Ideas Backed by Action

A personal rant, if you will, feel free to skip this article it’s not an important announcement or pressing event.

Starting out in life I was, and still am, a fully trained artist (whatever that means, there’s a piece of paper on my wall) and Ideas were the food stuff I lived on all day long. I would sit around at home or at my low wage job and dream up things and complain about how things ought to be done.

Eventually the Dreams and Ideas either consume a person’s spare time or spur them into Action. It took about four years to kick start my own engine into an Idea to Action assembly line. I took on the roll of producing a product that people could use and consume, while at the same time be wrapped up in the Ideas that had taken so long to put into Action.

Fast forward to today, the present, and my involvement with the neighborhood. I’m fully embroiled in the local Civic Association and tossing about Ideas and putting them into Action. Neighborhood events, awareness campaigns, zoning matters, taking in complaints from residents and trying to find solutions through… Action.

Then here comes the Democratic Primary and all kinds of people I’ve never even met, in the neighborhood, who come popping out of lawyer’s offices and private condos. Apparently we have Democratic Committee People and Ward Leaders who want our votes. But for the past two years I’ve never met any of them or seen them at Neighborhood improvement meetings, clean-up days, or a civic Board Meeting. It seems that the only time any of them are interested in interacting with the community is when they need votes. They have lots of Ideas but no Action and that speaks to a serious problem I have with the political process.

How can you represent a community with Ideas and no Action? Words are just ephemeral objects that anyone with a mouth (or a blog) can spread about at will. I could promise to lower taxes in the city, right now here on this website, but that won’t make it happen. You have to take Action. Pick up some litter, take part in a community meeting, start a neighborhood improvement program, get some grant money to install lamp posts… just DO something. You won’t get my vote with just Ideas, I want to see a history of Action to prove your credibility.

Kindergarten Registration Underway

Registration for Kindergarten has started today and will continue until the last day of August. The Philadelphia School District has planned an OPEN HOUSE day on March 4th.

Find A Kindergarten close to you.
Admissions Process: General George A. McCall School (325 South 7th Street)

Philadelphia's New School Chief

Arlene Ackerman, the former San Francisco schools superintendent, was named as City School Chief yesterday by Mayor Nutter, with Gov. Rendell's support. The School Reform Commission will subject her to review before final approval.



What Does the City School Chief Do? Link.



Arlene Ackerman Summary:

• Helped San Francisco redistribute it's funding structure so that school in poverty areas were given more.
• Known for 'cleaning up' government spending on schools.
• Known for having trouble relating with Unions and critics to work out equitable agreements.
• Described as an 'autocrat' or 'dictator' by former colleagues.
• Despite her troubles with Board of Education and long term staff members Ackerman has improved every school system she's been in charge of financially and organizationally.