Listen For Yourself

Many people have asked what the reasons for dissolving the Downingtown Historic and Parks Commission were. None of the ex-commission members could give a clear answer not even the ones who were in attendance at the meeting other than it is political retribution at it's finest.  Since many residents do not attend council meetings you really deserve to hear what went on in the meeting the evening that Council President Gazzerro along with DiStefano, Rakoff and McGlone pulled a fast one on council members Winkler and Feldman, and let it slip that they had meetings outside of council chambers and executive sessions.

Reading the brief recount of council meeting minutes does not reflect half of what is actually said in meetings and it's a true shame that residents don't let themselves be informed of what goes on.  I can read a police report of an accident but it does not give me an idea of the fear and horror that goes with it if I have not been in the accident itself.

Pat McGlone stated in the DLN that listening to the discussions shoe voted to split the commission, but if you truly listen to what is being said that is NOT what is discussed and there were no reasons given to split the commission.  Also in the 5 years that I have attended council meetings I have NEVER seen Ms. McGlone attend a council meeting.  If she did it was a meeting that I missed, but that is something I truly doubt so how would she be privy to any discussions about anything?

Listen to the recording and make up your own mind. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAjB7uRdoKQ&feature=youtu.be

To Be Perfectly Clear

To be perfectly clear there is a very big difference between holding an elected official to the standards that are set forth by their election to their post as a citizen and keeping quite as a volunteer for the legislative body that both your positions are contained in.

As citizens we are called to keep our elected officials honest and above board.  To accomplish this goal there are many methods to do this; by blogging, speaking at meetings, and asking for documents in a right to know request.

None of the commissioners that were part of the now dissolved Historic and Parks Commission ever bashed council members as commissioners.  The mayor was asked to apologize to a commissioner by another commissioner when he brought his bias and issues to a public meeting of said commission.

Even council members have spoken as citizens and they have that right.  We are guaranteed by the First Amendment the right to free speech.  However, only people who do not have the best interests of the residents and the borough are not able to set personal issues aside to serve those whom they were elected by or volunteer for.

Do not mistake personality conflicts as a refusal to work with others for the benefit of all.  At least not for me personally.

Do You Really Know How Corrupt They Are?

Normally I love this town, but right now I am ashamed to the nth degree of the people that live in this town.  You back a corrupt local government who is afraid of a few citizens who actually call them on their crap. 

Chip Gazzerro, Pat McGlone, Cara DeStephano, Alex Rakoff et al. I am calling you out for your deplorable behavior.  When called on the carpet for dissolving the ONLY money making enterprise in the borough Chip Gazerro did the most impressive tap dance I have ever seen.  He admitted in an open council meeting that he and other council members conspired to get rid of the Historic and Parks Commission because you cannot make us bend to your crooked ways.  We adhered to the ordinances and asked for the council's help when the Mayor overstepped his bounds and this is what we get? 

Chip then said that the Shade Tree Commission was the same as the Historic and Parks and that it was talked about in meetings and OUTSIDE of meetings to dissolve H&P you hung yourself with your own words.

Then Mayor Maxwell who has delusions of grandeur turned beet red when Councilor Feldman asked him who would replace H&P, Main Street.  He couldn't even lie well about that one.  I knew that government was corrupt and I knew you all were as crooked as the day is long, but now you have proven it and ethics is certainly not your strong suit.

Oh by the way having the LT. there was not necessary unless he was there to protect Councilor Feldman from Chip Gazerro from his ongoing harassment of her.  See Mr. Gazerro we know how to conduct ourselves in public unlike you.

Inaugral Fraud

So tonight several council members and the mayor will be sworn in and it's a shame that only one person will honestly be doing it because she truly feels the residents need a voice.

Mayor Maxwell will be sworn into an office that means nothing to him other than to help him abandon his position again in Nov.  He does not want to be mayor he wants a bigger seat in Harrisburg, but he ran again in Downingtown to hedge his bets.  Maxwell will have to run against Josh Young from Caln and while they are both young and have been on the political scene for generally the same amount of time people in Harrisburg don't scoff or laugh when they hear Young's name.

You the residents voted back in a mayor that laughs at his constituents, won't vote for something he KNOWS is right, but because his name is involved won't break the tie the way it truly should go, takes credit for things that would have occurred whether he was in office or not, creates problems where there should be none and scoffs at the laws that apply to everyone else in and around town, but him.

So if you go to watch Maxwell being sworn in remember that he is going to be campaigning all this year.  He doesn't' care if he gets things done for you because you are a member of this community, he cares so that he can beef up his resume and hopes that no one looks to closely and sees that the emperor has no clothes.

Abandoning His Post

Wow two blogs in one day I guess you can call me Blabcock.

However, today is a special day since the mayor of Downingtown has announced that he will pursue the new State Representative Seat for the 74th District.  This new district encompasses Caln, Coatesville, Downingtown, East Caln, East Fallowfield, Modena, Parksburg, South Coatesville, Sadsbury and Valley.  Josh Young who also was newly elected to his office in Caln is slated to run.

