As many of you know, the 115-year-old Frank Furness-designed church building at 47th and Kingsessing was saved from demolition last year and is currently undergoing renovation. Developer Guy Laren is planning to re-purpose the building by opening two local day care centers, Little Learners and Children’s Community School, in that location after the renovation has been completed. Rezoning is necessary for this plan to come to life, and the first community zoning meeting for the church conversion project will take place this week.
Community members are invited this Tuesday, April 14, at 6 p.m. to Kingsessing Recreation Center at 50th and Kingsessing to hear more about the project and provide their feedback. The meeting is being organized by the Registered Community Organization (RCO) for the area – Southwest District Services.
The project stakeholders also asked community members to show their support of the church conversion project by signing a petition last month. Over 250 people have so far signed the online petition on Change.org. Tuesday’s meeting is another opportunity to gauge the amount of support of the plan by the community.
April 13th, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Neighbors need to come out in support of this project! This community organization has a history of not handling zoning issues properly.
http://citypaper.net/News/Guac-blocked-How-overlapping-civic-groups-can-stand-in-the-way-of-a-simple-taco-stand/
“[Lyles] only asked me how my business would benefit them and what I would donate to their organization,” she said. “I told him that I would love to help my community, but I am a brand-new, tiny establishment and I couldn’t offer much.”
But representatives of other RCOs went further, loudly protesting that Lyles’ requests were verging on illegality. Jerolmack says Lyles pressed on, eventually “suggesting [he] would not support my zoning request unless I promised to support him with money or donations.”
Lyles, for his part insists he “didn’t ask for a cash donation” and just “suggested” different activities at the rec center Jerolmack could support.
“We told them the different [activities] they could donate some time or something toward,” he said. “Then, it was also said that some people make cash donations to our organizations. And you can write it off on your taxes.”
The meeting ended with all parties aggrieved. Lyles said he thought Jerolmack “didn’t support the community” and opposed her variance in a letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
April 14th, 2015 at 10:28 am
I don’t envy any business that is required to go before Southwest District Services, which tends to be more of a corrupt shakedown than a community organization. As their own website states on the history page, “One of our slogans: ‘From street gang to community organization.'”
April 14th, 2015 at 10:07 pm
https://soundcloud.com/user866710345/4700-kingsessing-zoning-meeting?hc_location=ufi
April 15th, 2015 at 2:19 am
Thanks for the link, anonymous. But, boy, was it tough listening to that recording of the 47th and Kingsessing zoning meeting. While there may be some legitimate issues around any new development, in this case, these seem mostly minor and easily resolved. From the tone of the meeting, however, you would have thought the developer was proposing to build a nuclear reactor on the block, instead of rescuing a beautiful old structure and providing a neighborhood amenity in the form of two day care centers. Incompetence (on the part of the RCO chair) and aggressive ill will (among many of the attendees) produced a total train wreck of a meeting. Let’s hope this unfortunate situation doesn’t delay or derail a truly worthy project.
April 15th, 2015 at 6:17 am
That was not incompetence on the part of the RCO chair. That was malice.
The near neighbors had concerns that could have been easily addressed had the meeting been run fairly and impartially. Instead their opportunity to be heard was turned into this farce of a community meeting.
Why would an RCO actively obstruct its own meeting? Just look at the first comment on here. This was not about preschools, the church building, or neighbors on Reinhardt. This was about a bribe the developer had failed to pay.
April 15th, 2015 at 10:42 am
https://www.citizenaudit.org/562667714/#2014_08_EO/56-2667714_990EO_201312.pdf
As you can see here THEY ARE NOT EVEN A 501c3 THEY ARE A BUSINESS FOR PROFIT!!!
Basic info – 2013
EIN 562667714 Name SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT SERVICES
Contact % YAHYA BEY Address 1557 N VALLEY RD
City POTTSTOWN State PA
Zip 19464-2459 Ruling date 201004
Tax period 201212 Assets 10,768
Income 16,100 Revenue 16,100
Deductability Contributions are not deductible
April 15th, 2015 at 10:47 am
They are a 501(c)(4), which is a non-profit status that allows them to support candidates for office. 501(c)(4)s are allowed to be RCOs.
April 15th, 2015 at 10:52 am
when I got to IRS site
and put in their EIN 562667714
I get; There were no tax-exempt organizations found matching the search values you entered.
Their tax record shows the last 990 was filed back in 2010.
How do they get RCO status if they are in fact a business and not a NFP community org according to the IRS records
April 15th, 2015 at 11:00 am
501c4 if a NFP supports an officer or candidate then they CAN NOT in any way get city contracts! and no RCO status! as the bylaws stipulate.
