DV Journal

Organized groups of Nigerian cybercriminals are contacting American kids via social media and gaming, befriending them, and exchanging nude photos with them. When they have the American child’s likeness, they blackmail them, demanding money.

That was just one of the disturbing revelations during a hearing on cybersecurity in Northampton Monday, convened by Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran.

“The safety of our children in this digital world is number one,” said Harran. “Our kids live online. They learn, socialize, and play in a digital space empowered by smartphones in their pockets. But this constant connectivity comes with significant risks.”

Harran held the hearing to spur legislation to bolster digital literacy and shield children from online harm. Harran said the Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices will launch a pilot program with Bucks County school districts to enhance digital safety.

Also participating in the hearing were state Reps. Joe Hogan (R-Penndel) and Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro), along with District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. Northampton Police Chief Steven LeCompte and Supervisor Adam Selisker also attended.

Schorn said there are two categories of perpetrators: Those who prey on children for their own sexual gratification and the sextortioners who target teens and young adults.

“This is truly a criminal organized enterprise, where they’re targeting victims to exploit them for their financial gain,” said Schorn. “It is so organized… It’s so swift that we’re seeing catastrophic outcomes when children take their own lives because they don’t see a way out.”

Graeme Page, founder of Skyll and a board member of the Safe Surfin’ Foundation, testified that he started a social media marketing company at the age of 11 and went on to work with Disney and Warner Bros. When he was 17, his girlfriend, “out of the blue,” committed suicide. It turned out she was the victim of sextortion on Instagram.

“It opened my eyes that social media is not a safe place. There’s a negative underbelly to it. It drove me to create Skyll to protect kids across the country and the world who are facing these crimes,” Page said.

“Kids today are targeted by these organized crime groups, often in Nigeria,” said Page. “These organized crime groups use algorithms to target kids systematically.”

Page said organized Nigerian criminals have increased sextortion by 1,000 percent in the last 18 months.

He described the strategies used by the scammers, like sending a flirtatious message while pretending to be a peer or someone from their school.

“And they say, ‘I think you’re cute.’ They start sexting, flirting, and they encourage the kids to send them a nude photo after sending one of their own, which is often fake. The kid does. Then they turn around and say, ‘I have your photo. Now I’m going to blackmail you for $800, and if you don’t pay it, I’m going to send it to everyone in your school, your family, your friends.”

“This is an epidemic that’s affecting our kids horribly,” Page said, adding: “These were kids reaching out to us at the worst moment of their lives.”

Page worked closely with the state of West Virginia to pass legislation to mandate cyber safety education for all kids.

West Virginia State Sen. Vince Deeds said the new law requires online safety be taught to all public students.

“It’s a crisis situation for our children,” said Deeds, a former state trooper and the chief investigator for the Greenbrier County Prosecutor’s Office. “We really hope this will make a difference for some of our most vulnerable victims, our children.”

Hogan told DV Journal he may sponsor a bill based on West Virginia’s. He believes it will have bipartisan support, noting that Sen. John Kane (D-Delaware) had previously proposed a similar bill.

A law that increased the penalty for those who sextort people, causing them to harm themselves or commit suicide, that was sponsored by Rep. K.C. Tomlinson (R-Bensalem) was named in honor of Lindsey Piccone, 22, a victim of sextortion who died by suicide. Gov. Tom Wolf (D) signed it into law in 2022.

“My bill increased penalties for predators who commit this online crime. When I was growing up, I had never even heard of the word sextortion. Today, we live in a different world and, unfortunately, these incidents happen all too often,” said Tomlinson, who could not attend the hearing.

Skyll developed a program called “Deputy” that kids can talk to, an internet 911, that is “peer-to-peer based on AI twins, designed to feel like a support buddy,” he said.

Working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber tipline, they’re able to use a program to take down nude photos being used to sextort kids. “The take-it-down tool is an incredibly powerful piece of software,” he said. The child uploads the photo that is being used against them. The photo is turned into a “hash value” that is sent out to Instagram, Snapchat and “even porn sites.”

All the participating sites look for that hash value and put a block on it so it can’t be seen, shared or spread, “essentially rendering it useless for the blackmailer.”

Hogan said it was very troubling to hear about the overseas groups targeting children.

“That is a whole different scale from what I was prepared to hear about today,” said Hogan.

