Help us save the city from itself.

Dear Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority:

I regret to inform you that you have failed me as well as the citizenry of this fine town that we all call home.

For years, it seems you’ve stood in the way of progress, or at least made progress as easy and painless as a root canal. I ask you why? As an agency charged with improving the lives of its citizens, why do you stand passively while large swaths of numerous neighborhoods remain blighted?

I opened one of the first new businesses on Point Breeze’s blighted commercial corridor in years. While I have grown accustomed to a City government that seems to discourage small business, I was not expecting the fight of my life just to open a coffee shop. Where were the elected officials in that fight? I looked behind me and they were definitely not in my corner. I was delayed and stone walled at every turn by the same people elected to serve my neighbors and me.

Now, I clean the lot you took possession of 36 years ago directly behind that coffee shop, making the community safer for all, and you threaten me with a lawsuit. How could you possibly prefer what was there last month to what is there now? I called, texted, and e-mailed your offices for years. I could not get a single person to show up from your agency. I did finally get an official from Licenses and Inspections to visit the lot. He recognized it was a mess and wrote a ticket…..to me!

The tale of this lot has been all over the news, garnering coverage from across the globe, and eliciting tens of thousands of letters and comments from other people just as fed up as me. I cleaned up this lot in spite of your agency’s verbal and written demands that I not trespass on the lot, and in the face of threats of legal action. I undertook this effort because I was fed up with your inaction and unresponsiveness; and frankly, my patience had run out after all these years.

Your agency, charged with selling land to business owners, neighbors, and community groups, claimed that they only first heard of my interest in this property in the days before I performed this cleanup. That same agency had put out press releases and called me a liar. When presented with evidence regarding my many expressions of interest for the parcel they issued no apology.

You sent another press release and claimed there were “three other parties” that have expressed interest in this one lot. Impossible! In nearly four decades, only 3 parties have expressed interest? What happened to what must be dozens of additional applications?

In thirty-six years, what has this agency done with this lot? Why were you only now getting around to selling it after 36 years of neglect? Look at what this lot looked like during the years you maintained it, and then look at it now. I don’t think there is a sane person in this world that agrees with you.

You claim that I am fleecing tax payers by spending my own money to clean up what would otherwise be the tax payers’ expense. How does that make any sense to you? You speak out in opposition to this garden and call it a land grab. You claim the land is worth $50,000 and that you intended to sell it. I say rubbish! You own over 14,000 lots and sell hardly any at “market rate.”

A few hundred feet away from the garden, you sold 2040 Ellsworth Street four years ago for a mere $500. How was that lot worth $500 and this lot worth $50,000? Guess what, they’re both worth $50,000! How was selling that lot for $500 not fleecing tax payers? Does the Redevelopment Authority not discuss that sale because City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson just bought a new home on that lot?

I repeat: Our Councilman moved into Point Breeze AFTER the election and did so by moving into a home built on a lot sold by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for $500 just a few years before. Isn’t that amazing?

You simply cannot make this stuff up. If I were not living this tragedy myself I would have assumed it was written in The Onion.

Regarding your missing records of my countless expressions of interest… shame on you. You either wantonly threw my applications in the trash or simply never got around to reviewing them. Both should be grounds for immediate termination.

Want another example of your inability to get out of your own way? Here’s a quick one.

After six years of aggravation and countless requests, you graciously agreed to allow me to purchase three lots directly across the street from the coffee shop and garden. Five minutes later (not a typo), you filed for condemnation on the very same lots you just voted to sell me. Your explanation....”the property owner had not put forward any plans.” A) That’s 100% false. B) You were staring at the plans 5 minutes before and used those same plans to vote to sell me the lots. More so, I had owned the adjacent lot for less than a year and you decided I was not moving fast enough and condemned that lot too!

Yes, after owning the lot for a fraction of the time you own real estate, you determined that I wasn’t moving quickly enough. Imagine if you held yourselves to those kinds of deadlines!

Clearly, the PRA has failed here and forced a private citizen to take action. Will you finally now, apologize for what you have done and allow everyone to move along with their lives?

Warmest Regards,

Ori C. Feibush

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I visit Chinatown a lot, and am dismayed at how much trash is in the street. I've talked to a handful of business owners, who lament that Philly can't handle success: they used to have more trashcans in Chinatown, but took them out, because people were using them too much ! Talk about bass-ackwards logic ! One business owner asked to have a city owned trash can in front of her business removed, because, the can would fill up, the city wouldn't empty it, and the business owner, WHO HAD NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY for that refuse container, was ticketed for it overflowing ! After trying to get the city to own up to its commitments, the business owner finally gave up, and asked to have it removed.

