Results tagged “homelessness”

Frugal Fun Alert: Wednesday

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

PW Run Down

The Roots' bassist Owen Biddle soothes fans' nerves.

City Paper Round Up

The Brothers Quay bring the dark to animation, and bless them for it.

  • Michael made the best decision of his administration thusfar this week: Billy Penn will not be donning Phillies gear for the World Series.
  • Someone sent a threatening letter containing a suspicious substance to Barack Obama's South Philadelphia campaign office at 15th and Christian streets. The office was evacuated, but initial tests determined the substance was brown sugar. Meanwhile, McCain was unveiling his new plan for the economy in Montgomery County.
  • The Philadelphia School District is suffering from a high number of teacher vacancies, which experts say points to systemic problems in the hiring process.
  • A Philadelphia police officer was responding to a call to assist another officer around 1AM this morning when his police car collided with another car at a downtown intersection. The officer is listed in critical condition, but his prognosis is good.
  • Perhaps not surprisingly, Mayor Nutter's recent press conference in which he angrily criticized DHS left some workers upset. He spent yesterday trying to placate them in a series of closed-door meetings.
  • People are driving less, but rush hour still sucks, according to the Inquirer. Gee, thanks.
  • It's now official: Michael's ethical quandaries are a complete and utter joke compared to those of former Mayor Street. This week's near-scandal for Michael was when Stephen Starr tried to pick up Michael's tab when the mayor dined at the newest Starr establishment, Parc. We're sure the feds will be all over wiretapping Nutter's office if this keeps up.
  • Vandals pushed over more than 200 headstones at a historic African American cemetery in Collingdale, including the stone of famed Philadelphia civil-rights activist Octavius V. Catto.
  • A 50-year-old Phoenixville man tried to break into a Chester Township general-contracting company off I-95 over the weekend, possibly to steal scrap metal. We know this because he was found yesterday morning hanging by his neck from the garage window. He had apparently stood on a sawhorse and poked his head through the window looking for a latch when he slipped and snapped his neck.
  • Today's Inquirer has an interesting and even-handed story about the homeless of Rittenhouse Square. There are many different opinions on the subject, but they can generally be classified into two categories: kick them out or leave them be. Take our poll and let us know what you think about the homeless in Rittenhouse and other public areas in the city, then leave us a comment explaining your thoughts. Results will be published at the end of this week.

  • The Inquirer tells the story of how a plan to convert an empty convent in Germantown into apartments for formerly homeless men went south, in order to underscore the problems Mayor Nutter is likely to face with his initiative to fight homelessness.
  • The 14-year-old Lansdowne boy accused of stabbing his older brother to death over a video game has admitted to voluntary manslaughter. The judge will determine his sentence at a hearing on June 5th; he faces a maximum of seven years of supervision until he reaches age 21.
  • The Philadelphia chapter of the Boy Scouts sued the city in federal court late Friday to prevent being evicted from its city-owned headquarters or being charged $200,000 a year in rent. Mayor Nutter said yesterday that he's astounded by their audacity. If you'll remember, the Scouts have been paying only $1 annually to lease a city building as their headquarters, but Nutter decided the city could no longer afford to subsidize the rent of a group that discriminates.
  • Phillyist, like untold thousands in the Delaware Valley, resolved to be more active this year. If you’re one of those thousands and are looking for a place to start, consider combining it with that other favorite resolution, volunteering in the community. Back On My Feet running club lets you do just that: you’ll run in Center City with homeless men from local shelters. It may seem odd at first glance, but the non-profit is committed to promoting self-sufficiency by using running as a way to build confidence, strength, and self-esteem. The organization just started this past summer, and already has gotten attention and accolades aplenty. The idea started with founder Anne Mahlum, who would pass by a homeless shelter on her morning run, and slowly established a good rapport with the men who were outside. July 3rd marked the first outing of the Homeless Running Club, and now there are four teams that work with three area shelters. Each team runs at least three times a week, giving you plenty of opportunity to build relationships with your teammates and work up to that four-minute mile. BOMF is establishing connections with local businesses and job training centers, and one member recently accepted a job, the first concrete success story of the program. From the sounds of it, though, the story of every runner is a successful one, as the goals set within the program and the dedication of the staff inspire members to not only reap the health benefits, but to use the confidence gained in the program to effect positive change in their lives. The line that made Phillyist cry? “No one ever runs by themselves because life is a lot harder when you go through it alone.” Amen, sister.

  • After a three month pause, a grand jury resumed its investigation yesterday into wealthy businessman, and owner of the Mount Airy Casino Resort, Louis A. DeNaples. DeNaples is suspected of lying to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board about his connections to organized crime. DeNaples' brother Eugene, a former state gambling investigator, showed up at the proceedings yesterday.
  • "The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will announce this afternoon how much Philadelphia and other cities will get in grants to help the homeless." The grants are awarded on a competitive basis, and last year Philly saw its funding slashed because HUD felt the city's projects were weighted too much toward services. "This year, the city is asking for $27.9 million to finance 82 projects, including plans for a facility in Center City that would house street people with drug or alcohol addictions."
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