Keeping it local…  

A small group of friends and Pottstown homeowner/taxpayers made plans to meet up for dinner and live music, last night, at a burgeoning new restaurant.    

Between the Friday night revelers parking near the Elks Club and the restaurant patrons, (pouring money back into the local economy), parking was at a premium anywhere near the 100 blk. of High St., our destination.    

A happy predicament for Pottstown, we all agreed.  

One of our friends is a distinguished, mature gentleman – he’s also a serious golf nerd, (I mean, really, who else listens to golf on the radio on the way to dinner)?  He dropped his wife at the door and drove off in search of parking.  

Later, he explained…  

He’d found himself in the empty Borough Hall parking lot, after hours, he backed into a spot on the S. side of the building. Unfamiliar with the “lay of the land”, it was dark, softly raining and he hadn’t seen the only signs –   high above – admonishing would-be-parkers:  

Employee Parking Only / No Back-ins

As our friend sat in his car for a few minutes after pulling in, anticipating an announcement on the golf channel, he casually observed a cop car back into a spot a bit further up.  The officers were still sitting in their car when he made his way across the lot to join the rest of us on High St.  

Ahhh, to savor a rare evening of  friends, live music, laughter, a glass of wine and a fab dinner at night on High St. no less..  

But wait, “we have no wine”, said his wife…

Admittedly, acknowledged our friend, he must have been distracted by the golf tournament and left the wine in the car.  “Back in a minute,” he said…

Retracing his steps in the rain he retrieved the wine and two unexpected “gifts”, neatly tucked beneath his windshield wipers…

One gift was a ticket for parking in a vacant Employees Only lot and the other, for backing in…

Those thoughtful stewards of peace, safety and order, the Pottstown Police, have an uncanny habit of turning reason and common sense on it’s head. 

A common courtesy, seeing as how the cops sat there and watched the guy get out of his car, looks something like this:  

“Excuse me sir, you can’t park here, as the sign implies.  We’re giving you a warning now but next time, we’ll ticket you…”  

We indulged in some good natured ribbing about borough crime stats, (that are expected to be higher in 2014 than in 2010), and the 90 other ways we could see  police effectively using their time.  

We enjoyed a marvelous dinner and music although, the “High St.” experience was tarnished with consternation. 

Afterwards…

Standing near York and High, we watched a car speed down High St., thru the red light as we pondered aloud…

Our government officials, who possess a wit so subtle they can convince anyone — perhaps even themselves — that they think it’s a good idea to ignore the impact of their actions on this community, including out-of-town guests and the businesses that are fighting for survival.  

So, in honor of the 8th annual, April 24th “Pay it Forward” Day, in Pottstown, we’re paying it forward a little early, in all good humor…

PLEASE…

STOP!!  hitting the self-destruct button on efforts to support local businesses, the local businesses themselves and the future of  Pottstown’s downtown revitalization.

Sort this out now and refresh yourselves on the borough’s new core mission.  

  Those two tickets grossed a whopping $30 but it cost the borough a fire truck sized load of goodwill.  

Going on 3 years now, I have blogged, listened to residents complaints and ultimately, I have drug around a bone of contention about the borough’s policy of fining property owners, who have security systems, when they set the alarms off by accident, (we already pay the borough an annual fee just for having an alarm).

BUT THEN, every one of the officials, elected and otherwise, look the other way while police make numerous visits to private properties for disruptive conduct calls, including the Montgomery Elks, as it turns out.

A FEW YEARS ago, the case was made at a budget meeting that the borough should apply the same standards to nuisance properties when tenants, for example, are disruptive and police are dispatched multiple times. 

Some quick math on the way out the door to the budget meeting that night showed how much money the borough would generate, in my neighborhood alone, by using the exact fee structure in their ordinance for false alarms.

It was astounding to see the figure of $300,000 pop up on the calculator. That figure is for one year, in only one ward and it is based on a close  approximation of the number of private, non-homeowner occupied properties  X’s  the number of nuisance calls to rental houses in an RTK I had filed earlier.  

The figure was apparently mind blowing enough that the borough enacted an ordinance to fine “private property owners” for “disproportionate amount of police services.”  The ordinance was structured by the borough’s attorney and voted into law by council, soon after Flanders became interim borough manager…

click for Mercury article>>>  Charge Back Ordinance

click for ordinance>>>  Health & Safety

At February’s Codes/Infrastructure meeting, during the discussion that followed the Citizens Action Committee presentation:  The “Better Landlord” program, it was stated, (to the surprise of Ward 2 councilwoman Carol Kulp), that the ordinance pertaining to “private property & excessive police services”, has rarely, (if ever), been enforced.  Logically, Carol asked:  “why isn’t it being enforced?”  And the question remains, WHY?

I  suspected that the ordinance was not being enforced when, a couple months ago, I asked the landlord across the street if he’d ever been fined for the numerous police visits to his rental property, beginning last April, when his new set of whacked-out renters moved in.  He thoughtfully replied…

“No I haven’t been billed, I know they can bill me, I know there’s a law but maybe the police enforce the ordinance on a discretionary basis?”  Ok, maybe… but is that the intent of the law? Why should any law be discretionary?

Why should taxpayers PAY the borough attorney to research and write an unused ordinance?? That’s the very definition of wasted tax $$$ when we can ill afford waste.

**SIDE NOTE:  Ironically, in the case of Montgomery Elks, (to whom the ordinance also seems applicable), you will find the following paragraph:

POLICE SERVICE COSTS – an amount fixed by Borough Council to cover estimated compensation of officers for amount of time normally spent in responding to a call or otherwise maintaining order and public peace and stopping disturbances, appropriate administrative costs allocable thereto, and medical treatment to injured officers and the cost of repairing damaged Borough equipment or property.  

In 2011 Evan Brandt and I worked together to sift through mountains of RTK’s for police records on rental properties in the 300 block of High St. resulting in this article that Evan wrote >>>clik on link below:

Fight against blight: Police called often to problem properties in Pottstown

And, the blog post that I wrote after Evan’s article published >>>click on link:  We Think Ignorance is Not an Excuse

Which brings me to recent activities at the Montgomery Elks, where officers were beaten and injured, clik link below>>>  

February assault on two of Pottstown’s police officers 

Today’s follow up is an excellent and well researched Mercury article by Caroline Sweeney and Frank Otto. In the article you’ll find further detail about how many, what kind and when police calls are made to quell disruptions at the Montgomery Elks  >>> clik on link below:

Police Called Frequently to Montgomery Elks Lodge

In response to the astounding number of police calls and the police departments policy of preemptively sending patrols to head off problems there, as noted by Sweeney and Otto, Captain Bob Thomas is also quoted saying, near the end of the article:  

“This is not a “dollars and cents issue,” because taxpayers will pay the same amount of money for an officer to work a shift whether they go to the Elks 10 times a night or not at all.“

That makes cents….kinda….at first, until you really think about it… Sure, officers are being paid for their shift no matter where they are dispatched but, if you deviate from that line of reasoning and you look, again, at the intent of the disproportionate police services ordinance, it states clearly:

“POLICE SERVICE COSTS – an amount fixed by Borough Council to cover estimated compensation of officers for amount of time normally spent in responding to a call or otherwise maintaining order and public peace and stopping disturbances…”  The objective is clear. 

Borough ordinance, with regard to setting off your security alarm, states:  

“The purpose of this Subpart is to encourage the proper and effective use of alarm systems.”

The goal here is also clear:  minimize police involvement in false alarms, it’s a waste of officers time and leaves them unavailable for other, more urgent calls.  What other goal could there be?  Raise a little revenue?

It seems to me that the same on-duty cops would be “on duty” no matter if you set your alarm off or not, as exemplified by the captain’s comment. 

click>>> Borough Ordinance, False Alarms

If you set-off the security alarm on your home more than 2 x’s in the prior 12 months and officers are dispatched, you are assessed a fine, (and the borough has no difficulty sending that bill through the mail either).  The fines increase, incrementally from…

 $50 for the 3rd false alarm to $200 for the 7th and ultimately, the eight alarm is $150 + suspension and a reinstatement fee of $250. 

As a “teaching tool” the borough has theorized that if you are forced to pay a fine for the behavior of setting off your alarm the consequence of paying a fine will encourage responsibility.  

From personal experience, I can honestly say…

In my household, we are stellar examples of Skinner’s theory of behavior modification – we paid the borough fine TWICE and now, we double, triple check ourselves with sticky note reminders on every door leading outside.  When officers arrived to our home they were here – give or take 10 minutes   total – for both visits  -  as opposed to 19 minutes police spent at MontoCo Elks in repeated trips, on one night alone.  Repeat trips also mean more use of gasoline, wear and tear and maintenance on vehicles – right? 

