I recently returned from an enlightening study trip to Germany, where I joined public officials from 12 other cities to explore innovative urban strategies in Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Mannheim, and Berlin. As a guest of the German government and the Goethe Institute, I was provided with valuable insights that I believe will greatly benefit our incredible city as we continue to grow and evolve.

During our visit, we focused on several key areas crucial to urban development: enhancing public safety through camera technology, achieving sustainable development goals, creating new housing to meet the needs of growing cities, managing migration in a welcoming manner, and implementing participatory urban design. These align perfectly with my vision for Allentown – creating a safe, clean, and healthy environment that promotes the well-being of all our residents.

I'm particularly excited to apply what I've learned to address our city's priorities. We'll be exploring ways to improve traffic safety using smart technology, create economic opportunities for all residents, and build social cohesion through increased civic engagement. Germany's approach to participatory urban design offered inspiring examples of how we can involve more Allentown residents in shaping our city's future.

I'm eager to share more details about this trip and discuss how we can apply these learnings to make Allentown an even better place to live, work, and raise a family