Delco Prepares To OK $74.5 Billion Bonds — Delaware County Council, yesterday, March 6, held the first reading of an ordinance to allow it to issue general obligation debt of $74.5 billion to pay for infrastructure projects.
Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein said it was not expected that the entire allowable amount be borrowed.
The maximum interest rate allowed would be 6 percent.
Council also recognized March as National Women’s Month albeit the definition of a woman was left undefined.
The county-owned Fair Acres Nursing Home in Middletown was recognized for having been declared one of the nation’s best nursing homes by Newsweek magazine.
Council approved 31 consent items. These included an agreement of sale with Commonwealth Land Title Company to buy 123 N. Olive St., Media for $775,000 and a contract with WGL Energy services to become part of the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania for five years at 67 cents per megawatt hour.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer commented and expressed great approval at the latter one.
Public Defender Again Criticized
Former public defender John Baldini (phonetic) of Upper Darby again criticized how Chris Welsh is running his old department. He took issue with statements by councilmembers defending Welsh last month.
Baldini said things are much worse. Judges previously had three public defenders of varying degrees of experience and the younger ones were mentored by the older. Now indigent defendants have access to just one inexperienced attorney, he said.
Ordinance Would Allow Out-Of-Delco Hiring — Delaware County Council, yesterday, March 6, held the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the hiring of non-county residents for all posts except solicitor, executive director and other positions mandated by state law.
Councilwoman Christine A. Reuther said the county was having trouble filling positions and noted that government employment has fallen by 7 percent over the last decade.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer pointed out that the county has lost good workers because they had to move a mile away. She said Philadelphia is the only other county that has a residency requirement. She said that 42 percent of the county workers already have an exemption.
Councilman Richard R. Womack said he had mixed feelings about changing the policy and that, if it should change, he would hope county residents would still get a preference in hiring.
Executive Director Barbara O’Malley also said she had mixed feelings but that the change was necessary.
Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein said the part of the bill providing for reimbursement for relocating only applies to those moving to the county and is not automatic.
Speaking against the ordinance were Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby and Carris Kocher of Concord.
John Baldini (phonetic) of Upper Darby said the county should open up but there should be a salary cap on non-county residents.
Delco Concedes CYS Is Poorly Trained And Understaffed — Delaware County, Pa. Executive Director Barbara O’Malley, last night, March 6, addressed the horrific stories concerning the county’s Children and Youth Services Department.
Mothers had been separated from their children for almost a year and stigmatized as abusers on the flimsiest of claims.
In at least one case, it was reported that the child, after removal, was placed in an environment in which he was sexually abused.
Further, the rulings by CYS have kept these women from getting jobs — at least two are teachers — or otherwise working with kids.
Ms. O’Malley reported that CYS was extremely understaffed and Delco was having trouble finding workers (see other story). She also noted the department’s training was poor.
Somewhere in her statement was a vague promise to improve things.
Recognizing the problem is a positive but immediate action can and must be taken to end immediate suffering.
First step is to make right the lives of those who were victims of this incompetency.
County Council can do this.
Simply call the person in charge and say let it be so. If this person won’t make these problems go away you make her go away and hire someone who knows what he’s doing.
By the way, we’ve heard reports of retaliation by CYS against a woman who spoke out. We are watching.
Second step is to create policy in which children aren’t removed due to domestic complaints unless a, hopefully, better trained supervisor does a follow up investigation. This is especially true if a judge has awarded custody to the accused.
Third step is don’t hire consultants that hire people implicated in serious scandals involving the removal of children.
Defensive Delco Council Shrilly Denies Issue With Illegals — Delaware County Council, tonight, March 6, perversely promoted multiculturalism when given first-hand accounts of suffering caused by illegal aliens and reports of law enforcement unable to keep them in custody when they commit crimes.
Sharon Devaney of Haverford Township described how she was permanently disabled in 2017 when a car traveling 70 mph and driven by an illegal, t-boned her Toyota Camry at Lawrence and Ellis roads. She had been dropping off her daughter with her parents before work. The illegal was not insured and in violation of numerous laws yet the police released her without charges.
Ms.Devaney implored council to change Delco’s status as a sanctuary county.
Our officials don’t appear to have a handle as to what’s happening.
Christine A. Reuther dismissed Ms. Devaney’s claim that the problem was illegal immigration and that Delco was protecting illegals.
“I heard someone say we’ve been a sanctuary county since 2014, which I’m sure would surprise our previous councilmembers who I can’t imagine would have voted to have made us a sanctuary county,” she said.
Dr. Monica Taylor expressed anger at the words used by those describing the crisis and claimed those expressing the concerns were directing them at immigrants rather than the flood crossing the border in violation of our laws.
She also dismissed Ms. Devany’s experience saying the person who nearly killed two people while crippling one while speeding through a busy intersection was just an “uninsured driver” and it was not an immigration issue.
So tell us Dr. Taylor, where do you think this person took her test for her driver’s license?
Swarthmore College student Jonas Salk (phonetic) praised sanctuary cities and multiculturalism.
