Putting together my last post, a chronology of crime in Pottstown in 2014, was much more difficult than I’d anticipated.  It tugged at my heart and filled me with sadness.  With the help of a friend, who has lived his whole life in the area, I forged ahead as memories of better times in the Pottstown area were not far from my friends own heart.

Many comments from Facebook acknowledged that the chronology was an emotional and  disheartening enumeration for them as well.

Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war.

Donald Trump

Toward the latter part of 2014 Police Chief Drumheller has been speaking to council and (most importantly) to residents, at monthly council meetings…. he’s communicated with the press about his plans as well.

He announced that he is reorganizing the department for maximum efficiency in 2015 and is actively exploring possibilities for video surveillance systems in various locations in town.  The Chief has asked the community to participate in these efforts – THAT IS KEY –  Chief Drumheller is setting the best example of leadership I have seen since I’ve lived in Pottstown.  But…

The battle with crime, violence and mayhem in Pottstown will not be won by the efforts of one leader and area law enforcement alone.

The leaders of this town, the leaders of surrounding areas, the county officials, the state, the citizens, the businesses, the schools, the non-profit organizations, the churches, the press  – ALL OF US –  have an opportunity to learn and grow from the experience of 2014.

I BELIEVE WE CAN RESOLVE to work together and make every effort to understand each other in the coming year and beyond.  Put one foot in front of the other.

Not one of the entities listed above can make that happen in a vacuum, it will not happen without a tacit agreement from every one of us to accept responsibility to communicate openly and honestly, with the greater good of Pottstown – – our primary motive.

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you.  In between, the leader is a servant.

                                                                                Max DePree

There has been a lot of good information shared among residents and non-residents alike on Facebook this past year.  This  September 2014 article, written by Barry Cassidy for the 422 Business Advisor, was posted to my timeline:

clik >>> Can Something Be So Bad It Is Good?    In the following excerpt, founded on years of experience and wisdom,  Barry said:

“When housing deteriorates, how can the neighborhood turn it around? The government cannot make the only effort toward revitalization. There is a need for a public private partnership to effectuate change.

Citizens have to be an active part of the process. People usually get involved in the process by complaining about the conditions of their neighborhood and seemingly become involved in the public sector merry-go round. Of course, it is just the process at work as there are rules and regulations. It is an understanding of the process by the residents that make the process effective. If there is mistrust or misunderstandings between the groups, a public private partnership will never work.”

My New Year’s commitment, (I don’t do resolutions just to break them):  I am going to follow in the leadership footsteps of Police Chief Richard Drumheller, (Pottstown’s very own Dancing Guy/video below) **with all due respect**

- I will go straight to the source:  organizations, businesses, schools, the press, government at the local, county, state and federal levels to ask hard questions when they arise, to share ideas and to listen.   I will do my best to learn the lessons of the past year, keep an open mind to give everyone the opportunity to speak from their own perspective.

- I will continue to blog and share information and ideas, to expose those who take advantage of the taxpayers and the vulnerabilities of Pottstown, (ie:  particularly rapacious income investors, property managers, etc).  I will press forward with the People’s Video Project on Youtube and remain active on Facebook where ideas, vital connections with the community, (and other communities), are fostered.

- I will maintain trust and confidence in every effort put forth by others to work toward better understanding and to create a better story line for Pottstown.

-  In the spirit of co-operation, I will do my part to foster goodwill but the truth will always prevail.  As a member of Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown I will encourage participants and Facebook friends to extend the same effort to create a space for all of us to begin to forge a public private partnership that is founded in trust and honesty…

In lipstick, on my bathroom mirror, (as a reminder), I  have written this time honored aphorism, courtesy of the wisdom of the great Albert Einstein:

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  

Please think about that statement and…

Ask yourselves if you can make a commitment, in the new year, to take the first step to foster communication with one another and help forge a strong public/private partnership.

Here’s two interesting reads on leadership that have made it into my favorites this year:

http://improvingpolice.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/principles-of-leadership/

http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-cities-making-citizens-part-of-government.html

Happy New Year Friends.

Please enjoy my favorite quick lesson in leadership:  Dancing Guy….

Believe it!! 

Tonight:  Wednesday, January 7, 2015 Borough Hall 100 High St. 3rd Floor  7 PM

Mark Kubricky will be in town today to present the findings of the initial study which is an inventory of all borough housing by type.  By using other data sources to identify the cost of providing municipal services to each property type…

We anticipate the borough and taxpayers will learn that poorly managed rental housing is costing taxpayers significantly more than we can afford and a lot more than well managed rentals and homeowner properties.  

Last August, journalist Evan Brandt with the Pottstown Mercury, spoke with Mark Kubricky of the Better City. US, headquartered in Odgen, Utah.   The Better Landlord Program is a development of Better City. US that provides time-tested solutions for landlords who choose to attract better tenants and manage their properties efficiently and expertly.

Evan noted in his article:

“More than 40 percent of the borough’s housing is rental units, and fully 17.2 percent of all Montgomery County’s public housing vouchers are used in Pottstown, which has only 2.8 percent of the county’s population.”

“You get the towns with the least economic opportunity, the lowest number of good-paying jobs and they get the most vouchers,” Mark Kubricky, director of development for Better Landlords, told The Mercury in August.”

“And, as a result, the neighborhoods deteriorate, homeowners can’t get the full value for their home, so they cut it up into rentals to try to get their money back out of what is likely their largest investment and what you get more is more rentals.”

“The idea is to try to stop the downward spiral,” he said.

click to go to Evan’s article: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/

The program helps to eliminate CRIME that is associated with neglected rental properties.  In Ogden Utah, where the program was first implemented, the Ogden City webpage sites:

“In its first year of the program, landlords who diligently followed the guidelines also saw a reduction in crime at their properties—in fact, 11.6% reduction in crime, according to reports.”  

click to go to the Odgen website:   http://www.ogdencity.com

The Utah Apartment Association endorses the program and teaches classes, promoting balanced relationships between tenants and landlords.  Once implemented the program is known as The Good Landlord.   Landlords report better incomes and better outcomes while their properties increase in value.

click to go to the Utah Apartment Association website: https://www.uaahq.org

Last year, I personally spoke to mayors and managers of towns and cities in the U.S. who have implemented the Better Landlord Program, each of them touted the virtues of the program in their communities.   Crime reduction was at the top of their list of benefits!! Benefits to the local governments included:  better time management, better use of personnel and wiser use of Police and Codes services <<<that was paramount with each official.

BETTER LANDLORDS/BETTER CITYS  CAN  be a game changer for Pottstown.  We all want to feel safe and to enjoy our homes and businesses.

Please get out tonight and join your neighbors for the presentation. Show your support for a BETTER POTTSTOWN!

That’s a rare sighting in this little borough.

If you happen to be among those Pottstownians who aren’t sure they can get behind the Beech St. Lofts project, a couple things to think about:

Pottstown has only ONE non-profit, community art gallery/school – ArtFusion19464 – in fact, ArtFusion just celebrated TEN YEARS in Pottstown. It’s pretty phenomenal that the gallery/school has weathered their own financial storms and the years long national economic downturn.  It is cause for celebration…

Declining conditions in Pottstown haven’t exactly been a boon to their business either – but again – the art gallery/school is a SURVIVOR!!

The High St. building that ArtFusion has occupied for lo these many years is on the market, FOR SALE. ArtFusion’s future might have lingered in the balance instead…

The vision for the Beech St. Lofts nicely dovetailed with ArtFusion’s own desire to grow, to have more space for the arts, to be accessible to all people, including those with disabilities, (something they don’t have right now).  The gallery board of directors and Housing Visions recognized a commonality….

THE ARTS.

ArtFusion and Housing Visions worked out an agreement that will provide the school/gallery with lots of affordable “flex” space to expand their programs with added gallery space all on the first floor of the renovated Fecara’s building making ArtFusion accessible to all people.

It’s a beautiful concept for ArtFusion and the community.  The rental housing on the floors above ArtFusion will offer artists attractive, light, bright, creative spaces to work and create in a live/work loft-style apartment setting.  Artists are the very kind of low-income renters that we want in Pottstown.  Artists bring a vision, a focus, energy and new ways of looking at life – a breath of fresh air!

As it sits, the building is blighted and growing more so with each day.

Maybe we all have an image of what “low-income” looks like, that’s not surprising, given the circumstances in our borough.  But imagine, for a moment, that most of the worlds greatest artists also lived much of their lives in poverty.  That’s no less true today.  Artists do what they do for the love of art and their contributions to the world are…

Pablo Picasso

The richness and awareness all around us.  The arts are the crayola colors to the outlines of our routine, ordinary lives.  In that regard, artists have never really been poor, and our experiences have never really been ordinary and routine.

When we open our eyes to the gifts artists bring to every aspect of life it only enriches us.  I couldn’t live in contentment without dance, visual arts, music, plays and comedy, books and poetry in my life.