If the borough’s statistics support their assumption that fining people “to encourage proper and effective use of alarm systems” has successfully minimized police involvement in false alarms...

Then, it probably stands to reason that the same philosophy, the same “teaching tool,” can be equally effective in reducing disturbance calls too, as the Police Services ordinance says:

“That assessment of costs as provided in this Part is reasonable and will have a deterrent effect and encourage more responsible management of such properties.“

There is no viable reason, that I can see, for officials to ignore the existing ordinance regarding private properties and disturbances. Either your here to do the best job possible or your just soaking up diminishing tax dollars or taking up space on council.

Alternatively, if the borough’s data doesn’t support a reduction in the number of false alarms, attended by police since the inception of that ordinance, then…

It’s time for officials to re-visit the ordinance / fines that they assess homeowners and businesses.  Uneven-handedness and inconsistently enforced ordinances, unfortunately, implies that the borough really does single out conscientious, resident property owners because they know, with all certainty, we will pay our fines.  It remains a mystery, however, why nuisance businesses and rental property owners continue to be shown grace and mercy by the PPD.

In the long run, I respectfully disagree with Captain Thomas that excessive police visits do not impact taxpayers.  As the …

Fewer disruptive police calls and false alarms could, ostensibly, create less need for police services which could result in having fewer officers on the payroll and it frees-up officers from tending to nuisance calls to focus, more closely, on drug, violent and property crimes where we have the greatest need.  Lowered costs for vehicles, gas and maintenance would also save $$$ and cents.

In the long run, consistently applying well thought out, well written ordinances that are enforced by knowledgeable officers and enforced with fairness to all, is like money in the bank.  It can only positively impact morale among the good citizens of Pottstown and improve goodwill between taxpayers and their local government…

THAT can work to everyone’s benefit.  Maybe even…

cause a chain reaction of awesomeness or at least a double rainbow. 

The photo’s below were taken a few weeks ago.  My neighbor across the street took me on a guided tour of Buttonwood Alley between High and King Sts. in the 400 block.

Ironically, today, (right now as I write), we see one rental investor after another buy properties in the historic district and move tenants into their properties with no regard for the borough’s ordinances, one of them even going so far as to claim, “I’m from Souderton, I don’t live in Pottstown and I didn’t know the rules.”

Yeah bud, show me your how-to screw Pottstown manual:  Poverty Pimping for Dummies issued by the Western Montgomery Landlords Secret Club.

My neighbors garage is on Buttonwood Alley and it needs a fresh coat of paint. He was sizing up the work and the cost that will go into refreshing his garage when he asked, “can you understand how demoralizing it is to do the right thing when I have to look at this alley every time I use my garage?”

I understand and I’m sure, if you have an ounce of dignity and pride in your own property, you get it too.

Coincidentally, Mr. Ronald Downie sent me the following prose just as I was preparing this post.  Mr. Downie is a lifelong resident who will be 80 y.o. this year.  He has been active in his hometown.  Sadly, he will live to see the complete degradation of a community he has supported and loved unless we ALL step up and take action.

A Case For Action – Spring Again -

In the long history of Man upheaval happened often. Many were very bloody as each side shouldered their weapon of choice : a broad axe, a spear, a lance, a pitch fork, but mostly a gun. Neither Gandhi, nor King, nor Jesus chose any of these weapons and their results seem much more lasting than violent one’s.

Pottstown also needs to shoulder its weapon of choice. I contend that the weapon be a long handled broom accompanied with a sturdy dust pan and a hefty trash bag. Only an army of sweepers with their boots on the ground can make this sow’s ear into a silk purse.

The real test of the soul of a town is not in it’s downtown main street or it’s prime residential neighborhoods but it is found in how the condition of it’s worst allies are kept. If they are relatively clean and fairly well maintained you can bet the main, highly visible areas of the town, will also be clean.

Once upon a time, Pottstown was that way, not from an army of cleaners, but from each and every household being prideful masters of their own domain. Maybe they didn’t own the property they lived at, but they took pride in the property they lived in. Pride is always an exercise in self worth and fulfillment, traits lost in our race to the bottom of the world, we find ourselves in today.

It will be a tough campaign in the war to take Pottstown back from the entrenched profiteers who treat our town as a throwaway place. It will be extra tough cleaning up after them when they are cleaned out of our town, but it will be worth it.

Shoulder your brooms, fall in, the spring offensive is readying a battle plan to mount an offensive which needs all able bodies on board.

Ronald C. Downie

The photo’s in this post depict conditions in one of the worst alleys in Pottstown, in Historic Pottstown.  These photo’s are a window into the hearts and minds of our officials whom we elected and those who we pay, through no choice of our own.   We are a small, poor community but make no mistake, there are no excuses for allowing the filth and degradation of our neighborhoods to proliferate.

Conscientious citizens, taxpayers are finished being ignored, finished taking it on the chin, done watching council enable unethical bussiness people and criminals to succeed where we cannot.  Our best interests are not represented or even considered by local government and this is the beginning…of the end of tolerance for their behavior.

 If you are fed up and ready to move forward, to do everything you can to restore dignity to Pottstown and to do honor to the efforts, the treasure we have in Mr. Downie, to create pride where there is none then pick up that broom, pitchfork and your righteous indignation, we’re mounting a battle plan…

Contact:  cacptown@gmx.com for more details.

furnace duct leaking carbon monoxide in a Chestnut St. rental

Negligence is the rust of the soul, that corrodes through all her best resolves.

Owen Feltham

Quality of Life, Eroding tax base, the Need for a Plan for Downtown & the continued “WAREHOUSING”  in our community…

by Montgomery County:  

“of people with physical, social and mental challenges. All the difficult and delicate issues in our society.”  Mayor Valentine-Thomas  

At Monday night’s council meeting, three women addressed council regarding the problems of housing and the dire consequences to this community of allowing the county, state & federal govts. to continue to neglect our predicament.

Each commenter, including the Mayor, spoke to similar issues from their personal experiences wherein lies truth and by virtue of truth comes strength.  While there are differences in their experiences, a COMMON THEME is emerging and it is worthy of our focus as stakeholders IN PARTNERSHIP with our local government.  

Pottstown resident, Jackie Miller, approached council for the first time to express the difficult challenges she and her husband have faced, over the past  year, finding affordable, safe, rental housing and a landlord who is not scamming the system.  As a disabled couple their income does not permit them to put $2300 – $3000 down on a sub-standard 2 bdrm apt. that will rent, Section 8, for between $950 & $1,000/mo.  

Jackie also said they must move, **they don’t feel safe going out of their current home at night because they live across the street from a bar.  

**A sad commentary about citizens safety that some will only call our “perception.”  I guarantee, if you live in certain parts of Pottstown, you KNOW the difference between crime & perception.

The unconscious administration of Section 8 housing has elevated rents that  have become out-of-reach for working people and the disabled.  Compounding the predicament is the fact of the borough’s history of  lax enforcement of building code & rental ordinances, crime & nusiance renters, coupled with MontCo Voucher Housing & County Commissioners credo:   “look the other way” while the beneficiaries of govt funded housing create havoc & destruction.  

Glutenous slumlords continue to be the only winners in Pottstown as they collect their government checks and leave desperation and strife in their wake.  

I am in complete agreement that WE CANNOT SUSTAIN housing for the less fortunate on downtown High St. and a PLAN is desperately over due.   Without further commentary – with permission from downtown property owner, Cathy Paretti, I publish her comments, as addressed to council, on Monday evening.  Please take some time to deeply consider her profound observations:

Good Evening members of council and Madam Mayor,

I am here tonight to express my concern about the proposal to convert the third floor of the Ellis Mills building into yet more affordable housing units. Although at present the proposal limits the housing to the third floor, the current state of the downtown business district is, at best, confusing, and mixing these units with what sounds like a legitimate plan for the first and second floors will only add to the confusion. There also seems to be no clear strategic plan for the downtown district for PDIDA and PAID to follow, which increases the chance that this project will not be fulfilled as promised. Ellis Mills is one of the premier properties of the downtown district and can be a great asset to its economic development if utilized properly.

I would also like to express my concern at the fact that the county is directing yet another project to Pottstown that includes a certain type of housing that is not in the best interest of our future and with the Beech Street project promising financial support in that scenario. Low Income or affordable housing is a necessity for every community, but Pottstown already shoulders more than its fair share. Even more concerning is that on April 30th a press conference was held in Norristown announcing “The Norristown Quality of Life Policing Task Force,” which is to help “decrease fear of crime” Not only did this press conference have a fine display of Norristown’s law enforcement on hand, but Risa Ferman, the county’s district attorney, and all three county commissioners .

