In an editorial in today’s paper, the Inquirer compares LaSalle’s recent efforts of “stabilizing and reviving its neighborhood” with Penn and Temple:
As Brother McGinnis recently told The Inquirer, La Salle looks to model itself after the University of Pennsylvania, which has been the major player in renewing sections of West Philadelphia.
Along with Penn, Temple University could be a good role model – even if the three schools and their respective neighborhoods differ.
Carl Tomberlain was a dedicated worker with skeletons in his closet, David Gambacorta reports today in the Daily News. Tomberlain’s wife says he was well aware of the risks involved with working late in the city when he was shot once in the head on Norris Street near 18th last week.
According to police, there were several witnesses to the murder, but little cooperation since the incident. Tomberlain’s employer, Petro Oil of Bucks County, has put out a $10,000 reward for information about his killer.
The 42-year-old father of two told his wife not to worry about the late hours he worked in the city.
“He used to say, ‘I have nothing they want. If they want my tools, I’ll give them my tools. If they want my van, they can take it.’ “
Tomberlain had his own share of problems with the law. He had been arrested in 1988 and 1995 for drunk driving — the latter incident resulted in the death of a 21-year-old Bucks County woman. Just last month, he was arrested after allegedly shoving a police officer.
Oil firm posts reward in repair slaying (Daily News)
Photo via KYW3
In last week’s paper, one of our esteemed writers, Chris Stover, wrote about Philadelphia’s top ranking in the field of ugliness. A survey conducted by Travel and Leisure Magazine confirmed this new status. The media has now added ugliness to the city’s list of accolades, alongside obesity and violence. This has upset many people, who wonder how such a thing could happen. Already, there are calls for Mayor Street to resign over this. It was announced two days ago that he would leave office sometime in January. A man named Michael Nutter has been selected to replace him. Sadly, Philadelphia’s ugliness is actually not Mayor Street’s fault. It is mine.
That’s the word from the Fairmount Park Conservancy, who are working with the people behind Lollapalooza to bring a multi-day outdoor festival to Belmont Plateau (pictured) next summer.
No acts have been named yet, but for many Philophiles this may replace the annual 20 hour slog to Kentucky. The Plateau, if you haven’t visited, is definitely one of the nicest spots in Fairmount — with a good view of the skyline/memorial hall.
As part of the deal the promoter, C3 productions, has agreed to absorb all cleanup costs associated with the event. No small potatoes considering that may come in at over $1 million.
via The Clog
photo via Penn Urban Forestry
The full release after the jump.
Now that Mix-Master Mike Nutter has moved his turntables into Room 215, the question remains — what’s in the cards for lame duck Mayor John F. Street?
Well, in between saluting Officer Cassidy and having shady meets with SugarHouse, the Temple grad managed to find time to plan for life after his term — specifically, that Temple adjunct’s stipend.
That’s right, John Street will teach two Political Science courses on city government this spring. For all of those who’d like to know the inner workings of a top-notch pay-to-play system, the Honorable John F. will be happy to oblige. No word yet on guest speakers T. Milton Street and Corey Kemp.
Obviously the odds are slim that Street will head to Harrisburg like Ed Rendell. But at least he’s not the Elephant in the Room.
Election Day is waning, and I am spending it as I always do, as a volunteer with the Committee of Seventy, the century old political oversight group in Philadelphia.
For more than one hundred years, Seventy has sent nonpartisan volunteers around to city polling places to stop electioneering, intimidation and disenfranchisement. I’ve risen to the rank of team leader, which means I sit in a Center City law firm answering calls, directing volunteers and eating catered sandwiches and cookies.
So, let me be the authority to tell you the obvious. Turnout is low (bad weather and boring election), but there are always a few great stories.
Around 10:30am, we got a complaint that an election judge was telling voters to “not worry about the retention votes,” which were set to keep on municipal judge-ships. Not sexy enough for you?
An hour later, a committeeman in North Philadelphia was accused of selling alcohol to voters out of his van, intimidating senior citizen voters, and possessing a gun.
This in a election that might not get more than 30 percent voter turnout. Absolutely unbelievable.
God bless America.
For those of you who stopped reading Philadelphia Weekly, you missed last week’s Q&A, which is generally used to fill space on the page everyone reads for This Just In’s “has a thought.”
This week takes on a fine story that UPenn’s student newspaper, the Daily Pennsylvanian is covering. Problem is it borders on literary masturbation. Despite disclosure, doesn’t it seem self-righteous that Cassidy Hartman, who handled the interview for PW, is a UPenn graduate and DP alum?
Hartman described DP editor Shawn Salvi as a “well-spoken finance major from Chapel Hill, N.C.” He continued on to mention Salvi’s steely forearms and barrel chest, in addition to his eyes that resemble the sea after a storm.
The 21-year-old Wharton school kid and DP editor proved to sound about as out-of-touch as you might expect of a 21-year-old Wharton school kid and DP editor.
He mentioned in the interview how frequently he consults with DP’s attorney, which, if it doesn’t, should sound strange to you. For contrast, understand that our lawyer over here at The Temple News is a part-time employee of Temple’s cafeteria. She serves the mozzarella sticks during fourth meal.
Drexel’s student newspaper The Triangle has been keeping a blog of tonight’s proceedings (via Philly Will Do).
Student’s weren’t allowed anywhere near the Main Hall, where the debate was being held, but there was a big screen with a projector outside where those who weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket could watch. Some students perched on a hill behind the screen, while most huddled in front of the screen flanked on one side by a giant inflatable Mario the Magnificent and the Hardball with Chris Matthews set.
With the exception of the words “Philadelphia” or “Drexel” being mentioned, the crowd didn’t often react to what was being said. One exception being Delaware Senator Joe Biden’s quip that Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani can only construct a sentence if it contains a noun, verb, and “9/11”.
[flickr neali0o 72157602630330472]
The Liacouras Center at Temple University yesterday was packed with thousands of men who have accepted the call to restore peace to violent Philadelphia communities. The “10,000 Men: A Call to Action” campaign planned to organize and unite black men to help proactively deter illegal activity on the streets.
For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos from the event. Photos by Neal Santos.
According to Rolling Stone magazine, Philadelphia is hot. The City of Brotherly Love made the music mag’s annual Hot List, earning nods from editors for its cheap living costs and ever-blossoming, ever-unique music scene. In their words:
HOT SCENE: Just try to live like this in New York: Peter McDavis, bassist for rising Philadelphia indie band the Teeth, spends just $250 a month on rent – and supports himself off-tour by painting houses and slinging pizzas. Meanwhile, rapper Spank Rock pays almost nothing to live in a former warehouse he shares with a hardcore label, two roommates and an indoor skate ramp. Welcome to the diverse, thriving Philly music scene, where everyone knows each other (the Teeth worked with West Philly underground hip-hop producer RJD2), sounds cross-pollinate and commercialism hasn’t intruded on a grassroots DIY ethic: “This town created everything good it has all on its own,” says rapper Amanda Blank. And in the abscence of a grunge-style signature sound, the scene is united by its eclecticism and disregard of outside trends. “In Philly, people just do what they want,” says McDavis. “All the bands are kind of wacky.”
Meanwhile, temperatures remain unseasonably high. Coincidence? I think not.