And yes, sometimes the most brilliant creators and thinkers are “differently abled people,” people with disabilities.  Doesn’t mean they can’t be contributing members of a community.

Think:   Stephen Hawking who is not only a brilliant scientist he’s a very wonderful writer. He’s been confined to a wheelchair since 1963 with ALS.

But this hasn’t stopped him from getting a good education, and earning the reputation as a brilliant theoretical physicist. He had opportunities and he seized them.

Stephen Hawking

We need to open the doors of opportunity in our community for the artists and thinkers and builders of dreams and they need affordable, inspirational housing in a supportive arts environment.

What better opportunity have artists found in Pottstown, than the proposed renovation of Fecera’s into the Beech St. Lofts?  We are rife with blighted buildings but this unique vision for Fecera’s is a big step forward in this borough.

There are a gazillion and one examples throughout the nation of struggling little towns that have lost their industry, lost their way in the world, that have been brought back to life – with a purpose – through their support of the artists and the creative class.

The non-profit arts generate revenue, lots of revenue for cities, county’s and states.  In this link, the Maryland State Arts Council announced, in 2012: 

“Maryland’s nonprofit arts sector has a $1 billion impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 11,000 jobs.“

It’s happening in towns all over Pennsylvania and it CAN happen here too.  This is the time and the place to make a fresh start.

No matter what your style Art has something for everyone.

The consensus is in and this project is endorsed with letters of support by a growing number of residents, business, schools, non-profit organizations and so forth.

Council people were elected to represent the best interests of the people in their community and in this process, as challenging as it can be, they will serve that objective best by putting their personal prejudices aside to see things through our eyes, to support this project in unity, to take a risk for the benefits of added tax dollars generated from property taxes and the arts, to follow in the footsteps of community leaders and individuals in Pottstown who support the Beech St. Lofts Renovation.   The people have spoken in one clear and unified voice.

The Beech St. Lofts project has been endorsed by:

The Mercury
The Pottstown School District
Montgomery County
The Hill School
MOSAIC Community Land Trust … and many many more.

Evan’s article in the Merc.  quotes Ryan Procsal, Councilman in the 1st Ward, (where Fecera’s is located).  Ryan has voiced his support for the Beech St. Lofts.   @@@@A hearty thanks to Councilman Procsal!!!!  That’s what “representation” looks and feels like@@@@@

The cohesiveness and harmony that has culminated around this development is a thing of beauty for Pottstown.  Be a part of it and let council know YOU SUPPORT BEECH ST. LOFTS for the old Fecera’s Bldg.

Email, call or talk to your council on Mon. Jan 12th 7PM 100 High St. 3rd floor, click here for their contact information.

****YOU’LL BE IN THE COMPANY OF YOUR GOOD NEIGHBORS****

Tonight at 7PM 100 E. High St. 3rd floor

The Council that YOU elected to represent your best interests has a very important decision to make about the future of the old Fecera’s warehouse.

Council’s decision tonight will indicate their level of support for the Pottstown community’s desire to foster the arts, welcome investments into the borough, create safe, attractive housing and above all….

Support our local community ARTS / EDUCATION Gallery School – ArtFusion 19464 –  and the Historic Renovation of one of Pottstowns prominant, historic buildings.  What better way to say “yes” Pottstown is open for business and we welcome investment in our community!

The $12.5 million dollar Historic Renovation, proposed by Housing Visions, will turn this frog:

As it sits, the building is blighted and growing more so with each day.

Into the Prince that we desire and deserve for our community!!

Rendering of Completed Beech St. Lofts.

It’s been a very long time since Pottstown residents have experienced the cohesiveness and single mindedness of purpose that this project has inspired across all walks of life and it feels sooo good.

The list of endorsements for the Beech St. Lofts is, most of all, a list of stakeholders in Pottstown’s future.  These are businesses, homeowners, schools….the very people who are already invested and deserve to see their investments in their community prosper as Pottstown prospers:

- Pottstown School District (Jeff Sparagana)
– Mosaic Community Land Trust
– Proudly Pottstown (Sheila Dugan)
– ArtFusion 19464
– Olivet Boys & Girls Club: Pottstown Rickett’s Center
– Frank Buttaro, Former Councilman
– Sue Repko, urban planner, author, and founder of Positively Pottstown blog
– Pottstown Citizens (Tom Hylton)
– Amy Bathurst Francis, Community Activist, Buy-Local Enthusiast and – — Pottstown School District elected official
– Hannah Davis, 16-year Pottstown resident
– Courtland and Nancy Smith, Lower Pottsgrove residents
– The Pottstown Mercury
– Montgomery County

RECENT ENDORCEMENTS:
– David Sutton former council member/authority board member

We encourage Council to support this project tonight.

Link to Housing Visions where you can see the results of previous developments and learn about their philosophy.

Values Statement

QUALITY:   We are dedicated to continuous improvement which is reflected in our leadership, implementation, operations and quality standards.

RESPONSIBILITY:   We create value, are empowered to make a difference and are responsible and accountable for our actions.

INTEGRITY:   We are dependable and responsible people committed to being open, transparent, honest and direct in all of our activities.

COMPASSION:  Every business endeavor and initiative should have compassion as one of its objectives. To really solve a problem, there’s no question that cooperation and compassion beat competition.

   Laws are made of many ingredients and for many reasons and once they are bonified “laws” do officials, who are tasked with enforcement, have the choice to enforce some and neglect to enforce others, kinda like a big, Las Vegas style buffet where you can line up and choose seafood over corned beef, or carrots instead of broccoli?  Can officials pick and choose what laws they would like to put on their plates and leave what they don’t like?

We wonder why the following laws have not been implemented and used to full capacity for the betterment of conditions in Pottstown?  There are many unanswered questions…

You will have the opportunity to ask questions of Assistant District Attorney, Jason Whalley, thanks to the welcome efforts of  life-long resident and local Attorney, Dave Garner, who has organized a community meeting to forge a relationship with the Montgomery County D.A.’s office and to learn how we can work together and what we can do to implement the…

Pennsyvania  Public Nuisance Law, Drug Nuisance Law and The Expedited Eviction of Drug Traffickers Act.

FEBRUARY 16TH @ 7PM BORUGH HALL 100 E HIGH ST. 3RD FLOOR

Below, are a few excerpts of interest.  Please take time to read the details in the link at the end of this post and formulate questions to ask the Assistant D.A. at the meeting.

Why are good, taxpaying citizens in Pottstown forced, year after year, to exercise futility, in reporting drug houses, drug dealers, hookers, johns, junkies and all other associated illegal activities in and around rental properties on their blocks?  

After making complaints, keeping records, calling police, homeowners report having been told:

“The police can’t do anything unless they see the drug”

“The drug dealers might be selling from that house, or in front of it, but they are not on the lease so there’s nothing that can be done”  or…

“We know they are dealing drugs but we can’t do anything about it without  X  Y  Z (fill in the blanks)”

Why have local officials not sought swift retribution to drug dealers and negligent income property owners, on behalf of  beleaguered resident taxpayers?  Does is make sense to tackle the issues, at the source, before they become full blown shoot outs, injury and death?  

Is there not also a definable benefit to leaders of this town by heading off the problems from the get go?

It seems to me that officials do not seek solutions outside of the familiar and that they are not offered unsolicited guidance or innovative legal solutions from the Borough’s legal council, when it’s evident that officials may not even know the right questions to ask.

Looking outside the box is key.  Vetting exisiting laws and using them is key. Education is key.  Spending the necessary time to look around at how other communites tackle the same issues – is key.

We have all expressed fears, at one time or the other, of the potential outcome of  unabated  drug houses operating near our own homes.  We’re concerned, (with good reason),  downright scared really – about the escalation of drug gangs and weapons that could be harbored in run down rental houses.  We know all too intimately about theft and property damage to our own homes, businesses and vehicles by people seeking the products of the dealers in our town.   

We talk, among ourselves, and ask why the negligent owners of these rental properties are never brought to task over the obvious and deleterious neglect and harm they contribute to the community?

Several months ago, an astute Pottstown homeowner brought to the attention of other homeowners a Pennsylvania Law actually, two laws and an “act”  that were crafted to protect the rights of people who can evidence nuisance properties and nuisance drug houses on their blocks.   They are:

Public Nuisances, 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6504, et seq.

Drug Nuisance Law, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 838,1 et seq.

The Drug Nuisance Law is an eye-opener:

We hope you will see the value of attending the meeting on Monday, Feb. 16th and take some time to familiarize yourselves with this information~!  

Here’s the link:

http://reg.abcsignup.com/files/%7B28C5CDFA-B871-4CC5-9AFB-91D00628F4A4%7D_39/34387/Blight_statutes.pdf

In July 2012  I sponsored a SLUM OPEN HOUSE at 503 King St <click   I issued personal, email invitations to all of Pottstowns officials and an open invitation to residents so they could see for themseleves how many low-income people, (including children), in our community are forced to live in slum properties.

