Councilmember Cindy Bass’s column, “Community is more important than profits,” (Chestnut Hill Local, Nov. 6) claims that raising redevelopment and accountability after the death of Kada Scott is opportunism. It is not. The tragedy did not create this conversation — it revealed it. The Ada H. H. Lewis Middle School has been vacant since 2008. Neighbors have complained for years about dumping, vandalism, and safety. Those concerns extend to other long-vacant properties across Germantown. People are not politicizing grief; they are demanding that those in charge do their jobs.

In the Local, I said the record shows that Councilmember Bass raised safety concerns and recently asked the district to demolish the building, but there is no evidence that she has taken proactive steps to support redevelopment or a community-led plan. That is the core problem. Statements without follow-through do not fix anything. Residents and Registered Community Organizations have asked for transparent processes, clear timelines, and honest partnership. Too often they get silence, delay, or a campaign talking point.

The issue is about leadership that delivers results, not rhetoric that fills press releases while more and more buildings decline. Voters everywhere are tired of talk that is not backed by action. Philadelphia’s political legends — John F. Street, Marian Tasco, David P. Richardson, Ed Rendell, Bob Brady, and Dwight Evans — earned respect because people saw results. Streets were cleaned. Corridors were funded. Neighborhoods felt the presence of the government.

Under Councilmember Bass’ tenure, Germantown has lost too many of those fights. The collapse of the Germantown Special Services District. Cornerstones like the Germantown YWCA, the Germantown High School, the Ada Lewis Middle School, Bethesda Court, and the Zeigler and Sons Flower Shop remain vacant or unfinished. They are visible reminders of what happens when leadership chooses statements over solutions.

Councilmember Bass has tried to frame this debate as a fight between profit-seekers and protectors of the community. That is a convenient narrative, but it is not true. The people speaking up are not developers chasing profit; they are residents, RCO leaders, and small business owners who live with the consequences of inaction every day.

Multiple credible proposals have been offered for sites like Ada Lewis over the years — both from established developers and community partnerships. None moved forward; and they stalled because of a failure of political will resulting in the paralysis of community opportunity.

Equity matters. On that point, we agree with the Councilmember. Supporting Black and Brown developers is not charity; it is justice. But justice requires an open and timely process that people can navigate without political permission. In the Local, I said Councilmember Bass has shown a consistent pattern of distancing herself from major redevelopment challenges in Germantown. She has positioned herself as a bystander rather than an advocate, attributing delays to ownership or bureaucracy while long-promised projects continue to deteriorate. Germantown deserves leadership that builds coalitions to move progress forward, not leadership that overlooks longstanding problems until disaster strikes, then responds with rhetoric and blame. Residents have the talent and vision to reimagine these properties. What they need is a representative who stands with the community’s call for progress, not one who hides behind its name to justify more delay.

Here is what accountability looks like right now. Publish a complete list of city-owned and school district-owned properties in the 8th District. Identify who holds authority for each site. Set public timelines for action with quarterly updates. Seat RCOs and near neighbors at the table at the start of every disposition and every major permit process. Track results in public so residents can see movement and measure success.

Compassion means nothing without accountability, and leadership means doing both. Germantown is not asking for a fight. It is asking for follow-through and support. The people who live next to these buildings have waited long enough.

Patrick W. Jones is the ward leader of the 59th Democratic Ward and chair of the 59th Ward Registered Community Organization.