PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022

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The Districts

ARE BACK Their new album is on the horizon Will results ever matter more than rhetoric with the murder crisis? | Page 5

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CRIMEBEAT

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FAMILIES BEHIND THE BADGE: FAMILIES OF FALLEN OR CRITICALLY INJURED

First Responders Are Aided by the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation

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saw an interesting photo online that featured Maureen Faulkner, the widow of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner, along with other police widows. Maureen Faulkner has bravely engaged in a decades-long pursuit to counter the relentless campaign by Hollywood activists and other leftists to release Mumia Abu-Jamal, the convicted murderer of her husband, from prison.

Also in the photo was Joseph Sullivan, the retired Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner for Patrol Operations, who offered a caption for the photo:“Proud to represent the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation at our yearly Guest Bartender Event with the AMAZING Maureen Faulkner and our equally AMAZING Police Survivor Family Members who served as guest bartenders to raise money for the @Foplodge 5 Survivor’s Fund which supports the needs of the families of those heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

I reached out to Sullivan and asked him about the event.

“The event took place on December 12th at the FOP Lodge 5,” Sullivan told me. “The event ultimately benefited the FOP Survivors Fund by way of the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation.”

You wrote you represented the Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation at the event.

How would you describe her continuing What is the mission of the foundation? support of her murdered cop husband after all “The Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, FBBCF, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit these years?

“She’s fighting for the justice that Danny committed to improving the lives of children in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey deserves, as I think any other person in her position would. They were newly married, a area. We achieve this by providing necessary young couple of 25 years old. financial relief for the families of fallen or I’m sure this isn’t how she piccritically injured first responders, tured her life going but here she is police officers, firefighters, EMTs, sticking up for the families of vicand cultivating positive relationtims, of fallen officers, of people ships and interactions between powhose lives ended way too soon. lice officers and the children in the While it will always be about Dancommunities they serve.” ny, it has grown into something What role do you play in the Beso much larger that many people hind the Badge Children’s Foundamight not have been able to hantion? dle.”

“I serve as President of the In Maureen Faulkner’s 2007 Board of Directors and a liaison book, “Murdered by Mumia: A Life to the outside community and the Sentence of Loss, Pain, and InjusPhiladelphia Police Department’s tice,” she recounts how she has sufPolice Youth Alliance Program.” fered and yet she tirelessly speaks Maureen Faulkner was at the out against Abu-Jamal. event. How would you describe Daniel Faulkner was murdered her? in December of 1981. Abu-Jamal, a “Maureen is a warrior. She has PAULDAVISONCRIME.COM former Black Panther and supportbeen fighting this case for over 40 er of the radical group MOVE, was years now and is one of the stronconvicted of first-degree murder gest women I know,” Sullivan said.

“She doesn’t miss a court hearing despite in 1982 based on eyewitness testimony, ballistics, and his confession at the hospital after living in California now. Having lost her husband so long ago, she has become a mentor the shooting. His death penalty sentence was later commuted to a life and his court appeals and shoulder to cry on for the other widows of go on.

Philadelphia Police Officers.”

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

PAUL DAVIS

I asked Sullivan what he thought of the campaign to release Faulkner’s convicted murderer, Abu Jamal, from prison?

“I respect the decisions made by the original jury and the numerous judges who have upheld his conviction for decades. The evidence in my opinion is overwhelming.”

Why are cop killers more dangerous to the public than the murderers of average citizens?

“Everyone’s life is equally important, but when you murder a police officer or other government official while they are acting in the performance of their official duties, it is not just an attack on the individual, it is also an attack on the entire community that officer represents, the government itself and the rule of law.”

I would add that police officers are armed and backed up by thousands of other armed officers. The bold killer who murders a cop is a total outlaw who would not hesitate to murder anyone, anytime and anywhere.

How can people connect with the Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation and offer support?

“Donations can be made on our website at www.fbbcf.org, or you can call 484-532-7274, or you can write a check to 555 E. North Lane, Suite 6060, Conshohocken, PA 19428,” Sullivan said.

Paul Davis’ Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com.

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FROM THE EDITOR

THE HEALTH

SUPPORT

DEPARTMENT GREAT CONTENT UNDERMINES ITSELF and help us make it.

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The biomedical state is here, and it will not t’s almost been two years of the pandemic, yet elected (and non-elected) go gently into that good night. Public officials officials still have no concept of how believe they are entitled to enforce rules as they see fit if they can connect it, no matter to treat the public with dignity. The how weakly, to the concept of public health. latest push has been two-fold: a vacThis will not go away after COVID fades, nor cine mandate to enter a restaurant will it end COVID as a threat much quicker. and then the health commissioner enYou’d never know it from the masking couraging people to avoid family gathrules pushed onto the young, but since the beerings for the holidays. ginning of the pandemic, fewer than 300 chilSometimes it’s like health departments nadren have died from COVID, according to the tionwide want everyone laughing at them.

CDC. It’s wonderful that we have a vaccine “Two-thirds of cases interviewed say they that protects at-risk children, but demanding got COVID from their household; less than one-quarter from social and other settings,” that parents vaccinate them for something that is an extremely minor risk should not be the health department tweeted. “Holiday something local governments have gatherings are dangerous.” the power to do.

Holiday gatherings are dangerYet, ever since mandates, lockous in the same way that driving downs, and whatever else in the a car is dangerous. You take some name of public health have become precautions, but you accept the a tool governments can deploy as small risk of death as a part of life. they see fit, that’s what we get. It’s It’s not exactly a shock that most unlikely that the mandate will make people catch COVID from the peoa meaningful difference in how ple they live with. They spend a bit many serious cases we have in the more time with their families than city, but public health officials get with strangers at the grocery store. to make a demand and blame any When the city announced the scofflaws for problems that pop up. vaccine mandate on December 13, Philadelphia is simply following 76% of adults in the city were fully along with the rest of the country, vaccinated and 95% were partially focused on pleasing the hypochonvaccinated. The needle isn’t going @ANTHONYHENNEN driacs rather than focusing on to move much more. It seems that something useful, like making sure the goal of the restaurant mandate wasn’t adult vaccinations, but forcing parents testing is quick and easy to access. Instead, free at-home test giveaways run out of supply to vaccinate their children: the mandate applies to everyone at least 5 years and 3 months while finding an appointment time is nearly impossible. of age.

