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ONCE-BEDRAGGLED Mantua neighborhood is taking on a new lease on life,
fueled in part by Mt. Vernon Manor affordable apartment complex. Article by
State Sen. Vincent Hughes page 3.
PhiladelphiaDaily Record
Vol. II No. 124 (284) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia August 18, 2011
RethinkingMantua
2 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 18 AUGUST, 2011
T h e P h i l a d e l p h i a P u b l i c R e c o r d C a l e n d a rAug. 18-
State Rep. Vanessa LoweryBrown holds Job Fair at HS forthe Future, 4021 Parkside Ave., 10a.m.-2 p.m. Job-seekers comewith resume in appropriate busi-ness attire. For info Josh Parsons(717) 772-9946.Aug. 18-
Congressman Bob Brady andWard Leader John Dougherty hostfundraiser for Democrat 1st Dist.Council candidate Mark Squilla atLa Veranda, 31 N. ColumbusBlvd., 5:30-7:30 p.m. For [email protected]. 18- Stu Bykofsky’s 21st CandidatesComedy Night at Finnigan’sWake, 3rd & Spring Garden Sts.,7:30 p.m. Tickets $75. Order bycalling Variety (215) 735-0803.
Aug. 20-
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18 AUGUST, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 3
by Mayor Michael Nutter
The safety of all Philadelphians is
my number one responsibility and
my highest priority. We’ve focused
heavily on improving public safety
since I took office in January
2008. As a result, homicides are
down 22% and we have reduced
violent crime by 16%
Recently, our city has seen an out-
break of random attacks by groups
of misguided, violent youths on in-
nocent people. This mayhem re-
quires a swift, specific, targeted
response.
As part of that response, we have
imposed an earlier, 9 p.m., week-
end curfew in the parts of the city
where we’ve seen these incidents
take place, in neighborhoods
throughout Center City and in Uni-
versity City. And we extended the
hours of 20 recreation centers
across the city to 10 p.m. in order
to provide more positive opportu-
nities for teens.
Youth violence is not just a matter
for the Philadelphia Police Depart-
ment. The entire community has a
role to play. That’s why iPledge
and Town Watch volunteers have
been patrolling areas of Center
City providing extra eyes and ears
to keep our streets safe and to keep
kids out of trouble.
Most importantly, as I said in my
speech to the congregation at
Mount Carmel Baptist Church,
parents must step up and take re-
sponsibility for their children.
Which is why we will impose fines
on parents whose children repeat-
edly break curfew.
Looking back to my childhood I
know that things are vastly differ-
ent today. But some things should
never change – respect for others,
minding your manners, obeying
your parents.
Every day I talk to young people
from our communities who are fol-
lowing those rules and are making
a success of themselves. I refuse to
let their stories be overshadowed
by this nonsense, and I refuse to let
the actions of a few endanger the
safety of all of us.
That’s why I will continue to work
every day to reduce crime and
make Philadelphia the safest city it
can be. I hope you’ll join me be
signing up as an iPledge volunteer
today. Call (215) 686-2181.
Thank you for your generous sup-
port and for everything you do for
Philadelphia.
All To Help In Community
Programming Mayor Nutter Invites
Sen. Hughes Pushes Mantua
Developmentby State Sen. Vincent Hughes
I was pleased to announce this
week generous awards totaling al-
most $16 million for the Mt. Ver-
non Manor apartments as part of
the reinvestment program in the
Mantua section of Philadelphia.
The revitalization of Mantua is im-
portant – it is a distressed commu-
nity in need of assistance. If you
look around, it is not unlike a lot
of other distressed communities in
the city. So, yes, the revitalization
is important for this neighborhood,
but its importance is much greater
than its neighborhood boundaries.
Doing projects like renovating Mt.
Vernon Manor is solid evidence of
success – success showing govern-
ment, local businesses, stakehold-
ers and communities working
collaboratively together, success
showing people investing in an
area instead of ignoring it and suc-
cess showing that even in chal-
lenging environments, it can be
4 | THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD 18 AUGUST, 2011
US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) has
announced four Pennsylvania com-
munity banks received $43 million
through the US Treasury Dept.’s
Small Business Lending Fund to
help small businesses access capi-
tal and create jobs.
“Small businesses are the back-
bone of our economy,” said the
Senator. “I urged Treasury to expe-
dite this funding because it is es-
sential to helping Pennsylvania
businesses grow and create jobs.”
The Pennsylvania banks receiving
funding as part of today’s an-
nouncement include: AmeriServ
Financial, Inc. (Johnstown) –
$21.0 million; DNB Financial
Corp. (Downingtown) – $13.0 mil-
lion; Jonestown Bank & Trust Co.