I understand they have MS Blackwell pushing for them as she is on their board as an honorary member
Is SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT SERVICES a business? a community org? a not for profit?
I am going to research this further as I see the potential for shady business and PERHAPS some unlawful gains.
Also what is the legal address of this company? There are many addresses listed on different applications that it seems it could be fraudulent activity.
at this moment I do not trust them.
April 15th, 2015 at 11:03 am
again I reiterate according to the IRS they are NOT TAX EXEMPT.
There is a conflict of interests if this company is in cahoots with Ms. Blackwell and an RCO I smell stink all over them.
AUDIT PLEASE
April 15th, 2015 at 11:30 am
I think it is untrustworthy and possibly criminal that Saboor Muhammed IS on BLACKWELLS STAFF and has an RCO recognition even though they are a 501c4
There is a huge conflict of interest in this matter
An organization that primarily benefits a private group of citizens cannot qualify for IRC 501(c)(4) exempt status.
That means fund raising for Blackwell….is a violation. That means pushing a project without the consent of the majority is a violation
AND NO WHERE IN THE 501c4 DOES IT SAY YOU CAN SUPPORT A POLITICIAN that is a PAC.
I am calling the IRS on them
They should be shut down and cut off immediately.
April 15th, 2015 at 11:33 am
https://www.independentsector.org/501c4_organizations
501(c)(4) organizations are tax-exempt, but donations to them are not tax deductible and the identities of donors do not have to be disclosed. These organizations are allowed to engage in unlimited lobbying activities, and can engage in some campaign activity, as long as it is not their primary activity.
Some activity not what they are doing!!!
April 15th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
Here are some additional facts: SWDS asserts its claim to be an RCO as a “special services district” (like UCD) under the Philadelphia City Planning Commission “New Rules for Registered Community Organizations & Neighborhood Meetings with Zoning Applicants” (see http://www.phila.gov/CityPlanning/projectreviews/PDF/RCOFact%20SheetJan2014.pdf).
In that document here is the definition of a District: “A district, typically created under the PA Municipal Authorities Act, with a fixed boundary in which supplemental services are provided, funded either by a mandatory tax or
fee, or by voluntary contributions made by property owners, institutions, or businesses within the district.”
The attitude of the leader in requesting contributions while not being a non-profit organization is the crux of the issue.
April 15th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Sounds like the meeting yesterday was a fiasco as predicted. I hope we see a lot more coverage of the shady operation that Southwest District Services runs so that our neighborhood can get fair representation on zoning. Not sure if the political connection to Blackwell is legal or not for their RCO status, but she did give them $500 in the year that they held a Community Day in her honor: http://swpds.org/id21.html
Also, the all male board of friends are not elected, and many of them live outside the community now. Their president lives in Pottstown and their spokesman lives in Yeadon. Was a shame to hear them shouting down actual residents last night.
April 15th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Since the convening RCO is selected by the District Councilmember, one could conceivably petition Councilwoman Blackwell to replace this organization with one of the other three RCO’s within whose boundaries the property lies. The Republican ward, for example, is by law an automatic RCO and could perhaps conduct a more productive meeting. Ultimately, however, the support or non-support of the convening RCO is only one factor in the Zoning Board’s decision-making process. I suspect that this organization may have already earned itself a dubious reputation and that the ZBA will give the group’s opinion of the project the importance it deserves.
April 15th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Here’s a link to the shakedown given by this org. to Taco Angeleno just a little while ago:
http://citypaper.net/News/Guac-blocked-How-overlapping-civic-groups-can-stand-in-the-way-of-a-simple-taco-stand/
April 15th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Unfortunately, there is no other RCO in this location because of the way the boundaries divide down the middle of the street. Literally no one else for Laren, CCS, and Little Learners to go to. It might be time for neighbors to get together and brainstorm how a new organization truly serving this area could be formed and recognized. There is certainly a need for competent, impartial Community Zoning meetings along Woodland Ave.
In other neighborhoods, activist community members have joined a disruptive RCO en masse, run together as a leadership slate, and voted out the current people. Would not suggest that tactic with SWDS. They are supposed to have open membership and elections but don’t and seem to have the pull to keep their RCO status despite flouting the rules.
