2015 NLNA Board Member Elections

Please welcome our three newly elected at-large board members, Troy Crichton, Frank Maimone, and Barbara Saverino!Troy, Frank, and Barbara are joined by Monika Kreidie, who was re-elected; and by Don Phillips, who was elected after deciding not to run for re-election as Vice President. And we are thrilled to have Michael Coyne as our new Vice President.Jesse Gardner and Jeremy Lindemann also were elected to fill the remainder of terms vacated by Michael Coyne (vacated when he became VP) and Dolores Lyons (resigned).I'm very excited about our new board - the group that ran for election this time not only was the largest in 10 years, but it also was in our view the strongest. I only wish there were more seats!I also want to express the most earnest and grateful thanks to Logan Welde, Katrina Mansfield, Sharon Richman, Jennifer Baker, and Dolores Lyons for their invaluable service - and we look forward to all of them continuing to be highly involved!—Matt Ruben, NLNA President• • •The annual NLNA election took place on Thursday, May 28^th 2015 at the Northern Liberties Community Center.Eligible voters were verified and given a ballot. In order to vote:

• One must be registered to vote in NLNA elections.
• Anyone having voted in NLNA elections in recent years, is still registered.
• Bring your driver’s license or other proof of residence to register.
• The office will open at 6:50 to begin registering voters.

