Norristown Letter to the Editor: The Importance of Civic Pride

The following letter to the editor was submitted to the Norristown Patch by resident James I. Lewis. To submit a letter, email justin.heinze@patch.com.

This election and the reaction to it has revived citizen activism in our nation. No matter who are what you support, be it progressivism, Donald Trump, Planned Parenthood, or the Tea Party; activism is now central in this troubled time. I think citizen activism should start right here, in our community. Civic engagement is necessary for a healthy nation, state and town to thrive and be successful. After years of urban decay, violence, political corruption, and countless setbacks Norristonians are clawing their way towards a brighter future. For this to be successful, we in our community must be political agents. I does not mean running for office, although that is important. What is truly central to being a political activist is being a good neighbor. Be proud of your street, your block, and your side of town.

I grew up in Norristown, on Locust Street in the North End. My family moved to East Norriton in 2003, but my roots are still in my hometown. I attend church at St. Patrick’s on DeKalb, I eat my zeps at Lou’s on Main, and I went to high school at Kennedy-Kendrick High School. Norristown, for me, gives me a sense of pride. For all of its crime, urban decay, and shuttered stores, I brag about my hometown to whomever would listen. I brag about Jerry Spinelli and Maniac Magee, that Civil War general, hero of Gettysburg, and Democratic Presidential Nominee Winfield Scott Hancock, who is buried in our cemetery. I talk about our food: Lou’s, Eve’s, Sessano, Corropolese, La Michoacana, and Zachary’s BBQ. Our history is deep. Our food is tasty. Our people are diverse and welcoming. We are resilient.

So, what do we do with our advantages? We must be political agents in our community. The word politics comes from the Greek word for city: polis. A political agent works for his or her city. We have to attend council meetings, go to political party events, pick up trash in the streets, and support our businesses. Other similar cities near us have experienced renewal, Conshohocken, and Phoenixville being the best examples. Why are they different then Norristown? They have similar industrial histories, similar locations, and similar access to the Schuylkill River. The details are messy: maybe it was the missing highway exit (hopefully the Fayette expansion will cure this?), maybe it was the boa constrictor of King of Prussia and Plymouth Meeting, juicing Norristown of all of its commerce, maybe it was the failure of the borough’s government in reigning in slum lords and abandoned residences? Who knows? It might be one of those things; it might be all of them. What matters now is what we do. Do we just wait for some millionaire to descend from the heavens to rebuild
the Norris Theatre and redevelop the Schuylkill River with a flick of the wrist and a few block grants? Alternatively, do we host our own shows and plays, move nights, and maybe we can go down to the river and clean it up together. We do not need millionaires and billionaires or housing developers to bequeath us a
future. Phoenixville had their Burning of the Phoenix Festival before Molly Maguire’s built their bar, or before the Colonial was restored. The people of that town became political agents, citizen activists. They built a true community, and the money and development and the rebirth followed. Norristown needs its phoenix rebirth and that future comes from us.

James I Lewis

Carol Lane, Norristown

Leftoutmedia.com

Patch file photo