In the closing days of the fall election campaign, two candidates used the Lancaster city council meeting to tell a tale of two cities.
Matt Holden, the lone Republican council candidate, used the meeting's public comment period to tell council members that city residents feel forgotten.
People have seen changes and development downtown, he said, but residents he has spoken to in neighborhoods across the city refer to their areas "as a forgotten part of the city."
Holden was followed a few minutes later by Mayor Rick Gray, who is running for re-election.
Gray, a Democrat, said in his twice-monthly mayor's report to council that life in city neighborhoods is improving due to actions taken under his administration.
Gray rattled off statistics about increased recycling, decreased litter and the number of rental properties inspected since his administration two years ago began enforcing a city law requiring interior inspections.
He departed from his prepared remarks several times to emphasize that the actions were taken in the city's residential neighborhoods.
Holden, whose remarks during the public comment period were limited to three minutes, also rattled off a list.
As he went door-to-door campaigning for office, Holden said, he heard people along South Lime Street complain about limited parking. People on Hershey Avenue are concerned about speeding motorists. People in Cabbage Hill fear crime in their neighborhood is not being addressed. And West End residents said there is more drug dealing there.
Holden called on council members to hold neighborhood meetings, get a consensus from residents on their concerns and develop solutions.
"We need to stop fooling ourselves into thinking that we know what is best for a neighborhood that we don't even live in," Holden said.
His comments drew a sharp rebuke from council President Louise Williams, who also is running for re-election.
Williams called on Holden to tell people to bring their concerns to council committee meetings.
Holden was not allowed to respond to Williams during the meeting. He said afterwards that few people come to council committee meetings.
"Rather than waiting for people to pursue council, council needs to come to the neighborhoods," he said.
Gray, in contrast, spoke of government that is working for city residents.
For example, he said, police response time for serious offenses has been reduced by 23 percent since 2005. The response time for all calls has been cut by 18 percent, or 3.65 minutes.
Last year, the city streamlined the process of moving vacant abandoned and condemned properties through the seizure process. With city council approval, six months was taken off what had been a two-year process.
And earlier this year, council members acted on a Gray administration initiative that requires landlords to evict tenants after three documented incidents of "disruptive conduct" within a 12-month period.
So far, there have been 194 first notices of disruptive conduct, such as loud music, to which police responded. There have been only 11 second notices and there have been no third notices so far, Gray said.
Gray spread the credit around.
"I congratulate members of city council for adopting ordinances that have made such a significant impact on the quality of life in our neighborhoods and our city, and I thank city staff for producing the results I've highlighted here tonight," the mayor said.
Gray is being challenged by Republican Charlie Smithgall, who served eight years as mayor before being defeated by Gray four years ago.
Holden is running for one of four seats on council. Along with Williams, council members Tim Roschel and Jose Urdaneta are running for reelection. All of the incumbents are Democrats.
A fifth candidate, newcomer Todd Smith, also is a Democrat.
The election is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.