Mayor's Message 5/5/2021

Mayor’s Message
May 5, 2021

Good evening everyone,

A couple of updates...

This Saturday, Upper Darby residents are invited to bring confidential shredding materials and E-waste, such as unwanted laptops, cell phones, and other personal devices, to the Identity Theft Protection Event at Upper Darby High School. It will start at 9 am and go until 12 pm or the trucks are full. Per COVID-19 safety protocols, please keep a distance of 6 feet from others and wear a mask at all times. There is a limit of two boxes of shredding materials per vehicle, and please note that we are not able to accept televisions at this event.  

Following up on my previous comments about the Zoning Hearing Board and the proposed development of the Thompson Tract, I have seen the full presentation including the gift of over 3 acres to the township as real open space (and not undeveloped private land) and while we would like to see new housing inventory and environmentally conscience development, my Administration does not support this project at this time. That being said, the ZHB is a quasi-judicial, independent body comprised of Upper Darby residents that hears each application (and anyone is able to submit an application to the Zoning Hearing Board) and makes decisions based on the merits of each application. As Mayor, I do not dictate how the ZHB votes. The ZHB exists to provide checks and balances so that all applicants are assured a fair process.  One of the many pluses of looking at and thinking about this project resulted in my submission to PennDOT to do a safety study focused on the stretch of Providence Road that encompasses the Thompson Tract and the Penn Pines and Hilldale neighborhoods.  I look forward to hearing PennDOT’s findings and recommendations.

My office has been contacted by a non-profit organization called Forum Philly with a request to support the Delaware County Juneteenth Observance and Community Fair that is being planned for Saturday, June 19, at Upper Darby High School. We are pleased to support this event, which is intended to celebrate African American culture and history and which is permitted through the school district, and we encourage Upper Darby residents and organizations to do so as well. Please direct any questions about this event to Reverend Doctor Malcolm Byrd via email at forumphilly@gmail.com. 

It is my honor to issue two proclamations this evening; the first is in recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which is May 2 through May 8.

WHEREAS, because good mental health is a vital component in a child’s overall development and well-being, Children’s Mental Health Week provides the opportunity to focus on this important matter, while celebrating the accomplishments of children and families affected by mental health concerns; and

WHEREAS, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 children between ages 2 and 8 is diagnosed with a mental health condition; and

WHEREAS, research has shown that the early identification and appropriate treatment of mental health disorders among children and adolescents provide them with better opportunities to lead full and productive lives; and

WHEREAS, children and adolescents with mental health challenges and their families benefit from access to timely services and support systems that are family-driven, youth-guided and culturally appropriate; they also benefit from the integration of behavioral health in primary care, education, and child welfare; and

WHEREAS, it is important that children and adolescents, along with their families and communities, learn about warning signs of mental health disorders and where to obtain necessary assistance and treatment; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that schools, health care providers, families, and the community at large work together to erase the stigma that may accompany mental health challenges in children and adolescents;

NOW, THEREFORE I, Barbarann Keffer, Mayor, do hereby proclaim May 2 – 8, 2021 as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week in Upper Darby Township and encourage my fellow residents to recognize and participate in its observance.

The second proclamation is in recognition of May 2021 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

WHEREAS, The heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders was initially honored by the federal government in 1978. In 1992, the recognition of their heritage was expanded to a month-long observance in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have histories and cultures that are thousands of years old; and

WHEREAS, the month of May was chosen to commemorate the first recorded immigration of people from Japan to the United States in May 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, by a majority of Chinese immigrant workers who laid the tracks; and

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have enriched our social, intellectual, and artistic life in the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made valuable contributions to all areas of life in Delaware County, including government, business, arts and sciences, medicine, education, law enforcement, and the military; and

WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month helps us to appreciate the diversity of our residents in Upper Darby; and by recognizing their contributions to our community, we acknowledge the importance of inclusion as we strive to create a better future for everyone; and

WHEREAS, while all ethnic groups have made significant contributions to our country, the recent dramatic spike in violence and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for awareness of the discrimination they are facing on a daily basis.  

NOW, THEREFORE I, Barbarann Keffer, Mayor of Upper Darby Township, do hereby proclaim May 2021 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Upper Darby Township, and I urge the entire community to recognize and participate in its observance.

Yesterday, Governor Tom Wolf announced that current COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective Memorial Day, May 31. Once Pennsylvania reaches a 70% vaccination rate among adults, the mask mandate will be lifted as well. If you have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, please call 484-276-2100 or visit www.delcopa.gov/vax to register for an appointment. It is vitally important that everyone gets vaccinated as soon as possible so that we can get back so we can get back to life without masks. If you need to schedule an appointment and are having any difficulty doing so, please email mayor@upperdarby.org or call 610-734-7625. We are all in this together, and we are here to help.   

Speaking of help, it is my pleasure to thank everyone associated with the Upper Darby Summer Stage program who has worked so hard to make it possible to offer opportunities for children to attend this summer.   

Thank you and have a great evening.