Vol. III No. 122 (487)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
August 1, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Holy Moly
HUGE SINKHOLE from a broken water main at 21st & Bainbridge Streets caused neighbors to evacuate last week. City officials told resident and business owners Monday it’s going to take City longer than first thought to fully assess the damage. Photo by Rory McGlasson. Story inside.
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CANDIDATES • POLITICIANS News You Can Use! Boost Your Popularity, Win On Election Day! Tell Your Constituents To Read About All the Work You Do For Them On the
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Aug. 3- Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., to open second 4th Distric Officed at 5462 Ridge Av., corner of Hermit st. at 12 noon. Aug. 3- State Rep. Rosita Younblood hosts County Resource Fair at Caanan Baptist Ch., 5430 Pulaski Ave., 11 a.m.2 p.m. For info (215) 849-6426. th
Translation/Interpretation Arabic, Hebrew, English, French For more information, call William Hanna
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Aug. 3- Arthur Green’s 14 Ward Cool Summer Madness Night at New Barber’s Hall, Broad & Oxford Sts., 9 p.m. $10 admission. Aug. 4- State Sen. Anthony Williams hosts Family Fun Day with Keystone Mercy at Vare Rec Ctr., 2600 Morris sSt., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. For info Don Cave (215) 492-2980.
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Aug. 4— White Linen Birthday Celebration of Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., at Miss Tootsie’s Restaurant, 1312 South St., VIP reception 6 p.m., general ticketholders 8 p.m. For info Ajeenah Amir (202) 468-6936. Aug. 4- 2nd annual Hunting Park Family Fun and Fitness Day at Hunting Park Recreation Center, 901 W. Hunting Park Av., from 11 am to 5 pm. Aug. 6- Golf Outing to support Charles Gehret, Penna. State Senate GOP candidate in 17th
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Dist., at Sand Barrens G.C., 1765 Rte. 9 N., Swainton, N.J. Registration 9 a.m. For info Judy Camiel (610) 668-1730. Aug. 10- 11 Two day Give Back Festival hosted by Nicetown CDC marking its 10th anniversary, 4300 Germantown Av. Aug. 15- Happy Hour Fundraiser for City Commission Chairwoman Stephanie Singer at Happy Rooster, SWC 16th & Sansom Sts., enter Sansom St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. $100-$500. Checks made out to Friends of Stephanie Singer, 250 S. 17th St., #701, Phila., PA 19103. Aug. 16- Mt. Airy Night Market will take place on Germantown Avenue from Carpenter Lane to Mt. Airy Avenue from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 17- Bobbie Carter Foundation Diabetes Games Night, 6:00 to 8:30 pm at Park Avenue Banquet Hall, 4942 Parkside Av. Buffet and wine sampling $5. For info call Yanina Carterf at 267-586-2268. Aug. 18- Barrett Rec Ctr. Advisory Board Community Day, 8th & Duncannon Sts., 11 a.m.-3 pm. No charge. Family fun day. All invited. For info Sheila Bellamy (215) 457-4079.
