Title
Honoring East Mt. Airy Neighbors on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
Body
WHEREAS, Founded in January 1966, East Mt. Airy Neighbors (“EMAN”) has a 50 year history of working to “make a good community better”; and
WHEREAS, Within two weeks of its founding, EMAN had 200 members and two strong committees, one on conditions in the schools, the other fighting real estate solicitation, also known as blockbusting, which in six months’ time had collected information on illegal real estate practices, with a program devoted to exploring and promoting racial understanding to be added shortly thereafter; and
WHEREAS, In May 1968, a relationship was forged with the newly-arrived Northwest Mental Health Center and the first "Community Day" was organized at Pleasant Playground, an event that evolved into the annual Mt. Airy Day; and
WHEREAS, Presaging the various fields in which it has obtained victories for the community in the decades since, its first year saw EMAN win a zoning battle against a large apartment project proposed for Gowen and Germantown Avenues, initiate discussions with the mayor about a revision of the area's zoning, work to secure funds to renovate the tennis court with Fairmount Park to sponsor lessons, create tutoring programs in conjunction with the School District, and arrange for community recreation at Roosevelt Junior High School; and
WHEREAS, EMAN established the Together Blocks program and helped organize 100 neighborhood blocks and, working through existing City programs, helped ensure that many of these blocks received home improvement materials including paint, other home supplies, and street trees; and
WHEREAS, EMAN has been a critical partner in the creation of civic groups like Philadelphia Council of Neighborhood Organizations, Germantown Avenue Coordinating Committee, Mt. Airy Village Development Corporation (now Mt. Airy USA), Mt. Airy Learning Tree, and Northwest Leadership Council, often in cooperation with West Mt. Airy Neighbors, with which it holds annual meetings; and
WHEREAS, EMAN has been at the forefront of opposition to redlining, the crack cocaine epidemic, crime, and housing vacancy, championing community partnered policing, contributing to economic redevelopment, leading balanced residential rebuilding, and trying to create a sense of well-being for every person and every neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, EMAN has lived up to its original mission, which consisted of cooperating with residents and other neighborhood stakeholders, facilitating problem resolution for mutual benefit, promoting growth and public improvements, supporting legislation to accomplish those ends, and providing a means of friendly communication, mutual understanding, information, and education; and
WHEREAS, In addition to those aims, new objectives have included building and strengthening partnerships for community building, increased communications and meetings on critical issues, and actively working to reduce criminal behavior and to address factors that can lead to such behaviors, such as land use; and
WHEREAS, EMAN fills a unique niche for East Mt. Airy community, in the Northwest section, and in the City as a whole; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor East Mt. Airy Neighbors on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to East Mt. Airy Neighbors, evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End