BrianO2

Talk with anyone about Grays Ferry, and they usually will say or will agree with anyone who says, "This area has so much *potential*." Yes, its problems are monumental. Alcoholism and addiction are high here. But the close knit feeling -- at least among the Catholics who live in the area (sorry; my experience is only with them) -- that people talk about in reverent tones in ages past still exists to some degree. The people at St. Gabriel Church are wonderful. The pastor there has a dream of neighborhood revitalization, and parishioners are doing things large and small to make that a reality. You walk around the area as I have and most people -- black and white -- will smile and give you a friendly hello (you'll have to make the first move, though).

As ugly as it is (the trash in some places metastasizes like weeds), there is much to love about this area. Maybe it takes looking at it through rose colored glasses, but it's there if you look.

Bottom line is this: A neighborhood is as good or bad as the people in it. By that standard, overall, this is a pretty good neighborhood because so many of the people are such wonderful souls.