Category: Guest Authors

LM Leaf Blower Ban Not Working Out Well

LM Leaf Blower Ban Not Working Out Well

By Bob Small

Lower Merion, last November, became the first municipality in Pennsylvania to ban gas-powered leaf blowers.

“Air pollutants released by gas leaf blowers include benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, all of which can have negative impacts on one’s health,” it explained.

Replacing these with electric-powered leaf blowers, however, has been found to be prohibitively expensive.

Also, many note “that the technology for equivalent electric leaf blowers is not quite fully developed yet. “

And Lower Merion is “considering spending $83,000 on more staff to keep up with the volume of reported violations. “

There have been “437 complaints”. The ban depends on “resident reporting”.

Can you say Oceania?

Big Brother (and sister we are sure) is certainly watching.

Lower Merion officials say this policy has created “tremendous stress”.

The proposed upgrade would make the Lower Merion Administrative Clerk full-time and add $48, 000” to the 2027 budget. Hiring “a season code compliance officer for 22 weeks of the year would add an additional $35,000”.

These upgrades would be necessitated due to enforcement of the Gas Powered Leaf Blower regulations.

To see the exact wording of these regulations, go to Gas Powered Leaf Blower Regulations

Besides Lower Merion, Haverford and Radnor are considering Gas Powered Leaf Blower regulations. Swarthmore regulations have been postphoned for further review.

See also

Lower Merion Leaf Blower Ban: 437 Complaints, New Costs

And https://freerepublic.com search Lower Merion gas leaf blower ban

LM Leaf Blower Ban Not Working Out Well

The Data on Data Centers

The Data on Data Centers

By Bob Small

While on our first getaway in a decade we spent a weekend in Jim Thorpe in Carbon County earlier this month.

As everywhere, I picked up some local papers. As everywhere, the headlines screamed DATA Centers!

One concerned a town hall attended by about 20 including one Suzanne Northropp, who opined “I don’t know who thought this was a good idea.”

This seemed to be the general consensus.

Meanwhile, in my previous city of residence, Mayor Parker is in the process of signing “an executive order to create a task force to establish guardrails for any potential data centers in the city.”

According to this Axios article there are already eight operating data centers in Philly. There are also two proposed sites, one in the neighborhood of my misspent youth, the NE Philly Airport.

There is enough opposition that it requires another article to give them full justice. The campaign is called No Data Centers in Philly, though it may need to be retitled No more Data Centers in Philly.

Now, where is our incumbent Governor on this. Well, Josh Shapiro has been all over the place.

In June of 2025, he said, in Berwick. “I’m here to announce that Pennsylvania has landed the largest private sector investment in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Since then, he’s caught the zeitgeist of the moment, but, as Jael Holzman says, “  I have not seen any example where a politician is adequately, …..capturing the sheer anxiety and angst around AI data center development.”

Just recently, the Governor is catching up to the previously stated position of his GOP opponent.

On Aug. 18, signed this order restricting data centers.

One thing it does it prohibits any state agency from signing an non-disclosure agreement related to a Data Center project.

Also, according to this article, 76 percent of registered Pennsylvania voters would oppose a data center in their community.

See also Where Shapiro and Garrity stand on Pennsylvania data …

District 12 Defeat And Complacent Republicans

District 12 Defeat And Complacent Republicans

By Bob Small

We’re approaching the time when portents are seen in every primary, as though each one is “casting the runes”. (Just saw “The Winter’s Tale at Swarthmore Player’s Club second stage).

The last Democrat elected in Pennsylvania House District 12 was Patricia Carone in 1998. This is not a portent of upcoming elections, more like time for a change in one District. To quote the article, from neighboring Rep .Aaron Bernstine.

“Special elections aren’t typically indicative of a district. Very low turnout and those types of things,” Though

As of May of this year, Democrats have flipped 12 state legislative seats in special elections across the country since President Trump took office in January 2025. However, this fits a pattern of off-year elections.

Eugene Depasquale, Democrat Party chair said “it sets the stage for this November’s midterm elections.” However, Sam DeMarco, former GOP Chair of Allegheny County GOP concluded “Democrats didn’t win HD-12 as much as Republicans lost it”. By the way, Butler County is where Donald Trump was shot during his last campaign.

