WE ARE THE MANY MAKANA

New original songs are coming out of the Occupy Movement. Really good stuff:

Ron Paul for President and hard core hate groups

For a long time Ron Paul has been associated with hard core hate groups. I’m not very much concerned what Ron Paul thinks but I believe that some or maybe a lot of his followers are White Nationalists. I am referring to people that I have encountered in person locally.  The White Nationalist websites are increasingly chattering about achieving their ends through violence. It’s just something to be aware of.

Ron Paul’s White Supremacist Radio Connections

Written by Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger on December 30, 2011 1:01 pm

Stormfront Founder Don Black Says White Supremacists Thought Ron Paul Was ‘One of Us’

By Hunter Walker 12/28 10:42am

Republican ideologically pure drive to eliminate public employees may stimulate organized crime & crime in general

All across the nation Republican controlled states are eliminating public employees including police. Cutbacks at the Federal and state level here in Pennsylvania are forcing many Pennsylvania municipalities to lay off police.

I believe that in their ideological fever Tea Party Republicans are assisting organized crime. I think that crime organizations and criminals in general will respond to the opportunity the Republican Party has put into their laps.

The Camorra is said to be not a significant Mafia in the USA at this time but they have been and still do appear to be making an effort to control the Port of New York. Do you remember seeing mountains of trash in Italy on TV a few years ago? In 2008 Italy and Europe woke up to the fact that the Camorra operates and controls most of the trash in Italy and that it is dumped illegally in the Campania region.

The Camorra allegedly has absolute control of the largest Port of Central Europe, The Port of Naples. In his book Gomorrah Roberto Saviano claims that the Camorra controls about one half of the goods coming in and out of the Port of Naples. The Camorra is not organized top down as the Sicilian Mafias and their US counterparts are. The Camorra clans operate independently. I think that makes the Camorra difficult for law enforcement to track.

I believe that organized crime Mafia’s have control and influence that public officials are not willing to admit to and may not be aware of. Check out this article from the Guardian:

"Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor 

Drugs and crime chief says $352bn in criminal proceeds was effectively laundered by financial institutions 

·         Rajeev Syal 

·         The Observer, Saturday 12 December 2009 

 Drugs money worth billions of dollars kept the financial system afloat at the height of the global crisis, the United Nations' drugs and crime tsar has told the Observer. 

Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said he has seen evidence that the proceeds of organised crime were "the only liquid investment capital" available to some banks on the brink of collapse last year. He said that a majority of the $352bn (£216bn) of drugs profits was absorbed into the economic system as a result. 

This will raise questions about crime's influence on the economic system at times of crisis. It will also prompt further examination of the banking sector as world leaders, including Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, call for new International Monetary Fund regulations. Speaking from his office in Vienna, Costa said evidence that illegal money was being absorbed into the financial system was first drawn to his attention by intelligence agencies and prosecutors around 18 months ago. "In many instances, the money from drugs was the only liquid investment capital. In the second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system's main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor," he said."

More at: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/dec/13/drug-money-banks-saved-un-cfief-claims

With the universal ideological inspired Republican cutbacks in law enforcement nationwide, maybe the Camorra will be successful in their efforts to control the Port of New York.

And closer to home; if the Rawlings Administration is successful in laying of Coatesville Police we will most likely return to the days of 2006/08 and the late 1990s when drug dealers ran the City of Coatesville.

We The People are angry and who can blame us for being angry?

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, Take Back the American Dream conference in October, calling for "a massive, militant movement":

 “We The People are angry and who can blame us for being angry?  So the question becomes where will that anger go; toward hatred and extremism or toward building a future that works for everyone who lives and works here in America.
Today we have a “Tea Party” a “Tea Party” inspired Right Wing that’s banking on an “Upside-down America” for its path to political power.

They got a four part plan:

1. They do everything they can to keep our economy on the rocks. No money for jobs, no way, keep people hurting and keep them angry.
2. They fan the flames of anti government angst by making sure that our government looks dysfunctional, gridlocked and lurching; from funding deadlines to phony crisis deadlines
3. They’re ginning up this seasons version of divide and conquer; set taxpayers against public employees, jobless Americans against immigrants
4. They’re doing their damnedest to make sure that the electorate in 2012 looks nothing like the electorate in 2008; disenfranchising new voters with voter ID laws, suppressing student voters and a whole lot more.”

