Blogs > Coatesville Roundtable

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Gang forum still hot topic

There is still a buzz about last month's gang violence forum.

When a resident at Monday's City Council meeting complained about the Daily Local's coverage of the forum and asked Chief William Matthews to explain his comments in the article, Matthews backed down.

“The statement (in the story) wasn’t in context,” Matthews said. "... My mistake was having a frank and candid conversation with the press there ... I saw that (headline) on Sunday morning, and I can’t describe how I felt about it.”

The chief's feeling that he erred by being "frank and candid" with the press, and in turn with the public, is unsettling.

But aside from that, here is a link to 10-plus minutes of raw video footage the Daily Local shot of Matthews speaking at the gang forum, so Roundtable readers can evaluate Matthews' message themselves.

You will probably have to endure a quick advertisement before the video begins, and when it does start, crank the volume. The audio is not great.

Labels: Chief Matthews

50 Comments:

Anonymous said...: He who speaks with "Forked Tongue"

Matthews doesn't have a clue.

Why not ZERO Tolerance on all crime. Especially loud radio boom boxes from passing cars.

OH !! that's right he and City Manager Walker live in Millviews gated apartments. No drive by there unless you have the security code; July 16, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Anonymous said...: WOW! To think that the DLN would report your words as you said them. I guess Matthews thinks that he is not responsible for his own words. Get a backbone, what you said is true, don't back down it makes you look like a political wimp.; July 16, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Anonymous said...: I have heard the concerns of a few black persons who saw the headline “CHIEF: Blacks prey on Hispanics” in the Daily Local News. I was at the meeting heard everything that Mr. Matthews said and I didn’t think anything about the headline. It was just stating what Chief Matthews said and Chief Matthews was just citing factual information. The Daily Local News accurately reported Chief Matthews comments.

A few Blacks are preying on a few Mexican families. More specifically the same few young black men are preying on the same few Mexican families. The “Blacks” are following Mexican people home from the bank and holding a gun to the Mexican peoples heads while other “Blacks” ransack the Mexican peoples home for cash. They are doing this over and over to the same Mexican families.

The woman at the Coatesville City Council Meeting just does not have a clue to what has been happening between the Mexican and Black community for several years. Chief Matthews was right on the money in his description of the problem. And he is right on the money about what will happen if it is allowed to continue. The SUR-13 gang is here. Several tattooed gang members from outside Chester County have been arrested by East Fallowfield Police.

SUR-13 is infamous for EXTREME VIOLENCE. If as Chief Matthews suggested the Mexican community becomes convinced that police can do nothing to help them they may turn for help to SUR-13. The violence against Blacks could escalate to a level not seen since the early Twentieth Century in Coatesville.

Chief Matthews described the problem and the solution extremely well. Mr. Matthews was candid. He was truthful. He showed his considerable knowledge concerning violent gangs and how to deal with them.

He should not have backed down in front of an angry Black woman about an imagined and theoretical affront. Doing so minimizes the problem. If that leads to ignoring the problem Black women may be crying about their young Black men being hacked into pieces.; July 16, 2008 at 6:51 PM
Anonymous said...: I just watched this video and he said very little. He dances around many tough issues and says little about a solution. The comments that did jump out at me were about the tired Police force and the number of hours they are working and the No Tolerance Policy from the City Manager.

Wasn't it just a few months back that they wanted to cut our force size? If the officers are tired and overworked wouldn't to make sense to hire more officers and ease the strain and maybe at the same time have more police on the streets covering more areas?

Why did the city manager have to come up with No Tolerance? what do we pay matthews to do?