(From a press release)

Reps. Kathleen “K.C.” Tomlinson (R-Bucks), Joe Hogan (R-Bucks), Thomas Kutz (R-Cumberland) and Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) today announced a package of legislation focused on exempting from the state sales tax items necessary in the everyday lives of Pennsylvania families.

Marcell has proposed legislation that would exempt school supplies from the sales tax. Current law exempts school supplies when purchased by a school district or nonprofit educational institution, and this legislation would expand that to include all other purchasers.

“As inflation continues to hit every Pennsylvanian, we are seeing multiple key items for school-age children skyrocket in price,” said Marcell. “Exempting school supplies like folders, pencil cases, graphing calculators and more from the sales tax will have immediate benefits to the pocketbooks of parents across the state.”

Proposed legislation from Kutz would exempt cribs, crib mattresses and strollers from the sales tax. He is also proposing legislation that would exempt children’s books, library books, children’s toys and youth sports equipment from the sales tax.

“One of the things I hear the most about from families is how the cost of child care and raising a family are overwhelming,” said Kutz. “We can do more to make Pennsylvania the best place to live, work and raise a family by easing these financial burdens. These tax cuts are just one way we can support families as their children grow here in Pennsylvania.”

Hogan’s proposed legislation would have baby car seats and booster seats exempted from the sales tax, as well as baby bottles, nipples and teethers. The latter exemptions add on to Act 25 of 2021, which exempted breast feeding supplies from the sales tax. This proposal would exempt similar supplies used for formula-fed babies from the sales tax. Further, this legislation would exempt baby teethers, which are critical for babies undergoing the teething process.

“Over the last year I have experienced the many challenges that come from growing a family. Providing financial relief from the sales tax will make it more affordable to raise a child and help working families across Pennsylvania,” said Hogan.

Tomlinson has proposed legislation that would exempt all types of pet food from the sales tax.

“As someone who has multiple pets and considers them family, it made sense to include our furry friends in the introduction of this package,” said Tomlinson. “Making pet food exempt from the sales tax will limit some of the cost. This is something I think will be helpful not only for young families but also our seniors. Hopefully this may even encourage more Pennsylvania families to welcome a new pet into their lives.”

The lawmakers said by creating an exemption for these items, Pennsylvania families will be able to better afford the necessary supplies and goods needed on a daily basis.

(From a press release)

Sen. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) and Reps. Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro) and Joe Hogan (R-Feasterville) announced that the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) has approved the Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority’s request for a low interest loan of $9,434,574 for a wastewater project.

With the funding, the authority will rehabilitate part of their collection and conveyance system – which serves more than 13,000 residents in Northampton Township in Bucks County – using cured-in-place pipe lining.

“I am pleased to see this substantial funding awarded to Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority,” said Farry. “This is a necessary investment that will ultimately protect the health and well-being of the residents of Northampton Township and the surrounding communities.”

The collection system was constructed between 1973 and 1980 with pipes made of vitrified clay, which are defective due to aging. Infiltration and inflow during wet weather events result in a significant increase in the base flow, overwhelming the pump stations, and leading to sanitary sewer overflows into the Ironworks Creek, a tributary to the Neshaminy Creek.

“This low interest loan will help support infrastructure challenges in Northampton Township,” said Marcell. “By upgrading the wastewater system, we’re protecting our local waterways, supporting public health and ensuring our community’s infrastructure is equipped to meet future demands. I’m proud to partner with Sen. Farry on this important project for our residents.”

The project includes lining 49,000 feet of sewer mains and 729 laterals as well as installing a new sewer cleanout at each property, intended to eliminate the cause of wet weather overflows and potential discharge of untreated sewage to the authority’s waterways.

“These funds not only help the authority to significantly reduce the amount of sewer discharge into Neshaminy Creek, but they will also help to reduce operating costs, which ultimately stabilizes rates for customers,” said Hogan.

For the first five years, the loan’s interest rate will be locked at 1.743 percent and will increase to 2.279 percent for years six until maturity. The PENNVEST low-interest loan funding will provide the grant-equivalent of $2,656,692 over the life of the loan. Resident rates are not expected to rise.

PENNVEST is an independent state agency that provides financial assistance for sewer, storm water and drinking water projects in communities across the commonwealth.

A man in his 50s began online stalking of a 13-year-old Bucks County girl, who was his child’s friend. He posted photos of her and said he wanted to marry her. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, he was sentenced to probation. Then he began stalking the girl again.

