Howard Alexander And Olivia Taylor — At last night’s raucous Delaware County, Pa. Council meeting something set off Howard Alexander of Marple and he was escorted from the room by police.
We understand he was told to just go home and chill out.
Which is exactly how matters such as this are supposed to be handled.
But what would have happened if he had been a black woman?
Would he have been hauled to the station, strip-searched and made to stand in a cupboard for an hour before being charged with an obscure misdemeanor?
That’s what Upper Darby Council did to Olivia Taylor for doing basically the same thing.
OK, Upper Darby is calling Olivia “white” but really.
If Olivia did at the Government Center — or anywhere else — what she did in Upper Darby we are confident she would have been treated as Howard.
A more interesting question is would Howard have been treated as Olivia, if he did in Upper Darby what he did in Media?
We think maybe not.
Unless he was effectively pointing out that Upper Darby Council is filled with scofflaws and tax dodgers, and their solicitor disrespects veterans.
Then maybe yes.
Upper Darby is run by thugs.
If County Council wants to regain trust and end partisan divides, they should call their fellow Democrats on Garrett Road and tell them to make Olivia’s bogus charge go away.
Delco Council Told Unauthorized Software On Voting Machines — Delaware County (Pa) Council was told, last night, April 17, that there was unauthorized software on its Hart Verity Voting 2.7 voting system.
The software is MathNET Numerics Dll, said Robert Mancini of Upper Providence.
This is a dynamic link library for MathNET.Numerics and can be used for manipulating data, Mancini said.
He said it’s listed neither on the Pennsylvania Department of State certification of the system, nor thee U.S. Election Assistance Commission test report for Hart 2.7.
Mancinie said the machines must be immediately secured and that an investigation be conducted as to how the software appeared.
“This would include an inspection of the administrator logs due to the fact that software cannot be installed without administrator privileges and whenever the software is installed, that will show up on the administrator logs,” he said.
Secure build validation were performed on but nine of the county’s 428 precinct machines, Mancini said. These must now be done on every machine, he said.
He said a criminal complaint will be filed within two weeks against a public official in Delaware County.
BillLawrenceOnline Addresses Delco Council — We like to keep ourselves out of the story but at yesterday‘s Delaware County, Pa. Council meeting we thought we’d put the bug in their ear that a former Don Guanella building could be a great new home for the Delaware County Historical Society.
The county is looking for a new home for the society, after all, and museums go hand-in-glove with parks.
Unlike mental hospitals.
However, earlier in the evening Councilman Kevin M. Madden said all the county wanted was a “sliver” of the property and we felt obliged to point out that the 40 acres they don’t want rezoned is a lot more than a sliver.
We said there is a real trust problem between the Delaware County public and its government.
And then we felt obliged to bring up the county ballot printer Fort Orange Press of Albany, N.Y.
Really, what is the big secret regarding Fort Orange Press?
Robert Mancini of Upper Providence submitted an open records request for its correspondence with the county.
The county said no. You may not see it.
Mancini appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Yes, you may see it, they said. It is public record.
County appealed to county Common Pleas Court and, unsurprisingly, won.
We pointed out to council that the innocent reason the county fought this is simple arrogance.
That’s a bad thing.
We then pointed out that the more logical reason though is that the county is hiding something.
That something would have to do with our elections.
That’s a far worse thing.
Our two minutes at the podium can be found here starting at 1:35:47.
Madden would respond during council comments saying they would not use the full 40 acres zoned institutional.
Which get us back to the trust issue.
If the zoning isn’t changed nothing much would stop them if they should decided they needed it all.
By the way and for the record, we actually respect Madden for recognizing the need for a better mental health response.
In 1960, when mass shootings and rampant homelessness were not issues there were three times as many incarcerated in mental hospitals than in prisons.
As of 2001, the latest we found, there were six times as many in prisons.
Obviously, we don’t want to return to the days of Pennhurst but we ought to recognize the necessity of finding a happy medium.
Delco Gets Update About $19 Million Health Department — Delaware County, Pa., Council, last night, April 17, got a lengthy update from Health Director Melissa Lyon regarding her department.
Among the highlights was that she has hired a DEI director and that she has acquired 30-plus vehicles, and they are all electric.
She noted her budget is $19 million which surprised the large crowd that was on hand concerning the county’s consideration for using Delco Woods in Marple as a secured mental facility. (See other story)
Councilwoman Christine A. Reuther pointed out that about $11 million of the money comes from state and federal grants.
