News: July 2009 Archives

We'll miss you, Jim.

• As we mentioned last night, Jim Johnson, former Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and NFL coaching legend, died yesterday. Johnson, 68, was battling melanoma.
• Employees of the city's Northwest Transfer Station, which compacts trash to be shipped to landfills, have alleged that they were discriminated against based upon their race. Lawrence "Lonnie" Powell explains that he had to ask permission to go to the bathroom and was not permitted to use a bathroom just feet away that white employees were able to use without permission.
• A city audit of the Philadelphia Parking Authority is going to show that the agency is top-heavy with managers, spends its money in an unorganized way, and is not cooperating with the city regarding an explanantion as to who receives free parking passes to park at the airport. PPA spokeswoman Linda Miller said that there is a lot in the audit that the agency "adamantly disagrees" with.

If you haven't read by now, we just received word that former Eagles' Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson passed away this afternoon from cancer, just days after the team had named Sean McDermott as his successor while he fought his illness. Johnson was 68, and is survived by his wife, two children, and four grandchildren.

Phillyist is fairly sure that everyone has heard about the city's money troubles...and the state's money troubles...and the country's money troubles. We are all fairly certain, unless you live in a bubble at the bottom of the sea, that everyone knows budgets are being cut and belts are being tightened everywhere.

Today's featured Twitter user is @RedCrossPhilly. The Red Cross of Philadelphia is a part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter of the Red Cross. They use their Twitter account to keep their followers informed about how they are trying to accomplish their mission in Philadelphia. It seems to consist primarily of assisting victims of house fires. Actually, their updates seem ripe for a mashup with Google Maps as a way to plot fire locations in Philadelphia.

We're going to start featuring a Pennsylvania- or Philadelphia-based entity with each Twitterist post, giving you a chance to meet homegrown organizations that are reaching out to their audience, market, or constituents via Twitter. Think of it as a way to showcase the ways that our community participates in the broader social conversation. Our first featured user is @ReliableEnergy. Pennsylvanians for Reliable Energy is an advocacy group that aims to ease the burden of energy costs in the state through modernization, efficiency, and renewable energy. They use their Twitter account to keep their followers in the know regarding policy changes and relevant news, like the $40 million in stimulus money our state will get for energy improvements.

In yet another stunning display of blatant disregard for the economic plight of his constituents, the City of Philadelphia, and the state of Pennsylvania, Republican Minority Whip Frank Rizzo, Jr. (son of the ex-mayor depicted in the statue at right) is the lone City Council member intending to accept his cost of living raise this year. Other members—wiser, more informed, more considerate members—are planning to give the money back to the general fund, or to various city charities. They're primarily doing so in order to show solidarity with union workers who are shit out of luck being asked to decline pay raises for 4 years.

Philly.com clearly doesn't pay enough attention to Phillyist. Didn't they learn last week? And so today, you get a two-fer.

What do you think of the Petro Martinez acquisition?

In today's "all crime-related" edition...

• Former State Senator Vincent Fumo is set to be sentenced today. Even though Fumo's defense team passed along more than 250 letters of support from various political figures, he is widely expected to face prison time.
• Creative Steps rejected the Valley Club's offer to return to the swim club. Additionally, the summer day camp announced plans to sue the club.
• Barry Mescolotto has been caught double-dipping. Mescolotto, a member of the Board of Revision of Taxes, sent e-mails to SEPTA representatives conducting business in his side-venture which is selling train parts to the transportation authority.

• The Broad Street Line groper has been caught... and he is only 14.
• A voodoo cleansing ritual administered in Camden County has left one person dead.
• A forum on homelessness in Philadelphia is being held tomorrow at the Independence Visitor's Center.

Quick! Go to philly.com. Scroll all the way down to the bottom. Check out the poll. (You can see it here, too.) Do you see what sender-inner Wyn saw, leading him to (a) "laugh shamefully hard" and and (b) email Proofreading Philly? That's right. "Justiculations."

Hey Friday, Philly! Seems like you all pulled out for your boy Shane yesterday as it was announced that he won the final spot on the All-Star game roster. High fives all around! Go eat some Musubi and dance around in a grass skirt and a coconut bra tonight in celebration. We know we will.