This is the type of situation that state Rep. Shelby Labs (R-Doylestown) hopes to end. Labs and other Republican state representatives introduced a series of bills to make stalking someone, child or adult, more onerous for the perpetrator and protective of the victims.

Stalking affects one in three women and one in six men in the U.S., Labs said.

“It can lead to psychological trauma, social isolation, fear and the disruption of daily life,” said Labs. “Though many people know their stalker, that is not always the case. With the growth of social media and the ability to easily obtain information about someone, it is imperative that we make sure our laws are effectively protecting victims.”

She said the legislation results from months of collaboration with law enforcement and victims. The goal is to close the gaps in the state’s current laws, she said, and “give law enforcement the tools they need.”

Labs said her amendment would make the offense of stalking when someone “knowingly or recklessly places a person in fear of bodily injury.” She also proposes a nonpublic database for law enforcement of people convicted of domestic violence offenses, including aggravated assault, strangulation and stalking, to notify law enforcement and victims’ advocates of information such as the offender obtaining a new job, new vehicle or residence, phone number or aliases. It would also create funds for a police civilian community relations specialist.

Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro) mentioned the stalking statistics, adding, “I am part of that statistic…I had an acquaintance stalker many years ago.” When she shares her story, other women often tell her they’ve also been the victims of stalkers. “We have much work to do in the commonwealth on this issue.”

“As we stand here, thousands of individuals are living in fear,” she said. “Stalking is a form of predatory behavior that robs people of their sense of security and can have devastating, life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, as technology has evolved, so too have the methods used by stalkers to harass their victims.”

Her bill would address online stalking through social media.  Nowadays, a stalker can “hide behind screens, harassing their victims from a distance, often without fear of consequences.”

Marcell’s bill would allow judges to deny stalkers access to social media when the victim gets a protection from abuse order (PFA) against them, offering immediate protection before a criminal conviction is handed down.

“Together, we can take meaningful action to protect the safety and dignity of every Pennsylvanian,” said Marcell.

State Rep. KC Tomlinson (R-Bensalem) said, “Too often, it takes someone being at extreme risk or even hurt before something can be done. Many years ago, stalking took much more work. Today, predators can open up a cell phone, go to a social media platform and find whoever they are looking for.  This is not a partisan issue. It’s about making sure stalking victims have the protection they need, and our police and prosecutors have the ability to provide those protections.”

Her bill would impose a mandatory minimum 5-year prison sentence for any defendant convicted of a second or subsequent stalking offense.

Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny) sponsored a bill to expand a bill that now protects victims under 18 to adults to allow them to get a protection from abuse orders if they are the victims of stalking or harassment.

More than 7.5 million people are stalked in the U.S. each year, but unless there is a direct element of sexual violence, adults have little or no legal protection.

“One in four victims report they were afraid of being killed by their stalker,” said Mihalek. “And more than ¾ know their stalkers, meaning the threat is a constant, invasive presence in their everyday lives.”

Stalking victims feel anxiety, depression and PRTD, she said. It can also disrupt their ability to work, causing one in eight to lose their jobs.

‘We are affirming that no one, regardless of age, should be forced to endure such terror without the protection of the law,” said Mihalek. “We all want to ensure that no child or adult falls through the cracks.”

Rep. Abby Major  (R-Armstrong) said children who are stalked can suffer “serious emotional and physical harm.”

It can result in grooming, gradually building trust until engaging in inappropriate conversations or meeting requests.

The bill, inspired by the Bucks County case recounted above, increases stalking from a misdemeanor to a felony when the victim is four years younger than the offender.

“Child predators should not be given a slap on the wrist,” said Major.’

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(From a press release)

Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) and Reps. Kristin Marcell (R-178) and Joe Hogan (R-142) today announced more than $1.5 million in grants from the Multimodal Transportation Fund were awarded to improve safety in the district.

Warwick Township was awarded a $1.5 million grant for the reconstruction of the bridge carrying Valley Road over a tributary of Neshaminy Creek. Lower Southampton Township was awarded $41,790 to upgrade two school speed zones with LED and high-visibility signage with radar speed notification and traffic camera monitoring capabilities.

“I am committed to supporting the safety of our communities and am pleased to have helped secure the funding for these important projects in Warwick and Lower Southampton townships,” said Farry. “The reconstruction of the bridge in Warwick and the school speed zone upgrades in Lower Southampton will improve the safety, welfare and quality of life of our community for years to come.”