(Jonestown) – $4.0 million; Valley
Green Bank (Philadelphia) – $5.0
million. There are over 275,000
small businesses in Pennsylvania
that employ over 3.2 million peo-
ple.
done. Successful projects like this
provide solid evidence for future
undertakings of this nature.
The story of the Mt. Vernon
Manor apartments is multi-lay-
ered. Mantua is being transformed
as a result of significant funding
from a few different sources, and
it is an incredible sign of collabo-
ration and success during a chal-
lenging financial climate.
The apartment complex is being
renovated to include updated
apartments, landscaping and
courtyards. The 125 Mt. Vernon
Manor apartments were built in
1980 and are encompassed by a
nine-building, housing complex
that is assisted by the federal Dept.
of Housing & Urban Develop-
ment. In April, HUD awarded the
Mt. Vernon Manor Apartments
and the Mantua neighborhood one
of 17 nationwide Choice Neigh-
borhoods Planning Grants for
$250,000. The project was one of
119 applicants vying for the grant.
The grant was a significant win
for an area looking to improve,
and opens the project up for the
potential to receive an additional
$20 million from HUD once the
planning stage ends.
The goal of the grant is to support
a comprehensive approach to revi-
talization that brings housing im-
provements together with various
incomes and links them to quality
education, transportation and jobs.
This grant is also being supported
with additional financial and in-
kind services from the Philadel-
phia Foundation, Drexel
University, the Philadelphia Hous-
ing Authority and One Economy
Corporation.
An additional $3.7 million in
funding for the redevelopment
will be coming from the city of
Philadelphia through its Neighbor-
hood Stabilization Program. NSP
identifies neighborhoods that are
most in need of going from va-
cant, foreclosed properties to
owner-occupied dwellings. Man-
tua is a target area for the city’s in-
vestment from the American
Recovery & Reinvestment Act,
also known as stimulus funding.
Finally, PHFA supported the fed-
eral and City efforts by awarding
$12 million in Low Income Hous-
ing tax credits to support the $15.6
million first-phase renovation,
which includes six of the nine ex-
isting buildings for a total of 75
apartments.
Mt. Vernon Manor joins Mantua
Square and Union Hill as afford-
able-housing developments in
Mantua as the area continues to
undergo a dramatic transformation
attracting new development and
businesses – a dramatic transfor-
mation that will tempt others to
replicate in communities across
the city that need assistance. In-
vestment in our neighborhoods
and people works, and the revital-
ization of Mantua is just the be-
ginning.
Casey Announces $43 Million For Pa.
To Help Small Businesses Create Jobs
18 AUGUST, 2011 THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD | 5
Councilwoman Sánchez: Get City
Out Of Immigration EnforcementFollowing Tuesday’s release of a
new report documenting a pattern
of unjust deportations, Council-
woman Maria Quiñones Sánchez
renewed calls for the end of the
City’s controversial involvement
in federal immigration enforce-
ment, urging: “Our true priority in
local government is the safety of
our residents. It has become clear
that federal immigration enforce-
ment is at best haphazard and is
often unconstitutional. Entangling
the Philadelphia Police Depart-
ment with this broken system has
made us all less safe.”
The report by the American Immi-
gration Lawyers Association, “Im-
migration Enforcement Off Target:
Minor Offenses With Major Con-
sequences,” was released Aug. 16.
It dramatically shows how federal-
local partnerships have failed their
stated goals, leading to the depor-
tation of many who pose no threat
to public safety or national secu-
rity.
AILA’s member attorneys nation-
wide submitted examples of cases
where their immigrant clients had
been stopped, questioned, or ar-
rested by local police leading to
the initiation of removal proceed-
ings. Over 200 cases were ana-
lyzed, including 9 from
Pennsylvania, revealing disturbing
trends.
In 82 cases, deportation was initi-
ated after arrest or citation for
minor offenses (66 cases involved
only minor traffic violations). In
41 cases, local police never pur-
sued any criminal charges. In 87
cases, the individuals had no crim-
inal history. In 61 cases, there is
evidence the primary reason for
the stop may have been to assess
immigration status. In 79 cases,
deportation was sought against in-
dividuals with family members
who are US citizens or lawful per-
manent residents. In 21 cases, the
individuals have pending asylum
claims or should be protected by
special visas for crime victims or
witnesses.
The Councilwoman condemned as
counterproductive programs en-
couraging local involvement in
federal immigration enforcement,
such as “Secure Communities” and
Philadelphia’s agreement to grant
real-time access to the City’s
PARS arrest database. She stated,
“These programs are not just inef-
fective, they are destroying indi-
vidual lives and community trust.”
City officials including the Mayor,
District Attorney, and 1st Judicial
Dist. will decide before Aug. 31
whether to renew the PARS con-
tract. In June, Council Members
Sánchez and James Kenney co-in-
troduced a resolution in opposition
to the contract, which was adopted
unanimously by City Council.