Vaccines have been freely available to the When will enough be enough? The high levmost at-risk for almost a year. If you’re over el of vaccination in the city, and the extremely low risk for children to catch a severe case 40, a vaccine will give you a big protective boost from a serious case of COVID, avoiding of COVID, should be enough of an argument an unnecessary risk. But it’s been a year. If to stop a vaccine mandate. Restaurants, too, people want to go without and put themselves should not be required to enforce a mandate at risk, it’s on them. The alternative, of an inand confront customers. And yet, the usurpacreasingly heavy-handed government punishtion of government power in the name of pubing citizens, isn’t fit for a free society. lic health continues apace.

JOIN US philadelphiaweekly.com/join

ANTHONY

HENNEN

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STATE OF OUR CITY

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STATE

SMALL PLATE SUNDAYS AT FOND

OF OUR

The lingering effects of the pandemic have affected the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region of the American Red Cross. Local and national disasters beyond COVID-19 have caused the blood supply to drop to 10-year low.

“This holiday season, join us to provide help and hope in these difficult moments by making a financial donation at redcross.org or by giving blood or platelets,” said Guy Triano, regional CEO for the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania.

According to a press release, the local Red Cross provided emergency financial assistance for nearly 2,000 people during the summer and responded to more than 635 home fires in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, providing emergency assistance for more than 2,600 people.

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Image | Courtesy of Fond

Image | Courtesy of the American Red Cross.

THEATRE EXILE: THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT

BY STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS

CITY

Presented by Theatre Exile and non-profit arts organization The Brothers’ Network, The Motherf**ker with the Hat will run February 3-27.

The show will feature actors J Hernandez, Amanda Schoonover, Scott Greer, Daniela Malavé, and Zach Valdez. West Philadelphia native Ozzie Jones will direct the 22-performance production at Theatre Exile’s new theater for a limited-capacity audience of 60 guests – reduced from the usual 125 seat capacity.

The Motherf**ker with the Hat is a fastpaced, brutally honest, witty, foul-mouthed look at addiction, modern love, friendship, and the challenges of adulthood. After his release from prison, Jackie (Hernandez) moves in with his childhood sweetheart Veronica (Malavé) as he tries to start his life anew. He’s working to overcome his addictions with the help of his smooth-talking sponsor Ralph D (Greer), but is quickly confronted by familiar demons when he discovers another man’s hat in his apartment.

Tickets $10-$35 at theatreexile.org.

The current number of homicide victims year-to-date under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents a 12 percent increase over the same time last year and is higher than the annual number of homicides that took place in 2007 through 2019.

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John Montesano Art Director

Kyle Sammin Senior Editor

Contributors: A.D. Amorosi, A. Benjamin Mannes,Jesse Bunch, Paul Davis, Timaree Schmit, Ryan K. Smith, Stu Bykofsky, Eugene Zenyatta.

Intern: Genevieve Wittrock

To contact the news department: mail@philadelphiaweekly.com.

Ed Lynes Chief Revenue Officer Philadelphia Weekly Michael Chambers Controller Director of Circulation Signature Supporter: Ted Kazantzis

To purchase advertising in Philadelphia Weekly, contact Sales at 215-543-3743, ext. 104, or sales@philadelphiaweekly.com.

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OPINION

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RESULTS OVER RHETORIC:

Ibram X. Kendi, the House of Umoja, and Philadelphia’s Homicide Crisis

BY: NICK RUSSO

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hiladelphia has shattered its previous murder record. Its deadliest year on record was 1990, when 500 of its residents were killed. With a week left in 2021, 547 Philadelphians were murdered, including children, pregnant women, college students, and small business owners mistakenly caught in the crossfire of intra-neighborhood conflicts.

The city is reeling. Citizens are panicked, journalists are struggling to keep pace with the violence, politicians are pointing fingers.

Even ex-politicians can’t refrain from throwing themselves in the mix – former mayor Michael Nutter penned a scathing op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer in early December, holding nothing back in an attack on District Attorney Larry Krasner, who Nutter accused of living in a “messed up world of white wokeness” and of having “little regard for human lives lost” in the city. “[P]olice and judges are trying to keep Philadelphians safe,” Nutter wrote, “but Krasner is not.”

Even amid an Omicron-induced case spike that’s prolonging our everlasting pandemic, the homicide crisis is at the forefront of Philadelphia’s collective consciousness. Everyone has an opinion about it, but no one seems to have any answers. The public has little faith in Krasner or Mayor Jim Kenney’s Administration. Nutter is a vocal critic, but his vision is backwards facing; he brags about his prior successes, but has little to offer in the way of

Real anti-violence efforts require more than talk and theory

SEE RUSSO, PAGE 12

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022

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Dialing up Great American Painting comes out February

BY ANTHONY HENNEN

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hilly-based band The Districts sadly had to cancel their hometown shows due to the rise in Covid-19 cases thanks to the omicron variant. But they’ll head off to the United Kingdom and the continent at the end of January and play a show in Philly in April.Their fifth full-length album, Great American Painting, will drop on February 4th via Fat Possum Records. Two singles, “Do It Over” and “I Want to Feel It All,” have already been released.

Produced by Joe Chiccarelli (Spoon, The Strokes,

The Districts

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

FEATURED

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Broken Social Scene) and recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, Great American Painting was deeply informed by the two months that Districts vocalist/guitarist Rob Grote spent living in a cabin in Washington state at the height of the pandemic.

PW recently caught up with Grote to talk about their new album.

Fat Possum Records describes Great American Painting as “the rare album that shines a bright light on all that’s wrong in the world but somehow still channels a galvanizing sense of hope.” What gives you hope? What excites you about the future?

What gives me hope is seeing how many people throughout the past two years really prioritized the well-being of each other and society as a whole. The impactful organizing surrounding the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others, those who were willing to wear masks and get vaccinated for their fellow humans, and the mutual aid that really grew in cities across the US. The idea of finding ways to uplift each other and operate outside of the traditional structures and systems of our society really inspire me.

While writing the new album, you were inspired in Washington state by Gifford Pinchot National Forest. What was it about that place that grabbed you? What wisdom do those forests hold for us?

It’s a geologically astounding place — Mt. Rainier towers above these super old forests, with snowmelt rivers rushing through them.

The ecology of such places, where the earth feels so alive and nature exists in such perfect harmony with itself, is quite beautiful. These forests seem essentially like one massive organism in how alive they are and the breadth of their interconnectedness. It is a deep reminder of how reliant we are on nature simply to breathe, and on each other and all life on earth to survive.