The Multimodal Transportation Fund provides financial assistance to municipalities, councils of governments, businesses, economic development organizations, public transportation agencies, and ports and rail freight entities. By improving transportation assets, this program seeks to enhance communities, pedestrian safety and transit revitalization.

“I’m happy to have helped Warwick Township secure state funding to reconstruct the Valley Road bridge,” said Marcell. “This infrastructure project is crucial for our community, addressing significant safety concerns and ensuring this key connector between York Road and Almshouse Road remains safe and reliable. By improving this vital piece of infrastructure, we are enhancing the quality of life and safety for all residents.”

“I am happy that Sen. Farry and I are once again delivering for our communities,” Hogan said, who represents Lower Southampton. “Making our schools and roads safe has been a major priority of mine and this money will go a long way to ensure students are safe when leaving school buses and parents have peace of mind when picking up or dropping off their child.”

On Sept. 23, PennDOT will begin accepting applications for the next round of funding for grants under the Multimodal Transportation Fund, with applications due by Nov. 5.

What makes a strong family? And why should politicians care?

Dave McCormick, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate, took part in a panel discussion about strengthening Pennsylvania families in Langhorne Tuesday.

Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and state Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro) joined McCormick, along with Priscilla Reim, a Republican committeewoman and business owner from Southampton. Temple University student and chair of the Temple Republicans Billy Walker also participated.

“People are having children less and less,” said McCormick. “It’s harder and harder to have families. And part of the reason it’s harder is because economically it’s becoming more and more difficult with the inflation that’s happened under President Biden, Kamala Harris, and Bob Casey.”

Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D) is McCormick’s opponent.

“Casey’s voted for all those drivers of inflation,” McCormick added. “It costs a lot more to have kids, 22 percent from when President Biden took office.”

“It’s harder to get jobs,” said McCormick. “It’s harder to have a household that can afford kids.”

McCormick, who is the father of six girls from ages 17 to 23 in a blended family, would sponsor legislation to provide families with a $15,000 tax credit for fertility services like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Reim struggled with infertility. She and her husband spent about $100,000 over five years before they were able to have their daughter, now 11.

McCormick noted a benefit he put in place to fund IVF for employees when he was CEO at Bridgewater “changed people’s lives.”

“Going through IVF is really emotional,” said Reim. She described various infertility treatments and complications that she endured. While some treatments were covered by her insurance, IVF was not.

“Over the next three years we went through four IVF treatments,” she said. For their fourth treatment, the couple used the money they’d saved for their wedding. “It was the last straw.”

“A lot of couples couldn’t afford one cycle, let alone four,” she said. “It’s a nightmare.”

Marcell’s stepmother also used IVF to complete their family. She remembers the difficulties her stepmother endured. “For us it meant a lot that we could complete our family that way,” Marcell said. “Thankfully, it worked…It’s a great miracle to actually have a child that way and to have your dream of a family and completing a family.”

McCormick offered a series of policy proposals to support families with young children.

“One of the key issues is allowing families to access faith-based community care,” McCormick said. He would also bolster school choice through federal tax credits for contributions to scholarship funds. And creating a tax-free savings account families can use to pay for up to $10,000 per year in childcare costs is another idea McCormick supports.   He would also double the federal child tax credit, which will be $2,000 per child in tax year 2025.

McCormick also said he would like to ban children under 16 from using social media, an idea polls show has growing support among concerned parents.

Marcell, a former school board member, has two children, 14 and 9. Recently, her daughter talked with a stranger over social media and wanted to go and meet them, said Marcell. Luckily, she told her mom.

“We talked about the reality,” she said. Social media platforms are there to get reactions and they become addictive, she said.  “I think there are a lot of issues to look at.”

“My daughter talked about fear of missing out,” said Marcell.  “All you want to do is get back on your phone… And unfortunately, it can create an unhealthy body image.”

At the state level they’re considering legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act.

“This is a huge issue all of us need to address,” she said.

Schorn said, “In Bucks County there are predators on various internet social media sites.” Law enforcement is looking out for them but “we need to continue to fund law enforcement, to make sure the men and women who are highly trained can receive those tips and follow through.”

A single image on Snapchat led to the arrest of a child predator.

“We do know it’s a rich environment for predators,” said McCormick.

Other criminals use social media to prey upon kids for fraud, Schorn said.

