Q & A for Candidate Alfonso Todd

QUESTION: I've been at more the a dozen city council meetings last year alone and I only saw you there once. you say you want to open city hall to EVERYONE yet if you would be a part of it you would know that the home rule charter already makes sure city hall is open to everyone. You also claim you want to make sure the arena benefits everyone but had you been going to city council meetings (or reading about them after the fact in the paper) you would know that the council already approved the lease of the arena, against the many how spoke out against it myself included. The deal is done at this point, $270 million in cost and the brooks group will pay a lease fee of $6.7 million spread out over the 50 years of their lease for a grand loss of $263.3 million to the tax payers. If you really cared about this city where were you when that vote went down and why have you been unwilling to denounce those who voted for it?

ANSWER: I am and have been apart of Allentown's government scene for years, I just never promoted it or believed I had to join any political party to make effective change in the community. I have been asked for my advice, by City Executive Directors, about how I would obtain more business for the city, I created an unofficial Information Dissemination Project for the city, and I was asked to give tours to business men with companies interested in possibly moving to Allentown; and while you say the information in city hall is open to EVERYONE, guess what? Many aren't receiving it and still have no clue and as city leaders, it is our job to bring it to them. Also, if there was such openness then people wouldn't be running around Allentown STILL wondering what the Arena will do for the city and HOW they can benefit from it. Plus, I still get complaints from people who feel they are hitting a brick wall when trying to do something as simple as getting a business license. Recently, I talked to a starting entrepreneur who said he was sent to 3 different places in City hall and still walked out empty handed. It should not be so hard and so confusing to do business in Allentown and, yet, this is the reputation that we have. As far as the arena, I know the situation very well. I helped a client promote a group that was created to fight the eminent domain situation. I was there when there was crying, yelling, and police escorts. My good friend went viral on YOUTUBE because she looked at Council and gave her two cents. She has since relocated. So, just because you don't see me does not mean I am not there. People call me daily and keep me abreast of meetings I am unable to attend and I stay current with City issues. You speak about denouncing people, and if you feel it is productive, then feel free. Me, myself, I prefer to PREPARE the people by giving knowledge and information about what they can do to benefit from this project and not by just waiting on "possible' grants, NIZ benefits, or non-profit monies. Why get scraps when we can create our own businesses and events and be apart of the resurgence of Allentown and not just worker bees / bystanders?    www.votealfonsotodd.com