West Chester Patch, 1/24/12
West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta wrote a letter to the President in preparation for Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
Dear President Obama:
Thank you for inviting me and other local and state elected officials across the country to join you and your staff for a conference call in preparation for your State of the Union Address. As the time ran out, you requested that those of us, who did not have an opportunity to speak in person during the call, email our input to you.
As per your request, I am honored to bring you regards and to share some insights from the citizens of the historic Borough of West Chester, PA.
West Chester is located about 30 miles west of the city of Philadelphia. We are the County Seat of Chester County, and nationally recognized for our historic preservation, our small town charm, our premier state university, and our excellent hospital. We serve as a regional urban hub for services such as financial, government, higher education, health care, culture, entertainment and the arts.
In spite of our vibrant downtown and our lovely neighborhoods, and enjoying the nickname, “the perfect town”, West Chester faces critical challenges similar to core communities across the state and the country. Reeling under the effects of the recent recession, saddled with archaic state laws and facing ever-dwindling federal, state and county monies, West Chester’s financial future is in jeopardy. Our severely aging infrastructure is crumbling, and our “rainy day” fund disappearing quickly, as the effects of the recession linger and become the “new normal”….
continue reading at West Chester Patch
