PHA Executive Director Carl Greene said that neighborhoods
should be places of optimism, hope, and inspiration where people
can live their lives safely.
Congressman Robert Brady, with hiswife Debra, a PHA
Commissioner, told the crowd that he will work to find additional
resources for the housing authority.
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.
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.
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.