501 and 503 King St. are a single house chopped up into decrepit, dangerous apartments owned by POVERTY PIMP KENNETH KAUFMAN.   If 501 King St. rings a bell that’s because in November 2014, a little over three months ago, a woman Ken rented to, in one of the downstairs apartments, was murdered in her bed for a $30 drug debt <click to read Mercury article.

2 1/2 (TWO AND ONE HALF) years since the OPEN HOUSE, incredulously…

Nothing has changed.  Ken Kaufman STILL demands CASH payments from his renters then, his renters only see him on rent payment day.  Cash rents make the taxes a little lighter at the end of the year.  In some cases, if a tenant forgets to ask for a receipt, it can be a tool to extract more money from them as the experienced scum are known to do in Pottstown.

Kenneth Kaufman is a former colleague of Council President, Stephen Toroney, at The Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center in Limerick.  Toroney is retired as of last year but Ken still teaches.   Does Toroney claim to be oblivious to the despicable properties owned by Kaufman in Pottstown?  Yes or No, either answer would be unacceptable because the Open House was well covered in the local press.  If Toroney claims he was unaware, well that alone speaks to his concern for Pottstown.

Evan Brandt/Activist invites Pottstown Council to see poor living conditions in permitted rental:

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120630/NEWS01/120629312/activist-invites-pottstown-council-to-see-poor-living-conditions-in-permitted-rental

Roys Rants:

http://roysrants.wordpress.com/2012/07/01/an-editorial-follow-up-activist-invites-pottstown-council-to-see-poor-living-conditions-in-permitted-rental/#comments

Robert Senior/Open House Sheds Light On Deplorable Rental Conditions:

http://pottstown.patch.com/articles/open-house-sheds-light-on-deplorable-rental-conditions

Last November the Sanatoga Press referred to Ken as “benevolently” watching his culinary arts students:
http://sanatogapost.com/2014/11/04/career-center-students-wow-diners-monday-buffet/

<Benevolence and Kenneth Kaufman in the same sentence…pardon while I choke on my egg roll>…

In her own words, Emily shares her story:

Gap in the outside door lets cold air flow into the apartment.

Well, my fiancé and I began to rent from him November 1st, 2014. I was five months pregnant at the time, close to being six. Ken had known that. He had refused to allow us to see the apartment unless we had $1100 cash. I’m only 18, my fiancé is only 20 and Ken took advantage of knowing we needed a place to go asap or we were both going to be homeless. We saw the apartment, and we asked him if the heating source was legal and he told us it was. Mind you, being new to renting we had no idea what we were getting into.

Months have gone by now, and I recently found out the apartment was never inspected. 

Windows are duct taped to curtail the cold air as best as possible.

My son is now here, and the place is getting colder so I decided to check up on Kens name. Found your site, and decided to call out the inspector. He failed, horribly. The stairs are leaning outside, and get this… The space heaters are beyond illegal. There are so many reasons he failed. Ken called to let us know that the apartment is being condemned but doesn’t believe that he should find us a new place to live or give us any money we put forward. Our electric bill is insane and he believes he doesn’t owe us anything because my fiancé broke a door.. A door! He knowingly, willingly allowed two new renters bring an infant into a place that was illegal and is perfectly okay with us now being out in the cold and the place is getting colder.

Precious 2 week old whose mama is hugely worried about his safety.

My son currently has to sleep with me every night because of how cold it is in this apartment, even with the heaters on blast.  I shouldn’t have to be worrying about my two week old son being warm. I blame myself partially for putting him here but at the same time Ken should have followed the LAW and had the place inspected before hand!

The 503 King street address, & we spoke to the inspector when he came to inspect. We aren’t taking the condemnation seriously until we get it verified by the inspector. Which we have yet to hear back from? Planning to call them first thing Monday.

We showed him what was wrong when we moved in and the inspector took pictures and notes. Said there’s no question why he didn’t have it inspected, because there was “no chance in hell he would have passed”

I was sleeping when the woman downstairs was killed and all Ken had to say to me was “oh she was on her way out. If you know anyone who needs a place I’ll give you $50″ 

We are still here, only because we have $0 to our name at the moment;
We aren’t leaving until we know for a fact by Charlie Weller that the place is being condemned.

Ken had the nerve to say “you guys brought this upon yourselves”  We have space heaters but we’re constantly resetting the power box and we’re not even close to being warm. I shiver in my bathroom, afraid to shower because of how cold it is. Having to wear hoodies and sweat pants and have my son in bed with us in worry of him not being warm enough.

As I put the finishing touches on this blog post it is 5 degrees in Pottstown / feels like -18 degrees and I am concerned for this young family with a new baby.

Ken Kaufman? He is a heartless, money grubbing bastard. 

If the borough continues delaying the end of the greedy tyranny of Kenneth Kaufman, (and others like him), they condone his treatment of his renters, his properties, the good neighbors and taxpayers of Pottstown and there is enough blame to go around.  # 1 issue on the table NOW and council people THAT MEANS YOU too.

In response to the plight of this young family, I received the following information from “Nucki”  William Heuer has been on my radar for some time now, question is:  Why isn’t he on the borough’s radar and why are people ignored by officials?  There are painful consequences for children who live in these enviromental waste sites thru no choice of their own and the onus is on local government to take right action now.

My landlord is William Heuer, I feel for these ppl because I too am in similar situation, I have three children about to be out in the.cold as well. I have gone to L&I and council numerous times since June 2014 begging for help,and they have done nothing! The place I live didn’t pass inspection but they allowed him to rent it anyway,and even though the place has many violations the borough does nothing to enforce the citations on the landlord. They have lied and continue to cover for this landlord and his shenanigans . I had to recently call health department because of mold my youngest sons disabilities are intensely aggravated by presence of mold, I explained this to borough and that also fell on deaf ears. The point is simply that this borough could care less about the tenants and their rights…mine have been violated and I plan to seek justice.

HOW’D THE MEETING GO WITH THE ASSISTANT MONTCO D.A.’S AND THE PPD ON FEB. 16TH?

Just dandy.

See for yourselves.   Here are the videos from Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown, Evan Brandts tweets/storify from the meeting and the Mercury’s article…can’t say it didn’t get good coverage!

The organizers are looking for feedback from the residents that attended.  If you’ve got something to say as the next “action items” are developed, send it in an email to:

ptownadvocates@hotmail.com

They’ll keep you in the loop moving forward. 

Thanks to Kevin Steele and Jason Whalley from the D.A.’s office for meeting with the group.  Appreciate the representatives of the PPD and borough for taking their time to be there.

Just a quick word about “apathy” it’s a two way street folks.  One elected official, Sheryl Miller, Councilwoman in the 3rd ward and Council Candidate in the 4th Ward, Ross Belovich, made time in their busy lives to be there.

GRATITUDE TO FORMER COUNCIL PRESIDENT DAVE GARNER FOR LEADING THE WAY & ORGANIZING THE EVENT. 

VV CLICK LINKS VV

Pottstown citizens urged to help fight crime

https://storify.com/PottstownNews/criminal-discussion?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=publisher&utm_campaign=embed-header

Craigslist SCAM

I think most of you are savvy enough to detect the big phony bologna in the response that a couple received while looking for a rental home in Pottstown.  This morning I was alerted about this SCAM by the couple that responded to the ad.  I looked up the real owner and contacted them to let them know.   The house is listed for sale not for rent and the owner was aware of the scam.  

KEEP YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN FRIENDS

Hello,

Thanks for your email, I personally own the house, we want our property to be well taken good care, and there are some Precaution in which i do give out to tenant willing to rent my house which brings about safety of a home, so please don’t be offended. But if you are still capable of renting my house the precaution goes this way…

You must keep my house clean including the surrounding, you must know the way in which you use the stove so as to avoid fire outbreak, you must not disturb the neighbor. We decided to rent out the property due to our transfer to (West Africa). My Family and I just traveled to Nigeria for a program Empowering Youth to Fight Racism, HIV/AIDS, Poverty and Lack of Education with Dove Christian Fellowship International on a Missionary Work, so we are renting it out since we need someone to take good care of the property on my absence and the house will be available for a period of 5 years. The program is taking place in four major countries which are Uganda, Japan, Haiti and Nigeria. Have this in mind you must know the kind of person that i am. Nevertheless i am giving you this Precautions because of what corresponded between me and my last tenant. The keys and documents are with us here in West Africa … so i will need to ship them to you
before you can occupy the house but you can drive by the house anytime to take a look.

