Sign up | Log in | Forgot Password

Faxes Sent to Marian Tasco

Letters

From:	BB
To:	Councilman Goode, Councilman Green, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Kelly, Councilman Kenney, Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Councilman Rizzo, Councilwoman Tasco
Date:	Monday, 10/13/08
Subject:	Write the Mayor and City Council

I take the Lincoln Drive to and from work everyday. Even though the "NO TRUCKS"
signs are posted in several locations along the Drive, the signs are so faded and
obscured by trees that the truck drivers either don't see them or just don't think you
are talking about the truck they are driving. I have been behind trucks with ladders
sticking out, I have been next to trucks who can't negotiate the curves of Lincoln
Drive and end up going over the line causing everyone else to take drastic measures
to avoid a collision. It's worst in the rain. Lincoln Drive is a beautiful section of
Fairmount Park that is being slowly being ripped up by these heavy trucks.
I know the city is busy, but I am asking that new larger signs with LARGE fonts be
placed along Lincoln Drive. It has been a very very long time since new signs were
made for the Drive. Thank you for your time
Beverly ( I've driven the Lincoln Drive for 38 years and it's never been this bad)

Please stop the insanity of killing thousands of innocent,
highly adoptable animals. I foster for PAWS and have personally
found homes for well over 200 cats, kittens and puppies. We are
a city that proclaims "Stop the Violence". We need to extend
that to our animals also. The economy is forcing people to give
up beloved pets because they are losing their jobs and homes.
This is not the animals fault and they shouldn't be sentenced to
death for it. I beg you to stop them from passing the catch and
kill bill.

Dear Politician,

Please do not allow the Request for Proposal (RFP) for animal
control to collect and "dispose of up to 30,000 unwanted pets
per year." There is no language in this RFP that refers to
lifesaving. This "catch and kill" approach is an unacceptable
and an intolerable step backward. I have been a volunteer in
life saving efforts for needy animals for over 5 years now; I
taught my kindergarden and 1st grade classes love for animals,
and teach my own children to care for those who are unable to
care for themselves - these helpless animals deserve no less!

Please stop the killing..... Help us to be a no kill animal
city. Killing 30,000 animals a year is an atrocity. Please use
your office to stop this. at PACCA.

Hello Council Members and Mayor Nutter,

The Philly-Blocks has been a great opportunity for me to know
what is going on around the city. It also gives other
organizations the opportunity to let the community know what
activities and events are going on in their specific area.

You all should continue to fund philly-blocks. I believe that
people will be more apted to go on philly-blocks to get
community information rather than reading flyers, newspapers,
etc. Philly-Blocks is a vehicle for those organizations who
can't afford to pay for advertisement.

I urge you to continue the funding for philly-blocks.

Thank you!

Dear Councilwoman Tasco

The PhillyBlock is a voice in this city that has become a daily
part of so many people lives. It has become a way out of no
way, a chance for the community to come together and many
answers for all the questions facing people.

PhillyBlock is like knowing what to do when you really don't
have the answer but the answer is within PhillyBlock. A group
of communities helping other communitites grow with what they
know. It is a meltingpot of personalities who are willing to
reach out of their everyday lives and say "yes, I can and will
help"

PhillyBlock is a Pay it Forward opportunity for all to use or
give. It is a mirror of who we are within the communities we
serve, we live, we help, we enjoy. Much has been learn, and
there is so much more to be developed, honored, looked at, and
created.

I have grown from just being apart of the networking
opportunities. My organization has grown from the valuable
information received. We have participated in so many wonderful
events throught out the city because of the information posted
on PhillyBlock.

The posting enrich our communities and help stop the violence,
bringing people together and not allowing neighborhoods to fall
apart.

Information is powerful and PhillyBlock allows the
neighborhoods to express themselves openly to find answers from
difficulty problems. Working together as a team has become a
way of life for many blockcaptains, and to stop this
relationship that has grown through the years would only cause
a set back that no neighborhood needs to face. Families are
finding out information that helps the whole family to be
empowered.

I don't know what we did before the PhillyBlock but I do know
that I need it in my life, daily now. Its like now that I have
it and appreciate it, I ask the question "Wasn't it always
here?"

