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Residents urge action on housing shortages and local ICE protections during council public hour
Summary
Residents used the public comment period to press council on housing shortages — especially one-bedroom affordable units and voucher portability — and to urge a local ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE, including codifying prohibitions on 287(g) agreements and protecting sensitive locations.
During the council’s public-comment period, several residents raised concerns about affordable housing availability and called on the borough to pursue stronger local protections related to immigration enforcement.
Karen Rhodes of College Township said the borough lacks sufficient one-bedroom affordable units and warned that differences between voucher-eligible housing and inclusionary or workforce housing complicate options for voucher holders. Rhodes described the practical risk of losing voucher portability and said without replenishing one-bedroom stock, people at risk of homelessness will have fewer options.
"If we don't replenish that stock one way, shape, form, or another, we're going to have homeless people on our streets," Rhodes said.
Nicholas Dudek urged the council to consider an ordinance to limit local cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Dudek recommended codifying prohibitions on 287(g) agreements, protecting sensitive locations such as courts and schools, and making local commitments that are less subject to administrative change. He cited recent court decisions in other states and examples from cities that have adopted similar protections to argue local measures can be lawful and meaningful.
"I think it's important that that be codified so that it's not subject to change in future times," Dudek said, noting court rulings he described as supportive of local protections.
A resident asked whether the borough has a commission or committee studying affordability; the presiding officer noted planning and staff resources and suggested the planning director’s forthcoming presentation on the draft comprehensive zoning ordinance might inform some commenters’ later remarks.
What’s next: Council will proceed with the remainder of its agenda, including a planning director presentation on a draft comprehensive zoning ordinance that may bear on housing policy. Commenters asked for further study and clearer policy steps on housing affordability and on a local ordinance to limit ICE cooperation.
