Do Gun Buybacks Work?

In the past couple weeks, three people randomly talked to me about three different aspects of gun buyback programs. Because of them, they got me to thinking about gun buyback programs more than I should. So, I thought I’d solicit your thoughts.

The first person is concerned about crime fighting in Chester and believed there should be more gun buyback events. 

The second person considers guy buyback programs a hoax that does little to get guns off the street that are used in crimes.

The third person wonders what happens to the guns that are collected.

Harrah's Fined $12,000

Click HERE for more

Chester Noticeable Citizens

Avery Sunshine

Finance, Photography, and Support for Family and Friends at Crozer Library

The J. Lewis Crozer Library in Chester invites you to join us for upcoming free programs at the library. Please register for all programs by calling Kim at (610) 494-3454, x204 or emailing crozerlibrary@gmail.com.

Selena Ricks will lead a Credit Repair Seminar and Workshop on Saturday, March 23rd from 10:00 – 11:30a.m. Are you ready to open the doors to a real credit worthy future? Are you thinking about buying a home? Are you fed up with debt and bill collectors? Are you looking to stop living paycheck to paycheck? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then don’t miss this highly informative seminar where you can find out how to change your future in the next 90 days!

Student Art Show

At the “Raw Gallery Space,” run by Art on the Avenue of the States at 504 Avenue of the States, located in downtown Chester.

Attention parents and art teachers: Hurry, there is still time to submit your student’s art work to this artists co-op.

Entry to the art show is free and prizes will be awarded. All grades in elementary and high school are eligible. We will accept all forms of two dimensional art including photography.

Please choose your best art students work and deliver it to 504 Avenue of the States in Chester, PA on Saturday March 16 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. (Parents may also bring individual work on Saturday.) If you need to make other arrangements, contact Linda Braceland.

Harcum College in Chester

Free program removes lead-based paint from homes

Edward T. Coleman, Chief Executive Officer, announced that the Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc. (CAADC) is now accepting applications for the Lead Hazard Control Program.  This free program typically provides new windows and doors to replace older ones that contain lead paint.  Many homes built before 1978 have lead paint, which can cause a wide range of negative health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, in children under six years old.    

CAADC’s program is designed to remove lead-based paint hazards from the homes of income-eligible families with children under the age of six.  The Agency can spend up to $5,000 per house and all services are free pending proof of eligibility.  Applicants must be a homeowner (renters are not eligible at this time) and be a resident of Delaware County except residents in Upper Darby, Haverford, or Chester.  

Services typically include replacing doors and windows, installing new drywall, replacing trim and moldings, etc.  Please call Community Action Agency at (610) 891-5101 for an application and more information.  

Maximum income guidelines include:

One Person     $ 45,500 

Two Persons       52,000 

Three Persons       58,500 

Four Persons       65,000 

Five Persons       70,200 

Six Persons       75,400 

Seven Persons       80,600 

Eight Persons       85,800

Chester renaissance is on hold?

Today’s headline reads, ‘69th Street: Economic renaissance is proof of dreams do come true’.

It wasn’t too long ago that folks were talking about a Chester renaissance. For some reason, nobody is fixin’ their mouth to say that word any more. This may be why our recent survey found 60% of folks finding Chester more trifling than Upper Darby. 

Here are some of the great lines in this story along with my quirky retorts:

The struggles that any mayor has in this economy is that you have to make sure the businesses will come...As the great lyricist James Brown exclaims, “Saying it and doing it are just two different things. There just as much difference in it as night and day.”

The amount of construction jobs ... plus the amount of permanent retail jobs is going to have a huge impact...Build it and they will work. 

...what is so attractive about the area is its density, adding that it is one of the densest areas in the country in a two to three-mile radius.
Chester is fast becoming a home on the range. Open space is taking over the city. It’s nice to see blight removed but along with it goes our attractive density.

 There are so many diverging cultures in there... Chester has no diversity of culture. We’re 75% black, 15% white, and 10% hispanic. 

...there is a renewed interest in the older town centers like 69th Street, Lansdowne and Media. Wow. Chester’s downtown isn’t even considered a town center anymore.

People are kind of getting back to that hometown feel,” Charlton said. “It’s great. People want to be in a town center. They want to be in a community. By their human nature, they want to be close to other people. They don’t want to be alone.” He said these communities allow people to literally walk out of their door and visit nearby restaurants and theaters. The only people who live close to each other live in public housing and unless there is a Chinese take-out or hoagie shop nearby, that’s as close to a restaurant you’ll find. Netflix is our nearest theater. 

