I was there this year also. There seemed to be a rather large turnout. I was surprised when I heard the rumor that they may not continue it next year. The lack of support is monetary I believe. They take collections door to door in the area throughout the year (at least that's how they did it with the Olney High fireworks) and I think the contributions were not what they were expecting. Maybe they should charge admission at the show.

I'm sorry if I offend anyone.



But I lived near Amber and Tioga streets [between Aramingo and Kensington Avenue). This area is not very nice anymore. I loved this neighborhood growing up. Neighbors always sat outside. Kids played most of the night right outside because adults were always there. You could walk anywhere and never worry about stray bullets, being approached by drug dealers or prostitutes, or just being attacked by criminals; you just felt safe. Now I go by that area and there are stores on every corner, which I heard are fronts for drug dealers. We always had corner stores, but there is one on just about every corner on Tioga Street [what purpose does this serve?]. (I know a few areas surrounding this area that don't seem too bad, but how long will that last)....I know plenty of people still in the neighborhood who are trying their best to get out, so if it was good, why would they be trying to escape......they just can't really afford to buy elsewhere right now - so they are basically stuck....)



Two weeks prior to me moving from that area, we sat out with neighbors, and just around the corner from where we were sitting there was a drive by shooting. People were sitting out on their step and were shot, point blank while sitting on their step. (it was random - no rhyme or reason) ((sound safe to you?)). I couldn't wait to move!



Another friend, who lived on Ontario Street, was sitting out on their step (recently) and had 2 masked men hold them up at gunpoint, made them go into their home and empty their personal belongings. They were placed in a shed in the back of their home while the men disappeared. ((sound safe to you?)).



Another friend lives on a street with very few homes and has young kids (can't afford to move)... The children were outside during the day on a weekend and a car pulled up a little bit away from them. It was a prostitute pulling up ....... ((sound like a place for your kids to play?)).... Luckily we were getting ready for a block party and had the hose out.... so one of the adults went out and squirted the hose into the car... they left pretty quickly....



A neighbor of mine (elderly man) was coming back from the store and was carrying groceries up the step and was attacked from behind from someone with a gun.... ((sound safe to you?))...



Just the other night on the news they talked about the father who was shot by two kids/teens (over a fight between the kids).....kids came back with their parents and a gun and started shooting - the man shot looked out for the community in many ways....it happens to the good ones...(and this happened near an elementary school....).



A friend's relative's car broke down on Westmoreland Street (near Aramingo) she walked to her sister's house which was basically around the corner. Two masked men who had a knife attached her, shirt was slit, and she was dragged up to the railroad tracks and beaten some. Luckily she had a little bit of money on her because they took the money and ran (otherwise she may not have been with us anymore). ((sound like a safe place to walk?))...



I was at a Church (just this summer) in that area for a Communion and while I was in the Church someone broke into my car. I came out to my window smashed and my child's baseball equipment taken (this equipment was hidden very well) [no way they saw this equipment - they just got lucky to find it]. All I kept saying, was "I knew this would happen.... why did I come over here...?"



There was not a night that I got off the el that I didn't have someone come up to me asking if I wanted some drugs or jewelry. While waiting for your ride from your husband/chauffer, there were men stopping, thinking you were a prostitute.



I moved and am so thankful that I made that decision. The main reason was that I had children and there was no way in the world that I wanted to send my kids to a school in that neighborhood (I am not blind). That was my priority and I did all I could to save to get out so my kids could have a (safer - maybe not perfect) school experience.



I suggest that unless you want to walk with a spinning head (to watch every single step you make) then [if anyone is considering moving there, to really think before doing so). Go visit the neighborhood at different times to see how things are at these times. And definitely if you have kids, PLEASE THINK AND RETHINK. It is not safe for little ones. I have even heard of bullets flying through the windows so you can't even be safe in your own homes.



These things could happen anywhere, I know that.... but it seems to happen more in that neighborhood; they don't get published as they should because they don't want to scare anyone from moving there (or there is just too much to publish). So for those who don't hear behind the scenes of what the area is like, beware!

I think the Olney fireworks have been gone longer than that....

__________________
This is the world we live in
And these are the hands were given
Use them and lets start trying
To make it a place worth living in.

