Shot In The Back

Shot In The Back
Bang.
One bullet changes a family's life. Paralyzes a young man.
Makes me ask why.
Crime is everywhere, senseless or otherwise.
When it hits close to home, I ask is this a trend or an isolated incident.

By all accounts the victim was living right. Going to two schools, working a job, helping his mother, churchgoing. The shooter, allegedly with a long rap sheet, was on a different, cowardly path.
In a way we all were shot in the back.
Leon Harris is like many of us, getting by, doing what needs to be done for a better life.
If it's an isolated incident, then the law should do it's job.
If it's a trend, we who live in Delaware County should stand up and demand that it be stopped.
If the system failed here, then that system should be examined.
All crime victims should be cared about. Particularly this young man, Leon Harris. If he is not forgotten, he can remind us to say enough is enough.
We can't let crime or criminals overwhelm us.
Life is hard enough without having to look over your shoulder every day.

Perzel and Civera

Brother, Can you spare a dime.

HOW COLD WAS IT ?

IT WAS SO COLD,

I SAW MARIO'S HANDS IN HIS OWN POCKETS

Democracy Rising

In the Delco Times, Mark P. Widoff writes an excellent Column about abuse and outrages in Harrisburg. I hope to write as well as he someday.
The column may not be online, but try the link anyway.
Mr. Widoff is interim chair of Democracy Rising PA.

Civera Appropriates For Himself-Update

Appropriations Chairman Civera Leads Spending Taxpayer Money

Representative Mario Civera, the Republican Appropriations chairman, spent the most taxpayer money on PSA's and constituent mailings of all other legislators. During the 2005-06 session, Rep. Mario Civera, R-Delaware County, aired 10 ads during the same period that cost $114,000 from Pennsylvania taxpayers. House Republicans said Thursday the cost of their televised public-service announcements totaled $4.4 million in 2005-06. On a house vote Monday to limit PSA's, Mr. Civera voted NO.
PSA's, public service television ads, are little more than campaign commercials aired during election time. Critics say the taxpayer-financed ads boost the name recognition of incumbents and their odds for re-election.
Yesterday it was reported that 13 House Republicans spent more than $100,000 apiece on the controversial ads during the two-year legislative session. In another example of Mr. Civera's generosity with our tax money, Mr. Civera's top Harrisburg employee is the highest paid legislative aide, making $87,900 per year.

Then there is the issue of taxpayer funded mailings sent by Mr. Civera, which seem to fill our mail boxes during election season. This cost to you and me by Civera was $78,000. Was there some useful information in them? yes, but their real purpose was to do everything he could to win the election.
If Mr. Civera is so generous with taxpayer money for his own purposes, one wonders how free he will be with our taxes as Appropriation chairman.

Consider the taxpayer funds he used for his election plus the more than $450,000 privately raised campaign contributions, and his total campaign spending was nearly $700,000. His opponent Casey Roncaglione of Drexel Hill, Delaware County, spent approximately $6,000.
Civera got a $150,000 campaign contribution from House Speaker John Perzel from Philadelphia. Civera was also behind appointing Perzel as Speaker Emeritus as payback for his donations. Why was it so important for Mr. Civera to win? and who does he owe? Is Perzel running Civera's legislative actions.The question becomes who Civera is beholden to. Worse yet is what we don't yet know about the Perzel-Civera partnership.
This information on the abuses of taxpayer waste is coming out of the reform efforts being held by Speaker O'Brien's reform committee.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Civera is silent about this since he was so busy spending our tax money for his own purposes.

Casey Roncaglione
President-DCYD
Drexel Hill, PA

CIVERA BIGGEST TAXSPENDER

Civera biggest spender of taxpayer money

HARRISBURG -- House Republicans said Thursday that they will curb the cost of their televised public-service announcements -- which totaled $4.4 million in 2005-06. During the 2005-06 session, Rep. Mario Civera, R-Delaware County, aired 10 ads during the same period that cost $114,000. This is our tax money. Critics say the taxpayer-financed ads boost the name recognition of incumbents and their odds for re-election.You never saw one Casey Roncaglione PSA, Civera got $150,000 in campaign contributions from House Speaker John Perzel from Philadelphia. As a matter of fact Mr. Civera outspent me in the Statehouse race by $450.000 to $6.500. Why was it so important for Mr. Civera to win, and who does he owe? Is Perzel running Civera's legislative actions? He helped pay for it.

