ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WLVT) - Allentown City Council sat down for a meeting for the first time in nearly a month.
On the agenda was Bill 48, which would award the Allentown Police Department with $50,000 in state Community and Economic Development grant money.
Hasshan Batts, executive director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, says that's a slap in the face to the community that this week has protested police use of force.
"Despite everything that's occurred. And again this is an opportunity for council members to say we hear you, we understand what you say, and we're gonna put these additional funds back into the community," Batts said.
City council began Wednesday night's meeting by reading nearly three hours' worth of public comment, mostly regarding a video that showed police subduing a man outside St. Luke's Sacred Heart Hospital. The video is the focus of investigations by Allentown police and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
People couldn't attend the meeting because of the pandemic, but it was streamed online and broadcast over a speaker outside of Allentown City Hall.
"Some of them are form letters, so you're hearing the same thing over and over. But that's especially important with people like (council members) Daryl Hendricks and Ed Zucal, who are against defunding the police," said Ashleigh Strange, regional organizer of the group Lehigh Valley Stands Up. "They have to hear this, and read it over and over again."
After the meeting city council members Joshua Siegel and Ce-Ce Gerlach came out and addressed the crowd. As they were doing so, Edward Borrero Jr., the man restrained in the video, showed up.
The two council members then addressed Borrero.
"Your courage is incredible that you came out here tonight," Siegel said. "Please join us, use your voice, we need you to stand with us, and I'm proud to stand by you no matter what."
Bill 48 was not voted on Wednesday night. It will go to a committee and be considered by council at its July 29 meeting.
To watch Wednesday's meeting in its entirety or to see the agenda, you can visit the city council page on www.AllentownPA.gov or click here.
Click on the video player below to watch today's full story from PBS39's Ben Stemrich.