Parkwood Civic Association welcomed a representative from Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley’s office to talk about elections and focused on debris in the neighborhood.
The Parkwood Civic Association last week welcomed a representative from Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley’s office, heard from legislative Mike Doyle and talked about keeping the neighborhood clean.
The representative from Deeley’s office discussed various deadlines for voting-related issues and answered concerns about the safety on the voting machines that are used in Philadelphia. The last day to register to vote before the primary was April 16. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 8, by 5 p.m. The last day for the County Board of Elections to receive voted civilian absentee ballots is May 11, by 5 p.m.
Quite a few members of the civic engaged in questioning the safety of the voting machines from getting hacked by an outside source. The representative from Deeley’s office warned the members to be wary of what they read online and promised that only “fake news” websites are claiming the machines can be compromised.
A voting booth was present for anyone who had questions on how to properly vote in it for the May 15 primary.
In other news:
• Mike Doyle, Democratic candidate in the 170th Legislative District, addressed the civic association about his background and on his concerns for the district.
Doyle, a Bucks County native, has resided in Parkwood since 2004 and credits the neighborhood’s impact on his life on why he is running.
“This neighborhood was a neighborhood that I didn’t feel completely connected to when I first moved here,” said Doyle.
He went on to reference a personal incident in 2013, which he says led from being a “maybe casual alcoholic” to becoming an “opioid addict.”
Doyle credited the neighborhood meetings he attended to help him get sober and believes residents accepted him with open arms.
“What this neighborhood did for me is give me my life back,” said Doyle. “The least I could do is at least put my body on the line, so to speak, in this election and try to give back to the community that gave me my life back.”
On a policy front, Doyle stressed the need for “tax circuit breakers” to ensure working families, seniors and those on fixed incomes will not be priced out of their neighborhoods. He believes his background will be helpful in resolving the current opioid epidemic. Doyle also called for an increased police presence in the neighborhood.
• A representative from Rep. Martina White’s office was present to deliver a traffic alert that includes lane restrictions in the upcoming weeks for her district.
Beginning Monday, April 30, through Friday, May 4, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., lane restrictions are scheduled on Knights Road between Frankford Avenue and Academy Road for milling operations. This improvement project from PennDOT will provide new pavement that will seal the roadways and provide for a smoother surface.
• A representative from Councilman Brian O’Neill’s office was present to talk about an upcoming free tree giveaway made possible by a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. The event will take place on Arbor Day, Friday, April 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the councilman’s office at the FOP, 11630 Caroline Road.
• The civic association expressed concern with the amount of debris present at specific locations throughout the neighborhood. Members have mentioned their efforts in keeping the neighborhood clean, and will continue to keep the neighborhood in the loop about possible cleanup days in the future. ••
John Cole can be reached at [email protected]
