Columbia Spy

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Marc Newmin and Luann Newmin conveyed 226 Lawrence St. to Brandon Micheal Hoffman for $142,000.

Dennis E. Gaus and Roxanne M. Gaus conveyed property on Locust Street to Kinsmen Holdings LLC for $220,000.

Citizens Bank NA and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania conveyed 519 Union St. to Renewed Concepts LLC for $58,000.

Kerri L. Landis and Joseph Grzybicki conveyed 113 S. Fifth St. to Kechemia Latoya Barnaby and Audrey F. Barnaby for $95,500.

Lancaster County Tax Claim Bureau and Donna L. Short conveyed property on a public road to Lancaster County Land Bank Authority for $1,000.

Brian K. Fake conveyed 422 Union St. to Columbia Catholic Housing For The Elderly II Inc. for $105,000.

Anthony J. Spinelli and Andrew Spinelli conveyed property on North Fourth Street to Real Blocks Inc. for $90,000.

Timothy M. Hess conveyed 1020 Cloverton Drive to Timothy M. Hess and Lindsey M. Brenner for $1.

Ryan J. Dejesus conveyed property on Manor Street to Megan Walgren for $75,000.

Todd M. Kramer and Diana L. Kramer conveyed property on South Eighth Street to Jenetta D. Harris Tomoney and Jenetta D Harris Tomoney for $150,000.

Anthony J. Freiler and Carmen Y. Freiler conveyed property on South Eighth Street to Julian S. Lintner and Danye A. Cooper for $130,000.

Columbia School Board Director Robert Misciagna explained why affordable housing must be a focus for governments everywhere. With millions expected to be evicted from their homes by the end of the year, it has only become more urgent for municipalities to implement measures that will make rent and mortgage payments more affordable for their citizens. The increases in the cost of housing have far exceeded those of incomes. Every day Americans find it more and more difficult to balance increases in rent with their need to buy groceries, buy clothes, pay loan payments, and fulfill other necessary expenses. Affordable housing measures are just as important in Columbia as they are everywhere else.

Mark Temons is a member of the Lancaster NAACP and a cofounder of the Lancaster Peace Action Network, as well as a Columbia resident. Although Mark’s five minutes were up before he made his conclusions, he makes some amazing points about the need for 21st century police reform. I am certain that we will continue to see him fighting for these changes in Columbia in the foreseeable future.

Becky Young, a Columbia Borough School District School Director, spoke last week at a Borough Council Meeting in order to respond to false claims that Black Lives Matter is a hate group.

This week’s photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on each photo to see a larger, sharper image.) 

Artists at work

Looks like someone moved in at the old firehouse on 4th.

A job, well . . . done

Meanwhile, across the street on Locust: An entrance to a parking area

Great blue heron

Seeing double

Part of Avenue I is blocked off for Market House construction.

Ready for a pour

A hornets nest on a gravestone

Wanna get rid of that old TV? Just dump it in the alley.

At Locust Street Park

Still there at Rotary Park

Here’s a sign with a different kind of message.

Mighty high crane

Tiger swallowtail showing off

Profile shot

Some reflections:

Here we go again…

I was hoping to be able to write less about the merits of the Black Lives Matter movement and to transition to policy solutions that would help our Black and Brown communities as well as the working class. I assumed that we, as a community, were about ready for that next step. Obviously I was wrong.

I have seen several posts comparing the death, outrage, and media coverage of Cannon Hinnant to that of George Floyd and other martyrs. The way I see it, this is obviously an attempt to portray the Black Lives Matter movement and racial justice activists as hypocritical, apathetic, and silent. All while exploiting the death of a young innocent boy in order to force a narrative onto an issue that is unrelated.

This is especially apparent when many of those elevating the story have adopted the Black Lives Matter phrase “say his name”.

It is frustrating that we must continue to have the same conversations over and over again. The Black Lives Matter movement came into existence in response to inconsistent outcomes for Black and Brown victims compared to white victims, and how that enables wrong-doers. It was never simply about media coverage and outrage over the deaths of innocents. We already have laws on the books that affirm the immorality of murder. That was never in question. The problem is that the system often treats the cases of victims very differently based on the color of the victim/perpetrator’s skin, or the position of the person who committed the crime.

The fact is that Cannon’s killer was not a police officer, and he is already in jail. He is a terrible person who will likely get what he deserves. And that is a justice that many victims of hate crimes and police brutality may never see. It never took a mass movement for Cannon Hinnant’s murderer to be held accountable. It shouldn’t. But it did for George Floyd. And mass movements haven’t even been enough for Breonna Taylor’s family to see justice. Or Eric Garner’s. Or Philando Castile’s. Or Alton Sterling’s. Or Elijah McClain’s. The list goes on. THAT is why BLM is necessary. That is why their work is not finished. And that is why Cannon Hinnant’s death and that of the many victims of racially motivated crimes ARE NOT THE SAME.

Again, the outcome of this young boy’s case is a righteous one. The justice he is receiving, although no replacement for his life, is a good thing. That’s why it needs to happen for all victims.

Cannon Hinnant’s death was unnecessary and disgusting. But it is not a weapon to be used against the Black Lives Matter movement and to discredit efforts for racial justice. RIP Cannon.