Ms. Reuther made a puzzling statement in her objections to the concerns expressed about illegal immigration.
“They can speculate about what we might do or tell you what they might do if they were sitting up here but to simply say that ‘Oh gee maybe somebody that has nothing to do with any of this who to be quite honest with you isn’t necessarily supported by every member of County Council in a run for higher office, who can’t affect any sort of usage for any sort of property that doesn’t belong to the county is just fearmongering.”
So who is this person running for higher office not necessarily supported by every member of County Council? We doubt it’s a Republican.
Closed Hospitals To House Illegals In Delco? — A couple weeks ago we reported on a story going around that Gov. Josh Shapiro will close some Penn State satellite campuses to house illegals.
Chuckles Sports is now saying that Delaware County Pa.’s shuttered hospitals — Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Upper Darby and Springfield Hospital — will now be used to house illegals.
What does Delaware County Council say about this?
In other news, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt gave a warning to those concerned about election transparency and integrity.
“In recent years, we’ve seen bad-faith actors attempt to exploit these changes by spreading lies and baseless conspiracy theories, and attempting to delegitimize our safe, secure, and accurate elections,” Schmidt said in a statement Feb. 29. He noted that the Shapiro administration has created a task force to “combat this dangerous misinformation and continue providing all eligible voters with accurate, trusted election information.”
UPDATE: Just saw a letter from Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther where she says Chuckles Sports is spreading a “paranoid fantasy” and that she has “literally no idea” as to what the concerned citizen is “talking about.”
She then pointed out that “the county does not control those properties.”
Hey Christine, maybe you should make a few phone calls and get an idea before you give a knee jerk response.
Our hope is that you are right and that it is a paranoid fantasy.
On the other hand, it was our hope you were going to come through after expressing what we thought was sincere sympathy to the moms suffering at the capricious hands of Children and Youth Services.
Nicole Rayfield sued Cheyney University in September 2019 a lawsuit alleging she was fired as retaliation for being a whistleblower. She said the Pennsylvania state system university misused federal funding and awarded full scholarships to undeserving students among other things.
The case has been settled and the terms are undisclosed. Ms. Rayfield is not the only one to have won a case against Cheyney.
Cheyney, in Delaware County, was founded in 1837 by Abolitionist Quakers. It is the nation’s oldest historically Black university.
Robert Bogle, president of The Philadelphia Tribune, which carried the article linked in the first paragraph is a Cheyney graduate and chairs the university’s Council of Trustees.
Though it’s accreditation was renewed in 2019, it was put on accreditation probation in November.
Enrollment, however, has increased from 470 in 2018 to 700.
Cheyney University administrators are again battling to regain accreditation.
Governor Josh Shapiro is backing them. He says that that the Middle States Commission made “a hasty decision” and showed “disregard of established procedure.”
The state has agreed to forgive taxpayer loans to Cheyney.
Democratic Vincent Hughes, who chairs the State Senate Appropriations Committee, says “There’s always something hovering around to try to get this university.”
Among the more well-known alumni, are Ed Bradley of 60 minutes, Octavius Catto, NFL Player and college/NFL Coach (Eagles) William “Billy” Joe , and civil rights icon Bayard Rustin.
Cheyney gave up its football program in 2017, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams now play an independent schedule. The men’s team went 9-18 in 2023-4 and the women went 9-15.
The Pennsylvania state system of higher education recently merged a number of their schools, due to financial problems and Cabrini University is scheduled to close at the end of this school year, so these are hard times for many Pennsylvania colleges and universities.
Election 2020 Defamation Dismissed In Philly; Total Victory For Greg, Leah And Trump–The Philadelphia defamation case against President Trump and others has been dismissed with prejudice by Common Pleas Court Judge Michael E. Erdos.
This means it can’t be refiled.
Complete credit for the victory goes to Delaware County poll watchers Leah Hoopes of Chadds Ford and Gregory Stenstrom of Glen Mills who were co-defendants and who represented themselves.
The high-powered legal team representing The Donald seemed to be just going through the motions when we watched.
Trump, Ms. Hoopes, Stenstrom and Rudy Giuliani were accused of defaming former Delaware County, Pa. Voting Machine Warehouse supervisor James Savage saying he helped rig the 2020 election giving Pennsylvania’s electors — and the presidency — to Joe Biden.
Ms. Hoopes and Stenstrom make their claims in their bookThe Parallel Election.
Ms. Hoopes and Stenstrom used a truth defense. Truth is an absolute defense in defamation cases although this requires the defendants to prove their case.
J. Conor Corcoran represented Savage.
Corcoran faces a hearing before the disciplinary board of the state Supreme Court on an unrelated matter.
One factor that raises a hmmm is that the hearing was dropped after Ms. Hoopes and Stenstrom requested subpoenas for Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former US Attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania William McSwain; then Pennsylvania Attorney General (now Governor) Josh Shapiro; and communications between Delaware County and Factcheck.org.
Stollsteimer issued a statement May 4 2022 — and read into the record by Delaware County Council, May 18, 2022 — declaring the claims by Ms. Hoopes and Stenstrom to be unfounded. He said their evidence was altered.
