On Sunday evening I took a ride around South Philadelphia, while I was riding I noticed that there are several community gardens all around Philadelphia. There are actual city run parks and then there are parks that are run by the community members themselves. As I passed by one community garden in particular on 19th and Federal. There were two people working in the garden as I passed by, and I thought to myself I have to go in and talk to them. 45 minutes later of good conversation with the residents I came out with a greater understanding of the community members and their struggle to stay in their own city.
The woman's name was Catherine, she has been living in the area for all of her life. Her parents lived there before her, this was when the city was selling off lots of land for just a dollar. Catherine explains to me that she has been involved in her community garden, which now she owns and has named after her mother. (Theresa B. Vann) As our conversation grew I began to understand her frustration with the city. There are new buildings being built all around her while others are being tore down. I asked her what does she think should happen to the run-down buildings, she replies give the homeless a place to go. The city should fund these buildings so that the streets will start can start the process of a clean up. Catherine also explains to me how her rent has gone up by almost 20% over the past six months. She feels this is the cities way of basically forcing the lower income residents out of their homes. She once had neighbors all around her and now she explains some of them have moved out or are either homeless because of the raised prices. It is with the help of the city and the grassroots community members that a change will come. She tells me how she attends tons of council meetings, yet she feels as if they are doing no good. "The meetings are set up so that they(council members) can say later down the road they had the input of community members, even though the changes that were made do not involve their own ideas"
As I have mentioned before, the grassroots members of communities are the back-bone to the city. It is with their efforts that change is made in the city. Without them the upkeep of community gardens like Catherine's wont' be able to sell the produce that would have had been grown there.
When I spoke to her about how she feels about the Green movement within Philadelphia she has several valid points that are not discussed, especially for communities that have parks with no actual upkeep. It takes just one small group of residents to speak up about the condition of their neighborhoods. This type of situation has occurred over the past few decades all over Philadelphia, yet there are still plenty of areas that have not spoke up yet.
The mayor has proposed several green walks in Philadelphia in the up coming weeks, Catherine asks "how am I supposed to get there". Transportation is a big problem in Philadelphia. When the rail lines and Septa routes were planned out, they did not include some communities. This made it hard for residents to get where they needed to be. Also topsoil is given out for free up near the Horticultural Society, but you need to provide your own vehicle to transport the top soil. Something Catherine does not have.
One major issue that Cathrine discussed with me was the fact that community members now are hiring their own lawyers to combat the city of Philadelphia. As mentioned earlier the taxes and rent payments are going up on homes, which is forcing residents out of their homes since they can't afford it. "Lawyers are not cheap" she says, "At what cost does it take to continue to live in Philadelphia for elder residents?"
Catherine explains to me " we aren't stupid like they think". Thus meaning community members are not oblivious to how the city is transforming around them and how the new city plans do not necessarily include them. "All of the new walk and bike paths they want to build are great, but they are directing them to no where." If they keep tearing down buildings where will the trails and paths lead, and who will be there to use them is the question. She is not against the ideas of a greener Philadelphia, but she wants it to be included in the process. Catherine has been doing this in her own way by selling the vegetables she grows in her garden to community members, and it is this type of effort that will bring the city of Philadelphia back to what it once was.
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