State Rep. Andre D. Carroll at his podium during the safety forum. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)

On Thursday, August 28, at Braid Mill, State Representatives Andre D. Carroll and Darisha Parker convened a safety forum, where 14th District police reported that violent and property crime are on pace for a historic decline. 

This claim drew applause – and follow-up calls from neighbors to invest in housing, jobs, and schools.

Triggering the gathering was a now three-week-old tragedy that had occurred right outside the coworking and makerspace on the 400 block of High Street. One that happened while Rep. Carroll was inside the same exact space where neighbors sat as he recollected the tragic events.

“One of our community members was struck seven times,” the State Rep. recalled.

According to Captain Stuart McCollum of the 14th Police District, both parties involved have been arrested, and the weapons have been recovered.

Alongside the Aug. 13 event, the captain also mentioned two of the other most recent incidents of violent crimes in the neighborhood: 1) the killing of Rashida Irvin of Mister Relaxation at 6325 Germantown Ave. on Aug. 11, and 2) the fatal shooting at 212 W. Rittenhouse St. on Aug. 26.

McCollum says that while these recent incidents may have led neighbors to assume that crime is trending upward, they should know that it is not.

“Right now, the 14th District is in the process of having a new historical year of reduction of violent crime and property crime,” the captain revealed.

State Senator Art Haywood was among a select group of elected officials and city officials invited to address community members. He lent theory to why crime has been reducing.

“…what helped to bring the shootings down to the lowest, historic levels, is that these organizations work together,” he said.

Sen. Haywood directed his sentiments at some of the organizations invited to attend, including Men Who Care, Northwest Victim Services, Ceasefire PA, and Pushing Progress Philly (P3). Some of these organizations also provided brief remarks about the services their organizations offer.

The senator urged neighbors to note that while it’s okay to celebrate, “that doesn’t mean that we stop.”

Germantown’s Joe Budd of Men Who Care commended the other community organizations and leaders in the room for all their efforts to reduce gun violence. However, he kept his focus clear and made a call to folks in the room to get involved.

“There’s a lot of work to do. But we need everybody doing something,” he said, encouraging neighbors to get involved in community building efforts, in whatever ways they can, like passing out flyers or donating.

While leaders and some community members focused on the declines, others leaned into investment in communities.

Reclaim Philadelphia Executive Director Seth Anderson-Oberman went on record as one of those neighbors.

“The rent is too damn high, wages are too low, and our neighborhoods are being displaced and gentrified faster than we can say our names,” he said. “And if you think there’s no connection between all of that and the violence that’s occurring, you’re missing it.”

The former eighth district councilmember candidate called on elected officials to stand with communities and make wealthy institutions and corporations—such as Penn, Drexel, and Comcast—pay their “fair share” of PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) so that communities can get what they need.

FY25-26 budget cuts business and wages taxes and authorized $800 million for housing bonds. At the same time, large universities and hospitals, which don’t pay property taxes, are facing renewed demands to contribute payments to help fund city services and schools.

Germantown resident Desiree L.A. Whitfield had similar, but different, thoughts about recent manifestations of crime.

“Whenever you’re having problems, whether it’s gun violence or whatever it is, you have to start at the top,” she said.

“When I say start at the top, I think about the city’s budget that puts money everywhere else. But, they had to borrow money and move money for housing.”

She makes the point that when underresourced areas lose housing and economic mobility opportunities, like education and jobs, the cycle of violence increases.

Melany Nelson, Executive Director of Northwest Victim Services, also took to the mic. But, for her, she sought to bring attention to an issue that she feels doesn’t get as much attention or support.

“Carjacking victims fall between the cracks,” she said, prefacing how those victims are often revictimized. “There are no services for them, and they’re paying out of pocket.”

Rep. Parker closed the evening by thanking all community members for attending and encouraged them to stay informed by connecting with the different organizations in the room.

GIH followed up with the 14th District about specific numbers and data on crime in the area via email, but has not yet received a response.