Block Club Social Contract

Block Club Social Contract

"To Secure the Blessings of Liberty"
Institute for the Study of Civic Values
Philadelphia, Pa.
March, 1994

Introduction

The Institute negotiated Block Club Social Contract in 1994, with the aim of helping community groups and block captains themselves define basic goals in improving appearance, safety, education, and economic opportunity in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia.

Community leaders from a cross-section of the City's neighborhoods drafted the social contract -joined by leaders of city-wide organizations that work in neighborhoods like the City's Clean Blocks Program and Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth. The Mayor's Office, the School District, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority took part in the process as well. At this point, more than 35 city-wide and neighborhood organizations are working together to implement this social contract.

Preamble

We, the residents of Philadelphia's neighborhoods--block captains, members of block associations, and participants in agencies and organizations that support them--pledge to work together to build communities that are attractive, safe, economically viable, and decent places in which to live and raise children. We affirm that all residents are part of "we, the people," with the rights and responsibilities of members of a free society. We will work to promote harmony, responsibility, and cooperation in the neighborhoods among homeowners, tenants, and residents of publicly assisted housing. We further commit to help all residents acquire the education and training needed to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." To this end, we seek to "promote the general welfare" throughout the City of Philadelphia through the fulfillment of the following social contract:

Neighborhood Appearance

We commit ourselves to promote the highest possible standards of appearance and cleanliness on the blocks and in the neighborhoods where we live. To this end we pledge:

To support to the City's Clean Blocks Program, PhilaPride, the Anti-Graffiti Network, and other efforts to improve block appearance. We will encourage existing block clubs and civic associations to promote block organizing throughout the City.
To encourage residents to keep sidewalks and curbs clean and avoid littering and to remove snow and ice from sidewalks during the winter. We expect the city to offer material support to neighborhood clean- up, fix-up campaigns and to accord special recognition to block associations that demonstrate ongoing commitment to preserving the physical condition and appearance of their blocks. We likewise expect the city to develop an adequate system in the winter to secure the removal of snow and ice in a prompt and efficient manner.
To insist that neighbors handle the disposal of trash and the maintenance of blocks in compliance with City codes. We expect the Sanitation Division of the Streets Department to manage trash collection throughout the City in an efficient and effective manner. We pledge full cooperation with law enforcement agencies in identifying and prosecuting those who dump trash illegally or who conduct illegal car repair businesses on our streets. We expect the city to provide simple and clear mechanisms for block associations to address the concerns of neighborhood residents in these areas.
To support the City's recycling program and the effort to extend recycling throughout Philadelphia. We further pledge to develop innovative approaches to recycling, both in encouraging citizen participation and in expanding upon recyclable materials.
To support L&I's ongoing program to demolish imminently dangerous vacant properties, but we expect this program to be implemented in cooperation with civic groups, Neighborhood Advisory Committees (NACs), and block associations. We will help L&I identify property owners in serious violation of City building codes, but we expect L&I to work out ongoing strategies for code enforcement in cooperation with neighborhood-based organizations.
To cooperate with civic associations, churches, Neighborhood Advisory Committees, and community development corporations in repairing and maintaining residential properties on our blocks and to rehabilitate and market vacant houses and apartments throughout the City. We expect realtors, local banks and financial institutions, the Delaware Valley Mortgage Plan, the Office of Housing and Community Development, the Redevelopment Authority, the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation, and the Sheriff's Office to work with us in these efforts.
To work with the residents of public and Section 8 housing to insure that all properties under the Philadelphia Housing Authority's jurisdiction are properly maintained. We further expect PHA to undertake its modernization program in cooperation with the tenants and with the residents of surrounding neighborhoods.. We will work with PHA and its tenants to insure that public housing in the future is attractive, safe, and integrated into the fabric of the community.
To insist that government at all levels undertake preventative maintenance and adequate repairs of publicly owned facilities, especially schools, recreation centers, and neighborhood parks. We offer full support to the Home and School Association, the Parents' Union, Recreation Advisory Councils, Friends of Philadelphia Parks and other citizen groups in holding the City and the School District accountable for proper maintenance of land and buildings under their jurisdiction.
To support the Philadelphia Green Program of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and Penn States's Urban Garden Programs in turning vacant lots into community gardens. We expect the City and the private sector to continue to support these programs as well. We further expect the Redevelopment Authority to extend its partnership with neighborhoods in making vacant lots available to communities for gardening and revitalization projects.
To insure that the City and neighborhood development organizations pay special attention to the physical revitalization of commercial and industrial corridors that often serve as neighborhood main streets with a decisive impact on the overall quality of community life.

