"Police seek public's help with manhunt for homicide suspect"

"Coatesville man slain in October 2006
Saturday, February 28, 2009 6:08 AM EST
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer
COATESVILLE — The Coatesville Homicide Task Force is seeking the public's help in its search for a man allegedly linked to the killing of Coatesville man nearly 2½ years ago.

Jeremiah "Young" Bush, 22, of Philadelphia, alias Hanif Murphy, is wanted for his alleged role in the killing of Jonas "Sonny" Suber, who was killed in the doorway of his Walnut Street home Oct. 21, 2006.

Investigators said Friday afternoon they are actively pursuing Bush, who will face homicide charges. Bush has ties to Coatesville and West Chester and is believed to be living in Philadelphia."
MORE AT:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/28/news/srv0000004800660.txt

Also See:
“Vicious cycle, tragic ending
Monday, November 27, 2006 3:00 AM EST
By By: Jennifer Miller
...‘I was hoping he would leave Coatesville. It's not a good place for a young black man,’ Stretton said... "I warned him this summer he should leave for his own safety."
‘He wasn't going to leave. Jonas felt rooted in Coatesville,’ Stretton said...

Then, on Oct. 21, a gunman ended Suber's life with eight bullets. The gunman shot him at 9 a.m. in the doorway of his Walnut Street home.”
MORE AT:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2006/11/27/frontpage/17519212.txt

"Pulver grants for hotel, office building at risk"

"Chester County Reporter
by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, 25 Feb. 2009 10:30 p.m.
Developer Don Pulver must begin land development for his proposed Marriott Hotel and multi-level office building within the next 60 days or lose $4.6 million in state grants.
Pulver last week asked the city Redevelopment Authority (RDA) to speed up finalizing the deal that allows him to purchase the air rights for the hotel and office...
"These grants are coming to end of their useful life," said Pulver."

http://chestercountyreporter.com/109pulversite.html

One “bloc head” is fitting into a round hole Kareem switches back to Republican

Kareem switched back to Republican. As of Monday he was asking for help in his election as a Democrat.

Kareem was a “bloc head” and helped to make the city what it now is. Now he says that he is remaking his “bloc head” round.

Hmm, I wonder how much different in style and content Eric Brown is compared to former Republican Chair Richard Legree. Mr. Johnson’s and Eric Brown's records may indeed speak for themselves.

Jim
The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Johnson to run for re-election

"Thursday, February 26, 2009 6:43 AM EST
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer
COATESVILLE — City Council Vice President Kareem Johnson has announced he is running for re-election this year.

Johnson, an at-large councilman, said in a two-page letter to the Daily Local News that he intends to seek a second term. "In this critical time we need experience on City Council as well as new blood on council and in our administrative ranks," the letter states.."
MORE AT:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/26/news/srv0000004780345.txt

Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Dennis C. Blair
Director of National Intelligence

25 February

Far-Reaching Impact of Global Economic Crisis

The primary near-term security concern of the United States is the global economic crisis and its geopolitical implications. The crisis has been ongoing for over a year, and economists are divided over whether and when we could hit bottom. Some even fear that the recession could further deepen and reach the level of the Great Depression. Of course, all of us recall the dramatic political consequences wrought by the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s in Europe, the instability, and high levels of violent extremism. Though we do not know its eventual scale, it already looms as the most serious global economic and financial crisis in decades.

Forty Six Page PDF HERE:
http://www.dni.gov/testimonies/20090225_testimony.pdf

Coatesville-Radio Times-• Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane-talks with Philadelphia Inquirer writer KATHLEEN BRADY SHEA

Kathleen Brady Shea gets it right. It brought tears to my eyes.
Jim
Hour Two
At least twenty-six fires from Arson have been reported in Coatesville,
PA since last year. A state of emergency has been declared and many
people are homeless in the already economically challenged town of less
than 12,000 people. Two alleged arsonists were arrested last week. We
speak to Philadelphia Inquirer writer KATHLEEN BRADY SHEA for an update
on the town. Then, local singer and composer, VENISSA SANTI, comes into
the studio to explain how she integrates her Cuban background into
original songs and creative arrangements of jazz and Cuban standards. In
2008, she received the prestigious Pew Fellowship in folk and
traditional arts. We'll listen to a few songs from her upcoming release,
"Bienvenida," a bilingual album of Afro Cuban, jazz and pop soul songs.
It will be released April 21st on Sunnyside Records. Listen to the mp3
http://www.whyy.org/podcast/022409_110630.mp3

At last nights Coatesville City Council meeting:

Ronnie Suber talking about the wonderful job that Matthews and Walker is doing and being highly critical of Ed Simpson for criticizing Harry Walker. And, chastising Marty Eggleston for having secret meetings with the DA.

“Mr. Simpson, you call Mr. Walker a liar. Be professional what chu do.”

“Mr. Simpson are you racism?”

“Ya’ll need to go after the DA and say Mr. DA; how come you didn’t indict Janssen and them for the corruption that they been gone to the city?”

“Mr. Eggleston I don’t walk wit you do wit da DA like you do undercover. I don’t go under cover wit the DA like you, wit da secret meetings.”

Mr. Suber is referring to the very public meetings that Joe Carroll is having with Coatesville citizens on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Listen to him here:
http://www.box.net/shared/i4vdbri4r0

It looks like Ronnie’s alleged “enforcer” duties moved up a notch after cousin Richie died. I looked in the back of the room and did not see any police.

Bill and Harry must feel great with such a fine upstanding citizen like the great orator, Ronnie Suber speaking out for them.



Jim Pitcherella



Every politician and law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania should read:

“POLICE, POLITICS. CORRUPTION ‘The mixture dangerous to freedom and justice” By Colonel Frank McKetta, Retired Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner

The clock is off the wall

It's 8:25 and the Coatesville City Council meeting hasn't started yet. An irate citizen took the clock off the wall and put it face down in the center of the city council table.

Long live the Regan Revolution! The one that inspired Nicky Scarfo and Oleg Deripaska.

You are going to hear “tax breaks and smaller government" from the local Republican candidates in this election. Maybe even some stuff about gay marriage, abortion and subtle racial innuendo.

The Karl Rove inspired Republican Leadership here in Chester County still talks about the Regan revolution and "trickle down supply side economics".

The original “robber baron” age ended in the previous Great Depression. We now know that trickle down and supply side are just cover for Karl Rove's dream of Republican political power. That Rovian dream of all money and power to the wealthy that mimics the "robber baron" age.

Local Republicans don’t know the “Rovian Express Train” has wrecked and gone over into the ravine. The finance systems of Europe, the United Kingdom, the Americas and most of the world went with it.

Whether it is Sicilian, Russian or Mumbai Indian; organized crime knows a good way of making (stealing) money when it sees it.

Salvatore Pelullo and Nicodemo S. Scarfo and associates were attracted by the new thing called “investment banking” and mortgage derivatives.

