The End of the Worcester Wawa -- A lesson in local politcal short term vision

When you live in the suburbs of a major metropolitan area, you usually have local news reports from that city.  For us, its Philadelphia - birthplae of our nation, one of its oldest cities and the 5th largest media market in the country.  So evening news is filled with shootings, robberies, murders and other crimes of big cities.  All of these are removed from our lives here in the burbs which makes them oh so easy to ignore.  Or to say, I'm glad that's not my neighborhood.

But maybe it is.  We live outside of Lansdale, a smallish town with a great diversity of neighborhoods and ethnic populations from many nations.  The local patch reported this past week serious drug busts, robbery and assaults.  A local special education teacher was indicted for having alleged sexual relations with a student.  Sure, the violence level is lower, but, is it really so different as the folks in suburbia think.

Meanwhile our local politicians argue about distance from roadside, age of local buildings, paint jobs, signs and other things of what seems very important consequence, but mostly aren't of any seriousness and are often resolved with rulings that reduce the taxable income of the township and cost it money in the decision process as well.  Its reminiscent of Nero playing his lyre while Rome burns.

Here's what I wish.  Fantastic schools for our children that stretch and challenge them no matter what their ability level or grad, safe neighborhoods and roads and reliable public services including first responders able come when we really need them. Quickly and professionally.  And, most important Governments driven by the public good, not by petty issues, campaign finance or under the table business interests.

Our local Wawa closed this week and I truly believe it didn't get to grow as the Wawa firm wanted because of petty, local political wishes and control needs.  A valued part of our tax base, a local chain store offering multiple jobs and quality service and products closed because of narrow perspectives and shorter term thinking.  Our schools roads and town will lose and there will be little gained.  It will be an empty store that drove lots of traffic to the other small business in that shopping center.  Add that to the empty lot across Skippack Pike and you realize how short sited the township has become.  I hate that.