Lloyd Street Bridge update

I've been trying to tell y'all that the Lloyd Street bridge will not be fixed in the foreseeable future. Thankfully, the Daily Times has confirmed it, and whatever they print is gospel. My stuff is just rumors. 

The one point they do raise is that the city is only responsible for only 5% of the costs - far less than what was originally mentioned, probably thanks to the Obama money that is causing infrastructure improvements all over the country. 

My guess is that will cost the city between a quarter and half a million dollars.

As the Daily Times states:

...there’s one thing you can be 100 percent sure about: The Lloyd Street Bridge won’t be open anytime soon.

Blacks in Technology Celebrates the Contribution of African-American Tech Leaders

“This whole thing has been great. Great to see all of these smart, wonderful, and talented African Americans coming together to help highlight our contribution to the conversation around technology,” said Xina Eiland, owner and blogger at Eiland Group.

Austin, Texas is one of my favorite cities and 'South By Southwest' has been on my bucket list for too long.

Click HERE for more

Do Computer Labs create entrepreneurs?

There is nothing more ambiguous than the term, Computer Lab.

Normally, the term implies a room full of personal computers. Generally, they all have internet access, a popular bundle of programs for word processing, spread sheets, and presentations. There’s usually a shared printer.

Often, you see sessions conducted that teach people computers. What exactly does that mean?

Usually, people come to the computer lab, sit in front of a PC, and there is someone in front of the room teaching them how to operate the computer, do internet searches, and basic use of the standard software.

When the sessions are complete, the students are on their way to using the PC as a tool for entertainment, education, productivity, research, outreach, or career building.

When the computers are not used for classes, they should become available for public use, but that’s usually not the case. 

Happy Birthday Chester City Blog

Still a baby, but growing fast, the Chester City Blog turns 3 years old this weekend.

I asked a friend what 3 big events happens when a child turns 3. 

1. They start copying everyone, especially if they have older siblings.
2. They start talking in a manner that most people can understand (although their parents understand everything).
3. They come out of the terrible 2s and stop acting like a baby.

How does this relate to the Chester City Blog?

1. Based on the increased readership, I expect to update the blog design and copy elements from other blogs in a new functional format. 
2. I expect to add a lot more video post which aids people to better understand topics that don’t convey well in the written word.
3. With new function comes more work which justifies getting paid. Can’t baby this blog with free content much longer. Gotta stop acting like a baby and seek advertisers, sponsors, and donations. 

Three years ago, I was so naive, I thought a blogger was a black-logger. Now, we’re ranked very high on the Internet search engines, especially when you search on anything Chester. Crime, politics, race, and basketball continues to generate the most traffic. Mr. and Mrs. Anonymous still provides more comments than anyone else. 

As we trudge through our terrific 3s, what would you like to see?

SURVEY: Which town is more trifling?

44 votes

Chester 59%

Upper Darby 40%

To all you Chester people who voted Chester more trifling than Upper Darby, please pack you things and move to 69th Street immediately.

Every time I speak with Daily Times editor Phil Heron, I thank him for convincing readers that Upper Darby is more crime ridden than Chester. Upper Darby crime stories outnumber Chester crime stories by a landslide. And they have all kinds of crazy crime. 

Yet, survey says 6 out of 10 people vote Chester as more trifling than Upper Darby 

Maybe it’s because Chester doesn’t have a bustling business district like 69th Street. Or maybe the shows at Harrah’s aren’t as good as the ones at the Tower Theater. Or maybe the movie theater in Upper Darby is the only place to see the black movies that get kicked out of all the other theaters after the first week. Or maybe the 69th Street terminal provides better transportation than the Chester Transportation Center. Or maybe Upper Darby beauty schools hold more weight than Widener University. 

Or maybe Upper Darby’s police superintendent Michael Chitwood fights crime better than Chester’s police commissioner Joseph Bail. 

Or maybe it has something to do with the demographics.