How have Philadelphia and Pennsylvania influenced you? Is there a certain musical aesthetic you get here on the east coast, as opposed to the west coast?

There are tons of bands from the area that have influenced us through the years — so many. Mostly from Philly! Pennsylvania as a whole, you know, I grew up in Lancaster County, in picturesque small-town America and Amish country. Amish life is like the antithesis of any city culture, and such a wild symbol of an insulated community that exists in much less ascetic ways throughout rural America.

As time goes on, I really appreciate the sort of world that exists somewhere like that in Pennsylvania. I couldn’t wait to leave and really needed to move to a big city and expand my

horizons to somewhere that culturally and politically resonated with me and Philly was the perfect place for that. But I also really admire and enjoy the rural environment and the way people choose to live there as well.

Is there something in that Thoreauvian American tradition of fleeing to a cabin in the woods to reflect, to dwell, to work on art? Is it a way to clear yourself of distractions and allow you to think, or is there something more?

I’m not a Luddite and rely on technology massively, but I do think that there is something precious that has been lost. Particularly regarding presence. Going somewhere remote and unplugging is hugely eye-opening and reminds you of the challenge that is so easy to ignore in our times — of being truly present with no distractions. It’s an extremely great way to be creative.

That being said, all things in balance, right?

I don’t see myself ever living off-the-grid or forsaking the excitement and goings-on of a city really.

What do you want fans to take away from Great American Painting? What feels like success to you?

Success to me is a pretty elusive concept. I don’t know if I want it as far as an “end goal.”

Success, in my eyes, is simply making things that connect with people, hopefully deeply, and make them feel less alone. Ultimately, a very real success I hope for is one in which you can transform your work into something very directly impactful and beneficial to the world. Like feeding people and housing people.

There’s enough entertainers, right? I hope to always be connecting with people through music though.

Listening to the lyrics for “I Want to Feel It All,” I get a sense of frustrated longing, or an unquenchable desire to experience life and the world “before it comes my turn to go,” as you sing. Do you feel a sense of urgency, or a societal need for all of us to make up for lost time, as many of us have felt since COVID-19?

I don’t know how much it’s making up for lost time as it is re-evaluating the ways in which we live so that as we go forward in the world we can make choices personally and societally that reflect greater ideals and mold our lives into something beautiful.

Because if the pandemic didn’t happen, there wouldn’t have been that time to reflect on all the things that you really wish you were doing once it’s fully deprived from you. But yeah, I suppose there is an urgency to that. There’s a climate crisis, the pandemic’s ongoing, the white nationalists are only sleeping and we only have so much allotted time to experience

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our lives. I don’t really believe in regret that much, though. As long as you’re listening to your deeper and higher self you’ll be on your path, ya know? Sometimes it takes some weirdass circumstances to help you evolve. And part of that, for me, is that longing to really live fully in this world that you’re referencing in the song.

What’s the biggest shift from your last album, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere, to your new album?

Well YKINGA was produced by us with our buddy Keith, and this one was done in a super classic nice studio with the producer Joe Chiccarelli. Both very great experiences on the creative side. This new one is a little more straight up in some ways. Very direct in the arrangements and production. Lyrically, some of it is a little less personal and more about the world at large.

In an interview with American Songwriter, you spoke of how self-critical after the band finishes an album. Did you feel the same way this time around?

Haha yeah I mean the moment a project is out of your hands and you can’t revise it, there’s a certain anxiety to that. I always have some level of that going on, but then once some time passes, I often end up liking the very things that made me self-conscious in that first wave of post-album letting go.

What are some of your favorite great American paintings? Any standout artists, past or present?

The first painter I ever saw when I was young that really connected with me was Jean-Michel Basquiat. Some of the most immediate punch-packing works of art I’ve ever seen are his.

With the album title I totally had like Christina’s World and Nighthawks in mind. I saw an amazing Ariana Papademetropoulos show in Los Angeles recently and really really love her painting. Also really love John Lurie’s paintings and am reading his memoir.

Who else have you been listening to lately?

I’ve been listening to Water From Your Eyes, Harold Budd, 22º Halo, John Fahey, Turnstile, Julian Lage, Wednesday.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Love you all and thank you.

How can fans follow y’all?

We are on the interwebs! Instagram mainly (@thedistrictsband). We have a website. thedistrictsband.com!

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022

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MUSIC

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New label,

Philly-based rockers recently dropped ‘What Lovers Do’

single for Joy Again

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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MUSIC

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P

hilly-based indie-rock outfit derstood where we are as songwriters every Joy Again recently released a step of the way.

How has Philadelphia, its music scene, new single and video, “What Lovers Do.” “What Lovers Do” culture, etc., impacted Joy Again’s music?

Philadelphia is a hotbed of creativity. There marks Joy Again’s debut with Arista Records and arrives on are amazing musicians and artists of all mediums who inspire us every day and also show the heels of the viral success us we can do whatever we want creatively. of “Looking Out For You,” the What makes for a great Joy Again song? band’s 2015 single that has had Talk a little about the creative proa resurgence on Tikcess.

Tok over the past year. “Looking Out I think what makes a great song For You” has amassed more than 130 BY: EUGENE is mostly what Arthur and I think million streams to date.

ZENYATTA makes a great Joy Again song. I don’t Since debuting in 2014, the sixknow how to describe it, everyone piece band has earned acclaim from plays on all of the songs, but I think The FADER, OnesToWatch, and when both Arthur and I agree on NME, and has performed with beloved indie acts like Car Seat Headrest, Clairo, something it’s pretty much done and set in and Hinds. Next spring, Joy Again will be on stone. I think all Joy Again songs are great the road again supporting Snail Mail on her though, hahaha.

“What Lovers Do” recently dropped.

U.S. tour.

Joy Again includes Sachi DiSerafino (vo- What can you tell us about how that song came together? What’s been the initial recals, guitar), Arthur Shea (vocals, guitar), Blaise O’Brien (keys), Zachary Tyndall (keys), action from your fans?

It all came together pretty slow. I had an Will Butera (drums) and Kieran Ferris (bass).

PW recently caught up with DiSerafino to acoustic demo of it about two years ago. It sat around for a while until Blaise and Caleb rechat about the band’s new music and more.

Let’s go back to the beginning. Talk a lit- vamped it with keys. They sent me the stems tle about Joy Again’s early years and how and I made it the fucked up, ambient ballad it has been able to stay so successful over it is now. I’m really proud of it and excited to have it out. As far as initial reaction goes – the the last eight years.