Neighborhood Harmony and Security

"To insure domestic tranquillity," we will work on our blocks and in the neighborhoods to promote harmony among residents, reduce crime, and to combat violence. We pledge our full cooperation with all levels of government in these efforts and we expect government to be responsive to the efforts of block and community organizations and neighborhood to achieve these goals. To this end, we commit the following:

To promote good relations among block residents by helping neighbors get to know and respect one another. We pledge full cooperation with efforts of the Human Relations Commission to reduce racial and ethnic conflict. We equally expect elected officials, public and private agencies and institutions, and business and civic associations to foster a climate of cooperation throughout the City.
To reduce neighborhood violence through programs that promote stability and cooperation among residents of the block and the neighborhood. We expect public and private agencies to work with us to ease tensions that can lead to violence.
To strengthen neighborhood watch programs like Town Watch. We expect all levels of government to support community crime prevention by providing the equipment needed in such programs and by supporting adequate training of police and residents in how to make them effective.
To support community policing and encourage the widest possible citizen participation in Police District Advisory Councils. We expect the police to involve neighborhood groups, block clubs, and concerned citizens in defining major objectives for law enforcement within each neighborhood, including the establishment of police mini-stations that can strengthen community cooperation in combatting crime.
To support neighborhood campaigns to eliminate drug trafficking and the demand for illegal drugs and to protect our residents from drug dealers and users. We expect all levels of government to back up our efforts to remove drug dealers from the streets and houses and to make substance abuse treatment accessible to all residents who seek it. We pledge full cooperation with community education programs designed to combat substance abuse, especially among our young people.
To cooperate with the District Attorney's office to strengthen prosecution of neighborhood crime in the courts. To make this system work, we expect government to develop adequate means to protect people who work with the criminal justice system. We likewise expect the courts to consider the safety of the community as a major consideration in imposing sentences, especially against repeat offenders.We pledge full cooperation with organizations that support the victims of and witnesses to crime.
To demand that both Juvenile and Common Pleas Court take first offenses seriously and mandate an appropriate program of counselling and probation aimed at preventing any further offenses. We pledge to cooperate with Youth Aids Panels created through the District Attorney's Office to impose community sentencing as an effective approach to combatting juvenile crime. We equally expect the criminal justice system to concentrate on rehabilitating those in prison to prevent them from resuming criminal activity once they return to our neighborhoods. Again, the safety of the community must be a priority consideration in determining whether a person is ready to released.

Families and Children

We will create an atmosphere of trust that strengthens families and enables all residents of all generations to work together. To this end, we will make a special effort to insure that the spirit of cooperation that we promote on our blocks extends to our young people. We will encourage them to join neighborhood clean-ups improvement projects as junior block captains, as well as participate in block social activities. Through a variety of efforts, we will place a high priority on helping families provide adequate support to secure quality education for our children. To this end, we pledge:

To help families on the block work together to provide child care for our children, both through informal arrangements as well as through structured childcare cooperatives. We expect publicly funded day care centers to provide information to block captains and neighborhood associations concerning opportunities for child care within our communities.
To work with schools to insure student attendance and promote positive attitudes toward learning. We will identify community people and resources that can help our children perform successfully in the classroom. We expect all institutions an organizations working with young people to develop partnerships with us to promote quality education throughout the City..
To involve neighborhood young people in block parties and social activities in the community. We expect the Recreation Department and private youth agencies to work with us in developing constructive programs for our children. We will work with the Department to secure safe outdoor areas for our children to enjoy. We will encourage responsible adults in the community to participate, coach and supervise young people at play as a way of helping them gain a sense of direction. We expect the Recreation Department to maintain playgrounds and repair broken and hazard equipment promptly.
To help all families gain access to information concerning community programs promoting child health, safety, and development. We expect agencies sponsoring such programs to publicize them through block and neighborhood associations.
To provide ongoing opportunities for young people to contribute to the overall quality of community life. We expect the Phila-A-Job, the Youth Employment Program, and social service agencies to expand opportunities for youth community service and employment within our neighborhoods.
To support troubled families by providing information on programs dealing with domestic violence and child abuse and by identifying safe havens in the community where children and families can go during a crisis.

Economic Opportunity and Security

To "secure the blessings of liberty" requires that all residents of Philadelphia gain economic opportunity and security for ourselves and our families. As block leaders and residents, we pledge to help one another achieve these goals. To this end, we pledge:

To work to insure that area lenders and financial institutions provide mortgage financing in all neighborhoods of Philadelphia to eligible individuals and families, consistent with the requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act.
To provide block and neighborhood meetings with information on job opportunities available to our residents--especially those offered by area businesses and by government programs. We expect local businesses and City development agencies to supply us with this information in a timely fashion.
To make information concerning adult literacy, small business development, and job training available to block and neighborhood residents. We expect the Mayors' Commission on Literacy, the Commerce Department, the Philadelphia Commercial Development Corporation, the County Board of Assistance, and the Private Industry Council to provide this information to us in a timely fashion.
To make information concerning food, fuel, health and financial assistance programs available to low-income residents of our blocks. We expect to receive this information in a timely fashion.
To offer the support of our organizations to area groups advocating economic opportunity, affordable housing, and quality education in Philadelphia, so that all residents can live in freedom and dignity as responsible members of our community.