Why does the drug trade seem to center around Kensington ave?

**John Goodman** · 10-03-2012, 01:22 PM

What's the deal with this? Seems Kensington ave is one of America's #1 commercial corridor for heroin and prostitution

What causes this?

Poverty is just as rampant in other parts of town yet the drug market doesn't seem to be as developed. Why Kensington ave and not pt breeze ave or Lancaster ave?

Can we blame police? Is this a hamsterdam situation?

Does it have to due with proximity to ports?

Seems that a lot of users and prostitutes aren't from the area. Are the dealers mostly from the area?

Lastly, can this problem somehow be pushed to Camden?

**John Goodman** · 10-04-2012, 09:42 AM

Ok so I made a bad thread

I guess they all can't be shining successes

**PhilaCap** · 10-04-2012, 10:08 AM

Maybe because of the el... cheap public transportation... people traveling to and from... people always coming and going

And also, that part of the city is somewhat cut-off from the rest of the city, it's like its own little universe.

**Fecteau03** · 10-04-2012, 11:58 AM

Check out the license plates of the people trolling for prostitutes and drugs. Certainly not all, but many, have New Jersey license plates. My theory - Kensington has so many drugs because, one, there are lots of empty spaces, and two, it's easy to get to from the bridges.

Keep in mind that these are businesses too, regardless of whether they are illegal. And just like with any other business, once one is succesful, more are going to follow because they know they can make a profit. That's why, when I hear people arguing for legalizing narcotics, I cringe. You'd get even more buyers and sellers in the same locations.

**Bobbie3Sheets** · 10-04-2012, 01:06 PM

It's always night time under the El.

**thoth** · 10-04-2012, 01:19 PM

busy commercial corridor, frequent, easy transit access. Likely some kind of tacit acceptance on the part of the police. It has to be somewhere. Like Hamsterdam.

**StrangeTanks** · 10-04-2012, 02:28 PM

Oh I don't live too far away from where your talkin about. This is an easy one to answer.

1st is the myth that drug use is confined to people on the bottom of the social ladder. 2nd is the myth that drugs sold on the street are primarily hard drugs like heroine.

I would argue that the area has a general reputation, is easy to find and easy to access. I think it would be very surprising if someone was able to compile some statistics on who the customers on Kensington ave are. I believe you would find a ton of people coming in from various suburbs and well to do areas of the city to make their various purchases.

Start arresting some upstanding citizens that can't otherwise explain why they are visiting the ghetto and you would see the drug trade along the avenue dry up in a hot minute.

**thoth** · 10-04-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by StrangeTanks

I believe you would find a ton of people coming in from various suburbs and well to do areas of the city to make their various purchases.

This is not speculation, this is fact. When I was doing some research on recovery houses in that area, easily half the people I encountered were from Bucks, DelCo and South Jersey. Especially South Jersey, don't know why.

**John Goodman** · 10-04-2012, 03:33 PM

Ok if the addicts are from out of the area...

I have to wonder... If we had the resources or will to enforce the law in Kensington... This problem would quickly shift to another part of the city or potentially Camden. I know it sounds awful but if this open air market were to be shifted to Camden, all of us in Philly would be much better off

**John Goodman** · 10-04-2012, 03:36 PM

Another thought: setting up a website where people can send pictures of out of town customers to shame them may be worthwhile.... Though a real invasion a privacy

**StrangeTanks** · 10-04-2012, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

Ok if the addicts are from out of the area...

I have to wonder... If we had the resources or will to enforce the law in Kensington... This problem would quickly shift to another part of the city or potentially Camden. I know it sounds awful but if this open air market were to be shifted to Camden, all of us in Philly would be much better off

Nothing would happen, because they would never crack down on buyers. All they would need to do is bust one politically connected person and that would be the end of the crack downs.

I can tell you, if you look like a regular person hangin out down there you stand a good chance of being hassled by the cops. Especially if its at an odd hour. Along the lines of "what are you doing in the hood at midnight?"

There has also been a pretty consistent crackdown at Kensington and Sommerset recently also. They have cameras there now, and have made an effort to clear out many of the abandoned lots in the area.

**2happy4u** · 10-04-2012, 11:07 PM

That's just one area, South Philly has it west Philly is plagued. Take a ride down Ridge Ave. to broad.

**thoth** · 10-05-2012, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by 2happy4u

That's just one area, South Philly has it west Philly is plagued. Take a ride down Ridge Ave. to broad.

While you certainly wouldn't be hard pressed to find drugs, West Philly doesn't have anything comparable to the Somerset area, even under the el out here.

**#1MetsFan** · 10-05-2012, 10:35 AM

Ftr, camden has its open air markets too. Difference is they discriminate there, from what hear. They won't serve you if you out of state plates.

**#1MetsFan** · 10-05-2012, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by John Goodman

Ok if the addicts are from out of the area...

I have to wonder... If we had the resources or will to enforce the law in Kensington... This problem would quickly shift to another part of the city or potentially Camden. I know it sounds awful but if this open air market were to be shifted to Camden, all of us in Philly would be much better off

How does the open air drug trade in Kensington affect you in Washington Square? Serious question.

I live in Fairmount, and I don't see it affecting me. Sure, it'd be nice to know it wasn't going on, but how would I be better off if the drug trade moved exclusively to Camden?

**John Goodman** · 10-06-2012, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by #1MetsFan

How does the open air drug trade in Kensington affect you in Washington Square? Serious question.

I live in Fairmount, and I don't see it affecting me. Sure, it'd be nice to know it wasn't going on, but how would I be better off if the drug trade moved exclusively to Camden?

I imagine my tax dollars are getting abused in some way

And I just makes me sad

And broken window yada yada

**InYourVacancies** · 10-07-2012, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by #1MetsFan

How does the open air drug trade in Kensington affect you in Washington Square? Serious question.

I live in Fairmount, and I don't see it affecting me. Sure, it'd be nice to know it wasn't going on, but how would I be better off if the drug trade moved exclusively to Camden?

It doesn't matter what neighborhood you're in, it can affect you. Junkies are mobile creatures too. All those robberies and burglaries you hear about all over the city? In a LOT of cases, it's to fuel habits. Especially when the junkies know they can head to one of the nicer parts of town to have more deep-pocketed options.

**2happy4u** · 10-07-2012, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by thoth

While you certainly wouldn't be hard pressed to find drugs, West Philly doesn't have anything comparable to the Somerset area, even under the el out here.

Hows that Kingsessing been these days?

**thoth** · 10-08-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by 2happy4u

Hows that Kingsessing been these days?

That's SW, and it's gross but nothing like Somerset.

**#1MetsFan** · 10-08-2012, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by InYourVacancies

It doesn't matter what neighborhood you're in, it can affect you. Junkies are mobile creatures too. All those robberies and burglaries you hear about all over the city? In a LOT of cases, it's to fuel habits. Especially when the junkies know they can head to one of the nicer parts of town to have more deep-pocketed options.

I'm waiting for you to explain how any of that will change if the open air market is moved to Camden exclusively.