East Frankford gets a visit
from Taubenberger

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

If you weren’t familiar with Republican mayoral nominee Al Taubenberger, it wouldn’t take long to realize that he’s from Northeast Philadelphia.
During a visit to the predominantly Democratic East Frankford Civic Association last week, Taubenberger, a Fox Chase resident, mirrored the thoughts and ideas of the more than 15 members in the room, a session that included a 30-minute discussion of the impact that Section 8 tenants and landlords are having on Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods.
"I’m opposed to Section 8 housing, but it’s a federal matter. I don’t know of any neighborhood in the city that would (welcome) Section 8," Taubenberger said just as loudly as the woman who had asked what he’d do about it.
Under his mayoral administration, Taubenberger said, he’d publish not only a list of Section 8 homes but the names of the landlords as well in an effort to give the low-income housing program more oversight.
Taubenberger also pledged support to the civic group and said that, as mayor, he’d hold a monthly meeting in each councilmanic district. His own civic activism is what inspired him to run for mayor, as well as the need to bring jobs to the city, explained the GOP candidate, who is president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
In other business during the meeting, members voted to support a request to the city for a zoning variance for a property at 4268 Penn St., an old factory that is zoned for industrial use. The prospective buyer intends to live in part of the building, demolish part, and use another part as a gym for clients of her husband, a personal trainer.
The topic of parking was another meeting subject when Liz McCollum-Nazario, chief of staff for City Councilman Dan Savage (D-7th dist.), announced that new parking-meter signs are being erected to explain new weekend meter hours. Until last week, patrons of Frankford’s jazz restaurant mozaic and other businesses had to drop money into the meters until 9:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings. Now they need a supply of change in their pockets only until 6 p.m.
Savage’s office facilitated the change, which he said had been unfair to Frankford’s business owners because meters in other city neighborhoods already were on the 6 p.m. weekend schedule.
Civic association president Peggy Hoch continued to urge volunteers to step up and help at the 15th Police District’s curfew center at the Frankford Group Ministry, 4620 Griscom St. The center, which deals with youngsters picked up for curfew violations, operates Thursday through Sunday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
"It’s making a difference," one civic member said of the center.
Hoch agreed, saying that no one on her street is out after curfew.
To volunteer, call 215-744-2990, Ext. 211. ••