The Corbett Budget of Reckoning
Were you as afraid as we were when Governor Tom Corbett made those strange analogies toward the beginning of his budget address? “In many ways what we need to do is the same as reviving an abandoned apple tree. If the tree isn’t tended and the branches pruned, that tree will grow into a tangle of limbs and leaves. But it will bear no fruit. We need to...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Budget Today
Democratic City Committee deal broker and sometimes-Congressman Bob Brady brokered the deal for DiCicco to step out of the race for First District Council and back Mark Squilla. [Daily News] Another man has come forward, accusing a priest from the Philadelphia Archdiocese of rape and torture. His lawsuit alleges “Archdiocese officials conspired to endanger...
Continue ReadingJewell Williams Announces Sheriff Bid
You might remember State Senator Jewell Williams from such incidents as the time he was probably racially profiled by Philadelphia police in May 2009, then sued the Department. Or, maybe you just know him as the Democratic City Committee’s pick for sheriff, now that John Green and any sense of dignity that might have remained in that office is gone. Williams...
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The Phlog: Charter School Enrollement Cap Prohibited
This student in Spanish class at Excel Academy North, a Camelot-run charter school in North Philadelphia, uses a dictionary to translate words (photo: Matt Petrillo). The Philadelphia School District must give $1.3 million to Walter D. Palmer Leadership Learning Partners Charter School after trying to force the school to cap its enrollment in 2008-2009 and...
Continue ReadingWATCH: ‘Insider’ Predicts Santorum Iowa Win
The Des Moines, Iowa NBC affiliate’s politics show “The Insiders” had an interesting Sunday. After the regular left-right debating that goes on out there in corn country, the guests Jeff Lamberti (R) and Jerry Crawford (D) made their predictions on the “Peer into the Future” segment. Crawford made the prediction you’ve been reading on PhillyNow...
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DiCicco DROPs Out; Is Grace New Frontrunner?
Councilman Frank DiCicco is out of the race for his First District Council seat. He made the announcement last night, citing his $424,646 “bad decision” to get into the Deferred Retirement Option Program three years ago. And now the First District election – with both DiCicco and now-Republican Mayoral candidate Karen Brown out – is getting interesting. DiCicco...
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Pew Poll: Philadelphians Are Down, But Not Out
A new Pew poll shows Philadelphians are sorta down about the state of the city. Residents are evenly divided (40 percent/39 percent) over whether we’re on the right or wrong track. That number is slightly more pessimistic than it was in 2009, when right/wrong was 46/37. “Our sense is that the lingering effects of the recession is at least partially responsible...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Amends, Threats, Sales, Lies…
Police commissioner Ramsey suspended 54-year-old Police veteran John King for assault, terroristic threats and intimidation charges related to a disturbance at Mercy Hospital in October 2009. [Some news release] Amends: Nutter meets Wednesday with city LGBT leaders to discuss the Boy Scout building sale. [Philly.com] Governor Tom Corbett releases his first...
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Convention Center Boasts Largest East Coast Ballroom
Christine Frye, 21, showed visitors around the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s $786 million expanded interior today. The soft opening of the more than 500,000 square feet of the new space almost doubles the original center, which Frye says will add to the redevelopment of North Broad Street to continue the attractions of the Avenue of the Arts. “It’s...
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SEPTA’s Slap, Seat and Card Dilemmas
Well, SEPTA’s having some trouble. Or, at the very least, this has been a tough week. It started Monday when the Inky reported the many, many problems going on at the South Philadelphia factory that’s supposed to be building those new railcars. They cited material shortages, design flaws and inadequate equipment, which was to be expected. (It’s SEPTA and...
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