Matthew Tuerk

And that is a big piece where cities have to be able to play a role is making sure that people have the tools they need to access the good things that are happening in their economy.

We made sure as soon as the November 5th, 2024, like we went into overdrive to just make sure that we weren't at risk of losing anything.

And that came through the Chips and Science Act.

And it was a relatively small program.

So and, you know, practically speaking, yeah.

our region is intensely political um so it would not make sense to i had to fight for some other stuff to make sure that we got it including usd i wrote a letter to secretary rollins and the usda about how important trees were to cities across america we've worked to make sure that we didn't lose the the street funding

But, you know, for some of the funding for things that you do in cities, it's like very practical.

It's good for residents.

It should be nonpartisan as long as you are not exclusively focused on the various different things the administration is focused on.

Um, so there is tension for sure.

Right.

And I think that the recognition, like the biggest thing that DC could do is make sure that people are not worried about their healthcare or not worried about putting food on the table or not worried about a thousand other things and can worry about just like being part of this American dream and like, and building towards something and that they could, um,

you know, be part of the dignity of work.

And so there's some things that they could just focus less on or like trying to cut less of.

I think that cities probably don't think as much about immigration from that perspective as an economic driver, but I think that we have to continue to bring new people in, bring new ideas in, make American cities places that can receive investment

And knowing that somewhat that investment is like it's intellectual capital.

Right.

So we want people to come in and feel comfortable making stuff and making new technology in our cities.

I want to say I think it's not uncommon for mayors to be pretty bipartisan in Allentown, where one of my senators is Senator David McCormick.

who is on the, he's the, he's a Republican, I'm a Democrat, but I appreciate Senator McCormick's interest in competitiveness and trying to attract industry and particular manufacturing to Pennsylvania.