Initally i felt some sympathy for Robin at this weeks meeting but the more i thought about it the more i thought that she needs to suck it up and deal with it. you wanted this position and you ran. in taht regards i am thankful for people like you. however, you voted to hire walker and matthews and you voted again to continue to support them. these two are now directly responsible for what goes on in the city and the way things are dealt with.
the city needs to take back our streets and while yes the citizens can help they need to know that there are people in city hall looking out for them and the police will be there to support them.

on a side note if you drive up to Phoneixville someday you see a revitalized city that is florishing. isn't it funny that they just hired a manager with experience who Coatesville didn't want? our stupidity is their gain.

on a final note...stop blaming the past and step up to the plate and tackle these issues. you were elected to stop the Saha mess and accomplished what you wanted to. the city's current mess is now your reponsibilty and is on your conscious. you need to lead because you put us here and quite frankly it is your fault that we are where we are.; July 17, 2008 at 7:27 AM
Anonymous said...: Someone mentioned that at the rate that things are going that the spanish population will take over the black population in Coatesville in a few years, well maybe that is not such a bad thing. Here's my example why,

I lived in a row of 8 homes, on each side of me were black families, unfortunately they were both "dealing". I had to endure horn beeps and loud music at all hours along with their front door always slamming and people knocking. Plus people out on the porch late at night laughing and trying out their "products" that they just bought, I felt a little afraid for my safety.
Finally, after I had a talk with both landlords both of these families moved out a month apart. After a few months of peace and quiet (vacant) the landlord put hispanic families on both sides of me. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!, no more loud music, no more people banging on the door, no more horn beeps, Mexicans have to get up early for work so at 9pm lights were out. (unlike the previous tenants who didn't work). They are respectful and I don't feel afraid anymore with them living next to me. I don't have a problem with any race as long as they are respectful but if I had to choose my neighbors I would choose spanish. just my experience.; July 17, 2008 at 6:38 PM
Anonymous said...: I am often puzzled by the comments posted on this blog. It is unclear to me whether the people who post their comments want to be safe from crime or whether it is an opportunity for people with racial bias to express their racist views. Poverty often stimulates crime and violence regardless of the racial makeup of the community. In the isolated regions of Central Pennsylvania there is proportionally as much crime and violence amongst poor whites (the dominant population)as there is amongst poor blacks in urban centers. Mexico is known for the violence that takes place in its slums. It is the lack of economic opportunities that creates the conditions that are present in Coatesville. The City has to make changes to its economic landscape that will create generational changes for its residents.

The most important conversations taking place in Coatesville should be around how to improve the economic condition of the City for all its residents. I would love to hear a conversation about how to bring a major industry to this community or how to improve the skill level of the City's residents so that they can find new economic opportunities. Talking about people in terms of their racial make-up will not solve the problems of this City. The City is only going to experience growth if the residents, administration, and governing body begin to think in a positive manner, look for opportunities to change its image, improve educational opportunities for all children, eliminate crime and blight, and offer City residents new economic opportunities. Racist commentary will not help anyone in the City to move forward.; July 20, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Anonymous said...: OK I am positive that once the lowlife scum that resides inside the city is forced out the revitalization will start to roll. To blame the city for what these people have done to it is a nice excuse but that is all it is. Now you have idiots running the city allowing people to construct homes inside the city. WHY WOULD ANYBODY OF ANY MONETARY STANDING MOVE IN??? to be robbed to feel unsafe when they walk to the car. These people have no vision to revitalize a city you need to change it. You need to bring in companies. take the flatts they will ok 112 homes and some commersial use. how about commercial use as light industrial, office buildings and retail stores then start to build the fabric from ther outside in leave the pocket of crime and sqweeze it into a smaller circle so the cops can round them up. Then you take over the section 8 housing sell these properties to upper middle class families( white, black, hispanic it does not matter) let them restore them to there prior beauty then you can think about more housing. But any thinking person knows if you start with housing all you do is feed the monster that is section 8.; July 21, 2008 at 5:01 AM
Anonymous said...: Let me tell you how useless the Coatesville Police are!!!!! Every day in the news we see more and more about domestic violence, and how we can help the police help these victims. My step daughter is a victim. Despite having a criminal warrant and a PFA violation warrant, and given the time and address of the man threatening and harassing my step daughter, Coatesville's finest was unable to apprehend this man. This man was arrested for a drive by shooting in Coatesville!!!! My step daughter has been to the police station several times and to court several times. These so called police told her, and I quote, "We are to busy to arrest someone with a warrant.
If he was pulled over for a moving violation or a party we were called too, we could bring him in." After calling 911 on him last night, multiple Coatesville police cars followed him from my step daughters to Modina,where he is staying, but could not apprehend him, because he outran them into the house. These cops talk the talk but don't walk the walk.; July 22, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Anonymous said...: They should provide the drug dealers the addresses of those supposed three Coatesville residents that went up to Yeadon to get Janssen Fired.; July 22, 2008 at 1:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Whatever else you may think of Janssen his first and biggest step was to make it very hard to be a drug dealer in Coatesville. Under Chief Bellizzie Coatesville was beginning to come around.

