Tag: Crime

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New Philly Media Outlet Metropolis Produces In Depth Expose On Frankford

We got an email from Mike  Newall a month ago looking to do an interview a couple weeks ago for a story about crime and development in Frankford for a new Philly-centered news website called Metropolis.  Inside his four part series he scored some notable misses(like Friends restaurant was opened for under a year, it was Mozaic that opened during a so-called reneasance). Anyways check out all of his piece, it’s nice to see Frankford get some in depth attention.  Although it does make me cringe when the title of part one is “The Frankford Story: In a Free Fall”.  It’s like he asked someone from Mayfair for the title.  If he had come in and done just that story it would have been the regular bullshit that Frankford gets from the area media.  I am so sick of hearing where Frankford has been.  Yes it sucks.  I know how awesome it used to be.  Try telling me why it sucks now and point out some things I can do to start changing it.  So this bastard spends the next three articles doing just that.  It is by far the most comprehensive report on the past, present and future of this neighborhood I have ever seen.  And it’s a testament to this so-called “media revolution” that it should come out of a web based outfit as opposed to print. If paper and ink are too valuable to waste on forgotten places like Frankford, then let the printing presses die.

Part 2 covers the crime and drugs. Crime reporting to me is generally sensational, but tell me everything you can come up with about the drugs, especially about the drug rehab houses which he talks at length in part 3.  I think the more residents know about how they open up and operate, the better prepared they are to fight it.

Part 4 is my favorite and most important to helping understand what’s going in Frankford now.

Here’s a quote from the piece about the political infighting I always considered too nuanced to even try bringing up:

Factions at war

It’s civic and business organizations are beset by nasty political fighting. Frankford has had had three city council representatives in the last four years – Rick Mariano, Dan Savage, and now Maria Quinones-Sanchez. All three have tried to stuff the boards of the local organizations with their own followers and now it’s all a big mess.

The Frankford Civic Association has had some recent success in fighting the zoning of recovery houses. But the civic consists almost entirely of Savage supporters seemingly more focused on winning the former councilman his seat back than taking bold action for Frankford. For her part, councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez has been no great friend to civic association, seemingly putting politics above constituent need.

“The political fighting is destroying the neighborhood,” said Rita Lugrine, a member of the Frankford Community Development Corporation.

But at the end of the day, what am I, a lone resident, able to do to help?

“We’ve been telling the community folks, pick a parcel of land, come up with an idea, shop it around to developers,” said Michael Thompson of the City Planning Commission.

I’m gonna think on this one, I’ll get back to this.

Overall I’m a huge fan on this piece of reporting, if this is how the future of reporting is going to be, it’s going to be an exciting time, not just for Frankford, but for any forgotten section of Philly. Mike Newall is a Philadelphia reporter who writes about neighborhoods. Yeah he does.

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Town Hall Meeting

Captain Frank Bachmayer, 15th police district, held a town hall meeting at St. Joachims Tuesday night.  30 people attended the one hour meeting to get the latest news on the crime situation in the neighborhood.  As we have previously reported, overall crime is down in Frankford when compared with the same period in 2008.  This change is attributable to changing tactics in combating crime.  Violent crimes have shown the most decline with things like burglary being a more difficult situation to manage.

town hall meeting crop

The issue of police response time was raised first.  Response time is based on what is going on at that time and what priority the incident is compared with other calls in line.  A disorderly crowd of teens will have a lower priority than a burglary or robbery.  In addition, the implementation of the Police Service Area (PSA) pilot project may impact on response times because officers are now limited to answering calls within their assigned sector.  Previously they were able to jump from sector to sector.

Several people raised specific questions about drug activity on their block.  Those issues were noted and a followup was promised.

A question was raised on when should a person call 911 versus calling the district directly.  If there is an immediate issue, regardless of what it may be, you should call 911.  This includes what some may think of as minor problems like truant high school students.  Call and let the police decide how to respond.  If they do not respond right away, the call will still be logged and a record of it will exist.  Call the district if you have an ongoing problem with a situation.  Drug sales on a corner day after day or prostitutes making a nuisance of themselves would fall into that category.

Toward the end of the meeting one person noted that all of the issues raised were essentially about quality of  life in Frankford.  While the crime rate continues to decline, the relatively minor issues take on major importance to people who are thinking of moving here or others thinking about relocating.   This was the best attended town hall meeting that I have seen.  The folks there were aware, concerned and reasonable.  They were not looking for miracles but they were looking for reasonable solutions.  The group lingered for a good ten minutes after the meeting broke up talking together and exchanging information and experiences.