FirstPlus Financial Group, on the 1200 block of Bainbridge Street in South Philadelphia and Rutgers Investment Group Llc, 121 N Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA 19087-3542 are owned by associates of Nicky S. Scarfo (his dad Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo is in prison). Those companies are now at the heart of an USDoJ organized crime, financial-fraud investigation.

The Russian Mafiya was already well involved in investment banking and mortgage derivatives in the EU, UK and USA before Scarfo got started. Ask John McCain’s Russian Oligarch buddy Oleg Deripaska.

Hey, the financial collapse was caused by a few cocaine fueled Wall Street brokers who got a little greedy. It’s just a little blip in the “supply side economic theory” of neoconservatives like Karl Rove. It’s not anything like organized crime

Why all the arson in Coatesville?

What do you think would happen if the Mayor of Philadelphia laid off one half of the Philadelphia Police Force and eliminated the narcotics division.

And, turned the supervision of the Philadelphia Fire Department over to volunteer officers with a volunteer chief who was not certified as a firefighter in Pennsylvania?

Do you think that the Philly PD would have their hands full with drug gang violence and not have time to look for fire starters?

Would Philadelphia look like Disneyland to an arsonist?

"Coatesville council unaware Walker tapped into Trust Fund"

"The revelation came after Walker reiterated a claim that he has not raided the Trust Fund to balance the budget as had the previous administration. Council President Marty Eggleston then pulled out a 14-page bank transaction report that showed Walker personally authorizing a $465,000 drawdown from the Trust Fund on Dec. 17. A few days later, on Dec. 22, a second withdrawal for $35,000 was made without the bank identifying the authorizing agent on than 'client".

"…Eggleston then provided a personal story of how he had found $80 in the pocket of a coat he had not worn for some time. 'I went and told everybody about it. And you, Mr. Walker, find $465,000 and you don't tell anyone."

LISTEN TO MARTY'S STORY HERE:
http://www.box.net/shared/1oh4xfuj4y

"He added: ...'The appearance of impropriety is impropriety. You have to be careful."
"The $500,000 drawdown from the Trust Fund meant selling a certificate of deposit before its maturity date, causing the city to pay a $10,000 penalty for early withdrawal".

QUOTED FROM:
The Chester County Reporter
by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Thursday, 19 Feb. 2009 9 a.m.
http://chestercountyreporter.com/109walkertapsfunds.html

"The United States Attorney's Office
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/pae/reportcrime.html#PublicCorruption

Public Corruption

FBI: "215" 418-4000
Richard Barrett, USAO: "215" 861-8582

Tax Fraud

IRS: "215" 861-1232
Richard Barrett, USAO: "215" 861-8582

Fraud on Government

FBI: "215" 418-4000
Catherine Votaw, USAO: "215" 861-8200"

Book Drive to Benefit Coatesville Fire Victims

Please Support
The Barnes & Noble Book Drive

To benefit The Coatesville Fire Victims

It’s Easy!

Visit Barnes & Noble
301 Main Street in Exton
Friday, February 20 - Saturday, March 14, 2009

•Books will be available for purchase on behalf of the Coatesville fire victims

•Bookplates will be available to personalize your gift;

•Donated books can conveniently be left for the families in Coatesville in collection box at the store’s cash-wrap desk.

Many thanks to the staff at Barnes & Noble in Exton for providing this special opportunity to collect books for the families displaced by the fires in Coatesville.

Please join the Brandywine Health Foundation in giving these families new books to call their own.

Any questions, please contact Dana Heiman at dheiman@brandywinefoundation.org or 610.380.9080, x102

Thank you for your support!

Arsonist Apprehended

News Conference 5 PM today at Coatesville City Hall

CRACKING DOWN ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION

Why We Take It So Seriously...and Why It Matters To You
Q: Does public corruption really have an impact on people's lives?
Dan: Absolutely. Public corruption can take funding away from your child's school and even prevent your street from being re-paved. Police who take bribes endanger your neighborhood. And guess who ultimately foots the bill for these crimes? We all do...through higher taxes. The Government Accountability Office estimates that at least 10 percent of the funding for federal government programs is lost to public corruption and government fraud every year. We're talking tens of billions of dollars.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june05/obrien062005.htm


Your local field office is:

Philadelphia
FBI Philadelphia
8th. Floor
William J. Green Jr. FOB
600 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(215) 418-4000
philadelphia.fbi.gov

Quite a meeting tonight at the Coatesville City Council

The alleged unpaid bills the City of Coatesville is said to owe from up to six months ago was not the only thing discussed.

Coatesville City Council President Marty Eggleston obtained an itemized record of the account activity of the Coatesville Trust Fund from the Harleysville Bank in Coatesville

The jaw dropper was the revelation of withdraws from the cities trust fund totaling about $439,000 by City Manager Harry Walker and allegedly to Harry Walker.

The city council was unaware the withdraws.

City Council President Marty Eggleston made his point in a wonderful folksy manner when he told the story of finding $80.00 in his winter coat and being so excited about it that he told everyone. Conversely when Harry Walker allegedly found 439,000 he allegedly told no one

The recording is here:

http://www.box.net/shared/9hlkeav4c6

There were lots of questions about the outstanding debt. Evidently there are two different financial statements; one leaked to the press by an unknown whistleblower and another presented to the city council.

One more interesting item brought out by Ed Simpson was the $20,000 per month administration fee for the police pension fund or $240,000 per year. The company from Downingtown had serviced the city pension funds for years was replaced by someone no one had heard of by City Manager Harry Walker.

The reasons for not filling out the online grant from Governor Rendell were spinning rapidly across the room.

I have a feeling that the alleged discrepancy between the knuckleball financial statements being thrown between Harry Walker, financial consultant Donald McKensie and various city council persons. And the other financial statement leaked by a whistle blower to the press may have something to do with the delay in filling out the form for the emergency grant of $250,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It did not look good for City Manager Harry Walker and his recently hired financial consultant Donald McKensie tonight. I think that Walker and McKensie might want to consult an attorney before they speak in public again.

Special Coatesville City Council Meeting Tonight at 6pm

In describing the city's problems, Walker said in his letter to Casey that "Coatesville continues to grow its deficits." However, when council voted to approve this year's budget, they were told by Walker it was balanced.

"One of those is a lie," said Eggleston.
More at:
http://chestercountyreporter.com/109overduebills.html

Is Coatesville City Manager Harry G. Walker holding up $250,000 of immediate help from Governor Rendell for police and firefighter overtime?

As the Philadelphia Inquirer article states; “the cash-strapped city is just a six-page, online application away from receiving up to $250,000 from the state, Mike Smith, a spokesman for Gov. Rendell, said yesterday.”

Is Walker deliberately holding up a grant from the state in order to make his case to the Coatesville City Council to withdraw $900,000 from the City Trust Fund?

Investigative reporting by the Daily Local News alleges that most of the $900,000 proposed by Walker was really an effort to hide $780,000 in unpaid bills.

