….is the same as their old plan<<click for the article

According to the article in this week’s Mercury, by Evan Brandt, there’s no reason to celebrate their plan.  Montgomery County will continue to use federal funds to segregate the poor, disabled, drug and alcohol addicted in one of two Montgomery County communities.

In 2009:  “Westchester County entered into a landmark desegregation agreement on Monday that would compel it to create hundreds of houses and apartments for moderate-income people in overwhelmingly white communities and aggressively market them to nonwhites in Westchester and New York City.”

The MontCo representative mentioned the extra credits to developers of low-income housing in communities other than Ptown or Ntown, ie: mainline communities who have thoughtfully “zoned out” the poor.

The county, (perhaps blinded by the politics of looking after the best interests of wealthier communities and their own campaign pocketbooks), feels no obligation to “help” those communities understand the necessity of desegregation, despite the risks of defying HUD and the potential for a lawsuit, as the one that befell Westchester County, N.Y.

The Mercury article notes that “CDBG, (federal grants), is directed to Census tracts with a high percentage of low-income households and, in Pottstown, is most often used for infrastructure programs like curb cuts in sidewalks for handicapped access.”

Behind 482 N Charlotte St. on the alley on West St.

^^ What are the politics behind this flagrant waste of tax money and how often does it happen here?

It’s Pottstown and nobody is watching.

In this next, convoluted tale, the (mis) use? of Federal Tax Credits and CDBG grant monies raises a lot of questions.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

A few weeks ago, a website was posted on Facebook.  It’s a resource for people seeking low-income housing across the nation, updated 3/11/2015:

http://affordablehousingonline.com

When you enter 19464 zip code a list with photo’s appears, click on the photo of 519, the following information is provided:

Steps – King Street 
519 King St 
Pottstown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania 19464

Ownership Information
COMMUNITY HOUSING SERVICES INC (closed it’s doors in Feb. 2013 according to this article)<clik
311 N Broad St
Lansdale, PA 19446

Property Overview
Steps – King Street is an affordable apartment community located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania which is located in Montgomery County. The property is located in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District served by Representative Ryan Costello (R), Senator Patrick Toomey (R) and Senator Robert Casey (D).

Steps – King Street is an apartment community containing 10 assisted rental units. The property contains 13 assisted bedrooms and based on typical apartment occupancy limits, Steps – King Street is home to not more than 22† persons when fully occupied.

Funding Programs
Steps – King Street was developed and operates with Federal housing financing. The property utilizes 2 Federal housing programs to make rent affordable to lower income tenants. These programs are Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Community Development Block Grant.

^^The houses were back on my radar when I read about the financing sources.

In the summer of 2013:  a neighbor on the 500 blk of King St. expressed her concern about the conditions of 519 & 523 King St.  She said they had sat vacant for quite some time.  A search on the web indicated that they were owned by ….. MontCo.   I was astounded to think this is how the county would maintain their own properties, but again, it’s Pottstown, and that made it alright?  It’s not how they maintain Bright Hope with it’s park-like setting.

Curiously, the state and county were clearly neglecting these Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,(LIHTC), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded properties and, of course, so was the Borough – (nothing new there).

The neighbor recalled that MontCo aka:  Community Housing Services sunk a ton of money into the interior of the homes which were occupied for a time then abandoned after the expenditure of the CDBG grant monies and the Tax Credits had been issued.

I first documented these properties in August 2013<<clik

Shortly after I wrote that post, the community received basic information about the LIHTC, low-income housing tax credits, courtesy of Genesis and Housing Visions.

We learned that tax credits are an IRS program and the developers that receive the credits, via the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, are (ostensibly) strictly regulated and, among other requirements, they must own the property for 30 years, maintained to the highest standards, with no tax liens or other encumbrances.

If there are exceptions to these requirements I can’t find them because of…

The untenable depth of government red tape surrounding the LIHTC program.  One more interesting fact –  PA Housing Finance Agency, by all appearances, was not holding MontCo in compliance.  Here is the link to PHFA’s Compliance Manual if you care to dive in. 

It’s Pottstown and nobody is watching?

In 2013, I wanted to know more about these properties and the thought occurred to me:

‘We have two well-run affordable housing organizations who are very familiar with Pottstown. I’d wondered if the county could sell these homes to Genesis or the Mosaic Community Land Trust, either of whom would be responsible stewards of the properties.

However, before I got very far with that thought, the houses were recorded showing a new owner on Oct. 31, 2013.  Montgomery County transferred them to a woman named Angela Sharpe, (married name Carrigan aka:  Angela D. Carrigan).

Note:  there were no FOR SALE signs or real estate listings indicating that these homes were for sale – ever – therefore no opportunity was given to the above mentioned housing organizations.

That raised a lot of questions in my mind. 

The property records indicate that 523 King St. sold for $1 to Angela and 519 King St. sold to her for $0 raising further questions about the mysterious sale of these homes.

TAX LIENS:  today, the property records indicate that both homes have liens but no civil suits have yet been filed. Clik on the link below vv type in “Sharpe Angela”…

Montgomery, Pennsylvania

Soon after the transfer, the trash was removed from the yards and exterior repairs were made – up to a point –  nothing has been done that would make the homes attractive additions to the neighborhood.

I’d put all of this on my back burner, until…

Feb. 2014, when an old friend stopped by to say that he had rented a small apartment in one of the houses.  He said it was nothing special but it would do.

Odd to him, he said, was the fact that Angela was/is associated with the clik>> Breakthrough Church Int’l. and, she was distributing questionnaires to prospective tenants about their “relationship with God.” (He brought me a copy which I will make available to anyone who would like to see it).

It was a theme that carried into her conversations with my friend, and other people, who’d inquired about renting from Angela in early 2014.

In fact, at about this same time in 2014, people at the Borough’s L & I  Dept. were sending those in need of housing to Angela Sharpe.

Residential income property owners are bound to Fair Housing Law, that states:

“The 1968 act expanded on previous acts and prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, and since 1974, gender; since 1988, the act protects people with disabilities and families with children.”

Whether or not Angela has denied housing to people based on their answers to the questionnaire is unknown.  However, doing so would be in violation of the law under any circumstances.

Given that these properties were funded with taxpayer monies via Tax Credits and CDBG grants, these questionnaires and “prying” into the private, personal religious beliefs of prospective renters is cause for alarm.

But again…

It’s Pottstown and nobody is watching.

Angela “Carrington” owns a rental in Norristown which also has  TAX LIENS.  This fact alone should immediately disqualify her from obtaining building permits and licenses in the State of PA, including rental licenses.  (Act 90 Neighborhood Blight and Reclamation), let alone she is benefiting from the CDBG grant money and Tax Credits.

Montgomery County Prothy <<clik for tax liens and other civil actions

Something doesn’t feel right about all of this.  From the County’s abandonment and sale of the property (prior to the 30 year LITHC requirement), to the lack of PHFA’s oversight and…

The fact that MontCo has made no effort to implement and utilize PA Act 90 to gain control of blight and slum properties, (which exist primarily in Pottstown and Norristown), when this law was designed to provide the very protections and relief desperately needed in both communities.

I have a lot of questions of the 6th Congressional District politicians and I’ll update this post with their answers.

**Late last year, several representatives of Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown met with Senator Mensch about Act 90.  He assured us that he would look into what it would take to implement the law in MontCo – the Committee has had no response from his office on this issue. 

Angela Sharpe (Carrington) owns properties in both of her names.  Her mailing address is listed on the property records as:

219 Steeplechase Drive New Wales, Pa  Purchased in 2009 for $438,000 showing NO tax lien.  In 2010 Complaint in Mortgage Foreclosure was filed against owners Shawn and Angela Carrington, the case was closed,  this remains Angela’s mailing address on county records.

Angela appears to be living well, as you can see.

Below is the response that Angela Sharpe Carrington gave to a same sex couple in early 2014 when they contacted her about renting an apartment at 519/523 King St.

The couple was in the midst of an unresolved legal issue with their landlord that was being addressed by MontCo Legal Aid while they were in search of housing.   They were completely upfront with Angela about the particulars of their legal problem but Angela made no inquiries about their character or their solvency, she ran no background checks, instead, she wrote…  

“I prayed a lot after our conversation. I decided not to contact the Landlord because I really had no need to do so. I stand on the foundational principles of “good stewardship” which means that we must honor God through our actions. In the case where your landlord has been working with you to establish a payment plan based on the lease you agreed to, it’s only right that he be paid every penny of the $1100+ back rent because it’s what was agreed to by you. We will not accept anyone into our program with the abandonment of such debt. There are several other major discrepancies regarding the payment history, but you know the truth. Whatever the true case may be, it should be addressed wholly with the landlord and all applicable rents should be paid in full if they are due. After which time, we will consider anyone as a tenant in our program. I pray that God helps you to see that you must settle things there before moving on to the next place… how you deal with this situation has the power to affect your financial record in the future! Please resolve this situation — for you will be thanking me several years down the line for this powerful word of Christian advice. My Prayer is that God opens your heart with the power to receive this message in the true way it was lovingly sent. Wishing you the very best in the future. – Angela”

I hate to think that people in our community who most need safe, affordable housing, often seeking shelter – under duress – fearing homelessnes, are then subjected to Angela Sharpe’s invasive questions about their spirtual lives.

Then, they are either denied or accepted by her based solely on her relationship/consultation with her God resulting in the judgmental religiosity in the above correspondence.

I don’t approve of my tax dollars being used to support religious zealots or bigots and I fail to see how any of this can be construed as “foundational principles of good stewardship.”

Again, this is Pottstown and nobody is watching but…

I want to know if our Representatives,

  Pennsylvania Housing Finance and Montgomery County approve?

Life-long Pottstown resident, Dave Garner, is a former councilman, a community volunteer, a homeowner, a local businessman.  Dave has made consistent efforts to communicate with Mark Flanders from the day he became the borough manager in November, 2012.

At first, like most people I know in Pottstown, Dave made the choice to give Flanders the benefit of the doubt.

For 2.5 years, Dave has requested meetings and has met with Mark Flanders, regularly, to discuss the state of the borough.  Dave also communicates with him by email and letter, providing Flanders with information or updates and to offer suggestions or ideas.  Dave’s availed himself to serve on committees in local government and to open the door for the rest of the community by encouraging Mark Flanders to invite the participation of residents and other stakeholders.   

While Dave speaks for himself, in the following letter that he sent to Mark Flanders on March 11, 2015, he also reflects the disappointment and lost confidence in Mark Flanders that so many citizens, employees and former employees are voicing, with growing urgency.  As conditions in our neighborhoods decline, at lightening pace, we are more and more preoccupied with violence and drug crimes, deterioration, illegal dumping and trash that plaque the downtown areas and threaten better neighborhoods.

Like Dave, I believe Pottstown would benefit from a change in leadership at this time. I believe that the kind of leader that will positively benefit this community is one, that among many other attributes, values and works effectively with the community, public employees and all stakeholders in a shared decision making environment.

I believe that Mark Flanders can do the greatest service to Pottstown by stepping down to grant Pottstown a much needed opportunity to seek a qualified manager.  Our challenges will not be met with inexperience, on-the-job-training, or entrenched, ineffective management skills.

