Delco Woods Immigration Rumors Trigger Delco Councilman

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.

Delco Woods Immigration Rumors Trigger Delco Councilman