New Leaders and Players on University City District Board

(Philadelphia, PA ) 29 July 2002 – University City District (UCD) Board of Directors elected Drexel University Senior Vice-President Anthony "Tony" Caneris to its Chairmanship last month. Caneris was Vice-Chair and has been a board officer for five years. Former UCD Chair and University of Pennsylvania Executive Vice-President John A. Fry moved from Philadelphia in June to become President of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

Elected as vice-chairs were David Adelman, President of Campus Apartments, and I. William Ferniany, Ph.D., Senior Vice-President and Chief Administrative Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Adelman has been a pivotal UCD board member for five years, serves as chair of the nominating committee, and is on the executive and research and planning committees. Ferniany has been a board member for two years and has had a key role in developing the UCD strategic plan. He serves on the executive and marketing committees.

New board members elected were Carl Dranoff, Dranoff Properties, and Pedro Ramos, Vice-President and Chief-of-Staff at the University of Pennsylvania. Ramos will serve on the executive committee. Dranoff is a developer of luxury apartments, most recently The Left Bank in University City.

The 25-member board is composed of community, business, institutional, and non-profit leaders in University City. Members are elected to three-year terms.

Caneris commented on the UCD’s history of success and future. "The first five years prove that we can do it through the hard work of University City residents, businesses, political leaders, and institutions. Drexel University and MCP Hahnemann University are engaged in the continuing effort to improve University City’s quality of life. During the next five years we must all team together to solidify the permanent existence of this organization. John A. Fry, the founding father, did his part, and I promised him that we will continue to fulfill the UCD’s mission under the leadership of Executive Director, Eric. T. Goldstein."

Board commitment is crucial to the viability of non-profits during the current period of scarce resources. Of UCD’s $5.2 annual budget, 70%, or more than 3.6 million dollars, is derived from board organizations. (Unlike the majority of its special services district counterparts, University City District is not funded by a mandatory property tax assessment.) Hundreds of residents, businesses, and foundations contribute the remaining 30%.

Despite these challenges, UCD continues to succeed on numerous fronts:

(1) Safety

Overall crime down 23% (June 2002 YTD)

(2) Public Space Maintenance

1 million pounds of trash collected in 2001
4,800+ graffiti "tags" removed in 2001

(3) Community Relations

450 community events attended per year
Organized the Public Safety Group, pulling together the institutional and police leaders who serve University City, and the Public Safety Task Force, which gathers together all town watch organizations, to share information and coordinate public safety response in University City
Launch of Litter Co., UCD’s Anti-litter Coalition, geared toward the engagement of area residents, employees, and school age children

(4) Public Perceptions (from 2001 UCD Awareness and Attitude Survey)

73% believe the neighborhood is cleaner
71% believe the neighborhood is safer
70% believe the general atmosphere of University City is improving.

University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan, and advocate for University City's diverse urban community. The UCD's programs to improve streetscapes and parks, remove trash and graffiti, provide technical assistance to home- and business owners, increase public safety, and publicize University City's advantages have improved the quality of life since 1997. For more information, visit UCityphila.org.

Release Date: Monday, July 29th 2002