December 23, 2020
WEST CHESTER (December 23, 2020) – Christmas came early for Coatesville, West Whiteland, and Phoenixville as three projects to improve transportation, public safety, and public works facilities will receive a $4.25 million boost in total state grant funding.
The funding comes from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
“Transportation, public works, and public safety are three of the core services that our local municipalities provide to residents and families,” State Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta said. “New and enhanced facilities related to the Coatesville Train Station, the West Whiteland Public Works Department, and the Phoenixville Fire Department will help ensure we can meet the needs of our communities for years to come and are better prepared to emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.”
The Redevelopment Authority (RDA) of the City of Coatesville will receive $1 million in state funding for the Coatesville Train Station Parking Facility. The 175,000-square-foot multimodal parking facility will support access to the existing rail system and allow for expanded commuter service. The facility will also feature bus transportation integration, covered waiting shelters, bike racks, ample lighting, wayfinding signage, and nearly 500 parking spaces to support SEPTA, Amtrak, and Link and Kraft Bus transportation services. The Coatesville RDA is now working with the City to construct the facility to support the new train station, a critical part of the city’s strategic economic development vision.
“I was proud to support this project to build a garage for the new train station,” State Rep. Dan Williams said. “The new train station is critical to advancing the city’s plans for redevelopment and revitalization, and it will be necessary so that our commuters—whether they drive, bike or take the bus to the train station—can easily access the train station.”
West Whiteland Township will receive $1.5 million in state funding to support the site work and vertical construction of a new public works facility. The 44,000-square-foot facility will better serve township residents by consolidating the parks, recreation, and public works facilities into one, optimal location that can access all parts of the township safely and quickly via local, state, and interstate roadways.
“This grant is great news for West Whiteland,” said State Rep. Kristine Howard, “It’s great news not only in terms of economic growth, but also in the improved health and safety of township residents that will be made possible by the consolidation of public works resources.”
The Borough of Phoenixville will receive $1.75 million in state funding for construction, infrastructure and other related costs of a new fire station. The 24,400-square foot-fire station facility will include approximately 10,600-square-feet of two-story office and support space and a 13,800-square-foot, six-bay drive-thru apparatus room. The new Phoenixville Fire Station, slated for 150 Paradise Street on the west bank of the French Creek, will also include community health, safety, education, and training facilities to meet the needs of the growing community and fire department. In addition, it will allow for a training pad will be developed on the north portion of the parcel, so that training exercises can be conducted both inside and out.
“I have been working with Phoenixville Borough on this project since 2018,” State Rep. Melissa Shusterman said. “I am ecstatic to see this project receive this grant money. This money will greatly enhance the safety of residents of Phoenixville and the surrounding area. It will also allow Phoenixville Fire Company to be a training hub for Chester County and Montgomery County”
“This is great news for the Borough of Phoenixville and the Phoenixville Fire Department,” State Rep. Danielle Friel-Otten said. “The new fire station will be an asset to the Borough and the surrounding area, providing room to grow and allowing for improvements to accessibility and efficiency. I applaud the Borough for taking the initiative to apply for this RACP grant, and I am grateful that we’ve been able to bring these funds to the community.”
December 14, 2020
WEST CHESTER (December 14, 2020) — With more and more consumers shopping online and interacting on social media and e-mail due to the pandemic, cybercriminals are increasingly adept at trying to steal your personal and financial information.
State Senator Elect-Carolyn Comitta is partnering with the Office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro to present a virtual presentation on avoiding holiday scams on Tuesday, December 15 at 10:30 a.m.
The program will also be live-streamed on Senator-Elect Comitta’s website (www.pasenatorcomitta.com/live) and Facebook Page (@Rep Comitta). It will also be available on Zoom, please contact senatorcomitta@pasenate.com for login information.
