Delco Has A Trust Problem — Delaware County Councilman Kevin M. Madden finished yesterday’s, June 5, Council meeting passionately speaking for caring for the mentally ill and urged the equally passionate audience to see the humanity across the political divide.
We think he was sincere.
We also think he should take the plank out his own eye before looking for sawdust in others.
During public comments, Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby noted the strange tenacity with which the county fights requests for public records. She cited the matter of Delco’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion director, Lauren Footman, who is unsuccessfully seeking records related to her firing in March.
Delco, by the way, not merely stonewalls record requests but fights rulings by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records to give the people records they want.
Especially relating to elections.
How does that engender trust, Kevin?
We asked Madden after the meeting.
He just laughed.
Council, by the way, last night, approved a “right to know” officer for the solicitor’s office. Pay is between $22.91 and $33.46 per hour. We suspect the prime skill set sought is how to hide public records.
Gary Rider of Marple took Madden to task for changing positions on a proposed mental facility at the Delco Woods nature preserve.
Rider said Madden has gone from seeking a facility with 28 patients on 40 acres to seeking a facility to house 16 patients on one acre.
“We can find you one acre and 16 beds,” said Rider. “It’s at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital.”
Another speaker suggested that a 16-bed facility could be easily put at the 200-plus acre Fair Acres complex.
Tom Flocco of Upper Providence brought up the book The Parallel Election by Greg Stenstrom and Leah Hoopes along with a related documentary as proof the county elections are rigged.
You know Kevin, if you stopped fighting right-to-know requests election skepticism would start easing. Allowing poll watchers the same rights at the Wharf central ballot counting center as they have at all other precincts would end just about all the skepticism.
So why don’t you?
Flocco wanted to know why the County is keeping the evidence claimed by Ms. Hoopes and Stenstrom out of the courtroom.
That’s a good point. The pair were sued for defamation by former Delco Voting Machine Warehouse supervisor James Savage. Greg and Leah responded with a truth defense.
Truth is an absolute defense against defamation. Of course, one has to have been telling the truth for it to work.
Savage dropped the entire case — which included Donald Trump as a defendant — just after defendants prepared to subpoena county District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
Doesn’t that make you go hmmm, Kevin?
Flocco said all of County Council might have won their seats via election fraud.
Obviously, Kevin, there is a crisis of trust.
The video about the 2020 election can be found here.
Roz Mayo (phonetic) of Brookhaven said she didn’t trust the elections because the present system is a “black box”.
If the county didn’t try so hard to hide election records she wouldn’t think that.
Ms. Mayo also said voter registration was insultingly easy and is automatic when applying for a driver’s license. Illegals can get driver’s licenses. She said they can be registered to vote without knowing then have someone vote in their name.
Laura Lewis of Radnor mentioned machine vulnerabilities.
Scott Thomas of Marple said his group has studied the feasibility of counting ballots by hand, and that it’s doable for Delco. It would save the county much money, he says.
Jim Small of Marple offered to take Council on a snap inspection of the Don Guanella buildings to catch illegals.
Barbara of Broomall noted that the building sought is over-sized for a 28-bed facility and asked if there are undisclosed plans to house more. She said that a facility would mean that Marple has to hire more police. She said considering how the county runs the prison, she has no confidence that a county mental facility at Delco Woods would be run competently. Barbara also pointed at that Biden border policy is a disaster and has left 80,000 children unaccounted for.
Mike of Media said Don Guanella patients still remain at the facility including his brother who has Downs Syndrome. He says he is in the end-of-life unit.
He was convinced the County has plans to put illegals next to him, and is angry at what might happen to his loved one.
Joe Finio of Marple said it is about keeping promises and Council promised a park at Delco Woods. He said the buildings at the site are neither secure nor habitable and asked why is it so hard it is to find a facility for 16 beds
“Something else is going on here,” he said. “There is to much energy being directed at this property for 16 beds.”
Tevin Dix of Upper Darby passionately defended free speech and encouraged Council to turn off the “Marxist media” and do real research.
He praised the work done by Stenstrom and Ms. Hoopes.
Dix, who is Black, noted Trump supporters are falsely smeared as haters and racists.
Good point. When is Elaine Schaefer going to apologize?
Bill from Upper Darby told Council to again seek God, and then read from the Book of Matthew.
“As a watchman I am sounding the alarm,” he said. He warned Council they might be committing treason.
How do you like that for trust, Kevin?
The Other Side
Council did have defenders.
Kevin Corrigan of Marple lectured the crowd for wearing anti-Biden clothing and called them “seditionists”. He praised Council despite his opposition to putting a mental facility in Delco Woods.
Andrewa Knox of Swarthmore said she was “appalled” by the behavior of the audience and that they were spreading “misinformaton.”
Jason of Havertown praised immigration and Delco’s elections. He blamed Rupert Murdoch and the “convicted felon Donald Trump” for what his opponents believed.
Jean Montgomery of Chester Heights said she experienced joy using the county parks, liked its health department and supported a mental health facility at Delco Woods.
Margaret Mansfield of Ridley Township said she was a Quaker. She praised Council and said “climate change” is going to destroy much of God’s creation.
Ed from Ridley praised Delco’s sustainability programs.
Three young people from Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL) spoke in opposition to Covanta’s Delaware Valley Resource Recovery Facility and a proposed “hydrogen hub” project for the city.
“Hydrogen hubs may sound green but they are dangerous,” said Renee, a Swarthmore College student.
In Council comments, Christine Reuther said she was offended on behalf of all county employees who work for elections.
Again check out the video.
Ms. Reuther also said hand-counting would not be practical nor would it even be legal.
Here’s a thought: Keep the machines but empower poll watchers at the central ballot counting center. Then stop fighting right-to-know requests and get rid of the widely mistrusted dropboxes which are redundant to mailboxes anyway.
Dontcha think that would be a fair compromise? Stop the treason talk? Or don’t you think it matters?
In his turn, Madden said he respected those who came out even though he disagreed. He said their differences were because they got their news from different sources.
We strongly suspect Kevin, that we question our news sources more than you question yours.
Other Matters
In more pleasant matters, Council announced that a Juneteenth celebration will be held June 19 at Rose Tree Park starting at 4 p.m. Headliner Philly Gumbo takes the stage at 7:30 .m.
Also the county’s summer concert series in Rose Tree Park starts June 12.
Delco has 900 acres of parks, it was said
Delco Has A Trust Problem and Delco Has A Trust Problem and Delco Has A Trust Problem