April 15th, 2015 at 3:52 pm
I don’t believe you are correct, Anonymous. The City of Philadelphia Zoning Map indicates that 4700 Kingsessing falls under the jurisdiction of 4 different RCO’s. Here’s the link: http://www.phila.gov/map#id=529395a98e1743718789b164320057d6. Also, 4700 Kingsessing is clearly within the 27th Ward boundaries and, thus, comes under the purview of the 27th Republican Ward RCO, headed by Matt Wolfe. It’s possible two of these RCO’s may be inactive, but they are currently on the official RCO list. The Republican Ward, obviously, is still active.
April 15th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Gosh, what was I thinking?! The likelihood Of Councilwoman Blackwell appointing the Republican Ward as the convening RCO for anything is just about zero.
April 15th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
That and the Southwest Advisory Group could be lovely but they meet at 65th and Woodland. Same for the head of the Kingsessing Area Civic don’t know him but he’s a Tony Williams staffer. No thank you.
April 15th, 2015 at 4:41 pm
playfair, while the current RCO overlap situation here is a bit of a mess, the idea of appointing the Republican Ward to anything beyond the scope of Republican politics seems odd (even though Matt Wolfe would undoubtedly run a professional meeting.)
As a nearby neighbor, I would love to see Cedar Park Neighbors handle this case, since it’s the only RCO with significant population adjacent to the property … unfortunately CPN’s border is officially down the middle of the street (can we nudge that a block or two south for future zoning?).
April 15th, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Impeach Blackwell. It seems she has done more damage to the community than helped. Under Lucien the areas were starting to cooperate. Jannie has unraveled all his good work.
She has “special people” via donations contribution and In my opinion deceptive practice.
If we rid the district of Ms Blackwell like the pied piper all her people will follow.
I suggest forming an emergency civic association hold an open election set some bylaws and file for a special consideration with grievance attached. Send it to Daryl As well as Jannie and not for nothing the Ethics Committee in Philly could be of help. Also call your Ombudsman they are there to help in these situations.
If you give the power of your district to the office assistant of Jannie only Jannies wishes will be done
April 15th, 2015 at 8:55 pm
The man heading the meeting recorded here was Jihad Ali. He claimed during the recording that people could not speak because they were not neighbors. He is not a neighbor. He lives in zip code 19151. I heard today at the board hearing they tried to argue that only people in 1 or 1.5 blocks were relevant to the discussion. Why is he getting so much bandwidth then?
April 15th, 2015 at 9:50 pm
corrupt and content, just like the man said.
April 15th, 2015 at 9:59 pm
Regarding Southwest District Services and the thuggish way they conducted the RCO hearing Tuesday night on the plans to put day cares in the former St. Peter’s Church at 4700 Kingsessing Ave.: This group would not even be on the radar screens at City Hall if they were not backed and supported by our councilwoman, Jannie Blackwell. The guy who “ran the meeting” lives miles away from 47th and Kingsessing. So you have to ask yourself: What’s this really all about? Why did Blackwell make this group an RCO for all of Southeast Philadelphia?
April 16th, 2015 at 12:40 am
Was Marty Cabry at the meeting, does anyone know?
April 16th, 2015 at 1:00 am
Marty was not there. He was at the ZBA pushing for a continuance today.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:17 am
File charges against the RCO.
sageofosage. The chairperson Saboor Muhammed is ALSO the office assistant of Jannie Blackwell.
Platfair Marty was at the Walnut Hill Meeting Tues night.
I’m telling you… Some one should call the campaign finance and the ethical committee.
File charges and an injunction against the RCO until they can prove viability.
Also did you know MS BLACKWELL did everything in her power to put that RCO in place. They were FIRST DENIED RCO status but miraculously THEY GOT RCO STATUS. How can that be when other orgs. that are in good standing follow the rules do everything asked of them and they were ignored not notified IMO black listed. YET these numbskulls get RCO they bribe or attempt to bribe developers and What does Jannie do? NOT A EFFIN THING
I implore you if you are in that neighboorhood CALL JANNIE FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT
April 16th, 2015 at 9:51 am
We should start a philadelphia chapter and get an anti corruption law passed. here is a ref to what other cities are doing; https://represent.us/#aaca
April 16th, 2015 at 9:54 am
The American Anti-Corruption Act makes it illegal to purchase political influence, and puts power back in the hands of the People.
The American Anti-Corruption Act is model legislation that sets a standard for city, state and federal laws that prevent money from corrupting American government. It fundamentally reshapes the rules of American politics and restores The People as the most important stakeholders in our political system. An Anti-Corruption Act has three primary outcomes:
Stop political bribery by overhauling lobbying and ethics laws
End secret money by dramatically increasing transparency
Give every voter a voice by creating citizen-funded elections
Represent.Us is building a movement to pass Anti-Corruption Acts in cities, states, and federally. Each Act is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of locales across the country.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:25 am
Having been directly involved with SWDS in this application I would like to proceed with taking some kind of helpful action, but I am not sure what I need to do in order to do so. I see this recommendation listed by Anon above:
“Some one should call the campaign finance and the ethical committee.
