This should not be ignored, and is, in fact, impossible to avoid. There is also a charter school, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School. Many now-users originally sought out street drugs due to injuries or post-surgery pains and couldnt afford the legal medicines to soothe their pain. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, What happened Today, October, 05, 2021. kimgary 266K subscribers 348K views 1 year ago Most dangerous street in Philadelphia Kensington. 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. Kensington Drug Boss Convicted at Trial for Supplying Crack and Heroin Subs and Xany bars, subs and Xany bars, chant men in cockeyed baseball caps while pacing the corner, searching the crowd for potential customers. Crack, meth, heroin, oxycodone, weed, percocet, PCP these are all the usual suspects around Kensington Ave. The problem is that Kensington Avenue is largely unseen by Philadelphians. The generally accepted boundaries of the neighborhood[citation needed] 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. 2 Kensington's high crime rate and drug abuse contribute significantly to Philadelphia's problems.Because of the high number of drugs in the neighborhood, Kensington has the third-highest drug crime rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia, at 3.57. [39], The proposal to open a supervised injection site in Kensington has faced backlash from residents, despite the area's prevalent public drug use. 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. Kensington Avenue also benefits from the non-profit organizations operating there. 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. Many died there. Its so well known that a simple Google search for really bad drug areas brings it up. On March 21, 2021, SEPTA indefinitely closed the Somerset Station of the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). They were en route to more serious crimes going down to the west in the Badlands. Along with its teeming trade in illicit materials, Kensington is also a highly dangerous neighborhood. Its the hottest night of the summer, and on Philadelphias Kensington Avenue, underneath the elevated train tracks at Somerset Street, mills a crowd of addicts nearly 100 strong, the biggest ever to flock to this well-known drug corner. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Multiple people were injured after a messy crash in the Kensington section of the city. Philadelphia deadly stabbing near Kensington park on 4th Street under Between the two encampments targeted on Wednesday, half a dozen other spots continue to grow. 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. When resources are limited, you get to a point as a police officer where you ask yourself, Why am I doing something ineffective? says former Maryland State Police officer Neill Franklin, executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a group of criminal-justice professionals who favor drug-law reform. A "person of interest" in the case, Antonio Rodriguez, was arrested in January 2011. Kim Gary shared a video drive-through of Kensington that will leave you speechless that city Democrats are ignoring the real problems in their city. Subs are Suboxone, a pill containing buprenophine, a drug that eases the pain of heroin withdrawal. 'They Need Support': Philadelphia Officials Break Up Homeless Frankford Avenue Baptist Church, 2347-49 Frankford Avenue, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA (1889). Compared to the infamous Skid Row in Los Angeles, Kensingtons homeless problem doesnt seem as bad. Wednesdays encampment closure was initially postponed due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of residents. It is this sort of activism, buoyed by engaged (and zoning savvy!) It happened shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday in the area of Fairhill Square Park at 4th Street and Lehigh Avenue. Clifton Mills, 1833 N. Howard Street, Kensington (185263). Emerald Street, Tulip Street, Kensington Avenue, Frankford Avenue . Even more concerning are the fetishizations of the corridor, which go something like this: Yes its bad, but it can be fun to visit because its bad. Mattresses lie in the mud along the railway where prostitutes trick, and rapes and assaults are common. Housing justice advocates have criticized the citys treatment of encampment residents in both Kensington and Center City, alleging that officials fail to provide adequate long-term housing options after shutting down their living sites. But we cant do this until the federal government changes its stance on prohibition., Lt. Ray Evers has a harsh retort for Franklin and his reform-minded law-enforcement ilk. You have to bring services to addicts, offer them treatment. Kensington has traditionally been known as one of the working class centers of Philadelphia. Franklin oversaw narcotics operations around Baltimore for much of his 34 years in law enforcement and knows well the futility of locking up addicts en masse. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are searching for two suspects who are wanted in connection with a violent carjacking earlier this week. 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. "PR," age 41, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted at trial of all counts with which he was charged, including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute crack and heroin, arising from his leadership role in supplying a drug . Almost half of the neighborhoods residents live below the poverty line. Between 2013 and 2015, the number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50%, with more than twice as many deaths from overdoses as homicides. In recent years, Kensington has experienced increasing social issues primarily related to drug abuse. Fishtown, formerly a small subsection of Kensington, has transformed with a new population of more college educated white people as well as increased investment from real estate developers. On January 4, 2016, Jim Kenney was sworn in as the 99th Mayor of Philadelphia. During the hunt for the strangler, the area was flooded with cops. There have been many petitions by residents to take care of Kensington. Philly police release video, photos of person they say cut fiber-optic I n the underworld of Philadelphia, beneath the elevated subway line along Kensington Avenue, tears were as prevalent as needles. Who is Henry Winklers Son? I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. The case was dropped in July. Documentary by SBC News covering Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave.Philadelphia's most dangerous street.Problems with Drugs and Crime in Kensington Ave, PhiladelphiaIn Philadelphia as a whole, violent crime and drug abuse are major issues. [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. However, heroin and fentanyl is without a doubt the most popular drugs. Kensington residents ask: 'Why would you think this is acceptable for SBC News 188K subscribers Subscribe 10K 1.4M views 1 year ago #SBCNews. Every day Jorge Rosario, 52, a resident of the Kensington section Philadelphia cleans the sidewalk along the 2700 block of Kensington Ave., Philadelphia. With such a high concentration of drugs in Kensington, many state and local officials have focused on the neighborhood in an attempt to address Philadelphia's problem.#SBCNews West Kensington is similar to Norris Square and Fairhill in that it has a similar demographic to most of Kensington while having a more North Central Philadelphia identity,[citation needed] but unlike the other two neighborhoods it remains certainly part of Kensington. It was a scene that rivaled the aftermath of a storm, its victims caught up in forces that leave many hungry, homeless and hopeless. People are hanging out everywhere, turning tricks and working petty hustles. Significant rent increases are commonly triggered by increasing property values and a new wealthier demographic that can afford to pay higher rents. 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. Some even offer free samples. For too long, Kensington residents have resorted to other neighborhoods to shop. The drug overdose rate in Philadelphia is also concerning. Dealers stand out in the open, hawking their wares. Neighbors raised alarms about addicts bringing violent sex crimes to the blocks where families live. As with all neighborhoods in the city, the lack of any official designation means the boundaries of the area vary between sources over time. 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. Stop writing about Kensington Avenue like its Mordor. The U.S. 'There still is no answer': Philly cracks down on Kensington Crack houses and shooting galleries were raided because women could easily get raped and killed there. There was a major street gang located at K&A that started as a burglary ring but eventually moved into drug trafficking in the 80s. The New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. GDP . They marched from Kensington to Oyster Bay, New York, carrying banners demanding, "We want to go to School and not the mines! The stranglers final victim, a prostitute named Casey Mahoney, was murdered here. During my career I concluded we werent making a dent in drug addiction or related crime. The City of Philadelphia, Police and social services are along Kensington Avenue near Willard Street on Wednesday morning August 18, 2021, clearing the streets of homeless in the center of the opioid epidemic in the city. This has made it hard for police to quell the trade. Kensington Avenue's ghoulish world of addiction and prostitution exists outside the law. Philadelphia officials developed what they call the "encampment resolution" process in 2017 after the city swept a . Answer (1 of 3): Kensington is the dark side of Western Industrialized society. McNeil Laboratories began with the purchase of a pharmacy in the area in 1879 by the company's namesake. People are scared to take the train to work. Kensington was the birthplace of the K&A Gang, an Irish American organized crime association known for their distribution of methamphetamine in the 1980s. Kensington belongs to or divides Lower Northeast and North Philadelphia. The cap will be home to nearly 12 acres of parkland and seamlessly connect Old City to the Delaware River waterfront at Penns Landing. I also undertook strategies to address chronic issues of blight and vacancy. But arresting heroin addicts? Through it all, I consistently found myself impressed in awe of the merchants on Kensington Avenue and hopeful for their entrepreneurial futures. All About Max Winkler. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June - YouTube Groups of Irish Americans, Polish Americans, and Asian Americans also make up the neighborhood. Its central to the neighborhood and offers an ideal place to shoot up and camp out. Philadelphia Kensington Avenue, What happened on Monday, June 28 2021 gdpGdp The neighborhood also recently has seen a large influx of primarily white young urban professionals and gentrification, particularly in Fishtown[3] which is no longer considered to be Kensington and in Olde Kensington, Norris Square, and East Kensington. Addictions a medical problem; cops dont want to deal with that. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. The number of drug overdose deaths in the city increased by 50% from 2013 to 2015, with more than twice as many deaths from drug overdoses as deaths from homicides in 2015.2 A big part of Philadelphias problems stem from the crime rate and drug abuse in Kensington. Eight months ago, the Kensington Strangler was stalking and murdering addicted prostitutes who worked the Avenue. Police said the victim is a 43-year-old man, who was stabbed multiple times. A 25-year-old woman was shot once in her left leg. Juniata, the neighborhood to the north, and Kensington are similar demographically, yet the former is slightly wealthier and has more green space. Additionally, there is a large population of homeless individuals. Streets of Philadelphia, Kensington Ave Story, Here's What Happened Today, Tuesday, Sept 7, 20 . The increase in violent crime, homelessness, and out-of-control drug use in Kensington are far greater threats to residents of Philadelphia. But this is an ongoing process. The underpass is cleared of homeless during the regular Friday morning police enforced clean-up at the homeless encampment on Kensington Avenue north of E. Lehigh Ave. on the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia on Friday, April 27, 2018. But since Januarywhen 22-year-old Antonio Rodriguez, a PCP-smoking petty drug dealer from the notorious adjoining Badlands neighborhood, was arrested and charged with the murdersaddicts say that police have retreated, leaving them to do their drugs in relative peace. Were trying to make sure people are attaching to services rather than moving, Gladstein said. Most dangerous street in PhiladelphiaKensington Philadelphia Drug \u0026 Crime ProblemsViolent crime and drug abuse in Philadelphia as a whole is a major problem. Addicts can be found in the woods along the Tracks openly cooking and shooting drugs in broad daylight, a daily occurrence that indicates this is territory clearly forsaken by the law. Google Maps borders for Kensington show it including much of what is considered Fishtown and excludes West Kensington. Postal service considers 19134 (Richmond Station) as the area known as Port Richmond. These boundaries have since shifted so that a large area north of Lehigh Avenue is now considered part of Kensington, while Fishtown is no longer considered part of the neighborhood. link to Whatever Happened To Natalie Raitano. Most encampment residents had moved out from the former site before Wednesday morning. [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. These are bakeries, daycares, artist spaces, and coffee roasters; businesses selected to draw foot traffic and fill much-needed service gaps. The majority of the neighborhood is renter occupied, 55.6% overall, and up to 66.3% in one tract. Dozens upon dozens of people lived there. The intersection of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues (commonly referred to by Philadelphians as "K & A") is a major transportation and retail hub in the Kensington neighborhood, as it is served by the Frankford Elevated portion of the MarketFrankford Line which, running on top of Kensington Avenue, dominates the intersection. No one denies this. Some, such as the second location for the Baltimore Avenue-based Vientiane Cafe, are just getting started. [38] However, the decision to close the station "indefinitely" led hundreds of Kensington residents to march from Somerset Station to Allegheny Station in protest, recreating the longer trip many of them had to take to access the MFL since the closure. Multiple people injured after crash in Kensington. The