Walker believes social media has increased depression and suicide among kids and teens.

“When kids use social media at such a young age it becomes addictive like a drug,” he said, citing the U.S. Surgeon General. “It is addictive as cigarettes and triggers chemicals in the brain like drugs, like cocaine.” And 59 percent of teenagers are cyberbullied.

Social media can lead to anxiety, depression, anorexia and even self-harm. Suicide is a leading cause of teenage death, he added.

“I commend Dave [McCormick] for his willingness to take on the social media tech giants to fight social media,” said Walker.

When a reporter asked McCormick about his stance on abortion, he responded that in Pennsylvania, it’s settled law that’s “not going to change.” He believes there should be exceptions for the life of the mother, rape, and incest.

McCormick said more Pennsylvanians are worried about inflation.

“And that they can’t afford to have kids anymore because of the high cost of living. They struggle to have kids because of the high cost of fertility treatments. Those are pocketbook issues for many Pennsylvanians. I want to be proactive in trying to address those…I think if I can get people to listen, my message will resonate.”

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Pennsylvanians may soon have to put down that phone and drive.

In a bipartisan 124-77 vote Tuesday, the Pennsylvania House passed a law that would allow police to write tickets to drivers yacking on their handheld smartphones instead of paying attention to the road, even if they are not violating other traffic laws.

Other nearby states ban handheld cell phones.

The bill will now go back to the Senate, which has already passed a different version.

Before the vote, the House heard from Eileen Miller, whose 21-year-old son died in a crash with a distracted driver in Monroe County. The bill is called “Paul Miller’s Law.”

“SB 37 isn’t just about following the rules of the road,” said Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Philadelphia), who chairs the House Transportation Committee. “It’s about saving lives, keeping families together, and ensuring that the road trip ends safely. This is a crucial step to ensure Pennsylvania drivers commit to the safety of not only themselves but everyone they encounter on the road.”

Local state Rep. Lisa Borowski (D-Springfield) was a yes vote.

“I voted on a law to strengthen the existing distracted driving law,” said Borowski. “One in eight fatal crashes involve a distracted driver. Yesterday, when we voted on the law, there was a family on the floor who lost their son due to a crash with a driver who was texting.

“The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, expands existing law prohibiting texting while driving to now include using an interactive mobile device while driving. In other words, no texting and driving, no online shopping and driving, no watching a movie and driving, no playing video games and driving.

“I voted to expand existing law to make our roads safer for all Pennsylvanians,” said Borowski.

Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) voted against the bill.

“Driving on the road with a cell phone in your hand is already illegal,” Grove said. “Senate Bill 37, while well-intentioned, will not provide the desired outcome of eliminating texting while driving. I am also concerned this bill runs afoul of the single-subject rule, which requires bills to be limited to one issue. [The Senate version] was amended by House Democrats to add an onerous reporting requiring on traffic stops by law enforcement. For these two reasons, I voted no.”

But Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro), who voted yes, said, “Distracted driving is a major factor in automobile fatalities. This commonsense bill is a deterrent that will help contribute to having safer roadways for our community members and loved ones.

Of the 27 states that have passed similar legislation, they have reported declines in motor vehicle accidents, and overall highway fatalities have declined nationally. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is not one of those states, and our fatalities are up 4.2 percent from 2022 to 2023.”

Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna) has been trying to get this bill passed for 12 years. Because April is Distracted Driving Awareness month she said it’s fitting it should go forward now. She hopes the Senate will vote on the amended bill next week.

“I’m very pleased,” said Brown, adding that she worked very closely with the House on the amendments it suggested. “Hopefully, we’ll see it go to the governor’s desk.”

As to Grove’s concern about adding more work for police officers, Brown said state police already do the data collection it requires and police departments in towns with fewer than 5,000 residents are not included.

“I really hope it will help,” she said, noting that Eileen Miller was “an inspiration for me.”

Some DVJournal readers commented about the bill on Facebook.

Tina Marie Hoseweart said, “I’ve seen so many people holding their phone and going so slow or almost causing accidents.”

Teri Selleck Majewski said she’s probably in favor of it because “there is no common sense. It is dangerous to text and drive.”

And Michael Lake said it is “just as dangerous to text and drive with the phone on a windshield mount.”

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First-term Bucks County Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Richboro) hit the ground running.

