Mayor's Message 12/8/2021

Mayor’s Message
December 8, 2021  

Good evening. 

Earlier tonight, we held a ribbon cutting ceremony at municipal parking lot #1 to mark its completion, as well as our annual holiday tree lighting at the municipal building. Thank you to everyone who came out for this celebration of the holiday season. If you have the chance to see the Christmas tree on Garrett Road, you’ll notice that it is planted, signifying our commitment to sustainability.

Tonight, we are introducing an ordinance to establish a Trash Fee Senior Rebate Program in Upper Darby. Senior citizens who live on fixed incomes are among our most vulnerable populations, and this ordinance is intended to reduce the burden of waste collection costs on our community’s seniors.  

I am asking Council for the second year in a row to approve a balanced budget with no property tax increase for our residents. This budget continues to address the more than $6 million structural deficits we have inherited, and I thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to make sure we are able to avoid any adverse impact on our residents. 

This has been a difficult few years for our country, not just because of the pandemic but also due to rising violence in communities across the county. Sadly our community is not immune and our hearts go out to all the victims of violence in Upper Darby. On a positive note, I am pleased to announce that we have received a $308,122 grant from the state to increase community policing services throughout Upper Darby. This includes group activities, referrals to resources for families, and life skills classes. 

This Saturday, Councilwoman Danyelle Blackwell will be hosting a clean-up event at Parkview Playground on Saturday, December 11, starting at 10 a.m. I will be there, as will State Representative-Elect Gina Curry, and we hope residents will join us as well. 

As the Delta and Omicron variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to spread, getting vaccinated is the key to protecting yourself and the people around you. All children age 5 years and older are eligible to be vaccinated, and booster shots are available for everyone age 18 years and older who has been fully vaccinated. To find a free vaccine location, please call 484-276-2100 or visit www.delcopa.gov/vax. For resources about vaccine hesitancy, please visit www.factsoverfiction.info. 

Thank you and have a good evening.