This is not an unfamiliar story. Think of the sports stadiums in Philly. The city will spend 1 billion dollars to build 3 new stadiums, but let's look back at why they needed to replace 2 of them: NEGLECT ! The city can come up with a fortune of taxpayer money to build things, but then won't commit to actually maintaining them. The Vet was torn down, with one of the large factors being when several Navy midshipmen fall when a railing broke. I was at the last event ever held at JFK, and while there, I had walked around the stadium, and the old concourses below, which are mostly blocked off now. What I saw was a junk repository. Just junk everywhere. After the concert, I related to some friends how the city maintained the place horribly, and the place ought to be condemned until they clean it up. Many of my friends had complained about the poor condition of the seats in JFK, many were getting fiberglass in their backsides, due to degraded stadium seats.

I left town the next day for Germany, on business. I called home a few days later to learn that the city had condemned JFK. Not that surprising, but again, they wouldn't pay a few million a year to maintain it, but they will pay 400 million to replace it ! Give us 30 years, and they'll want to replace the stadiums again, due to the rundown condition. Yes, JFK had some years on it, but the Vet was only 30 some years old. Disgraceful that the city simply won't maintain its properties.

So, my experience tells me that Ori's experience with the city is not surprising at all. It's what the city does best: nothing. Then complain when a citizen does their work for them !

You Sir are what is Great about America ! I stand with you !

I live in Tasmania a state of Australia and after reading this stuff, I thought my local council was a bunch of self seeking over priced charlatans. Sure, self interest motivates people but given what was there and what is there now, Mr. Feibush should be thanked!

Slowly but surely Philadelphians like you are transforming the City. Keep at it, you're making a difference!

Ori...you gotta grease City Council's palm...donate to Kenyatta's reelection campaign...go to some of his fundraiser dinners and bring your friends...how naive you are!

Do that...you'll be opening a boutique casino on that little lot.

I know the area of Point Breeze very well. Some of the blocks in Point Breeze are horrid. No one should have to live in a community with empty lots and houses everywhere. There are some streets where there is so much trash, you would think the garbage truck doesn't come around. The fact that a citizen took it upon himself to clean his community, something that the city of Philadelphia itself promoted at one point, is calling foul because someone did the work for them? The fact that the city owns these disgusting lots is proof that the city is a huge factor in the problem with its blight. Also, I have seen this same lot takeover in many areas in North Philly. What happens when you live next to a lot that is overgrown and bums like to hide in? A park for the neighborhood kids!

It has been fascinating reading about this latest incident where corrupt politicians refuse to do their jobs until they get that bribe, until they get that kickback, then to watch an American civic-minded hero step in and do his duty to his fellow neighbors and do the job himself -- then to watch the corrupt politicians cry and scream, their only complaint being they didn't get their usual envelope under the table.

Congratulations to every American who sees what's wrong, recognizes his duty as an American citizens, steps in and does what's right despite the theofascist corporate tyranny that oppresses us all.

The fact of the matter is, he trespassed. That is wrong! The City is entitled to protect the integrity of its property ownership, like anyone else. There is a process to address eyesores. It may be slow, but there is a process. Feibush had no right to take the solution into his own hands.

After spending $20,000. to clean up the trash and beautify the lot that has been an eyesore in the neighborhood for 36 years, the city of 'Filthadelphia' should deed the property over to him and say "Well done, Ori, we want more people like you to help clean up the empty lots in the city." Same goes for the empty houses; if someone has the initiative to clean up and repair a house to a living condition that the city owns, they should have the house deeded to them. The city and neighborhoods would be a better place to live! I visit the city often and am appalled at the trash I see in the streets and the empty lots! Apparently City Councilmen have NO pride in the city they supposedly serve. As for the property owners with unpaid taxes, give them 6 months to have their taxes paid in full; if not, the city take ownership of the house and auction it off to the person who can show they have the funds to rehabilitate the property and pay the annual taxes, get it back on the PAID tax rolls. Stop penalizing the people who do maintain their properties and pay their taxes. Those who work in Philly pay a percentage of their wages for fire and police protection and trash removal, so get those trash cans on the streets and perhaps the citizens will use them, THEN empty them on a regular basis and the city will no longer be considered "Filthadelphia." Use the non-violent inmates in the prison to go out and clean up the trash along the streets that traverse in and around the city instead of sitting in a cell all day doing nothing; then give them credit for the hours they helped to clean up the city as time served. Why is the tourist area so clean, and other parts of the city filthy? Stupid is as Stupid does, on all counts!!

on how you define ownership.

