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The "Main Street" of West Philly was once the place to be. Now, it's the place to be -- if you want to get shot or hassled by drug dealers.
If this sounds bleak and dramatic, well, that's because it is. Like so many other once-thriving sections of our city, 52nd and Market is a hotbed for drug activity during the day and brutal violence at night. The uptick in shootings and homicides over the past three months prompted a trusted police source to reach out with a dire declaration: "This is the worst corner in the city."
So, for kicks, I trudged out to the intersection on Monday -- a photographer and a detective in tow. (Three's a crowd, eh?) I remember spending a lot of time out at 52nd and Market a few summers ago, when Latoyia Figueroa disappeared. Maybe it was naivete on my part, but I always felt comfortable out there, whether I was at an impromptu press conference under the El or checking in with the latest batch of people handing out multi-colored "Missing" flyers.
Though it's safe to say that area has been less than safe over the past several decades -- and a good dozen or so emails from long-time residents today back that up 100 percent -- I was surprised at how much worse everything looked out there this week.
The infamous Corral bar, a nuisance spot that's earned the hatred of the Police Department and a spot on the cover of today's Daily News, was bustling at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. A handful of middle-aged drunks stumbled out of the tiny run-down watering hole when we pulled up. The next wave -- a crew of five or six loud and aggressive twentysomethings -- eagerly piled in.
A toothless woman clutching a coffee cup of spare change babbled out load as we paused to look at the bar. "Don't you take my mother f---in' picture!" Don't worry, doll, I thought. We won't waste a single frame.
We headed east on Market, past a huge wireless cell phone store, and then north on 52nd Street. A kid in a gray hoodie with red stripes sat on a bicycle outside a small Chinese takeout shop. He made a quick drug transaction in full-view -- he handed over a small bag and palmed a couple of bills in his right hand. His head snapped back when he sensed we were behind him. His blood-shot eyes bulged as he looked at the cop, who had a radio in hand. He sped off on his rink-a-dink bike, and didn't look back once.
We strolled up and down rotted-out side streets that routinely witness more than a fair share of late-night bar fights that ultimately end in gunshots. The neighborhood looks like little more than a shell that doubles as a staging area for thugs and punks living out their short-sighted dreams.
The saddest part of all, though, is probably how a handful of local officials reacted to my interest in doing a story on this troubled section of the city. L&I officials, who pledged to almost immediately return my calls on Monday, never did. I had a simple question for them -- how could the Corral bar, which has seen a homicide, numerous shootings and drug arrests inside and outside the establishment, still be open for business? They answered with silence.
Police officials were equally skittish. 52nd and Market is bordered by three police districts, though it seems painfully clear that there are no steady foot patrols out there. No one seemed to want to respond to other simple questions -- like, "Are there any patrols out here?" and "Why wouldn't there be steady patrols out here?" -- although I have to give credit to Capt. Michael Sinclair, the head of Southwest Detectives, who did take time to share his views on the area.
Most of the local business owners I talked to blamed SEPTA for the state of things out there. That on-going reconstruction of the El, they said, has continually driven away business and attracted criminals. "I've seen the destruction and deterioration of the neighborhood," said Pamela Williams, who for 20 years operated the Market Hall Bingo before being forced to close last month. "And it came as a result of the El reconstruction. It caused a decline in clientel, and it brought in a different status of people to the neighborhood."
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell heaped additional blame on SEPTA, though as a leading member of City Council, I can't say that I've heard her push to have the local nuisance bars shuttered. SEPTA, of course, scoffed at playing any role in the decline of businesses or quality of life. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
So what's the answer? Is there an answer? Damned if I know. Maybe someone at PhillyBlog can figure it out.
Comments (25)
Change of scenery,
I lived in SW & West Philly until my departure when I left to go in the military about 23 years ago. At that time, I saw that the city didn't have too much to offer. Although my family still lives there I often wonder what my life would be like if I had stayed?