Then there is the issue of taxpayer funded mailings sent by Mr. Civera, which seem to fill our mail boxes during election season. This cost to you and me was $78,000. Was there some useful information in them? yes, but their real purpose was to do everything he could to win the election. The question becomes whom is he beholden to. Worse yet, is what don't we know yet. His top Harrisburg aide is the highest paid legislative aide making $87,900 per year.This information on the costs are coming out of the reform efforts being held by Speaker O'Brien's reform commition .Yesterday it was reported that 13 House Republicans spent more than $100,000 apiece on the controversial ads during the two-year legislative session. I am calling for an end to the useless PSA's during election years. I am also calling for a limit of three legislative mailings with none mailed within three months of an election. Part of my campaign for State Legislature was to limit state spending, Surprisingly Mr. Civera was silent about this since he was so busy spending so much of or tax money for his own purposes.

Casey Roncaglione

Press Release

Delaware County Young Democrats President Casey Roncaglione endorses open Primary

For immediate releaseMarch 14, 2007Contact: caseyroncaglione@excite.com

The Delaware County Democratic Party has chosen not to endorse candidates for County offices in the May Primary. Chairman Cliff Wilson said at the County convention last night that the group of candidates for County offices were the strongest he had seen. "Let the voters decide" said Wilson, adding "perhaps our emphasis on party discipline has reduced involvement in our democracy." Casey Roncaglione, President Delco Young Dems concurred. "The quality of these candidates is top notch and the eventual winners will be strong competition for the entrenched county Republicans" said Roncaglione. Roncaglione promised that once the candidates are chosen our Young Dems will go to work to get them elected. "Our Young Democrat organization is becoming one o the strongest in the Commonwealth and can make the difference this November" said Casey Roncaglione.The Democratic candidates are:- Bob Dimond, Media tax collector and former mayor and councilman in East Lansdowne.- John Innelli, securities attorney from Rose Valley and Democratic state committeeman.- David Landau, Nether Providence attorney who chairs the township’s Democratic Party.- Patricia Lewis-West, former Chester councilwoman and Republican convert.- Ann O’Keefe, Haverford attorney who ran a relatively strong campaign for register of wills in 2005.- Rocco Polidoro, former rebel Republican from Springfield who owns an insurance business.- Jayne Young, Lansdowne mayor in the middle of her second term.The Democratic nominees for county Court of Common Pleas are Frank Daly and Michael Farrell.

Upper Darby Police Ride Along

I had the privilege of taking a ride along on their duties with our Upper Darby Police Department. What an eyeopener. Most time we see them driving by on their way to calls. To be in that car and not knowing what they face when they get to the call is frightening. The odds are that it's routine but it could be a horror where they might not be coming home to their family that night. Our calls ran the gamut from domestics, robberies, gun play and every day cop business.I rode with Captain Ray D'Alesio. A veteran of the department with a thorough knowledge of his Township and the people he serves. Superintendent Chitwood should be proud to have a public servant like the Captain in his department.To allow me this honor of the ride along has given me an insight into the daily duties that these men and women do to make Upper Darby a better place to live. Their jobs are not easy and I think too many people take for granted what is is they contribute to the quality of us everyday citizens.Take for instance Officer Dennis McNamara. He like the officers in our department started his day doing the job he was trained to do. As we all know he didn't make it home that night. It could have happened to any of those men and women who serve and protect. I offer my condolences to his family and hope no other family has to suffer that ultimate loss. It's probably not possible for every Upper Darby citizen to have the chance I did to see first hand what a fine job UDPD do on a daily tour. But please be of the kindness to respect and obey them as they do the tough job that we ask them to do. As a matter of fact the next time you see a cop say hello and thank him or her for the work they do.

Casey Roncaglione