[UC] Herding Teens
I've also noticed on two Saturday evenings Penn police, en-masse, herding underage kids from the area at 40th and Walnut. I've noticed over the past year large groups of African American youth around the area of 40th Spruce up til 40th Walnut streets and also at Strikes. I noted, too, that at least one of the places that the groups would congregate, Penn Arcade, on Spruce west of 40th, has since burned down, eliminating one gathering spot. Last evening about 10:30 Penn police (and Philadelphia Police) were at 40th Market herding the kids north and some into the Blue Line. The police were standing in a line on the south side of Market blocking the way of a large group of teens who tried to go back down 40th. I was getting off at 40th where the trollies are detoured on weekends, and saw the sometimes frightening group action: I thought there might be violence. Instead a large number of adolescents went very loudly into the Blue line station, where I was headed. The kids were kids: loud, mischievous, but otherwise well behaved; it was the numbers that were startling. If anyone knows anything more about this phenomenon and what Penn's been doing about it, I would like to know. Joe C. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Herding Teens
Joe, I've been bothered by the lack of healthy outlets for kids in neighborhoods around the city. Rec. centers are broken down and uninteresting. And the kids don't have movie theaters and video game arcades that teenagers like in their home neighborhoods. I was pleased when Penn designed the pop-movie house as a destination for teenagers. Some poor and lower middle class kids don't yet know how unwanted they are in this upwardly mobile society. They probably look forward to meeting up outside the Bridge and feeling normal, like the good kids on TV or on campus. (At least on Sat. night, these kids feel connected to the same world as middle class kids are connected.) I always wanted to see cost efficient festivals like Clark Park festivals and programming at Rec. centers in all neighborhoods, so that cities could start developing healthy neighborhood destinations for teens too. But I volunteered my available time to save Clark Park instead. I'm also concerned about the problem this crowding indicates! As for the anticipated police state response, I think several new techniques have been piloted recently at the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. In addition to tear gas, militarized riot thugs now use a sonic cannon for use in herding the people. The Good can't yet put all the poor and lower middle class in ankle bracelets or private prisons. And Penn does pride itself on copying the latest cleaner safer technology. Stay safe in our powder keg society, Glenn -Original Message- From: Joe Clarke philly.jo...@gmail.com Sent: Oct 11, 2009 9:38 AM To: Ucity Listserve univcity@list.purple.com Subject: [UC] Herding Teens I've also noticed on two Saturday evenings Penn police, en-masse, herding underage kids from the area at 40th and Walnut. I've noticed over the past year large groups of African American youth around the area of 40th Spruce up til 40th Walnut streets and also at Strikes. I noted, too, that at least one of the places that the groups would congregate, Penn Arcade, on Spruce west of 40th, has since burned down, eliminating one gathering spot. Last evening about 10:30 Penn police (and Philadelphia Police) were at 40th Market herding the kids north and some into the Blue Line. The police were standing in a line on the south side of Market blocking the way of a large group of teens who tried to go back down 40th. I was getting off at 40th where the trollies are detoured on weekends, and saw the sometimes frightening group action: I thought there might be violence. Instead a large number of adolescents went very loudly into the Blue line station, where I was headed. The kids were kids: loud, mischievous, but otherwise well behaved; it was the numbers that were startling. If anyone knows anything more about this phenomenon and what Penn's been doing about it, I would like to know. Joe C. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
RE: [UC] Herding Teens
Hi, Joe, It's like Dick Gregory once said in his days as a social commentator: How come you never see no [black people] in them furture movies? In the future movie that is University City, Penn designed 40th and Walnut as a destination where everyone is young, upscale, hip, highly educated, wealthy, down with that funky vibe, and, oh, yeah, predominantly white. In our brave new world of marketing buzzwords, everyone wants to put on the latest hip fashions, sip a latte at some outdoor cafe somewhere, go down to the wine bar, check out the latest opening at the local art gallery, hang out at the executive training gym (whatever that is) and be seen in all the right places. I can hear you all now: geez, there she goes again! But don't believe me, believe the UCD web site: http://www.ucityphila.org/ http://www.ucityphila.org/youcie What activities does the website advertise that is not directly marketed to the so-called upscale? What is there for the people who do not fit the target demographic, and especially kids, to do on weekend nights? Penn creates an upscale movie theater, a nice restaurant with an outdoor patio, a bowling alley, and other places to eat and somehow thinks that only the funky vibe folks are going to show up. If the same number of funky vibers jammed 40th Street on weekend nights, it would be heralded as proof of the marketing genius of Penn/UCD. But because it's black teenagers, there's a problem. Can you imagine the police herding the young, hip latte-sippers to the subway? From: philly.jo...@gmail.com To: univcity@list.purple.com Subject: [UC] Herding Teenstha I've also noticed on two Saturday evenings Penn police, en-masse, herding underage kids from the area at 40th and Walnut. I've noticed over the past year large groups of African American youth around the area of 40th Spruce up til 40th Walnut streets and also at Strikes. I noted, too, that at least one of the places that the groups would congregate, Penn Arcade, on Spruce west of 40th, has since burned down, eliminating one gathering spot. Last evening about 10:30 Penn police (and Philadelphia Police) were at 40th Market herding the kids north and some into the Blue Line. The police were standing in a line on the south side of Market blocking the way of a large group of teens who tried to go back down 40th. I was getting off at 40th where the trollies are detoured on weekends, and saw the sometimes frightening group action: I thought there might be violence. Instead a large number of adolescents went very loudly into the Blue line station, where I was headed. The kids were kids: loud, mischievous, but otherwise well behaved; it was the numbers that were startling. If anyone knows anything more about this phenomenon and what Penn's been doing about it, I would like to know. Joe C. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] Herding Teens
In a message dated 10/11/2009 12:22:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, kallena...@msn.com writes: What activities does the website advertise that is not directly marketed to the so-called upscale? What is there for the people who do not fit the target demographic, and especially kids, to do on weekend nights? Penn creates an upscale movie theater, a nice restaurant with an outdoor patio, a bowling alley, and other places to eat and somehow thinks that only the funky vibe folks are going to show up. If the same number of funky vibers jammed 40th Street on weekend nights, it would be heralded as proof of the marketing genius of Penn/UCD. Except... * For a variety of reasons, the plans for the upscale movie theater went kablooie, so what they show are the same car-chase, shoot-em-up, lowest-common-denominator pictures that the producers aim at people who are chronological if not intellectual teen-agers. * Maybe some naive planners had a target demographic in mind. But, guess what. The things they think appeal to college students and young professionals also happen to appeal to young people in general. Maybe the price of some of the spots keeps the less affluent out (it also keeps some of the more affluent out... having money doesn't mean wasting it) but there are still plenty of things to do in the area that don't cost much -- or, like exercising their constitutional rights to gather peaceably -- don't cost anything. * OK, some people put the blame on MacDonald's -- but, surely this can't be it if Penn encourages fast-food outlets not fundamentally different in the food courts it operates along Walnut Street. And on 40th between Locust and Walnut, there are several places that serve the kinds of fast food that attracts a clientele the anointed consider unintended consequences. * And, who knows... maybe all those people from parts of West Philadelphia west of -- for want of a better boundary -- the Alexander School catchment -- figure they're just doing their part in a) making the University's self-acclaimed partnership with the community a success by participating in those funky vibes created around 40th Street b) fulfilling the goal of making the 40th Street Commercial Strip a destination. Alan Krigman KRF Management 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 _www.krf.icodat.com_ (http://www.iconworldwide.com/krf)