• Upper Darby has 41,000 people versus Chester with 35,000. 
• Upper Darby has 18,000 blacks, 12,000 whites, 8,000 asians, 3,000 hispanics, and a significant smattering of Indians, Africans, and others.
• Chester has 26,000 blacks, 6,000 whites, 3,000 hispanics, and that’s about it. 
• Average income per household in Upper Darby is $41,000 vs $28,000 in Chester. The average home value in Upper Darby is $127,000 vs $71,000 in Chester. 
• Both Chester and Upper Darby have failing schools. 
• Upper Darby is land locked. Chester has a river, a railroad, an interstate highway, and a bridge to the shore. Both Upper Darby and Chester have easy access to the airport. 

Please share what influenced you to vote the way you did. 

Mayor Linder is lying about an Entrepreneurial Community

Who remembers this video from May 12, 2012?

Mayor John Linder is not being honest when he claims the theme for Chester is an Entrepreneurial Community. 

The overwhelming evidence of this fact is from a rumor I heard today stating that he has allowed CEDA to stop contributing to Entrepreneur Works (formerly Chester Microenterprise).

Micro enterprises are to small business development as public housing is to home ownership. 

African and Asia have used the Micro Enterprise business model to assist people with no access to capital and given them the ability to obtain very small loans to start their business. 

Micro Enterprise organization are very rare in America. Chester has been fortunate to have been host to one for over 13 years through Entrepreneur Works partially financed with funding support from CEDA. 

Hundreds of people have attended the 7-week Entrepreneur Works business classes learning the critical components of what it takes to start a small business. No one teaches this stuff. You may find a seminar here or there, but a complete course on starting small businesses are extremely rare. I won’t even mention the ridiculously low tuition.

Chester City Council getting sloppy with the Randolphs

The latest saga in sloppy city politics isn’t even over money, but over volunteer services for the youth.

According to the Chester/Community Spirit, allegedly a city employee telephoned sisters Shakuwra and Shakirah Randolph telling them their volunteer services would no longer be needed. 

The sisters brought the issue up in a recent City Council meeting asking why their program must stop, and here’s where the sloppiness begins.

• Council-Lady Williams said it wasn’t her doing. 
• Council-Lady West said those decisions are made by the mayor and Council. 
• Councilman Nichols said an official decision to terminate their services could not have possibly been made. 
• Even the solicitor got in on it saying the Randolphs would have to officially apply for the non-paid, volunteer position to follow protocol. 
• Then, Councilman Nichols said that if that paperwork can be produced, it will be up to Council lady Williams to determine the final outcome.

So, I think we’re at the point where we’re trying to determine if the Randolph sisters officially applied to volunteer their youth program to the city a couple years ago. If not, they’ve been volunteering illegally. God forbid.

They’ve been asked to produce the paperwork to prove they applied. Or, maybe they didn’t apply and must apply now for the first time. 

I imagine the city does not keep these applications on file and it’s up to the volunteer organization to produce the application paperwork. (I hope that’s not the case).

Finally, if the paperwork is found or if they do have to apply, Council Lady Williams will review it and the mayor and council will make a final decision.

Isn’t the city proceeding like the program is canceled? But didn’t they also say that no one had the right to call - no one was instructed to call - in fact, they don’t even know who called? 

Somebody help me understand if you can.

Oh, by the way, the Randolph sister’s mother has been allegedly dropped by the city, too. She does catering, and in the same article she says she was told her services were no longer needed after she performed her last gig for them. Seems like it’s not a good month to be a Randolph. 

Even Philly is talking about living with White Folks

This upcoming edition of Philadelphia Magazine confirms that race is a hot topic. I guess I started a trend. 

Click HERE for Chester's version

Bridge work is no small task

from Daily Times March 4, 2013

Last month, I received a call asking me how long the Concord Road bridge would be out of commission. At that time, I didn’t know it was being worked on. 

A nice article in today’s Daily Times offers some explanation why so much bridge work is going on around here and who is responsible for the maintenance of the those bridges.

As I mentioned earlier, I knew the 7th Street bridge was on the docket to be worked on (2014) but the Concord Road bridge work caught me by surprise. Seems as though it caught everyone by surprise. You would have thought someone around town knew it was coming up and could have provided some notice. Who's in charge of the streets around here?

For those of you concerned about the Lloyd Street bridge, that’s considered municipally maintained and it is conspicuously missing from the list. So, don’t expect it to be worked on any time soon. 