Ideally, a manager who could best serve Pottstown would possess the experience to put an end to the conflict, to unite residents and public employees, council, managers…unite the borough, in a shared community vision, first and foremost.

A manager who will make Pottstown their home is non-negotiable.

DAVID G. GARNER
339 Grandview Rd.
Pottstown, PA 19464
_______

E-mail-dggarner1@comcast.net

March 11, 2015

Pottstown Borough Hall
Attn: Mark Flanders, Borough Manager
100 E. High Street
Pottstown, PA 19464

RE: Strategic Planning

Dear Mark:

I am responding to your letter dated January 30, 2015 concerning the above referenced subject.

Please note that I took your advice and went to the Borough’s website. Unfortunately, the only comprehensive plans listed are for the Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (draft) and Montgomery County. Perhaps the Pottstown Plan has not yet been posted to the website.

While your letter suggests that the Borough’s Comprehensive Plan outlines “major goals and objectives with the intent of a community vision and a strategic plan”, I wonder when and if that will come to pass. Since setting a community vision has never been discussed by Council in a public meeting, I question your commitment in that regard. For the past two and half years I have written to you to encourage a process to formulate a community vision and I have offered to participate. Your general response is a courteous letter putting me off in some fashion.

Engaging with the community is not something you welcomed when you were police chief and you continue to resist the efforts of the residents to participate since you became Manager. This style of managing is not productive for a town that is trying to define itself so that a focused, community-supported revitalization can be pursued. Instead of Council establishing policy which you implement, you are setting the direction and asking them to endorse your actions.

Pottstown needs a functional government where everyone understands and fulfills their roles; I do not think that can happen with you as the Manager. Pottstown needs leadership which will strive to improve the community through defined initiatives that are geared toward accomplishing specific objectives while engaging the residents, businesses and organizations. It is time for a Manager with the proper experience, qualifications and proven success in a municipality that employed the appropriate model for governance. It is time for a Manager who will demonstrate commitment to Pottstown by choosing to reside here. It is time for you to go.

Very truly yours,

David G. Garner

**PUBLIC COMMENTS POSTED TO FACEBOOK TODAY AND SHARED HERE WITH PERMISSION OF THE POSTERS.

Roy Keeler:  “Mr. Flanders has utter contempt for the people of Pottstown. He blatently disregards authority, thumbs his nose at the chain of command and has nothing substantive in the way of accomplishments to show for his tenure as BM. His legacy as Police Chief was astronomically high crime and a department riddled with strife and mistrust except for a chosen few. He is grossly overpaid. I am astounded that his behavior is not only tolerated by the council but their failure to demand results and reign him in has created an out of control situation. This man thinks he is Julius Caesar and ruling by divine right. He acts as if he answers to no one. In 2.5 years he had been paid $300,000.00, based on $120,000.00 per year. How has Pottstown benefitted from his reign???????”

Last weeks accusations that Borough Manager, Mark Flanders, violated PA Open Meetings Law and Authority bylaws has opened the flood gates on social media.  Residents of Pottstown have long held beliefs that Mark Flanders lengthy history of secretiveness on the police force and, as Police Chief, was the best indicator of his future job performance as Borough Manager.

Long-term residents acknowledge that Police Chief Flanders did not make the effort to engender trust and confidence from the community or all of the people he managed, quite the opposite.  Inaccessible and non-communicative best sums up citizens, officers and other public employees experiences of Mark Flanders leadership style.

It is true that he surrounded himself with select officers (the golden boys) who demonstrated their loyalty to Flanders and often seemed indoctrinated in their measured communications with the press and the public.  Much of what they said made no sense to thoughtful Pottstownians.  But, along the way people learned to fear Mark Flanders and some of his officers and they were reluctant to say much, one way or the other, in public.

Incidentally, the DOJ states:  “Arguably, fear reduction (making people feel safer) should be included among the explicit components of the modern police mission.”  Here’s an insightful read on the topic<<clik

Not afraid to speak among themselves, people talk openly about their experiences of being “targeted” for retribution by the PPD.  Trumped up charges with jail time and violations issued to victims are just a few of the experiences that law abiding residents discuss.

These incidents and experiences have led to suspicions, by many residents, that some officers are in collusion with drug dealers, prostitutes and other seedy opportunist, as one explanation for how criminals are often not held to the same letter of the law as law abiding citizens.  There’s abundance in Pottstown, if you know how to tap it, including slum property owners who accept only cash for rent and deposits. <<A BIG RED FLAG

In fact, it is recently evidenced that a borough official engaged in providing protection to a friend who owns rental property in Pottstown, but that’s for another day.

From Facebook, Lee Rich comments:   “Engaging with the community is not something you (Flanders) welcomed… I can attest to that. Approximately 2 years ago, after 6 years of unresolved neighbor issues; running low on options (and sanity), I requested a meeting with the Borough Manager. I was thwarted at the Secretary level. Conversely, I have been at (public) meetings during which Mr. Garner offered his assistance and cooperation. His offer was met with blank stare(s). My impression of Mr. Garner is, and has always been, one of genuine interest in what is best for Pottstown and its’ people. I have not one explanation for the disharmony and reluctance which makes reaching any goal difficult, if not impossible.”

Of all the atrocities that plague this community, the fire companies are NOT among them.  The motives behind the consolidation remain unclear and never more so seriously in question as now. There is TANGIBLE loss, pain and suffering among homeowners and other good residents – how can a fire company merger take precidence?

Another resident sums up their sentiments, (there are still some who fear Flanders):

Pottstown Homeowner At Large:   “Sneeky, shady and untrustworthy aren’t the only words that come to mind, but they’re the only ones fit to post. I hope the good people of Pottstown see what’s going on here. And I suggest council put on their best Big Boy and Big Girl pants and prepare to act upon the will of the taxpaying public. You know, the folks who elected them and fund this guy’s paycheck.”

Any investigation that might ensue around the circumstances in the articles linked below will, hopefully, be comprehensive in nature.  We can’t determine if crime (s) has been committed, that’s not our job. But, we DO KNOW that many things that go on here just don’t jive with reality – there is something very, very wrong in local government and it’s  evidenced in the filthy, crime riddled conditions of this borough.

Paula K. Knudsen, director of government affairs/legislative counsel for the Pennsylvania News Media Association and an attorney who is an expert in Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law said:

“Ultimately it’s up to a judge. And I think it would be interesting to call the Montgomery County District Attorney because the changes made to the Sunshine Law last year now empower the district attorney to prosecute those cases.”

What we can do as citizens is demand that our elected officials, starting with Council President, Stephen Toroney,  stop making excuses and do some real work for this town.  It was their decision to hire Mark Flanders for Borough Manager, (nobody seemed more delighted by the secrecy that shrouded that decision than Toroney), and it is THEIR responsibility to consider our best interests, not his or their own.  Toroney has little time left “in service” to this community MAKE IT COUNT FOR SOMETHING.

Here’s a wake up call:   the residents, public employees and former employees of Pottstown Borough are not apathetic or stupid.

Authority members responses to Mark Flanders email were far too cavalier and unconcerned with his intentions, let alone Chomnuks’ “tattle tale” speculations about – who golfs with whom – unprofessional and childish  behavior in a situation that required their full attention and scrutiny imho.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20150317/pottstown-charging-phillies-fire-company-for-water-use-because-of-bar

http://www.pottsmerc.com/government-and-politics/20150318/lawyer-pottstown-borough-authority-violated-open-meetings-law

http://www.pottsmerc.com/opinion/20150319/editorial-pottstown-borough-authority-produces-lesson-for-sunshine-week

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20150319/firehouse-policy-change-violated-pottstown-borough-authoritys-own-bylaws

http://pottstown.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=74

http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20150320/pottstown-borough-authority-responds-to-charges-of-sunshine-law-violations

https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/the-best-gamblers-quit-while-theyre-ahead/

If you are on Facebook check out a new page:  Voices for the Victimized in Pottostown <<clik

“If you really want to determine someone’s leadership prowess, give them some responsibility and see what they do with it. Leaders produce results.”
Mike Myatt

There’s a not-so-subtle abdication of responsibility from council to the borough manager, (staff), in local government.

We have a leadership problem in Pottstown.

Elected officials have not been able to identify management leaders and they haven’t sought experienced, successful leaders.  Offical’s justifications and rationalizations no longer suffice in the face of rising violent crime and the radical, comprehensive failure of this poor community to survive let alone revive.

We continue to see expenditures for “non-essentials” at the top level of local government.  We see waste and inefficiency.  We see far too little transparency.  We can’t explain why local government can’t or won’t answer our questions knowledgeably and honestly.  We’re tired of being lied to.

The failure of  government leaders is evidenced in every nook and cranny of Pottstown.

“A leader’s job is to align the organization around a clear and achievable vision. This cannot occur when the blind lead the blind.” Mike Myatt

Residents of Pottstown are increasingly disheartened and outspoken about their mistrust of a local government that creates chaos and confusion in opposition to a vision for revitalization.  We’re uniting with one another and we’re moving forward.

If you are on Facebook “Like” Pottstown Government Watchdogs.

Your thoughts, ideas and contributions to this blog are valued.  Please let me know if you’d like a guest spot!

Katy Jackson ptownadvocates@hotmail.com

Welcome:

Guest Writer, Dave Garner…

I preface my substantive remarks by stating that I am willing to discuss any of the items covered in this article with anyone. Preferred method is face to face but I will respond to email dggarner1@comcast.net or telephone 484-945-0777 communications.

Apart from my time in the military and the five years following my discharge I have lived in Pottstown my entire life. Over the course of those fifty years I have enjoyed the people, organizations and physical aspects of the community. The passing of time has brought challenges for the Borough with the loss of several significant industries and the shift of businesses from the downtown to strip malls in the adjacent municipalities. Nevertheless the town remains a place I proudly call my home.

With that said, I have great concern for the future of our community. Primarily because we have no vision as to what we want to be. Accordingly we have no objectives or tasks to work on. Residents and organizations are not engaged by the Borough leadership which routinely cedes its decision-making responsibilities to staff and resists dialogue with the community. As a result, Pottstown misses out on opportunities to attract businesses, to develop a more productive citizenry and to improve the functionality of the town. Unfortunately, the elected officials and staff seem quite satisfied with this “planned dysfunctionality.”

I suppose one of the reasons they are pleased with the status quo is the fact that many noteworthy events, activities, organizations, business and individuals belie the void in planning and leadership by the governmental sector. Schuylkill River Heritage Area, Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, First Saturdays, Steel River Playhouse, Rotary Club, ArtFusion, YWCA, VideoRay, Volleyball Rumble, the BMX track and the Sly Fox operations to name only a few are helping to make Pottstown a good place to live and work.

It has taken years for Pottstown to “arrive” where we are. There is no quick fix or magic formula to improve the situation overnight. It is my assertion that first a process needs to be adopted for developing a community vision. Broad participation by the “stakeholders” is important to insure that the result reflects the will of the community and is something that everyone will support. The process must also produce specific goals and objectives with tasks and responsible parties identified. A realistic timeline will establish parameters by which “progress” can be measured. Active engagement of the residents, organizations, businesses and government in developing and working the “plan” is essential and will provide the greatest likelihood for a positive outcome.

