Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
In a message dated 8/10/2011 6:27:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glen...@earthlink.net writes: University City, like much of Philadelphia, has an unmet demand for pedestrian amenities, said Bergheiser. Our pedestrian counts throughout the neighborhood grow and grow and we must keep pace. We are pleased to demonstrate that there are simple and low cost solutions to this growing demand for the infrastructure of walkability. What a crock of green bullshit. Parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. Local eateries have long known that they must stay loyal and serve the district to get their upscale cookies. Where oh where will the next parklet appear? I have to agree: 1. What's increased outdoors spacing for a private enterprise have to do with unmet demand for pedestrian amenities? 2. The article in the UCReview conveyed the impression that the people in the vicinity of 43rd and Baltimore endorsed this parklet, Who was asked and in what way? What were the actual counts and percentages of a) the people in the area, b) the people actually asked. 3. If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. 4. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. 5. If parking spaces on the street are going to be taken away, some fresh thinking about permit parking and a way to discourage people who drive into West Philly from the 'burbs, park here, then walk or take Septa into Penn. If Penn stopped thinking of its parking facilities as a money-making proposition and started thinking about the burden their high parking prices place on the rest of us, it might show they were actually thinking in terms of a partnership with the community rather than hegemony over it. 6. How does this parklet reconcile with the hoops the beaneries on Baltimore Ave have to jump through to get a few tables on the sidewalks outside their establishments? 7. An article the other day in the Inquirer told of the huge increase in fees the city has now imposed on restaurants that buy reserved parking spaces on the public streets. If the Green Line really wants to use what amounts to two parking spaces, whether they park there or use it for patron seating, at least they should go through the process of getting those spaces reserved and paying for them at the going rate. - Alan Krigman KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 krf...@aol.com or al.krig...@krf.icodat.com
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
Letter to UC Review: I wonder about this parklet. If the area needs extra pedestrian sitting space--why put it across the street from a park? Let's be real here, and call it what it really is - an additional revenue source for the Green Line (financed by taxpayers). Sure wish the City would help boost my business for free. Why not additional seating for Fiesta, or a place to relax in front of VIX? Why was the neighborhood not consulted? Cindy Miller, 48th St. On Aug 11, 2011, at 8:31 AM, krf...@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 8/10/2011 6:27:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glen...@earthlink.net writes: University City, like much of Philadelphia, has an unmet demand for pedestrian amenities, said Bergheiser. Our pedestrian counts throughout the neighborhood grow and grow and we must keep pace. We are pleased to demonstrate that there are simple and low cost solutions to this growing demand for the infrastructure of walkability. What a crock of green bullshit. Parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. Local eateries have long known that they must stay loyal and serve the district to get their upscale cookies. Where oh where will the next parklet appear? I have to agree: What's increased outdoors spacing for a private enterprise have to do with unmet demand for pedestrian amenities? The article in the UCReview conveyed the impression that the people in the vicinity of 43rd and Baltimore endorsed this parklet, Who was asked and in what way? What were the actual counts and percentages of a) the people in the area, b) the people actually asked. If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. If parking spaces on the street are going to be taken away, some fresh thinking about permit parking and a way to discourage people who drive into West Philly from the 'burbs, park here, then walk or take Septa into Penn. If Penn stopped thinking of its parking facilities as a money-making proposition and started thinking about the burden their high parking prices place on the rest of us, it might show they were actually thinking in terms of a partnership with the community rather than hegemony over it. How does this parklet reconcile with the hoops the beaneries on Baltimore Ave have to jump through to get a few tables on the sidewalks outside their establishments? An article the other day in the Inquirer told of the huge increase in fees the city has now imposed on restaurants that buy reserved parking spaces on the public streets. If the Green Line really wants to use what amounts to two parking spaces, whether they park there or use it for patron seating, at least they should go through the process of getting those spaces reserved and paying for them at the going rate. - Alan Krigman KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 krf...@aol.com or al.krig...@krf.icodat.com
RE: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