PhillyBlock are achievers who believe that we can create our
own Destinities. And we shall.

Thank You PhillyBlock

Georgette King
Creative Kids Club

I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN REGARDS TO THE BOYD THEATER IN
CENTER CITY PHILADELPHIA. PRESERVING OUR CITY'S HERITAGE IS OF
THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE, AND THE BOYD THEATER REMAINS A TESTAMENT
TO OUR CITY'S RICH HISTORY. I URGE THE CITY TO RESTORE THIS
BUILING TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR, AND PREVENT ANY DEMOLITION OF
IT FROM OCCURRING. OUR HISTORICAL CITY BUILDINGS SHOULD BE
PRESERVED AND RESTORED, NOT DESTROYED OR RAZED. PLEASE HELP
SAVE THE BOYD THEATER!!

Dear Governor Rendell:

The original casino bill was gutted, then the new version
passed. It is apparent that this is all about special interests
and big money, not what is best for the city, the state or more
importantly the neighborhoods where casinos will be sited.

Please direct your efforts, and the considerable goodwill you
have as the most popular politician in Pennsylvania in the last
thirty years, and do not allow casinos in Philadelphia, and you
can be assured that you will leave a valued legacy of good
planning and good government. Yes, there is give and take but
this is not one of those instances, you are not suppose to sell
out the people that elected you to the corporations.

Dear Mayor Nutter:



Congratulations on your election and your ambitious goals for
Philadelphia's future!



I am writing to request that the grading and excavation permits
for the SugarHouse casino, authorized on John Street's last day
as Mayor, be withdrawn.



Title to this property is unclear, and all permits should
accordingly be withheld until property ownership and the right
of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to grant riparian rights
are resolved.



Initial archeological investigations on the SugarHouse site have
revealed significant Native American artifacts dating from at
least 1500 B.C.E. The site is also known to have been a
strategic encampment by the British during the Revolutionary
War.

Its role in the development of our nation's history is
significant and the site should be fully researched. As a
result, the Pennsylvania Museum and Historic Commission will
need an opportunity to make a full evaluation of the potential
historical value of the site before this chapter in
Philadelphia's history is permanently lost.



A Stop Work Order (SWO) for grading and excavation would permit
the legal issues, as well as the archeological and historical
research, to be resolved.



Your efforts in this matter would serve to benefit the City and
its residents and preserve Philadelphia's premier position in
our nation's history.



Sincerely yours,
Melanija Borlja

Do not give in to these fanatics. Their real goal is to ban
all meat, hunting, fishing and anyone wearing leather, wool,
etc. This is just an easy target and you are a fool if you
believe it will end with Foie Gras.

We hope your Thanksgiving was joyous. We want to take
a minute to thank you for your years of service.
We are writing to ask for your support in voting against the
above-referenced bills to be heard on November 29th. These
bills would open and pave a section of Cinnaminson Street,
running through Germany Hill and emptying out onto Smick
Street – a VERY narrow, hollow, two-way street that cannot
handle the additional traffic. We, as neighbors, will be
directly and negatively impacted by this development. When we
voiced our opposition to the developer, we received a “warning”
message that we shouldn’t oppose them because they have “deep
pockets.” I guess he was trying to intimidate us. My husband
and I have done nothing but work hard all of our lives.
Clearly we’re not movers or shakers. We’re just hard-working
people (my husband & I are school bus drivers) who are only
trying to keep our heads above water and make a decent living.
I am sure that you have had to deal with bullies during your
career. So we ask you to stand with us.

