Dear neighbors,

Let’s talk about Lansdowne’s proposed block captain program. As stated on the borough’s website, “Block Captains will serve as a vital link between the Borough, the police department, and the community.” While a block captain program seems like a useful way to strengthen our community, with the wrong framing or implementation, it could do more harm than good.

The proposed program has spurred a lot of debate within Left of Lansdowne. Some of us felt that it was a great start toward reducing our borough’s dependence on the police department, which absorbs nearly half of Lansdowne’s financial resources each year. Others felt the program, as described, was a slippery slope toward creating an informal “snitch” network, and would enable individual residents to act as extensions of law enforcement, endangering undocumented individuals and others targeted by the “justice” system — an informal HOA, in other words.

The fear is that, by acting as extensions of the police, block captains could become instruments of surveillance. Empowering individual residents to monitor their neighbors, report “suspicious” activities, and maintain order, could ultimately deepen mistrust and over-policing. After all, the police exist to protect property, not people — by acting as an extension of law enforcement, a block captain on a power trip may be more likely to perpetuate harm than alleviate inequity.

At the end of the day, the program’s usefulness comes down to framing and implementation. With an anti-oppressive framework in place, block captains could lead neighbors in creating widespread mutual aid networks — sharing food, providing housing support, preparing for weather emergencies, or offering basic medical and mental health support. They could serve as a hub for resource-sharing, conflict resolution, and community empowerment. Restorative justice practices could be integrated, with block captains facilitating productive conversations between neighbors, revealing common ground and building trust — without the need for punitive measures.

The block captain program has real potential to make Lansdowne stronger, more inclusive, and less reliant on oppressive systems for care and safety. With the right support and education, block captains could help Lansdowne address the root causes of suffering — poverty, lack of access to resources, and social isolation — by empowering our neighbors to take care of each other. But this can’t and won’t happen with the police at the project’s center.

In short, we’re not saying no to block captains — we’re just saying it might be good to slow down and think about unintended consequences before plowing forward. We encourage council to try a pilot program on a few blocks with diverse residents, and to talk to other neighborhoods with similar initiatives to discuss successes and shortcomings. We encourage council to decenter the police from their vision for the block captain program, and to recenter the core value beneath it: neighbors supporting neighbors, a.k.a. mutual aid.

All of this comes down to doing good research, and having the courage to try something truly innovative, instead of simply taking well-worn paths without bothering to consider the bigger map.

In solidarity,

Left of Lansdowne

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HOT TOPICS

At a recent Economic Development and Planning Committee meeting on 9/11, Councilperson Hover persistently badgered LEDC leadership. The LEDC — Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation — is a local non-profit providing community programming and is funded with a mixture of Borough and independent support. Hover targeted their 2025 comprehensive plan, particularly a program for young adults aged 18-25, suggesting that the limited age range could be a form of discrimination. The tone and tenor of his questioning drew criticism, with other council members and the public suggesting the LEDC report to a different committee going forward due to the hostile environment of the initial committee meeting. During the 10/1 borough meeting, Council allocated time to address these tensions, a contentious conversation that is worth watching once the video is available — it isn’t up yet at the time of this newsletter, but when you can watch it here once it’s uploaded.

In other news, demolition and construction at The Lansdowne Landing (a.k.a. Veterans’ Landing) began on Sept. 9th, with completion expected within 90 days. Council approved purchasing two parking kiosks to replace non-functioning CBD meters, but decisions on signage, parking hours, and enforcement remain pending. The Council is planning to approach the AFL-CIO to build a memorial wall for free, raising skepticism from residents about the appropriateness of taking advantage of unpaid union labor.

Lastly, Council approved the addition of a full-time police officer, bringing the total to 15 officers out of 18 borough employees. Lansdowne's police force remains below state and national averages, with some residents questioning the need for expansion, given the department’s already oversized share (more than 40%) of Lansdowne’s annual budget.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

• September marks the start of budget season for the Council and its committees. Debates centered on whether to reduce borough taxes or to keep them the same in order to save up for future capital projects like the library or other 2025 investments. The new Parks and Recreation Director has requested additional funds for snow removal, landscaping, recreation administration, event planning, and park initiatives.

• Council agreed to install cameras on school buses, allowing police and the school district to enforce bus stop signs with a $200 fine. Revenue will be shared between the police and the school district. 

• The Library Committee selected a design for the new building, though Council requested a review of all design options before funding schematic plans, approved at $25,000. 

• The Infrastructure, Codes, and Public Works Committee, as well as the Economic Development Committee, continue to debate the future of Scottdale Road. Some council members push for a traffic study to assess the impact of the Theater's opening on Lansdowne’s central business district. 

Upcoming borough meetings