As the State Representative for the 172nd Legislative District in Northeast Philadelphia, I’ve had the opportunity to work with various city departments on a variety of issues.  An issue of extreme importance in my district and our city is blighted properties and negligent out-of-town property owners.  These disregarded homes not only denigrate the quality of life, but force hard working families to move.

I am elated that License and Inspections Commissioner Fran Burns has taken bold steps to help combat this plague.  According to a Philadelphia Daily News article on Oct. 26, Commissioner Burns state she would, “Extradite out-of-town owners and usher them into the city’s new blight court.”  It is encouraging to know that the city is willing to take the necessary actions to address these cancers that have affected neighborhoods. continue reading »

Update July 19: As of today, the Holmesburg, Upper Holmesburg, Mayfair, Tacony, Holme Circle and Morrell Park civic associations have expressed opposition to the location of the clinic.

Update from Krajewski’s office, July 15: Councilwoman Joan Krajewski has appealed the city permits, and is awaiting notification of a hearing date with the Zoning Board of Adjustment. That hearing will be open to the public, and could result in a second hearing if the ZBA determines this situation requires further review.

Linda Lawrence of Krajewski’s office says the initial permit application submitted to the city was for a “medical office,” but the applicant’s true intentions for the property have since come to light.

Both Boyle’s and Krajewski’s offices confirm the permit obtained is legal, but the fight against the methadone clinic is a quality-of-life one, not a legal one.

For the better part of the past two weeks , my staff and I have been vigorously working with city and state agencies and other elected officials to confirm reports that the property at 7908 Frankford Ave. is intended to be a methadone clinic. It is my responsibility to inform you that indeed the Pennsylvania Department of Health has received an application for a narcotic treatment facility from Healing Way at that address. The power to issue a license now rests with the state Department of Health.

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I find that many of these columns either start or focus around me comparing the Northeast to where I live now. When I pull myself back from what I have written, it always kind of makes me laugh because, although I completely agree with every word in front of me, I really do like where I live now and can see myself being up here in northern New Jersey for a long time.

That being said, there are a few obstacles I constantly run into that I would never come across if I still lived in the Northeast. continue reading »

So much for telling the city’s big news outlets to use Google Maps.

As Technically Philly reported last week, Delaware River is spelled wrong on Google Maps. The river is spelled “Daleware” in the popular mapping service, and can also appears in some spots in place of the Schuylkill River and Pennypack Creek (that has since been fixed).

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Image courtesy of BookDaddy.

Matthew Smalaraz has an impressive educational background: degrees from La Salle University, an adjunct faculty position at Holy Family and a doctoral dissertation in the works at the University of Rochester — the latter struck our attention recently.

Smalarz’s dissertation, titled, The ‘Suburban’ Paradise in the City: Race, Class, and Culture in the Making of Northeast Philadelphia, focuses on the development of our fair region. We’ll follow along with the study, which is expected to extend over the next two to three years, bringing you chapter updates and thoughts from Smalarz on the research. Find his first update below:

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Photo submitted by Elsie Stevens.

I’m seeing red these days as I learn more about the Fire Department’s brown outs.  Did you know that three firehouses in northeast Philadelphia are among those on the citywide list:  Engine 18 Pennypack Circle, Engine 71 Cottman and Loretto, and Engine 64 Rising Sun and Magee?

With past cuts in fire personnel and equipment and now rotating closures of neighborhood firehouses, how can the Mayor and Fire Department’s administrative personnel justify that they have our public safety in their best interest?  Is it not the core responsibility of our city government to provide adequate fire protection to its citizens?   continue reading »

We’ve received two tips today from readers in the 8th District — one dealing with crime, and the other with a sewage issue. Below is the information they sent to us. NEast Philly is working with the appropriate authorities to bring you more information. continue reading »

ABC’s hit TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is currently accepting applications. Hat tip to the guys over at Frankford Gazette for noticing this. Whether it’s Frankford or another Northeast neighborhood, we want to see a deserving family in our area get a new home. continue reading »

Due to some internal errors, NEast Philly was down yesterday afternoon and this morning — as you may have noticed.

We’ll be back with all the news tomorrow morning, at the latest. Thanks for your patience!

Danza showed his Viking pride at a Northeast football game. Photo by Bill Achuff.

It started about a month ago. Or seven months ago, depending on where you think the story really begins.

It was hyped for months: Tony Danza would be teaching at a high school in Philadelphia for his new reality show. And then we come to find out, he’d be spending the semester at Northeast High. Even those who aren’t Danza fans, who didn’t spend their childhoods watching him on the small screen, were excited that something big, something of national interest, would be happening in the Northeast. continue reading »