I'd say it is 99% possession and, given the amount of time it has been unused, that land belongs to the neighborhood.

Until the city decides to develop it, if the residents like it, then the city should suck it up, pay Feibush back for what he did to clean it up, declare it a public park, and call it day until they sell it....to Feibush.

am I missing something here?

God bless Anonymous and all those who stand up for the rights of the common man. I am disgusted at the greed and corruption I see engulfing the world today.To all those of you who condemn Anonymous, you need to wake up and see what's really going on. These good people are our ambassadors for a better world. I live in the UK, and am continuously horrified at what I see going on in the USA.
This good man does something to help those around him, and he is bullied by the corrupt scum that infest all our lives.The evil politicians and officials who are only interested in filling their own pockets, don't give a damn about you and me, they only care about how fat their bank balance is. Ah the American dream...where greed is god, and it doesn't matter if people die in the streets, or live in tent villages, because banks have taken away their homes.

We have imported many things from your country, including many of the bad things, Regan sent over a nice big package of selfishness and greed in the 80's. We had a prime minister who was willing, to bend over and take it up the ass, and absorb it all. She then set about destroying, all the things that made the UK a decent place to live in. America you have given the world many great things, but greed and selfishness were not ones we needed.

People wake up and see what's going on in your country, standup for your rights, hold your politicians to account. Support the Occupy Movement and the likes of Anonymous, as they are our best hope of a better world. Why do you think the government's around the world are so scared of them.

Do you really want to have to tell your children and grand children that you were one of those who let the government and military rule their lives? Money is not good, it is a way of controlling you and me...a way of taking away our power!

When the drones fly over your heads, and the soldiers finally realize they have been used like pawns in a game of chess, as canon fodder to push through the corrupt evil plans of those at the top, it will all be so much harder to make a change. When the drones that your president, and military so happily deploy to murder the innocent in a foreign land, think of this, they will one day do the same to you.

Drones have no conscience...they will use them to murder you and your children

To Mr Feibush and Anonymous, I send you love and blessing. You are good people living in a corrupt world. Your work is appreciated by many millions of us around the world.

To those of you living in the dream of the American dream, it's time to wake up...even sleeping beauty had to wake up in the end! Your nation and mine have been up to some very evil things, and it's not for our benefit. We need to reclaim our own power. We put them in power, we gave them control over our power...it's time to take it back!!

The idiots should give Ori the lot and a medal. Only he had the foresight to do what he did. What is the difference between giving the lot to him and giving any other potential new business development a grant and/or any tax incentive to start a business? The fact that the city is handling this situation the way it is simply continues to show that government in this country is too big and too out of touch with reality.

Good job ORI
It's is just beautiful and you should get the lot for your expense. Remember when you vote, let's get people in office that care about our city. Let's get rid of the dead beats.
Good Luck, ORI. You got my vote, Bob D.

You are awesome - the city should hire YOU to take cut through all the b.s. and get things done. They must be very embarrassed now with all the attention this is getting and that is why they're back-pedaling, trying to turn you into the bad guy. I'm so glad this story is getting out all over the country. It's a great wake-up call! Congratulations on your gutsy move!

U are awesome. Fight the government on this. The gov. will not win. You have proven the gov. wants the citizens to do as they say and not by what they do. I can't believe the gov. sees this as a negative. We need to rethink at the next elections. Keep up the fight.

From Indiana
Drew

I live in the suburbs and do everything I can to avoid going into this disgusting "city". I get the feeling when I'm there that I'm in some kind of "Occupied Territory" controlled by greedy, crooked politicians who use taxpayers' money for their own personal gain.

To: Ed Covington, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson
Thanks for embarrassing us world wide.
With a little more effort we can finally top New Orleans!!

https://articles.philly.com/2011-06-14/news/29656729_1_ray-nagin-hurrican...

Whenever Philadelphia winds up on a best or worst list, it's like catnip for the local media.
Travel + Leisure magazine is a year-round treasure trove for these lists, and this month a Web-only article reports that Philadelphia ranked No. 2 on its list of "America's Dirtiest Cities."
Number one? New Orleans. Remember how Ray Nagin, who was then New Orleans' mayor, declared in 2007 that Philadelphia was dirtier than his hurricane-ravaged city?

