BETHLEHEM, PA – J. William Reynolds has announced that he will be seeking re-election to another term as Mayor of Bethlehem. “Four years ago, I laid out a vision for our city’s future as I announced I was kicking off a campaign to earn your support to be our next Mayor. You placed your faith in that vision, and I am so grateful and proud of all that we have accomplished as a city since that day. I am humbly asking the people of Bethlehem for their support for a second term to continue the important progress we have made in creating an even more thriving, vibrant city – where neighborhoods are safe and filled with activity and possibility, where residents have economic opportunity and a sense of belonging, and where City Hall plans for the future and promotes sustainability, from its finances to its climate action initiatives. ”
Reynolds stated that he is proud of everything that his administration has accomplished over the past three years including
Consistently being named as one of the best places to live in America
Ranking as the safest city in Pennsylvania
Receiving international recognition as the 26th World Heritage Site in America
Holding the strongest overall financial position in City history
Making record levels of public investment in parks, trails, and streets
Implementation of Bethlehem’s award-winning Climate Action Plan
Maintaining a commitment to increasing opportunities for all residents
If re-elected, Reynolds stated that his priorities would include continuing to invest in Bethlehem’s public safety departments and building financial stability within City Hall as well as
Working to increase housing attainability and affordability within Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley
Implementing Bethlehem’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Building a South Bethlehem Community Center
Making streets safer by executing major roadway improvements and implementing a Complete Streets and bike infrastructure strategy
Continuing to implement and execute Bethlehem’s climate action plan
Continuing to build cooperative strategies with the Bethlehem Area School District
Reynolds Administration Accomplishments 2022-2024
City Finances:
City of Bethlehem focuses on economic sustainability
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem cuts debt by almost 50 percent since 2015
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
City of Bethlehem’s bond rating ranked #1 in Pennsylvania among most populated cities
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
City of Bethlehem maintains lowest Earned Income Tax percentage in Pennsylvania among most populated cities
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
City of Bethlehem saves millions by avoiding capital borrowings
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2024
City passes one billion in private investment since 2021
Source: WFMZ
Parks, Trails, and Street Infrastructure:
City of Bethlehem rebuilds Fairview Park
Source: Lehigh Valley News
Source: Youtube Video Summary
City of Bethlehem to rebuild Friendship Park in $1.5 million overhaul
Source: Lehigh Valley News
Source: Project Website
City of Bethlehem acquires last section of South Bethlehem Greenway to close critical regional trail gap
Source: WFMZ
City of Bethlehem awarded nearly $10 million to make major safety and pedestrian improvements to Broad Street
Source: WFMZ
City of Bethlehem increases street paving by nearly 50 percent in two years
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
City of Bethlehem opens Monocacy Way Trail connection
Source: Lehigh Valley Live
City of Bethlehem improves Saucon Park in south Bethlehem
Source: WFMZ
Public Safety:
City of Bethlehem Fire Department works with International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 735 to fill vacancies quicker
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem purchases new fire engines to update fleet
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2024
City of Bethlehem spends millions to update Bethlehem Police Department vehicle fleet
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
City of Bethlehem adds new paramedics for the first time since 2007
Source: WFMZ
City of Bethlehem expands Community Connections initiative that partners Bethlehem Police with Health Bureau employees
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem partners with State of Pennsylvania to offer recruiting bonuses to new police officers
Source: Lehigh Valley News
Housing:
City of Bethlehem partners with Lehigh Valley Industrial Park to launch Gateway on 4th mixed-income housing development
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Housing Authority partner on planned transformation of Pembroke neighborhood
Source: Pembroke Choice Website
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem releases Opening Doors - a comprehensive housing attainability and affordability strategy
Source: City of Bethlehem Website
City of Bethlehem partners with Lehigh Conference of Churches to create new housing
Source: City of Bethlehem City Council Memo
Community Development:
Patillas, Puerto Rico announced as City of Bethlehem’s sixth sister city
Source: WFMZ
Source: City of Bethlehem Video
City of Bethlehem becomes 26th American World Heritage Site
Source: Lehigh Valley News
Bethlehem named top 100 place to live in America three years in a row
Source: Livability.com
Bethlehem named one of the top 15 Christmas destinations in the world
Source: CNN
Sustainability:
City of Bethlehem launches Bethlehem Climate Challenge
Source: WFMZ
Source: City of Bethlehem Video
City of Bethlehem hires first Sustainability Manager
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem implements Climate Action Plan
Source: Lehigh Valley News
Source: Event Video
City of Bethlehem and Bethlehem Parking Authority partner to bring bike culture downtown with new Coalition for Appropriate Transportation retail space in Walnut Street Garage
Source: WFMZ
Source: City of Bethlehem Video
