Coatesville has a crime problem not a parking problem

View Larger Map

 

Our downtown business area in Coatesville is from 1^st to 3^rd Avenue along Lincoln Highway. There are usually 60 or more empty metered parking spaces between 3^rd Avenue and 6^th Avenue. Yet people complain saying that there is “not enough parking in downtown Coatesville”.

I lived in Philadelphia for 17 years and the complaints about “not enough parking” are baffling to me. But I think I figured it out:

When riding in someone's car the drivers, who happen to be Black, say lock you’re doors while driving by 8^th Avenue on Lincoln Highway.  This doesn’t make sense to me because I park there and walk to the restaurants or barbershop. I usually park in the lot in back of the stores near Harmony Street. Most people try very hard to find a space right out front of the store they are going to.

The reason they try to find a space out front of the store is that they want to see the path they will follow to their car from the store entrance to the car. They want to be able to see their path because in the back of their minds they’re afraid they might be mugged.

Even if broad daylight they would be afraid of walking a block on Lincoln Highway to get to their car.

All the empty spaces tell me there is not parking problem in Coatesville. But the fact that people will not get out of their cars unless they can park within view of the store they want to go tells me we have a personal safety problem.  We have a crime problem in Coatesville

Muggings are rarely if ever reported as news but from talking to older people who are at risk of a mugging and who live in and near downtown Coatesville it happens often enough to be a a part of walking in Coatesville. A few people are repeatedly mugged. The fear people have is a reasonable fear.  It may not make the Daily Local News but the muggings are talked about.

There is another linked crime problem and that is armed robberies of stores and restaurants in Coatesville. The robberies are seldom reported because the owners don’t want to scare off customers. If you are a shop or restaurant owner in Coatesville it’s not if you will be robbed, it’s if you will survive being robbed.

We desperately need a real parking problem that is caused by a lot of people wanting to shop and dine in downtown Coatesville. But until we solve our crime problem we won’t get more stores and restaurants here.  

And right now our Police Department is FUBAR. Actually it can be repaired with the right police chief. I understand that Dominick Bellizzie might be available.

Lincoln University has several possible parking lots in Coatesville

View Larger Map

There are several parking lot locations to accommodate Lincoln University parking. If it comes here Lincoln University will be located on Kersey Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue.

There are two possibilities for lots on both sides of Maple Avenue near 1st Avenue.  On the north side there is an undeveloped property owned by the City of Coatesville Department of Public Works below;

On the south side of Maple Avenue near 1st Avenue there is a fenced in parking lot that I believe is owned by either the steel company or the Greystone Society, below:

Here is a panoramic view from the corner of 1st Avenue and Maple Avenue. The Public Works property is on the left and the steel company or Greystone property is up the street on the right:

The most logical location parking location for Lincoln University is the lot immediately to the north of the school building at the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue and Harmony Street. I believe that Mr. Skidas owns the property that is now rented to the present occupiers of the school; the Chester County Intermediate Unit. See photos below:

I believe the right wing extremist group “Stand for Children” is coming into PA to undermine teachers’ pension funding.

Uploaded by mrsjennifermarshall on Jul 9, 2011
"I happened on a video that I knew needed to be shared with everyone. I copied and edited it down to the most important 15 min where Jonah Edelman Co-founder of Stand for Children talks in detail about how they came to Illinois with the express purpose to take down the teachers unions. He revels in the fact that the general public was unsuspecting of the tactics being used against the teachers of Illinois and if they had it would have been unpalatable . He talks about how he worked to divide and conquer the teachers' and how the Illinois teachers association president went to work for Arne Duncan at the U.S. Dept of Ed. shortly after the talks were settled. Share with everyone!"

I believe that "Stand for Children" is setting up to take down teachers pension funds in Pennsylvania.

Good Schools Pennsylvania, an advocacy organization fighting for a quality education for every child in the state, is spearheading an ambitious and dramatic effort called "Stand for Children." "Stand for Children" volunteers travel to Harrisburg to maintain a presence at the Pennsylvania legislature every day that it is in session from January 27 to June 30, 2003, with the goal of lobbying legislators on behalf of the educational rights of every Pennsylvania child. Protestant (at least six different denominations), Catholic, and Jewish groups, college student groups, and school groups have signed up for almost every day on the calendar and have brought out significant numbers of people in all kinds of weather. Good Schools Pennsylvania concentrates its efforts on the state legislature because the state courts have ruled that "equity" and "adequacy" cases are not justiciable. 