Well, New Orleans is dirtier. We have proof, based on a poll of visitors to Travel + Leisure's website. A poll taken last year.
Take that, Ray Nagin.
The magazine's website said voters in the 2010 "America's Favorites Cities" poll identified themselves as either residents or visitors. In each category, voters can rate a city on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best.
So Philadelphia ranked 34th out of 35 in "cleanliness." New Orleans ranked 35th. That's according to visitors, whose rankings make up the magazine's featured lists. The magazine also shows how residents voted.
Philadelphians ranked Philadelphia No. 35.
Well, yeah. The SEPTA concourse under City Hall doesn't exactly smell like lavender and lilacs.

Mr. Fleibush,
You have done an excellent job by doing what you did!! Realizing that you own property there surely makes sense to take pride where you live. By no means should you give up and make everyone aware so the city starts realizing that by doing "NOTHING" with empty lots does NOT make any sens. Hopefully it will be the wake up call needed to get things going and start selling of abandoned property/lots....You ROCK, all the best & Keep it up!!! A Miami person who oves and visits Philadelphia often...

Greed of the big money and government is upset that why you get nothing but the evil eye. Showing them the big heart of a local people is what they can’t stand. Stand up and keep up the fight

Have you heard about PHS's Philly Green program? They clean up vacant land using proceeds from the Philadelphia Flower Show. You guys are meant for each other. https://www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org/phlgreen/current-vacantl...
Maybe they can help?

I just read your story, I'm in Michigan. You have taken a ugly eyesore and turned it into a beautiful functional space that many now appreciate. I hope they sell you the property.

Great work Ori. I believe every word you wrote. The city is unable to get out of it's own way.

Whatever this "Authority" of dirty, filthy ass-backwards scumhole is trying to do to you is get even MORE money from that lot than in the first place.

I was going to visit Philly one day. Screw it now. Not spending a dime. New York always sounded better anyway.

- Canadian

Hey... As an honorary Canadian (i plan on living in Montral, at some point),I'll ask you to reconsider. This part of the City, while clearly on the upswing, is not one of its better sections. Our City is full of great cultural landmarks, incredible restaurants and a lot of worthwhile places to see and visit. We can be a gruff people, but you'll always know where you stand with a Philadelphian and we are actually a very good and kind people!

More and more people like Ori are coming to the city and and vastly improving it. They give this long time resident a lot of hope!

Peter

Fight the power! Keep it up and lets make Philly somewhere where people want to actually live

First of all I must appualed your efforts for cleaning up your community. I could care less if you're bussiness is benefiting from it because the community is the big winner since someone is doing something to improve the area. Now I must ask the question, who is responisble for the property in the first place? If the city is as they claim then ask them what have they been doing in the time it took to accumilated 40 tons of trash? Also since they say you are benefiting from taxpayers money inform them that you are one and you have the right to know what you're money is going to. So where is your money going to and is there an issue with fraud waste and abuse? They are a public office and they are not doing thier job and you have they right to ask why.

I don't understand why clean up a mess Tht the people in the neighborhood trashed, stopped taking responsibility for people Tht don't care about their surroundings, its like tearing down the projects and giving townhomes ...why? Ruin ur home we'll just give u a new one. BEt Tht fence will be spray painted in a week.

This is typical Philadelphia, and the reason I moved out years ago!!! My neighborhood had the same situation, and had the same response from the city. They'll do everything possible to prevent someone from cleaning it up, and once you do, they'll sell the cleaned up property to one of their friends!!!

Great work, Just at cities take over properties or land in disrepair so to should you be able, the city should deed you the title just for cleaning it up. Attach a lean to the land, the city would do the same!!

I applaud you, sir! Not only are you a man of initiative, but you are also articulate and tactful, which is incredibly respectable.

Mr. Feibush you have done an excellent job cleaning this lot up. If it was left to the city (and you never did anything here) it would have even move trash then before. The city of Philadelphia and it's government only jump to action after others are so fed up, that they do it themselves. And then the city wants to profit off of their hard work. I wish you much luck Mr. Feibush, and hope you win this one for making your neighbor a better place for all who live there.

