State lawmaker addresses
his Northwood neighbors

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

State Rep. John Taylor feels welcome again at Northwood Civic Association meetings.
Taylor (R-177th dist.) had a strained relationship with Joe Menkevich, the colorful former president of the group.
Now, with Barry Howell as president and a united board of directors, Taylor thinks the meetings are now more warm and respectful.
A resident of the 1000 block of Haworth St. in Northwood, Taylor promoted two issues at last week’s monthly meeting.
The lawmaker favors a pair of bills sponsored by his close ally, Rep. John Perzel.
One would eliminate property taxes for senior citizens who earn less than $40,000 a year. The money would come from slot machine revenue, which is outpacing projections.
"People are gambling in Pennsylvania," Taylor said.
Taylor acknowledges that the issue is "dormant," in part, because some legislators favor across-the-board property tax reduction.
However, Taylor and Perzel argue that seniors have long been promised property tax relief, but across-the-board tax decreases would not have a significant impact. The tax breaks for seniors will eventually benefit younger people.
"Sooner or later, you’re going to be sixty-five," Taylor said.
The other major issue Taylor supports is a plan for the state to fund half the cost of hiring 10,000 police officers across Pennsylvania. Philadelphia would receive about 1,300 officers.
The bill is going nowhere because of opposition by Gov. Ed Rendell and Rep. Dwight Evans, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Taylor, first elected in 1984, is seeking his 13th two-year term. He faces Democrat Harry Enggasser, a ward leader and aide to state Sen. Mike Stack.
In other news from the Feb. 19 meeting:
• Several people complained that the 15th Police District rarely patrols in Northwood, but Sgt. Kevin McDevitt said he frequently drives through the neighborhood during his 6 p.m.-to-2 a.m. shift.
McDevitt added that officers also "herd" Frankford High School students to buses and the El at dismissal.
In general, he said, crime is low in Northwood. In fact, the biggest complaint of the night was trucks parked for the weekend around Frankford Stadium. According to the sergeant, trucks are permitted to park on the street only if they are under a half-ton.
McDevitt told residents to call 911 for illegal truck parking or any vehicle parked on the sidewalk.
To report an abandoned vehicle, call the police department’s neighborhood services unit at 215-685-9500. Callers must have the exact location and make, model and license plate number of the vehicle.
• State Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.) invited the community to attend a meeting about housing issues on Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m. at Frankford Group Ministry, at 4620 Griscom St.
Payton also said he and City Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez (D-7th dist.) will meet with Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey about safety issues on April 10 at the Historical Society of Frankford.
Payton believes the House Education Committee would approve his bill that would provide full scholarships to any of the 14 state universities for any student who has a 3.0 grade point average and 90 percent attendance rate. Eligible students who attend another school in Pennsylvania would receive the roughly $6,500 a year it costs to attend a state university.
Payton said the measure would cost about $87 million a year, and he’s hoping Gov. Ed Rendell will include it in the final budget.
This week, Payton planned to introduce a bill that would bring the Pennsylvania National Guard solely under the jurisdiction of Rendell. The Guard has been serving in Iraq, and the legislator hopes Rendell would order the troops home.
• Howell thanked Payton for letting the group use his office to make photocopies and for other purposes.
The civic association president said the group has a good working relationship with Payton, Taylor, Quinones-Sanchez and Councilman Darrell Clarke.
As president, Howell said he will represent the entire neighborhood. He claimed Menkevich focused mostly on the areas covered by a deed restriction that permits only single family homes.
One of his specific goals is to clean up the decaying Greenwood Cemetery.
Howell is resisting calls from his wife to move to Glenside.
"I love Northwood," he said.
• Northwood Civic Association’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, at 7 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street. ••