It occurred to me that our county seat is beefing up their efforts to revitalize, thus giving them more reasons to divert anything that may not be in their community’s best interest to their favorite dumping ground – Pottstown, and now they have a plan to follow to get to where they want to be.

I understand that council must entertain any proposal that is presented to the borough but, as I did with the Beech Street project, I am asking council to reject this proposal and send a message to the county that enough is enough. We should look at the events of the past few months as a watershed mark to make a change on how we accept and approach development. Recruiting for profit developers that can truly invest in the community should be the approach.

I must also say, as an investor in the downtown, that if there is a plan for the development of the downtown business district I was very challenged to find it online. What plan is PDIDA and PAID following and what do they have to say about specific development for business, retail, and residential opportunities? Are they following the 4 Point Main Street approach as outlined by the National Trust for Historic Preservation? These should be questions that are not hard to find the answers to. If we want this to stop and if we want the county’s image of Pottstown to change then we must show them we have a clear idea of where we are going and how we are going to get there.

In the meantime, any low-income or subsidized housing proposal should be rejected, or else the message to current investors of the downtown district will be clear: more low-income housing is what Pottstown wants. I’m sure many property owners will be happy to comply.   Cathy Paretti

**************************

I appreciate the residents of Pottstown who have formed the Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown for taking their time, each month, to video tape the council meetings for other residents to view.  I cannot stress enough the importance of paying attention to what is happening in Pottstown.

Clik on the link for the three part video of May’s meeting.  You can contact C.A.C. on their Facebook Page – please get involved – it’s YOUR community. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMR8p2uHQQ8oHxSaY7qDcow

Personal thanks to Jackie, Cathy and Sharon Valentine-Thomas for raising the bar on this discussion.  Let this be the beginning of open, honest dialogue that also engages our elected representatives in finding solutions that work. 

Yesterday, I received this email from a former Pottstown homeowner/resident of over 20 years.  It is the personal story of unnecessary loss and hardship that is tragically replicated every single day in this community…

I just wanted to let you know that after 21 months of unsuccessfully trying to sell my house, I signed it over to the bank.

As you know, I tried to do things the “right way”. I spent 3 months prepping the house for sale. Nothing helped. But let me tell you from my experience why no one should ever buy a house in Pottstown again.

1)Even though starting December 1st, 2012, not a drop of water was run in that house (and therefore no sewage either), and no trash or recycling was placed at the curb from that point, the Boro continued to quarterly bill us $240, and refused to take our name off the account. By the way, PECO took our name off the account as of December 1, 2012 and we never received another bill again. Obviously we refused to pay the water/sewer/trash bill (I guess that’s when I started being a bad citizen). So lickety split they shut off the water at the curb. Of course they continued to bill us quarterly with new charges even though the water was shutoff. This was followed by multiple liens against the property for these ridiculous charges. We are talking about $1500 (including Portnoffs charges). Not one drop of water was drawn, not one drop of water was flushed, not one item was placed out for recycling and trash. I know there are some that say that the Boro can legally do this but it does not make it right.

2)The tax burden is the #1 reason that my house would not sell. Every year, the combined Boro/SD/County property taxes went up at least 4%. They were almost $5000 last year. Add the minimum $80 month just to have water/sewer/trash service and homeowners insurance, you are adding at least $600 a month to a mortgage payment just for taxes/W/S/T/Insurance. The person or family that can afford a mortgage of $100k PLUS $600 month can afford to live elsewhere, not Pottstown.

3) We have seen some horrific properties in that town, but once the Boro realized that our former home was empty, all of a sudden I started receiving violations for things on the property that had been that way for 20 years or more (like some mortar eroded between some bricks on the garage and some peeling paint on a few garage windows). Considering that those conditions existed for 20+ years on that old garage to start the violations after I left is just harassment. I ignored the violations.

4)I had to get rid of the nice well maintained pool in the yard. The main reason was that the water stagnated and there was a complaint to the county (I understand-no argument there) but that combined with the fact that whoever bought the house was going to have to install a new, higher fence to meet an updated code (a fence that was just fine when we put up the pool), it was just better to remove the pool. What a shame.

So I am sad to say that now Mellon Bank own’s the house, I got nothing from my years of investment. Some would say I didn’t have to leave. But the choice was clear to me-between the taxes, insurance and utilities, if I didn’t try and sell it now, I would lose it anyway a few years down the road. That is a sad reality that many homeowners in that town face now.

Mellon paid all the taxes and liens. They will probably sell it as cheaply as possible, you know the ending to that story. An investor with a section 8 certificate will finish destroying a fine old house. The Boro’s policies just pushed the house to a cliff.

While much of the nation is experiencing a resurgence in home sales and bidding wars are not uncommon, Pottstown is bleeding good, taxpaying, law abiding residents….

officials in this borough remain phlegmatic to the strife and hardship the policies of this borough contribute to homeowners:  people who, with the best of intentions and ability, contributed volunteer time and effort to this community and were unfaltering in their obligations.  People who comprised the foundation of a solid tax base but can no longer justify or bear the burdens of the price they pay to own property in Pottstown. 

Not unlike escaping the deadly jaws of shark in the ocean, most former homeowners are relieved to get out with whatever they have managed to salvage of their hides, sans a big chomp out of their credit ratings, finances and dignity. 

Former homeowners don’t look back or take the time to express the depth of their sadness at the losses they’ve sustained for the crime of making every effort to be good, responsible residents of Pottstown.  

Thank you friend for sharing this with us.  Twenty + years is a long, long time to see everything you’ve worked for end in harassment and futility.    

Equally disturbing is the fact that the borough continued to violate, place liens against the property, bill for services that were unused, and lien again.  

Easy Money?  Maybe.  Ignorant and Short-sighted?  Absolutely.

*I just got word from Jeff Cole the story will be on Fox 29 tomorrow night Tuesday, June 3rd.  Time was too short tonight!!

Pottstown Mercury broke the story late last night:

County Detectives caught up with Brian & Lori Patrick in April and we thank the detectives for their diligence. For me, this story has been nearly a 3 year odyssey and it’s really good to see resolution.  

Brian bonded out on $100,000 unsecured while he and his lovely bride have shared sun filled, carefree beach photo’s, wedding shots and bbq’s on the deck via Lori’s FB page.  However, the page was removed after news broke of Brian’s arrest…

I suppose all that “in-your-face joviality” might seem a bit callous and offensive to people who have been left holding the bag on thousands of dollars of their deposit money and rents, ($30,000 some odd dollars), that’s only what is accounted for in this immediate investigation.  

Vendors and service suppliers are thanking their lucky stars that they turned down offers to work for Brian Patrick but – many of them took it on the chin too.

Taking her timeline down was a good call on Lori’s part. Fun in the sun probably doesn’t go over real well with Judges who take their work seriously.  

July 2nd is the arraignment in Norristown.  

If you contacted this blog, joined efforts with others who contacted me and, if you cooperated in the investigation by turning over your documents to the detectives, I understand there’s a good chance you will be paid back.  

I wish all of you the very best.  Thanks to those of you who stuck with it and made this happen.  

A Hearty THANKS to Jeff Cole and Fox 29 who tread into Pottstown, (where few good investigative journalists fear to go), and covered this story with professionalism, courtesy and good humor.  It was a pleasure to work with you… 

Jeff Cole will cover the story of Brian’s run-in with the law tonight on Fox 29 at 10:00 PM  - Tune in…

Here’s the first video of Investigative Reporter, Jeff Cole, catching up with Brian in Delaware:

Fox 29 Investigates Local Property Manager

STAY TUNED…

Local Property Manager Charged with Theft

It’s possible that we haven’t seen the end of this dynamic  individuals escapades.  But let’s hope this is the last post.

Back in March, 2012 the Patch online news conducted a survey of Pottstown.  They asked:

“What Keeps Pottstown From Success?”

Survey said:

Crime — 31 percent
Drug gangs — 2 percent
A high rental to private homeowner ratio — 16 percent
Section 8 — 6 percent
Government — 33 percent
Negative thinking and apathy — 6 percent
The need for a commuter train — 0 percent

* This is not a scientific poll*  In my experience it is an accurate representation.  However, when asked, Pottstown officials repeatedly say the biggest problem is NEGATIVITY AND APATHY among Pottstown citizens… 

as exemplified in the comments of Borough Manager/former Chief of Police, Mark Flanders, in this 2010 article.  These sentiments are not unique to Flanders, they are etched into the minds of local officials.  They are passed down, as a torch, to all incoming leaders until it has become the mantra, the reason, the excuse they give for the failure of Pottstown to thrive.

To fight crime, Pottstown must ‘step up’ says chief

Whose Negativity and Apathy?

There’s no time or space now to enumerate upon the historical failings of Pottstown officials.

