February 16, 2015 Community organizers and residents met with Assistant MontCo D.A.’s Kevin Steele, Jason Whalley and representatives from the PPD. Here are the videos and a re-cap of that meeting.
https://goldencockroach.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/bet-youre-wondering/
A follow up meeting is scheduled to continue the conversation to move forward with a plan of action:
Monday, June 1, 2015
Pottstown Borough Hall, 100 E. High St. 3rd Floor
7:00 PM
Two specific topics of importance were discussed by residents – they are the focus of the next meeting. You are welcome to introduce new topics or ideas as well.
– Eliminating drug nuisance conduct at “problem properties,” this continues to be a major concern for residents. Citizens can identify the problem properties because we live near them and we witness the activities that occur day in and day out and we need to know what information is most beneficial to law enforcement.
We have seen the cooperative efforts of the PPD, various other police departments, the district attorneys and the FBI to identify and arrest suspected gang members as announced in this press conference on May 14th, we’ve seen the big pay off from collaboration:
VIDEO: ‘Operation War Ready’ nets 34 arrests in Pottstown gangwar
Drug House Nuisance Law / Pennsylvania Act 140 1992 << clik
Residents are asking for the same dedication to eliminating the Pottstown drug houses/businesses by identifying properties used for criminal activities, eliminating the criminals and holding the property owners legally responsible for their neglect, as the law provides. By putting an expedient end to the revolving door of slum properties we will reduce crime.
We appreciate the long-term educational efforts that Assistant D.A. Kevin Steele spoke of in video #2 and recognize it is a vital part of the process however, Pottstown has gone over the brink, we are in crisis and we also need immediate attention to the systemic problems that brought us to this point…
It’s logical. With over 2500 illegal rentals identified, the L & I Dept. has their work cut out for them. But, without a full-on, multi-agency effort, it will take years for codes inspectors to catch up while negligent income investors will continue to do business as usual, providing shelter and a base of operation to gangs and drug dealers in our community. We’ll be back at square one in no time.
– Residents are looking for specific guidance on gathering and reporting information to the Pottstown Police Department and to the District Attorney. Since leaving a voice message does not create a record, a form with specific information requested will guide residents and they will have a copy of what they’ve passed along for future reference.
Is That House a Drug House brochure (8) < This brochure was developed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and it is the type of information and reporting form we are looking for.
The internet provides a window into the solutions that communities throughout the nation are implementing by working with their local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
We know what is possible and we are asking for a commitment from our local, county and state agencies to see this through to the best conclusion for good residents and their children.