I want you to understand that I spent a lot on my property that you have requested to rent, so I will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and would want you to treat it as your own because cleanliness they say is next to Godliness. It is not all about the money to be paid on rent or spent; it is all about a good maintenance culture which I want you to adopt on the property. I want you to keep it tidy all the time so that I would be full of smiles whenever I come and above all, a good, strong and tight relationship between us when I come for a check up. Please one more thing, I wouldn’t like to have any benefit of trust in you because I want to stand in your words that the property would be well taken care of all the time. I believe you have see how lovely it is if from only the pictures you saw in my posting compare to the 100% comfort to be derived from it as you are an occupant.

We will be away for a while that is why we made up our mind to put up our house for rent to whom ever that will take good care of it. Please i want you to note that i spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent, so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own.

Address: 546 Spruce St, Pottstown, PA 19464

Pets are Welcome!!!
Rent: $700
Security Deposit: $700
Living Building Square Footage: 1,623
Number Of Bedrooms: 3
Number Of Bathrooms: 1

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW:

RENT APPLICATION FORM.
Name (First name/ Middle name/Surname ) : __________?
Phone numbers (home,cell and office line ) # :__________?
E-mail :__________?
Best time to call :__________?
Marital Status:__________?
How many proposed occupants :__________?
List all in addition to yourself including approx age :__________?
Present Address :__________?
City/State :__________?
Will you have pets :__________?
Please describe Breed, size :__________?
Personality of pet :__________?
Preferred move in date :__________?
Intended length of lease:__________?
Do you agree to pay the payment before you move in:__________?
Earliest possible date of deposit payment:__________?
Length of previous tenancy :__________?
Present occupation :__________?
Are you a section 8 applicant
Do you work late night :__________?
Do you smoke :__________?
Do you drink :__________?
Send your picture or family picture __________?

Please feel free to ask any questions you do not understand and i will be looking forward to receive your email as soon as possible. As i am not around to show the inside, you can go check out the house and the neighborhood from the outside and get back to me if you really like it for more information. Please respond ASAP.

I hope to read from you with more information. Thanks for the time and energy writing me, My regards to your family. For more inquiries, Here is my cell phone number which i roamed so i can receive international calls, call or text me ASAP +1 (701) 404-7085

Best Regards.
David I Stout & Patricia E.

Yesterday is history, Tomorrow’s a mystery, TODAY’S a GIFT, that’s why it’s called the present!

There’s NEVER an excuse for landlords in Pottstown to rent to convicted drug felons or people who cannot evidence a pay stub from a job, SSI or SSD.   I have even heard some landlords claim that their apartments will sit vacant for months until the right person (s) come along that have their act together enough to have stayed out of prison.  This post is inspired by a conversation on FB on Crime in Pottstown…

A smart landlord plans for vacancies and understands the potential ramifications of renting to anyone with a pocket full of cash and no background check or pay stubs.

BIG problem is – – in Pottstown there have been NO ramifications for landlords that avoid due diligence but there are plenty of ramifications for other property owners INCLUDING good landlords who often can’t keep good renters because of the crime and filth all around them.

Having said that, I can almost hear the battalion of (land) lords <many who affiliate with the Western Montgomery County Real Estate Investors Group, among other notable property management and real estate companies in the area> planning their next council brow-beating session when the topic of better ordinances and supervision of rentals is on the horizon again ** complete with not-so-veiled threats of lawsuits against the borough**  yawn.  

But again, council backs down…why?  We want the issue of rental housing to remain front and center in councils minds and actions. 

Starting at about 9:44 with other comments mixed in, LANDLORDS WHINE TO COUNCIL:

You can see all the videos <including more LL whining and threats of lawsuits against the borough> on the Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown’s Youtube channel. 

Comments on Facebook from good renters and good landlords indicate that THEY have no problem with annual inspections.  So WHO has a problem?  Could be (land) lords that are the very people that “fly under the radar” and they like it that way.

There are plenty of working poor in Pottstown who need a break.   Decent housing, manageable rent payments and a landlord that gives two hoots about their property, the tenants and the community.

Landlord ignorance is not an excuse for renting to drug dealers and other criminals, nor is greed a reason. 

FREE BACKGROUND CHECK

HOUSING LAW IN A NUTSHELL 

The Nation’s Fair Housing Law protects 7 classes of people:

Race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin.  <<<Note:  drug dealers are not among the protected class of people in the nation, state or even Pottstown (although you’d be wondering if Pottstown has seceded from the union given the # of drug houses allowed to proliferate here).

In addition to these protected classes, Pennsylvania offers legal protection based on:

ancestry
age (40 and older)
use of guide or support animal
status as handler or trainer of guide or support animal.  <<<Note:  convicted drug dealers are NOT protected in PA, or any felon for that matter. 

In combination with what we hope will be a more aggressive effort by the Montgomery County D.A.’s office to hold accountable the extractive, negligent income investors who rent to convicted drug dealers, and other criminals.  We, the community of homeowners, businesses, good landlords and good renters, are going to keep this issue front and center in Pottstown and…

council has a big-big role to play in this too because while the PPD is stepping up their game, why should council continue to accommodate bad landlords or even allow more negative investors into the community?  

Below is a link to the Mercury’s coverage of the most recent drug house raid in a RENTAL house VV   Good work PPD AND residents who inform the police about the drug houses in their neighborhoods.

We are doing our part and the PPD is doing their part…there can be no excuse for the borough to let the rental housing slide any longer.

IMPLEMENT THE BETTER LANDLORD PROGRAM…WITHOUT DELAY.

And, consider that it’s way beyond time for council to figure out how to ENFORCE the Charge Back Ordinance as suggested by councilwoman, Sheryl Miller, because, as I have learned recently … even though a landlord might resist paying the $100 fine, the violation CAN give L&I the legal right to pull the license (if there is one). But, either way, the borough can refuse to let a probelmatic landlord continue to rent their property if they are unwilling to pay their fines.  That’s a powerful tool USE IT. 

Police searching for suspect from Pottstown drug raid

433 HIGH ST. / 433 BUTTONWOOD ALLEY (BACKSIDE).  THE OWNER OF THIS PROPERTY LIVES LESS THAN 1 MILE AWAY IN THE COZY ROSEDALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

CLEARLY, THE OWNERS HAVE NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE BOROUGH FOR A VERY VERY VERY LONG TIME.   THIS CREEPILY DANGEROUS BUILDING IS A REFLECTION OF THE TURMOIL IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 

My neighbor, Larry Hespeth, posted these photo’s and comments on Facebook last week.  His home is across the alley from this and I can assure you this place is as scary as you think it is from the photo’s  – wish we could make “scratch and snif photo’s” – so you could have the whole experience including the stink.  But you can drive over and smell for yourself.   

KEENAN HARP TOOK A DRIVE BY AND HERE’S WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ON FB TODAY:

“Drove past it today. Let me tell you something, my wife is from Detroit and I have seen better looking properties there then This dump in Pottstown. Just disgraceful. What would the people from the past say about how terrible Pottstown is now. They would roll over in there grave.”

Keenan created this masterpiece!!

LARRY LEFT THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING ON FACEBOOK …

“THE REAR OF THIS BUILDING IS ROTTING AND FALLING TO THE GROUND < THE BACK IS PRIMARILY COVERED WITH OLD PLYWOOD>. THE ELECTRICAL SERVICE IS ALSO COMING TO THE GROUND. I WILL POST PICS WEEKLY. CAN’T GET ANY HELP FROM THE BOROUGH. THERE SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY THIS BUILDING FALLS UNDER!”

435 HIGH ST. / BUTTONWOOD ALLEY (nastly little bodega no dumpster)???

 “DEAR POTTSTOWN PA, I NEED TO KNOW. DOES THIS STORE PAY THE SAME TRASH BILL I DO, OR SHOULD THEY BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A DUMPSTER? I GUESS THE BLUE RECYCLE CAN IS IN THERE SOMEWHERE!”
Larry Hespeth

These photo’s were posted on FB on Feburary 19, 2015 by our good neighbor, homeowner, Larry Hespeth. 

 Pottstown Homeowner At Large has this to say, today, on Facebook:

435 HIGH ST. / BUTTONWOOD ALLEY (commercial proeprty but no dumpster)??The question of the day kids is WHY?The question today, asked by Pottstown Homeowner at Large on Facebook, is this:The question today, asked by Pottstown Homeowner at Large on Facebook, is this:

“Why is it that homeowners in the borough continually get slapped with silly violations, such as “indoor furniture” on a covered front porch, peeling paint on window sills or a pile of grass clippings kept behind a garage for compost when all the while 433 High Street seems to be A-Okay with the borough? Check out the pics.

The rear of the building is literally falling apart. It is both a safety and health hazard yet it’s been this way for quite a long time, even after it’s been reported numerous times. Why?

It was reported that the 3rd floor is full of pigeon shit and the basement had standing water in it. AND, when someone actually wanted to purchase, rehab and open a business in it the Borough shot down the idea because the 2 apartments that were part of the plan required 2 parking spots each. No, sorry. We’re just going to let it go. Why?