What is happening in our community is not a dress rehearsal for a Shakespearean Tragedy.  Pottstown is OUR rickety, unstable stage, our reality, our lives, our investments, our shared and personal tragedy.

The Pottstown officials strategy of obfuscation is to blame the people of this community, while we are kept in the dark, they operate in secrecy and make promises that they have no intention of keeping.  

“Pottstown Proud” is the deception.

Are our officials proud of Pottstown?  Are paid officials clamoring to live in Pottstown, to wallow with the rest of us in what they have helped create?

Are elected officials embarrassed or ashamed to insist that the paid officials live in Pottstown?  What is the reason for that, why do they ignore the ordinance that requires the Borough Manager to live in Pottstown? 

From people who have lived here all their lives or, most of their lives, I hear defeat, frustration, fear, anger and, without exception, mistrust of local government.  Why?  The answers people give to that question fall into two categories:  

Cronysim and Corruption

cro·ny·ism [kroh-nee-iz-uhm] 
noun
the practice of favoring one’s close friends, especially in political appointments.

The online Thesaurus gives a list of synonyms for cronyism that include:   disdain, patronization, condescension, stooping.  Pretty fancy words but, words that describe the sense that Pottstowians share about how it feels to approach the old cronies in local government, to do business with them, or to make an effort to partner with them in finding real solutions. 

cor·rup·tion [kuh-ruhp-shuhn] 

1.
the act of corrupting or state of being corrupt.
2.
moral perversion; depravity.
3.
perversion of integrity.
4.
corrupt or dishonest proceedings.
5.
bribery.

Cronysim is defined as a form of Corruption.

Cronyism is a long-standing tradition in Pottstown.  Cronyism has become so pervasive that it is accepted as the way to do business.  

Realistically, there will always be corruption in government – to one degree or another.  When it reaches critical mass and things are so broken – to the extent that they are in Pottstown – it’s time to stop it.  

ARE YOU POTTSTOWN PROUD? 

Members of the Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown have been asking  that question, long before we connected with one another and, now, as a group that has come together to share anecdotes about local government, and seek solutions. We have learned that the core of our experiences do not deviate much from one story to another. 

We believe it’s time to break the chain of cronysim in Pottstown.  

We believe the place to start is by asking Stephen Toroney, Borough Council President, to step down from council with dignity and in the best interest of Pottstown.   His lengthy term of service, (nearly 17 years by some calculations), is long enough to figure out a few things, but it doesn’t seem to be so. 

There is no necessity, at this time, to elaborate about his failings but rather to reconstitute in your mind one, very significant, recent event that has set Pottstown on an accelerated trajectory to the last roundup – Camden, N.J.-  by way of example of the only, unavoidable conclusion of this path we are on.

We ask you to trip down memory lane with us to that night, November 12, 2012, when, before a packed, “standing room only” council chambers, Steve Toroney led council in a vote to install Police Chief Mark Flanders as the Borough Manager, when a citizen of Pottstown was denied his question about council’s choice for Borough Manager.   

Recall the secrecy that surrounded that evening, the mass exodus of astounded citizens after council voted their approval.  Residents were against this choice and the writing on the wall.   

  Take a moment to re-read or, read for the first time the penetrating thoughts of  journalist, Evan Brandt, after the evening of November 12th in this simply titled Digital First blog post:

THREE THOUGHTS<<clik

“What’s the rationale for secrecy? As Council President Stephen Toroney noted in his own carefully noted time line of events, Flanders was made an offer in early October. Not only did council know, but, apparently, the police force knew.”  

Evan goes on to share his thoughts…

“As a veteran audience member of countless council meetings, I frequently have witnessed Toroney ignore the rules he cleaved to Tuesday night, to allow people to address council out of turn.”

In Flanders tenure as Police Chief we have not prospered. We see, feel and hear the escalating crime, we KNOW it is impacting our safety and our well-being. (which will be covered in more detail in my next post).

We know our tax monies are being spent on top of the line, new vehicles for upper management, outlandish salaries, beyond generous vacation time, costly “improvements” to the 3rd floor offices – where public servants are sheltered with bullet proof glass – from the potential ramifications of their unabated cronyism. While the people who fund all of this – you and me – are left to fend for ourselves, the best that we can.

Pottstown, which has become so dangerous as to cause us to take refuge from the streets, the parks, to look over our shoulders and shelter our children from the painful realities of our community is the direct result of cronyism. Not to say there have not been other contributing factors, because there have been.

We are not APATHETIC, nor are we under any illusion that crime in Pottstown is simply our “perception.”

Our crime rate is higher than Chicago Los Angeles, New York and Compton.  This is the truth.

We have been shut out, we have been diminished and we have NOT been very good at speaking our truth where it could matter most or holding our officials accountable. We realize that we cannot force President Toroney out of office without a lengthy process.  We promise, if he will not graciously acquiesce to  will of the people he WILL be held responsible for his every move, or lack there of…with facts, evidence and truth.

 Change is Essential NOW 

Stay tuned…for post #2 before days end. 

.

...Because we all know that smart, money-wise investors rely on local blogs for their information, they base their investment decisions on our opinions and facts about Pottstown.   Savvy investors don’t read the regional news, come to Pottstown to see for themselves or, talk to government officials??

The fact that Pottstown doesn’t have a plan or a vision, (a little scary from an investors point of view), has nothing to do with it when they decline to take a risk in this community, (unless, of course, you’re a slum investor), who knows all they need to know…

Pottstown’s epic, long-term failure is slum investor’s three ring circus (complete with dancing elephants and clowns).  

About that “planning” thing:  Council Prez Toroney turned his nose straight up at the Urban Land Institute<<clik to view they’re recommendations of 2009, (it is reputed that Steve had/has personal issues with some of the councilors/residents that got the prestigious ULI to look at Pottstown again).

OhOh, wait a sec…the borough did establish an economic development entity, as the ULI suggested, nearly 4 years after the report.  They had a pot of like $450,000 at first, and they re-constituted a non-profit they call:  PAID.  An org. that also appears to have no….plan. So…the money will run out, then what?   Today…

Instead of “Magic” on the riverfront – Pottstown has low-income, shoddily built rental housing on the river OH JOY of JOYS, how sacred. That’s really bringing the new businesses into downtown, evidenced by the ghostly vacancies on High St.   

Officials won’t articulate it but, it’s not difficult to conjecture that someone(s) are being rewarded for something – somewhere along this very long, historical line of cronysim and Pottstown’s failure to thrive.  

It’s human nature to expect reward and repeat behaviors that are fruitful.   

There is always a plan – written or not.  Are these the goals…?

Disinevestment, Homeowner flight, Increasing crime, Disregard for the suffering of the few remaining businesses and homeowners, High Taxes, Tanking property values well…

If so, local government is successful. Naturally, we don’t know what the trade-off is.  We don’t know why Pottstown is circling the drain because we are not privy to their plan or their benefit. 

     Woman & Teen Both Shot in Pottstown Alley

Smart investors read the news, they read assorted crime data reports, proliferating on the net, and maybe they stumble into one of the blogs but – (google crime in Pottstown or just Pottstown) – there’re way more crime sites and news sources than blogs about Pottstown. 

Funny tho, how the Mayor’s crime stats are at odds with every other website, (of course in her 13 min. diatribe at council, Monday, she didn’t quote her source).

You can watch the Mayor on Youtube<<clik here, if you are inclined to kick back with a cup of tea, take your worried mind off of crime in Pottstown for awhile – everything is good, just the way it is, no change necessary.

One of the very best sources, if you really want a finger on the pulse of public sentiment, is Facebook.  No doubt, ranking at the bottom of the heap for officials,  (just above blogs about Pottstown), another great source of information officials can casually dismiss with statements like:

” It also seems, again, to me, that if we stopped spending time addressing the individual concerns of the constant complainer(s) and more time focusing on real problems, we would be able to accomplish much more in our community.” Jan. 2010 Police Chief Mark Flanders…

But now that he’s been in the Manager’s seat for a year and 7 months-ish,  Flanders has well insulated himself against constant complainers, as a commenter on Monday night pointed out, in her <failed> effort to speak with Flanders in person.  

(Getting an appointment with the Pope is more likely).

We understand, really we do. We imagine what it would be like to be focused on the real problems – in the midst of picking out new cars, (hmm Sirius radio, or no?), and counting out golf balls, (to be sure there’s just the right number for opening day at mini-golf land in Pottstown), while the assistant is trying to keep track of bagging the balls – in coordinated color combo’s.  It’s just not possible to listen to constant complainers and focus on weighty decisions. 

***Please forgive my transgression, I am a sinner.   I am nothing more than a constant complainer for I live in Pottstown and I, like so many others, am not obedient to unspoken rules of conduct:  “Be seen but never heard”. 

