Whitlow and Smallwood

Was Coatesville attorney Michael Whitlow co-counsel on one of the cases which led Leslie Smallwood’s disbarment?

"knowingly misappropriating clients’ trust funds"

Is this the same Leslie Smallwood that made the presentation for her company "Mosaic Development Partners, LLC" at to the Coatesville City Council on Monday, April 27, 2009?
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/oae/oae2004.pdf

"LESLIE A. SMALLWOOD
Admitted: 1981; Elkins Park (Pennsylvania)
Disbarment - 176 N.J. 506 (2003)
Decided: 6/20/2003

APPEARANCES BEFORE SUPREME COURT
Richard J. Engelhardt for Attorney Ethics
Respondent failed to appear

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that disbarment was the only appropriate discipline for an attorney who was disbarred in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for knowingly misappropriating clients’ trust funds in the amount of at least $139,500."

"Attorney ID: 62764
Smallwood, Leslie A.
HISTORY
Suspended

DB No. Date Comments Opinions
69 DB 2001 05/14/2001 Emergency Temporary Suspension  
Disbarred

DB No. Date Comments Opinions
69 DB 2001 06/13/2002 Disbarred on Consent"  

http://www.padisciplinaryboard.org/pa_attorney_public.php?id=62764&attname=Smallwood%2C+Leslie+A.+&violations=0

Mosaic Development Partners, LLC Coatesville City Council

Mosaic Development Partners, LLC made a presentation to the Coatesville City Council meeting on Monday April 27, 2009. Mosaic's presentation was approved by Coatesville Redevelopment Authority at their April meeting.

To be honest it, in my opinion it looked more like a “get rich quick” seminar in a hotel room, complete with admonishments to “act now”, than a developer’s presentation.

Mosaic Development Partners incorporated last July and the only references that I have found about the company refer to the flats development in Coatesville. They apparently have no corporate website. UPDATE There is a website here:
http://hstrial-greaves1.homestead.com/index.html
If you click on "Projects" a "This page is under construction." note comes up.

The company was formed at about the same time Mosaic made their first presentation to the RDA. Could it be that Coatesville is the only potential customer they have approached? It is almost as though the company was formed to develop the flats in Coatesville. They have no references, but dropped a few names.

I really do not know very much about incorporating a company but is it possible that Mosaic Development Partners, LLC has something to do with the Democratic Republic of the Congo? See:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/leslie/smallwood

They seem like good, well educated, energetic people but it is quite an undertaking for a brand new company.

Since there were no visual parts to Mosaic Development Partners presentation listening is almost like being there. Listen to the presentation and question & answer session here:
http://www.box.net/shared/kpiece1y3l

The Daily Local News posted an article about Mosaic's presentation
Developers propose shopping center for The Flats-By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer
at:
http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/04/29/news/srv0000005215387.txt

Agenda for tonight’s Coatesville City Council Meeting

Swearing in Chief of Police Lieutenant Julius Canale

Presentation by the "Mosaic Group" for their Flats (former G.O. Carlson property) housing project

ACTION ITEMS
1. Receive and consider a Resolution to approve the Summary Plan Document for the Police Pension Fund.

2. Receive and consider a Resolution authorizing the City of Coatesville to enter into Easement Agreement between the Redevelopment Authority and the City of Coatesville for the Riverwalk Project.

For an Adobe PDF of the agenda click here:
http://www.box.net/shared/yld39rcidz

Sounds like a plan.

Very publicly make announcements that the Obama Administration is going to do nothing in regard to the Bush Administration's torture policy.

At the same time release documents that prove how very extensively torture was used and how extremely counter effective it was.

Do you think there will be a ground swell of honorable Americans demanding that the Bush Administration pay for what they did?

Sounds like a plan.

Some commentary on Capitol Hill Blue by Robert A. Kezelis
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/node/17619

NYTimes-Pressure Grows to Investigate Interrogations
By PETER BAKER and SCOTT SHANE
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/us/politics/21intel.html?th&emc=th

Pension Funds

The administrators of the pension funds in Coatesville have changed during the Walker Administration.

Do we need to investigate the pension funds in the City of Coatesville's Government?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/nyregion/18pension.html?th&emc=th

Kettle of Corruption

It can be heart wrenching to be immersed in this pot of corruption in the kitchen we call Coatesville. We have been simmering in that pot a long time. It gets hot and stinky in this kitchen and sometimes I would just like to get out of it and move as far away as possible.

