[UC] Gotham Book Mart collection comes to Penn!

[Frank]

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleustory_id=3df7dab0-2beb-4363-9850-a79ba034ce38

Frank

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Re: [UC] An important contribution to conversation about city budget

[Glenn moyer]

“Phila. has cut taxes for years. In this recession, we need to reevaluate that.”


Yes Freeda, I agree. But we need to challenge the current absurdly regressive system concurrently.

The problem is Nutter’s values and the values of a plutocracy oriented system. Look at the example below.

Nutter wants to continue welfare for the wealthiest, and mega profit corporate fat cats, while putting the costs and extreme service cuts on the people of Philadelphia, who live outside of the central rich districts.

Whether Nutter is attacking “socialist services” for the common Philadelphians, like libraries, parks, and recreation centers or raising taxes on the poor and lower middle class; his values are the problem.

We need not fear the financial crisis like we need fear Nutter’s values and the political power of those who want to continue welfare for rich corporations, at all costs, while pushing for a more regressive taxation system.

Look atone more inthe growinglist of examplesfor these Ponzilike schemes, from which riches never will trickle down tothe peopleunder this system! Do you see why Nutter refuses to have public hearings before closing the libraries? He'd look like an ass!

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/edward_j_sozanski/20090118_Art__Smaller_is_better_than_bigger.html

Let them eat Tastykakes. As the city government wrestles with a staggering projected budget deficit, the folly of moving the Barnes Foundation from Merion to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway becomes even more egregious. 
Here is the Nutter administration trying, with one hand, to cut $8 million from the budget by closing libraries while with the other spending 10 times that in public money to move the Youth Study Center, twice, to accommodate the relocation of a private art collection. 
The scheme to capture the collection for the city germinated when a rosy economic climate promised limitless prosperity, or at least the illusion of it. Now the city finds itself so strapped that it wants to eliminate basic services. This is hardly the time to subsidize a new "tourist magnet" museum. In fact, it's irresponsible to do so. 
Patrons of the 11 neighborhood libraries that Mayor Nutter seems determined to close are storming the barricades to preserve a cherished amenity, access to knowledge. How many taxpayers are demonstrating in favor of supporting a new, improved Barnes Foundation? 
Libraries not only nurture two basic life skills, reading and intellectual curiosity, they also function as community centers, and as natural generators of community spirit and cohesion. 
The mayor might argue that the Barnes move and the library closings aren't directly related. Yet when one juxtaposes them, one begins to question the administration's value system. 
If the Barnes relocation is such a great idea, then the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lenfest and Annenberg Foundations, which are making it happen, should pick up the entire tab. These elites can afford such extravagance. The city cannot. 

-Original Message- From: Freda Egnal Sent: Jan 13, 2009 9:33 PM To: pfsni , uclist , ucneighbors Subject: [UC] An important contribution to conversation about city budget 




City should check revenues
Phila. has cut taxes for years. In this recession, we need to reevaluate that.
Phil Goldsmith was Philadelphia's managing director from 2003 to 2005
E-mail Phil Goldsmith at pgold4...@aol.com.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090113_City_should_check_revenues.html


Now that a judge has thrown the book at the Nutter administration and ordered library facilities to remain open, it's time to turn the page in trying to solve the city's budget crisis.

But regardless of the page one turns to, it doesn't seem to be a happy story. With the five-year budget deficit approaching more than $1.5 billion, there is no simple fix - though many are offered.

Let's deal with one that is often repeated - that the city's workforce should be cut further to reflect the population losses of recent decades.

Here are the facts: Since 1975, the city's workforce has been cut from 29,611 to 23,813 employees - a 20 percent reduction, or one out of every five positions. The city's population during that time has decreased by about 17 percent.

In 1975, the Fire Department had 3,133 employees; today, it has 2,357 - a decrease of 25 percent.

The Police Department went from 8,660 employees to 7,524, a reduction of 13 percent.

The Recreation Department has gone from 810 to 503, and Fairmount Park from 381 to 164. These are decreases of 37 and 57 percent, respectively.

The Streets Department - the folks who pick up our trash, pave our streets, repair our bridges, and fill potholes - shrank from 3,700 to 1,884, a whopping decrease of 51 percent. Keep that in mind next time you see a dirty street or an unfilled pothole. And remember that we have the same number 

Re: [UC] Re: [Ucneighbors] ALERT: ROBBERIES NEAR 48TH STREET

[Glenn moyer]

“In the late 70s, when I lived near 46th  Spruce, there was a foot patrol of neighbors (a sort offorerunner to the Town Watch)between the hours of 6p to 9p or so…

My guess is that this would be a good activity to renew.”