“If you are shopping for last-minute gift ideas, don’t let your guard down. From fake order confirmations to bogus charitable solicitations to cloned websites, scammers and cyber criminals have no shortage of ways to try to steal your information,” Comitta said. “This is especially important for senior citizens, who are often targeted by these schemes.”
The brief program will inform viewers about several new scams and educate them on ways to protect themselves and their families.
If you miss the live-stream, a recording of the event will be posted to Senator-Elect Comitta’s website and social media pages.
December 10, 2020
HARRISBURG – December 10, 2020 – Today the following members of the Pennsylvania State Senate signed a joint statement – set forth below – denouncing the brazen attempt of the attorneys general of Texas and seventeen other states to disenfranchise millions of Pennsylvanians and voters in three other states by asking the United States Supreme Court to prevent electors in Pennsylvania and those other states that voted for Joe Biden from certifying him the winner when they meet in Harrisburg and the other state capitals on Monday, December 14.
The statement reads as follows:
“The lawsuit by the attorneys general of Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia is based on the outright lie that voter fraud prevented Donald Trump from getting re-elected. Since Election Day, the Trump legal team has filed scores of such suits trying to overturn the will of the people. Time and again, the judges in those matters – in many cases conservative, Republican judges, some of whom Donald Trump appointed himself – have found that there was no evidence to support those claims and dismissed the suits accordingly.
The bedrock of our democracy is the right to vote and the right of voters to be sure that their votes will be counted. This lawsuit and the others like them are a direct attack on that fundamental principle. It seeks to perpetuate the lie that the presidential election was somehow stolen. While partisan politics – and a desire to appease the president’s restive base – may be the motivation for this latest court challenge, allowing it to go forward in silence is dangerous and, we believe, would constitute a dereliction of our duty as elected representatives of the people to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The facts are these: Joe Biden received over 81 million votes, more than any candidate for president in the history of the United States and about 7 million more than Donald Trump. He received 80,555 more votes than the president in Pennsylvania. Mr. Biden received the most votes in 25 states and the District of Columbia, and, therefore, on December 14 when the Electoral College convenes, will be awarded 306 electoral votes, 36 more than the 270 needed to be elected president. Every vote cast for Joe Biden was cast freely and fairly, whether in person or by mail. In each state the vote-counting process was transparent and undertaken pursuant to law. Local and state officials, both Republican and Democratic alike, have attested to those facts, and, as noted, the courts have agreed. Joe Biden won the election.
Donald Trump has lost his bid for re-election; he seems incapable of accepting that fact. For the first time in American History, a sitting president who lost re-election has refused to acknowledge his loss, acting instead like a would-be autocrat who cannot accept any outcome that does not have him staying in power. While that may be a commentary on the character of the man, it cannot be a cause for setting aside the will of the people.
All of us have a responsibility – indeed we would go so far as to say a sacred duty – to ourselves, our fellow Americans and generations to come to prevent the lie that this election was stolen from living on and undermining future elections. For these reasons we have signed this statement and call upon others to likewise speak out and denounce this lawsuit against our state for what it is: an attack on our democracy.”
Signed,
Senator Steve Santarsiero, 10th District
Senator Vincent Hughes, 7th District
Senator Maria Collett, 12th District
Senator Judy Schwank, 11th District
Senator Tim Kearney, 26th District
Senator Christine Tartaglione, 2nd District
Sen.-Elect Amanda M. Cappelletti, 17th District
Sen.-Elect Carolyn Comitta, 19th District
Senator Jay Costa, 43rd District
Senator Anthony H. Williams, 8thDistrict
Senator Katie Muth, 44th District
Senator Art Haywood, 4th District
Senator Sharif Street, 3rdDistrict
Senator Lindsey Williams, 38th District
Sen.-Elect Nikil Saval, 1st District
Sen.-Elect John Kane, 9th District
December 10, 2020
WEST CHESTER (December 10, 2020) – Important programs to prevent crime, support victims in recovery, and enhance training for law enforcement in Chester County will receive more than $1.8 million in state and federal grant support, state Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta said today.