Avenue runs 3 miles through what is now a dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhood. Kensington Philadelphia News - 6abc Philadelphia At stake in all this, is the soul of a place where Philadelphians have made a living, shopped and socialized for generations. A textile factory will feature apartments and commercial space. But users who buy in the Badlands come to Kensington to shoot up. Philadelphia's most dangerous street.Problems with Drugs and Crime in Kensington Ave, PhiladelphiaIn Philadelphia as a whole, violent crime and drug abuse are major issues. He also sold to recent German fishermen immigrants. Worse than plain heroin. Kensington Blues is a photography series by Jeffrey Stockbridge, 36, that documented the struggles and the dark reality of local residents. [41] However, some residents and many harm reduction advocates in the area are supportive.[35][42]. Looking to be close to Center City by both car and transit, young white collar workers have been moving to cheaper neighborhoods around downtown. The conflict between clean residents and dealers can escalate, sometimes so high that a person once threw a Molotov cocktail through a residents window. We talk about our favorite travels in Europe, as well as travel anywhere in the U.S. and the rest of the world. In Philly, Will More Police Officers Reduce Gun Violence? Probably for. (2021 Crime Rates And Crime Stats), Is Pittsburgh Safe To Visit? Anything else is tantamount to poverty porn and disrespectful to the people who dedicate their lives to making Kensington Avenue a better place. [33] Such a phenomenon is happening across Kensington, causing long-term residents to be priced out. The number of drug overdose . A Google search for Kensington Avenue Philadelphia yields horrendous images of sad-eyed people slumped over in varying poses of despair. 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. Well probably have a detail stationed [there], Alexander said. Kensington, Philadelphia - Wikipedia Before the Act of Consolidation, 1854, the Kensington District included portions of the neighborhoods known today as Olde Kensington, East Kensington, West Kensington, and Fishtown, with its northern border at Lehigh Avenue. note Even Dr. Oz took the time to show us a Kensington Avenue as a hellscape. These articles tell an intentional narrative, one which has no room for hope. [5] The current greater Kensington area roughly coincides with the former Kensington District, Richmond District, Aramingo Borough, and Northern Liberties Township. Addicts duck into vacant lots on the Avenue after returning from dope corners a couple of blocks away and, barely concealed by high weeds, casually cook and shoot speedballs. McPherson Square is the heart of Kensington. They're visible within seconds of exiting the subway: injections in broad daylight, tent encampments, legions of trash and squalor. . Adjacent neighborhoods are Northern Liberties (ZIP code 19123), Fishtown and Olde Richmond (ZIP code 19125), Port Richmond (ZIP code 19134). Despite lobbying council members and state representatives, no change has been made. August 18, 2021 / 5:22 PM / CBS Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- City officials broke up a homeless encampment in Kensington Wednesday afternoon, with outreach teams tearing down the. The Walmart of Heroin: Update on Drugs in Kensington Soon, thanks to this effort and efforts like it, they wont have to. There still is no answer for the full number of people out here, McKinney said. Many of these residents dont have homes. Kensington development team seeks middle ground between gentrification and stagnation. It has one of the largest rates of shootings in the city and is the scene of many murders. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. 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. Soon, it too will house a commercial tenant and NKCDCs new offices. Max Marin (he/him) was Billy Penn's investigative reporter from 2018 to 2021. Speaking as someone coming from this field, it can be unforgiving and thirsty work, defined by small victories and glorious defeats. 2 Kensington's high crime rate and drug abuse contribute significantly to Philadelphia's problems.Because of the high number of drugs in the neighborhood, Kensington has the third-highest drug crime rate by neighborhood in Philadelphia, at 3.57. Once it hit rock bottom, the need for an outlet brought more people in. [35][citation needed]. The Tracks, a mile-long wooded stretch of shipping railway cutting across the Badlands, is a section of Philadelphia long ago ceded by law enforcement to drug users. In 2017, officials moved to raze a large-scale encampment known as El Campamento that had long existed, hidden out of sight along the Conrail train tracks. 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. Two emergency shelters closed along Kensington Avenue within the last year. 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.