CinePhillyist Reviews... The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Playlist Rewind: Shonen Knife at Johnny Brenda's
BalletX Fall Series Begins TONIGHT
Where Have All Our T-Shirts Gone?
Phillyist Playlist: 311 at the Borgata Event Center
This week's winner was a no-brainer. How could we pick anybody but the man who grabbed pretty much all the headlines, Milton Street? Where could we even begin? The biggest news, of course, was Milton being convicted of tax evasion. But our favorite part of this whole ordeal was Milton's "defense," sort of like the one Wesley Snipes pulled out in connection with his legal troubles: that federal income taxes are unconstitutional. Hey, we hate paying taxes as much as the next guy, but we do it. And if Milton really wanted to bitch about taxes, he should've started with Philadelphia's city wage tax, which, every feel like we look at our pay stub, makes us feel like we've just been mugged. The one thing we can say for Milton is that, to our knowledge, he didn't draft a ridiculous anti-tax manifesto, a la Mr. Snipes. So, because lampooning him once this week just wasn't enough, we happily award the distinction of Asshole of the Week to Milton Street.
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David C. Sicoli, a Philadelphia priest with "a long history of abusive and manipulative relationships with adolescents," according to a grand jury report, has finally been defrocked by the Roman Catholic Church. No criminal charges were ever lodged against him. Numerous complaints were filed about his alleged misconduct with boys, however, and other priests warned about him, but the church continued to simply transfer him to different parishes, and even ended up naming him associate director of the CCD youth program for the entire Philadelphia area.
Next up in Milton Street's fraud trial: testimony today from a Vietnamese business owner that Milton supposedly cheated out of $80,000 for a share of a nonexistent airport subcontract.
The Daily News continues to desperately dig up any more tidbits they can find about infamous criminal couple Jocelyn Kirsch and Edward Anderton. This time they've got a story about how Kirsch talked to Prince Charles at an invitation-only panel last year at the International House.
In the wake of Super Tuesday, the Daily News and the Inquirer both take a look at how the candidates fared and what voter turnout was like in the area. The Daily News also reveals that the workers in the city commissioners office received over 400 calls from people who thought it was Election Day in Philadelphia, and who were trying to figure out why they couldn't find a polling place that was open. Um... wow.
At least one of those New Year's arrests that we posted about yesterday was a complete disaster. Not only was it police gunfire that injured a 9-year-old boy at the scene, the cops arrested the wrong man and let the right man go free. They did eventually get the real culprit Tuesday night.
Remember that story about some of the Penn State football players getting into a fight? Well, the law hasn't sorted out what exact punishments they'll receive yet, but Joe Pa has. Good old Joe Pa. (Via Jill, via Ross)
That fire we mentioned yesterday that destroyed four rowhouses in West Philly was started by an arsonist when he/she took clothing and other items belonging to people who were recently evicted from one of the homes and set them on fire on the porch. No arrests have been made as of this writing.
The latest updates on the mayor's race for today: the Inquirer profiles Fattah, and his mission to defeat poverty in Philly through education. They also take a look at what it will mean if Sam Katz ends up entering the race, post-primary. Meanwhile, a health insurance firm run by Tom Knox is in trouble!
It's coming out now that the widening of the PA Turnpike's Northeast Extension will require more private property than previously announced, affecting "property owners in the Montgomery County communities of Plymouth, Whitpain, Worcester, Upper Gwynedd and Towamencin Townships."
Also pleading guilty was a man who stole 165 Civil War documents from the National Archives Philadelphia office. He sold between 70 and 80 of them on eBay - which is actually what got him caught. Now he could spend as many as 10 years in jail.
The city owns the Broad Street subway and half the Market-Frankford El line, and has just been leasing them to SEPTA. As it happens, the lease is up. Nobody really thinks the city will steal the subway and the El back from SEPTA - because after all, who the hell would want to own the sub and the El? But the city is trying to use this fact as leverage in talks with SEPTA. They want respect, and more of a role in the running of SEPTA.
Some are trying to pass laws to ban casinos in Philly, but there could already be a law on the books that would prohibit the building of at least one of the casinos: the planned SugarHouse Casino at Frankford and Delaware Avenue. It's a zoning law originally designed to restrict nightclubs.
