READING, Pa. – At the conclusion of the Berks County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach read a statement that he does not support the City of Reading’s new welcoming city ordinance.
On Monday night, Reading City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance to declare Reading as a welcoming community towards all people of every diversity, regardless of immigration.
The ordinance officially prohibits city police, city officials and city employees from asking any individual about citizenship or immigration status.
It also prevents city police and city officials from supporting or assisting U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
At that meeting, a large crowd of citizens turned up to offer community support and Council President Donna Reed told them to also show up at local municipal meetings and the county commissioners to demand neighboring townships, boroughs and the county enact similar legislation.
Leinbach’s statement enforced the need to follow the laws in the U.S. Constitution, but he prefaced his statement with a brief comment regarding city officials.
“I know the mayor and I know the council members; I know some better than others and I do not believe that any of them are evil,” Leinbach said. “I just don’t agree with the action that was taken.”
Leinbach went on to state that the U.S. Constitution and the laws enacted through the constitutional process at both the federal and state levels are the foundation of the American Republic.
“Both the federal and state constitutions provide legitimate processes to change or challenge laws,” Leinbach said. “We can challenge laws in the courts; there is a process, and the US Constitution has held up under intense challenges over the past 238 years.”
He said that government actions that bypass the constitutional process can lead to chaos, anarchy or even civil war.
“The War for Independence and the Civil War are perfect examples in U.S. history,” Leinbach explained. “It’s not about whether a policy or law is right or wrong, but rather about a process that has stood the test of time in America. I stand by our U.S. and. Pennsylvania Constitutions and believe that the process therein provides a way to change both these constitutions and law as the people see fit in an orderly and sustainable way.”
“We need more leaders in America that trust the constitutional process instead of getting on a political soapbox to try to score points with a certain political base,” he added. “There is a constitutional way and an unconstitutional way to change the direction of our state and nation. Leaders who ignore this well-ordered process put the Republic at risk by creating confusion and chaos and if unchecked, anarchy and civil war.”
“I believe we as a people and leaders are a whole lot better than that and that most leaders, especially at the local level, care more about the future of America and our communities than scoring political points with their base and placing the future of America at risk,” he concluded.
Leinbach -a Republican- also stated that this process applies to both sides of political division.
He shared that during the Biden and Obama administrations; he was contacted by a group that wanted him to take a lead on getting Berks declared as a “sanctuary second amendment county.”
“I told them, ‘absolutely not,’ that there is a process and I’m not going to participate,” Leinbach said.
Leinbach reported that he made similar statements recently as a guest on WEEU’s Feedback.
In other business, the commissioners voted to:
Adopt a resolution authorizing new filing fees for assessment appeals beginning Jan. 1: residential appeals will rise to $50 from $25; commercial/industrial will rise to $200 from $100 and exemption requests will also rise to $200 from $100. Appeals for mobile homes will remain at the current rate of $25.
Authorize the appointment of Corey Schoonover to senior financial analyst at an annual rate of $75,000, effective Nov. 5.
Promote Carin Holmes to assistant county solicitor from certified legal intern at an annual salary of $76,000, effective immediately.
Re-appoint and appoint the members of the Berks County Area on Aging Advisory Council for two-year terms ending on Dec. 3, 2027. Re-appointed were: Catherine Delcamp, Fleetwood; Kathryn Wentzel, Reading; Vanessa Rodriguez, Reading; Edwin Jankowski, Wyomissing; Mark Sprow, Shillington; Karen Miller, Wyomissing, and appointed were: John F. Vogel, II, Reading; Sydney Malich, Wyomissing and Tracey York, Reading.