City of Bethlehem announces 2025 Bike Master Plan and Complete Streets Plan to make roads safer for pedestrians and bicyclists
Source: City of Bethlehem Budget Address 2025
Neighborhood Investment:
Northside Alive neighborhood revitalization initiative
Source: Project Website
SouthSide Tomorrow - a neighborhood investment partnership between Community Action Development Bethlehem and the City of Bethlehem
Source: Project Website
City completes South Bethlehem Community Center feasibility study
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem launches We Build Bethlehem, a community investment strategy
Source: Project Website
City of Bethlehem establishes Community Recovery Fund to assist non-profits following Covid
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem launches Live in the Garden concert series
Source: Lehigh Valley Live
City of Bethlehem reopens Westside Pool
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem eyes Linden Street two way conversion to improve safety and cohesion of neighborhood
Source: WFMZ
Other Accomplishments:
City of Bethlehem hires first Director of Equity and Inclusion
Source: Lehigh Valley Live
Bethlehem joins Allentown and Easton to partner with Lehigh Valley Health Network on Blue Zones initiative
Source: Lehigh Valley Business
City of Bethlehem joins Three City Coalition with Allentown and Easton to tackle regional issues
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem modernizes special event permit process, shortens approval time
Source: City of Bethlehem Website
City of Bethlehem launches citywide equity plan
Source: Lehigh Valley News
City of Bethlehem brings back St. Patrick’s Day Parade in conjunction with Celtic Cultural Alliance
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem works with Artsquest to bring Musikfest back to Payrow Plaza in City Hall Complex
Source: Lehigh Valley Live
City of Bethlehem launches The Bethlehem Corner to tell community leaders’ stories
Source: City Of Bethlehem YouTube Channel
City of Bethlehem debuts new health van to provide neighborhood services
Source: The Morning Call
City of Bethlehem launches “Better Blocks for Bethlehem," a cross-departmental program to promote violence and injury prevention at the neighborhood level.
Source: WFMZ
36 comments:
Lesser of two distinct evils. At least he opposes putting up a beacon to attract violent illegals. Aim low, Bethlehem. If he fails to cooperate with ICE, he's going to jail and you'll get your sloppy second choice.
He forgot to add he's a woke wuss and most city employees can't stand him.
Is there money in the budget to have the Boyd fumigated after this debacle?
Nope. Housing “attainability” translates to Bethlehem will be happy to build apartments on every available piece of land. Politicians love a transient or commuter population because those people are less likely to pay attention to local government. Willie is an arrogant twerp who is inclined to give condescending answers (if he even answers) to those asking questions. He has surrounded himself with a harem of women who serve as gatekeepers and shield him from the unwashed. No doubt Willie is re-elected, but at least he’ll be primaried and may have to stand on his own two feet during a debate or two.
But he can't answer a phone.
OMG, I wanted to stick a pencil in my eye just reading the list. Actually go to every supporting document? Fuhgeddaboudit.
Wee Willie is a woke disaster. A DEI director? What a bunch of BS- Hire on merit.
Apologies. Totally off topic. JB Reilly's City Center was gifted 195 acres of the state hospital land in 2023 for $5.5 million. Today I see the ASD agreed to purchase 16.7 acres of that City Center land for $15M.
Corruption at its finest, Allentown.
Did I miss something about planned and budgeted major infrastructure projects? Aside from street paving?
He inherited the debt restructuring laid out under Mayor Donchez and blew through the $34 million in ARPA funding that the City received during COVID. That is the only reason the City has done okay financially the last few years. Not because of any policy he implemented. Plus I'd like to hear him talk about what the Cash Reserves were that Donchez left him versus what they are now. He speaks with a forked tongue and doesn't give the true picture of the City's long-term financial outlook. He believes he is a rising political star but he will see nobody knows or cares who he is outside of Bethlehem.
vote for him will push Bethlehem down some more,
Lots of tax dollars being misused at all levels it seems.
You did not sir. Such horrible conditions during winter storms at the hands of public works as well.
He ought to go back to class room. It is very easy to manipulate the weak minded teenagers.
$500k an acre for land that’s worthless to the railroad and that can’t be reused? Unless the railroad eminent domains it for passenger service in which case they hunger it back anyway? I don’t expect any corporation to give anything away - but that’s “fair market value” for unbuildable, narrow, flat land?
Norfolk Southern Foundation gives money away for environmental projects on its service area. The irony of the city possibly applying for and being awarded $50k or so for trail construction…please, Mayor Reynolds, apply for the grant.
“The governing body approved a measure that authorizes the city to execute the $4.3 million contract of purchase and sale and other agreements with Norfolk Southern Railway Company to acquire approximately 11.8 acres that would link the Greenway and the Saucon Rail Trail.” (article)
Yes and Gov. Josh Shapiro rewarded the guy responsible for the taxpayer fleecing with a job in his administration.
"Wee Willie" Reynolds, along with "I'm all ears" Matt Tuerk are the absolute worst possible leaders for any city! The only decent leader in the LV is Sal Panto!
Donchez, now Reynolds, no wonder Bethlehem is sliding into the sewer.
What a shameful list of BS!
If you want to solves the problems in the valley's 2 largest cities- In Bethlehem, elect Dana Grubb and in Allentown elect Nate Hyman!
