We need you to help save local Democracy from MAGA people - 6:30pm -7:00pm THIS TUES AUG 22nd - TV cameras will be there
Local TV news crews will be present when organized local MAGA people protest the Democratic Commissioners' vote on a proposed affordable housing project at Pennbrook Train Station
An issue in Upper Gwynedd has so roiled the community that it’s made the MSN News! And TV cameras will be coming to cover it on Tuesday, August 22nd at 6:30pm in front of the Upper Gwynedd Township Building! We need you to be there to show the world that MAGA folks are not the only voices in our community. Democrats are in the MAJORITY in Upper Gwynedd, and we would like you to show that for the TV crews!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/upper-gwynedd-votes-ahead-zoning-change-for-pennbrook-project/ar-AA1e8Crc
Here’s the crux of the matter: I care about these 36 families that would benefit from the proposed attractive, “suburban-looking” affordable housing project at Pennbrook Train Station, I care even more about Democrats not showing up to Commissioners’ meetings, allowing MAGA folks to get politically active and organized. Due to the optics in the room, they think they represent the majority will of the people, without us there to show that there’s a vibrant opposition to their crazy, racist ideas.
We can’t let these MAGA folks get this toehold in local politics. They are zealots. Once one of them becomes an Upper Gwynedd Commissioner, it’s just a stepping stone to run against Liz Hanbidge for State Rep. We already have an alarming January 6th insurrectionist, Tracy Pennycuick, as our State Senator.
We do not want to let these MAGA supporters anywhere near power over us. By ignoring them, or, worse, being scared of them, Democrats are clearing the way for MAGA supporters to use their zealotry and organizing skills to become politically influential.
Here’s where you come in: Can you be in front of the Upper Gwynedd Township Building this Tuesday, August 22nd, from 6:30pm-7:00pm to meet my co-committee person, Eileen Murphy, grab a sign, and show support for Upper Gwynedd’s Commissioners in front of local TV cameras? Eileen will be wearing a bright, orange t-shirt and will be standing underneath this tree across the street from the large clock at the township building. Here’s a google street view of the tree Eileen will be standing under. https://goo.gl/maps/NFgFFFruG2aWj69S7
Please take a ready-made sign or make your own with the magic markers and blank poster board (and take a little American flag, if you wish) from Eileen and find a spot in front of the TV cameras.
If you wish to stay for the Commissioners’ meeting at 7pm, it will be a long meeting, full of racially-tinged invective, so bring snacks and water, and have a hot bath or an alcoholic drink planned for your return home! If you feel you can’t take it and have to leave early, that’s fine, Democrats will be inside to voice their opposition for the tv crews, if the crews are even allowed inside the building, (which they probably won’t be.)
Here’s the background: On Tuesday, August 22nd, our all-female, all-Democratic slate of Commissioners in Upper Gwynedd (unique among townships and boroughs in Montgomery County that they are all women!) will be voting for proposed zoning changes that will allow a vacant lot near the Homewood Suites Hotel to be developed as affordable housing for 36 modest-income families. This project, spearheaded by a for-profit organization, The Walters Group, will be subsidized by the County, who has a grant from the federal government to build such housing projects in areas within a half-mile of public transit, if those areas can be zoned as “transitways.” The idea of the Federal Government’s grant was to revitalize areas within walking distance of train and subway stations that have no structures on them.
Ten years ago, The Walters Group, who specializes in working with the Federal Government to build sustainable affordable rental communities that they then maintain, focused in on the vacant property in the area zoned light industrial near the Pennbrook Train Station as a good place for such a property. A few years ago, when we voted for Democratic Commissioners, the Walters Group took notice, and made a proposal for the re-zoning to a transitway so that they could build 36 units - only 6 of which will be designated for people living below the poverty line. The rest of them will cost 30% of the person’s working poor or lower middle-class income. This is not “project” type housing - it’s merely bringing rents back down to affordable early 2000s levels for some lower wage workers.
The Walters Group brought the proposal to the Commissioners a few years ago. The Commissioners hear dozens of ideas every year that go nowhere, so they don’t make a habit of sharing every idea with residents.
When the proposal went before the zoning board, that’s when MAGA folks went crazy, a few months ago. Here’s some of what they’ve been loudly saying in Commissioners’ meetings for the last few months:
It’s a secret Democratic conspiracy to make Upper Gwynedd into Philadelphia. Otherwise the Commissioners would have alerted us right away when they knew about The Walters Group. (ugly coded racism)
We don’t want “those people” bringing their filth into Upper Gwynedd (ugly non-coded racism)
I worked hard to get here to Upper Gwynedd and others should have to work hard too, without a handout (said by older folks probably paying about the same amount in mortgage for their house than most of the residents of the proposed housing will be paying in rent at 30% of their incomes)
The Commissioners are out of control and ramming this zoning change through against the will of the people. Look at us in this room! We’re all against it, and “no one” is for it!
The reality is:
Studies have shown that well-maintained, attractive affordable housing benefits the community and local economy, providing much-needed lower wage workers to local businesses and medical facilities.
Diversity, not homogeneity, has been proven in social science studies to bring in new ideas, and keeps a community growing and changing in a positive direction.
This MAGA effort is funded by the owners of Touchstone Kitchens in Lansdale. Do not support their establishment with your business.
Due to the money and organizing might, the postcards at the top of this post have been mailed or delivered to every Republican in Upper Gwynedd. There are also now street signs., too - some have cropped up at Broad Street & Sumneytown Pike.
If you need more information about this issue, please visit https://uppergwynedd.org and search for “The Walters Group”. You can also search The Reporter for their recent articles on the conflict over the proposed affordable housing project.
Also you can see a current Walters Group community in Mt. Laurel, NJ at this link.
Unfortunately, I’m not able to be there on the 22nd, but Eileen is, and there may also be local Democratic politicians there.