Category Archives: pipeline problems

oh no…. in west whiteland along w. king road

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We all know that “UHHH OHHH, OHHHH NOOO” feeling when we see something. Like the real estate sign above. It is one of the two parcels that make up Johnson Matthey. To East Whiteland residents, Johnson Matthey is also a familiar name as one of the successor names to Bishop Tube over in General Warren, but I digress…only not really because things all seem to be related around her, right?

another bite at the apple in west whiteland township?

Another bite at the apple above was a post referring to the where’s Waldo as it keeps popping up issue in West Whiteland as to data centers and hydrogen plants etc there. It was a topic for discussion at the West Whiteland Planning Commission this Wednesday (oh and West Whiteland, that person your zoom bouncer didn’t let speak was ummm the chair of East Whiteland Supervisors, and since we all don’t live on islands, maybe learn who is on your calls. A neighboring township being interested should have some sort of professional courtesy, don’t you think?)

So. WHY is this 15.70 acres which is wooded with a cell phone tower of concern? Well Johnson Matthey wants to sell this chunk of their land on West King turning onto Phoenixville Pike is right on border with East Whiteland. Johnson Matthey is TWO parcels totaling 35+ acres.

And this is a real worry as to what kind of developer would snatch it up. Whether industrial or residential the scenario sucks. Because is it someplace they could put an Amazon hub for example? Or try to put a Data center or a hydrogen plant for example ? Or God knows how many townhouses or apartments?

And let us not forget Weston is across W. King Road, correct? And although residential plans have been shopped there it does have the labs and offices thing going on, right? And Johnson Matthey land has industrial going on correct? Is it as simple as 1 + 1 = 2? I hate to be a conspiracy theorist but this area right there in West Whiteland is truly the perfect storm for data centers and hydrogen energy plants, right? Are we wrong worrying about this? Like is the land at Johnson Matthey clean? As in DEP and EPA clean and isn’t that reasonable to ask considering it’s industrial?

The Johnson Matthey land for sale has a sign up and a listing on Loop Net for 15.70 acres. East Whiteland and West Whiteland need to pay close attention. They have to. First of all, how much more stress can W. King Road and that stress of Phoenixville Pike take? People who live on those roads have a hard enough time up and down getting out of their driveways and the ever increasing problematic four way stop sign and intersection of King and Ship is just up from there. It is already a shit show from existing development including West Goshen Township’s development. And next there is the piggy glut of development coming to Ship and 30 (Lancaster Avenue) and the rest of the development on the other side of the traffic light past the old Ship Inn, and east on Lancaster Ave towards the boundary there with East Whiteland.

This could be another bad plan coming our way when this property sells, couldn’t there be?

I also have *heard* via sources the intimation that some of the hierarchy of the Chester County Democrats don’t want to appear business “unfriendly” which is undoubtedly putting pressure on Democrat supervisors locally…like in East Whiteland and West Whiteland, right? But if these honchos are worried about appearing anti-business, are they also worried about appearing anti-resident and anti-environment? I think that could come into play here, sorry not sorry.

I also feel that in West Whiteland there is ONE Supervisor you can count on to do right by residents every time and that is Brian Dunn. Theresa Hogan Santalucia is now an angry lame duck politician, so she won’t care these next few months and Raj Kumbhardare is more pro-development and pro-data centers etc than I am comfortable with. He is not a bad person, however my opinion is at times he just doesn’t get it, and I have watched all of them, and he can dig in his heels and not for the benefit of all. He’s in the data kind of business for example given his career, so he doesn’t see the pitfalls, does he? Or doesn’t want to?

So I find this section of West Whiteland far, far away from not only the West Whiteland Township Building but also where two of the supervisors in West Whiteland live at risk. There are also multiple pipelines running around here including Williams which was mentioned somewhere when the whole data center hydrogen plant came up, right?

While we are on the topic of West Whiteland and data centers, allow me to share an update Ginny Kerslake sent out:

Good news from the data center / power plant zoning ordinance discussion at last night’s Planning Commission meeting in West Whiteland Township!

Over 20 residents attended to listen to the discussion and provide input on the public’s strong, universal opposition to allowing this use near our treasured Exton Park in the Office/Laboratory District. As a result, allowing this use in the O/L District appears to be off the table as far as the WWT Planning Commission is concerned. They are continuing the discussion next month. From there it goes to the Board of Supervisors and a public hearing. It’s important that we stay engaged as this proceeds.

Meanwhile, a proposed southeastern PA “hydrogen hub” called MACH2 would mean the construction of more fossil fuel infrastructure right here in Chester County including power plants, and dangerous, unregulated, CO2 pipelines in existing pipeline easements, including Mariner East and others. And it’s reasonable to assume that the proposed hydrogen power plant near Exton in Park was/is part of MACH2.

The time is now to do what we can to stop MACH2 from being awarded federal and state subsidies which it would require in order to advance.

🌞 I hope you can join me and other community members protecting Exton Park this Sunday, April 23 from 3 to 5 PM at Stolen Sun in Exton for some food and drink (provided) to learn what next step you can take to stop this hydrogen hub …. and also celebrate our community’s recent victory in stopping the hydrogen power plant near Exton Park from progressing! RSVP here

Onward,

Ginny Marcille-Kerslake

MACH 2 is a bit scary. As per West Whiteland Residents for Pipeline Safety:

A proposed southeastern PA “hydrogen hub” called MACH2 would mean the construction of more fossil fuel infrastructure, subsidized by taxpayers, including power plants, and dangerous, unregulated, CO2 pipelines in existing pipeline easements. And guess who’s a key player in MACH2 – Energy Transfer (Mariner East)

West Whiteland and East Whiteland residents need to pay attention here. Big time. We are all at risk from things like data centers because of PA’s tax credits for data centers. And certain political factions are pushing for these things so their besties can get contracts and jobs. And no ones really tales into consideration that a lot of the jobs are much like the jobs for Mariner East / Sunoco / Energy Transfer – out of state workers, not local. And yeah, sadly there are certain Democrats in Chester County push push pushing these things when they should be paying attention to their county row jobs, because what happens if audits on their county row job or a right to know is filed on their hours there happen? What will they show? Of course county row jobs in Chester County are a conversation for another day. Suffice it to say more than a couple should actually be spending more time earning their keep along county row and if they think even Democrats, let alone Republicans are not paying attention? Well that equals sadly mistaken, yes? Quit shilling for law firms, solicitors, and your union buddies from OUT of the area. Be present, be local, be for the residents you serve, not higher ambitions.

