Resolution 050218

..Title Honoring the tireless efforts and tenacious commitment of the City of Philadelphia's Block Captains. ..Body WHEREAS, there are approximately 6,500 block captains and junior block captains in the City of Philadelphia who contribute the value of more than $1 million dollars in volunteer city service functions, such as neighborhood clean-ups, crime prevention activities and social service referrals; and WHEREAS, Through the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee neighborhood clean-ups, Block Captains organize more than 100,000 volunteers to clean and beautify vacant lots, filling up more than 200,000 bags of trash on an annual basis; and WHEREAS, Block captains have been an integral partner in the Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative by assisting in the identification of blighted structures in need of demolition and in becoming stewards of abated lots; often transforming them into beautiful sitting gardens for seniors, tot lots for youth or safe places for community gatherings; and WHEREAS, Many block captains have risked their lives in the fight against crime through partnering with local Police districts and the District Attorney's Office to keep drug dealers off of their streets, close down drug houses and reduce acts of vandalism by unsupervised youth; and WHEREAS, Block captains are on the front line in advocating for the welfare of their constituents by linking families in need with the appropriate social service agencies to address immediate crises such as utility shut-offs, emergency food needs, housing repair problems, and services victims of crime may require; now therefore RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we honor the tireless efforts and tenacious commitment of the City of Philadelphia's Block Captains. ..End