Having a plan is critical because it is something specific that can be publicized and promoted. It can guide us to partners and funding to address the tasks and accomplish the goals. In addition to the government, businesses and organizations will have clear guidance to assist them in their planning and operational decision-making. The implementation of the plan will be a catalyst for change internally and provide a marketing tool to attract new residents and businesses to Pottstown.

Developing a vision and a plan are not quickly or easily accomplished. Stakeholders be must committed to an agreed process and stay with it until they have completed the work. Parties must be willing to let go of selfish agendas in order to focus on the best outcomes for the community. We cannot become bogged down in the past lamenting what we are not. We must identify what we want to be and determine the best way to get there, building off of the assets and resources that we have and can obtain. Pottstown has many wonderful people, events, organizations, features, businesses, and buildings. But we are certainly not where we need to be. Let’s be honest in evaluating our circumstances. Let’s be visionary in charting out where we want to go. Let’s diligently pursue the work that is before us and commit to the “heavy lifting” that will surely be required because…

We Can Do Better!

Periodically, comments from various timelines and pages on Facebook will be shared to this blog, with consent of the writers.  At times, they will be posted without the author’s name to protect them from retaliation.

These are the experiences of residents struggling to make a life for themselves and their families in Pottstown.

The first story is a maddening commentary that greets new residents.  As these incidents continue, how do officials expect that law abiding, contributing people will consider Pottstown a place they can call home?   We are a small town of 22,000.  These first-hand stories define what the borough has been allowed to become for the lack of competent, honest leadership.

March 27,2015  “I thought you might want to post my story just to let other in pottstown know. My boyfriend and I just moved into the townhomes in hanover square the beginning of March. On march 13 a black man in his 20s rang our door bell asking for money, saying he lived on south street and his mom was in the hospital and he needed money to get to her. I’m from lionville so I wasn’t completely sure how to react so I gave him 5 dollars thinking it would get him to leave and then he asked me if I had any weed or anything else. I told him no and that I needed to go back inside. He left and we thought it was done and over. We were having a house warming that night and when our last guests left around 12 30am we headed up to bed. At about 1245 our dog started growling and barking, we weren’t sure what was up so we went down into the living room and heard noises down by our front door. We turned on lights and then the door bell started ringing nonstop and banging at the door. It was the man that had been there asking for money earlier and a women that the man claimed was his sister telling us they needed to come inside and get warm. We called 911 and the police were there super quick and the man and woman ran. The man got away but the woman was arrested and was found to be drunk and with drugs on her. Needless to say it was pretty scary and maybe this story will help people be aware of this kind of situation.”

DO NOT RENT THIS PLACE!!<<clik

2BR apartment  POSTED TO CRAIGSLIST/READING

“Don’t rent from a landlord Stephen Strickland!! He is a total slum lord!! He takes your money and doesn’t fix anything. If he does he sends his half fast workers and covers the job up!! Black fuzzy mold he just paints over to hide it!! He is a landlord who will put you and your family endanger!! He sounds good at first but is the worst mistake of your life!! He has properties on High st and at 305 N Evans st Pottstown PA 19464!! None of his properties are not inspected by the Borough of Pottstown!!”

Stephen Strickland Oct., 2011 on Golden Cockroach Slumlord list<<clik

Stephen has been on the Slumlord list since 2011 this is now 2015.  I have led the horse to the water for over 4.5 years and yet, the Borough cannot make the connection to bring people like Stephen into compliance with codes and local ordinances or, they don’t want to do it.

This is a failure of leadership.  No explanation, no plan, no vision for bringing the 2600+ unregistered rental units into compliance.   The lack of communication and secrecy among staff and elected officals only serves to substantiate the ineptitude and malfeasance that is coming to light, in every aspect of local government.

If not a top priority, unregulated rental housing will continue to be a revenue stream for careless investors who directly enable criminal activities in the community.  Law enforcement will be relegated to endless, ineffective efforts to gain the upper hand on crime and violence in Pottstown.

Today, while preparing this post, Evan Brandt published an article on his Digital Notebook blog.  It hits at the very heart of why we struggle but doesn’t offer an explanation for the secrecy among governing bodies in Pottstown that has all but destroyed trust and confidence in staff and elected officials in the School District and the Borough.

It’s time, as has recently been said often on my blog, for Mark Flanders to go.   He’s harmed and continues to harm this community, a fact hasn’t changed from his position as Police Chief to his position as Borough Manager –  Mark Flanders is wrong for Pottstown.

FIRE FLANDERS

Digital Notebook:  ‘That’s the Way We’ve Always Done It’  <<clik

Conversation with the MontCo Commish will take place in Pottstown:

Thursday April 2
7:00 PM
Sunny Brook Ballroom
50 N. Sunnybrook Rd.
Pottstown, PA

Flashback to the previous meeting with the County Commissioners:

Feb. 11, 2013 Covo’s with the Commish <<clik for Mercury News coverage

 Castor said:

“In the nearly 30 years he has been in county government, I think Pottstown has improved dramatically. In Norristown, I have not seen the same level of improvement that I have seen in Pottstown.  Praising the quality of law enforcement here and local government, I think Pottstown is headed in the right direction, I think Pottstown will come back.”

QUESTION:  What “facts” predicated his opinion?   Residents are more closed off from local government than ever, before the tenure of Borough Manager, Mark Flanders. We do not see the same level of improvement that Castor does and we live here.

David Kraybill, the director of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, said that prediction will more likely come true if the borough gets help developing and attracting jobs with a living wage.

“Job opportunities would solve some of the issues being raised here,” he said

QUESTION:  What has the county done since 2013 to assist Pottstown in job development with a living wage? 

Judy Memberg, executive director of Genesis Housing Inc., who also sits on Pottstown’s Blighted Property Review Committee, asked if the county could help in supporting laws that make it easier to take blighted properties whose owners cannot be found or identified.

ZOMBIE PROPERTY 433 HIGH ST ./ BUTTONWOOD ALLEY OWNER LIVES IN POTTSTOWN.

QUESTION:  Has the county stepped up, in any capacity, to address the abandoned blighted properties in Pottstown?

Andrew Monastra suggested the commissioners use some of their political connections to help “leverage private investment,” as Shapiro described it. Monastra described as “putting us in touch with some of your pals.”

QUESTION:  Other than an accelerated influx of extractive investors clamoring for cheap properties to rent for voucher money and  SSD boarding houses, has the county leveraged any investments in Pottstown?  Minimum wage working families are, increasingly, priced out of rental housing as Sue Repko explained:

She has a theory that the increased amounts of money the housing vouchers can now apply toward rents have had the unintended effect of artificially raising rents landlords could have previously demanded in Pottstown, thus making it more attractive for them to buy some of Pottstown grand old homes, put in apartments and “bleed the property dry and then walk away.”

FACT:  We haven’t seen an upward trend since this meeting with the Commissioners in February, 2013.  In fact, we have seen massive deterioration in the downtown neighborhoods.  We see more people walking away from their homes and I am contacted regularly by working class renters who cannot abide the filthy, unsafe housing for which they pay a premium while, often, rents are demand in cash payments by income property owners.

And then King Street resident and activist Katy Jackson kicked off a long and wide-ranging discussion about public and low-income housing programs.

“We’re over-burdened by people who need social services,” she said, explaining that part of that is due to a high level of low-income housing. “We can’t continue to be a dumping ground for Montgomery County’s disenfranchised.”

Shapiro said any discussion of low-income housing issues should be based on a set of common facts, so he rolled out some numbers to provide a statistical basis for the discussion. Here are a few of those he mentioned:

• 90 percent of Montgomery County’s 62 municipalities have housing choice vouchers in them;   (55 other communities besides Pottstown is 90% of 62).   

• Less than 15 percent of those vouchers are used in Pottstown; (Assuming we have 15% then 85% of all vouchers in MontCo =  an average of 1.5% of vouchers in each of the other, 55 MontCo communities >with the exception of Norristown that we can assume has at least as many vouchers as Pottstown @15%).

All other communities that Shaprio claims have housing choice vouchers equals only 1/10 OF THE VOUCHERS THAT POTTSTOWN HAS, (Save for Norristown).  

• Of that, less than 15 percent, 70 percent were living in Pottstown already and only about one-quarter come to Pottstown from other communities;

• Less than 8 percent of housing in Pottstown is housing choice.

IN OTHER WORDS, POTTSTOWN HAS 10 TIMES AS MANY VOUCHERS AS ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.   As always, it’s how the commish’ spins their “facts”.

Question:  How does staying on this trajectory benefit MontCo? Do the benefits of segregation outweigh the increasing potential that the county could face an Anti-Discrimination Lawsuit as did wealthy Westchester County N.Y. in 2009?

Westchester Adds Housing to Desegregation Pact  <<clik for NY Times article

“The lawsuit, filed under the federal False Claims Act, argued that when Westchester applied for federal Community Development Block Grants for affordable housing and other projects, county officials treated part of the application as boilerplate — lying when they claimed to have complied with mandates to encourage fair housing.”

We have recently learned that Montgomery County’s 5 year plan is no different than the past 5 year plan  <<clik 3/16 in the Mercury News in that the county has applied for and, once again, received CDBG grant $$ although we can anticipate continued “dumping” of the disenfrancised in our community.

Steve Kambic is a Pottstown resident and the executive director of Petra Community Housing, which is among the non-profit agencies which partner with developers to create more affordable housing.

He said despite years of effort, Petra has been unable to create any of this housing along the SEPTA bus lines and near shopping, both because property owners in those locations don’t want those kinds of projects, and because local zoning often forbids it.

AND THAT, FRIENDS, IS DISCRIMINATION THAT IS FOSTERED BY THE POLICIES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA.

ARE THE CONDITIONS DEPICTED IN THE PHOTO’S ABOVE BRUCE CASTOR’S IDEA OF “IMPROVEMENT”?  

ARE THE SICKENING, UNSAFE RENTAL CONDITIONS THAT MANY ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH IN POTTSTOWN (AT A PREMIUM PRICE) AN “IMPROVEMENT”?  

ARE THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF BLIGHTED, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AN “IMPROVEMENT”?  

THE ANSWER TO EACH OF THOSE QUESTIONS IS:   NO THEY ARE NOT.

ABUSE OF CDBG GRANT MONIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE EVIDENCED IN SHODDY CURB CUTS AND REMODELED PROPERTIES, ONCE OWNED BY THE COUNTY, THAT WERE LEFT TO BLIGHT.

FINALLY, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF POTTSTOWN HAVE A DUTY TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS COMMUNITY WHICH MEANS SITTING DOWN WITH COMMISSIONERS AND WORKING OUT A PLAN THAT SPELLS  I M P R O V E M E N T FOR POTTSTOWN.

Shared by residents in the 1st. Block of Beech St.

THE DRAGON MATTRESS OF POTTSTOWN, PA

 Rob Garcia > ‎Crime in Pottstown

“On Monday 3/30/2015  a car drove down the street with a mattress dragon behind it they realized they had a mattress dragon behind their car they pulled over unhooked it off their bumper and threw it on the sidewalk we called the police about it they said they would have somebody come out and clean it up well it is now three days later the mattress is still laying on the sidewalk and when we call the township to clean it up they say it is not their responsibility it is the homeowners responsibility, there is something seriously wrong with this town what the hell do we pay our taxes for.”

