I cant just arrest someone for hanging out on a stoop looking like theyre high on drugs., Even if Philadelphia hasnt officially decriminalized drug use in Kensington, the citys addicts are well aware that this is a place where they can get high without police harassment. This is a regional problem that Kensington is very graciously dealing with., Nice to see you. These are bakeries, daycares, artist spaces, and coffee roasters; businesses selected to draw foot traffic and fill much-needed service gaps. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. Please give today. Nine years later and were still talking about it. Those who do not frequent it rely on the medias interpretation and are primarily getting this message: Kensington Avenue is a barren wasteland where no happiness can find purchase. Though Kensington addicts seem to think so, the police department pushed back forcefully against this notion. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. The citys violent crime rate is higher than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas.1 Also alarming is Philadelphias drug overdose rate. Overnight, people are getting stabbed. Once it hit rock bottom, the need for an outlet brought more people in. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, (Short Clip #53) Monday, Sept 6, 2021. Kensington was founded by Anthony Palmer in the early 1730s. City housing officials say 300; police estimated over 650 people this summer. As for other encampments nearby, he said the city will need to post additional notice before staging more evictions. This area is the aortic valve of the regions opioid crisis, where an estimated billion dollar drug trade draws thousands from all over the region into the post-industrial neighborhood. Personal items will be held in city storage for 30 days, officials said. Dealers stand out in the open, hawking their wares. At stake in all this, is the soul of a place where Philadelphians have made a living, shopped and socialized for generations. The government has shown attempts at trying. However, the drug market remained decentralized, running through small groups of dealers that were harder to prosecute than, say, a crime syndicate. Knowing Kensington Avenue like I do, I am distressed by its predominantly negative and fetishized depiction in the media. During our visit, addicts casually moved in and out, bringing and injecting their Badlands-bought heroin. Every day Jorge Rosario, 52, a resident of the Kensington section Philadelphia cleans the sidewalk along the 2700 block of Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. The city of Philadelphia has set a deadline of Aug. 18 for encampments of people living homeless on the sidewalks of Kensington to be cleared. The killer is referred to by the media as "The Kensington Strangler". Also alarming is Philadelphia's drug overdose rate. More simply, some define Kensington as the triangular area bounded by Erie Avenue to the north, Front Street (and sometimes Fifth Street) to the West, and Trenton Avenue to the East. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are searching for two suspects who are wanted in connection with a violent carjacking earlier this week. At 4 p.m. on January 15, police found Jevon Gillette, 47, with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and thigh. Many progressives endorse the idea of allowing addicts to get high in certain sections of cities without fear of arrest. On March 21, 2021, SEPTA indefinitely closed the Somerset Station of the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a "hellscape." Things just got worse, and more violent, the more we arrested people.. Opioid abuse has skyrocketed in the United States over the last two decades, and Philadelphia is no exception. Worse than plain heroin. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Avenue, What happened today, Aug, 2021. kimgary 267K subscribers Subscribe 5.3M views 1 year ago Show more 1.9M views New Orleans Tourist Traps and Things to. Kensington mostly lies under the 180th State Representative District, being represented by Jose Giral. Safehouse, a nonprofit founded in 2018 with the purpose of opening the first supervised injection site in the country, sought a location in Kensington after their proposed South Philly location ran into opposition from neighbors of the site. Yellowstone vs Zion: Which National Park Should I Visit? Kensington has traditionally been known as one of the working class centers of Philadelphia. The help is there, but its not enough. City workers arrived in the early hours to clear out two homeless encampments the latest dustup in a years-long saga in Kensington and try to get the roughly 50 people living there into housing or recovery services. When we can make the right connection for people, its really successful, Gladstein said. initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. Im out here too, and I think its fucking insanity. Fentanyl has devastating withdrawal effects, though. Philadelphia, PA (February 26, 2023) - After noon on Sunday, February 26, a serious eight-vehicle collision with injuries took place in Philadelphia. 0:00 / 25:40 Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave, Here's What Happened Today, Saturday, Sept 11, 2021. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you . It is known for pawn shops and check-cashing joints. Who is Henry Winklers Son? Nobody rousts or arrests the line of addicts nodded out in full view in the gutter. Kensington has several medium and small sized parks and playgrounds which offer a variety of uses for visitors. Port Richmond has a historically Polish population but is becoming more mixed, and Olde Richmond, an area just north of Fishtown, is experiencing similar gentrification. We have four outreach teams out in Kensington every day. It happened Monday around 10:40 p.m. on the. The number of drug overdose deaths in the city . They declared a statewide disaster over the drug epidemic in 2017. More by Max Marin. He adds that the department does the best it can to guarantee public safety and stop drug use with the resources it has, but that it cant lock up people without good reason. Some people cleared from the street sought out permanent housing or treatment, he said but most of the population wouldnt leave an area where they had easy access to drugs. Neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Neighborhood of Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, primarily white young urban professionals, H.W. Parks in and adjacent to the neighborhood include Harrowgate Park, McPherson Square, Hope Park, Fairhill Square Park, Norris Square Park, Mascher Park, Frankford Avenue Garden, Arcadia Commons, Trenton and Auburn Park, Letterly Green, Emerald Park, Konrad Square, and Palmer Park. Worse, still, are the articles characterizing this commercial corridor as an adventurous destination for the open-minded shopper. Suffice to say it is not a place to go at night. A textile factory will feature apartments and commercial space. During my career I concluded we werent making a dent in drug addiction or related crime. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021. Most dangerous street in PhiladelphiaKensington Philadelphia Drug \u0026 Crime ProblemsViolent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. The drug market is so strong in Kensington and the joblessness and institutionalized racism so engrained, the community struggles while the state flounders with resolutions. These merchants do not need your pity, they want your business, and they deserve to be taken seriously. On the night we visited, police cars cruised past, their lights flashing, but never stopped. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time and are disputed among locals. Crack, meth, heroin, oxycodone, weed, percocet, PCP these are all the usual suspects around Kensington Ave. Despite research on the positive effects of these sites, the Trump administration blocked them from being established. Drug activity is not hidden here, especially not when heroin can go for as cheap as $5 a bag. They gotta do something about it, and this is coming from someone whos homeless living on the street., Out on the Kensington Avenue this morning, where just north of K&A homeless outreach workers and police begin to clear out yet another encampment. Kensington Hospital for Women, 128-40 Diamond Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Peter Woll & Sons, Curled Hair & Bristles, 173 W. Berks Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Second Associate Presbyterian Church, 1523-25 N. Front Street, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (185254). It is similar to Central Kensington but is slightly quieter and has fewer crimes. Several men rush to be the first to make a dollar selling her a syringe. Addicts say the police came down hard on indoor drug establishments. There is no hands-free zone' in the city of Philadelphia, and there never will be, says public-affairs officer Lt. Ray Evers. [57] Rodriguez confessed to the murders and was sentenced to life in prison in 2012. They tried to institute safe-injection sites, where users can shoot up without fear of prosecution. Drug dealers at the corners. All About Max Winkler. It is this sort of activism, buoyed by engaged (and zoning savvy!) Welcome Van Life Wanderer! This is probably one of the most drug infested streets in Philadelphia. Kensington's river ward identity puts it in contrast with the neighborhoods to its west. McKinney, of the New Kensington CDC, said the successful rehousing services touted by officials during these clearouts 10 people here, 20 people there are modest in the scope of the crisis. Heriza became interested in Kensington after seeing a 2018 article in the New York Times magazine about the drug epidemic in the neighborhood. Harbisons' Dairies, 2041-55 Coral Street (1895). Philadelphias police force is inarguably overwhelmed by the scope of the citys addiction problems. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know. The few other businesses Chinese take outs and Irish pubs have missing persons signs hung in the windows. Just a few blocks away, the Kensington Storefront, a collaboration between Impact Services, NKCDC, Mural Arts, Prevention Point Philadelphia and The Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS), transformed an abandoned Cricket Wireless Store into a hub for arts-based community events, trainings, and meetings. Because of the high number of drugs in Kensington, the neighborhood has a drug crime rate of 3.57, the third-highest rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia.3 Like a lot of the country, a big part of this issue is a result of the opioid epidemic. But Gladstein said many people remain shelter resistant for various reasons and the number of emergency beds near Kensington where people actively use drugs is limited. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. Some, such as the second location for the Baltimore Avenue-based Vientiane Cafe, are just getting started. Give your readers the whole story. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Mark Squilla is the Councilmember for District 1 and Maria D. Quiones Snchez is the Councilmember for District 7. The original area of Kensington is now more commonly called "Fishtown," mainly because of the shad fishing that was one of the dominant businesses in Kensington in the 18th and 19th centuries. Not everyone who takes advantage of the trade on Kensington Ave lives nearby, though. Kensington development team seeks middle ground between gentrification and stagnation. While Kensington is still the centralized location in Philadelphia for buying and using drugs, some community members, like Bingham, don't believe the neighborhood is the ideal place to get treatment and maintain recovery. These self-described low-bottom dope fiends havent bathed recently, and many have been running and gunning around the clock for days, selling needles and prescription pills, or prostituting on the Avenue to hustle up enough money for another bag of heroin. In his first budget, the Mayor worked closely with City Council to fund bold anti-poverty initiatives. This number is shockingly low compared to the overall Philadelphia average of $122,113 but is still better compared to previous years. Its a scene that will look familiar to viewers of HBOs The Wire, an episode of which, titled Hamsterdam, showed Baltimore police effectively legalizing drugs within an established zone of an infested neighborhood. This Philly neighborhood is purportedly the largest open-air narcotics market for heroin on the East Coast with many neighboring residents flocking to the area for heroin and other opioids.4 With such a high number of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have zoned in on this area to try and tackle Philadelphias problem. This train starts at Bridge st. From Frankford , Juanita, Kensington and Fishtown. Forgotten by whom? I n the underworld of Philadelphia, beneath the elevated subway line along Kensington Avenue, tears were as prevalent as needles. Look, he says, junkies got rights, too. The adjacent Fairhill and Norris Square neighborhoods are more separate but may be included in Kensington; Fishtown and South (Olde) Kensington were previously included but have developed new identities with gentrification. Two emergency shelters closed along Kensington Avenue within the last year. One such is the cluster of businesses just off the Huntingdon Market Frankford Line stop, where two of Phillys best Vietnamese restaurants, Thang Long Noodle Restaurant and Caf Pho Gha Than Than reside. However, fentanyl has replaced heroin completely and it is rare that you find anyone using pure heroin in Kensington. For too long, Kensington residents have resorted to other neighborhoods to shop. This lack of message parity is harmful to the corridor. Because of the high number of drugs in Kensington, the neighborhood has a drug crime rate of 3.57, the third-highest rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia.3 Like a lot of the country, a big part of this issue is a result of the opioid epidemic. Compared to the infamous Skid Row in Los Angeles, Kensingtons homeless problem doesnt seem as bad. It was a scene that rivaled the aftermath of a storm, its victims caught up in forces that leave many hungry, homeless and hopeless. Google Maps borders for Kensington show it including much of what is considered Fishtown and excludes West Kensington. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. Violent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Johnson knowseven with a colorful awning and bright lightingher cafe might not get a lot of consumer street traffic. Want a digest of WHYYs programs, events & stories? Arrest made after deadly crash in Kensington, Philadelphia police say The incident happened at the intersection of G and Tioga Streets around 4:40 p.m. Nov 13, 2022 00:17 Arrest made after. The influx of immigrants and low-income households many of whom were unaware of the drug situation, or were forced to ignore it due to the stark affordability has made little difference in gentrifying the area. Over the next two years, the city closed down four highly visible "tent cities" that grew along a series of underpasses. The case was dropped in July. Folks are going to migrate to wherever they can go, McKinney said. GDP . Looks not far from K&A, the intersection of Kensington and Alleghany Ave. Shes comparatively clean cut, probably from the suburbs or middle-class Northeast Philadelphia, whose residents with a taste for heroin are drawn to Kensington for its freewheeling addiction-bazaar atmosphere. Any given day, a walk down Kensington Avenue yields ample reminders that the neighborhood is the "aortic valve of the region's opioid crisis," as Billy Penn's Max Marin recently put it. Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue . Kensington Ave - Everything You Want To Know About Philadelphia's Skid Row Written by Mariska Lee in Pennsylvania Close to the I-95, and a stone's throw away from the scenic Delaware river, Kensington is a neighborhood in northern Philly with quite the reputation. This should not be ignored, and is, in fact, impossible to avoid. Kensington, colloquially known locally as Kenzo, is a neighborhood in Philadelphia that belongs to or divides Lower Northeast and North Philadelphia. There still is no answer for the full number of people out here, McKinney said. Addictions a medical problem; cops dont want to deal with that. The town of Kensington was named for the area in London known as Kensington, which had been recently established as the residency of the British crown. Max Winkler is an American director, writer and producer and is also the son of legendary actor Henry Winker. City data supporting those numbers was not readily available. In 1903 Mother Jones organized a "Children's Crusade" of children from the local mills and mines to protest against child labor. SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 10K 1.4M views 1 year ago #SBCNews. The most conservative boundaries of the neighborhood, shown in the map below, are Front Street and 5th Street to the west, the Amtrak train tracks to the North, Trenton Avenue, the Trenton Avenue train tracks, and Frankford Avenue to the east, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue to the south. [53][54] The intersection of Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street was listed number one in a 2007 list of the city's top ten recreational drug corners according to an article by Philadelphia Weekly reporter Steve Volk. Kensington was featured in Nat Geos 2013 docu-series, Drugs Inc. in the episode about Philadelphia. In 2017 developers Shift Capital, in partnership with NKCDC, IMPACT Services Corporation, and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce launched the innovative Kensington Avenue Storefront Challenge. While most of the large manufacturers have left, the area has many small shops and large renovated factories and warehouses for newer artisans to set up shop. [8] People suffering from addiction and/or homelessness concentrate around the Somerset and Allegheny train stations, in nearby parks, and on residential streets, angering long-term residents. The opioid epidemic has played a significant role in this problem, as it has in much of the rest of the country. It doesnt work the first or the second or the third or the fourth time for everybody, so we keep engaging for those that we can.. According to Philadelphia Police, the accident happened at 3300 Kensington Avenue in the Kensington section of Philly. At 3525 Kensington Avenue, right in the middle of the block, Sherimane Johnson will open Naturally Sweet Desserts, a vegan cafe and bakery that will deliver all over the city and be open all day for local residents. "[12][13][14], Deindustrialization eventually took hold in the neighborhood in the 1950s, leading to a significant population loss, high unemployment, economic decline, and abandoned homes. Theres a significant number of people who commute to this space to pick up what they need, making the residual effects of the narcotic empire spread far and wide. The city has a higher rate of violent crime than the national average and other similarly sized metropolitan areas. Estimates vary between 300 and 650 people living on the street. However, some sections of the neighborhood have been revitalized in recent years, especially those near Frankford Avenue, Kensington's neighbor south of Lehigh Avenue, and Fishtown, another traditionally working-class neighborhood which has seen rents increase. Philadelphia officials developed what they call the "encampment resolution" process in 2017 after the city swept a . Upwards of 100 people camp out there every night and its not for stargazing. They marched from Kensington to Oyster Bay, New York, carrying banners demanding, "We want to go to School and not the mines! McKinney says the city could use regional support in creating a long-term solution for Kensington. Progress, even the slightest measures, can have enormous impact. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. The part of Kensington below Lehigh Street, or as it has been rebranded[citation needed] "Lower Kensington" or "East Kensington", is the part of Kensington most clearly experiencing gentrification. What sort of reprieve Wednesdays action will offer neighbors and business owners remains unclear. It happened just after 12 p.m. Sunday on the 3300 block of Kensington. [48], In 2011 the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the closures of three Kensington Catholic schools, as their student numbers had declined: Ascension of Our Lord, St. Anne, and St. Hugh of Cluny.[49]. Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles Skid Row, Everything You Wanted To Know About Los Angeles' Skid Row, Is Philadelphia Safe To Visit? This Philly neighborhood is purportedly the largest open-air narcotics market for heroin on the East Coast with many neighboring residents flocking to the area for heroin and other opioids.4 With such a high number of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have zoned in on this area to try and tackle Philadelphias problem. [4] It was also the birthplace of the K&A Gang, currently known as the Northeast Philly Irish Mob, an Irish American organized crime network. Read more ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer by Alfred Lubrano Published Aug 5, 2021 As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time. Palmer laid out his town and sold parcels to many of the shipwrights and shipbuilders who were outgrowing their riverfront lots in present-day Old City, Southwark, and Society Hill areas. The U.S. The avenue runs on a north/south slant and unofficially includes the neighborhoods of Kensington, East and West Kensington, Fairhill, Port Richmond, and Olde Richmond.