Wanted: Edward Bloom
POTTSTOWN, PA – Remember the fictious southern town Spectre in Tim Burton’s wonderfully quirky film “Big Fish”?
It was a town that went bankrupt but was rescued from bankruptcy by the lead character (Edward Bloom) who bought the town at an auction and rebuilt it.
Pottstown needs an Edward Bloom.
Why? Because stable homeowners and businesses are leaving Pottstown en masse.
Two more long time Pottstown businesses are relocating outside of Pottstown in the next two months: East Penn AAA and Jerry’s Chicken.
The relocation of East Penn AAA was noted in two Pottstown area blogs: The Pottstown Post and Roy’s Rants.
Jerry’s Chicken (an awesome fried/BBQ chicken take out joint on Shoemaker Road) is relocating in January to the former Kentucky Fried Chicken facility on Route 724 (near Norco Fire Company). It’s a great move for them (and we wish them all the luck), but it’s just another depressing instance of tax dollars crossing the border out of Pottstown.
At last week’s Borough Council meeting, Borough Manager Jason Bobst reported that Pottstown Area Industrial Development, Inc. (PAID), that mysterious commercial and industrial developmental entity that is mentioned in hushed tones, but nobody really knows anything about, is targeted to be ready to go in January.
The longer that Pottstown continues to operate without an effective and realistic economic development plan in place, and without a full time professional leading the charge, the more that the mass exodus of businesses, homeowners and tax dollars will continue in Pottstown.
Sheesh, not Jerry’s!! We are bleeding folks. And yes, the “mysterious commercial and industrial developmental entity” know as PAID has not been defined by any of the original partners, except the SD, what has happened to them? The Hill School, the Hospital, Health & Wellness and more…They couldn’t stomach the big borough egos?? Where’d they go? History get in the way?? Because people here don’t forgive each other for past mistakes even if they happened 40 years ago and even if it is in the best interest of Pottstown, where is the “brotherly” love here? Why are the residents kept in the dark about this PAID position?? Will they be given an opportunity to have any input on the candidates for this position? The secrecy and clandestine moves of this borough are holding us back and it is unnecessary.
Let’s put Pottstown on Ebay and see who bites.