More at:

http://www.schoolfunding.info/states/pa/4-3-03GoodSchoolsPA.php3

ALSO SEE:

 

Jonah Edelman Spills the Oligarchs' Blueprint for Crushing the Teaching Profession 

  

ALSO SEE:

Profiteering and Union-Busting Repackaged as School Reform

By: David A. Love Thursday July 28, 2011 9:27 am

Did Coatesville manager Hudson send a form letter to officials to return to him indicating their support for his Harmony St. parking lot?

Below are letters of support for a Community Development Grant Block Grant application converting the first two blocks of Harmony Street in Coatesville. It would make angled parking and change Harmony Street into a one-way street.  A Gateway Welcome Sign was tacked on to the grant application.

There is a letter from State Representative Tim Hennessey, a letter from the President of Lincoln University Robert R. Jennings and a letter from State Senator John Rafferty.  Except for a very few words they are identical. It's a form letter.

I think that Rep. Hennessey, Senator Rafferty and President Jennings added their names to a letter and have no idea of what they signed on to.

Making Harmony Street one way with angled parking has come up 4 years ago. It failed the first time and it will fail again. It has no merit.

I believe the parking proposal for Harmony has absolutely nothing to do with Lincoln University.  I believe that Mr. Hudson and Mr. Barry have some unknown reason for their proposal.

Harmony St parking proposed 4 years ago. Is not related to Lincoln U.

I believe the parking proposal for Harmony has absolutely nothing to do with Lincoln University.

The parking proposal for Harmony Street came up 4 years ago. It had no merit then and it has no merit now.  I believe that Mr. Hudson and Mr. Barry have some unknown reason for their proposal.

 This is an excerpt from a Daily Local News article from July of 2008: 

“The parking strategy has already had at least one opponent. Judy Skolnik, owner of the Coatesville Army & Navy Store on the 200 block of East Lincoln Highway, told council that changing the traffic pattern on Harmony Street, which runs behind her shop, would make her business less accessible to customers.

‘Would the proposed change hurt me personally?

You bet it would,’ Skolnick said. "Don't hurt your businesses," she said. ‘We are an asset you don't want to lose. Or do you?"


See:

Coatesville officials reveal new parking strategy 

R. JONATHAN TULEYA
Posted: 07/18/08 12:01 am

Bring the whole family to COATESVILLE: JULY 1-BIKE RACE-FIREWORKS-FOOD-ENTERTAINMENT

Video production by John Hutelmyer 2011

Lincoln University's nice but retail stores in Coatesville are essential.

 Sign parking lot NE side of Harmony & 3rd Avenue

 Parking lot NE side of Harmony & 3rd Avenue

 Parking lot Harmony & 3rd Avenue looking West

Parking lot Harmony & 3rd Avenue looking North

Why make another street one way and make it more difficult for retail stores that tough it out in Coatesville. I believe that most retail store owners will not put up with the daily threat of a gun held to their head in an armed robbery. But we have long time retail store and restaurant owners in Coatesville who do just that. Why make downtown Coatesville more difficult for traffic to maneuver and discourage store and restaurant customers?

The Chester County Intermediate Unit School on Kersey Street in Coatesville is being considered for use by Lincoln University. Why isn’t the parking lot in back of the school being considered as a parking lot for Lincoln University students?

It looks like the  lot has room for about 40 cars. You can see by the photos above that the lot is now reserved for the CCIU. I believe that Mr.Skidas who owns the City Clock Appartments in Coatesville owns the lot and rents it to the CCIU.

You can see the lot in the map link below.

The Coatesville City Council is considering making Harmony Street into a parking lot with access one-way east from 1^st Avenue to 3^rd Avenue. Harmony Street is now a two way street with parallel parking spaces. 

It would have angled spaces.

I don’t think anyone considered the businesses that use Harmony Street or access of police vehicles to the west end of Coatesville by way of 1^st Avenue.

