December 25-31, 2003

cover story

What Happened Next?

The Eagles soared, the Bastard Squad won and the bottom DROP-ped out on the city pension fund. A year in reviw.

"Tough Enough," Jan. 30, 2003

The story: Ozzie Wright -- educator, community activist and owner of West Philly's most renowned martial arts school -- took over the job of principal of troubled West Philadelphia High School in September 2002.

What happened next: By all accounts, his rapport with the students and commanding presence was largely responsible for the beginning of a real turnaround at West, but Wright left the job after only a few months. In his defense, it's not like he had a choice.

Sgt. First Class Ozzie Wright, of the U.S. Army Reserves, was called to active duty and spent the bulk of 2003 in Iraq with the U.S.-led coalition. In October, he came back home to serve out the rest of his enlistment at Fort Drum, N.Y. His only regret, Wright says, is not that he had to risk his life fighting in a foreign land, but that he had to leave his students behind. Wright says he’s looking forward to trying to get his job back as principal, and School District CEO Paul Vallas has already indicated that he can’t wait to have Wright back as soon as Uncle Sam is through with him.--Daryl Gale

"The Law Won," Feb. 13, 2003

The story: Two members of an elite narcotics unit whose careers were ruined after taking down a State Department-backed Dominican political party, which was raising campaign funds by selling drugs in Philadelphia, New York and Massachusetts, sued their boss, Attorney General Mike Fisher, and members of his leadership team. They won a total of $1.5 million from Fisher and members of his senior staff.

What happened next: The Bastard Squad's court victory became a cudgel wielded by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) in an unsuccessful attempt to block President Bush's nomination of Fisher to a federal judgeship. The agents, John McLaughlin and Charles Micewski, were also called before U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who wanted to hear their side of the story about how Fisher and then-U.S. Attorney Mike Stiles, along with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office, conspired to kill their careers after they were about to arrest Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, the presidential candidate of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, who was backed by the State Department. McLaughlin and Micewski claimed that Pena Gomez was carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars in money raised via drug sales and that the CIA stepped in to stop their investigation.--Howard Altman

"A Fight to the Death," May 1, 2003

The story: Jeff Garis, founder and executive director of Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty (PAUADP), was elated to read the State Supreme Court committee's recommendation that Gov. Rendell declare a moratorium on the imposition of the death penalty. Garis was equally saddened by Rendell's refusal to consider the idea and angered by the governor's assertion that the death penalty is fairly and evenly applied, and that no death row inmate in the state had been wrongly convicted.

What happened next: When Nicholas Yarris became the first Pennsylvania death row inmate to be cleared through DNA evidence last month, Garis and his PAUADP colleagues got a renewed sense of purpose. With planned demonstrations, letter-writing and phone-call campaigns, Garis plans to use Yarris as a poster boy for the cause and force the governor's hand.--D.G.

"Street Wise," May 15, 2003

The story: Barbara Grant is no stranger to Philadelphians, both as a local television news reporter for a number of years and now in her role as head of communications for the Street administration. Originally from New York City, she made this her home not long after earning an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. As the front person for Mayor John Street, every day is hectic. And while Street is fairly well-known for his aversion to the press, Grant has helped get both his policies and his prickly personality past the public.

What happened next: As all Philadelphians know, Street handily won re-election. This was no doubt due in part to Grant's continued efforts. Grant says things are finally starting to settle down after what she described as a "very intense" campaign.

"I think this is going to be a really exciting four years," she says, looking ahead. "The city is facing a lot of challenges and I'm excited to be a part of it -- without the pressure and anxiety of a campaign."

Grant says she hasn't yet had the chance to sit down with the mayor and determine exactly what role she'll play in this final administration, but she has some new ideas that she's been considering. "I really love the policy stuff," she says. "You know, how you make government work better for people. But communications is always my first passion."

Earlier this year, Grant became an award-winning documentarian with a video project based on the life of legendary African-American disc jockey Jocko Henderson. Currently she's working on two new video projects: one about the uniqueness of black folks' hair and another on the history of the annual ODUNDE festival.

