City Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson spoke at last week’s meeting of Take Back Your Neighborhood.
Gilmore Richardson, Council’s majority leader, is in her second term as an at-large member. She chairs Council’s Finance and Law and Government committees.
The councilwoman, who lives in Wynnefield, said she and her colleagues hope to finalize the budget by June 13.
Even before she entered the meeting, she spoke to 2nd Police District community relations officer Mark Mroz about all the illegal car washes in the Castor Gardens area.
In remarks to the group, she said she is “laser focused” on finding quality service providers for the Office of Homeless Services.
In response to questions, she said her office will monitor complaints about high grass, absentee landlords and those operating without a license, the illegal conversion of single-family homes into duplexes and triplexes and loud music at illegal block parties. An estimated 70 percent of houses in Castor Gardens are rentals.
She plans to continue to occasionally ride with police officers, wearing a bulletproof vest, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
To reach Gilmore Richardson’s office, call 215-686-0454.
Mroz called a 2nd district car to cite and disperse the illegal car washes, which often get water from fire hydrants. He suggested the EPA could levy a heavy fine because chemicals are going down sewers. At traditional car washes, he said, the water is captured.
Mroz also announced that there will be fireworks in Lawncrest, either on Thursday, July 4, or Saturday, July 6.
Take Back Your Neighborhood will meet on Monday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m., at Max Myers Recreation Center, 1601 Hellerman St. ••