City Council meetings are hard for the community to attend –
either we’re working (some supervisors are VERY inflexible) or
we’re very old and not able, or we have young children at home
and family obligations. However, whenever an issue
surrounding Germany Hill arises, the Civic Association meetings
are PACKED, and we’re unanimous in opposition to these changes
to the hill – but, of course, I already said that. So, moving
on: What follows are some of our objections:

• We do NOT need developers, who do not live here, to
destroy another parcel of green space in order to build 50 more
houses in our neighborhood (NOT THEIRS), which would negatively
impact our community with regard to water runoff, traffic,
pollution, etc. We have been OVERWHELMED with Development in
our area –
 Shawmont & Umbria – which was a disaster with regard
to water runoff, pollution, traffic
 Parker & Umbria – houses STILL for sale
 The Lofts at Leverington & Main that were SUPPOSED to
be CONDO’S, and are now RENTALS because they couldn’t be sold.
 & Our LATEST GIFT the 80ft monstrosity that will
contain 270 apartments where Carmella’s once was.
 Someone actually tried to get the Civic to back a plan
to build a 20-foot wide house which would go directly up
against the 2 homes on either side.
 ENOUGH!!!!!!! There are plenty of BLIGHTED areas that
could use this development – NOT US!
• We do NOT need developers, without connection to the
area, to pave a road through park land to Smick Street (a
narrow, hollow, street that CANNOT handle the additional
traffic), negatively impacting the neighbors at the base of the
hill with regard to water runoff and traffic, and creating
hazardous conditions, especially in rainy or icy weather. This
will be undoing all of the work the Fairmount Park Commission
has been doing to PLANT trees to stem pollution, green house
gases, etc., as evidenced in an article on the front page of
the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday, November 25, 2007,
entitled “Digging in to Cool the Planet”. Building this road
would CLEARLY waste the $340,000 given to the Fairmount Park
Commission to PLANT trees – not rip them down! The U.S. Forest
Service reports that Philadelphia’s trees store 530,000 tons of
carbon each year, equal to city’s emissions for 22 days.
• We do NOT need the negative impact on the ecosystem of
Germany Hill from another HUGE development of homes built on
green space presently inhabited by so much wildlife. There may
be endangered species there, such as bog turtles, rough green
snakes and red bellied turtles. Many native species are
endangered due to over-development of their breeding areas and
the resulting pollution of wetland areas. The park may contain
endangered forms of plant life as well.
• We do NOT need additional traffic on our area roads and
bridges, which, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer article,
on Friday, August 17, 2007, entitled "Heavily Traveled and
Structurally Deficient", are NOW heavily traveled and
structurally deficient. It is time for our elected officials
to take steps to stop these problems NOW.
Sufficiency Rating Carried -by Structure Deck Rating
Superstructure Rating Substructure Yr. Built
10.3 HENRY AVENUE Satisfactory Fair Poor
1958
18.7 BELLS MILL ROAD N Serious Poor
1820
32.0 LEVERINGTON AVENUE Poor Poor Fair
1929
35.9 VALLEY GREEN ROAD N Satisfactory
Poor 1915
48.0 GREEN LANE Fair Fair Poor
1928
• We NEED our representatives to REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY,
which has fought the development of Germany Hill for at least
40 years. Michael Nutter opposed any development of Germany
Hill during his entire time in office. In fact, during his
tenure as 4th District Councilman, Mr. Nutter arranged for the
city to purchase several of the privately-owned parcels, to add
them to the acreage that was already included in the Fairmount
Park Commission's domain.
• The local civic groups, the 21st Ward Community Council
and Roxborough Greenspace will actively oppose the passage of
these bills and the development of Germany Hill. In addition,
I assure you that there is NOT ONE person in our community who
supports it.
• The Ridge Park Civic Association has asked on several
occasions to meet with Councilwoman Carol Ann Campbell who
introduced this bill and was told by her Chief of Staff that
she is too busy to meet with us.

We are at a loss, and I’m asking you to please stand between us
and them. There are plenty of areas that truly need
development. Please send these arrogant people packing. They
will slap together a housing development and leave, with no
regard how they negatively impact the neighbors, the ecosystem,
or the older housing stock in the building process.
Considering the widespread opposition, we do not understand the
rush to pass these bills. We thank you for your service and ask
that you support us.

Sincerely,


Jim & Kathleen Fitzpatrick

Ms. Tasco,

Why is it that Parochial High School Students who started
school last week have not yet received their TransPasses for
school transportation, yet public schools, which started today
have received theirs?

SEPTA tells me that the Philadelphia School Board is in charge
of the distribution of these passes?

Who is going to reimburse all of us parents that are paying
$5.20 per day to send their children to school?

Usual Philadelphia incompetence!

