During a rally today in North Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Housing Authority received commitments from federal, state, and local officials to seek the funding and resources needed to make the city's neighborhoods safer.

PHA staff, residents, and elected officials rallied at 24th and Norris where 46-year-old Rodney Barnes was shot to death on July 25th while working on a maintenance crew at Raymond Rosen Homes.

"It's been a great joy to hear all the commitments that we have received today," said PHA Executive Director Carl Greene. "We have received commitments from people who work with us every day. They know that we'll follow up and try to work with them and partner with them to bring the resources to this community, so that all of our neighborhoods will be strong, safe, and vibrant."

Congressman Robert Brady, whose wife Debra is a PHA Commissioner, told the crowd that he will work to find additional resources for the housing authority. "I will do anything in my power, whatever I need to do to get you more money out here; not only to protect the residents that live here, but to protect the people that work for the housing authority, and to protect the men and women that work in the unions that do work on these buildings," Brady said. City Councilwoman and PHA Commissioner Jannie Blackwell urged those attending the rally to be "a committee of one" to make additional funding possible, so they can improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. "I get angry when I hear them talking about money for new prisons. We need money for more houses," Blackwell said. Greene said that neighborhoods should be places of optimism, hope, and inspiration where people can live their lives safely. He noted, for example, that federal funding for drug elimination programs was cut and he'd like to see it restored. Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross told the rally that police are making progress as they investigate Barnes' murder, but they still need help from the community. He also said that he hoped the tragedy galvanizes the neighborhood.

Before the rally, reward posters were handed out to neighborhood residents and others. The reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer of Mr. Barnes has been raised to $60,000.

Anyone with any information about the murder of Rodney Barnes is encouraged to call the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS (8477). Their identity will be confidential.