I am including photos of the streetscape so people have an idea. Why can’t that be bought and just left open space? A trail park?

Well, think about it people, because a buyer will come, and then potentially this is a fair bit of acreage in play if Weston wakes up again, this is oh hell no again, right?

It is never over in Chester County. And a lot of this is due to….wait for it…the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which has not been comprehensively updated since 1969. It requires an act of the state constitution which means State Reps and State Senators and they never seem to want to deal with this, do they? It would be nice if they did. It would be nice if residents were protected better and had more of a say as to the way they want their communities to look like.

The Johnson Matthey Land and Weston land if improperly developed could drastically impact our eco system in that area and the environment. And then let’s look at traffic and infrastructure. And more.

Time to pay attention.

Happy weekend.

seeking commissioner clarity in chester county politics

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Last evening there was the Zoom Pow Wow of Endorsement for the Chester County Democrats. To say I am confused by some of the outcome would be an understatement. I also heard it was a Zoom that needs a replay but that will never happen, right?

All sorts of things about people seemingly trying to get back what had been removed from and candidates who didn’t exactly shine as Republicans, trying to become candidates as Democrats and seeking endorsement no less? The Chesco Dems released a very distilled and watery press release much like their Republican counterparts, but suffice it to say I heard from both sides of the aisle nothing to write home about, right?

I am conflicted about Marian Moskowitz. She is self made, which I respect, but I question sometimes WHY she serves in public office? And a big part of WHY I am troubled is the whole Advaite of it all.. I wrote about Advaite (check out their press releases) again yesterday in conjunction with a new court case that is kind of adjacent related, right?

bring the popcorn to chester county….

Advaite is a Chester County COVID thing. And it seems along the lines of bad like Philly Fighting COVID was, doesn’t it? And it cost Chester County a big black eye and lots of money which affects taxpayers, residents, etc., right?

The National Whistleblowers Center has an interesting piece on their website that made me think about this again this morning:

Philly Fighting COVID fiasco highlights how fraud arises in times of crisis
by Nick Younger, Communications Associate

A recent scandal in Philadelphia involving a local startup embroiled in a public health fiasco showcases how times of crisis can allow fraud to rear its ugly head. As financial and public pressures to succeed create more opportunities for fraud to be committed, similar cases of mismanagement and ineptitude may surface across the country.

Philly Fighting COVID began as startup using 3-D printing to create face-shields for students at Drexel University. It then became a non-profit aiding the city of Philadelphia with testing, working with partner organizations to provide community testing.

Upon news of vaccine approvals in the fall, Philly Fighting COVID’s CEO, 22-year-old graduate student Andrei Doroshin, began to impress himself upon city officials. With claims of vaccinating between 500,000 to 1.5 million people through five mass-vaccination sites, Doroshin and his startup seemingly appeared right when Philadelphia needed them.

The startup secured a deal with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health after pitching its services to the Philadelphia City Council in November 2020. While it did not sign an official contract, it received a portion of Philadelphia’s vaccine allotment. However, problems began to arise shortly thereafter.

An investigation by WHYY, a Philadelphia public media organization, revealed that in December, Philly Fighting COVID reorganized as a for-profit company, Vax Populi. According to WHYY, Philly Fighting COVID officials maintained that “a for-profit entity was needed to bill insurance companies for reimbursements from the vaccine, a plainly untrue claim in a city with numerous nonprofit health care providers.”

Following that, in January, Philly Fighting COVID closed down all testing events, leaving community members effectively in the dust as Doroshin told partnered groups that testing was no longer important….

Communities, strapped for resources made acute by the pandemic, can be targeted by those looking to profit off of rapid spurts of funds, “get-rich-quick” schemes and assorted administrative chaos that arises in crises. While it may not explicitly be fraud, it is clear that Philly Fighting COVID aimed to profit off of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Philadelphia.

Similar schemes may be happening across the country. With more cities desperate to vaccinate their citizens, misplaced trust in organizations like Philly Fighting COVID can lead to fraudulent activity, negligence, and delinquency of duties. With opportunities for fraud on the rise, those brave individuals who speak out like Lipinsky or Flamholtz could be critical in identifying fraudulent actors and rooting them out from high-profile positions.

So Advaite. Remember the glowing press release in 2020? Here:

Advaite-Deploys-COVID-19-Rapid-Antibody…ia-Companies-To-Scale-Up-ManufacturingDownload

Then came the black eye and many other articles like:

Chester-County-controller-commissioner…r-test-kit-investigation-–-Daily-LocalDownload

Philadelphia Inquirer: Chester County spent $13 million on coronavirus antibody tests. Then it quietly shelved the program. by Marie McCullough and William Bender
Updated Sep 17, 2020

There are more articles on the topic. Until recently, I only read a couple of them. But then I started to read more about Advaite. And I began to wonder. Then came the whys without answers.