Look at this Google Maps link. Look at Harmony Street in back of Chertok's store. Zoom in to get a close look.  Look at the angled parking at the Coatesville City Hall lot. Visually transfer the angled parking spaces to Harmony Street and then imagine a tractor-trailer truck parked behind right them. How much chance would the people parked in those spaces have of moving their vehicles out? It looks like a tractor-trailer truck would have a very tight fit with angled parking.

So with vehicles parked diagonally at least 2 times a week Harmony Street could be impassable for about 2 hours each day. And anyone parked behind Chertok's store would be stuck there 2 times a week for about 2 hours. 

The Coatesville Army Navy Store also has a lot on Harmony Street. Making Harmony one way restricts access to that lot. There is a parking lot in back of the Army Navy store. If someone driving east on Lincoln Highway sees the Army Navy Store, wants to stop there and there are no metered spaces out front, they can now just turn down 3^rd Avenue go to Harmony street and the Army and Navy store lot. If Harmony is made one way they will need to go past Harmony Street and make a right turn at either Maple Avenue or Walnut Street, turn right on 1^st Avenue and then right again on Harmony Street. That’s if they know how to get back to Harmony Street. Or they might just say screw it I’m going to the Mall.

Making Harmony Street one way would force Coatesville Police to use 3^rd Avenue to get to 1^st Avenue and Lincoln Highway and Coatesville’s west end or use Maple Avenue to 1st Avenue. Making Harmony Street one way will increase response times to Coatesville's west end. In a one hour period I once counted 10 police vehicles going what would be the wrong way on Harmony Street. 

The idea of making Harmony Street one way with angled parking for Lincoln University Students that might be here someday maybe, is nuts.

You can see three cars parked on Harmony Street in the Google Maps photo. The parking is free. The meters haven't worked for a decade, they were "fixed" but they still are not functional. Three cars are normally parked on Harmony Street. We might get Lincoln University students but they would probably rather park near the proposed school that we might get that's 3 blocks away.

It's hard enough for retail Coatesville businesses to put up with armed robberies. And the constant threat of another armed robbery.  If you have a store or restaurant in Coatesville it’s not if you will see an armed robbery. It’s will you survive it.

It would be nice to get Lincoln University here but that's a possibility. If you make Harmony Street into a parking lot that could be the last straw that gets businesses to leave Coatesville. Making Harmony Street into a parking lot is nuts.  

The Harmony Street parking lot is on the agenda for Monday's Coatesville City Council meeting:

1. "9.2  Receive and consider First Reading an Ordinance amending Section 218 entitled Vehicles and Traffic of the City of Coatesville’s code, Section 218.46 “Schedule of one- way streets) to amend same to add Harmony Street as a one way street East Bound from First Avenue to Third Avenue"
   
   See:
    http://www.coatesville.org/government/city-council/council-agendas
   

Posted by James Pitcherella at 12:59 AM

 A copy of the Agenda is below:

JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY IN COATESVILLE, PA

I believe the John Birch Society and the tenants of the John Birch Society are driving Republican Party policy at the federal level and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State House and to a lesser degree the PA Senate. I think Governor Corbett may be a closeted John Birch Society member.  My beliefs come from personal experience with John Birch Society members in the City of Coatesville. 

Several years ago in the Lobby of the City of Coatesville City Hall I was surrounded by about 10 people screaming "Communist" at me. I had dared to say the City Council meetings were a place where individuals could get together as a community. I had no idea I was part of a Communist plot called Agenda 21. 

The welcome statement at the top of this blog is a statement of fact and the "white nationalist" "Don't Tread on Me" nutcases are still slithering around Chester County, PA. Their poison is lethal to Democracy.

“I’ve been a member of the John Birch Society for almost 20 years and have been a chapter leader since the early 90’s. I’m not on their paid field staff, so I speak to you today not on behalf of the Society, but as one who firmly believes their mission statement of “Less government, more individual responsibility and with God’s help, a better world”, to be the best philosophy to live by.”

Patrick Sellers, from his “Abolish the Income Tax” speech 4/15/2009

Pat Sellers served as Board President, Coatesville Area School District 1996:

“If you have school age children, the best thing you can do is keep your children out of the government schools as they have become mere indoctrination centers. One school near me has been showing the highly discredited Al Gore environmental documentary and passing it off as education! If you can manage, home schooling is the best way to educate your children. If that’s not possible, please consider one of your local religious schools.”

