President’s Letter

Advocating for Our Neighborhood

By Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA President

Dear Neighbors,

As we usher in the summer season, many welcome the city’s relaxed restrictions, due to the drop in reported COVID-19 cases. The mask mandate no longer applies to fully vaccinated persons, and that means many are taking pleasure in recognizing neighbors on the street without playing “who’s behind that mask?”

Once again, seasonal temperatures bring visitors and tourists to the South Street Headhouse District. It is a welcome sight to see businesses and restaurants thriving after the grueling “safer at home” mandate, but the noise pollution and safety issues around throngs of ATVs, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and slingshots require constant vigilance.

In May, QVNA was proud to sponsor a citywide emergency Zoom Town Hall with city leaders to demonstrate the need for vigilance and action. Shortly after, Councilman Allan Domb sponsored legislation, supported by Councilman Mark Squilla and Councilman Derek Green, tightening city code to designate dirt bikes as illegal as ATVs on city streets. On June 9, a follow-up Town Hall kept the pressure on city leaders. Since then, the legislation has been passed, effective immediately, and illegal wheels details have been upped.

Meanwhile, QVNA continues to advocate for neighbors by providing the nuisance reporting tool for alcohol-licensed businesses. It has been a very effective tool in keeping police, politicians, Liquor Control Enforcement, and License and Inspections abreast of neighborhood problems—simultaneously. We have also been holding meetings to give neighbors the opportunity to participate in the process when renewing licenses for various businesses in the commercial district.

Balancing out the advocacy for quality-of-life issues, QVNA continues to support the neighbors dedicated to our pocket-park network and, this spring, organized a hugely successful electronic recycling event at Weccacoe Playground for Earth Day.

The spring grant cycle awarded two grants—one to the Friends of Mario Lanza Park, which saw a lot of love during the pandemic restrictions in the form of increased foot traffic and safedistance activities. The Friends there plan to rehabilitate the much-used north and south lawns.

The second grant went to South Philly Acoustic Jam (SPAJ) to help fund indoor space for neighborhood musicians to practice, reconnect, and, of course, jam. SPAJ holds free concerts and jazz sessions at Gloria Dei several times a year as well. Look for announcements so you can enjoy the music or jump in on the jam.

In the fall, QVNA will continue holding Community Meetings (third Wednesday of each month). The success of sharing information and taking feedback via Zoom has been one of the silver linings of pandemic adaptation.

If you are interested in Board service, the annual QVNA elections take place in November. To find out more about Board service, contact info@qvna.org.

Lastly, a goal for this winter will be to resume the QVNA Neighbors Celebrating Neighbors Holiday Party. It will be our first in-person community gathering since December 2019. We will be scouting a spot for neighbors to mingle safely, so we can all enjoy each other’s good company again.

As we all develop a new normal during these warm months, keep an eye out for the newsletter to find out what new developments, gatherings, and fun is unfolding in the neighborhood.

Be well,