Marian Moskowitz was newish to her commissionership when Advaite happened, right? But where I am troubled is, WHY did she push so hard for this? Personal relationships? Glory? Trying to do right by big campaign donors to many politicians from Chester County and others including former Gov. Tom Wolf?

There is obviously some sort of a relationship because it seems to show up in emails released in a Right to Know over Advaite. Here to follow are some and I quietly suggest if Marian Moskowitz in running again and has been endorsed by the Chester County Democrats which seem as problematic right now as their Montgomery County PA counterparts, she needs to talk about this and explain her exact role, right? Just like she needs to explain why she has seemingly turned a blind eye to her constituency affected by pipelines, right?

Maybe just maybe in the end Advaite will be chalked up to a “mistake”, except this is a “mistake” that cost Chester County millions, didn’t it? And continues to grow legs seemingly? A reader sent me a comment about the company recently:

Advaite really is a company.  Innovative, therapeutic and healthcare solutions.

BUT the word “advaita” is totally ..something else

https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5234/advaita

This one is worth reading more of.

What is Advaita? – Definition from Yogapedia

https://www.yogapedia.com › definition › advaita

Advaita is a Sanskrit word that translates as “not two” or “no second.” This gives the idea that the inner Self, or Atman, is the same as the Absolute Reality, that is Brahman.

The meaning of ADVAITA is Vedanta nondualism that denies the separateness of any aspect of reality from the impersonal oneness of Brahman.

Marian, come on now, you got to office as a Wolf gal, correct? Well now it’s time to stand on your own and not be a wheeler dealer of connections. That all has it’s place in this world, but Chester County needs and deserves answers. It can’t just be a continual inter-political party swirling mess of Democrat in-fighting and it can’t be the Hatfields and McCoys of it all, Democrats vs. Republicans. If you wish to continue to lead, lead by example: transparency, full disclosure, etc. How you act can also affect Josh Maxwell, who really does his best literally every day. So if you don’t provide clarity for the sake of the residents of Chester County, do it for your running mate.

Thanks for stopping by today to my ponder fest.

it’s a sad, sad song….in west whiteland

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Greetings readers. I mentioned last night that it was a VERY interesting meeting in West Whiteland last evening. You can VIEW ENTIRETY OF MEETING BY CLICKING HERE.

Fireworks and it is not even the 4th of July but what does that even mean any longer since fireworks occur so often, right? But noooo not those fireworks, political fireworks. Bring the popcorn.

First up was what can only be described as CROSS TAWK. Did a certain Bossette Tweed not realize her microphone was open while making nervous chit chat? Her health, eye exams, lending her car out and then it not starting, work sending SUPER NURSE an Uber to pick her up, to being relieved the crowd of people wasn’t there for her we assume? And then there was referring to a certain developer who pulled his plan for 1/25/23 with some degree of familiarity, followed by what she thinks or did with a certain local reporter whom I think is a good guy? Theresa Hogan Santalucia, I am sure Bill Rettew is crushed beyond belief that you are obvs upset he was doing her job, and while no one may ever know, was “no comment” all you said? I mean you have been tots verbose recently yes? The “reality” of your life dear politician is you should quite literally shut your mouth once in a while.

So…now to the amusement. If you watch the replay, it is at the END – hit about the last 15 minutes and sit back with popcorn. But I captured an excerpt.

Bossette Tweed apparently got her wings clipped? And listen Bossette darling, I don’t speak for your township or the supervisors with whom you are supposed to serve for the best of your residents. I am allowed to comment publicly on the behavior of politicians, capice? You keep scribbling on your “page”, you need to buy a clue don’t cha doll? You are a politician and Ginny Kerslake’s comments in this video capture are SPOT ON and THANK YOU GINNY!

So no more PSATS, eh? And only you can go? Because you are BFFs with the movers and the shakers? Damn woman, maybe West Whiteland actually need a new organization if you are the one one they greet like Norm walking into Cheers? Maybe West Whiteland would be better suited to also belong to The Pennsylvania Municipal League? For example Theresa my little dumpling, The Pennsylvania Municipal League has a Civility Campaign, did you know?

Civility Campaign

Today, civility in government is more crucial than ever.

The Pennsylvania Municipal League is proud to present an initiative aimed at fostering civility in the delivery of public services whether they be in an office setting, a public meeting or any contact with a member of the public. The Civility Campaign begins with elected and appointed officials signing the following pledge:

“As a public servant, I hereby pledge to work daily to build a stronger and more prosperous community by advocating for civil engagement, respecting others – even during disagreements – building bridges to foster relationships and respecting different viewpoints, while finding solutions for the betterment of my municipality.”

The League will be developing a toolkit that provides information on running effective meetings, addressing conflicts in the public arena, a sample resolution that commits to public civility along with strategies on communicating thoughtfully.

Let’s work together to find solutions, critique constructively and foster greater understanding in our municipalities. Taxpayers and residents deserve no less in our communities.

Complete Civility Pledge Online

Download Civility Pledge PDF

~pennsylvania municipal league civility campaign

Now in her rebuttal or self defensive outburst, she remarked or more accurately verbally heralded an accusation inferring that I and a couple of others actually speak for other supervisors in West Whiteland Township. Shocking as this may seem, Theresa Hogan Santalucia, people are capable of independent thought, research, and that lovely thing called the first amendment. And doll, who was it you were so furiously texting? Girl you need to watch the on camera of it all, sorry.

I speak for no politicians, and your behavior draws critics like moths to a flame. YOU attract the attention because of your shenanigans. If you could just admit that as part of your 12 step political program, wouldn’t that be healthier for you in the long run? After all, stress is bad for health issues, right?