James Markley, another GOP Spokesperson warned “This needs to be a wake-up call for Republican voters.” By the way, Trump won this District in 2024 by 18 percentage points.

Chris Borick, Lehigh University Political Science Professor, said “I always put cautionary signs next to special elections.” Democratic voters mentioned the “Democratic Socialists” which may be the gift that keeps on giving,

istrict 12had been GOP since 1999 and previously both parties had stretches in power. Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 12. This election was decided by 87 votes.

See also Pennsylvania House District 12 (General Election)

District 12 Defeat And Complacent Republicans

Mystery Candidate in Pa CD 7

Mystery Candidate in Pa CD 7

By Bob Small

The confirmed candidates from the major parties for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional Distrct are are Republican Incumbent Ryan Mckenzie and Democrat challenger Bob Brooks. The Aug. 3 deadline date passed without any selected Green or Libertarian candidates filing.

Yet there’s an Andrew Tupone who’s collected signatures and says he’s running as a Green.

However Green Party Co-Chair Timothy Runkle said, “We have a brand and a reputation to protect that this person doesn’t represent.”

Tupone has previously been both Democrat and Republican.

Long-time election law Lawyer Larry Otter said, “I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” “I’ve never seen this variation before.”

Runkle added “Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania election law permits this type of foolishness, and those in the parties who wrote it are the greatest hucksters “

Currently the 7th District includes all of “Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, and parts of Monroe County. “This was a District where the PA Supreme Court got involved and redrew the boundaries in 2018. This was the Congressional District infamously described as  “Goofy kicking Donald Duck. “

Not only are the Greens objecting, but one of Tupone’s former parties is also objecting. “

The Democrats are alleging issues with many of the 9,460 signatures Tupone collected and, like the Green Party, accusing him of paying out-of-state people to help collect them. “

See also

Green Party sues to remove Pennsylvania candidate from …

Mystery Candidate in Pa CD 7

Upper Darby Residents Fight For Open Space

Upper Darby Residents Fight For Open Space

By Bob Small

This is another Delco battle about “open space” this time in Upper Darby. The Mozino tract, owned by Rockwell Development Group (RWD).

RWD wants to rezone the tract, from 56 single-family homes, to a mixed-use plan, that includes apartments, a park, retail, and townhouses.

“It’s going to be built on, and so the question is not should we build or should we not build. It’s private property,” Upper Darby Council President Noah Fields said. “I think we should build the future. “

The mission of www.savethemozinoforest.org  is to save this 15 acre forested parcel in Upper Darby.

They state it is “the last open space of Upper Darby”. They also mention that the Mozino Tract contains “0.23 miles of Collen Brook, a first-order tributary of the Darby Creek”.

This is located across the street from The Drexel Line Shopping Center.

About five years ago, there was organized opposition to a proposed solid waste management project. Betty Bird Smith, a veteran disability advocate, at a virtual meeting of the UD Zoning Hearing Board on said, “ The Zoom meeting reached its 100-person capacity as community members and elected leaders from the nearby towns came to voice their opposition “

These towns included East Lansdowne, Lansdowne, and Yeadon.

Bill Santora of A and E Construction Company, which owned the property replied to a question saying “I didn’t buy a house in an industrial center. No, I would not want it. And I wouldn’t buy a house in an industrial center” .

For some recent context, at the Aug. 5 Upper Darby Council meeting , a reference was made to Marple Township’s 2020 Resolution “when those supervisors voted 7-0 to deny a developer using Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment to protect what was then Don Guanella Woods and is now the largest park in Delaware County. “

Lastly, we turn to Broad and Liberty, reporting tha tUpper Darby Treasurer Danny Sayduzzaman omitted mucho information from his financial disclosure form.

Wellness on Wheels in Delco

Wellness on Wheels in Delco

By Bob Small

How should we regard the WOW (Wellness on Wheels) program of the Delaware County Department of Health? Though there hasn’t been a measles case in Delco in 2026 there were 139 cases statewide as of July 24.

They plan to offer chronic disease education, community outreach health screenings and vaccinations, among other services. They plan to bring these services to those who now live in “healthcare deserts” due to the preventable closing of Crozier and other hospitals.