Comitta, who previously served as Mayor of the Borough of West Chester, overseeing the West Chester Police Department, said it is important that we continue to strongly support crime victims during the pandemic.
“The coronavirus pandemic has seen an escalation in domestic abuse coupled with increased challenges to survivors in accessing resources and reporting, as well as escaping dangerous and abusive environments,” she said. “Now more than ever, we must ensure that victims of crime and abuse can access vital services to help them seek justice, find safety, and recover to live healthy, happy, and productive lives.”
Comitta also thanked the law enforcement personnel, staff, volunteers, and nonprofit organizations that continue to serve crime victims and survivors in Chester County.
Deb Ryan, Chester County District Attorney, said that funding will support important programs to enhance training and prevent violence against women and children.
“Chester County, like many other places across the nation and the world, is experiencing a rise in domestic violence during the pandemic. We know that child abuse cases are going unreported and hidden from view due to school closures and other pandemic-related factors,” she said. “We must and we will continue to strive to protect our children and families now and in the future.”
The grants, which were approved Thursday by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, fall into several categories.
The Crime Victims Center of Chester County will receive $698,379 in federal STOP Violence Against Women Grant program funds for the Rights and Services (RASA) and Victims of Juvenile Offenders (VOJO) project.
“We are so grateful for this funding that has continually supported our work on behalf of victims and their families in Chester County,” said Christine Zaccarelli, Esquire, CEO of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. ”From the onset of the pandemic, victim advocates from our main office and those with offices in the Justice Center have continued to provide critical services to victims and their families including notification to victims of their rights, accompaniment to legal proceedings and support throughout the criminal justice system through our collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office and Chester County Juvenile Probation. As the pandemic continues, our focus will remain on providing counseling, advocacy, resources and education to our community.”
The Domestic Violence Center of Chester County will receive $55,014 in federal STOP Violence Against Women Grant program funds for providing rights and services programs to victims.
“On behalf of victim-survivors of abuse, the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC) is extremely appreciative to receive funding to support the critical services for victims. Throughout the pandemic, DVCCC has continued providing services such as a hotline, emergency shelter, long-term housing, trauma-informed counseling for adults and children, legal advocacy and court representation, and public education and training,” said Dolly Wideman-Scott, CEO of the DVCCC. “The pandemic is a perfect storm for victims with stay-at-home orders complicating one’s ability to escape the abuse in their home.”
Chester County will receive:
- $107,132 in federal Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Relief from through the U.S. Department of Justice.
- $533,144 in state funding from the Improvement of Adult Probation Services Fund through the Pennsylvania County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee.
- $124,992 in federal funding for the STOP Violence Against Women Grant program through the Statewide Victims’ Services Advisory Committee (VSAC). STOP, which stands for Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors, aims to develop and strengthen effective responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
- $47,000 in state funding for a child advocacy assistant through the Pennsylvania Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee (CACAC).
- $318,337 from the state endowment act funds through the Pennsylvania Child Advocacy Center Advisory Committee (CACAC). The endowment, established under Act 1 of 2013, is funded from the monetary penalty imposed on the Pennsylvania State University by the National Collegiate Athletic Conference to aid the victims of child sexual abuse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
December 9, 2020
WEST CHESTER (December 9, 2020) – Across Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the nation, volunteers supporting Toys for Tots are preparing for the final push in a holiday season that has been challenged by the coronavirus pandemic.
But even as the pandemic has complicated the traditional ways of collecting donations, volunteers say the spirit of generosity continues to run strong, even as many are already struggling.
For Chester County Toys for Tots Coordinator Jeffrey Smith, this year has been a trial by fire. He volunteered to take on the roll in January when he discovered that the previous coordinator had retired in 2018 and there wasn’t an official Toys for Tots Campaign running in the County.
“While the learning curve to successfully collect and distribute thousands of toys has been steep, I could not be more proud of how the people in the area we serve have stepped up to help those in need,” Smith said.
