East Point Breeze Neighbors is the new name for Newbold Neighbors Association

This South Philly organization is now the civic association formerly known as Newbold Neighbors.

At a meeting last night, a new name for the organization that represents the area from Broad Street to 18th Street and from Washington Avenue to West Passyunk Avenue was announced. Despite a mix of opinions of those in attendance of the meeting, it was decided through vote that East Point Breeze Neighbors will be the new name of the organization.

The three proposed names, Neighbors Together in Point Breeze, East Point Breeze Neighbors and Point Towards Broad Neighbors, were voted on by the 30 to 40 people in attendance of the meeting. Although anyone in attendance was allowed to vote, the only ones that counted were those of voting members of the organization (must have attended at least four events from the organization in the calendar year). If the non-voting members had been counted in the tally, East Point Breeze Neighbors still would have been chosen as the name, with a two vote lead over Neighbors Together in Point Breeze.

Official count from voting members:

East Point Breeze Neighbors: 8
Point Towards Broad Neighbors: 6
Neighbors Together in Point Breeze: 4

The main concern of those vocal about the name options at the meeting was that adding a directional element, like the “east,” to the name would “further directionally divide” the residents here. President of the organization, Miguel Garces, emphasized that this name change is to represent the many viewpoints of those in the neighborhood since the group is open to anyone in the community.

In 2012, the same name change issue was also put to a vote, but according to the group, the name East Point Breeze lost by a single vote and the name Newbold Neighbors was retained for another four years. 

While Newbold Neighbors is making a name change, both Newbold Community Development Corporation and Newbold Civic Association will be keeping the neighborhood name the same. 

In addition to the new name, it was also announced that East Point Breeze Neighbors is now joining in with the group of neighborhood civic associations in the Crosstown Coalition.