Will you hold another Real Estate Tax Amnesty as far as the
interest and penalty. I heard you had one last year but it must
not have been well publized because I did not hear of it. Can
you tell me if there will be another. Thank you in advance. I
look forward to hearing from you.

dear sirs and madams,
i am currently on public welfare and i am,behind in my
taxes and trying to search for employment.as of current i have
been unable to find a job within my field.which is mainly law
enforcement/security.any help in any programs,or even just
pointing me in the right direction,is greatly appreciated.i can
send a copy of my resume to help you better help me.i would
like to extend my thanks in advance,sincerely shawn m. rhodes.

PLEASE I need WORK NOW !!!
My husband just got hurt at work, (waiting for the comp people)
and I have applied for work at the Sugarhouse Casino I NEED
WORK NOW !!!!
Please don't let anything Delay the construction ! We NEED the
jobs!!

So now Philadelphia has an official prejudice. Our elected officials have nothing
better to do than to write a bill with no purpose other than to alienate it's citizens.
Why not officially be a pro_______ city? fill in a group yourself. Our elected officials
are charged with representing, and nurturing, a diverse city. How this vote came up
is beyond me. Giving Planned Parenthood special treatment in council chambers on
this most divisive of issues is offensive to at least half of the voters of Philadelphia.
What kind of morons are running this town? Blondell Reynolds-Brown should step
down from office, and the others, Jannie L. Blackwell, Darrell L. Clarke
Frank DiCicco, W. Wilson Goode Jr., William K. Greenlee, James F. Kenney, Donna
Reed Miller, Daniel Savage should reconsider their offensive position before the next
election

Joe Shea

Philadelphia

I urge you to support the increase for the Historical Commission
to .00016% not the proposed .00008 %. Preserving this great
city's history is important to it's future.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Tasco


Stop the sale of City of Philadelphia, Public Property (parking
lot )in the name of surplus property at 1716-32 Frankford Ave

The City of Philadelphia, Public Property is selling the 1716-
32 Frankford Ave, through PIDC as a surplus property. The prior
use of the property was a parking lot and currently not used.
But for the future use of the proposed Frankford Ave Arts
corridor, the parklng lot is needed.

Hypothically if we argue if every one agreed that the property
is a surplus, but the property is not sold as ethically, by
giving a chnace to the public to bid on the property. he PIDC
did not put a sale sign infront of the property. The purchaser
told that the City of Philadelphia is selling the property
today ie (4/3/2007) .

The local community develoment corporation, objected me to
contsruct a triplex in a vacant lot at 1782 Franford Ave, and
provided a negative letter to the ZBA, that tells the future
stress of the parking on the Frankford Ave. So for the above
said two reasons please stop thje sale of the property today
or give a chance to the residents of the fishtown to
participate in the sale process.

I am not sure why the NKCDC is not objecting when they know
about the sale of the City of Philadelphia, Public Property
(parking lot )in the name of surplus property at 1716-32
Frankford Ave when they provided an objection letter for my
proposed triplex at 1782 Frankford Ave. Here I am re producing
the NKCDC letter to ZBA ablout the parking issue on the 1700
block of frankford Ave.







January 10, 2007

Honorable David Auspitz
Chairman, Zoning Board of Adjustment
Municipal Services Building, Room 1130
1401 JFK Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Re: Calendar No. 06-1655 (1782 Frankford Avenue)

Dear Chairman Auspitz
and Board Members:

We write to oppose this application to erect a three-story
structure with a basement for use as a three-family dwelling.

The two blocks of Frankford Avenue extending from 1757 to 1826
Frankford are a somewhat blighted mixed-use block. We counted
7 single-family homes (including 2 long-term vacancies), 10
multi-family structures (including l long-term vacancy and 1
building under conversion), 4 units that are either single-
family or multi-family structures (1 apparently being
rehabbed), 2 vacant row-home structures formerly used as
doctors’ offices, 1 structure with commercial space on the
first floor and 2 apartments above, 1 structure used for a
doctor’s office and residence, 1 parking lot for apartments in
a converted church building on E. Montgomery Avenue, 1 garden
center, 1 commercial garage, and 13 vacant lots (including 1782
Frankford). In addition, there are 4 vacant lots on E.
Montgomery Avenue (6-12 E. Montgomery), just around the corner
from 1782 Frankford Avenue.

