It's Tacony not Mayfair, and I do at times find the efforts admirable but the constant "dressing up" IMO doesn't really attack the core problems and needs. And until they are adressed, confronted and rectified I see a large part of this stuff as being a waste of money and not much more then political pandering/posturing.

__________________
"I'll vote for him if he's the nominee, but I'll continue to think he's a complete phoney." BrooklynCat 3/23
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/pol...r-race-11.html

That is so lame, right out of the "obnoxious Obama supporter" playbook 3/17
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/pol...r-race-37.html
RE-ELECT DAVID OH COUNCIL AT LARGE 2011

I mentioned it earlier, but unfortunately I have to work on thursday night. Do you think it will run late? Perhaps I can show up later.

How / what would you do to fix the problem?

I don't mean to sound as though I'm putting you on the spot, I'm curious to ALL solutions.

I do agree though that unless we put an IMMEDIATE stop to ALL section 8 housing and do a better job of deciding what types of businesses are allowed to open in the area, that it WILL be useless to hang up some flower baskets and light them up. I agree 100%.

Hold people, property owners(landlords/realtors) and business' responsible and enforce LAWS/FINES that are on the books. They'll either get their act together or disappear to another area where they can get away with whatever they want. Make the CITY, not neighborhood associations etc, accountable to enforce the EXISITING laws. A police presence/beat and bike cops along Torresdale particularly in the area of Longshore. Like a large majority of the NE we don't get the city services deserved in return for the tax dollars they take hence the continue of the area declining. Torresdale Ave is better suited for some of the things mentioned in the Frankford Ave thread due to it being a smaller and more quaint atmosphere, but your dealing with the no liquor/bar issue so that pretty much stops that. There aren't many "anchor/longtime business'" and I don't see anything to attract new ones. Unfortunately all the flags, banners, lights and flower boxes you want aren't going to stop the cancer from spreading when your dealing with a mindset and certain amount of residents that just don't give a f***. Aren't the flags and lights pretty? Isn't it great what our elected officials are doing? Just don't bring up the fact that you can buy anything you want down the street or a that young neighborhood teen and a family friend were executed right around the corner, the constant/nightly crime and the multiple crimes that don't even get reported. Nothing can be accomplished as long as this type of behavior is tolerated and/or ignored, so let's just keep putting the lipstick on the pig and hope nobody notices. BTW, this is not meant to condemn some of groups and individuals trying to make a difference but there's only so much they can do especially when what seems like non-existent city agencies slam the door in their face or just don't do their job as they should on a consistent basis but instead usually wait for a tragedy to occur before they take notice and attempt to correct a problem.

__________________
"I'll vote for him if he's the nominee, but I'll continue to think he's a complete phoney." BrooklynCat 3/23
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/pol...r-race-11.html

That is so lame, right out of the "obnoxious Obama supporter" playbook 3/17
http://www.phillyblog.com/philly/pol...r-race-37.html
RE-ELECT DAVID OH COUNCIL AT LARGE 2011

I understand and agree completely. I have a friend who lives in that area on Keystone street. He absolutely loves his home, but seeing his neighborhood decay has got him and his wife thinking about leaving with their new son. He claims that section 8 killed his neighborhood, and I agree. If I start to see it go out of control in Mayfair, I too will flee. I can do as much as I can to keep things nice, but if we keep letting trash in, we're only fooling ourselves if we think that they'll help beautify things. These people are used to handouts, and they'll only "expect" things to be done for them.

I know exactly where you're comming from.

I agree with you all. It's sad to think that even with Torresdale getting a huge face lift it's still getting negative posts. I agree that as more trash moves in and as more trash opens stores, the area will get worse.

I'm hoping that with the face lift you will see different types of entrepenuers attempting to open a business and maybe see a developer see potential rather then a dark dingy dirty street, which is Torresdale Avenue today.

I thank MARC for doing something. The other issues are those that City Representatives have to fix. Not sure how we make a push/call for action, but its become a joke.

The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) acting on behalf of the Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC) accepted the bid of Seravalli, Inc. to construct the first phase of the Torresdale Avenue Project (TAP).

The initial phase increases the lighting to the avenue. With new, shorter lamp posts called “pedestrian poles” in the Tacony business district, more light will be shed on the avenue’s sidewalks and storefronts. This design promotes safety and security at night. Hanging flower baskets on the lamp posts will also serve to beautify the landscape. Work is set to begin this summer and the second phase, which includes intersection and crosswalk improvements, will go out to bid shortly after.

“It’s exciting that after years of the concept and design process we will finally break ground on $2 million worth of improvements to Torresdale Avenue,” said MARC President John Byrne. “We really must thank our elected officials – Councilwoman Joan Krajewski (D-6), state Representative Michael McGeehan (D-173), and Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz (D-13) for their help in securing the funding for this project.”

On Thursday, May 22 at Curran’s Irish Inn, 6900 State Road, 6pm-10pm, MARC celebrates this and other achievements, such as the new SEPTA Loop at Cottman and Torresdale avenues, with their third annual fundraiser. Join the festivities, including food, drinks and door prizes. Tickets are just $30 and the proceeds will be used to improve the community.

MARC is a non-profit community revitalization organization in Tacony, Wissinoming, East Mayfair, Holmesburg and East Torresdale. For more information, please contact 215-332-MARC or visit www.marc-cleansweep.com.

[/quote]

Maybe we could get all the low-life renters and out-of-town landlords who don't cut their grass and weeds to take care of watering all those hanging plants for us!

__________________
"The streets are safe in Philadelphia, it's only the people who make them unsafe!" Frank Rizzo

Flip = "I'm always for less regulation." John McCain, March 3, 2008

Flop = "Casual oversight by regulatory agencies in Washington is responsible for the crisis." John McCain, Sept. 17, 2008

"Public opinion is a weak tyrant, compared with our own private opinion." Henry David Thoreau, 1854

"Either you're part of the solution, or you're part of the problem." Eldridge Cleaver

I agree. It's easy for the local politicans to throw money at the problem and spruce up the appearance of a main street area. However, it's the appearance and quality of life on the residential streets that first drag down the entire area-and morale of a community, IMO.

In conjunction with throwing millions of dollars into a main street program such as MARC or CLIP, the local politicians should earmark a few thousand dollars for "communication" purposes. For example: Krajewski could plaster her entire district with direct mail letters. The letters would be sent out twice a month for 6 months. The letters could include a notice to all homeowners and renters and landlords of the city's laws on property maintenance, (cut grass, littered properties/sidewalks, trash nights/recycle info, car parking, etc.) Lay down the law about these things and also reminders about illegal drug activity, etc. Do this consistently every 2 weeks for 6 months. Included in these letters could be a request for any neighbor who has a complaint about any of the above issues to contact a certain # and a designated person (s) whose job it would be to followup on these issues.
This person should be an employee of Krajewski's office. Not CLIP, MARC or the civic association. That employee would then, twice a month, hold a status meeting with CLIP, MARC, civic assns. and the councilwoman. Soon enough, a pattern will appear. Imagine the info that could be gained from an initiative like this. I'm thinking particularly of the 47xx blocks of East Mayfair/Holmesburg/Tacony.
Drug dealing, illegal rentals, Section 8 violators, etc.

You're right, GOP. They are throwing $$ at the wrong problem. It all looks good in the press. But not when you walk the neighborhoods.

__________________
United we stand. Divided we fall.

www.phillyfreedomforum.com
For when you get tired of PB being down

From your lips to God's ears !!

WELL DONE !!