On the Way: Reflections on Community and Hope at Allentown City Hall

I usually write on a monthly basis in this space. But these are extraordinary times. I also want to share with you my own account of the events of last Wednesday evening, Feb 5, at Allentown City Hall. Not because they were problematic or alarming, or because there’s a danger that the story might be misrepresented. No – quite the opposite. What happened is quite exciting and fills me with hope. Hope for church. Hope for government. Hope for what we can accomplish when we come together, make room for all to speak, and genuinely listen and seek the common good with Jesus Christ as our lead and the Holy Spirit as our guide.

For those of you reading this who don’t know what I’m talking about: you can find out more by reading my last “On the Way” blog; or by going to the report of the night, posted here. In short: Wednesday night Allentown City Council was to vote on a bill that would require the city to work towards the rating of a “Welcoming City” from the non-partisan non-profit organization called “Welcoming America.” In particular, this designation would call for local government and law enforcement to take all possible, legal, and necessary steps to protect their immigrant communities from persecution. Having studied the full bill, and after consulting with our Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Pennsylvania (LAMPa) partners, I made the decision to write a personal letter supporting the bill to Mayor Matt Tuerk and the City Council; and to show up that evening to speak in favor and to be present for the vote by the City Council.

So that night, my wife Allison and I arrived at 5:30pm at the Allentown City Hall. The meeting space was easy to find and the doors were wide open. A uniformed officer greeted us and showed us where to find copies of the Bill and a pink card I could use to request an opportunity to speak. With his instructions I filled out the card and handed it in to the clerk of the court, who was seated next to the tables where the Council and the Mayor sat. Mayor Tuerk was there already, as were about half the Council. So we found two seats in audience – easy to do, because most of the 50 or so chairs were empty.

But they didn’t stay empty for long. Over the next 30 minutes the room filled steadily, until every seat was taken; the back was standing-room-only, five rows deep; and the aisles along walls on both sides were full. The hallway outside was also packed, as we reached the occupancy capacity of the City Hall chambers.

We got to the Bill around 6:10pm. The vote didn’t happen until after 9pm. It was the only business over those three hours. Deliberations began with the sponsor of the Bill, Councilor Ce-Ce Gerlach, presenting the background and reasoning behind the Bill. All seven council members and the mayor then had a chance to speak, starting with Mayor Tuerk. He began by sharing his own immigrant background, and his strong and ongoing support for all immigrant communities. He then gave a comprehensive and clear explanation of the various ways that the mayor’s office and local law enforcement are already doing most of the provisions called for in the Bill. He also had the Allentown Chief of Police detail the ways they already comply, including the policy that no one is ever required or asked about their immigration status by Allentown law enforcement. Both the mayor and police chief stated clearly that while they support most of the provisions, neither of them would be in favor of passing this particular Bill as it stood.

As the deliberation continued, we learned that three of the Councilors were in favor, while four joined the mayor and police chief in opposition. As I listened, I heard these concerns:

• There was no need for this Bill, because the City already follows most of the policies called for; and in fact, they were already open to pursuing this “Welcome City” rating;

• However, there was concern that, were we to receive the rating, it might make the city more of a “target” for federal raids from I.C.E. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). It was noted by the mayor that I.C.E. was not currently conducting operations in Allentown.

• There was also concern that a “Welcoming City” designation would force the city in the future to comply with new conditions set by “Welcoming America” that could be against the interests of all citizens; or that might set the city up to be sued for non-compliance.

Councilors in favor of the Bill did a good job of addressing these and other concerns, but it was not looking like any minds were being changed. Then, the floor was opened for comments from those gathered. Because I had arrived so early, I was the first to get to speak, and I spoke in favor – my full remarks are posted here. The first 30 or so of us got to speak for 3 minutes each. When it became apparent that there were 30 more wishing to speak, the president of the council reduced the time to one minute each (as per their constitution).

In the end, everyone who asked to speak, got to do so. And all spoke in favor of the Bill. The diversity of speakers was breathtaking. White, Black and Brown. Different social and economic statuses. Different sexual and gender identities. And all ages – but the majority were young, under 30. Three of them said, “This is the first time I’ve used a microphone in public.” Most were calm and careful, especially the persons of color with the most at stake in this bill. We saw more strong emotion coming from those who were LGBTQ –– their anxiety was the most palpable. But most everyone spoke with eloquence and clarity, sharing stories of fear and uncertainty for themselves and their neighbors, many of whom have lived and worked in Allentown for years and years. Another common thread: how much they love this city, and how much they have felt the love back from most of their neighbors. Most of all: how much it would mean to them to have their home city formally declared as a “Welcoming City.”

As it approached 9pm, and all had spoken, the need to vote was all that remained. It was at this point that the original composer and sponsor of the Bill, Councilor Gerlach, offered a compromise: what if the language was amended in several places, so that the words “requiring” the city to pursue this rating were changed to “encouraging”? After a brief deliberation, such an amendment was worked through and approved; and the amended Bill passed – unanimously.

Throughout the night, the audience was asked not to cheer or clap or react in any way while the Bill was on the floor. But at the very moment the Bill passed, the feelings could not be contained, and the room exploded with joyful noise. I went over to Mayor Tuerk and shook his hand. I said: “This is a good outcome.” He said back to me: “This is a good outcome.”

I spoke with our own Pastor Nelson Quiñones a few minutes later. He too was smiling, but with an air of a person who has been through many different moments in the past. He said, that he attended these city council meetings back in the 1990s, when Latino issues were placed at the end of the agenda, and wouldn’t come up until after midnight –then, more often than not, only to get tabled. “Getting actually to a vote like this, before 9:30 – that’s pretty good.”

Sure, we always have more work to do. The work of anti-racism. The work to live together, within the laws and with fairness, safety, liberty and justice for all. The work to love like Jesus, heal like Jesus, engage like Jesus. But on this night, people showed up – including young people, scared people, and people of faith – and leaders listened. Government worked, towards an outcome that fits who are, where we come from, and what we want to be and be known and remembered for. As a city. And as Christians of the Lutheran faith – a church of immigrants, refugees, some formerly enslaved and some formerly enslaving, all of us “in bondage to sin who can’t free ourselves” – trusting in the God who sent the Son to save us and make us one.

So, let’s give the glory and praise to our God. Let’s take the win for the sake of Christ, who says: “…so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). This is what it means to Love like Jesus, Heal like Jesus, Engage like Jesus. This is what it looks like when we are Growing Young, Gaining Strength, and Going Beyond Death to Life.