The positions of Vice-President, Secretary, and five Board seats were up for grabs.The candidates for officer seats were: Vice-President:Michael CoyneLogan WeldeSecretary:Janet FinegarThe at-large Board seat candidates are:Idalia AdanJessica BozarthTroy CrichtonJesse GardnerJordan HyattMonika KreidieJeremy LindemannFrank MaimoneBarb MulckhuyseDon PhillipsSharon RichmanDenise RobertsonBarbara SaverinoLogan WeldeBelow are their statements: (in random order)Vice President: (Pick one)Logan Welde:I am very proud to be nominated to the position of Vice President. I was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and grew up visiting the city and hearing from my father about his childhood in West Philadelphia. I moved away for college, then joined the Air Force and moved all around the country. After living in New York City for 8 years I decided to attend law school in Philadelphia and was extremely happy to be admitted to Temple. My first two years at Temple I lived in Ardmore; I thought, after living in NYC for 8 years, a break from city living would be nice. I was very wrong and quickly missed living in a city. I wound up moving to Northern Liberties because it was close to Temple, and, having a dog, was the most friendly to dog owners. When I looked at the neighborhood for housing I was so impressed with the community and I knew immediately that I felt at home.I have now lived in Northern Liberties for almost four years I have grown to appreciate the sense of community and care that the neighbors have for each other. I am proud to live in this community and am committed to making it a better place to live and raise a family. I have been extremely proud to be on the board for the past two years, and I believe that, if elected Vice President of the neighborhood association I will be fully invested in making our neighborhood a better place to live and raise a family.Michael Coyne:Dear Northern Liberties Neighbors,It’s an honor to be nominated for consideration as a candidate for Vice President of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association Board.The first time I ran for the board I submitted a basic pitch about helping improve the community and making our very special corner of Philadelphia an even better place to live. I will do my best to build on the efforts of others who served before me and will work on behalf of all my neighbors in Northern Liberties and the City of Philadelphia.With that said, the best part of my experience so far has been the opportunity to meet, work with, and get to know some pretty amazing people who just happen to be my neighbors. If elected to be Vice President of the NLNA Board, I would work to serve in that capacity to the best of my ability.Thank you for your consideration. Secretary: (Pick one)Janet Finegar:I've been a Northern Liberties resident since 1992ish, and a member of the NLNA since 1996. At various times I have served as President, Secretary, board member, a member of the zoning and election committees. Most importantly to me, however, I have been part of the Liberty Lands crew from the park's inception and co-coordinator of the park since 2000. (I am also a long-term member and current secretary of Orianna Hill Park.) I firmly believe that our green spaces are fundamentally responsible for making Northern Liberties the vibrant, funky, growing community that it is. I also believe passionately in the mission and programs of the NLNA and am proud to be a part of it.All that said, I'm running for secretary — again – because no one else will do it. Feel free to vote against me if you wish to do so! At-large Board: (pick five)Sharon Richman:In the 5 years that I have lived in Northern Liberties, I have been involved in many aspects of the community and the NLNA. I have been the recording secretary for the Zoning Committee for more than 2 years, a member of the Membership Committee and bake/cook for the Meet N Greets, work at the Music Festivals and the NLNA booth at the 2nd Street Fair and the WinterFest, pester businesses for donations for the WinterFest and help with the Plant Sale in the spring. Hopefully, these activities show my commitment to the neighborhood.  Being on the Board is just one more way to be involved. Don Phillips:I have lived in the neighborhood for 26 years… 24 of them as a board member and officer. I stepped down as VP this year because I felt that more folks need to get involved with governance. However I feel I can continue to contribute. My history, connections and unrelenting passion for Northern Liberties are assets worth having on the board. I appreciate your vote and your participation.Jeremy D. Lindemann:I am pleased to accept this nomination to serve on the NLNA Board of Directors.  I have lived in Northern Liberties for six years and it would be an honor to serve our community in this capacity.Northern Lliberties is an exciting and dynamic place to live. As our neighborhood continues to grow and develop, it is important that we, as residents and business owners, continue to have a voice in the process.  The work of NLNA as an organizing force has been instrumental in shaping the success of our neighborhood.I will work to continue the tradition of advocacy on behalf of our neighborhood that I have seen at NLNA.  I will see that this body continues to address the needs of residents and businesses.  As an attorney, I am an experienced problem solver.  Where there are disagreements, I will work to build consensus.  Quality of life issues and public safety are of particular concern to me.  I look forward to doing my best to help our neighborhood continue to be a great place to live, work and visit.Idalia Adan:I am 26 years old and graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts. My grandparents came to America in the late 40's to early 50's. They first landed in New York from Puerto Rico before finally settling in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. My mother and her siblings were raised right on these very streets and they stayed here as well. I have had the opportunity to be born and raised here in this city, in this developing neighborhood with my siblings. My roots are firm and deep here and I could think of nothing better than to be a board member on the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association to strengthen these roots that have been planted before me. As of yet, I have participated in some neighborhood clean ups and have worked with the NLArts camp as a summer counselor. I am currently volunteering with Taller Puertoriqueno, a group that works with low income communities providing guidance and cultural education and events to youth and adults.  Becoming a board member of the Northern Liberty Neighborhood Association would enable me to take a more active role and contribute to the positive development in our community.Troy Crichton:Hello! I have lived in Northern Liberties since 2012.  Prior to that, I attended Temple Law (Class of 2009) and have lived in several neighborhoods throughout the city.  Needless to say, Northern Liberties is my favorite.  