Feds file lawsuit over filthy Philadelphia food warehouse
"Cat excreta stools on the floor" We hope you’re not having a late lunch. The Department of Justice just filed a lawsuit in federal district court in an attempt to stop Philadelphia food warehouse New Rich City Trading Corporation, president and owner Ms. Xiaoping Sun and manager Mr. Si Yan Chuen from selling food that is held in “filthy conditions.” New...
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Koch Brothers moving into Philly?
It was recently reported that the Charles and David Koch, whose Koch Industries and Koch Family Foundations contribute to or control numerous Tea Party and right-wing groups and think tanks, are looking to spread their influence to the news industry. Rumors have been circulating that the Koch Brothers will bid on the Tribune Company, which most notably owns...
Continue ReadingGun violence in Philly over Memorial Day weekend
Memorial Day weekend in America: picnics, grilled processed meat, a much-needed extra day off (for some) and, in cities at least, a predictable uptick in gun violence. Last year, Morgan Zalot of the Philadelphia Daily News tweeted a count of 24 shootings, 27 shooting victims and six homicides. This year’s holiday gun violence was a relative improvement....
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PhillyNow Calendar: Civic Events, May 28-31
Hope you had a relaxing weekend, because for the civic-minded among us, there’s a lot going on this week. City Council is on a race to the finish line with regard to taxes, the school budget and the entire budget, which is technically due at the end of this week. Other than that, a bunch of neighborhood and civic associations are holding meetings throughout...
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Wanted strip-club shooter has rap sheet of prior charges, all withdrawn
According to this report at Philly.com, police have identified Henry Pettigrew as the fool who, after cartoonishly slipping and falling twice while running with an AK-47, managed to fire several rounds into the Purple Orchid Gentleman’s Club in West Philly on May 11. The Raw Story reports that the shooting was retaliation for the DJ not playing Pettigrew’s...
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Food stamp funds are about to get cut. Twice.
The war on public assistance has hit Pennsylvanians hard since Gov. Corbett came into office in 2011. A little over a year ago, he introduced a food stamp asset test, which would seek to make sure those Pennsylvanians receiving SNAP benefits do not have too much money in their savings or checking accounts. Earlier this year, in April, very little fraud was actually...
Continue ReadingThe DeCoatsworth story: a man’s descent or a system’s failure?
Richard DeCoatsworth, a 27-year-old Philadelphia ex-police officer once called a hero after surviving a bullet to the face during a routine traffic stop, was arrested this weekend on suspicion of drugging and raping two women he held captive at gunpoint. His bail is set at $60 million. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, a second current case against DeCoatsworth...
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None of you voted yesterday, but here’s what happened
"I'm not voting. I think this is a mailbox. Santa reads letters all year, right?" Yesterday’s election was one for the ages. Because it’s been ages since so many of you stayed home. “I’m afraid we may see the lowest turnout in many, many years,” wrote Committee of Seventy vice president and policy director Ellen Kaplan in last night’s...
Continue ReadingPhilly promoter attacked amid rash of NYC anti-gay violence
Dan Contarino, former promoter of the popular “Shaft” party at Shampoo nightclub, was assaulted in New York City last night, marking the sixth reported incident of apparently anti-gay violence in Manhattan this month. Contarino posted a public update on Facebook this morning, including a photo of his brutally godawful black eye and swollen face: “THANKS...
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PhillyNow Primer: May 21, 2013 Primary Elections
If you’re reading this the same day it’s published (Tuesday, May 21, 2013), then you’re in luck. Because today is Election Day in Philadelphia and you get a chance to vote for the future of your city—in an off off-year no less! Republicans and Democrats are holding primaries. And in some cases, they’re important. The most talked-about race this...
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