East Falls and redistricting proposals
I have been a resident of East Falls for twenty years and before my move to East Falls I was a resident of West Philadelphia for twenty years at 43rd and Locust Streets. While a West Philadelphia resident my community, with business and social resources, was there. I shopped at the markets and dined in the restaurants along 43rd Street , 40th Street, Market and Chestnut Streets and Lancaster Avenue. Sometimes I shopped as far as 69th Street. I used the local library branch at 40th Street. I attended civic, cultural and entertainment programs held in spaces made available by local churches and the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. I followed political news about civic concerns of safety and development in the neighborhoods north and west. Since I’ve resided in East Falls I shop Ridge Avenue there and in Roxborough and along Main Street Manayunk. I shop in Andorra. Occasionally I shop Germantown Avenue in Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. I go to the local restaurants in East Falls. I support and/or participate in the social, educational and civic programs there: Friends of the Falls of Schuylkill Library, the East Halls Historical Society, East Falls Village. I walk in the local parks and along the east bank of the Schuylkill River and along the Wissahickon Creek. I follow political news about civic concerns of safety and development in my neighborhood and the neighborhoods south and north and east of mine, e.g. traffic safety along Henry Avenue and mitigation of and recovery from flood damage along the Ridge Avenue business corridor . East Falls is now the locus of my community. I no longer have community ties to West Philadelphia. West Philadelphia should prosper in pursuit of its economic and civic interests. East Falls should prosper in pursuit of its economic and civic interests, which are joined to its neighbors along the Schuylkill’s east bank. The river is a significant community demarcation. The perspectives and particular interests of the two communities are different and should be served by districting that recognizes the historical, geographical, logical distinctions of the two.