They live in Frankford; Northwood; Mayfair; Wissinoming; Lawncrest; and Tacony, and they’re 11 of the Philadelphia Police Department’s most-wanted violent offenders.

The department released a video slideshow Tuesday of the city’s 100 most-wanted violent felons who have outstanding warrants, and will run the images on Channel 64, Philadelphia’s public access TV station, in an effort to solicit tips. continue reading »

A house on Ditman Street in Tacony that's been sealed by L&I. Photo/Matthew Flowers

It’s been an ongoing issue for the past several years, but Northeast residents and politicians alike are ready to continue fighting the absentee landlords and property owners that have been blighting various neighborhoods with their poorly maintained homes.

Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-172nd, called a hearing with the House Democratic Policy Committee Feb. 21 to develop new ways of dealing with the problem.

“I think for far too many years the city of Philadelphia has not tended to this issue,” Boyle said. “I felt the responsibility was on me to make sure that they know that this is as big of an issue affecting the Northeast as it is.”

The problem began in the last decade when properties in the Northeast were being advertised in New York, prompting New York residents to buy several of the houses to rent out. The owners then return to New York, leaving the property unmaintained. These houses can subsequently become stomping grounds for anything from vermin to kids to drug addicts.

“Crime has gone up significantly,” said Barbara Dooley-Rup, chairperson of the Northeast Quality of Life Coalition. “In the last 10 years, we’ve had an increase of drug use. We’ve had an increase of prostitution. If you live on a block that has an abandoned house, it becomes a crime house.”

Dooley-Rup, a resident of Tacony, was also present at the hearing. “There were some really good ideas put forth,” she said. “One of the things that was discussed was having an actual certified manager, so it’s not your first floor tenant or your second floor tenant.”

Philadelphia’s current law says that all properties must have managers, but the manager can be a tenant of the building. With new legislation, the city could require that owners who live a certain distance from their properties have certified managers or run the fines or loss of their driver’s licenses. continue reading »

Security footage, courtesy of the Philadelphia Police Department

Police in the 15th District are searching for the man who robbed the TD Bank at 6635 Frankford Ave. Monday.

The suspect took off on foot after handing the teller a threatening note around 3 p.m. He is described as white, 40 to 45 years old, 180lbs. and clean-shaven with a reddish, ruddy complexion. He was last seen wearing a black zip-up hoodie. continue reading »

Mayfair Town Watch President Milt Martelack addresses the group about recent acts of vehicle vandalism.

What was supposed to be a small, short meeting about the Shamrock Shuttle turned into a larger, longer meeting that drew Philadelphia’s TV news channels.

Mayfair Town Watch President Milt Martelack reorganized the meeting schedule to address recent acts of “isolated” vandalism in the neighborhood. Over the last few weeks, residents have woken up to find their cars vandalized – graffitied on, or tires slashed or missing.

“This shows that there’s still people in Mayfair that care,” Martelack said of meeting turnout. Despite concerns from some in attendance that more people should have been there, Martelack reminded the approximately 30 or so people there that the meeting had been called just a few days before.

“We’re taking baby steps but these baby steps are turning into big steps.” continue reading »

The scope of tonight’s Mayfair Town Watch meeting has changed. What President Milt Martelack originally intended to be a meeting about the upcoming Shamrock Shuttle will now be a meeting to address the recent acts of vandalism residents have experience.

For the past few weekends, Mayfair residents have woken up to find their cards had been vandalized – side panels graffitied, tires slashed or missing.

“Mayfair is not a bad neighborhood,” Martelack said, despite the attention it’s been getting for the recent crimes. Martelack will host tonight’s meeting at the John Perzel Community Center [map] at 8 p.m.

Tires were slashed on two dozen on the 4000-blocks of Aldine Street and Teesdale over the weekend. Image/Google Maps

It was deja vu in Mayfair yesterday, where residents of the 4000-block of Aldine Street once again had their tires slashed. The same thing happened a week ago, on the same block.

Last week, Mayfair Town Watch President Milt Martelack said the incident was evidence of “very serious issues with widespread vandalism” in the neighborhood. continue reading »

Action News must have a routine – make an error, correct it, but miss all the references so there is one obvious mistake hanging around in the story.

Not long after using Frankford and Wissinoming in a story, the news channel did the same with Mayfair and Holmesburg.

A man was shot in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 on the 3500-block of Arthur Street. That’s in Holmesburg, and that’s what the story says – except in the dateline, which says Mayfair. continue reading »

Tires were slashed on 13 cars on the 4000-block of Aldine Street over the weekend. Image/Google Maps

A week after two dozen Mayfair residents awoke to find their cars vandalized, others discovered the same.

Neighbors along the 4000-block of Aldine Street had their cars vandalized overnight into Sunday morning, Mayfair Town Watch President Milt Martelack said.

In light of incidents over the last two weekends, Martelack said the neighborhood has been having “very serious issues with widespread vandalism.” continue reading »

Friday – Police are investigating the circumstances that led to a Wissinoming man being fatally stabbed inside his home. The 50-year-old was found dead around 11:30 Friday night on the 6200-block of Cottage Street. No further details have been released.

Saturday – A three-car crash left three people injured Saturday nigh in Lawncrest. continue reading »

Mike "Scoats" Scotese, owner of the Grey Lodge Pub and Hop Angel Brauhaus, kicks off 2011 Philly Beer Week with the Hammer of Glory. Photo/Gina Benigno

Well-known in the Northeast, well-explored by Philadelphia’s beer drinkers, and  once recognized by Esquire as one of the best places to drink in the country, the Grey Lodge Pub has made it onto another national list.

Draft Magazine tallied up the 100 best beer bars in the country, broken down by geographic region. Philadelphia has six of the Northeast U.S. bars worth visiting, and one happens to be Mayfair’s own Grey Lodge. Owner Mike “Scoats” Scotese is a Mayfair Business Association member and also owns Fox Chase’s Hop Angel Brauhaus. continue reading »