Marcell, a former Council Rock School Board member, is the sponsor of two bills that Gov. Josh Shapiro already signed into law:  one that requires the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to engage in a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the dangers of human use of xylazine or “tranq,” and the other with Rep. K.C. Tomlinson (R-Bensalem), is the porch pirate bill that Sen. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) sponsored in the Senate, to make mail and package thefts a felony.

In one year, Marcell has sponsored 107 bills and 36 resolutions. She is the prime sponsor of 11 bills. Recently, with other Republican representatives, Marcell sponsored a package of bills to combat antisemitism. Her bill requires curriculum transparency for schools that teach about the Holocaust and genocide.

Rep. Kristin Marcell (R) is sworn in to represent the 178th District.

“It’s always a challenge in a closely divided House,” said Marcell. “But I was able to unite a bipartisan group of legislators to successfully call for one member to resign for sexual harassment and I was able to get legislation to toughen the penalties against porch pirates made into law. It proves we can still accomplish important things if we find consensus, even while staying true to our principles.”

In Chester County, Republican Eric Roe, a former state representative, was elected as a minority member to the county Board of Commissioners, replacing outgoing Commissioner Michelle Kichline in January.

“We live in the best county in America,” said Roe. “Let’s keep it that way for our children and grandchildren. As our county commissioner, I will strive to make our residents even prouder to live here. My goal is to make Chester County the most family-friendly and business-friendly county in the nation one day. We can achieve that by protecting our local economy and preserving our beautiful landscapes.”

“I’m not opposed to business and industry,” said Roe. “I just want it to be in the right places.”

Roe will  reach across party lines to get things done.  With a three-person board, “you only need one other person to agree with you,” he said.

Roe is also a fiscal conservative.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re living within our means,” he said. “Just in the last four years the county budget ballooned by over $200 million.” Much of that money is one-time payment, federal dollars. “I want to make sure we’re spending our money wisely (so) we’re not spending one-time funds on recurring projects.”

In Delaware County, Newtown Township Supervisors Chairman Leonard Altieri, served on the Marple-Newtown School Board before voters elected him as supervisor in 2019. At 30 he is the youngest person ever elected to be a Newtown supervisor.  Altieri was 23 when he was appointed to the school board, then elected to that position at 24.

DVJournal asked Altieri, a lawyer, what he’s done as a supervisor so far, and he immediately said, “Expanding walkability.” The township received a $650,000 state grant through former Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Newtown) for installing sidewalks.

“And we’re putting them in strategic areas in the township to connect different neighborhoods along busy roadways,” said Altieri. Sidewalks are also part of the new town center “that’s happening along West Chester Pike,” he said. “We required the installation of sidewalks there. Again, there were never sidewalks along West Chester Pike.”

“We also have strong fiscal management,” said Altieri. “We received an AAA bond rating from Moody’s, which we never had before. We are one of only two municipalities in the county (with) Radnor being the other one and only a handful in the state with an AAA bond rating. We’ve been very careful with our budget and have strong financial planning. There’s not a lot of people who can say that from a municipality perspective.”

 Incoming Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe

Newtown has the lowest tax rate of any Delaware County municipality with a full-time police department.

And the police department has been recognized and received the “highly coveted and extremely rare Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation certification along with certification from the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.”

Altieri, who grew up in Newtown, said they are also big on sustainable development.  The previous board approved several new housing developments, and the current supervisors are making sure the developers live up to their commitments, he said.

They also use environmentally friendly practices with copiers and township vehicles, he said.

Altieri said on the school board and now a supervisor, his “number one priority” remains communication with his constituents. He uses a Facebook page, Instagram and emails to keep in touch.

Montgomery County Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Harleysville) is a former businesswoman who served on the Souderton Area School Board before she was elected to the House in 2022.

“Serving the people of the 147th has been the honor of my life,” said Scheuren. “My legislative duties have allowed me to meet so many great residents, business owners, and non-profit organizations across the district, as well as the local leaders of our schools, churches, police, fire and emergency services housed within our townships and boroughs. All of them have great needs and wants or ideas to help keep their businesses or community’s strong, and advocating for all of it as their voice in Harrisburg is truly a privilege. There is much more to do and hopefully my first year in office is the start of many more to come.”

Scheuren secured funding to build a new bridge on Bergey’s Mill Road in Lower Salford, which was out for 12 years, causing slower emergency response times.

