Mayor's Message 2/2/2002

Mayor’s Message
February 2nd, 2022  

Good evening.  Here’s a few updates for our Upper Darby community:

As part of a new partnership between the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation and Upper Darby Township, scholarships to the Upper Darby Summer Stage program will be granted by the township to residents between the ages of 10 and 18 for up to 500 Children. Harry Dietzler and I are finalizing the application forms for Summer Stage 2022 scholarships and those forms will be posted to the township site as well as the official Summer Stage site, summerstage.udfoundation.org. 

The walk-up COVID-19 testing site opened last week in Municipal Lot #1, right across the street from here. Appointments are encouraged but not mandatory and are available between 9am and 5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as Tuesday and Thursday until 6:30pm. They can be scheduled by visiting testpa.online. The site is part of our continuous efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and also highlights our ongoing commitment to equity and access by creating a convenient walk-up option for Upper Darby residents.. 

Tonight, the architecture firm JMT will give a presentation on the UD Community Center as part of a land development resolution that is on tonight’s agenda. As plans for the center begin to move forward, I would like to emphasize how much of an impact this space would have for Upper Darby residents. Our kids need a safe place to play and learn after school and we need real programming for residents of all ages. This will be UD’s first full-fledged community center and it represents real reinvestment. It will send the signal that Upper Darby is a forward-looking destination community for families and businesses alike.

On tonight's agenda is the amended American Rescue Plan budget. The proposed budget is currently in line with the federal government’s guidelines for funding usage and addresses many quality-of- life issues of Upper Darby residents. This proposal offers support to non-profits dealing with the growing mental health and homelessness crisis, vaccine incentives for employees, massive repairs and upgrades to stormwater and sewer infrastructure, and millions of dollars to replace lost revenue as a result of the pandemic. Also, it allocates funding throughout all our departments for essential workers bonuses, open space purchases, and small business grants. This funding is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reinvest in Upper Darby, so our residents and businesses can flourish in a cleaner, safer community.  This is the same ARPA budget as was presented at the public meeting on January 

Yesterday, February 1st, began Black History Month. I would like to read this proclamation in honor of this: 

WHEREAS, During Black History Month, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions made by Black Americans to our economic, cultural, spiritual and political development; and 

WHEREAS, We must recognize and pay tribute to the generations of individuals who struggled with adversity, risked their lives for justice, fought a fight that at times seemed impossible to win, and continue to fight for equality and the American Dream; and

WHEREAS, observing Black History Month provides opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of African American history and acknowledge the centuries of struggles for equality and freedom; and  

WHEREAS ,Black Americans are engaged throughout our society as our friends and neighbors, scholars, teachers, business people, community leaders, and contributors to our Upper Darby quality of life; and 

WHEREAS, Upper Darby strives to close the equity and outcome gaps for Black American residents through policies and practices that reflect the experiences of Black American residents, ensure greater access and opportunity and honor history, heritage, and contributions; and 

WHEREAS, we are immensely proud of that history and our diversity as well as thankful foAs pr the countless contributions of Black Americans in Upper Darby Township and throughout this nation; this month, and throughout the year, we urge our residents to celebrate that heritage and continue to fight for equality and opportunity for all. 

NOW, THEREFORE I, Barbarann Keffer, Mayor of Upper Darby Township, do hereby proclaim the  month of February of 2022, as

Black History Month 

in Upper Darby and urge our community to recognize the vast history and culture of Black Americans. 

____________________

Barbarann Keffer, Mayor

Upper Darby Township

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Thank you and have a good evening.