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Coming Up in Frankford

  • Tom Judd is having an open reception
    When– Fri, November 13, 6pm – 9pm
    Where Globe Dye Works (map)
    Description – Philadelphia based artist Tom Judd is having an open reception this Friday at the Globe Dye Works from 6 PM to 9 PM. According to Mr Judd’s biography, he’s done a lot stuff around Philadelphia. From murals on the street to walls for local restaurants. Some of his stuff has been added to the Philadelphia Museum Art’s permanent collection. I hope we get something like Tijuana Weekend.
  • Frankford Garden Club
    When – Sat, November 14, 10am – 12pm
    Where – Wissinoming Recreation Center (map)
    Description – This Saturday From 10AM to 12PM we will be making autumn arrangements for the Vitas Hospice in the old Frankford Hospital (now Aria) We will meet in our new Home at Wissinoming Recreation Center Enter the driveway on Cheltenham Street between Charles and Frankford Avenue (one block east of Frankford Avenue – go past the Frankford Transportation Center at Bridge and Pratt, up the hill, and turn right onto Cheltenham Avenue at the traffice light – then turn left into the driveway about a block down – you are allowed to drive up the red brick road to the building !
  • Northwood Civic Association Meeting
    When – Tue, November 17, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. (map)
    Description – AGENDA: • Terry Tobin, director of New Frankford Community Y, will make a report on the possible future of the now closed facility. Accompanying him will be officers of the company planning to buy the facility. They will make a presentation and take questions. • The membership will be updated on the progress of the various zoning battles the Association is currently engaged in. • Any new business will be accepted from the floor.
  • Italian Style Family Dinner
    When – Wed, November 18, 4:30pm – 8:00pm
    Where – St. Joachim’s Church, 1527 Church Street, Phila., PA 19124 (map)
    Description – MARK YOUR CALENDAR Every Third Wednesday from September thru May Italian Style Family Dinner.  The Dinners will be served from 4:30 PM to 8 PM in Fitzmaurice Hall Take-out will be available. COST: $8.00 for Adults, $4.00 for Children. Come Join us!
  • Solar Power Workshop
    When – Thu, November 19, 6pm – 8pm
    Where – Location TBD (map)
    Description – Rep. Payton is hosting a series of workshops on solar power to help you become a part of the solar revolution. Three solar professionals will present their services and general information about the benefits of solar energy. Rep. Payton’s staff will also present on solar rebates and tax incentives available on solar purchases. Presenters include: Rene Ermilio, Helio Power Systems Micah Gold-Markel, Solar States David Blumenfeld, Urban Eco Electric Jorge Santana, Office of State Rep. Tony Payton, Jr. For more information about any of these events, please contact Rep. Payton’s constituent service office at 215-544-7901.
  • Parent Computer Expo
    When – Sat, November 21, 9am – 12pm
    Where – Frankford High School, 5000 Oxford Ave. Phila. PA 19124 (map)
  • Fall For Your Park at Overington Park
    When – Sat, November 21, 10am – 1pm
    Where – Overington Park, Leiper and Orthodox Streets (map)
    Description – Our next Friends of Overington Park event is on Saturday November 21, 2009, from 10am till 1pm. We will be planting a few trees, and racking up leaves, I hope some of your readers would like to attend. The event is called Fall For Your Park and will be going on around the city in over 60 parks. I hope to see you there.
  • Town hall meeting
    When – Tue, November 24, 7pm – 8pm
    Where – St. Joachim’s church hall, Church and Griscom streets.Phila. Pa 19124 (map)
    Description – Captain Bachmayer (15th District) invites residents from the district to share their concerns at a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. at St. Joachim’s church hall, Church and Griscom streets.
  • Program at the Historical Society of Frankford
    When – Sun, November 29, 2pm – 4pm
    Where – Historical Society of Frankford, 1507 Foulkrod Street, Phila. PA 19124 (map)
    Description – THE LENAPE TRADITION — Special Guest Program and Fundraiser Indian Cultural Museum of Allentown This interactive program and display will highlight the heritage of the Lenape people that were the first to inhabit the area that is now Frankford. In light of the Thanksgiving holiday, it is appropriate to remember and appreciate the people that once called Frankford home. Join the folks from the Indian Cultural Center in Allentown as they share information on their history and traditions. The Historical Society of Frankford is also mounting a small display of its own Lenape and other Northeast Philadelphia American Indian artifacts. Activities for all ages will be offered, so bring the entire family and support the educational outreach HSF has been doing for over 100 years to promote and preserve the history of Northeast Philadelphia. Special refreshments will be offered.
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Section 8 Bomb To Be Exploded This Saturday?

4618 leiperI got a tip on a link for this real estate auction going this Saturday for several large apartment complexes around Frankford.  Nothing jumps out as abnormal other than they’re all chopped up from former homes.  Let’s do a little math.  There are 4 properties with a total of (let’s say) 27 units with a total rental income of $144360 a year so that gives us an average monthly unit rental at $445.55.  Pricing that cheap concerns me, of course I hear that when properties change hands the rents go up but anytime there’s a sale in Frankford it doesn’t seem to go well.  I dunno, maybe I’m just a worrier.  Anyways be at 4618 Leiper St this Saturday at 1 pm to see the action.  That property, along with 4904 Penn St, 4906 Penn St, and 5022 Griscom St are up for auction.

Along with the link from our tipster came the statement “what the hell does the Frankford CDC?,doooo?the Mayfair CDC would buy those shits.”  It’s definitely a good question.  My response was that they were handling their tax issues.

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Crime Map Update

crime graphicWe updated the crime map page to include the data from 9/14 through 9/27/2009.  We are continuing to run about 24% below the same period last year for major crimes.  Those sirens you hear are the police doing their job.  Say thank you.  This is the link to the statistics.

The Northeast Times has a story talking about the new Police Service Areas, or PSAs.  I noticed this a few weeks ago while I was doing the computations for our crime page.  Where one week the 15th district had patrol sectors from A through P (I think it was P), suddenly it went from A to C.  I had to adapt my system to account for the change.  I’m not sure exactly how it will help but so far they are on the right track so let’s hope this keeps it going that way.