I agree with Glenn and Al. When I first saw the parklet, I thought the Green Line arranged to move its outdoor seating into the street. So I was surprised (but then again, not surprised) to find out that UCD put it there. The aesthetics of it is simply ugly--it looks like what it apparantly intends to be: any number of fenced off outdoor cafe seating arrangements. Adding a couple of window boxes with a few plants stuck in them does not render the space into anything approximating a park--my back yard comes closer to being a park than that does. As far as Al's question as to who was asked on 43rd Street, I think we all know the answer to that. I agree with Al that the placement of the parklet certainly raises questions. If the purpose is to increase needed amenities, why put it across the street from a genuine park, which renders the parklet a poor imitation? Why not in front of the Best House? And why in front of the Green Line, as opposed to anywhere else? I also agree with Glenn: parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. But in addition to that, I think the location was chosen because the Green Line patrons (who would have been sitting outside anyway) could be counted instead as random individuals, thus proving the the demand for and success of the parklet. Oh well, enough of this. I'm opening the fire hydrant on the corner this evening; you're all welcome to come to my beachlet. From: krf...@aol.com Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:31:50 -0400 Subject: Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore To: UnivCity@list.purple.com CC: john.fen...@phila.gov In a message dated 8/10/2011 6:27:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, glen...@earthlink.net writes: University City, like much of Philadelphia, has an unmet demand for pedestrian amenities, said Bergheiser. Our pedestrian counts throughout the neighborhood grow and grow and we must keep pace. We are pleased to demonstrate that there are simple and low cost solutions to this growing demand for the infrastructure of walkability. What a crock of green bullshit. Parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. Local eateries have long known that they must stay loyal and serve the district to get their upscale cookies. Where oh where will the next parklet appear? I have to agree: What's increased outdoors spacing for a private enterprise have to do with unmet demand for pedestrian amenities? The article in the UCReview conveyed the impression that the people in the vicinity of 43rd and Baltimore endorsed this parklet, Who was asked and in what way? What were the actual counts and percentages of a) the people in the area, b) the people actually asked. If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. If parking spaces on the street are going to be taken away, some fresh thinking about permit parking and a way to discourage people who drive into West Philly from the 'burbs, park here, then walk or take Septa into Penn. If Penn stopped thinking of its parking facilities as a money-making proposition and started thinking about the burden their high parking prices place on the rest of us, it might show they were actually thinking in terms of a partnership with the community rather than hegemony over it. How does this parklet reconcile with the hoops the beaneries on Baltimore Ave have to jump through to get a few tables on the sidewalks outside their establishments? An article the other day in the Inquirer told of the huge increase in fees the city has now imposed on restaurants that buy reserved parking spaces on the public streets. If the Green Line really wants to use what amounts to two parking spaces, whether they park there or use it for patron seating, at least they should go through the process of getting those spaces reserved and paying for them at the going rate. - Alan Krigman KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 krf...@aol.com or al.krig...@krf.icodat.com
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
On 8/11/2011 8:31 AM, krf...@aol.com wrote: 1. If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. 2. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. I can think of several of reasons why the parklet wasn't installed by the Best House. The most obvious reason is that the trucks that deliver supplies to the Best House park on 43rd street. And these are _big_ soda trucks. They really can't park on Baltimore Avenue to offload cases of beer. I can't imagine the Best House people agreeing to give up that space for something as strange as a parklet. The second most obvious reason is that it was easier to get permission to use the parking spaces from Philly Car Share. Third reason is that the area by the Green Line has a lot more tree shade, and it makes for a more pleasant place. As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue. Both places have seating to begin with. Both places have some outdoor seating. And in case y'all haven't noticed, there's a lot _moire_ outdoor seating across the street, at the plaza in Clark Park, at the tables and chairs provided by the Friends of Clark Park so that people can bring their steaks and pizzas and sodas and coffees into the park and enjoy the place. So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly. And y'all seem to be forgetting a _very_ important thing. The Parklet is _not permanent_. It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events. Complaining about it is like complaining about the plays or festivals in the park: just wait a while, and whatever's pissing you off will be gone. Its placement at the Green Line is an experiment. UCD can relocate it to any other location you guys suggest... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.)