Read between the lines in these two articles and see what conclusion you draw from them.

Manager hid city's debts, officials say
Some call for his resignation or firing
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:08 AM EST
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer

COATESVILLE — After learning the city has a hidden budget hole of nearly $780,000, some City Council members called for City Manager Harry Walker's resignation Tuesday.

Financial information that administrators presented to council last week and to the Daily Local News on Tuesday shows the city entered the new year with roughly $660,000 in outstanding bills. Since then, the sum of unpaid debts has grown to nearly $780,000.

That led some council members to say Walker acted deceptively when he claimed the 2009 budget was balanced.

More at: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/18/news/srv0000004726987.txt

Posted on Wed, Feb. 18, 2009
Coatesville grapples with covering arsons' costs
By Kathleen Brady Shea
Inquirer Staff Writer

While the emotional cost of Coatesville's unsolved series of arsons remains incalculable, the financial price tag continues to climb.

At a specially scheduled public meeting in City Hall at 6 tonight, City Manager Harry G. Walker III will repeat his controversial request for the release of $900,000 from a city trust fund to pay bills.

In the meantime, the cash-strapped city is just a six-page, online application away from receiving up to $250,000 from the state, Mike Smith, a spokesman for Gov. Rendell, said yesterday.

Smith said the state had taken steps "to expedite" the emergency funds by briefing city officials on the application process, which involves describing the city's needs and itemizing costs.

Smith said "a very quick turnaround" was expected once the application was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; however, he could not provide a more specific timetable.

More at; http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/39769152.html

Pat Sellers and Larry Pratt

Some background on how Coatesville got the “bloc of four” Coatesville City Council:

During the 2005 election, a flyer was distributed in Coatesville called "The Coatesville Recorder." The flier was in my opinion jam packed with innuendoes, spins, lies, and of course, unsigned. There were 6 issues, 4 to 6 pages each in 4 color printing. The “Coatesville Recorder” was distributed to each residence in Coatesville; a minimum of 4,000 copies in each edition. I estimate the cost for printing to be upwards of $30,000 or $7500 per candidate. This was extremely expensive literature for an election where the usual expenditure per candidate is less than $400.00; but there was no “paid for by” at the bottom.

Do you want to know more about the alleged likely author of the Coatesville Recorder and campaign manager of the bloc of four; Pat Sellers?

How about this from Sellers’ 1996 run for Congress:

“Sellers, and electrical worker who trails his opponent in the race, has also come under fire recently for seeking the support of Larry Pratt, a former aide to presidential candidate Pat Buchannan.

Pratt is executive director of Gun Owners of America. He left the Buchanan Campaign after the media reported on his ties to the Ku Klux Klan and the white supremacist group Aryan Nation.

Pratt has indorsed Sellers and will be the keynote speaker at a fund-raising dinner for Sellers next week.

Sellers said the allegations against Pratt are untrue and that he sought Pratt’s support because of his expertise on gun issues.”
From:

“Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster, PA Thursday April 11, 1996

House hopeful charged in fight with teenager
Coatesville school board president scuffled with daughter’s boy friend

Another of the Republican congressional candidates seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Robert S. Walker has had a brush with police.”

More about Larry Pratt:

"Larry Pratt
Former adviser to the Reagan and Bush administrations on Latin America, Pratt is a bridge between the old right, the Christian reconstructionist, and racist, neo-nazi forces. His book, "Armed People Victorious" details the use of reactionary militias in Guatemala and the Philippines to enhance the repressive reach of the army and the state.
GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA
Pratt's group is a national fund-raising organization and lobby to the right of the NRA. A supporter and originator of the militias, GOA provided funds to help elect several pro-militia Congress-members in 1994."
From:
http://www.prisonactivist.org/archive/pubs/ttt/militia.html

Extremism and the Electorate: Campaign '96 and the "Patriot" Movement
A Militia Watchdog Special Report
Last Modified November 6, 1996. Post-election postscript at end.
http://www.adl.org/mwd/elect96.asp


More about the Militia Movement at the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), Extremism in America, Militia Movement:

http://www.adl.org/learn/ext_us/Militia_M.asp?LEARN_Cat=Extremism&LEARN_SubCat=Extremism_in_America&xpicked=4&item=mm

"Walker seeks $49 million in Emergency Grant Request"

"Chester County Reporter

by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, 16 Feb. 2009 2 p.m.
Coatesville City Manager Harry Walker is asking the federal government for $49 million to improve public safety and to salvage what remains of the city's redevelopment which has stagnated since the present council was elected three years ago.
The money will be used to hire 10 additional police officers and more paid firefighters. But the bulk of the money, $21.5 million, will go to developer Carl Chetty to build 222 apartment units in downtown Coatesville. Construction costs for the two buildings are estimated at $52 million.
The request for the money comes days after U.S. Sen. Bob Casey toured Fleetwood Street were 15 row homes were destroyed last month by an arson-related fire. The funds, if made available, will come through an Emergency Grant Request. Walker told council Monday night, Feb. 9, that he was confident Coatesville would get the grant. "Then we can start filling in some of these holes," he said."
More at:

http://chestercountyreporter.com/109walkergrant.html

"A Woman stabbed a man... A woman allegedly stole a cell phone..."

"Sunday, February 15, 2009 6:09 AM EST
COATESVILLE — A woman stabbed a man in the arm multiple times at a residence on the 900 block of Lumber Street on Feb. 9, leaving him with severe lacerations, according to a police report.

COATESVILLE- A woman allegedly stole a cell phone and $1,000 from a man as he walked into his apartment on the 100 block of North Fourth Avenue on Feb. 11, according to a police report."

Can you guess what I thought was unusual about these two violent crimes?

It’s the “according to a police report” part.

I think Harry G's. alleged “gag order” on the Coatesville Police Department is lifted.

Do you think that alleged "gag order" had something to do with this?

"2005 Violent Crime
102 Robbery-46 Aggravated Assault 50 Burglary 91"

"2006 Violent Crime
151 Robbery-81 Aggravated Assault 63 Burglary 101"

"2007 Violent Crime
169 Robbery-78 Aggravated Assault 88 Burglary 150"

From:
http://www.fbi.gov/publications.htm

Was there a "gag order" on reporting arson too?

Woman charged with stabbing victim in his arm
Sunday, February 15, 2009 6:09 AM EST

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/15/news/srv0000004707524.txt

"Coatesville arsons confront 'no-snitch' ethos"

“Don’t Snitch” videos in Coatesville and Philadelphia were produced by Harvey “Bitsy” Legree of “Harvey Legree Productions”.

Look through the news articles from the 1960’s to now and see how many times you can find these family names associated with crime in Coatesville:

Legree, Trowery, Suber, Johnson, Pittman, Peoples, Flamer and Cannon

I think people here understand the “system” may be stacked against them if they inform against someone with one of those last names.