File charges and an injunction against the RCO until they can prove viability.”
What material do I need to gather in order to proceed? What will these committees be looking for in order to launch an investigation?
Also, are these committees equally lined with Jannie people?
April 16th, 2015 at 11:40 am
Anon is certainly energetic but not sure their recommendations are based in any kind of understanding of the city’s actual campaign finance and ethics rules.
I would start by making a complaint to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission since they are the ones that will review SWDS’s status as an RCO in 2016.
In the end, SWDS ultimately has the backing of Blackwell and the neighborhood needs to figure out how to deal with that. Blackwell needs to be made aware that her constituents should not be treated like this even by her own friends and staff. If SWDS remains unwilling to treat neighbors as neighbors, people will need to find out whether she would explicitly publicly support the formation of a new organization or expansion of an existing one’s boundaries. Since Blackwell is the decider of which RCO gets the be the convening RCO, plain attacking her won’t help and calls for her to be replaced don’t seem reality-based either. The last time she had a challenger on the ballot she got something like 94% of the vote.
April 16th, 2015 at 2:43 pm
injunction: a judicial process or order requiring the person or persons to whom it is directed to do a particular act or to refrain from doing a particular act.
Very few people fully appreciate the powerful and flexible remedy offered by an injunction. Injunctions are extraordinary, both in terms of their timing and their effectiveness. Certain injunctions are issued with a rapidity otherwise unknown in the American legal system. Injunctions frequently have consequences so sweeping that they effectively shut down operating businesses or otherwise affect dramatically the rights of the parties involved in an irreversible manner. Among the elements which must be proven by the party seeking the injunction are: (1) it has no adequate remedy other than an injunction (such as money damages); (2) truly irreparable harm will occur in the absence of an injunction; (3) it is more likely than not that the moving party will prevail on the underlying merits when the matter ultimately goes to trial; (4) the benefit to the party seeking the injunction outweighs the burden of the party opposed to the injunction; and (5) the moving party’s right to the relief sought is clear. January 1, 2002 Mark D. Bradshaw White Paper
April 16th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Draft a petition for a civil court injunction. You can obtain standard forms from the court clerk’s office to assist you in preparing a petition for a civil court injunction.
Request the issuance of a temporary or emergency injunction pending a hearing on a permanent injunction. Include facts sufficient to establish that absent an immediate temporary or emergency injunction, you, your business or organization will suffer irreparable harm. A hearing is not required before the issuance of a temporary restraining order.
include language in your petition for a civil court injunction requesting a permanent injunction as well. A permanent injunction requires the other party to halt the activities complained of (or to carry out a promised task) into the future. A permanent injunction is not considered by the court until a full hearing is conducted on your petition.
Prepare an affidavit (statement signed under oath in front of a notary public) to attach to your petition. The affidavit sets forth the specific allegations as to why you are entitled to a civil court injunction.
File the petition for a civil court injunction with the clerk of the court.
Request the clerk of the court to serve the petition for a civil court injunction on the opposing party. If the judge signs a temporary civil court injunction, it will be served at the same time.
Obtain a hearing date on your petition for the permanent civil court injunction from the clerk of the court. Notify the opposing party of the hearing date and time.
Appear at the hearing to present evidence and arguments supporting your request for a civil court injunction. If you persuade the court that you will suffer irreparable harm absent a permanent injunction order, the court will grant you the relief requested. If you do not meet this objective, the court will dismiss the temporary injunction.
Good luck
April 16th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
I am a notary public, and I will notarize such an affidavit at no charge. Please search for Frank Innes on Facebook and send me a message if you want to engage me.
April 16th, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Frank I OM you on FB
WPneighbor I will help walk you through this. I am NOT a lawyer.
April 16th, 2015 at 3:22 pm
At the ZBA hearing yesterday, SWDS’s request for a continuance was denied and the hearing held. The vote was delayed for two weeks so that near neighbors, the developer, and SWDS representatives could meet to create a priovisio agreement on trash removal, parking, and pick up/drop off.
At this point, filing an injunction would throw off the negotiations and prevent the ZBA from voting. Any further delays would disrupt the daycares’ relocation plans. If they are unable to relocate on time as planned, they will not be in a position to try again for another year, if ever.
