Friends of 40th Street

23 January 2005

Friends of 40 th Street
Meeting Memo No. 6

Date/Place/Time: 03 December 2004/3901 Market Street – The Community Room/8:00 a.m.

Attendance: James Braxton (JB) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Glenn Bryan (GB) Office of Community Relations (OCR), U of PA

Martin Caby (MC) 1017 S. 46 th Street

Keisha Carter (KC) 32 S. 40 th Street

Shirley Carter (SC) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Joyce Caulley (JC) University City District (UCD)

Lynease Chapman (LC) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Dorothy Coleman (DC) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Daniel Cope (DC) Undergraduate student, U of PA

Randy Dalton (RD) Community Education Center (CEC)

Edward Epstein (EE) 921 S. 49 th Street

John Fenton (JFe) University City District (UCD)

Joe Fischer (JFi) University of Pennsylvania Police (UPP)

Lee Goode (LG) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Amos Green, Jr. (AG) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Sheri Halpern (SH) Civic House Associates Coalition, U of PA (CHAC)

Beth Ann Johnson (BAJ) Friends of Walnut West Free Library (FWW)

Eleanor Johnson (EJ) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Kathy Laws (KL) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Lucy Kerman (LK) President’s Office (PO), U of PA

Officer Krmiski (PK) University City District (UCD)

John Leatherberry (JL) West Powelton Community Association

Connie Lee (CL) A Green Thing (AGT)

Scott Maits (SM) 4601 Market Street

Nancy Mosely (NM) 3901 Market Street

Cynthia Preston (SP) Squirrel Hill Police Station (SHPS)

Paul Robinson (PR) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Westerlee Robinson (WR) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Richard Rogers (RR) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Harris Sokoloff (HSo) Graduate School of Education (GSE), U of PA

George Stevens (GS) 701 Graphics (701)

Harris Steinberg (HS) Penn Praxis, U of PA (PP)

Esther Wiesner (EW) University City District (UCD)

Judiann Winston (JW) 3901 Market Street (3901)

Matthew Wolfe (MWo) Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA)

Dr. Frank Wyatt (FW) Dr. Wyatt’s University Herbs (DWUH)

Andrew Zitcer (AZ) Office of Facilities and Real Estate Services, U of PA (FRES)

Purpose: Monthly meeting of the Friends of 40 th Street

Items Discussed:

