In February, Jenkintown and Abington neighbors experienced a horrifying week when the Standard Pressed Steel (SPS) factory caught fire. This was not the first fire in the factory, but it was by far the most severe. Many of us watched as embers fell in our yards and couldn’t leave the house despite the acrid smoke making our eyes water, throats burn, and heads pound. Some of us were temporarily evacuated. More importantly, according to the Abington Police Chief, we narrowly escaped a mass casualty event.

We recognize the importance of maintaining jobs for the community members who were employed by SPS. If SPS can rebuild, however, it should not be in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The factory houses chemicals that are simply too dangerous to be processed in such close proximity to our families, our children, our community.

As discussions move forward about the future of SPS, our elected representatives must take into account the health and safety of the community members who live here.