PPA Undergoing ‘Sensitivity Training’—For Reals
The Philadelphia Parking Authority invited the media to their headquarters at 3101 Market Street earlier today for a presser on “PPA customer service initiatives and LGBT sensitivity training,” although that vaguery was all they initially offered. The eventual announcement of an undercover operation, new training for all employees and a neat-o back pocket...
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City Council At-Large Candidates Duke It Out at WHYY Studios
Candidates for councilmember-at-large debated at the WHYY studios last night, covering Occupy Philly, DROP, property tax reassessment, and personally tailored questions. There are seven at-large seats (at-large means representing the entire city as opposed to a specific district), and any single party can hold a maximum of five. Since Philly’s traditionally...
Continue ReadingOccupy Protests Spread Worldwide, Celebrate Day of Action
Occupy Wall Street started one month ago today, and the Occupy Together movement—the offshoots springing up in cities around the world—celebrated a Day of Action this weekend. Here’s a roundup about the controversial movement. In New York, the Long Island Press reports 90 people were arrested over the weekend, 23 of them at the La Guardia Place Citibank....
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DAILY GRINDER: Occupy Philly Organizer Missing (Updated)
Occupy Philadelphia organizer Robyn Mello, 24, has been missing from the protest site since Friday, October 14. Her family and friends have not been able to get in contact with her. Anyone who has information on her whereabouts is encouraged to call her brother, Nathan Mello, at 201-220-5654. That’s her picture above, taken from Occupy Philadelphia’s Facebook...
Continue Reading![Fight For Philly Takes Bus Tour, Meets Occupy Philly & Confronts Republicans [VIDEO]](http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/files/2011/10/fightforphilly_02-150x150.jpg)
Fight For Philly Takes Bus Tour, Meets Occupy Philly & Confronts Republicans [VIDEO]
Photos/video by Michael Alan Goldberg Local nonprofit Fight for Philly allowed me onto their ironically named Infrastructure Garden Tour yesterday. It consisted of two school buses that took two groups of volunteers and canvassers through North Philly and Southwest Philly to pre-chosen sites where houses have been foreclosed upon, infrastructure is crumbling...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Support for Occupy Movement Grows
A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds Americans now support the Occupy movement more—much more, actually—than the Tea Party. Thirty-seven percent of Americans are in favor of the protests, while 18 percent are opposed. By contrast, 28 percent of Americans favor the Tea Party, while 41 percent are opposed. On yet the third, monster hand, support for the...
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One Week In, Occupy Philly Has First Polite Clash with the City
Sleepin' in the rain. Today marks one week since Occupy Philly took over City Hall, with its dome tents scattered throughout Dilworth Plaza and its presence restricting normal public access to the iconic building’s courtyard. It also marks a sea change in the movement’s momentum. The Occupiers have settled in and begun projects (like erecting shelters...
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Obama’s Philly Campaign Headquarters Opens Tonight
President Obama’s Philadelphia campaign headquarters for the 2012 presidential election opens tonight in Center City, and guess what? It’s practically next door to Occupy Philly’s home at City Hall! OMG! The office is on the corner of 15th and Chestnut streets (42 S. 15th St., 16th Floor, to be exact). The party’s from 5-8 tonight and...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: New ‘Occupy Philly Guilt Number’ is $400,000
OK, new “Occupy” number: The city says it’s spent $400,000 on police surveillance of the protest, including overtime and uniformed and undercover police on Dilworth Plaza. We’ve heard protesters publicly share their grievances about undercover police more than once. This is how he’s getting the votes! Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey introduced legislation...
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Urban Planner Says Occupy Philly “Glamorizes Homelessness” at City Hall
"Caring about social good is not just buying a reusable tote bag at Whole Foods. Stop going to Whole Foods!" -Jillian Penrod-Krause, urban planner Occupy Philly is an unusual creature of a political party when it comes to reform. Members hold these daily meetings called “General Assemblies,” in which citizens of Tent Town over at City Hall hold...
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