Minimizing citizens concerns, diminishing their efforts by referring to them as “constant complainers” is a Pottstown tradition – it’s roots firmly anchored in cronyism.  We’ve been called worse:  “haters” by the former mayor or the ever popular “apathetic.”   

Anyway, I digress. The point of this blog post, today, is to present a small sampling of comments following Citizens Action Committee’s protest and citizen comments to council on Monday night.  Nobody in government will read them, of course, so for posterity, (because we really do care about what residents have to say), and thought you might too….

Here’s a sampling of public sentiment on Facebook: 

D.S.:   Right on. From the few times I’ve driven through Pottstown I thought it was even more ghetto than Allentown.

KBD:    Call, call, call, and nothing is done. They <police> come out, five minute conversation, and leave again…a citation is never issued. To top it off, you’re labeled a nuisance caller. Why bother with borough ordinances? They don’t mean anything.

Sorry but I called 911 after hearing gun shots the one night. The 911 operator called PPD dispatch and after almost 20 rings someone picked up and he sounded asleep.

Then my house was robbed and the responding officer seemed more interested in talking about tattoos then the break in. Now my homeowners insurance went up. It’s hard to be a concerned citizen when no one cares. I have teenage kids walking down my street breaking things, being loud late at night, or throwing rocks at my neighbors cat. Where are the parents of these kids? Is there a curfew being enforced in town anymore? Everyone hides in their house and closes the curtains to this shit. Pottstown needs to get its act together or it’s just going to get worse.  Yeah they <govt. officials> are making money one way or another no one does anything for free. I learned that a long time ago. There has to be something they are getting to stay in their position. Like I said some kind of money is greasing their hands.

I read Roy’s Rants and watched the video clip. Toroney is his own worst enemy and has done/said everything to help Citizens for Pottstown make their point. I did note, for someone who never reads blogs or FB, that Toroney came up with a sort of reply that would make you doubt his word. Hmmmm. I also noted how angry and red in the face he was! I think it was because, with so many different reporters and cameras in the room, he couldn’t shut people up as they were speaking without making himself look like an ever bigger idiot! What confounds me is that the rest of Council allows him to go on and on and on with his behavior. ‘Course it’s always been my suspicion that he is merely a mouthpiece for our “illustrious” B.M. Could it be that the rest of Council are so afraid of or intimidated by the B.M. that they WON’T speak up?

S.R :     It all stems from the township/borough. Yes the rental properties are a huge problem, and that’s because Pottstown is so appealing to investors. With it’s LOW property values and blight communities. But it has to fall back on the borough. They don’t enforce U&O / health codes properly. They allow investors to buy houses, that won’t pass inspection, and then be rented out, without being registered.

LESS THAN HALF OF THE RENTALS IN POTTSTOWN ARE ACTUALLY LICENSED AND REGISTERED. >>

“Slumlords” in Pottstown are also restaurant owners, real estate agents, government officials. These are the people that have money, that can afford to invest in a better Pottstown. The answer is not kicking out the “slumlords”, it’s removing the low income. If the codes change and are properly enforced then the investors will comply, because that’s what makes them money. – this is from an investors point of view.

R.B.:  So after all that talking what did she <Mayor Valentine-Thomas> really say? What was the upshot of the entire evening? That things are the way they are and thats all there is to it? That we are to be glad that theft is the largest crime problem by numbers? Unless more citizens step up to the plate nothing will ever change? That nothing new is being worked on or planned to change anytime in the near future? Is it just me or is that what was really said?

G.C.:  That’s what she said. And Toroney said it too – in his own way.  Why does Steve let her ramble?

K.H. The borough council of Pottstown thinks that allowing another bodega to open is economic developement. Another corner store that sells garbage foods to children, exchanges EBTs for cash at $.40 on the dollar, and sells synthetic drugs or the real thing under the counter. When you have Family Dollar presenting itself as an improvement to the community, something with that picture is wrong.

Police: Man robs Philly dollar store with metal pipe

Anything but apathy was on display Monday night at Pottstown council meeting.  Residents courageously address council and they speak the truth.

We, no doubt, are seen as the “constant complainers” that local government endeavors to ignore.  As though labeling us “complainers” will assure the apathy that we are accused of, on one hand, while on the other – we never do enough.

Council President, Stephen Toroney, expresses no empathy for residents, no culpability for the accelerated decline in the safety of our community or, the diminishing quality of municipal services provided by various departments that we support with our taxes.

Steve Toroney defends the success of his 15 1/2 year record on council, (but, he points to no accomplishments). Has your quality of life improved over the past 15 1/2 years?

WE ASK PRESIDENT TORONEY, one simple thing:  justify his belief that he is a capable leader, we ask him to:

PROVE IT.

Steve Toroney calls his position of leadership “sacred”…

His reverent dedication to serving you  - as he has always done, with enthusiasm – says everything you need to know:

Steve Toroney sees no need to change or step down.

His defiance of logic, is illogical, his ineffective leadership consecrated by time and evidenced in the unholy failure of Pottstown to thrive. Councilman Gery was eager to share the blame, well, all right….

We know it has not been a “lone ranger” who has brought Pottstown to the brink but, we also know the duties and responsibilities of a Council President to lead. We know that cronyism is not working for Pottstown and we want to cut the link, forever, in the best interests of the survival of this community.

sa·cred [sey-krid]
adjective
1.
devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2.
entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3.
pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular or profane ): sacred music; sacred books.
4.
reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5.
regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.

POTTSTOWN (The Cockroach Report)—Pottstown Officials unveiled their latest offering as artists on Tuesday — a portrait of apathy in Pottstown.

Taking notes at the joint meeting of the borough and school district last Tuesday night Frank Otto, reporter at the Mercury News, quoted Borough Manager Mark Flanders:

“Apathy in this town has driven me nuts during my entire career.”

Council’s “un-plan” for Pottstown has thrown the door open to an influx of new resident renters, creepy slum guys, (keep your eye on Edward Mitchell), many whose government supported lifestyles, (that INCLUDES poverty pimps), perfectly embody the definition of “apathy.”

At this rate…

It’s very likely that Flanders will never become “un-nuts” as long as he’s an official of the borough.

Nevertheless, pronouncing themselves pleased with their portrait of Pottstown, the joint officials said they are getting to work on a new painting entitled:

 “Mommy Never Takes Me To the Drug Infested Playground.”

(illustration by golden cockroach)

Here’s Franks Article, clik on the link (in blue) & be magically transported to the Mercury:

Pottstown Officials Meet, Discuss Pottstown’s Apathy in the Midst of a Community Anti-Violence Movement

While communities throughout the U.S. have discovered the value of fighting crime with social media, our guest writer expresses consternation about the Facebook comment from a Pottstown Police Officer.

Welcome Connie Citizen, the First Golden Cockroach blog site guest writer.

If you would like to submit a personal story or a musing about Pottstown, for consideration, we’d love to hear from you.  Send your outline or story to:   ptownadvocates@hotmail.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I was absolutely appalled while browsing posts to The Mercury last evening. I ran across a discussion pertaining to the ACLU examining SWAT incidents.

http://www.pottsmerc.com/government-and-politics/20140625/aclu-report-warns-swat-units-are-over-militarized-hyperaggressive

Intrigued by the title of the article, I dove in and was amazed at the comments posted. I observed citizens weighing in on the topic and as I continued to read I observed a group of comments by Police Officers. One of which is Pottstown’s finest Jonathan Gallagher.

At first glance I thought, “Wow, Drumhellers promise in a 2013 article to have officers POSITIVELY connect with citizens through social media to forge a relationship with citizens is FINALLY coming to fruition”. Read that article here:

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20130509/NEWS01/130509292

My hopes were instantly dashed as I read what Gallagher had to say, responding to his fellow LEO like they were in the locker room at work. That aside, a woman who often weighs in discussions for the greater good of this town, was belittled like some kind of nuisance because she often calls the police while living in one of the WORST parts of town (which Drumheller states that patrols were “beefed up” back in 2013, but never were).

YA THINK?

Our Police Chief and Captain appears at Ward meetings and encourages us to call them. Then you have Officer Gallagher belittling folks for doing so?????? What’s up with that? So let’s examine what he said on yesterday’s Mercury Facebook thread:

Golden Cockroach:  Like this one? This seemed odd to me when it happend. Be sure to watch the video:

http://bikersofamerica.blogspot.com.au/…/pottstown-pa…

Jonathan Gallagher replied:  And @ Golden Cockroach, not sure what was ‘odd’ to you about that particular incident. If it had been next your home, you would be calling constantly to complain about the criminal activity. Maybe there was more to it than what you read in the newspaper.

