Did anyone notice the
small Eddystone connection to the Trainer refinery sale in today’s paper? Governor Corbett helped solidify a deal
with Delta Airlines so that the refinery would be sold for $180 million. By doing so, over 600 direct jobs were
saved, and thousands of ancillary jobs were spared. Literally, thousands of Delaware County families will be
able to maintain their economic lifestyles because of Governor Corbett (and the
other members of the government) who helped keep the vision of Trainer alive.
The Eddystone connection,
by the way, was the 30 million Governor Corbett took from Camden Iron and gave
to Delta Airlines to help solidify the deal.
Now I know the Eddystone
establishment (Orr and most of the holdovers from the local government)
will tell me that I can’t eat both sides of the apple on this issue. They will say that I can’t argue about
health and environmental concerns with CIM then celebrate a refinery staying
open. To a point, they are
correct. However, the refinery is
such a clear example of what those fighting against the Eddystone establishment
said that I cannot help but bring it up.
How many jobs were
affected by the closing of the refinery?
Over 650 direct employees lost their jobs and thousands of others had
their jobs impacted. Now, all of
those families will be able to sustain a way of life that they have chosen to
follow.
How many jobs were lost
because Camden Iron moved to Camden? A big fat goose egg. 0 people lost their jobs. Do you know why?
Because Camden Iron was not creating any new jobs. They were simply bringing their people
from one place to another.
Which brings me to my
point.
What is the
establishment’s vision for Eddystone, and where are they leading us? If
you go online right now, there are houses for sale on Saville Avenue for a
paltry $26,000. These prices are ripe for investors, and if this
happens, then our home values end up in the toilet.
However, if the community
is marketed correctly, these houses are also a steal for first time or ‘getting
back on my feet’ homebuyers. Whether it is a new young family or one that
fell on hard times and can’t afford a mortgage for a $100,000+ home, we need
stable neighbors moving into these homes. Imagine a mortgage payment that
is less than a new car payment? That is what is available in our
community right now.
We need to market our
community to good people and get them buying these homes so that the community
can grow.
For as long as I can
remember, I have never heard one of the Eddystone establishment leaders talking
about how they are going to work to improve, or at least maintain, the quality
of life in Eddystone. What specifically are they doing that will
position us for positive growth?
To put it simply: I
don’t think there is a plan. We are in a car and the drivers are asleep
at the wheel. No one in the town can blame the Council and Mayor if there
are no demands placed on the people in charge. We have to expect better
for our community if we want better things to happen. Trainer has a
vision for their town and by remaining committed to it they saved thousands of
jobs.
Is it a surprise that
Trainer’s housing values are 50% higher while ours are dropping 50% lower?
Poor leaders with no
vision drive thriving towns into the toilet. Why is this true?
Because leaders of other towns have a vision for their community and they do
not allow negative growth to happen. Don’t believe me? Ask a senior
citizen which town was the ‘happening place’ in Delaware County just one
generation ago.
The answer is Chester.
Now, leaders in Chester
like Pileggi-R, Kirkland-D, Linder-D, and Bulter-R will, or have spent their
entire political career simply trying to right the ship in their
community. These leaders cannot even begin to try to undue the distress
caused by the small-minded leaders who looked for a quick fix in their
community by allowing hazardous and polluting industry to come into their
town. As the industry became more of a hazard, most of the people who
could leave, left.
All that today’s leaders
and residents in Chester can do is hope to stop the bleeding then hope that the
next generation of leaders can grow on their work. It will literally take years for the mistakes of one small group of small-minded, short-sighted,
‘big fish in a small pond,’ elected officials who were more concerned about
their own personal feelings of importance and power to be corrected.
Where is Eddystone
going? Since Orr and his people
have taken over, what have they done to improve the quality of life for all
people, and not just their small group of friends, in Eddystone? Businesses are leaving, houses are vacant, and activities are dwindling.
Will our children be building on the
strong foundation we laid, or will they be trying to stop the bleeding caused
by our short-sighted decisions?
I guess it all depends on who we elect to be our leaders.