Click HERE for more

U of P, Villanova, Penn State, Lehigh at PPL Park Saturday for Lacrosse

PPL Park is excited to host the Whitman’s^® Sampler^® Independence Classic on Saturday, March 9, 2013. The Independence Classic will present a triple-header as six university lacrosse teams compete throughout the day. Four of the six participating schools hail from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This all-day event is one that any lacrosse fans can enjoy. Tickets for the 2013 edition of the Whitman’s^® Sampler^®Independence Classic are available here.

2013 Whitman’s^® Sampler^® Independence Classic (PPL Park; March 9)

• Game No. 1 – St. John’s vs. Syracuse (noon)
• Game No. 2 – Penn vs. Villanova (2:30 p.m.)
• Game No. 3 – Penn State vs. Lehigh (5 p.m.)

Ticket Prices

• Stadium Club Access & Seating: $45
• Midfield Seating: $35
• Sideline Seating: $25
• Groups of 10 or more: $20

• Groups of 100 or more: $15

• Advanced Parking Purchase: $15

**No shuttle will be provided for this event

Click HERE for more

Widener to Host Stargazing Night for Teachers March 12

The Widener University Observatory invites area teachers through the secondary level to a special stargazing session using the observatory’s 16-inch computerized reflecting telescope. Open to the first 20 teachers who register, the session will take place Tuesday, March 12 from 7 to 8 p.m., weather permitting.

Interested teachers can register by calling 610-499-4003 or e-mailing tasminkey@widener.edu. This free session is designed to give teachers an up-close look at the moon, planets and stars so that they can later share their experience with students. Widener astronomy professors and students will be on hand to guide participants on a tour of the night sky.

The Widener University Observatory is located on the 5^th floor of Kirkbride Hall on 17^th and Walnut Streets in Chester, Pa.

Widener SBDC Offers Small Business Seminar on Marketing to the Government

Learn how to get your foot in the door to do business with the government at a seminar sponsored by the Widener University Small Business Development Center on Tuesday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Widener SBDC, 1350 Edgmont Ave., Chester, Pa.

At this introductory seminar, you will learn the requirements for marketing to government entities at the federal, state and local levels. You will also learn effective marketing strategies for selling to these entities and discover sources to help you uncover opportunities to work with the government. Individuals operating businesses for more than one year with commercial or government sales will benefit most from this seminar.

The cost of the seminar is $25. Call 610-619-8490 to reserve a space or visit www.widenersbdc.org.

The Widener University Small Business Development Center, made possible through funding provided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, provides Delaware County small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with a wide variety of services and resources to help them start or grow small businesses. For more information, visit the Widener SBDC website at www.widenersbdc.org.  

YMCA Chester Summer Camp Meeting on March 5th

SBDC to Hold Seminar on Starting a Business

Turn your dreams of owning a business into reality. Learn the first steps at a seminar sponsored by the Widener University Small Business Development Center on Wednesday, March 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Widener SBDC, 1350 Edgmont Ave, Chester, Pa.

The First Step seminar will cover the building blocks of successful business ownership. The workshop will help budding entrepreneurs evaluate business ideas, develop a business plan, select a legal structure, register their business and explore financing options. This session is a prerequisite for all SBDC clients looking to start a new business.

The cost is $25, but the seminar is free for veterans. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Call 610-619-8490 to reserve a space or visit www.widenersbdc.org. 

The Widener University Small Business Development Center, made possible through funding provided by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, provides Delaware County small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with a wide variety of services and resources to help them start or grow small businesses. For more information, visit the Widener SBDC website at www.widenersbdc.org.

The Widener SBDC is one of 18 Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania and is an accredited affiliate of the national network of Small Business Development Centers. Funding support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the SBDC host institutions enables consulting services to be provided at no charge to the client. For more information on the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers' services and impact, visit www.pasbdc.org.

Chester receives DollarWise grant for youth

Hon. Mayor John A. Linder and the Chester City Workforce Development Center will host a press conference on Tuesday, March 5th 2013 at 9:30AM inside Chester City Hall Council Chambers to announce Chester City as one of the 2013 DollarWise Grant Award recipients.  Mayor Linder represented the City of Chester during the 81st US Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting this past January in Washington, DC, where he accepted the annual DollarWise Summer Youth Campaign award grant courtesy of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Chester is among five cities awarded in addition to Wichita, St. Louis, Kokomo, and Richmond. This grant will be used to support the financial literacy component of Chester's summer youth program, the Chester City Employer Paid Internship program.