The owners of the building are Regesh and Amita Patel, former owner/operators of the East end 7-11 and current residents of the Rosedale section. Why is it that these folks aren’t held responsible for this total POS?

Which actually leads to what might be a bigger question. WHO?”

• We are homeowners, businesses, moms and dads, some of us are public employees, (past and present), and social service providers, we represent churches and other non-profit organizations and you will find us on Facebook.

  Facebook has become a “town hall” of sorts, for residents and public employees, past and present.  It is there, on multiple pages and timelines, (or in private messages to one another), that people discuss declining conditions in the borough and, increasingly, the low morale that is shared by people from all walks of life in Pottstown.

  Facebook is a barometer of the inexplicable inability of local government to address the very serious problems each of us face on a daily basis.  The problems have only worsened over the past 17 years of  Steve Toroney’s presence on counil and….

  The decline has accelerated since council chose Mark Flanders, the former Police Chief, to become Borough Manager in November, 2012.

  We may not understand the reasons for the systemic failure of our borough to make a course correction but, we are seeking answers, unprejudiced by politics and friendships and cronysim.  We are looking outside of the confines of our predicatment to quantify the disconnect between borough hall and conditions in the community that are worsening by the day, (save for crime and the PPD’s recent efforts).

  Good residents express the feeling of  “being held hostage” to the negligence of the local government.

  We know that some officials of the borough keep an eye on Facebook and that sometimes residents posts and photo’s are mysteriously removed and that has caused added consternation for residents who want to know who is censoring them.  Then there’s a question of  “malfeasance”, (as a commenter on facebook put it), among some officials in Pottstown and Montgomery County.  

• Slumlords and their tenants have been on my radar for many years.  People report that they are harassed and threatened by income property owners when they are told, by neighbors, of the problems on their properties.   Or, neighbors are harassed when their tenants whine to the landlord that the homeowners (and other good neighbors) keep calling police on them.

  There are some people in Pottstown who fear speaking up because of retribution not only from slumlords and renters but from the borough itself.  These folks can evidence such behavior.

  The issues of slumlords, blighted properties and nasty renters or renters who are marginalized, (living in slum properties) are foremost in our day to day existance. Time and again, year upon year, we watch as officials back away from taking strong measures to hold income property owners responsible.  We continue to pay for their abuse of municipal services  while we go without the bare essential services > and even those are in decline.

  We find no logic in the borough’s *seeming* impotence in this troubling pattern of abuse that we experience on a daily basis.  NO AMOUNT of communication with officials, on our parts, makes one hell of a difference.  Mostly, we never get responses from them at all.

  Borough officials recently negotiated a new trash contract and YET a permanent solution to the profound occurances of illegal dumping was not on their radar???  Why??   Along with that the firing to two employees, known as the Clean and Lien guys, who at least kept somewhat of a lid on the trash and neglect is, at best, perplexing  given that they were highly visible in the community and….

  THEY DID THEIR JOBS VERY VERY WELL.

  If you drive by  – today –  377 N. Charlotte St., (owned by slumlord, Essam Schedid of Pottstown), you can see these conditions.   The tenant, Tracey Accor, moved 1/2 block away to 455 N. Charlotte St. owned by absentee landlady, Marie Matichak of Blandon, Pa who has neglected to have an inspection and obtain a rental license, according to the results of a Right to Know that was submitted to the borough.  Neighbors report on FB that Tracey, and her band of misfits, have already broken out the front door window, in only a few short weeks of living there. (They broke the big plate glass front window at 377 which sported a carboard box for months).  But it was work as usual in borough hall, not one person ever noticed???

  Click to view slideshow.

   On Facebook, yesterday, a nearby neighbor of this property asks:

  “How would you like to live here? This is the trash the landlord next door has been putting out over the last two weeks. He’s upset that they didn’t take the large pile of broken furniture because it wasn’t bundled. He bought a sticker and everything! Sorry, Sam, but I’ve only seen one sticker, a week ago. It was for the couch. They took it, but not the love seat he put on top. He called the borough and Mascaro came back and took that too, without a sticker. The wood pile is from this week. The chair that is in today’s photo was put out by the tenants back in July. The pictures are all dated. I reported the chair (and mattress) and Sam made the tenants take it back inside. Mascaro took the mattress and also another one recently. Now, Sam expects it to be taken again for free. There is still a giant TV and other stuff on the upstairs back porch. Seems a dumpster should have been ordered!”
  

  Neighbors and a previous landlord can evidence piles of police calls, arrests of people found in her rental (s), constant nuisance calls, and overcrowding by people who should not have been living in her voucher housing.  At long last, Tracey has lost her voucher which took over 2.5 years of monumental efforts by neighbors and a landlord that I began to chronicle ON MY BLOG IN APRIL, 2013 and again in March, 2014

  You can learn more about the plight of Tracey’s neighbors, (our shared plight in Pottstown), in this blog post by historian and author of  The More Things Change, Michael Tolle, who put this new post up on Facebook last week.  Our problems are calling the attention of people as far away as California and STILL we have no recognition or communication or help from local officials.  Reluctantly, at minimum, MontCo Voucher Housing reacted at a snails pace, (during which time Tracey conjured up a lot more heartache, cost to taxpayers and destruction).

  Former councilman in the 6th Ward, Jody Rhoads, has been outspoken about the tribulations of residents in Pottstown, for many, many years.   Now, he and his wife are experiencing, first hand, the horror of an abandoned, disintegrating home, attached to their own home of 35 years.

  The Rhoads’ maintain and take good care of their home, as most homeowners here do, but the declining conditions of the house next door, 166 S. Roland, is taking a toll on their own home, their sanity and their property value.  There are far too many circumstances like this in Pottstown.
  
  
  The simplest of things, like clearing a walkway so elder neighbors, (and others) can safely walk down their blocks are epidemic – ignored by the borough.  Overcrowded homes chopped into multiple badly managed rentals and a lack of parking makes it impossible to avoid walking to or from your home after a snow storm.

  Email after email after email with the License and Inspections Dept., that Jody shared with me, have netted him little attention to the problems and NO RESOLUTION.   He has taken responsibility and contacted the property management company for the bank, Safeguard Properties, to no avail.

  Then there’s Shanicqua Suber and her children.  Shanicqua is a strong woman, a mother who cares about the safety and well-being of her family.  She’s stranded, according to her comment that I posted on this recent article on Golden Cockroach:  Slumlord Kenneth Kaufman
  

  Shanicqua said it best at last June’s council meeting, (as did every other resident who spoke).   She arrived at the meeting of her own voliton, unaware of other community members reasons for being there:

  Far too many women and children in our community are victims of negligent property owners… yet, we see officals back away.

  We have no advocacy from our officials, even when it would seem that getting on the horn to contact these negligent banks, like Bank of America, that own 166 S. Roland St., or – better yet  – advocate for an  ordinance as has been written by officials of  Youngstown, Ohio.

  A New Strategy To Make the Banks Pay

  “In early 2013, the city passed legislation requiring any entity initiating a foreclosure process—be it a bank, mortgage servicer, lender or individual—to post a $10,000 bond the moment the house becomes vacant (or immediately, if the house is already vacant).”

  People here are weary of being ignored and lacking communication from the very people we NEED to hear from, borough officials, I guarnatee the people of Pottstown are done beating their heads against a brick wall.

   

While Council contemplates the lint in their belly buttons.

Should You?  Heck, ask Dave Woglom, Dave knows the answer.

In the chaotic demise of the Land of Potts, we venture boldy, tip-toeing through the illegal dumps, sliding across the unkempt, icy sidewalks as the rank odors of wet, moldy decay from bank owned / investor owned properties waft through the air and…

WE THINK TAXPAYERS SHOULD HAVE THEIR EYES WIDE OPEN FOR THE POTTSTOWN ADVENTURE THEY NEVER SIGNED UP FOR…

Let a little sunshine in !!!

While public employees espirt de corps circles the drain, under Mark Flanders leadership, our confidence in local government and council’s  prowess has already circled, gone down the drain and leaked out the other end into the gutter along with the regular occurrences of raw sewage.

Dave Woglom of the Meyner Center’s presence was felt prior to and on Nov. 13, 2012 when Borough Council anointed Mark Flanders, king for a day – your new Borough Manager.

Dave Woglom had…no…. he STILL has his fingers in the middle of the Pottstown Pie, as we are learning, he’s positioned now as a kind of mentor to Flanders, why?….

Dave Woglom has a long, disreputable history in Quakertown, Pa.  YET…he has been chosen, and paid, for his guidance on issues of phenomenal importance to this community.

- THE FIRE COMPANY MERGER, and…

-  As we have recently learned, WOGLOM WAS HIRED TO CONDUCT A MANDATORY PUBLIC EMPLOYEE MEETING??