That list is like finger nails on a blackboard!
He's destroyed a once beautiful city- Easton is where it's at now. Reynold's is an ugly, arrogant human being- only in it for himself.
Geez and I thought Tuerk looked like PeeWee
What a Politician-- Do any politician do any good at all -They only think about themselves
It seems that the boy only has the weak-minded dem sheep supporting him. So sad for Bethlehem which was once a rose among thorns.
Vote for Grace Crampsie Smith who is running against him in the primary. Grace has been willing to take him on on multiple issues at City Council over the past couple of years. She is about preservation of neighborhoods which Willy wants to bust apart by rezoning to put low income housing in your back yards.
Willy is not only unapproachable but vindictive to anyone that does not embrace his agenda. Grace is extremely approachable & a traditional common sense democrat vs the Marxist left wing Reynolds.
The affordable housing program was and is a sham. Doesn't take a genius to realize the more you keep building five and six story buildings with tiny lofts at close to NJ and NY rental rates that the average citizen in this city cannot afford.
Now that's a scandal! Brown & Shapiro are frauds!
Donchez, now Wee Willie Renolds, is what poor leadership looks like. Bethlehem, by any objective observation, has steadily declined in the past decade. What was once a beautiful, charming city, is now a cesspool.
Bethlehem, now looks like Allentown- the only city thriving in the valley is Easton, because it's not run by a woke, feckless leader, taking orders from the cabal.
Hilarious,
It's time we elect a polelock for Mayor of our City. A born and bred Sousesider like Greory zebrowski. He's as honest as the day is long and the days are getting longer by the week. Gregory, Gregory, he's our man. if gregory can't do it then nobody can. Vote the Polish prince. Vote Mr. Z
I had heard that Reynolds had the flu and I’m glad to hear he’s over it, especially with an infant in their home.
That being said he won’t receive my vote.
For one, his attitude toward residents while on city council was demeaning at times. You don’t tell residents to move to the townships because they disagree with you on a zoning matter, or lecture the downtown business community when they feel you should recuse yourself because of large campaign contributions you’ve received from the Martin Tower developers when you’re voting on a zoning matter at the Martin Tower site.
Second, he’s been mayor for 4 years and not one project for affordable housing, rental or home ownership, is under construction. Paying a lot of money to consultants and holding informational meetings doesn’t help locals faced with affordability challenges. Properties were and are available throughout the city to develop 1 or 2 affordable housing units each for purchase by first time home buyers who are qualified. Creating affordable housing opportunities is best done through a community integrated and incremental approach.
He is not accessible to residents. There are no office hours for the public to meet with him and his staff like the kind that both Mayors Mowrer and Donchez scheduled for residents. Reynolds’ phone number and email address are not public so citizens can contact him directly to express their concerns. I’ve heard from people who happened to run into him out in public, and want to speak with him about some matter, and they have repeatedly told me he never has time for them.
“I make the rules in Bethlehem now” is what he told realtor Lucy Lennon who represented the 3 congregations (St. John’s, St. Peter’s and Church of the Light) on the sale of their properties, which I photographed for Lennon and the churches. He threatened her and developers with weaponizing city hall’s zoning, planning and inspections offices if they interfered with his intentions to have the city purchase the properties. When those threats didn’t work, he threatened to use the parking authority to take them through eminent domain. According to recent Bureau of Census data 50.8 % of Bethlehem’s housing units are owner occupied and 49.2 % are renter occupied. It should be closer to 70%-30%. Long term neighborhood stability is at risk because there are fewer owner occupants.
The development of high end rental housing is out of control in Bethlehem. The city needs home ownership opportunities to stabilize neighborhoods, not rentals for transient renters. Residents in a number of neighborhoods get little or no support from city hall for their concerns about the impact of more and more over-sized rental unit buildings.
City historic preservation ordinances have been regularly ignored during his 4 years as mayor.
He is vindictive if you criticize or oppose him, which is not a good character trait for someone who wants to be mayor. When you are elected to any office, you serve everyone, not just the people who supported you and wrote big checks to do that.
The city’s 2 largest parks, Saucon and Monocacy (Illick’s Mill), are in deplorable condition.
Residents are still complaining constantly about the overall condition of city streets, and increasing traffic congestion.
And the Walnut Street parking garage situation was a fiasco. A smaller taller garage makes little sense for its overwhelming impact on adjacent 2.5 story homes, and the city’s designation as a World Heritage site will increase tourism and parking demand downtown. As I attended those meetings in town hall I witnessed immaturity and arrogance from city and parking authority officials on an issue that has long term implications for visitors, residents and business owners, who were often ignored with their specific concerns.
As for all of those links to his speeches as covered in local media, often several links to his same speech, they appear rather self aggrandizing.
Interesting that you think city employees can’t stand him. They should, he allows theft if time from city workers, it’s a rare when employees work a full day. The worse is inside of town hall right in front of him. They have no respect for tax payers
Nobody can stand him
typical school teacher
Post a Comment