See Nation of Change “What Next in the Fight Over Who Our Economy is For”

Not just progressive voters get cancer.

A technical glitch makes it possible for Federal authorities to arrest Medical Marijuana users and sellers in California. It’s obvious that President Obama’s campaign staff is attacking Medical Marijuana in an effort to appear tough on crime and appeal to independent and right wing voters. But his campaign staff is missing something very important; independent voters, right wing voters and progressive voters all get cancer and can benefit from Medical Marijuana.

SEE:

Legal and political analysis of Regulate Marijuana Like Wine

by STEVE KUBBY on DECEMBER 19, 2011 in NEWS UPDATES

I have no use for Medical Marijuana at this time. But cancer may be a part of my future like it is for so many others. I would like to have the option of using Medical Marijuana. I think everyone should have that option.

There is another very important reason for allowing the use of Medical Marijuana. The “War on Drugs” is a total failure. Just as the Prohibition of Alcohol was a total failure.

Enforcing the Federal laws concerning marijuana only benefits drug cartels, gunrunners and the public officials that make selling illegal drugs feasible. We lost the “War on Drugs” years ago. The more we put into enforcement the more drug cartels profits and power increases. Prohibition of Alcohol created worldwide organized crime and Prohibition of marijuana and other drugs perpetuates organized crime. Organized crime is now at least a $128 Billion industry worldwide.

I believe that the profits and flow of money in illegal drugs and other organized crime in Chester County make organized crime a major industry in Chester County. In the City of Coatesville it may be “THE” major industry.

Prohibition and the inflation of drugs value caused by Prohibition is the pot of gold that finances all other aspects of the business of organized crime. The most violent, inhuman acts and sheer terror in the world is in the hands of organized crime. The “War on Drugs” is a total failure.  We need to find a way to make all drugs legal and regulated, cut off organized crimes money supply and  break the back of organized crime. Legalizing Medical Marijuana is a good start.

SEE:

SUNDAY, MAY 1, 2011

I am just learning about an organization called LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PROHIBITION

Heroes

A friend gave me a copy of Tom Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation” to read while I was in the hospital. It was hard to put down. It’s a very emotionally charged book for me. Many of the people in it are like the people I grew up with in Coatesville.

I grew up surrounded by heroes.

As a boy it seemed ordinary to live among so many adults that lived through World War II and the Depression. I knew my uncle Fred and Uncle Lou were solders in WWII. But I really didn’t appreciate what they did until sometime in the 1990s. I think it was because of the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Maybe it was Steven Ambrose’s book on D-Day.

I knew my Uncle Lou Pilotti was in Patton’s Army, he talked about the War a little. Things like hearing the Germans sing Christmas carols in the next hedgerow in France. He got lost for days during the Battle of the Bulge and ran to the sound of a tank. He said he was starving and cold and didn’t care if it was German or American. The tank commander asked who won the 1942 World Series. My Uncle said, “Hell, I don’t know, I’m an American." He said an officer told him and another man to take a young German prisoner of war into the woods and shoot him. I guess they had no way to hold prisoners. Uncle Lou said he couldn’t pull the trigger on his gun. Uncle Lou must have had a really difficult time. But he didn’t keep it all inside and he had a loving family. It was different with my Uncle Fred.  In a hushed tone my Uncle Lou said, “Freddy had it real bad”.

I started to ask about just what Uncle Fred did during the war. He would hardly say a word about it. I learned that he was a Combat Engineer. His duties would have been to clear paths for vehicles and troops through obstructions and minefields. He was in such constant combat that he was unable to take off his wet boots for 3 months. A painful fungus developed on one foot that is still with him to this day. The fungus wasn’t the only thing that stayed with Uncle Fred. He had to have what we now call PTST.

                                       

I believe it was at Christmas time 10 or 15 years ago, I was at the kitchen table with some of my aunts and uncles. My Uncle Lou and Uncle Fred were there. Out of the blue I said, "Thanks for what you did." My uncle Lou said, "What do you mean?” I said, "If you hadn't of did what you did during the war we might all be speaking German right now." Uncle Lou smiled a little in appreciation. It seemed to hit Uncle Fred hard, he left the room. On that evening at the kitchen table I had the privilege to sit with heroes. They have a special place in my heart.

Uncle Fred is now receiving nursing home care at the Coatesville VA Medical Center.

