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The CLOG
Undercut and Overgrown
What will happen to more than 2,600 vacant lots if the city doesn't restore funding to clean them? Anthony Campisi looks into the result of cuts to the city's Communty Landcare program.
A Million Stories
ICE, Baby
On Monday, roughly 200 activists marched to the headquarters of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at 16th and Callowhill streets, to demand the release of four local Cambodian refugees. The refugees are currently facing deportation because of crimes they committed years, or, for some, decades ago.
The Ed is Dead (Long Live the Ed)
To usher in a new era, City Paper asked you, the readers, to submit tweet-long obituaries for former Governor Ed Rendellâs extensive political career. Because the responses were so creative, weâre asking you to submit a welcoming message, via Twitter, for Governor Tom Corbett, in 140 characters or less. Just include @citypaper and the hashtag #hellotomcorbett.
Man Overboard!
CP's Man Overboard! offers his two cents on gun control, the debate against it and the difference between writing tools and killing machines.
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This Sunday, 60 Minutes will be airing a feature on gambling â slot machines, in particular â and whether the machines themselves might be ... addictive.
That this *shocking* possibility still evades nearly every mainstream news outlet in Pennsylvania is another story, considering the abundance of evidence readily available at your local casino.
In any case, The 60 Minutes piece, called "The Big Gamble," appears to contain something of a gem: In a preview (available online), Governor Ed Rendell appears to flip out on the reporters, calling them "simpletons," and "idiots" if they "dont get that," â althought what "that" is isn't clear from the clip.
It looks like it'll be an interesting watch, and there's a bonus: expect Ben Franklin flanked by sequin-bikini-clad women, from the opening of Sugarhouse in September.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bertromavich Reibold, Philly News Now. Philly News Now said: Rendell to flip out on 60 minutes: This Sunday, 60 Minutes will be airing a feature on gambling â slot machines... http://bit.ly/fYcghW [...]
[...] 38 states and its main attraction, the slot machine, newer versions of which some scientists …Rendell to flip out on 60 minutesPhiladelphia Citypaper (blog)Rendell defends bringing slots to [...]
[...] Calls "60 Minutes" Staff "Idiots."Capitol Ideas with John L. Micek (blog)Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) -UPI.com -Comedy Centralall 19 news articles » var a2a_config = [...]
[...] Rendell to flip out on 60 minutes :: The Clog :: Blog Archive :: Staff Blog :: Philadelphia City Pap... [...]
[...] Rendell to flip out on 60 minutes :: The Clog :: Blog Archive … [...]
Fast Eddied's flippant comment to the general public and Leslie is a dead give away as to where his heart, soul and mind is! He has blood on his hand!
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All right, you've had a good twenty-four hours to get those cameras out: now send us your best snowstorm 2010 pics â and we'll try to publish the best one in this week's paper.
To submit, visit City Paper's Flickr group and submit (you'll need a Yahoo account, unfortunately). By submitting, you agree to let us publish the pic on our Photostream or, just maybe, in the paper.
Submit now â don't force me to publish this:
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Only in Pennsylvania.
On Tuesday, wine kiosks â that just so incredibly Pennsylvania Liquor Control Boardian response to the inconvenience of not being able to buy a bottle of wine at a grocery store âwere shut down all over the state. The problem: a glitch that caused the machines to fail to dispense wine. Auditor General Jack Wagner plans to audit the kiosks â and that will be a good read.
One of City Paper's many spies sent us this picture of a kaput kiosk at the Fresh Grocer in West Philly.
Said spy also delivered a disturbing report on the difficulty of using the things in the first place â including, but not limited to, a computer system that offered a discounted white wine under neither the "white" nor "discount" category.
It's a little hard to make out the text above, so we dutifully transcribe it here:
There have been occasional glitches with the wine kiosk. One example: a transaction is approved, but the wine doesn't dispense from the machine.
Although the glitches have been few and far between, incredible customer service is important to us.
We have temporarily shut down the kiosk while the manufacturer updates the software and installs new sensors.
We hope this will be resolved quickly so can continue to offer this great convenience to our customers.
We've got an idea for an even better way to offer great convenience to Pennsylvania customers ... but, after all, it's Christmas.
Bless you, PLCB â and all your faulty wine kiosks, too.
[...] Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) [...]
[...] See the original post: Merry Christmas: For you, pictures of a broken wine kiosk. :: The … [...]
[...] Merry Christmas: For you, pictures of a broken wine kiosk. – Philadelphia Citypaper We’ve got an idea for an even better way to offer great convenience to Pennsylvania customers … but, after all, it’s Christmas. Bless you, PLCB â≠and all your faulty wine kiosks, too. Dec 13, 2010 3:15am [...]
[...] would appear that the answer is yes, they are! After a brief closure around Christmas due to what were characterized as âmechanical and technological issues,â the Pennsylvania [...]
[...] Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) [...]
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Since having its license finally revoked by the Pennsylvania gaming Control Board last week, the Casino Formerly Known as Foxwoods has been much in the news.
But another story seems to be slipping through the cracks: even without the (presumed) competition from a second Philadelphia casino, Sugarhouse Casino, which opened in September, has shown a surprisingly poor performance.
