February 9, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

Opinion

Happy Valentine's Day

Assault on the census

To hear the words Chestnut Hill is to conjure up images of dignified men and women strolling the Avenue, soft breezes carrying the aroma of homemade breads, Asian delicacies, slapping fresh fish and beef, and other indulgences from one doorway to another.

It is the vision of young children in school uniforms happily racing home from their classes.

Twinkling lights on the branches of stately trees.

High heels clicking on Belgium blocks.

Intersections with hurried shoppers spilling onto crowded streets.

Close your eyes and you can picture the quaintness in your mind’s eye.

And, then, it comes crashing down as the huge, hideous, unsightly blue tarp blindsides the residents and visitors alike.

Right there at the Top of the Hill.

Right there, where should be a foyer of refinement leading into the grand neighborhood stands a monument to, what? Bad planning? Governmental blundering? Red tape?

The stern unforgiving steel frame was quickly covered over with the blemish of blue tarp on the weekend of the Fall Festival.

Cover a blemish with a bigger and uglier blemish.

The word is that Licenses and Inspections is holding up the project but we have been told a “decision” with be forthcoming.

Just do something with the place. This community has worked too long and hard to preserve the magic and charm that is synonymous with Chestnut Hill.

Quite frankly, would someone explain why we need yet another bank on the Avenue?

Carole Boynton
Interim Editor

Opinion: Congratulations Maxine
by Lloyd Wells

In fairness we all owe a real debt of gratitude to Maxine Dornemann and her administration for making the Local into the Public Forum it was intended to be. There’s little doubt that since her direct involvement each succeeding issue is being read by an ever-increasing number of people.

It has not, however, been entirely Maxine’s administration that deserves all the credit; a large portion of thanks must, in all fairness, go to the constructively angry voices of Lawrence Walsh, Mary Anna Ross-Cowper, Ann Spaeth, Martha Haley, Ron Recko and more recently the letter of Fred Walker (Local 1/25/06 issue).

In suggesting that Maxine’s administration is nurturing the increasing readership, a good example in point is the likelihood, as of this writing, that CHCA board member Lawrence Walsh will be ostracized by the “democratic” proceedings of this administration at a meeting tonight of the CHCA’s board.

Fred Walker’s letter, referred to above, illuminates the “political hand grenade” that is currently developing in CH This bombshell threatens the existence of what most of us hope will continue to be a “greene country towne” — [William Penn’s dream for Philadelphia as a whole].

Fred’s wry expression of gratitude to all American taxpayers for their quarter million dollar grant [gift] “to the seven lots owned by the CHCA” further illustrates his administration’s incompetence [12/29/05 issue]. As reported, this contribution was arranged by Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Chaka Fattah, apparently aided and abetted by CHCA board member and Democratic leader of Philadelphia’s 9th Ward, John O’Connell.

In the 11/24/05 issue it was reported that Pennsylvania State Democratic Senator LeAnna Washington presented twenty five thousand dollars to the Chestnut Hill District to study our parking system. Though the Local reports that the CHCA owns the seven lots, W. Stewart Graham, Esq., CHCA executive committee advisor, knows very well that neither the CHCA or the Parking Foundation owns the real estate involved. I personally explained all this to Mr. Graham in 1992 when he visited me for a weekend prior to his becoming CH’s community manager. It also should be noted that Mr. Graham was appointed principal assistant to the Democratic Minority leader of the current Philadelphia City Council, Frank Rizzo Jr. [who hints at his interest in a mayoral run (Feb. 17, 2005 issue). Is it possible that Mr. Graham will nominate Mr. Rizzo Jr. for the CH award to be presented at this spring’s annual meeting of the CHCA?

Having largely organized the Parking Foundation, I’m aware that essentially all of the real estate comprising the seven lots is privately owned. Thus, the quarter million dollars of federal tax funding to be used to improve the private properties of the several landlords involved, raises the question as to what it will be used for. Would the objectives of this administration [meeting behind closed doors by their own choice] be better served were it to purchase the Hiram Lodge property with these funds?

I must add here, that I in no way suspect Paul Roller, president of the Parking Foundation, of being involved in this possible manipulation of public funds. Few in CH, including the CH Businessmen’s Association, have any idea of how or why their association or the Parking Foundation came into being or why, in days gone by, these civic efforts were so successful.

Lastly, let me compliment Mary Anna Ross-Cowper for publicly recognizing the need for independent political parties in CH; which in no way would be connected with the national Democratic, Republican or other parties (1/25/06 issue).

Mary Anna was the fist chairwoman of the CHCA’s “Greene Party” established circa 1965. The “Green Party” was organized when it was recognized that “we-the-sovereign people of the U.S.A.” had established a political system in 1789 that empowered the majority to implement their pleasure on all Americans.

Of course, political interaction is often heated and uncomfortable — need I say. Due to this reality, the “Greene Party” was dissolved in 1976. Thus, the subsequent erosion of democratic process in CH has resulted in today’s tragic situation.