Author, Michael Tolle’s book: What Killed Downtown? is an extensive research into the collapse of downtown Norristown.
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As a resident of S.E. Pennsylvania, near Norristown, for over 30 years and an adjunct instructor of History, (most recently at MontCo Community College in Blue Bell), Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his work.
Now residing in San Francisco, Michael also publishes a blog:
The More Things Change.
In his recent blog post Michael reiterates the value of connections between activist groups and individuals.
Facebook has become an invauable resource for making those connections. This summer activists have aligned from as far away as Bellevue, Pa and as close as Norristown, Allentown and Philly to share information.
In my last post, Cut to the Chase, Part I, I make public more details of the actions of former borough employee, Michelle Borzick Fry and ask the question:
“How much corruption will this local government tolerate?”
Here’s an excerpt from Micheal’s recent blog post that is apropos to that question:
“What I like most about {Tenants Association of Allentown and Golden Cockroach} is that they focus on the true culprits for the condition of our boroughs:
slumlords and the municipal officials and administrators who allow them to avoid the law and profit by doing so. Its long past time we stopped talking about “the people who live in places like that,” and focus on the people who own places like that...
When you are looking for the real causes of events, always follow the money. (Spoiler Alert: I will have more to say on this subject in future posts).”
Last week, I posted this article on Facebook:
Slumlord Fined Record $800,000.00 For Deplorable Housing Conditions.
A healthy conversation ensued between people in Pottstown in which I noted that in Pottstown we have slum properties that are owned by a State Rep. whose husband is a Re/Max agent, an aide to a State Rep., (both were investigated and reported by the Mercury News, Evan Brandt) and, I also mentioned a friend/former co-worker of a council member who owns slum houses here too.
I neglected to say that Montgomery County also owns blighted/slum properties in our community, and the bigger question…why is our own county enabled to treat Pottstown like this? Or, anyone for that matter?
Montgomery County, PA owned properties on the 500 Block of King St. Pottstown
The next morning, my comment, (listing the political connections to slum properties), was removed from Facebook and I was banned from making comments for 12 hours, (I saw this, clearly, as an effort to deny my First Amendment right to free speech only because this person didn’t like what I had written). Doubley alarming is the fact of his job in State politics.
Simultaneously, I found an email in my inbox requesting a meeting with a public offical and the person who instigated the removal of my comment.
I’ve agreed to meet with them and will post further information with regard to his decision to have me censored, his intentions as an income property owner and what he sees for the future of Pottstown, unless, of course…
you would like to be at that meeting too and share your own despair and outrage about the conditions in this borough and what slumlords are contributing to your quality of life, safety and your property values.
You are welcome to join me. We’ll have a big story to tell!! email me for details: ptownadvocates@hotmail.com
As a result of this extreme action to silence me, I was left to believe, as do many other activists/friends/taxpayers of Pottstown that my comment hit too close to home and the connections between politicians, officials, the blighted slum properties and crime in this, (and many communities throughout Pa.), deserve a much closer look by activists, the media and larger governmental agencies.
In 2008, when the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Pottstown was updated the document notes that a whopping 44% of all housing was rentals.
Today, as Pottstown’s leadership continues down the same path, we have learned that…
Income property owners are buying properties that were previously homeowner/occupied at the rate of 3-10 per week and most of those are Section 8 rentals with exponential increases in the N. and E. side neighborhoods, thus, a correlation in the increase in crimes being reported by residents on Crime in Pottstown, a Facebook page.
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Some believe the rental density in Pottstown may now exceed 60%.
We also know that many of the buyers are real estate agents, licensed by the state and there is an undeniable connection between Section 8 rentals, real estate agents and politicians,(more about that later).
For the sake of other employees of the borough and its taxpayers, we will see if officials in Pottstown take a strong stand on September 30th when the union will vie for Michelle Borzick Fry to have her job back…
A public employee who shamelessly acted in her own best interests and furthered the objectives of an income investor in our community.
The people of Pottstown are long overdue and their best interests deserve full represention at her hearing.
I leave you with this concise description of corruption and you can fill in between the lines:
Corruption in local government
Types of Corruption Found in Local Government
There are several types of political corruption that occur in local government. Some are more common than others, and some are more prevalent to local governments than to larger segments of government. Local governments may be more susceptible to corruption because interactions between private individuals and officials happen at greater levels of intimacy and with more frequency at more decentralized levels. Forms of corruption pertaining to money like bribery, extortion, embezzlement, and graft are found in local government systems. Other forms of political corruption are nepotism and patronage systems. One historical example was the Black Horse Cavalry a group of New York State legislators accused of blackmailing corporations.
