Friday, September 28, 2012

Open letter to Mayor John Linder


Submitted by Titan One titanone123@gmail.com

Residents of the Once Great City of Chester
Everywhere within the City Limits
Chester, PA 19013
September 27, 2012

His Honor Mayor Linder
Mayor of City of Chester
City Hall
1 Fourth Street
Chester, PA 19013

Dear Mayor Linder:

I am writing on behalf of myself and the residents of our once glorious city. 

Recent actions, or lack thereof, to matters critical to the health of the City and the welfare of its residents have left us with great concern with your judgment as to what is important to us, the residents.  It is because of this concern that I write to you to express what really is on the minds of those residents who call Chester there (sic) home – but only for the time being.

I say for the time being because of the recent robberies, murders, shootings, and drug and gang related shootings that have become normal occurrences in the everyday life of the City.  I don’t know of any resident whose main concern isn’t when, not if, they will fall victim to a crime of one of these heinous categories.  Mr. Mayor we fully understand the need to attract businesses to the city to help support its economic stability.  But much like the reason I am writing – on the behalf of the residents – how can new entrepreneurs invest with the city if their investment can’t be protected?  Understanding our priorities would help not only us – the residents – but would also be an effective argument when attracting new business.  Mr. Mayor, where is the effort to ensure that we, the residents, can move about freely within our once great city without fear of becoming a victim of a crime, or retaliation for bearing witness against a crime?  Where is the effort to protect the taxpayers from senseless political turmoil that only serves as a further distraction from more important issues?  Where are the efforts to stifle and eliminate those forces which serve to undermine the education of our children?  Haven’t we been embarrassed long enough?  Why is it that we have to read in a county-wide publication, the fact that only one school in our School District is functioning at an acceptable level regarding PSSA scores?  Where is the outcry from the city administration to readily recognize and decry that our children are being undereducated and are severely hindered in their comprehension levels in both reading and math.  Why is there no consistent and open acknowledgement that this lack of education is primarily responsible for the vicious cycle of undereducated children born to undereducated, teenage mothers and that the only way to break the cycle and improve the economic status of the endangered future generations is to take corrective action and rectify the educational process within the school district. 

Mr. Mayor, I implore you, why aren’t our tax dollars spent more wisely than for the hiring of staff in your administration that are either unqualified or lack expertise and/or the educational background for the position.  And when City Council tries to take corrective measures you further alienate yourself by filing a lawsuit against them so that your appointments (or political favors) can again be realized.  Such blatant displays of a lack of focus on what we, the residents (the people whom you serve) feel are important -  to live comfortably in our city -  will only cause you further alienation from us (the residents).

Mr. Mayor, why do we glorify those athletes, with a troubled past, placing them on high pedestals for our young children to admire and emulate, giving them unearned press to further substantiate all that they have done in the name of fame and glory but yet we repay not nearly enough attention, press and status to those Valedictorians, Salutorians, and even those students or individuals who are trying to make a difference and positive change in our community.  This sign of respect only distracts from the need to stress the importance of an education so that they can have a real chance of having a successful career (not the slightly better than 3% chance of becoming a pro athlete).

Mr. Mayor, we know that you have only been in office for a relatively short time, but, it is becoming ever present that the safety and well-being of us, the residents, are not in your best interests. The state of the City as it appears today requires a more focused, vocal approach that is reassuring to us, because we are losing faith in your administration at a rapid pace with every story we read, news report we watch, gunshot we hear, and failed child that we see or hear speak.

