Hello!

Although my life's work has been rooted in public service through teaching, volunteering, and serving on the Board of Education, I haven't been on the City Council all that long. But I've wasted no time jumping right in and am already making my mark after years of inaction.

Since its early stages, I've been a staunch advocate for many groundbreaking ordinances to the city's 2021 budget and have introduced several radical proposals. Just last week, the council voted and passed several of these projects, and I'm so proud to have spearheaded these efforts — so I want to highlight a few of these new amendments that will finally tackle some of our city's most pressing issues:

Homelessness Amendment:
Unlike many larger cities across the country that have entire departments dedicated to homelessness, Allentown has never even had so much as a single line item that specifically addresses it. In fact, when I first introduced a workforce housing investment zoning plan (an improved, inclusive version of "inclusionary zoning" which has been far from inclusive), there was resistance from the start. All the way up until the day we voted, there were opponents who wanted to eliminate or decrease the proposed homelessness budget in half. But with effective persuasion and detailed planning on my part, we succeeded in securing the originally designated $100,000 to address our critical homeless crisis. Nobody should be struggling to afford a roof over their head — and I will not compromise until our city's homeless population is significantly reduced.

Police Reform Amendment:
It's no secret that there has been a nationwide public outcry for police reform that has come to fruition this year. Corruption and systemic racism have infiltrated the culture of law enforcement, and we cannot ignore that. That's why my new amendment allocates funding to bring in experts that will help restructure our police department. Because police reform is about rebuilding — by uprooting the current system. This new budget ordinance will allocate resources into incorporating social services with a holistic approach to law enforcement, primarily when it comes to instances involving mental health or drug and alcohol abuse.

Arts & Culture Amendment:
Investing in arts and culture is about more than simply making the city look pretty or providing entertainment. To me, the arts are an economic engine that drives commerce, boost tourism, and attract jobs to our city. Moreover, studies have shown that neighborhoods that invest in arts and culture have high levels of community engagement and reduced crime rates. Our city's vibrant cultural organizations have been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, and I was proud to advocate for this amendment which would provide them with substantial funding and relief. Some organizations that will benefit from this investment include the Allentown Art Museum, Baum School of Art, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Lehigh Valley Arts Council, and more. These institutions play a pivotal role in enriching our communities, educating our youth, and providing sustainable economic growth.

While I certainly can't take all of the credit, I'm deeply proud to have been at the forefront of getting these progressive policies passed for the people of our city. Behind the scenes, it takes a lot of convincing, planning, and communicating before things actually get done. Everything must be completely streamlined between city and county executives to ensure that all goals and resources are aligned.

That's exactly why we need leaders who will take initiative and be proactive when it comes to collaborating and pushing hard for bold, meaningful change. As mayor, I will continue to deliver progressive improvements like the ones above — and will have the ability to accomplish even more.

But in order for me to effectively make an impact in our communities at a higher level, I need your help getting elected first. And that starts with building a strong, grassroots coalition of supporters. Can I count on you to stand with me? Rush a contribution now to show you're with me in this fight for a better Allentown >>

Thanks for helping me move Allentown forward!
Ce-Ce

We need progressive action to move Allentown forward and build a more inclusive, equitable future. Pitch in now to help Ce-Ce revamp our city — block by block!