The Allentown Voice

04/15/2026

Can green space cure loneliness? In an article published by The Washington Post in June of 2025, states how being outside can improve one’s mental health. When looking more into this statement, can it apply to anywhere in the world? Specifically, in smaller communities where people thrive off of helping each other within their environment. Today, we went out to ask Allentown residents on how they felt during a warm day. This specific resident expands on how different types of weather can change the way his connections look. So, how do residents found at Cedar Creek Park actually view their connection with their community?

04/15/2026

Can green space cure loneliness? In an article published by the Washington Post in June of 2025, states how being outside can improve one’s mental health. When looking more into this statement, can it apply to anywhere in the world? Specifically, in smaller communities where people thrive off of helping each other within their environment. Today, we went out to ask Allentown, Pennsylvania residents on how they felt during a warm day. This specific resident expands on how different types of weather can change the way his connections look. So, how do residents found at Cedar Creek Park actually view their connection with their community?

12/18/2025

In August, Allentown began a weeks-long eviction of a homeless encampment near Jordan Creek. What happens when there is no place to go? Head to our website to read Harry Glicklin’s reporting on the challenges of these ongoing evictions.

12/11/2025

There’s been a lot of fires in Allentown lately.

Who has been affected and what happens afterward? We dug through city fire records to find out.

Read the full investigation by Kabir Burman on our website: https://allentownvoice.org/first-came-the-fire/

03/31/2025

12/12/2024

In early 2023, the city decided to dissolve the city’s Homeless Coordinator position. But tonight, city council voted to set aside $150,000 for a Homeless Service staff with the caveat that the mayor must present a more detailed request by Jan. 8.

Councilperson CeCe Gerlach, who co-sponsored this budget amendment, said that “it would be a position that could bring different agencies together and tackle the issue of homelessness at the administrative level.” Councilperson Santo Napoli, the other co-sponsor, focused on the need for data and said this money would be used to increase efficiency.

While there was mostly support across the dais, Councilperson Daryl Hendricks expressed his concern. “This is an awful lot of money, and where’s Lehigh County? This is something that should be done jointly. This is not only an Allentown problem.” Mayor Tuerk countered that homelessness is something the city is already working with across all city departments including parks, fire, police, EMS, public works and the health bureau. “Everyone in Allentown has a role to play and coordination is essential,” he said. Vicky Kistler, director of Community and Economic Development, added that this is a data driven initiative to reach solutions to homelessness, this isn’t an effort to deliver housing.

The vote passed unanimously.

09/04/2024

Allentown faces a striking lack of tree equity, or the even distribution of trees. How did this come to be? What is the city doing about it?

Student reporter Zoe Lachter examines tree equity in her feature story on the Allentown Voice website (allentownvoice.org/tree-equity).

p.s. How well do you know your Allentown tree cover? Do you recognize these streets? Comment with your best guesses.

(Answers are in the article!)

08/21/2024

“Housing instability and lack of affordability in housing is not only in the margins anymore. This is something everybody is or knows somebody who's experiencing it.”

- Karen Pooley, political science professor of practice at Lehigh University

Housing instability can affect anyone.
Why don't neighborhoods tolerate more affordable housing projects? Read more in The Neighbor Unfavor by Alex Caban-Echevarria at allentownvoice.org