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Nov 11, 2023

'Our people are done with warehousing,' Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure declares

Northampton County’s future is green, as in the color of nature and the color of

Northampton County's future is green, as in the color of nature and the color of money, county Executive Lamont McClure said Wednesday during the annual state of the county address at Hotel Bethlehem.

And while he was wearing a muted green suit for the event, McClure was burnt red about one challenge facing county residents. He wants to stop the proliferation of warehouses, or at least tax incentives that go toward such projects.

"Our people are done with warehousing," he said twice, drawing applause.

Some facilities have helped the county increase its tax revenue, with employers providing family-sustaining wages, McClure acknowledged. He said he does not want existing, massive facilities to leave, noting major corporations that have moved into the county, including Amazon, UPS and FedEx. He also highlighted warehouses of Martin Guitar in Palmer Township and Bowery Farming in south Bethlehem, two examples of large manufacturing buildings near interstates and almost entirely away from local traffic.

"But we’re done," McClure said. "We don't want any more trucks. We don't want any more warehouses. We don't want to be incentivizing them with tax breaks."

Someone in the audience replied, "Amen!"

McClure, who took office in 2018, said the county's focus during his terms has been on property tax stabilization, farmland preservation and preserving Gracedale, the largest publicly run nursing home in Pennsylvania.

Standing in front of a video of aerial views of countywide green landscapes, McClure spoke of the county's accomplishments under his leadership and its upcoming challenges during his 40-minute remarks to emphasize several points.

Don Cunningham, president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., introduces Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure before McClure delivered his State of the County address on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure invites county employees to stand during his State of the County address on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure invites county employees to stand during his State of the County address on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Former Northampton County Executive Glenn Reibman stands during current Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure's State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during the State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks to the audience during his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

Don Cunningham, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., shakes hand with Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure before McClure delivered his State of the County address Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Hotel Bethlehem. (Rebecca Villagracia/The Morning Call)

He walked through the region's older history — Bethlehem Steel's rise and demise, and the revitalization of much of that manufacturer's land into warehouses — and looked to the future — ensuring greater access to broadband, dealing with air quality and Lehigh River pollution, and bringing back passenger rail service.

"It's currently being studied now, again," McClure said. "I suspect when the study is complete, we’ll be told it's going to be billions of dollars and decades before we get that passenger rail to New York City or Philadelphia.

"That no longer can be the scare tactic to keep us from pursuing passenger rail," he said, to more applause. "If we’re going to be future-oriented … it's very important to our vitality."

McClure, a Democrat who before becoming executive served on County Council, can propose spending. But council, where Republicans hold a 5-4 edge following President Kerry Myers’ change in parties this year, must approve it.

Myers and other Republicans were not at Wednesday's speech, but two Democrats, Kevin Lott and Tara Zrinski, said afterward they were generally satisfied with the overall state of the county.

"He's got to sell what he's got to sell to us," said Lott, who is not seeking reelection. "He's always got to explain to council why he believes it's a good move, and I believe he does."

Zrinski, who is seeking the county controller's seat in the fall against Republican Council member John Cusick, said while it was good McClure spoke about the Lehigh being an environmentally endangered river, she questioned what he will do about it.

"What is the action plan?" she said, noting the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has been working on a climate action plan. "We have so much work to do in the county that it's not all about warehouses; it's not all about broadband."

McClure said the county is also:

More than 200 people attended the Wednesday morning event, hosted by Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at [email protected].

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