“Our job in city hall, and our communities, is to create that idea of shared success. And by our job, I mean it’s all of our jobs. It’s the 76,000 people that call Bethlehem home.” So began Mayor William Reynolds’ State of the City address April 6 at ArtsQuest.

For over two hours, city officials and community leaders took to the podium to explain their contributions to the city’s prosperity over the last 12 months.

Reynolds referred to them as individuals, “dedicated to that idea of creating something for people other than themselves.”

The city’s Deputy Director of Economic Development Alicia Miller Karner highlighted $1.1 billion of private investments benefiting key areas of economic growth.

Reynolds celebrated the ranking of AA Stable Bond rating, and emphasized how the growth of city revenues has put Bethlehem in a great financial position.

Community Connections, the Comprehensive Housing Strategy, renovations to Friendship Park, revitalizing the Southside are just a few of the projects highlighted during the breakfast address.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and Easton Mayor Salvatore Panto Jr. also took to the stage, reinforcing the benefits of the alliance the three mayors made a couple of months ago.

Tuerk said, “Many of the challenges that we face in Allentown are not challenges that we face alone. They are challenges that we face across this entire region. The challenges that we discussed a moment ago, housing, homelessness, they’re climate challenges that we all face together.”

Panto added, “We may be from 62 municipalities but we are all one community.”

Reynolds said the code of the city is to, “help people get what they need, and hold accountable those who try for too much.” For success to occur, everyone has a part to play. The redefining of success is part of the story.

“This is who we are. Welcome to Bethlehem,” Reynolds concluded.