RE: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
Apart from calling people stupid and silly, Brian's attempt to ridicule legitimate questions appears to endorse one thing: that the parklet is primarily intended to provide free seating to benefit private businesses, which was actually Glenn and Al's point. As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue It's not stupid- Al was raising the quesion of whether there was bias in the choice of placement based on the people likely to use the seating. So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly. It's only silly if the assumption is that there is a need for more public space to be diverted to the benefit of a private business entity. We already have that now with sidewalk cafes, but at least the business has to provide the chairs and tables and have a limit on how much of the sidewalk can be used. Parklets provide chairs, tables and a nice deck--put up and taken down--all for free, and the residents lose two parking spaces. There is no need for a public or quasi-public entity to use public space to provide free outdoor seating to any private business. If they want seating, they can pay for it themselves. And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.) Why were the pet store and bookshop included here if the primary purpose is for a public amenity? Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:48:31 -0400 From: briansi...@gmail.com CC: UnivCity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore On 8/11/2011 8:31 AM, krf...@aol.com wrote: If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. I can think of several of reasons why the parklet wasn't installed by the Best House. The most obvious reason is that the trucks that deliver supplies to the Best House park on 43rd street. And these are _big_ soda trucks. They really can't park on Baltimore Avenue to offload cases of beer. I can't imagine the Best House people agreeing to give up that space for something as strange as a parklet. The second most obvious reason is that it was easier to get permission to use the parking spaces from Philly Car Share. Third reason is that the area by the Green Line has a lot more tree shade, and it makes for a more pleasant place. As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue. Both places have seating to begin with. Both places have some outdoor seating. And in case y'all haven't noticed, there's a lot _moire_ outdoor seating across the street, at the plaza in Clark Park, at the tables and chairs provided by the Friends of Clark Park so that people can bring their steaks and pizzas and sodas and coffees into the park and enjoy the place. So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly. And y'all seem to be forgetting a _very_ important thing. The Parklet is _not permanent_. It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events. Complaining about it is like complaining about the plays or festivals in the park: just wait a while, and whatever's pissing you off will be gone. Its placement at the Green Line is an experiment. UCD can relocate it to any other location you guys suggest... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.)
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
I love the Green Line, and I think they've added enormously to the public life of the neighborhood, but do agree that the placement of this little parklet does seem to take public space for the benefit of one business entity. If parking space were going to be sacrificed for other uses, I'd far rather see them go to projects like the Stormwater bumpouts the water department is trying out (they put some in along their reservoir on Queen Lane in East Falls -- not a particularly attractive implementation, but a start). They add greenery, divert storm water from the overtaxed drainage systems, and if placed properly can help with traffic calming. I can think of several places around the neighborhood where these would be welcome additions. Kathleen On Thu, Aug 11, 2011 at 12:36 PM, Karen Allen kallena...@msn.com wrote: Apart from calling people stupid and silly, Brian's attempt to ridicule legitimate questions appears to endorse one thing: that the parklet is primarily intended to provide free seating to benefit private businesses, which was actually Glenn and Al's point. *As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue* It's not stupid- Al was raising the quesion of whether there was bias in the choice of placement based on the people likely to use the seating. *So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly.* It's only silly if the assumption is that there is a need for more public space to be diverted to the benefit of a private business entity. We already have that now with sidewalk cafes, but at least the business has to provide the chairs and tables and have a limit on how much of the sidewalk can be used. Parklets provide chairs, tables and a nice deck--put up and taken down--all for free, and the residents lose two parking spaces. There is no need for a public or quasi-public entity to use public space to provide free outdoor seating to *any* private business. If they want seating, they can pay for it themselves. And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? ** *It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.) *Why were the pet store and bookshop included here if the primary purpose is for a public amenity?* * -- Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:48:31 -0400 From: briansi...@gmail.com CC: UnivCity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore On 8/11/2011 8:31 AM, krf...@aol.com wrote: 1. If a real parklet -- as opposed to extra outdoor seating for a private enterprise -- is desirable, I can think of a huge number of locations where it would make more sense, as opposed to a stone's throw from Clark Park where there's plenty of greenery, outdoor seating, and other pedestrian amenities. 2. The fact that the parklet is on the east side of 43rd Street where it affords extra seating for The Green Line rather than on the west side where the patrons of The Best House could use it speaks loud and clear of UCD's (and others') apparent continuing attitude about the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops versus the benighted who wolf down pizza and hoagies while guzzling beer -- and probably burp and pass gas, occasionally, too. I can think of several of reasons why the parklet wasn't installed by the Best House. The most obvious reason is that the trucks that deliver supplies to the Best House park on 43rd street. And these are _big_ soda trucks. They really can't park on Baltimore Avenue to offload cases of beer. I can't imagine the Best House people agreeing to give up that space for something as strange as a parklet. The second most obvious reason is that it was easier to get permission to use the parking spaces from Philly Car Share. Third reason is that the area by the Green Line has a lot more tree shade, and it makes for a more pleasant place. As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue. Both places have seating to begin with. Both places have some outdoor seating. And in case y'all haven't noticed, there's a lot _moire_ outdoor seating across the street, at the plaza in Clark Park, at the tables and chairs provided by the Friends of Clark Park so that people can bring their steaks and pizzas and sodas and coffees into the park and enjoy the place. So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly. And
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
On 8/11/2011 11:48 AM, Brian Siano wrote: UCD can relocate it to any other location you guys suggest... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? Well I have a few thoughts for relocation, but I'll be politely civil and keep them to myself. Again, we are offered the circular filing cabinet by a UCD loyalist, while he calls questions about the obvious lies stupid. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Fwd: Found dog
Begin forwarded message: From: Sarah davis.sara...@gmail.com Date: August 11, 2011 10:24:22 AM EDT Subject: Found dog Reply-To: davis.sara...@gmail.com I found a very sweet little tan terrier mix yesterday on the 4700 block of Locust, no collar, not neutered. If you or anyone you know is missing a dog like this, please let me know-- I can send along a photo. thanks.
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
On 8/11/2011 12:36 PM, Karen Allen wrote: Apart from calling people stupid and silly, Brian's attempt to ridicule legitimate questions appears to endorse one thing: that the parklet is primarily intended to provide free seating to benefit private businesses, which was actually Glenn and Al's point. *As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue* It's not stupid- Al was raising the quesion of whether there was bias in the choice of placement based on the people likely to use the seating. No, Al and Glenn were bitching about people they dislike, such as the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops, and insinuating bad motives about the parklet's placement. Pretty much the definition of silly. *So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly.* It's only silly if the assumption is that there is a need for more public space to be diverted to the benefit of a private business entity. We already have that now with sidewalk cafes, but at least the business has to provide the chairs and tables and have a limit on how much of the sidewalk can be used. Parklets provide chairs, tables and a nice deck--put up and taken down--all for free, and the residents lose two parking spaces. There is no need for a public or quasi-public entity to use public space to provide free outdoor seating to *any* private business. If they want seating, they can pay for it themselves. And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? First of all... the parklet is not exclusively for Green Line customers. Buy a sandwich at the Best House and eat it across the street. Nothing's stopping anyone from doing this. Second, the space taken up by the parklet was, previously, used exclusively by Philly Car Share for several years. I haven't seen any complaints about _that_ business taking parking spots away from others. Third, you're complaining about public spaces being used to provide free outdoor seating to *any* private business. Really? So you object to the use of, say, Clark Park as a place to eat the food purchased at the Best House or Green Line or Milk and Honey? Because that's what people do. That's one of the reasons why we put tables and chairs in the park-- to give people a place to sit while they eat. And yes, it benefits those local businesses. (Frankly, we hope that those businesses will kick in funds for more tables and chairs.) So do all kinds of public improvements. Install better lighting and trash cans, fix the sidewalks, you're encouraging foot traffic, and nearby businesses benefit. But if the benefit to local businesses is such a horrible thing, please, tell me about public improvements that _don't_ also benefit local businesses. I'd be fascinated. And fourth, you ask, And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? Guess what: _they did ask_. UCD didn't just come in and drop the thing in place. To get the exclusive use of those parking spaces, UCD had to get the signed consent of the property owners on that block of 43rd street. And they got it. ** *It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.) *Why were the pet store and bookshop included here if the primary purpose is for a public amenity?* * It was just a suggestion. (It may not work there because of the trolley line.) Feel free to think of other places.
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
Brian Siano wrote: Pretty much the definition of silly. here's what sounds silly: the premise and the experiment. the premise that west philly is so teeming with people that we need parklets to provide the public with extra tables and chairs in the street so that they can enjoy the sun and shade -- AND that west philly is so teeming with people that we could do with less parking spots for their cars (or cars that were once so important to provide thru philly car share). the experiment that captures parking spaces and converts them into public places for sitting at tables and chairs -- right next to a big public park. silly! ucd continues to treat west philly like it's a teeming downtown, a bustling congested business district, when it is neither. ucd's experiment would be better conducted in downtown center city. (yes, that's a suggestion.) here's another: perhaps it would be more honest to admit that what's going on here has less to do with whether or not people need to be sitting in parking spots at tables and chairs in order to enjoy the sun and shade, and instead has more to do with 1) boosting selected businesses or 2) discouraging driving in the city or 3) promoting ucd or 4) paving the way for a future BID. question: will free public-use parklets attached to select eateries need to be continuously monitored to ensure that those eateries don't provide food service to the parklets? and how will that be enforced? or is there some kind of provision that will allow eateries to provide food service to their attached public-use parklets? .. UNIVERSITY*CITOYEN You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
[UC] Lea Elementary School Supplies Drive
For the next three weeks, the West Philly Coalition for Neighborhood Schools will be collecting school supplies for the classrooms and students at Lea School at 47th and Locust. We hope to collect enough to bring a box of supplies to each teacher on Sept. 1st so their classrooms will be well-stocked for the first day of classes. To donate, there are bins at University Dollar Plus (supplies available for sale) at 4734 Spruce Street or at St. Mary's Nursery at 3916 Locust Walk. Items needed include pencils, pens, pencil cases, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, markers, composition books, spiral notebooks, loose leaf paper, two-pocket folders, folders with fasteners, loose leaf note books, book bags, protractors, compasses, scissors, dry erase markers, index cards, post-it notes, glue sticks and tissues. Anyone interested in assisting with the drive, please contact Kelly Chancey at kchancey [at] hotmail [dot] com Thanks! Amara WPCNS Steering Committee Chair https://sites.google.com/site/westphillyschools/
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
Vice President Siano: No, Al and Glenn were bitching about people they dislike... ...Pretty much the definition of silly. As he walked around the Parklet Brian pondered a brilliant thoughtlet Should I shit? Or should I fart? Since I'm in charge We'll call it art. And the heavens opened with his Wind The silly peasants sure have sinned And the Lord belched out into the darklet And suddenly, out popped more Parklets! And from his office at the Wharton school The Lord said, the poor are merely fools And Brian shouted his second thoughtlet Since square is round, we've defined a Parklet When the great Lord worked his magic here The whores and gangs were drinking beer He kicked them out in a righteous fit He whirled His wand near the gravel pit And all the good children gathered round They drooled and screamed, square is round! Then the Lord made them cleaner and safer He took out their brain and wrapped it in paper We love you Lord, screamed the righteous throng For you dear Lord, we'll wear our thongs And if you call Clark Park a frog We'll torture Glenn, then kill a dog And if you say that black is white We'll yank our thongs and twist them tight We pledge our lives to your history Yes two plus two is always three On 8/11/2011 5:38 PM, Brian Siano wrote: On 8/11/2011 12:36 PM, Karen Allen wrote: Apart from calling people stupid and silly, Brian's attempt to ridicule legitimate questions appears to endorse one thing: that the parklet is primarily intended to provide free seating to benefit private businesses, which was actually Glenn and Al's point. *As for the provision of extra seating for either the Green Line and the Best House... well, this is actually kind of a stupid issue* It's not stupid- Al was raising the quesion of whether there was bias in the choice of placement based on the people likely to use the seating. No, Al and Glenn were bitching about people they dislike, such as the anointed who sip their lattes and tap-tap-tap away on their laptops, and insinuating bad motives about the parklet's placement. Pretty much the definition of silly. *So one can't argue that one place needs seating more than the other, and then argue that there's no need for the Parklet. That's silly.