BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014 Incumbent J. William Reynolds, a Democrat, on Wednesday was sworn in for a second four-year term as mayor of Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
In a ceremony at Bethlehem Town Hall \u2014 surrounded by loved ones, former mayors and officials from the city and around the region \u2014 Reynolds, 43, said he couldn\u2019t speak for what will be happening in America, say, a decade from now.<\/p>\n
But he spoke confidently on his administration\u2019s work to come locally over the next four years, saying City Hall will keep present and future generations in mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to have more parks, we\u2019re going to have the community center, we\u2019re going to invest in education, we\u2019re going to build trust.”<\/p>\n
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no doubt about what\u2019s going to happen over the next four years,\u201d Reynolds said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have more parks, we\u2019re going to have the community center, we\u2019re going to invest in education, we\u2019re going to build trust.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to attract great people to work in this place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to continue to value the idea that our work extends beyond us.\u201d<\/p>\n
‘What make[s] this city run’<\/p>\n
Reynolds touted his administration\u2019s work of the past four years, including progress toward roadway and other infrastructure upgrades.<\/p>\n
Also, a 10-year park improvements master plan<\/a>, and the completion of studies on housing stability in the city<\/a> and feasibility of a proposed South Bethlehem Community Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related work will continue over the next four years, Reynolds said, as the administration also will be focused on, among many things, building that community center, making city streets safer and more accessible and continuing collaboration with Bethlehem Area School District.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter what department or bureau you\u2019re in, your service, your kindness \u2014 your belief in a new vision and new paths forward are what make this city run.”<\/p>\n Janine Santoro, Bethlehem director of equity and inclusion, speaking to city staff, past and present<\/p>\n Janine Santoro, city director of equity and inclusion and one of Reynolds\u2019 staff members, said the work of multiple administrations along with others in City Hall and out in the community, past and present, has compounded into Bethlehem\u2019s success as seen today.<\/p>\n For example, she said that work led to an official World Heritage designation honoring the city\u2019s Moravian history<\/a>, and Bethlehem\u2019s formalization of its now-sixth sister-city relationship, with Patillas, Puerto Rico<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter what department or bureau you\u2019re in, your service, your kindness \u2014 your belief in a new vision and new paths forward are what make this city run,\u201d Santoro said.<\/p>\n As for the year ahead, the city police and fire departments both face staffing shortages, with some vacant positions at hand and eligible retirements among the ranks.<\/p>\n Despite recent public push to hire at least four new firefighters as a start, the previous City Council did not have majority support of amending the budget as needed<\/a>.<\/p>\n The administration has said it plans to conduct a comprehensive study on Fire and EMS staffing levels, scheduling, efficiency, equipment and apparatus before proposing a next move.<\/p>\n