Easton City Council on Wednesday swiftly removed from its meeting agenda a “Welcoming City” ordinance that would prevent city police and agencies from assisting federal immigration authorities.
Minutes into the meeting, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. made a motion to remove the bill from the agenda. Council member Taiba Sultana has several times this year offered the ordinance, which would designate Easton as a Welcoming City under the criteria used by the nonprofit organization Welcoming America.
“We are a welcoming city,” Panto said, adding he has worked for decades to make Easton more inclusive. “We welcome every immigrant. I think our record shows that, and to put this on the agenda brings attention to the city of Easton that I don’t think we need.”
Sultana, who in May lost in the Democratic primary election to Susan Hartranft-Bittinger, said the ordinance was necessary to help immigrants.
“It’s important to ensure our commitment for immigrant communities,” Sultana said.
Panto responded quickly, saying the city already does this.
“Legislators are telling our police department what they can and cannot do,” Sultana said. “That’s all. We are not overriding anything. And talking to downtown businesses, I am not sure what they know and what they don’t know about this ordinance or what’s happening around the city or around the country — because we do have an administration ripping the families apart.”
Sultana said she spoke to many Easton residents and business owners on the issue, as well as immigration lawyers. She said the ordinance would not override the federal government, but it would solely be “for the city.”
Easton police Chief Carl Scalzo in February, when the ordinance was first introduced, warned that a “welcoming city” designation could create hardships for law enforcement. At a City Council meeting in April, multiple residents during public comment called for the city to step up its commitment to protecting immigrants.
There were only two public comments on the matter Wednesday. Former Easton police officer Walter Howell, speaking briefly, said he opposed the ordinance should it be reintroduced.
Downtown Easton resident Mark Rosenzweig, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America of the Lehigh Valley, said the ordinance would “have made clear that safety and dignity are not negotiable, and city services are for everyone.”
“Many will still live in fear of reporting crimes or accessing city services,” he said. “That fear weakens our whole community, because public safety depends on public trust, and trust is built on justice and not on suspicion.”
City Council member Frank Pintabone said in response that “we’re trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.” He said Easton has had only two reported federal immigration arrests, and that Allentown and Bethlehem have had more.
Allentown City Council unanimously voted in February to pass a Welcoming City ordinance, following hours of testimony from supporters. The Allentown ordinance included a provision that would only “suggest” instead of require the city to meet Welcoming America’s requirements. Bethlehem City Council in February declined to vote on its own Welcoming City ordinance, despite a push by activists.
Andreas Pelekis is a freelance writer.
