#284215
The Commonwealth of PA has contracted the services of a private company, VisionQuest, to run a youth 'crisis' center. This is basically a short term (90 day) detention facility for youth under 18. VisionQuest ran the same type of facility in Chester county until the State decided they wanted to convert that building for economic redevelopment. So now they are looking to move those kids and more to building 12 at the Norristown State Hospital. The facility will house 120 to 150 youths from Philadelphia who have committed serious crimes. The building currently does not have a fence around it. VisionQuest had a poor history of keeping youth within the walls of its facility in Chester county (many escapes).

Norristown Area School District (Norristown, East Norriton, West Norriton) will be responsible for educating these kids which mean that our taxes pay for kids from Philadelphia. Norristown Police and fire will be the first responders to any problems, which mean our taxes pay for this. We have been notified by our municipal officials that VisionQuest and the Commonwealth of PA will be coming before the Norristown Zoning Board for a public hearing on their request for variance in order to occupy a building at the state hospital. It is essential that we fill the seats of the hall with residents (and friends) who are fed up with Norristown being the dumping zone for the rest of state's problems. We don't' need to baby-sit problem children from Philadelphia!

The zoning board hearing will be 7 pm Tues January 27th at Municipal Hall, 235 East Airy Street Norristown. Send this e-mail onto as many people that you know that live in Norristown.

For more info: Mimi and Kimberly West End Association 709 Stanbridge St Norristown, PA 19401 (610) 787-0868 WestEndAssociation@yahoo.com If you want to become involved or keep up to date with events in the area, join the West End Association mailing list. Just send us an e-mail and we will add you to our listing
#287180
From: We West End [mailto:westendassociation@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:46 AM
To: westendassociation@yahoo.com
Subject: Summation of proceedings from Tues night Zoning Board Hearing on VisionQuest

Thanks to all who attended the hearing on Tues night, the 24th. Many could not stay until the end, the hearing ended about 11:30 pm or so. This is not finished yet. Even though we were able to get through the public testimony, there is more to come.

The zoning board and the Norristown and West Norriton have all asked for additional documentation from VisionQuest. These will need to be presented and entered into the proceeding records. This will necessitate another Public Hearing. The Zoning Board has to give notification to the public of when they will schedule this continuance. We will keep our ears to the wall so as soon as they schedule we will notify all on this listing.

The West End Association wants to make sure people get the facts on the issues. We have received some e-mails that believe this facility will be a group home setting and behavioral education will be available for these youth. Those of you at the hearing know that this is not the case.

Briefly, this what we learned:
• This facility will house 120 male youth, age 11-18 for an average of 10-15 days.
• These youth have been court ordered to this facility prior to their trials/sentencing for crimes (including felonies)
• These youth receive minimal to no counseling services at this facility.
• There will be minimal educational services for these children at this facility.
• These youth are confined to the building: there will be barred windows, locks doors and barbed wire on the 12 foot fencing.
• In 2008 the VisionQuest facility in Chester county processeed 1850 youth through their doors.
• In 2008 there were multiple breakouts from that facility.
• There are incidents on the grounds that are not reported to police. A witness testified that when she worked for VisionQuest she was sexually assaulted in her classroom, yet no police report was filed and there is no documentation of the incident at VisionQuest.
• There will be 1 staff member for every 6 kids during the day and 1 staff for every 12 kids during the night.
Prior to the next meeting we need to get more organized in order to round up 'more troops'. People have been e-mailing great ideas and posting comments to our facebook wall. We will forward these along to the list. If you have great ideas of how to get more people involved please send them along.

Speak to your neighbors, knock on doors and get to know neighbors you have never met. To bring Norristown back to the beauty it once was will require commitment from citizens, it won't be easy, but it is what we do because it is right. As we confront these challenges we must summon our resolve and our spirit which will not quit.

Regards,

West End Association
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 787-0868
WestEndAssociation@yahoo.com
#288220
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:09:54 -0700
From: westendassociation@yahoo.com

Folks,

We had a tremendous day today! At 3:30 pm members of the West End Association were on a phone call with Rep. Bradford and Rep. Vereb. They were able to convince the Secretary Richmond of the PA Department of Public Welfare that not only does Norristown have an 'over abundance' of social services within its confines but also that Bldg 12 at the State Hospital actually has some serious fire and safety code deficiencies that would not allow them to place people in that facility. After much discussion, Secretary Richmond agreed that Norristown State Hospital was not the right site for the VisionQuest facility and the commonwealth would renew their search for a more appropriate site.

What am I trying to say? WE WON! The politico's are cautious and are not saying it is over, but to all intents and purposes, it is over. So to that effect:

There will be NO zoning board hearing on March 16th.. Please let your dear neighbor know so that they don't show up to Municipal Hall. Go out and celebrate St. Patricks Day!

Could Vereb and Bradford have done this alone? NO. It is clear that the West End Association and our friends in East and West Norriton had a significant impact in this outcome. WE want everyone on this e-mail to congratulate themselves. To all the nay-sayers: Norristown is back- people do care enough to take action and the results is: POSITIVE CHANGE FOR NORRISTOWN!

WE (West End Association )
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 787-0868
WestEndAssociation@yahoo.com