So, how about this mayoral race? Who would have figured a month ago that Milton Street would successfully defeat challenges to his place on the ballot (though admittedly for a position as Council at-large, and not as mayor) and would be preparing to go out campaigning, while Brady sat in a courtroom, desperately trying to keep his name on that same ballot (yes, he went to court yesterday, and Mayorpalooza was blogging it; there should be a decision next week, although regardless of what that decision is, there will be an appeal).
The Youth Study Center near 20th and Pennsylvania Avenue is outdated, overcrowded, and just overall in very poor condition. It's really the only detention center for younger suspects in the city, and it's not keeping them in very effectively. Luckily, a new, high tech version could be built in West Philly - if Mayor Street and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell (whose district the new site is in) can kiss and make up.
It sounds like the challenge to Bob Brady's candidacy will be handled from a judge outside of Philadelphia, which makes sense. Meanwhile, the two lesser known mayoral candidates (Jesus White and Queena Bass) will be facing challenges of their own, as will 30 other candidates trying to get on the May 15 ballot, including five City Council members and everybody's favorite Council at-large candidate, Milton Street.
In yet more local school news, the faculty and staff at the Community College of Philadelphia went on strike yesterday morning, as threatened, when an agreement could not be reached on their new contract.
Rosie O'Donnell's gay-friendly travel company, R Family Vacations, had a trip to Philly this past weekend, and, although it was kept secret until near the end, O'Donnell came along, too. There was a bit of difficulty due to some nasty Philadelphia traffic, but otherwise everyone seems to have had a good time.
In case you were not aware, the Flower Show started this weekend. We'll be posting more about this later, but for now, enjoy the Inquirer's preview, which includes a short history of the show, and an explanation of its theme ("Legends of Ireland"). The Flower Show runs now through next Sunday (March 11th) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch.
Villanova heiress Susan Tabas Tepper was sentenced to a year of probation, $2,800 in fines, mandatory anger management classes, and community service on Monday for assaulting Xiomara Salinas, her nanny and housekeeper, in the summer of 2005. Apparently Tepper got angry about a messy refrigerator and, in the grand tradition of both crazy rich bitches and kung fu masters, she used whatever was nearby as a weapon, throwing carrots at Salinas, and then striking her with a telephone handset, before pulling her hair, breaking her glasses, and even trying to push her down the stairs.
If you can't wait to see the result of the legal proceedings against Senator Vince Fumo... well, get used to disappointment, because the trial isn't likely to start until early 2008, and it'll probably go on three to four months.
Hey, what about that other Philly politician with legal troubles, Vince Fumo? The Daily News has rounded up some handy strategies that he might use to beat the rap. Oh, and in case you're having trouble keeping up, here's a cheat sheet listing all of the charges against Fumo and the possible penalties he might face.
Results tagged “milton”
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add to facebookAnother new writer today, folks. Please help us welcome Don Montrey, who is a comedian and a writer. He has no criminal record as far as you know.
Continue reading "Milton Street, Super Genius!"
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'kay thanks, bye!
Continue reading "Countdown to 2008: The Top 10 Items on Philadelphia's New Year's Wish List"
To the many, many people I saw at Warped Tour:
Continue reading "Return to Sender: One Final Warped Tour Post"
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March is trying to go out like a lamb, but some damn chill yesterday morning left Phillyist wondering when the weather is going to warm up for good. Not like global warming for good, but you get it.
Continue reading "Blogs in the Time of Cholera... Err, Springtime"
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Ugh. Milton Street is more of a fiasco than a real candidate, something of a sideshow in the political circus. He may even sideline Brady's chances! Oh the shame!
Continue reading "Spring Training Blog Round-Up... Tally Ho!"
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We're sad to report that Milton Street is no longer running for mayor, but happy to report that he is running for City Council-at-large—against his own nephew! Which means a lot of relatives of mayors and former mayors will be on the May 15 ballot (May 15 being, as the Daily News helpfully points out, the day after Milton is scheduled to stand trial on federal corruption charges). Besides Milton and his nephew Sharif, there'll be W. Wilson Goode, the son of former Mayor Wilson Goode, and Bill Green, the son of former Mayor William Green.
Continue reading "Philly Politics Are Fun"
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Wanted: Candidate for mayor.
Continue reading "He's in the Jailhouse Now"
Common logic dictates that if, mere months ago you were indicted for tax fraud, your chances of winning a mayoral race are slim. Same for if you don’t live in the city where you are seeking office. Or the same state in which that city is located. Or if your brother is the much-maligned outgoing mayor.
Continue reading "“Mayor! Now that’s a good idea! I can run for mayor.”"