Town Center

Affordable does not always mean low-cost, especially with housing

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The difference between an Affordable Housing unit and low-quality housing is the difference between buying a new Toyota Camry at a 75% discount (courtesy of the government) after winning a lottery (since no car maker likes to sell below cost) and buying a used Nissan Versa yourself because it’s all you can afford, gets the job done, and doesn’t require winning a lottery, since car dealers can still turn a profit […]

Borough Council / Policy

How to do open government — A lesson for Jenkintown

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Last night’s the “Conversation with the Commissioners” event at the Abington Township Office not only gave us a good dose of information about county activities, it also revealed the stark contrast between Jenkintown’s government with one committed to transparency above and beyond the strict legal guidelines. First, the concept: Montgomery County is a big place, so having our commissioners set up open forums to meet constituents shows a true commitment to an […]

Latest News

Jenkintown, Pennsylvania: a bell jar sample of municipal decline

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Four issues that expose Jenkintown’s festering malaise and the people responsible for it Most people who live here want to preserve Jenkintown’s small-town character, and yet our leaders seem hell-bent on letting that unravel. Council President Deborra Sines-Pancoe, social media bully and Council VP, Rick Bunker, and finally Borough Solicitor and FBI target Sean Kilkenny have led our town and its citizens into a growing thicket of municipal failures and […]

Parking

Jenkintown Math Fail: Replacing A [name your building] With Parking

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If we’re going to take a risk, why not on a new dog park, or facade improvements to downtown buildings, or a connected sidewalk network? If you’re reading this and starting to think about these issues, I highly encourage you to get involved in your city. Attend City Council meetings, go to Planning Commission meetings, and make your voice heard.  I would bet a pretty penny that your city leaders have […]

Latest News

Statement from Peggy Downs regarding the borough’s citation

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Peggy Downs stood before Borough Council last night to read this statement. Unfortunately, Council President Deborra Sines-Pancoe cut her off before she could finish. We publish that statement here in its entirety. Please share this post not only with your friends and neighbors, but with any connections you might have in the media or with organizations that might be interested in learning more about Jenkintown’s governmental abuses.  UPDATE: the Boro […]

Borough Council

Jenkintown and the dangers of happy talk

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It always puzzles me when I see and hear people lament controversy and seek a return to nothing but happy talk, whether it’s about their town, their particular interest group, or about some relationship. The Titanic might be sinking, but they just want to gaze at the majestic iceberg in the water. Those of you who just want “everyone to get along” or to stop saying bad things about Jenkintown […]

Town Center

Jenkintown falls to the summit

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Last night’s committee meetings featured presentations and public comment that went on for at least 90 minutes before they started to address items on the BZR agenda. All in all, it was a policy wonk’s dream, especially if you like to listen to legal discussions, ponder the minutiae of tax assessment calculation, gaze upon at topographic flood-plain maps, and debate the merits of what constitutes the character of a small […]

Policy

Jenkintown makes code enforcement double-plus good.

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Big Brother peers in on the Jenkintown Community Facebook page A few weeks ago, I made the mistake of recommending to a fellow resident seeking a contractor for a furnace replacement that he might do the work himself. Facing a similar project, I consulted a friend and fellow DIYer, who told me that the job no more requires a contractor than does the replacement of a washing machine. My friend […]

Town Center

Roizman is not building a skyscraper

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Roizman’s five-floor proposal for Jenkintown isn’t perfect, but it will enhance our downtown in a way that a drive-through window never could. Among the lesser controversies swirling about the Borough Hall of Fun is the five-story apartment building for seniors proposed by Roizman Development to replace the Salem Baptist Church. This project also requires (and got) zoning code variances for height and parking. As expected, some in town and especially […]

Borough Council / Old York Road

Who will steward the Jenkintown2035 plan into reality?

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Making the case to hire a Main Street manager for Jenkintown Central to the discussion of Jenkintown’s revival is the Jenkintown2035 plan. Two years ago, through the input of Jenkintown residents, we drafted our vision for the town’s future. You can read all about it on the Borough’s website. As plans go, it is pretty comprehensive, and it does have plenty of fine ideas. Its contents lay out a fairly […]

Borough Council / Jenkintown School District / Latest News / Old York Road

Council Meeting Roundup: A real debate, smokescreens, and warm turds

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A packed house witnessed Jenkintown Borough Council engage in some actual debate and three presentations for developments that promise to have real impact in the community. Here’s a quick roundup of the lengthy but lively meeting. Proposed Taco Bell Development Handed the chance to redeem themselves for gutlessly supporting a project that abrogates their own zoning and degrades our town, Borough Council treats it like a warm turd. Council member […]