Oh, okay, I thought it might have been the church/ school that takes up all the parking, blocks the street loading and unloading people off their buses, posts Secret Service-looking guys on the corners all day Sunday, and lets their kids use Dreer St as a recess playground (yes, I want my kids playing in an alley filled w/ dog poop, used condoms, and other fun items).

The church (no need for quotes, ironic or otherwise) you are referring to is Bethel Baptist, an independent fundamentalist Baptist congregation.

I believe the church referred to at the FNA meeting is St John's Memorial Baptist, a predominantly African-American congregation.

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I live in Fishtown now, but I grew up in farm country right when it was starting to change over to suburbs. People would build a house right next to a farm, and then complain about the smell or about having to wait on the road when the cows were moved from barn to pasture.

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When I moved in, all the old-school Fishtowners who were here looooooooong before this Bethel Baptist Church was here bitched about it. I had no idea it was there. I was well aware of St Laurentius and other churches and schools in the area and have no problem w/ them. I have a problem with a place blocking a street (Dreer), albeit a small one, to use as their own personal playground, and posting people on corners, complete w/ chairs for them to sit on for hours, who give me the once-over as I walk by. They don't use a dumpster, just put out piles of trash for the city to pick up. When we moved here, my neighbors complained about the church people taking up parking on our street (I live on Tulip). A girl across the street had rats in her place coming from the church. I wonder how many members actually live in the neighborhood.

Sorry, your analogy about moving next to a farm is way off base. I don't even live on the same street as this church.

I do know a lot of the old-timers (although certainly not all!) don't like Bethel very much. So be it. A lot of the old-timers (although certainly not all!) don't like ethnic minorities or gentrifiers either.

As far as blocking off the street for a playground, that's a long-established practice. Lots of schools, both private and public, do that...and do it on larger streets. (For instance, Holy Name does it on Gaul.) Plus, during the summer the city has a program which encourages you to block off your street and make it a "play street" for kids.

I also know that the reason the guys are on the corners is in response to concerns expressed in the past by neighbors. They are there to help people find parking spaces, and also to deal with previous problems which occurred with children who were attending the church. It's interesting that I have heard some people complain a lot about Bethel, yet I have heard other people who talk about them being really good neighbors.

As far as the dumpsters, almost all the nonprofits leave their trash out for city collection. As far as I can tell, even most for-profit businesses are entitled to city trash collection.

Parking is a problem in most of Fishtown, and is going to be a problem wherever a large group of people congregate.

If there's a rat problem, I would highly recommend dealing with the church and with the city if there is not adequate response.

Unlike the petition case, I don't see how the number of members who actually live in the neighborhood is relevant, any more than the residency of people who go to the Rocket Cat or JB's.

Now, understand... Bethel Baptist is an independent fundamentalist organization, and as such will not have anything to do with me and my ilk. (Individually many will, but not organizationally.) Nonetheless, I believe they have as much right to do their thing as anybody else. In general, I would hope they would do it as a good neighbor to others. Nonetheless, certain things (like loading/unloading busses) are the mild inconveniences of being in the city... just like when the bread truck blocks the street to run an order into the corner deli.

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I am honestly more frustrated with Lederer than the church--and simply for the Nodding Head petition. Unless the church tried to represent themselves as all residents of the neighborhood.

St. Laurentius is on my block and they're excellent neighbors. Great for parking most of the week--Sunday morning is a killer, as well as in the AM when folks are dropping off kids or during certain functions during the weeknights--but it's an excellently maintained block and very quiet.

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When I first moved in, I thought it was a bonus that Lederer lived just a block over (on Shackamaxon) but I'm quickly learning that she appears to be seriously out-of-touch with the day-to-day life of this neighborhood.

Her attendance record in Harrisburg is pretty abysmal, too. I know there's a certain fondness for her among many of the "old-timers," but I've also heard a lot of frustration voiced over her apparent laziness. Unfortunately, she is part of the "job for life" clique that doesn't have to work very hard (if at all) to retain a legislative seat. The voters deserve more, but won't get it until they do something about it...instead of simply voting over and over for a familiar name.

Considering her age and probable misunderstanding of the changes taking place here, I'm not at all surprised she would oppose the brewpub. To her, it's probably a case of "bar=sleaze" instead of doing her homework and realizing that it's an opportunity to bring a quality operation (and a few more jobs) to Frankford Avenue. Somebody needs to explain to her that it's not 1975 anymore.

I don't mean to be too rough on Marie. I've met her husband (a real gentleman) and have heard good things about her as a person. But as a legislator? Methinks we could do MUCH better.

The congregation of the African-American Baptist church was duped into furthering someone's agenda. As punishment for their lack of vigilance, they will be forced to breathe the noxious fumes of fire and brimstone, manifested in the form of greasy exhaust from KFC and Long John Silver's....


All hail the vengeful desert God!

Wow, someone answered the phone at Marie Lederer's office AND ,mailed out a letter, WOW,
Will wonders never cease.

:rolling_:

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Brooke there is still the general election in the Fall. Vote for Greg Mester who lives down in Pennsport right near the Mummer's Museum. I'm going to help him out in Queen Village. Greg is in his mid 30's and is a Penn State grad and does not mind a beer or two every once in a while.


We can do much better. We can elect a guy with a Master's degree who understands complex issues and will take action in Harrisburg to help solve some of Philadelphia's problems. See Greg Mester above...

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