If they came looking for a fight, they didn’t get one.
And I, for one, was glad for it.
I went to Norristown Municipal Council meeting Tuesday night wearing two hats, so to speak. My main purpose was to get information for this column. The news swirling around town (and into the Main Line), was that council president Tom Lepera made a few remarks reported in a Philadelphia newspaper regarding the homeless situation that didn’t sit well with a bunch of folks.
And from social media postings, I was fairly certain a lot of people (who may or may not live in Norristown) would have a lot to say about that. But, going into the meeting I had no idea which direction this column would go, so I tried to keep an open mind.
Before entering the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (where council meetings are held due to municipal hall renovations) I stopped to chat with the handful of protestors who were assembled at the entrance. One person I talked with asked what news outlet I was with, and then asked if I was “unbiased.”
As a journalist, I should have immediately and emphatically said YES — I have no agenda and zero expectations. But, I consider myself an honest person, and foremost a taxpaying resident of Norristown, so I answered honestly — nope, I’m totally biased. So, with a tip of my Norristown hat to the protestors, I went in to the meeting.
I’m proud to admit I’m a 6th-generation Norristonian. Michael and Mary Evans Kehoe were married at St. Patrick Church in the 1840s. The first Kehoe roots were on Penn Street, and then Edward T. Kehoe (Michael and Mary’s son) moved his family to the 200 block of Cherry Street — not far from the MCIU. And within walking distance of the Fairmount firehouse, where he served as a firefighter (injured twice in the line of duty) for most of his adult life.
Even my job is firmly rooted in Norristown — heck, the forerunner to The Times Herald, the Norristown Gazette (located back then on Main Street near DeKalb) published George Washington’s obituary in 1799.
So, yes, I’m firmly planted and totally biased — I want what’s best for Norristown.
Most of the protestors at the meeting were quick to criticize Lepera and council in general for their callous approach to the homeless population in Norristown. Aside from that article in the Philadelphia publication, I wasn’t sure where these people were getting their information. I knew over the years our reporter Rachel Ravina wrote countless stories for The Times Herald about the efforts by Norristown administration to help the homeless. She went on a walking tour with then councilman Hakim Jones and wrote a terrific story to raise awareness. She reported on food banks, food donations, the “Street Medicine” program that serves Norristown and Pottstown, the blankets and other donations by Norristown Police Department to the homeless and the closure of the homeless shelter on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital.
Just a few days ago (published June 5) Rachel wrote an extensive story regarding the homeless camp on PECO’s property. She interviewed Mark Boorse of Access Services, Lepera, who reiterated his desire to help not only the homeless but his constituents, and she interviewed the folks living in tents on PECO’s property.
Rachel’s coverage of Tuesday’s meeting was complete and thorough. You can read it here (https://www.timesherald.com/2023/06/07/public-shows-up-to-norristown-council-meeting-to-address-leperas-comments-talk-homeless-issue/) Actually, Rachel, as the beat writer for Norristown and Montgomery County, could probably file a story a day on the homeless issue in Norristown and the county.
And the point of all this? It’s a situation that’s been around for a long time and has been in the news for a long time. It’s an issue that council has been grappling with for years — heck, decades. But it took another news story in another publication claiming that Lepera said he wants to take a page of out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s playbook and bus the homeless folks to the Main Line to set social media abuzz.
And that wasn’t lost on council Vice President Heather Lewis.
“I’m grateful to Council President Lepera for initiating the call — however it was perceived, however it was received,” Lewis after the public comment portion of the meeting. “You all answered in some way, and so I’m challenging everyone who had the passion to come here tonight, to keep that same energy when we’re actually putting some solutions in place.”
Several Norristown residents and business owners made very valid points regarding quality of life and the problems that often stem from an aggressive homeless population. Business owners leave, or don’t come in at all. Homeowners are fearful and concerned about the dangers that are often associated with homeless people.
And homeless advocates made equally valid points about compassion, society’s responsibility to the most vulnerable of us, humanity and love.
Both sides are right. Both sides are wrong. And therein lies the problem.
I experience the struggle quite often — I deal with this moral dilemma just about every week when I go to church at St. Patrick’s. With the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa nuns) right next to the church providing food to the homeless, DeKalb Street is a gathering spot for “the unhoused.” And while I believe that’s a wonderful thing, I am troubled when a homeless person aggressively approaches my son (who has Down syndrome) and asks for money. I have compassion for this person who is clearly struggling with mental health or addiction issues. But I also want to fiercely protect my son with special needs, because he can’t protect himself.
And protecting my son will always come first.
So, where does that leave us? Between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
Lepera’s message at the onset of the meeting was clear — he’s asking for support and help. He said he and council have been asking for help from the county for years, and not enough is being done. He wants all 62 municipalities in Montgomery County to take responsibility for the homeless population. That sharing the burden is just the right thing, and most efficient, to do.
Look, he’s not wrong.
But far too many people outside of the 19401 zip code are quite happy and content to let the people of Norristown absorb all the issues that come with helping the homeless. And those issues are many — and far reaching. But even the mention (or misquote?) of busing homeless people to Villanova had folks in the Main Line worried and angry — at least on social media. I didn’t see much compassion in some of those posts I read.
At the meeting, one person who spoke during the public comment section of the meeting suggested something that I think has real merit. She suggested forming a committee with people willing to do the work in helping the homeless — a commission to seek out viable solutions and resources that will ease the burden Norristown is carrying for the entire county. In my mind, this committee would do the “legwork” in finding answers that would draw in county-wide response, while council does the heavy lifting to implement plans and procedures.
So, now it’s time to stop criticizing, stop blaming and stop accusing. Put those energies into helping the homeless, and in turn, helping the people of Norristown.
Norristown will always be ready, and willing, to stand and deliver, but it’s time for others to join the cause.
Email Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers at crodgers@timesherald.com
