AltWeeklies Wire
Philadelphia Casino Debate Taxes Neighborly Relationsnew
In Philadephia's Fishtown neighborhood the battle between pro- and anti-casino neighbors was ugly from the start. The community battle over the casino has ballooned into accusations of secret alliances, online name-hurling, point-by-point chesslike sparring matches and even reports of physical intimidation.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tara Murtha |
01-26-2009 |
Housing & Development
How Slot Machines Are Secretly Designed to Seduce and Destroy Younew
Slots-only gambling parlors located in highly populated areas are precisely the model that Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos hope to replicate in Philadelphia. Gov. Ed Rendell and others have portrayed slots as a safe medium. The opposite is true.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
01-13-2009 |
Economy
New Sustainability Mag Builds a Base in Phillynew
Living sustainably has been a buzzed-about notion for years, but given the economic uncertainty we're all steeping in at present, the idea's become trendy for an entirely new reason. Into the breach comes Grid, a fledgling magazine pointing "Towards a Sustainable Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Brian Howard |
12-02-2008 |
Media
One Philly 'Hood Debates How Best to Develop Abandoned Propertynew
Instead of allowing someone to develop empty lots and buildings in the neighborhood, the Norris Square Civic Association has held on to much of it. Sometimes, caught in the slow process of trying to do development on its own, it allows parcels ripe for renovation to languish.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Andrew Thompson |
11-18-2008 |
Housing & Development
The Secret Face of HIVnew
HIV/AIDS is the No. 1 killer of black American women between 25 and 34. But the fastest growing segment of HIV incidence is among black women in their 50s and 60s. Yes, Grandma has AIDS.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Kellie C. Murphy |
11-17-2008 |
Science
The Way of the Scalper: Inside Philly's Stealth Economynew
Why scalping? Well, you're your own boss, and set your own schedule. You have the freedom to travel the country, the ability to gain access to nearly any major event, and you get to be a part of some stories. There's a certain allure. And, of course, there's money.
Philadelphia City Paper |
E. James Beale |
10-06-2008 |
Business & Labor
Do Pay Phones Do More Harm Than Good?new
As fewer and fewer people use pay phones, some city governments and neighborhood groups increasingly see them as invitations to crime. Still, removing pay phones from city property is one thing; getting rid of those on private property is another.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
08-12-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Living on Scrap: How Two Men Found Their Calling in the Garbagenew
The skyrocketing market for metal is turning into a boom for scrappers, guys who roam the streets searching for metal they can pile into their truck haul to the scrap yard for cold hard cash. Despite having led hard lives and having checkered pasts, Greg and Ron are now making an honest go of it as scrappers.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
08-05-2008 |
Economy
Philly's Rise in HIV Among Young Gay Males Has Led to New Testing Measures ... at Night Clubsnew
Years ago, drawing vials of blood and waiting two weeks for results gave way to a finger-prick or cheek swab and a 20-minute wait. Since today's tests are light on equipment, the process has been moved out of stuffy clinics and into RVs that can be parked in parts of town where incidences of the disease run high.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Tom Namako |
08-05-2008 |
Science
It's Been a Year Since Steven 'Butter' Miller Was Killed. Does Anyone Remember?new
When Butter was shot dead by police -- shot at 85 times, hit about 20 -- he was high, standing on a corner and waving a loaded gun. He hadn't pointed it at anyone, or if he had, it had been completely accidental, coincidental, because Butter was blank-eyed, detached from the world.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Tom Namako and Doron Taussig |
07-29-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Many Immigrants Abandon Accomplishments to Start Anew in Americanew
Many highly educated Philadelphians from other countries are stuck working dead-end jobs for minimal pay. Their stories may surprise you.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Alli Katz and Erica Palan |
07-07-2008 |
Immigration
Can Philly's Bold Experiment in Preventing Foreclosures Work?new
With the foreclosure crisis in full swing, Judge C. Darnell Jones issued an order declaring that before any foreclosure goes to sale, a representative for the lender must sit down with the borrower in court. He also postponed all sales of owner-occupied houses scheduled for April or May until July. The order immediately drew national attention, and last week, the experiment began.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
06-24-2008 |
Housing & Development
Locked Down: What It's Really Like Inside Philly's Overcrowded Prisonsnew
The city's prisons woefully overpopulated and have been for several decades. Efforts to fix this problem have come up against the seemingly immutable fact that, on an average day, 108 people enter the six-prison system while only 105 leave it.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Tom Namako |
06-24-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Philadelphians are Trading in Their Cars for Scootersnew
It's tough to look manly on a scooter: They're small, they're cute, they're popular in Europe. Our car-obsessed cowboy culture should want nothing to do with them, but it's amazing what $4 a gallon will do to cultural identity.
Philadelphia Weekly |
John Steele |
06-16-2008 |
Transportation
Foreclosure May Hurt Children the Mostnew
"When foreclosures force children from their homes, their education is disrupted, their peer relationships crumble, and the social networks that support them are fractured," according to a recent study by First Focus. "Indeed, their physical health, as well as their emotional health and well-being, is placed at risk." Tiffany Rodriguez, a North Philly 14-year-old, would have to agree.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Tasneem Paghdiwala |
05-27-2008 |
Housing & Development