He thanked the businesses, school districts, corporate sponsors, organizations, charities, and restaurants that, despite their own struggles, found ways to continue supporting the children of Chester County.
Smith and his team of volunteers adopted creative methods to safely collect toys during the pandemic, such as virtual toy drives and contactless drive-through, drop-off events, like the one held this past weekend at Good Will Fire Company.
They have also found a strong ally in state-Senator Elect Carolyn Comitta, who along with her staff, who have championed support for the toy drive.
“There are more families in need this year. There are more challenges to overcome,” said Comitta, who will officially be sworn in as state Senator for the 19th District on January 5, said. “But every child deserves to get a toy for the holidays. And everyone who supports and safely participates in Toys for Tots this year feels that gratitude, appreciation, and holiday spirit a little more deeply. Thank you to all those working to make the holiday season bright for all our Chester County families.”
Chester County Toys for Tots serves all of Chester County, as well as a small portion of Montgomery County centered on Norristown that is not covered by another campaign.
According to Smith, the campaign is pushing hard in its final days to gather toys for slightly over 9,800 children this year, including 30 nonprofits and 278 families.
Most collection bins will be picked up by tomorrow or Friday, December 11. For a full list of drop-off locations visit: https://chester-county-pa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys.aspx
Many toys are still needed for Chester County families, especially for younger children in the 0-2 age range. In addition, donations can be made online at https://chester-county-pa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/donate-toys.aspx where supporters can contribute funds directly or even pick out toys virtually to purchase and donate.
Once the collection portion of the drive is complete, sorting and delivery operations commence. This weekend, volunteers will begin sorting toys and assembling family bags pick up the following weekend. Volunteer activities continue through December 22, as more than a dozen separate volunteer teams work diligently to ensure the right toys get to the right children. All of the operations must be planned, organized, and conducted in a way that follows COVID-19 health and safety protocols, offering the maximum protection for both the volunteers and those they interact with.
Comitta and her staff plan to assist in a family drop-off event on December 18.
“There is still work to do and we plan to do it safely.,” Comitta said. “Toys for Tots still needs toys and they still need help. You can donate safely, and you can support this cause safely.”
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has been collecting and delivering toys to children in which the Campaign is conducted for over 70 years – even during pandemics. The program is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve Foundation. The Chester County campaign has made significant adjustments to protect the health of our donors, applicants, and volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering, contact chester.county.pa@toysfortots.org.
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December 4, 2020
PA CARES 21 Allocates $300 Million for Restaurants and Bars
WEST CHESTER (December 4, 2020) – State Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta joined more than a dozen state senators in announcing a $4 billion pandemic relief plan to provide direct aid to workers, families, small businesses, the restaurant industry, and others that continue to struggle in the face of the coronavirus resurgence.
The Pennsylvania Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act of 2021 (PA CARES 21) Plan would fund previously existing aid programs and establish new programs to help struggling Pennsylvanians and struggling areas of the commonwealth’s economy.
“There’s no denying that cases of the coronavirus are growing every day. Almost every day we’re setting records. What will tomorrow bring?” said Senator-elect Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester). “We need a bold, innovative plan to deliver support and assistance to Pennsylvania families and businesses. PA CARES 21 gives us more tools, more resources, and the flexibility to prepare for the future.”
Comitta noted that the plan allocates $800 million for business assistance, including $300 million for restaurants, bars, and caterers.
“Support for restaurants, taverns, and the hospitality industry has dried up, but they continue to deal with mitigation efforts, limited capacity, and the end of outdoor dining due to the colder weather. It would have been preferable to get this support in the budget, but we still have a responsibility to support them and their employees,” she said.
PA CARES 21 also provides vital support for schools and universities, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, transportation, mental health services, childcare, unemployment assistance, housing support, and more.
