Editorial for July 3, 2008 edition:

Get to know Frankford

There’s an old saying, "Philadelphia’s not as bad as Philadelphians say it is." Let’s narrow that down a bit. Frankford’s not as bad as Philadelphians say it is.
With crime serving as an occasional reminder that Frankford is not necessarily the safest place in which to live and/or work, it may appear to be pie in the sky to contend that Frankford may not be a lost cause just yet, and that maybe it’s not too far gone, it’s not a hopeless case.
Well, gentle readers, muggings, shootings and assaults are not the norm in Frankford, at least not yet, and they should not be allowed to overshadow the many good things in the neighborhood — the mix of historic homes, the mom-and-pop stores, the easy access to transportation, the longtime merchants, residents and community leaders who refuse to give up on a struggling yet viable hometown.
As noted in this week’s cover story, even the very existence of the Frankford El and the sound of its trains add character and a unique flavor to the Frankford Avenue business strip. The trains are loud, but somehow charming.
For many Northeast residents, using the Market-Frankford El to get to Center City adds a certain perspective, a dose of reality that they remain denizens of the big bad city. But as they get a pigeon’s-eye view of Frankford, El riders are bypassing a truly majestic part of town.
This long weekend, if you’re heading downtown to enjoy the Fourth of July hoopla, take the El, but before you climb the steps to get on board, take some time to enjoy a stroll through Frankford. You may be shocked to learn that it’s not as bad as you thought. ••

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