Frankford business group
aims for the big names

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

Goals for 2008 were the big agenda item as the Frankford Business and Professional Association held its first general meeting last week at Frankford Hospital.
Topping the list was the association’s desire to discuss crime and safety in Frankford with city officials. The FBPA held crime-and-safety summit meetings last year without much success; the group came to realize that it wouldn’t be able to accomplish much unless key decision-makers were in the same room, said Terry Tobin, the group’s vice president.
This year, the business association hopes to meet with Mayor Michael Nutter, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, state Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.) and City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sanchez (D-7th dist.). That’s the A-list, Tobin explained. Others deemed important to the association’s mission include Capt. Frank Bachmayer, commander of the 15th Police District; Camille Barnett, the city managing director; and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D-1st dist.).
"We need to not only bring up problems but the things that we want to be solutions," Tobin said.
Nancy Cherone, vice president of the Frankford Healthcare System, suggested that recent reports show crime is down in the area. But Tobin isn’t ready to embrace that as an optimistic sign.
"That’s numbers. I don’t care what statistics say," he said. "Every week I hear or read in the papers about some violent crime in Frankford. Our biggest problem is perception."
One business owner suggested that in-store video surveillance, where a potential criminal sees his picture on a camera as soon as he walks into a store, is a deterrent.
Liz McCollum-Nazario, president of the business association, said the organization could look toward city officials to commit some money for surveillance technology to aid business owners.
Tracy O’Drain, manager of economic development for the Frankford Community Development Corp., told attendees that the city’s small-business community improvement program, which had been used to support business operators undertaking the cost of facade improvements, just put a freeze on using the money for improvements to surveillance and security systems.
The FBPA agreed to write a letter of opposition to the freeze, reinforced with a petition from local business owners.
Quiñones-Sanchez, attending her first FBPA meeting as councilwoman, told members that the city’s new commerce director, Andrew Altman, will officially start on Feb. 24 and she assured them that Frankford would be one of the first districts he visits.
Dan Lodise, an aide to Payton, distributed information on the Safe Place Initiative. The 25-year-old program sets up local businesses as safe havens for youngsters in trouble. The businesses are identified with a yellow Safe Place sign or decal on the window.
Safe Place will send staff members to businesses to conduct a one-hour training session to teach employees how to deal with youths in crisis. The staffers also will provide names and resources that can be contacted should youngsters need help after being assaulted, or if they’re runaways from home.
"The big yellow signs up and down the block say we’re taking ownership back. Everything is free. It’s one hour out of your year," Lodise said of the training.
For more information on Safe Place, visit www.nationalsafeplace.org
The business group also is planning these events:
• FBPA will hold a focus meeting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the Mayfair Shop ’n Bag.
• It will sponsor photos with the Easter Bunny at Frankford Hospital’s Frankford Division at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
• Butch Ballard and His Trio will perform at the Historical Society of Frankford at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, as a fund-raiser for the society.
• FBPA will hold its next general meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, in Frankford Hospital’s second-floor conference room. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com