Delaware County Council Chairman Richard Womack says in this press release that funding for WOW comes from ARPA other grants.

Note the preface of the release says “All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. “

According to the Department of Health’s online measles dashboard, Lancaster County leads with 80 measles cases, followed by Lebanon County with 20, and Chester County with 14..

My preferred guide for vaccines is CHD (Children’s Health Defense) 7 Steps to Vaccine Safety, and they urge everyone to do their own research. My history is that, in 2021, I received two Covid shots and, two weeks later, I got Covid. That’s probably the end of my vaccination history.

RFK Jr, who I generally trust added that people should also get the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine “.


See also

RFK Jr. says parents should vaccinate children against measles

Nowhere in any of the articles is it mentioned whether the Pennsylvania Department of Health is getting the records from Crozier and other shuttered hospitals nor what other vaccinations they are giving or how they are connecting with the doctors that these patients already have.

But I’m sure we can trust them to do their due diligence.

Wellness on Wheels in Delco

Why can’t Swarthmore hold onto a Borough Manager?

Why can’t Swarthmore hold onto a Borough Manager?

By Bob Small

When I began attending Swarthmore Borough Council meetings, my assumption was that Jane Billings and Swarthmore Borough Manager were synonymous.

She held the post from 1990 until 2022.

Though there were clashes between her and the public, she was known as a dedicated public servant.

She was succeeded by William Webb, who served from 2022 to September 2025, when he left to take a post in Virginia.

Sean Halbourn was next. He was fired in March 2026 by a unanimous Borough Council vote.

They then brought on David Unkovic, who only agreed to take the post until a permanent replacement could be found. He said he wanted to return to the placid shores of retirement.

Council said they would be conducting an extensive search for the next Borough Manager. After this extensive search, they selected Scarlett McHale who had been a Swarthmore Borough Council member.

She was voted in On July 6 with council also creatinga the post of assistant borough manager with Alex Ashcombe being appointed to it.

That comes to four Borough Managers in four years.

Media and Springfield are nearby municipalities.

The last two managers of Media were Jeffrey Smith who served from. to now

The last two Springfield managers are J. Lee Fulton who served from 2010-2024 and Steve Lucas who has served since 2024.

Media and Springfield are both more complex than Swarthmore, with many more businesses among other factors.

Great Britain has had six Prime Ministers since 2016 but that’s a slightly more difficult job than Borough Manager of Swarthmore.

Continuity at the borough manager level would seem to be desired but not attainable in Swarthmore.

Wonder what the odds are at Kalshi Prediction Marke for the longevity of our next one.

DSA vs Israel

DSA vs Israel

By Bob Small

Two ideas can be true at the same time.

Israel has over-responded to Oct. 7.

The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has over-responded to Israel’s over-response.

Though Mandani-supported candidates won in the New York City primary, Hailie Soifer, who is CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America says “I don’t think these same candidates could win anywhere else.”

And Rabbi Jonah Posner who directsReform Judaism’s Religion Action Center has stated “We reject the false choice between Jewish Safety and Palestinian dignity”.

Micah Lasher, who succeeded Mandani in the 12th Congressional District, is for “Hamas out of GAZA and Netanyahu out of the Knesset” which seems reasonable.

In 1982, when Michael Harrington co-founded DSA, it was still the time of a collectivist Israel, with socialist tendencies.

Were Democratic Socialists of America Always Anti-Israel?

Now even AOC has received criticism for a vote reaffirming Israel’s right to exist.

Harrington and many other co-founders have left DSA due to what they see as anti-Semitism such as refusing to condemn the Oct. 7 atrocities.

Current DSA members may not have the frame of reference to understand why the 1982 DSA would ever support Israel.

Harrington said that certain pro-Israel positions were held by DSA as a matter of course; support for

Israel Boycott Backlash: ‘This Is Not the DSA I Founded’

A few years ago, the argument was whether DSA should support Boycott, Defense and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. We recall it was used against South Africa Apartheid. Jo-Ann Mort, the author of this article, feels, “ There must be strong refutations against BDS that also defend Israel’s right to exist while clearly repudiating the occupation, continued settlement growth, and by calling for a Palestinian state. “

DSA was founded by the merging of two smaller groups, the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee and The New American Movement. This is a lengthy interview and well worth the listening and/or viewing.

