Tag: PSA1

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Record Turnout at PSA1 Residents Organize for Action

Record numbers turned out on Thursday night, September 26th for the PSA1 meeting.  Unfortunately the police representatives were busy with a crime event elsewhere so Pete Specos had to conduct the meeting on their behalf.  Attendance was unusually high as a result of the Town Hall meeting on September 19th, on the subject of drug recovery/boarding houses in Frankford where people were told about the PSA meetings.  Many Frankford residents are still unaware that you can meet with the police directly once a month to talk about your specific problems.

Residents from Worth, Ditman, Kinsey, Griscom and Penn Streets actively discussed the problems that beset their areas and resolved to work together to demand solutions.  The end result was to organize neighbors to attend the Frankford Civic Association meeting on October 3rd as a show of solidarity.

If you want to make progress on these issues in your area, you are urged to attend the Frankford Civic Association meeting at 7PM at Aria Hospital on October 3rd.

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Captain McCloskey at the PSA1 Meeting

A large crowd greeted Captain John McCloskey at the PSA1 meeting at Aria Hospital on Thursday night.  He clearly knows the geography of Frankford crime.  All categories of crime are down in the 15th district with the exception of burglary.

On some specific issues:

  • Foot patrols which had been going all the way down to Church Street and now ending at Orthodox Street.  The reason is that the crime drives the patrols.  He concentrates manpower where the crime has been.
  • Residents asked why the Subway and other take out food stores are open all night.  If they are located in a commercial area there is no legal reason that they can be shut down.  Those that are in residential areas are seeing the police come in if they are open after 11PM.
  • They are continuing to keep the pressure on the prostitution in the area.  There have been stings set up to arrest the users of the service and this is a big deterrent since they money and car of the guy soliciting the prostitute are confiscated and usually not returned for a month.  Prostitutes arrested will only be held and then released the next day.
  • The dollar store next to McDonalds is used by drug dealers.  The police are aware of this and dealing with it.
  • Residents of the 4700 block of Griscom Street discussed the drug problem on that block.
  • Northwood residents discussed the problem with squatters on the 1200 block of Arrott Street.  The captain was familiar with the issue and had been there to investigate.  Based on information provided by the residents, they will make another visit soon.
  • Folks from the Mayfair Town Watch asked for more patrols up between Princeton and Bleigh on Frankford Ave.  The homeless, prostitutes and drug users are getting out of hand.  They believe that the pressure down here in Frankford may be driving some of the traffic further up into Mayfair.  The captain said he would look at deploying some manpower to deal with the situation.

The next meeting of PSA1 will be on September 26th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

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PSA1 Meeting on June 20th

The PSA1 meeting was directed by Officer Andrews as Lt. Burton was not available.  The previous announcement that Lt. Burton would be moving to another PSA has been reversed.

  • Drugs are back on the 4700 block of Griscom Street.  Time for foot patrol officers to coral them again.
  • The long time squatter at 4728 Griscom owned by the Frankford CDC has been evicted again.  The building has been sealed but its an uphill battle to keep him out of there.
  • The club on the 2nd floor at 4721 Oxford that opened for a night a few weeks ago is not licensed and L&I has not made an inspection for several years.  Councilwoman Sanchez office is working on the issue.  Neighbors do not want a night club in the neighborhood.
  • Residents on Penn Street near Harrison complain of drug sales from a house near that intersection.

The next meeting of PSA1 will be on Thursday, July 25th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.

 

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Active PSA1 Meeting in April

Sargeant Ammons lead the PSA1 meeting on April 16th at Aria Hospital.  Discussion centered on strategies rather than specific problem areas.

The recent shooting death at Penn and Arrott Sts. was drug related.

Residents concerns about the proposed Crown Fried Chicken store at Oxford and Griscom are driven by the fear that a business keeping late hours will attract violence and drug and alcohol users.  Pete Specos, representing the Frankford Civic Association, has been in contact with the store owner’s representative.  They have indicated that they were looking to have their zoning case continued in hopes of gaining community support.  Both the Frankford Civic and the Frankford NAC have voted to oppose the variance for the store.

One resident pointed out that the building at 4651 Frankford Avenue is being used as a teen club opening at 10PM on the weekends.  This address has been the location of similar problems in the past.  See our previous report here.

Another resident reported suspicious cars parked on the 4700 block of Penn Street.  Sargent Ammons gave direction on how to handle that problem.

Sam, owner of the Sugar and Spice at Frankford and Foulkrod, demonstrated his new video security system.  With over 10 modern video cameras, it can be accessed over the internet and is available to the Philadelphia Police for use at this very challenging location.  It is clear enough to read the license plate on a car at a distance.

Sargeant Ammons mentioned that the foot patrol officers now walking the beats along Frankford Avenue and the side streets are being trained on bicycle patrol and ass soon as all have been through that training we will start seeing the bikes on the street.  Those bike patrols will great enhance response time on the officers.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held at Aria Hospital on May 14th at 7PM.

 

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Residents Concerned at PSA1 Meeting

Residents of the 4700 block of Griscom Street want to keep the hard won ground on their block.  That was the message heard by Sgt. O’Donnell and Officer Andrews at the PSA1 meeting held on March 20th.  It’s not heaven over there but it is a lot better now than it was a few months ago.

Their concern stems from the proposed opening of a take out food establishment at 4731 Oxford Avenue (now closed Lee’s Shoe Repair Store).  A zoning notice went up last week for a hearing to be held on April 17th.  While most of us would welcome any new businesses along Oxford Avenue, past experience with take out food venues have always lead to crowds and late night mischief.  Pete Specos, President of the Frankford Civic, will followup with an investigation of the details of the business and deal with it as the community wishes.

In other news, things are quiet in Northwood.  The Cancer Treatment Center on Wyoming Avenue reports some issues with theft of pickup truck tail gates.

ArtHolidayShortly after the meeting a tip came in about the old Art Holiday.  It is now called Eminence Hall and a poster was on display advertising an after hours club.  The last time this place was open for business there was gunfire and people got hurt.  Pete Specos is investigating this potential problem also.

The next PSA1 meeting will be held on April 16th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.