WHAT???????

Is he serious? Folks there is a serious issue with this town. The police are arrogant and insulting to the citizens of this town. In person, in threads etc. If Pottstown Police adopted a code of ethics (which they don’t seem to have) it might look like this:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/content/cjst/menu/officer-requirements-main-page/le-ethical-standards-of-conduct.aspx

Sadly, Pottstown has codes of ethics for PAL kids and parental behavior but, none for the department itself. So I assume this gives them free range to belittle citizens for calling the police.

Shame on you officer!

Borough of Pottstown,

THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY YOUR CITIZENS DO NOT REPORT.

They are rude on scene, online, and in general. Again this will be ignored, nothing will likely be done, and Officer Gallagher may even get a raise.

New Pottstown police chief: Use increased patrols, social media to fight crime

This is the tale of two staggeringly depleted municipalities, the immoral real estate income investors that are proliferating in both communities and the disparity of recognition and intention between government officials in Detroit, Wayne County Michigan and…

Pottstown Borough, Montgomery County Pennsylvania.

Last week, property taxes in Pottstown were raised by the School Board another 2.9% bringing the rise in property taxes near 75% since 2004. Yet, unscrupulous investors still get away with property tax evasion every single day and it is never acknowledged by district, borough or county officials. 

In the first community, Detroit, Wayne County officials have heeded the results of the findings of a powerful investigative report that came out in March, 2014.  <<clik to read the article in the Detroit News:  

“A Detroit News investigation found about 1 in 4 Detroit landlords paid to rent to poor families through the state’s Housing Choice Voucher program collectively owe the city at least $5 million in back taxes and probably much more.”

Officials of Detroit and Wayne County have aligned to advocate for their constituents and close the “loop holes” that make it possible for unscrupulous, property tax evading investors to prosper from renting unsafe, tax delinquent housing.

One suggestion in Wayne County is to petition the court to allow the county to collect the government rent checks, pay the property taxes, municipal liens, perform maintenance and when the homes are brought back into compliance the landlord will get the rent.   

The actions that officials have taken include an appeal from the Wayne County treasurer to Federal Officials of HUD to crack down on landlords who collect government rent and fail to pay their property tax bills. <<<clik to read the article in the Detroit News.  We think our government should piggy back off this appeal but more and more it looks like they are comfortable with “things as they are” in Pottstown, and why would that be?  We want to know.

“The News found that some landlords collected checks until they faced foreclosure and then sold the tax-delinquent properties to buyers, including tenants.”

In the second community, Pottstown, Local and County Officials apparently don’t speak to each other let alone jump on the same page to even try to address the multiple issues surrounding our housing and tax crisis.

Both government entities are complicit in this scheme by their silence and neglect, at the very minimum…

In fact, the county continues to ply Pottstown agencies with government grant monies to house the indigent in dangerously neglected, very old and badly chopped up apartment homes in our community.

Tax evading income investors are lining up at the tax money trough, we see more and more devalued housing stock selling to the usual suspects…. every single day and with it – our property values sink even further as our community becomes increasingly unsafe and unsightly. 

Much of the housing is no longer safe for occupancy but still, it remains in the rental cycle with inadequate codes inspections or no inspections at all.  Not only are the renters not safe but, in a community where houses are often attached or very close together, nearby neighbors are also at risk. 

Codes inspectors are not certified to inspect two of the most potentially dangerous aspects of housing, according to sources in the L & I Department, furnaces and electrical wiring.   Sources at the DEP say that, the MontCo Health Department is responsible for issues of vermin, insects and raw sewage – which are also rampant in our rental housing.

Uniform Building Code does not make exceptions nor does PA State Law.  It is imperative that the borough carefully consider the qualifications of the people they hire to inspect properties and it IS the responsibility of Council President, Stephen Toroney, to issue those directives and to be informed.  

As things stand now, rental inspections are dangerously inadequate. They generate revenue for the borough but they accomplish little else. 

It has reached crisis proportions in Pottstown while officials sit idle, we are lacking educated, motivated and innovative leadership.  What motivates officials to IGNORE these grave situations?  

The question becomes one of  “graft” and the connections between these investors, officials and politicians at all levels of government in the county, the borough and Pennsylvania.

The possible answers as to why income investors continue to abuse Pottstown…are not infinite…

Leading to speculation about the Western Montgomery County Real Estate Investors Club and what connections they have with state, county and local officials.  We keep seeing the same “players” over & over again despite multi-million dollar foreclosures and tax liens in double digits.

Many of these investors are also licensed Real Estate agents in the state of PA.  Ostensibly, the state has an ethics board and it is my belief that these agents need to be carefully scrutinized by this board. Their management practices ARE unethical not paying taxes is ILLEGAL and their illegal acts of not maintaing their properties and strong arm evictions take place every single day in Pottstown.   

Clik here to go to the State License website: http://www.licensepa.state.pa.us/ once there, you can enter the names of all the real estate investors mentioned on this page for their license status.

Income investor, Edward Mitchell, Pa license # RS150724A is employed by Platinum First Realty, LLC # $B067749 located at:   460 S. Lewis Rd. Royersford.  The agency is owned by Ralph Chiodo.  

*we’ll get back to Ed in a few…after we connect the dots for you….

Also employed by Platinum First is Douglas Campbell #RS279349, at one time, his former wife Debra Lacava Campbell also worked for this agency.  

Multiple times, in various anonymous newspaper comments someone, (in my opinion, Deb Campbell), stated that the MontCo Investors Club knows how to put the “screws” to Pottstown and they would be “educating” more investors to take advantage of cheap rentals and Section 8.  

Now the investors have added the County’s new program to house the homeless, “Your Way Home,” to their roster of free govt taxpayer money they will abuse.  Investors are buying depleted properties in Pottstown, right now as I write this, for that very reason alone.

If this investors organization teaches investors how to behave unethically and illegally, it is quite possible that they are engaging in “Racketeering”.  

Every effort needs to be made to investigate this group and their practices, to follow the trail.

Deb Campbell #RS289372  is now employed by Reliant Property Management, Inc. located at:   794 Penllyn Pike, Suite 200, Blue Bell PA.  Deb is still peddling rental properties in Pottstown.  

***A reminder about Affinity Property Management and Brian Patrick who was charged recently with 41 counts of theft and related charges for stealing money from his clients.   <<click for the Fox video.

Brian once said that he and Deb are friends.  You have to wonder how he went undetected by authorities for his crimes in our own community?   Several of his clients were denied when they attempted to file reports with the PPD… that never made sense and it delayed the investigation.

They were casually dismissed by the department:  “it’s a civil matter.”  One complaint, yes, but they didn’t even care to take reports and build a case.  Instead, people reported to my blog and Jeff Cole, investigative reporter for Fox, took it from there – along with Brians victims – to the D.A.  The PPD didn’t even refer Brian’s victims to the D.A.’s office. 

The newspaper comments, (hundreds of them), in 2012 – 2013 occurred as Deb and Doug were defaulting on $2 mil.+ in mortgages & had ceased paying property taxes.  Deb was clearly angry that I was posting about their activites.

I have also recently learned, from former tenants, that as the Campbells were defaulting, Deb and Doug were populating their rentals with people who were dealing drugs and were, in my experience and belief, paying cash rent to Deb and Doug.  

Cash rents are easily undetected by taxing agencies and bankruptcy courts.  Cash gives investors the resources to start over again without missing a beat.

Negative investors can actually make lifetime careers of ripping people off and get away with it in Pottstown, all the while receiving warm handshakes and smiles from some of Pottstown’s  public employees.    

You can clik on the MontCo Prothonotary site to view 64 civil suits in Montgomery County, attributable to Douglas and Debra Campbell.  The majority are real estate defaults, taxes and municipal liens, many are still “open.”  You can also type in Debra Campbell for another view of the civil suits.    

*Back to Ed Mitchell who purchased 454, 450 & 448 King St. (side by side REO properties). He’s connected to Doug Campbell via Platinum First Realty.   Mitchell’s son stopped on the street, one day, to tell me that Ed bought the properties to house the homeless.

What do the homeless care about living in squalor, living in risky housing or being treated like 2nd class citizens – right?   It’s FREE government money…

That’s Ed’s attitude, according to his renters.  Earlier in the spring he emptied the 2nd floor at 454 King St. of all existing renters, including a woman who had lived isolated in her room for 13 years.  Neighbors say she didn’t leave the room in all that time.  Her possessions were few and Ed cleared her room.  He threw everything out, like garbage.  He threw her out with malice, along with her identification card, her ATM card and her SS card that were thrown in the trash.

Neighbors retrieved her vital documents and helped to find her safe refuge.  Ed could have cared less. 