• Harris Sokoloff (HSo) opened the meeting by welcoming everybody. All present introduced themselves.
• The minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved.
• A review of the 40 th Street Planning Principles was made. Harris Steinberg (HSt) noted that the principles were developed during the winter 2004 40 th Street Forums. The principles represent the foundation upon which the Friends operate. The role of 3901 Market Street in the development of the principles was noted.
• Lucy Kerman (LK) reported on the status of the website: www.40thSt.org. We are in the process of converting the forum website into a working website for the Friends. A new home page is being designed for the Friends. We will be able to post minutes, have an updated calendar of events, task force information and an ongoing forum. The forum is an opportunity for people to stay engaged, post concerns and carry on conversations. By clicking the button at the top of the forum page that reads “Keep Me Posted,” one will automatically be added to the notification system for the forum. When someone posts to the forum, you will be told. We hope to be able to work with the Free Library to offer courses in how to use the site. Scott Maits (SM) felt that this was a good idea and further suggested that physical information be posted as well – perhaps in the library. Glenn Bryan (GB) noted that this is exactly what we did during the forums last winter. All material that appeared on the website was also included in five (5) notebooks placed throughout the community. Judiann Winston (JW) reported that a computer lab at 3901 Market Street will be open after the first of the year.
• John Leatherberry (JL) reported on the work of the Quality of Life Task Force. The following discussion was held:
• JL noted that it is believed that drug dealers who hang out on the corner of 40 th and Market Streets are connected with the methadone clinic on Parkside Avenue in West Philadelphia. 40 th and Market is a transportation hub and becomes a drug hub as well.
• JL noted that the clients of the methadone clinic are using clinical drugs to enhance the treatment that they are receiving.
• JL heartily congratulated Capt. Joe Fischer (JFi) of the University of Pennsylvania Police (UPP) for the effect that this department has had on this corner.
• JFi reported that the Philadelphia Police are not set up to stay in one location. The officers assigned to the 40 th Street detail are ½ Penn Police and ½ Philadelphia Police. They travel up and down 40 th Street between Walnut and Market all day on bike.
• JW reported that 3901 Market Street has trouble tracking drug dealers that come into the building. She said that the building could use the help and advice of law enforcement. JL noted that the 16 th Police District is putting a log book into the lobby of 3901 Market Street. This will bring police in to sign in on a regular basis.
• SM inquired as to the involvement of the 16 th District in the task force. JFe noted that UCD includes officers from both the 16 th and the 18 th Districts but that the 16 th is not represented on the bike patrol.
• GB reported that the 16 th District was included in the initial meeting with Councilwoman Blackwell in September 2004.
• GB noted that he has contacted the methadone clinic on University Avenue asking for help with the one on Parkside.
• GB reported that he will set up a meeting with the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L & I) to review the progress made on the intersection of 40 th and Market Streets and to determine next steps.
• GB reported that he has been in conversations with Septa and that Councilwoman Blackwell’s office will help facilitate a conversation about the corner after the current Septa crisis abates.
• There was a discussion about the “911” phones that will be distributed to seniors. LK reported that SM did the initial research which led to a group called Phones 4 Life. Phones 4 Life will distribute free, reconditioned cell phones that will be programmed to call 911 only. The University Assembly will be hosting a phone drive on campus after the winter break. The drop boxes will include the Friends of 40 th Street logo. The entire student body will receive an e-mail about participating in the drive. The following issues were noted:
• Cynthia Preston (CP) felt that education of the use of the phones was important. What you say and how you say it helps to determine the priority that the call is given.
• Kathy Laws (KL) felt that this was a potentially good program as the drug dealers are already back on the corner (after initial success by the police).
• It was agreed that KL and JW will work together to help set up a training program for the residents of 3901 Market Street who are interested in participating in the phone program.
• JFe noted that the residents of 3901 Market Street are new to programs such as an “Eyes and Ears” town watch and will require help and supervision should they decide to formally adopt such a program. KL felt this was good as the residents of 3901 will need to balance self sufficiency and help.
• HSo recommended that a working group in 3901 convene to work on this issue. JL, KL, CP and Marty Caby (MC) will meet with JW and the management of 3901 to work on this topic. SM felt that the “Eyes and Ears” program is a good program (deemed best by the experts), but that it is advisable to start with the cell phone program
• A report on the progress of the Arts Task Force was made. The following issues were discussed:
• Edward Epstein (EE) reported that one of the goals of the work of the task force is to boost the arts in the general area. He noted the great distribution of interests at the initial task force meeting and felt that there was a great deal of interest in working together to cultivate local talent and support the local arts scene.
• The 40 th Street Artist in Resident program is offering free studio space in exchange for performances, classes and workshops. The idea of working with the residents of 3901 Market is to be explored.
• Several ideas for promoting the arts in University City were discussed. These included a series of events that one would walk through within a day as well as a special event for Trolley day in April.
• Signage as a way to attract people and identify venues was discussed. This would be a way to integrate the street from Walnut to Lancaster.
• Andrew Zitcer (AZ) noted that the arts task force is also interested in quality of life. He felt that this was a great opportunity to amplify the positive as a well as solve problems. Through his work with the Foundation at the Rotunda (40 th and Walnut), he is looking for artistic venues and opportunities within the community as ways to bring people together. A goal is to knit together a “cultural plan” for University City and West Philadelphia. He also noted that a nominating committee has been formed to select four (4) new artists for spring/summer residencies.
• GB wondered how you capture indigenous talent; amplifying existing as well as looking for new? He noted a wealth of culture both historically and currently. LK noted that she has discussed this fact with George Stevens (GS) and that they talked about a project that might capture the history and recreate some of what was in the form of stories, exhibits, concerts and talks.
• AZ saw this as a wonderful opportunity to highlight the awareness that new comes from old –an opportunity to pass traditions and stories to new generations.
• HSt applauded the ideas of the arts task force, noting that tapping into the authenticity of the street, will help to ensure that the street stays authentic.
• SM reported that the windows of the United Bank at 40 th and Chestnut will become art galleries temporarily before the building is demolished.
• The next meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2005 at 8:00 a.m. The location is 3901 Market Street Community Room. Please enter through the main doors to 3901 Market Street. The Community Room is on the ground floor. Standing meetings will be held the last Friday of each month with the exception of August and December. Meetings are open to the community and members are urged to invite neighbors and friends to participate.

Submitted by:

Harris Steinberg
Penn Praxis
University of Pennsylvania

cc: Those in attendance
Friends of 40 th Street