A Vision for Hatboro

Last night at the Hatboro Resident's Association “Meet the Candidates” event, I was struck by several parts of the conversation. I was also quite pleased by the turnout, the Annex of Hatboro Baptist Church was filled to capacity and there were people standing. Now I must add a disclaimer as I begin. I do not live in Hatboro, when it was time to purchase a house, we found a place near Willow Grove that fit our needs. However, my LIFE is in Hatboro. This is where I work, this is where I worship, this is where I serve.

The first thing that struck me was that only Democratic Candidates showed up for the event. The HRA is not a branch of the Democratic Party, this was not a closed event, so help me understand why half the candidates did not want interested residents of the Borough to meet them?

Second, I appreciated the personal background information that each of the Candidates provided. Clearly they are running because they care about Hatboro, and I say, “Thank You!”

One of the first questions posed to the Council and Mayoral candidates was quite straight forward: “What is your vision for Hatboro?” Because I dream of being part of a community where children can play in the parks without danger from heroin; and families have enough food so that no one in the house goes to bed hungry; and our senior citizens can walk the streets without fear; and our businesses take pride in the whole community; and our schools focus on teaching students how to think critically even if they can not take tests; and where neighbors care deeply for one another regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation; and where people who are homeless find compassion; and visitors have a desire to come just to “feel” the community – I was eager to hear what the vision of our leaders would be. What I heard was a desire to make York Road more appealing to the eyes, to slow down traffic coming into town from the North, and to televise Council meetings.

There is nothing wrong with these goals, but if that is the extent of the vision of our leaders, then our parks will continue to be infested with drugs, the sidewalks will continue to crumble, the value of our houses will continue to lag behind the rest of the country, and yes, businesses will continue to leave.

I would have liked to hear the vision of the other candidates, but they apparently did not care enough to come out. My fear, though, is that their vision is to protect Hatboro from “bad influences” and maintain the status quo.

No mayor or council can accomplish the vision that I have presented by themselves, but the mission of the Mayor is to present a vision that will capture the imagination of the community. The task of the council is set in place plans that will connect residents with business owners and bring the community together around plans that will make this a safe, prosperous, livable, and loving community. It is the task of our leaders to raise up a vision that is compelling.

Am I asking too much? Probably. But a vision is a picture of what can be.

Forgive me just a moment as I put on my preacher hat. As the children of Israel came to the end of their wandering in the wilderness, Moses addressed the people and presented them with a vision of their land of Promise. Moses said, This will be a “good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills” (Deut 8:7-9, TNIV). This vision became rooted in their hearts and with this in mind they crossed the Jordan and claimed their land.

As a community, we need just such a vision from our leaders. A conviction that there is more than what we are experiencing now. A deep belief that the problems we are facing need not overcome us. And a challenge to each become engaged in creating a connected community that cares passionately for one another.

Doug Stratton

Pastor, Hatboro Baptist Church