Shootings prompt mayor’s call for action
Mayor Stephanie Henrick found her “Christmas miracle” right here in Pottstown.
Reflecting on the recent rash of shootings in the First Ward, one of which resulted in a murder charge, Henrick devoted her monthly “Mayor’s Report” at Dec. 5’s borough council meeting — traditionally a litany of the mayor’s activities for the month — instead to what can be done to stem the violence.
And her advice, advice she herself followed as news of the violence weighed on her, is to get involved in your community.
And she found her inspiration for this advice with a group called, appropriately enough, Pottstown Community Action.
“When you see this kind of senseless violence, not just in Pottstown, but all over the world, it can be overwhelming. And you start to lose faith that there’s solutions to these issues. You start thinking that maybe this is just how the world is now and you just have to deal with it,” Henrick said.
In addition to the seemingly endless mass shootings in schools, malls and all over the country, Henrick indicated the crop of shooting incidents in Pottstown at the end of November, were taking their toll on her spirit.
• It began on Nov. 18, when a home invasion on North Washington Street resulted in 38-year-old Sylvia Williams being shot and killed through her bedroom door as she and a companion tried to keep the invaders out.
Those invaders, according to police, were 18-yearold Aaron Joseph Taylor of West Second Street, and 17-year-old Camren X. Williams of North Franklin Street, who will be prosecuted as an adult.
Taylor has been charged with second-degree murder. The 17-year-old juvenile has been charged with homicide, robbery and conspiracy for allegedly participating in the home invasion.
• Ten days later, police were again called to the First Ward where a nighttime shooting of a man on North Evans Street near Union Alley In addition to the victim, at least two homes were hit by gunfire. The Nov. 28 incident remains under investigation.
• The next day, police were again called to North Evans Street, this time to the 400 block, for another shooting victim. Except this time, the victim was shot in the rural Chester County township of Warwick, but for reasons which remain unclear, came to Pottstown before being discovered.
This incident also remains under investigation.
Henrick, whose primary official responsibility as mayor is to oversee the police department, sought comfort and a course of action by meeting with people who are working to make things better.
“I went back to the place where I fell in love with our community. I went to a Pottstown Community Action meeting this week, and I asked for their input on what, if anything, we can do about these problems,” she said. “And in Pottstown Community Action, I found my Christmas miracle.”
Pottstown Community Action is a volunteer, neighborhood organization focused primarily in the First Ward that works to improve conditions there. It meets on the first Monday of the month at Victory Christian Life Center at the corner of King and North Washington streets, according to its Facebook page.
Henrick said “the members of Pottstown Community Action are going to work with us to start a mentoring program to provide support to at-risk youth.”
She was re-inspired by the reaction. “While these crimes are not unique to Pottstown, I feel like there is a positive spirit and sense of community that is unique to Pottstown,” Henrick said.
“Everyone in Pottstown Community Action lives in the neighborhood affected by these crimes. These are not affluent individuals, and yet they still open their homes to those less fortunate than themselves,” said Henrick. “They have not lost faith in a better Pottstown or a better world.”
She said that is a lesson worth remembering during the holidays.
“It’s a reminder to me that we as a community are not powerless in the face of insurmountable problems. There is always something that can be done. And there is always something that anyone can do,” she said.
“So I thank Pottstown Community Action for that, and I urge others in the community to follow suit and get involved. There are many people in the community who feel the same way you do and are willing to help,” Henrick said. “So as it is the season of giving, I would urge everyone to give something back to the community this month.”