Pottstown Homeowner At Large  “That’s right on the edge of the proposed tourism district. Way to go #Borough of Pottstown!”

NOTHING REALLY MATTRESS TO PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS KIND OF FILTH. 

Patty Pollick Schade “This mattress dragon is not a new species to Pottstown. From what I’ve read in can reproduce itself into dresser dragon and even a refrigerator dragon. Notice is to exterminate promptly….But please, handle with care. (gloves are advised)”

Rob Valine One time I saw a guy on a bicycle, pulling a mattress, that was folded in half, and tied down to a shopping cart, in the pouring rain. He rode across the intersection at King and Franklin right in front of me. There was a rope tied from the bicycle to the shopping cart. I wish I had a video camera with me. Only in Pottstown !

Rob Valine   This is a very special place on the planet. I’m a cab driver here, trust me when I say this.

 Tomorrow Night, Sunnybrook 7PM MEET THE MONTCO COMMISH

“Castor said that in the nearly 30 years he has been in county government, “I think Pottstown has improved dramatically. In Norristown, I have not seen the same level of improvement that I have seen in Pottstown.”  << WE DON’T WANT BLIND LEADERSHIP ANY MORE, WE’RE FINITO ON THE B.S.

Why So Many Section 8 Vouchers<<CLIK Michael Tolle Blog (read his series on Section 8/Voucher Housing)

Municipality % of County Population # of Vouchers % of Vouchers

Lower Merion 7.2 95 3.6
Abington 6.9 78 3.0
Cheltenham 4.6 54 2.1
Norristown 4.3 1,115 42.5
Upper Merion 3.5 19 .7
Horsham 3.3 7 .3
Upper Dublin 3.2 2 .1
Lower Providence 3.2 5 .2
Upper Moreland: 3.0 59 2.2
Montgomery 3.1 4 .2
Pottstown 2.8 452 17.2

Do any of the numbers above jump out at you? Those for Norristown and Pottstown sure should.

Pottstown demands REAL LEADERSHIP.  NOW.  WE ARE DROWNING IN FAILURE.

With much gratitude I thank Pottstown Councilwoman, Sheryl Miller, for succinctly speaking to the housing crisis which is not only her biggest concern but that of every homeowner who clings to the hope that we’ll be heard and the county will step up to do what they should have been doing all along.  And, many thanks to resident Barry Beasley for backing her up with a question of his own that, unfortunatley, isn’t published in the news.

We have a strong, committed advocate on council.  All representatives on council need to find the time to lend their support, there can be no excuses. 

THE HOUSING CRISIS IN POTTSTOWN IS THE FAULTY FOUNDATION OF ALL OTHER ISSUES THAT KEEP PROGRESS AT BAY. 

Clik below for the Mercury coverage by Eric Devlin vv

Montgomery county commissioners hold town hall for residents last night in Pottstown 

“Pottstown Borough Council member Sheryl Miller said her biggest concern was the borough’s housing crisis, which she attributed to the county “centralizing low and voucher housing into our borough,” an increased number of social service agencies coming into the borough to help the needs of the poor, and “unscrupulous investors and criminals seeking to take advantage of the desperate situation.” Property values then drop, she said and school taxes rise as a result.

“People being sent here are essentially set up for failure,” she said. “There are no living wage job opportunities here for people to rise above their circumstances.”  This, county commissioners, contributes to the high rates of drug crimes that are the direct cause of declining home values/conditions/quality of life for us in Pottstown.  

“HUD and subsequent court rulings have said the county <Westchester County, N.Y.> has failed to conduct an adequate review of impediments to fair housing in its zoning and housing ordinances.”  N.Y. Times Desegregation article   Montgomery County commissioners have the same obligation. Where is the wisdom in awaiting a costly, time consuming lawsuit to force the issue?  

There haven’t been significant strides made to fix this issue since the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act was passed and amended in 2010.  AMEN Sheryl.  Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown representatives asked the same question of Senator Mensch in a meeting with him, late last year.  We’ve received no response from his office. 

“To date, the county hasn’t even tried to help the borough utilize the tools of the reclamation and revitalization act,” she said. “So I ask you, have you just forgotten about the homeowners here that are struggling day-to-day just to keep their heads above water?”  Your continued blind eye to the “dumping” of the poor and disabled indicates that we, taxpayers, voters and Pottstown homeowners remain pawns to the political agenda of commissioners and Montgomery County.  

Shapiro went on the defensive a bit by saying the Montgomery County Housing Authority is funded by federal money, primarily, and that money directs how those housing programs function, such as the housing choice vouchers.   Commissioners on the defensive – why?  Is it that we are finally speaking out, acknowledging that commissioners are not adhering to Federal requirements for CDBG and other funding but still, shamelessly putting their hand out for funding, even distorting the facts?  How do you defend that?

“The housing authority does not give vouchers and tell (people) where to locate,” he said. “We give them a voucher and they can take that voucher anywhere they want to go and live anywhere they want with that voucher.” The voucher, he said is only worth so much but the county is able to increase the value of the voucher up to 10 percent.  ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO?   Where does Shaprio believe people are going to take their increased vouchers in Montgomery County when other towns have written zoning law to exclude them?   Yes, Mr. Shaprio, they are told where to locate, Norristown and Pottstown. 

The Anti-Discrimination Center <<clik points out:  “Like more than a thousand other jurisdictions, Westchester County in New York has been a recipient of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other federal housing funds.  A condition to be eligible for federal housing grants is the promise to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH); that is, to identify, analyze, and take the steps necessary to overcome the barriers to fair housing choice. When a jurisdiction seeks payment under its grant, it is making an implied representation that it has affirmatively furthered fair housing.“

The office of Housing and Community Development, <Shapiro> said has invested time and resources into Pottstown, and officials would look at the blight in properties to see what can be done.  See what can be done?  Have you seen with your own eyes HOW some of that money has been “invested” here Mr. Shapiro?  Stick with me and you’ll see, below….Act 90 Neighborhood Blight and Reclamation Law spells it out Mr. Shapiro, since 2010, take a good look…

Here, here it is….easy to access Quick Guide prepared by the PA Housing Alliance <<it’s a simple clik away.  Dare I say, Housing Alliance is a good organization to become familiar with, Mr. Shapiro, for the sake of Pottstown and Norristown because our communities really do matter. 

CDBG money and tax credits that have been invested by the Montgomery office of Housing and Community Development in Pottstown – to what benefit?  Shoddy, unusable curb cuts for the disabled, housing that was county owned, abandoned, with multiple codes violations adding blight and disgusting conditions to our neighborhood.

Below are only two examples of some of  the county investments in Pottstown.  

519 & 523 King St. renovated with Federal tax credits and CDBG funds.  The county left them to blight (in violation of the tax credit requirements) they were sold last year, in a private sale (prior to the 30 yr. ownership stipulation for tax credits).

Curb cut for the disabled Mr. Shapiro?  Come to Pottstown and watch an individual in a wheel chair navigate the light pole in the middle of the cut Mr. Shapiro.   CDBG funds hard at work in Pottstown or wasted tax dollars?   Your refusal to do what’s right is written in every aspect of the way we are forced to live with your decisions for Pottstown. 

Montgomery County is running out of excuses. 

433 High St. (Buttonwood Alley) Summer, 2014 Owners: Ragesh & Amita Patel of Pottstown. Purchase price: $23,000, 1998 (nearly 2 decades of neglect)

Facebook Feb. 26, 2015 Larry Hespeth:  “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!”

Pennsylvania Act 90, 2010 Neighborhood Blight and Revitalization – Private Assessment Attachment:

What does it do?

March 24, 2015  Larry Hespeth:   CAUGHT THE GUY DUMPING BEHIND MY HOUSE TODAY. THIRTY MINUTES AFTER TALKING WITH BILL SHARON IN THE ALLEY. WALT IS HIS NAME AND HE’S THE SUPER OF THE PITIFUL APTS ON THE 400 BLK OF HIGH. I WENT AROUND AND PRETENDED I NEEDED AN APT. AND SOMEONE GAVE ME HIS NAME AND CELL NUMBER. I CALLED THE COPS. THEY SHOWED UP, AND TWO MINUTES LATER THE DUMPER ALSO SHOWED UP. GLAD TO SAY THE OFFICER TOLD HIM TO REMOVE IT OR ELSE! IT’S GONE BUT THE BUILDING REMAINS. MR PATEL HAD HIS HEARING MOVED AGAIN TO MAY 4TH. SEE YOU SOON!

Illegal Dumping @ 433 High St. Investor Alisa Levin/Handyman “Walt:

APRIL 4, 2015 Larry Hespeth: WELL I’VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS BUILDING FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. TODAY PART OF IT FELL TO THE GROUND. THE PART WITH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTED TO IT! AND GUESS WHO SHOWS UP? SOMEONE THAT I’VE COMPLAINED TO. WHAT TOOK SO LONG?

Ragesh Patel has “connections” with people in official, taxpayer supported positions in Pottstown.  Showing favoritism would be unthinkable – right?

Placing the burden of the costs of Mr. Patel’s, nearly TWO DECADES of negligence on the taxpayers of Pottstown is unconscionable.  Loss of property values and crime brought about by the blight are already being born by the neighbors of the Patels’ Zombie Property.

The borough has known of the conditions for many many years, they’ve known about Act 90 for the past 5 years.  Why isn’t council authorizing the solicitor and working with the D.A. to protect Pottstown’s taxpayers and residents by using the Act 90 laws to bring owners of Zombie properties into compliance and assess or sue the owners for the cost of securing or tearing them down?  There are no viable excuses, and the abuse of the system is crime against taxpayers.

Local, County and the D.A.’s offices all have the power to stop this now. 

PA ACT 90 “QUICK GUIDE” <<clik

PARID: 160014948003
PATEL RAGESH R & AMITA R 433 HIGH ST
TaxMapID 16006 061
Parid 16-00-14948-00-3
Land Use Code 4100
Land Use Description C – RETAIL, OFFICE, APTS. – MULTI-USE
Property Location 433 HIGH ST
Lot Size 4200 SF
Zoning D
Front Feet 30
Municipality POTTSTOWN
School District POTTSTOWN
Utilities ALL PUBLIC//

Owner
Name(s) PATEL RAGESH R & AMITA R
Name(s)
Mailing Address 32 ROSEDALE DR
Care Of
Mailing Address
Mailing Address POTTSTOWN PA 19464

Current Assessment
Appraised Value Assessed Value Restrict Code
78,000 78,000

Estimated Taxes
County 246
Municipality 804
School District 3,062
Total 4,112
Tax Lien Yes

Last Sale
Sale Date 16-NOV-98
Sale Price $23,000
Tax Stamps 230
Deed Book and Page 5249-02254
Grantor
Grantee PATEL RAGESH R & AMITA R
Date Recorded 24-NOV-98

433 High St. in better days. The entire block is frightening.

Allegations by residents that local government is engaged in retaliation against it’s own citizens is as difficult to contemplate as it has been to write about.

I’ve done a lot of soul-searching over the past couple of weeks about how I would present this, if at all. In the back of my mind, the thing that was holding me back is the sense that the information will, again, be chalked up to a “few negative individuals” and it will be dismissed on that basis.