Readers, last night a politician who is a very unpleasant lame duck politician got her wings clipped. And had she not decided she had to have her say like a spoiled child, it would have mostly gone unnoticed. So Theresa, if you are not running because of your health and not because you would never survive another election season in the primary or general election, why not RESIGN NOW? They can appoint a bench warmer and you can focus on what you claim you need to focus on, correct?

#RESIGNTHERESA

and now an (official) word from east whiteland about data centers…and the media coverage (thus far)

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Photos used with permission from Ginny Kerslake

Sorry folks, it has been a busy day. Received official word from East Whiteland regarding the data center of it all. After that I will share the article that prompted this:

In response to recent articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily Local News, where the Township was asked to provide comments and a status update regarding recent data center proposals, below is a statement from East Whiteland Township:

To date, no land development application has been received by the Township and there have been no revisions to the previously approved Zoning Hearing Board application to permit the data center usage at the properties located along the south side of Swedesford Road near the border with West Whiteland Township. 

Also, it is important to note to our residents and businesses that the Board of Supervisors of East Whiteland Township has no interest in entertaining a proposal for a hydrogen power plant within our Township. We are aware of the zoning activities in our neighboring Township and will continue to monitor the situation.

Scott Lambert, Chair of East Whiteland Township Supervisors

~EAST WHITELAND TOWNSHIP 1/19/2023

Philadelphia Inquirer: COMMERCIAL A cleaned-up Superfund site in Chester County could become home to a massive data center
Local residents and environmentalists are concerned about a developer’s plans for a two-million-square-foot data center in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

by Kevin Riordan
Updated Jan 19, 2023

A Chester County developer is planning to build a data center approaching the size of the retail space at King of Prussia Mall that could consume more power in one location than any other Peco customer.

Charles Lyddane said he hopes to begin construction this year on the two million-square-foot facility on 65 acres of a remediated Superfund sitehe owns in East Whiteland Township.

“This will be a major economic engine for Chester County and for Pennsylvania,” said Lyddane, whose company Green Fig Land LLC is partnering with Fifteen Forty Seven Critical Systems Realty of Matawan, N.J., to develop the East Whiteland site…..East Whiteland approved zoning variances that Lyddane requested for the project in 2021, and he plans to submit a land development plan to the township this spring. If the plan is approved, construction would begin within six to 12 months and be finished by the end of 2024.

Lyddane said strong demand for new data center capacity is expected to continue despite current economic uncertainties.

Nevertheless, he has “put on hold” a proposal to build a 100,000-square-foot data center along with a power-generating facility on 25 acres he owns in West Whiteland Township that are contiguous with his East Whiteland property.

“Our only plan at this time is to build two data center buildings … in East Whiteland Township,” Lyddane said Tuesday….But Loudoun County, Va., home of what’s widely regarded as the greatest concentration of data centers on the planet, last year approved guidelines to limit their growth. Andthe East and West Whiteland proposals have sparked concerns among environmentalists and some residents in northeastern Chester County, where rolling hills, winding roads, and quaint stone buildings belie the sometimes toxic legacy of mining, steelmaking, and other heavy industries that once dotted the landscape……Sometimes called server farms or carrier hotels, data centers are nothing new. But what’s proposed for East Whiteland would be significantly bigger than most….The proposed East Whiteland data center location once was home to a limestone mining and later, lithium ore-processing business called the Foote Mineral Co., which closed in 1991. A Superfund cleanup project there was substantially completed in 2010, although monitoring of several locations on the property is continuing…..In West Whiteland, nearly 250 people have joined a “Protect Exton Park from Power Plant/Data Center Hub” page on Facebook since it was established earlier in this month. The popular recreation area is close to where Lyddane has explored building a second data center and a power plant.

A 700-acre expanse of woodlands, ponds, and open space, Exton Park was established 30 years ago after local residents fought fiercely to prevent construction of a large housing development, said Ginny Marcille-Kerslake, the administrator of the Facebook page.

“The zoning amendment Charlie requested is very open-ended and would open the door to [development of] hyper-scaled data centers in West Whiteland,” said Marcille-Kerslake….As for the future of the West Whitelandproperty, which includes a storm-water management area that would serve the East Whiteland data center, the developer said: “We don’t have a plan yet. We’re not sure if we’re going to do anything there.”

$6 billion data center proposed for East Whiteland

EAST WHITELAND — A 2-million-square-foot data center, at a cost of approximately $6 billion, is planned for the 100-acre former Foote Mineral site. Seventy-five acres sit in East Whiteland and 25 acres are located in West Whiteland Township.

Fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty partnered with Green Fig Land to obtain East Whiteland zoning variance changes that would allow for two separate million-square-foot, two-story structures and microwave towers, near the intersection of Valley Creek Boulevard and Swedesford Road.

Charlie Lyddane, who works with partner Greg Walters, of Green Fig Land, said on Monday that he wants eventually to also build on the adjacent 25-acre property in West Whiteland Township.

The site abuts the heavily used Chester Valley Trail and Exton Park for what Lyddane said would be an “ancillary” use.

Data centers house equipment such as servers, and air conditioning and cooling equipment for storage of large amounts of data. Data centers run the systems that cell phones are connected to and it’s part of the internet. A data center is the building that houses all of that equipment.

Residents rallied to fight some of the uses after West Whiteland had set a January 25 date for a hearing on zoning changes in the existing office/lab district. Those changes would allow for the data center and a power generating facility to help run the data center. PECO has already agreed to supply a large amount of power. Lyddane said it was enough to fully run the East Whiteland facility as planned.

Lyddane pulled the request for a township hearing which was to appear on the agenda of the Jan. 25 meeting.

“There is no plan for a power plant,” Lyddane said, although a zoning ordinance change for such was requested. “There are a number of options for things to do there.

“We want to see what happens with the data centers. Nothing is definite. We don’t have a plan. We are looking at options.

