DAILY GRINDER: Corbett Admin. Releases Welfare Adviser who Wrote Weird Stuff
Gov. Tom Corbett’s Welfare Secretary Gary Alexander hired a…how do I put this lightly…complete weirdo to act as a welfare adviser. He’s Robert W. Patterson, he edits a journal called “The Family in America”—which we’re going to get a subscription to, you’ll see why—and his now-former job in the Corbett Administration afforded him $104,470...
Continue ReadingVoter ID Legislation Could Come Up Next Week
In 1965, with the help and oversight of Martin Luther King, Jr., congress passed, and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed, the Voting Rights Act. It was put into place to stop states from imposing “voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure…to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Pushback Against Gov. Corbett’s Food Stamp Policy
Some anti-hunger groups are criticizing Gov. Tom Corbett’s $2,000 “asset test” for food stamps, calling the move unnecessary and a little weird. Richard Weishaupt of Community Legal Services said, “I don’t think they’ll save any money at all,” which is true, but ask yourself: Is this about money or looking like a good conservative? This article...
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Top 5 PhillyNow Personalities of 2011 (and Occupy Philly is Number 2)
Here comes another end of the year list—duck! Seriously, though, this list below is Philadelphia Weekly’s news blog’s ‘Top Personalities of the Year,’ which is code for the topics we wrote about most often, as configured through ‘tags,’ on a daily basis. Most tagged: City Council. Fifth most tagged: Tom Corbett. Also, Occupy Philly, Mayor...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Voter ID Fights Heating Up Before Holidays
Democratic City Commissioner-elect Stephanie Singer called the Voter ID legislation, set to be looked at again in 2012 (it needs to be passed by February to be eligible for the presidential election) “hogwash” while on the radio yesterday. She says poll workers checking signatures is enough, and legislation like this will just stop more people from voting....
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: How Many Outlets Picked up on the Bill Conlin Story? (Hint: Enough to Ruin his Life)
As you probably know by now, the Inquirer has published an in-depth, damning article about now-former Daily News sportswriter Bill Conlin and his alleged penchant for molesting kids. He’s allegedly groped (and worse) at least four kids in his day, although the statute of limitations denies any of those in the article from pressing charges. However, the court...
Continue ReadingUpdate: Voter ID Bill Put Off Until 2012
After several amendments were passed through committee, the state Senate did not consider the Voter ID bill yesterday. This means the Legislature will not be able to consider the bill until January, since they’re set to go on their long vacations this week. The bill, as we detailed yesterday, was originally written to require a government-issued ID at the polls....
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: All’s Quiet at Dilworth Plaza
Good morning PhillyNow readers — I hope you had a tolerable-to-great short Thanksgiving “vacation.” In case you missed it, we were back in full swing yesterday as the Occupy protests hit their 5 p.m. deadline and then, all the sudden…not much happened. At least not immediately. Earlier, around 1 p.m., a press conference was held regarding...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Occupy Philly Told To Move; Offered ‘Non-Occupation’ Deal
I can’t really remember; what’s a kick in the groin feel like, again? Oh, right: The City of Philadelphia has decided Occupy Philly cannot keep their tents or protest at City Hall. And they can move to Thomas Paine Plaza, so long as they don’t bring their tents and only hang around from—get this—9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (And no video games until you’ve finished...
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Fracking Opponents Present Army Corp of Engineers with Petition to Vote No on Draft Rules
Tracy Carluccio with the petition. A coalition of grassroots organizations, labor unions and religious groups presented the Army Corp of Engineers with a petition signed by over 70,000 people today, following a press conference, urging the Corp to vote against draft regulations on Nov. 21 that could open the Delaware River watershed up to natural gas operations. A...
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