"I am making a little bit of progress, but I'm doing it with just my left hand," she jokes. "For the past six months, I've been totally preoccupied."--Deborah Bolling

"The Cost of Freedom," June 5, 2003

The story: On March 12, University of Pennsylvania graduate student Yahya Jalil and his wife, Hifza, landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. The Pakistani couple was returning from a spring break job-hunting expedition to London, but their plans were postponed indefinitely when airport immigration officials revoked Jalil's student visa, canceled his passport and flew him straight back to England. Jalil, who was planning to complete his MBA from Wharton, failed to comply with all the post 9/11 "Special Registration" guidelines initiated by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Jalil returned to Pakistan, but Penn's Graduate and Professional Student Assembly collected more than 3,500 names on a petition, University President Judith Rodin and Wharton Dean Patrick Harker wrote letters to the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, and Jalil's uncle, a politically well-connected New Orleans businessman, called on Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who contacted Asa Hutchinson, the Department of Homeland Security's undersecretary for border and transportation security. Hifza put her academic goals on ice, broke the lease on their apartment, packed everything she could and joined her husband overseas.

What happened next: It's 8:30 p.m. on a Tuesday and Jalil is still at the office. He's swamped with work, but that's fine with him. The NSEERS regulations that sent Jalil to Pakistan were amended on May 3. The State Department has expedited the visa-reissuing process for individuals with credible reasons for noncompliance. His student visa reinstated, Jalil returned to Philadelphia in July and finished his MBA by summer's end. Most of his previous job opportunities were gone, but he secured a position as a mergers and acquisitions associate with Broadview International, a global M&A adviser headquartered in Manhattan. Before he ventures abroad again, he plans to seek legal counsel and immigration experts, but hasn't decided whether he wants to settle permanently in the United States.--Alexa James

"Taking the Stage," June 5, 2003

The story: Philadelphia gets its first official Gay & Lesbian Theatre Festival, spearheaded by Bill Eshe and Matthew Cloran and encompassing 13 productions at eight different theaters. The weeklong festival saw the premieres of 10 shows, including Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly and Michael Ogborn's Barrymore award-winner, Mary, Don’t Ask!, as well as works dealing with the experience of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender life -- a feat never before attempted in Philadelphia on such a large scale.

What happened next: Cloran says, "Attendance-wise, we did very well with [some] plays, " did just OK with three or four and poorly with a few. Unfortunately, we just didn't get the word out. " Word of mouth started to happen once people started to see the shows but since the festival ran only six days, it was too late in many cases to fill seats." The plays were reviewed by several local publications, including City Paper's theater critic, David Anthony Fox, who hailed Mary, Don’t Ask! as having "a number of the best one-liners I've heard in several seasons" and the festival as a "brave and worthwhile effort." The festival "just about broke even," according to Cloran, who promises, "Year No. 2 is all about getting people to know we're here. We're also adding an extra weekend so we can build on the buzz of the first shows that open." The second annual festival will run June 10-20, 2004.--Lori Hill

"Flame On!," June 5, 2003

The story: Officials from the Fairmount Park Commission promised that the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier memorial in Washington Square Park would be relit in time for the city's Fourth of July festivities.

What happened next: Six months later, there's still no flame. Now, Fairmount Park Commission officials are attributing the non-lighting to an assortment of unforeseen troubles associated with the new construction. "There have been a number of problems surrounding the installation of the flame," says Stephanie Craighead, deputy director for planning and development. "Currently, there's a problem with the pressure [in the gas line]. We're working on that with PGW and expect it to be back on shortly. But everybody is standing over us waiting for it to happen and what they're seeing are the same bugs we're seeing. Believe me, we want it back on, too. We just have to keep tweaking."--D.B.

"Tale of the Tape," July 17, 2003

The story: On Jan. 28, Michael Simmons and his cousin, Akeem Herbert, were pulled over for running a red light in Camden, N.J. Within minutes, the traffic stop turned deadly. The State Police said Simmons tried to speed away with a trooper caught on the station wagon's roof rack. Herbert, who'd been taken out of the car and arrested on a probation violation, says the trooper wasn't caught on the vehicle and that the police account of the traffic stop was riddled with lies. (Herbert was also charged with drug possession, as troopers said they found cocaine in the car.) Either way, the 28-year-old school custodian died after being shot seven times. The family later filed a racial-profiling lawsuit against the N.J. State Police, claiming Simmons was pulled over because he was black.

What happened next: After a state grand jury opted against indicting the trooper in October, the State Police released a videotape -- filmed from three police cruisers at the scene -- of the shooting to the family. (A federal court order demanded they do so.) With considerable media coverage surrounding the development, both sides claimed the evidence backed their account of what happened to Simmons. The Simmons family's civil lawsuit is still pending and the drug charges brought against Herbert were dropped. Separate charges brought against a trooper who was accused of using racial slurs toward the Simmons family at a protest were dismissed earlier this month, but not before a judge told him, "You brought great shame to the New Jersey State Police."--Brian Hickey

"Street to Unions: DROP Dead," July 24, 2003

The story: The city was scheduled to pay cash bonuses to 3,484 city employees who, if they stay on the job for four years under an experimental pension program known as the DROP, will retire and collect more than $132,000 each, or a total of $461 million, plus regular salaries and pensions. The top cash bonus under the Deferred Retirement Option Plan is listed as $550,773 for Fire Commissioner Harold B. Hairston. The problem with the lavish giveaway is, with a pension fund already depleted by reduced stock market income, the taxpayers are going to have to make up the difference. And the bill for the DROP could eventually top $700 million.

