Why we all should care about the revitalization of Coatesville

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times COATESVILLE — It was a good a day as the city has seen in recent memory — finally, a real, honest to goodness revitalization project is underway, with the start of demolition for Coatesville Gateway. But if you live in fashionable Unionville or Kennett or elsewhere in Chester County, you may shrug and say “why do I care?” You should care for the simple reason...

Letter: Meehan isn’t representing our values on environment

To The Editor, I am a constituent in Pennsylvania’s District 7, and Pat Meehan is my congressional representative. I am very concerned that Meehan isn’t representing my values, particularly when it comes to his voting record on the environment. So, I helped create and signed this open letter to Meehan about the environment. We will be delivering this letter to his office in person. I encourage...

Unintended consequences and Newton’s Third Law

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times While Democrats wept over special election results this week, U.S. Senate Republicans — in secret — put together their version of the health care reform, the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which apart from some minor details, appears to be a lot like the house health care plan, the American Health Care Act: it cuts benefits for the poor, could lead to big rate...

Letter: Trump turns US into rogue climate state

To The Editor, Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Agreement.  Trump has turned the US into a rogue climate state. Trump is lying to us and the rest of the world about Global Warming/Climate Change (GW/CC) and the supposedly negative economic consequences to the US had the US not withdrawn. Fortunately, the US does have progressive, forward thinking, fact-based leaders at other levels...

It is time to try to dial back the anger

We’re deeply thankful that Costello, Meehan and Smucker are OK after DC shooting By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Rep. Ryan Costello (R-6) should have been at his usual perch, at shortstop, next to Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Wednesday morning, when a lone gunman opened fire on Republican congressman and staffers Wednesday morning — but he missed his ride by a couple of minutes. The congressmen...

Is a ‘cross-fire hurricane’ bearing down on the 6th District?

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times “I was born in a cross-fire hurricane And I howled at the morning driving rain But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas But it’s all right. I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash It’s a gas, gas, gas” — The Rolling Stones, Jumpin’ Jack Flash. It’s pretty clear that politics over the next 18 or so months will be anything but calm, as...

The crossroads of hate and politics

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times In this very special edition of Politics As Unusual — a few days early to allow for copious time sitting by the pool and ingesting adult beverages — we’re going to take a look at how politics drives behavior (and the other way around), bad endorsements, chaos, dirty money and more! First, if you’ve been on the Web, watched TV or been exposed to virtually any...

Comey firing raises the stakes for 2018 elections

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Just when the healthcare mess seemed ready to drown our local Congressvictims in a Jonestown Flood like deluge, President Trump’s firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, Tuesday, swooped in and saved them by changing the subject. And by saving them, I mean sparing them from a looming electoral firing squad by hitting them with a flaming asteroid. While Pennsylvania’s...

Op/Ed: Ambulance companies are sending 911 call for funding help

By A.J. McCarthy, Chief, Longwood Fire Company A.J. McCarthy The severe fiscal plight of ambulance services across Pennsylvania was highlighted this week in an editorial in neighboring Lancaster County. That same editorial could have been written about ambulance services in Chester County as the same frightening facts are applicable. Dean Bollendorf, president of the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania,...

Letter: Who is the best choice for district justice? I say Donze

To The Editor, In this crazy political time how does one even know the truth about a candidate or their real reasons for wanting a position? How do you cast your vote for the best qualified, ethical candidate that knows our communities and shares the values of our residents at large? …or doesn’t have a shaded past (which is a reasonable predictor of future behavior), or has the right set...