Chambersburg under siege by drugs, booze, violence
A Catholic priest roughed up during a botched robbery attempt had been expected to return to work yesterday as violence, crime and other social indicators spiraled downward in Chambersburg.
Father Cesar Rubiano of Saint Joachim Church-Our Lady of the Angels Parish suffered cuts, bruises and a broken nose during a Feb. 13 attack that occurred on Bayard St. within shadows of the Chambersburg church. Police arrested Efrain Calvente, 41, just hours after the incident.
Father Rubiano showed a bloody face when he flagged down police officers after Calvente allegedly failed in an attempt to take a watch off the wrist of the clergyman. A police report alleged that Calvente first asked the priest for money. Father Rubiano said he hand none. Next, police said Calvente gestured as if had a gun but the priest refused to hand over the watch. Rubiano fell to the ground as Calvente ran off toward Butler St.
Remember that address as this column focuses on mounting public safety issues in Chambersburg, a former proud Italian enclave currently under siege by scoundrels, drug addicts, drunks, prostitutes. unscrupulous landlords and many tenants who could not give a rat’s ass about being clean.
By the way, a Father Rubiano friend said the watch had been a gift from former Catholic Diocese of Trenton Bishop John Mortimer Fourette Smith. “No way was he giving that up,” the friend said.
Amazingly, the Father Rubiano attack and failed robbery attracted minimal public response regarding a pervasive lawlessness that envelops not only Chambersburg but the entire city. Unfortunately, violence and filth have morphed into expected behavior categories. Meanwhile, public intoxication on Bayard St. faces no law enforcement pushback while prostitutes roam South Clinton Ave. These antisocial behaviors should never gain tolerance although lack of police response draws parallels to former HBO smash “The Wire” when police chief Bunny Colvin established three drugs-tolerance “free zones” in blighted areas of Baltimore.
Saturday night delivered more crime as a man smashed a window of Italian Peoples Bakery on Butler St. then reached into steal “about 17 packs of cigarettes,” Matt Guagliardo, who runs the family bakery with his father, Carmen. “It’s the first incident we’ve had in about 17 years although someone tried to smash the window about two weeks ago. The brick just bounced off the window and the guy ran off.”
Second time proved successful although Guagliardo considered the incident more “nuisance” than catastrophe. Make no mistake about Chambersburg though, it’s in serious decline and could tilt toward ruin if city officials fail to take steps to reverse current trends. By the way, domestic violence ratchets up in homes here and many assaults, robberies and burglaries go unreported as a fair amount of victims reside as undocumented and fear dealing with police.
Readers know how many times the alarm has been sounded for a dying Chambersburg, winnable only with conversations followed by a game plan for strict no tolerance rules regarding residences, businesses and residents. A personal sanity exists because our street in Chambersburg remains impressive as most neighbors care about the neighborhood.
Still, landlords rent properties without obtaining certificates of occupancy (COOs) and others hide out as liars, losers and cheats (LLCs). Sure city officials responded to the emergencies that involved Art All Night issues but next to nothing materializes for the other 364 days of the year.
Believe me, Chambersburg can be saved and is worth saving although we have reached a crucial time in this community. East Ward Councilman Joseph Harrison, Mayor Reed Gusciora, Police Director Sheilah Coley and all city departments need a plan on moving forward in Chambersburg.
For now, just to keep my mouth shut for a day or two, please remove all drunks and prostitutes from Bayard St. and South Clinton Ave.