Strong organization

All of Philadelphia's neighborhoods must take into their own hands, as many have, certain tasks that they would expect the city to perform. In my neighborhood, we formed a graffiti task force. We asked the city to provide a machine to remove the scrawlings, but, alas, the pocketbook was empty. We all pitched in and purchased it ourselves, and one of our neighbors took on the effort. We now have zero graffiti.

We have a very strong civic association that gets things done, not just meets once a month to have cookies and milk. We work with the police, institutions and government agencies that would otherwise make decisions of our neighborhood that we may object to. We have input.

We do, in fact, have a village. We know who lives here, and we watch out for each other. Our small Town Watch group lets the bad guys know that we are aware of their presence. We organize cleanups, and we have the University City District, which we, individually and collectively, help support financially. It does a wonderful job keeping the streets clean and safe.

It seems that we need the city government to be responsive and supportive of our efforts. We need a community association "czar" whose only job would be to facilitate the neighborhoods in forming groups of their own giving them an arena to meet and to share their information with other areas of the city that need help.

Vaughn Cook
Philadelphia

Community leadership

It has become commonplace for residents of Philadelphia and elsewhere to expect agencies of government to solve the urban problems that plague so many of our neighborhoods - litter, graffiti, unwanted businesses and quality-of-life crimes. Although government action is necessary in some cases, reliance on others does not develop neighborhood cohesiveness and pride. To accomplish that result, it is necessary for leadership to come from within the community.

To build a strong neighborhood, local volunteers must be found to preserve and restore historic buildings, organize block parties, sponsor flea markets, conduct house tours - events that can bring residents together in a common enterprise. When neighbors interact, they experience a sense of community that energizes them and can revitalize the community.

The city government must be supportive of community needs, when well-articulated and within reasonable financial limits. For example, attractive lighting and green spaces can improve the image of a community without enormous expense.

The new mayor and City Council will have to make hard decisions in allocating funds - and may find it necessary to support those neighborhoods that offer the greatest potential, even at the risk of abandoning others.

R. Philip Steinberg
East Falls