Yea, that's great! I hope everything works out and it's money well spent. Too bad I'll probably never see it, since I'm scared to go into the City of Easton. If I have to drive anywhere that takes me into Easton, all my doors are locked and my body is in one big knot until I'm out of there. Can some money be used to make the city safer? Why can't the city go back to actually having officers walking on the same sidewalks that the people are walking on? It might just be timing or coincidence, but whenever I have to drive down Northampton St., I never see a poIice car. I would love to go on one of the carriage rides with the horse or attend shows at the State Theater, but I'm petrified of the thought. I don't even like the fact that I have to use "Easton" as my mailing address. I don't want people to think I live in a run down, dangerous place. Please find some money even if it's a little at a time to make things better. It doesn't have to be $10 million all at one time. As for the new parking deck, I hope there are funds for a lot of lighting and security.

Why are you so frightened of Easton? Do you go to NYC or any other city?

Something tells me that DMN is a resident of Praxis!

If more DMN were walking our streets---in company with the police; yes, they should be walking not riding by!---we would see less of the element that affrights him.
And just what is that element? Let's be specific. Talmudic scholars from Brooklyn dragging their Kindelach to Crayola? No, it's somethng else from Brooklyn.
Missionary Society ladies from The First Church Whatever looking for a nice lunch? Businessmen, lawyers who don't even represent the dirtbags of Centre Square but are just...looking for a nice lunch!
See, even I, with my forked tongue, can't be specific. It's a disease called Niceness.

DMN it is unfortunate that you still have such a negative view of our beautiful city. Sure there is crime but not if you aren't involced in that part of society. As for police there are more police on the force today than ever before and I see them walking and biking through nieghborhoods and downtown. Like it has been said, you odn't want to come to Easton - fine. But there are plenty of good people renting apartments at market rates that want to be downtown. Several places have waiting lists. So stay home in oyur cozy world but the more I read about the burbs surrounding Easton I would be alarmed if I were you. More and more crimes, especially drug-related crimes are occuring in the burbs. You are far from sheltered.

DMN comments are hilarious.

I'm glad I've been able to make some laugh. Seeing groups (6+) gang members walking down the street, doesn't make me want to join them. I won't even look directly at them from my locked vehicle. Beautiful city? The best part is the square. What about the rest of it? (I'm just talking about downtown.) I see an awful lot of vacant rundown store fronts. I would never equate downtown Easton with the word beautiful. I believe it was at one time, but not now. It would take more than 10 million dollars to accomplish that feat. I never said there weren't any good people in Easton. There are good people everywhere. It just seems like the number of bad people are growing at a faster rate. I'll never be on one of those waiting lists for a downtown apartment. So, I'll never be one of those holding you back. I'm not naïve enough to believe that anywhere is crime free. However, I promise you, the day I have groups of gang members walking up and down my street - I'm moving. If you choose to put yourself and your family in an area where that's considered the norm, fine. I choose not to. Thank God for choices. They allow us to live and travel where we want. I consider it rude and possibly ignorant to make fun of people that are different from yourself, for any reason. In some cases, it's illegal. I gave all the comments in reaction to what I said equal consideration. I ask that you take into consideration what I said/say and read my words, not into them.

First off Easton has a circle, Not a square. Second, How do you know this group of 6+ individuals are gang members? It seems you like to judge people on appearances. You are right about other areas of the city having multiple vacant store fronts and abandoned homes. What is truly rude DMN is the fact you choose to hide in your locked car or home and do nothing to help. What have you done for your community lately?

Back to the story at hand...Yeah maybe 10 million could have been spent elsewhere but, it will help a growing city. The project is going to happen like it or not. Embrace it for what it is and hope only better things come from the project. Anyone know when this project will be complete?

Jimmy-I'm not judging people by their appearance. I'm recognizing what the Easton Police Dept. is taking the time to teach the community & children in our public schools. They teach you how to recognize a gang member and how to tell what gang they are from. You made a mistake insinuating I don't do anything to help the community. I do things to help all the time, but since you said "lately," I'll give you a quick run down of 2012. I donated to food banks. I donated a combo of approx. 80 bags & boxes of household items, clothes & toys to Veterans & their families. A family of 4 came across bad times last year. They had no beds to sleep on, 1 folding chair bet. them, reused plastic cups, utensils, & broken cookware, etc. Out of my pocket, this family now has a futon sofa bed, a single futon bed, 2 daybeds, new mattresses, pillows, sheets, blankets, a new set of glasses, pots & pans & utensils. They have a new coffee maker, kitchen towels, dishcloths, & pot holders. They have new bath towels, washcloths & hand towels. They have new clothes. They have a stock of cleaning products for the apt. and themselves. We also made sure they all had gifts to open on Christmas. I've hit hard times myself & have been on the receiving end of some help. The thing is ... remember it & pass it on. They are now wonderful new friends & they can call me if they need anything. The best part, is knowing I've made a positive difference in someone's life & that I'm teaching my children to do the same.