Council better start watching its pennies. Michael Gowdy of Marple noted in public comments that Delco taxpayers could wind up paying twice the $22 million to the Philadelphia Archdiocese for Delco Woods if it loses its lawsuit regarding the valuation it placed during the taking of it by eminent domain.
Also consider the ballot dropboxes, a stupidly unnecessary expense. It’s not the cost of the boxes or even the cameras allegedly protecting them, but the labor, inefficiency and unneeded complexity of transporting the ballots to the county center.
The postal service delivers ballots for free, you know.
Delco uses more dropboxes than any other county. Its 39 are more than Philadelphia, 26, and Allegheny counties — the first and second largest –combined.
Earth Day Activities
The county recognized Earth Day activities for April.
County Sustainability and Resilience Manager Rebecca Yurkovich noted that there will be a Tree Planting and Park Clean Up at William Penn and Ethel Waters parks, in Chester, 9 – 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20.
Also, there will be a stream and plant health event starting 10 a.m., April 22, at Delco Woods in Marple. Meet at the Reed Road parking lot.
Political signs from the primary election will be recycled 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., April 26 and 9 a.m. to noon, April 27 at Rose Tree Park.
Other Matters
Council introduced Jim Peterson as director of purchasing.
It declared April 14 to 20 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce was recognized along with the rest of his department.
The county passed 24 items by unanimous consent. It also appointed Matthew Piotrowski to the Delaware County Drug & Alcohol Commission through Sept. 1; and appointed councilwoman Christine Reuther to the Community Action Agency of Delaware County through April 30, 2025.
During initial public comments, Carris Kocher of Concord said freedoms are being impinged throughout the world in the name of health. She said this is being led by the WHO and other globalists. She said that county Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein prohibited county workers from answering her query as to whether they took an oath of office as per state law.
Delco Gets Update About $19 Million Health Department
Delco Council Threatened With Tar and Feathering Over Delco Woods Mental Facility — About 150 packed Delaware County (Pa.) Council’s meeting room, last night, April 17, to protest the possibility of a former Don Guanella building becoming a home for mental patients.
The county got the 213-acre property between Sproul and Reed roads in Marple via eminent domain from the Catholic Church in 2021.
The price tag was $22 million and it was to be a park.
About 170 undeveloped acres were zoned residential. The rest was zoned institutional and contained a facility for boys with mental disabilities.
The tract was officially named Delco Woods, April 3.
On Monday, Marple Township, reacting to the county, rezoned the property to all open space. Marple also rejected county requests for occupancy certificates for three buildings. Two would have been for office space and one for the mental patients.
The county says it will sue to keep the institutional zoning.
Executive Director Update
Last night, County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley said other locations for the mental health facility are still being considered but Delco Woods has significant advantages. The county already owns it and it has buildings that might serve as secure housing.
Sandy Garrison, chief of Human Services and Community Support, said the county has funding for a mental health facility but can’t get a program running. She says they have investigated 25 locations with none being satisfactory.
Ms. Garrison said a facility would be staffed 24/7 and have time secured locks. It would be used as a stop for those about to return to community who had been receiving high level care.
There are 25 persons in Delco who need such a place, she said. They range in age from their 20s to their 70s.
Ms. Malley vehemently denied the rumors that the building would be used to house illegal aliens.
Shouts from the crowd showed that many doubted her claim.
“You might not like us because we have a D after our name,” he said.
This angered the crowd even more and hoots of scorn filled the room.
Madden also said that just a “sliver” of the property would be used for the facilities.
Public Comment
Charles Alexander of Marple, whose postings on Chuckles Sports have kept Delco’s illegal alien concerns in the spotlight spoke first during public comments. He brought up Jan. 8, 2020 action in which the county consented to a refugee resettlement program.
He said things are getting worse and the county is ignoring why.
Concerning health facilities, he said that there were 10 hospitals in Delco when he was born. Now it’s down to “three OK ones and a travesty.”
“You have awakened a sleeping giant,” he said.
He quoted Congresswoman Maxine Waters infamous call to harass Trump Administration officials and applied it to Council.
Sharon Devaney of Haverford Township asked councilmembers if they had read the paperwork she presented at the last meeting concerning her auto accident involving an illegal which left her crippled.
“I was a Democrat,” she said pointedly addressing Madden’s earlier claim that the complaints were political.
