Our Streets are Not Abandonded”

Business owners and merchants of the 1100 and 1200 blocks of S. 9th street responded to a City Council bill that would look to redevelop an area that they say is no longer blighted. A broad coalition of concerned community membersaddressed CityCouncil, TuesdayApril 23rd, to contesta bill that would allowfor the redevelopment oftwo blocks of the Italian Market south of Washington Ave. The project is part of the 9th & Ellsworth Urban Renewal Area. City Council Bill No. 070168 was passed through the rules committee despite the community's resistance.

Opposition to the redevelopment plan centers around the labeling of the neighborhood and business area as blighted. A report compiled by the Mexican community organization, JUNTOS/Casa de los Soles and researchers from the University of Pennsylvania shows that only 1 of the 15 properties listed as vacant on the city's land use map is actually vacant. The rest of the properties are under construction and being prepared to open for business or are newly renovated, recently openedbusinesses. Those opposed to the planned redevelopment point out that this area has been a sucessful location of investment and growth by local entrepreneurs and those that they serve.

One suchbusiness owner addressed City Council and invited them to come visit the area. To read his comments in English followed by Spanish, click here

April 25, 2007

To: Hon. Frank DiCicco

Hon. Anna Verna

Hon. Members of the Philadelphia City Council Rules Committee

From: Silvestre Torres

Subject: City Council bill No. 070168

9th & Ellsworth Urban Renewal Area Redevelopment Proposal

Honorable members of City Council, good afternoon and thank you for hearing our voice. My name is Silvestre Torres, I am from Mexico and I am the owner of the recently opened restaurant Los Taquitos de Puebla at 1149 South 9th St.

I am very concerned and want there to be some clarification relating to the renovation project scheduled for 9th Street between Washington Avenue and Federal Street. Neither myself as a business operator nor the owner of the building ever received any notice about the details of this project.

These plans, which I’ve become aware of thanks to some organized neighbors, directly affect me in that I, along with my business partners, have invested a lot of money in creating our restaurant. It was four years ago when I came to establish myself on these streets, which were abandoned. Before there used to be a lot of crime in the form of drug dealing; there was not sufficient lighting; and there was trash everywhere. We have all worked very hard over the last years to ensure that our street is a place where our neighbors can walk safely and find products and services they need.

We serve the entire community and we are proud to attend more than 50 customers on a daily basis. We clean up in front of the restaurant and we help light the street at night. Together with Asian, Latino and Italian businesspeople, we have been able to bring new life to this area of the neighborhood. Through our own efforts and hard work, we are realizing the American Dream and are supporting our families. Furthermore, we directly contribute to the vitality of the city by paying taxes.

I stand before you, honorable members of City Council, today to tell you that we are more than 14 Mexican business ownwers and many more residents of South 9th Street who know that our street is not abandoned. We are making the street work, we pay taxes and we would like to invite you to come and visit the area yourself in order to see with your own eyes how much progress our street has made thanks to our efforts and those of our neighbors.

Thank you for listening.

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