The son of the Penn Hills school board president has drawn the attention of the U.S. Secret Service with an online petition for the “bailout” of the school district’s debt and his plans to chain himself to White House property if federal officials don’t provide assistance.
The district is burdened with more than $170 million in debt, leaning on a tax base saddled with what already is among the region’s highest property tax rates.
An Allegheny County grand jury investigating the district’s financial collapse found in February that construction projects — the root of the turmoil — were a product of failed leadership, favoritism and catastrophic borrowing that thrust the district into a financial tailspin. But the grand jury did not recommend any criminal charges.
Philip Vecchio, 30, said his criminal history could be what alerted the FBI and Secret Service to his online petition at change.org, where more than 1,200 people have already signed. The petition was posted online last month, and requests that “... federal authorities investigate this matter immediately and either decide to prosecute those involved and seek damages ... or we demand the immediate bailout of the District's debt.”
For the past couple days, Secret Service officials have been in contact with Mr. Vecchio and his mother, school board president Erin Vecchio, and have searched his home and vehicle, he said. After the petition went live in June, officials contacted Ms. Vecchio before Mr. Vecchio, he said. Police in 2010 said he was part of a “mafia” group that robbed 17 places, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette archives. He had been charged with criminal conspiracy and burglary, and served one year in state prison.
“I understand that I don't look good on paper,” Mr. Vecchio said. “I hung out with guys who did stupid stuff, and I did stupid stuff. I was held accountable though, and so should they,” he said about those responsible for school district’s debt.
Mr. Vecchio thanked Secret Service officials for their response, and spoke highly of the rapport he said he is establishing with them. If officials neglect to provide their assistance, however, Mr. Vecchio said that’s when he will “wrap a chain around his waist,” tying himself to White House property, he said.
Secret Service officials told him he could protest peacefully, but authorities would remove the chains if he chose to do that, Mr. Vecchio said.
Ms. Vecchio said her son is “a really good kid,” and is trying to help out. Secret Service officials are working to connect them with FBI officials who would potentially “listen to their concerns,” she said. She doesn’t agree with Mr. Vecchio chaining himself to White House property, however.
Mr. Vecchio said he plans to protest Friday in Washington, D.C. by himself.
“The petition is to get the FBI and federal government involved, and as of right now, the Secret Service has promised to get me in touch with those people,” he said. “This is a nonviolent protest, and we are going to keep up this fight as long as we have to.”
Lacretia Wimbley: 412-263-1510, lwimbley@post-gazette.com or follow @Wimbleyjourno on Twitter.
First Published: July 3, 2019, 10:01 p.m.
