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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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. -
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.
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Developer Nat Hyman said he expects the Allentown Zoning Hearing Board to reject his newest proposal, and he’s prepared to fight that decision in court.
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Developer Nat Hyman has said the former industrial building was “beyond blighted,” but it could see residents move in next year.
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The May 16 Democratic primary will almost certainly determine who wins seats on the Allentown City Council starting next year. Each of the seven candidates filed to appear only on Democratic ballots.
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Council members approved a package of changes to Allentown’s parking ordinances Wednesday but didn’t vote on a proposal to allow parking in some alleys.
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A proposal to establish a one-year pilot program for EMTs and mental health specialists to respond to some 911 calls could be on November ballots if the Allentown City Council doesn't approve it.
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Blackstone Structures is seeking to make room for new apartment buildings in Allentown. But its request to demolish a building as part of the project was denied Monday by the city's Historical Architectural Review Board.
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Proposed shipping routes showed Norfolk Southern trains carrying LNG directly through several Lehigh Valley municipalities on their way to southern New Jersey.
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Mayor Matt Tuerk said he will appoint Yamilett Gomez to fill a vacancy on the Allentown Parking Authority’s board of directors.
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Several council members on Wednesday signaled their opposition to letting residents park in Allentown alleys.
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An internal policy change approved Wednesday by the Allentown Parking Authority board means enforcers will now patrol 90 hours per week, rather than 168.
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The Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority released its 2022 annual reports, showing a small drop in tax revenues from 2021.
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The races are expected to close streets from about 8-11:30 a.m. Sunday.
