Concerned Residents

By Anthony Biondo

Important!! READ THIS!!!

I, like many of you, remember a time in Philadelphia (particularly in South Philadelphia) when neighborhoods were family oriented. A time when neighbors looked out for each other; when most of us didn't have a key to the front door of our house because it was never locked; and everyone took an interest in what was going on in their neighborhood.

A time when our elected officials earned Our Vote and were truly concerned with what our neighborhoods needed by listening to the people who lived there, as opposed to telling us what was good for our neighborhood whether we liked it or not.

I believe, as many of you do, that it is time to restore this way of life...this attitude, if you will, back into our neighborhoods.

Nowadays everyone is calling for change. I agree, it is time to change; time to change and return to the basics where people, not the politicians, have the final say. Return to when it was safe to sit on your own step or take a walk through your neighborhood without fear. Return to a time when serious crime issues were something you read about but never witnessed. Return to when living in South Philadelphia was LIVING and everyone took pride in their neighborhood.

Some people say that I'm a dreamer; that things cannot return to the way it used to be. All I can say to them is that one of the lessons I've learned growing up in South Philadelphia is that the word "can't" doesn't exist and there is no reason for it to be present now. I believe the word "can't" means "won't" I know this change and return to basics is the type of change that all of us would like to see happen here. I believe we can make it happen together and take back our neighborhoods.

It all starts with our willingness to make these changes happen. Talk is cheap; for too long now that is all politicians from both parties have been giving us, cheap talk. I am not a politician; I am a lifelong resident who is fed up with cheap talk. Action speaks louder than words. We have seen the lack of action from our current elected State Representative who, for the last sixteen years, has only represented the interests of a few. It is up to us to take the first action. We have to take an interest in who is elected to represent our concerns. We have to get out and vote. Our current elected representative counts on you not showing up to the polls and casting your vote; by doing so that almost assures his re-election. Let us show him otherwise. Enough is enough. Go to the polls and vote as if your life depended on it because God knows our future does.

I appreciate the time you've taken from your busy schedule to review this information.

Thank you for your support!

Respectfully,

Anthony Biondo