It authorizes the commonwealth to issue $4 billion in emergency debt to (1) recapitalize programs previously funded with federal CARES funds pursuant to Acts 2A, 24 and 30 of 2020 and (2) establish new programs that provide targeted assistance to struggling Pennsylvanians and struggling sectors of the Pennsylvania economy. The plan does not rely on or call for tax increases.
Where appropriate, this proposal utilizes the programs created under Act 24 of 2020 to drive out the funds. If proposed funding does not fit into an existing program (e.g., utility assistance), a new program will be created. Additionally, the caucus supports fixing programs created by Act 24 (e.g., PHFA’s rental assistance program) as requested by stakeholders to maximize program effectiveness.
PA CARES 21 proposes allocating the funds to the following priorities:
- $800 million in business assistance
- $1 billion in UC benefits
- $594 million in local government assistance
- $135 million in hazard pay
- $318 million in DHS programs
- $250 million in basic education
- $136 million in higher education
- $100 million to hospitals
- $100 million to utility assistance
- $75 million in child care
- $100 million in housing assistance
- $50 million in food security
- $25 million in pre-k education
- $25 million for PPE and vaccines
- $15 million for mental health funding
- $180 million in transportation funding
Comitta joined state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr., Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes, Senator Maria Collett, Senator Katie Muth, Senator Tina Tartaglione, Senator Judy Schwank, Senator Art Haywood, Senator Sharif Street, Senator Steve Santarsiero, Senator Lindsey Williams, Senator Tim Kearney, and Senator-elect Nikil Saval in announcing the plan.
“Folks have not seen pandemic-specific relief from the state or federal government since last spring, yet thousands remain unemployed, underemployed and struggle with their housing and utility bills. This cannot go on any longer,” said Costa. “There are immediate needs in communities across this state that must be addressed immediately. We are in the middle of another surge in COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths. We need help to recover, personally and financially; the state must play an active role in that recovery and that is what our plan today does.”
“Thousands of Pennsylvanians have been hurt by this pandemic and have received some assistance to get through this generational crisis — however it is time to do more in that space to get people the help they need,” Hughes said. “Rather than use federal dollars to help people in their time of need, we used the money to plug budget holes, telling people we had to keep state operations running to prevent further crisis. Having averted that crisis, it is now our job to step up and help our communities. They cannot wait any longer for help and the legislature must act now.”
“There is no overstating the economic toll COVID has taken and continues to take on families and businesses across the Commonwealth,” said Collett “As a former infection control nurse, I promise you that the sacrifices you’ve made have saved lives and prevented long-term health complications associated with this dangerous virus for so many. But I also know these words offer little comfort when you are struggling to pay the mortgage, or juggle your job and the constant changes to your kids’ schooling, or keep your business afloat. Government is supposed to work for you and that is exactly what our PACARES 21 proposal does. It identifies ways to get money into the hands of those who need it most, including those about to lose their COVID unemployment benefits, frontline workers, child care centers, and our main street businesses, especially local restaurants and bars, in the quickest, most efficient way possible. Your families and your businesses can’t afford to wait any longer for relief. So until our communities are safe and our economy is running at full steam again, it is critical that we extend this lifeline and do so now.”
“As the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Pennsylvania continues to climb, it is the General Assembly’s duty and obligation to provide relief to all those affected – unemployed folks, front-line workers, small businesses, and especially hospitals that serve high-Medicaid populations as well as our institutions of higher education,” said Tartaglione. “These are the pillars of society that serve us in our times of greatest need and will lead our recovery.”
“We are entering a stage of the pandemic that is, by virtually every measure, worse than the first stage, laying bare and exacerbating inequalities in all our health systems, devastating essential workers, and disproportionately harming Black and brown people,” said Saval. “We need to keep people in their homes, fight hunger and food insecurity, and give our children every tool they need to learn. We need this stimulus because our communities desperately need support and relief.”
For more information on PA CARES 21, visit www.PASenate.com/cares.
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