Public Comment at the April 15 Bethlehem City Council meeting was anything but a love fest.

Residents demanded council respond to their concerns, with Stephan Antalics suggesting council represents “an adversarial form of government,” and Artie Curatola saying, “No one is listening. [Council] is ignoring the wants of the people.”

Resident Harry Farber noted the growing animosity between council and residents and said landowners are the only ones whose voices are heard. William Scheirer said speaking to this council was useless, and that he “would take a moratorium from the Woolworth building and Garrison Street issues” to draw attention to the haphazard way garbage is collected, and cans are strewn about in the process.

Several citizens have voiced concerns week after week with no action or reaction by council.

The only council person to respond to this was Councilwomen Hillary Kwiatek, who said she took offense to these comments, and that she “often responds with an email or phone call to residents regarding specific concerns.”

Specifically citizens were up in arms about the housing project proposed for Garrison Avenue and a proposal to the make the Woolworth building taller, altering the historic landscape and uniqueness of the building. Both were passed by the council.