ALLENTOWN, Pa. \u2014 Mayor Matt Tuerk and Councilman Ed Zucal met Tuesday night in a church basement for one of their few face-offs since a lopsided primary victory for the incumbent.<\/p>\n
At a candidates forum at St. Peter\u2019s Evangelical Lutheran Church led by the Allentown Crime Watch Presidents\u2019 Council, Tuerk laid out his goals for a second term, while Zucal urged voters to give him an upset win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I want to do is spend more of the next four years unifying our city, bringing us together,\u201d Tuerk said after identifying Allentown\u2019s biggest challenge as \u201ca lack of connection.”<\/p>\n
Residents have \u201cgrown disconnected\u201d in Pennsylvania\u2019s third-largest city, he said. He blamed \u201cdecades of demographic upheaval\u201d for many quality-of-life issues, such as \u201dunsafe streets\u201d and a lack of jobs, housing and parking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I want to do is spend more of the next four years unifying our city, bringing us together.”<\/p>\n
Matt Tuerk<\/p>\n
The mayor said he plans to continue \u201cproactive outreach\u201d to residents \u201cto make sure that our administration is accessible and approachable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Make ‘Allentown a better place’<\/p>\n
Zucal, a former Allentown police officer, also pinpointed quality-of-life issues \u2014 such as \u201cmotorbikes, loud music, parking complaints and crime\u201d \u2014 as his top priority if elected.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve always stressed the fact that when you solve the little crimes, the big crimes will not be there as often,\u201d he said, noting his belief in the broken windows theory.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy plan is to attack all forms of quality-of-life issues to make living here in Allentown a better place.”<\/p>\n
Ed Zucal<\/p>\n
That theory, common in criminology, argues that visible signs of crime and disorder \u2014 such as broken windows \u2014 encourage more serious crimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy plan is to attack all forms of quality-of-life issues to make living here in Allentown a better place,\u201d Zucal said.<\/p>\n
The two-term councilman said he wants to \u201cput more officers on the streets\u201d and restructure Allentown Police Department.<\/p>\n