Who do you fault for the madness that is going on at home? Honestly, it begins with my generation of African-American men that didn't think they needed to raise the children they made and the women who thought that sleeping with a man would make him commit to her. We are seeing the results of this madness as another generation is doing the same damn thing!
Outside of Philly there is life! I decided that since Philly was not going to change I was going to make that change in myself. I have lived in the past few years in Connecticut, Arizona, Texas and Georgia and now in a suburb outside of Nashville, TN and although we have a fair share of crime and drama down here it is mostly isolated. You can live and not have to worry too much about some of the things you see in Philly.
I disappointed my family some years ago when I decided that I was not going to ever move back home and yet they understood that I wanted something different out of life. If I ever had to move back home I would move so far in the suburbs of city that I still wouldn't be home as much.
Philly has so much to offer and yet crime and the stupidity of those who commit it will allow more people to leave the area because what is going on up there is not living, but existing!
Posted by Anthony Ravenell | April 14, 2007 8:14 AM
Posted on April 14, 2007 08:14
I agree with the previous email - Please Black people, STOP BLAMING OTHERS FOR OUR MISFORTUNES!!! - IF I COULD AFFORD TO LEAVE I WOULD HIGH TAIL IT TO THE SUBURBS IN A HEART BEAT, I DID NOT GROW UP IN THIS BAFOONESS, DON'T HAVE TO TOLERATE IT AND I'M NOT EITHER.
POLITICIANS, - ALL THESE YOUNG WANNABE THUGS? DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIVES? EMPTY OUT THE JAILS AND PRISON AND SEND THEM TO IRAQ
Posted by Kimberly Lucas | April 14, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on April 14, 2007 13:03
I dont know why every night i turn on the news and see ''city in crisis''i live in the suburbs media p.a.To us this is by no means nothing new.every one in the burbs hates philthadelphia,its expensive its dirty and dangerous,why you would want to pay to live in the high car and property tax is beyond me.And the politicians all they say is more police.to break the back of the taxpayers,did they ever think that its the communities fault and not the police thy want a cop and a camera on every corner to babysit they never really get down to the core of the issue.phoenix is booming now with a population of 1000 more people than us with half the police force.Philth adelphia will never change.We have ajoke when someone wins somethin in our office,the first prize winner gets to spend a week in philadelphia 2nd prize is two weeks in philly.
Posted by john | April 14, 2007 3:47 PM
Posted on April 14, 2007 15:47
i attended west philadelphia high school in the 1970's. after i graduated from providence college in 1978. i returned home to philadelphia expecting to secure a position(job). I did not realize at the time it was who you knew" despite one's education. i now reside in phoenix, arizona where oppertunitied abound and our quality of life is far superior to philadelphia and very afforable. philadelphia has no jobs for these young people educated or not. my advise to the parents of young african- american men and women.GET YOU CHILDERN THE HELL OUT OF PHILADELPHIA AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE OF A BETTER LIFE. SAL IN THE ARIZONA DESERT
Posted by sal from the desret | April 16, 2007 5:22 PM
Posted on April 16, 2007 17:22
I find all of the above comments very interesting. I am a young African-American woman raised in Philly's suburbs my whole life, sent to an HBCU out of state, and returned home to seek employment in Center City. I was very successfull at finding a job that matched my education, so I can't say that I agree with the man that said Philadelphia doesn't have jobs for young African-Americans regardless of education. I do agree with the fact that if you don't have any education jobs are scarce.
The crime on the streets of Philadelphia is an issue that has both my parents and myself uneasy. I made the decision to cut my commute by moving from the suburbs into the city. Now I am a virtual prisoner in my own place after a certain time at night. I don't feel safe just going around to a corner store to pick up cigarettes after 6:00 pm. For these reasons, my parents would like me to move back to suburbia where things are safer.
I feel like that shouldn't be the only option for safety. The city needs to be safer and cleaner. The Local government must do something to stop the cycle of violence. I am afraid not only of the grown men that litter the streets but also of the pre-teens that have no direction or hope. Something needs to be done at an elementary level to show these children that they deserve something better. That they don't have to live in dirt, flith, and crime just because they come from low income households.