Bribery is the offering of something which is most often money but can also be goods or services in order to gain an unfair advantage. Common advantages can be to sway a person’s opinion, action, or decision, reduce amounts fees collected, speed up a government grants, or change outcomes of legal processes.
Extortion is threatening or inflicting harm to a person, their reputation, or their property in order to unjustly obtain money, actions, services, or other goods from that person. Blackmail is a form of extortion.
Embezzlement is the illegal taking or appropriation of money or property that has been entrusted to a person but is actually owned by another. In political terms this is called graft which is when a political office holder unlawfully uses public funds for personal purposes.
Nepotism is the practice or inclination to favor a group or person who is a relative when giving promotions, jobs, raises, and other benefits to employees. This is often based on the concept of familism which is believing that a person must always respect and favor family in all situations including those pertaining to politics and business. This leads some political officials to give privileges and positions of authority to relatives based on relationships and regardless of their actual abilities.
Patronage systems consist of the granting favors, contracts, or appointments to positions by a local public office holder or candidate for a political office in return for political support. Many times patronage is used t
Demographic factors Causing Corruption
Socioeconomic characteristics and the size of the population of people that make up a municipality can be encouraging factors for local government officials to engage in corrupt practices. Patterns of political corruption can be found in places that have a similar demographic make-up. Demographic factors that have been known to lead to or increase the likelihood of corruption in a local government system are religion, race, class, size of the municipality, local economic conditions, education, political culture, and gender. Some factors are interrelated or can lead to other factors which may cause more corruption.
Size of a Municipality
Smaller municipalities tend to encourage corruption to take place within a local government. Smaller municipalities require more local officials to represent and run the local government. With more officials, it is harder to keep tabs on each one and establish a decent administration and to monitor their activities. Small municipalities may also have inadequate or insufficient policing and prosecution of corrupt local officials. This also encourages corruption to occur in local government because there is less likelihood of either getting caught or prosecuted, therefore, more officials may become dishonest or at least be tempted to.
Condition of the Local Economy
Low economic development has been found to be an encouraging factor for political corruption. Economic practices like dependence on raw material industries and drug trades are characteristic of poorer cities and areas with increased amounts of corruption. Economic dependence on certain industries will also lead to less stable governments and less amount of money available to fund governments. Fragile economies lead to increased levels of poverty and less opportunities to get out of poverty. Poverty is a known factor that encourages corruption in local governments. Places with failing economies and poverty sometimes get loans or start aid programs to support the local economy and the people, and public officials are often able to unlawfully take the money or goods for private gain. With less money available, local officials are more likely to get lower wages which is seen as another factor that leads to corruption. Officials who get lower wages which are not enough to provide for their necessities, they will many times become corrupt and try something like embezzling money that may entrusted to them in the local treasury. Low wages can cause economic insecurity and encourage politicians to take advantage of current opportunities as a public figure of authority. On the other hand, some researchers argue that the more money a local government has to spend, the more tendency it will have to do so inefficiently, which can lead to suspicions of corruption. Overall, poorer municipalities are more often perceived to have corrupt local governments than rich ones.
Education
Lower levels of education which are often caused by poverty are seen as a factor which encourages corrupt government practices. With less amounts of education people are not informed as to how the government works or what rights they have under the government. It is easier for corrupt office-holders to conceal corrupt activities from a poorly educated public. Uneducated citizens are less likely to be aware of corruption in local governments or how to stop it, and therefore, corruption is able to remain and spread. Without some kind of political awareness, citizens will not know which candidates to elect that are honest or dishonest or other ways to prevent corruption from taking place in their local governments. This often leads municipalities to be continually governed by one or more corrupt local officials who use patronage or nepotistic practices to stay in office or keep influence in the government for long periods of time. When local political leaders are less educated, they will be less likely to find legitimate ways to make the municipality well-structured, productive, and successful.
Political Culture of the Municipality
Many local governments have an established political culture with certain expectations and practices that often determine what is seen as acceptable and not acceptable in local politics. In municipalities with an undeveloped or underdeveloped political culture, accountability and legitimacy is usually low and principles of ethics in government are not established. This can encourage corruption to take hold in the local government because citizens do not know what is considered corrupt, and local officials are not afraid to be corrupt because of the low accountability. In some places the local governments have been corrupt for so long that the citizens think that is how it is supposed to work because that is all they have been exposed to. Long periods of political instability will also lead to corruption in the government because people are unsure of how the government should operate, and thus do not know what practices are corrupt or how to stop them if they are corrupt.
To gain support and votes in elections or in passing legislation. Patronage systems disregard the formal rules of a local government and use personal instead of formalized channels to gain an advantage.