Coatesville arsons confront 'no-snitch' ethos
Posted on Sat, Feb. 14, 2009
By Kathleen Brady Shea
Inquirer Staff Writer
"The 'stop snitching' mentality expressed on shirts and videos produced right here in Coatesville hurts this city," Carroll said at the time.
More at:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/39606577.html

Number of Arsons?

I am hearing that the actual number of arsons in Coatesville may allegedly have been about 60 in the last 24 months. Because of alleged inaccurate incomplete records the real number may be unknown.

When the new administration took over the fire reporting system moved into the hands of the volunteer firemen. There is alleged to be poor recording of fires or in some cases no reporting at all.

It is alleged that in 2007 the reporting was about 60% of actual fire department activity.

I believe the Sunday that Walker, Matthews and Johnson did declare an emergency they only did so under extreme pressure from Governor Rendell.

Last night I asked District Attorney Joe Carroll if he knew that there were 27 fires by August or September of last year; would he or Governor Rendell have demanded that Coatesville declare an emergency? His answer was yes.

I have heard that even with the 15 or so number of arsons the city was acknowledging; the DA, State and ATF repeatedly offered help to the city and that help was refused.

Richard (Fat Boy) Legree Jr. views deceased father, NEW SENTENCING HEARING DATE

AND NOW, this 30th day of December, 2008, it is hereby ordered and declared that Frank Norris. (or his designee) United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania shall produce the body of Richard Legree, prisoner number 6129-066 at the United States Courthouse, 601 Market Street. Philadelphia, PA on Wednesday December 31, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of a viewing of the prisoner’s deceased father, at the sallyport in the Federal Courthouse.

RICHARD LEGREE, JR. SENTENCING NOTICE:

March 11, 2009 at 4:00 p.m., before the Honorable Michael M. Baylson, in Courtroom 3A.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

(Continued from 2/24/09)

TAKE NOTICE that the above-entitled case has been set for SENTENCING, in the
United States District Court, United States Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

http://www.box.net/shared/jvcdjvzjlf


http://www.box.net/shared/cae4cdd2x3

Republicans Party but don’t stick around to clean up the mess.

The Republicans had a big 8 year party and left a spectacular mess for the host, the American people to clean up.

The Republicans do not have the decency to help clean up the mess.

Instead they are blocking the clean up efforts of the people of America.

The last time you could call, mayflies, a “May” fly was in the 1980.

Since the 1980’s a lot of us fly fisherman that drove many hours to get to a “spectacular” mayfly "hatch" or emergence and found it happened weeks before. Previously you could set you watch to those mayfly hatches since they were espoused by Theodore Gordon in 1900.

Flyfisher people have known about global warming since the 1980’s. Now before making a long trip they ask the locals how many days the “hatch” has moved up.

You see for the most part aquatic insects cannot move around. If conditions change in the water (warmer) they cannot adapt. They die off. That is the reason macroinvertebrate surveys are the most reliable indicators of waterway health.

It is interesting that the tornado season now begins in early February instead of May.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7883024.stm

Coatesville United?

I hear a lot of talk about how the arson fires united the people of Coatesville. For the first time in decades the people here are working together.

But what the way that I think of it is that ordinary homeowners are united with the some of the Johnsons, Legrees, Subers, Pittmans, Koons, Peoples, Flamers and Cannons of Coatesville.

They all want the arsonists caught but one group is equally disturbed by the volume of PA State Police, FBI, DEA, County Detectives and ATF police in Coatesville.

Was Richard Legree Sr. the man who was calling the shots in the Coatesville PD?

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Police Chief Matthews to resign
Coatesville police chief to stay on the job until arson rampage resolved
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 6:50 AM EST
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer

COATESVILLE — Police Chief William Matthews recently told City Council members privately he intends to resign once arsons are no longer plaguing the city, the Daily Local News has learned.

Sources have told the Daily Local News Matthews, who joined the department in April 2007, that he informed City Council he will be leaving once the city is no longer in a state of emergency, which city officials declared last month in response to dozens of intentionally set fires.

More at:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/10/news/srv0000004670365.txt


It is my understanding that Matthews did not really have that much say in the direction of the police department. In my opinion Richard Legree through Harry G. called the shots.

I believe that William Matthews is an honest man who made a sincere effort to help the people of Coatesville. I think he had no idea what he was getting into here in here in Chester County, PA. I believe that Bill Matthews unknowingly became trapped in Chester County "politics"

Richie or “Stretch” Legree Sr. was once called the “number one drug pusher in Chester County” by then Chester County DA Bill Lamb.

I believe it was Chester County Republican Committee Area 14 Chairman Richard Legree Sr. who, though Walker got Matthews to put Lt. Matt Gordon on “administrative leave”.

I believe that Lt. Gordon knew all the “players” here and had information stored in his head that made narcotics investigations much more effective. District Attorney Joe Carroll called Lt. Matthew Gordon “best narcotics investigator in Chester County”.

This is an excerpt of a letter from Matthews dated May 18, 2007:

"Unfortunately the city’s budget deficit will require a reduction of expenses. Public safety represents over half of the city’s budget. As a result, I have been told that personnel reductions in the police department must be made. I am confident that the City Council is aware of this situation.

The Department’s Re-organizations:

The backbone of any police department is the patrol function. Currently the department responds to over 25,000 calls for service a year. Because of lay-off we will lose six (6) patrol officers. Given the shift configuration we currently deploy (ie., two twelve hour shifts) this loss in patrol manpower will be addressed as follows:


Effective Saturday May 26, 2007 four members of the Detective Division will be transferred to the Patrol Division. These experienced investigations will have the following responsibilities or functions:

• Respond to calls for services when regular patrol officers are not available.
• Investigate minor crimes that take place on their shift.
• As mentors, improve the over-all quality of preliminary investigation, thereby leading to faster closures.

The investigators that will be transferred will be allowed to continue working on the major crime cases that are currently assigned to them. We are in the process of working out the details associated with a new chain of command and supervision. I am pleased that the investigators are taking the imitative to make this plan work and are making helpful suggestions and recommendations."

Richard’s son Richard Legree Jr. has his sentencing hearing scheduled for February 23, 2009 in the Eastern PA District Federal Court. This is an excerpt of Jr.’s pre-trial detention hearing:


IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: CRIMINAL NO. 06-504
v. :
RICHARD LEGREE, JR.:
GOVERNMENT’S MOTION FOR PRETRIAL DETENTION

D. Lack Of Community Ties/Employment:

1. Although the defendant has considerable ties to the Coatesville area, he is currently unemployed and has been captured on audiotape arranging drug deals while residing in his father’s house on home confinement.

This conversation, in relevant part, states:

CK-05-0082/YNC3G
Exhibit N-130 – May 3, 2007 CS04-115719 meeting with Richard LEGREE Jr., in Coatesville, PA.

