'Disruptive' Abington Resident Receives Support From Community

ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Residents are reacting to a Patch story about a "disruptive resident" who received a notice from the township's police chief about her behavior at Board of Commissioners meetings.

Over 30 people posted Facebook comments on the Patch story supporting Adele Kubel, who recently received an official township letter from the Abington Township Police Department after two police officers knocked on her door one day.

The letter, on official township stationery, was from Police Chief Patrick Malloy, who wanted to address Kubel's "persistent, disruptive conduct" at the July 10 commissioners meeting.

See details of the letter below

"While we recognize and will always protect your First Amendment right to free speech, we also have a responsibility to address disruptive behavior," Malloy said. "Regrettably, your behavior has become increasingly more disruptive over the past several weeks, and despite repeated warnings, you continued with disruptive outbursts."

The letter also mentions the possibility of Kubel being charged with violating Section 5508 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code — Disrupting Meetings and Processions.

Several commenters on the Patch story questioned Abington Township for its "intimidation" of Kubel.

"Wow. She’s actually a physical threat???" one commenter said.

"Typical Abington bullying," said another.

Patch sent messages to Commissioners Chairman Thomas Hecker and Township Manager Christopher Christman seeking comment, but has heard no official statements from township officials since the story ran on Thursday.

"I appreciate your perspective on how citizens are treated in Abington," Malloy told Patch on Friday. The police chief said he would call Patch on Monday, but did not call to comment about the letter.

"Encourage people to become involved in local politics, just not if they don’t agree?," one poster said. "This sounds ridiculous for her to be charged. And for her to get a letter from the Chief of Police first? To talk about her behavior? That alone sounds like intimidation. And sounds like a huge lawsuit for violation of free speech."

Kubel is one of the first to speak at the board meetings, usually repeating similar issues of blight, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and government decisions. She's often armed with pictures, maps, petitions, and statistics about what she believes are various township issues that commissioners are not addressing.

Commissioners allow three minutes for the public to speak on agenda matters at the beginning of their monthly meetings and public comment at the end of the meetings.

Another commenter stated that the Democrats who make up the Board of Commissioners "don't like criticism."

"They think that they know what is best for all, no matter how much it costs, or who it adversely affects," the commenter said.

"Has Abington become a Communist township," another poster wondered.

Another poster who said they watched Abington Commissioner meetings expressed amazement at how commissioners treat and speak to residents.

One resident commented that records show that residents get cut off before their three minutes are finished.

"I don’t care if elected officials don’t want to hear what some may say," the poster stated. "Freedom of speech can’t be violated like this. If they are threatening violence or getting physically violent or anything along those lines, then yes, that person should be charged. But if someone is exercising the right to free speech against a public and elected official, you best be able to hear the criticism that some feel and believe in. That’s part of their job!"

"The people who openly oppose the goofy bureaucrats are being charged with crimes and forced into silence?" another poster commented. "This is umm … great…"

(Adele Kubel)