Residents urge Allentown City Council to prioritize violence prevention and hold Allentown Works accountable

Jeanne Garcia, speaking during the public‑comment period, told the Allentown City Council that recent gun violence near a McDonald’s exposed children to trauma and called for investment in prevention programs rather than reliance solely on surveillance or technology. "Prevention is infrastructure too," Garcia said, and she urged the council to review how the Allentown Works recompete investment is being implemented so community organizations and youth are driving services.

Garcia, who identified herself as a resident of Allentown and a partner in Promise Neighborhood of the Lehigh Valley, recognized Priscilla Reyes and city responders for helping eighth‑grade students during the incident and described the city’s roughly $20,000,000 Economic Development Administration award for Allentown Works as intended to strengthen workforce development, transportation access and child care supports. She asked the council to "honor the collaborative work that brought this funding" and to ensure implementation "reflects what families are experiencing right now."

Jose Rivera, another resident commenter, echoed the call for people‑centered prevention. Rivera said investments should focus on mentors, outreach workers, counseling and youth employment rather than tech that only documents violence after it occurs. "Technology cannot love a child," he said, arguing relationship‑based supports reduce the likelihood that young people turn to violence.

Councilmember Bender told attendees he is coordinating a quarterly presentation on the Allentown Works grant with Councilmembers Gerlach and Napoli and invited the public to the upcoming Community and Economic Development meeting for further discussion and questions. The council did not take a policy vote on prevention at this meeting; public commenters asked staff and elected members to provide clearer implementation updates at committee meetings.