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.
Just not in a recreational space.
