Yo, Philly in the News

• Seven city fire companies ceased operations yesterday as part of Mayor Nutter's budget-cutting plan, but not without drama, as the head of the firefighters' union claimed that "people will die" because of the closures. Nutter stated yesterday that his "fiscal-austerity" plan will not endanger public safety and will keep response times within national standards, then proceed with the closings as the union's efforts to stop them faltered.
• The city is urging residents not to take their Christmas trees to the curb. The city hopes that residents will take the effort to pack up their trees - and maybe those of a neighbor or two as well - and take them to be recycled at one of three city collection areas: 63rd Street and Passyunk Avenue, in Southwest; State Road and Ashburner Street, in Northeast; Domino Lane near Umbria Street, in Roxborough. Two neighborhood groups also will be accepting trees for recycling - The Northern Liberties Neighbors Association will accept trees at Liberty Lands Park, near 3rd and Poplar Streets, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Passyunk Square Civic Association will take trees Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at Gold Star Park, on Wharton between 6th and 7th.
• Lower Merion Township's nine-member Board of School Directors is scheduled to vote Monday on a final plan aimed at equalizing enrollment between the district's two high schools, Lower Merion and Harriton. Opponents complain that the plan would force some students from Narberth and South Ardmore, who could walk to Lower Merion High, to take a long bus ride to Harriton. And they complain that the plan falls heavily on minority students in South Ardmore.
• A Common Pleas Court judge yesterday denied the city's last-ditch plea to reconsider her ruling that the administration can't close 11 library branches without City Council approval. City attorneys asked Judge Idee Fox to reverse the ruling, which halted plans to shut the libraries on Dec. 31. They argued that keeping the 54-branch system open with reduced staff and funds would force drastic library service cuts citywide.
• A state constable whose aggressive behavior has stirred controversy for two decades has been removed by a Montgomery County Court judge. Michael Solow, 68, who already awaits trial on criminal charges, was ousted in a one-paragraph order signed last week by Judge Paul W. Tressler and made public yesterday. Solow was arrested March 31, accused of abusing his authority in two separate episodes. In August 2007, prosecutors said, Solow illegally evicted a West Conshohocken family from its home. He is also accused of searching an occupied apartment in Horsham the same week without having a search warrant.

Image Credit: Flickr user jepsculpture