SWDS’s conduct is an outrage but taking up the above advice is extremely misguided to the end of allowing these two businesses expand within our community.
April 16th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Got to love an RCO who claims to represent SW Philly but whose organization files with the IRS in Pottstown. And that allegedly doesn’t allow women to join. Or hold regular elections.
As this silliness continues in case after case, maybe the ZBA will just start ignoring them right of the bat and save everyone a whole bunch of time, even if Blackwell pulls strings to give them RCO status.
April 17th, 2015 at 9:22 am
I disagree Anonymous Filing an Injunction against the RCO SWD does nothing to the project but bring it and all it’s dealings into light. I would imagine the developer would like to have a competent RCO work with them.
You can also file a cease and desist against the RCO SWD.
It is to stop the activity of the RCO not the project.
It allows the community to address the problem and elect another RCO NFP to represent them.
Go to DWS tell them you do not want their representation and that you do not RECOGNIZE them.
Take an add in the paper stating your grievance. Send this grievance to Blackwell and the mayor.
From what I have read this is blatant corruption and must be stopped.
April 17th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
sammon, this RCO problem is one that should be solved, but please be sensitive to the potential of putting additional roadblocks in the middle of an already tricky situation. Before you file anything, please check in with the developer and/or the nursery schools. They may want you to hold off for a couple weeks until they can get the proviso regarding trash and parking that ZBA requested. There are also several zoning experts on our other nearby community organizations that may have good guidance.
April 17th, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Best to let the experienced developer and his very competent attorney handle this. They can most likely resolve any issues quietly with the near neighbors, while letting the ZBA weigh how much importance to give the opinion of an obviously crackpot RCO. Probably prudent to defer any challenge to the RCO status of this group until the project has its zoning permit safely in hand.
April 17th, 2015 at 7:20 pm
It is about corruption any deal with this RCO involved will be tainted.
I would never presume I can act on behalf of west philadelphia with out the Majority decision to take action. I’m just putting in my opinion.
April 18th, 2015 at 6:43 am
Jihad Ali may own a property in 19151 that he can list at the ZBA but the dude lives in Fairless Hills out near Levittown. A disgrace.
April 18th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
To clarify some facts in this discussion, there are four RCO’s that cover this property. The 27th Ward Republican Committee is one of them. Pursuant to the Zoning Code, the District Council Member selects the coordinating RCO where there are more than one RCO for a project. Councilwoman Blackwell made that selection in this matter.
The 27th Ward Republican RCO did not oppose the project. We forwarded a letter to the Zoning Board that expressed our feeling concisely:
Dear Ms. Chapman:
We have reviewed this proposed zoning change and polled our membership.
We do not oppose this project. We are very pleased that this project will save this iconic neighborhood landmark. We also believe that dedicating part of the property to pre-schools fill a neighborhood need and is a reasonable use for the property. In addition, both the developer and the schools have positive track records in our community.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Matt Wolfe
27th Ward Republican Committee RCO
The coordinating RCO is no different than any other affected RCO except that they convene the public meeting. This is so that a developer does not have to attend multiple meetings. It is not, however, the convening RCO’s meeting. It is a public meeting to enable interested members of the public to express their views. It is then up to the individual RCO’s to express their opinions to the Zoning Board, as we have. I am unaware of the positions, if any, of the other two RCO’s relevant to the project.
The coordinating RCO is supposed to do just that: “coordinate.” They did not contact our RCO in any way, let alone coordinate. No big deal. We knew about if from various sources and we informed our members. We attended and I expressed our position as noted in the letter above. I was told that they were not there to hear from other RCO’s. This is, of course, not true as they were there to hear from the public, including other RCO’s. I was also attacked for living so far away from the property. I live three blocks away. Regardless, our RCO represents the area.
In addition to not understanding the purpose of the meeting, the meeting was very poorly run. Threatening to throw people out for expressing their opinions? Yes, a few people got upset when they were cut off by the gentleman running the meeting, but none of them had gone on for too long, said anything improper or done anything to justify cutting them off, let alone being threatened. I have not listened to the audio tape of the meeting but I am certain that it will support that statement.
In any event, as we stated in our letter, we are hopeful that this project goes forward. It is good for the community in many ways.
May 4th, 2015 at 9:44 am
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150504_Did_Blackwell_aide_violate_ethics_rules_.html
Guy’s attorney confirms the request from SWDS for $10,000 to support the project. Is anyone surprised SWDS isn’t supporting the project at Zoning? An opportunity to address near neighbors concerns was squandered.
May 4th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
I say we Impeach Jannie Blackwell