“The only plan at this time is to build two data centers and that’s it. We are nearly through the approval process in East Whiteland.”

Lyddane also said that more than half of the 25-acre West Whiteland tract is being left as open space because it includes existing wetlands.

Any zoning changes would allow for additional data center construction on more than 100 nearby acres in the township that Lyddane said he doesn’t own and is not for sale. Lyddane said it would be possible to operate a green power plant at that location.

West Whiteland resident Ginny Kerslake is strongly opposed to the project that might include a power plant, as was requested and written with the new zoning variance language.

“Power plants, whether gas or hydrogen from methane, emit the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, and methane,” she said.” In addition to this, there are methane emissions all along the route from fracking to the power plants, and impacts to public health and safety, water resources and the environment. No matter how you try to greenwash it, gray or blue hydrogen is not sustainable energy. It’s a false climate solution being pushed by the fossil fuel industry.”

Data centers in New York, Oregon, Hawaii, Wyoming, Wisconsin and two in Illinois are operated by 1547 Critical Systems….. A $50 million cleanup of the Foote Mineral site is completed, according to Lyddane, who said he spent $2 million on sewer improvements and $500,000 for the cleanup of the township sewer treatment plant.

The proposed West Whiteland zoning changes also call for a 60-foot height limit rather than the current limit of 35 feet.

“We are looking for flexibility,” Lyddane said.

The developer said that each of the two floors might measure 20 feet high, with equipment on the roof. He said that the facility would create 50 permanent “very good paying jobs” onsite and about 3,000 jobs during the construction period.

West Whiteland Supervisor Brian Dunn talked about the zoning changes that might lead to a data center and power plant in the township.

“I’m always skeptical about amending zoning ordinances,” Dunn said. “I’ve found through my experience that whenever a zoning ordinance is amended it’s not always what was proposed.

“A lot of times it opens up a can of worms for something worse.”

West Whiteland Supervisor Rajesh Kumbhardare said he wants to see the facts while noting that the site sits far from residences.

“I don’t see any issue with the zoning changes,” he said. “There is no power plant on the books.

.Kerslake argued that the zoning changes suggested for the canceled Jan. 25 meeting clearly stated such.

“Let’s consult the experts,” Kumbhardare said. “Let’s not put the cart before the horse.”

West Whiteland Supervisor Theresa Santalucia preferred to not comment when reached by phone.

Libby Madarasz is running for the seat occupied by Santalucia on the West Whiteland board of supervisors.

“I’ve spent hours this past long weekend speaking with residents in their neighborhoods and out enjoying Exton Park and the Chester Valley Trail,” she said. “There was a resounding objection to these (proposed) changes in the zoning ordinances which would have such an impact to these treasured spaces.

“The prospect of a fracked gas/hydrogen power plant was especially offensive. I truly hope our township supervisors listen to the people and honor their duty to put the desires of the residents first.”

Kerslake: “The developer’s withdrawal of his zoning ordinance amendment is a victory for all those speaking up against this bad plan and a testament to the power of community. The requested change, oddly submitted without plans and impact assessments, was a trojan horse that would have opened the door for a fracked gas power plant in close proximity to neighborhoods and our treasured Exton Park and Chester Valley Trail.

~Daily LOCAL/BILL RETTEW

So to West Whiteland Supervisor Raj Kumbhardare, is a bit of a puzzle here. Supervisor Raj should have more to say more than his evasiveness in The Daily Local News about carts and horse, right? Supervisor Raj as a day job is in database administration so is there anything in this for him? Not being mean but does he care about all of his constituency equally? After all this issue is bigger than computer and database type professionals being excited that the data center is coming, right? And then there is the wondering if he really understands the zoning and how zoning doesn’t exist in a little bubble or vacuum and these changes could potentially have far-reaching changes for the township he is supposed to serve equally to his best efforts so??? I am not saying he’s not a good guy I am asking reasonable questions. I am also wondering how is feeling about carts and horse right now?

And my favorite angry lame duck supervisor is mums the word on this? Why? Rather odd considering….she’s always so pithy, yes?

Anyway, East Whiteland is not being shy about how they seem to be feeling, do they?

Also do not forget this hopeful piece from September, 2022:

Data Center Frontier: With New Incentives, Pennsylvania Makes Pitch for Hyperscale Business
Sept. 15, 2022
With the passage of new tax incentives for data centers in Pennsylvania, developers have announced plans for a hyperscale campus outside Philadelphia that could create 2 million square feet of data center space.
Rich Miller

With the passage of new tax incentives for data centers in Pennsylvania, developers have announced plans for a hyperscale campus outside Philadelphia that could create 2 million square feet of data center space.

The project is a big bet that Pennsylvania can become a destination for cloud campuses for huge Internet companies. The incentives are also being welcomed by existing data center providers, primarily enterprise colocation and interconnection specialists.

Last year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a package of data center incentives that includes a sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of computer equipment….

Last month data center operator fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547) said it will partner with real estate developer Green Fig Land Company (GFLC), to acquire 100 acres of land in Chester County, Pa.  to build a data center campus with 150 megawatts of capacity. The site plans call for a pair of two-story data centers, each sized at 1 million square feet of space.

“We at Green Fig have spent three years working with the legislature to enact a bill to eliminate the sales tax on data center equipment in Pennsylvania,” said Charles Lyddane, Managing Partner of GFLC. “With access to Tier 1 carriers like Arelion, Lumen, and Windstream, Pennsylvania is the ideal location for an additional data center cluster sitting between markets like NJ/NY and Ashburn.”…If the project succeeds, the Chester County site could be expanded with to support an additional 149 megawatts of power, and up to 5 million SF of space. Green Fig said it is also working on a dedicated, sustainable power generating facility on site.

