Easton Mayor: Peter Melan or Sal Panto?

Incumbent Mayor Sal Panto and outgoing Council member are the two candidates for Mayor. Both are Democrats. Peter read a prepared statement, but was stopped before he could read all of it. Panto was extemporaneous and used no notes. Panto has been a good Mayor, but he really needs to give someone else a chance. 

Peter Melan's statement: 

Good evening, everyone. My name is peter Melan, and I am running for mayor of Easton pa. I currently serve on city council as an at large representative since being elected in 2015. I formerly chaired public safety and now chair the administration committee.

In my term on council, I have brought a wealth of knowledge to our city. One of my initiatives was to integrate a public notification system called Nixle which has now been retired and replaced with what I believe to be nothing since I am not aware of anyone receiving communications from our city officials unless it’s on Facebook or Instagram.

I have also offered a different way to think as a government official. I wouldn’t’ have thought a master’s degree in public administration meant something but to me, it helped me understand local government and how it functions. My degree also brought a deeper knowledge into budgeting, transparency, and the ability to resolve conflicts with other representatives. Unfortunately, some of us are unable to set aside our differences and we are forced to behave inappropriately when confronted with difficult questions or awkward encounters.

But I’d like to focus on my platform and outline some of my priorities in front of you today. As you may know, our downtown thrives with restaurants, retail stores, and new housing. Our neighborhoods want the same thing. As I walk around the neighborhood, I hear residents ask why the south side can’t have a food festival or why can’t we have nicer facilities for children who participate in youth sports. Just the other day I saw a post on social media about why all the attention was given to an athletic facility and now that the ice maker broke, there is no money to fix it. A commercial ice maker I found cost less than $3k yet a call for action to my opponent and his administration asking for help was left unanswered.

One of my other priorities is to really engage in neighborhood equality. I’ve been hearing all this talk about increasing affordable housing and that the city has increased its supply with a recently launched project on West Lincoln Street. What’s sad about this project is that I had a resident reach out to me with a letter showing her rent increased from $340 to $1,618. I have a copy of the letter here if anyone wants to see it with the tenant’s name redacted for privacy purposes. Speaking words of affordable housing are empty without action. Neighborhood equality with an emphasis on increasing affordable housing requires a concerted effort from all of us, and not just a bunch of suits who throw the words around for political points with constituents.

We also need to focus on promoting economic development in all areas of the city. I remember sitting here and listening to everyone offer suggestions on how to keep a bank located on the south side. A bank is vital to our residents but what about educating residents on how to use mobile banking or classes on personal financing at the neighborhood center? It is important to come up with creative approaches to the incoming challenges in a future where people in suits who are in faraway offices make decisions that cause negative impacts on our great city.

As mayor, I will be able to change the status quo and change the static thinking that is leaving us unprepared for the challenges ahead. The time for change is now. Thank you for your time this evening.

Sal Panto (this is my summary of what he had to say): 

When he first ran for Mayor, he had one pledge, and that was to make Easton clean and safe. He's kep that promise. Last year alone, he added 11 police officers to Easton's police department.

Those 11 additional police officers cost $2 million, but as a result of solid fiscal management, he's made those hires without increasing taxes. In fact, there's been no tax hike for 16 years, and the City's financial rating has actually improved from junk bond status to AA. 

The biggest issue facing the City right now is an affordable housing crisis, which actually is a national problem. The City has just added 55 units to its housing stock and he believes it can do more if it gets a Choice Neighborhood grant, which will be awarded in 2025.  

Panto was asked if he could do something about the speeding on Lafayette Street, where cars roar by at 60 mph and there is no police presence. Panto responded that local police are handicapped because they are unable to use radar. He also noted that he's unable to change the speed limit because Lafayette Street is regulated by PennDOT. He noted PennDOT wants to move cars, not people. "They don't care about people." He promised to do what he can to increase the police presence on that street.

He also was asked about marketing the City for local business. He said that businesses should market themselves and that the City is marketed through a publicly funded nonprofit. He suggested that business owners clean their windows and do their best to make storefronts look attractive.   

He finally stated he seeks no endorsements at election time.  

Both candidates were asked about park benches, which became a running joke throughout the evening.