Just want to clarify. I did write the following, but I think it was unfair:
"Personally, I do believe that the institutional forces in this neighborhood had something to do with L&I's decision-making, without pointing fingers at people I don't know." I got carried away with my passionate support for the business in question. Mainly, my point is that it is a good thing this neighborhood is getting noticed, and I would believe that, big picture, the fact that the neighborhood is getting noticed helps bring attention to things like code violations -- without comment on how they might be enforced or who brings what to whose attention. But I have no belief of any conspiracy theory about "institutions" intending any harm in this instance. I feel it is important to clarify this because I actually do know most of the people working with neighborhood institutions around here. I was a student at Penn when many of the beloved food trucks were chased away (I saw Tony the Pretzel vendor get arrested by the police for selling pretzels in front of the Quad, and I've never had such a great pretzel since), and I've been around to see businesses turn over, often for the positive. And now Baltimore Avenue and Lancaster Avenue are in the spotlight and things will change once again. Hopefully we can all maintain good communication between the government and non-government players involved and the community while it happens. --- Jonathan Herrmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 14:26:10 -0700 (PDT) > From: Jonathan Herrmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Dahlak/ University City > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > I just want to add that Dahlak was probably the most > high profile restaurant (Best of Philly, lots of > press > regionally) on Baltimore Avenue and the most > important > community retailer on that block for at least the > seven years I've been here (from my perspective). > Only > recently has there been an increase in other > "ethnic" > or trendy restaurants in that immediate area that > cater to many of the new University City residents > that have moved in during the last five years (me > included). > > It was a moment of great pride for him and many of > us > young folk (not in college, but young) when he > opened > a bar that catered to one of the most diverse > clientele I've seen. How many bars do you go to > where > African nationals, Penn students, African-Americans, > young professionals, and West Philly anarchists all > drink from the same tap? Only Dahlak, and maybe > Gojjo. > > I just heard on this list serve that part of it was > closed down. Personally, I do believe that the > institutional forces in this neighborhood had > something to do with L&I's decision-making, without > pointing fingers at people I don't know. > > I hope that as a community we can support the > businesses that were pioneers on the blocks that now > give us high real estate values. Dahlak is just one > of > them. But, assuming he runs a good business, he > should > benefit more than anyone being one of the early > people > to cater to the diverse community in West Philly. So > we should work to make sure he doesn't get shafted > by > L&I. > > It's the same thing with Vientienne Cafe -- that guy > used to run an unlicensed restaurant on 45th and > Sansom that we all patronized, and now he runs a > legitimate restaurant on our corner. It's the story > of > an immigrant who fell in love with this neighborhood > and community and is now a part of it. If there > really > are code violations at Dahlak, I hope we can show > Mr. > Solomon the support to set things straight. I know > I'll stop by there soon to say hello and see what I > can do. > > Thanks, > Jon > > > --- R a y m o n d R o r k e <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > Dubin, Elisabeth wrote: > > > > > I've defended Eli more than once on this list, > and > > even though I don't know what he's been up to with > > regards to "cracking down" on Baltimore > businesses, > > I'd bet that there is more to that story than was > > conveyed in that article. I think Eli gets blamed > > too much for everything under the sun, which just > > goes to show that once you are in a position like > > his, you are really up for scrutiny and it's hard > to > > please people. > > > > > > > > wait what position is eli in? is it an elected > one? > > or one he put himself into? or what? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ---- > > You are receiving this because you are subscribed > to > > the > > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for > archive > > information, see > > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. > > > ===== > Jon Herrmann > > c/o West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance > 4949 Walnut Street, Apt 3 > Philadelphia, PA 19139 > 267-307-2446 > > General Manager > Campus Philly > 215-746-4759 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site > design software > http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com > ===== Jon Herrmann c/o West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance 4949 Walnut Street, Apt 3 Philadelphia, PA 19139 267-307-2446 General Manager Campus Philly 215-746-4759 [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