Tonight class we re-learned a valuable lesson or two:

(1) Sometimes the peasants revolt.

(2) Carts and horses are funny things.

(3) Sometimes municipalities want the public to have actual clarity.

(4) This is an issue that grew legs this week.

(5) Get involved where you live.

buh buh byeeee ?

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It’s oddly Darth Vader -like this new “selfie”

BREAKING NEWS FROM WEST WHITELAND: Theresa Hogan Santalucia has announced she is NOT seeking re-election! However she is backing a pinch hitter. Sadly to me, that is the same as Theresa. Her name is Jo Ann P Kelton.

Pinch hitting for Theresa is a big “meh” – if I voted in West Whiteland, that would be a turn off.

So actual health issues or disdain for the plurality? Maybe that disdain for the plurality is a medical condition? Sorry not sorry, she’s not someone I have a great deal of compassion for .

Theresa Hogam Santalucia won’t go quietly into the night will she? Can we wonder how much havoc she will wreak between now and end of term?

She posted on her politician page a bunch of times. She means B-I-bizness. Thanks be to everything holy that she’s done. Here’s hoping she doesn’t get it into her head to run for State Rep if her gal pal Kristine Howard is indeed running for judge.

Let the (updated) games begin. Where is this one on the power plant/data center issue and pipelines?

Anyway, that’s all. Theresa Hogan Santalucia knows she can’t win another supervisor race, so she’s done.

fetterman spam – he blocks me on twitter, yet apparently is allowed to spam my e-mail?

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My commentary will be simple: I didn’t sign up for this. So now I’m getting Fetterman spam?

John Fetterman, I don’t like you. I have never liked you. And I find your wife very full of herself and I’m not quite sure why. Truthfully, I find both of you slightly distasteful most of the time.

You do not keep your promises to your constituents. Look no further than the people victimized by pipelines in Chester County. You used them for a photo op when you were running for lieutenant governor and never helped them.

And then let’s talk about the way you block constituents. You blocked me for criticizing you. On Twitter. You blocked me in 2019, I wrote about it.

I checked just today and you STILL block me. I am a constituent, and I am actually a Democrat and you block me. There is Federal level case law that suggests that elected officials should not block their constituents. Yet you block me. And others.

Yet you seem to think sending me campaign spam is okay? It’s not. You need to unblock your constituents and apologize for all the things that you didn’t do for people now that you want us to vote for you for a higher office.

All of the Democrats can sit down and shut up now. No flapping because I cannot swear undying love. I know the alternative to Lurch is even more terrifying than he is. But isn’t it pathetic that these are the candidates that both parties are putting forward? We get to chose the lesser of two evils or get stuck with actual evil?

So here’s what I think John Fetterman: if you expect me to consider voting for you in November, maybe you can unblock me and all the other people you blocked who are your constituents because we didn’t agree with you.

Next thing: Am I going to give this man a campaign donation? Oh hell no. I don’t give any politicians campaign donations. But I think considering the stakes in Pennsylvania, if this man wants our support he has to get out and earn it. Again, he also has to unblock his constituents.

There will be lots who don’t like this post. But when it comes to politics I think politicians owe it to be straight with us, and real with us, and not glossy pieces of TV ads. We are real people, and politicians only value us for what? What we can do for them? I ask what are they going to do for us? Because that is the real thing we have to discuss as Americans and Pennsylvanians. It’s not what can we do for politicians, but what will they actually do for us? And that applies to both political parties.

I am all about the politician who wants to be there for everyone. The only problem is you so seldom meet any.

Below is the email I received today welcoming me to his “team.” What utter and complete bullsheit. There I said it.

Thanks for stopping by.

another curious case of conduct unbecoming a public or elected official in west whiteland?

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Sent to a random person on Facebook last evening.

When you run for elected office you become not only a politician but a public figure. Some are better than others.

Last evening was a West Whiteland supervisors meeting. Other municipalities pretty much run their meetings fairly civilized these days, but West Whiteland is swirling in controversy, so they’re a bit rocky.

Last evening’s meeting (3/9/22) was the most civilized they’ve had in a while. And mostly it was civilized because one supervisor, Theresa Hogan Santalucia, for once didn’t act out. Well that is not quite true, she spouted off on why they shouldn’t get a camera in the West Whiteland board room to record PUBLIC meetings. Something about distorted view, can’t see faces, etc. She referenced West Goshen Township which was kind of funny because unless they are having technical challenges, you can see everyone clear as a bell: supervisors, staff, even people who go up to speak at the podium. Ditto with East Goshen Township and East Whiteland Township, and a whole host of other municipalities whose meetings I have seen either live streaming or recorded. I think she just doesn’t WANT meetings recorded because it is easier to pretend bad behavior doesn’t happen at public meetings and not all resident comments are positive, can’t you agree?

Theresa Hogan Santalucia does act out for lack of a better description, kindly reference an apology tour screenshot from the not so distant past:

And yes Theresa, we all can have opinions on you, how you govern, how you behave because you are a PUBLIC official, a politician/elected official. I can also have the opinion that I think you are unsuited for public office and should resign for any number of reasons.

My reasons go back as far as sidewalk chalk, or when someone was made to feel bad (and publicly skewered) for putting sidewalk chalk drawings on a sidewalk outside the township building on Election Day. I will note back then that I don’t recall any signage saying “no sidewalk chalk.” Is there such signage today? I don’t know. I never knew in suburbia there were rules on sidewalk chalk.

Then we have the recent occurrences of making a unilateral decision to send out a fairly large check to someone who’s contract or agreement or whatever you want to call it hadn’t been renewed, correct? You’ve been a sitting supervisor in a fairly large municipality for not a year, but several years yet you oopsies it and claimed you didn’t know you could do that? Municipalities and businesses alike always have a system of checks and balances for checks over a certain dollar amount or should, correct? I think with 2nd Class Townships like West Whiteland, this is something the board has to decide and vote upon as a governing body, correct?