When my uncles came back from WWII everyone was aware of their service. Nearly every family in the USA had a family member in the service or served in some other capacity. The Veterans of World War II had the gratitude of the entire nation. Today the burden of war is carried by just a few families. The Iraq War is finally over and troops are coming home. And right now some people may not even know that we are waging a war in Afghanistan.

“New PTSD cases are coming in at a rate of more than 3,000 a month, even as the United States completed its withdrawal from Iraq over the weekend and continues the longest conflict in the nation's history in Afghanistan…‘Unable to cope, some service members end up taking their lives. ‘Eighteen veterans commit suicide every day," said Rene Campos, deputy director of government affairs of the Military Officers Association of America, the nation's largest officers association with 370,000 members from every military branch. 

‘That's one every 80 minutes,’ she told a congressional subcommittee this month. ‘Twenty-two percent of all suicides in the U.S. are former service members.’ 

More than 2,200 active-duty military members took their lives from 2001 through 2010, officials said. Last year, 293 killed themselves.” 

FROM: 

As troops come home, VA reaches out to those suffering stress of war

“The values that drive every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine to serve America must also drive the way we treat our veterans. Hire them, welcome them home, and do what you can. 

In the end, service is about putting our country ahead of politics and following the example set by our commander-in-chief by honoring the service of all who sacrificed more than we'll ever know. We must all do our part.”  

FROM: 

Honor service of those who sacrificed 

By Patrick J. Murphy

Most Veterans have a family to support them but many do not. Some need medical monitoring. Many of the Veterans that you occasionally see here on the streets in Coatesville are getting assisted living in group homes in Coatesville with support from the VA Medical Center.

There are a variety of services available to Veterans at the:

 Coatesville VA Medical Center

If you’re interested there may be a volunteer opportunity for you at the VA Center:

VA Voluntary Service

Some Resources for Veterans:

“Make the Connection” Shared experiences and support for Veterans.

If you have PTSD or just want to understand it see this book and a companion website.
My Back to the Wall

Was Ms. Bjorhus fired because she is a whistle blower?

Ms. Bjorhus and Joe Carroll’s Forensic Auditor, Manny Dechter separately and independently discovered the missing or allegedly stolen $162,000 from 2008.  Unpaid trash bills of City of Coatesville officials were also discovered during the audit procedures. 

It's my understanding that some City Officials were very angry that their unpaid trash bills were made public. 

Curiously Mr. Dechter was allegedly immediately dismissed before his work was completed after he uncovered the unpaid trash bills of city officials.  See: “Some City Officials Owe Trash Bills”: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/06/09/news/doc4df16003d96eb830464529.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Although Ms. Bjorhus may not be able to release information concerning her work because of the terms of her dismissal, I believe that she can participate in a criminal investigation. 

On Friday evening November 11, 2011 I had an emergency surgery.

For about 10 days I had a low fever. My doctor tested for a number of things with negative results. On Wednesday November 9th I started to have tenderness in my abdomen and I noticed that my pants were tighter. My doctor ordered a blood test for toxins. On Friday November 11th the test came back positive and my doctor said to meet her at the Emergency Entrance of Brandywine Hospital as soon as possible. It was about 4pm.  I was admitted, had an MRI of my abdomen and at about 10:30pm I was in the OR. It was the beginning of my month and a day in the hospital.

 I had laparoscopic surgery to remove a section of my intestine where I had developed diverticulitis. My intestine perforated and the infection spread into my entire abdomen (peritonitis). Dr. Olukoga said there was a whoosh of escaping air when he opened my abdomen. My abdomen was flushed out with an antibiotic solution. Right now my large intestine is disconnected from my small intestine and I have an ileostomy. The end of my small intestine pokes trough my abdomen, it’s called a stoma. In 3 to 6 months the ileostomy will be reversed and my colon reconnected. Until then I need to wear a bag over the stoma.

On that Friday evening my muscles were shutting down, my liver and kidneys were shutting down. Someone, a nurse or doctor, told me that I wouldn’t have made it to the next morning without surgery to remove the infection. My surgeon is Dr. Olukoga. He is trained in advanced laparoscopic surgery and was on duty that weekend. I was told that he was one of the best in the area. At about 5:00 am Saturday morning I was recovering in the ICU. It was a very close call. In a way I am a very lucky man.

