Internet site keeps
Frankford in the know

By Jon Campisi
Times Staff Writer

When Jim Smiley moved from his native Frankford to Northern Liberties, he became aware of the difference in exposure between his Northeast Philadelphia hometown and his newly adopted neighborhood.
Whereas there were numerous Internet blogs devoted to life in the up-and-coming land of Northern Liberties, Frankford was seriously lacking in this department.
Jim’s father, Bob Smiley, was also dismayed by the limited exposure Frankford was receiving with particular regard to news events and other happenings.
But instead of sitting back and doing nothing, the two began a venture that would go on to become a useful resource for the residents of Frankford.
Saturday will mark the one-year anniversary of the Frankford Gazette Internet site, which was launched with the aim of keeping community members in the know when it comes to everything from neighborhood crime to recreational events.
"We’re trying to be a one-stop shop," Jim said of the site’s content.
The Smileys (no relation to the Smylies who used to own the Northeast Times) took the name for their site from the defunct Frankford Gazette, a newspaper that once covered the neighborhood. With name recognition, they figured, would come readership.
Jim, 30, now has a greater stake in Frankford — the soon-to-be-married Smiley has since returned to the neighborhood from Northern Liberties and purchased a house — and his commitment to the "Next Great Neighborhood in the Next Great City" shows through his work.
"There’s a void," he said of media coverage of Frankford, "which is why it (the site) is successful."
He and his father have even gotten a news "scoop" from time to time, Jim said, although he admits that much of the content is existing stories from other news outlets. Many of the articles are reprints from newspapers, the Northeast Times in particular.
In addition to news stories, the site includes a crime map of Frankford, detailing incidents of crime by date and location, a community calendar of upcoming events and links to other sites, such as Web addresses for civic associations and local lawmakers.
Lately, the Smileys, Bob in particular, have posted comments on the site noting the frequency with which some news media have gotten it wrong when it comes to crimes that supposedly occurred in Frankford. Disseminating wrong information, especially regarding location, is dangerous, Bob said, because it perpetuates the stigma that Frankford carries in the city — the belief that it’s an unsavory place.
"It reinforces the stereotype that a lot of people, who don’t think, have," the elder Smiley said on the power of the press. "I look at the news critically."
As for issues of substance, Bob said there is much that could be done to help revitalize Frankford, but politicians and the powers-that-be aren’t making that a priority.
While aesthetic additions, such as new trash receptacles and welcome signs, are nice — the Times reported on this beautification effort last week, one that is set to get underway any day — Bob looks to the day when officials will invest in things that could really benefit the community, such as more parole officers, helping to keep out bad landlords who rent to virtually anyone, and putting a stop to the influx of drug and alcohol rehab centers.
So, just why do the Smileys stress themselves out over such issues? Admittedly there are many reasons, not the least of which is that the neighborhood is their home too.
"When I moved here, there were slivers of hope," Jim said, referring to his return to Frankford after living in Northern Liberties.
One example, he said, was the opening of mozaic in September 2006. The short-lived business, which combined food and drinks with live music to produce an atmosphere more akin to a Center City establishment, closed its doors on Dec. 7, 2007. Entrepreneur Joan Oliveto simply couldn’t afford to stay open.
A Times story two weeks later stated that while Oliveto "labored to debut her restaurant as a trendy newcomer to Frankford Avenue, other business owners and Frankford activists had high hopes for mozaic as a flagship for the neighborhood’s revitalization."
Count the Smileys among them. They agree that mosaic’s closing marked a dark moment in Frankford’s modern history.
As neighborhood boosters, the Smileys say the anniversary of www.frankfordgazette.com is a proud moment. Asked how long he could see himself continuing to operate the site, Bob replied, "Forever."
As far as any new content, the Smileys did disagree on one thing. Jim would like to see more neighborhood gossip on the site; Bob aims to stay clear of rumors and innuendo and simply stick to the facts.
A tabloid-style format, Bob said, will simply lend less credibility to the online publication.
"I’d rather rise above the gossip," he said.
Jim sees it a different way: "It would increase our readership."
The topic of political endorsements also came up, since newspapers far and wide engage in the practice. Bob said he looks to stay clear of that as well.
"Right now, everybody thinks we stay pretty neutral," he said.
One thing the two agree on is a drive to educate as many Frankford people as possible on the issues of the day.
"We’re just trying to increase exposure," Jim said. ••
Reporter Jon Campisi can be reached at 215-354-3038 or jcampisi@phillynews.com