Doesn’t that just beg the question of what other things she has done that maybe she shouldn’t have done but she claims she didn’t know you couldn’t do as an elected official? And again, she’s a public official, an elected official, a politician so anyone can ask these questions.

And do not forget, this politician makes a big hairy deal about going to PSATS things. PSATS is the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors. Don’t they offer seminars to help elected officials and appointed officials and employees in municipalities learn to be better?

Here is what Theresa has had to say on social media about PSATS things:

And then there’s the whole thing of performing Rights to Know on your fellow elected officials using your West Whiteland email address and that also meant private citizens and their rights were being targeted? And how about invading the privacy quite literally of your fellow supervisors with that and why is that? Are they not allowed to have friendships and relationships outside of the township building?

We live in communities where we elect our community members to represent us and elect local government so once you get there or you’re not supposed to have any friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, co-workers?

Which brings us to last night. For once Supervisor Theresa Hogan Santalucia made an effort to look fairly presentable for the meeting. Another opinion anyone can have. A screen shot was taken and it was posted with a tongue in cheek quip about a “glam squad.”

Truthfully, it wasn’t a very active post, only a few people saw it and about five or six people laughed at it because when you mention a local politician and a glam squad it is actually funny. Women use glam squads for so many things today. Wedding makeup, party makeup, pre-photos makeup, just for fun with friends. But I think why people laugh at it is if you watch any of the reality TV shows on Bravo, I think every single one of those women on the majority of those shows have a glam squad. And they talk about their glam squads like it’s a regular everyday thing…you know when they have their people call your people?

So yes, poor me the evil blogger made a funny. I made a funny about a local politician who hasn’t been very nice all of the time, has she?

Fast forward to today when I logged onto my computer and I had a message from one of the people who thought the post was funny and left a 😂. Literally that is ALL they did. No comment, just a laughing like to the post. Here is the message to me (and no they didn’t respond to this, what would be the point?):

The person’s query to me after receiving and unsolicited message from a West Whiteland Supervisor they do not know.
The initial message sent to this person. By a local politician no less.

Your eyes do not deceive you, she contacted someone who laughed at the post. I have no way of knowing if it’s a constituent or not, but if any of you received these messages I’d be interested in hearing about it. It’s just downright odd, isn’t it?

One of Saint Theresa’s biggest issues as a politician isn’t just the lack of playing well with others in public, it is how she is on social media. No one is being mean if they suggest least said, soonest mended to her. She has in fact a nasty flannel mouth as one of my grandmothers would have said.

Also….No politician likes being lampooned. But that’s actually an age-old tradition in this country. Like Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. The Boss Tweed lampoons still resonate today.

They lampooned and cartooned and generally poked fun of people, royalty, etc. in the 18th century here when we were divorcing ourselves from the United Kingdom during the revolution.

They did it in Europe when Bonaparte was waging war in Europe.

Before I finish up this post, allow me to circle back to that PSATS conference. I don’t know if Saint Theresa will be attending, but there are definitely some seminars which might be good for her. One is even being led by her Township Solicitor’s law firm in fact. You know that guy she said was so terrible at the reorg meeting? The same reorg meeting where she said terrible things about new Supervisor Brian Dunn? Anyway, some of the following may be helpful to here:

So here we are. I have to ask did any of these politicians or public figures back in the day write letters to people laughing at these lampoons historically? Do you know any others who do so now? Do you know any other politicians locally or otherwise who private message people well into the evening about what they’re liking on Facebook?

Theresa Hogan Santalucia, like it or not, is a politician. She has a choice. She can own her political mistakes and whatever else as an elected official and move on, or she can do West Whiteland a favor and resign. I say resign. As a politician she has gone well past tsk, tsk she shouldn’t do that. And it actually is sad, because when there are women like this in politics, even in such a local capacity, it makes it harder for women in general to run for office no matter what their political persuasion.

#ResignTheresa

it’s about the west whiteland meeting this evening 2/23/2022…

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Ahh West Whiteland. They are so shall we say…..strange about RTK (right to know) requests, like they are sunshine adverse? Maybe they don’t understand what the public can ask for? Also SO strange about recording meetings and retaining recordings of said meetings which also lends itself to transparency, n’est-ce pas ?

Sunshine is becoming a big issue in this municipality I think. Take this public comment I am about to share. TRUST me when I tell you to listen…

Oh and the emails referred to in the first recording? That came up in a RTK (right to know)? These emails:

RTK-folliesDownload

One more comment of note:

Tonight there was also discussion about recording meetings. And discussion about retaining recorded meetings versus just kind of getting rid of recordings. It was an interesting discussion. I will note (for the record) that I told the acting manager (Pam) in their zoom reorg meeting in January That East Goshen does You Tube Meetings (West Goshen uses You Tube as well but forgot to mention), East Whiteland does Municipal Meeting (which Phoenixville also uses) and Municipal Meeting also loads to You Tube.

What I didn’t say to Acting Manager Pam is I never understood when Mimi Gleason came to West Whiteland after being in Tredyffrin WHY West Whiteland didn’t get a PEG channel? EVERY municipality is entitled to one. They are the Public Access Channels. They have different channel numbers depending upon whether it’s Comcast or Verizon. Tredyffrin has a channel, I have watched it on FiOs. And if they didn’t want a PEG channel, it is not so difficult to pay Municipal Meeting to do it or have a You Tube channel.

In my opinion, municipalities in general don’t like recorded meetings. It’s like their proverbial slip is hanging out from their proverbial dress. They can’t hide contentious meeting topics behind bland written meeting minutes. BUT if most school districts I know can record their meetings and mostly broadcast live over places like You Tube, I daresay West Whiteland can git r’ done, right?

