Editor’s note: As it does every year, The Morning Call asked the Lehigh Valley’s top elected leaders to look back at 2025 and look ahead at 2026. Responses are running this first week of 2026 from U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, the newly elected executives of Lehigh and Northampton counties, and the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
Easton is enjoying a renaissance it hasn’t seen in over 75 years. Once the largest of the three cities, the 20th century wasn’t good for Easton. We saw a declining population, little private investment and an urban renewal plan that destroyed our downtown. Easton became a city that was unsafe with drug dealers, prostitution and gang-infested neighborhoods.
However there has been a big change since then. This is due in part to the more than $1 billion in private and public investment in our city which in turn brought an increase in our population; growing for the first time in more than 50 years. Today more than 31,000 residents call Easton home and 2026 marks the 19th straight year without an increase in real estate taxes.
Much of this is due to the tremendous work by our city employees who work every day to make Easton clean and safe. The credit for the safety goes to our police officers. The department was once the epicenter of controversy, with poor morale, poor reputation and was the target of multiple lawsuits. Today our police department is looked upon as one of the finest in the region. In 2024 the Easton Police Department received its 15th straight year of accreditation, earning it a premier status designation.
Today Easton is a clean, safe and financially stable city with a solid economic development program that provides for a growing population. We created a city where people want to move in, rather than move out. Neighborhoods are once again bustling with new residents.
In 2025 our economic development department brought to reality our two newest apartment communities — the recently opened Marquis and the soon to be open Confluence. We also have under construction The Great Square Hotel which will add continued life to our downtown. Now visitors to our Crayola Experience, State Theatre or dining at one of our fine dining restaurants, will be able to stay overnight in Easton, rather than in a hotel in an outlying area.
In addition to being a walkable city, Easton now has a tourism economy. People come to Easton to dine in one of our many fine restaurants; see a show at our amazing “plaster palace,” the State Theatre or spend a family day at the Crayola Experience.
Easton is home to some of the finest festivals in the region including Garlic Fest, Clam Jam, and Bacon Fest with the 80,000 visitors it brings to Easton or the Winter Village and Peace Candle with more than 30 vendors. The list would not be complete without Heritage Day, which celebrates the independence of our nation and the fact that Easton was selected for the third public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Easton resident George Taylor was a signer of that document. His restored home is located on the corner of Fourth and Ferry Streets.
Home to Crayola Crayons and Hugh Moore Canal Park, the inventor of the Dixie Cup, and so many more products like the Weller Soldering Gun, Easton was also home of Samuel Phillippe who invented the split cane fishing rod and Dr. Florence Seibert, who developed a safe process for intravenous delivery of medicine. Today Easton is home to the former heavyweight champion of the world Larry Holmes and Olympic gold medalist Bobby Weaver.
Easton’s historic past is bright and filled with accomplishments. Plans are being made for 2026 when our nation celebrates its 250th birthday and Lafayette College celebrates its 200th anniversary.
I have the great honor to work with the residents of Easton, with my colleagues on the city council and with the very dedicated staff of city employees.
My goals for the last two years of my term are to complete negotiations with the Easton Water Authority, build a community/senior center in the West Ward, build a skate park and improve the recreational opportunities and parks in Easton and continue our economic development program.
I have the great honor to work with the residents of Easton, with my colleagues on the city council, and with the very dedicated staff of city employees. Together, we accomplished a great deal in the last 18 years. I am looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and working together in 2026.
This is a contributed opinion column. Sal Panto Jr. is the mayor of Easton. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. For more details on commentaries, read our guide to guest opinions at themorningcall.com/opinions.