I am currently a trial attorney with the Defender’s Association of Philadelphia. As a public defender I have become much more civic minded and am looking forward to being involved in my local civics as well as bringing a fresh perspective to things. I am applying to be on the NLNA Board to further these goals and gain a deeper understanding of our community.  I am looking forward to meeting new people and helping new goals and projects come to fruition. I hope you’ll vote for me.Jessica Bozarth: Hello Neighbors! I am running to serve on the NLNA Board of Directors.  I have been a resident of Northern Liberties since September 2013.  My husband and I moved here from Brooklyn, NY to raise our daughter and two dogs in this fantastic neighborhood full of excellent amenities, parks, restaurants, and beautiful homes.   I enjoy the family oriented events the community hosts and I would love to get involved in organizing future events.  Every day my family and I take advantage of the beautiful Liberty Lands Park, which is a wonderful asset to our community.  I would be honored to help maintain it.  I am also an experienced real estate attorney.  I believe my legal background could lend itself to assisting our community in many ways. I look forward to serving on the Board!Monika Kreidie:I am running for re-election to the Board of the NLNA because I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY! I believe that Northern Liberties is a true urban mecca, a community that is made up of all sorts of people with different backgrounds, but with the same goal -- making our neighborhood the premier place to live in Philadelphia. I was elected 2 years ago to the NLNA Board and feel that I still have things to accomplish such as getting newer residents of Northern Liberties involved with the neighborhood association and organizing block clean-ups. As more homes get built and more residents move into our area, it is important that our association grows with the population and remains a vital thread in the fabric of our community. I hope to be part of the leadership of the neighborhood by being elected for another 2-year board term.Denise Roberson:I am excited to have the opportunity to introduce myself to you as a nominee for an at-large board seat. I have a 30 year background in real estate and I made the investment to live in Northern Liberties 5 years ago, but I believe that investment should not be limited to increasing home values. Investment should also include community involvement and commitment.I am that “aggravating” neighbor who cleans the block, paints over graffiti walls, sends holiday trash pickup schedule reminders and if I must, remind landlords by way of L&I of their responsibility to those of us who love our NoLibs. I wish to take my dedication to another level. I am that “worker bee” Point me in the needed direction. Fresh face. Fresh ideas. I look forward to an involvement in the new and future of Northern Liberties, while respecting the charm, character and uniqueness of the old and traditional.Logan Welde:(Also nominated to be VP, statement above)Jordan Hyatt:I am a candidate for the NLNA board.  I am a long-term Philadelphia resident, having been born and raised in the area.  My family and I have lived in Northern Liberties for over seven years, moving to our current house on the north side of the neighborhood in 2012.  You may have read about our saga in the Daily News: http://goo.gl/p5FZVR.  Through this, I have become intimately familiar with many of the challenges that face our growing community, including construction issues and increases in crime.With a toddler in the house, I am also interested in preserving our public green space, including Liberty Lands, and making sure that the NLNA addresses the needs of young families, as well as long-term residents and the business and social service communities.  Professionally, I have been studying crime in Philadelphia for several years, proving a solid understanding of the issue and a foundational relationship with many agencies and local policy-makers. My background in law is occasionally useful, though I generally deny being a lawyer.I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies at Drexel University.  I received my PhD from University of Pennsylvania and law degree from Villanova University School of Law. I also sit on the board for Back on My Feet, a local and national homelessness advocacy and running organization.Barbara Saverino:Hello. I am pleased to accept the nomination to serve on the Board for the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association. Since my family moved into the area for my father’s job as pastor at St. Michael’s church in 1976, I have had an opportunity to be part of the neighborhood and see the many changes that have taken place.I served on the NLNA Board from 2006-2012. Working with my fellow board members, we accomplish many things including writing grants, leveraging funds and collaborating with the city, state and other partners to support Liberty Lands, develop the Northern Liberties Community Center property as well as begin the work on the Dough Boy Park (a work in progress).  During my time on the board I also focused on fundraising and worked with NLNA to transition the winter party to a community fund raiser and launched the annual appeal.I stepped down from the Board when I started a new position as Public Policy Director with United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.  As a NLNA Board member, I look forward to working on solutions to address quality of life issues, supporting our neighborhood and ensuring its vitality and uniqueness continue. Thank youJesse Gardner:I have served the community of Northern Liberties in some capacity since 1996, when I was hired by the NLNA to facilitate the community design / build effort for Liberty Lands. Although my work on that project is one of my most visible achievements, I also served on the Building Committee for the new Community Center, and for a brief time on the Design and Development Committee of the NLNA.  I have two children in the public schools; I live and work here. My concerns are your concerns.One of my strengths is building coalitions between diverse partners in order to achieve a desired goal. In the case of the Liberty Lands project, I coordinated over 50 partners to build the park. This included Legislative leaders, corporate and non profit organizations, design professionals, students and neighborhood residents. You can read more about this project at jessejgardnerstudio.com.I work in the design and planning field, with a focus on hospitality and historic buildings, and I have a parallel career as a fine art painter. In the private sector I work on complex zoning and development issues in neighborhoods that are seeing rapid growth and change. A recent Pro Bono project was the rescue of two historic textile banks at Front & Norris Streets, where the interests of three Neighborhood Associations came to bear on the fate of these beautiful buildings. The testimony of Christopher Somers as a Real Estate professional and mine as an advocate for Philadelphia's architectural and mercantile heritage were key to convincing a Court of Common Pleas judge to rescind the demolition permit. The buildings are now being renovated.

