You live in Braddock? I'm afraid of Braddock its full of Crime.

All my life I have heard this statement all my life.
"You live in Braddock?" They would say with a shocked look on their face. " I'm afraid of Braddock because of the crime rate." They will then clutch their purse like I'm going to steal it. I'm not a criminal despite where I live.

First of all I love where I live its the only Zip Code I remember. I am one of those people who think we should make 15104 a better place by staying here and doing our part.

Most of the people who live in Braddock aren't criminals. The crimes are generally committed by addiction. A stint in Rehab will cure that. The majority of people are hard working poor people. We are also well known for changing the World. We sued the Commonwealth of PA and HUD we won both. We stood up to the Federal Government under that scrondral George Washington who wanted to tax whiskey. You know that as the Whiskey Rebellion. George Washington was here in 1755 as a Colonol in the British army. They lost the Battle and General Edward Braddock was shot here.

AWe have played a big part of history in the United States; we would not be the Super power we are if Andrew Cargnie hadn't of built his first Steel mill in Braddock along side the Monaghelia River. It soon became the Richest Bourough in Allegheny County.  Although, we had a large population of the Wealthy we also had a lot of impoverished and middle class people. Andrew Carnegie insisted that his employees live in 15104.

I grew up in the 70s when the decline began. I do not remember the movie theatres but I remembers the grocery stores and the Bakery. I loved growing up where the adults looked after all the children.  You couldn't misbehave in Braddock without your parents knowing. Unlike today, if an adult told on you parents believed you.

Now the Fettermans have come and has gotten attention and showed a love for our town. They are building it back up but a lot of people are still afraid to come here because of the crime rate. Despite the decrease in violent crime and even non violent crime Braddock still cannot overcome our reputation. That's your loss. Braddock is a wonderful place with good people.

Those that think churches should lose tax exemption should try living in the hood

I have heard a lot of people who want the church to lose their tax exempt status.  These folks never lived in the Hood, nor had to ever depend on Charity.  The majority of help in the ghettos come from the Salvation Army and St. Vincent's De Paul.  Both are Religious institutions.

Small churches, like City Reach, have outreaches with the poor.  They reach out to Convicted Felons,  people who are addicted to drugs, people trying to leave the Street gangs.  They do so out of love for their fellow human beings.

Last year when I went through issues with my health and losing my home the church women helped me from Pastor Melissa and Miss Jeanne who helped me clean my house to Miss Pam who took me to purchase my furniture at Goodwill. This is only some of the help I received.

Food Banks, clothing drives, Soup kitchens, and toy drives are mostly done by Christian churches.

There are no Grocery stores in my neighborhood.  We have a butcher shop that sells food that is not edible. We do not have a bank either.  The Farmers market comes on Saturday but a lot of people have to work.

Ask a former addict trying to stay clean off of Crack or heroin that feel so unlovable what Real Christian love is? Ask someone who left the gang but continue to live the Thug lifestyle, to hear positive things about you.  Instead of hearing negative things as they tell you about the Lord they serve.

City Reach Braddock offers a Friday meal with their service. A lot of Homeless people eat there.

So my question to people who do not want the Church to be tax exempt what are you doing for the poor.  The United Way doesn't help the poor the Salvation Army does.