CS – DEA CS04-115719

RL – Richard LEGREE Jr.
Excerpt Four

RL That is the house phone

CS I don’t know man, that is your number right there is that a will your number stay on

RL Yeah that is my cell phone number

CS Alright I am going to, what I am going to do is ahhh call you man you know

RL So what you trying work out or something

CS Weight belt, thirty pounds…all weight solid, you know what I am saying, solid weight, you know what I am saying, you need to work on this court right here, this is a nice little joint I got me but this isn’t even the suburbs though, not with those sand bag wasted stuff

RL No you see this complex, they redoing it

CS Maybe I need to holler at your pop he seems like the man, it seem like you sit next to the man, he the real man

RL You know what I don’t know what I do to get this type of treatment, I don’t know

CS I am going to call you though man seriously man though

RL Call me we will put something together

CS You sure

RL I ain’t lying

CS Alright, cause there is a drought down in Philly, price is like four stacks down there

RL For what

CS 4 ½

RL Are you serious

CS Yeah, I don’t know how it isn’t affecting you all but 4 and a

RL Are up serious

CS Yup, 3900, 3700, for months it been like this, because of the killings I don’t know, lot of dudes getting robbed getting killed down there, lot of dudes getting served and getting set up, yeah come on and bring it and getting stuck up, that is why I am asking you for sure because you can make some money

RL Yeah

CS I am going to call you

RL Call me

CS I am, I am going to call you

RL You said four a stack

CS You can make some money, just by doing what you doing right here sitting in your garage, I mean I give you the money and you holler who ever you holler at, rear rap, four stacks
3900

RL I never known it to be that high Juicy, never

CS Ounces going for a stack, a stack, it is a drought I am shocked that you told me it was up here, like that is like good news and you get that working I am going to call you

RL Listen I am going to get on the phone today

CS Call me

RL Listen I am going to call you within an hour or two
CS Yeah

RL I am going to see what

CS See if you can get a half, alright see if you can get a half and I will come back up here, King of Prussia where ever you want me to come at, yo you have to do something about this weight bench though, seriously man, I don’t know if that jawn is from the 70’s or what, I got a navigational system homey…oh ok
---------------------------------------------------

Harry G. makes grab for $900,000 from the Coatesville City Trust Fund

Update in Today's Daily Local News:
Arson Stretching city's finances:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/10/news/doc4991673c0c38f768420574.txt

"Councilman Ed Simpson questioned the preparation of Walker’s proposal, saying it did not provide details on the city’s current finances that would allow council to make an informed decision.

Walker claimed he had previously given financial reports to Council.

“I swear to God,” Walker said.

“Right now I’m going to call you a liar and you’re going to hell,” Simpson said.

Walker promised to deliver the city’s current financial update to council today"


I don’t believe it Channel 3 News reported that the city council turned down Walker’s request for $900,000. But they did not report the reason the council rejected Walker’s grab for the money.

They TV people did not talk about the Jamaican guy that is supposed to be their financial consultant. The “financial report” was on about ½ of a single sheet of paper.

Ed Simpson called Harry Walker a liar because the city council has never received a year to date financial report. That is for a three year period.

I thought the cameras were still there but maybe they were not. The city council always puts any controversial item to the very last on the agenda. By that time most of the people there for the meeting have went home. They have been doing this way for 3 years.

Listen to it here:
http://www.box.net/shared/zrimkpf86z
Jim Pitcherella

Every politician and law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania should read:
“POLICE, POLITICS. CORRUPTION ‘The mixture dangerous to freedom and justice” By Colonel Frank McKetta, Retired Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner

Carroll urges volunteers for Obama to support ousting council members

For what ever reason the Daily Local News editors decided not to post this article in the Sunday Daily Local News, February 8, 2009 on line: Carroll urges volunteers for Obama to support ousting council members By Dan Kristie http://www.box.net/shared/tmz2cx97tu Elwood Dixon was miss-quoted, it was me that said: “What I don’t want to see are more magistrates who are related to half of the criminals in this town”. As for “yachts that belong to the Bulgarian Mafiya” A quick search on any of these words will turn up connections to Republicans: Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska Queen K, Washington-based intelligence firm, Diligence, chaired by GOP foreign policy hand Richard Burt One of the largest mega-yachts in the world, the Queen K bay of Kotor. Montenegro A few links:McCain’s Kremlin Ties http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Oleg-Deripaska-The-Biggest-Oligarch-Of-Them-All/Article/200810315125571 Con man Rafaello Follieri and actress Anne Hathaway greet John McCain and his entourage in 2006. The McCain-Follieri Love Boat
 Some of the stuff with the Republican Senators can be in the “what did they think these people are?” category. But the really scary stuff is when you link former US Congressman Kurt Weldon with refurbished Hungarian tanks and Russian espionage. More on the Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) Investigation: Part II November 20, 2006, 8:05PM In a recent thread about Rep. Curt Weldon, Citizen92 and I compiled information related to the FBI's investigation of Rep. Curt Weldon. Given that the thread became rather lengthy, I am continuing it here. One of the six locations raided by the FBI last month in connection with the Weldon investigation was the office of John J. Gallagher, a Philadelphia lawyer who has been described as a long time friend and associate of Weldon. Gallagher reportedly introduced both Itera, the Russian gas company, and Saratov Aviation, another Russian company, to Weldon's daughter, Karen. The two Russian companies then became clients of her "consulting" firms, Solutions North America and Solutions Worldwide. http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/mrs_panstreppon/2006/11/more-on-the-rep-curt-weldon-rp-1.php Weldon's Firm Lobbied White House to Buy East European Arms for Iraq By Sharon Weinberger July 08, 2008 | 12:04:00 PMCategories: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/07/iron-triangles.html Weldon’s company Defense Solutions, Exton, PA http://www.ds-pa.com/ Albanian stockpiles of Chinese weapons sold on US Defense Department contracts to Afghanistan. Hungarian tanks and Russian arms to MOD in Iraq and Libya with a cut for ex-US congressman Weldon and his company. Former Pennsylvania governor and first Bush DHS head Tom Ridge unregistered lobbyist for Albania, to drum it up some homeland security and defense business. Disgraced ex congressman Bob Livingston representing Libya. There seems to be a pattern of arms dealers with access to East Europe stockpiles getting themselves hooked up with ex US government officials who can grease the way to Pentagon-overseen deals to sell to Iraq, Afghanistan and the markets made available by Bush admin Mid East policy. Quite a bazaar. One former US official comments, "I think they are all scumbags and the reason there is so much confusion is that everyone 'feels' that somehow, somewhere, Weldon is doing what the administration wants him to do." Posted by Laura at July 3, 2008 06:27 PM http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/007661.html

Clusterf#@k to the Poor House - Economic Recovery Plan

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Sen. Casey to appear in arson-plagued Pa. city

The Associated Press
Posted on Sun, Feb. 8, 2009
COATESVILLE, Pa. - U.S. Sen. Bob Casey plans to be in the southeastern Pennsylvania city of Coatesville on Monday to discuss the arson problem there.

Since the beginning of the year, 18 fires in Coatesville and five in nearby areas have been determined to be arson.

