Nutter’s Budget Cuts $47 Million, Preserves Library Services
Yesterday Mayor Nutter announced $47 million in cuts to the budget passed by City Council earlier this spring, taking big chunks out of police and firefighter money but backing off on his threat of mass layoffs and major library cutbacks. The cuts do include eliminating two classes of police recruits, and reducing police overtime to the tune of $6.3 million....
Continue ReadingBREAKING: PSPCA Raid on Earp Street Worst Ever, 69+ Dogs Seized So Far
The stench surging out of the house was an ungodly combination of feces and urine, and the noises were the cries and howls of what PSPCA Director of Law Enforcement George Bengal estimates could be up to 100 animals living in squalor at 739 Earp St. in South Philadelphia tonight. The PSPCA began the raid around 3 p.m. today. By 8:30 p.m., they had already rescued...
Continue ReadingNo Lookout on Barge Before Duck Boat Accident
The Hungarian tour group that lost two of its members in last week’s duck boat crash is headed back to Hungary, while fallout from the accident continues here in Philadelphia. The latest revelation is that no one was looking out for obstructions from the barge that crashed into the duck boat, killing 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner and 20-year-old Szabolcs...
Continue ReadingPhilly’s Board of Pensions and Retirement Sues Citigroup
It seems the only way to get out of the recession is to sue those who benefited from it—namely, America’s biggest banks. The city’s Board of Pensions and Retirement is doing just that in an effort to hold big banks accountable for the economic meltdown from nearly two years ago. Yay, accountability! U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein gave the suit...
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Three Philly Cops Busted in Heroin Sting
Three Philadelphia police officers pitched in to steal 300 grams of heroin, news reports say. Score! Allegedly, a man named Angel Ortiz (not the former Council member, don’t even ask) bought the drugs on credit in cahoots with the 5-0, then pretended to get arrested while his partner drove off with the stash. It was the perfect plan, except the partner...
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Corbett Tells Unemployed to Get Back to Work, Jumps to Lead in Polls
“Get off your duff and get to work,” Tom Corbett said to out-of-work Pennsylvanians last week. “The jobs are there,” the state Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate told a Harrisburg Radio station on Friday. “But if we keep extending unemployment, people are just going to sit there.” The message must have...
Continue ReadingRendell Staffers High on Gas
Marcellus Shale drilling companies had a dilemma. Normally, they just buy legislators and gubernatorial candidates with campaign contributions. But what to do about a lame duck governor? Rendell caved to lobbyists last year and failed to enact a drilling tax, but has been sounding increasingly aggressive this year about putting some kind of levy in place. Could...
Continue ReadingTrash Compactor Contract Filthy, Controller Says
Ever wonder about those bulky trash compactors found on downtown sidewalks? You’re not the only one. City Controller Alan Butkovitz released findings today from an investigation into the purchase and deployment of BigBelly Solar Compactors, and it ain’t pretty. The controller said that the projected savings from reduced collection costs are not being realized,...
Continue ReadingWe Regret the Error
In a June 28 PhillyNow post regarding a press conference held on witness intimidation, the following statement was published and attributed to state Sen. Anthony Williams: Williams also announced that the extra funds would help the city with “the proper ammunition to effectively prosecute ‘white-tee culture’ in Philadelphia,” he said today, basically...
Continue ReadingBig Crowds on South Street Top Violent Weekend
Police shut down an 11 block stretch of South Street late Saturday night in response to a large gathering of teens. News sources have described it as a “violent mob” and “unruly crowds,” but no one has yet labeled the happenings by that oh-so loaded term that rhymes with “slash blob.” Except, as Action News did, to report that...
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