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City Urges Graduate Hospital, Neighbors For Patience With Water-Main Cleanup by Rory McGlasson Mayor Michael Nutter and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson urge Graduate Hospital neighbors to be “patient” as the City assesses the scope of the 21st & Bainbridge water-main break. Second Dist. Councilman Johnson and the Mayor toured the area on Monday, meeting disgruntled neighbors, and local business owners – perplexed at the damage caused by the gas break. “In a situation like this, we have to be as patient and as deliberate as possible to make sure we don’t have to come back down here again,” said Second District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who went door-to-door meeting concerned constituents on Monday. Neighbors better get used to the giant sinkhole, though. The damage caused by a major gas break last week is going to take longer to fix than originally thought, according to Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug. The gas break caused flooding and power outages in Southwest Center City, resulting in evacuation of three blocks last Sunday evening. After a transmission gas pipe blew Jul. 23, water surged, and amassed to a staggering 48 inches in diameter – before ripping through the concrete, creating a sinkhole at 2100 Bainbridge Street. Most neighbors’ gas and electricity is back on now, though, but the cleanup and damage is just beginning. Residents were told by city officials, it would
take “days” to clean up damage. However, after further assessing the damage, the City found complications related to major utilities, such as PGW. Johnson said his office is working closely with the Water Dept., PGW and PECO to help “keep the line of communication with residents open.” Neighbors, however, are slowly coming to terms with their respective losses – some having their photographic memories quite literally washed away. “I have lost personal belongings,” said Jim McLaughlin of Pemberton Street. “The insurance company will not pay for the damage either, because it’s flood-related, and we don’t have flood insurance,” he said. McLaughlin, 52, invited the Mayor and the Councilman into his home on Monday evening. Inside, McLaughlin showed the politicians the damage the water had left in his basement. McLaughlin said four inches of water gushed inside his basement. Neukrug, who accompanied Nutter and Johnson on Monday, said he blamed the gas break on “poor infrastructure” and on an outdated (100-year-old) piping system. No timeframe has been set on when the damage will be fixed, Neukrag said. (Cont. Page 5) • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) ICE-MAN - Chiseler (what else would he be called?) sold blocks of ice for the ice boxes. With his ice pick, he expertly cut a large block of ice into smaller pieces. The pieces cost five, ten or twenty-five cents. The small blocks of ice were handled with ice tongs. He covered his shoul-
der with a burlap bag. The bag protected him against the cold of the ice and also prevented the ice from slipping as he carried it into the customer's home on his shoulder. He put the ice into the customer's ice box and then collected his payment. IDA'S - Another great steak and hoagie shop that
4 BIG SALES WEEKLY
was on Jackson Street, across from South Philadelphia High School. Ida also catered to the students and teachers. IE - was the ending for almost all guys' names in South Philadelphia. For example: Joe-IE, Paul-IE, Ralph-IE, Bob-IE -- get the idea? If one's name could not end in IE, like my son Albert, they automatically got a nickname. He has blond hair, therefore his nickname became Blond-IE. IGG-ELLS - The Philadelphia football team. For example: The IGG-ELLS play at DA-VET. INK ERADICATOR was a fluid that was sold in a little brown bottle. It contained a glass rod attached to the inside of the lid. It smelled like bleach and it probably was. An essential staple that had to be readily available when using fountain pens. This miraculous fluid eradicated errors that were made while writing in ink. Ink eradicator did not help me with some errors. Somehow misspelled words, incorrect grammar or punctuation marks always got into my reports. To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD Neighbors with water issues, or those seeking claims adjusters, can contact the Water Dept. at
(215) 685-6300. Neighbors can also contact the office of Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
COUNCILMAN KENYATTA Johnson and Mayor Michael Nutter survey sinkhole at 21st & Bainbridge, caused after a gas main broke on Sunday, Jul. 23. “We are doing all that we can to make sure this situation is rectified for our constituents,” said Johnson. “It’s important everyone comes out of this satisfied, considering the circumstances. We will do our best to put my constituents at ease.”
MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER checks out piping lifted from sinkhole at 21st & Bainbridge, with Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug.
ED McLAUGHLIN of Pemberton Street gave Nutter and Johnson tour of his home after water from the water-main break flooded his basement. • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
CITY WORKERS assess damage inside sinkhole at 21st & Bainbridge Sts.
MAYOR TAKES TIME OUT from inspecting damage to admire hometown-boosting tattoo of city employee.
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
Farrell Brings Campaign (Movie) To Constitution Ctr.
STARS OF NEW comedy film Campaign – Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell – appeared at National Constitution Center to promote their movie. On hand to welcome them, in addition to hordes of fans, were several members of Eagles and Flyers who presented team jerseys to stars. Standing behind Ferrell is David Eisner, CEO of NCC. Photo by Bonnie Squires
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