The new city council came they threw out Jean Crack and Chief Bellizzie. Most of the police force and most of the city workers were replaced. Many of the new people were incompetent. Sometimes police phones don’t work because they didn’t pay the bill.

Coatesville is back sliding into the city that it was when Ernie Campos was on the city council and the drug dealers ruled the streets.; July 22, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Anonymous said...: Looks like Jansenn has Yeadon Borough convinced that he is "Da Man" I hope we get to hear about it when they fire him down the road so Coatesville can say "I told you"; July 22, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm new to Pa and a new resident of Coatesville. I read the daily local today about Yeadon and Paul Jansson and I'm confused.

I remember reading about the development coming to Coatesville when I moved in a couple years ago and I was very excited. Since he left I haven't seen much movement in Coatesville and I can't understand why.

I read in todays article about a gut named Sellers and I vaguely remember his name from the past. Didn't he have some critisms of the proposed development. Why is he opposed to Coatesville becoming a better place. Does he have any ideas that would make the development happen or is he a Problem person?

In the previous blog comment there was talk of the crime of the past and camposs. Who's he and is it true that during his time that drugs flourished. Isn't he employed by the City or something ?; July 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Two Coatesville residents were arrested recently in Ocean City for armed robbery, according to the Ocean City Dispatch.

I don't have access to the print edition of the Daily Local. Did the story make the local paper?

Besides this incident, recently there was the Coatesville woman convicted in Wilmington for murder. Should the Ocean City pair be guilty, is this just a couple more bad apples or is there a problem with the moral compass of Coatesville folks? Another Coatesville resident was arrested in Lancaster county for DUI not long ago. Coatesville's not very big any longer. What's the problem?; July 26, 2008 at 8:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Head Butted, Stole Gold Chain

OCEAN CITY – Three Coatesville, Pa. residents were arrested last week on various charges including armed robbery, assault and drug charges after head-butting a man to steal his gold chain and later getting found with drugs in their vehicle.

Around 4:20 a.m. last Thursday, OCPD officers responded to the McDonalds on 32nd Street for a reported strong-arm robbery that had just taken place. The officers met with a victim who was bleeding from the mouth and had blood all over his face. The victim told police he was walking in the restaurant parking lot when he was approached by a man who head-butted him in the face.

The victim said the man who head-butted him, later identified as Anthony Wayne Shaw, 20, was joined by another man, identified as Zachary Clyde Swisher, 19, and that the pair began punching him in the face in an attempt to steal the gold chain from around his neck. Shaw also allegedly threatened the suspect with a rock.

The two suspects were able to rip the gold chain from the victim’s neck before fleeing the scene in a vehicle driven by a white female. OCPD officers broadcast a description of the suspect vehicle and it was soon pulled over on Coastal Highway at 78th Street. The victim was brought to the traffic stop and identified Shaw and Swisher as his attackers and the two men were taken into custody.

The driver of the vehicle, Kirstan Nichole Leyda, 18, was detained but was not arrested. However, an assisting officer noticed marijuana in the vehicle and began a more thorough search, which revealed a significant amount of pot throughout the vehicle and in Leyda’s purse. Also discovered in the vehicle was a black book bag with more marijuana and paraphernalia inside. Inside the book bag was a sock containing more marijuana and small pills identified as oxycodone.