Nevertheless, I’ve chosen to go forward, to lead this horse to water…

I want to start off with a word about “perception.”  Perception has become a kind of mantra, a catch-all phrase for borough officials who would like to give the outside world the perception that they are tackling our challenges intelligently, with a carefully considered plan and sound processes.

At the very least, perhaps, officials hope that chanting the virtues of Pottstown, (and convincing others to do likewise), will drown out the voices of “negativity.”  However, with the exception of High St., which finally seems to be getting the attention it’s lacked for decades and, the recent efforts of local, area and MontCo law enforcement working to gain the upper hand on crime…

There is little evidence, where it matters most – on the streets and in the neighborhoods of Pottstown – that people’s perceptions are skewed.  Many conditions are in steady, if not accelerated, decline in the borough.

Transparency and Open Meetings are one, exceedingly important factor of democracy that was found woefully lacking here in journalist Evan Brandts’ research for multiple articles that were published, last month, in The Mercury News and on his own Digital Notebook blog.

“That’s the Way We’ve Always Done It.”  << click to read Evans’ post

The incident, that was brought to light, about the violation of the Open Meeting Law has further eroded trust and confidence in local government.  Evan wrote in the above blog post:

“That’s because we keep trying to pursue a fractured future the same way we always have — with an automatic preference for secrecy, turf wars and “policy by personality.”

Disappointingly, not surprisingly, no council person or authority member has, to date, mustered the gumption to even speak to the recent violations of the Open Meetings Law by Borough Manager, Mark Flanders.

But, I just want to talk about the long standing, continuing incidents, in our community that give rise to the perception that there are officials and public employees that engage in retaliation toward residents and business owners.

I’d hoped to talk to a local business person for this post regarding an experience, (as told to me by a 3rd party), that was perceived as retaliation from the borough.   Understandably, my request was declined …

“With personal agenda Flanders at the helm, and we’re all sure he reads your stuff, I’m not comfortable at this time. It really sucks that as a business owner I don’t feel I can express what has happened or voice my opinions without repercussions.”

Summing up one of the most profound reasons people in Pottstown give for not speaking up in any venue, including council meetings, is intimidation and fear of retaliation.

That is a fact that has virtually locked the lid and thrown away the key to democracy in Pottstown while keeping harmful secrets safely locked inside.

I can’t say what the truth is.  I don’t know what the truth is.  But, I believe the people who have had these experiences really do believe that they have been victims of retaliation.  They express feelings of fear and intimidation …

They are afraid of speaking up about local government.  I also believe that not every elected official knows what the truth is either.  In part, council is extraordinarily hands-off and unaware of the day to day functions of the borough, (contrary to the defined roles for borough council people in a weak mayor form of government, such as Pottstowns’).

I firmly believe, for as long as council members are content to enable secrecy / lack of transparency and, for as long as council members refuse to look the beast in the eye, they are merely giving lip service to their objective of sending a better perception of Pottstown out to the world.  In that regard, they are their own worst enemies.

The following comments and videos were posted to Facebook.

Apr 14th:   Dawn Cupycake Smits (courageously using her name, published here with her permission)  “I have a clip for you. 2 Weeks after we put up the sign all cars in the back parking lot tied to our address were tagged last night by the cops. This is King St. and the entrance to our parking lot is on York St.”  (they were actually tagged by the L & I Dept.)

Exterior renovations to this building, across the street from borough hall, near where the cars were tagged appear to be of no concern to the borough although, the paint scrapings are going down the storm drain in the next video.  Disparity.

4/23/15  Dawn updates with the final video:

Comment beneath the video posts on Facebook:

J.P.   “Inside scoop:  Flanders made a call to Drumheller about the signs. Bc drumheller only knows to kiss butt, he instructed his officers to “strong arm” the anti Flanders propaganda. Illegal? Yes. Unfair? Yes. But what if the WHOLE town had those signs? Would that mean the police would go out and monitor the mundane, that they hate doing? Just a thought.”

Posted sometime back to Facebook:

The only thing that is consistent in Pottstown is the inexplicable disparity of treatment between one situation and the next.  You can live beside one of the worst blighted properties in town yet YOU will singled out and cited for peeling paint on a shutter.  No rhyme no reason no explanation.

FB – Larry Hespeth:  YES. WITH CODES. WHEN YOU START COMPLAINING ABOUT BLIGHTED PROPERTIES, THEY COME AROUND AND USUALLY FIND SOMETHING VERY SMALL TO HASSLE YOU ABOUT.

–  There was an arrest, last year, of an outspoken citizen who was handed trumped up felony charges. The resident was thrown in jail, sent to MontCo and denied a phone call for 4 days to let family know their whereabouts. Charges were dismissed but mistrust persists as this incident is widely known in the community.

–   Two women, (one of them a community activist), in a domestic violence setting, last summer, were given citations for trying to keep the children safe when the abuser violated the PFA.   On another occasion the same abuser was actually returned, by police, to the occupant of the house he was ordered to stay away from.

–  A blogger received two comments from the borough IP address, a couple years ago, in response to a post about the PPD.  The comments were perceived as threatening.  Indeed, they were foul and a very ugly representation of the borough government.

Elected officials refuse to hear the people of Pottstown, to open their minds to residents perceptions of their real experiences and people have begun to courageously share their stories on social media.

Increasingly,  “the way things have always been done,” is spawning an outcry among residents and former borough employees for outside intervention.

With nowhere else to turn, residents want to have their experiences validated or, invalidated, whatever the case might be…there is a reason for secrecy and it’s time to unlock the box because….

It’s no longer acceptable to be kept in the dark by the established culture of silence in Pottstown local government or, to fear retaliation for taking responsibility to be a functional part of a democratic society.  Fear and intimidation are the legacy of Mark Flanders, as Police Chief.  Now, this seems to be at the crux of a grassroots movement to remove Mark Flanders, as borough manager.

Whatever the reasons, one thing is clear, the government will not right the the good ship Pottstown without the help of it’s passengers.  As long as their are sunshine law violations and widespread mistrust, no matter what the reasons, we are doomed to keep bailing water.  We will never reach our desired destination.

At minimum, I believe everyone deserves answers to one, very important question, “what’s behind the lack of transparency in Pottstown”?  What’s in the box?

Eric Weiss said his 30 years of code enforcement in Allentown found most code enforcement problems were with RENTAL AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS, such as this one in the 400 block of Chestnut Street in Pottstown.

photo by Evan Brandt

There are politicians and aides to politicians, the county and the big monied real estate industry contributing to this blight in Pottstown, there are unsavory connections.

In some areas of the country savvy attorneys and community law centers find success prosecuting heinous, parasitic income property owners.

What does Pottstown borough do?  They send their attorney to court, (at taxpayer expense), to stand up to a homeowner who cut down the trees on their property without a permit.

I can guarantee you, with all certainty, that situation did not threaten me or impact my quality of life in Pottstown like officials who continue to neglect to protect good investors and prosecute – or do anything they have to do – to reign in the negative investors.

clik to read the article >>City attorneys step up to file a lawsuit…

“Accusing a landlord of defrauding the Department of Water and Power out of millions of dollars and escaping responsibility for substandard conditions in his building through a complex web of sham corporations, “self-foreclosures” and retaliatory evictions.”

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN POTTSTOWN with regularity = year after year after year and local officials can’t or won’t figure it out?   So what do officials do?  They hold a meeting, (that most residents can’t attend because it was held during work hours, last Wednesday).  The meeting, (see Evan’s articles below), was ostensibly hosted by council but they didn’t mention this at any public meeting, did they?

Only one council person was there.

Presumably, officials in attendance listened as, once again, people with experience told officials what they’ve heard before:

That THEY, borough government, has to get the housing under control.

THEY HAVE TO DO IT.  How many times do they have to be told what they already know or, pay for another study to tell them what they should already know?

The borough was lauded for their ordinances at the meeting:

3 x’s and “your out” for nasty tenants who suck up police services and, oh yeah, the charge back to slumlords for not regulating their renters.  Oridnances that might suggest that officials are on the ball, except = those ordinances are never enforced.  Some citizens believe they won’t enforce them because they are afraid of lawsuits from slumlords.  Afraid??

This was part of the “Loto’s” compound on the corner of King and Washington Sts. This is 450 King St. owned by Alyssa Levin aka Chagall Living, LLC. This is what a strong arm eviction looks like.

So, we continue to see local government play tiddly winks with slumlords.  They appear to be fearful to make a move because year after year the parasitic investors rear their ugly heads to threaten the borough with lawsuits.

REALLY.  Is that the reason?  I have to tell you, the following comment chaps my hide… but good.

Keith Place, director of L & I in Pottstown:   “Place told the summit last week that the Better Landlord program is still under review by borough staff, that there is concern about legal challenges.”

LEGAL CHALLENGES???

Are we to believe that officials are so intimidated by the Pottstown leaches that they are paralyzed in their efforts or… is this just more obfuscation?

Is the lack of transparency, the excuses… are they just another attempt to cover up embarrassing or scandalous truth?

Tools to re-build Pottstown:  Code enforcement is key << clik for today’s Mercury article by Evan Brandt

The PPD and a slew of other law enforcement agencies play “whack a mole” with drug dealers, shooters, gangs and other criminals who, for all we know, (for all the borough knows), continue to move into and occupy any one, or all, of the 2500 – or so – unregulated rental properties in Pottstown.  While the crooks are paying cash to other crooks, under the table, for a hideout …

THE BOROUGH CLAIMS TO BE INTIMIDATED BY A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT?

What a sham.

That’s an affront to every resident that is truly intimidated and frightened by the never ending crime and debauchery in this town.

Every day that the borough neglects to get a grip on the negative investors is another day they hang themselves out to dry – adding to the crime – the potential for serious harm to innocent victims and, the very real potential for seriously massive lawsuits that accompany the risk they take.

But, we are asked to believe that borough management and elected officials are shaking in their boots under threat from the omnipotent Pottstown slumlords?  I don’t buy it.

We have a local official (s) (maybe more than one), that intervened in a situation where a slumlord should have been given violations and wasn’t.  The slumord is…. a friend of the official and he is also a man who is a purveyor of filth and crime, for over a decade, in his dangerous rental properties in Pottstown.

Could these friendships and affiliations be the REAL reason the borough drags their feet?  That deserves an answer, not platitudes.

“But you know, the mayor was a landlord and one of the other council members owned a few properties and they were, well, let’s just say they were not particularly enthusiastic,” said Eric Weiss, at last Wednesday’s meeting.

In September it will be FIVE FULL YEARS that the cockroach has been sounding the ALARM, telling the stories of residents who are too afraid to do it themselves.

From renters to homeowners and even good landlords who are stuck in this filthy web of negligence, they are all prey to the out-of-control renters, criminals, slumlords and borough governments excuses.

Their truths, their struggles have fallen on deaf ears.

Not a new borough manager, not a $33,000 codes study, not a new director of License and Inspections, not firing the lien and clean guys, not featuring these atrocities on my blog, not even the possibly of implementing a proven, successful program such as the Better Landlords, (that was researched and vetted by citizens of Pottstown), who are among the stakeholders in this community…

…NOTHING has rocked the faulty foundation of this borough government, not common sense and certainly not wisdom.

What we potentially have here, at minimum, is the complicity of those who are easily fooled, who should know better, who are PAID and ELECTED to know better and do better.