“We want the truth,” she said. “We want everyone to get a long.”
James Small quoted Edward Snowden regarding conspiracy theories and said he didn’t trust council. He asked that they resign.
Tar and Feathering
Howard Alexander of Marple, Charlie’s father, also said he was a former Democrat. He said the last Democrat for whom he voted was a “Muslim queer“. He wanted to know how many council members had taken money from George Soros. Alexander threatened them with tar and feathering.
Kathy from Haverford said the councilmembers have violated their oaths of office and outright lied about Delaware County not being a sanctuary county.
She noted that the council’s Facebook page prohibits comments in violation of Supreme Court rulings.
The council’s explanation for the policy is to stop “misinformation.”
“You’re a bunch of hypocrites,” she said.
She asked why the county is using the money it received as part of opioid lawsuit at Philadelphia hospitals.
“Why no rehabilitation at the prison?” she asked. “They are human beings.”
Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby noted that while the letter regarding refugee resettlement concerned the Trump Administration, council fails to understand things have changed. It is ignoring the massive influx of illegals occurring under Biden.
Biden is literally flying in illegals, she said. They are not vetted for disease or criminal records.
“They are being staged,” she said. She said even if the county is not directly involved they know about it and can do something about it.
Tax Bomb Looms?
Michael Gowdy of Marple brought up some scary points for taxpayers regarding Delco Woods’.
He asked that it be confirmed that the Philadelphia Archdiocese is challenging the $22 million price set by the county during the eminent domain acquisition.
Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein did so.
While Lichtenstein refused to discuss the litigation details such as the price the former owners value the land, Gowdy noted developers had offered the Church $45 million and $35 million for it.
This could mean that county might be on the hook for double what it expected to pay, he said.
That wouldn’t be counting the $2 million in interest it would have to pay if it loses.
Joe Finio of Marple said people of all political views united to save the park. He said the county made a solemn promise that it would be used entirely for recreation. He said the buildings were originally declared unusable and wondered what had changed.
Trish Adams of Delco Skatepark Coalition said the master plan called for a skatepark where the buildings are.
Tom Flocco, citing video posted by Charles Alexander showing HIAS Pennsylvania collecting food and clothes for illegal in Delco, asked the county to address non-government organizations.
He mentioned a rumor about illegals living at the McIntosh Inn in Middletown.
Council Accused Of Disrespect
Colleen Labalty (phonetic) was another who said the council was losing trust.
“I don’t understand how people lose their morals,” she said. “How they sell out.”
She noted her husband was a legal immigrant.
“Stop with the Democrats and Republicans,” she said. “We are all people.”
Denise Manley (phonetic) of Marple said the debate was about safety, not mental health.
She accused council of laughing and “snickering under their teeth” during the comments.
“It’s not about Republican or Democrat,” she said.
She suggested council consider the shuttered Glen Mills School for a mental facility.
Susan Long of Maple dittoed her regarding the disrespect council was showing.
“You brought up the ‘D’, Mr. Madden,” she said.
Republican Chairman Speaks
Delaware County GOP Chairman Frank Agovino of Springfield said that what happened in Marple two days earlier compelled him to speak.
He said he wanted to let the Marple resident and township government that he fully supports them.
Scott Thomas of Marple said that council has no right to be concerned about “misinformation.”
“It’s our government that gives us the most misinformation,” he said.
He noted that one of the big causes of mental health issues is the drugs flowing across our open borders.
Jim Castaldi (phonetic) described himself as one of the “most middle of the road speakers”.
“It’s safe to say the jig is up,” he said.
He said they those who fought for the park thought council would keep its promises.
A man who said he had been an EMT said the safety precautions at mental health facilities often fail. He said noted that he had taken many to the county’s existing mental health facilities and took them back again after they walked away.
A man said the original plans for the building area called for a community hub with recreation facilities.
Proximity To Schools
Sam Lassiter (phonetic) of Marple said he would not bring his young children to a park next to a mental facility.
He had worked in mental health, he said.
“Let it be a park,” he said. “It’s next to two schools.”
Marc Giosa says he has sold real estate for 23 years.
He say it’s not uncommon for someone to pay $50,000 or $100,000 over list price to buy a home in Marple.
He say, however, thathe has seen first hand how a mental facility will cause home prices to plummet.
“This will affect property values,” he said.
“It is within walking distance of two schools,” he also noted.
Gregg Miner of Upper Chichester said he was surprised to learn that Delaware County was a sanctuary county.