Shaw was charged with armed robbery, assault, theft, malicious destruction and various drug charges. Swisher was charged with armed robbery, assault, theft and malicious destruction of property, while Leyda was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.; July 26, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Anonymous said...: To "how useless the Coatesville police are"....So your daughter got tied up with some moron who abused her. Obviously some police officer did something because there is a warrant for the guy. What? Do you expect them to stop investigating the shootings, robberies and answering the 100 calls a day to look for him? C'mon be rational (if that's possible). You've got a police force of what...30 officers that should be more like 80 to 100 based on the crime; but they should be hunting down someone with a warrant. How many people in Coatesville do you think have active warrants right now? Plenty. I'm not saying the guy shouldn't be prosecuted. It'll happen when he gets picked up, but the world ain't gonna stop for one guy with a PFA and active warrant. Stop attacking the police. You're lucky anyone wants to work in that toilet of a city.; July 27, 2008 at 2:06 AM
Anonymous said...: And the shootings continue.........; July 27, 2008 at 3:39 AM
Anonymous said...: And the shootings continue.........; July 27, 2008 at 3:39 AM
Anonymous said...: Looks like there is no city council meeting tonight 7/28. I heard that council needed a break because they have been working too hard lately!!; July 28, 2008 at 5:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Tuesday's DLN headline didn't look to good, "Coatesville violence worse than ever" just what we needed to hear. So much for revitalization.

I know that wasn't the exact words they used but close.; July 29, 2008 at 4:01 AM
Anonymous said...: Hey does anyone know anything about the shooting on Coates St
Early monday morning in the 500 block. I live in the 500 block and have not heard one word about it. Just someone emailed me and asked me about it. I must have missed it in the DLN; July 29, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Anonymous said...: The block of 4 should be run out of town. They have taken a city that was moving forward and had a bright future, and turned it into a place that people fear to even visit. We must rid ourselves of people like them and the so called administrators that they put into jobs that they are not qualified to for. We must not allow the likes of Campos, Legree, and Sellers to ever again put people who think like then into power.; July 29, 2008 at 8:31 AM
Anonymous said...: Martial Law; July 29, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Anonymous said...: Can we please just drop a bomb downtown and start over?; July 30, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Anonymous said...: I remeber hearing that Coatesville was going to be the next up and coming town.... 5 years ago. I feel bad for all of those people who were duped into moving into those new communites around this jungle, they are probably stuck there now becuase of the drop in value.; July 30, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Anonymous said...: All the credit for Coatesville's current situation goes to:

Mr. Dick Saha
Pat (moved out of town) Sellers
Robert (Doesn't live in town) Saucier
Ernesto Camposs
Ricardo Legree