But, let the borough officials hold meeting after meeting and pay for another study – at least it looks to the outside world – as if they give a bats left foot about our struggles.

Another intersting fact:  Citizens were not given the same opportunity to do a full council presentation about the Better Landlord Program, despite the hours and hours of work and research they put into the project.

Instead, they were relegated to a committee meeting.

Yet, this month, the full council was privy to a presentation by a company, that makes the claim they can “harass” banks into registering foreclosed properties. Their proposition was recieved by council as though it were as good as caviar on a golden platter, (as staff wiped the sweat off their over worked brows, thanking their lucky stars that THEY don’t have to figure out how to harass blighted property owners).

Here’s Evan’s article about the blight busters who presented to council:  Pottstown eyes new method to deal with blight 

THAT has totally left the impression that the borough doesn’t have the backbone to take control of the slum property owners or the blighted property owners themselves.  If this company is sucessful, more power to the people.

Why are officials looking for the silver bullet and contracting with outside companies?  Do they understand the complexities well enough to know if the contractor is doing the work they signed on to do, or not?  There has to be some education curve for officials in that process.   Hell, at the outside, the contractor can look like the bad guys, right?

So why does council authorize the expenditure of tax dollars, in ginormous sums,  thrown at a management team that demonstrates they know how to hold a meeting, pay for a study but they can’t and won’t take control of these situations?

Apparently, they can’t manage their way out of a paper bag.

Taxpayers could, theoretically, sub-out everything, at less cost, and let private businesses do the heavy lifting, right?  Isn’t that the philosophy here?

Why does the borough manager turn around and chide a resident of this town, a businessman who’s knowledgable and capable and willing to help the borough get on a better track?  Why try to diminish residents by calling them “negative”?  Switch and Bait – (once again).

We want to talk about what ails this town and the viable solutions but, they only want to turn the tables and call us negative, haters or apathetic.

Officials hand off maudlin excuses that distort the facts that we, the residents of Pottstown, intrinsically know to be truth because we live the truth every single day.

At one time there was serious potential for the codes dept. and citizens to work together on these issues.

Not any more.

For the past 3 years, communication and information sharing from local government has been locked down tight – trying to find out where they stand on ANYTHING is like trying to pry an oyster open with your bare hands.

The problems with slum housing owners and diminishing transparency in local government are #’s one and two of the most atrocious health and safety threats to this community.

From fire hazards, crime, raw sewage (freely running on sidewalks and in storm drains) to the infestations of bed bugs and vermin in rental properties.  Our loss of property values and quality of life, the loss of tax revenue and homeowners, borough government doesn’t want to discuss it with you and that leaves only speculation about what, if anything, is being done.

The streets and alleys are filthier than ever, there is more illegal dumping than I ever recall and the borough’s own properties, (see the lot across from Pottsgrove Manor),  reflect borough governments own discombobulation and chaos.  In fact, a resident retrieved an old beat up t.v. from that property just to give the area a better appearance when it was clear that the borough had no concern.

SHOW ME A PLAN AND A PROCESS.

THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES  ANSWERS.   WE DESERVE ANSWERS NOW.  WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

So the people that moved out of 438 King St. left bags o’ trash sitting out front for a week.

They came back on Saturday to finish “cleaning” out the house and they dumped all their trash and gar-baaage on the street in front of the rental.

Naturally, over the course of a couple warmish nights the vermin and other animals scattered this feast of putrid vile-ness all over the frickin’ block.

By contrast, the MontCo property records list this mailing address as the home of Kenneth Kaufman. This tidy and trim faux suburban english tutor at 3780 Levi Lane in Lower Moreland is where this slumass hangs his apron.

Looks like the life O’Reilly where Ken hangs his chef hat at the end of a teaching day at the Western Montgomery Career and Tech Center in Limerick.

You aren’t gonna find gooey slime piled up in front of his little faux english tutor in the ‘burbs.

Ken buys a couple income properties in Pottstown, back in the early 2000’s, and turns them into rat traps.   Get a load of this!!!

After the vermin scattered the rancid garbage (sitting out in the hot 80 + degree days) KEN SHOWS UP, this afternoon in his pickup, just minutes before Mascaro shows up to haul the trash away and, he’s got a FOR RENT sign burnin’ a hole in his pocket.

Ken’s carefully pickin’ his way around the SLOP that his tenants left behind when  ….

@@@ ZAP @@@@ KA-POW @@@ KENNETH MEETS Larry…

That would be my good neighbor, Larry Hespeth, who lives a couple doors down from this hot mess of a rental house.

Anybody that knows Larry knows Larry cuts straight to the heart of the matter – Larry sees the FOR RENT sign in Ken’s hand and thinks to himself:   ‘ surely there’s no way he’s puttin’ a FOR RENT sign on that hunk-o-stink house.  But, sure ‘nuf…

Ken let’s himself in, for about as long as he can manager to hold his breath, to put the sign in the front window and narrowly escape the human filth fumes only to find Larry…

With his broom, leaf blower and a giant trash bag.  Larry had started to clean up Ken’s frickin’ mess just before Ken arrived.

Larry says:

“You gonna put a sign up before you even clean up the place, get an inspection and do some work to the place?  You been around back to see the mess?  That house stinks so bad you can smell it outside, all up and down the street.”

“You ever check up on your property when people are living in it?”

Ken:  “yeah I’m here once a month.”  (Ken collects the rent –  he didn’t fool Larry who knows the dude does no maintenance).

Larry:  Dude, this block is an extension of my home and I don’t like living like a pig.”

Ken says:  “What’s your name?”  

Larry:  “My name’s Larry, Larry Hespeth”   

Larry: “What’s your name?”

Ken:  “Ken”

Larry:  “Ken what?

Ken:  “My last name is none of your business.” 

Sharp-as-a-mashed-potato,  Ken stomps off – jumps in his truck – puts the pedal to the metal leaving his pig pen and the good neighbors in the dust, he didn’t lift a finger to pick up any trash, to take resonsiblity for the toxic waste site in front of HIS property.

But, the good neighbors lifted a finger… the middle finger…  in salute to sluminator, Ken Kaufman, on his way down the street.  Larry went back to work cleaning up the street and sidewalk in front of Ken’s property.

**Neighbors pulled up while Larry was talking to Ken and they were like “Larry!!!! hey go get him tiger – teach the scumbucket that scruples aren’t something you sprinkle on your corn flakes in the morning.”

Larry laid it on Ken’s raggedy old slumass but good – Ken’s behavior is so low – like he’d steal the nickels off a dead man’s eyes.

I missed the action by mere minutes.   Got outside to ask Larry what’s going on and Mascaro pulled up – took everything except the blowing around, scatter trash which Larry was fixin’ to clean up.

That’s Larry cleaning up after Kenneth “aintgonnatellyoumylastname” Kaufman at 438 King St. 4/4/2015

YEAH – HE CLEANED UP AFTER KENNETH KAUFMAN.  SEND HIM A BILL LARRY!!!

Because my neighbor, Larry Hespeth, has more humanity, dignity, honesty and gumption than Kenneth Kaufman has in his pinky fingernail or, all the parasites in Pottstown lumped together in the back of a big red Mascaro truck, he picked up after the slumlords tenants.

That’s some kind of rancid tomatoes mixed with a white-ish ectoplasmic goo in that photo below.  It looks an awful lot like raw chicken laying in the tall weeds in the back yard where the former tenants undecoriously threw some of their food stuff.  Bugs are swarming all over it while the odor of rot wafts throughtout the block.

And you know???  The nice, clean, quiet little old lady that lives next door HAS TO SMELL THIS SHIT everyday.

If there were ever a slumlord that I’d like to have as a neighbor it would be Kenneth Kaufman.  If some smart and righteous judge were to order him to live in his own filth for a month or two, me, Larry and all the other good neighbors on our block would find a smidge of vidication.

Why we’d have to throw Ken Kaufman a block partay, Pottstown style, with pig on a spit over an open fire.  Oink Snort.  Ken can provide the pig rub, something he’s probably skilled at seein’ as how he is a culinary arts instructor.

KENNETH KAUFMAN IS PRACTICALLY FAMOUS ON THIS BLOG FOR HIS DEEP, ABIDING DISREGARD AND DISDAIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF POTTSTOWN.   Sit on it and spin…

https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/an-open-housethe-story-of-a-slum-owned-by-kenneth-kaufman/

https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/slumlord-kenneth-kaufman-culinary-arts-instructor/

The inertia and omissions of local government and politicians who are aware of  the dangerously declining conditions in Pottstown’s rental housing yet, do nothing about it, equates to egregious, deliberate indifference.

The photo’s on this blog depict ongoing violations of codes that exist in thousands of rental properties in Pottstown.  Little to nothing has changed over the past five years that I have documented the violations and the stories of renters and homeowners.

https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/pottstownpovertypimps/

The children living in these conditions have suffered significant damage to their health.  Childen are exposed to high levels of mold, rodent and vermin infestations, bed bugs and alergic reactions, raw sewage, dangerous electrical wiring, improperly set hot water heaters and lack of heat, (see Kenneth Kaufman in the link above) – multiple violations exist in every unit that I have witnessed.

Strong arm illegal evictions and disregard for safety codes and Landlord/Tenant law is rampant among negative investors in Pottstown.

The owners of these properties have caused…continue to cause…health and economic loss to renters.  They are costing homeowner/occupants the loss of property values, loss of quiet enjoyment, loss of tax money and services.  We are exposed to greater potential for life and property threatening catastrophe’s, such as fire, flood damage and exposure to raw sewage.

The actions of the defendant property owner in the lawsuit filed by the States Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, parallels those of hundreds if not thousands of income property owners in our community.  We need to bring the full attention of the state and county to these circumstances.

In the near future, myself and a local law firm will present a free Renters Workshop.  Stay tuned for details.

I encourage renters to continue to contact the local L & I department and file complaints with the Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-2555, or submitting an online complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced her office has filed a lawsuit against a Pittsburgh landlord and his businesses amid allegations that he rented uninhabitable rental properties to tenants, many of whom were Bhutanese refugees.

The lawsuit against Davin N. Gartley, Davin Investments, Inc. and R.A.E.D. Investments, Inc. alleges violations of the Consumer Protection Law and the Landlord Tenant Act.

Specifically, Gartley is accused of failing to provide required utility services, failure to abate lead exposure and failure to maintain properties in accordance with requirements of the Allegheny County Health Department and the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspectors. The lawsuit also alleges Gartley failed to return tenant security deposits.

The lawsuit seeks refunds of security deposits and refunds for rental payments made by tenants during time periods when their rental units were uninhabitable. The lawsuit further seeks to permanently ban Gartley and his businesses from leasing residential rental properties and owning or operating any business that lease residential rental properties.

The lawsuit was filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas by Senior Deputy Attorney General Amy L. Schulman, of the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Consumers who feel they were victimized by Gartley or his businesses are encouraged to file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-2555, or submitting an online complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov

https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Media_and_Resources/Press_Releases/Press_Release/?pid=1782

In Pottstown there are three wards that will vote for council representatives on Tuesday and voters have important work ahead of them…

Ward 2:   Incumbent councilwoman, Carol Kulp, is asking for your vote to remain on council for another 4 years.