He asked council to compile a report showing how many illegals come into Delaware County; their effect on crime; and their fiscal impact.
Liz Piazza Defends Marple
Liz Piazza of Upper Providence, the GOP candidate for the 165th State House Seat which includes Delco Woods, said he was there to support Marple Township.
“What you are doing to Marple is unacceptable,” she said. “They put their trust in you.”
She noted that she grew up in Marple and that her son still lives there.
Patricia Bleasdale of Glen Mills said what the council is doing builds distrust.
Dave Clark of Ridley also noted trust is an issue.
“What is troubling the United States as a whole is the bait and switch tactics used by the political class,” he said.
Joanna of Brookhaven said it was crazy to put a mental institution where a park is.
Demetrius of Marple said there was a group home on his street for those with mental issues and they get out.
Council Response
With public comments over, Lichtenstein angrily took issue with claims that the 2020 letter concerned illegals.
He said it was for legal refugees many of whom had served alongside Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lichtenstein said the motion was passed at a council meeting and not “in the middle of the night.” He noted it had been done at the request of the Trump administration.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer repeated what she said at the last council meeting that she opposed any governmental use for the park.
“I truly feel the frustration of the community and share in their goals,” she said.
She said she was hopeful that they will find a better place for the mental health facility.
Madden agreed that the issue was trust.
“We’re just doing our best,” he said.
He noted that county’s lawsuit is just to preserve their options and they don’t have any “blueprint in place” on what to do with the buildings.
He said the county would not use all 40 acres that it is trying to keep zoned institutional.
Councilman Richard R. Womack said he appreciated everyone coming out. He said he heard their concerns and would work to find another place.
Councilwoman Dr. Monica Taylor also thanked the crowd and reiterated that nothing has been carved in granite.
Marple Zones All Delco Woods Open Space; Rejects County Request To Use Building To House Mental Patients From Prison — The Marple (Pa) Commissioners voted 6-0, last night, April 15, to zone the 213-acre former Don Guanella tract all open space.
The commissioners also voted 6-0 to reject certificates of use and occupancy for three buildings on the site sought by Delaware County. Two were wanted for office space. The third was to be a secured 28-bed mental facility for patients who would otherwise be housed at the county prison.
As the second vote was a late agenda addition, the board rescheduled another vote for Monday, April 22, allowing proper advertising.
They want to play it safe, 1st Ward Commissioner Joe Rufo said.
Abstaining from all votes was 6th Ward Commissioner Mike Molinaro. He cited a conflict as he is a county assistant solicitor.
The land was acquired by Delaware County in 2021 and has been renamed Delco Woods. Promises were made by County Council to save it as open space despite it zoned residential and institutional.
The property is between Sproul and Reed roads.
About 40 acres on Sproul Road with buildings for a Catholic Church institution for boys with mental disabilities was the institutional zoning.
Attorney Nick Caniglia, representing the county, said his clients had no objection to changing the residential zoning for the woodland but demanded the institutional section stay.
Close to 100 raucous residents filled the meeting room. Several shouted suspicions that the county would raise the number of mental patients at first chance.
The building for the beds in is 60,000 square feet.
The board noting the unanimous support for rezoning suggested public comment be skipped.
There were no objections but some still took the microphone.
One man said he arrived as immigrant from Sicily in 1977. It had taken him two years of paper work. He was responding to the rumors that the county secretly seeks the buildings to house Biden’s border breakers.
A resident suggested the county use one of the shuttered hospitals as a mental facility.
Charles Alexander of Chuckles Sports asked if the county would put probation offices in one of the buildings.
A woman who led a community youth group said that all her teenagers were vehemently opposed.
A Cedar Grove Road woman said the county has created an atmosphere of distrust with the citizens.
Republicans Liz Piazza, who is seeking the 165th District Pennsylvania House, and Alfe Goodwin, who wants the 5th Congressional District seat were there to support the residents.
GOP legislative candidates Liz Piazza and Alfe Goodwin were on had to give residents support.
Discussion continued after the meeting ended. Delco Council might get a crowd Wednesday
The Fort Orange Press Mystery — Robert Mancini of Media wanted communications between Delaware County and its ballot printer, Fort Orange Press of Albany, N.Y.
The county refused him.
OK, maybe they had a logical reason.
But Mancini appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Of course, you can see them, the Office said. These are public records. There are no secrets to protect.
