Day: April 8, 2024

Pondering Illegals At Don Guanella — Rumors fly that Delaware County secretly wants to house illegals at the former Don Guanella buildings on the county’s newly christened 213-acre Delco Woods park between Sproul and Reed roads in Marple Township.

The Marple Commissioners, Monday, April 15, will hold a special meeting where a vote is expected to prevent that by zoning the entire property to open space. This would prohibit any institutional or residential use.

The meeting starts 7 p.m. at the township building 227 S. Sproul Road, Broomall, Pa. 19008.

It will be livestreamed here

We are skeptical of any secret plans to use the site to store illegals.

At the last County Council meeting, Councilman Richard R. Womack expressed what struck us as sincere puzzlement about the rumors of housing illegals. He noted that he had never heard any private or public discussion of a plot from his fellows on council.

Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer, a rather sweet person of the crunchy granola type, spoke strongly against any institutional use of the property. She wants it completely open space despite the existing buildings. This ironically puts her on the same side as those concerned about the illegals.

Proof positive to us, though, was the position of Councilman Kevin Madden, who vehemently denied the buildings would be used to house illegals.

“Oh mercy, we aren’t going to use them to house migrants,” Madden said. “WE ARE GOING TO USE THEM TO HOUSE THE CRIMINALLY INSANE!!!! BWHAHAHAHAHAH!!”

S0rry if we got got your quote wrong, Kevin.

The geist of it’s right, though.

If the Marple Commissioners don’t rezone the property to keep this from happening, they should be the first residents of the House of Madden.