Protect Your Water

By the time this postcard was made in the early 1900's, Allentown was already insuring it's residents of clean water for decades. The water tower shown on the upper left was east of the current YMCA on South 15th Street. If the current Administration has it's way, that responsibility will no longer be a municipal obligation. This evening, Thursday January 3th at 6pm, City Council will conduct a special meeting and decide if they will respect the petition with over 4,500 signatures, and indeed put the issue to the people by ballot referendum. By attending this evening's meeting you can tell Council that you do want to retain ownership of our water, and that you will hold them accountable for their vote.  The citizen action committee, that has worked so hard to protect our water, reminds both us and Council:
  The Council shall protect and promote the rights of the citizens of the City of Allentown to participate in a positive and constructive manner in the government of the City. Any citizen of the City may participate in the government of the City by [among other things] exercising the right of initiative and referendum as provided in this Charter or as otherwise may be provided by law.

  We don't need to privatize the water to solve the city's pension woes. Privatizing Allentown water is the most costly option.

 http://www.facebook.com/SaveAllentownsWater

Petitioners' Committee Contact: Bill Hoffman 484-695-1157 email: wjhoffman10@gmail.com

UPDATE: Suburban Wake Up Call
Residents of municipalities surrounding Allentown, served by the Lehigh County Authority with water, will be affected by the Water Lease Plan soon enough. Today's Morning Call reports that the Authority started using more Allentown water, with plans to increase the amount in coming years. A sale to a private company will eventually adversely effect the cost of that commodity. Suburban leaders saw fit to protect their citizens in regard to the NIZ tax grab last year, they should certainly do no less in regard to their drinking water. The townships mistakenly believe that they're protected by long term contracts, which would be inherited by the new operator. The devil will be in the pass along capital improvement costs. Unlike the NIZ, which only affected their citizens who worked in downtown Allentown, this plan will effect every property owner. Their silence on this matter is incomprehensible.

UPDATE: (9:30 am)   I have just received notice from the City Clerk that the meeting has been rescheduled for January 8th, at 6:00pm