Chair Janine Santoro discussed the potential ramifications of a White House announcement pausing federal grants, loans and other assistance programs at the Mayor’s South Side Task Force hybrid meeting held Jan. 28 in the NCC Fowler Center.

She announced Mayor William Reynolds’ press conference being held Jan. 29 to address President Trump’s recent announcement to freeze Congressionally approved funding and its potential implications for the city of Bethlehem. A federal judge temporarily blocked the executive branch’s attempt to take control of the federal purse away from the legislative branch. The freeze memo later was rescinded.

Other less-disturbing topics covered at the meeting included the South Bethlehem Community Center Feasibility Study and a 2024 Community Recovery Fund Awardees announcement. The 2025 CRF application process opens in early March.

“Save the date,” said Santoro regarding the Bethlehem State of the City address scheduled for April 3, from 7 - 9:30 a.m. at the ArtsQuest SteelStacks Campus, along with a Parks and Recreation Master Plan first virtual public meeting on March 20 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Santoro mentioned that there are open seats on several authorities, boards and commissions. Open positions at city hall need to be filled, as well, including city planning director, as Darlene Heller has retired.

Community partners weighed in with updates.

“Rent rebate season has officially started,” said Glori Vasquez from State Representative Steve Samuelson’s office. She described how the staff there is helping residents with the application process, as well as helping residents 65 years or older with obtaining free passes to ride SEPTA trains and buses in Philadelphia.

She mentioned that PennDot has made available reduced vehicle registration for retirees. Those making up to $26,906 per year may be eligible to pay just $11.

Duvan Cano from Community Action Development Corp. Bethlehem spoke about their landlord/tenant mediation program. Jennifer Labrador brought up the CADB’s Southside Tomorrow Call for Project Proposals. She said the Southside Tomorrow Steering Committee invites all South Bethlehem serving organizations, residents, and business owners to propose community-driven projects for implementation between July 1, 2025 and Sept. 30, 2026. These must be turned in by March 21.

Lehigh University professors Christina Zheng and Austin Duncan highlighted Disability, Urban Living, and Community Mapping workshops and interviews, where a coalition of Bethlehem residents, people with disability experiences and LU professors gather information to help with advocating for neighborhood accessibility improvements.

Lehigh student Zach Burns briefly commented on the environmental mapping being carried out by Dr. Kate Jackson’s cohort of students in targeted areas in Bethlehem.

Marketing agency owner Victoria Fields ‘phoned it in’ from her mobile phone while out on the road. “Right now, as you can imagine, we are looking for very unorthodox ways of funding,” she said, noting that business owners have been coming to her with concerns and she is working on expanding her own enterprise.

Her older daughter is partnering with her to put in place hydroponics systems at Lehigh Valley schools. She and her other two kids work a community garden plot together.

Attending online, Katy Knibbs from South Side Arts District said the Winter Restaurant Week runs Feb. 24 - March 3. Additional details will be posted soon on the organization’s website.

Santoro noted the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley’s 2025 Fiesta Colombia is being hosted at the Wind Creek Bethlehem Foundry Ballroom on May 30 at 5:30 p.m.

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force regularly meets on the last Tuesday of the month. The next one will be Feb. 25.