 For some reason I didn’t feel very much pain in my abdomen. Maybe I just don’t react to pain, I don’t know. I didn’t display the usual symptoms. I heard that it’s unusual for someone as sick as I was to be able to walk into the hospital.

 I think that because the infection was very bad that my bowels wouldn’t restart properly. I had scarring from the infection that partially obstructed my intestine also. My recovery was unusually long. I was in the hospital until Monday December 12^th, one month and a day. On December 7th I complained about a pain in my back that I thought was a muscle sprain. I was walking in the hallway pulling my IVs along without much trouble and I was breathing OK. A person with blood clots in their lungs usually can’t breathe very well at all.  Dr. Bamezai ordered a test for blood clots just in case. It turned out positive for several clots in my lungs, very large clots in my left leg veins and a clot in an artery in my right leg. My exit from the hospital was delayed until the clots were under control and Warfarin was therapeutic.

Dr. Bamezai said, “You scare me.” I think that it’s because I can be deathly sick and appear healthy.

I had a NG tube (Naso-Gastro tube) down my nose and throat for at least 3 weeks. Worse yet it was removed and put back twice. My nose and throat are still a little sore.  The Dilaudid IV helped to ease the pain.  It wasn’t always easy but I managed to keep my spirits up. I think that’s half the battle. 

The nurses on the second floor of Brandywine Hospital did a lot to keep my spirits up. They made my month in the hospital almost pleasant and at times fun. A very special THANK YOU TO THE NURSES ON THE 2nd FLOOR OF BRANDYWINE HOSPITAL. They link the technology, the doctors and the patients. I could see the nurses fighting daily to make sure the medical needs of patients were met and that patients were as comfortable as possible. Hospitals are powered by nurses. It was beautiful to see them make the hospital work for the patients.

 So right now I am at home typing this on my computer. I can walk around the downstairs but the stairs are a challenge right now. I went upstairs for the first time today with an assist from Mike the physical therapist. But I get tired out very quickly. Our living room has a hospital bed that I am using until I can manage the stairs on my own.

 The biggest challenge for me right now is the ileostomy bag. The end of my small intestine is poking through my abdomen, it’s called a stoma. I stick a plastic bag designed for that purpose over the stoma and it collects what comes out of my stoma. It’s a little gross but you get used to it. Some people have them 30 years or more and lead normal lives. The hard part for me is getting the bag to stick well enough to my skin so that it doesn’t work loose.

I have a nickname for my stoma, “the percolator, Because the stoma is my small intestine, not my large intestine, the discharge is unpredictable and because the area needs to be dry when applying the bag it and it’s often “percolating” when I am trying to apply a new bag and I’m fighting to keep the area dry.  

I will get the hang of it. But right now I feel a little insecure.

GO SEE AND HEAR FOR YOURSELF

What all this means for this blog is that I won’t be able to get to a Coatesville City Council meetings and record the meetings in the near future. So if you want to know what is happening at the city council meetings go see and hear for yourself.

A few years ago there were people at the meetings that were there to intimidate residents and interested people, that all came to a stop several years ago. The meetings are sanguine now, so come on in.

See “Parkesburg Today” for articles about the 45th Legislative District Candidates

Barry Cassidy Seeks Newly Created State House Seat

Caln Commissioner Seeks New Legislative Seat

“We the People" not “I the Property Owner"

UPDATE:

Now that the facts are out the horsey people appear to be less a victim of the big bad community and more like an uncooperative neighbor. I think the politicians who immediately came to the Horseshow Association’s side against the community owe the community of West Vincent an apology.

SEE:

Township sets date for vote to rescind condemnation of Horse Show Grounds

Friday, December 16, 2011

By SARA MOSQUEDA-FERNANDEZ
smfernandez@dailylocal.com

When you read articles like this; Politicians react to Ludwig's Corner decision keep in mind that there is a bigger fight across the nation to give more rights to property than to communities. Most of the property by area in Pennsylvania that is privately owned is owned by corporations, mining companies, industry and much of our farmland is owned by real estate speculators. Right now we are witnessing drilling company’s efforts to overrun Pennsylvania’s community’s rights to clean water. I am suspicious of politicians who jump to defend property against the rights of a community.

Property rights are what mining and drilling companies and real estate speculators hold over the heads of communities. Over the years the real estate lobbies have whittled down our community rights. When a developer or mining company comes into a community the laws are already slanted in the properties favor. We should be championing community rights and not the property rights of corporations.