This is a quote from a former public employee:

 “THE MEETING WAS ABOUT GETTING ALONG WITH THE BORO MGT. WE ALSO HAD A MEETING WITH AN ATTORNEY THAT REPRESENTS BOROS AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TRY TO SUE THE BORO. THIS WAS ANOTHER MANDATORY MEETING.”
 

Really Pottstown Council ??  What’s up with the “what happens if you try to sue the boro” meeting?   Was that based on a recognition of the tumultuous working conditions?  A preemptive strike?   Seems that there is a whole lot of useful things employees could be subjected to like,  Building A Sense of Teamwork.

It’s not even a lack of credentials but the kind of credentials that had Quakertown employees running for union cover.  Dave Woglom cost their taxpayers $31,000 in pay off <in the end> so Woglom wouldn’t sue Quakertown when their council, (22 years later), caught on to his already very costly modus operandi.

We see some of the same kinds of expenditures now in Pottstown too.

TELL US YOU’RE NOT THAT DENSE PTOWN COUNCIL?  NO….SHOW US INSTEAD.

What do you say, (do you even know), about the agreements that Pottstown employees were mandated to sign, by the borough manager?  Agreements that prohibit them from discussing borough business with council people and residents?  And why have they been told they must divulge their romantic interest in co-workers for the borough managers discernment?

Who would even conceive of the idea – let alone clandestinely, (over a weekend),  place a GPS tracking device on the clean and lien boro vehicle?  Then, rely on the unreliable results TO FIRE THE CLEAN AND LIEN GUYS? Unspeakably slimy.  WHO DID IT ????   Dave Wogloms ideas? Yeah that’s the ticket. We’ll blame Dave.

From what I’ve garnered, this whole gps idea is treading on delicate territory from a legal perspective.  It would seem advisable to have a policy in place that states the type of information a local government is aiming to glean but….. never never is being sneaky about it recommended.   I just don’t think taxpayers can afford a lawsuit apparently, at one time, Flanders didn’t think so either, that’s why he held the employee meeting about why not to sue your employer.  

THE COMMUNITY OF CONCERNED TAXPAYERS ARE SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS WITH INCREDULITY On Facebook…

READ ALL THE POSTED ARTICLES ABOUT DAVE WOGLOM AND ASK YOURSELVES, WHY DAVE WOGLOM?

“The sad fact is, under the current “strong manager/weak council” form of government, the borough manager has wide-ranging powers. Perhaps too wide for one person, which is why only eight of the state’s 961 boroughs choose this system. So much is riding on the judgment and ethics of that one person, who is not even elected by the citizens, and not directly answerable to them. Quakertown is a perfect example of the dangers of trusting the wrong man.”

clik>Illusionist David Woglom Makes His Problems Disappear The Free Press June 1, 2006

clik >Council to discuss borough manager

clik>Quakertown official says meeting is result of Woglom’s “slip-ups” Woglom gets severance deal

WOGLOM’S WOES

Quakertown Borough Manager Dave Woglom has come under fire over several matters:

2006: Purchase of approximately $8,000 worth of reflective tape for speed humps, questions raised about use of proper bidding process.

2006: Unaware of loophole in contract with bulk electric supplier, forced to pay 7.1 percent more than expected in 2006 and 4.5 percent more in 2007.

1990s to 2006: Purchase of supplies from companies with ties to two borough council members.

2005: Borough employees attempt to unionize, citing Woglom’s management style as a prime reason. Vote fails 18-to-16, but new push to unionize is under way.

2004: Council agrees to $800,000 settlement with Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority for overcharging authority from 1994 to 2003.

2003 and 2004: Improper award of $30,000 in contracts for borough projects, violating state bidding laws.

22 years in position of Borough Manager for Quakertown to get a clue.

WE DON’T WANT WOGLOM’S WOES TO BECOME OUR WOES!!!!

Consider this:  Forbes 15 Ways to Identify Bad Leaders

 2. When leaders fail to lead themselves:

A leader who lacks character or integrity will not endure the test of time. It doesn’t matter how intelligent, affable, persuasive, or savvy a person is, if they are prone to rationalizing unethical behavior based upon current or future needs, they will eventually fall prey to their own undoing. Optics over ethics is not a formula for success.

DO NOT CHEAT YOURSELVES OUT OF READING THE ENTIRE 15 WAYS…And rely on your OWN POWERS OF DEDUCTION.

 SLAM THE OLD DOOR TIGHT.   THAT’S ALL WE ASK.  NO…

ONE MORE QUESTION:  SINCE TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THAT BULLET PROOF THINGY FOR FLANDERS OFFICE,  WHY THE SHAKEDOWN OF BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE NOW CHARGED AN AMENDED FEE OF 140 BUCKS A YEAR TO HAVE A SECRUITY SYSTEM ON THEIR PROPERTIES?

IN POTTSTOWN, SECURITY IS NOT A LUXURY LIKE….SAY….BULLET PROOF OFFICES…NEW CARS, FANCY WHEELS, IPADS….GPS …. …. ….. EXTENDED VACA TIME….FLEX HOURS….A HANDSOME SALARY….AN ASSISTANT

@@ TOSS US A CRUMB AND SEE HOW APPRECIATIVE WE CAN BE @@

In case you’ve just dug out from under an iceberg and none of the fire company merger news has crossed your radar, I’ve included some recent links in this post.

Why the rush to merge Pottstown fire companies?

clik^^

100 E. High St. 7 pm 3rd floor Borough Hall Pottstown be a few minutes early to sign up to speak.  YOU MUST SIGN UP.

Phillies Fire-Co

Good afternoon all, Just a reminder that tonight at 7pm, there is a meeting at Borough Hall. We are asking the Citizens of Pottstown to come out and show support for the Phillies Fire Co. If you would like to voice your concerns , this is the time. All speakers must sign in. Certain members on Council, and other members of the Borough want to shut the Phillies Fire Co. Down. It seems as they don’t care about the potential higher insurance rates for homeowners, and possibly an increase in taxes if the Volunteers go away. We are asking for everyone’s support. Have a safe day. ‪#‎supportthephillies‬

More Merger Mania <clik Evan Brandt digital notebook

“Saving money has been touted by Borough Council Stephen Toroney as a major reason to push for consolidation.

The borough paper also argues “consolidation will provide the opportunity to reduce redundancy in purchasing.”

But there has been no formal financial analysis to identify what purchasing is redundant or how much money might be saved at the outset or in the long term, Yerger confirmed.”

The position paper — the latest in a long history of consolidation studies undertaken by the borough — was penned by David Woglom, associate director for public service with the Meyner Center at Lafayette College.”

Feb. 19th Mercury News  << clik

^^ That information on its own is enough to provoke a stance of NO CONFIDENCE  in Borough Officials who have placed their confidence in Dave Woglom (see Monday’s post) <<clik  Roy’s Rants links to this blog, with his commentary. 

The chaos and confusion this borough government can conjure up is rivaled only by their skillful avoidance of the end results.  Well…

Can’t say enough about the levity provided by The Pottstown Leek, Pottstowns newest Facebook source for news and information in the Pottstown region … a little laughter rejuvinates the spirit and aides in regularity….

‘The Radish Report’ on The Pottstown Leek

POTTSTOWN COUNCIL KICKS ASS ON RENTAL INSPECTIONS, UNREGISTERED PROPERTIES

By Randy Radishovich – (Radish Report, staff writer)

Pottstown, March 5, 2015  Last night, overshadowed by ongoing talks about the contentious Fire Company Merger, the head of the License and Inspections Department, Don B. Innohurry, gave council the quick and dirty low-down on the revised, re-revised inspection plan.

Sources report that private talks between Innohurry and members of the Real Estate Investors Club revealed what officials already knew, “ we’re gonna sue the bejesus outta this town if you don’t let us write our own rules and break ‘em when we want to. Landlords in this town have reached the breaking point with your efforts to establish reasonable standards for us but you ignore the problems homeowners cause.”

Jack Mehoffer, the Club’s representative stated, “We don’t want some codes jockey poking around once a year to muck with stupid safety violations, our tenants won’t stand for it.”

“This has nothing to do with safety,” said Mehoffer, “you only want to snoop through the underwear drawers and look under the beds of our renters apartments for contraband and we will not roll over.”

Pottstown landlord, Dewey Cheatum, is reported to have told officials, “We’re tired of making our renters pick up after those homeowner pigs and we sure as hell aren’t going to do it any more.  If you lazy f’ers can’t get control of them then we’re finished.”

Borough Attorney, Isaiah Backoff, addressed council and residents, “we considered Mr. Mehoffer’s advice and agreed that inspections will occur every 24 months not 12 months, if we get around to it.”

Backoff also noted that a six month grace period would give landlords “a little cushion and we felt that was the least we could do.”

It seemed officials had already forgotten the 2500+ unregistered rental properties found in a data report delivered to the borough in January, as council members busily checked their iPads, a few headsheads nodding off, during Backoff’s brief description.