We distributed flyers on the block to notify residents of the
appeal and their rights to intervene and asking them to contact
us if they had concerns about the application. No one
responded. The Fishtown Neighbors Association Zoning Committee
distributed flyers and hosted a meeting open to nearby
residents. Three residents attended, and all three voted in
favor of the proposal.

The applicant states that he wants two units, “one owner’s unit
+ in-law suite and one rental unit” (12/19/06 email from V.
Vurimindi). The Department of Licenses and Inspections,
however, views the application as proposing three units. We
conclude that it should be viewed as three units, for when it
is passed on to another owner, as it will be at some point, it
is highly likely that it will be used by three separate
households.

The plans for the three units call for building a major portion
of one unit in the basement. We believe that basements should
not be used in this way because of the risk of water
infiltration and the limitations on adequate light and air
posed by below-grade construction. Furthermore, we consider it
overuse of the lot if the only way to get adequate area for
each of three apartments is by using the basement in this way.
We oppose such density of population.

In addition, the Zoning Code calls for three off-street parking
spaces for a three-family unit in this zone. While there now
appears to be adequate available parking spaces on the adjacent
streets to accommodate whatever parking needs this proposed
structure would generate, this situation could change
drastically in the near future as the redevelopment of these
blocks and the larger area proceeds. Consider the following:

• The owner of 1767-69 Frankford Avenue is seeking ZBA
approval (Calendar No. 06-1480) to divide this lot into two
lots so that, according to the attorney, a multi-family
structure can be built on 1767 (currently vacant land).
• A long-term resident claims that his former home at
1770 is being converted (perhaps illegally at this point) to
apartments.
• The two long-term vacant structures formerly used for
doctors’ offices at 1757 and 1759 are for sale and most likely
will be converted to residential use.
• There are two long-term vacant single-family homes on
the two blocks that could be rehabbed and another structure
(either single or multi-family) that appears to be under
rehabilitation.
• There are twelve vacant lots besides 1782 on these two
blocks of Frankford Avenue and four vacant lots around the
corner to the west on E. Montgomery Avenue, all of which could
be developed.
• The seven acres just to the west of this block of
Frankford Avenue will most likely be chosen in the next few
months by the Philadelphia School District for a new high
school, which may generate demand for on-street parking spaces
from school staff and students on this and other nearby blocks.

Given this list of impending and possible changes, in the next
few years the adequacy of parking spaces on these and the
adjacent blocks could become a major issue for neighborhood
residents as it has already become on many other Fishtown
blocks. We therefore believe that enforcing the R-10 parking
requirements for these blocks as much as practically possible
is appropriate. Our conclusion is influenced by the public
input at recent community meetings relating to Frankford Avenue
and other Fishtown sites concerning the widespread inadequacy
of parking spaces in our area; clearly, NKCDC must pay more
attention to this issue than it has in recent years.

We hope that this input is helpful.

Yours truly,



Richard Levins, Esq.
Chairman, NKCDC Zoning Committee

Cc: Vamsidhar Vurimindi, applicant
Elizabeth McCollum, Councilman Daniel Savage’s office
Matt Pappajohn, Interim Chair, FNA Zoning Committee

Dear City Councilmembers:

Thank you for doing the right thing to give the people of
Philadelphia a voice in a very important decision for our city.

Council shouldn't just hear from us when we're angry or want
them to do something for us. We need to tell Council when
they've done a good job and that we will remember what they did
for us on election day.

The referendum was initiated and brought to its successful
conclusion by volunteers for Casino Free Philadelphia, who
gathered over 27,000 signatures in support of the measure.

Thank you for standing up for the right of Philadelphians to
decide whether we want Las Vegas size casinos operating 24/7
next to our homes, schools, playgrounds and churches

I am writing to thank you for your help and support in the vote
today at city council, concerning casinos. It was greatly
appreciated and I will make sure everyone knows your a truly a
councilwoman of the people.

Terry Paylor

(Next 20 results)