Rep. Donna Scheuren

“I was also proud to stand with my fellow legislators to propose a package of bills that promote transparency in government related settlements,” said Scheuren. “My legislation would amend the PennWATCH Act to include information on each settlement paid to an individual, or to an employee of a commonwealth agency, as a result of an action taken by an employee of a commonwealth agency.

“With no risk of personal or private information being shared on any victims, my legislation would provide an easier way to monitor how taxpayers’ dollars are being spent, as well as greater transparency on taxpayer funded expenditures and investments,” she said.

Scheuren said, “Along with my Republican colleagues, we also successfully fought for $150 million in Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) funding to be included in the final budget, after Democrats took it out at the last second just before a vote before Thanksgiving. I am fighting for education at every level of the process.  Whether its funding win-win programs like EITC helping local businesses and schools simultaneously, or new funding for our technical career centers, or my legislation that would help to fix the school bus driver shortage by providing an income tax-credit to new bus drivers, I’m driving common sense legislation through the chamber.”

Scheuren hopes to make Pennsylvania more business friendly.

“With the governor’s announcement to appeal the court’s verdict that enrolling Pennsylvania into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is unconstitutional – knowing full well that enrollment in RGGI will send utility bills for all PA residents through the roof – to the unnecessary attacks and potential mandates on our vital energy resources throughout the state, or to getting our labor force back to work to boost state revenues, there is great need to address all these issues.”

“I am once again ready to take on the challenge of making Pennsylvania a better place for all,” said Scheuren.

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A group of Bucks County lawmakers held a press conference in September to announce they were working on bills to fight increased crime. One issue they focused on was the increase in drug addiction and overdoses.

This week, state Rep. Kristin Marcell’s bill to require the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to educate people about xylazine, dubbed “tranq,” passed out of committee and will be voted on by the House.

“Over the past several years, law enforcement officers and public health professionals have detected an increase in the prevalence of the illicit use of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer – or ‘tranq’ – in street drugs used in the commonwealth,” Marcell said. “In fact, about half of all Pennsylvania counties saw cases where illicit use of xylazine caused a death in 2021. Worse, 90 percent of the opioids sampled by the city of Philadelphia showed xylazine in 2021.”

The federal Department of Drug Enforcement has released an alert about the dangers of this new deadly drug mix.

“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said Administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 states. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022, approximately 23 percent of fentanyl powder and 7 percent of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.”

Despite the dangers, most Delaware Valley residents are unaware of the threat.

“Too few people are aware of this drug’s existence. Increased public awareness of the impact of the illicit use of xylazine can help the effort to protect our residents,” Marcell added.

Under Marcell’s HB 1690, DDAP would partner with healthcare providers, community-based health centers, and hospitals to educate Pennsylvanians on the dangers of human use of xylazine.

DDAP would also create brochures and other materials with information about xylazine and how it affects the human body, how to discuss the dangers with others, and other materials needed to raise awareness of the risks “tranq” poses.

Drug dealers use xylazine, designed as a horse tranquilizer, as a cutting agent for heroin and fentanyl, which people then use. Those who use xylazine tend to get wounds that do not readily heal.

Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran has been at the forefront of raising awareness of xylazine. He reports an increase in people being arrested with gaping wounds from “tranq.” As a result, these suspects need to go to the hospital rather than jail, which ties up law enforcement officers who must stand guard rather than patrol the streets. That is particularly problematic for smaller departments with fewer officers.

Harran said he supports Marcell’s bill.

“Any education is good. People should be aware of it. It’s definitely positive.”

As its illicit use has grown, xylazine has attracted the attention of media and public health officials. It made national news when the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy warned the nation of its dangerous use.

Xylazine-positive overdose deaths have increased tenfold in the Southern U.S. from 2020-21, sevenfold in the Western U.S., and fivefold in the Midwest. The U.S. Department of Health recently temporarily scheduled xylazine as a controlled substance.

After a surge in suburban crime — including a 130 percent increase in firearms offenses — a group of Bucks County lawmakers led by GOP Sen. Frank Farry are sponsoring legislation to fight back.

“Every day when you turn on the news, those of us in the Philadelphia media market see what’s going on,” said Farry. “You see different and evolving crimes happening in our communities and our neighboring communities. We think it’s our responsibility, as public figures, to step forward and make sure proper statutes are on the books to help the men and women in law enforcement have the tools they need to do their jobs.”