We are extremely lucky to have grown up fans seem to like it and I’ve seen a lot of kind comments about it. It’s definitely out of left around Philadelphia. The first four years of the band was just playing locally – in base- field, but I think it’s an important touchstone ments, at art shows, wherever we could play in our career before we start our next real really. We were also extremely fortunate to chapter.

How did the band spend its time during meet people like Caleb Laven and Godfrey the pandemic lockdown? How excited are Tabarez who really helped take our music to the next level. I guess the secret to our success you to be back on the road again next year?

We spent most of it making music by ouris just being friends with people who believe in selves or for other projects. We’re really exthe project and what we’re doing. cited to start playing again, but I think we’re How would you describe Joy Again’s mostly excited to get back in the saddle with sound? Has it changed over the years?

Our sound has definitely changed. Arthur recording and making our first record.

What are the best ways for your fans to and I started out making music on a four track stay current with what you’re doing? and ripping it to Ableton. As we grew older, I @joyagain on Instagram and TikTok and @ started producing my own demos, and Arthur joyagain.online on Twitter. Mostly Instagram started a solo project. Between us writing and though, hahah. We’re not so active on everyproducing on our own more we also started working with Caleb who really helped us nail thing else yet. If anyone wants to be a social media intern, hit my jack. down a sound and has grown with us and un-

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GOSSIP

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Melting Icepack and a Jazz Food Drive A few lingering notes from 2021

F ICEPACK DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

or the last official Icepack of cron’s hell freezes over. Or thaws. Whatever it 2021, I really thought I would is a fake igloo does when it expires. try to wrap up the year in a Airing of Grievances manner different from my Here are a few lingering things bugging Iceusual every week’s crabiness, pack at the tail end of December. See you on and with a note of positivity. the other side.

I would say something about Singer and actor and now-stoner food biz redemption, about how we all entrepreneur Selena Gomez just bought into “muddled through somehow,” Philly’s GoPuff delivery start-up service as an as my favorite Christmas song investor. I wish there was a good joke here. goes. I would talk about how Philadelphia Theatre Company’s Board of we came together as a truly inclusive and eq- Directors went into the Christmas break with uitable city steeped in kindness and civility two big leadership changes at the top. First, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve the company announced that Producing Artisand uplifted all – not just one side. tic Director Paige Price will end her But none of that happened, and five-year tenure at the close of the nobody tilted in any positive way to2021-2022 season. Price was initialBY: A.D ward showing any sense of kindness, ly hired to right the good ship PTC AMOROSI positive resolve or genuine inclusion. when it went off the rails financialNobody balked when it came to fuckly for a time (which she fixed), and ing one’s fellow person. PECO douleaves amicably to continue on as an bled its billing. Millennial “Cone Rangers” are independent theatre producer, even though annoying the shit out of neighbors trying to she’ll be based in NYC where she lives with save treasured parking spots (I don’t drive so I her husband, Broadway sound designer Nevin have zero dogs in the race. That said: You want Steinberg. Before Price left this spring, David easy parking? Move to Cherry Hill. The arguL. Cohen stepped down as PTC’s board chair ment is funny at Reddit, including suggestions after five years. Cheers. Cohen got named US that the “Rangers” wear orange cones as hats. Ambassador to Canada by the Biden adminCity Council made it so that some restaurant istration, and thus will enter into another streeteries were cool to exist, and some, mere branch of theater. Cohen got succeeded by feet away, were not.

Gary Deutsch, the most recent vice chair of The Sixers couldn’t ever explain away Ben PTC’s Board, so there’s that. Drama.

Simmons’ absence or ignorance. Sly Stallone’s Wawa old workout joint, Mighty Mick’s Gym from When Wawa shuttered yet another of its “Rocky” at 2145 N. Front Street in Kensington, Center City Philadelphia locations forever will be redeveloped into a mixed-use property. at the tip of last week – its longtime 13th and The city’s power structure allowed murder Chestnut Street branch – corporate word went and gun violence to continue in an upward out, and the blame went to operational issues. trajectory, and all we could get is tepid excus- Talk to anyone who lives in the immediate es and nameless blame from our Mayor and a 13th Street neighborhood or bothered going sorry-not-sorry from our DA. Plus, I’m pretty to a Wawa – any Wawa – after dusk, and you sure the new bike lanes, which will take forev- know that this location closed for incessant er to get right, are going to make a mess out of looting and vandalization. Because Krasner is the Italian Market, and everybody will contin- cool with that. ue to use the phrase “Philly igloo” until Omi-

GOSSIP

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Grammy Time Two of Philly’s January Grammy nominees made major waves right before New Year’s Eve. Vocalist Jazmine Sullivan, whose 2021 album Heaux Tales is nominated at the top of several Grammy genre-fications, dropped hints on Instagram that she might release some new music before her 2022 tour starts in February (Check for Jazzy’s Tale). What is most interesting about that possible release is that Sullivan takes forever between recorded projects, so a year between releases is like a minute for Jazmine. Nice. Also, The Roots’ Questlove – in the Grammy running for his self-directed 2021 Summer of Soul documentary – just got put on the Oscars nominating shortlist for the same doc, to be decided on in February.

MASKED PHILLY: Immanuel Wilkins In Icepack’s way-too-long, way overly complex and continuing saga of asking mask-donning local celebrities what Whatever itthey’ve been up to, beyond the pale, during C-19 – from ugging Ice-lockdown to the re-openee you oncurrent ing, present-day r food bizun-masking and ought intore-masking, worvice as anrying about Delta e here. variants, freaking s Board of out about Fauci’s reak withcall for a potential top. First,third round of vax cing Artis-shots mere five ll end hermonths after the ose of thelast, new mask and as initial-vax card mandates, ship PTCignored or not igfinancial-nored (I mean why fixed), anddid I wait in line e on as anat the Convention n thoughCenter if you’re lives withnot asking to see ner Nevinmy card?), the posing, Davidsibility of mix-andoard chairmatching vaccines which is weird, AND NOW, named USYEAH OF COURSE, the whole worldwide en admin-B.1.1.529 Omicron variant scare, so welcome o anotherto ROUND THREE, I reached out, this week, ceeded byto Immanuel Wilkins. e chair of The Upper Darby born-and-raised Wilkins has appeared on the cover of Philadelphia Weekly for his work as a (primarily alto) jazz her of itssaxophonist, composer, and bandleader whose s foreverimmense warm tone, taut nuance, and deep e 13th andspirituality brought him to gigs with the likes word wentof Solange Knowles and Bob Dylan, schooling nal issues.at Julliard, work on jazz projects from Joel mmediateRoss and Orrin Evans, to the Blue Note label red goingand, ultimately, his August 2020 debut Omega. k, and youIn a minute, I’ll tell you about Wilkins’ sophoincessantmore follow up, January 2022’s The 7th Hand.

