Congressman Dwight Evans, who represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District that includes West Philadelphia, has announced a more than $51 billion, seven-point plan to fight gun violence in Philadelphia and around the country. The plan was unveiled today at Temple University Hospital, which treats many of the city’s gun violence victims.

“Over the last two years, Philadelphia and communities across America have suffered from a surge in gun violence – a second epidemic,” Evans said at today’s event. “This is a national problem – it is not just happening here… This epidemic of gun violence demands an all-hands response – federal, state and local government – and more community involvement.” Continue Reading

West Philly residents who live in the 18th Police District boundaries are again invited to attend community meetings with local police officers. Monthly meetings at the Calvary Center (48th and Baltimore) have recently resumed after a nearly two-year long COVID-related hiatus.

Meetings are held every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will take place this Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. Lt. Kevin Livewell of the University City Division of the 18th Police District and representatives of University City District (UCD) will participate in the meeting. Continue Reading

A rash of thefts from USPS mail collection boxes, first reported at the end of last year, continues to be a problem in some West Philadelphia neighborhoods, according to media reports. Thieves have recently broken into unidentified mailboxes, stole checks, and fraudulently cashed them for thousands of dollars, according to a report by CBS Philly. The amount in one of the stolen and cashed checks was changed from 40 dollars to 3,000, according to the report.

Thefts from USPS mailboxes have been occurring mostly in and around the zip code 19143, sometimes multiple times from the same mailbox. Last December, neighbors reported mailbox break-ins and thefts of checks, DVDs and letters/forms containing some personal information from mailboxes in Garden Court, Spruce Hill and Cedar Park neighborhoods in West Philly. Continue Reading

Philadelphia authorities have been investigating a series of suspicious fires in West Philadelphia that occurred since the beginning of June and have made an arrest in connection to at least two fires. A 25-year-old man was arrested last week on the suspicion of igniting a September 12th rubbish fire and a September 18th house fire that injured two people and caused substantial property damage, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

The Philadelphia Arson and Explosives Task Force operating under the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has been investigating the following additional fires, all incendiary in nature, that may be linked to the suspect: Continue Reading

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), State Representative Joanna McClinton, State Senator Anthony H. Williams and City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) will host a community event tonight in response to the tragic shootings in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood during a July 4th cookout. Two men in their 20s were killed and a 16-year-old girl was injured.

The event, titled “Hope and Healing” is in support of Cobbs Creek residents in the aftermatch of the shootings.

“This event, along with other recent shootings in the area, have left community members feeling afraid for their safety and the wellbeing of their loved ones and neighbors,” reads an official announcement. Continue Reading

There has been an increase in carjacking incidents in many city neighborhoods, according to reports, a worrying trend that is likely part the overall increase in violence in the city during the pandemic.

A very brazen armed carjacking attempt took place on Wednesday, April 21 near 46th and Pine Streets, which led to an arrest of three suspects. The incident took place at 3:30 p.m. on Pine Street in front of the Garden Court condominium, according to reports. The male victim, a Garden Court resident, had just placed an item in his parked car when he was approached by four masked young males, each armed with a gun, according to police.

The suspects took the car keys from the victim and his wallet, got in the vehicle and sped off. The victim was able to hide his phone and called 911 immediately after the incident. Police responded within a few minutes and spotted the stolen vehicle nearby. After a pursuit the vehicle crashed into a fence on a dead end street and three out of the four suspects were apprehended when they tried to flee the crash scene. Continue Reading