City Paper finds that Sugarhouse is bringing in less than half the revenue it told the state to expect just six months ago.
In two presentations in May, Sugarhouse offered the Gaming Board revenue estimates that bear little resemblance to the business the casino has brought in so far.
On May 13, Sugarhouse officials made a presentation estimating $240M in net slots revenues for its first year in business with $132M going directly to the state or city in taxes and local share assessment. On May 19, Sugarhouse repeated those projections in another presentation.
Let's do some math: 240 million expected total slot revenue / 52 weeks = 4.6 million per week â right?
And $132 million in tax revenue for the state and city / 52 weeks = $2.5 million weekly â right?
But Sugarhouse isn't bringing in close to that much.
Even during its opening week, Sugarhouse reported just $$3.6M in revenue â still less than the target $4.6.
Since then, slot revenues have dropped by half: last week, they raked in $1.86 million before taxes: that's about forty percent what they're supposed to be making.
To be fair, Sugarhouse's table games are actually ahead of schedule, bringing roughly double the projected amount. But they account for much less of the casino's total earnings: even if table games bring double the expected revenue, it would amount to $5 million dollars extra. The current slots earnings, meanwhile, suggest the casino may bring in as much as $38 million less than expected.
As state officials prepare to bid another casino license for Philadelphia, maybe it's worth asking whether a second casino â or even a first â is even remotely viable.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philadelphia. Philadelphia said: Saturation point? Even without Foxwoods, Sugarhouse is way behind projections: Since having it... http://t.jfm.tv/ehIcpu #CitypaperBlogs [...]
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[...] Saturation point? Even without Foxwoods, Sugarhouse is way behind projections :: The Clog :: Blog Ar... [...]
[...] Philadelphia Citypaper (blog) [...]
[...] Saturation point? Even without Foxwoods, Sugarhouse is way behind … [...]
Philadelphia Police just sent out an advisory to the media, alerting us that a Facebook group called "Catch the Kensington Strangler Before He Catches Someone You Love," had posted a picture of ... someone ... that is not the Kensington Strangler:
From the advisory:
Attention Facebook Users: This message is an official message from the Philadelphia Police Department. The photograph of a male displayed on this Fan Page, Triz Jefferies which has been posted as a suspect wanted in the Kensington Strangler case IS NOT CORRECT. According to the Philadelphia Police Department, this male is NOT a suspect and is not wanted in reference to these crimes.Â
To administrators of this site and users: please remove, and refrain from posting any photographs of individuals who are not officially identified as suspects by the Philadelphia Police Department. Failure to take appropriate actions may subject you to liability.
As of about three minutes ago, another picture appearing alongside the familiar police sketch that's been circulating was removed.
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| Harry Byrne |
Here's our "Pic of the litter" â the litter being City Paper's flickr group, submissions to which can be seen as an ever-evolving slideshow on the City Paper Photostream.
So please submit â you might even find your pic in this week's paper, as did this photograph of a guine Philadelphia bald eagle, shot by Harry Byrne on a stroll through the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge by the airport. This eagle is one of three that inhabit the park, Byrne told us.
Keep 'em coming!
Â
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philadelphia, Philly News Now. Philly News Now said: Photostream: Call for photos and this weekâs âPic of the litterâ: Harry Byrne Hereâs our âPic of the litterâ â ... http://bit.ly/gTcWE3 [...]
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| me : CP Photostream |
Have a camera? Live in Philly? Willing to deal with having a Yahoo account? Then put the three together and submit your Philly photos to City Paper's long-standing, but much-neglected Flickr account!
Your pics could wind up on the City Paper Photostream, on our blog, or even in print ... not that we're dropping hints.
Ok, we're dropping hints: submit the best pic this week and you may just find your photo adorning the big dry thing we like to call the print edition of our newspaper.
[...] Price: $ 28.95 A World of Nuclear Powers?, The American Assembly, Good US $5.99 End Date: Sunday Dec-26-2010 11:24:39 PSTBuy It Now for only: US $5.99Buy it now | Add to watch list A WORLD OF NUCLEAR POWERS? VINTAGE BOOK - 1966-POLY SCI US $1.00 End Date: Friday Dec-31-2010 13:53:48 PSTBuy It Now for only: US $1.00Buy it now | Add to watch list Additionally you can check out: http://citypaper.net/blogs/clog/2010/12/10/we-want-your-philly-photos/ [...]
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It's Thursday, and that means it's time for our City Council roundup.
Public Comment — DiCicco jumps in:
This week marked the second in which public testimony is allowed as part of Council's weekly meeting — the result of a court decision determining that Council's previous meeting format, in which testimony was not allowed, violated the state's Sunshine Act regarding government openness and transparency.Members of the public may now spend up to 3 minutes commenting on agenda items.
That still doesn't cut it, says attorney Darrell Zaslow, who appeared — for the second week in a row — before Council to urge the body to hear testimony on any issues, whether they're on the agenda or not.
"I believe you are in violation yet of the Sunshine Act," Zaslow told the body.