In a similar situation in England in the 1980’s , Labor Leader, Neal Kinnock expelled members of leftist group “the Militant Tendency” from the party.

See also
Jewish Review journalist removed from DSA event


How Democratic Socialism Went Mainstream

DSA vs Israel

Proposed Data Centers in Chesco/Delco

Proposed Data Centers in Chesco/Delco

By Bob Small

“This land was made for you and me” Woody Guthrie sang.

Big tech says no!

The Data Center monsters are coming to Chesco, Delco and Lackawanna counties.

And probably a lot of Pennsylvania’s 67.

Unlike the 1950’s sci fi, we can’t depend on science to defeat them. These are creatures of science!

Seeing the signs along Swedesford and other roads, one understood this was citizens organizing. “From air, to noise, to frequency, these are not industries that should be anywhere near residents,” said Monica Schryver, East Vincent Township resident. “

A similar perspective was offered in this article.

To quote:

The proposal for this data center threatens the health, safety, and future of our community. East Whiteland families should not be forced to sacrifice clean water, breathable air, increased traffic, and peace of mind so a private developer can profit from an energy hungry industrial complex placed on already contaminated land.

So the East Whiteland Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the start of “the curative process”, pausing the acceptance of new data center projects for up to 189 days.

“Any work involving earth disturbance of any kind must cease” East Whiteland says.

The most recent opposition sprang from a December 2025 proposal by the Developers which included a 60 percent increase of size of the data center.

To bring us up to speed “Green Fig, the developer behind a contentious East Whiteland data center project withdrew their application for an expanded 1.7 million square foot project after months of sustained opposition from thousands of residents” 

For a Delco perspective concerning Eddystone this article

Here is an article concerning another part of the state.

In New York,this is being taken seriously New York Governor Signs First Statewide Data Center …

In Pennsylvania, gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity called “for an indefinite pause on major data center development projects arguing that local governments need more time to prepare for the industry’s growing impact on communities.

Governor Shapiro’s position is build the centers as fast as possible.

Proposed Data Centers in Chesco/Delco

Why We Need Real Change in Swarthmore

Why we need real change in Swarthmore

By Bob Small

Swarthmore has many many problems. Some are recent but many are long standing.

All didn’t begin under the current council, but they’ve done nothing to fix it.

Let’s start the list.

EIT — Swarthmore Budget is talking about an EIT (Earned Income Tax). This becomes an extra tax, for those who are not exempt. They have not clarified why we need this.

Cunningham Field — Because Swarthmore College has a “magic money tree”, — not listed on most College maps — it regularly passes funds onto the Borough. The citizens adjacent to Cunningham Field is forcing the College to rethink plans regarding the field. Borough Council has stayed neutral on the subject.

Parking Apps — The Borough has recently introduced parking apps to replacethe coin operated parking meters. This was not announced at the June 8 meeting. There was not a written notice on this subject. We are being forced to use the Parking App, without there being any vote on this issue.

Business District-We now have three bookstores and various places to be served alcohol. Yet we are without a bank among other missing businesses,

Former PNC Bank Site — The former PNC bank stands as a monument to bad planning. Borough council knows what is happening but refuses to answer. It’s easier to find out what’s going on in the Pentagon than why construction has stopped at 31 S. Chester Road.

Little Crum Creek Park Bathroom — A $200,000 bathroom was built at Little Crum Creek Park without any great demand. Now we discover the problem with low water pressure that had to be fixed which required a pump operation. This will involve tax dollars also.

Food Scraps — Then there’s the Food Scraps composting project of which only about a quarter of the public participates. Again, wasted money, to the tune of $150,000. We discover that there are now legal issues and the waste is being driven to Pottstown (46m), rather than Linvilla Orchards.

We will note that almost all the Borough Council members, besides being Democratic, are not working class. The insights gained from working on a regular 40 hour, or more, job are missing. This is unusual in Delco government, but that may be who the College wants to deal with.

And what the College wants…..

We’re not even mentioning the questions of lack of process and problems with secrecy, etc. or the Borough Manager cycle.