Casey is to meet with Coatesville's elected officials and the city fire and police chiefs. Investigators from state police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also plan to attend the meeting.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Democrat is to meet with people whose homes were destroyed in the fires.

Find this article at:
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20090208_ap_sencaseytoappearinarsonplaguedpacity.html

NPR NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO
String Of Fires Has Pennsylvania Town On Edge

by Joel Rose
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100383782

Sen. Casey asks attorney general to add more agents to Coatesville arson probe

Additional help on the way. From the ChesterCountyReporter.com:
________________________________________
Sen. Casey asks attorney general to add more agents to Coatesville arson probe


by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, 6 Feb. 2009; 1:255 p.m.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) yesterday asked the attorney general to provide additional resources to Coatesville to help track down a serial arsonist or arsonists responsible for a string of arsons that has terrorized city residents.

"It is clear that despite support from federal and state levels, local law enforcement and first responder sources are stretched thin and community residents are fearful and frustrated," said Casey in a letter to U.S. Attorney Eric Holder.
"Specifically, I request that you direct any available discretionary funding and ATF or other law enforcement resources to support Coatesville efforts," Casey wrote.

More at Chester County Reporter:
http://chestercountyreporter.com/109caseyarson.html

CITY OF COATESVILLE STATE OF EMERGENCY UPDATE

Friday, February 6, 2009
City Curfew Effective Immediately, Debris Violators to Face Fines
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009
PUBLIC NOTICE
http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/dailylocal/jenmiller/blog.html
CITY OF COATESVILLE STATE OF EMERGENCY UPDATE

Juvenile Curfew Revised:
Consistent with the State of emergency and the ongoing arson investigation the Chief of Police has revised the curfew for all persons under the age of 18. Effective Immediately: All persons under the age of 18 must be off the streets by 8 PM. This curfew will be in effect during the entire state of emergency. For this Friday and Saturday night only, citations will not be issued to juveniles between the hours of 8 PM and 10 PM who comply with police orders or have an excused reason to be on public streets.

Instant Citations for Failure to Remove Debris From Porches:
The Coatesville Police Department will soon begin issuing Citations for resident/occupants who have not complied with the emergency order to remove flammable/combustible objects/items from their front/rear porches. Residents may face fines up to $600. Additionally rental property owners may be cited by the City of Coatesville Codes Department for failure to comply with the City of Coatesville Code.
posted by Jenn Miller at 6:50 PM 0 Comments

Update: to "Bring Change to Coatesville:

Update:
Chester County District Attorney Joe Carroll will be addressing this meeting concerning the local elections in Coatesville

"Several Coatesville people who are working to get Obama's agenda passed by the Congress and also to bring change to Coatesville in the 2009 elections are holding an Obama volunteer reunion next Saturday morning.

President Obama has called on his supporters to mobilize to get his stimulus package passed and to remain active to bring about change in their communities.

Please attend. We will implement President Obama's instructions on the stimulus package and update folks on the 2009 Coatesville elections.

What: Coatesville Obama volunteer reunion (Obama supporters also welcome)

When: Saturday, February 7, 10 am - noon

Where: Jubilee Church, 920 E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. President Barack Obama, Jan. 20, 2009

Phila Back
Organizer
Working Families Win
232 N. 5th Street, Reading, PA
610-334-5563
610-683-8629 (FAX)
Phila_Back@verizon.net

http://www.wfwin.org/ "

"Bring change to Coatesville in the 2009 elections"

"Several Coatesville people who are working to get Obama's agenda passed by the Congress and also to bring change to Coatesville in the 2009 elections are holding an Obama volunteer reunion next Saturday morning.

President Obama has called on his supporters to mobilize to get his stimulus package passed and to remain active to bring about change in their communities.

Please attend. We will implement President Obama's instructions on the stimulus package and update folks on the 2009 Coatesville elections.

What: Coatesville Obama volunteer reunion (Obama supporters also welcome)

When: Saturday, February 7, 10 am - noon

Where: Jubilee Church, 920 E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville

Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. President Barack Obama, Jan. 20, 2009

Phila Back
Organizer
Working Families Win
232 N. 5th Street, Reading, PA
610-334-5563
610-683-8629 (FAX)
Phila_Back@verizon.net

http://www.wfwin.org/ "

Some previous actions of Coatesville Police Chief Matthews and Coatesville City Manager Harry G. Walker:

I believe that when Lt. Fitzgerald of the Philadelphia PD was interviewed by Harry G. Walker at the King of Prussia Mall for the position of Coatesville Chief of Police, Walker was accompanied by Richard Legree. I think Lt. Fitzgerald said Walker demanded that Fitzgerald appoint Legree as his first Lieutenant or Assistant Chief. Lt. Fitzgerald said “would not hire Legree due to his ‘checkered’ background”. I think that Lt. Fitzgerald may have been referring Legree’s conviction of selling 145 bags of heroin and a separate conviction of selling nine bags of heroin to undercover agents in Coatesville in1975.

It may be a little thing but in my opinion Richard Legree appeared to be treated by the “bloc of four” as almost god like. For instance: the time limit rule for citizen’s comments is 5 minutes. Richard Legree went on as long as he wanted. I watched as the minutes went past 7 and Don Wilkinson laid the timing clock down on its face. Legree spoke for 22 uninterrupted minutes.

Richard went all over the country in his capacity as Administrator of the Laborers' Health & Safety Fund of the Philadelphia LECET. When he was in Coatesville he was at city hall.

Richard was also Chair of Area 14 of the Chester County Republican Committee (Coatesville, Modena, Valley North and Valley South).

Richard’s son is now awaiting sentencing on February 24th in his conviction of selling Crack Cocaine in Coatesville.
And From:

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : CRIMINAL NO. 06-504
v. :
RICHARD LEGREE, JR. :
GOVERNMENT’S MOTION FOR PRETRIAL DETENTION

1. Although the defendant has considerable ties to the Coatesville area, he is currently unemployed and has been captured on audiotape arranging drug deals while residing in his father’s house on home confinement.”
http://www.box.net/shared/6xa2stfhbo

Soon after Matthews was given the job as Chief of Police the word spread that the city was considering laying off Coatesville Police Officers. The lay off did not happen but did result in about 15 officers leaving. The officers that were concerned with job security looked elsewhere. You see before Walker and Matthews the Coatesville Police Department was the envy of small PD’s all across Pennsylvania. Five years of serving in Coatesville under former Coatesville Police Chief Dominic Bellizzie was said equal to a lifetime of extremely good training in most Pennsylvania small town police departments. Coatesville police officers could nearly double their salaries in another police department.

