Top Five Quotes from Mayor Callahan's Speech

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan delivered his annual address before the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, which had a breakfast meeting this morning in South Bethlehem.

Here are some of the highlights of the mayor’s speech:

1. “It is not a mystery that 2010 was , not unlike many businesses and families in the region. The Great Recession interrupted a period of tremendous and steady growth in the city and had a negative impact on the city’s budget and our local economy ... Day after day, I hear from residents who are having difficulty paying their bills or homeowners still struggling to stay in their homes because of a lost job or declining wages. These are tough times for folks and we need to make sure that we do our part to control our costs.”

2. “ … We must be mindful of how that at the local level, more often than not, less government means less services. We don’t want to get to the point where we dump the rock salt at the end of the cul de sac and ask you to go spread it yourself.”

3. (On the proposed Martin Tower TIF, which the Bethlehem Area School Board ) “The taxing body that looks to gain the most or lose the most is the Bethlehem Area School District, which could receive between 17 and 22 million dollars in tax revenues they would otherwise not get. I am not standing alone in support of this project. Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, Lehigh County Commissioner Glenn Eckhart, the local state representatives and senators on both sides of the aisle, former Gov. Ed Rendell, Council President Bob Donchez and the newly appointed school superintendent all support the TIF. My hope is that the school board does reconsider its vote and join with us so we can make this project a reality.”

4. “The challenge for us today is to resist resting on our past successes. We need to recommit to each other that we will continue to take bold steps and not be shortsighted. By stepping back and taking the long view, which can be difficult, we can be sure that we are setting a solid foundation for the future.”

5. “On a personal note, there were parts of last year that were difficult for me. I learned a lot about myself. Throughout that process, I was always proud to share the story of Bethlehem. It’s a story of determination and success and it’s certainly a story any mayor – a story any citizen – should be proud of.”