I hope they're very proud of their accomplishments; July 30, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Just FYI the DLN is reporting the shooting on the 500 block of Coates St as a "Home Invasion"
It is not like Jason Lyons was sitting in his living room drinking a hot cup of tea reading the Bible. I live in the 500 block of Coates St and we all know
he is a small time drug dealer. He brings these people into the neighborhood right across the street from his mother and down the street from his grandmother. If he wants to do that #%&* you would think he would not put his family in danger too. So if anyone is feeling sorry for this poor soul sitting in the hospital DON'T!; July 31, 2008 at 5:51 AM
Anonymous said...: To 1:26
Yes I am one of the duped ones. I moved here 5 years ago hearing all about the "revitalization of Coatesville" I thought I'm SO smart getting in on the ground floor of the next up and coming town in Chester County. Fast forward 5 years and I'm am desperatly trying to get out of Coatesville.; July 31, 2008 at 6:03 AM
Anonymous said...: this was a forum on gangs. was the chief saying gangs are following hispanics home? no. is the chief blaming the shootings of these blacks recently on hispanic gangs?no. i heard a lot about collateral damage, people being inconvenienced,etc. i heard justification for the jaywalking enforcement,(where is the data from c'ville to justify this) , a justification for stop and frisk. it's never ok to break the law to enforce the law. we need a chief to bring the city together not fester fears and violate peoples rights. we have posts here about hard working hispanics over taking the blacks and pushing out the criminal element. the hispanic gangs are the criminal element too, and most blacks are hard working. we have people not feeling sorry for someone shot in a home invasion because they say he is a drug dealer. we have people referring to c'ville as the toilet, my, my where do they live. we have people saying to bomb down town etc. none of this helps. if the police are too busy to enforce warrants , why jaywalking and frisking. the person who responded to the frustrated stepmom hopely won't have a female member of his family be in the situation. lastly i'd like to say no tolerance only makes people notd dtrust the police, not turn to them. the days of parents going to the police for scared straight are over.there is no activities for youth in c'ville, the economy is first there and in the nation. let's be a we and not a they, lets come up with ways to help, not divide. chief you are not on the right path, change your focus, change the police image. good luck; July 31, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Anonymous said...: The individuals posting on this site scare me just as much as the drug dealers and other criminals in the city. The elements of racial bais that permeate the postings on this blog indicate to me that Coatesville has significant problems that go beyond the criminal element. I am a well educated African American who lives outside the City and the ideal of running into some of the people who are posting on this blog and/or the drug dealers is quite scary to me. Both elements might become the cause of physical or emotional harm to me, one because of their criminal behavior and the other because of their ignorance about race. Elements of the minority community in the City of Coatesville are obviously participating in criminal activity and that is bad enough, but the comments on this blog remind me of racist marketing materials that might be found on a KKK website. I am not sure if it is safe to associate with anyone from the City regardless of the race of that individual. Sometimes people commit crimes just because they do, and their race is not the sole factor that caused them to commit the crime. Perhaps it is the socialization, economic status, or upbringing of that individual that is the cause of the criminal behavior. Catching and punishing the criminal is what the general public should be concerned about, not their race. I just want to be safe from criminals regardless of their race. However, perhaps the criminal can be rehabilitated with time, but many times racism permeates the soul and can never be erased. Personally, I do not want to associate with an individual who possesses so much racial bais and frankly, racist people make me feel unsafe and themselves can be criminals.; July 31, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Anonymous said...: I work in Coatesville and wait on c-ville people everyday. NOT ALL but unfortunately a lot of them are rude, disrespectful, lie, don't appreciate what I can do for them, stick things in their pocket when I turn my back, always late, don't keep their word, feel that since I work that I should give them something free, etc. etc. Again I said NOT ALL but a LOT of them, and I'm sure this goes on in other towns too, so it's not just here. but it is sad. And the whole time I just smile and try to be polite!; July 31, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Anonymous said...: anonymous @ 6:22 pm
You shouldn't make the assumption that the racist comments in this blog come from residents of Coatesville. I suspect that a good many are not.

And, of course, note that these people hide behind the cloak of anonymity to make their venal statements. They're cowards.

Folks make a lot of comments about Coatesville, and God knows, it has problems -- perhaps insurmountable problems in my opinion.

But one has to wonder if anonymous blogs like this serve any real useful purpose other than letting a bunch of small-minded individuals rant and rave.

What would be so wrong with having signed opinions?; August 1, 2008 at 7:32 AM
Anonymous said...: Excellent points from both

July 31, 2008 6:22 PM
&
August 1, 2008 7:32 AM

Coatesville is in a prime location for revitilization and it will eventually happen but at what expense?

Wow it's the 12th and there's no new topic on here.; August 12, 2008 at 7:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Things usually have to get worse before they get better. They can't get much worse in Coatesville, so it has to go the other way soon!; August 13, 2008 at 2:55 AM
Anonymous said...: Revitalization is starting, slowly in Coatesville, but has little to do with the city council or revitalization board.

Congrats to the opening of the new Brandywine Health Center.

A block away a new Wallgreens will be built. The Zoning Hearinb Board will hear the case for Wallgreens on Tuesday, August 19 at 6:00 pm. Plan to attend in the city council chambers if you have interest in hearing about this projece.

At the same meeting a public hearing will be had about a 15 unit apartment building for 220 E. Chestnut (next to the Post Office).