But, Council President, Nevin Owen Uptoit, piped up at the last minute, staunchley reminding Innohurry, “ if these inspections are going to work we have to expect that your department is going have inspected and registered the 2500 rental units no later than 2021.”

Although there were no questions from council about what, if any, process has been established to meet the stringent 2021 deadline, Innohurry volunteered, “we’re beefing up staff now. We’ve already caught a few illegal rentals, in fact, we caught one today.”

Plan A:    In 2012 Debra Louise Lacava Campbell and Douglas J Campbell defaulted on well over $2,000,000.00 in real estate, property taxes, authority and municipal liens, in Montgomery County > > Pottstown and Norristown specifically.

They got divorced and filed bankruptcy.  A blank sheet, a fresh start, an opportunity to get it right………….right?

Here’s what Plan B looks like today:

A former renter, Elizabeth, (last name withheld, for concerns of retaliation by Deb Campbell), lived at 456 N. Hanover St. in Pottstown and popped up on Facebook after noticing a HUGE FOR RENT by RELIANT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT sign outside the boarding house last week.

“I noticed Deb Campbell has a huge for rent sign outside of her rooming property on oak and hanover. Hope people don’t rent it.”

Elizabeth went on to describe the conditions inside the rental:

“That place is disgusting I lived there. It’s gross, full of mold, it’s a shared bathroom that Deb never cleans, the room on the 2nd floor still has a drug addict in it and the guy that lives on the 3rd floor has been caught looking into other people’s rooms and breaking in them. Not a safe environment at all…

“The window in the shared hallway is cracked and let’s all the cold air in. Everyone shares one bathroom that she will not clean. The roof leaks right into the bedrooms that she will not fix.  A home care nurse was in an out of the house, at the time, she was with the board of health and even she tried to get them to fix it and Deb wouldn’t.”

Lack of maintenance, authority liens, tax liens, non-compliance with boarding house Zoning. 

WAIT A MINUTE – doesn’t that sound exactly like Plan A??

Zoning law states:

C, The boarding home shall be owner-occupied.

E.  Buildings used as boarding homes shall be more than 3,500 square feet.

H.  One parking space per lodging room shall be provided.

I.   The boarding home shall comply with all other Borough Ordinances.

The lot size is described in the Property Records as 3,492 SF  Trulia shows the house size:  3,590 sqft  –   Bigger than the lot it sits on?  There is an attached apartment as well and no off street parking for boarders.

435 N. Hanover St. shows a tax lien/Owners: Doug and Deb Campbell

…….
PARID: 160012736001
CAMPBELL DOUGLAS & DEBRA L 456 N HANOVER ST
Parcel
TaxMapID 16073 055
Parid 16-00-12736-00-1
Land Use Code 1145
Land Use Description C – ROOMING HOUSE – TOURIST HOME
Property Location 456 N HANOVER ST
Lot #
Lot Size 3492 SF
Zoning RMHD
Front Feet 24
Municipality POTTSTOWN
School District POTTSTOWN
Utilities ALL PUBLIC//

Owner
Name(s) CAMPBELL DOUGLAS & DEBRA L
Name(s)
Mailing Address 136 BAYBERRY DR
Care Of
Mailing Address
Mailing Address LIMERICK PA 19468

Current Assessment
Appraised Value Assessed Value Restrict Code
100,410 100,410

Estimated Taxes
County 316
Municipality 1,035
School District 3,941
Total 5,292
Tax Lien Yes

Liens that remain OPEN on the Prothonotary for this address alone:   Property I.D. 160012736001

A new lien was recorded in February 2015 !!!

- POTTSTOWN BOROUGH AUTHORITY CAMPBELL, DOUGLAS J 2/27/2015 753.33

– POTTSTOWN BOROUGH AUTHORITY CAMPBELL, DEBRA LACAVA 2/27/2015 753.33

- POTTSTOWN BOROUGH CAMPBELL, DOUGLAS 5/8/2012 1,518.18

- POTTSTOWN BOROUGH CAMPBELL, DEBRA L 5/8/2012 1,518.18

Here’s an interesting one:    Judgment/Fines/Costs/Restitution & 236 Notice  MONTGOMERY COUNTY CAMPBELL-LACAVA, DEBRA LOUISE 8/9/2013 1,283.50  << Restitution?   

As she has done, for at least the past 5 years, Debra Campbell continues to send anonymous letters to council members and other people in Pottstown.  People have contacted me with that information or have given me the letters.

Deb has never stopped using the internet to attempt to intimidate and harass me and others as well.  Currently, she is using Facebook as “Pottstown Facts” and “Nachiel Feliciano” where she posed as Tracey Accor, in a private message I recieved, yesterday.

I have kept the records of Deb’s comments over the years.  Many of them were not only directed at me and my husband but there are also threats to destroy Pottstown.  Is that her plan?

My plan now, is to turn all of this over to the proper authorities. This is not about me, it’s about what’s happening in our community and the domino effect of the negligence of investors and the borough.

I question how she and Doug, among others, can remain licensed real estate agents with an ongoing history of tax and municipal liens and avoidance of codes regulations at their income properties.

Through all of this, Deb retains her PA real estate license, # RS289372 employed by Big Idea Group Realty, Inc of Spring City.  Deb also manages properties, (in addition to her own, poorly managed properties), she is a managing partner for Reliant.

Not that long ago, Deb was seen, often, hanging around in the hallway in front of the L & I Department at Borough Hall soliciting business as rental property owners came to do business at the window.

Last summer a friend and good landlord purchased an apartment home. When he arrived at the home, one morning, Deb Campbell was waiting to offer her management services to him…

The irony, he told me, was that the property had not yet been recorded with the Montgomery County Property Records.  The sale was very new.  He had however, contacted the L & I Department to arrange an inspection and Deb had the information.  This, we agreed, gave every appearance of impropriety  considering her presence at borough hall and Doug’s assertion, sometime back, that he sent to me in a private FB message:

“Our properties all have UandO’s and we have a very good relationship with the borough of Pottstown. I challenge you to go to borough hall and challenge us to find any code violations on our properties.”  Doug Campbell.

What does a “good” relationship between negligent income property owners and the Borough look like?

Doug Campbell also retains his PA Real Estate License #RS279349 and is affiliated with Platinum First Realty in Royersford.   While some of the affiliated real estate agents I know personally, are ethical and professional, there’s another, Ed Mitchell, who’s Plan A & B closely resembles that of the Campbell’s.  He is also an agent for Platinum First.  There are 92 civil cases for Mitchell (s) listed on the prothonotary, I have never seen more mortgage defaults in all of my research.

There are 71 civil suits recorded in Montgomery County for the Campbell’s  <excluding the divorce & the restitution case above>

Mortgage defaults, municipal liens, Pottstown Authority liens, Pottstown School District liens.  Norristown has it’s share too.   Many cases remain “OPEN” with Judgements.

Elizabeth, also said that there are some scary people living in the Campbell’s boarding house, something other renters have remarked on in the past about the people they rent to.

Any solid plan to get ahead of crime in Pottstown cannot excluded an aggressive plan to hold people like the Campbell’s accountable for their on going practices.

Today’s Mercury News reports on the proposed rental inspection cycle, and no mention of a plan to bring 2600 + rental unit owners into compliance:

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20150306/pottstown-council-eyes-2-year-rental-inspection-cycle

BREAKING NEWS

The Pottstown Leek
Monday, March 9, 2015

by Staff writer, Randy Radishovich

POTTSTOWN (The Radish Report) As bakken crude oil concerns heat up across the nation, during a press interview on March 9, 2015, borough officials proclaimed that there’s nothing to worry about In Pottstown.

From their office windows on the third floor of Borough Hall Fire Chief, Ben Schlockinoff, assured the press that everything looks good, “we don’t see any issues from here.”

Assistant Borough Manager, Bella D. Ball, asserted, “we’re engaged in exercises with Montgomery County in the event of an explosion, we’re practicing our sprint technique with a trainer provided by the County.”

“Management and public employees on the third floor are learning to overcome poor technique with strength and speed.” Said Ms. Ball, “we are making every effort to save ourselves in the event of a catastrophic explosion.”

Meetings between first responders and MontCo emergency management became contentious when Montgomery County Commissioner, I. Josh Unot, reminded first responders that commissioners have spent long hours negotiating terms with Norfolk Southern to transport 25 of the most lethal chemicals known to man through Pottstown.

“In cooperation with social services, drug treatment facilities, rental property owners and borough officials, we have worked for years to centralize the county’s poor and vulnerable in Pottstown. It was never our intention that first responders intervene in the event of a deadly catastrophe.” Stated Unot.