What happened next: Mayor Street announced he was going to kill the DROP, then changed his mind before the election and said he would look for a way to make it work. But, after the election, sources say the program may be killed because the city budget doesn't have an extra $6 million above expenses, let alone $700 million. And taxpayer contributions to fund city pensions are expected to rise over the next five years by a total of $156 million. The city pension board is now considering whether to scrap or keep the DROP. The city has already paid out cash bonuses under the DROP to 825 employees who didn't stay the maximum four years in the program, but still collected cash bonuses that average $49,618 each, or a total of $40.9 million. Will the politicos kill this turkey? Stay tuned.--Ralph Cipriano

"The Truth is Out There," July 24, 2003

The story: Former Ambassador Joe Wilson, in an exclusive interview with City Paper, expressed his outrage at how the Bush administration outed his wife, CIA deep cover agent Valerie Plame, in retaliation for his exposing the White House lie that Saddam Hussein tried to obtain nuke weapons material in Africa.

What happened next: The leak, to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak, later became the center of a federal inquiry and led to charges from the intelligence community that the White House was endangering the lives of its agents and sources for pure political payback.--H.A.

"The Kids Are All Left," Aug. 14, 2003; "You're In Town," Nov. 6, 2003

The stories: Writer/musician Marc Sand juggled two big projects this year. First, his novel for young adults, Sheltered, remained true to his activist roots by telling the story of a 14-year-old boy who wants to change the world. And then there was a good old-fashioned indie rock opera, The Broken Hipsters, that somehow shattered everyone's expectations about a musical with radical grandmothers fighting the power at a retirement community.

What happened next: Sand says the readings and discussion groups for Sheltered "have been small, but personally rewarding" and that kids are his toughest critics. There hasn't been much progress with getting the book into school curricula, but some teachers have expressed interest. Sand's planning more programming around the book, such as a reading at Neumann College on Feb. 19 with a discussion about "the role of community service and activism in the lives of young people." As for The Broken Hipsters, it was a rrriotous, sellout success. "We had to turn a lot of people away at the door," Sand says. "I guess there is a market out there for seeing big men in diapers sing show tunes. Who knew?" The five-song CD sampler, which included such hits as "La La La La La La La Tennis," also sold out, so Sand and his brother, Jay, are planning to release a full-length cast recording soon. A reprise? Please? "Absolutely. The cast is so enthusiastic, they want to perform it again every weekend until we all fall down and vomit." Great! Maybe next year's Fringe, maybe sooner. But fair warning: The chinchilla will be back.--L.H.

"Revolutionary Period," Aug. 14, 2003

The story: For more than 40 years, American women have had access to oral contraceptives, most often taken in 28-day cycles. Barr Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company with research operations headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, proposed offering women another option: continuous ingestion of birth control pills that would allow women to delay the onset of their periods for up to three months at a time. While many balked at the notion of artificially manipulating the menses, doctors everywhere agreed that while a suspended cycle may have appeared unnatural, it was, in fact, safe.

What happened next: After winning patent approval at the beginning of September from the Food and Drug Administration, Seasonale, the 84-day birth control pill manufactured by Barr, was available in drugstores by late October. At last count, 1,800 prescriptions have already been written and the product was recognized in the Nov. 17 edition of Time magazine as one of the "Coolest Inventions of 2003."

"So far, we've been very well-received," says Carol Cox, Barr spokesperson. "The Time magazine cover story was a nice development for us. There were around 45 or 50 inventions cited, but only four in the medical field. We're very optimistic."--D.B.

"Inner Space," Aug. 21, 2003

The story: Aerial performer Janette Hough and theater tech expert Perry Fertig founded St. Lawrence Art Space, devoted to trapeze, dance and theater training, in a cavernous former church dating back to the 1890s in Reading. Its mod cons included three stories and lofty ceilings, a walk-in wardrobe left over from its days as a dinner theater and a 1950s two-lane bowling alley.