Our local communities once came together formed a militia and fought for their community rights against a big time property owner named King George of England. It's "We the People" not "I the property". 

“Property Rights and Responsibility  

All private property rights are completely dependent on the community. We maintain a right to our land only because we can record a deed at the county courthouse, which is supported by the community. We enforce our property rights through a legal system supported by the community. Our property would be worthless without roads and electric and telephone lines built by the community. We are safe and secure in our homes because of police and fire departments organized by the community. 

 Just as the community makes it possible for us to enjoy our property, each community has the right – the obligation, in fact- to ensure private property is used in ways that will benefit the long –term public interest.”  

 FROM:

Save Our Land Save Our Towns by Thomas Hylton 

SAVE OUR LAND, SAVE OUR TOWNS

Also see:

The 45th Legislative District

Emotionally it's tough for me to choose between Josh Young and Barry Cassidy. Both men are in the race for state representative in the newly created 45th Pennsylvania House Legislative District. I know and like both of them.

But as a Coatesville resident who would love to see our area prosper there is only one choice. The 45th includes the City of Coatesville, the boroughs of Downingtown, South Coatesville, Parkesburg and Modena. Townships in the 45th are Caln, East Caln, Valley, East Fallowfield and Sadsbury.  Those municipalities make up our local part of the Keystone Corridor; see "Plan the Keystone". Barry Cassidy played a part in the development of the Keystone Corridor as a part of developing “Citizens for the Train” and work on the “Greenline” planned to link Phoenixville to Paoli by rail.  We are getting a new train station in Coatesville and Downingtown and improvements to the Parkesburg station in part because of Barry’s enthusiasm and hard work to develop rail transit.

Back in the 1990s Phoenixville was mostly known as a place to buy drugs.  Barry Cassidy removed the street dealers from Phoenixville one corner at a time. I witnessed Barry Cassidy change Phoenixville from a drug selling town* to what is now one of the most popular and sought after residential, shopping and dining areas in Chester County.

Barry brings years of experience working with PennDOT, Septa and Amtrak on corridor development.  As State Rep. for the 45th district he would continue that work.

One more thing, Barry is a tough manager; if you aren’t producing he will lean on you until you do. He had the emotional toughness to remove the street dealers from Phoenixville. He will need that emotional toughness in the State House. I heard Governor Rendell talk about the PA Statehouse, he said something like; These guys get out of bed every day not thinking about what they can do for their constituents, they think about what they can do to hurt the guy on the other side of the aisle. The ruthlessness of the Republicans in the Statehouse can discourage newcomers but I think Barry can roll with the punches.

*”About 2002, Phoenixville had a higher crime rate than Coatesville, according to Carroll. At that time, the borough began hiring more police officers while the city did not, he said. Now, Phoenixville has a much lower crime rate than the city, Carroll said.‘Adding extra cops is not the only answer to reducing crime, but it certainly helps,’ Carroll said,” 

FROM: 

Daily Local News 

DA warns against cutting city cops 

Published: Sunday, October 30, 2011

Is Stacy Bjorhus the Coatesville whistle blower being fired because she is a whistle blower?

Is Ms. Bjorhus being fired because she uncovered Coatesville City Councilman Marty Eggleston and Coatesville City Councilman Ed Simpson's delinquent trash bills?

Is Ms. Bjorhus being fired because she uncovered that Coatesville City Councilman Jarrell Brazzle allegedly illegally received vacation pay for his part time and summer job working for the city?

Is Ms. Bjorhus being fired because she did her job and traced the missing $162,000 from 2008 to cash payments that were recorded as received but allegedly never made it into the city accounts?

Is Ms. Bjorhus being fired because she "put an emotional strain" on the city employees that allegedly handled that missing cash?

I'm in a hospital bed hooked up to IVs and pumps so it's difficult for me to add links to what is written above.

There is a ton of information on the Coatesville Dems Blog, much of it live recordings. The "Search this Blog" search works well if you are looking for more information.

Municipal Finance Director wanted-Must be able to turn a blind eye to possible criminal activity

Coatesville advertising for Finance Director

http://dailylocal.com/articles/2011/11/22/news/doc4ecb99271f383522791186.txt

If you don’t vote tomorrow, don’t complain about your local government.

Most of the really lousy local government officials we have had were elected by a very, very small number of votes. Sometimes local elections are decided by 1 or 2 votes.  

