Myself

Daycare center serving 60 families on 300 block of East Walnut Lane is a nightmare to try to reach after a snow storm.

This issue has been reported to the police on multiple occasions to no avail. The building on the eastern end of the 2200 block of Saint Albans is falling apart, with broken and boarded-up windows. Yet it still houses a suspicious-looking "Checks Cashed" store and several unsavory characters, while serving as the location for the ongoing, blatant and shameless sale of both drugs and sexual favors. This is unsightly, a fire hazard, and a drive-by waiting to happen, despite the police's nonchalance. Please help us stop this!

Di Silvestro Playground located at 1500 Morris Street in the Newbold part of Philadelphia has created chaos for the residences who live directly around the playground. Young males ranging from the ages of 10 to 20 have begun to sit on parked vehicles and on the steps of residences after playing basketball. In groups of 6 and more they practice fight each other and lean their bikes on the vehicles nearby. Many of them check to see if the doors of the cars are locked when loitering in front of private homes. Along with the damage left from the bikes, they sit on hoods and in empty pickup truck beds. You can clearly see a string of cars that have sneaker marks and indented hoods from the group of males. They are normally present from the hours of 3pm to 8pm.

Another issue is the fact that they also climb on top of the roof of the community center currently under construction and the equipment containers. Since there is no mediator or authority at a playground filled of teenagers after school it becomes chaotic inside and immediately around the playground.

They often film themselves fighting each other and their activities to glorify the gang like culture. As an example seen in a video on YouTube called “SOUTH PHILLY 15th STREET goonz ( K.WALKER )” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DETfL6ZAqdM

Many immigrants on the westside 1700 block of 15th street have no voice as they accept that a large group of thugs sit in front of their homes without confrontation in fear of retaliation. They become trapped until these young males leave or continue to another step after leaving all their litter behind. I myself have asked them to politely move off my step and have been cursed at when doing so. Calling the police is useless as they just move when they yell 5O. There is no reasoning with these males, they lack tact and respect.

None of these males live immediately around the playground so they have no respect for the area around it. Often they are playing basketball bouncing the ball way past midnight on nice nights in an unlit court as residence try to sleep for work the next day. There used to be a fence which closed the basketball court off afterhours but since the community center is under construction the caretaker of the playground is no longer around. As this is just the beginning of the summer the playground is subjected to FLASHMOB like conditions after school with no presents of authority.

"We run south philly" qouted in the video.

1501 Montrose Street is a nuissance property. It is a mixed use apt/commercial. The bottom floor used to be a laundromat. The area behind the property (on 15th) is a constant source of sanitation violations: garbage bags, old furniture, wood, etc.

In addition, someone has placed a brown rubbermaid trash can on the sidewalk (on 15th btw Montrose & Christian). This attracts all manner of food waste, old clothes, etc. At this moment, it is overflowing. People see the trash and simply add more to it. Last week there was a filthy mattress dropped off. Yesterday, a discarded car seat.

The neighbors try to keep the surrounding area clean. There is even a thriving community garden next to all of this garbage.

It is an eyesore and a health hazard. Neighbors have seen rodents at this location.

We have called 311 numerous times and the trash can has been emptied once or twice. But this property is a serious violator of sanitation laws and the culprits are making the area miserable for all others.