When I first ran for Council in 2016 we were still talking about the pros and cons of switching to single hauler trash system. Four years ago we were navigating the merger of our 911 system with the Northampton County 911 Center. Our country and our city have changed in the last four years. As we continue to recover from the pandemic Bethlehem has budgeted millions of dollars to help our community organizations and service providers bring their missions to our citizens. In the wake of ongoing discussions on how we provide police services we have supported our police department as it has expanded its community policing efforts and implemented a social worker to further assist those in need. City Council worked together in 2022 to pass legislation requiring members to recuse themselves from votes where they would have a financial conflict including campaign contributions.
The next four years will require us as a community to keep our focus on ongoing issues such as the affordable housing crisis while also preparing for whatever challenges come at us next. While I’ve been in both the majority and minority on major City Council votes I will continue to be someone who cares about access to city services, community taxpayer needs, and positive outcomes when engaging our local government.
Since my last election I’ve been unanimously voted as President of City Council, pursued a master’s degree in public administration through Kutztown University where I’m a few courses from graduation, and have started serving as a trustee on the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School district and board member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, while continuing to volunteer where I can. My wife Erin and I reside in West Bethlehem where we are raising our infant daughter Emilia. I’ve always loved calling Bethlehem my hometown and want to continue making it an attractive place for families and businesses to enjoy the same opportunities I have.
Blogger's Note: My misguided brother, who has the misfortune of being a Republican, tells me two Republicans are also seeking City Council seats. Colon, however, is someone who should appeal to both parties.
Is that a picture of his kid?
ReplyDeleteMaybe he, and the rest of council, can do something about corruption and incompetence that is commonplace throughout 10 E Church Street.
ReplyDeletehttps://endcorruptioncob.org/
Damn straight. Corrupt
DeleteHe has my vote , he’s going places
ReplyDeleteThis young man is an example of what we want and need in a public servant. If I lived in Bethlehem, he would definitely have my vote. Good luck Mike.
ReplyDeleteHokie Joe.
P.s. I will be mailing you a donation.
Bernie, This young man is, or was at one time, the head of volunteers at Gracedale. He might now be serving in another capacity, head of admissions or something like that, but he is a real asset to our County Nursing home. Julie and I will be supporting mike and as soon as I find out where to send the check, we will be sending him a donation. He's a good man.
ReplyDeleteJerry and Julie Seyfried
I like Ike ... and Mike.
ReplyDeleteRe corruption and incompetence at #10 Church Street, I was born in Bethlehem a very long time ago, left for Hellertown in 1952, and then in 2003, I married a Bethlehem resident, and the following year, moved in here with him. It has been downhill since. Not with my husband, but wih the characters that hang out on Church St. Good police department, not so good otherwise, and the new mayor is not an improvement. Answer your phone!
ReplyDeleteI highly doubt the republicans running have any chance if they are part of the Lynch-mob, as I have heard.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything bad to say about him, and for a Bethlehem council member, that's rare.
ReplyDeleteAs president of city council, this young man needs to stand up to the Mayor & city administration. The council needs to reel this administration back from their socialist Left wing agenda. Our citizen input is not accepted nor welcomed except thru high paid consultant surveys designed to give The Mayor the answer he wanted to hear. Colon needs to get a backbone to get re-elected & rally his council members to challenge the administration.
ReplyDeleteThe current Mayor walks all over this council and at times it seems he likes to talk down to them. When citizens are giving input he tends to smirk put his head down or roll his eyes.
DeleteMr. Colon is one of three (Wandalyn Elix and Grace Smith the others) Council members who are actually responsive to their constituents and listen to their concerns. The others seem so darned impressed with themselves (Paige and Hillary, I’m referencing you), that they can’t stop patting themselves on the back to respond to questions posed via email. The woman who just announced her candidacy lost me at “community organizer.” Bethlehem is one-party rule, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a progressive group without any balance. Willie is biding his time until Steve Samuelson retires so he can become a representative who doesn’t answer a phone, email, and can be defensive and have tantrums on a Commonwealth level. If Mr. Colin can get Reynolds to answer a phone, I’ll vote him in for life.
ReplyDeleteColon is Donchez 2.0. Sits on his hands and sees which way the wind is blowing before supporting anything. He is also letting the Reynolds admin walk all over his council. Get a backbone. Other than that, he's vanilla ice cream. Not the best, not the worst. I am sure the lever-pullers in Bethlehem will support his re-election with open arms.
ReplyDeleteGreatly put
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