Krasner is Before that, however, though the saxophonist moved his base of operations to Brooklyn,

the thing that he did beyond the pale during the pandemic – one of most rewarding endeavors outside of making music – brought him home to U Darb on the regular.

Of course, he ventured into his love and cooking and eating when the pandemic struck. “I had spent so much money on exorbitant meals before Covid, I didn’t want to suddenly start having sad meals,” Wilkins said, who hooked himself up with quality chef-ing tools, and, as we speak, is braising short ribs.

“My easy go-to is salmon, but I can also cook a mean duck breast. I can also do vegan. Both ends of the spectrum.”

What Wilkins did (does) next with those culinary skills and love of food during Covid brings him back to Upper Darby, and the church of which he and his fam have been long affiliated – Prayer Chapel Church of God in Christ – performing outreach to and within that house of worship’s community, Image | Courtesy of Immanuel Wilkins “feeding families that didn’t really have food for the pandemic,” Wilkins said. “We gave out food every Friday.

That’s actually become a mission with my band (Micah Thomas, Daryl Johns, and Kweku Sumbry), part of a project we have, BLUES BLOOD | BLACK FUTURE, and its cooking component that will eventually materialize as a food drive situation. We want to help those in need.”

As for vax and masking, Wilkins is cool with both and sees their necessity.

“I love both. It’s important to keep the boosters coming and the masks on. Now. Because double masking is a thing, I do the KN-95 and then I wear balaclavas with that. That’s my go-to vibe. I get them from designers in the area, or on Etsy and Instagram. Now because I carry my sax in a tube and not a regular hard case, with the balaclava on, some people think that I am a sniper.”

What else Wilkins and his band did during Covid’s summer was write and improv their way through a haunting, seven-piece spiritual suite, The 7th Hand, a brand-new album whose intentionality and vibe makes it so that the saxophonist “moves its players closer to vessel-hood, with its music being formed by the Black church, the escape of the gaze, and how all that is essential to divine intervention.”

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12

OPINION

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RUSSO, FROM PAGE 5 substantive guidance toward a more peaceful future.

It’s unlikely that an authoritative voice will emerge to fill the vacuum of leadership and put an end to the violence. The City of Philadelphia – like the country it birthed – is too fragmented, with political factions at each other’s throats and culture warriors keener on destruction than on creation. For those who still feel an empty spot in their heart where hope used to be, is there anywhere left that we might look to fill the void?

Michael Nutter took issue with Larry Krasner’s rhetoric when Krasner said in a press conference that Philadelphia did not have a crisis of violence. Krasner meant that violent crime overall has declined, so the crisis is limited to homicides and isn’t generalized across all categories of violence. But never mind the nuances – it was undeniably foolish to stand in front of reporters and utter the phrase “we don’t have a crisis of violence,” where “we” meant a city in which, at the time, the year’s homicide tally was 521. Nutter seized on the gaffe and the Inquirer ran his op-ed the next morning.

Yet, in his piece taking issue with Krasner’s rhetoric, Nutter offered only rhetoric in return. He’s continued to hammer home the same talking points in the following weeks.

And while Nutter, a member of the Democratic Party’s increasingly anti-woke Old Guard, continues to wage rhetorical war on Krasner and his “messed up world of white wokeness,” the murder tally in the city continues to rise.

Take your position in the culture wars as you will – questioning an acting city official’s “regard for human lives lost” during an historic surge in homicides can’t possibly be productive. It’s a form of demonizing rhetoric that’s among the vilest on offer in our poisonous political landscape. It might be cathartic for Team Nutter, but it’s not helpful for the countless Philadelphia families whose lives have been shattered this year.

It seems inevitable that our political and cultural elites will, for the foreseeable future, keep right on lobbing rhetorical grenades at each other. In the meantime, what can those of us interested in substantive solutions do?

I don’t think we can simply ignore the culture wars and have uncharged conversations about where to go from here. The very language we use in those conversations is rife with culturally divisive connotations. What we might be able to do, though, is pierce those connotations to carve out a new space that fosters more productive discourse. And so, counterintuitively, I think the place to start for finding common ground is with one of the most divisive culture warriors of all: Ibram X. Kendi.

According to the ideological framework constructed by Kendi in his book How To Be

An Antiracist, “every policy in every institution in every community in every nation is producing or sustaining either racial inequity or equity.” In other words, there are only racist policies and antiracist policies. The job of an antiracist is to decide in which category a given policy belongs.

Kendi has guidance to offer antiracists in their efforts. Racist policies are further divisible into segregationist policies and assimilationist policies. In Chapter 6, he fleshes out this tripartite framework in a discussion of violent crime: “For decades, there have been three main strategies in reducing violent crime in Black neighborhoods. Segregationists who consider Black neighborhoods to be war zones have called for tough policing and the mass incarceration of super-predators. Assimilationists say these super-predators need tough laws and tough love from mentors and fathers to civilize them back to nonviolence. Antiracists say Black people, like all people, need more higher-paying jobs within their reach, especially Black youngsters, who have consistently had the highest rates of unemployment of any demographic group, topping 50 percent in the mid-1990s.”

In Kendi’s account, then, our cities have sought to reduce crime by incarcerating it away, civilizing it away, and employing it away.

The two former approaches, he says, are racist while the latter is antiracist. If one’s foremost desire in life is To Be An Antiracist, then one should steer clear of policies that involve tough policing and/or tough love – just stick to job creation.

But how many residents of Philadelphia currently want, more than anything in the world, To Be An Antiracist? As we creep toward an unconscionable annual murder count of 550, how many of us just want something, someone, to stop the bleeding? Perhaps more to the point, how many of us are tired of feeling like we have to make a choice between antiracism and effective policy?

Is this even a real choice? Or are we mistakenly holding ourselves captive to a rigid ideological framework created by a man who has no actual policy expertise? Let’s compare Kendi’s “three main strategies” to anti-violence initiatives in Philadelphia with a proven track record of success.

