We need a restart in Coatesville

In Coatesville redevelopment, redevelopment that can bring about an increase in tax revenue for the city began during Paul Janssen’s and Jean Krack’s tenure in the City of Coatesville. The Coatesville Police Department personnel doubled during the Janssen/Krack tenure. I believe that Paul Janssen and Jean Krack were stymied and eventually removed by people who wanted to bring back the drug business back to the “open air drug bazaar” described by former Coatesville PD Chief Bellizzie.

 I believe that with Mr. Rawlings as Coatesville City Manager the tail (city workers) is wagging the dog (city manager). When Harry Walker was Coatesville City Manager the dog was dead. During the Walker Administration the Coatesville Police Department was cut in half, the narcotics unit closed and investigations halted. The Coatesville PD became a reaction force. 

Redevelopment came to a screeching halt during the Walker/Bloc of Four era. Then City Council President Kareem Johnson told Carl Chetty to sit down when he tried to present the plans for “Pennock Place” to City Council. There is an empty lot where Chetty’s building was to stand. 

A Chester County resident and me talked to Governor Rendell concerning the potential loss of million of dollars of grants and low interest loans for redeveloping Coatesville. I got a direct fax line into Governor Rendell’s office. We lost most of the grants. Arson, shootings and drug deals replaced redevelopment.

But were Mr. Walker the City Council and others who worked within the City Government from 2006 to 2010 entirely at fault during that disastrous time? I don’t think so. I believe a few truly nefarious people used them.

The Redevelopment that is happening now; the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, the Brandywine Riverwalk, the train station and once it’s built the Coatesville Velodrome are all left over from the Janssen and Krack era. There is nothing more in the pipeline.

In an attempt to balance the city budget, Coatesville's present City Manager Gary Rawlings intends to reduce the Police Department by at least 10 officers. The civilian support staff is already gone forcing some officers off of patrol.


Former District Attorney Joe Carroll said. “The police department in Coatesville is understaffed and overworked, and has been for many years.” District Attorney Tom Hogan said, “Coatesville needs a strong and fully staffed police department.” 

If the drug business is “good again” and the frequency of store robberies and shootings in Coatesville goes up because Mr. Rawlings reduced the effectiveness of the Coatesville PD Coatesville may become a place to leave. Development coming west from the Philadelphia area and development coming east from the Lancaster York area might skip over the City of Coatesville. We need to make Coatesville a place people want to be. To make it a self supporting thriving community with a good tax income such as Phoenixville, PA 


What a city manager of Coatesville should be doing is making Coatesville an attractive place to live and invest in. Tax income for EXPANDING the Coatesville Police Department, Fire Department and other city services will come from the increase in property values.  Chester County and the Coatesville School District would also benefit from a vibrant self-supporting Coatesville.


We need to re-start in Coatesville with fresh ideas and we need a new city manager who GETS THINGS DONE.