This group of properties was defaulted on in 2012 by Matt Crouse & Mark Rechkemmer dba Lotus Properties, who stripped the historic contents from 454 King St. and sold them.

Ed Mitchell bought the properties in November 2013 from Malvern Federal Savings, for $85,000.  (Malvern is also often seen in civil records for mortgage defaults by investors).  

Myself and other community members had the opportunity to tour these buildings before Ed purchased them.  An architect and a contractor were among the members of the group.  They concluded that to bring these properties up to code and make them attractive additions to the Historical Pottstown neighborhood it would cost roughly:

ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

And, you CAN believe that none of the people in this blog post would ever spend that kind of money to fix up those properties. You can also believe that it is these connections between politicians, real estate agents, and other investors –  the incompetence and cronyism in Pottstown –  that KEEPS quality investors away…

It’s not residents apathy, it’s not high prices downtown and it’s not even property taxes.  Why would local government, (given that everything is on the up and up and officials are competent), FAVOR these destructive investors and the blighting of the town they govern – over good investors that can help build a strong, solid tax base?  

WHY do borough leaders keep closing the door on qualified managers from outside their ranks?  Think about that.   

Ultimatley it was concluded, by ethical professionals, that the right choice would be the demolition of 454, 450 & 448 King St.  They would not invest, under these circumstances, so the properties sold to another slumlord…

THESE STRUCTURES ARE NOT SAFE, EVEN NOW.

Each of these buildings are rife with health and safety issues YET, they continue to be approved for occupancy by the borough.  This just doesn’t seem logical or straight up.  

Within a very short time after buying 448 King St., Austin Morris, a school teacher from Souderton moved voucher renters into the property, (after dark), because he had no license and no inspection – this he admitted to me in conversation.

The tenants have a baby and AUSTIN IS A SCHOOL TEACHER???  Does he care about the health and safety of kids or maybe only some kids?  Free government money …

Austin Morris said he didn’t know better, he’s from Souderton, he didn’t know the laws or ordinances in Pottstown. I believe he did know better.  I believe he knew exactly how to game the system because of who he bought the property from and the fact his house still has violations and looks trashed from the outside and because I see income investors doing the same things, every day in my neighborhood.  

Pottstown rental ordinance states:

§ 103. Penalty for Violation. [Ord. 2078, 10/12/2010] Any person (which shall include any individual, partnership, association or corporation) convicted of a violation of any provisions or requirements of this Part shall be sentenced to a fine or penalty of not less than $250 and not exceeding $1,000, plus costs, and in default of payment of said fine and costs to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. For the purpose of this Section, the failure to submit the required tenancy report for each apartment building, mobile home park or other rental or leased residential property shall be a separate offense. Enforcement of this Part shall not begin until December 1, 2010.

But, we don’t see these investors prosecuted.  Why?  This leads to further questions of ineptitude, corruption or a combination of both.

Ed Mitchell also moved people into his properties without the proper inspections and licenses.  His decision to do so and the borough’s decision to look the other way,  has led to untold hardships for many people including the good neighbors on this block.  In the RTK I filed in February or March, Ed had no inspections and no rental licenses yet he had people living in his properties.

Edward Mitchell has NINETY ONE civil suits in Montgomery County and most are real estate related.  This man has more mortgage defaults and tax liens in his history than any crooked investor I’ve come across, yet.  

And officials have the same access to this information as I do – they either don’t know how to use it or they know but, will not take aggressive measures to stop this activity.

What reasons could there be for taking no action?  One strong, aggressive prosecution would send ripples thru the members of the investors club – guaranteed – it would be effective. 

Mitchell’s a pro at using heartless, immoral AND illegal tactics to remove renters from his property.  At 450 King St. Edward allowed the electric & water to be shut off for non-payment at 450 King St. & 458 King St., after moving people into the “boarding house”, (that does not comply with zoning requirements for boarding homes), Ed Mitchell has been enabled by the borough’s own neglect to aggressively halt his activities. 

In the video below, you’ll see some of the problems that are the result of this neglect and, they were compounded by the sale of 450 King St. to notorious Pottstown income investor Alisa Levin aka:  NikChad, LLC accompanied by Re/Max agent, Mark Toepel, husband of State Representative, Marcy Toepel…

(GC post/clik on Mercury article written by Evan Brandt re: police services to Toepel’s rental property on High St.).

It’s not clear if Mark is a partner or not but his professional associations are in question.  Alisa Levin identified Mark Toepel, to departing tenants, as the “manager”.  MontCo property records do not list properties owned by NIKCHAD, LLC or Alisa Levin, unless you know the address.  This is the state corporate filing for NIKCHAD, LLC.

Alisa owns 344 Beech St. rented to Daisy’s mini-mart on the main floor. I made mention of this address in a post about access card fraud.  On the 2nd floor is an apartment that a former tenant says has serious codes issues. 

This is the only property owner/corp. I’ve encountered that cannot be searched in the property records by name or corporate name.  

We know only of her <professional> connection to Mark Toepel.

Alisa Levin is listed as a Quakertown MSW LCSW Social Worker in Superpages.com although her state license says “Null and Void” since 2005. 

On Monday, 6.30.2014 Edward Mitchell received a post on the door of 454 King St. for his “delinquent water bill”.  Prior to the video, he left new tenants stranded in the dark with no electric service for the same reason:  non-payment.  A new tenant was left sitting on the step, one day, with no key to the front door and no response from Ed Mitchell, for many hours.  

The former tenants, that you’ll meet in the video, will attest to the fact that Ed Mitchell shut their water off and either turned the power off or didn’t pay the bill at 450 King St. He called the borough license & inspection dept. to condem the house in an effort to ILLEGALLY evict them.  Because of that…

Two women were forced to sleep outside, in back of the house that night, they had no where else to go.  One of the women is receiving chemo treatments and has been very ill. 

These are NOT isolated events in Pottstown, they are very common.  The borough must take responsiblity to do everything in their power to prohibit Alisa Levin from moving renters into 450 King St. without following every letter of the law…

They must aggressively enforce the laws and their own ordinances in the case of Ed Mitchell and Austin Morris (codes violations still remain at 448 King St.).

Update to the video:  Monday, as Denise removed the household items from the side porch of 450 King St., one of Ed’s renters at 454 King was “cracked up”  -  high on drugs and she smacked Denise across the head and shoulder with a shovel.  Denise was headed to the hospital after relaying this to me.

Understand that there are many many eyes on these properties, their owners and the borough – due to the despicable antics of Ed Mitchell.  We want him held accountable.  He should NOT be allowed to make money off of dangerous properties and the hardships he creates for his renters, homeowners and Pottstown.  This man has no business doing business in our community.

Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown holds council president, Stephen Toroney, accountable for his laissez-faire leadership, his cronyism and his sneaky appointment of an unqualified borough manager in 2012.  A rising crime rate and under motivated police department are NOT recommendations for a higher position in local government.

Toroney continues to enable borough departments to live down to the lowest expectations and business people, like those in this post, to prosper.

It has to stop now. 

Pottstown MUST have solid, experienced, honest leadership before it’s too late. 

Bumper Stickers Available thru Citizens Action Committee for Pottstown on Facebook.  Like us and get connected. 

I was contemplating the message to attach to this post about Monday afternoon’s events, in the video below.  And, you know?  There is very little that I haven’t said – ad nauseum – over the past three years, in this blog…

Here’s another take on things, as posted to facebook, by one of the few quality, conscientious rental property owners in town:

I hate to sound negative as I had great hopes for Pottstown, but the bottom line is NOBODY who has the power to accomplish anything positive cares. The borough manager is in it for a paycheck. The elected board is there for an ego trip.

The police don’t want to be bothered with doing their jobs. I had a conversation with an officer the other day. He was in the 400 block of Walnut Street. I asked him, “Why don’t the police just write citations to all these degenerates for anything you can think of, Even if it j-walking?” I explained that if you let it be known that Pottstown isn’t a place were criminals feel comfortable, they will leave. He laughed and said, “Thats what Philly does, now they are all making their way here.” My response was, “Well, if it works for Philly, why won’t it work here.? He smiled and said, ” Chris, I get paid the same amount of money either way, why create more paper work for myself.”

Then he explained that is pretty much the attitude of the entire police department.  He explained that he is tired of hearing about the borough manager complain that he is in a higher tax bracket now and it is “killing him”  (By the way, I had just met this officer for the first time, and he was very open about the dysfunction of upper management).  

Typical politics as usual. He explained to me that the town has NO HOPE. It will never come back and to be honest although the borough claims they can’t stand what is going on, the truth of the matter is that they really don’t care. The more crime, the more overtime for the police. If Pottstown officials had a treasure map resting on the table in front of them with a big “X” where the treasure was located, I honestly think they would come up with reasons why not to use the map but rather hire an outside firm whom someone is in bed with and use the tax payers money to create another faulty map only to fail.

