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Murder in Frankford

crime graphicThe details of this crime are unclear because the body was sound subsequent to the killing.  I know that area because that was where my family lived when I was born and my grandparents lived there till 1964.  There are a lot of alleys running along the rear yards of the block.  It sounds like it was in the back of the 2000 block of Wilmot Street.  Link to the report in the Daily News.  This may be number 4 for the year.

Police are investigating the slaying of a man who was found with two gunshot wounds to the chest in a Frankford alley about 9:30 a.m. yesterday. The body was found under overgrown weeds between rowhouses on Margaret and Wilmot streets, near Torresdale Avenue.   The victim, a Hispanic male who police believe was in his mid-20s, had not been identified.  “There are gunshots every night, or every other night,” said Yvonne Flores, 40, who lives on the block. “You go to sleep and you don’t know what’s going on.”

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On The Mean Streets Of Frankford You Might Overhear Discussions On the Geopolitical Implications Of Corporate E-Waste

wink on computers

Frankford local Chris Wink showed up on Fox 29’s 10 PM broadcast last night discussing a piece he did for his startup Technically Philly about how old computers from the School District of Philadelphia ended up in trash heaps in Africa instead of being properlly disposed.  It has the makings of a scandal.  But not only is it impressive that this young freelance journalist fresh out of Temple finds himself offering incite and context on an issue that is sure to be a hot topic in the future, but he’s discussing on a corner at Penn and Overington.  Way to go Chris.

[Fox 29] http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/education/070909_Philadelphia_School_District_Computer_Equipment_Found_In_Africa_Landfill

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What Does No More Mean?

I got an email from a reader about a sober house. Well I thought that sounded interesting so I poked around on the internet.

Sellers 1305c small

Penn 4440b small

1305 Sellers Street([1305 Sellers on BRT], [1305 Sellers on Google Maps]) and 4440 Penn Street( [4440 Penn on BRT], [4440 Penn on Google Maps]) are being advertised on Craigs list in PA and NJ as the Crossroads Sober Home.

william loew rss ads

william loew craigs list nj

I always laugh when the people in the rehab business and even our own politicians tell us that Frankford has all these recovery houses because this is where the drug users and drinkers live.  This is one blatant example of the fact that this owner is importing them for us.  They live in Frankford because these guys provide the services.  We pay a price so these guys can make a buck and yet they don’t even have the consideration to ask our opinion.  Remember the problem is not the people living in these houses.  The source of the problem is the owner of the property.

I guess this will be another case where the neighbors call the council office and express their concern and then nothing happens.  There is a lot of that going on.  That being the case we’re going to start keeping score.

We had the two at the corner of Church St. and Griscom.  So far that one is unresolved.  Now we have these two.  We’ll keep you updated on what happens with them.

If you would like to call Councilwoman:

7th District – Councilwoman Maria D. Quinones Sanchez

Maria Quinones Sanchez (D)
Room 592 City Hall, 19107
686-3448, 3449; fax: 686-1936
maria.q.sanchez@phila.gov

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McDonald’s For Whom I Was Not Qualified to Work Robbed By Serial Bandits

This is the one at Oxford and Sanger.  It was 1995 maybe, and I was 17… maybe.  My friend Ben was a fry jockey there and I was broke.  The way I remember it, Ben got me the interview but it’s probably more likely that I just showed up and filled out the app.  I can’t remember the girl’s name who interviewed me but she was young too, like 19, yet assistant manager.  It was my first job interview ever and I failed at about all the questions.  She asked me to name a time I overcame a difficult task and I had to make something up.  I remember I rambled something about a fictitious bridge project I had to do for school.  The event was a singular moment in me being a tool.  But the best part was when she asked me why I wanted to work at McDonald’s, and I, probably trying to sound funny, or flirt or whatever just looked at her and said “I just love your sausage McMuffins”.  Which I did.  I knew she’d either find it funny or….not.  Awe man, I go through a shame spiral just typing the event out.  It was awesome, she just stared blankly back at me.  She said she’d let me know if any positions opened up but Ben said she hired the next four guys she interviewed.

Anyways, Fox News reports that it was the fifth McDonald’s robbed in the last month when three men brandishing guns walked in at 11 am yesterday and made off with $300.   Good times.

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting

The Frankford Civic held its monthly meeting on Thursday July 2nd with about 25 people in attandance.

  • Representative from the 15th police district noted that they have been continuing to focus on Frankford.  We see several police officers walking the beat along Frankford Avenue and the side streets close to it.   The Police Service Area (P.S.A.) model implementation has been delayed in the 15th district.  One person attending the meeting raised the issue of the unruly crowd usually gathered along the 16oo block of Margaret Street during the day.  The police will look into it.  I’m not sure how they could have missed them thus far.
  • Torresdale and Frankford 2 smallRepresentative for the owners of the gas station at Torresdale Ave. and Frankford Ave. made a presentation seeking support for zoning to convert the existing garage into a mini mart.  These guys keep the property pretty clean and neat given its location.  I don’t see how it could be a negative.  There plans call for more lighting and it would certainly look better than those security gates that cover the garage bays now.  Click on the thumbnail for a full sized picture.
  • Sankofa 2 smallDr. Ayesha Imani, CEO and Founder of the Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School made a presentation.  The new charter school will open in the former Mater Dolorosa school at Paul and Ruan Streets this September. Initially it will serve K to 4th grade and 9th grade.  It will gradually expand to K through 12th grade.   An open house grand opening is scheduled for August 29th.  the community will be invited.

The next Frankford Civic Association meeting is scheduled for August 6th at 7 PM.