By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer
Bob Daisey wants to hear from you.
Daisey is an assistant district attorney who works for the Public Nuisance Task Force. His focus is on the Northeast.
The task force monitors drug houses, nuisance bars, houses of prostitution and businesses used as fronts for drug activity.
Daisey urges residents with complaints to call the task force hotline at 215-686-5858 or to visit the police department’s Web site at www.ppdonline.org
Callers can remain anonymous and should provide details of their complaint.
“Be as specific as possible,” Daisey told members of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association.
Daisey asked callers to provide detailed descriptions of the individuals reported to be violating the law, along with the exact days and times the ongoing activity is taking place.
The district attorney’s office is comprised of seven divisions. The task force, created in 1992, is part of the narcotics division. Its staff includes nine assistant district attorneys assigned to areas of the city by police district.
When Daisey receives a complaint, he’ll send a letter to the property owner, warning that it could potentially be seized and sealed.
The police department’s narcotics field unit — not officers from individual districts — investigates the complaint.
If the complaint is found to be valid, the task force will seek to close the property through civil injunction or asset forfeiture. The task force also sometimes works with the city’s Community Life Improvement Program to make the sealed properties as well-maintained as possible.
Then, the city and the property owner appear in court. Often, homes and businesses are seized and put up for auction.
Common Pleas Court Judge Chris Wogan, a former state legislator who represented Burholme for 21 years, handled nuisance cases for 30 days.
“Unfortunately, Judge Wogan left our program,” said Daisey, noting that the judge was transferred to the criminal unit.
Wogan had to recuse himself in one of Burholme’s biggest battles, its effort to keep the Purple Orchid II go-go bar closed.
The bar, at 7271 Rising Sun Ave., has been closed since late August when a police raid allegedly netted cocaine, marijuana, steroids, Xanax and $3,600 in cash.
A dancer was arrested after police allegedly found marijuana in her purse and suitcase, but the district attorney’s office withdrew charges when 2nd Police District officers failed to show up at three consecutive court listings.
The district attorney’s office is prosecuting bar manager Jeffrey “Frenchy” French. Police claim they found steroids and cocaine in his office. He has a July court date.
On the civil side, Common Pleas Court Judge Matthew Carafiello has yet to rule on whether to lift the cease-and-desist order issued by the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Daisey is seeking forfeiture of the Purple Orchid II’s property and liquor license, but no action will be taken until the criminal probe ends. The bar is represented by David Oh, a Republican candidate for a City Council at-large seat.
Daisey encouraged neighbors who want the Purple Orchid II closed permanently to appear at future court hearings concerning the bar. What would he tell them to say?
“Hi judge. I hate this place,” he suggested as a start.
In other news from the April 10 meeting:
• Republican City Council at-large candidate Jack Kelly addressed his former neighbors. A Somerton resident, he lived in Burholme for 27 years.
Kelly represented the 7th Councilmanic District from 1988 to 1991. Since being defeated in his bid for a second term, he’s worked as an aide to the Council president. Now, he wants to rejoin Council. Because of a voter registration disadvantage, Republicans are expected to win only two of the seven at-large seats.
Incumbent Councilman Frank Rizzo is expected to hold on to his job. Kelly and Jamie McDermott are expected to battle for the second GOP seat.
If elected, Kelly would focus on lowering the wage tax, improving public schools and reversing the labor woes at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. He also wants to address quality-of-life concerns to maintain residents and attract people to live in the city. In office, he’d work with state legislators like Rep. George Kenney, whose district includes Burholme.
“They need some help from City Hall,” he said.
Kelly vowed not to make “pompous” speeches on national issues during Council sessions, contending that such debate belongs at the federal level.
As for the Council members who give those kinds of speeches, Kelly suggests that they “take a driving test and get a license,” an obvious reference to Councilman Angel Ortiz, who drove for a quarter-century without a license.
Kelly, who is guaranteed a spot in the general election since only five Republicans filed for five nominations, asked Democrats to vote for East Torresdale’s Mike Driscoll in the Democratic primary on May 20. Driscoll is one of 10 candidates seeking five at-large nominations.
No Northeast resident has served as an at-large member of Council since 1975.
“I think it’s long overdue,” Kelly said.
Al Taubenberger, president of the Burholme group, served as Kelly’s chief of staff when he was in Council.
“He’s a good man, a good friend, a good neighbor,” Taubenberger said of Kelly.
• The next meeting of the Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the United Methodist Church of the Redeemer, Cottman and Lawndale avenues. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com