We are losing faith in your administrations efforts to correct the present damage and prevent future damage.  Those efforts are seen as ineffective and seemingly non-existent. We are losing faith in your administrations ability to protect us.  Protect us from the guns, drugs, thugs, corruption and crime that have plagued this City for decades.  We are also losing faith in your administrations ability to take the proper corrective action to ensure that our children are properly educated and that those in charge of educating our children are patient, passionate, accessible and able to solve a disagreement without it resulting in criminal charges.  Mr. Mayor, if you have been vocal in your efforts – extremely vocal –, please excuse the expressed concerns of this letter, but, your words have not been heard.  If you have been publicly animated, outwardly expressing your displeasure over the increase in crime and education in the city – extremely publicly animated – please excuse the expressed concerns of this letter, but again, they have not been seen.  While we, the residents, appreciate your presence at fun, community events, and even the occasional media photo opportunity, we would much rather your absence go noticed because we will know that you are hard at work, working for us, the residents, creating and shaping a safe environment and community that we can nurture our families so that it can thrive – thrive for us, our children and many generations to come.  You absence would be appreciated and excused.

Mr. Mayor, all that has transpired over the last few months and years has caused me to refer to us – the residents – by  the term used in our opening paragraph – “residents for the time being”.  It is our feeling that your problems are not our problems and that our voice is being overshadowed by political posturing and other things deemed important by YOU but have no bearing on the lives us the residents.  Because we feel this way many of us have sought to flee this once great city.  We say flee and not abandon because to flee is to not give up as is done when one abandons something.  While we consider fleeing the comfortable surroundings that we call home we will always have Chester in our hearts and on our minds and we will leave behind the many friendships we’ve made along the way and I think that, we can handle.  What we don’t want to consider is to leave a life or even worse – our life – behind in a City that has begun to prey on its own.  Have you abandoned us for the political machine, self-glorification, and corruption?  Have you no answers on how to keep the precious commodity of our City safe and able to thrive?  Are there no effective efforts in-place or being discussed that would bring an abrupt end to the violence and crime that run rampant on the streets both day and night?

Mr. Mayor, we, the residents, are tired – tired of reading negative articles that undermine the good done by those in the City; Tired of carrying around the fact that we reside in a city with such a negative reputation; Scared -  scared to walk in our own neighborhoods or play with our children in public parks or attend public functions for fear that those who do not value life will be out to take a life; and Hungry, hungry for a change that will make us, the residents walk with our heads held high and announce, before we are asked, that we are from Chester.  The question is, Mr. Mayor, are you Tired, Scared and Hungry as well?  If things don’t change for the better soon, there won’t be a City for you to be called Mayor.



Sincerely,

The Residents of the City of Chester

17 comments:

  1. i am not from chester, though i lived in the city for a time, but have always felt comfortable in the city. but as the years go on, i fear even driving my young children throug the city, on routes that i have traveled since i was young. i used to have a friend who was killed in the morning time on a street in chester, the time children are getting ready for and traveling to school. i feel there are no safe times, and no longer any safe places in the city of chester. no one knows when someone, with no regard of precious life, will decide to act on impulse or revenge against someone. no matter who and what their past has been, every life is precious, everyone has a mother, a father, a brother or sister, daughter or son, niece or nephew, aunt or uncle, everyone is someone and the city will never flourish again until everyone puts down their arms and at least attemps to live in peace. a home is what you make it, and where the heart is, it seams a lot, their is no heart left. i appreciate that their are still those of the city who also feel this way, as i am an outsider, it gives me hope for everyone who live in chester that maybe one day it will go back to the way it once was before i born, i have been told it used to be a very nice, clean and peaceful city. it feels dark, but there is always light to be found. i thank the residents of chester who are still giving their best to protect their home and help it thrive, you are few of the strongest, don't forget it!

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  2. Council's actions are not corrective for the residents of Chester. They are corrective for Kirkland and the Democrathc party of Chester. Check council's, Kirklands, the Chief of staff, the members of CEDA's board and the solicitors qualifications, then say if corrective actions have been taken. Because if it were based on experience and/or education or qualification, then Council can correct by replacing themselves and getting a janitor out of the role as chair of an economic development authority, or a slum lord, as Chief of staff or an ambulance chaser as solicitor.

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  3. And a state Rep. That does nothing in Harrisburg....NOTHING.....