Ward 6:   Incumbent councilman, Travis Gery, would like your support for another 4 years on council.

**No other candidates have declared in those wards and if there are no “write-in” competitors they will automatically be re-elected.   If there are “write-ins” you will be greeted at you’re polling places by these candidates who will ask for your support.   Some things to carefully consider:

– Has your council rep been responsive to your concerns?

– Have they returned your emails or phone calls in a timely manner?

– Are the encumbents receptive to your ideas and thoughts on particular issues and, do you feel that that their votes represent your best interests?

– Have they introduced new ideas and topics for discussion at council meetings, do they take initiative?

Those are vitally important elements of democracy.  Their job is to represent you, your ideas, your thoughts, your desires for the community.  This fact has been forgotten in local government as council takes suggestions, ideas and desires of paid staff without asking what you think and then they vote.

They vote without your input or your concerns at the heart of their decisions.  In general, they all vote alike.  (Sheryl Miller is proving to be an exception to this rule and we need more council people like Sheryl).

But now, I want to focus on the Ward 4 council race. 

Ward 4:  Steve Toroney is stepping down at the end of this term and there are two solid contenders for his seat on council:

Democrat, Dennis Arms and Democrat Ross Belovich.   This race is interesting from several stand points.

Ross Belovich.  You’ll remember Ross ran for mayor two years ago.   A lot of residents felt that Ross could best serve Pottstown as a councilman where his knowledge and his commitment to Pottstown would make a big difference.

     Signs bought and paid for by Ross Belovich.

 Belovich announces bid for 4th Ward << clik to read the full Mercury article

Ross is a member of the board of directors for the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority and “Currently I am working with borough officials on a project to utilize camera technology to enhance borough-wide security,” Belovich wrote.

As for his additional qualifications, Belovich wrote “I bring experience in business ownership and management to the position as well as marketing skills. I also have an extensive knowledge of computer technology and classic cars.

Ross has been endorsed by the Democrats of Montgomery County but in my mind this isn’t a Democrat or Republican thing – it’s a People thing.  It’s doing what’s right because it’s right for Pottstown.   I’ve known Ross for several years, I see Ross at monthly council meetings, he rarely misses one.

Ross sees the big picture.  As a businessman and former business owner he comprehends how the slum rental properties and blighted buildings are the cracked foundation that will not uphold a plan for revitalization unless they addressed with smart determination – politics aside –   No back peddling.  No favoritism.

WE NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP AND COUNCIL THAT WILL WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THE DEGRADATION AND CRIME IN NEGLECTED HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I ENDORSE ROSS BELOVICH FOR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE 4TH WARD.

Second candidate seeks Pottstown’s 4th Ward seat<<clik

Dennis Arms clearly has credentials that stand on their own.  He’s an accomplished PSD High School teacher and engaged with many other worthwhile community efforts.   He is well liked among parents and students.

Dennis could have run a race for the primary on his own good name and capabilities.  Instead…

I’ve recently learned that councilman, Dan Weand, in the 5th ward has financed, (at minimum), the signage for Dennis’s campaign and is actively campaigning for Dennis Arms.

Why?  What does Dan want from Dennis?

Paid for by Weand 4 Pottstown

Bought and paid for by Dan Weand.

Dan wants to become the next Borough Council President. Dan has ulterior motives in that regard.  Is Dan attempting to stack the council votes in his favor with undue influence?

You’ll have to decide at the polls on Tuesday but, you deserve to have all the information you need to make the best decision you can.

What is the price that will be extracted from Dennis if he is elected?  

Dan’s no stranger to using his position on council to influence decisions, decisions that impact you and your money.  Pottstown voters, Dan Weand is not doing any favors for Dennis Arms but what favors will Dan expect from Dennis if he wins the council seat?

Please recall a series of blog posts I wrote regarding the vetting of prospective Engineering firms for Pottstown in 2012/13, a process that started when Jason Bobst was still borough manager.

Dan had a personal interest in the firm the borough ultimately hired:  Remington, Vernick & Beech.  Dan’s son-in-law, Attny Sean Kilkenny, represented RVB at that time.

Dan arranged private meetings between RVB reps and individual members of the ad hoc committee that was established to select the next engineers. Dan took careful note at the ad hoc meetings even though he was not chosen to be on the committee – he never missed a beat.  There were meetings with Dan, respresentatives of RVB and individual ad hoc members, you know… lunches and the like, on RVB’s tab.

Dan exercised undue influence on members of the committee.  Dan voted for RVB on council and he voted to give them an additional $33,000 of your tax dollars for an unnecessary study of the codes department  < I think Dan should have recused himself from both votes but he didn’t>

All of this, despite the fact that RVB representatives. including Sean Kilkenney, Norristown codes dept. and other officials were at the heart of a controversial, failed development and they remain embroiled in a Federal lawsuit centered on their actions in the 770 Sandy St. Condo debaucle.

Dan Weand 5th Ward Pottstown Councilman. Dan is 4 Dan. Don’t be fooled he not for 4 Pottstown. I get a kick outta Dan but I don’t trust Dan.

Council President, Steve Toroney, was apprised of the undue influence Dan and RVB exerted on committee members, the committee that he established.

But, Steve did nothing to stop it or even acknowledge it, why?  I have evidence of this fact and have never understood what Steve sought to gain by keeping “mum” about Dan’s activites.

As Steve Toroney serves out his last term and prepares to leave council why would we want to perpeutate cronyism in local government?

We have an excellent chance at putting a STOP to it this election year.  It’s up to you voters.  Vote for Ross Belovich in the 4th Ward and if you have write-ins at your poll – strongly consider writing them in and eleminating the incumbents for a fresh, new start for Pottstown. 

Remington, Vernick and Beach << clik for one of my articles on RVB and Dan

“Cronyism occurs within a network of insiders-the “good ol’ boys,” who confer favors on one another.” – See more at:

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/government_ethics
/introduction/cronyism.html#sthash.zgo8fLzg.dpuf

In January, when betterlandlords.us presented their data analysis, borough council and residents learned about the numbers of rental units and the disproportionate costs of poorly managed rental properties in Pottstown.  You can access that data here:

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1393140-pottstown-disproportionate-impact-study-final.html

It was the first time that the public or borough officials had an actual figure of just how many units there are. In the past, (hopefully), it’s most likely that a lot of those units were constructed by owners who did not pull building permits, as a consequence, they were never inspected by the codes department.

**Phonexville and surrounding townships discovered that was the case in their communities and they require illegal units to be removed. Pottstown can do it too, we need to stop hearing excuses.

It’s a high probability that among the 2500 + units that are not registered with the borough, many of those have never had a rental inspections or codes violations have not been followed up by codes inspectors. Even rentals that are inspected, many times, fall short of being safe or healthy environments.  Two, three, four inspections later and there may be only minimal improvement.

It’s also a high probablity that among the 2500+ units there are gangs and other criminals who’ve found refgue from the law. They operate, as the owners of the properties have been allowed to operate, in obscurity.

The potential for fires caused by DIY electrical wiring and CO2 leaking from old furnaces should be of GREAT concern to the borough who, at one time said, they don’t inspect them because they haven’t hired inspectors with the training and certification to do so.  That needs to change.

Roughly 60% of the housing stock is rentals. That’s 1,160 rental properties per mile in 4.8 sq. land miles in Pottstown – rudimentary calculations, of course, the majority of rentals are concentrated in Ward 1 that prominently boarders the downtown business/retail area.

** The “hot spot” theory of crime suggests that only 3% of locations in a neighborhood or a town are responsible for 50 percent of police calls and crime. In the East Liberties neighborhood, in Pittsburgh, they identified and eliminated the worst of the worst –  neglected rental properties and in 4 years crime dropped by a whopping 49%.   Pottstown can do that too, no excuses.

The map above was posted to Facebook yesterday and it is believed to have been generated by the borough, sometime back. It’s nothing more than a visual aid to accompany the information regarding the numbers of rental properties in Pottstown. Every red dot is rental housing, its unknown if they represent individual “units” but you can clearly see the concentration.

Evan Brandt tweeted from the committee of the whole this month:

“Keith Place says they have targeted non-compliant properties. Latest calculations, 5,411 (total rental units) 2500+ are uninspected and there are ” 457 short-term units. Identified every possible rental.”

The knowledge that was imparted to the borough through the Better Landlord Program is this: Setting Standards is key.

The program is built on a mountain of research. It has been implemented with empirical data that backs up the fact that it serves to elevate quality of life and diminish crime.

It is designed to “set standards” for landlords who voluntarily comply because the program will not only increase their profitability it also serves to address the quality of life issues that have diminished in Pottstown proportionate to the rising numbers of parastic income property owners.

Council sat quietly, making no public comments or observations about the data or the potential positive impact the Better Landlord Program could have on Pottstown. The borough manager, however, stated that the program presents legal questions and he believes most landlords would not participate. What now then?

Enforcement has not been this local governments strong suit for many many years.  We pay to have ordinances written that delineate standards but are never enforced.  If the borough is going to “go it alone” without the benefit and assistance of proven programs then we must have strong, independent council leaders that can do the work to hold the borough manager and the departments accountable to do what’s needed.

That is, by definition, one of their responsiblities to you.

We need council people who will work to involve the community of homeowners and landlords and renters in setting standards and working together with the borough to enforce them.

Landlords who, for years, have avoided the logical consequences of their unethical decisions to break the laws of the state and ignore local ordinances are going to resist every effort, that’s to be expected.  But, we know the borough can enforce codes violations on homeowners and there’s no excuse for disparity of treament between homeowner/occupied homes and the properties of negative investors.

We need council people who will hold Montgomery County responsible to help de-concentrate poverty in Pottstown and for misrepresenting their efforts to end housing discrimination by other municipalites, (motivated by their desire to retain contributions of DCED grant money from the Feds).

We are in the midst of a leadership crisis and a housing crisis…

That crisis has created opportunities for gangs to gain solid footing in Pottstown – – ILLEGAL RENTALS MUST BE A PRIORITY NOW – –  If the borough and the county will not take measures to eliminate those opportunities we can anticipate lulls in the violence but no lasting results.

New Montgomery County Violent Crime Unit

Again, laws and codes have not been sytematically enforced in Pottstown and it is council’s duty to understand why and what can be done to change that.   The housing has been compromised by cronysim among council and staff. Advocating for the community, at the county and state levels, has been sorely lacking, there’s been no impetus for change.

We need strong, independent council leaders that will study the issues and work to involve the state, the county and the community to set standards and enforce them.

We cannot have staff, departments or councilors that continue to operate in defiance of Open Meetings Law as we’ve seen, recently.  The voters are crying out for TRANSPARENCY and COMMUNICATION.  Vote wisely, vote with your conscience.

Lawyer: Pottstown Borough Authority violated open meetings law

We are the eyes and ears on the streets, we are the homeowners, businesses, good landlords and good renters.  We are the taxpaying, law abiding backbone of this community and we are as vital to the recovery of this borough as the people who we’ve elected and the people we provide with good jobs.

It cannot be about politics any longer. Pottstown cannot be used as a pawn for anyone’s personal political aspirations as we see happening, once again, by councilman Dan Weand (clik here for my previous post about Dan’s latest antics).

