City Avenue Special Services (CASS)

     When I first heard the proposal for CASS, I questioned my long time high school friends Joe Manko and Lita Cohen.  I could not understand their enthusiasm for creating this political haven for politicians who had no other job or job prospects. They were unable to explain their rationales then, and they still can't.  Their premise was that there would be a decrease in crime, an increase in property values, and we would all get together, hold hands, and applaud.

     As far as I can tell, there are still bank robberies, store hold ups, house break-ins, car thefts, and beggars.  Just check the police blotter every week.  The men and women in their red jackets ride their bicycles up and down the streets, and sign in and check in at the stores.  Big deal!!!  I asked them what they do and they bragged that they give directions to people who ask them.  Another big deal!!!  I do that all the time and I don't wear a red jacket or get paid by this boondoggle.

     More of my anger has surfaced since the CASS hired Miller Brothers Electric of Conshohocken to put in new lamps and lighting on Bala Avenue.  Seems harmless enough even though the company is not a Lower Merion Company.  But, in the course of their street and electrical work, they damaged our house.  The house shook violently, the walls in the kitchen cracked, I ran outside to ask them to stop, they didn't.  A few days later, 3 people from the company came into our house to "explain" what they were doing, as if that would magically stop the vibrating, and fix the cracks in our walls.  Our LM Commissioner was here too.  He heard and felt the vibrations and saw the damage.

     Seems, like this should be a simple fix; however, our insurance company, Allstate with whom we have had our policies for 50 years, and who we have paid for 50 years, said that we are not covered.  And, since CASS hired Miller Brothers Electric and not Lower Merion Township, our community representatives are trying to deny responsibility.

     We have been tax payers, in our same house, since 1969.  What gives?  And, every  year, we receive a letter from CASS saying that if we are the owner/occupiers of our house, we don't have to pay CASS any additional money.  That's good.  I don't see what CASS is doing to deserve any money or any more good feelings or cooperation from Lower Merion.  Lita Cohen and Joe Manko have removed themselves from representing Lower Merion.  Now it's time for the new representatives to remove Lower Merion from CASS.