Sande,

These types of grassroots actions are not wanted under the special service district model. UCD was brought in to replace grassroots organizations within the community. And UCD has received an A+ for making this a crime free paradise-hahaha.


I’ve been arguing against that corporate controlled special control model for ten years, so I’ve heard some perspectives from former town watch people present during the transition. I’m not the only one who does not like UCD and Penn real estate operations!

Problem: The Penn dominated coalition of corporations want the people to be helpless and dependent on them. They eventually plan to have taxation authority over the UC district and separate it from the rest of Philadelphia. This will be an enclave of miserable upper middle class families from the sububurbs. They will be completely dependent upon and controlled by the university corporations. They will be taxed by the U. but will be rewarded by being cut off from taxation responsibility to the city of Philadelphia. Poor and middle class people will have been removed from their presence.


Memories: One of the great things about the old west philly community, which is being destroyed or perhaps has been destroyed, was the ability of the people to do things ourselves. Like the culture in Clark park, our grassroots endeavors gave us a great community without giving up our rights and important sense of community. (The corporate barons use and foster the type of divisiveness that has been actively on display, with the leaders of SHCA betraying their members and the community.)

I agree with your point. I just don’t think a grassroots, town watch or block party organization, would be permitted by Penn and UCD! 

Stay safe,
Glenn 
-Original Message- From: SANDRA KNIGHT Sent: Jan 17, 2009 2:04 PM To: UnivCity@list.purple.com, ucneighb...@hector.asc.upenn.edu, univcity-annou...@list.purple.com, careyge...@juno.com, Patty Bulack Subject: [UC] Re: [Ucneighbors] ALERT: ROBBERIES NEAR 48TH STREET 



In the late 70s, when I lived near 46th  Spruce, there was a foot patrol of neighbors (a sort offorerunner to the Town Watch)between the hours of 6p to 9p or so. It had been determined that the highest incidents of robberies, muggings and rapes or attempted rapes occurred during that period. Alternatively, the lowest was around 4a to 7a when the bars had long ago emptied out andmiscreants were fast asleep from whatever.

My guess is that this would be a good activity to renew. Neighbors were enthused and armed with walkie-talkies or something similar and urged to notify the police and never to interfere with any incident in progress.

I do not miss this type of excitement and bonding.
Sandra Knight

- Original Message - 
From: Patty Bulack 
To: UnivCity@list.purple.com ; ucneighb...@hector.asc.upenn.edu ; univcity-annou...@list.purple.com ; careyge...@juno.com 
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 3:20 PM
Subject: [Ucneighbors] ALERT: ROBBERIES NEAR 48TH STREET

Hello All,

A neighbor from near 48th and Kingsessing let me know that he was beaten and robbed at 7 pm on the 900 block of 48th St. last night (Thursday), right at the corner of Windsor and 48th. One person confronted him as he walked northon the sidewalk, cornering him against a parked van, and two (or more) others jumped out behind him from where they had been hiding (likely from behind a tall bush near the sidewalk). They knocked him to the ground and got his wallet, while beating him up.They then ran down Windsor towards 49th St. He is not seriously injured, and did report it to the police.

I have heard of a few other incidents this week: two nights ago, aperson was robbedat 48th and Hazel, with the 3 assailants running down 48th to Cedar and turning west.One of them was armed with a gun. Also, 3 or 4 nights ago, 2 women were robbed at 48th and Kingsessing.

All of these incidents happened in the early evening, between 7 and 9 pm. There are not good descriptions that I know of, beyond the usual dark hoodies. If I hear anything else, I will pass it along. Obviously, exercise caution while you are out and about.

Patty Bulack
pbul...@gmail.com
215 906-0243___ucneighbors mailing listucneighb...@lists.asc.upenn.eduhttp://lists.asc.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/ucneighbors

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Re: [UC] Re: [Ucneighbors] ALERT: ROBBERIES NEAR 48TH STREET

[Cindy Miller]

IIRC, we had one here on 48th St., about 1 1/2  years ago--it died  
out. I don't think Penn or the UCD had anything to do with that.




-cm
`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸º




On Jan 19, 2009, at 10:00 AM, Glenn moyer wrote:

I agree with your point.  I just don’t think a grassroots, town  
watch or block party organization, would be permitted by Penn and UCD!