The county, however, appealed to county Common Pleas Court, which shockingly and disturbingly and bizarrely overruled the state agency.
At this point the only logical reason is the county is hiding something and something rather bad.
Even the most trusting in government better start going hmmmm.
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.
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.
CYS Blacklist Sans Hearing Violates Rights Delco Told — Rael LaPenta of Upper Chichester again told Delaware County (Pa) Council of atrocities and excess by its Children and Youth Services Department.
“The old issues in my personal case are not only still present but unbelievably continuing to escalate due to violations of the law and regulations,” she said, last night, April 3.
Ms. LaPenta, a teacher, was one of three women who told the board, Feb. 7, of the misery inflicted by CYS. The department removed their children and put them on employment blacklists. The actions were based on the word of angry ex’s.
The others speaking were Ashley Green of Ridley Park, a teacher, and Sharon Poole of Glenn Mills, a registered nurse.
Ms. LaPenta and Ms. Green can no longer teach. State law bans from the classroom those deemed child abusers by child protection agencies.
Ms. LaPenta, last night, again asked council to intervene.
“Not only to stop CYS from continuing to violate the laws and regulations but also to rectify the damage they were allowed to reap,” she said.
She noted that a new investigation was opened by the same caseworker who had been tormenting her. She said that it was based on a claim of an injury to her son that other CYS workers had declared unfounded.
Her son, by the way, was with his mom last night. He seemed pretty well adjusted. He certainly wasn’t fearful.
Ms. LaPenta said she updated all County Council members via email and there had been no response.
Councilwoman Christine Reuther had pledged to keep on top of it.
Ms. LaPenta said the that a Pennsylvania court found, July 11, that the law letting CYS blacklist teachers violated the Constitution. A pre-deprivation hearing was required before a teacher could be put on a child abuse registry, the court ruled.
Ms. LaPenta never got one.
“CYS violated this and it has still not been rectified,” she said.
She asked that Council immediately schedule hearings for every teacher on the child abuse registry as of July 11 as well as “any other teacher being indicated without the constitutional right to a hearing.”
She noted that Council has not followed through on a request for more resources and training for CYS.
Delco Woods
County Council officially christened as Delco Woods the 213 acres of the former Don Guanella property acquired from the Catholic Church. Councilman Kevin Madden said he wanted to call it Nation of Immigrants Park. Probably not the most serendipitous declaration.
Councilwoman Christine Reuther wanted it called Lenape Woods but was concerned it might offend the Lenape Indians.
So we get dull Delco Woods.
It’s like naming your dog, Dog.
Council said the naming committee was also pondering what to call parkland acquired near Little Flowers Manor in Darby, along with the former firehouse it acquired in Darby.
Expect “Parkland Near Little Flowers” and “Former Darby Firehouse.”
Other Matters
Health Director Melissa Lyon updated council about health matters. Council also got an update about the libraries from Anny Laepple, who would be appointed director of library services later in the meeting.
Ms. Laepple said that use of the county libraries is dramatically up. WiFi use alone has risen 288 percent.
Also appointed were Karen Wilwol as director of soil conservation; Kathy Arim to the Community Action Agency with a term ending April 30, 2025; Siddiq Kamara to the Immigrant Affairs Board with a term ending Dec. 31; and Niole E. Matteucci and Jacquie L. Jones to the Women’s Commission to terms ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Council approved 30 consent items including a renewal for the Tuberculosis Control Grant; a $62,050 grant to East Lansdowne to demolish 58 Lewis Ave., which was destroyed in a fire; a grant not to exceed $75,000 to expand the Delaware County Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Rose Tree Park; and a grant not to exceed $42,625 for a contract with Mugo Web to make a new website for Delaware County Libraries.
The consent items also included an extension of the Interim Agreement of the Delaware County Prison Employee Independent Union to May 31.
Also approved was amendment to a contract with the City of Chester that will remove demolition of structures at 427-429 Rose St., 2703-2705 Lehman St and 2709 Lehman St and include for demolition properties at 1722 W. 3rd St. and 550-556 Edgmont Ave.
Council also approved an application for a Transporation & Community Development Initiative study for the Highland Avenue Train Station in Chester.
CYS Blacklist Sans Hearing Violates Rights Delco Told
Delco Woods Immigration Rumors Trigger Delco Councilman — Question about claims that illegal immigrants will be housed at the former Don Guanella School in Marple had Delaware County (Pa) Councilman Kevin Madden in vapors by evening’s end at last night’s, April 3, council meeting.
