Letter to Borough Council Jenkintown Matters, May 24, 2024June 9, 2024 The Honorable Mayor Gabriel Lerman Council President Jay ConnersCouncil Vice President Christian Soltysiak Jenkintown Borough Council700 Summit Avenue Jenkintown, PA 19046 Dear Mr. Lerman, Mr. Conners, Ms. Soltysiak, and Honorable Council members: We are writing to you as a citizens’ committee formed in response to the Council’s apparent intention to dissolve and outsource the Jenkintown Police Department. We have attended the community meetings dedicated to the discussion of this issue as well as Council meetings and committee workshops, and we have heard the Council’s case for dissolution. We remain firm in our belief that this is not the right way forward. We would like to be entirely clear: the Jenkintown Police Department is an essential part of our community. It has been in the past, it is in the present, and it must continue to be in the future. The tight-knit relationship between our community and our police force exemplifies what policing should look like in our country. Many of us know our officers by name. We feel safe knowing their familiar faces are available at a moment’s notice in our time of need. There is no possible way this relationship can be replicated, even with the best of contracts, by any external police force. Thus far, the Council’s actions throughout this process have demonstrated a disappointing lack of transparency. We feel betrayed by the Council’s decision to secretly hire a PR consultant. As the PR consultant’s contract makes clear, the Council’s intention was to inform the community of this decision after the fact. We call on the Council to do the following: Abandon their initiative to dissolve the Jenkintown Police Department Negotiate in good faith with the Jenkintown Police Benevolent Association Make a commitment to greater transparency Comply fully with the Pennsylvania Open Meeting Law (the Sunshine Act) Consider alternate sources of funds, including the sale of our sewer system Focus their energies on attracting businesses and increasing revenue Adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) Apply for any and all local, state and federal police department grants available We look forward to working with you to keep the Jenkintown Police Department in a fiscally responsible manner. Respectfully yours, Jenkintown Matters Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Commentary News
Analysis Council’s Deafening Silence May 1, 2025May 5, 2025 It’s hardly inappropriate for individual council members to speak out and directly to their constituents. Elected officials at all levels do it all the time. Isn’t that part of the job? Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More
Commentary This is How Towns Die December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 If you think Jenkintown has a bright future under its current administrations, you haven’t been paying attention, or you’re biding your time until your kids graduate. Jenkintonians residing here since… Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More
Jenkintown Stories No Place Like Jenkintown June 9, 2024June 9, 2024 When I was a kid growing up in Elkins Park, I was thrilled when I was finally allowed to take the bus into Jenkintown on a Saturday to “knock around town” as my great grandmother used to call it. It cost a whopping 25 cents to go from the corner of Elkins Avenue and York Road to be dropped off in front of the Highway movie theater. I was 12-years-old with my allowance firmly tucked in my pocket. Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More