1974 was Philadelphia’s deadliest year of the decade, with a murder tally of nearly 450.

That year, a grassroots anti-violence initiative called the House of Umoja brokered a truce, called the Imani Peace Pact, between 30 gangs in the city. Three years after the ceasefire of ’74, Philadelphia’s annual homicide tally had fallen to a decade low of 320.

Small wonder that, when murders started surging in 2020, Philadelphia started to feel nostalgic for the heyday of the House of Umo-

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

ja. On December 14, 2020, Billy Penn ran an article referring to the group as “one of the city’s most impactful anti-violence organizations of the next few decades [following the peace pact].” But why sell them short? The House of Umoja is among the most impressive anti-violence initiatives in city history – full stop.

And here, in their own words, is how House of Umoja describes their approach to anti-violence activism: “Through reparenting and providing role models, the House of Umoja has successfully transformed more than 3,000 frightened, frustrated, and alienated young minority males into self-assured, competent, concerned, and productive citizens.”

Sounds an awful lot like Kendi’s description of the assimilationist approach, which involves giving young minority males “tough love from mentors and fathers to civilize them back to nonviolence.” If Kendi were to apImage | Matt Rourke/AP Photo

OPINION

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

13

Image | Clay Banks

ply his ideas consistently, he would have no choice but to denounce the House of Umoja as a racist organization.

But the group’s results speak for themselves. The House of Umoja’s success can’t be traced to any one of Kendi’s three main strategies. Their approach involves tough love, and so is “assimilationist,” but it uses tough love to help young minority men take advantage of existing job opportunities, and so is partially “antiracist” as well. Their results defy the logic of Kendi’s antiracism, and perhaps that makes Kendi’s admirers uncomfortable. But results are what Philadelphia needs right now – not rhetorical grandstanding based on rigid ideological frameworks.

The House of Umoja exposes the absurdity of Kendi’s tripartite policy division and his use of it to categorize everything in existence as either racist or antiracist. More absurd still

is that, because Kendi defines racist policies as those which sustain racial inequity, and most of Philly’s homicide victims are black, Kendi’s rejection of successful “assimilationist” policies is, on his own terms, racist.

Reality is far more nuanced than Kendi’s simplistic and self-contradictory framework allows. When Philadelphians are being murdered in record numbers, we simply can’t afford to sacrifice nuance to ideology.

If Kendi’s followers consider themselves duty-bound to dismiss what is perhaps the most successful anti-violence initiative in Philadelphia history as racist, then I see little hope for progress on Philadelphia’s homicide crisis. If, on the other hand, we’re all ready to toss aside airy abstractions, and their toxic culture war connotations along with them, then we might have a chance to stop the bleeding.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022

14

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell

FOOD & DRINK

Image | Courtesy of MilkBoy

Assembly Rooftop Lounge

Assembly Rooftop Lounge has transformed into a modern ski lodge-inspired pop-up dubbed Alpine Heights. Guests can stay warm with blazing fire pits, cozy blankets, and winter warmers including Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate ($15) crafted with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, ganache, cream, and garnished with a toasted marshmallow, Mulled Hot Apple Cider ($15) composed of Stateside Black Label Bourbon, spiced cider, fresh raspberry, and topped with cinnamon, and Alpine Toddy ($15) with Jameson Whiskey, ginger liqueur, fresh lemon, and earl grey tea.

Devil’s Den

Devil’s Den recently debuted a brand-new seasonal cocktail menu with two standout steamy sippers including Spiked Hot Apple Cider prepared with toasted caramel whiskey or dealer’s choice of craft spirits, and the decadent Spiked Hot Chocolate composed of house-infused candy cane vodka, dark melting chocolate, cream, sugar, and water.

Image | Courtesy of Assembly Rooftop Lounge

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

MilkBoy

MilkBoy is helping cocktail enthusiasts chase away winter blues with three piping hot boozy beverages.

Guests can enjoy MilkBoy Cider ($11) crafted with bourbon, apple cider, and topped with cinnamon, Gimmie S’mores ($12) composed of Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlúa, steamed milk, and drizzled with chocolate syrup, and Jesse’s Hot Toddy ($11) prepared with whiskey, cloves, earl grey simple syrup, and lemon.

Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge

Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge, the eclectic Northern Liberties eatery, nightclub and bar, offers an extensive craft cocktail selection with a bevy of winter warmers ideal for sipping during the chillier months. This winter, imbibers can stay toasty and satisfied with Mulled Cider ($12) composed of Bacardi Spiced Rum, house-made cider blend, chai, lemon, and seasoned with autumn spices, and a Philly-themed riff on the classic Irish Coffee ($12) prepared with La Colombe Nizza blend and Baileys Irish Cream, topped with fresh whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

THE RUNDOWN

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

15

Ardmore Winter Beer Festival

On Saturday, January 8, Ardmore Music Hall will host their annual Ardmore Winter Beer Festival, featuring tastings of 50+ local and national craft brews paired with live bluegrass music and special offerings from Philadelphia donut specialists, Federal Donuts. VIP ticket options are also available, including a Founders KBS brunch curated

by Ardmore’s acclaimed Ripplewood Whiskey & Craft. Tickets and more info are at ardmoremusichall.com.

General admission passes will grant attendees access to generous samples of a collection of carefully curated craft beers between 1pm and 4pm. All attendees will also receive a complimentary event-exclusive tasting glass.

Local jamgrass darlings Pappy & JP Biondo of Cabinet will provide easy-listening in-house entertainment to set the atmosphere for the daytime event.

Image | Courtesy of Ardmore Music Hall

MUSIC Kanaval Ball

All the exuberance of Haitian Carnival and New Orleans Mardi Gras is coming to The Fillmore Philadelphia on January 9, when WXPN presents the Kanaval Ball. The public is invited to attend this free, all-ages indoor festival. For details, visit xpnkanaval.org.

Dope Shows Local Artist Showcase

All local artists looking to be discovered should reserve January 16, as Dope Shows is hosting an artist showcase at the Foundry, located at 29 E. Allen St. Hopeful contenders can purchase a slot to perform in front of a judge’s panel consisting of notable record label executives. A lucky recipient will be awarded a reserved space at Dope Shows Birthday Bash to perform alongside some of the hottest names in hip hop. Co-founders Stephen Piner and Jamir Shaw are well aware of the talent Philadelphia generates and are eager to present this opportunity to the city’s deserving artists. Dopeshowsonline.com

The Wombats

UK indie heroes The Wombats will be returning stateside to promote their new album Fix Yourself, Not The World out January 7, and will be making a stop at The Fillmore on January 22. Recording remotely over the past year from their respective homes, the band has been working hard to produce some of the most captivating, inventive, and forward-thinking music of their career to date. Thefillmorephilly.com.

