Editor:

The relocation of Allentown and Bethlehem’s homeless encampment is not voluntary. The residents there lived at no financial cost to the community or to the property owners.

There were no complaints about neighborhood thefts or personal attacks or threatening behaviors. They were few if any contact with the police. They were invisible, except to New Bethany, Allentown YMCA and other service agencies.

After years of ongoing residence in the encampments, two parties complained to each city (Allentown and Bethlehem). They demanded that the police remove the encampments and the people living there.

The Allentown landlord Mr. Hyman complained the encampment was trespassing on private property and creating an eyesore. He sued the city Allentown and they caved to his demands. He now complains that the encampment has damaged or impacted four of his properties.

The city made up the excuse, that the residents were in danger because the encampment was in a flood plain. The flood plain encampment was never noted as a risk in the past. The encampment, was there long before Mr. Hyman’s complaint.

In Bethlehem, Norfolk Southern (the country’s largest railroad company) complained that the encampment there was endangering the lives of the residents. As in Allentown, the encampment had been there for years. Although they sent by trains by the encampment for years, they did not take action until now.

Recognizing the legitimate complaint of trespassing, the complaining parties have taken no responsibility for housing the evicted tenants. There was no district justice hearing for the residences to argue against the eviction. They had no money to pay for the hearing or a lawyer in any case.

Mr. Hyman and Norfolk Southern dumped this complaint on the cities of Allentown and Bethlehem. The city then dumped the complaint on their police department. The police had to remove the residents, and destroy their tents and personal possessions. In addition, they were asked to help find housing for the evicted persons.

They cities and the police then dumped the housing responsibility to Allentown and Bethlehem YMCA, New Bethany Ministry, and other nonprofit agencies. Mr. Hyman and Norfolk Southern have not made donations to the agencies serving these evicted persons. They have not provided housing or subsidies for these persons.

There is no other local situation where two property owners could cause the eviction of persons, destruction of their living space and personal property without any regard to the consequences of their actions. Mr. Hyman, one of the largest area landlords has not offered and would not accept any of the displaced residents to live in one of his properties. Mr. Hyman and Norfolk Southern have said that housing these persons is not their problem.

They have NOT reimbursed the city, the agencies, or the residents for any of the expense they have caused.

Ray Murphy

Bethlehem