Local Government, why are you here? In Lower Merion and Radnor Townships, for whom is it exactly are you working? Why do I ask? Because. There are multiple issues in these two townships, yet all that is done is a dance these days. Or is it issue avoidance? Or just plain ignoring citizens? (It's hard to decide)

Let us start with Lower Merion. Lower Merion politics has boiled down to a case of Hatfields vs. McCoys, with each side crying foul over every little thing. With all the in-fighting they are not only not listening to each other, but not listening to us. And "us" is important in the equation since we now all have to wonder if they are doing what they were elected to do or furthering political agendas. And one agenda that is suspect is the party which has majority. They seem drunk with power, and that is disappointing. Citizens hoped when a select few dropped off the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners a new day would dawn. Have we only had the dream of a new day and this nightmare is reality?

Last week's meeting was illuminating. Only one commissioner had the balls to ask what is being done to protect the residents of the neighborhoods which will abut the Ardmore Redevelopment Zone. This same commissioner referred to the redevelopment plan as a "pig in a poke". This commissioner was not referring to the chosen developer's plan per se, but rather the whole concept of redevelopment. Was this commissioner all wrong? Honestly, can we all agree, no?

How can we get comfortable with a redevelopment plan when there is NO town plan? How can we get comfortable with a plan when no one can give a straight answer regarding the basics like parking? If you add up all the spaces we have today versus what Ardmore will have if anything gets built and there is a deficit isn't there? It's all well and good to encourage people to use alternate modes of transportation and become more environmentally aware, but the reality is that taking away parking spaces in a town center is NOT going to make cars disappear! And as for other plans cropping up around Ardmore, what about them? Is everyone who wants to build just supposed to build until Ardmore sinks under the very weight of height, concrete, stucco and density? If Bryn Mawr got a master planning process because they learned from the mistakes of Ardmore (i.e. Plan A, Plan B and eminent domain), then shouldn't Ardmore also have a master plan? Or is Ardmore to forever be the town that government never gets right?

And MUST.

Shall we start the pool now that MUST will be the overlay that future generations of government will curse because it was ill thought out, ill advised, and occasionally tweaked to suit essentially one developer? One developer who has constantly cried "more, more,more" but hasn't broken ground on a bloody thing?

Certain Lower Merion Commissioners are too pro development for their own good. While that in itself is not criminal, what IS criminal is the fact that these commissioners seem to behave as Papa knows best. Well, news flash: Papa is not omnipotent nor omnipresent. And these collective Papas need to get the joke that the plans are supposed to reflect the will of the people, not merely a select divine few.

No one is saying the Lower Merion Township Commissioners are evil beings, but what IS being said is that they have lost their way. They are to govern in the best interests of the people, not of themselves or their particular political persuasion. Local politics shouldn't be about that. Leave party wars to the fools in the state house and nation's capitol. We elect locally because we know whom we are electing - it's more about the person then the political party.

Now Radnor. Radnor, Radnor, wherefore art thou, Radnor? Why is everything so below the radar in Radnor? Why is exhibiting free speech akin to having a communicable disease? Now in Radnor you also have a problem with majority party rule, and that party forgetting why they are there.

Radnor Township has some weighty issues following it around, and one thing about Radnor is that they definitely seem to be giving small neighborhoods the runaround.

Look at Garret Hill? What kind of fool's errand is it to build a mixed use overlay around a trolley line that has issues cause it's Septa? How's about cleaning up the trolley line, making the stations safe, cutting the weeds at the stations, etc?

Further and to the point, some in local government and not just Radnor need to realize that merely allowing the public to express themselves is not sufficient. And yes, dear commissioners you need to listen to what citizens are asking you, and on occasion, perhaps actually do some of the things asked of you by the people who voted you into office. Why does Garret Hill need to be supersized? Instead of wasting taxpayer monies on overlays to nowhere, why not fix up what is there? Deal with existing issues before implementing something new?

Then there is that weird plan for the center of Wayne near the library, fire house and post office. First of all the plan won't fit, secondly it's really ugly, isn't it? Have all the other condos in Wayne sold so well that there is a NEED for more? Look at the ugliness behind the Land Rover? The mental hospital-esque condos? They don't seem too occupied. And what about things like on Conestoga before The Flag Lady? Those giant supersized examples of ugliness? Are they sold out or is it rather dark at night? Or are those folks trippin down Connestoga to whatever is going into the old beef and ale so they are never home? And Bloomingdale Avenue? Could those homes have been saved if government knew their own codes, etc better?

