Coatesville PA had a drug economy. I built data. Criminal records, recorder of deeds asking around. Data useful to prosecutors. On the planning commission I participated in Coatesville’s rebirth as a destination center for commerce & entertainment. VIDEOS

Pastor Derrick Johnson

Crime and violence in our community. A wide ranging panel discussion integrating the community, law enforcement, clergy and educators. At Abdala Park, Coatesville, PA, August 27, 2016.

Elwood Dixon, "Each of us has a talent for doing something positive. Some of us are good at communicating with others. Some are good to organize movements...In order to achieve positive results, we must have positive attitudes...

It will take the coming together of our government, law enforcement, our school system, our churches and our community... Only a joint effort will get us where we want to be."

Pastor Derrick Johnson,  "Pastor 'D", "In my first conversation with President Obama;:Right at the top was violence in schools.

Right at the top was community relationships with police.

Right at the top the disproportionate ratio of black incarcerated, African American incarcerated as opposed to other ethnicities..."

In order to deal with the problems that you face. It's very, very important from here that you listen closely to these next words if you are serious about changing your community. 

Let's be real... We're not talking about people you don't know. We're talking about your sons. We're talking about your daughters. We're talking about your nephews. We're talking about your grandchildren...

Pay attention, the next dead person could be your son, your grandson or somebody in your family."

“And by the way just in case you think I don't know what I'm talking about, after fifteen and one half years in prison, six and one half on death row, three and one half in one cell with twenty three and one half hours a day. For picking up a gun and shooting somebody who was a drug dealer who was attempting to beat me up and rob me in the community with that blurred line. And then fifteen years later being vindicated and extracted from prison on a self defense executive pardon. I think I know a little bit about being a scared little sixteen year old boy that made the wrong choice.”:

When Paul Janssen took office as the Coatesville City Manager his first task was to make the streets safe.

This is partly a response to the anti-Paul Janssen people: I was a Coatesville Planning Commissioner. When an alleged death threat did not work; the “Bloc of Four” arranged a different way to remove me from the planning commission. What they might not know is at the planning commission meeting two weeks after the meeting with the alleged death threat District Attorney Joe Carroll waited from before the meeting began until after it was over. If Ernie Campos and/or Richard Legree showed up again he was prepared to charge them with terroristic threats. The alleged threat is in the minutes of the Coatesville Planning Commission meeting May 10, 2006:

Monday, January 4, 2010

We have been living four year long nightmare in the City of Coatesville

 

Paul Janssen, Director, has served as Director of the Center for Excellence in Local Government since August, 2012. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Bloomsburg University and a Masters in Public Administration from The American University. Prior to coming to the Center, Paul was a Township or City Manager for over 25 years in four municipalities in Pennsylvania. Paul also was a consultant to local government and non-profits over the past six years including a 30 month commitment as an interim Borough Manager. Additionally, Paul has served as the Coordinator for the Consortium of Communities for Montgomery and Chester County.

Center for Excellence in Local Government

Coatesville is now a leader in community policing. 

I was sitting at my computer and heard loud sirens. I opened the front door just as 3 police cars left. AND Lt. Rodger Ollis delivered balloons to my neighbor.

Special thanks to Sergeant Ollis, Chief Jack Laufer and Coatesville City Councilperson Marie Hess and the many adults and children who made Coatesville a little bit nicer.