Norristown Municipal Administrator Responds To ACLU Lawsuit

Location of Norristown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NORRISTOWN — Norristown is standing by its rental license ordinance as it is written and declared in a statement that in no way does it “discriminate against any persons, nor does it punish victims of domestic violence.”

The Norristown ordinance penalizes landlords and encourages them to evict their tenants when the police are called to a property three times in four months for “disorderly behavior,” including responding to incidents of domestic violence, according to the federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Wednesday.

“The ordinance provision currently in effect contains all of the constitutional due process provisions required to protect the residents of Norristown,” said Norristown Municipal Adminstrator

 in the statement released Thursday, “explicitly stating that no property shall be condemned for any reason under Norristown’s property maintenance code based on occurrences of disorderly behavior, and stating that no tenant shall be evicted or forced to vacate a rental dwelling for violation of the ordinance provision.”

Read more:  http://www.timesherald.com/article/20130426/NEWS01/130429637/norristown-municipal-administrator-responds-to-aclu-lawsuit#full_story

Noise Complaint Leads To Arrest Of Reading Man On Drug Charges

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Great job Reading P.D.  Book ’em, Danno!

A complaint about loud music in the 600 block of North 11th Street led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man on drug-trafficking charges, police said Tuesday.

Jose Melendez-Negron was charged with possessing and intending to deliver cocaine, possessing and intending to use drug paraphernalia, possessing a small amount of marijuana and related charges.

Melendez-Negron was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail following arraignment before Senior District Judge Gloria W. Stitzel in Reading Central Court.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=470343

Citizens For Pottstown’s Revitalization Upcoming Events

Hi All,

Summer is almost here, and you know what that means. Warm weather brings out the stupid and disruptive behaviors.  But we’re not fighting this alone!  We’ve literally got the law on our side!  Let’s start small by reviewing the local ordinances that are abused on a daily basis.  This month, let’s review and discuss the Pottstown Noise and Curfew Ordinance at our next meeting, Friday April 15, 2011.

Want to take a more pro-active role in crime prevention in Pottstown?  Here is an opportunity to meet several members of the Pottstown Guardian Angels. They’ve been patrolling several nights a week for almost a month and are always looking for more people to participate. 

 Agenda:

1. Meet the Pottstown Guardian Angels!
2. Review the Pottstown Noise Ordinance-Shutting down the nonsense before it even starts.
3.  Up-coming Events:

• April 17- Female Safety Clinic – Pottstown Karate Club (21 N. Hanover St.)- 1 PM
• April 19- 1^st day of Civilian Police Academy
• April 28- Community Meeting at Ricketts Center (Genesis Housing to discuss Mural Project amongst other topics– 7PM)
• May 21- Washington/Chestnut St. Garden Party- 10am-1pm 
• June 4- Washington/Chestnut St. Science in the Park 12-3pm (Need Volunteers)
• July 23- Harris Family Ministries- Stop the Drug/Stop the Violence Crusade (More info to come.

 

http://www.pottstown.org/PDF/Code_of_Ordinances/pdffiles/NoiseOrdinanceNo2058.pdf
http://www.pottstown.org/PDF/Code_of_Ordinances/pdffiles/NoiseOrdinanceNo2058.pdf
 
 Hope to see you Friday.  It’s never too late to get involved! 
 
Anna J. , Citizens For Pottstown’s Revitalization