[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6122440,"mediaKeyId","2694923-f4aa013bf0d73a668b52c98841f8d141","parentId",2694923,"title","Council hears public comment as police seek Edward Byrne grant for intersection cameras","audioSeconds",533,"startMs",480,"endMs",534120,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694923-f4aa013bf0d73a668b52c98841f8d141&start=0&end=534","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694923-f4aa013bf0d73a668b52c98841f8d141/thumbnail_480.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122440/Bethlehem/Lehigh-and-Northampton-Counties/Pennsylvania/Council-hears-public-comment-as-police-seek-Edward-Byrne-grant-for-intersection-cameras","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122440-a7335715b276c0c64411a3527707ec6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179737&Signature=HxvftMaD6g9ip3yAJVxOytHXFUI4BhZfAg~CdK20fzgvegpDg23AtT5Sox0EXR~EFJqzmCaDCEx4pgfu9Y88wCiPfn~9fbRtWbmlxlEd5WTOKBSvUtcgi3AemUJLlR88Qsegji6mpiivJJ2wYBoYHpy4PXcNGDs7sXQDXfyNic~mAiSCZJM-yZ6OmDMBdddhQrxVzwZSHGK9oC8tv8Gqkgzs0bUffDpa4guCPJIrwMKcjQBCOD6nQdGxM5r3fMdPhKE8mN6-zRjsZgBWKxmrteoqHbwiIelBvs3pLyIU4EhMYH0QhTKhA2RdM41ItMpi27RNs2e1zsvEshR0Fd5lMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bethlehem, PA","date","2025-03-19T14:23:32Z","article","Police presented a plan to use federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding to add and replace intersection cameras around the city, saying higher‑quality cameras and real‑time analytics would help officers respond to and investigate crashes and nearby crimes.

Chief Scott told council the cameras are used primarily for historical review, not automated ticketing. \"Most of the time, it's historical data that is recorded. And if there's an accident at the inner intersection, if there's a crime that occurs nearby, we're able to go back and view that historical data and utilize it as evidence,\" the chief said. He added the department hopes the presence of cameras will act as a deterrent to unsafe driving, but confirmed the city does not use the system to issue citations.

Council members pressed for operational details. Councilwoman Kwiatek asked whether footage is ever used for enforcement; the chief replied, \"Correct,\" meaning it is not used to issue tickets. Councilwoman Laird asked whether the grant pays only for hardware or also ongoing services; the chief said subscription and retention costs are budget items paid annually and that the grant would cover equipment and labor. He estimated current retention for unflagged footage is about two weeks but said he would confirm the exact period with IT. Councilwoman Ramsey Smith asked how many intersections are currently covered; the chief said the city has about 28 intersections on its camera network and said the grant would target adding cameras at roughly two additional intersections (candidates mentioned included Broad & Center, Broad & Linden and intersections on the Steffco [Steffco/Stethco] Boulevard corridor).

Two members of the public who addressed the grant raised policy and equity concerns. Bill Shire recounted seeing pedestrians run into an intersection and said some enforcement of pedestrian behavior might be warranted; he also urged caution in advertising the cameras. Harry Faber urged the council to prioritize poverty reduction and education as upstream investments that affect crime and said fines disproportionately affect lower‑income people. \"Fines, we all understand disproportionately affect lower income people,\" Faber said, and suggested warnings rather than citations.

Officials said the city has used Byrne JAG funding in previous years for mobile data terminals and other police technology; with those units replaced, the department is proposing to direct this year’s allocation toward cameras. Council concluded the public hearing and the president of council said the administration would place a resolution on the April agenda for formal consideration of the grant application.