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  4. This is what happens when the people voting no nothing of the issues of the people they are voting for, State Rep. Kirkland has done nothing absolutely nothing in all his time in Harrisburg, that record can be checked Congress.com you can look up his record or lack thereof...Council is running around backbiting, and throwing their weight around more interested in doing nothing but not alienating Kirkland, our Mayor is doing well.....but this is what happens when you vote for your friends and don't pay attention to the issues or lack thereof....oh or like people do in Chester just vote straight party instead of splitting their vote...PAY ATTENTION TO THE ISSUES PEOPLE GET EDUCATED ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU VOTE

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  5. check rep record ask chester youth teams about all the money he raised
    ask people he help with there rent as long as rep been in he has help chester he rasied 2 millon doller for a supper market it was block by
    slave minds that were in charge writing laws is one thing freeing people minds is what the rep is good at

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  6. I agree with Jennings, the sooner kirkland's gone the better off the city will be !!!!!!

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  7. I disagree with the author of the open letter, (he's proably a relitive of kirkland!!!!

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  8. Should have been an open letter to CITY GOV'T not just the mayor. Also, don't sign "Residents of Chester" if we don't even know who wrore it or were able to proof read it. Some points were accurate some weren't.

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    1. I agree. I almost didn't post it for those reasons, but I try to honor all submissions with a post.

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    2. I agree it should have been an Open Letter to City Gov't, they are supposed to be running the city as a whole...not them against each other

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  9. This community will only be safe when the majority of parents teach there kid to be good citizens. The mayor and the police can do so much. Teach your children not to have kids at 12 years old and stop feeling sorry for yourselfs. Action speak louder then words. And for the mayor keep doing your job sir. Kirkland is causing turmoil and controls the council and this mayor is standing up. Stay strong mr. Mayor and keep up the good work.

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  10. We might can build the city up if everybody STOP worring about Kirkland so much!!! Thats all yall do is talk about THADDEUS KIRKLAND!! Have YOU done ANYTHING to better CHESTER???? This was a Letter to the Mayor NOT Kirkland, why do yall have to turned everything in to a Kirkland comment?? and let me make this Clear..... NO MATTER WHAT YALL SAY ABOUT KIRKLAND IM WILLING TO BET MY LIFE HE WILL BE REELECTED!!!!!!
    #TeamKirkland

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  11. You are a fool, and yes I have done more then you would ever could imagine. How many of your kids or family members have been locked up, shot, and have hurt people. Remember Kirkland is a convicted drug dealer and still hangs with scum. That is a true fact. Kirkland is a criminal...... And you are to, would bet my life on it. Give us your name and I bet you are a criminal and that you either have skid or family member that has killed, you are a low life piece of tax payer sucking slug........

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    1. We all have mad mistakes and did a crime... but its NOT where you start its where you finish!! and No matter what you say or do like I said, I BET MY LIFE KIRKLAND WILL BE REELECTED!!!!
      #TeamKirkland

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  12. You mean team black trash!

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  13. God Bless You All..... If this is how residents express thier true feeling.. (words without faces)this City will continue to have issues. When are we going to become one and try and think of solutions instead of putting the blame.. Don't forget when you pointing that finger, you also got one pointing right back @ ya....The people have got to come together as one. seems like so much hatred, finger pointing, and anger. WHY!!!!

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  14. I think people forget that behavior is learned and it starts at home. Chester is such a small city that with all the negativity going on, there isn't room for optimistic growth. Chester has become the worst city in the state of Pa. I pray everyday that God removes me & my kid from this horrific place. I work hard everyday, pay taxes to this city and can't even get city officials, police, etc. to do their job. It's a shame that good people have to explain how they aren't like the bad people of Chester when in other areas, cities, etc. When you tell others your from Chester they look at you like you are infected. Times are tough enough. The people of Chester need to get it together. Approx. 50,000 people in Chester.......I hope they all vote in November!!!

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