Patrick Sellers, from his “Abolish the Income Tax” speech 4/15/2009

Here in Coatesville, PA  you may remember Pat Sellers as the author of 3 Amendments to Coatesville’s Home Rule Charter, which voters passed in 2003. They were struck down as illegal. He helped Dick and Nancy Saha "Save our Farm". He also was instrumental in the election of the “Bloc of Four” Coatesville City Council in 2005. He said he wrote much of the text for the “Coatesville Recorder”.

From “The Chester County Ron Paul Revolution 2012” Glenmore, PA

Organizers, Pat Sellers…

UN Agenda 21 Presentationwith RBN Radio Host Maggie Roddin.

From the Minnesota Post Online:

Agenda 21 and looming battles over urban development


By Marlys Harris | 05/24/12

"What do bike lanes, historic preservation, light-rail development, protection of open space and energy conservation have in common?

Silly me, I thought that they were things that local governments -- not to mention ordinary people and private corporations -- were putting in place to make the urban environment more pleasant and efficient.

Grouped under the heading "sustainability," they, along with many other measures, aim to maintain air and water quality and safeguard other resources so that our world doesn't wind up looking like something from “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. In case you haven't read the book or seen the movie, it's about a father and son traveling across a post-apocalyptic landscape, where neither animals nor vegetation grows and where starving humans eat each other for lunch.

Who wouldn't want to avoid that?

Turns out, some people don't see sustainability as a good thing. To them it is an evil conspiracy whose tenets are embodied in a 20-year-old United Nations resolution ominously called Agenda 21. I only learned about it last weekend at the state GOP convention in St. Cloud when a man in a dark blue sports jacket thrust a paper about it into my hands as I was entering the powder room and rudely suggested I read it on the potty.

OK, I had nothing else to read; so I did. The four-page pamphlet proclaimed that Agenda 21 is a "communist plot...leading inevitably to the end of private property and forced abortions as a way of controlling population growth." The state of Tennessee, I learned, had already passed a law against it, asserting that "this United Nations Agenda 21 plan of radical so-called sustainable development views the American way of life of private property ownership, single-family homes, private-car ownership and individual travel choices and privately-owned farms all as destructive to the environment." If the U.N. had its way, our entire country would be turned over to wildlife.

Lurking behind all this, said the flyer, is a suspicious-sounding group called ICLEI or the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives which is in cahoots with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Planning Council, the National League of Cities and others to bring sustainable development to every government in every town, county and state.

First shot

The pamphlet may be the first shot across the bow in Minnesota on behalf of a movement sweeping the country. Anti-Agenda 21 and anti- sustainability, it has its roots in the Tea Party and other libertarian groups who oppose any kind of smart growth, urban planning, density, mass transit and environmental regulation. All that stuff, they claim, will add up to a New World Order, which will have Americans squished into high-rise stacks and made to travel to work on trains and buses."

I wonder how many people in the Coatesville area thought the Marriott Courtyard Hotel and the redevelopment of Coatesville was a part of a Communist plot? I can think of a few.

“People were trying to stop us every day. You had to fight to do the work.” Don Pulver, Developer of the Coatesville Marriott Courtyard Hotel. 
From:

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The revitalization of the City of Coatesville is beginning.There was a concerted effort to kill it before it was born. 

 

Making Harmony Street into a parking lot that’s impassable at least twice a week.

The Coatesville City Council is considering making Harmony Street into a parking lot with access one-way east from 1^st Avenue to 3^rd Avenue. Harmony Street is now a two way street with parallel parking spaces. 

It would have angled spaces.

I don’t think anyone considered the businesses that use Harmony Street or access of police vehicles to the west end of Coatesville by way of 1^st Avenue.

About twice a week a tractor-trailer truck parks in back of Chertok’s Furniture Store on Harmony Street to deliver furniture.

Look at this Google Maps link. Look at Harmony Street in back of Chertok's store. Zoom in to get a close look.  Look at the angled parking at the Coatesville City Hall lot. Visually transfer the angled parking spaces to Harmony Street and then imagine a tractor-trailer truck parked behind right them.
How much chance would the people parked in those spaces have of moving their vehicles out? It looks like a tractor-trailer truck would have a very tight fit with angled parking.

