Empty Catch Phrases

We keep hearing the phrase “affordable housing” like it’s some magic spell that’s supposed to fix everything. Our leaders love saying it — it sounds good, it gets applause, and it makes it seem like they care. But when you look around, nothing changes. It has become rather evident that the administration and the council use affordable housing as a buzz word to get people to pay attention to their campaign. It sounds caring. It sounds proactive. It also requires zero follow‑through if you just keep repeating it loudly enough. It’s basically the political version of “I’ll start my diet on Monday. 

What has Tuerk or Council done to address the housing issues in Allentown? Absolutely nothing. We should not be at all surprised by this, after all Tuerk and Council are self-serving and have not done much for the community so why should housing be more than another political tool to garnish votes? It’s almost like the whole thing is just a slogan to win over lower‑income voters. And honestly, that’s exactly what it feels like. Because if keeping promises was part of the job description, half of these people wouldn’t have a job at all.

We’re told repeatedly that “affordable housing is coming.” Meanwhile, rent for a basic one‑ or two‑bedroom is already around $1,300 or more. A mortgage on a $250,000 house? That’s easily $1,800 a month — if you can even get approved, and if anyone is building a house for that price anymore. Spoiler: they’re not. Builders can’t make a profit on it, so they don’t bother.

So why do local leaders keep acting like they’re about to deliver some miracle solution? There’s barely any land left to build on in the city. And the new homes going up on the state hospital property? Let’s be real — they’re not going to be anywhere near affordable for the average Allentown resident. Not even close.

If the city is going to talk nonstop about affordable housing, then actually do something about it. Otherwise, maybe stick to the stuff they do seem to enjoy — flag raisings, festivals, awkward photo‑ops, and events that look good on social media but don’t fix anything. 

Oh, and let’s not forget the shiny $150 million Police, Fire, and Health complex that sailed through with unanimous approval. Amazing how fast money appears when it’s a project the city really wants.

But when it comes to anything that would actually ease the pressure on residents — like real, accessible housing options — suddenly the wallet snaps shut. Suddenly everything is “complicated,” “in review,” or “years away.”

It’s funny how priorities work. Big, shiny projects? Absolutely — those get green lit faster than you can blink.

Community relief? Oh, they’ll talk about it nonstop, parade it around like it’s the top item on the agenda… but show any real interest in actually doing something? Not a chance.

Just my thoughts. What’s yours?