But most people do not know the ingredients and the actors who throw things into the pot as well as I do. Not many people know how those ingredients interact and know intuitively what it's going to taste like and smell like when it's done.

Knowing so very much about the ingredients and how they cook together comes with the responsibility to stick around. If I jump ship I could regret the rest of my life.

Maybe what really keeps me here is that I know what the pot once tasted like. I know what a very good dish Coatesville can serve up.

"Perfect Storm" for arson

In my opinion; if you are familiar with the Coatesville City Council, the top level management of Coatesville's city government, the actions of the "Coatesville Police Chief Matthews and the top level officers of the Coatesville Fire Department the seventy plus arsons in the last thirteen months or so could have been anticipated.
The Philadelphia Inquirer:
(Coatesville Fire Chief) "Johnson reported 295 in 2007, while union records show 733. When the union discovered the difference, it complained to city officials, but nothing was done, Poulson said.   'Fire-suppression services are in complete disarray,' Poulson said of Coatesville, adding, 'It's like the perfect storm for an arsonist.". Richard G. Poulson, is the attorney for the city's 13 paid part-time firefighters and four full-time firefighters.  
More at:
http://www.phillymobile.com/topic/1180-Local%20News/articles/190914053

What’s up with the Coatesville West End Fire Company?

“Coatesville firefighter hiring practices criticized”
“Firefighter union's attorney argues background checks would have revealed suspect's criminal past
Friday, March 27, 2009
By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer
COATESVILLE — Just days after police arrested a city firefighter for allegedly setting houses on fire, city officials are facing criticism for Coatesville's employee hiring process.

Rick Poulson, attorney for the city's firefighter union, criticized the administration Thursday for hiring 37-year-old Robert Tracey Jr. as a paid firefighter just weeks before he was arrested in connection with two arson fires.

Poulson argues a proper background check should have kept the city from hiring Tracey, who has a criminal record. Additionally, Poulson said a background check should have kept the city from appointing Kevin Johnson to fire chief in 2006 due to his criminal record
”More at:

Coatesville firefighter hiring practices criticized

By JENNIFER MILLER, Staff Writer 

POSTED: 03/27/09, 12:01 AM EDT | UPDATED: ON 03/27/2009

When District Attorney had a meeting with the West End Fire Company officers it was at the Washington Fire Company. Why wasn’t the meeting at the West End Company? Do they have something to hide?

The word on the street is that the West End Fire Company is what the black population here in Coatesville calls “Old Coatesville”.


Coatesville Fire Chief Kevin Johnson was still on parole when he was appointed Chief by the Coatesville City Council.

CLICK HERE FOR JOHNSONS COURT DOCUMENTS:
http://www.box.net/shared/r21tbc210e

Below are two recordings from last nights Coatesville City Council Meeting.

Coatesville resident Keith Gargus addressed the Coatesville City Council at the Monday March 23, 2009 meeting during the “Citizen’s Comments” period.

Keith Gargus worked for a large corporation selling software to different levels of government mostly to Federal and also State and Cities.

Below is my transcription of the comments of Keith Gargus. I sometimes make mistakes in transcription so listen along:

“It was common knowledge both on the government side and the sales side that three years software was an end-run against open bids and it was also a sucker play basically, usually unethical. I am not saying that happened here but no one has disproved it or explained how they came to the determination to pick this particular software and in particular, this particular deal.

Secondly:
It isn’t free because I think there is a number, either $8,700.00 or $7,800.00 for training. So it’s not free. And that same thing training; no one talked about who is getting trained, but I suspect that the consultants are being trained. And what happens when you train a consultant, he becomes a friend, he’s the person you work with. In essence he becomes indispensible and he becomes an employee. So whether you like it or not or you had any intention you are going to have a hard time getting rid of the person in a year.

Next:
One of the really uncertain things is the fact that you are not you are not going to enter the cities finances and full system simultaneously. What that’s going to do is basically everything is going to be in this new system. If you decide you don’t like it or you decide to go back to the old system you’re not going to be able to.

There are a lot of things that you need to consider here before you go very much further. If this system is not what you want. The other thing is, that disturbed me is he (Mr. McKensie) admitted or I think, one of the city council people brought it up; that the statements looked exactly like the old system from three years ago that we abandoned. Well it likely is the same system and again I’d welcome the administration to refute what I am saying.