I am running for an at-large seat because I believe that my coalition-building abilities and experience will help ensure that there is a long term plan and vision in place to guide the neighborhood as the pace of new construction grows exponentially. Following is a breakdown of what I see are the major issues, based on my experience here as a resident and what others are saying.

Housing & Transportation PlanningPlanning for housing infill should be guided by the Neighborhood Plan, which needs to be revisited to ensure that it is still relevant. New housing units and the increase in population ties into transportation planning. We need to challenge the accepted narrative that traffic jams and lack of parking options are an inevitable result of growth in Northern Liberties.

Public Safety

I have been concerned for many years that our neighborhood is divided between two police districts--the 26th & 6th. With a substantial increase in population, will the already constrained police precincts that cover our area be adequate? We need to take a look at how policing can be done better, whether it is a long term focus on community policing, a substation at Liberty Lands, redrawing the districts boundaries etc.

Public Places

The public library and post office in the Northwest corner of the neighborhood are key to civic life.  A book could be filled with complaints I have read on social media about the 7th Street post office, and the library is a dated facility that should be renovated or replaced. If a majority in our community agrees that in the big picture we deserve better, we need to take action to make changes. This might start with a public survey, and an invitation to our elected City and State Representatives to meet the community and identify possible solutions. In addition to the library and post office issues, this corner of the neighborhood continues to be neglected in terms of retail and residential development. Special attention needs to be focused on this area to improve the built environment and quality of life.

RecreationBoth of my children have benefited from the Rec Center's programs, but its many shortcomings cannot be overlooked. Collectively, we have the know-how and resources to expand and improve it so it better serves everyone in the community. We also need to ensure that our local playgrounds and parks are adequate to serve our growing community.

Retail & ServicesWith the increase in population, it is now feasible from an economic perspective to have a more fully developed Retail & Services sector. Do we let the free market economy determine commercial development, or is there a way our Board can help guide the process so businesses and services that we need will locate here?

Creative Economy - Light Manufacturing

Northern Liberties lost most of its manufacturing jobs over the decades, with the few surviving factories being converted to housing without much workspace included in the mix. Many creative people no longer find it affordable or convenient, and are leaving. We need to use the zoning tools available to us--such as the new IRMX (Industrial Residential Mixed Use) category--to accommodate jobs and the creative industry in warehouse conversions and new construction. When jobs are provided in the neighborhood, the local economy is stronger and the neighborhood more socially diverse.

Public SchoolsIt is not an overstatement that one the most pressing issues in our City today is the condition of our Public Schools. Good public schools are the bedrock of any community, and they are the first amenity that families ask about when considering relocating here. Much has been done by neighborhood residents to improve Kearney, our local public school, and more needs to be done to make available a choice of good public schools in our neighborhood.

Thank you for considering me as an at-large board member. I will work hard to address these concerns and any that you bring to the table, and I appreciate your vote!

Barbara Mulckhuyse:

I spent 25 years in Corporate America, working for Aramark mostly as a marketer and project manager of large projects such as the construction of the Mets stadium; Citfield. Most recently I ran and oversaw a distribution network in Europe before finally deciding that it was time to start to work for myself; combining my passion for houses, design & architecture with my skill set as a marketer and project manager. I have been a realtor with Space & Company (owned by fellow No. Liberties resident Brigit Brust) since October and absolutely love it so far- helping people with what is likely their most important/critical financial decision!  I would look forward to re-engaging in the neighborhood and contributing in a way in which it will serve not only the interests of existing residents, but also its newest residents. I hope I can count on your vote!Frank Maimone:Write-In Candidate Download these forms to register to vote in future elections.NLNA Resident Voter RegistrationNLNA Business Voter Registration

This Fall, we’ll be taking nominations for the at-large board seat left open by Michael Coyne who was elected Vice President.

If you’re interested in local advocacy and taking on projects that help bring neighbors together in a common effort that keeps Northern Liberties a great place to live, work, and visit — then consider running for a two year term in the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association. Feel free to contact any board member to find out more about what’s involved!To run you must live, own or run a business in the neighborhood. You must also have attended at least three NLNA General Meetings or joined and attended three Committee meetings (or a combination of both) in the period between May of 2012 and April of 2013. (If you’ve attended just two, then the upcoming April 25 meeting can count as your third.)Check out our committees (by clicking here)

Next year, we’ll be taking nominations again for open seats at the 2016 April NLNA General Membership meeting.

Feel free to contact any one of us through the NLNA at 215-627-6562 or by email at info@nlna.org for more information.So please consider running – and pass this on to any friends or neighbors who might be interested.  —