On that note:

I asked Ross Belovich, running for council in the 4th ward, if he would give me a statement about where he stands on the housing issues and the impact on our safety, property values and quality of life in Pottstown. Here’s what Ross has to say:

I want to preface this with the fact that I do not buy into the whole renters vs homeowners thing. It’s a red herring. It’s really about people, community, jobs and income. Both good and bad people rent and own homes throughout the country.  << I agree however, IMHO, the urgent problems of gangs and other criminals in Pottstown,  right now,  ARE a direct result of neglected rental housing, (not homeowners). Waste no time gaining the upper hand.   A success in this area will be such a major win for the community.  The standards for everyone will improve,  and it will serve to lay a solid foundation for revitalization>>

However, many bad eggs by definition, have a hard time getting credit or having an interest in community, therefore they are much more likely to be renters and live in a community where they have an easier time finding housing. Thats where the definition and solution to the problem is:

Quality of life issues plain and simple.

If we have community standards and more people that are willing to be part of their community, then many of them will likely transition to homeowners at some point. Utilizing the registering and inspection process, as well as enforcement of all local ordinances helps to weed out the bad eggs and helps them to conform to this societies standards, whether they are renters, landlords or even homeowners makes no difference.

Community and standards, i.e. “quality of life” concerns are at the core of the solutions to our borough. When people feel safe and comfortable, more and better people will move in. THEN the job creators will come to capitalize on the demographics. This is how the trend upward will start. This is what we need to accomplish to change direction.

VOTE FOR HONEST REPRESENTATION ON COUNCIL – A REPRESENTATIVE THAT CAN’T BE BOUGHT – VOTE ROSS BELOVICH FOR POTTSTOWN’S FOURTH WARD. ROSS IS RIGHT FOR POTTSTOWN.

February 16, 2015 Community organizers and residents met with Assistant MontCo D.A.’s Kevin Steele, Jason Whalley and representatives from the PPD.   Here are the videos and a re-cap of that meeting.

https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/bet-youre-wondering/

A follow up meeting is scheduled to continue the conversation to move forward with a plan of action:   

Monday, June 1, 2015

Pottstown Borough Hall,   100 E. High St. 3rd Floor

7:00 PM

Two specific topics of importance were discussed by residents –  they are the focus of the next meeting.  You are welcome to introduce new topics or ideas as well.

– Eliminating drug nuisance conduct at “problem properties,”  this continues to be a major concern for residents.   Citizens can identify the problem properties because we live near them and we witness the activities that occur day in and day out and we need to know what information is most beneficial to law enforcement.

We have seen the cooperative efforts of the PPD, various other police departments, the district attorneys and the FBI to identify and arrest suspected gang members as announced in this press conference on May 14th, we’ve seen the big pay off from collaboration:

VIDEO: ‘Operation War Ready’ nets 34 arrests in Pottstown gangwar

Drug House Nuisance Law / Pennsylvania Act 140 1992 << clik

Residents are asking for the same dedication to eliminating the Pottstown drug houses/businesses by identifying properties used for criminal activities, eliminating the criminals and holding the property owners legally responsible for their neglect, as the law provides. By putting an expedient end to the revolving door of slum properties we will reduce crime.

We appreciate the long-term educational efforts that Assistant D.A. Kevin Steele spoke of in video #2 and recognize it is a vital part of the process however,  Pottstown has gone over the brink, we are in crisis and we also need immediate attention to the systemic problems that brought us to this point…

It’s logical.  With over 2500 illegal rentals identified, the L & I Dept. has their work cut out for them.   But, without a full-on, multi-agency effort, it will take years for codes inspectors to catch up while negligent income investors will continue to do business as usual, providing shelter and a base of operation to gangs and drug dealers in our community.  We’ll be back at square one in no time.

– Residents are looking for specific guidance on gathering and reporting information to the Pottstown Police Department and to the District Attorney. Since leaving a voice message does not create a record, a form with specific information requested will guide residents and they will have a copy of what they’ve passed along for future reference. 

Is That House a Drug House brochure (8) < This brochure was developed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and it is the type of information and reporting form we are looking for.

The internet provides a window into the solutions that communities throughout the nation are implementing by working with their local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

We know what is possible and we are asking for a commitment from our local, county and state agencies to see this through to the best conclusion for good residents and their children.

Second Pottstown crime meeting set for June 1st

SUBSECTION H:

Wherever there is reason to believe that a drug-related nuisance exists, the district attorney, the Attorney General, if requested by a district attorney, the solicitor for the county or municipality, a resident within 1,000 feet of the property, including a tenant of the property, the owner of property or any community-based organization may file an action in the court of common pleas to abate, enjoin and prevent the drug-related nuisance. Such actions shall be commenced by the filing of a complaint alleging the facts constituting the drug-related nuisance.

The community is asking these governmental entities to take responsiblily to guide residents in collecting and reporting evidence by working together.

We are asking the Montgomery County district attorney to take action, on behalf of residents, good tenants and community based organizations by filing complaints against the owners of drug-related nuisance properties.   

(a)  Adverse impact.–The complaint or an affidavit attached thereto shall describe the adverse impact associated with the drug nuisance upon the surrounding neighborhood. Adverse impact includes, without limitation, the presence of any one or more of the following conditions:

(1)  Diminished property value.

(2)  Increased fear of residents to walk through and in public areas, including sidewalks and streets, increased volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic to and from the property.

(3)  An increase in the number of ambulance or police calls to the property which are related to the use of drugs or to violence stemming from illegal activity.

(4)  Increased noise, bothersome solicitors or approaches by persons wishing to sell drugs or solicit the donation of money on or near the property.

(5)  The display of dangerous weapons on or near the property.

(6)  The discharge of firearms on or near the property.

(7)  Search warrants served on tenants or occupants of the property which resulted in the seizure of drugs.

(8)  Investigative purchases of drugs on or near the property by law enforcement officers.

(9)  Arrests of person on or near the property for violation of criminal laws.

(10)  Housing code violations relating to the property.

(11)  Health code violations relating to the property.

(12)  Accumulated trash and refuse in common areas on or adjacent to the property.

(13)  An unsecured entryway on the property.

Homeowners, good landlords and law abiding tenants in Ward One, at minimum, can attest that these 13 conditions exist in many rental properties surrouding our own properties.   As more rental properties are purchased by absentee owners, other wards are seeing an increase in the conditions, listed in the statute. 

(c)  Additional remedies.–If the existence of a drug-related nuisance is found, the court shall have the power additionally to fashion any one or more of the following remedies:

(1)  Assess costs of the action against the defendant.

(2)  When a governmental agency is a plaintiff in the action, assess a civil penalty against the defendant of not less than $500 nor more than $10,000.

(3)  Order the owner to clean up the property and make repairs upon the property.

(4)  Suspend or revoke any business, professional, operational or liquor license.

(5)  Order the owner to make additional reasonable expenditures upon the property, including, but not limited to, installing secure locks on doors, increasing lighting in common areas and using videotaped surveillance of the property and adjacent alleyways, sidewalks and parking lots.

(6)  Order all rental income from the property to be placed in an escrow account with the court for up to 90 days or until the drug-related nuisance is abated.

(7)  Order all rental income for the property transferred to a trustee, to be appointed by the court, who shall be empowered to use the rental income to make reasonable expenditures upon the property in order to abate the drug-related nuisance.

(8)  Order the suspension of any State, city or local governmental subsidies payable to the owners of the property, such as tenant assistance payments to landlords, until the nuisance is abated.

(9)  Allow the plaintiff to seal the property with the cost of sealing payable by the defendant.

(10)  Order the defendant to pay the plaintiff the cost of the suit, including reasonable attorney fees.

(d)  Factors to consider.–In making an order under subsection (c), the court shall consider, among others, the following factors:

(1)  The number of people residing at the property.

(2)  The proximity of the property to other residential structures.

(3)  The number of times the property has been cited for housing code or health code violations.

(4)  The number of times the owner has been notified of drug-related problems at the property.

(5)  The extent and duration of the drug-related nuisance at the time of the order.

(6)  Prior efforts or lack of effort by the defendant to abate the drug-related nuisance.

(7)  The availability of alternative housing for tenants of the building.

(8)  The extent of concern about the drug-related nuisance that has been expressed by nearby residents or visitors to the area.

(9)  The owner’s involvement in the drug-related nuisance.

(10)  The owner’s involvement in other drug-related nuisances.

The owners of drug nuisance properties must be held accountable for their neglect and the costs of their negligence to law abiding property owners.  

DOING NOTHING SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY OF CONCERNED CITIZENS. 

Scroll down to Subsection H

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=42&div=0&chpt=83

June 1, 2015

7 PM  

100 E. High St.   – Borough Hall  – 3rd Floor 

Historian says don’t sanitize how our government created the ghettos

ghet·to (gĕt′ō)
n. pl. ghet·tos or ghet·toes
1. A usually poor section of a city inhabited primarily by people of the same race, religion, or social background, often because of discrimination.

NPR’s Terry Gross interviews historian, Richard Rothstein, in the wake of the unrest in Baltimore.  For anyone who has a thread of an attachment to Pottstown and/or a vested interest in a better outcome for the community, this interview is a must listen.   Put it on your “most worthy” list, it will be time well spent.  Clik on the link above.

I refer to my neighborhood, Ward One, as a ghetto.  I have no qualms about using the word and no need of watering down the truth to make it more palatable.

I moved into this neighborhood in late 2008.  I moved here, in part, because I value diversity.  I moved here, in part, because the borough of Pottstown and Montgomery County gave the indication, during that time,  that they were seriously interested in revitalizing the neighborhood by attracting homeowners, with grant money, who would put some money and effort into buying and improving homes in target neighborhoods.

What I have seen and experienced in the past seven years, aside from a very short-lived grant opportunity for a few home buyers, has been the reenforcment by the federal, state, county and local governments, including local justices, that continue to bolster the segregation of African Americans, the poor of every race, the disabled, the drug addicted and the mentally ill in Pottstown and Norristown.

I’ve certainly railed about this fact on my blog numerous times but I found this interview with Richard Rothstein gave me pause to consider what policies are still in place within our own county and municipality that are used to maintain the status quo and keep disadvantage populations from seeking housing in other communities and bettering their educational/work opportunities.

It’s increasing apparent that there is so much more at play than a local government whose members have no vision or lack qualifications for the positions they hold.    Making excuses for their failure to eleveate conditions in many areas of Pottstown, you might have heard about  <the reputedly> contentious relationship local government has historically had with Montgomery County and a shortage of staff, the wrong staff, lack of funds…

I think we have to ask

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Bob Aboue Shout out to the Golden Cockroach, you are one of the only people who get what is going on in this town. I’ve read your other posts & you are dead on(like on most topics). Google Sharnice White, a product of the dumping grounds of Mont co. Sorry I have not seen you for a while give a call, I owe you. Kepp up the good work & keep the pressure on these “people”. If you don’t do something good for the community, then get the hell out. I guess you got the hell out. God Bless & google Sharnice White, his relative who spiked her baby girl like it was the “Big Game” Great Family!!!!3 week ago everyone hear said she should burn in hell, but Mr Mitchell thought she was owed a break. What comes around goes around.. Keep up the good work Golden more people love you then you know!!!!!!!!