The last thing that I want to say is: I am very disturbed about the fact that our financial consultant is making a financial consultant’s wage, what ever that is, and no one will tell us. But I suspect that after talking to current software people it’s probably the equivalent to about three quarters of a year salary. So you have to make the determination that do you want this guy at this consultant fee indefinitely while maintaining our financial officer to stay home at $80,000 or do you want .. And I welcome someone to refute me."

CLICK HERE FOR A SOUND RECORDING:
http://www.box.net/shared/sg9h402fuq

I also attached a recording of The City of Coatesville’s Financial Consultant Donald McKensie. The City of Coatesville’s Financial Consultant is presenting February and January’s expense and quarterly budget and year to date budget. The other voice is that of Coatesville City Manager Harry G Walker. The city council members received a document to follow along. There were no questions asked.

CLICK HERE FOR A SOUND RECORDING:
http://www.box.net/shared/pozfd5qy5c

Interesting Courtroom Political Stuff

Ingrid W Jones and Patricia Ray will be on the Democratic Ballot for Coatesville’s Second Ward City Councilperson. In Judge Pamela Ott’s Courtroom today it was determined that Falaq Lucas had 8 good signatures for Coatesville City Councilperson Second Ward. Ten or more signatures are required. There are no Republicans running in Coatesville’s Second Ward.

There are more of petitions for insufficient signatures tomorrow, Friday, March 20, 2009. The really interesting political courtroom stuff concerns the race for Magistrate Judge in Coatesville District Court 15-1-03. Those hearings are:

• At I PM Gabe Milanese - R
• At 2 PM James Clark - D
• At 3 PM Linda Lavender - R

Linda Lavender is State Rep. Tim Hennessey’s Legislative Assistant.

If all goes well, Democrat Greg Hines may be the only person on both Republican and Democratic Ballots.

I think that the Republicans might be out in full force to support their endorsed candidate; Gabe Milanese. I think that Milanese could, just barely, make it on the Republican side of the Ballot.

The only person that I am aware of that took and passed the test for Magistrate Judge is Greg Hines. He passed the first time.

Some people will appreciate a Magistrate Judge in Coatesville who knows and follows the Law. I believe that Gregory Hines will be that Magistrate Judge.

Still on edge despite arrests

The Daily Local (dailylocal.com), Serving Chester County, PA

Thursday, March 12, 2009 1:47 PM EDT
By PATRICK WALTERS, Associated Press Writer
COATESVILLE — Sgt. James Audette is patrolling the business district when a man sitting on a bench calls out the question everyone has been asking in this fire-plagued town: "Has there been any more arsons?"

"No there haven't been," Audette tells him.

More at:

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2009/03/12/news/doc49b9472666801918145921.txt

And at:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=7067087

And at:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/6307637.html

And at:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/946317.html

And at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/12/national/a083544D17.DTL&type=education

And at:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/12/ap6160915.html

I guess that Harry Walker, Kurt Schenk and Patsy Ray will have to add some newspapers to their “condemned list”.

Reverend Council Person Patsy Ray’s sermon in praise of Chief Matthews

“We lynched him before he got here.”

“Our police department has come a long, long way. We are going on to national acredidition You probably don’t know that you wasn’t accredidated. Because you didn’t even think of it. All you had was a bunch of cops arrestin people takin care of you.”

Was Reverend Ray (as Coatesville City Manager Harry Walker refers to her) thinking of the alleged "incident" with the sweater and East Whiteland Police at Boscov's when she spoke about Chief Matthews being there when she needed him?

As usual Council person Ray's council comment is filled up with Biblical references. What “Saturday Night” could do with this.

Listen here:
http://www.box.net/shared/d6xokofyfz

“Regardless of what the Daily Local News says or the DA says I believe our police department is better off now than it was before you came.”

Below is a link to a recording of Coatesville City Council person from Coatesville's Fourth Ward, Kurt Schenk at last night’s Coatesville City Council Meeting:

Council person Schenk is speaking of Chief Matthews:

“I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life for what you have brought to Coatesville.”

Kurt said of Chief Matthews “you have been a good chief, you were a great chief”.

“Regardless of what the Daily Local News says or the DA says I believe our police department is better off now than it was before you came.”

Then Kurt Schenk talked about the “other” Walker; Zack Walker that was lynched about 100 years ago. Schenk compared Matthews to Zack Walker:

“I believe that Chief Matthews was put in a fire and we had the DA and Andy Hachadorian and the Daily Local News standing there pushing him back in with a pitchfork.

