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CITY BEAT
By George Murin
January 18, 2008
Washington- A meeting was held at City Hall on January 14th to discuss the drug and crime problems in Washington. The “Safe and Secure Neighborhoods” meeting drew a decent crowd of about 35 residents from Washington and the surrounding communities and many of the local politicians, law enforcement and representatives from the NAACP. City Mayor Sonny Spossey, all the members of city council, County Commissioner Larry Maggi, D.A. Steve Toprani, City Police Chief Roger Blyth, City Police Captain Robert Wilson, State Police LT. Rick Sethman, NAACP president Dean Ellis, Charleroi Mayor Frank Paterra, Charleroi’s Guardian Angel Coordinator Bob Arthurs, representatives from the county’s drug task force and the county’s redevelopment authority. They outlined a plan of attack how to combat drugs, prostitution and crime and restore the city back to what it once was; a peaceful community. The law enforcement personnel present outlined a plan of attack; increased saturation patrols, drug sweeps, stings, seizure of property and controlled drug buys. Toprani stressed that the citizens must help by reporting any drug activity to the county’s hot line number, 1-800-281-0700, “We need to know Who, What, When and Where. All information will be kept confidential and names need not be given. Chief Blyth stated that “This is going to have teeth … we are going to get our streets back.” During the question and answer part of the meeting, some in the audience had questions about innocent people getting caught up in these measures, NAACP president Ellis said,” we will sort these out later… we have an opportunity (now) to work together…to make an impact.” The meeting seemed somewhat optimistic, but will it produce results? It is a first step. I hope if other meetings are held more residents will attend. As the 18th century British Statesman Edmund Burke reportedly once said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
A few weeks ago the Observer-Reporter ran an editorial on the gambling money to be distributed to the area’s communities. It listed one item as the renovating the Auld Hotel building. It said, “If that refers to the Auld Hotel, it burned down in 1963 and doesn’t exist to be renovated.” Retired Firefighter Sam Calabro and I had a good laugh about that one as we discussed the article. Indeed there was a fire in the Auld Hotel but the bottom two floors of the building are still there, it houses the State Liquor store on South Main Street and the ballroom on the second floor is said, by the owners, to be in “immaculate shape” and they hope to renovate it into high end apartments.
Councilman Matt Staniszewski is a little disturbed by the attack on him by Mayor Sonny Spossey at the last city council meeting. He said, and it was verified by two other members of council, that the mayor and council agreed to no personal attacks at the meetings. He stated that the city should not be wasting money on unnecessary expenses such as one thousand dollar planters and new carpeting and should not have been verbally assaulted.
More next week…
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