What’s next: the council will consider a resolution in April authorizing application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and any related appropriations or contract approvals will return for council action at a later meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03182025 Council meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Police presented a plan to use an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to add and replace intersection cameras and analytics, saying the equipment will aid crash response and investigations.","taxTitle","Bethlehem, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania","taxId",9659,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6122435,"Council approves small pay increase for council; controller and mayor raises fail",1532,1747555,3279770,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694923-f4aa013bf0d73a668b52c98841f8d141&start=1747&end=3279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694923-f4aa013bf0d73a668b52c98841f8d141/thumbnail_1747555.jpg","/articles/6122435/Bethlehem/Lehigh-and-Northampton-Counties/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-small-pay-increase-for-council-controller-and-mayor-raises-fail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122435-02b782cb84597b04cb447c1b27dcb92a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179737&Signature=GXcRuKPXtjyHuO9SOd~uzO1YU-HK2GIMMFCzTjG-dHv-8u-aRla2bnC40x47te9ydyCMbf9jCSOXL1kLDoXT--d7obDLtAoEcM93V1VIpHMLkAPeq1Gz5Pi7G-4kwOnaxCZIV4oq224VHf6D~SDudQhpTcuozsnCh83L~YB7dvAiEHSrQ4nU5YAgMgj73ZSSXTL6p2nr7sE9ZkJ~x0OJp-dXU-vVx3TLf9g2hUkXSl0KtvfWMK8Xm6cxT5lDVWFJoCpJAVSHhV~j17kgwQkN5BqkkXt7o3IPXX2Xux-8jH15g-ev0KxaLL4s6ayLoMJLl0jAQEFxkDlH1tccRwzm6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bethlehem City Council considered a package of salary ordinances and related items in a session that included lengthy debate, a public petition and an extended statement by the elected controller.

Council voted 4–3 to amend the city ordinance that sets council and council president salaries (Bill 16-20-25). The votes were: Aye — Councilwoman Kwiatek, Councilwoman Laird, Councilwoman Wilhelm, President Colon; Nay — Councilwoman Grama Smith, Councilwoman Leon, Councilman Callahan. The ordinance sponsor list on the record showed Councilwoman Laird and Councilwoman Grama Smith as sponsors.

A separate ordinance to raise the controller’s salary (Bill 17-20-25) failed on a 5–2 vote. The roll call recorded Nays from Councilwoman Cramsey Smith, Councilwoman Laird, Councilwoman Leon, Councilman Callahan and President Colon. Councilwoman Kwiatek and Councilwoman Wilhelm voted Aye. Controller Yasso appeared and urged council to vote against the increase, saying he had submitted nomination petitions for re‑election and that accepting the raise would create a conflict for him. He said: \"It is my moral and ethical obligation ... to do everything in my power to make sure that the vote tonight is nay,\" and announced that, if re‑elected, he would self‑impose a final term and not seek further re‑election.

A proposed increase to the mayor’s salary (Bill 18-20-25) likewise failed, 4–3. The roll call was Aye — Councilwoman Kwiatek, Councilwoman Leon, Councilwoman Wilhelm; Nay — Councilwoman Grama Smith, Councilwoman Laird, Councilman Callahan and President Colon. The mayor’s office had informed council in advance that the mayor intended to exercise executive veto authority on any increase to the mayor’s salary.

Council also passed an ordinance updating the Sister City Commission (Bill 19-20-25) unanimously. The administration said the ordinance replaces aging 1970s language with an \"umbrella\" approach to formalize existing sister city relationships and provide guidance for fundraising and nonprofit formation if volunteer groups wish to pursue that route.

What this means: the council increase (Bill 16) will take effect as provided in the ordinance unless the mayor acts; the controller and mayor increases failed and thus did not take effect. Controller Yasso argued the controller’s vote posed a conflict because he has filed for re‑election and would personally benefit if the ordinance passed; he asked colleagues to vote \"nay\" to avoid any appearance of personal gain. Councilmembers supporting increases said the salary bands for long‑unchanged positions (16 years for council, 12 years for mayor) create compression and reduce accessibility of the offices to people who cannot afford unpaid public service.

Votes at a glance:
- Bill 16-20-25 (amends Ordinance 2017-01; council & council president salaries): Passed 4–3; sponsors: Laird, Grama Smith.
- Bill 17-20-25 (amends Ordinance 2017-03; controller salary): Failed 5–2; sponsors: Laird, Grama Smith.
- Bill 18-20-25 (amends Ordinance 2017-02; mayor salary): Failed 4–3; sponsors: Laird, Pramsley Smith.
- Bill 19-20-25 (revises Article 141, Sister City Commission): Passed 7–0; sponsors: Leon, Grama Smith.

Council members may revisit salary questions in the next year; staff and the solicitor noted salary changes must comply with statutory timing requirements for nominating petitions and the mayor’s veto authority may affect implementation timelines.","Council voted on three salary ordinances: council pay increase passed 4–3, proposed controller salary increase failed 5–2 after a lengthy appearance by Controller Yasso, and a proposed mayoral raise failed 4–3; a separate ordinance updating the Sister City Commission passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

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Council hears public comment as police seek Edward Byrne grant for intersection cameras

Council approves small pay increase for council; controller and mayor raises fail