This article needs to go National...and people need to be aware of Just How dirty Philly Wants to be.....A complete derilection of duties.. Your Government at work....Priceless

Just wanted to make a quick suggestion that you post all of the contact information for the PRA and Kenyetta Johnson on the homepage to make it easier for people to voice their opinion directly.

A friend just turned me on this .. we in ATL support the cause and are battling similar issues.

keep it up!!!!

Obviously the city still owns it, but the property value could only go up significantly with the changes made. I commend this man for trying to clean up the neighborhood! With our corrupt government all across this country I fear the little man will always be beat down! Remember the constitution and never let the government outweigh the people!

Give 'em hell. I hope this leads to a total shakedown of our overtly corrupt city government. John C. Bullitt is weeping in Valhalla.

-GroJLart

There is one way Philthydelphia could be saved, but the Geneva Convention prohibits the use of that class of weapon.

Dear owner (City of Philly) payment due upon receipt. Submit payment of all 'Grass Over Height' fines and 'Trash/Waste Removal' fines immediately. All fines acquired in the past 30 years with interest due at this time. Make check payable to: All Taxpayers required the same.

For all of you in Philly, ATL and Cali is here in solidarity.

For the guy that filmed the youtube video of the press conference .. we'd be right there with you.

I wonder who the guy saying "whoa, whoa, whoa" was .. you were not out of line in the _slightest_ bit.

Ori, make sure back everything with documentation.

much love,
Georgia and California

I wish you the best Sir! Unfortunately, these kind of Kafkaesque experiences are all too common when dealing with the one-party City government. Obviously, they have a lot of free time on their hands. Too bad City Council has carved up Center City into tiny pieces so effectively residents in Center City have no voice, as they are the minority in each of the districts that claims part of Center City and nearby areas. In terms of Kenyatta Johnson, a recall election may be possible. For the rest of City Council, repealing the home rule charter is about the only way we're going to see an end to the madness. 65 years and counting. Ever higher taxes, ever larger City Government with ever growing Pension liabilities.

Ori,
You awesome. Once again you have proven how inept bureaucratic dweebs are incapable of thinking outside the box or even how to accept a gift from a citizen to improve the livability of a neighborhood.

He's obviously interested and has been trying to buy it for years - along with several others in the immediate area. Can you blame him for his frustration here? Yes, we all understand, creating a garden there was technically and legally tresspassing. But the state of that lot was a disgrace before Mr. Feibush took the initiative to fix it. I've walked past that horrible eyesore many times and have seen it with my own eyes -- before and after. It is obviously less of a liability to the citizens now than it was before, by far. Why not make this a trend and collaborate with this good citizen (and any others who want) to help Philadelphia be a better place to live?

I commend Mr. Feibush on his efforts to add value and improve the environment of the neighborhood his business is in. Mr. Feibush understands the importance of neighborhood, the PRA obviously doesn't have a clue.
I get to Philadelphia a couple of times a year. I will be making it a point of having a meal at Mr. Feibush's establishment... I know it won't keep him in business, but I'll know I'm supporting a man who values neighbors and the space they all have to live in.
Shame on the PRA! Seriously, shame on you!

We put your story about the lot on our blog last week, and got a lot of e-mails which read what I described was impossible. It's hard to explain Philly to people. Keep up your efforts to bring capitalism, markets and a higher good for the community back to Point Breeze.
https://www.urbantoolsconsult.org/blog/2012/09/14/An-enemy-of-the-state-P...

Ori, the city has lost its mind. On behalf of all citizens who do not have a public forum to make their voice heard, we salute you.

I do not live there , In one of the statements about the city renting the lot to businesses, that must meen they were hoping somehow that would happen, good luck and god speed that they would want to bring in revenue

And that reality show parking wars , what the goonie goo goo would any visitor know what "NO STANDING " means, "NO PARKING yikes

Keep fighting this corrupt city for what is right! That site looks amazing.

The PRA process to purchase these properties is broken and there needs to be an investigation into how they are sold and to whom. They should give you the lot for all the money you spent cleaning THEIR mess up!

Keep up your strength & energy and continue with the growth in Point Breeze let the country if not the world know about it and your progress so other lots/homes can be bought and salvaged from blight so the city will grow in a great way..You rock keep it up!!!

Phila RDA Ex. Dir. will host a press conference at the vacant lot today at 4pm.

Hi Ori,

Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you for taking some action. I don't think the PRA has done enough to make up for what they've put you through over the years and I hope you keep up the good fight to make this once great city, great again.

Rob

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