If you have a lousy local government it’s most likely due to voter apathy.

Why do you think a guy like Pat Sellers wanted Patsy Ray in office?

When Patsy Ray won in the 2005 Coatesville City Council elections Pat Sellers giggled as he said he didn't think she could win. It was plain to me that Sellers was very pleased she did win.

 

But why would someone who reads the American Renaissance (July 2000, see page 2) help to elect Patsy Ray? Warning have a barf bag handy if you read the rest of the issue. 

 

"American Renaissance  

Profiled Leadership:  

 Jared Taylor 

Ideology:  

 White Nationalist 

Founded by Jared Taylor in 1990, the New Century Foundation is a self-styled think tank that promotes pseudo-scientific studies and research that purport to show the inferiority of blacks to whites — although in hifalutin language that avoids open racial slurs and attempts to portray itself as serious scholarship. It is best known for its American Renaissance magazine and website, which regularly feature proponents of eugenics and blatant anti-black racists. The foundation also sponsors American Renaissance conferences every other year where racist "intellectuals" rub shoulders with Klansmen, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists."

More at: 

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/american-renaissance

Every Black person in Coatesville should think about why someone who reads American Renaissance was overjoyed to have Patsy Ray in office.

She is running for office again:

Three vying for seat on Coatesville Area School Board

Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011

For more about Pat Sellers just put "Pat Sellers" into SEARCH THIS BLOG.

Could “Create Jobs for USA” include Coatesville?

I believe that someone or some business here, possibly the City of Coatesville itself, could find financial assistance in one of the organizations in the Opportunity Finance Network.

 NPR- National Public Radio

"Starbucks Hopes To Kick-Start Job Creation 

By Wendy Kaufman 

November 01, 2011 

Morning Edition 

Starbucks is teaming up with a network of community-based financial institutions to help create jobs. Beginning Tuesday anyone can make a tax-deductable contribution at a Starbucks store or online to the Create Jobs for USA Fund. The money will go to companies so they can hire or retain American workers.Mark Pinsky heads the Opportunity Finance Network, a group of about 180 mostly nonprofit lenders that work in underserved communities where credit is often hard to get. Over the past couple of years, Pinsky chatted informally with individuals at Starbucks about ways they might collaborate, but he certainly wasn't expecting the communiqué he got from the company a couple of months ago. 

'I got an email late one Monday night saying we are thinking of doing something, can we talk tomorrow morning?" Pinsky recalls. "We talked on Tuesday and by Wednesday we basically had a handshake deal." 

MORE: 

Starbucks Hopes To Kick-Start Job Creation

SEE THE STARBUCKS CREATE JOBS FOR USA WEBSITE:

CREATE JOBS FOR USA

Find a CDFI 

“Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) who are Members of OFN are working in neighborhoods across the United States to provide affordable, responsible credit, create and sustain jobs, and to stabilize communities. CDFIs finance community businesses, including small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing.”

Go to the web page below click “Area (s) served” – “Pennsylvania” for Community Development Financial Institutions in Coatesville’s area. Or put in a different search criteria. 

OpportunityFinance Network Find a CDFI

The Koch Party

Is Boehner really a “Koch Party” member and not a Republican? Maybe the new Tea Party Congressmen aren't really Republicans, maybe they're Koch Party Congressmen, the very first wholly corporate owned and operated political party.  "The Koch Brothers

People & Power asks if the tycoon duo's fortune could put the radical right into the White House. People and Power Last Modified: 27 Oct 2011 14:33

By People & Power reporter Bob Abeshouse

Charles and David Koch are each worth about $25bn, which makes them the fourth richest Americans. When you combine their fortunes, they are the third wealthiest people in the world. Radical libertarians who use their money to oppose government and virtually all regulation as interference with the free market, the Kochs are in a class of their own as players on the American political stage. Their web of influence in the US stretches from state capitals to the halls of congress in Washington DC,"

MORE AT:

 http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/10/2011102683719370179.html

SNOW DATE Halloween Parade Coatesville SUNDAY

Layoff Police and Fireman?

Our new Coatesville City Manager Mr. Rawlings wants Coatesville to go back to 20 police officers; the days the "Young Guns" controlled Coatesville. Those days when "Open air drug bazaars" blocked traffic from moving on some Coatesville Streets.

