Meet Cathy Reuscher

Cathy Reuscher

Bethlehem's newest member of City Council, Cathy Reuscher, is a New Jersey native who was educated in Pittsburgh and at the University of Buffalo. Since 2008, she has lived in Bethlehem's Southside and is City Council's sole representative south of the Lehigh River. She is a co-founder of the Bethlehem Food Co-op, and is Mid-Atlantic policy associate for the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Q. Where you surprised by the appointment? - "A little bit. There were 11 very competent candidates up there. I wouldn't be surprised if they had picked any one of them."

Q. Why did you seek the appointment? - "I love the City. I chose to live here and have been here since '08. I love the people. I do have experience that I think is relevant to City Council."

Q. Name one thing you'd like to get done in the next two years? - I'd like to dust off the Jeff Speck walkability report and implement some of its recommendations." [This report was prepared for the City in 2009].

Q. Is the Southside improving? - "Yeah. Things are picking up and improving on the Southside. The perception is improving, too. There are some incredible small businesses. People just need to give it a chance."

Q. What about the poverty there? - "Part of those things are out of our hands. But this is where walkability comes into play. If you have to drive to your job, it's going to be a major impediment for many people with no car."

Q. Will you run in two years? - I'm not sure. I'll have to see how I feel two years from now."

Southside Resident Appointed to Bethlehem City Council

Bethlehem Township's Board of Commissioners canceled their meeting last night, so I had my choice between staying home or going to Bethlehem for another Special City Council meeting on the selection of a new Council member. I opted to stay home. I've had enough six hour meetings to last me for awhile.

Though Bethlehem is in a state of emergency and police want everyone off the roads, Bethlehem City Council met anyway to decide on Bob Donchez' replacement. But white smoke curled from the rotunda and bells are ringing everywhere, at least in my head. WFMZ-TV69 announced at 8:30 pm that three members were able to agree on someone and fairly quickly, too.

Three members of this seven-person body decided on Cathy Reusher, a Southside resident, food co-op founder and Shakespeare lover.

"Things won are done, joy's soul lies in the doing."

Let's see what she does. According to The Morning Call, Cathy attracted votes from Michael Recchiuti, J. Willie Reynolds and Adam Waldron.

Sonia Vazquez, the candidate being pushed by Karen Dolan, received votes only from Dolan and Eric Evans. Karen's jabs at other candidates may very well have doomed Vazquez.

David "Lump" Sanders was supported by Bryan Callahan. He probably sat at Sander's Table of Knowledge.

All 11 candidates were highly qualified. There was no way that Council could have botched this selection.