Lieutenant Matt Gordon, referred to by Chester County DA Joe Carroll as “the Coatesville PD’s very best narcotics investigator, a man who knew all the “players” in Coatesville”, was put on administrative leave for years and eventually retired. Even when 200 police officers and police chiefs from all over Eastern Pennsylvania paid a surprise visit to a Coatesville City Council meeting and District Attorney Joe Carroll pleaded that he needed Lt. Gordon for his narcotics and murder investigations; the city council and city administration would not budge. “I need Matt Gordon back,” he said to the council. “If you could handle that as soon as possible, it would be greatly appreciated.” “Schenk was the lone council member to voice his unequivocal support for Matthews”. I believe that the actions toward Lt. Matt Gordon were an effort to remove him and replace him with Richard Legree.


The bike squad was extremely effective in squashing drug dealer activity. The lookout system of the dealers did not work well against the Coatesville Police Bike Squad. The bike squad was squashed by Chief Matthews.

In my opinion the news that “the money is good again in Coatesville” spread all over the nation. We rapidly had dealers from Philly and New York taking up residence in Coatesville. SUR-13, KOD, Cripps and other gang recruiters came to Coatesville. The guns poured in with them. Gunshots were heard and people were picking bullets out of walls and vehicles almost daily. Armed robberies and muggings, nearly all of them unreported in the press, rocketed up.

At about the same time the arson began.

Take all this into consideration and then ask yourself why did the city administration resist implementing a Town Watch for more than 3 years?

Take all this into consideration and then ask yourself why is Matthews resisting implementing a curfew for adults?

See:

“Daily Local News
Pusher called "danger to community',

Friday, September 10, 1976
By BRUCE MOWDAY (Of the Local News Staff)

Richard "Stretch" Legree of Coatesville, named as the number one drug pusher in Chester County by District Attorney William H. Lamb, was convicted last night of selling 145 bags of heroin to an undercover agent in January.”

"DAILY LOCAL NEWS
04/24/2007
CHIEF NOT RULING OUT LEGREE
JENNIFER MILLER , Staff Writer

BUT WILLIAM MATTHEWS ALSO SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE PLANS TO REORGANIZE COATESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT “

COATESVILLE — One year has passed and the matter of an inactive police lieutenant remains unresolved.
http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19949657&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=17782&rfi=8



SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT
FORMER DETECTIVE CRITICIZES COATESVILLE CHIEF FOR PERSONNEL, SAFETY DECISIONS
Saturday, December 1, 2007 3:00 AM EST
By R. JONATHAN TULEYA and JENNIFER MILLER

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration revealed Operation Trickle Down in May.

It was the code name for a two-year investigation by various federal authorities, the Coatesville Police Department and other Chester County law enforcement agencies into a cocaine pipeline connecting Philadelphia to Coatesville…

’The sad truth is that although continuing drug investigations and arrests are necessary, Matthews wrote, they rarely make a real difference on the street. Simply put, we cannot arrest our way out of the illegal drug culture’,,,

Murrin, 41, worked eight years for the Coatesville police, including 3� years as a narcotics detective. Matthews’ reaction to Operation Trickle Down was not the only reason he left, but it contributed to his decision….

I was one of the guys (saying) ;don’t leave, don’t leave. It’s going to get better, Murrin said.

Seven officers, including Murrin, have left Coatesville’s department since Matthews took over in March. An eighth, former Lt. Matthew Gordon, remains suspended with pay as a result of a dispute with the chief about vacation time.

Murrin said he left reluctantly, and it was not until he felt concerned for his safety, mostly because of the Coatesville’s manpower shortage, that he made his decision. There were nightshifts, he said, being covered by only two officers.

‘That’s crazy. That’s scary crazy. Somebody is going to get hurt,’ Murrin said. The problem with that is you have to be reactive instead of proactive…

One former candidate for chief, Philadelphia Lt. Joel Fitzgerald, confirmed he met with Walker and Legree, who was not on the appointed search committee and is not a city employee, at the King of Prussia shopping mall.

During the meeting, Fitzgerald said, Legree tried to negotiate a position for himself in the police department as well as convince Fitzgerald to fire one of the department’s two lieutenants.

Roughly two months after the secret meeting, police arrested Legree’s son, Richard Legree Jr., on drug charges as part of Operation Trickle Down. Legree Jr., who earlier had been convicted of drug charges in the county court, still has pending drug distribution charges in federal court in Philadelphia.”

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2007/12/01/past%20stories/19941502.txt


Daily Local News
EDITORIAL
Wake up chief, you are putting the city in danger
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:00 AM EDT

People being kind would say Coatesville Police Chief William Matthews and Councilman Kurt Schenk are unrealistic; others would say they�re delusional.
We think it’s the latter.”

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2007/10/23/past%20stories/19943361.txt


DAILY LOCAL NEWS
10/03/2008
Police dispute still on
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer

http://www.dailylocal.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20149013&BRD=1671&PAG=461&dept_id=635398&rfi=6 “


Daily Local News
Monday, September 11, 2006

Controller questioning transport
Eight constables provided security
By MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN
Staff Writer

…In addition to DiGiorgio’s concerns, the transportation arrangements for the defendant, Odell Cannon, are drawing some scrutiny from Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh. She said she was alarmed when told that Cannon may be related to one of the constables chosen by Davis to take him to the hearing, Richard Legree."

Rendell provides $500,000 to Coatesville arson investigation, victim's aid

Here is an answer as to what other elected officials are doing for the City of Coatesville:
Jim

________________________________________
Rendell provides $500,000 to Coatesville arson investigation, victim's aid


by Allen Davis
Staff Writer
Posted: Wednesday, 4 Feb. 2009 11:45 p.m.
Gov. Ed Rendell today promised Coatesville $500,000 to help fund the hunt for an arsonist who has terrorized the city with 21 house fires in 25 days. The money will be used pay for overtime for the local police and fire departments so that they can expand the investigation and assist fire victims.
"Coatesville is in a local state of emergency and panic today as the city is under seige by an arsonist or band of arsonists," said Gov. Rendell. "The community is struggling. The city's $4 million budget for fire and police services can't keep up and give the victims the services they need and deserve in response to this crisis."

More at Chester County Reporter:
http://chestercountyreporter.com/109rendellarson.html

Town Watch training program

A Town Watch training program conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and organized by Joe Carroll, Governor Rendell and PA Police Commissioner Pawlowski will begin 7 pm at the Scott Middle School, 800 Olive St. in Coatesville, PA.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Scott+Middle+School,+8th+Avenue+and+Stirling+St,+Coatesville,+pa&sll=38.9594,-95.2655&sspn=119.526,360&ie=UTF8&v=2.2&cv=4.3.7284.3916&hl=en&latlng=39984448,-75806793,12755655471584712594&ei=n7WJSbrCCYXaNZ-y2KAE&cd=1#

Are Coatesville's problems just bad press?

The Coatesville City Council cannot make their case that all of Coatesville’s problems come from bad press in the Daily Local News anymore. Bad news concerning Coatesville is carried on every US television network and every major US newspaper.

Did they make some mistakes in trashing the Coatesville PD and putting Coatesville’s best narcotics officer on administrative leave? O wait, if forgot, Walker, Schenk and Miss Patsy say that Coatesville’s problems are entirely from the previous administration.

