Costello: Letter contained falsehoods

Normally I choose not to respond when someone writes false things about me in a letter to the DLN.

But I was quite surprised to see Mayor-Elect Diane Herrin’s husband, Stan, attacking me in the DLN for participating in the West Chester Holiday parade. I was invited to participate in the parade and I enjoy sharing holiday wishes and shaking hands with constituents.

Should other shoppers and tenants in West Chester Borough, like myself, now fear nasty editorials written by the mayor’s spouse simply for participating in community events?

Stan Herrin wrote that he watched me “furtively exit the parade early due to fears about the crowd ahead.”

That sounds creepy Stan, and it’s a false and deranged thing to say. What I’m about to write should matter to no one, except for having to rebut Stan’s statement.

So here it is - I walked 10 of 14 blocks of the parade, then jogged over to the QVC cameras, at their invite, so I could share with their global TV audience how thankful we all were to the sponsors, volunteers and participants for creating a magical holiday moment and displaying the Borough in a special light to the entire world.

Stan Herrin then insinuates he doesn’t believe the number of townhalls I’ve done and that, regardless, the attendees were “cherry picked.”

Actually Stan, everyone who registered has been welcomed into the townhall.

He then goes on to defend protesters sitting in my office for OVER FOUR HOURS, eating pizza on the floor, videotaping my staff when a sign states it’s prohibited, singing songs loudly and being rude to my staff, preventing my staff from answering phones and doing constituent services.

Does the Mayor’s husband encourage this type of behavior from “peaceful, highly engaged” constituents in all Borough stores and offices?

Or just public for them to disrupt employees in the Borough Hall administrative offices, the library, and school offices?

Also, how would Stan Herrin know why I left a parade, why would it matter anyway, what weird and creepy reason compels him to write an LTE about it, and why does the DLN deem it appropriate for print?

While Mr Herrin certainly needs no help embarrassing himself (and the mayor elect for that matter) with his attacks on those participating in Borough parades, or defending and perhaps even encouraging folks to disrupt offices throughout Borough, how are readers to know if he’s peddling falsehoods unless I take the time to rebut it?

And how does the Mayorelect feel about her husband exhibiting an abusive attitude toward tenants in the borough, such as myself, who attend community events because they enjoy participating in them?

Or perhaps she shares it given her rude behavior toward my staff over the past year? Stan Herrin owes an apology. His deranged diatribe has no place in a public newspaper. Congressman Ryan Costello, R6th Dist.

County needs Code Blue

Intense cold has gripped our area, making traveling and outdoor activities a challenge.

But, as I sit in my warm home in front of a blazing fire, I cannot help but think of those who do not have shelter at all or shelter with little or no heat.

Philadelphia declares a code blue during extreme cold which means city resources are mobilized to reach out and help the city’s most vulnerable citizens. It is not a solution to homelessness or poverty, but the intervention saves lives.

I live in Chester County, one of the top 25 wealthiest counties in the United States.

And yet our county fails to enact a code blue plan to provide shelter and/or resources for our homeless and vulnerable. Resources are available but no plan for distribution or coordination.

I call on our county commissioners and elected officials to work with county-wide social services and non-profits to create and implement an emergency cold weather plan to provide shelter and warmth to our residents in need. Charlotte Valyo

Phoenixville