@DMN- I find it rude that you'll make such superficial judgements about a community based on your "professional" assessment derived as you frighteningly drive thru town at the fastest rate possible. Fear of those you consider "others" is the first step towards bigotry.

@DMN...I am glad you donated you items and your own money to the less fortunate. Giving back is very important to teach our children.That I can agree with. I myself do not donate items or money but, I do donate my time, knowledge, and skills. The difference here is clear. You enjoy giving from a distance with material possessions which is fine. I can not knock any form of charity. Would you donate any of your own time, knowledge or skills in the West Ward? Just wondering....

Whether you donate items, money, time, knowledge or skills. They are all important. What you donate is usually what is being asked for. Some organizations just want money so they can decide what to spend it on. Some organizations need mentors for our children. Some need clothing, tutors or food. The list goes on. Any way we choose to donate is a blessing. I would be willing to donate my own time, knowledge or skills to the citizens of the West Ward by myself at a library or school setting. I would be willing to go with a group of people familiar with the area, during the day. Would I go alone to someone's home (that I don't know) at night in the West Ward? No. I'm being honest. I would be afraid of getting lost, finding myself in the wrong place at the wrong time, or seeing something that I shouldn't. There's nothing wrong with admitting I'm afraid. I've never lived in an area like that. I was never allowed to go to an area like that. It's natural to fear the unknown. If I was brought up in the area or went there regularly, my feelings would be different. Just in case you're wondering, I don't care if you would spend $1K or more on people you don't know, because it doesn't matter and it's none of my business. As long as we all do something to make things a little better in this world it's all good to me. So there are some things we agree on & some we don't. That's why we can be referred to as "individuals." So from one individual to another ... have a great weekend!

@DMN- I don't fear your fear at all. I just find it to be unjustified. Live in fear if you want, but maybe you shouldn't post derogatory comments about a community based on that irrational fear on a public forum if you don't want those comments scrutinized by people in said community.

Scrutinize all you want. I'm allowed to have an opinion. Land of free speech and all. You can say anything you want. For me it warranted derogatory remarks, so I wrote them. If you don't agree, you write that. You may have fears that I might consider "irrational," but what does it matter if I do. They are real to you and should be respected as such. I think I'll just agree to disagree with you. Have a nice day!

@DMN- and for me, your fear-based comment warranted a response. So there we are...land of free speech and all.

I'm just wondering, are they building in a flood zone?

There is a corner portion of the property that sits in the flood plain. From what I understand, the building has been designed with that concern in mind. Was there a particular reason why you wondered about that?

I thought it might be. I was hoping they wouldn't build and then get damage from flooding. I'm glad to hear the building was designed with that concern in mind. I grew up in a town where the downtown area flooded terribly. Everything would be ruined. For centuries they would keep rebuilding in the same place and each time get flooded out. I thought one day they would improve their planning, but they never did. I'm glad to hear we've got some more intelligent people involved with this project.

I've just seen too much damage from flooding during my lifetime. My own mother lost her home to Hurricane Sandy. I remember how proud my parents were to be able to build a home. We all watched each step with excitement. It was a ranch house and it got 4 feet of water in it. Everything just gone after 38 years. So devastating.

Ugh. Sorry to hear that about your mother. I hope she's ok. I had family displaced by Sandy as well. Flooding is a challenge in a city like Easton, but there are definitely smart approaches to developing in flood plans.

Oh, thank you. She's ok, just still shaken up. After all this time, she is still waiting for help from FEMA. They should be ashamed. I hope your family is all right too. You really need experts when it comes to developing flood plans, not just people that think they know what to do.

I wish they would rebuild Bushkill Amusement Park. They could build it up several feet from the ground, like a boardwalk. Years ago, my whole family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins would all drive out here from central jersey to spend the day there. We all have such fond memories.

To all the people who left comments for me, I have a couple of things to say. As I sit here and process everything that was said . . . it came to me. When I was younger, I was fearless. I would go anywhere, anytime by myself or with others. I've been to quite a few dangerous places - NYC, Camden, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Sarasota, FL, Baltimore, MD, etc. It didn't phase me. I drove anywhere. Even though I really didn't want to, in November I drove my son to NYC so we could celebrate our birthdays by seeing the Twins of Evil Concert. That's right imagine the audience for Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. (I'm a sucker. I'll do anything for my son.) Unfortunately, as I've gotten older I've been disabled by diseases there are no cures for. They've made my body weak. I guess I have accepted the fact there are many physical things I can't do anymore. One of those being - defend myself. I can't put up a fight and defend myself anymore. That's where the fear comes in. When you realize that, you try to be more careful where you go, especially by yourself. So, I think my fear is rational for me. I'm okay with that, because I can't change the way things are. So to those of you who are young, healthy and fearless, live life the way you want to today, because things may change for you tomorrow. God Bless.

I read all of these comments and find a fairness throughout. To take exception to some of DMN's comments--- if you .live where he mentions is most understandable but nobody got into calling names or cursing. We are all the same within our skins are we not? The comments by all were reasonable & measured. Moose from Kintnersville, , pa.