South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA) and Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC)

General Public Meeting
Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Marian Anderson Recreation Center - 17th and Fitzwater

A sign-in book with a list of those people attending is maintained at the SOSNA office at 1711 South Street.

Chair Angela Richardson convened the meeting at 7:35 p.m.

1. Minutes. The minutes of the February 12, 2003 meeting were approved as circulated.
2. Nomination of election committee. Alan Mandel read the election notice (circulated as part of the meeting flyers for February and March and incorporated into these minutes by reference) and explained the duties of the five-person election committee, who would meet one evening at the SOSNA office to examine the sign-in book and certify the eligibility of voters and candidates. The following individuals volunteered to serve on that committee: Chris Mahoney, Rosalee K. Lee, Donald Rooney, Shirley Maclaren-Patterson, and Doris Reddick.
3. Nominations for the Board of Directors. The following individuals nominated candidates for five-year or one-year terms:
   Alan Mandel nominated Angela Richardson, Doerte Smith, Sam Porter, and Marion Jones for five-year terms
   Doerte Smith nominated Laura Blanchard, Alan Mandel, and Ann Hoskins-Brown for five-year terms
   Sam Porter nominated Marni Showell, Jennie Robbins, and Soledad Gillespie for five year terms
   Marni Showell nominated Gloria Jackson, William Pearson, Anthony Moretti, Richard Gliniak, and Ted Lee for one year terms
   Alexis Alexander nominated Anthony Iacobone for a one year term
   Ed Williams nominated Les Robbins for a one year term
   Alan Mandel nominated Erica Zabusky for a one year term
   Upon motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, nominations were closed.
4. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission -- Pennsylvania Utility Choice Program. Shari A. Williams, consumer education specialist, explained that in addition to the electricity choice program there are now to be gas and local phone choices. Brochures explaining the program and how to evaluate competitive offerings from gas and telephone vendors are available and there is a website: http://www.utilitychoice.org/ . Williams also explained that the window of opportunity for seniors to receive a 20% discount from their gas bills is closing. Anyone 65 years of age is eligible for this discount regardless of income, but no new enrollments will be accepted after September 1, 2003. Williams explained that consumer education services include helping consumers to decipher their often confusing telephone and utility bills.
5. Philadelphia Community Access Coalition. Danielle Redden, campaign director, explained the coalition's drive to get true community access to cable in Philadelphia. She explained that the city gets a 5% franchise fee from the cable operators. This fee, intended to be used to establish community access recording centers, has instead been diverted into the general fund. She suggested attending a public hearing Tuesday, March 18 and to consider having SOSNA become a coalition member. Further information can be found at the organization's website, http://www.phillyaccess.org/ or flyers can be picked up at the SOSNA office.
6. Philadelphia Livable Neighborhood Program. Johnathon Rubin, Program Manager, presented an overview of a block organizing program funded by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Department of Environmental Protection. Rubin and his colleagues seek to shift residents from "pathology thinking" to "visionary thinking" by concentrating on five years -- health and safety, community greening, energy assessment, resource sharing, and team building. Rubin will work with any individual desiring to improve his/her block. The program has been in Philadelphia since January 2002. Currently it works with 45 blocks and hopes to have another 75 by June. Further information is available at the organization's website: http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/ -- at the homepage, click on "livable neighborhoods." Copies of the organization's flyers are also available at the SOSNA office. Eve Lewis commented that livable neighborhoods are important for our area. She is looking for organized blocks so that SOSNA can apply for a basic systems repair grant, and she hopes to have a block representative meeting in the near future.
7. Property Condemnation. Alan Mandel circulated a list of properties proposed for condemnation by the City and the Redevelopment Authority for transfer to Universal Community Homes in 2003. Some of these properties may be on the list in error and will need to be removed. SOSNA will schedule a community meeting in April at which Universal can explain their program and answer questions.
8. One Book, One Philadelphia/The Price of a Child. Laura Blanchard passed out a flyer for a SOSNA-organized author reading by Lorene Cary, author of The Price of a Child, plus slide lecture by Phil Lapsansky, Library Company of Philadelphia. The event will take place Monday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 1831 Bainbridge Street.
9. Other Announcements. Laura Blanchard reminded attendees that the first Philadelphia More Beautiful cleanup day is Saturday, April 5. Residents may bring bagged trash from street- and lot-cleaning to the corners of numbered streets for pickup. She also provided information on the next Tree Tenders class, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, 18, 25 6-9 p.m. and Saturday June 14, 10-2 p.m.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Laura Blanchard for the Secretary

HOME | WHAT IS SOSNA? | HOUSING COUNSELING | THRIFT SHOP | SIGN UP | PLANNING | NEWS

SOSNA is the Neighborhood Advisory Committee for the area from South Street to Washington Avenue, Broad Street West to the Schuylkill River, funded by the Office of Housing and Community Development to provide citizen input into their redevelopment process in our community. SOSNA is a registered nonprofit corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Site contents copyright SOSNA except where indicated.