That big bad previous administration that doubled the size of the Coatesville PD, began a narcotics division and made the Coatesville Police Department the envy of small departments across the state. You know that administration that harried the gentleman farmer and the drug dealers. That bad administration that started the revitalization; the revitalization that would have eventually rid the town of drug dealers permanently.

You can play both sides in a city the size of Philadelphia or Baltimore. The drug dealers can be told to take the murders away from Center City or Baltimore Harbor. But will that work in Coatesville?

If what happened to Aaron Turner turns out to be what the people are saying; Coatesville’s bad news will go international. It will make Le Monde and the Taipei Times.

From Missing

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Accused dog killer linked to missing teen
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 6:55 AM EST
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer


COATESVILLE — District Attorney Joseph Carroll confirmed Tuesday night the accused drug-dealing dog killer arrested late last year is a suspect for the murder of a teenager missing since October.

Carroll’s statement comes roughly 10 weeks after investigators collected human hair and blood from chain saws and other areas inside a city home where police arrested 29-year-old Laquanta Chapman and 19-year-old Bryan Byrd, according to search warrants.

Previously, officials were reluctant to refer to the missing teen case as a homicide. But Carroll said Tuesday there is little possibility 16-year-old Aaron “Head” Turner is still alive and Chapman has been interviewed regarding the teen’s disappearance.

Even so, Carroll stressed investigators have not charged anyone with the killing.
More at:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc49897edc8c3d2481699976.txt

The comment by newcoatesville is right on the money.

I believe that the PA State Police and ATF are here because Walker was forced into declaring an emergency by Governor Rendell.

I believe that Walker, Lehr and Matthews have consistently rejected free outside help for years and continue to this day. What are they hiding?

newcoatesville wrote on Feb 3, 2009 7:47 AM:
" Local police have made similar offers to Coatesville, but the city has not yet accepted, Geiger said. "Help has been extended, and we're taking those offers extremely seriously and conversations are taking place," she said."

It is totally beyond my comprehension that Coatesville would not immediately accept assistance from surrounding police departments. Not only would this help with the arsons, but it would also help with other crime. What are they talking about? Accept the help and talk logistics later.

Someone needs to investigate this issue. Every action being taken by this City is hollow. The state of emergency is joke. Why does this City continue to refuse assistance and why is the police chief so resistant to outside help.”

See:

Communities team up to fight arsons

Adjoining communities, private citizens form various task battalions to clear trash, install lights and otherwise cope with ongoing crisis

Tuesday, February 3, 2009 6:48 AM EST
By DAN KRISTIE, Staff Writer

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/03/news/srv0000004623560.txt

Picasa Web Albums - Jim - Coatesville good moments

Picasa Web Albums - Jim - Coatesville good moments

Republican Leader

When I see a black man or woman in a political office as a Republican; my first reaction is to find out what he had to do for selling his "soul".

Michael Steele is the new leader of the Republicans. But I think that Steele does not need to be concerned about his "soul".

It turns out that Steele might only be a figurehead. The real leader of the Republican Party, the only person with any clout, is in my opinion; that recovering narcotics addict, Rush Limbaugh. .

It could be a gut busting laugh if not for this:

The Republicans say have a plan to get our country out of the Reaganomics death spiral that I believe the Republican's put us in. The only details of that plan appear to be coming from Rush Limbaugh. His plan appeared in ‪Rupert Murdoch's Wall Street Journal.

Limbaugh's plan turns out to be mostly massive tax cuts for the ultra wealthy. Do the Republican fat cats really need bigger personal ships to cruise the Mediterranean?

Reaganomics is in short:

• Eliminate manufacturing; don't make any product in the USA

• Force US citizens to buy products manufactured overseas, mostly from China.

The first two are to eliminate that bane of Conservatives; the middle class union worker.

Continuing;

• Give massive tax cuts to the wealthy

• Lower interest rates and implement new “creative” and completely unregulated financial instruments for middle class people to borrow from in order to purchase imported goods.

Those two eventually allowed the wealthy to morph into the spectacularly wealthy.

In my opinion the now secret Republican economic plan will turn out to be a rerun of the “Reagan Voodoo Economics" that caused the economic death spiral we are in.

They call the Republicans the loyal opposition. But just what and who are they loyal too? It does not appear to be the USA.

"Victims of blaze vow not to return"

Many of us realize that after the arsonist is captured the bullets will still fly in Coatesville. John Pawlowski does not talk about it much but a bullet went through his garage door. RDA Chair Joseph Discullio has dug bullets from his home and business in Coatesville’s West End. A teller in a bank that I frequent told me her husband’s vehicle was totaled by bullet holes when a man was shot in front of her home. AK47 shell casings were found in the streets. There are hundreds of stories like this in Coatesville.
Because of what might be called a “gag order” on Coatesville Police by City Manager Harry Walker, lesser reported crimes like armed robbery and muggings require reporters to dig through Magisterial Court Records. Many crimes go unreported in the news.
Jim

"The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA
Victims of blaze vow not to return
'I don't want to put my family through this again,' says one from Fleetwood St.
Sunday, February 1, 2009 9:13 AM EST
By DAN KRISTIE Staff Writer


”Karen Engle, a victim of a Nov. 12 arson on Madison Street in Coatesville, has been staying with relatives in Honey Brook after her home was destroyed. Like Bowman, she said there is no way she will return to the city.

"We're not going back," she said.

Prior to the fire, Engle said she had been traumatized by the city's rampant gun violence. Bullets have hit the front of her house, and she awoke one morning to find the windows of her truck shot out.

"I was scared to go outside," she said. "I was petrified to be there."

Two months after her home was destroyed by fire, Engle said she's entered a period of grieving.

"It's almost like losing a life," she said. "Twenty-eight years we lived in that house."

She still hasn't been back to survey the damage. On the night of the fire, she was in the hospital and was unable to join other family members at her home.

"The hardest thing for me is, you know, you keep thinking of things you've lost," she said. "After my daughter went over, she told me, 'Mom, I don't think you're ready. I thought I was, but I wasn't.'"

More at:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/02/01/news/srv0000004612235.txt


The Guardian Angels meeting was very well attended last night. The Guardian Angels said that they are not here to catch the arsonist. They would get in the way of police if they patrolled in Coatesville now. The Angels are here to develop and train a new chapter in Coatesville. There were at least 50 people there. Scott Gallagher, the organization's Philadelphia Chapter commander, told us the Guardian’s reach out to all similar groups in the area. They will work with the PA State Troopers that are organizing the Coatesville Town Watch. The “Coatesville Men United” appears to be on board with the Guardian Angeles.
Jim Pitcherella

Every politician and law enforcement officer in Pennsylvania should read:
“POLICE, POLITICS. CORRUPTION ‘The mixture dangerous to freedom and justice” By Colonel Frank McKetta, Retired Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner