Philadelphia Free Press-Digital Edition- April 15, 2020

City Safari: The psychic path to para-“normalcy”

What modern day prophets, psychics and astrologers say about this virus

portant because, in many ways, life will never be quite the same as it was before this virus changed everything. By

By Thom Nickels ‘normal’ most people mean Contributing Editor when they will be able to revisit restaurants and bars, as well as gather with friends in he big question, in public spaces, without social most minds, is when distancing rules. covid-19 will begin to Aside from the fearful preebb and when life will get back dictions from some health to “normal.” experts, it is possible to turn The word “normal” is im-

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to another realm for answers?

What do so-called modern-day prophets, psychics and astrologers say about this virus?

I did a sort of survey to discover what the more metaphysically-minded among us have to say about our present condition. What I found is that most of the seers tend to agree on the timeline of this virus.

That timeline seems to point to the month of May as a period

Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper

of hope. In May we will begin to see different parts of the world (and the United States) begin to move in a more positive direction when it comes to fear and panic associated with covid-19.

Steve Judd, an affable UK astrologer with a keen sense of humor, produces coronavirus videos nearly twice a week.

Judd is straightforward in his delivery. He points to May

as the period when we will to see light at the end April 15, 2020 begin of the tunnel and to June as the time when that light will really begin to have a positive effect. Judd’s track record as an astrologer is impressive but he warns that once this crisis is past if the world goes back to its former ways without learning the earth lessons that covid-19 has taught us, there will be more pandemics far greater than covid-19 in the future.

Judd advises his listeners not to tap into the fear and paranoia being manufactured by media moguls who recite the number of covid-19 deaths to comments by President with a kind of sensationalistic Donald Trump earlier in the glee in their voice, as if they day asserting that he alone has were mentally rubbing their the power to decide when the hands together and thinking: economy is reopened.

Wow, one hundred thousand The states’ announcement dead in a year’s time! Wow, was led by New York Gov. maybe two hundred thousand Andrew Cuomo, and the other in 13 months time… as if they five Democratic governors wanted it to happen. each called into a news conCraig Hamilton-Parker, anference held in Albany, New other psychic medium astroloYork, to announce the move ger from the UK, X agrees with to form the regional council.

Parker’s covid-19 timeline. He ...

Each state will contribute three sees May as a time for healing representatives – the state’s and restructuring, when returning to “normal” will seem top health official, the state’s feasible. Parker likes to refer top economic development to the 10,000 year old Indian official, and the governor’s chief of staff – for a total of 18 Naadi leaves that predicted the corona virus. On Parker’s members. page one can Page xread that Naadi continued on page 2 astrology comes from southern India.CHRISTENDOM “The ancient Siddha yogis had Sebastian superhuman Barry may clairvoyance and werebeable to foresee the destiny of not exactly anyone who a householdis to read the naadi palm leaves. name here inAs well as the future of individuals, some naadi leaves America... contain the future of humanity.

Seven Northeast states announce council to plan economic reopening

By Dave Lemery The Center Square

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group of six Northeast states – Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island – on Monday jointly announced a council formed by representatives of each to come up with a plan to reopen their economies as the coronavirus crisis starts to ebb in the weeks to come.

The group became seven later in the day when it was announced that Massachusetts had joined the coalition.

The move by the states was seen in some corners as putting them in opposition

A coalition of six Democratic governors in the Northeast announced a plan Monday to form a council to plan a regional approach to reopening the economy. The six are Delaware Gov. John Carney (top row, from left), New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (bottom row, from left), Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf.

Artisans fight to Stay in Business while Customers Stay at Home

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RENT ISSUES

Artisan Shoemaking Process-Made to Order

institutions, professional organizations, and numerous nonprofits, galleries and collectors. istorically known as The artisan scene is emerging “the workshop of the as an important cultural and world”, Philadelphia economic driver. Not only does this sector provide jobs, is home to a thriving Artisan promote commerce and concommunity that is anchored tribute to the tax base, it also by well-known educational

By Anne Cecil

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provides important cultural enrichment for Philadelphia residents and visitors.

Artisanal businesses generally create handcrafted, small batch or made to order items.

These items are sourced into two major categories, consumables and lifestyle. Consum-

Many neighbors are already sufables are items that need to be fering income replenished – food, beverage, losses because of mandatory personal care, beauty. These work restricitems are often sold at local shops, markets and farm to ta- tions... Page 6 ble restaurants. With consum- CRIME/POLITICS...........................3 ers staying home, and govA&E.........................................5-7 ernment directives that allow continued on page 4

FUNDRAISER................................8 CLASSIFIEDS..............................11

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7 NE STATES continued from page 1

Cuomo said that the council would begin its work Tuesday and that the time frame for it to complete its work had not yet been decided.

“They’re going to start talking literally tomorrow and start to scope that out,” he said. “We didn’t start with a timetable. We said and will say to the group, we want it as soon as possible, but we want it smart.”

Earlier Monday, the president had issued a pair of tweets that insisted that it was up to him and other federal officials to make decisions when to reopen economic activity that has been shut down to combat the spread of coronavirus.

“For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors’ decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government,” Trump said in the tweets. “Let it be ful-

ly understood that this is incorrect … It is the decision of the President, and for many good reasons.

“With that being said, the Administration and I are working closely with the Governors, and this will continue,” he continued. “A decision by me, in conjunction with the Governors and input from others, will be made shortly!”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf suggested that since governors were the ones who made the individual decisions earlier in the crisis, the decisionmaking going forward should follow a similar course.

“Seeing how we had the responsibility for closing the state down, I think we probably have the primary responsibility for opening it up,” he said. “I think this regional compact is premised on the idea that you’re not going to have a healthy economy if you have an unhealthy population.”

Cuomo echoed Wolf’s comments, saying that if the president wanted to impose federal directives,

he has that power under the U.S. Constitution, but that it wouldn’t work if such directives didn’t take into account each state’s unique position.

“Gov. Wolf’s point is right,” Cuomo said.

“The states’ closed. …

And when you say open, what does that mean?

Does that mean you’re going to proclaim all businesses open? Isolation over? Come out of your homes, businesses are open? What does it mean? Governors need clarity.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, saying that his state had not quite reached the plateau of new cases seen in New York, said that any economic decisions had to be made with public health still being kept in mind.

“An economic recovery only occurs on the back of a complete health care recovery,” he said.

“Transposing those steps or jumping in too early or maybe jumping in by ourselves … you could have inadvertent unintended consequences which could be grave.

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“This is the fight of our lives,” he added. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

Wolf said that coming up with a plan well in advance of its implementation would send a powerful signal of hope to the residents of the six states.

“We need to come up with a specific and a smart plan for this uncertainty that lies ahead, but it is also [important] that we are creating a plan to let our people, the people that we serve, the citizens of our state, [know] that we do indeed have a future,” he said. “This is as important as coming up with the specific elements of this plan. It has to be responsible, but it has to show us that we do have a future.”

Murphy offered similar thoughts, arguing that even as the states continue to combat the virus, they were obligated to look at the economic angles.

“The house is still on fire, we still have to put the fire out, but we do have to begin putting in place the pieces of the puzzle that we know we’re going to need,” he said. “Both health care infrastructure to make sure this doesn’t reignite, as well as the steps we’re going to need to take collectively as a region in terms of economic recovery.”

Cuomo said that as the council develops proposals, there was no expectation that all six states would be bound to follow the exact same protocols. Some solutions might work better for some than others, he said.

“Each state will have a strategy,” he said.

“Hopefully, they’re not inconsistent. I would love to do everything in unison, that’s the optimum. If unison isn’t possible because we’re different and we have different needs, fine. But let’s at least know what each other is doing so we’re not counterproductive with each other.”

Cuomo said other Northeast states not yet part of the council were welcome to join, and he said there were ongoing discussions taking place with Massachusetts,

which is led by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

Just a few hours later, word emerged that Massachusetts had indeed joined the other six states.

“The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Baker said in a news release.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo insisted that the actions of the nation’s governors were going to be the keys in seeing the crisis through to its conclusion.

“The governors are the ones who have been

showing great leadership and taking action to take our residents safe,” she said. “And so I think it’s only appropriate that we do the same thing now by coming together and showing regional leadership to reopen the economy.”

Dave Lemery Regional Editor Dave Lemery is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience. He was the editor of Suburban Life Media when its flagship newspaper was named best weekly in Illinois, and he has worked at papers in South Carolina, Indiana, Idaho and New York.

Theatre Philadelphia Emergency Relief

By Haywood Brewster Foundation, and the Staff Reporter Victory Foundation, who also provide supheatre Philaport to Theatre Philadelphia, the delphia’s Barrymore region’s theatre program. Since 1995, marketing and leaderthe Barrymores have ship organization, anrecognized theatre pronounces Theatre Phila- fessionals in the region delphia Emergency and offered more than Relief as a response to $90,000 in grants to artthe needs of the region’s ists and organizations theatre workers impact- annually. ed by the COVID-19 “We want to deeply pandemic. thank our generous Starting with a pool Barrymore supportof $145,000, Theatre ers for recognizing Philadelphia will award and answering to the micro-grants of $300 immediate threat this on a first-come-firstcrisis poses for theatre serve basis to theatre professionals,” says workers impacted by Theatre Philadelphia COVID-19 closures and board president, Jason cancellations. Eligible Lindner. “Through this applicants should live effort, Theatre Philawithin a 35-mile radius delphia will do our utof Philadelphia’s City most to help fulfill the Hall and work in any emergent needs of as creative, technical, ser- many individuals as vice, or administrative possible.“ capacity in theatre. ApAs long as conditions plications opened on allow, Theatre PhiladelMonday, April 13th. phia plans to continue Theatre Philadelphia the annual tradition of Emergency Relief incelebrating the region’s cludes contributions theatre in the fall. Howfrom the CHG Chariever, Theatre Philadeltable Trust, the June and phia Emergency Relief Steve Wolfson Family

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APRIL 15, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 3

Crime Blotter

Review UNIVERSITY

Crime Statistics & Crime Report Updates. If you have any crimes to report, please send them to N.C. at newsdesk@pressreview.net by press time, Monday at noon. Note: this crime report does not cover the entire boundaries for each police district. Instead, it reflects statistics in or near our circulation areas.

The following crimes occurred between Thursday, April 2nd to Wednesday, April 8th.

3rd DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 3rd District, please call South Detective Division at 215-686-3013.

Reporting 3rd District crimes from South St. to Mifflin St. and Delaware Ave. to Broad St. Arrest: 1600 S. Watts St; 1600 S. 5th St. Assault: 1200 Catherine St. Shooting: 3rd & Christian Sts. Theft: 700 S. 11th St; 700 S. Broad St; 700 S. 4th St; 1200 S. Broad St; 1400 S. 10th St; 1500 S. 7th St; 200 Greenwich St. (two incidents).

Vandalism: 800 S. Broad St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 400 Morris St. 6th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 6th District, please call 215-6863060. Reporting 6th District crimes from Spring Garden St. to South St. and Front St. to Broad St. Assault: 300 New St; N 10th & Arch Sts; 1100 Market St; 200 S. 13st St; 200 S. 5th St; 1200 Catherine St. Burglary: 300 N. Broad St. Theft: 400 N. Broad St; 300 N. 13th St; 300 N. 2nd St; 300 Arch St; 1000 Market St. (two incidents); 200 Market St; 800 Sansom St; Locust & S. Juniper Sts; 1100 Locust St; 1000 Pine St; 200 Pine St; 400 Gaskill St; 200 Lombard St. 9th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 9th District, please call 215-6863090. Reporting 9th District crimes from Fairmount Ave. to Lombard St. and Broad St. to the Schuylkill River.

Assault: 1500 JFK Blvd; 2100 Market St; 1700 Chancellor St. Burglary: 300 N. Broad St. Robbery: 2200 Market St. Theft: 2300 Fairmount Ave; 1900 Green St; 400 N. Broad St; 200 N. 15th St; N. 15th & Race Sts; 1800 FJK Blvd; 1900 Market St. (two incidents), S. 16th & Chestnut Sts; 2200 Walnut St; 2200 Locust St; 1500 Spruce St; 1800 Spruce St; 1500 Latimer St; 1400 Locust St; 600 Schuylkill Ave; 2200 South St; 1800 South St. Vandalism: Market & 20th Sts; S. 16th & Chestnut Sts. Other: 1800 Walnut St. 12th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 12th District, please call 215-6861320. Reporting 12th District crimes within Southwest Philly bounded by Baltimore at 50th St. to Bartram Dr. at 60th St. Arrest: 1500 S. 49th St; 5800 Trinity St. Assault: 5000 Baltimore Ave; 5200 Florence Ave; 1700 S. 54th St; 5700 Kingsessing Ave; 2100 S. 58th St. Burglary: 1400 S. 56th St; 5300 Greenway Ave. Robbery: 5700 Woodland Ave. Theft: 900 S. 49th St; 4800 Springfield Ave; 1200 S. Wilton St; 1300 S. 50th St; 1400 S. 50th St; 5200 Upland St; 1800 S. 56th St; 2100 S. Frazier St; 200 S. Redfield St.

Political updates on the State & Local Level The UC Review and Philly Free Press compile political news that affects voters each week on the city and state level to keep readers more abreast of local politics. If there’s an issue you would like included in this column, please email it to newsdesk@pressreview.net by the Monday, noontime deadline!

Open Letter: Access to Locally Produced Food in the Age of COVID-19 Vandalism: 5500 Pentridge St; 5800 Trinity St; 6300 Saybrook Ave. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 5800 Windsor St. 16th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 16th District, please call 215686-3160. Reporting 16th District crimes from Girard Ave. to Market St. and from the Schuylkill River to 52nd Street.

Arrest: N. 39th & Poplar Sts. Assault: 3800 Wyalusing Ave; 4600 Parrish St; N. 41st St. & Lancaster Ave; N. 39th St. & Fairmount Ave; 3900 Lancaster Ave; 3800 Market St. Robbery: 3400 Market St; 4000 Market St. Shooting: 4200 W. Girard Ave. Theft: 800 N. 41 St; 3900 Parrish St; 4800 Fairmount Ave; 3800 Spring Garden St; N. 46th & Market Sts; 4400 Market St. Vandalism: 4800 Parrish St; Market & 51st St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1300 N. 50th St; 900 N. 45th St; 600 N. 52nd St; 800 N. 41St St; 3500 Fairmount Ave; 4000 Lancaster Ave; Fairmount Ave. & Olive St; 4000 Fairmount Ave; 600 N. Preston St. 17th DISTRICT: To report a crime to the 17th Police District, please call 215-686-3170. Reporting 17th District crimes from South St. to Mifflin St. and Broad St. to the Schuylkill River.

Arrest: 1800 S. Taylor St. Assault: 1200 S. 24th St; 1500 S. Bailey St; 3000 Mifflin St. Burglary: 1500 S. Patton St. Theft: 600 Schuylkill Ave; 2200 South St; 1800 South St; 1700 South St; 700 S. Broad St; 900 S. 15th St; 1100 S. 24th St; 2800 Oakford St; 1200 S. 20th St; 1200 S. Broad St; S. 28th & Tasker St; 3000 Mifflin St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1700 S. 15th St. 18th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 18th Police District, please call 215-686-3180. Reporting 18th Dis-

trict crimes from Market St. to Woodland Ave. and 30th St. to Cobbs Creek Pkwy.

Arrest: 1500 S. 49th St; 5800 Trinity St. Assault: 5000 Walnut St; 5200 Spruce St; 5800 Osage Ave; 5000 Baltimore Ave; 5200 Florence Ave. Burglary: 1400 S. 56th St; 1700 S. 54th St. Robbery: 5300 Pine St. Theft: 4400 Market St; 5500 Larchwood Ave; 4200 Osage Ave; 5100 Walton Ave; 900 S. 49th St; 4800 Springfield Ave; 900 S. Paxon St; 1200 S. Wilton; 1300 S. 50th St; 5200 Upland St. Vandalism: 5200 Cedar Ave; 5500 Pentridge St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 5900 Webster St; 5800 Windsor St; 1800 S. 54th St. 19th DISTRICT: To report a crime in the 19th Police District, please call 215-686-3190. Reporting 19th District crimes from City Ave. to Market St. and 52nd St. to 77th St. Arrest: Market & 57th St. Assault: 5900 W. Oxford St; 1500 N. Robinson St; 600 N. 66th St; 6300 Haverford Ave; 6000 Master St; 1300 N. Wanamaker St; 400 N. 61st St; 100 N. Dewey St. Burglary: 7400 Lansdowne Ave; Market & N. 60th St; 6100 Lancaster Ave. Robbery: 6700 Haverford Ave. (two incidents).

Shooting: 100 N. Lindenwood St. Theft: 6100 Lancaster Ave; 800 N. 65th St; 6200 Master St; 1400 N. Ithan St; 300 N. 63rd St; 300 N. 62nd St; 6000 Vine St; 6400 Race St; N. 56th & Market Sts. Vandalism: 2000 N. 62nd St; 1400 N. Robinson St; 6200 Master St; 300 Conestoga Way; 100 N. 61st St; Market & N. 52nd St. Other Offenses (Any incident that does not fit into other definitions, and may include public drunkenness, runaways, loitering, weapons offense or missing person): 1700 N. Felton St; 1300 N. 50th St; 1300 N. Allison St; 200 N. 63rd St; 200 N. Hobart St.

By Bob Pierson

retail when there is widespread immunity to this arm to City is deadly disease. a business that IMMUNITY TO COoperates outdoor VID-19 farmers’ market in the As of April 11th, over Philadelphia area. COhalf a million people in VID-19 forced us to make the US have tested posidramatic changes to the tive for COVID-19 and way we run our markets over 20,000 have died. to make them as low risk That means that about as possible for customers 99.8% of the US population and producers. does not now have immuniSincere people have ty to COVID-19. The only urged us to close the people with immunity markets and others to are the half million or so continue as usual. These who survived the infecchallenges forced me to tion or who are immune learn about the nature of because they were or are the pandemic, its infecnow infected but show tion trends, our vulnerno symptoms. ability, and how we will COMPARISON BEemerge from the crisis.

TWEEN COVID-19 My conclusion: we can AND INFLUENZA only re-open our farmThe current low proers’ market for normal

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CITY

218 South 45th Street

218 South 45th Philadelphia, PA Street, 19104 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel (215) 222-2846 Tel (215)222-2846 Fax (215) 222-2378 Fax (215)222-2378 Email editor@pressreview.net Email newsdesk@pressreview.net editor@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net Editor & Publisher Editor Publisher Robert& Christian Robert Christian Associate Publisher Assistant Editor Claudia Christian Jack Firneno Bookkeeping Associate Publisher Alexandra Christian Claudia Christian Graphic Designers Bookkeeping Kelly Kusumoto Tina Davis Kasia Gadek Graphic Designers Contributing Writers Kasia BobGadek Behr Kelly Kusumoto Haywood Brewster Marc Holmes III Contributing Writers Richard Lord Dea Contosta Mallin Nicole Thom Bob Nickels Behr David Traub Haywood Brewster Napoleon F. Kingcade Columnists Nathan Lerner JohnMallin Lane Dea Henry Lazarus Thom Nickels Tim Legnani Tim Legnani Paulina Malek Contributing Editor Thom Nickels Columnists Jennifer Jones Correspondent John Lane Nicole Henry Contosta Lazarus Nathaniel Lee Kam Williams Sales Sales Claudia Claudia Christian Christian Tim Legnani Social Media Social Media Kelly Kusumoto Kelly Kusumoto

PA Greens Welcome Bernie Supporters

By Tre Schumacher

(GPPA, www.gpofpa. org) offers a new home for registered Demoenator Bernie crats who are now Sanders (I-VT) disenfranchised by the announced Democratic Party but the suspension of his presidential campaign would like to continue the progressive activon April 8. Sanders had run an innovative ism that Sanders’ camcampaign, largely self- paign engaged with.

The Green Party has organized by a diverse network of local activ- drafted and pushed ists. The campaign al- progressive political lowed Sanders to bring ideas into the mainstream. Certain ideas issues to a national that Sanders adopted stage from a different perspective than other — such as a Green New Deal, paper balmajor candidates and lots, banning fracking, inspired millions of a living wage, univoters. versal healthcare and Joe Biden and the legalizing marijuana Democratic Party — have been long have fundamentally standing policies of the different values than Green Party.

Sanders. The Green The Green Party is Party of Pennsylvania

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the fourth largest party in the U.S. and one of the major challengers of the American political duopoly, i.e., the Democratic and Republican Parties. Like Sanders’ campaign, the Green Party does not accept corporate or billionaire money.

The Green Party is built on Four Pillars:(https://www. gp.org/4_pillars) ecology, peace, social justice, and democracy, and Ten Key Values: (https://www.gp.org/ ten_key_values_2016) — ecological wisdom, grassroots democracy, social justice and equal opportunity, nonviolence, decentralization,

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4 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • APRIL 15, 2020

PSYCHIC

re-election of Donald Trump although, in the continued from page 1 third year of his second term he predicts a health Craig has been studying matter ending Trump’s Naadi astrology and has presidency. uncovered a number of texts Most of the psychics that have foreseen the coro- I surveyed foresee the navirus pandemic.” reelection of Donald Other psychics like Trump. An astrologer, Joseph Tittel, originally Joni Patry foresees a from the Philadelphia hugely tumultuous presiarea but currently a Sedential election this Nodona, Arizona resident, vember. She says that the sees the diminishment events surrounding the of the virus by midelection will rock the naMay. He sees the 2020’s tion. She maintains that as being an especially whoever is elected isn’t life-changing decade, necessarily the one who heralding Pope Francis will take the oath of ofas the last pope of the fice, and that whoever is Roman Catholic Church finally named will wish and the Church itself that he had not been being reduced to a remelected president. nant. He predicts that A woman psychic Islamic fundamentalists medium named Utsava will take over Rome; the

is, perhaps, the most controversial of all the seers I surveyed. Utsava maintains that the virus was manufactured in a lab (so does Tittel) and that the media and government sources are inflating the numbers of people infected with covid-19. “Don’t believe the media,” she urges.

She predicts an end to the virus very soon and that the lockdown we are currently experiencing is a cover so that the forces of good can do battle and eliminate the so-called Deep State. Utsava, who has a huge following, sees a Trump victory in the fall (she was one of the very few psychics who predicted a Trump victory in 2016).

YouTube cannot be said to be a champion of free speech. The video empire has shut down Utsava’s account and it has caused Tittel to worry about some of what he broadcasts in his live feeds. You Tube’s penchant for censorship has caused Tittel to tell his audiences that he is reluctant to mention the virus by name because he fears retaliation, so he

has taken to calling the virus ‘The Bug’ in order to beat the censors, Why would YouTube care about calling the virus by its real name? You Tube’s Orwellian censorship of Utsava’s commentary has only given her more fans since many people tend to equate suppression of information as the suppression of the truth.

Let Utsava speak (and hang herself), even if you think she needs psychotherapy.

Some online psychics wax and wane endlessly about taking this lockdown cycle as a way to get in touch with your inner self and cultivate better relationships with spouses and family. Embrace the self isolation, they say; love it; dance to it; learn to see the beauty in it. “Develop your soul,” they advise, “plant a garden.” They talk about “personal reformatting” without making one prediction about the longevity of the virus or how we as a society will emerge after its duration. These are not psychic predictions at all but fumes from a New Age perfume machine. The purveyors of this rubbish tend to be late middleaged women with short gray hair, piercing eyes and soothing voices.

Many psychics avoid talking about the coronavirus. Is this because they didn’t see it coming or because they are afraid to go on record with such a “do or die” prediction?

These psychics tend to be the psychics most often invited on talk shows where they give celebrity predictions: When will Lady Gaga marry so-and-so; when will Jay Lo have a baby?

Psychics like this trivialize the field. The Psychic Twins often fall into this category as does the famously flamboyant Hollywood psychic, Nikki, who looks like a cross between Mae West and a Barbie Doll with silicone stuffing.

In the most extraordinary irony ever, Christian evangelical “prophesying” preachers, both male and female, have had a lot to say about the coronavirus.

During my search for covid-19 predictions, I came across many of these Bible sites that make prophecies about the virus, only of course

they don’t call them psychic predictions.

Traditionally, all things psychic—tarot cards, crystal balls—have fallen under the Satanic label in Christian circles. If you are a true Christian, you are not supposed to listen to occult sources because doing so puts you at risk for exposure to demonic elements.

Psychics like to say that their information comes from ‘Spirit,’ a word the Bible “prophets” see as suspect because there are many spirits in the unseen world, many of them not of God. For the Bible-based seers, only the Holy Spirit will do.

Listening to the Bible seers I found many of the predictions in alignment with the psychics.

Chuck Pierce, of Glory Zion Ministries, for instance, said that “This Passover will be a true Passover.” Pierce is also on video in January of 2020 as saying that a “massive plague like invasion will test us until Passover.” Another Bible prophet, Shawn Bolz, in a video entitled Coronavirus Prophetic Works, relates how he received a message that after Passover the virus will begin to be brought under control.

A “prophet” named Tracey Cooke announced that God told him that, “Warm weather and wind will eliminate the virus.” Another prophet, Jeremiah Johnson, announced in 2019 that the year 2020 would include: The first four months would be for repentance.

The second four months would be for recovery.

The final four months would be for recompense.

The Christian Broadcasting Network, not known for its liberal tendencies, even showcased a South Carolina female pastor who had a vivid prophetic dream on March 23, 2019 about a virus- like flu pandemic that was going to hit the world. She claims she was told to tell people that the virus was coming because “My people have turned away from me.”

In all or most of these evangelical Christian prophecies the time line seems to gel with the predictions of the secular psychics. This I find to be the most ironic fact of all.

ARTISAN

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take-out, curbside pick up and delivery, consumable artisanal businesses have banded together to offer their wares in boxes ready for pick up at standard or pop up locations.

They have worked with local restaurants supplying meals for pick up and delivery to create a local supply chains and some have even been able to change the products they are producing to products that are currently in high demand. This ability to be flexible and take advantage of quickly changing circumstances has offered a number of businesses a fighting chance to stay in business when customers stay home.

The specialty artisan produces lifestyle products to order. These are end-use items in fashion, home goods, lawn and garden, and gift categories. This group includes jewelers, ceramicists, glass blowers, wood workers, apparel, accessory makers, and other specialists. Unlike the consumable producer, the specialty artisan makes products to order, carrying little to no inventory. This artisan needs orders for their made to order goods that come with a premium price tag. Currently, the pool of potential buyers is reduced with many people losing jobs and paychecks. These items are wants, not needs.

The typical sales channels - Etsy, Facebook, Instagram, etc. are not the answer. There are so many specialty artisans on these platforms - it’s hard to stand out in the crowd.

I have been part of the specialty artisan community for over 40 years and I advocate and provide support services as a consultant in this community. This sector is often overlooked and often, these businesses are solopreneurs…but we ALL need your help.

Here are some ways you can give these artisans a fighting chance to stay in business while you stay at home.

• If you are financially able, buy something that

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APRIL 15, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 5

WXPN establishes Relief Fund to aid local Music Community

Partnership with Philly Music Fest is launched with $25,000 donation

By Haywood Brewster Staff Reporter

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hiladelphia public radio station WXPN is creating a new Music Community Relief Fund aimed at supporting local and regional artists, venues and related workers. WXPN will launch the fund with a new partnership with the Philly Music Fest, which is raising and distributing funds through a micro-grant program for local artists and employees of local independent music venues whose work and income have been halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

WXPN is committing $25,000 for the continuation of the micro-grant program launched last month by Philly Music Fest (PMF) founder Greg Seltzer and his wife Jennifer that has already distributed more than 90 $250 micro-grants. WXPN’s donation will allow another 100 recipients to receive funds to help them pay for food, rent, utilities, or any other expenses that they may be challenged to pay at this time, due to lack of employment.

“WXPN faces fundraising needs of its own but is committed to raising and distributing these funds with the goal of the return of the viable and vibrant local live music scene when the resolution of the current public health crisis permits,” said WXPN General Manager Roger LaMay. “We’re confi-

dent that our members, and individual and business supporters will embrace this initiative, and enable us to raise the necessary funds to help ensure that we will have a dynamic, sustainable music community in the future.”

“The critical component of PMF’s effort has been to act quickly and get cash to musicians and venue staff through PayPal and Venmo,” said Seltzer, whose initial funding of the program has been augmented by crowdsourced donations from friends, family and business contacts. “The partnership and support from WXPN has been a savior. We’re really psyched that WXPN took a look at what various organizations are doing to assist those in need and thought highly enough of our effort to activate and support it.”

LaMay also noted that the new fund is part of the WXPN Music Community Relief Initiative that the station has developed in response to discussions with the local music community about what measures are most needed at this time and includes steps WXPN has already taken to support the community and keep artists and audiences connected through the current health crisis.

These efforts include: A virtual concert calendar, to inform audiences of upcoming live, online performances The “Checking In With...” series that “checks in” with members of WXPN’s extended musical family to see how they’re holding up

during the coronavirus quarantine, and the music that has kept them grounded Providing five local artists with free, oneyear memberships to WXPN partner REC Philly, so they can access REC Philly’s new stateof-the-art creative facility and many creative programs Spotify “Quarantunes” playlists curated

by WXPN DJs designed for getting us through this difficult time together.

For the latest information on the Music Community Relief Fund, and to donate to WXPN and support this initiative, please go to http:// wx.pn/fund. For more about WXPN, visit xpn. org. To learn more about Philly Music Fest, visit www.phlmusicfest.com.

EMERGENCY

only cover a fraction of burden. A donation the need demonstrated of $300 will provide a continued from page 2 in our city at this time. micro-grant for one inTheatre Philadelphia dividual. efforts will help to serve To learn more, make is currently accepting the community’s ima donation, or to submit public donations to mediate needs, during a an application, visit amplify the total effort. time when so many face www.theatrephiladelAll donations will make challenges. phia.org/emergencyretheir way directly into Based on a recent lief. the hands of local thesurvey conducted by atre workers encounterTheatre Philadelphia, ing extreme financial 97% of freelance and contract workers in theatre have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 70% of professional theatre artists have lost or will lose 50% of their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief effort extends to the entire theatre community.

“We have to continuto place a Classified ad ously assess the impact of the pandemic on our theatre community,” says Marketing Manager Katherine Clark.

“At this time, theatres in our region have lost millions of dollars due to closures. This means that countless theatre workers have lost a significant percentage of their anticipated incomes. Theatre Philadelphia intends to reach out to individuals in our community, and to make the most impact right now.”

Each year, theatres employ thousands of creative professionals and service workers.

The relief effort can

Real Estate Listings Open Houses Rentals

Call 215.222.2846

JUST JUST

DON’ T TEXT DON’ T TEXT AND AND

6 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • APRIL 15, 2020

ARTISAN continued from page 4

you love from an artisan.

The artisan gets money and you get something that will brighten your day!

• Follow those you like on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Share their posts with your network.

The more people they reach, the more opportunities they will get to sell their product or service.

• Sign up for their newsletters.

• When you need a gift, consider buying from an artisan rather than a large store.

It doesn’t take much to give a business a fighting chance. I’m selling 13 Mystery boxes. Each includes a handmade pair of slides and other gifts, an $80+ value for $50.

If I can sell all 13 boxes, I will infuse $650 into my business. That may sound tiny to some, but for me and most other small businesses, it is significant. It will pay for my business taxes; show fees, new marketing materials and more.

A Personal Point of View: How do REGARDING RENT issues enable C-19 Community Support?

By Liz Campion Community Contributor

Some will find ways to take advantage of the crisis, others will extend themselves to help othany of our ers, and some may quietneighborly be swept under by the hoods in increased work required Philadelphia, (especially to simply survive. We in mine:University City) need to help those with feature a mix of private needs. homes, (some with Many neighbors are income from ‘in-law already suffering income suites’ or roommates), losses because of mandasmall apartment buildtory work restrictions. ings, large apartment These include food buildings and Instituand beverage Servers, tional housing (from Taxi Drivers, Real Estate group homes to big dor- Agents and ‘gig-workmitories). ers’ such as Dog-WalkThe residents have ers, House-Cleaners and diverse assets and needs. Musicians. Even Dentists C-19 creates challenges and Doctors have closed for all. private offices to protect

M

This is an illustration of how this relatively small influx of dollars, could help many specialty artisans stay in business while you stay at home.

ing hand made to order shoes. Anne offers shoe making workshops, private consultations, bridal and special occasion appointments. Contact: roxannelavarox@gmail. com or Visit: www.roxAnne Cecil is a shoemaker and designer offer- annelava.com

The fabric of Philadelphia: Without your patronage, businesses, restaurants, theaters and institutions do not survive.

We all value the fabric of our city.

It is what makes Philadelphia a great city.

Please support local business.

Review UNIVERSITY

CITY

themselves, their staff and patients. Most still have to pay Rent (or Mortgage) on ‘Brick & Mortar’ locations.

Some neighbors were quick to “Turn lemons into lemonade”. Many have adopted no-contact pick-up and delivery; picked up shifts at grocery stores, in warehouse and making deliveries; some crafty people are making and selling masks from home.

We should not succumb to assumptions about people’s expenses or incomes.

We should not rely on our government or institutions. (The current crisis was fueled, In my view, by the greed and incompetence of Politicians across the globe.) Locally, the big institutions were among the first to lay-off food workers, house-keepers and other staff, and the “State” Store the first to board up windows, (creating blight and raising fears about Civil unrest as a possible consequence of these stressful times).

Many Landlords have big mortgages, high taxes, and bills for insurance. maintenance and repairs and little flexibility. Even though mortgage deferments may help, they are not cancellation of debt, they just move it to a later date, and may increase interest.

Tenants may have chosen rental housing because their needs were temporary or uncertain.

West Philadelphia houses a lot of University students, (now sent ‘home’). We have doctors and scientists doing residencies, and rising adults between their parents’ homes and more permanent choices. We also have residents who have been long term tenants, who may never have the desire to own/ maintain or perhaps never the down-payment or skills to own.

The best LandlordTenant relationships are

By Liz Campion

those that feature mutual benefit and respect.

It is a given that all of us: Landlords and Tenants, are being impacted

by C-19.

It is imperative that we come out on the other side of this crisis, with a minimal number of properties in Foreclosure. And with Properties maintained in ways that keep us all safe.

I think we can agree that some Tenants will need some assistance.

Please be open to the idea that some Landlords will also need assistance.

Please know some people may try to take advantage of this crisis.

Most self-employed Realtors, and many small Landlords have NO Pension, NO Medical Benefits and NO Paid Vacation, Medical or Personal Leave.

Many have spent years acquiring and maintaining a home or property.

For many, their rents are their income; there equity is their “Pension” and the “Estate” they will leave their children.

Landlords took risks, paid (or still pay), Mortgage, Tax, Insurance, Improvements and Maintenance.

Rental management companies, (even the less popular ones), may be representing Land-

lords who are unable to do their own management.

Let’s not succumb to an “Us vs. Them” manipulation.

Small Landlords should not be asked to inequitably sacrifice their years of work and planning, their income and equity.

The same statistics that describe most of neighbors as tenants, tell us that many neighbors are Landlords. It is not fair to expect Landlords to carry the others. Some may be in better shape and able to volunteer some aid to honorable tenants, others are already strapped.

Many of the Tenants I know are younger, more fit, and more able to call upon their own families for support or temporary housing to get through this crisis.

Most of the Realtors and small Landlords I know are adult orphans and the primary support of several dependents.

Landlords by definition are less flexible. Real Estate is lien-able. We ‘know where they live’.

We cannot let the crisis cause foreclosures.

Long-term (as in 30year mortgages) we want to shore up those who hire contractors, cleaners and other gig workers, even as we address the short-term,

continued on page 8

APRIL 15, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 7

T

he arts and culture and entertainment in our great city’s large and small venues, arenas, opera houses, churches and museums are only a happy but encouraging memory, yet thanks to the inventive powers of artists, we now have a wide cornucopia of attractions available for happy viewing at home via apps, streaming, websites and more.

Here are a few of the latest editions of what we can all enjoy at home and elsewhere. Have fun! ♫ The Philadelphia Orchestra has come up with a great series of concerts from the homes of outstanding musicians, all celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Now through April 18 daily concerts will include performances by such powerhouse performers as pianists Daniel Trifonov, Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, violinist Gil Shaham, members of the Philadelphia Orchestra in string quartets, and a lecture by Yannick Nezet-Sagan on music. www.philorch. org/virtual ♫ Museums have locked their doors, but virtual tours can make you think you have left your home and are once again roaming the halls and galleries of favorite collections. Among those familiar to us all are the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Barnes Foundation, Museum of the American Revolution, Penn Museum, and the Delaware Art Museum, all offering not only tours and high definition close-up views of the works of art but also lectures, chats with curators, and other enjoyments.

Also, good to know is that almost every museum in the world is doing this same service and their websites are

easy to find and use. A good starting point is Google Arts & Culture App. ♫ Cruise ships are not very popular these days but Viking Cruises is offering shows featuring far-flung museums, international foods and restaurants and of course the pleasures of travel. http://vikingtv ♫ Lady Gaga has joined forces with the World Health Organization and the anti-poverty Global Citizen, along with dozens of American and international entertainers for a starstudded “One World: Together at Home”, performing from socially distanced locations and broadcast on ABC, NBC and CBS on April 18, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon and honoring the world’s heroic healthcare workers. ♫ The Curtis Institute is keeping the flag flying every Friday at 8 p.m. with on-line recitals from this past season, showcasing their amazing instrumental and vocal artists.

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, a world leader in presenting the greatest musicians at bargain prices in small venues, now offers free weekly recitals direct from the homes of their list of international artists. ♫ WHYY.org/learning gives a break to homeschooling parents with their series of educational and entertaining safe TV along with activities to get those cooped-up kiddies back in action. • ♫ BalletX is one of the most remarkable success stories in Philadelphia, filling the Wilma Theatre at all of their frequent two-week seasons throughout the year, touring between those engagements to all the great dance festivals in

this country and abroad, garnering great reviews and now offering new taped performances each week from their archives. balletx.org ♫ YouTube is a remarkable treasure house of performances of all kinds, from long ago to today, in every art form including ballet companies in old and new productions, theatre and film history, popular songs, classical programming, cartoons and everything else in the way of performing arts. Not only authentic and revelatory but filled with surprises, both beautiful and outrageously funny. They also have, thanks to Andrew Lloyd Webber, free shows and new musicals every Friday at 2 p.m. watchable for up to 48 hours. In addition, streaming from London theatres is one more of the captivating attractions on YouTube. ♫ The Metropolitan Opera’s magnificent gesture of streaming a free opera every evening at 7:30 p.m., and on view for the following 23 hours, is a stunning acknowledgement of how much the world needs opera and how much opera companies need to connect with their audiences, even if virtual. All these productions come from the past 14 years of the Met’s triumphant seasons of ten annual HD Live from the Met events in movie theatres around the world watched by millions and presenting the greatest singers in sumptuous and breath-taking staging’s. April 15, Puccini’s “La Rondine”; 16, Rossini’s “Le Comte Ory”; 17, Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”; 18, Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur”; 19, R. Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier. ♫ Fundraisers have been very hard hit in these last few months so let’s give a hand to Philabundance whose motto is “Driving hunger from our communities” but could also be “Laughter is the best medicine”. Their current mailing wittily

Virtual entertainment

says: “You are cordially invited to stay home... hunger’s no ball so we’re not having one, at all!” My invitation

formally requested my absence, suggesting a contribution instead, none of which would go for valet parking,

a warmed-over buffet supper nor an ill-fitting rented tux. Bravo! www.philabundance. org ♫

LETTER

flu virus that will strike.

Their guesses are often wrong. There is no vaccine against COVID-19 although many efforts to develop one are underway.

The unmet demand for equipment, supplies, and medical staff has severely limited hospitals’ capacity to treat COVID victims because this patient load is in addition to the resources needed in a typical October through March flu season.

HERD IMMUNITY Herd immunity occurs when a non-immune person is surrounded by immune people in the community, since the probability of catching the disease is very low. In herd immunity However, this requires careful monitoring to make sure that very few people cross its borders without being tested or quarantined.

And each disease has its own herd immunity percentage.

A herd immunity of 6070 percent is often cited for infectious diseases.

Healthline presents arguments that the herd immunity may be much higher for COVID-19 because it is relatively new and spreads easily.

WHY NEW DAILY

INFECTIONS DECREASE New infections in Philadelphia are leveling off to about 500 per day because several weeks ago, a critical number of Philadelphia residents began taking precautions, primarily staying home, frequent hand washing, wearing masks outside, and social distancing.

The uninfected people who did not take these precautions are uninformed, misinformed, or uncaring, and luck was with them. Some of these people will get infected, remain without symptoms then infect older or immuno-compromised household members.

WHY CORONA VIRUS IS DANGEROUS Viral infections are the most difficult to treat, worse than bacterial (targeted by antibiotics), fungal (don’t like warmblooded creatures), and infections caused by protozoa (e.g., malaria, transmitted by insects – minimize by eliminating standing water). RNA viruses are more dangerous than DNA viruses because they mutate more frequently. RNA viruses are therefore a

continued from page 3

jection of death from COVID-19 of 60,415 is still a lot of people. Many times more this number are surviving loved ones plunged into grief. And this projection must be added to deaths from influenza, or flu. Our doctors and hospitals have generally been able to treat or admit people over the past decade who have come down with the flu.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for this flu season estimate there will be 400,000 to 730,000 hospitalizations and 24,000 to 63,000 Deaths.

The highest actual rates over the past 10 seasons occurred in the 2017-2018 flu season when there were 810,000 hospitalization and 61,000 deaths.

The sobering figures for flu are lower than they otherwise would have been without vaccination or the millions who gained immunity from earlier infections. And in-time production of flu vaccines is based on the informed guess of virologists who months ahead must determine the most likely strain of

continued on page 8

8 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • APRIL 15, 2020

RENT ISSUES

from good tenants is better than vacancy.) continued from page 6 3. In smaller buildings barter might be possible: (typically one-year a. Tenants, can you lease), needs of tenants. trade an item or skill in I ask that we be VERY exchange for rent credit?

CAREFUL in the hanFor example: A musician dling of language and can offer a future conassumptions about the cert that Landlord can Landlord-Tenant-Rent use to host a post Covid symbiosis.

House Party or donate to Here are some ideas a school or community for mutual Voluntary organization. An artist Landlord-Tenant supmight trade an original port: work of art or prints of 1. Practice good com- their work. munication. b. Landlords, offer to Tenants, if you’ve lost pay, as rent credits, fair $15,000, extended income and can’t pay, let ‘retail’ prices for arts, through the end of the Landlord know, on March 2020, in order crafts or service. If the or before the due date. to achieve our goals. reason for non-payment Although we are not a Landlords, waive Late is “no work”, offer work. non-profit institution, Fees, for the duration of c. Healthy Tenants we have functioned as the crisis, for any tenant might offer to work at a community resource, who makes timely comno-contact Gardening or giving voice to neighmunication.

Hallway Cleaning in exborhood interests and 2.

Landlords, where change for rent credits. concerns. Please help 4. In Larger buildings, us to preserve your com- possible offer reduced payments, to those who Landlords and Tenants munity newspapers. need them during the should communicate With appreciation and crisis. (Know some rent mutual needs and try to gratitude,

Celebrate our Upcoming 32nd Year with us!

A FUNDRAISING APPEAL

H

appy New Year 2020 from the University City Review in West Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Free Press in Center City!

As we enter our 32nd year of publishing free community newspapers, we are reaching out to you, our readers and advertisers, to offer our many thanks for your enduring support and interest. We are happy that we have been successful in being able to deliver free local news, as well as, feature stories and local advertising on a weekly basis for all of these years. It has truly been a great feat, along with, as we like to say, “a touch of madness.” But, above all, it’s been a labor of love of which we are proud! It is truly gratifying to have met and worked with so many wonderful people, many of whom are now good friends.

As we go forward, we will be looking to you for your continued support, not only as cheer leaders and readers, but also as donors.

Photo of first staff

In 1998, we celebrated our tenth anniversary with a fundraising party at the Woodlands Cemetery and we were able to raise over $10,000 that helped carry us forward at that time.

Now, 21 years later, we are entering a period dedicated to improving our sustainability. We are preparing financially and organizationally for the future. Our goals are to increase our stable of writers, to increase our print and digital distribution, to stabilize our cash flow, and to create a Digital 32-year Community History Public Archive. We are again asking for your financial support.

To this end, we have set about to raise

Robert Christian, Editor and Publisher and Claudia Christian, Associate Publisher P.S. Look for upcoming information about our 32nd year celebration in March 2020!

Name: Address:

Method of contribution:  Check (Please make checks out to either Philadelphia Free Press or University City Review, and mail to 218 South 45th Street, Phila., PA 19104. Phone 215.222.2374)  Credit Card Name on credit card: Address:

Credit Card Number: Expiration date: Security Code: Billing Address: If it is different from your address

You can also go to GoFundMe.com and search for “Keeping Community Papers Alive in Philadelphia”.

LETTER continued from page 7

moving target for scientists trying to create vaccines. Carriers of some viruses are not infectious before they show symptoms. Other viruses are transmitted through feces or other bodily fluid so can be controlled through personal health practices. The influenza and corona viruses are different and thus the most dangerous: they are RNA viruses that mutate rapidly, spread before symptoms appear, and are transmitted by direct contact or through the air. A viral perfect storm.

HOW TO EMERGE FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS So far, I have dealt with dynamics of infection and ways to slow and stop infections. The virus itself knows none of this. It relies on nonimmunized people to help it multiply. When it can no longer find nonimmunized people, it can no longer multiply.

The only way people can gain immunity to COVID-19 is to survive an infection or to be vaccinated against it. There currently is no known safe vaccine. Thus, we must wait until a vaccine is available to all people with no immunity –

now over 99% of the US population – before we can return to our normal patterns of life. Several inoculations may be required to achieve high immunity. And we must remember that among the most vulnerable to infection are seniors and others whose immune systems are weak. They should have a certain priority when vaccine becomes available.

The question on returning to normal is not when, but how.

GASLIGHTING US ABOUT COVID-19 Gaslighting is defined as manipulation into doubting your own sanity. Julio Vincent Gambuto, in his forceful article in Forge Medium, warns us that many corporations and certain politicians are already gaslighting us to ignore the threat posed by COVID-19 so business can return to normal. They are motivated by profit, not by protecting vulnerable people to save lives and reduce infection.

Full stop. Gambuto says, be on the alert for this treacherous campaign in business ads, from governments that resist or relax precautions, and by feeding reassuring articles to the media.

WE ARE SOCIAL ANIMALS The worst psychological consequence of the

negotiate best possible outcomes.

5. Everyone should recognize that we cannot get money from “stones”. For most of us paying or receiving some rent is better than no rent; and vacancy may be better than zero rent if it saves on services, maintenance and mental health.

6. Everyone, honor agreements / leases as best we are able. a. Landlords keep supplying a habitable home. b. Tenants pay rent if you are able. Communicate to an arrangement, or move if you can’t. c. No one should take advantage in this crisis.

7. Everyone, should respect the Eviction and Utility Moratoriums.

- Liz Campion is a Realtor and a Landlord of a 5-unit building pandemic to its survivors and those it strikes is the social isolation it causes.

Our basic human impulse to socialize makes us vulnerable to infection.

Blueprint, a recent book by Nicholas Christakis, defines the Social Suite to consist of love, friendship, cooperation, and learning. Christakis gives evidence that these tendencies are genetically determined and enabled our survival over the past two million years.

Love, friendship, cooperation, and learning were honed to a sharp edge by nature’s selection of our pre-historic ancestors in face-to-face encounters.

Suppression of these tendencies in individuals, communities, and nations, enabled most modern crises. Ironically, COVID-19 is a crisis that denies us the face-toface experience of love, friendship, cooperation, and learning.

LOW RISK WAYS TO OBTAIN LOCALLY PRODUCED FOOD In the age of COVID-19, Farm to City’s markets are designed to use the best practices to provide healthy, low risk food source from local farms. Working alongside Lisa O’Neill of Growing Roots, Jon Glyn and I started with a preorder, pre-pay

continued on page 9

APRIL 15, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 9

LETTER

PA GREENS

system at our March 28th markets. The farmers came through with online ordering. At our Rittenhouse, Chestnut Hill, and Bryn Mawr markets we insisted on measures that significantly reduce risk of people’s exposure to the invisible sources of infection in both space and time: · physical separation between customers, · farmers staying in their vehicles when customers come to pickup orders, and · quick pickup and leave by customers.

We reconsidered the farmer isolation at our markets only when we noted that wearing masks was the new normal. This behavior only started in early April.

Now most people in Center City are wearing masks when outdoors.

This shift in behavior also allowed us to test a retail model – not a relaxation, but application of what people have come to recognize as essential to greatly lower the risk of infection when outdoors: physical separation between individuals, use of masks, and rationing the number of people in a space. The hardest part of the low-risk retail model is limiting access to the public spaces where markets operate.

CONCLUSION For the rest of 2020 and perhaps into next year, we must embrace and strengthen social acceptance of safety precautions. We can expand business in creative ways to include effective precautions until a vaccine is developed to provide immunity to all people who are susceptible. Farm to City will adhere to this path. We are committed to work with our producers and their customers to invent new ways to improve safe and more convenient access to locally produced food to benefit all in our local food community and the regional economy.

community-based economics, feminism and gender equity, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, and future focus and sustainability. These values have been guiding a rapidly growing, worldwide movement for the past four decades.

The Green Party is managed as a bottomup confederation of local chapters making it democratic and decentralized. Although

continued from page 8

Bob Pierson is Director Farm to City, LLC and Co-Founder of the Common Market, a distribution center for locally produced food.

continued from page 3

registered Democrats might not be able to have a voice in the Democratic Party, they can have a voice if they join the Green Party.

People may feel disenfranchised right now and want to vote for a candidate who aligns with their convictions.

Currently, voters may still register Green, but they cannot vote in the GPPA Presidential Caucus. Registered Greens can request a caucus ballot until April 14.

The Green Party — an established U.S.

party whose platform has been democratically amended for years — offers people a political voice, if they want one. Those who continue to be inspired and who are not interested in remaining associated with Biden, the Democratic Party, or their platform, which includes the police state, hand-outs to the fossil fuel industry, and deficit spending on war, can extend their work within the Green Party. If you have been disenfranchised by the Democratic establish-

ment, you can make a difference in American politics by registering Green, voting Green, and getting in contact with your local Green Party chapter.

