Philadelphia Gay News Aug. 27 - Sept. 2, 2010
Vol. 34 No. 35
Honesty Integrity Professionalism
Wash West seeks lighting funds By Jen Colletta PGN Staff Writer The Washington Square West Civic Association is working to install lights along one corridor in the Gayborhood, but must now overcome a funding obstacle before the street can be brightened. The WSWCA applied for a $50,000 community-development grant from the Delaware River Port Authority to support the project, which would install about 12 lights on 12th Street between Locust and Spruce. But, following the widespread reforms announced earlier this month at DRPA, hopes for that funding are slim. T h e a s s o c i a t i o n r e c e ive d a $150,000 Department of Community and Economic Development state grant last year and planned to put it toward the project but, by the time the association and the Center City District were ready to move ahead this year, the price for the project had gone up from the initial estimate of $125,000 to nearly $250,000,
necessitating the extra funding. The DRPA has come under fire in recent weeks, in part because of its history of spending revenue from bridge tolls on economic-development projects. In a board meeting earlier this month, however, the DRPA voted to suspend funding projects not directly related to bridges and rail lines, its areas of focus. “In light of the fact that the board recently voted on Aug. 18 not to spend any economic-development monies, it is highly unlikely, if such a grant request was even in, that it would be approved,” DRPA director of corporate communications Ed Kasuba told PGN this week. According to an audit released earlier this month, in the past 12 years, the DRPA spent about $485 million on economic-development projects in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Just last year, the DRPA board approved $76.3 million in grants to fund such projects. In 2009, the DRPA funded the demolition of a state prison
in Camden, the planned reopening of a subway station in Philadelphia and the construction of the President’s House memorial near Independence Hall. Last year the DRPA also funded smaller projects, which did not require board approval, including a $564,000 sponsorship of the Camden Riversharks and $433,000 in advertising. Judy Applebaum, WSWCA board president, said the association fortunately just received its 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit status, which allows members of the public to make tax-deductible contributions to the agency. With its previous 501 (c)(4) designation, such donations were not permitted. She said the association is seeking donations so it can help meet the shortfall created by the loss of the potential DRPA funding. Applebaum said that while the association would ultimately like to create better lighting throughout the whole neighborhood, it had to See LIGHTING, Page 12
AIDS agency clashes over historic church By Timothy Cwiek PGN Writer-at-Large
RAINBOW MEETS RED: About 800 members of the LGBT community donned their Phillies garb Monday night for the eighth-annual Gay Community Night at the Phillies. Before the game, city director of LGBT affairs Gloria Casarez (top) took the pitcher’s mound and threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while the Philadelphia Voices of Pride, led by artistic director Dean Rishel, sang the National Anthem. Organizer Larry Felzer said that despite the rainy evening and the Phils’ loss, the community enjoyed it and saw full support from the Phillies. “I’ve called in the past to say that I don’t think the Gay Community Night was featured enough on the scoreboards. This year, I’m certainly not going to call to say it was featured too much, but they did a great job of getting it up on the board throughout the entire game.” Photos: Scott A. Drake
An historically designated Catholic church owned by a local AIDS service agency moved closer to oblivion this week, as a city advisory board recommended its demolition. Siloam wants to raze the Church of the Assumption, 1133 Spring Garden St., because it cannot sell or rent the building — which, it claims, is in danger of collapse. In a 3-1 vote Aug. 24, the architectural committee of the city’s Historical Commission voted to recommend its demolition. The church was built in 1848 by noted architect Patrick Charles Keely and consecrated by St. John Neumann, then a bishop. Ten years later, the now-St. Katharine Drexel was baptized there. Due to a dwindling number of parishioners, it See CHURCH, Page 6
IN THE FOLD: Clothing donations for Covenant House in Philadelphia brought together Miranda Ragin (from left) and Badriyyah Crews from Women United of Philadelphia; African American Chamber of Commerce member Regina Dyson; Aileen Callahan and Robert Zindell from Covenant House; and Elements co-executive directors Adrienne Williams and Shayna S. Israel. Covenant House helps find shelters for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth from the area. About 50 women of color gathered for the networking and social event on Aug. 19 at Noche, 19th and Chestnut streets. Photo: Scott A. Drake