And is that a problem in Radnor? That often those presenting plans know their way around Radnor codes and laws better then township staff and elected officials?

Look at the Willows? Save the darn cottage and be done with it. With all the money wasted on crap no one wants, here's something easy....just restore it, right?

And Ardrossan? Drive by now and take in the lovely fields and vista views because someday soon that last slice of heaven will be developed.

North Wayne and St David's? Well let us start with freakin' sidewalks to and fro St. David's Train Station? What's the big deal? The residents aren't paying for them, they are for pedestrian safety and walkability, and the money is there to pay for them. But because a handful of elitists are worried about day lillies that don't even appear to be specimen day lillies (or so they say), now this has to be studied? What's this really about? These people don't want people walking by their houses. News Flash: you purchased a home next to a more than century old rail line. People are going to walk by. Be glad you have the option of getting sidewalks as they aren't so necessarily easy to obtain.

Now onto Pennsylvania Avenue and Plant Avenue and the case of the public storage facility. And not any ordinary public storage facility, one to store automobiles. Yess indeedy, apparently those garage mahals built alongside McMansions are mostly for show like the gourmet kitchens that only the caterer for the occasional party really uses? What to do with a site like Burkets? Well if Radnor had thought it out better they could have purchased the land themselves for municipal purposes. Like dealing with Wayne's parking issues, right? But no, now North Wayne residents have to turn it out again and go to another Zoning Hearing Board meeting on July 17th to tell Rosedon their plan sucks for so many reasons, right? Public storage for cars means a lot of in and out traffic, potential working on cars at all hours on site, light pollution, stormwater issues, car carriers, etc. Rosedon has no hardship do they? They just want to build this, right? Well now people have to go back again to ensure the zoning relief sought is not granted. This is another example of a bad plan for a residential neighborhood, right?

And then the issue of 236 North Abderdeen? Where is the Commissioner of the 1st ward of Radnor on this as well as other 1st Ward issues? Is he governmentally present or absent? How does he feel about all these issues bombarding his ward? After all, who better to hear from in local government, right?

What will happen with 236 N. Aberdeen? The commissioners have the right to say no, correct? It's not as if the developers have made outreach to the community on either side of the Gulph Creek is it? No one believes these people want to live in one of the side by side monstrosities they are proposing, do they? This is all about develop and skeedaddle, isn't it? And what is being proposed will have a potentially detrimental effect on the folks on the low side of the creek on Willow Ave as well as the residents of North Aberdeen and does ANYONE care? And then there is the little fact of the historical importance of the house that is there. But does anyone care enough about Jonathan Lengel to take a stand? And right up the street from 236 N. Aberdeen where North Aberdeen meets Plant? There is a white frame house on the corner? It might have green shutters? It is supposed to be residential, right? And what of the house on the corner of Plant and Willow? It looks abandoned, only people actually live there, right? Why is it no developer snaps up that property? It's an eyesore and NO ONE would mind if that place became something else, would they?

Look at our entire Main Line area as a whole, not merely divided into townships, boroughs and municipalities. We're bursting at the seams it seems with issues. And the ones they should be dealing with are being ignored. We should be dealing with aging infrastructures, traffic, cars, joblessness, the effect of the credit crisis caused by things like a suspect mortgage industry. We should be dealing with things like crime, drugs and issues within our communities that affect our young. We should be trying to be more fiscally responsible and keep a handle on taxes. We should be dealing with issues in public transportation, the fact that affordable housing along the Main Line is becoming extinct.... yet local municipalities seem to be ignoring these things. It's all about politics and new development and the next set of outside consultants to be hired.

When does the madness stop? When people take a stand in our communities. Of course, it also would hurt to start checking to see when terms of office are ending in some municipalities and start checking on who might be a better choice for the future. And people should also pay attention from municipality to municipality when whispers occur about local elected officials considering stepping down when they can APPOINT their replacements. Best know who is being considered, eh?

Government works for the people, or that is the general idea....right? So let's get back to it, shall we? The people are talking, but when will government listen and act?