“We do this because we care,” Madden said regarding councilmembers’ motivations to hold office.
“It’s just depressing,” he said regarding the flak council was getting from the citizenry.
“This sucks,” he said. “This is just really sad.”
He said he had no idea as from whence the rumors sprung regarding the impending fate of “Delco Woods”.
The 213-acre property between Sproul and Reed roads had been officially renamed “Delco Woods” earlier in the night.
The rumors began, March 4, when Chuckles Sports reported that shuttered Springfield and Delaware County Memorial hospitals would be used to house illegals. A couple weeks later the story spread that it would be the Don Guanella buildings that would be used.
Delco bought the property from the Catholic Church in 2021. Boys with mental disability had been housed and taught there. The property is undeveloped woodland but for the school site.
It’s zoned institutional/open space but Marple is considering zoning it all open space. The township commissioners are expected to vote on it April 15.
Chuckles Sports publisher Charles Alexander of Marple spoke during public comments.
He asked if council would pass legislation prohibiting “non-government organizations” or NGOs from moving illegals to Delco. Alexander said that he had informants in the county saying Delco plans to flood the county with illegals.
The county has vehemently denied this.
Alexander also wanted to know why 3.5 acres of the woodland had been cleared near the Blue Route.
Councilwoman Christine Reuther said that parcel belongs to PennDOT. She said she has no idea why PennDOT did it, and that it didn’t need the county’s permission to do it.
Carl Staples asked about plans to house illegals in Don Guanella buildings. He said he was told the county would lie about its plans to get the right zoning.
Scott Thomas of Marple said that Barack Obama signed a pact with the United Nations in 2016 to encourage massive immigration to the United States regardless of our laws. NGOs like Catholic Relief Services bus them around the country, he said.
Sharon Devaney of Haverford Township returned with documents from the 2017 auto accident involving an illegal which left her crippled. Council was dismissive of her concerns March 6 when she asked that Delco end its status as a sanctuary county.
Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby says there are 22 million illegals in the country which is double the claimed number. Democrats want to allow them to vote which would result in a permanent and corrupt rule, she said.
She zinged Ms. Reuther by praising the appointment of Siddiq Kamara to the Immigrant Affairs Board and said he would be a great replacement for Lauren Footman.
On March 6, Ms. Reuther denied that Delco had an immigration commission.
Ms. Footman was just fired as Delco’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion director which meant she also lost her spot on the Immigrant Affairs Board.
Ms. Schwartz sincerely praised Delco for not caving to Ms. Footman’s rather spurious claims about sex discrimination. She also pointed out that cancelling the DEI office would save much money along with avoiding inevitable hate and division.
Another journalist who addressed council was Valerie Dowret of Generocity. She wanted information regarding prison lawsuits, EEOC complaints such as those made by Ms. Footman, and the budget for the DEI office.
Ms. Dowret said that senior citizens eligible to leave George W. Hill Correctional Facility still remain incarcerated.
Council discussed their official plans for the former Don Guanella buildings. They say they want to use them to house those with mental problems along with office space. It was pointed out that if Marple changes its zoning, the county won’t even be able to build a playground on the property.
In council remarks, Councilwoman Reuther dismissed the concerns broached by the residents as “right wing talking points.”
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said she was against any institutional use of Delco Woods and wanted the land all open space.
What would be done with the buildings was not something she addressed.
She did say she was proud of the county’s “diversity” and that rhetoric by the audience was “shameful” which led to angry shouts from the concerned citizens.
This was followed by Madden who pointed out that the building are already built on Sproul Road and not in the middle of the park. He said the county desperately needs mental facilities which would alleviate things at the prison.
After which he unfortunately followed with his whinefest.
Richard R. Womack expressed puzzlement about the rumors of housing illegals.
“I was never involved in any conversation about housing immigrants,” he said.
County Executive Director Barbara O’Malley had earlier read a report from auditors praising the county prison. Womack said he and she had walked through the facility and talked to many.
“I hope that’s not the case of anyone being retaliated against,” he said regarding those to whom they talked.
He said he will monitor things.
Dr. Monica Taylor repeated the points that the buildings on Delco Woods already exist and the county desperately needs mental health services.
She said there was no truth to the claims that they would be used to house illegals.
There really is an issue of trust in Delaware County and simple things can be done to address them. The county is strangely unwilling.
