Allentown City Council Organizational Meeting - 2026-01-05
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Allentown City Council Organizational Meeting - 2026-01-05
This organizational meeting served as the ceremonial and procedural transition for the City of Allentown, featuring the swearing-in of newly elected Councilpersons Jeremy Bender and Christian Pongo, as well as the return of outgoing Councilperson Natalie Santos and the swearing-in of Mayor Matt Turk for a second term. The evening included farewell remarks from outgoing Councilpersons Ed Zukel and Darrell Hendrix, the election of Natalie Santos as Council President and Cynthia Moda as Vice President, and remarks from the Mayor and newly sworn-in officials, all centering on themes of community service, fiscal responsibility, and unity.
Consent Calendar
- No formal consent calendar items were discussed; the meeting proceeded directly to organizational business following the oath of office.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ed Zukel: Outgoing Councilperson expressed deep pride in eight years of service and 2,920 days in office, stating he acted with a clear conscience and never allowed threats or political influence to dictate his votes. He advised new colleagues to possess the courage to stand by their values rather than succumbing to peer pressure, asserting that true wisdom often means thinking for oneself against the majority.
- Darrell Hendrix: Outgoing Councilperson expressed humility regarding his nearly 50-year public service career, specifically thanking staff member Michael Hanlon. He stated he made decisions based on research and facts rather than future election prospects, and expressed a commitment to keeping taxes and service increases down as a fiscally responsible measure. He noted he is ready to spend more time with his wife and five grandchildren.
- Cynthia Moda: Newly sworn-in Councilperson expressed excitement and gratitude for the return to service, acknowledging the surreal nature of moving from the audience to the dais.
- Jeremy Bender: Newly sworn-in Councilperson expressed humility despite having no prior name recognition, stating his decisions will be shaped by conversations with residents during his campaign. He honored the memory of activist Carol Gonzalez and quoted Father Gregory Boyle, affirming a position that the community must "stand at the margins" rather than just "rescue" marginalized individuals.
- Natalie Santos: Returning Councilperson expressed gratitude for the trust of the community, emphasizing that City Council is a part-time position driven by a desire to serve.
- Christian Pongo: Newly sworn-in Councilperson stated his commitment to ensuring every resident of Allentown is served, regardless of their generational status or birthplace. He credited his campaign success to community support and thanked his family, particularly his mother's work ethic and his wife Stephanie's support.
- Mayor Matt Turk: Returning Mayor expressed gratitude for the support of city employees, stating he has moved past his initial naivety to a profound appreciation for public servants. He acknowledged that while he may not always have agreed with outgoing members Zukel and Hendrix, he respected their character and dedication as former police officers and public servants.
Discussion Items
- Outgoing Council Remarks: Zukel and Hendrix delivered final statements regarding their tenure, emphasizing professional integrity, fiscal responsibility, and the importance of independent thought and factual decision-making.
- Swearing-in Ceremony: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Lehigh, City of Allentown administered oaths to Cynthia Moda, Jeremy Bender, Natalie Santos, Christian Pongo, and Mayor Matt Turk, all affirming support for the U.S. and Pennsylvania constitutions and the duties of their respective offices.
- Council Leadership Election: The acting president called for nominations and conducted a roll call vote for Council President and Vice President. No opposition was recorded during the voting process.
- New Leadership Remarks: Council President Santos and Vice President Moda shared brief remarks expressing excitement for the 2026 term. Santos emphasized a new tone for public meetings and a focus on positive legislation. Moda noted her previous experience serving alongside Santos in leadership two years prior and expressed a commitment to working together to benefit residents.
Key Outcomes
- Natalie Santos elected as City Council President: Received unanimous support from the council (6 Yes votes).
- Cynthia Moda elected as City Council Vice President: Received unanimous support from the council (6 Yes votes).
- New Council Members Sworn In: Jeremy Bender and Christian Pongo officially assumed their seats as councilpersons.
- Mayor Turk Sworn In: Mayor Matt Turk was sworn in for a second term.
- Next Steps: The council declared readiness to begin work on 2026 legislation and community initiatives immediately following the celebration.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome. Welcome to City Council's organizational meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to have newly elected city council persons and city controller take the oath of office and to allow council to reorganize selecting a president and vice president. We will begin by remarks by outgoing council persons. That being Councilmember Ed Zukel, followed by myself. Thank you, Mr. Hendrix. I would like to thank the citizens of Alentown who elected me eight years ago. It's truly been an honor to serve these eight years and 25 years as a police officer before that. During my 2,920 days in office, I devoted my time to representing the citizens and the employees in the city with dignity and honor. I leave my position tonight with a clear conscience and with pride, knowing that I performed my duties in the utmost professional manner and represented Allentown as an elected official should. Every vote that I cast was not made by threats, phone calls, or political influence, but in the best interest in the future of its citizens. To my colleagues, have the courage to stand up for what you believe in and the values you were taught rather than by governing by peer pressure. True wisdom often means standing apart from the crowd. Throughout history, the majority has often been misguided. Real change and progress comes from those willing to think for themselves. For now, I'm going to enjoy my little time off, at least only for temporary. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. As I reflect on the close of my term as a council member, I am humbled to have had the privilege to represent the great citizens of our city, a city of which I have lived in since birth. The city of which I have been a public servant in for almost 50 years. During these assignments, I had a chance to meet and work with several like-minded colleagues where we could learn from each other's experiences. During my career of service with this city, I had the opportunity to work with many great and dedicated city staffers, directors, and employees. One of which I must name specifically Michael Hanlon. Thank you, Mike. I will miss you all. Some of the other highlights were participating in city events and activities, such as parades, flag raisings, and car shows along Hamilton Street, and also representing our city businesses with countless ribbon-cutting activities. During my term in office, I did my best, along with other council members to keep taxes and service increases down. I feel that the majority of council members I served with were fiscally responsible and that we made solid decisions based on the facts and resources available to us. It was a privilege to serve with many council members and three different mayors during my tenure. I will miss helping to shape our city and making a difference in our community. I made decisions based on research and facts rather than future election chances. As I begin the next chapter in my life, I will continue to pursue those goals in service of our city and those members of the community most deserving of them. But it is time for me to spend more time with my wife and our family, most especially our five grandchildren, who will certainly keep me on my toes. Thank you. Thank you all very much. And now I will step down from the dais and have our vice president Cynthia Bodo take my position. I'll get to you later. And now what we're gonna do is we're gonna I believe that I'm gonna be the first one who's gonna be sworn in by uh Linda Vega. So um honorable Miss Bega I know she's here. This is so exciting. I'm I'm really happy. I see so many familiar faces here. And ahead of time, I just want to say thank you. Miss Moda, the first Latina church, one moment. You ready? All right, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, County of Lehigh, City of Alatal. Repeat after me. I Cynthia Moda. I Cynthia Molten, do somebody affirm, do some that I will support that I will support obey and defend the constitution of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and the Constitution of this Commonwealth.
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