Bass talks property tax, school closings at Coffee With Councilwoman event

Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass and several staffers met with residents at a Chew Avenue supermarket to field questions and discuss real-estate tax assessments, school closings and vacant property in the neighborhoods on Friday afternoon.

The event, held at the Fresh Grocer in The Shoppes at La Salle, was part of Bass’ ongoing “Coffee with the Councilwoman” series in which constituents are invited to come meet their district legislator for one-on-one chats.

Bass said it was a nice turnout.

“We have a steady stream of folks that came by with their issues,” Bass told NewsWorks at the event. “The more we communicate with our constituents, the more we know what’s happening, what needs to be addressed, so we can get it fixed.”

Attendees speak to NewsWorks

Louise Cleveland has lived in West Oak Lane for 58 years and currently serves as the Democratic committee person in 17th Ward, 9th division.

She said that Bass, spurred by neighborhood complaints, had a no-parking sign placed on her street just last week.

“I was shocked,” said Cleveland. “I said, ‘Cindy put the sign up.’ One thing about Cindy is she starts off in the neighborhood.”

Cleveland is currently working to bolster the block-captain ranks in her neighborhood; the unity is not what it once was, she said.

“We need to communicate,” Cleveland said. “All the block captains get together, go downtown and get a program. And if that happens in every division, we can get the people together because our people now are just ‘my way’ and ‘me, myself and I.’ You can’t get nowhere like that.”

Adeline Behlin and Robbin Behlin, a mother-daughter committeeperson team, also spoke with Bass about summer camps that will be provided at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 1420 W. Chelten Ave., and the Morris Estate Recreation Facility, 1610 W. Chelten Ave.

“This summer, our money is a little funny so we asked her if the council lady could help us and she said, ‘Yes,'” said Adeline Behlin. “She said she’ll donate some tickets to the zoo to take the children.”

The next Coffee with the Councilwoman event session is scheduled for this upcoming Friday 8 to 10 a.m. at Breakfast 2 NE 2, 2928 N. 22nd St.

Also coming soon could be an announcement about a Bass field office in the district.