More recently in 2006 Matthews and Walker laid off police and fireman in an effort to reflect the ethnic makeup of Coatesville; gunshots were an everyday thing and a large chunk of Coatesville burned down. We had to sleep downstairs to get out quickly and keep away from outside walls, the walls we regularly dug bullets out of. 

Where did they get this guy?

Staffing cuts eyed in Coatesville

Thursday, October 27, 2011

By ERIC S. SMITH
esmith@dailylocal.com

Progressing from 2006/2010 Cronyism & Race

In the City of Coatesville with some exceptions the 4 year period between 2006 and 2010 was a time of near total change in the city administration office staff, police staff and fireman staff.

I think the Coatesville City Council that came in January of 2006 began a purge of City employees that with some exemptions changed City staff using a formula of cronyism 1^st and race 2nd. I believe that fitness, training and qualifications for the job were for the most part not considered. And the result was 4 years of chaotic mismanagement that had no equal in Chester County.

I believe a firing and hiring policy based primarily cronyism and somewhat on race resulted in amazing financial unaccountability that among other things resulted in lost grants and financial known unknowns and financial unknown, unknowns. We began a forensic audit under District Attorney Joe Carroll done by Manny Dechter but Mr.Dechter was tossed out by City Council before his audit was complete. I guess the forensic audit made some people with political pull uncomfortable.

On the public safety side, in the years between 2006 and 2010 the City of Coatesville experienced a new crime wave and unprecedented arson fires.

The City Council that Coatesville now in place is for the most part a disaster cleanup crew cleaning up 2006 thru 2010. Our present Council may have made some wrong turns, but after coming to so many Coatesville City Council meetings everyone at the head table seems like family and I like all of them. You may disagree with them at times, but all of the people at the table try to do what is best for Coatesville.

Our police and fire departments need some work but they are coming around. Several development projects proposed more than a decade ago are finally in the ground or in progress. There may be fits and starts but I think the City of Coatesville finally has a bright future. 

PINTO VS. CITY OF COATESVILLE

This video of Kareem Johnson plays a part in this lawsuit:

SPECIAL REPORTS

WALKING WHILE BLACK

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/special_packages/inquirer/walkingwhileblack.html

Councilman Kareem Johnson discusses the situation in Coatesville, Pa.

DIRECT LINK TO INQUIRER VIDEO:

Councilman Kareem Johnson

BELOW ARE SELECTED PAGES FROM PINTO VS. CITY OF COATESVILLE

 To see the entire document and follow the case, go to:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT ELECTRONIC FILING (ECF)

https://ecf.paed.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/ShowIndex.pl

If you are not already registered, register for a PACER Login. Documents are $.08 per page.

This letter from Coatesville Chief Matthews to District Attorney Joe Carroll on May 18, 2007 is also revealing:

 For more information try Matthews in “GOOGLE Search this blog” on the right.

“Building One Pennsylvania Public Meeting: Advancing an Agenda for Regional Change”

Update, bus available-below

 “Martin Luther King Jr. writing from Birmingham Jail said, "We live in inescapable networks of mutuality."

Well, we have spent a long time in active disregard for that observation. We have assumed we could be saved by one more shopping mall, one last office park, one less multi-family apartment building.

The jig appears to be up. The nations unmistakable demographic movement toward a non-white majority makes escape from the network impossible except for the very rich and undesirable as it relates to our most cherished ideals.

We're running out of land and natural recourses to run to or to use up.

The gating of our communities has only cost us more. We can no longer afford ourselves. 


We can't do it alone. We have little choice but to do it together and I believe we can."

David Trout, Professor of Law and Justice, Rutgers University

“There's an old saying that there's not a Republican way to clean the streets or Democratic way to clean the snow and I think the same is true for the kinds of problems that confront our state. 


Pennsylvania has; and this is going to sound harsh,  for too long been a reform backwater.  Too long we have followed too many states and too many communities in making the kinds of fundamental change that will improve the lives of our citizens. 


And so the challenge is, you can do it; do you have the energy, the enthusiasm and the commitment to make the changes that matter?" 

Dr. Terry Madonna, Franklin and Marshal College, Center for Politics and Public Affairs.

Coatesville Assistant City Manager Kirby Hudson at Monday October 24th City Council Meeting announcing that a bus will stop at Coatesville to take Coatesville residents to the Building One Pennsylvania Meeting:

Coatesville will DEFINITELY have a new train station.