Before storming out of the meeting, Frank Lee Letterburn, spokesperson for area firefighters, pointed his finger at Commissioner Unot, in a raised voice he shouted, “if you think our firefighters are going to dispense cyanide kool-aid to the Pottstown public from our trucks to make this easy for you, you are wrong. It’s our commitment to save lives in an emergency, not take them.”

As the meeting wound down, Unot assured attendees, “our long-term strategic plan for Pottstown has not changed.”

“Sadly some residents will go the way of the french fry and there’s not much we can do about that without the help of first responders.”

“However, we will arrange to dispense the cyanid kook-aid through the Pottstown office of Montgomery County Health Department in the event of a catastrophic explosion. We anticipate such an event prior to 2017 and we don’t have much time to prepare.”

The Pottstown Mercury News concluded their series yesterday:

“Answering Questions About Crime”

They’ve posted the articles, conveniently on a Wix site. ^^clik the link above^^

The finale is an opinion piece that sums up the series and raises a few more questions.   The next to the last paragraph makes this statement:

“Silence is the biggest obstacle to catching criminals, police say, referring to the reluctance of witnesses to come forward with information. But silence about the factors in housing, lifestyle, and complacency that contribute to crime is just as damaging.“

The reluctance of witnesses to talk to police has become a constant thread in any article or discussion between the community, the press, the PPD and the D.A.  There can be no doubt that it is a failing, on the part of some, in this community to tell what they know.

Chief Drumheller heralds the potential of surveillance cameras and I do too.  But, with that, I hope to see better Community Policing.   Officers on their feet, in the neighborhoods, talking to people, getting to know them and inspiring trust.  That won’t be a by product of surveillance cameras.

There are many reasons for police to want to inspire trust in citizens.  One of the most poignant articles of this series are the stories of the children who are impacted by the violence in Pottstown.  <clik

Concerned grandmother, Angela Kearney’s granddaughter is one of them.  She’s only 4 years old.  The recent shootings and police activity in the alley behind her home has left the little girl in terror of police who she now associates with gun fire and fear.   Potty trained at 2 year she has reverted back to old behaviors, a common occurrence for traumatized children.

But, what would it look like if a kind officer arrived at her home with a soft stuffed bunny or teddy bear and sat down with the child for a few minutes to talk with her and her grandmother?  Same thing with the 7 year old child that won’t sleep alone in her bed because of the disruptive, angry renters and suspected criminal activity at the house next door?

For the children in this community, something that simple could make the difference between carrying the trauma of these experiences into adulthood or coming to understand that figures of authority, ie: police, are also adults they can trust.

That’s one Community Policing idea that the community of mom’s, dad’s and grandparents, could work together with the PPD to accomplish.

While Evan was researching and writing this article, National Public Radio presented a series about childhood trauma and the outcome for their mental and physical health once they become adults.

Until recently there were children living at 431 King St. with no electric service.  Owned by Tyler and Dianna Bui

“The research shows that kids who have tough childhoods — because of poverty, abuse, neglect, or witnessing domestic violence, for instance — are actually more likely to be sick when they grow up. They’re more likely to get diseases like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. And they tend to have shorter lives than people who haven’t experienced those difficult events as kids.”  Dr. Nancy Hardt, pathologist, University of Florida

There can be no question that for the past 5 years I have not remained a quiet witness to the despicable conditions of rental housing in Pottstown nor have I been silent about the complicit relationship between extractive investors and Borough officials.

I have written often about the Medical Legal Partnership Organizations of Doctors and Lawyers working together under the premise that:

“Where you work, the air you breathe, the state of your housing, what you eat, your levels of stress and your vulnerability to crime, injury and discrimination all affect your health.“

There is no shortage of evidence that, among other factors, unsafe housing with mold, rodents, inadequate heat, raw sewage and other safety violations, (that are found in hundreds if not thousands of rental units in Pottstown), contribute to – or – are the direct cause of environmental illnesses in people, with an emphasis on children.

While communicating, often, with the public regarding the re-organization of the PPD, Chief Drumheller  is setting a new approach to crime and violence in our community.

Can there be any excuse, whatsoever, for the Pottstown Borough Council and other officials to continue to neglect their duty to set strict rental housing ordinances and see to it that they are enforced?

Council and paid official’s remain callously silent, in the absence of effective governance of unsafe housing in Pottstown.  They are contributing to the needless suffering of children in the community.

Crime on the streets is matched only by the crime of investors, (in Plain Sight), who refuse, time and again, to adhere to the laws and, a local government that, time and again, refuses to take strong, necessary measures to bring these investors into compliance.

In the absence of sound governing, perhaps local attorneys, doctors, the hospital and The Health and Wellness Foundation, together could conceive of creating a Medical Legal Partnership for Pottstown.  Because, somebody has to take the lead and show responsible action…

For the sake of the kids and crime in Pottstown, as citizens, we must hold our officials accountable for giving a “cushion” to investors at the expense of the health and safety of every resident but most especially, the children in our community.

IN PLAIN SIGHT  the NBC coverage of poverty in America is a comprehensive look at what we know all too well, exemplified by the conditions in the 4.8 sq. miles of land we call home.

This is an an excellent example of exterior doors I see on lots of rental properties in Pottstown.

CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

This concept has been evolving since it’s inception in the 1960’s.  Simplistically, it’s comprised of 4 elements:

• Target Hardening, at the center of the chart, is where properties are made safe for their occupants with window locks, solid deadbolt exterior locks, and so forth, aka: DETERRENTS.

  Combined with elements of good street lighting, natural surveillance and defining public from private spaces, CPTED is recognized by the Department of Justice as a vital deterrent to crime that goes hand in hand with Community Policing.

547 Walnut St. is a crime, figuratively speaking.  In actuality, in it’s current conditions it is a place, a slum rental, waiting for crime to happen.

The tenant relays this information:

“The window was sealed shut.  I was told that wasn’t a violation of fire code, took 6 months to have it “fixed” no other Windows were done, even though he <William Heuber> was cited for them all …oh and let’s not forget the deadbolt …12 months of complaining this is all he’s done since I’ve been here and, even though its been freezing out the borough gave him another 90 day extension after I asked for another inspection in January because he never fixed violations from inspection that was performed in July 2014″

Figuratively speaking ^^^ that is a crime of negligence on behalf of Heuer and the Borough.

574 Walnut St. on the County Property site

In actuality, this place needs to be off-limits to renters until it is made safe.

***I wouldn’t recommend renting this place in this condition, if you are looking for a place to live.  It’s especially not safe for women, children or the elderly.

vvv check County Records for all of Heuer’s income property addresses vvv

http://propertyrecords.montcopa.org/search/CommonSearch.aspx?mode=OWNER

In fact, you will want to beware of any properties owned by William Heuer.  Check his colorful history of civil lawsuits and evictions.  He’s been spreading joy and goodwill in Pottstown since the 1980’s.

In many towns across the nation, the Police Departments are responsible for Landlord Training, using the CSTED methodology, which you can read about here, on the DOJ’s COPS site, “Problem Solving Tools”

I suggest that by implementing the Better Landlord Program in Pottstown ASAP and, utilizing their expertise, the same objectives can be accomplished without adding to the work load of the police.  However it’s accomplished…

Removing opportunities for crime will benefit the work of the PPD, the L & I and make our town a whole lot safer and more attractive to law abiding people.

The winter of 2014/2015 is nearly behind us now and I can say – with all certainty – that Hell Froze Over in Pottstown.

Most Pottstownians anticipate Spring with mixed emotions, (IMPENDING DOOM) a friend just labeled it.  Crime becomes more evident on our streets and nuisance behaviors escalate.

I ask Council, after giving a nice reprieve to the landlords with safety inspections every 24 months ….

WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  IMPLEMENT THE BETTER LANDLORD PROGRAM.

Somehow I missed this post in the LEEK sometime back. Now…. you know this is right up my alley, along with the used, bed bug infested, pee stained matteress, dead pit bulls in dumpters and drug dealers.

The Pottstown Leek <<<click to go to their Facebook page

Pottstown, Pa – New program intended to keep codes department off homeowners asses…

After many years of alleged unfair treatment by the codes department, homeowners in Pottstown will finally be offered the same level of “service” as slumlords.

“The Feedbag Program” as it is dubbed, is designed to offer the same level of “codes service” to all homeowners within the borough. “It’s simple.” says Bill Thing, Director of Codes Service, Enforcement, Reclamation and Retribution. “The homeowner signs up for an account on our website, links a savings account or credit card to their login and we take care of the rest.”

The monthly fee for membership to the program is $40 and it is deducted automatically each month. “It’s a piece of cake.” said Thing. “Once a member, all those annoying code violations are a thing of the past.”

“As long as you’re a current member and paid in full we don’t care if your damn house is falling down. If your neighbor calls to complain we do absolutely nothing. Chop it up and rent it out to criminals, we don’t care. Hell, go ahead and raise cattle in the back yard if you want, we don’t know anything about it.” Thing added.

Sign up begins April 31st.