The statement at the end is from Ronnie Suber.

http://www.box.net/shared/r970o9jol7

"Case May Define When a Judge Must Recuse Self"

How about this scenario; the judge is a relative of the alleged suspect in a drugs and guns arraignment. Is recusal necessary? What if that scenario comes up often?

In my view judges should not be a part of any election. I believe that the election of judges is an open invitation for the corrupting influence of organized crime and unscrupulous business practice.

Appointment, instead of election, of common pleas judges could come with the blessing of the Bar Association and something like the Judicial Review Board.

Magisterial judges are of the people and not of the law profession. It gets more complicated to appoint instead of elect magisterial judges. However the magisterial judges are the first step and sometimes a crucial first step in the criminal justice system. I believe that steps should be taken to minimize the intrusion of corrupting influences into our justice system.

The case below has international press attention and scrutiny. On a local level the judiciary may attract no reporters and may never come to the public’s attention.
Jim

"Case May Define When a Judge Must Recuse Self
W.Va. Justice Ruled for a Man Who Spent Millions to Elect Him
By Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 2, 2009; A01

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Hugh Caperton was born into the coal business, but for more than a decade he has spent more time in a courthouse than in a mine. The complex, intrigue-filled legal tale he will present to the Supreme Court this week was literally enough to spawn a suspense novel, but it boils down to this:
Caperton and his little coal company sued a huge coal company on claims that it unlawfully drove him out of business, and a jury agreed, awarding him $50 million.
That company's chief executive vowed an appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court -- but first, he spent an unprecedented $3 million to persuade voters to get rid of a justice he didn't like and elect one he did."

MORE AT:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/01/AR2009030102265.html?hpid=topnews

"HOME INVASION IN COATESVILLE ... AND A ROBBERY SPREE UPDATE"

"28 February 2009
HOME INVASION IN COATESVILLE ... AND A ROBBERY SPREE UPDATE
Coatesville Police have put out a county-wide alert for as many as seven subjects who were reportedly involved in a home invasion robbery earlier today."

From:
West Chester Unplugged v.2.0
CRIME - POLITICS - NIGHTLIFE - HOMETOWN: WEST CHESTER, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
http://www.wcunplugged.com/

I believe that the owners of the "Pizza Peddler" on the 100 block of North 2nd Avenue have called it quits after several armed robberies and have closed. Maybe it was the "pistol whipping" the last time that did it.
Jim Pitcherella

Did tampering with the Coatesville PD present the opportunity for arson in Coatesville?

Just in case there are any lingering doubts as to why many members of the City of Coatesville Police left the PD for more secure employment elsewhere in 2007.

Here is the letter from Coatesville Police Chief William Matthews to Chester County District Attorney Joseph W Carroll, May 18, 2007. "...Because of lay-off we will lose six (6) patrol officers."
http://www.box.net/shared/ha1zzj1b7d

The order to lay off police was rescinded shortly after May 18th but the police officers knew about it and many officers looked for better more secure jobs in other departments. The police officers did not know if and when the lay-off order would be reinstated. We lost some of our most experienced officers and detectives that had extensive knowledge of the community.

• The Narcotics Division was disbanded and its officers transferred to patrol.
• The bike unit was disbanded.
• The community relations officer was put on regular duty.
• Non-uniformed office staff was laid off. This added to the regular officers duties.

In all 15 Coatesville Police Officers left the 32 person Coatesville Police Force.

Lt. Matt Gordon was described by Joe Carroll as the most knowledgeable narcotics investigator in Chester County. Lt. Gordon was removed from the Coatesville PD and put on “administrative leave” by Chief William Matthews in October of 2007 and has not been on the force since then.

The results of all the tampering with the Coatesville PD were predictable; armed robbery, muggings, and shootings all increased dramatically. The news spread that the drug business was good again in Coatesville and drug dealers, some violent street gangs and guns came into Coatesville.

No one could foresee the dramatic increase in arson but the general lawlessness presented an opportunity for arson.

The Walker Administration was alleged to be resistant to requests from the PA State Police and ATF to come into Coatesville and investigate the arson for nearly a year. It was only after the Fleetwood Street fire that Governor Rendell forcefully asked the City of Coatesville to declare an emergency and the PA State Police and ATF began their investigation.

"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