So with vehicles parked diagonally at least 2 times a week Harmony Street could be impassable for about 2 hours each day. And anyone parked behind Chertok's store would be stuck there 2 times a week for about 2 hours. 

The Coatesville Army Navy Store also has a lot on Harmony Street. Making Harmony one way restricts access to that lot.

Making Harmony Street one way would force Coatesville Police to use 3^rd Avenue to get to 1^st Avenue and Lincoln Highway and Coatesville’s west end. In a one hour period I once counted 10 police vehicles going what would be the wrong way on Harmony Street. 

The idea of making Harmony Street one way with angled parking for Lincoln University Students that might be here someday maybe, is nuts.

You can see three cars parked on Harmony Street in the Google Maps photo. The parking is free. The
meters haven't worked for a decade. Three cars are normally parked on Harmony Street. We might get Lincoln University students but they would probably rather park near the proposed school we might get that's 3 blocks away.

And there is also a lot at the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue and Harmony Street that I believe has not been considered.

It's hard enough for retail Coatesville businesses to put up with armed robberies. And the constant threat of another armed robbery.  It would be nice to get Lincoln University here but that's a possibility. If you make Harmony Street into a parking lot that could be the last straw that gets businesses to leave Coatesville. Making Harmony Street into a parking lot is nuts.  

Hot Air Balloons in Coatesville

Some balloons from the Chester County Balloon Festival landed in a Coatesville neighborhood today.


 

Matt Baker made important comments about Coatesville

Matt's post inspired me to write this:
I believe we don't need a bureaucratic wuss like Rawlings that balances the budget by firing police. Only the drug dealers gain and they don't pay taxes. It's very much harder to do but we need to raise the tax income by bringing more homeowners and businesses here and raising the property values. Municipalities aren't businesses that can cut essential employees that make it function go bankrupt and disappear. Well sometimes they do go bankrupt and disappear; we call them ghost towns.

Barry Cassidy is the best city manager that I am aware of in the Middle Atlantic States area. When he was interviewed a while ago he was willing to come down in salary to work in Coatesville.

According to Joe Carroll, Phoenixville was the highest crime area in Chester County, a higher crime area than Coatesville, back when Barry was  hired to change it around. I know from personal experience what Phoenixville was like then. Barry talked to the street dealers and told them they had two weeks to move off the corner. When two weeks came around the Phoenixville Police arrested not only the dealers but all the buyers too. After a time Phoenixville was a dangerous place to sell drugs and a dangerous place to buy drugs. He ran the dealers out of Phoenixville and killed the drug business there one corner at time.

The neat stuff like the reused paper mill in the center of Downingtown was begun when Barry worked in Downingtown. The work Barry began in Downingtown sat idle when he left Downingtown and began working in Phoenixville. Downingtown just picked again about 2 or 3 years ago.

In my opinion what sets Barry Cassidy apart from most city managers is that he doesn't just propose doing something; he makes sure it is done and done on time. Some people don't like Barry because he makes them work hard. Not just employees but contractors anyone connected with a city project. If something or someone is holding it up he’s all over them until they get moving.  He gets things done and done on time. Some Coatesville employees wouldn't like Barry but I believe the people that want to be a part of changing Coatesville around and seeing results would enjoy working with Barry Cassidy.

Phoenixville is a destination and a hot spot to live in Chester County. If you haven't been there go to Phoenixville and look around. It's nearly all of it is the results of Barry's efforts.

Barry made Phoenixville an entertainment hot spot in the Delaware Valley. That worked extremely well there. He wouldn't use the same means to turn Coatesville around. Coatesville is more of a commerce center, at least it could be.

I believe that dozens of people here that know what Barry did to the Phoenixville drug scene will call Mr. Cassidy is racist. They are unaware he is married to a Black women; a woman of considerable accomplishments.

Coatesville can be turned around now. Some of the people with considerable political clout that I believe were determined to keep Coatesville as a drug-selling hub are now gone. 

When Chief Bellizzie came to Coatesville the drug business was soaring. Drug sellers sometimes blocked Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue. It was something like the "Hampsterdam" episode of "The Wire". 

