Queen Village Social Contract

Adopted by Queen Village Neighbors Association
Philadelphia, Pa.
March, 1993

Introduction

The Institute negotiated its first social contract in 1993 in Queen Village, a South Philadelphia neighborhood only a few blocks from Independence Hall in the oldest part of the City. Negotiations took place Queen Village Neighbors, composed largely homeowners, and the tenant leadership of Southwark Plaza, a major public housing development in their midst. The Queen Village Social Contract called for a new plan to rehabilitate Southwark, a reorganized police mini-station, a new partnership with local schools, a summer day-camp for kids, and an adult literacy program. Every goal was achieved and all groups in the neighborhood have been working together ever since.

Preamble

We the people of Queen Village--homeowners, tenants, residents of Southwark Plaza, and others who serve the Queen Village neighborhood between the River and 6th Street from Lombard Street to Washington Avenue--endorse and pledge to implement the following social contract among all those with responsibility "to promote the general welfare" of the neighborhood:

To Preserve Neighborhood Security:

We will work to establish an ongoing partnership with law enforcement authorities to eliminate drug dealing, public drinking, and other behavior destructive to the neighborhood from all parts of Queen Village. As part of this effort, we will work to preserve the South Street mini-station and to determine the best strategy for full staffing of the Southwark mini-station. Citizen groups and the police will work together to achieve effective community participation in neighborhood anti-crime efforts.

To Promote the Physical Revitalization of Queen Village:

  1. We will work together to insure that all homeowners, landlords, tenants, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority maintain their properties and respect one another's rights as neighbors.

  2. We join with the Southwark Tenants' Council in demanding enforcement of a lease with the same standards of rent payment, maintenance, and security that tenants and homeowners throughout the neighborhood are expected to uphold. We also support the enforcement of the Southwark Tenants' Council Good Neighbor Policy.

  3. We will work to initiate a comprehensive plan for securing full occupancy of all vacant residential and commercial buildings within the community.

To Improve the Appearance of Queen Village:

  1. We will work with the South Street and 4th Street Business Associations to end trash dumping on the neighborhood's major commercial corridors.

  2. We will cooperate fully with the City's Clean Blocks Program and Recycling Programs.

  3. We will work with and support the volunteer organizations which maintain the parks, open spaces and street trees.

To "Secure the Blessings of Liberty" to Young People in the Neighborhood:

  1. We will work in partnership with the schools serving Queen Village to insure quality education for our children. The schools will work with the community to preserve the highest standards of educational performance. All organizations serving Queen Village will promote parent involvement in Home and School Councils and recruit tutors and mentors to assist the students.

  2. We will work to expand indoor recreation through the Boys' and Girls' Club and to extend scholarships to neighborhood young people to participate in the summer camp sponsored by United Communities of South Philadelphia.

  3. We will seek maximum participation of area young people and businesses in the Mayor's Youth Employment Program.

To Promote Economic Opportunity for All Queen Village residents:

  1. We pledge our support and cooperation with the proposed Special Services District on South Street to preserve a decent business climate on a major commercial corridor.

  2. We will work to establish adult literacy programs in the neighborhood and to recruit neighborhood volunteers to teach in them.

  3. We will introduce job readiness workshops in the neighborhood for all those seeking opportunities for employment.

  4. We will work with area businesses to identify qualified residents for jobs in the neighborhood and to disseminate information from the Private Industry Council and the County Board of Assistance's "New Directions" concerning city-wide job placement and training programs.

We pledge to cooperate in achieving these goals as an expression of our continuing commitment to build a "more perfect union" in Queen Village among all those who live and work in our community.