If the city doesn't take the initiative, the cycle will continue. Those youths that are our future, who manage to overcome the setbacks of their atmosphere and become successfull professionals, will leave our city just like the man that commented above. These departures will continuously drain Philadelphia of it's best resources, those who know the city the best, and leave behind the ones who are obviously struggling to find their way.
Posted by Kimberly | April 17, 2007 12:14 PM
Posted on April 17, 2007 12:14
I moved away from Philly 12 years ago, so that my son who was in hIgh school at West Phila High could get a better education. I was proud at first that he was attending my old alma mata. But so much had changed and I needed to get him out of there. We moved to North Carolina where he was able to play sports and attend college. I am so sickened and saddened for that school. Yes some of the people here are still in the dark ages (racist), but the quality of life is much better. When I get the urge for a cheesesteak or hoagie I sneak back up there for a few days and get out. My mom, sister and several other family members still live there, and I wish they would come with me just to be safer, but as we now know, no place is completely safe. I lived on 46th st. near market most of my life. Remember Sally Starr and Bandstand just across the street. What has happened to my beloved Philly?
Posted by Jacquie | April 17, 2007 7:29 PM
Posted on April 17, 2007 19:29
Great comments all around, folks. I've heard from a lot of people who miss their old neighborhood but couldn't stand another day of living in fear of being shot or robbed. It's sad that so many people share those same thoughts or have had similar experiences.
A follow-up story on 52nd and Market has already been planned to see if any changes have been made. Certainly, it will be interesting to see if L&I actually has a response to the Corral Bar this time. I think I've given them enough of a heads-up, don't you?
Posted by david | April 17, 2007 8:32 PM
Posted on April 17, 2007 20:32
Why is it that Philly has so many murders, compared to NYC? NYC has taxes just as high or higher, population density is higher, it also has a mix of rich & poor neighborhoods, and yet it has like only 25% the number of murders per capita as Philly.
Why hasn't any politicians, press, social scientists, etc, come up with a credible answer to that question? I was in school in NYC during the 80s and lived and worked there between 1994 and 2006. I remember what NYC was like during the 2000+ murder years, people lived in fear just like in Philly now. I remember Times Sq. before Disney got there. I remember being on an uptown 6 train while somebody got shot 2 cars down as it rolled thru 103rd St. It was just as bad, and it got so much better, and there have to be reasons for that.
My theory? Philly needs more cops, more COMPSTAT, more prisons, and more plungers. Just like NYC got after Dinkins was defeated.
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Hello,I grew up in northphilly in the gangwars years of the early 70,s.My mother raised up four boys&1girl in a two bedroom apartment,we are all middle age adults now.This problem with our youth started when some so call smart person said it was wrong to give our kids a real whupping(if your middle age you know what I mean).That what kept every child I grew up with on a productive path,some went off that path when they got grown,but they always had respect for their elders.This new generation missed out on some of life whuppings(not time outs or spankings you see how much children learned from that project).I live in Williamsburg Va. I still love philly but I think the city needs a Frank Rizzo like mayor to change my home town some people will not like it but do they what a city like the movie escape from New York.
Posted by charlie (wine) north philly | October 19, 2007 3:32 PM
Posted on October 19, 2007 15:32
Hello,I grew up in northphilly in the gangwars years of the early 70,s.My mother raised up four boys&1girl in a two bedroom apartment,we are all middle age adults now.This problem with our youth started when some so call smart person said it was wrong to give our kids a real whupping(if your middle age you know what I mean).That what kept every child I grew up with on a productive path,some went off that path when they got grown,but they always had respect for their elders.This new generation missed out on some of life whuppings(not time outs or spankings you see how much children learned from that project).I live in Williamsburg Va. I still love philly but I think the city needs a Frank Rizzo like mayor to change my home town some people will not like it but do they what a city like the movie escape from New York.
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