Jason Addy
Allentown Area reporterI cover Allentown and have worked for news outlets in Pennsylvania, Chicago and Minneapolis since graduating from Penn State. It’s great to be much closer to home — I was born and raised in Lehighton — and I’m excited to help share Allentown’s stories. If you've got an idea, I want to hear it. You can reach me any time at jasona@lehighvalleynews.com.
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Allentown has been without a permanent human resources director for more than a year after the most recent leader left under a cloud of controversy in August 2023. -
The shelves at Chocodiem in the Easton Public Market now boast a 16-pound bust of heavyweight legend Larry Holmes.
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Senate Republicans want Revenue Secretary Pat Browne to release a trove of tax records from Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone.
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The Allentown Parking Authority is expected to buy the property where a police department substation currently sits and bundle it with its own adjacent lot in a package deal to a developer.
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The city is also set to receive $5.7 million in federal funds to reduce lead-based paint hazards.
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The Allentown Environmental Advisory Council's residency requirement has been "a bit of a stumbling block" as members work to fill vacancies.
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A lawyer for the mayor and finance director hit back last week in court filings, saying council has no legal standing to sue.
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Allentown officials were able to balance the 2025 budget proposal without raising taxes because the city is set to bring in $6.2 million more than projected this year, according to Finance Director Bina Patel.
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The Allentown City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a developer's plans to build a mixed-use complex with 201 residential units and ground-floor shopping.
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City and police officials in Allentown are eyeing a property on North Ninth Street to convert into a temporary police station, but the police union's president said officers have numerous concerns about the building's security.
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City Council members this month unanimously approved a new quarter-century lease — at $1 a year — for the museum in the Little Lehigh Parkway.
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An expansion of the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program “delivers the largest targeted tax cut for Pennsylvania seniors in nearly two decades,” according to the Department of Revenue.
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Jim Martin, who has served as Lehigh County district attorney for a quarter-century, played a major role in the launch of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center.
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The county’s legal department urged commissioners to wait until their next meeting to ensure any changes to the bill could be properly advertised, as required by Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act.
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Mayor Matt Tuerk’s firing of a human-resources employee who filed complaints against the city was “an act of revenge,” Councilman Ed Zucal said. On Tuesday, Tuerk made his first public comments regarding the matter.
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Karen Ocasio, who worked in the human resources department, repeatedly called for an investigation after detailing what she said were her experiences of racism and discrimination while working for the city. One council member labeled her firing "an act of revenge" and "blatant retaliation and retribution” by Mayor Matt Tuerk.
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The Lehigh County Authority is raising its water fees in 2024, but Allentown residents will also have to pay more for sewer services.
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Mayor Matt Tuerk must convince at least one of four Allentown City Council members who voted Wednesday against his latest 2% tax-increase proposal to change their minds.
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Council members Ed Zucal and Ce-Ce Gerlach led an unsuccessful push Wednesday night to override Mayor Matt Tuerk’s veto.
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Allentown Planning Director Jennifer Gomez said her staff had “concerns” about Ideal Concepts’ plans to build more than a quarter-million square feet of office space.
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The interactive map is meant to “foster transparency and provide residents with a clear understanding of the proposed 2% tax increase,” Allentown communications manager Genesis Ortega said.
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Allentown zoning officials saw no issues Monday night with Blackstone Structures’ request to convert a former commercial building that once was the home of Gen. Harry Trexler into housing and retail space.