Talk about a supermarket or housing on the flats is interesting, but things are happening that should be lifted up.

whatever happened to the project at rt 82 and Rt 340? That was supposed to start construction in July.

God bless Coatesville. Please!; August 13, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Anonymous said...: That's one thing we don't need, more apts. on Chestnut St. It's congested enough now with the post office traffic. I heard the family dollar and the state store are moving to 3rd and Lincoln hwy. (JC Penny's building). due to Walgreen's chasing them out. Maybe we have started the domino effect!; August 14, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Anonymous said...: I hear Jon Tuleya is gone. Guess there won't be any new blogs for a while; August 17, 2008 at 5:41 AM
Anonymous said...: Ok, your are right, that's why Kristin shook that young fellow's hand at the last city council meeting. He was the new reporter. Jon wasn't there. Somebody will have to school him on keeping up with the blog!; August 18, 2008 at 3:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Glad to see they arrested 20 knuckleheads today, problem is there will be 20 more that move up to replace them. Let's not wait a year to make some more arrests! keep the pace up!; August 20, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Once upon a time there was a blog with no moderator....and a City full of issues to be discussed.; August 21, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Anonymous said...: I agree, who needs more apartments.; August 25, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, I guess this site is officially dead. R.I.P. It was good while it lasted!; September 3, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Anonymous said...: anyone see an agenda for tonight?; September 8, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Anonymous said...: I heard they fire one of the Codes officers..; September 12, 2008 at 7:21 AM
Anonymous said...: Well here is great news! I sold my house in the fair city of Coatesville and I'm getting the
Hell out of here. I moved here 5 years ago from WC on the hope of Coatesville being the next up and coming place in Chester county and I was SO wrong. So now watch my dust next week as I head to New England.
Best of luck to those left behind to fend for themselves. and get out if you can!!!; September 17, 2008 at 4:57 AM
Anonymous said...: Isn't it time for us to find out about the real Fern Kaufman?

Fern Kaufman an openly gay candidate authored an open letter to the queertimes, indicating her adamant support of Gay Marriage. She asked those readers to help her put forth those values.

Are these your values? The values you want promoted to your children?

here's the article: http://www.queertimes.net/gpage1.html; October 22, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Anonymous said...: Wake-up all you writers. The people in Coatesville do not want to work and would not work no matter what you do to help the economic crisis. Kick them out or just like the New England bound man said, all you working citizens, sell and get out and let them fend for themselves in their own dirt.; November 19, 2008 at 5:24 AM
Anonymous said...: THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM IN COATESVILLE WITH THE DRUGS AND A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING ELSE. NO MATTER WHAT THE PEOPLE OF COATESVILLE DO UNLESS THE LAWS CHANGE ITS ONLY GOING TO GET WORST. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE I NS NEEDS TO COME INTO COATESVILLE AND START ASKING MEXICANS FOR THEIR VISAS BECAUSE ALOT OF THEM DO NOT HAVE THEM AND THEY ALL LIVE IN A 2 OR 3 BEDROOM APARTMENT WITH ABOUT 16 PEOPLE NOW IS THAT FAIR TO THE REST OF US WHOM ARE SINGLE PARENTS AND HAVE TO PAY RENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE . WHY ISN'T THE CITY LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS, OH I FORGOT THEY DON'T HAVE A CODES OFFICER THEY GOT RID OF HIM TOO.; December 10, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Anonymous said...: there are alot of gangs in coatesville the kids that go to the cash aren't allowed to wear certain colors are they get beat up for wearing a color of the gang if they are not in it like the color red or yellow, you have sur-13 you have the crips ,bloods southside you have so many and the reason i know this is because my kids go to cash and they tell me why can't the school do anything about this and why can't our police do anything? i guess becuse they say that they have broken no laws but to write on peoples property is breaken the law.kids have no respect for anyone and that includes the police .; December 10, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...: http://www.whyshouldtheystop.com; May 10, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Anonymous said...: The crips just beat beat up a mexican in the back alley on 8th avenue for $139.00; April 30, 2011 at 8:55 PM

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