Oxford Area Chamber holds legislative breakfast with political leaders
10/02/2024 03:06PM ● By Gabbie BurtonBy Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer
The Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Legislative Breakfast at Lincoln University on Sept. 26, a gathering that provided area elected officials with the opportunity to share updates about recent policy and projects they are working on and issues that will be facing federal, state and county governments over the next year.
Those attending the event included Sen. Carolyn Comitta, Rep. John Lawrence and Chester County Commissioners Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Eric Roe, as well as students from Oxford Area High School and Avon Grove Charter School. Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Douglas Fasick, the chamber’s government relations committee chair.
“We like to have an event where we have all of our political elected officials attend,” Fasick said, “but what really makes our legislative breakfast special is the fact that we have so many students come from Oxford and Avon Grove Charter Schools.”
Leading off, Sen. Comitta provided the audience with updates regarding Pennsylvania’s new Main Street Matters Program, which secures $20 million in grants for communities to develop and support their downtown areas; her recent involvement with Oxford SILO; and addressed concerns about Big Elk Creek State Park.
Comitta also presented the Oxford Library Board with a citation from the Pennsylvania Senate to celebrate the library’s 240-year anniversary.
“The Oxford Library is the oldest library in Chester County,” Comitta said. “So, on behalf of the entire common commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Oxford community, congratulations on 240 years, opening your doors, opening minds and possibilities.”
Rep. Lawrence then gave updates on the topics he and his office have been focusing on, that include improving road conditions through PennDOT; Christiana Care’s plans for Jennersville Hospital and the growing concern for Big Elk Creek State Park and Chester Water Authority (CWA) developments.
“I think it's important that we re-designate [Big Elk Creek State Park] as part of the preserve, so that everyone – particularly on the DCNR side of things, on the state level, very far away from here – recognizes what this is all about and why it’s special and unique and needs to be treated as such,” he said.
Lawrence concluded his statements by giving a brief overview on the City of Chester’s bankruptcy and the receiver’s efforts to acquire CWA before encouraging community members to get involved and stay updated on these developments.
“This is an issue of concern for you,” he said. “I would encourage you to reach out to the governor's office to make sure he knows where you stand on this issue, because at the end of the day, these folks do report up. They are state employees of the executive branch.”
County Commissioner Josh Maxwell also spoke about the incoming Christiana Care micro-hospital in Jennersville and reminded attendees that the county is an investor in that project.
“We use your tax money to help get it reopened with Christiana Care,” he said.
Maxwell also shared that the county is increasing investment in farm preservation.
“We're launching a new kind of structure, and we’re bringing more volunteers and more money into farm preservation in Chester County,” he said. “We realize that if we don't do it now, we're never going to get the chance again.”
Maxwell mentioned specific task forces and positions established to help the county’s goals in farm preservations including a board that focuses on workforce development, a finance task force and a full-time staffer whose job is to solely promote farms in Chester County.
Maxwell concluded his statements by thanking Lincoln University for hosting the event. Maxwell, who teaches a class at Lincoln University, also reminded attendees that Oxford is Lincoln’s “college town.”
“Oxford is what they’re going to remember the rest of their life, so I’m just going to encourage you, as you get to know these kids, to teach them about Oxford.”
Commissioner Moskowitz highlighted that while Chester County is the wealthiest in the state, there is still struggle within the county that must be addressed.
“We get all these accolades for being the healthiest, the wealthiest and all these other things that we do so well but please don't forget, there are people that need help everywhere across our county,” she said. “We are the wealthiest but that causes problems such as affordable housing and attainable housing.”
Moskowitz stated that the median rent in the county has increased by over 35 percent in the last eight years and that the median home value has increased by 14 percent. In order to address rising housing costs, she said that the county is involved in the House America Initiative where they are one third of the way toward their goal of creating 1,000 units of affordable housing in Chester County over the next ten years.
County Commissioner Roe focused his statements on safety and security in the county including efforts to train and incentivize more people to join emergency services workforces. He also noted the importance of improving communication between law enforcements in the county.
During the question-and-answer period of the breakfast, one attendee who worked in real estate asked about the seemingly contradictory efforts to both preserve open space and build more affordable housing.
“I cannot figure out how open space and the growth of Chester County can work,” he said. “I need houses, but I also need open space, and I know you all are dealing with it and you talked about it, but I don’t see the answer.”
Sen. Comitta responded by saying that there is no easy answer to this issue but that everyone was working on this issue and collaborating on it.
Oxford Area School Board member Tenille Dewees asked legislators about their perceived lack of support for funding southern Chester County schools, specifically mentioning the county’s overall wealth but the Oxford Area School District’s comparatively minimal state funding.
“I don’t know that all of our local representatives fully support bringing our school budgets in line with the rest of the state,” she said. “I just worry that we’re not seeing enough strong support from our leadership in this area.”
Rep. Lawrence asked if he was the one the question was directed at which Dewees confirmed, and in his response, he said that he has rendered a “No” vote on the last two year’s state budgets because the budgets were spending more than the state was bringing in.
“I cannot support a state budget that spends $2 billion more than we’re bringing in,” Lawrence said. “It’s not fiscally sustainable.”
Lawrence said that he “very strongly” supports the three school districts he represents and that he also supports the “other educational options we have in this community,” referencing charter schools.
“I am committed to our school districts and committed to parents,” he said. “We need to get our fiscal house in order in Harrisburg.”