But back to the other gloriousness that is West Whiteland Township. They have two truly wonderful supervisors: Rajesh Kumbhardare and Brian Dunn. They are all about the people they were elected to serve. And they are nice people. And whether she likes me saying so or not, the last Supervisor, Theresa Hogan Santalucia is just questionable. And that is being polite. She is a politician who is not a public servant. So who does she serve? Is it all self-interest based, or does she have another master or mistress? We know she doesn’t like sidewalk chalk, does she?

So how is it as a Supervisor she doesn’t know you can’t just order up the finance people to pay out money? After learning this, can you say OH HELL YES FOR SURE WEST WHITELAND COULD DO WITH A NICE FORENSIC AUDIT? (Oh sadly, hell to the yes.)

So as a Supervisor does Mrs. Theresa know how Right To Know requests work too? Just wondering.

Sadly, West Whiteland to me is a township in crisis. Here’s hoping the good guys hang in there, right? And good guys aren’t just two supervisors, they are the residents who care as well.

Oh and West Whiteland? You need your marketing people to come up with a better slogan. It’s NOT Exton which is the crossroads of Chester County, it is West Whiteland herself. Saying “West Whiteland: The Crossroads of Chester County” is more accurate and sounds better. Please just don’t say it with a giant LED obnoxious billboard.

Thanks for stopping by.

BREAKING: file under FINALLY as criminal charges are announced against energy transfer

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I just turned on the news for a moment and I had a completely visceral reaction to a breaking news video. I actually teared up. I have friends who have devoted so much of their lives to this.

What is this? Finally, as in freaking finally, criminal charges are being filed against Energy Transfer. 48 criminal charges in Pennsylvania including a felony by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

I am glad it finally happened, and I will also own the fact that I have never been a huge Josh Shapiro fan, but he has finally started to do good here. A lot of us have been aware of him for years and truthfully that dates back to when he was Chief of Staff to then Congressman Joe Hoeffel. A lot of us who were involved with saving Ardmore’s historic business district from eminent domain for private gain had interactions with him early on. And to be honest back then he didn’t really pay attention to us as those concerned residents, and then we just sort of watched as the rest of people did in southeastern PA as he took one political job then the next. He’s a politician, so I’m just being honest here. But I am so happy that this finally happened. And I say thank you to AG Josh Shapiro.

https://videopress.com/v/R4v6z4ZP?resizeToParent=true&preloadContent=metadata

But who else am I saying thank you to? My amazing friends who have devoted so much time to this. So much time. As someone who lives in close proximity to where Adelphia wants to do the same thing, I am grateful for their years of work. And it’s not over yet. It’s really just beginning.

These charges or the announcement of charges indicates my friends and these other activists who are just every day people. Because really, that’s how activism starts: something drastically affects you within your community. And you wake up one day and you realize you can’t just stand there and say nothing and do nothing. And we also have to remember former district attorney for Chester County Tom Hogan and his staff. In 2019 he filed charges against Energy Transfer for other things.

Today’s press conference was held at Marsh Creek right here in Chester County. Why? A bunch of these charges relate to the release of industrial waste at 22 sites in 11 counties across the state. And Energy Transfer polluted Marsh Creek last year and it was significant. For more read State Impact.

And I want to take another minute to recognize the local folks who really did this. Ladies and gentlemen you know who you are. Many of you are my friends. I am so damn proud of you.

So proud. It’s not the war, but it’s a significant battle. So hey there Governor Tom Wolf how about pulling the permits? Harrisburg could do that pending outcome of all charges and final disposition, correct?

#HaltMarinerNow

in west goshen, the fox wants to be inside the henhouse…

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Seems innocent enough, right? Tinamarie Smith running as a Democrat for West Goshen Supervisor? Butter won’t melt in her mouth and as sweet as cotton candy at a country fair?

Stop the presses.

Here’s a good one for you: A 30+ years employee of Sunoco is running for WGT supervisor. As a supposed environmentalist ( she has a BS in business?)

But it’s West Goshen so what do we expect? But do we have to consider that if this person is a former Sunoco employee is that like letting the fox in the hen house when it comes to pipelines and municipalities in Chester County?

This political candidate removed her post about a valve leak and disappeared overnight. She had been asked questions by local pipeline activists (otherwise known as concerned residents) which she kind of ignored and deleted the entire post as opposed to answering the questions which kind of answers the ultimate question of what residents will get if they elect a former LONG TERM employee of Sunoco to elected public office right? Isn’t West Goshen one of those places which doesn’t need elected officials like this?

So like her former employer she colors outside of the lines and doesn’t answer questions right? Has anyone checked her campaign finance reports to see who (and what entities) have donated to her campaign?

Oh yes…the screenshots:

Now y’all know I don’t vote in West Goshen. And I find West Goshen to be politically problematic most of the time. And a lot of this woman’s local experience has to do with the sewer authority in West Goshen which I seem to recall has had lots of issues over the years?

People meet the fox 🦊. If you let her into the henhouse expect dead chickens 🐓 . No she’s literally not a fox and no West Goshen isn’t literally a henhouse.

Kind of like talking about a Wolf 🐺 in sheep’s 🐑 clothing which I also think applies here don’t you?

The tooth fairy 🧚‍♀️ would be a better choice for supervisor here.

Here is all about her from her fuzzy bunnies Facebook campaign page:

Here’s her LinkedIn:

Here she is all smiles on the West Goshen Democrats Facebook page:

Just say NO. This woman needs to withdraw from the race. Sorry to dump a load of crap on my readers for Saturday but I thought this was too politically wonky to ignore.