And they had plenty of backup from the local police. About two dozen police representatives from Bucks and Montgomery Counties were on hand at Thursday’s press conference Thursday outside the Northampton Township Police Department to endorse their efforts.

Lawmakers are introducing the bills because of “feedback we’ve heard from law enforcement, feedback we’ve heard from victims, feedback from our communities, and feedback we’ve heard from prosecutors,” said Farry. “We want to ensure that law enforcement has the proper tools in their tool chest to be able to properly charge crimes that will ultimately lead to convictions.”

Warrington Police Chief Daniel Friel, president of the Police Chiefs’ Association of Bucks County, said, “We’ve seen increases in nearly every category of crime that affects the average citizen or business owner. These categories include robbery, burglary, thefts from vehicles, retail thefts, thefts of catalytic converters, and firearms thefts…We have seen a 32 percent increase in thefts from vehicles since last year (and) a 28 percent increase over the average of the past three years. Theft of catalytic converters in Warrington Township is up 85 percent since last year, and again, that’s a 237 percent increase over the past three-year average.”

Perhaps most disturbing, “There’s already a 130 percent increase in firearms offenses, which is an 89 percent increase over the past three years,” said Friel.

And illegal car meetup rallies have become common in Bucks County, overwhelming municipal police forces, he said.

The bills include mandatory jail time for illegally possessing a firearm, cracking down on porch pirates, reducing catalytic converter robberies, increasing penalties for gun store robberies, putting the brakes on vehicle meetup rallies, and enhanced charges for rioters.

Warrington Police Chief Daniel Friel speaks with Bensalem Public Safety Director William McVey, Rep. K.C. Tomlinson (left), and Rep. Kristin Marcell (right).

Bensalem Public Safety Director William McVey called them “common sense.”

“First, mandatory jail time for illegal gun possession is absolutely needed in Pennsylvania,” he said. “In Bensalem, we’ve experienced a 75 percent increase in illegal guns. We’ve seized 174 illegal guns in that timeframe. More distressing is the fact we’ve arrested 21 convicted felons for illegally possessing a firearm this year to date.”

“Without strong penalties, these felons are often released and go back to carrying illegal guns,” he said. “And worse, they use the illegal guns on innocent victims.”

And catalytic converter theft is booming. One Bensalem business had 58 catalytic converters stolen from its fleet of vehicles, which cost more than $100,000 to replace. When officers see someone with a truckload of catalytic converters, they can’t charge them “even when they have no legitimate purpose to carry them.”

“And the car meetups, the drifting, it’s absolutely crazy,” said McVey. “They’ve popped up in our jurisdictions. They overtake areas. They have no regard for anyone’s safety.”

Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Wrightstown) thanked Farry for shepherding the porch pirates bill, which increases penalties for that type of theft, through the Senate. It awaits passage in the House.

“Especially with the holiday season, where more people are relying on mail-order purchases, it’s more important than ever to protect consumers and to think about how we can help,” she said. She said that stealing boxes from people’s porches is not a victimless crime. For example, it could be medicine ordered by an elderly person that’s stolen.

Afterward, Marcell told DVJournal that Democratic Reps. Joe Ciresi (D-Royersford) and Ed Ne9lson (D-Philadelphia) are also sponsors.

Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Langhorne) said, “What’s happening in our cities right now is a choice. The decline, the prosecutorial decisions, is a choice…to allow violent criminals to be released out on bail to go back and commit more crimes. This morning, I learned that an individual who was picked up in the burglary and the rioting two days ago was released on bail on a murder three charge. (They were) right back out committing more crimes.”

Hogan introduced a bill in response to crooks who robbed a gun store in Langhorne in the middle of the night.

“If you rob a gun store and steal guns, you are going to jail for a mandatory minimum of time,” said Hogan. “We’re going to take that decision away from these prosecutors who are letting our cities fall into chaos, and we’re going to make sure that if that crime is committed, you are going to jail, and you’re going to be there a long time.”

Rep. K.C. Tomlinson (R-Bensalem) said, “Nearly 40 percent of the crime committed in Bensalem is not committed by Bensalem residents but by individuals crossing over the border from Philadelphia. Sadly, the city continues to send a message of tolerance. I stand here today with my colleagues and law enforcement to make our message very clear: Bucks County will not tolerate what’s going on in the city.”

“We will always fight to maintain the quality of life we enjoy here in Bucks County,” Tomlinson said.