Chief Bellizzie put the drug business down. I believe the effort to remove Paul Janssen and Chief Bellizzie was not because of some property rights issues. I think the property rights thing was a cover for an effort to remove Chief Bellizzie, emasculate the Coatesville PD and make the drug business soar again in Coatesville. 

In 2005 I was dead on right when I said Chief Bellizzie would be fired by the newly elected city council and Richard Legree would somehow exert control over the operation of the City of Coatesville PD. Only one person in the Coatesville area would believe me, along with some intelligence people and ADAs in the USDoJ. 

I believe that Dominic Bellizzie might be available to come back as Chief of Police in Coatesville. He is the Chief of Police in Solebury Township in Bucks County PA. Mr. Bellizzie lives in the Coatesville area.

Chief of PoliceDominick P. Bellizzie
Dominick P. Bellizzie assumed the role as Solebury Township's Police Chief on June 1, 2006. Chief Bellizzie brings his experience in all aspects of special patrol, investigations, administration and narcotics. 

Chief Bellizzee holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and has had extensive police training, including the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Chief Bellizzie was selected by the International Assocation of Cheifs of Police to travel abroad to the Ukraine to provide training in police methods. 

Chief Bellizzie was previously the Chief of Police for the City of Coatesville in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In addition, Chief Bellizzie previously acted as Commanding Officer for the Narcotics Intelligence and Investigative Unit for the City of Philadelphia, responsible for coordination of all federal, state and local task forces including DEA, FBI, Customs and BNI. Chief Bellizzie has also had direct command and responsibilities for the Forfeiture Unit, Narcotics Computer Information unit, Technical Services Unit and Intensive Drug Investigative Squad in the City of Philadelphia.From:

Chief of Police

 This is Matt's comment:

Matt BakerJune 10, 2012 4:52 PM 

Jim - how can we talk about redevelopment or parking issues or fiscal responsibility when every month we have another story about something as terrible as death of another dog? This City needs to work on it's base. Rawlings reminds me of Chief Matthews back in the day. Totally clueless to how to lead and in the end get the same result. When you build your home you emphasize that the base (i.e. basement the flooring the structure) must be sound. For if you don't - then there is no guarantee it will be structurally sound. Same logic here. While I think Chief Canale is a nice guy it's time to bring in Chainsaw Al. To me this is another example of the broken window theory. The reason why this happens is unfortunately the killing of this dog and others (ask Jeff Loprinzi how he was treated on the killing on his dog) is there is no fear that they will be caught in my opinion. The same reasons why cars blare their music, race their motorcycles down main-street, ride mini bikes all through town is because there is no fear that they will be cited, arrested, or pulled over. I don't care if the CPD has 100 officers or 10 it all starts at the top about setting the expectation. You bring a Philly Police Commission Ramsey type in and believe me it wouldn’t happen on their watch. 


Does anyone find it ironic that City Council talked about a public relations person to come in when if they actually hired person who could do the job we wouldn't have this issue. Isn’t that what the City Manager is supposed to do? The reality is that the City is going to have to overpay for someone to come here but once they do they will immediately see the results. At this point hire Barry Cassidy to come in the interim – you get a manager and a RDA Executive Director. Further what does Kirby Hudson actually do to be honest? I can’t tell you other then attend luncheons and write long winded overviews of what he did. So remove the assistant City Manager as well. You can’t tell me Cassidy couldn’t make a difference immediately? Bring a real office mgr in a real HR Mgr in watch how fast things start to get done. Further from a CPD standpoint what about Officer Ollis as an interim Chief. Listen I don’t know check down list on how it works on how it should go, all I know is that he simply gets it and is fully involved in the community. He talks and walks the walk. I don’t see any other CPD out doing clean ups on their own dime or attending City Council meetings. Then go out and advertise the position in the proper why and let him interview. I mean if you can let Jim Lentz do it then why can we not do the same? In the meanwhile changes have to be made immediately.


In summary simply put - you get what you pay for. Coatesvillians need to demand the Borgota/Revel and instead of the Motel 6 you're paying 2.5 more for. You want change – then start demanding Chainsaw Al and Mike Keenan instead of the Doug Moe’s and you’ll start seeing progress. Furthermore if people don’t like my viewpoints that’s fine – but my question to them is - ok then what’s your idea then? Talk’s cheap. 
Regards,

Matt Baker

One-way streets and parking in the City of Coatesville

One-way traffic routing is designed to make it easy for travelers to drive through a municipality quickly stopping as little as possible.

