OUR
SPONSORS
If you would like to donate to
CCRA,
click below.
|
|
|
|
WHAT'S NEW IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD
|
CCRA/CROSSTOWN
COALITION TO COUNCIL: SLOW DOWN, LIVES ARE AT STAKE
They're at it again.
Last Fall, City Council unanimously decided not to hold public hearings about
the conflicting reports discussing the PGW sale. They are taking a similar
approach on Resolution 140732, the proposed reorganization of
the City's land use/development boards and agencies, including Licenses and
Inspections. Except the PGW story was about money: this time lives are at stake.
The
background: To his credit, Council President Clarke proactively unveiled a
proposal on September 25 to reorganize the agencies and commissions that control
land use, building safety and development by placing them all under a cabinet
level Director of Planning and Development. But September 25 was the same day
that a cross - disciplinary panel of experts, chaired by Professor Glenn Corbett
of New York's John Jay College at CUNY, issued its 100 page report dealing with
the Salvation Army building collapse at 22nd and Market. That
catastrophe killed six people. The Corbett report calls for the creation of a
Department of Buildings charged with public safety in permitting, construction,
maintenance and demolition AND, contrary to the Clarke proposal, separated from
those agencies dealing with licensing/development/planning. January 9 saw the
publication of a second report, 90 pages long, titled "2015 Plan for a Safer City, " prepared by the
administration employees who deal with building safety issues. It provides a
divergent take on the questions raised.
As the page volume of
these reports suggest, the issues raised are complex. It's no surprise that ALL
the witnesses at the Bill's committee hearings testified "yes but" - Yes it
makes sense to have a cabinet level Director of Development, but this is a
complicated problem that needs further discussion.
Both CCRA and The Crosstown Coalition have written Council
requesting that the Bill be tabled and that hearings be held so that the public
(and Council) can debate the many issues raised by this creditable but
complicated proposal. The Salvation Army tragedy killed six people. The balcony
collapse on 21st street killed a seventh. The only response must be
"Never Again." But to achieve the goal of "never," we must act with care and
deliberation.
|
|
OFFICE
CLOSURE
The CCRA Office is closed on
Monday, 1/18, in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday. The office will
reopen on Tuesday, 1/19, at 9AM.
|
CCRA
MERCHANT MEMBERS DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Support our
local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a
discount (described
here) to any member
who shows a current CCRA membership card (Di Bruno Bros. has its own CCRA card)
and personal identification.
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St. and the Market at the Comcast Center
(215-665-9220)
Uber - Limo service Uber
provides $20 off a
first ride, Good for new users only. Members use
code CCRA14.
Philly Foodworks - Use the
code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on
delivery charges.
|
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND
EVENTS
|
TRASH
COLLECTION
Due
to the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday, all trash collection is suspended on
Monday, 1/18. Trash collection will resume on Tuesday,
1/19.
|
PHILADELPHIA IS #3 FOR THE
BEST PLACE TO VISIT IN 2015
The New York Times Travel Section named Philadelphia
number 3 in their list of 52 Places to Go around the world in 2015. Highlights
mentioned were Dilworth Park, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Schuylkill Boardwalk,
Bike Share, and other outdoor spaces. To view the article, click
here.
|
Philly School and Camp Fair, Sun, 1/18, 10AM-1PM,
Franklin Inst., 222 N. 20th St.
This School & Camp
Fair will focus on supporting the needs of families with students in Pre-K
through Grade 12. In addition to providing one-on-one time with preschool and
camp directors, members of the admissions staff from schools throughout the
area, and Local Parent Teacher Organizations, the event will feature over
25 hands-on "imagination stations" to dive into
science, art, and creative discovery projects, educational raffle prizes, and an
educational workshop. To register, click
here.
|
Tree
Tenders Winter Basic Training, Sat, 1/24 and 1/31, 8:30am-1pm, PHS Town Hall,
100 N. 20th St, 1st Fl.
During two Saturday sessions, learn
the basics of tree planting and care including Tree Biology, identification,
stresses, planting, pruning and root care, and how to use these skills in home
landscape and in helping to restore the tree canopy in your neighborhood and the
region. Fee:
$25.00. Register at https://www.pennhort.net/treetenders
|
LA
BOHEME AT THE Acad of Vocal Arts, SAT, 2/7, TUE, 2/10, THURS, 2/12, AND SAT,
2/14, 7:30 PM, 1920 SPRUCE ST
This two-act opera will be performed in the original
Italian with English supertitles. Jeanine B. Cowles Music Director Christofer
Macatsoris conducts the AVA Opera Orchestra. The production is stage directed by
David Gately. Tickets: $60 Adults / $50 Seniors / $25 30 & Under / $10
Students. For more information, click here.
|
Winter
Group Show
Thru 2/8, Twenty-Two Gallery, 236
S. 22nd St
Twenty-Two Gallery represented artists will
show their best original works in many styles and mediums. Mediums include:
photography; oils; water color; sculpture; Sumi-e & print work. Many sizes
and price ranges to choose from.
|
ICE SKATING AT
THE NEW DILWORTH PARK, NOW THRU SAT., 2/22, CITY HALL
The
Rothman Ice Rink at Dilworth Park in front of City Hall is open 7 days a week.
Costs are $3 for kids 10 & younger, $4 for adults, and $8 for skate rental.
For hours and a list of special events, click here.
|
|
|