What happened next: The center opened as planned. Two pieces choreographed by Hough and collaborator Valentine Aprile, Grip and Log, were completed at St. Lawrence and debuted at the 2003 Fringe. Since then, the center has held its first class: a basic fitness and pilates session attended by lots of people from the area. ("Quite a little social event," laughs Hough.) In the meantime, she and Fertig are mulling plans to designate St. Lawrence a 501(c)3 umbrella nonprofit organization. "It would mean that private donations to artists who are rehearsing or in residency here would earn tax-exempt status -- plus we could apply for grants," she says. "But, the downside to that is there's so much paperwork." Making time for her own rehearsal has been possible, but in between clearing out much of the building's collected junk, especially from the kitchen, which used to feed dinner theater guests: "Does anyone want a huge silver refrigerator? Or seven?" Most importantly, she says she's finalizing a calendar of artist residencies to start in the new year, which includes Thaddeus Phillips, Theatre Cirque and Canadian physical theater troupe SaBooge Theatre. And, with the building's insurance sorted out, more classes will be advertised -- just as soon as the heating is functioning. "The boiler's lying in pieces in the basement," she sighs.--Juliet Fletcher

"The Seventh-Year Itch," Aug. 28, 2003

The story: Philadelphia Fringe Festival Producing Director Nick Stuccio revealed the now-seven-year-old fest's future: By next year, the Fringe will divide into two separate, concurrent festivals. The Fringe name will apply to a festival of entirely uncurated works, in keeping with the spirit of Fringe Festivals around the world, and the curated and commissioned works will be given their own fest, an as-yet-unnamed Philly performing arts festival.

What happened next: Reached at the Festival's headquarters, an effusive Stuccio confirmed that the change in presentation is well on its way, with a complete plan to be revealed in February 2004. The Fringe is "right in the thick of [the] metamorphoses," he says, emphasizing that's not going to fundamentally change the concept of Fringe but clarify how it's presented to the public. "We've always had these two things [the curated and uncurated performances]. " We're just going to make the platforms more distinct." Stuccio and co. are interviewing candidates for the new, part-time position of "coordinator" of what will be the Fringe Festival (uncurated works). That person will be announced in February, along with the name of the programmed festival. Stuccio wants the name to reflect the idea that this is Philadelphia's arts festival and that Philly should be known for Fringe's signature "left-of-center, edgy" work.

Stuccio's already working on programming the unnamed fest -- he's in talks with two major Asian artists, Chinese dance/visual artist Shen Wei and renowned Japanese dancer Akira Kasai. The fest has also commissioned a new piece from local favorites Headlong Dance Theater, called Hotel Pool, which will take place in the Sheraton Hotel's swimming pool. Only 256 shopping days until fest time "--Debra Auspitz

"Piazza dei Problemi," Oct. 23, 2003

The story: Investigating a fountain and piazza at S. 11th, Tasker and Passyunk, City Paper discovered that 1) the fountain was commissioned by a group called Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Inc., which has the same mailing address as State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo's office; 2) the group never applied for the electrical and plumbing permits necessary to build the piazza; and 3) the people Revitalization Inc. contracted to do the work weren't licensed. Since construction began on the lot, the area has had severe flooding and drainage problems every time it rains. And because Revitalization Inc. extended the sidewalk out into part of the street, residents say that cars and emergency vehicles have difficulty getting through -- regardless of the weather.

What happened next: Not much, actually. The city's Department of Licenses and Inspections gave Revitalization Inc. until Oct. 28 to get proper permits and hand over a redesign to remedy the drainage problems. But, according to department spokesperson Andrea Swan, L&I is still waiting. "They still haven't come into compliance," Swan says. "We have not conducted an inspection again because the department is backlogged -- and we have to prioritize safety issues. But I expect that we will conduct the inspection in the next week or two."--Amy L. Webb

"The Matrix Knows," Nov. 6, 2003

The story: In June 2002, 13 states including Pennsylvania agreed to join a powerful database developed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange database, dubbed Matrix, will list personal information including driving records, social security information, addresses of family members and business associates, photos and tax records. Matrix was developed by Hank Asher, a former Columbian drug runner who turned government informant. When CP first reported the story, Pennsylvania was weeks away from having the database online.

What happened next: Information from state residents -- regardless of whether they have a criminal history -- has been added to Matrix for use by government and law enforcement officials all over the country. Of the original states that were participating in Matrix, several -- including Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky and Louisiana -- have since withdrawn, citing privacy concerns and funding issues. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a nationwide report, warning that Matrix is oddly similar to the Pentagon's now-obsolete Total Information Awareness program, which was also proposed after the Sept. 11 attacks. To determine if there are constitutional problems with Matrix, the ACLU has since filed open-records requests for details on the database in five states, including Pennsylvania. Asher has since left Seisint, Inc., the Florida security company he started.--A.W.