One-way streets in a tiny town like the City of Coatesville makes it difficult for people to move around in that want to stay for a while.

 THE LAST THING COATESVILLE NEEDS IS ANOTHER ONE WAY STREET

 “Plan the Keystone" recommends making all of Fleetwood Street a TWO WAY STREET:

“Re built Fleetwood Street - two-way travel with head- out angle parking, 15’ sidewalks, and street trees”

The planners also recommended making Chestnut Street A TWO WAY STREET for the entire length.

With the exception of a few neighborhood areas COATESVILLE HAS NO PARKING PROBLEM. There are usually over one hundred empty parking spaces within 3 blocks of the downtown shopping area on Lincoln Highway between 1^st Avenue and 3^rd Avenue.

Finding a parking spot within 3 blocks of South Street in Philly is something to brag about.

Coatesville desperately needs a parking problem because people want to come here. Right now Coatesville is a place to be avoided.

THE COATESVILLE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DISCUSS PARKING ON MONDAY NIGHT.

Also see:

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Is there enough parking at the coatesville's Brandywine Riverwalk?

Information about burning dog

Look for information concerning the burning dog in Coatesville at the Philadelphia TV Stations. See videos below.
And:
The Coatesville Times
The Daily Local News 
Also see:
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2011

About Dogs, threats and Chester County Politics.

Is there enough parking at the coatesville's Brandywine Riverwalk?

It's my understanding that someone addressed the Coatesville City Council complaining about the lack of parking at the Riverwalk.

Is parking for 38 cars enough?

The distance between the entrance to the Brandywine Riverwalk in Coatesville to the old entrance for Carlson Steel Company is available for free parking.

It's about 758 feet, about enough to park 38 cars. Below is  an interactive Google Map of Lincoln Highway in Coatesville near the Brandywine Riverwalk. The map photo was taken before the fountain was constructed and shortly after the G.O. Carlson buildings were torn down.

View Larger Map

Panoramic photo showing Lincoln Highway between the Brandywine Riverwalk on the right (east) side and the old entrance for the G.O. Carlson Steel Company on the left (west) side.

If you fight violence with violence there might be a temporary lull. But it will come back and it could be deadly.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

“If you get them to laugh at themselves, find that soft spot of a person, not weak, but soft spot and you just ride on that.“ Ammeana Mathews

I have a huge amount of esteem for people like Ammeana Mathews. Who knows how many lives they have saved and will save?

We have a number of people like Ms. Mathews in Coatesville. They show up and do whatever they can. I have nothing but admiration for them.
 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons ‘daughters’ of God.”

You can watch “Frontline” “THE INTERUPTERS” on line at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/interrupters/

READ:

How about asking Dominic Bellizzie if he wants to be the Coatesville Chief?

  “Council also recently approved an early-retirement package for police officers including Chief Julius Canale. Simpson previously said that the city would like Canale to remain as chief on a temporary basis, but understands his desire to benefit from the buyout package. Therefore, council will need to approve a contract with the chief to keep him on staff.”

MORE AT:

Coatesville to hold special meeting tonight

By ERIC S. SMITH

esmith@dailylocal.com

Posted: 06/04/12 12:01 am

I believe that Dominic Bellizzie would consider coming back to the City of Coatesville Police Department. Maybe he’s tired of commuting to Solebury Township from Coatesville.

 

Back in 2006 then District Attorney of Chester County Joe Carroll had this to say:

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF CHESTER COUNTY 

PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2006

“I am sorry to hear that Coatesville Police Chief Dominic Bellizzie will be leaving his position to become Chief of Police in Solebury Township, Bucks County.  Solebury Township’s gain is Chester County’s loss.

Chief Bellizzie did an excellent job in what is probably the most difficult law enforcement position in Chester County.  The police department in Coatesville is understaffed and overworked, and has been for many years.  Despite those challenges, Chief Bellizzie and his officers have made significant progress in improving the quality of life in the city since his appointment.  I have great respect for the accomplishments of the Chief and the officers he leads, and was looking forward to continued progress as Coatesville implemented an unprecedented redevelopment plan.