Kiran Deol

Punch Line Philly presents Kiran Deol, who starred on the NBC/Hulu comedy “Sunnyside” from Mike Schur and Kal Penn, in addition to other shows like “How to Get Away with Murder” and “Modern Family.” She’s a co-host on Crooked Media’s “Hysteria” podcast and has headlined soldout shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. She’s now coming to Philly for the first time. Catch her Jan. 6 at 8pm.

Punchlinephilly.com

Harmonious Wail

Lansdowne Folk Club presents Americana infused Gypsy Jazz band Harmonious Wail on Thursday, February 17, 2022.

Held at the Twentieth Century Club, 84 S. Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, PA. Doors open at 7pm and the show begins at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 when purchased in advance online or with an advanced phone reservation and $25 without an advance reservation. Free on-street parking. For more information visit www. folkclub.org, email Lfolkclub@gmail.com, or call (484) 466-6213. Cash only at the door. Handicap accessible.

Image | Courtesy of Figo Ristorante

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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SEX WITH TIMAREE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Sex Worker ROLE PLAY? Q: I’ve got an idea for a role play that I seeking, as well as what would feel uncomfortwant to run past you. I think it would be able. Awkward is OK — expected in fact — but hot to pay my girlfriend for sex. I’d give her no one should feel icky during play time. money for a blowjob and the scene around Are you looking for an opportunity to feel it. My girlfriend and I have been decadent? Maybe arrange to meet in together a long time and we have a fancy hotel bar as strangers, flirt a lot of trust, so I think we can do your way to negotiating a date and this well; but I’m worried about it then head up to a room for chamscrewing up the sense of “value” pagne and being lavishly serviced. in our sex life. Any advice?

Trying to feel raunchy and risky?

You are far from alone in finding The whole “john drives up the corthe idea of paying for sex arousing. ner and she leans into your passenStripper and “hooker” role plays ger window” trope is an option. Just are a common fantasy and suggestry not to get arrested. It could be tion for couples looking to add spice that you just get off on the idea of to the routine. It’s high on the list paying for it, so this can be as simalong with cop/prisoner, teacher/ ple as a regular date night that ends student, doctor/patient: which, DR. TIMAREE with a stack of twenties being showyou’ve probably noticed, are all just ered on her bare body. variations on the theme of playing These are but a small smattering @TIMAREE_LEIGH with power dynamics. of options, there are endless ways Money is as good as this could go and you’re anything for introducing the only ones who know the element of power to what would make this fun a situation, especially if for you. you’re not turned on by Rules help us play: As the use of physical force. with a good BDSM scene, It’s also a really good way we need to be able to comto change how people feel municate within a role about something they were play in a way that doesn’t already doing for free. take us out of character.

Which is why it’s smart to be thoughtful about Your girlfriend may or may not be down with how you tie cash into your sexual relationship, feeling like a desired concubine, getting called since arguments over money are notorious names like “whore” or “slut,” or being comrelationship spoilers. And ironically, getting manded to strip. She may love the idea of “bepaid for something that we were previously ing used” or to get treated a little rough. But doing for fun has been known to suck some of you can’t assume. Talk that out in advance the joy out of it. and establish guidelines on how you’ll both How you approach this sex work role play steer the scenario as it’s happening and how will involve the same sort of considerations you’ll bring it to an end. as you’d have for any role play: be extremely Theater is in the details: It’s a hell of a lot frank about what you want, establish clear easier to get into character when you’re in a boundaries about when the scene starts and unique location, wearing costumes and using ends, and plan out some logistics to add veriaccessories. If the budget allows, I suggest taksimilitude. ing role play to a place other than your home, Talk it out in advance: You and your girlor at least to a room of your house that you friend may know each other super well, but don’t routinely use for banging. Buy an outfit you’re not mind-readers, so be super clear that she hasn’t seen already, bring in new toys, about what you desire from this fantasy. Exdo your hair differently. Whatever you can to plain what kind of mood and content you’re make the role play as immersive as possible.

SCHMIT

“Awkward is OK — expected in fact — but no one should feel icky during play time.”

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

SEX WITH TIMAREE

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Testing? COVID19? Safety? Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food?

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Voting? Stimulus Check? Rent? Food? School? Reopening? Green Expect that this will feel silly at points.

And then there is the issue of whether you should exchange actual currency for this tryst. It could be fun — a saucy twist on the “buy yourself something nice” that happens in relationships sometimes anyway. Or it could become a weird point of contention: if you either expect that money to be returned or she feels like the amount is insulting. Figure out if this is a fun activity that you’re bankrolling, like treat-

ing her to dinner and a show, or if you plan for that cash to circulate between you two.

After you give it the ol’ college try, debrief afterwards. What did you like? What was less than enjoyable? What helped you stay in the scene?

Would you do it again?

That kind of post-coital processing is valuable after any hookup. And of course: good luck!

Have a question for Dr. Timaree? Send an email to asktimaree@philadelphiaweekly.com.

“After you give it the ol’ college try, debrief afterwards. What did you like? What was less than enjoyable?”

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18

VOICES

OF OUR

CITY

BIG LABOR POLITICIANS STILL CAN’T ADMIT TRUTH ABOUT JOHNNY DOC On November 15, a federal jury found that Philadelphia union kingpin John Dougherty, commonly referred to as “Johnny Doc,” had for years furnished a salary, benefits, and tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of sporting event tickets to City Councilman Bobby Henon. In exchange, Henon abused the powers of his office to serve as Dougherty’s political errand boy.

Ample evidence presented by the prosecutors and never controverted by the defense in the trial concluding in the criminal convictions of Dougherty and Henon made it plain to all fair-minded observers that Johnny Doc — the top-ranking officer of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 from 1993 until he was finally forced to step down on November 16 — did not run this operation for the rank-and-file’s benefit.

For example, prosecutors showed how Dougherty had ordered Henon to, in the words of Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Sean Collins Walsh, “manipulate the timing of legislation on the plumbing code to get leverage” over plumbers union bosses as Dougherty campaigned to become the top officer of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council (PBCTC), a conglomerate of more than 50 unions.

