Letter: We must work together to protect our community
To The Editor,The current application by Sunoco Pipeline L.P. to exempt itself from local zoning control in its efforts to bring a natural gas pipeline through Chester County should be a serious concern for all Chester County residents.
Sunoco’s proposal involves repurposing the current Mariner East Pipeline to deliver Marcellus Shale liquids from Western PA to the Marcus Hook refinery in Delaware...
Op/Ed: More opportunities needed for Pa. higher-ed. students
Proposed REACH scholarship would put school in reach for many
By Josh Maxwell, Mayor of Downingtown
Josh Maxwell
Over the last few years, higher education has become one of the most controversial issues facing our state. When Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his first budget in 2011, it included roughly $2 billion in cuts to education, including steep cuts to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education...
Democrats step up in legislative races
GOP faces opposition in all but two races in Nov. elections
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Petition season is over, and unless there are some write-in candidates, we know who will appear on the May primary ballots.
And, although I took the Democrats to task for seeming to have a shortage of candidates, they’ve managed to challenge all but two legislative races in Chester County. Yes, there shouldn’t...
Op/Ed: Letting state schools leave will hurt entire system
If bill passes, expect higher tuition, less opportunity
By Joshua Young, Caln Township Commissioner
Joshua Young
Recently Senators Andrew Dinniman and Robert Tomlinson proposed Senate Bill 1275 that is aimed at allowing larger and financially stable universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to break away from that system and become a state related university like Penn State,...
Letter: end gifts to legislators
To The Editor:
In Pennsylvania, giving gifts to legislators is big business. Under current law, only gifts valued over $250 or transportation and lodging over $650 must be disclosed however in Pennsylvania any gifts of any value can legally be given to legislators, as long as it can’t be linked directly to a vote. This is an improper law and practice that is counter to the principles on which our...
CASD super candidates have vetting issues
Who looked into these folks and decided they were the best option?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
There are times when reality trumps fiction for the completely incredible.
I had no plans to write again today about our pals at the Coatesville Area School District and frankly, would have been happy to work on the half-dozen other topics I have going elsewhere in the county. But, alas, sometimes you...
CASD state takeover is no longer far-fetched
Auditor General’s report show lack of oversight with chilling potential
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
If you read through the auditor general’s report on the Coatesville Area School District and its financial performance — the implications of the report have to be chilling.
The short form is this: The district under-collected or overspent a total of $31.1 million during a seven-year period...
Letter: UCF residency still an issue
To The Editor:
At the UCF Board’s work session on Monday, March 10th, it was reported that Dr. Sanville had privately discussed the situation of non-resident students that were attending our schools. The Board was satisfied with the explanation of this probable illegal situation.
After 3.5 months of raising the possibility of out of district students attending our schools and enduring several...
Do petition numbers really matter?
As campaigns trumpet numbers, do they tell us anything?
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Well, they’re everywhere. Media announcements about the number of signatures a given candidate has gotten to get on the ballot as if it means something.
For those who don’t know, political candidates must collect signatures from registered voters in their district — they must be of the same political...
Letter: County official thanks Penn Township residents
To The Editor,
It is an honor to have been elected as Clerk of the Courts of Chester County, which I began January 2014. The cost-effective and efficient administration of the court system is a vital component of our local government. The trust placed in me by the voters is a tremendously positive motivating factor as I approach the challenges of this office. Thank you for the vote of confidence!
As...