• As it seems, the events that occured at Valley Swim club are taking more of a turn. It's become national news and everyone is pointing fingers at each other. One of the club's directors stated that the swim club doesn't discriminate and cited people of the black, Asian, Jewish and Russian communities as members. The state Human Relations Commissions is now investigating the allegations.
• Ladies, be careful out there. There's a reported groper hanging out on the Broad Street Line and previous attacks have occured during the day. Philly.com has a photo of the suspect from security cameras.
• Short Stories: Water main break in S.W. Philly. We haven't heard the last of the city pool closings. NFL bound rookie shot in Cheltenham.

• Philly drivers rank among the worst in the country. Surprised?
• A teenager was killed last night while walking his dog in Darby. Police believe the shooting was random.
• The facility where a man plunged to his death in a vat of chocolate yesterday may not be up to code.

Happy morning, everyone! As it's Thursday, we're now down to the final balloting hours to send Shane Victorino to the All-Star game. Cast away, little ones. As it turns out, Carlos Beltran of the Mets will be out of the game due to injury, and since Cholly is the team's manager, he may be able to finagle Victorino onto the roster regardless of whether or not Shane wins the Final Vote. But that doesn't matter; it's PRIDE people! But really, let us know in the comments, did Mayor Nutter show up at your door to ask you to vote for Shane?


• A swim club in Huntingdon Valley allegedly kicked a group of campers out of their pool based on race. The camp had set up prior arrangements to use the pool throughout the summer, but once the campers arrived, things got heated. There were allegations of racial comments made by club members and a week later the club sent the check back to the camp without a reason for the refund.
• Updates on Rian Thal: The neighbor, who was arraigned earlier week, has been arrested. Police are still looking for the man who left the apartment after the shootings and they still believe it's a robbery gone horribly awry.
• Not really Philly related, but the third Oscar Mayer died on Monday night. It's really not a good time to be famous, anymore. We plan on eating eight bologna sandwiches for lunch in his honor.

Hey there, Philadelphia. How 'bout those Phillies? Did any of you see the slaughter that was the 22-1 game last night over the Reds? Hot dawg. And we're playing them tonight and Wednesday, too!

The MLB announced the roster for the All Star game this past weekend. The Phils pulled out with three roster spots sending Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard. And at the helm of this year's National League All Stars team is our very own Charlie Fuqua.

Good Morning, Philadelphia! Welcome back to your desk. We apologize for the late news, but we're still adjusting to our Monday morning just as we suspect that you are. So, pour yourself another cup of coffee and settle in with today's highlights.


• 20 tons of trash and 130 portapotties were hauled from the Parkway this weekend. No official number yet, but they're saying "hundreds of thousands" of people showed up to Philly for the Welcome America festivities.
• The weekend wasn't without it's sad stories, however. Nationwide, five people died from fireworks, one accident occuring in Quakertown.
• Watch where you park your car on weekday mornings. The PPA is installing 17 truck loading zones where ONLY delivery trucks will be allowed to park from 6am to 10am. The PPA feels the measures are warranted due to the backups on Chestnut Street that the delivery trucks create.

• Yesterday, City Controller Alan Butkovitz expressed his displeasure with the Water Revenue Bureau for raising rates before figuring out their new billing system.
• Gotta love a pervert: "A 15-year-old girl told a jury yesterday that Hector Ayala, 59, a man she once considered family, tricked her into having sex by saying that it would ward off misfortune and help make wishes come true." Too bad Chris Hansen didn't get a hold of him first.
• A lesson to juvenile delinquents: if you're gonna do the crime, prepare to do the time. Tears will get you nowhere, especially after shooting a father of five.

• Scary headline of the day: "Multiple States on Verge of Collapse," according to the Huffington Post. While the related article is a little less dramatic, it is noted that in Pennsylvania "state workers will receive only partial pay on July 17 and July 24, after which paychecks will be withheld entirely until the impasse is solved." Awesome.
• In other state-related news, earthquakes happen in Delaware? Who knew?
• A man was found dead this morning in Fairmount Park. He had been shot several times.