Prosecutors also showed how Henon had allowed Dougherty to use his office to issue his demand to Comcast executives that they must hire a company owned by Dougherty crony George Peltz if they wished to retain their cable franchise with the city. In exchange for such political favors, Peltz’s company supplied Dougherty with $57,000 worth of home and office improvements at no charge, and also lavished him with gift cards and gift certificates worth thousands of dollars. Peltz employees who installed televisions in Dougherty’s home were paid in cash and illegally denied the fringe benefits they were owed for their time and effort.

Big Labor Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney, who never hesitated to accept campaign support from the Local 98 machine even after Dougherty was indicted for conspiracy and Dougherty and several other Local 98 bigwigs were indicted for collectively stealing more than $600,000 in union funds in early 2019, is obviously well aware of Dougherty’s long history of putting his personal political and

financial agendas over the interests of rankand-file workers.

And yet, in a post-conspiracy conviction exchange with the news staff of ABC affiliate WPVI, Kenney ludicrously claimed that, in his experience, every favor Dougherty requested was “for his members” and “Organized Labor” generally!

A number of other longtime beneficiaries of Local 98 political largesse, including union-label Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, have yet even to try to distance themselves from Johnny Doc. A recent Inquirer report counted several other high-profile state politicians like Democrat Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and GOP Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman among those who have yet to disavow Local 98 political support.

Why won’t Kenney, Wolf, and many other pro-forced unionism politicians in the Keystone State at last repudiate the crimes of Johnny Doc now that a jury has found him guilty on eight counts of conspiracy and honest services fraud? With a second Dougherty federal trial for embezzlement now looming, and a third trial for extortion a distinct possibility, they know there is no chance he will simply disappear any time soon.

The fact is, Kenney, Wolf and other politicians who oppose passage of a state Right to Work law prohibiting the termination of Pennsylvania employees for refusal to pay dues or fees to an unwanted union have no choice but to maintain the pretense that all union officials, even convicted crooks like Johnny Doc, have workers’ best interest at heart.

If Kenney, Wolf, et al. admit the obvious and denounce Dougherty and other current high-ranking Local 98 officials for betraying the very people they are supposed to represent, they will have no excuse left for their continued opposition to a Pennsylvania Right to Work law.

In a Right to Work environment, union members who suspect their dues money isn’t being used for good and proper purposes can fight back by resigning from the organization and cutting off all financial support for it.

Why shouldn’t shady Pennsylvania union bosses be held accountable in this way? Mayor Kenney and Gov. Wolf don’t want to talk about it.

Mark Mix is President of the National Right to Work Committee.

DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

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THE SHOUT OUT

The rule of law in this city is, shall we say, flexible, and corruption is a cost of doing business.

Your turn: Will a reform movement develop in Philadelphia, can we demand better in our city?

Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com

REAL ESTATE

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MARKETPLACE NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE WHEREAS, on May 19, 2011, a certain mortgage was executed

by Emily A. Guidotti, as mortgagor in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS MORTGAGEE, AS NOMINEE FOR URBAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS as mortgagee and was recorded in Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County in Mortgage Document ID 52358553 (“Mortgage”); and WHEREAS, the Mortgage encumbers property located at 1221 Dickinson Street Philadelphia, PA 19147, parcel number 012435900(“Property”); and WHEREAS, the Property was owned by Emily Guidotti and Vincent Guidotti by entireties by virtue of deed recorded November 4, 1983 in Book: 00877 Page: 149; and WHEREAS, Record Owner Vincent Guidotti died on July 13, 1998.

By operation of law title vests solely in Emily Guidotti and Vincent Guidotti is hereby released of liability pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. 1144. Emily Guidotti died on July 18, 2018 intestate and is survived by her heirs-at-law, Vincent Guidotti, Jr., Joseph Guidotti, Anthony Guidotti and Maria Edelstein aka Maria Guidotti; and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“Secretary”), pursuant to an assignment recorded on December 27, 2016 in Document ID 53153253, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage (paragraph 9 (a)(i)), as Emily A. Guidotti died on July 18, 2018, and that upon the death the entire principal balance becomes due and owing, and that no payment was made, and remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this Notice; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of September 30, 2021 is $349,185.91 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable;

common with the owners and tenants and occupiers of the other lots of ground bounding thereon and entitled to the use thereof.

APN: 012435900

Containing in front or breadth on said Dickinson Street 16 feet 6 inches and extending of that width in length or depth Northward between lines parallel with said 12th Street 67 feet 3 inches.

Being known as 1221 Dickinson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147 The sale will be held on January 19, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $349,185.91 plus interest, costs and other charges through the sale date. Ten percent (10%) of the highest bid is the deposit required at the sale.

The amount that must be paid to HUD by the mortgagors or someone acting on their behalf so that the sale may be stayed is the total delinquent amount of $349,185.91 as of September 30, 2021, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.

There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of the foreclosure sale.

When making their bid, all bidders, except the Secretary, must submit a deposit totaling ten percent 10% of the Secretary’s bid as set forth above in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. Each oral bid need not be accompanied by a deposit. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of ten (10%) percent must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within thirty (30) days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence. This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the high bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveyance fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.

The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for fifteen (15) days, and a fee will be charged in the amount of $150.00 for each fifteen (15) day extension requested. The extension fee shall be paid in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.

If the high bidder is unable to close the sale within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder’s deposit will be forfeited, and the Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD Field Office Representative, offer the Property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.

There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.

Together with the free and common use, right, liberty and privilege of the certain 2 feet wide alley which extends Northward into Wilder Street as and for a passageway and watercourse at all times hereafter forever, in

KML LAW GROUP, P.C. Foreclosure Commissioners (215-825-6305)

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, l2 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR Part 29, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on September 29, 2011 in Misc. Instrument #: 52395684, in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, notice is hereby given that at January 19, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Southeast Entrance of Philadelphia City Hall located at Broad Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 all real property at or used in connection with the following described premises will be sold at public action to the highest bidder: The land hereinafter referred to is situated in the City of Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, State of PA, and is described as follows: All that certain lot or piece of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, described according to a survey and plan thereof made

by Charles F. Puff, Jr., Surveyor and Regulator of the 2nd Survey District on 04/26/1916 as follows to wit: Situate on the North side of Dickinson Street (50 feet wide) at the distance of 232 feet Westward from the West side of 12th Street (50 feet wide) in the 1st Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

NM-00480835

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | DECEMBER 30, 2021 - JANUARY 6, 2022

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