Over $18 Million of funding has been programmed on the region’s Transportation Improvement Program for the construction of the Coatesville station project. See the document below:

By comparison Parkesburg and Downingtown only have funding for planning.

PennDOT will have a press release concerning the Coatesville Station soon.

Construction of the station is targeted during the next 2 to 4 years – barring any unforeseen setbacks.

I was told the County is working closely with the Coatesville City and Redevelopment Authority staff and partnering with PennDOT on this station project. It has a very high priority. 

“What is happening in Coatesville needs to stop; what is happening there is the corruption of the city council.”

The title above dates from 2006. It’s Christopher Gerber’s opening statement in the Pre Trial Hearing below.  It seems that things don’t change much in Coatesville. It's Déjà vu all over again.

Coatesville lets go 3d city official asking for reform

By Kathleen Brady Shea

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Pre trial hearing 

United States district court For the eastern district of Pennsylvania Siana, Bellwoar & McAndrew, llp: civil action 

Vs. 

City of Coatesville, et al.: No. 06-4512

December 15, 2006 

At 11:00 am

Before the honorable Eduardo C. Robreno In Courtroom 11a 

As part of his opening statement Christopher Gerber, Esq. made this statement:
“What is happening in Coatesville needs to stop; what is happening there is the corruption of the city council.” 

Judge Robreno, “Is this a political?”

Christopher Gerber, “It is a Constitutional issue”. 

Taken from Blackberry notes at the hearing by Jim Pitcherella 

Mr. Gerber’s opening statement never made it to the newspapers because the Daily Local Reporter was arrived 5 minutes after the hearing began.

Public Corruption 

It’s our top priority among criminal investigations—and for good reason. 

Public corruption poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of life. It impacts everything from how well our borders are secured and our neighborhoods protected…to verdicts handed down in courts…to the quality of our roads, schools, and other government services. And it takes a significant toll on our pocketbooks, wasting billions in tax dollars every year. 

The FBI is singularly situated to combat this corruption, with the skills and capabilities to run complex undercover operations and surveillance.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

Grilling of Coatesville Finance Director and the GL Specialist who suddenly skipped off to India.

A long time city employee, a GL Specialist (General Ledger Specialist) with access to cash and the ability to delete finance files abruptly leaves for India when there is at least $168,000 unaccounted for. Not even a whimper about it from City Hall.  

Some Coatesville residents paid their trash bills and other bills in cash and one of the people who took that cash in payment was, you guessed it, the GL Specialist Dharmesh “Raj” Kalaria.

There is nothing from 2 members of the Coatesville City Council but a grilling of the finance director. That same finance director who discovered the missing $168,000 and that same finance director who discovered the delinquent trash bills of 3 city council members and that the city overpaid sick pay and vacation pay to another city council member when he had a part time job with the city.

We all know that whistle blowers usually are fired. Ms. Bjorhus is probably checking her LinkedIn right now.  Guess you have to be very careful just who you blow the whistle on in Coatesville.

This is sections of the Finance Report of the City of Coatesville Finance Director Stacy Bjorhus at the Coatesville City Council meeting on Monday September 26, 2011.

Make sure you listen to the recording below. The tone of the voices is important.

MORE AT:

http://coatesvilledems.blogspot.com/2011/09/grilling-of-coatesville-finance.html

Also See:

CHESTER COUNTY INBOX

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011

Is Coatesville upswing reversing - again?

Coatesville, which has struggled for more than 40 years to recover from the decline of its lucrative steel industry, appears to be repeating a pattern of making progress and then backsliding.

Posted by kathleen brady shea @ 10:35 AM

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

Can the FBI, in India, interview people that worked in the USA?

 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

MATT BAKER RESIGNS FROM COATESVILLE RDA

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Concerning threats to City of Coatesville workers

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011

Were there were physical altercations between a city employee and Forensic Auditor Manny Dechter?

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

Jarrell Brazzle received benefits as a part time City of Coatesville employee. Allegedly, he was not entitled to those benefits.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011

In 2007 the PA Commonwealth Court ordered landlord Amrit Lal to pay the City of Coatesville $110,000. It never happened.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2011

IS THE MISSING $160.000 THE STICKING POINT ON APPROVING CITY OF COATESVILLE FINANCE REPORTS?

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011

Be sure and read Karl Markings “Goodbye and Thanks”