UCD and its special interest partners — including Penn, a few large housing providers with close ties to and property management contracts with the University, condo and luxury apartment developers, and Realtors — are proposing a broad program aimed at changing the face of West Philadelphia from Spring Garden, Powelton, and Market south to Woodland and from the Schuykill River west to 50th. They're promoting it as merely a means of hiring additional people for litter and security patrols. But the real goal is to redevelop the area according to a vision of an urban environment that many of us do not share. And that many of us will not be able to afford if becomes a reality.

Adding insult to injury:

• They want to make us pay for it through a mandatory surcharge on real estate taxes; this will hit property owners directly and will be passed on to renters through lease increases.
• They're proposing what amounts to an unelected level of government between the people and City Hall, in which decisions will be made by insiders with virtually no input from those it will affect and little or no accountability for how, how much, and where our money is spent.

The first line of defense in preserving the diverse urban community we call home, is through our District City Council Member, Jannie Blackwell. UCD and its supporters have been flooding her office with letters. The link below will make it easy for you to give the Councilwoman your thumbs down on this this takeover. When you get to the link, fill out the form then click on "submit." Your opposition will be registered by means of an email message directly to Mrs Blackwell.

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