Mr. James Kirby will be on hand to represent the DollarWise Campaign for the US Conference of Mayors and present the award to Mayor Linder on behalf of the city. Mayor Linder stated, "It is a tremendous honor and the outstanding accomplishment of our Workforce Development Center that make possible this financial education for our city's youth. Thanks to the generosity of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and the distinguished network and commitment of public servants inside the US Conference of Mayors, we can empower our students to secure the financial futures of our grandkids and every generation thereafter.”  All media are welcomed to attend and partake in light refreshments. 

Please call Robert Wrease, Chester City Workforce Development Coordinator for additional DollarWise Campaign information at 610.447.7793 or visit the US Conference of Mayors link below.

http://www.usmayors.org/usmayornewspaper/documents/01_28_13/pg12_dollarwise.asp

Chester Summer Internships

Male Achievers Program March 16

MARK YOUR 2013 CALENDARS NOW!!!

&

Get Your Boys Ages 12-17

 Ready 

FOR THE NEXT 

City of Chester & Delaware County

MALE ACHIEVERS PROGRAM

SATURDAY

MARCH 16, 2013

From 9am-1pm (FREE Lunch Included)

@The College Access Center of Delaware County

400 E. 21st Street

Chester, PA 19013

OTHER SPRING DATES:

  April 20th

May 11th

June 22nd

Fathers-Husbands-Uncles-Coaches-Teachers-Mentors-Adult Male Neighbors-Come Help Us Provide A Safe Place For Our Young Black & Latino Males to Learn, Engage, & Develop.

SPREAD THE WORD

Scholarship for Boys

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUR BOYS!!!!

The deadline is Friday March 8th

http://duboisscholars.org/apply-to-the-dubois-scholars-institute-today/

When did we stop wanting to live with white people?

How old do you have to be to remember that Chester used to have all white neighborhoods in several sections of the city? I guess it was the 70s when whites started haul-assing in bulk out of Chester, leaving us with the predominate black population we enjoy today. (Is enjoy a good word to use?)

Many around here seem to fear and resist the prospect of whites moving back into Chester, like it’s a bad thing. 

In the late 60s, early 70s, I lived in a black neighborhood but when I went to Crozer Park to play little league baseball, or to Smedley to play Biddy basketball, it was almost half & half - black to white. Whites ran the leagues but our dads were also very involved in what went on. Our teams were competitive, we travelled, we won, and we had a blast. 

Hell, one of the best basketball players I ever played with in those years was white, Donnie Dodds. He embarrassed opposing black players where ever we played: CYO, Biddy, and the playgrounds.  

I think my college prep classes at Chester High may have been some of the last where about half the students were white. Kevin Wright and I were on the Hi-Q team with a bunch of whites. Everyone got along fine. (Does Chester have a Hi-Q team anymore?)

Businesses were booming with Jewish and Italian merchants occupying almost every storefront in downtown Chester. I just missed the protest and race riot days, and too young to remember the segregation days that affected businesses and entertainment. I remember Chester as a decent place for the races to mingle just as long as you didn’t expect to move into certain neighborhoods where segregation was still going strong. 

So, what could be so bad if white people move back to Chester and help turn this city from the arm pit of Pennsylvania to a decent place to live again?

Hopefully your comments to this post will help me understand the fear factor. 

Philadelphia Union inspired by Chester High?

Have you seen the new jersey's the Philadelphia Union soccer team wore on opening day?

Tell me they weren't inspired by the Orange and Black of Chester High School.

Chester Republican’s endorse Sisters

Shakirah

Shakuwra

The Chester Republican’s announced their slate of candidates for the upcoming May primaries last night. For what may be a first in area politics, two sisters are among the endorsed candidates. 

Shakirah and Shakuwra Randolph will run for City Council and School Board respectively. 

On January 12, they were featured in the Daily Times for their Sisters Foundation, a grassroots organization designed to promote unity among young women and empower youth. They were each Chester High School class presidents in 2006 and 2007 and they are both college graduates. 

It’s exciting to see the local Republican’s embrace a newer, younger slate of candidates who have the ability to connect to the population of citizens who feel disconnected by the old ways of Chester politics. 

According to a recent Chester City Blog survey, folks aren’t too happy with the Linder administration. It will be exciting to see if the new Republican youth movement is the answer Chester is looking for.