Register Green Party here: https:// www.pavoterservices. pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx; 2020 Green Party Presidential candidates here: www. gp.org/2020; and Green Party Platform here: https://www. gp.org/platform.

Tre Schumacher is a

member of the Green Party of Pennsylvania steering committee and recording secretary of the Green Party of Philadelphia.

The Green Party of PA (GPPA, https:// www.gpofpa.org/) is an independent political party that stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. For further information about GPPA, please visit www.gpofpa.org or email contact@gpofpa.org. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook and Twitter.

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10 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • APRIL 15, 2020

City provides update on COVID-19 for April 14, 2020

T

he Philadelphia Department of Public Health today announced 317 additional presumptive confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia.

That brings the number of confirmed cases to 7,130. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley cautions that not all laboratories reported totals today, so the daily count may be falsely low.

The Department of Public Health again noted clusters of positive cases in congregate settings, including nursing homes, behavioral health facilities, and the Department of Prisons. One additional inmate has tested posi-

tive. The current total of positive cases at correctional facilities is 54.

The Department of Public Health confirmed 16 additional fatalities in Philadelphia. This brings the number of residents who have succumbed to the virus in Philadelphia to 206. Of the 206 total deaths,136 (66%) were of people over age 70, and 103 (50%) were long-term care facility residents.

The Department of Public Health reports 757 patients with COVID-19 are currently being treated in Philadelphia hospitals, with a total of 1,361 people hospitalized in the region (including Philadelphia).

MAKE SURE THEY’RE IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT

NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat

The City today announced the first fatality among inmates in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). This death is not counted in the count of deaths above because the Health Department was notified after the day’s count was closed for review. It will be reflected in tomorrow’s count. The City is reporting it now, separate from the total, in the interest of transparency.

The individual who succumbed was a woman in her 40s with underlying medical conditions. She had been transported to a hospital on April 8 and succumbed this morning. “I want to offer my condolences to her family and friends,” said the Mayor. “Incarcerated people are human beings. They are someone’s family member and friend. And we owe them the dignity of acknowledging their life and their passing.”

The City is not releasing the name of the inmate out of respect for the family’s privacy.

The Mayor noted that the Department of Prisons has instituted procedures and protocols to mitigate the spread of the virus in the jails, working in concert with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. More information on PDP’s COVID-19 efforts can be found here.

Dr. Farley also added that resources are available for Philadelphians who smoke cigarettes, but are interested in quitting. Quitting now can help prevent serious complications from a COVID-19 infection.

Resources are available to quit smoking at smokefreephilly.org or 1-800-QUIT NOW. Deadline for the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund: The deadline for microenterprises to submit applications for funding from thePhiladelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund is before midnight on Wednesday, April 15.

The Relief Fund, which launched on March 23

and has $12.1 million to disburse to local businesses, has received over 6,000 applications seeking more than $82 million in aid. Information regarding other local and national resources for businesses can be found here.

Testing Sites: The City-run location in Center City continues to serve those who are over the age of 50 and are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus, as well as health care workers who are displaying symptoms consistent with COVID-19 coronavirus. The site is available by appointment only and a referral is required. Those who meet the criteria and want a test can call (267) 491-5870 to obtain a referral.

There are also more than 20 private testing sites across the city run by hospital systems and other organizations.

COVID-19 Resources: • City’s COVID-19 homepage: phila. gov/covid-19.

• COVID-19 resources translated in multiple languages.

• Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline: 1 (800) 722-7112.

• Residents can text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to get updates sent to their phones.

• Find out more about testing for COVID-19.

• Updates and guidance for Philadelphia employees and employers.

• Information and resources for workers.

• The PHL COVID-19 Fund continues to solicit donations to aid nonprofits that are on the frontline of the pandemic.

For Businesses: • Financial support and additional resources for businesses can be found here.

• Business owners or managers who have questions about the restrictions in the City’s latest Business Activity and Stay at Home Order can email vbeoc@ phila.gov.

• L&I guidance on construction work following City Business Activity and Stay at Home Order.

• The City is extending filing and payment dates for Real Estate and some business taxes.

APRIL 15, 2020 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • 11 403-LEGAL

606-MEDICAL SUPPLIES

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12 • PHILLYFREEPRESS.COM • UCREVIEW.COM • APRIL 15, 2020

Open Letter To Philadelphia Residents From The Mayor

James F. Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia

Fellow Philadelphians:

very year since 2016 I’ve been thrilled to take part in Philly Free Streets as thousands of residents from every neighborhood came out to walk, bike, roll, and play after we closed some streets to cars.

Each time I was awestruck.

Their unbridled joy, their enthusiasm, and their love for our city were abundant on the streets of Philadelphia. It made me very proud.

Today, the streets are quiet.

Most residents are heeding our order to stay at home.

Businesses are shuttered.

Playgrounds, schools, and houses of worship are empty.

E

We are waiting, hoping, praying, and mourning those who were lost.

But I write to tell you that even amid our silent streets, the spirit of this great city has not, in any way, been diminished by this virus.

I see this spirit in the growing number of folks at home sewing and donating face coverings, and manufacturers who have shifted production to personal protective equipment. It’s seen in the countless people opting to order food and supplies from our restaurants and local small businesses. That spirit is in our philanthropic community who mobilized in record time and raised tens of

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millions of dollars for struggling nonprofits. It’s in the School District and Community College of Philadelphia, doing everything possible to bring remote learning to all students. And it’s also in the scores of volunteers packing thousands of meals every week to ensure Philadelphians don’t go hungry.

If you’re looking for ways to help, here are some ideas: Call neighbors, particularly seniors and those who live alone. Help them get the essential supplies they need.

Stay in touch with others by phone, video conferencing, or email—and reconnect with those who you may have lost touch with.

Remind others of social distancing guidance, including teens who may still feel inclined to hang out with friends.

Order take-out or delivery from a locally-owned eatery.

Donate to the PHL COVID-19 Fund to help our nonprofit organizations on the front line of this pandemic.

Offer a wave of thanks when you see essential employees, especially our healthcare workers and first responders who quite literally put their own health on the line for all of us.

But the greatest single contribution you can make is simply to do the basics: stay at home, wear a face covering if you must go outside, and wash your hands frequently. To those of you doing these things, please know that you are already part of the solution. You are already helping our healthcare workers save lives.

We have weeks if not months to go before the crisis eases. Before we reclaim our lives.

Take comfort knowing that when we’re through this, we will once again enjoy all that Philly has to offer – whether it be a crowded festival on South Street, a sunny picnic on Belmont Plateau, a stroll in the Italian Market, or a block party on North Fifth Street in Fairhill. We’ll see

joggers and bicyclists moving in groups, food vendors and merchants busy with customers, musicians playing to applause, and neighbors sharing stories on their steps.

When we get all of that back, we will stop and remember the sacrifice, the loss, the pain of this time. We will realize that the silence which now pervades the streets of Philadelphia was not, by any means, a sign of defeat. Rather, it was the abundant evidence of our resilience.

When that day comes, we will watch our children head off to school, play on the sidewalks, and even share snacks and hugs. And we’ll know that when it mattered most, we stepped up, we cared for one another, we did what was right, and we endured.

Because we are Philadelphia.

With gratitude

James F. Kenney Mayor