On craigslist, some people who call themselves "activists" describing K&A as "really vibrant, with lots of businesses and restaurants" in hopes of enticing a potential roommate for a place a block from the el station... hmm

EX-KENZO

Thank you !!!!!! loved your comments...I grew up & lived in Philly. Then when I got married bought a house in Northwood at Dyre and Horrocks....Beautiful home and neighborhood ....But surrounding it was a den of iniquity....Drugs, prostitution,strong arm robberies...My ex wife grew up & lived near K&A(but have to tell you was not a K&A chick..."attitude or fighter") I'm sure you know what I mean!!!....before we were married in "95,the area was already run down..although her house was nice,the low life(and not saying that "poor" and "less fortunate" are low lives....but the drug dealers,users,and pro's,infected the neighborhoods...and that influenced a lot of children to be immune to what was around them..the parents too....and the next thing you know..the area is shot to sh*t!!!!..I got blasted for my comments( the beginning of the blog......but hey ...some of us know what is the truth and can face it...So once again want to thank you for your comments,and to know that someone sees it the same way I do!!!..Yes I do live in Oklahomie!!now haha...It may suck for the food I'm used to and the excitement...but I have to admit, and this is hard for me to do..because I never thought I could adapt to the "redneck","good ole boy" attitude ...but the "America Love it or Leave it" , liberal gun laws,and protect your home and family(shoot first ask questions later ideals), liberal laws on this point,and the" I'd rather be judged by 12, than carried by 6" ...way of life...and the way communities watch and will "get rid of" the scum that is a plague in some of Philly's areas..is unbelievable!!! I must admit that there are drugs and prostitution, and crime here also...but not infecting the neighborhoods,and as open and brazen as there..this is contained to industrial business areas...and the drugs are more in the "country"areas...weapons carry permits are very easy to get..as long as you are felony free..and trust me people pack here...another reason reason that crime is much lower...there are many bank robberies here...( I guess they think they are in the old western times)....haha ...Well good luck and thanks for the comments...this is one Philly boy that is behind you.(yeah and I still consider my home,Philly, and proud of it!!)

David

I have a buddy who lives on atlantic and jasper. His corner is PCP (wet) and heroin. Around the corner between Jasper and Venanago there is a crack dealer who is out all day. Go to the el station and you get offered everything else in the book. The police ride by a chinese store where EVERYONE is on the corner selling drugs and selling their bodies and don't do anything.

The other day we were crossing Kensington Ave from the west side at the intersection of Kensington and Cambria. As we walked up on the sidewalk to on the east side of the ave there happened to be people on that corner. We didn't walk up in a threatening manner or with intent to buy drugs. We didn't even make it past the corner before someone pulled out his chrome and told us "you can't be walkin up on niggas like that around here." ALL WE DID WAS CROSS THE STREET. Yeah, raise a family around here.

We finally got to the somerset el station and there was a kid snorting dope right out of the bag on the platform.

A span of a few hours in the life of Kensington. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

If you want a nice solid area, check out Bridesburg right above Port Richmond. I grew up in Port Richmond and bought in Bridesburg. Lived here three years and love it, never had a problem. Although the prices are getting kind of high as even in this crappy market, they are still building.

Here is a community web site regarding the area of Bridesburg:

www.Pridesburg,com

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www.JoinPhilly.com

I've been everywhere man! I been to Port Richmond, Kensington, Fishtown, Mayfair, Bridesburg -- I've been everywhere!

"I haven't failed. I've found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Benjamin Franklin

Bridesburg isn't cool enough. The cool people are buying in Point Breeze, Greys Ferry, Fishtown, Kensington and Northern Liberties. Plus, there isn't enough diversity and coffee shops for them in Bridesburg.

__________________
Eventually, we all become a "Herman" character.

Lord have mercy... I was driving through K&A two days ago and no question about it at all, Kensington and Allegheny -and the area around it (north south east And west) - is pure GHETTO !!!!

I have to give a big sigh....I live a couple blocks from K&A.

I always tell people neighborhood is a matter of opinion, I've heard people describe Rittenhouse Square as so ridiculously dangerous they felt they would be mugged and killed at any moment walking around in the middle of the day.

I've been here for about 5 or 6 years now and never had a problem, of course I'm a youngish male who doesn't walk around in a business suit. My street feels safe and the neighbors get along and watch out for each other. I don't think its very fair to cast a generalized comment that the entire area is "ghetto".

Its certainly not the prettiest area, and we do have pretty awesome gossip. But 99% of people around here are good people who want to raise their kids and stay out of harms way.