Although I have not had a chance to speak to Chief Bellizzie about this recently, my impression from prior conversations was that the constant rumors and speculation in the media that his firing was imminent, and the lack of support from Council for the chief and the department was a factor in his decision to seek another position.  In my opinion, Chief Bellizzie had opportunities to move to what most people would consider more attractive positions on many occasions, but he liked the challenge his position presented, and genuinely cared for the people he served.  However, it is extremely frustrating and difficult to be effective in a situation where a chief does not know if he has the confidence of his governing body, and does not know if he will receive the resources and autonomy he needs to do his job correctly.

I think that the resignation of Chief Bellizzie will have a very bad impact on morale in the police department.  The chief was a respected leader both within the department and elsewhere.  I will not be surprised if the chief’s resignation influences other officers to seek employment elsewhere.

Coatesville has an excellent police department, but the loss of Chief Bellizzie will be a setback, and it will take time to recover.  While there are qualified candidates to succeed the chief within the department, their promotion will not immediately replace the skills and experience Chief Bellizzie takes with him.  If a chief is hired from outside, there will be an adjustment period.  I am concerned, too, that it will be difficult to attract candidates of Chief Bellizzie’s caliber to a position with so many challenges at a time of political transition.

Concerns notwithstanding, it is time to move on.  It is my hope that Coatesville City Council will take the steps necessary to ensure that they find the best-qualified candidate for chief…”

More at: 

http://dsf.chesco.org/da/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=621960

Former Coatesville Police Chief Dominic Bellizzie didn’t want to leave the Coatesville PD. I believe he was forced out because they needed someone who would support giving Richard Legree a supervisory part in the Coatesville Police Department.  Some people including me were aware of this in 2005:

The article below is no longer available on line. It is from my personal records:

Chester County Reporter

Story filed 10 January 06
________________________________________
Coatesville residents turnout to support Krack, Bellizzie
By Allen Davis
Staff Writer
9 a.m., 10 Jan 06
Coatesville residents crowded into City Hall last night wanting to know if there was truth to reports that City Manager Jean Krack and Police Chief Dominic Bellizzie are to be replaced in the near future.

"I don't respond to rumors," council President Kareem Johnson said. Johnson would comment only that last night was the first time he had heard council was considering creating a new superintendent of safety position that would oversee the police.

Lt. Matt Gordon specifically asked whether rumors were true that Richard Legree, a constable and former Valley police officer, was to be named superintendent of safety.

"This is the first time I heard that," Johnson responded.

Council members Marty Eggleston and Ed Simpson both said last night they had no problem showing public support for both Krack and Bellizzie.

Fifteen off-duty police officers, all in uniform, turned out last night to show their support for Bellizzie whom has been credited with ridding the streets of open-air drug markets and professionalizing the 32-man department.

Bellizzie was also supported by the Coatesville NAACP. "Chief Bellizzie is my buddy. I don't want anybody messing with him," said Louise Hopkins, president of the Coatesville NAACP. Bellizzie, who is white, is the first city police chief to meet regularly with the NAACP over such issues as profiling.

"Without Jean Krack and his people (staff), you're going to set the city back five years," said Elwood Dixon, a Caln resident but who owns property in Coatesville.

Ricky Saha urged the new council members to work with Krack and his staff. "I called Krack and said I was going to do anything I could to keep him and others on," said Saha.

Ricky Saha is the son of Dick Saha who waged a six-year legal and political battle to force the city to halt the city from using its eminent domain powers to take his Valley Township farm for a golf course.

Johnson said all new council members are 100 percent for the city's revitalization and he looked forward to working with the three council members remaining from last year's council. ". . . but we're going to move forward," he said.

Added council Vice President Robin Scott: "There is going to be change . . . and some people are scared of change."

Johnson, Scott, Patsy Ray and Kurt Schenk were all elected in November. The four defeated incumbents David Griffith, Bill Chertok, Carmen Green and David DeSimone.
Last night Schenk implored residents to give the new council members a chance.

"Before you listen to rumors, give us a call . . . Please give us a chance," he said.
________________________________________
You can write to Allen Davis at allen@chestercountyreporter.com