It’s time for Pottstown voters to purge local politics of the ostriches on council and replace them with outside the box, critical thinkers who actually have a plan for Pottstown (other than status quo). In case you haven’t noticed, Pottstown is teetering on a precipice. Depending on which way the wind blows will determine if Pottstown rises from the ashes like Phoenixville or becomes the next Chester or Camden.
Frankly, I would hope residents would choose the revitalization option.
My BFF, the one and only Missy Mayor Bonnie Heath thinks Pottstown is all sunshine and puppies. Anybody who dares to pull back the curtain and expose the truth is labeled a trouble maker, malcontent etc… and accused of casting Pottstown in a negative light. I think that impression has already been seared on the minds of most people and they have their opinion about Pottstown. Rampant crime, drugs, a Section 8 housing/social services overload, slumlords and a shrinking tax base speak for themselves. You can’t put lipstick on this pig and make it look good. Even with glitter and puppies. People say things like, “If you have to drive through Pottstown, roll up the windows, lock the doors and pray you don’t break down”.
The current crop of bobbleheads on council and their fearless leader Steve Toroney seem to think all is peachy is Pottstown. Look at the decisions this body has made in the last year. Look at the crime rate, look at the “for sale signs” all over town, look at your tax bill, look at the state of the downtown (it would be worse if it weren’t for a few brave souls like ArtFusion, Steel River Playhouse, the Brick House and Sheila Dugan) and the list goes on and on.
What vision has this auspicious group proposed for the betterment of Pottstown? Insert cricket sounds here. Although, if you read Evan Brandt’s interview with Councilor Kirkland you would think Pottstown is a “boom town” with new businesses springing up like mushrooms and borough council is just one big love fest of unity. For these reasons and other equally laughable ones, he thinks the incumbents should all be reelected. Councilor Kirkland can’t seem to wrap his mind around why anybody would run against him on the Democratic ticket??? Talk about a WTF moment.
If you think your vote doesn’t make a difference, you are very wrong. Sharon Valentine-Thomas lost to Teflon Bonnie by a few dozen votes. Indifference and apathy are what keep these people in office. If you would like to live in a revitalized community, a safe community and a community with an excellent quality of life, you should see what the challengers in these races are all about and what they are proposing for Pottstown. Look at the track record of the people on council. Are you better off today than you were four years ago? Are you proud to say you are from Pottstown? Can you afford to pay your property taxes? Do you feel safe walking the streets?
These are all things you should ponder before pulling any levers on Tuesday. Your well-being depends on it.