I wonder how they each feel about abandoning their constituents that they said they would represent before they have even taken the oath of office.

So Mr. Mayor how inflated will your resume become?  What will it indeed include.  Heading minor league projects in a small borough is not exactly working at the state level.  Heck with Downingtown being as small as it is it's barely working at a local level.

I am wondering if you will try and deceive the voters into believing that you can balance a budget because you sat on council while they did all the hard work and you sat up there and alternately smirked and laughed at inappropriate moments.  I wonder if those who live here in D'town who think they are your best buds will support you IF you get a bigger office since you will most likely drop them like a hot potato unless they have at least an MBA.  I wonder if being in charge of a police department and not learning to let those who know best lead looks good on a how will I help this state statement.

Admittedly the local Republican party does not have their ducks in a row let alone want to get their fingers dirty to put up a candidate that has a prayer against your down home aw shucks appearance, but really I am wondering how a candidate who thinks and is above the local law in a lot of instances can make it in the big time.  Oh wait that would just be politics as usual wouldn't it?

I feel bad for those who worked so hard to get you elected as mayor again.  You in a sense duped them.  They thought that they were getting another four years of Josh Maxwell as mayor and what they were really getting is your duplicity along with the rest of the residents of Downingtown.  See not even some of your "friends" knew that you would have to announce your intentions so fast.  Even I had guessed late and I knew what was coming.

But this should be par for the course shouldn't it since you seem to thrive on disenfranchising residents and voters at a rapid pace.  Challenge me on this and we can just go ask the residents on Washington Ave. behind Molly McGuire's which opened for all intents and purposes for your fundraising to do on October 8th WAY before they were ready to handle patrons.  Better yet go ask some of them personally yourself I am sure they would like to know that you plan to make it to Harrisburg on their backs. 

 

 

A Man To Honor

This man was my social studies teacher during my time at Columbine. We moved back to PA shortly after graduation. I never thought that the next time I would hear of Columbine would be in the news. Any innocence I had left, I lost that day in April, but this man managed to bring back respect and honor to a place that by all intents and purpose should have been forever tagged as a violent example of what not to do. Good for you Mr. D! And while some friendships have faded and others gone completely, I am and always will be a Columbine Rebel and still proud to say it because of this man!

http://www.5280.com/magazine/2013/11/final-bell
Final Bell

Frank DeAngelis has been in charge of Columbine High School since the mass shooting there nearly 15 years ago. That’s about to change.

  

Just Sad Today

Why am I just sad today?  Because I gave someone the benefit of the doubt and thought they were smarter than what has been shown.  Who did I give the benefit of the doubt?  The voters and residents of Downingtown.

Now before you say or think it's just sour grapes.....I will admit I don't understand why more people did not see what I see in my husband and yes I am sad that this election went the way that it did, but I like the rest of you, will have to live with this salmagundi that was created yesterday.

What I don't quite get is how voters don't see past the smarmy smiles and the prevaricating laughter.  The gentleman that will again be mayor creates abilities in his job and himself that he has no control over.  The Mayor of Downingtown has no say in a business coming to town, he cannot fix a situation with a bus route or bus service as a voter was lead to believe yesterday at the polls, and he most certainly has no more "work to do" in the borough.  That is unless he wishes to clean up some of the messes he has left behind by overstepping his boundaries?  Would he like to apologize to businesses and residents alike for going to the Liquor Control Board hearings to force Molly Maguire's liquor license through under the KOEZ at the expense of several other businesses? Or help the residents personally who are now not able to park on their own street because of a new business being opened before they were ready?  Oh wait he can't do that because he can't seem to move his own car out of  a two hour parking zone with only one ticket on it before it was towed.  Would he like to explain why he had to put one of two violations accrued in Coatesville on the payment plan, but could be out looking for a new vehicle in September?  Would he like to personally apologize to the young people whom he disenfranchised during the last Ghost Walk because a supporter asked him to put his daughter in a program for years that was running smoothly when an age limit was placed on it for participants to be 16 and costumed characters to be 18 and he arrogantly side stepped the Commission putting on the walk and had a 12 year old in costume and then flat out denied his culpability in the action?

And then we get to council president.  I am not sure how the voters could in good conscience vote back in a man who has been seen by many harassing other council members and others who attend meetings.  How does one reconcile placing a bully back on a presiding council that decides your future?  A bully who will only let a person speak or an idea to be heard if he agrees with it and interrupts, talks down to and is plain nasty when he doesn't?  Who was heard making fun of the people of Downingtown at the polls when they ask questions and want things done, but are not part of his crowd of cronies. 

I am sad today because honor and integrity are not part of my home towns make up.  That people still vote in others that they know are doing things that are either illegal or walk a fine line between legal and criminal and sleep soundly at night.  I am sad today because so many voices did not make themselves heard and a good man lost an election and a borough lost their chance to be redeemed just a bit and given back some honor, dignity and virtue.