You would think Savage would have been the one wanting Stollsteimer’s testimony.
Really? Altered evidence?
Savage would have had a slam dunk.
Wonder why it was the defendants that wanted Stollsteimer on the stand.
There’s a similar defamation case in Delaware County where Savage is joined by Delco Election Director James Allen.
Maybe Jack can testify there.
Assuming that one continues of course.
We hear that Duane Morris LLP — Delco’s law firm — has pulled its attorneys.
In another matter, we are hearing reports of a seriously disgusting stunt pulled by Delco’s county detectives and its Children and Youth Services people.
Corcoran Wants To Quit Delco Defam Case — J. Conor Corcoran, the embattled attorney representing James Savage in defamation cases relating to the 2020 election, wants out.
He has filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in the case before Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Michael E. Erdos, and proposed a 90-day stay in proceedings.
Being sued are Delaware County poll watchers Leah Hoopes of Chadds Ford and Gregory Stenstrom of Glen Mills; President Donald Trump and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Savage is the former Delaware County, Pa. Voting Machine Warehouse supervisor whom the defendants allege was instrumental in rigging Delco’s votes against Trump in 2020 hence giving Pennsylvania’s electoral votes to Joe Biden.
Corcoran cites “irreconcilable differences,” with his client, “personal problems,” and that he is closing his law practice as to why he wants to quit.
Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes filed a motion, Feb. 14, seeking sanctions against Corcoran saying that Corcoran made provably false claims before the Court in written filings and oral testimony during hearings in June and November.
Corcoran is also facing a hearing before the disciplinary board of the state Supreme Court on an unrelated matter regarding professional misconduct.
Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes are objecting to Corcoran’s request to quit and postpone the case, and are asking to be allowed to present their pending Motion for Summary Judgement in their favor.
Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes have also filed a request in Delaware County Common Pleas Court to dismiss a defamation suit Corcoran filed there on behalf of Savage and Delco Election Director James Allen.
Corcoran wants to quit that too and have attorney John Rooney take his place.
Among the reasons that Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes give for dismissal is that Corcoran had not filed the required Praecipe to Reinstate for 173 days and had not completed proper service in the 470 days since their original Writ of Summons.
They further say that Corcoran filed frivolous, conjectural complaints without any material facts, and failed to meet a majority of the most basic procedural requirements.
Most significantly, they say the county has unlawfully destroyed or is unlawfully withholding documents necessary for their defense.
Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes are the authors of  The Parallel Election. Co-defendants in Delco include Newsmax, The Federalist and Margot Cleveland.
Delco To Allow Movie Making In County Parks At Sun Center Studio’s Request — Delaware County (Pa) Council, Feb. 21, approved the first reading of an ordinance that would let movies be filmed in county parks.
The filming would require permission of the county and would not be allowed to disrupt previously planned activities.
Commercial filming had been prohibited.
Councilwoman  Elaine Paul Schaefer said the change was made at the request of Sun Center Studio in Chester Township and is expected to bring significant economic rewards to Delco.
In other matters, Delaware County approved 51 agenda items including the acceptance of a $226,900 DCED Greenways grant for the design of the Darby Creek Trail connector from Kent Park to Scottdale Road in Clifton Heights;and the acceptance of a $75,000 Greenways grant for the expansion of the parking lot at the Knowlton Road Trailhead in Middletown on the Chester Creek Trail.
The Knowlton Road lot will be expanded from 10 parking spaces to 35.
Also, Council approved a $96,540 contract with Wilson Engineering for the final design of Phase II of the Chester Creek Trail; and approved offers to buy land and easements from six property owners in Middletown and Aston for Phase II. The county’s total offer will be $228,400.
Council voted to apply to the PHMC’s Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grants program for a $100,000 grant for restorations to the Leedom House in Rose Tree Park. The county will have to match the money.
James Peterson was appointed as director of purchasing. Joanne Phillips was appointed to the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for a term ending January 2028.
Other stories from the meeting can be found here regarding the Public Defender’s Office; here regarding election concerns; here regarding the county prison; here regarding the register of wills; and here regarding extremely concerning matters involving Children and Youth Services.
Delco To Allow Movie Making In County Parks At Sun Center Studio’s Request
Delco Council Defends Public Defender Over Turmoil Claim — Delaware County (Pa) Council vigorously defended Public Defender Chris Welsh over a charge that he has his office in turmoil and lacks experience.
John Baldini (sp) of Upper Darby, a former attorney with the office, said Welsh has only handled one trial while his predecessors had handled dozens including murder trials. He also said his predecessors had only fired a handful of attorneys in their long tenure while Welsh has fired 15 in his two years.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer praised Welsh and supported his goal of using attorneys who only work for the Public Defender’s Office and are not distracted by a private practice.
Councilman Kevin M. Madden joined in the love saying trial experience wasn’t important for what Welsh did.
Great.
Council, however, has expressed concern about staff shortages regarding CYS and poll workers. We kind of wonder how much they will have to pay to keep the public defender’s office filled if the only attorneys they have are full-time yet skilled enough to thrive in a private practice.
