Gabriel Straus, of the volunteer group Philly Bike Action, spoke at last week’s Fox Chase Town Watch and Civic Association meeting.
Straus supports full funding for Vision Zero, a city initiative to eliminate road deaths. Mayor Cherelle Parker slashed funding last year, with some money going to other forms of safety measures, such as speed bumps.
Specifically, Philly Bike Action wants $5 million in the next city budget earmarked for Vision Zero. Straus said there are shovel-ready projects to make streets safer.
“I want fewer people to be killed,” he said.
Philly Bike Action wants drivers to slow down. The group favors narrower lanes, expanded curbs so pedestrians have a shorter distance to cross streets, parking-protected bike lanes and Neighborhood Slow Zones near schools and along commercial corridors.
In other news from the March 12 meeting:
• Mark Mroz, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, told the crowd the district has a new commander, Capt. Andrew DiSanto. He said the former commander, Capt. Scott DiDonato, was transferred to night command.
Mroz said a 68-year-old man shot himself to death earlier in the day on the 7900 block of Verree Road.
Mroz spoke of the Community Preservation Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to cleaning up blighted properties. People can submit the addresses of blighted properties. For more information, call 267-908-4015 or visit Act135.org.
Al Fiorentino, community relations officer in the 7th Police District, said faraday bags are available at the district, 1701 Bowler St. Faraday bags are made with materials that, among other things, help prevent car thefts by blocking the signal from your key fob so that thieves can’t pick it up. Car owners place their keys in the bags at home so thieves cannot take advantage of the push-button start option to steal the vehicle.
To report nuisance vehicles and illegally parked trucks and tractor trailers, contact the Philadelphia Parking Authority at 215-683-9630 or PhilaPark.org/Enforcement.
• State Rep. Sean Dougherty told members his office is at 7801-A Hasbrook Ave. (at Hartel Avenue). He took over the office of former Rep. Kevin Boyle, whose name remains on the sign outside. The phone number remains 215-331-2600.
Dougherty said he is trying to help Fox Chase Library, which has been closed since Feb. 11 due to a broken heater.
• Tom Campion, of the Neighborhood Community Action Center, at Hayes Playground, 9850 Roosevelt Blvd., invited people to visit the center or contact him at Thomas.Campion@phila.gov or 215-828-9864. The center handles issues such as graffiti, potholes, sinkholes, abandoned vehicles, trash pickup and broken street lights.
Campion said Mayor Cherelle Parker will be at the center on May 22 to discuss her budget priorities.
• City Councilman Brian O’Neill will hold three events on upcoming Saturdays at his offices, all from 9-11 a.m. There will be an e-cycling event on May 3 at Bustleton Avenue and Bowler Street. A recycling bucket giveaway will take place on May 17 at 432 Rhawn St. A free shredding event, sponsored by Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, is set for June 7 at 11630 Caroline Road.
• A proposed 3-story self-storage facility at an industrially zoned, triangular-shaped property at 7801-45 Oxford Ave. received a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The site is the former home of an auto-body shop and Northeast Propane.
BG Capital, a Bala Cynwyd-based firm, will operate the facility. The company was at a prior meeting, and the civic association approved the proposal after convincing the owner to abandon his original plan for a 6-story structure.
• American Legion John Loudenslager Post 366, 7976 Oxford Ave., will host a pancake breakfast on Sunday, April 27, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $10. There will be pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, coffee and tea. Call Ben at 215-407-0803.
• Troop 160 is holding a clothing drive through June 16 to raise money for a trip to the Sea Base adventure program in Florida. The troop will accept clothing that is clean and undamaged. Donations can be delivered to Loudenslager Post 366.
• Fox Chase Town Watch and Civic Association will meet on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Loudenslager Post 366. The guest speaker will be state Sen. Joe Picozzi. ••
