miller said he found the event informative.

“I always enjoy hearing from folks and understanding their priorities and how we can be more effective in our leadership,” Miller said.