Residents urge action on homelessness, taxes and police forfeiture funds; council pledges follow-up

Two residents used the public comment period to raise homelessness, housing affordability, and police forfeiture funds.

Quinn Allen, identifying himself with an organization called "What's Really Going On in America," criticized recent tax increases and said the council and administration focus too often on spending rather than addressing street-level problems. Allen said a new shelter opened that morning and that the city should focus on helping people prosper so they do not need shelters. He described a prior tax increase of about 27 percent "under O'Connell" as "totally ridiculous, unnecessary," and said he intends to run for mayor to press those priorities. Those statements were presented by Allen as his opinions and policy views.

Paulette Hunter, who gave her address as 737 West Tillman Street, asked the council to investigate police forfeiture funds she said were seized in Allentown but kept by Lehigh County. Hunter said a former police chief had argued some forfeited funds should be returned to the city because arrests occurred there. She asked that 80 to 90 percent of such funds be returned to Allentown and used to support youth programming, including internships and stipends for youth council participants. Hunter said she had spoken with the current police chief and that he supported the request to investigate returning funds to the city. The council president asked for contact information and the solicitation of follow-up by the city solicitor; staff said the council solicitor would contact Hunter.

Both speakers framed their remarks as requests to the council rather than formal proposals. The council did not take formal action on either speaker's requests during the meeting but indicated staff and the solicitor would follow up with the resident who asked for an investigation into forfeiture funds.