* It's only silly if the assumption is that there is a need for more public space to be diverted to the benefit of a private business entity. We already have that now with sidewalk cafes, but at least the business has to provide the chairs and tables and have a limit on how much of the sidewalk can be used. Parklets provide chairs, tables and a nice deck--put up and taken down--all for free, and the residents lose two parking spaces. There is no need for a public or quasi-public entity to use public space to provide free outdoor seating to *any* private business. If they want seating, they can pay for it themselves. And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? First of all... the parklet is not exclusively for Green Line customers. Buy a sandwich at the Best House and eat it across the street. Nothing's stopping anyone from doing this. Second, the space taken up by the parklet was, previously, used exclusively by Philly Car Share for several years. I haven't seen any complaints about _that_ business taking parking spots away from others. Third, you're complaining about public spaces being used to provide free outdoor seating to *any* private business. Really? So you object to the use of, say, Clark Park as a place to eat the food purchased at the Best House or Green Line or Milk and Honey? Because that's what people do. That's one of the reasons why we put tables and chairs in the park-- to give people a place to sit while they eat. And yes, it benefits those local businesses. (Frankly, we hope that those businesses will kick in funds for more tables and chairs.) So do all kinds of public improvements. Install better lighting and trash cans, fix the sidewalks, you're encouraging foot traffic, and nearby businesses benefit. But if the benefit to local businesses is such a horrible thing, please, tell me about public improvements that _don't_ also benefit local businesses. I'd be fascinated. And fourth, you ask, And if there is a need for more space for rest and reflection, why not simply ask the residential community where they'd like it to go? Guess what: _they did ask_. UCD didn't just come in and drop the thing in place. To get the exclusive use of those parking spaces, UCD had to get the signed consent of the property owners on that block of 43rd street. And they got it. ** *It went up in a few hours, and it can be taken down in a few hours, and relocated to other stores and events... so why not try suggesting a few locations to them? (In front of the pet shop and Bindlestuff Books is a possibility.) *Why were the pet store and bookshop
Re: [UC] Re: Parking Spaces @ 43rd Baltimore
Dude... get a life or at least take the time to enjoy the one you have. On Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 6:27 PM, Glenn glen...@earthlink.net wrote: http://ucreview.com/ucd-unveils-phillys-first-parklet-ah-at-the-park-p2902-1.htm University City, like much of Philadelphia, has an unmet demand for pedestrian amenities, said Bergheiser. Our pedestrian counts throughout the neighborhood grow and grow and we must keep pace. We are pleased to demonstrate that there are simple and low cost solutions to this growing demand for the infrastructure of walkability. What a crock of green bullshit. Parklets are an expansion of seating for an upscale eatery on the taxpayer's dime. Local eateries have long known that they must stay loyal and serve the district to get their upscale cookies. Where oh where will the next parklet appear? Now the cycle is completed... Ten years ago, they offered dog and pony shows to the public when they first demanded Clark Park. They didn't get their way with local peasants. Over the years, transparency and inclusion were REDEFINED as secret deals with civic associations, like the hotel deal and SHCA. And now, parklets just appear without notice, as partnerships between Penn, Blackwell, and Parks and Recreation. No need for the charade or civic associations anymore! For those of you who remember the fundamentals of a republic, you will recognize that the plutocracy has fully arrived. (Don't worry, I won't tell the thoughtpolice about your history crime.) Some of us banned from UCNeighbors tried to warn the anointed that their illusion of power would disappear rapidly and there was no going back once we got to this point! At least we're getting rid of the Oldies with their parking issues. Hahaha, UCD is going to wipe out the Oldies of the SHCA, who can't afford limo drivers. The irony is pretty hilarious now that the civic association leaders are car driving old farts-haha! On 8/5/2011 6:48 PM, Linda wrote: About the parklets: http://www.westphillylocal.com/2011/08/02/phillys-first-parklet-at-43rd-and-baltimore/#comments -linda p.s. You can sign up to get regular reminders/links to articles on westphillylocal.com On Aug 5, 2011, at 6:32 PM, Karen Allen wrote: I was riding past the Green Line this afternoon and saw the parking spaces on the 43rd Street side blocked off with sawhorses and the cars replaced with tables and chairs. What's up with that? No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3822 - Release Date: 08/08/11 14:35:00 You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
