The Real Danger to Pottstown
POTTSTOWN, PA – Ho hum. Another day…another paid advertisement in The Mercury by former copy boy Thomas Hylton.
What’s today’s topic? Car wrecks! A topic that doesn’t seem to get much press in The Mercury.
You can always tell when the end of the year is coming upon us. It’s time to make those quotas happen! Otherwise Mr. Hylton would be expected to pay the same advertising rates as us mere mortals (and not $265.83…which is what he pays now per advertisement).
As a public service to our awesome readers, here is the advertisement du jour, courtesy of Mr. Hylton and his crime fighting sidekick, Mercury Editor Nancy March:
PCFRG Mercury Advertisement 113010
In all fairness, we do need to commend Ms. March. The most recent paid advertisements of Mr. Hylton’s have only appeared in the print edition of The Mercury. They have not appeared in the online Opinion section, as past trashy advertisements of Mr. Hylton’s have. Of course, that might also be due to the fact that Mr. Hylton decided to go the cheap route and not pay extra to have his advertisements appear online. Either way, it’s good to see that these advertisements are not appearing as online Opinion pieces – which they are definitely not. They are merely paid advertisements placed by a vindictive individual with an axe to grind…nothing more…nothing less.
So, what thorn is in Mr. Hylton’s side this week? He’s miffed that people have the crazy notion that Pottstown is a dangerous place these days. Geez – we have no idea how anyone could come to that conclusion.
It’s funny. If the Borough had more money available, they could beef up our police force, which would allow for more officers to walk the beat in the crime ridden downtown neighborhoods.
How does the Borough get more money? We’re glad you asked because we have a great idea!
Check out the latest post from our good friend Roy over at Roy’s Rants:
Pottstown’s $86,602.64 Question
Now that the Borough Tree Commission has been tossed into the chipper, there’s that pesky matter of money. $80,000+ could go a long way in helping to fight crime in Pottstown. After all, as stated in today’s advertisement du jour, “every effort should be made to safeguard our community”.
So, where’s that itemized list Tom? You’ve been politely asked several times by Councilor Jody Rhoads to cough it up. We hope you don’t hold some kind of grudge against Mr. Rhoads. Speaking of which, we wonder if Tom is aware of the recent anonymous letter sent to members of Council?? Hmmm. We’ll have to ask him about that next time we see him dodging bullets while walking to the Post Office.
So…back to the matter at hand. Just exactly how was the $104,970 of taxpayer money spent? Was it spent on borough tree maintenance matters…or was the money used for political shits and giggles…maybe it was used to buy postage…maybe it was used to set up a website…maybe to purchase glossy brochures. It’s all speculative until the itemized list is handed over to its requestors.
As Spike Lee says…Do the Right Thing.
I was just commenting about how expensive all of those glossy mailers must cost…
It does make one wonder, doesn’t it?
But, as I have said, I am one of the “losing candidates” referred to in that anonymous letter, so my voice/opinions as a tax-paying citizen are supposed to now be forfeited. I’m pretty sure that is the read-between-the-line rules being implied in that sad letter.
If that is the case, then I think I would like to request my portion of the local tax money back from the point that I stopped being an elected official to date – and so should every other local ex-elected official. If the implication is that “losing candidates” are supposed to stop having community opinions, then it’s really not fair to keep charging us the same amount of taxes as the other citizens who’s opinions count. At the very least we should get a tax discount!
Jeepers, Mister, when you put it that way we should all stop worrying and step out of our vehicles and never get in them again!!!
I, for one, think there is a problem that requires IMMEDIATE attention AND action. It seems that in the midst of a drug turf war, with violence on the rise, people in town should be concerned and alert to suspicious activity on the streets. Please acknowledge that some people do feel unsafe and that they shouldn’t have to feel that way in their homes or their town, Mr. Hylton. You sound a bit uncaring and appear quick to turn the Mercury readers’ thoughts to another statistic rather than dealing with the ones staring you (& the rest of the community) in the face. I think, as an elected official, it is unwise to be evasive.
To contain the problem and let other potential perpetrators know that, while Pottstown is a prime location for drug distribution, it is not welcome here and will be dealt with by using swift police action and justice. Everything should be done to safeguard the residents and visitors of Pottstown – including adding money to the Borough accounts which no longer has a purpose and, it seems, has never been properly accounted for (which you call EVERY other organization or entity to task about) those asking for a full, detailed accounting. A community can never rid themselves of every criminal element but it can lessen the ability for it to thrive within boundary limits and this is what the activitsts you refer to seem to be calling for along with community participation to help the PPD function to the best of their ability (they can’t stop what they can’t see).
I think that while car-related tragedies strike many more people than violent crime we can all agree we assume a certain amount of risk when we get behind the wheel or take to the streets by foot. This is why it is important to foster a sense of caring in the community and open our children up to the possibility that the moment they choose reckless behavior they could impact the life of another. This ‘rule of thumb’ goes well beyond driving, though.
Am I afraid to walk the streets – no. I am concerned for some people I know and even the ones I don’t, given the concentrated area of the recent violence – it is a problem. I consider anything can happen at any given moment to a person and life is precious BUT if I had to fear the drunk or distracted driver vs. the gun-toting drug dealer I’d fear the person with the gun, as I think many would agree.
I don’t think anyone has suggested that Pottstown was more dangerous than any other suburban area, until you – statistics seem to indicate you are wrong, though.
Nice attempt to redirect the thinking of the Mercury readers. Misleading people is a shameful act!
This latest advetorial is a waste of the paper it was printed on and a major insult to the sensibilities of the people that live in the core neighborhood, hell…it’s an insult to anybody with a brain.
Tom Hylton, if you want to piss away some money next time, instead of throwing bucks at a ridiculous ad how buying a crack head a baggie or a drunk a few beers…it’s far more noble.