***TO EXEMPLIFY THE SENTIMENTS ABOVE, POTTSTOWN POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THIS PROPERTY BEFORE AFTER THE BEATING DEATH OF A MOTHER PIT BULL KNOWN AS BROOKLYN.  BROOKLYN’S BODY WAS LEFT IN THE BACK YARD OF 244 N. CHARLOTTE ST. FOR 2 DAYS AFTER HER TRAGIC DEATH, WITNESSED BY NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN, (THAT FACT ALONE IS UNFORGIVABLE).  ULTIMATELY THE RENTER BAGGED HER BODY AND THREW HER IN THE TRASH***

“Dogfighting is almost always a symptom of gun and drug related crimes, so working to end the horrible practice not only benefits animals, it benefits humans as well.”   Andrew Helton to Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania Director of the Humane Society of the United States.  

Pit Bulls Turning Up Dead in Dumpsters <CLIK (written last September).

244 N. Charlotte St. The Creeping Crud <CLIK (don’t miss the comments beneath this article where Faye and Larry defend their slum mentalities).

“We need the compassion and the courage to change the conditions that support our suffering. Those conditions are things like ignorance, bitterness, negligence, clinging, and holding on.”
Sharon Salzberg

Or, as I like to call them “Bite Bills” taking a bite out of blight one bill at a time…

  SENATE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS BLIGHT BILLS

Three bills aimed at providing tools to decrease the number of blighted properties across the commonwealth were reported from the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee on June 27.

Senate Bill 1420, authored by Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Philadelphia), would allow a property owner’s Pennsylvania driver’s license to be suspended for 90 days if the property owner has three serious convictions of property violations within a municipality. The bill was reported by an 8-3 vote.  I like this Bill – a lot – only thing is…getting serious convictions for property violations in Pottstown doesn’t happen.  I’d like it a whole lot BETTER if it included delinquent property tax and municipal service liens too.  Can’t sell Pottstown  real estate or manage rental property here too easily on a bicycle – when you have to pedal your ass(ets) from Limerick or Blue Bell to Pottstown to make a buck off homeowner/taxpayers & good landlords misfortunes. 

Another proposal, SB 1427, introduced by committee chair Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) was reported from committee 10-1 and would allow counties the option to apply an additional fee of up to $15 on deeds and mortgages, with the additional revenue to be used exclusively for demolition within the county.  I suppose this isn’t such a big deal to the average property buyer and it would be great to start demolishing blighted houses in Pottstown, for sure.  But it doesn’t really target the negligent property owners, the source of most of the blight.   Oh yeah, that’s right …  Act 90 the Blight And Reclamation Law allows municipalities to go after the personal assets of these creeps to rectify the damages they cause. I’d like to see it put to use. 

Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny), the committee’s minority chair, authored SB 1442, which was reported from committee 10-1, and would amend the Real Estate Tax Sale Law to allow counties to add a ten percent fee to properties sold at a tax sale, with the funds directed for demolition and rehabilitation of blighted property. The bills are now before    the Senate Appropriations Committee.  This is good…has merit, could raise some serious funds and might hit the banks who should be chipping in big time for all the properties they neglect in Pottstown too.

**Many thanks to a dear friend and avid Cockroach reader for these updates!**

435 King St. on the Pottstown Blighted Property List

 This year, a bank slid this property at 435 King St. over to a hedge fund registered in Texas after the former purveyor of slum living at its finest went belly up on the mortgage/taxes/municipal services.

THIS HAS BEEN NEARLY A THREE YEAR ODYSSEY Of WATCHING THIS HOUSE DISINTEGRATE … 

The first vacant winter, pipes burst and water ran until late spring. 

Warm weather caused mold to grow on the wet wood and surfaces.  It is so riddled with mold you can smell it just walking by, that cannot be healthy.  Squirrels have taken up cozy residence on the 2nd floor where they are raising large families. 

clik for listing link>> This hot mess is on the borough’s blighted property list for good reason and it needs to come down soon.  

The decorative corbels beneath the rotted eaves are falling off now onto the sidewalk – likely to bonk someone on the bean and cause some serious damage. We need to make these banks and hedge funds do the right thing in our communities too.  

I remember…

About two years after I moved to Pottstown the stories of underhanded politics began to unfold, including the prevalence of anonymous, “poison pen letters” that are designed to intimidate and threaten an adversary.  I’m sure this kind of thing is not a Pottstown exclusive but it sure is popular here.

How fulfilling can it be to send anonymous letters?   Think about it:

The sender never has the satisfaction of seeing surprise on the recipients face.

The sender never knows if their target shared the letter with other people.

The sender is never assured that their secret letter spawned conjecture or fear or debate about who sent it and why.

Nope, in reality, the sender never really knows if the letter had the desired effect of intimidating or paralyzing their intended.

The author is left with the temporary satisfaction of secretly spewing their threats and vitriol after which, it seems to me, they can only indulge themselves in twisted fantasies about the impact they’ve made on another person.  In that regard…

I imagine the authors of poison pen letters are full of false bravado, and a few other things I shall not mention by name but one of them rhymes with coop.

The recipient’s of anonymous, toxic Pottstown fiction say they usually <wisely> tear the letters up, with little regard for the hostile content, and toss ‘em in the round file cabinet. 

Recently, poison pens are going around again.   There seems to be a single author whose writing style stands out and whose content is to threaten lawsuits against the borough, or encourage residents to file lawsuits against other residents.  The letters lack fact or substance and…

The writer comes off like she’s throwing an adult temper tantrum <so unattractive by any measure>  The recent round of letters give every indication of having been written by a real estate  -eh hem- “professional” who I have written about on this blog and who is affiliated with the Western Montgomery County Real Estate Investors Group.   This is an organization whose members comprise many of the negligent rental property owners we see today in Pottstown.

Judging by the poison pen letters being mailed of late, it’s an easy guess that some members of the real estate investors group are feeling a tad uncomfortable with recent developments in the borough. Perhaps they sense that their free reign of terror is coming to an end?

We can only say:  IT’S ABOUT TIME!

The recipient of one of those poison pen letters is a neighbor of mine who brought me the letter yesterday to make a copy for posterity.  In the letter my neighbor was encouraged – in a misguided, erroneous rant – to hire an attorney and sue me for posting to facebook the footage taken from a surveillance video, in a public space, that captured.. uh.. shall I say, something that should have been accomplished in private.   The fact is…

The 4th Amendment guarantees privacy in our homes, public restrooms, jail, in a phone booth, etc. but…when you are in public places – if, for example, you choose to urinate in public – it is possible to be charged with littering, public nuisance, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, or other law if the locality doesn’t have a law specifically addressing public urination, (Pottstown has laws on the books to govern these things).

The following is an example of one state’s law dealing with public urination:

76-9-702. Lewdness — Sexual battery — Public urination. A person is guilty of public urination if the person urinates or defecates in a public place, other than a public rest room; and under circumstances which the person should know will likely cause affront or alarm to another.

While these laws are widely enforced in other towns and cities it is not common to see them enforced in Pottstown leading some people to the conclusion that it’s O.K. to take a pee or leave graphic evidence, (of the solid variety),  in public – anywhere they would like –  without shame or embarrassment or concern for being arrested.

But, what happens if it’s captured on video?  For one, it might go viral and who knows… any Pottstownian could be next in line to receive an “ax job” <anon letter>  from a whack job for posting legitimate concerns about illegal activity, so…

If you happen to open your mailbox and find an anonymous letter about me or any other topic please hold on to it.  I think these letters have a place in the history of Pottstown or, at least, an enterprising and avant guard new restaurant could up-cycle them to wallpaper their bathrooms – – for entertainment purposes only.

Meanwhile, I am extending an invitation to the author of the inane, poison pen ramblings sent to my neighbor to pick a time and let’s get together for a cup of joe and conversation.   Send me a <signed> letter or contact me by email if you have the cahones to do so:

ptownadvocates@hotmail.com

While we work on a new project to feature ethical Real Estate Professionals and Landlords in our area please remember, they are not all created equal.  This is a reminder to CHECK THE HISTORIES of anyone you are considering renting from, including PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO’S.  

The same holds true if you are selling or buying real estate.  The Pottstown housing ocean is infested with sharks and you are at risk of falling prey to the unethical, illegal actions of many real estate professionals and landlords.

Check civil and criminal backgrounds on the county and state links which you can find if you click on the link below.  If you need help finding information, contact me at the email address above.

Choose wisely because you have a lot to lose: 

http://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/june-2014-current-list-of-pottstown-slumlords/