Another interesting twist came when Bob Caruso stood to testify against a planned development near the riverfront in Old City, which he characterized as a nightclub, and upon which a controversial electronic billboard is proposed to be placed.
So far, Council members have been reluctant to engage with those who testify in them meetings — probably out time concerns, and perhaps also not wishing to be dragged into a debate during the session.
But Councilman Frank DiCicco, in whose district the development is being built, couldn't resist:
"I certainly don't want to get into a debate with the folks here to testify, but ... what is the procedure, because I do have a question for the last witness."
And with that, DiCicco helped set what may prove important precedent. The witness was called back to the microphone, and DiCicco engaged with him, emphasizing that the development is not a nightclub:
"I will not let my fifteen years of hard work in Old City be destroyed by one project, which I think is a much-needed project," he said.
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Bald Eagles(100776): A rare bald eagle's nest has been identified in Pennypack park. A bill was reported out of committee today that would place parts of the park under special protection.
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The Billboard (no vote): Many members of the public testified against the placing of a giant electronic billboard on the aforementioned Old Development, which would face drivers coming across the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Opponents (mostly neighbors) voiced concern over the sign's appearance, effect on neighborhood aesthetics, pollution footprint (they emit CO2, it turns out), and effect on drivers.
AAA spokesman (and Philadelphia taxpayer) Rick Remington testified that "such a sign would pose a hazard to motorists as they weave their way through heavy traffic and tight turns trying to enter the city. For those leaving the city, a safety hazard would be posed as flashing lights suddenly appear in their review mirror."
"Many of you no doubt are aware of the increased attention on distracted driving ... these electronic billboards are another form of distraction which diverts motorists from the job at hand."
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Tow Trucks (100536 no vote): Tow truck drivers and company owners appeared to voice their continued opposition to the bill, which would place tow truck dispatch authority under the PPA. Today we heard an interesting take on the mater from Gary (I didn't catch his last name, but will try to supply it) an ex-convict who opposes a provision in the bill that requires the PPA to deny a license to anyone convicted of aggravated assault on an official or convicted of various crimes related to vehicles.
"I'm 46 — it's kinda late to be looking for a new career. ... Everybody shouldn't have to pay the price, because I work hard."
"They never mention the good stuff we do," he added: "Help people, take people home, take people to hospitals, get up at 3 o'clock in the morning. Them companies should be dealt with like individuals, because lot of good people including myself are going to be hurt."
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| visitphilly.com |
It isn't every day Philadelphia happenings get mentioned in the New York Times — let alone the front page: but this story appears to have sneaked past every news outfit in Philly.
Yesterday, the Times reported that the Philadelphia History Museum has been in the process of âquietlyâ selling more than 2,000 of their items in order to raise money for the museum's $5.8 million renovation, as well as tighten their collection. The newsy hook is that in the museum world, pawning off your collection for some cash money is pretty much frowned upon (even in the recession and even if, like the History Museum, your nearly 200-year-old building needs a face lift).
If you haven't heard about the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent in a while, it's because it's been closed for almost two years now due to renovations. The remaining work will cost about $1.5 million, and the museum hopes to pay for it with the sale of a mystery artifact. (Other mysteries include why museum treasurer George J Kleiber initially told the Times that there were no records of the sales, then later âI'm sure there are records around. I'm not sure I've seen them.â)
The question being raised is whether selling off historical assets to fund renovations is ethical. It turns out to be tricky.
Kleiber told the Times that many of the artifacts they were selling didn't fit in with their âmission as a history museum.â Most notably, the museum sold an 1815 still life by the Philadelphia artist Raphaelle Peale-- a charming painting of a fish, an onion and a fennel bulb, among other things. Kleiber justified its sale by saying, âThe Peale we felt was very much outside the mission. We're a history museum, not an art museum. It's a picture of a fish.â
Not all agree. From the Times:
Others say the scope of the sales is troubling. âThe motivation appears to be liquidation, rather than preserving the embedded knowledge and experience that these artifacts bring,â said Kenneth Finkel, lecturer in American studies at Temple University who briefly served as deputy director of the museum. âDecisions made by donors and curators and libraries become the legacy. And the decision to deaccession stupidly is also a legacy.â
The only other news organization to weigh in so far is blog ArtNet, which had this to say:
âDespite the general rule against selling works from museum collections, it happens all the time, with the understanding that the institution's savvy curators have some grander vision in mind, finely tuned by their years of sophisticated experience in their field. Not so at the PHM, which seems to be run by a confederacy of dunces, with Kleiber as head fool.â
I'm inclined to wonder what's more important, selling a few items and re-opening the museum's doors, or keeping the entire collection intact only to be seen by those with keys to the museum. Just wondering.
[...] NY Times: Philadelphia History Museum selling artifacts to fund restoration :: The Clog ::... [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Arthur Kim, Val Ballestrem and AASLH, Philly News Now. Philly News Now said: NY Times: Philadelphia History Museum selling artifacts to fund restoration: visitphilly.com It isn't every da... http://bit.ly/ggd8EL [...]
[...] NY Times: Philadelphia History Museum selling artifacts to fund … [...]
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